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diff --git a/21470.txt b/21470.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6050c5f --- /dev/null +++ b/21470.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17654 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Missing Ship, 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: The Missing Ship + The Log of the "Ouzel" Galley + +Author: W. H. G. Kingston + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21470] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISSING SHIP *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Missing Ship; The Log of the "Ouzel" Galley, by W.H.G. Kingston + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This is a long and exceptionally well-written book by this prolific +author. It is full of interest and strong situations. The date of the +events is supposed to be early in the eighteenth century, and of course +all matters nautical are under sail (or oars). That date is stated in +the Preface. + +The copy of the book that was used for this transcription was quite hard +to work with, mainly because the type appeared to have been set a bit +close to the gutter (the fold down the centre of the open pages). +However, it later appeared that the book had been kept for a long time +in some position that caused a fold in the pages near to the gutter, so +that the scans were more usable than was at first feared. + +This book does make an exceptionally nice audiobook. The book is fifty +percent longer than the average novel, and takes about 18 hours for the +audiobook to play. + +You will enjoy this book a great deal. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +THE MISSING SHIP; THE LOG OF THE "OUZEL" GALLEY, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE MASTER OF THE OUZEL GALLEY--HIS SON AND DAUGHTER--THE FIRST MATE--A +CALM--A GALE SPRINGS UP--A RAFT SEEN--OWEN RESCUES ITS OCCUPANT--DAN, +AND POMPEY, THE BLACK COOK--SURMISES ABOUT THE STRANGER--THE GALE +CEASES--THE STRANGER APPEARS ON DECK AND GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF-- +GIVES FIRST NEWS OF WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE--LANCELOT CARNEGAN +BECOMES SECOND MATE OF THE OUZEL GALLEY. + +"No sign of a breeze yet, Owen?" asked Captain Tracy, as he lay in his +cot, slung in the state-room of the _Ouzel Galley_, West India trader, +of which stout bark he was the commander. His fair daughter Norah sat +by his side fanning his pale cheek--for he, like several of his crew, +had been struck down by fever, and he probably owed his life to her +watchful care. For many days the vessel had lain becalmed on the glassy +ocean under a tropical sun, the excessive heat tending greatly to +increase the sickness on board, three of the crew, besides the second +mate, having already succumbed to it. Day after day the survivors had +been anxiously looking out for the wind to fill the sluggish sails +hanging down against the masts; but each morning they had seen the fiery +sun rise out of the calm ocean and pass across the blue vault of heaven, +to sink again beneath the horizon, suffusing with a ruddy glow the whole +western sky. The night brought relief from the heat, and hope revived; +but when morning returned, again the suffering crew had to endure the +scorching rays of the sun, from which even the shade cast by the sails +afforded them but inadequate shelter. The chips from the carpenter's +bench which had been thrown overboard still lay alongside; while the +creaking of the yards and blocks, and the slight splashing sound as the +vessel moved from side to side by the now scarcely perceptible +undulations of the broad Atlantic, alone broke the silence which, +reigned over the watery expanse on which she floated. Norah--a fair and +beautiful girl, who, though scarcely sixteen summers had passed over her +head, had already the appearance, and what was to her of the greatest +consequence, the calm resolution of more mature age--stopping for a +moment in her employment, looked up with an inquiring glance from her +blue eyes towards the first mate, who had just then, hat in hand, +entered the cabin. + +"A bank of clouds has just appeared above the horizon in the sou'-west, +sir, and from the rapid way in which it is rising we shall, if I mistake +not, have the wind before long, and as much as we want of it," he +replied. + +"Thank Heaven!" ejaculated the captain. "See all ready for shortening +sail. I must try to come on deck, for we are sadly short-handed." + +"Oh! don't attempt it, father," said Norah; "you have scarcely strength +to stand, and Mr Massey and the crew will do all that is necessary." + +"Miss Norah is right, sir--stay where you are," said the mate. "I am +inclined to furl everything at once, so as to be prepared for the wind +when it reaches us; it is near the hurricane season in the West Indies, +and they are sometimes felt as far to the eastward as this. Should the +wind not prove as strong as I expect, we can easily make sail again." + +"Do as you propose, Owen," said the captain; "you are always careful and +prudent." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered the mate, and he sprang quickly on deck. "All +hands shorten sail!" he shouted. "Be smart, my lads, or we may have old +Harry Cane aboard us before we have time to open our weather eyes." + +He knew well that a joke would tend to inspirit the downcast crew, most +of whom were Irishmen--the _Ouzel Galley_ belonging to Dublin, though +trading chiefly to the fair port of Waterford. She was a deep-waisted +vessel, with three masts, the foremast and mainmast square-rigged, while +the aftermast carried a long lateen-shaped sail called the mizen, with a +square topsail and topgallantsail. The mainsail and foresail having +been brailed up and handed, Owen ordered the crew aloft to furl the +main-topsail. + +"Gerald, lend me a hand to furl the mizen!" he sang out to a lad who had +been actively engaged in the former operation. Gerald Tracy, the +captain's son, a fine-looking youth, sprang aft to the mizen-brails. +The mate having already let go the sheet, the sail was drawn up close to +the yard. + +"Now, aloft to the mizen-topsail," cried the mate; "we must have every +stitch of canvas off her before the wind reaches us; for, depend upon +it, it is in no playful mood." + +The mate and Gerald sprang up the rigging, and getting hold of the bunt +of the sail, quickly furled it. Pompey, the black cook, and Tim +Maloney, a boy, were on deck letting go or hoisting away at the ropes as +required; every other man in the ship able to move was aloft. All the +after sail having been taken off the ship, Owen, as he was about to +descend from the yard, cast a glance to windward. + +"Here it comes, sharp and strong," he sang out; "down--down, quick, all +of you!" and, seizing the backstay, he glided like lightning on deck. +Gerald followed his example. As soon as the mate reached the deck, he +sprang to the deserted helm and gave another look in the direction from +which he expected the wind to come. Already could be discerned a long +line of white foam curling up above the hitherto calm sea, over the +surface of which innumerable cat's-paws were playing, now sweeping +across it, now vanishing, to reappear speedily in another direction. +The men were in the mean time employed, under the mate's directions, in +getting the ship snug. + +"Gerald, do you go and assist them," he said; "we haven't a moment to +lose." + +The jib only remained set. Some of the crew had begun to grumble at +having so much pulling and hauling, with apparently no object. + +"What's the use of furling sails in a dead calm? we shall be after +having to set them again, as I hope we shall get the breeze before +long," exclaimed Dan Connor. + +An active seaman was Dan, though he could seldom see much further than +his own nose. + +"Nebber fear dat," cried Pompey, "we get de wind 'tiff and 'trong as you +and I like de grog, Dan--de mate hab um wedder eye open as 'wide as de +captain--see what coming--look out, man--what say to dat?" + +Those standing near him turned their glances over the larboard side, +towards the south-west, the vessel then lying with her head to the +north-west, where they saw a long line which had now assumed the +appearance of a vast foaming wave, while at the same time a loud hissing +roar reached their ears. The mate shouted for another hand to come to +the helm. Dan Connor sprang aft at the mate's call; but scarcely had he +grasped the spokes of the wheel, than the wind with a furious rush +struck the vessel. Down she heeled, while a deluge of spray flew over +her. For an instant it seemed as if she was irretrievably gone, but the +jib happily standing, she drew ahead, and feeling her helm, round she +spun, and, righting as suddenly as she had heeled over, away she flew +before the hurricane. The young mate drew his breath. + +"Gerald, go below and tell your father that we're all to rights and no +damage done. We had a narrow squeak for it, though; but don't say +that--it may trouble your sister," said Owen. + +Gerald went into the cabin with the satisfactory intelligence. On +entering he found Norah clinging to the sofa, which was placed +athwart-ships, at the after end of the cabin. She looked pale and +anxious; happily, the captain had escaped being thrown out of his cot +when the vessel had been hove on her beam-ends. + +"How goes it, Gerald?" he asked. + +"All right, father," answered Gerald; "the stout ship is behaving +beautifully. Thanks to Mr Massey, we were well prepared for the squall +when it struck us--though it's my belief if we'd had our canvas set it +would have been all over with the _Ouzel Galley_. We are now scudding +along under bare poles at a rate which will soon carry us into Waterford +harbour, if the wind holds as it is." + +"Little chance of that, I'm afraid," observed the captain; "but, Gerald, +tell the mate to have the dead-lights closed. The sea will be getting +up presently, and we shall have it washing through the stern windows." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered his son, who knew that an order given must be +delivered immediately, and was about to go. + +"Stay, Gerald--tell him to set the fore-topsail closely reefed, and to +rig preventer-braces; we must not run the risk of having the ship +pooped, and there will be a great chance of that happening before long, +unless we have merely caught the tail of the hurricane." + +The boy hurried on deck and gave the orders he had received. He found +that the mate had anticipated them. The carpenter was at that moment +coming aft to close the stern-ports, while several hands were going +aloft to loose the fore-topsail. The mate had seen the necessity for +this, as already the furious wind had lashed the ocean, hitherto so +calm, into wildly leaping seas, which came rushing up on both sides of +the vessel, with foaming crests like war-steeds charging on the foe; but +onward she flew before them, now rising to the summit of a wave, now +pitching down into the trough on the farther side. It needed all the +strength of the crew to reef and set the sail. The carpenter, as soon +as he had performed his task, went forward again to assist the rest, +while the mate and Gerald took the helm. The sail was at length set, +and the men came down off the yard. The mate kept an anxious eye on the +canvas, doubting much whether it would stand the tremendous strain put +on it--he expected every moment to see it blown away from the +bolt-ropes--but it was stout and new. He had little fear of the +rigging, for every inch of it he had himself assisted in turning in and +setting up, and not a strand had parted--all was thoroughly served. He +now summoned one of the best hands to relieve him at the helm; he then +had a spare fore-topsail got up on deck ready to bend, should the first +be carried away. Having made every arrangement which as a good seaman +he considered necessary, he sent Gerald back into the cabin to report to +the captain; he would, he knew, be anxious to learn how things were +going on. Gerald, who was an enthusiastic admirer of the mate, did not +fail to tell all that had been done. + +"He is a good seaman, father, that mate of ours," he exclaimed. + +"I can always trust him to do the right thing," observed the captain. + +"He is as fine a fellow as ever stepped," answered Gerald, warmly; "when +I thought the ship was going over, I looked at him, and there he stood, +as calm and unmoved as if we had been running before a light breeze with +all sail set." + +Norah's eye brightened as her brother spoke, and a smile played over her +countenance, though she said nothing. + +"You will do well to imitate him, Gerald," remarked the captain; "he is +calm and confident because he thoroughly knows his business and what +will have to be done under every emergency. A better seaman never trod +the deck of a merchant vessel, or a king's ship either. When this +voyage is over, as Norah insists on my not going to sea again, I intend +to get the owners to give him the command of the _Ouzel Galley_--they +know their own interests too well to refuse my request. Before long you +will be old enough, Gerald, to become second mate, and perhaps, if the +stout ship meets with no mishap, to command her one of these days, +should Owen get a larger craft, or take it into his head to come and +live on shore." + +Gerald was glad to hear his father speak in this style; it showed that +he was already getting better and recovering his spirits, which had been +much cast down, especially since the death of so many of the crew. He +now inquired how the others were getting on, and sent Gerald forward to +learn. He soon came back with the report that two already seemed much +better, but that the third had as yet shown no signs of amendment. + +"They'll pick up, poor fellows, when we get into a cooler latitude," +observed the captain. "I feel myself already another man, and hope to +be on deck in a day or two." + +Tim, the cabin-boy, now entered to prepare the table for supper. It +still wanted an hour or more to-night, but that meal in those days was +taken earlier than at present. Pompey, notwithstanding the way the +vessel was tumbling about, had managed to keep his fire in and to cook +some broth for the captain and the sick men--for they were unable to +partake of more substantial fare. Norah had become so accustomed to a +sea life in all weathers, that she was able to attend to her father and +to take her seat at table. Tim, as soon as he had placed the dishes, +well secured with the usual puddings and fiddles, went to summon the +mate, who was generally on such occasions relieved by the boatswain; but +Tim came back to say that Mr Massey could not quit the deck till the +gale moderated. Gerald, having despatched his supper, quickly joined +him. + +"What do you think of the weather, Mr Massey?" he asked. + +"That it is blowing big guns and small-arms," answered the mate, +laughing. "Not that that much matters as long as it holds steadily in +its present quarter; but I'm on the look-out lest it should change, and +if it does, it will not give warning of its intention. It would be an +ugly thing to be taken aback with this sea on, and it is that we must be +prepared for." + +The waves had indeed, since Gerald had been below, greatly increased, +and were now rising far above the bulwarks, and as they curled over +threatened to come down on the deck and overwhelm the good ship. + +"Keep a tight hold of a stanchion or the mizen-mast, Gerald," said the +mate; "if one of those seas breaks on board, you might be carried away +in a moment. See, the men know what may possibly happen, and are doing +as I advise you--though, if I had my will, you should remain below." + +"My father and Norah would be ashamed of me if I did," answered Gerald; +"depend on it, I will take good care to hold on with tooth and nail if +we get so unwelcome a visitor." + +Onward flew the ship; already the gloom of night had begun to steal over +the waste of waters, when the look-out forward shouted, "A lump of +timber or a boat capsized right ahead a point on the starboard bow!" +Immediately afterwards he added, "It's a raft, sir, with a man on it; +he's waving to us!" + +The mate sprang into the mizen rigging, and having glanced at the +position of the raft, of which he caught sight as it rose to the summit +of a sea, he exclaimed, "We must save the poor fellow's life--port the +helm half a point. Steady now. Get ropes ready to heave to him," he +next shouted out; and, securing one round his own waist, he leaped into +the fore-chains. + +The ship flew on, but he had rightly calculated the position of the +raft. There was a fearful risk, however, that she might run over it, or +that the force of the sea might dash it against her side and crush its +occupant. But no time was allowed for considering the risk to be run. +Owen saw that the man had disengaged himself from the ropes by which he +had been secured to the raft, and was holding on to one of them alone. +He must have well known his terrible danger, for a sea might in a moment +wash him away, in spite of his holdfast. The mate stood ready with +another rope in hand to heave to him. The next instant the raft was +driven against the side of the vessel, and the man lost his hold. +Prompted by a generous instinct, Owen, at the great risk of his own +life, sprang on to the raft, and, grasping him round the waist, put the +rope into his hand, while he held him fast. The crew were in readiness, +in the rigging or leaning over the bulwarks, and before another moment +had passed both Owen and the stranger were drawn up and stood in safety +in the main-chains, whence eager hands hauled them on board. + +"You have rendered me a good turn, and I hope to live long enough to +repay it," said the rescued man, as soon as he had sufficiently +recovered his breath to speak; for he had been pretty nearly exhausted +by the efforts he had made to hold on to the raft, and the sudden jerk +he had received in being hauled on board. + +He was evidently a seaman, for a seaman and a strong and determined man +alone could have exerted himself as he had done to preserve his life. +By his dress and manner, also, he appeared to be an officer. The +physical suffering and mental anxiety he must have gone through had +naturally so much exhausted him that, though able to stand, he was +compelled to hold fast to the bulwarks to support himself. From his +appearance, however, he looked like a man capable of enduring as much as +most persons; he was strongly built, rather above the middle height, +with a countenance which if not handsome was good-looking, and betokened +courage and resolution. + +"I am glad that I was fortunate enough to get hold of you, and to help +you on board--though, as I should have tried to do the same for any +human being placed in the situation in which you were, I do not feel +that you have any special reason to be thankful to me," answered Owen. + +"As to that matter, all I know is, that if you hadn't jumped on the raft +at the moment you did and thrown me a rope, I should have been washed +away, and have been by this time where many a bold fellow has gone +before; and though a more exalted fate may be in store for me, according +to the old saying, as I have no wish to leave the world just yet, I am +bound to be grateful to you, captain--for I conclude that you are the +skipper of this craft," said the stranger. + +"No, I am but the mate," answered Owen; "the skipper is ill, and as the +berths in the state cabin are occupied, I can only offer you mine--and I +would advise you to get off your wet clothes and turn in between the +blankets, with a stiff glass of grog, or you may be the worse for your +wetting and exposure." + +"I have knocked about too much up and down at sea, with all sorts of +adventures, to be much the worse for what I've gone through. However, I +will accept your offer. A stiff glass of grog, especially, will be +welcome, and something to eat with it; for I had no opportunity of +dining on the raft, as you may suppose," answered the stranger. + +He said this in an off-hand, careless manner, laughing as he spoke; but +notwithstanding his boasts, he was glad of the assistance of Owen and +Dan Connor, on whose shoulders he rested while they conducted him to the +cabin of the former. No sooner did he reach it than he sank down +utterly exhausted, and it was not without considerable help from Dan +that he was able to get off his garments and turn in to bed. + +"You'll be all to rights now, your honour, and I'll be after bringing +you a basin of soup and a glass of grog," remarked Dan, as he was +gathering up the wet clothes to carry to the galley fire. + +"Stay, there are some papers in my pockets which I wish to keep in my +own possession," said the stranger, as he saw what Dan was about. + +"They're like to be in a pretty mess, which it will take a pair of sharp +eyes to read, by this time," observed Dan. + +"They are in a tin case--hand it to me," was the answer, as Dan began to +feel about in the pockets of the stranger's jacket. "You may take the +clothes away now, my man; and don't be long in bringing me the grog, +mind you," added the stranger, when he had possessed himself of the tin +case and, in addition, a well-filled purse and several other smaller +articles, which his pockets had contained. + +"By-the-by, what's the name of this vessel, and to what port is she +bound?" he asked. + +"Shure, she's the _Ouzel Galley_, your honour," answered Dan, "and as +sweet a craft as sails between the West Indies and Dublin city--though +we're bound just now to Waterford, and we'll be after getting there, I +hope, some day." + +"And what's the name of your skipper and your mate, who pulled me out of +the water?" continued the stranger. + +"It's Captain Tracy you mane, and the mate's Mr Owen Massey, as fine a +man as iver stepped a deck. I'm after belaving, if he wasn't, he +wouldn't have done what he did just now, as your honour will be willing +to own," answered Dan. + +"You're right--it was a brave deed," said the stranger. As soon as Dan, +bundling up the clothes, had left the cabin, its occupant eagerly opened +the tin case and examined its contents, apparently to satisfy himself +that they had escaped damage; then closing it, he placed it under his +pillow, on which he sank down exhausted. + +"Faith, I've had a narrow escape--but as this craft is bound to fair +Waterford, I must either quit her before she gets there, or take care +that none of my friends recognise me when I step on shore," he murmured +to himself. "However, my good genius may enable me to escape that +danger, as it has to scramble through many others. Strange that my life +should have been saved by Owen Massey--he does not know me, however; but +that is not surprising, as I am greatly changed since we were together. +Few traces remain about me of the slight youth I then was. I must be on +my guard not to betray myself to him, or he and his commander may take +it into their heads that their loyalty obliges them to deliver me over +to the Government. As long as they don't find out who I am, I shall +have no difficulty in making my escape, even though I am compelled to +set foot on shore in Waterford itself. I wish those fellows would bear +a hand and bring me some food--that and a night's rest will restore my +strength and enable me to consider what to do better than I now can. I +have run many a narrow chance of losing my life, but never was I nearer +to death than to-day--another hour or two on the raft would have +finished me, and then where should I have been? Bah! I must not allow +such thoughts to trouble me, or I shall become nerveless as a young +girl." + +In spite of all his efforts the thoughts he dreaded would intrude on the +stranger's mind. He looked eagerly for the return of the seaman with +the promised food and grog. Dan, in the mean time, with the bundle of +wet clothes under his arm, had made his way forward to the caboose, +where Pompey was busy blowing away at his fire and trying to get his +kettle and a saucepan of broth to boil. + +"Well, Dan, my jewel, who dis fellow just come on board? What you tink +about him?" asked Pompey. + +"Faith, it's more than he thought fit to tell me," answered Dan. "All I +know is that he's a mighty fine-spoken gentleman, with a big purse of +gold in his pocket." + +"In which pocket?" asked Pompey eagerly, taking up the jacket. + +"You big thief, you don't think I am after laving it to your itching +fingers--no, no, Pompey, even if the gentleman himself hadn't taken it +out, he's been too long at sea not to guess pretty shrewdly that the +shiners would vanish if the purse found its way forrard," said Dan. + +"You'll not be after calling me a big thief, Dan?" exclaimed Pompey, +getting angry at this insinuation against his honesty. + +"No, but I'll back your tongue to wag faster than any man's in this +ship," replied Dan. "Come, bear a hand and get the water to boil, and +then we'll hang up these clothes to dry, for the stranger doesn't look +like a man who'll be content to lie in bed longer than he can help, and +he'll be wanting to get up to-morrow morning and show himself on deck." + +"He may be a mighty fine gentleman," muttered Pompey, "but I never did +see much good come in hauling a man, whoever he was, out of de water." + +"What's that you say, you old thief of the world?" exclaimed Dan. +"Whether good or bad comes of it, it was as brave a thing as you or I or +any man ever saw done, to leap on the raft as our mate did and manage to +bring the stranger on board. We've some stout fellows among us, but not +one would have dared to do that same. When the skipper hears of it +he'll be after praising him as he deserves; and there's some one else, +too, who'll not think the less of him than she does now. It won't be my +fault if I don't let the skipper know how it all happened--though maybe +the stranger won't forget to tell him--but as for the mate himself, he's +as likely as not to make light of it, and just to say that it's what any +other man would have done as well." + +The opinion uttered by Dan was shared generally among the crew, with +whom Owen Massey stood deservedly high. + +"Come, bear a hand, Pompey," continued Dan; "the watch will be out +before you get that fire to burn." + +By dint of hard puffing Pompey succeeded in his object, and Dan went aft +with a kettle of hot water in one hand and a basin of soup in the other. +He then, having obtained the requisite amount of rum, repaired to the +mate's cabin, where he found the stranger on the point of dropping off +from exhaustion, and almost in a state of insensibility. The broth and +grog, however, quickly revived him. He uttered but few words of thanks, +and again falling back on his pillow, dropped off to sleep. + +Gerald, who had witnessed Owen's gallant act, trembling lest he should +fail and lose his life, gave a shout of joy when he saw him successful +and safe again on board. Prompted by his feelings, he sprang towards +the mate, and grasping his hand, exclaimed, "Bravely done, Mr Massey! +Oh, how thankful I am that you got him on board! It did not seem +possible. Had you been lost, it would have broken Norah's heart, and my +poor father's too--for, sick as he is, he couldn't have borne it. I +must go and tell them how it all happened--they'll think more of you +than ever--but I'm very glad Norah wasn't on deck, for she would have +felt as I did, and been terribly alarmed." + +"Hush, Gerald, hush! you think more of the affair than it deserves," +said Owen; "had I run any risk of losing my life, your father might have +blamed me, as the safety of the ship while he is ill is committed to my +charge; but remember that I took the precaution of having a rope round +my waist, so that I couldn't come to any harm, and what I did any man +with strength and nerve could have done likewise--so, Gerald, don't make +a fuss about the matter. I saved the man's life, there's no doubt about +that, and he, therefore, is the only person who need thank me." + +Notwithstanding what the mate had said, Gerald hurried into the cabin +and gave a report of what had occurred, not failing to express his own +opinion of the gallantry of the act. Norah, who had listened with +breathless interest while he spoke, uttered an ejaculation of +thankfulness, forgetting to make any inquiry about the man who had been +saved. Captain Tracy, however, expressed himself much as Owen expected +he would. + +"It was a rash though brave deed," he observed, "but I'll not blame +him--he had no time, evidently, to think of the risk he was running, but +acted as his gallantry prompted him. He did not get any hurt, I hope?" + +"No, father, beyond a thorough wetting--it was all done in a moment--he +was on board again almost before I could have looked round, walking the +deck as if nothing had happened," answered Gerald. + +"I am thankful for that," said the captain; "and where have they stowed +the man he saved? Poor fellow! it would have been hard lines with him, +in such a sea as is still running, if he had not been picked up." + +"The mate put him into his own cabin," said Gerald; "the cook has been +heating some soup for him, as he seemed very weak and pretty nigh +exhausted." + +"Owen might have let him go forward with the men; they would have looked +after him carefully enough," observed Captain Tracy. "There was no +necessity for Owen to give up his own cabin--but he is always generous +and ready to sacrifice his own comforts for others." + +"But the stranger from his way of speaking and dress seems to be an +officer, and he would think himself badly treated if he had been sent +forward," said Gerald. + +"I must hear more about him from Owen," said the captain; "ask him to +come here as soon as he can leave the deck and has got on dry clothes. +How's the weather now, Gerald?" + +"It is moderating rapidly, father, and the mate thinks we shall have +smooth water and a light breeze before night," was the answer. + +When Gerald returned on deck he found the mate giving orders to loose +the topsails. As soon as this was done, the wind still decreasing, the +foresail and mainsail were set, and before long the ship was bounding +proudly over the seas with as much canvas as could be carried. At +length, leaving the deck in charge of the boatswain, Owen repaired to +the cabin and answered many questions put to him by the captain. He +might well have been satisfied with the approbation he received from +Norah, if not from her lips, from those bright blue eyes of hers--even +the captain forgot to scold him as he had intended for his rashness. + +"We shall hear more about the man to-morrow, when he has recovered," he +observed; "he'll need a long rest, for he must have pretty well given up +all hope of his life when you saved him, till the ship hove in sight-- +and even then he could scarcely expect to be picked up with the sea +there was running at the time. Well, I trust that he'll be grateful." + +The captain then made inquiries about the sick men, of whom Owen was +able to give a favourable report. + +"Thank God for that!" said the captain. "I feel myself quite another +man to what I have been for many a day, and I hope to-morrow to be on +deck again. If this stranger proves to be a seaman he may give you some +relief by doing duty on board; you've had a trying time of it, Owen, and +it is a mercy you've not knocked up." + +Owen now bade the captain and mistress Norah good night, and went on +deck, when he desired the boatswain--the only person besides himself to +whom the charge of the ship could be confided--to turn in, that he might +relieve him in the next watch, should the weather continue to improve as +he hoped it would do. He was not disappointed; when the morning broke, +the ship was running on before a fair and moderate breeze. The rest of +the usual canvas was set, and under all sail the _Ouzel Galley_ made +good way towards her destination. With a thankful heart, soon after +breakfast, Norah accompanied her father on deck. The other sick men +were able to crawl up and enjoy the fresh air, their pallid faces +showing, however, how near death's door they had been. It was evident +that some time must elapse before they would be fit for duty. The +stranger had not yet made his appearance; but Dan, who had dried his +clothes, had taken them into the cabin, and reported that he was at +length awake and expressed his intention of getting up. Norah was +seated with her father under an awning stretched over the poop-deck, +where both shade and air could be enjoyed. When the stranger came up +the companion-hatch, the first person he saw was Owen. He put out his +hand. + +"Though I got but a glimpse of you last night, you are, I am sure, the +man who hauled me off the raft, and I will again thank you heartily for +saving my life," he said, in a frank tone. "I find that I have deprived +you of your cabin; you must stow me elsewhere for the rest of the +voyage, for I must not continue to incommode you." + +"There is another berth I can take, so don't talk about that," answered +Owen. + +"As you wish," said the stranger, who having, to his own satisfaction it +may be, expressed his thanks, took a seaman-like glance round the ship. +As he did so, his eye fell on Norah and the captain. An expression of +surprise crossed his countenance, succeeded by a look of admiration, as +he beheld Norah, who appeared even more beautiful and attractive than +usual, her colour heightened by the fresh breeze and her heart joyous +with the thoughts of her father's recovery. She withdrew her gaze, +which had naturally been turned towards the stranger who had thus +unexpectedly appeared. He at once, guessing who the captain and his +daughter were, stepped on to the poop and advanced towards them. +Doffing his sea-cap with the manners of a man accustomed to the world, +he bowed to the young lady, and then addressed the captain. "I have +come without any formal invitation on board your ship, sir, but faith, I +hadn't my choice--your mate hauled me on board without asking whether I +wished it or no; and, to confess the truth, I am very much obliged to +him, for had he stopped to inquire I should not have had the opportunity +of answering, as in another moment I should have been carried to lie +where many a brave fellow sleeps, at the bottom of the sea. I am +therefore indebted to him for saving my life--what he did, he did well +and gallantly, at no slight risk of losing his own." + +"I am thankful that he succeeded," answered Captain Tracy; "and, for my +part, all I can say is that you are very welcome on board--and glad I am +to see you so much recovered this morning." + +"A night's rest has worked wonders--yesterday evening I felt very much +unlike myself, but I am now strong and well as usual." The stranger +took two or three turns on deck to verify his assertion; again stopping, +in an off-hand style he inquired how long the ship had been out, what +weather had been met with, and where she was bound for--though, +curiously enough, he did not offer to give any account of himself, +apparently intending to let the captain put any questions to him on the +subject he might think fit. Norah, not being destitute of the curiosity +natural to her sex, was longing to learn who the stranger was--yet she +did not like to ask him herself. She waited, hoping that her father +would do so. She could at length restrain herself no longer. + +"Had you been long in the water, sir?" she inquired. + +"Five or six hours, I believe, more or less," he answered, smiling. +"By-the-by, I must apologise for not having before given an account of +myself. To the best of my belief, I am the only survivor of the gallant +fellows who manned the _Dragon_ privateer, of which I had the honour to +be first officer. She carried sixteen guns and a crew of 110 hands, all +told." + +"A privateer!" exclaimed Captain Tracy. "What flag did you sail under? +Has England again gone to war? We had heard nothing of it before we +left Port Royal." + +"Oh, that is not surprising--it is scarcely six weeks since England +declared war against France," replied the stranger. "We knew what was +in the wind, and sailed from Bristol, to which port the _Dragon_ +belonged, immediately the news reached us, in search of French +homeward-bound ships, hoping to get hold of them before they had heard +of the breaking out of war. We had, as you may judge, a quick run to +the southward, having on our way made three captures, and by having to +send prize crews away in them our strength was considerably diminished. +Still our captain, Simon Avery--you may have heard of him, sir--was not +the man to give up while there was a chance of falling in with other +vessels. Short-handed as we were, we had to keep watch and watch; and +yesterday morning, while the watch below were asleep, and most of the +hands on deck much in the same state, the ship was struck by a squall, +and before sheet or brace could be let go, over she went and began to +fill. I had just time, with three others, to get hold of a half-hatch, +to cut some spars adrift, and to shove off to a distance, when down she +went, carrying with her every soul on board. I don't wish to harrow the +young lady's feelings by describing the scene. A few floated up and +shouted out for help, but we couldn't give it, for our own raft was +already loaded. Before many minutes were over, even the stoutest +swimmers had sunk beneath the surface. I had got hold of an axe and a +coil of rope, and we managed to lash the spars to a grating. While so +employed, one of the men slipped off; as he couldn't swim, he was +drowned, and thus we had more room. The sea rapidly got up, and now +another of my companions was washed away, and then the last. I secured +myself to the raft, resolved to struggle for life while I had strength; +but had not, fortunately, your ship stood towards me, and your brave +mate gallantly hauled me on board, I should to a certainty have been +lost." + +"I am very thankful, sir, that my mate was the means of saving you," +said Captain Tracy; "you cannot praise him too highly. He has sailed +with me since he first came to sea, and though he took to the life +somewhat later than most people do, he has become a better seaman than +many of his elders." + +"I don't doubt it, sir; I should judge from his looks that he is all you +describe him to be," answered the stranger. + +"You say," resumed Captain Tracy, "that the English and French are at +loggerheads again--can you tell me whether any king's ships have been +sent out for the protection of our commerce, or, what is of more +consequence to us, whether many French privateers are already afloat?" + +"As to that, it was reported that a fleet was fitting out at Portsmouth +with all despatch to be placed under the command of Sir Edward Hawke; +and it was said that Admiral Byng was to be sent to the Mediterranean +with a squadron. Another fleet was already at sea, under the command of +Admiral Holburne; and the news has arrived that he came up with and +attacked the French fleet, commanded by Admiral Macnamara, off the +American coast, and captured two 64-gun ships, with a considerable +number of troops on board. It is evident, therefore, that the English +are no longer asleep, as they have been for some time past, and are +intending to carry on the war with vigour. With regard to the +Frenchmen, they are pretty wide awake, though they may not have expected +to be attacked so suddenly; and as far as I was able to learn, they have +not been slow in sending both men-of-war and privateers to sea--and I +would advise you to stand clear of any strange sail we may fall in with: +it is wiser to avoid a friend than to run the risk of being caught by a +foe." + +"This is bad news indeed you give me, sir," said Captain Tracy, "though +I have to thank you for it, as it is better to be forewarned; and you +may depend on it, I will follow your advice. Had I thought it likely +that war would break out, I should not have brought my young daughter to +sea; but she was anxious to come as she had no one to look after her, +and I intended this to be my last voyage, for I have knocked about +enough on the ocean to long to settle down quietly on shore. We know +that we must run all risks, but I cannot bear the thought of what might +happen should we be captured by a picarooning privateer, for most of +them are but little better than pirates." He said this in a low voice, +aside, to the stranger, intending that Norah should not hear him. + +"I sincerely hope that we shall not fall in with a Frenchman of any +quality, either a man-of-war or one of the picarooning rascals you speak +of," answered the stranger, in a somewhat sarcastic tone. + +"Well, Mr--I beg your pardon, you haven't mentioned your name--I have +again to thank you for the information and advice you have given me, and +I hope you'll find yourself at home on board this chip. We're pretty +well provisioned, and we'll not starve you, at all events," said Captain +Tracy. + +"Thank you, captain, I have no fear about the matter," answered the +stranger; "and as to my name, I quite forgot to give it. Indeed, you +are not likely to have heard of me before, for I have been knocking +about in distant seas for most of my life--it is Lancelot Carnegan. I +hail from Ireland, as you may suppose; and perhaps you may have already +discovered a touch of the brogue--but it has been well-nigh washed out +of me; still, though we children of Erin roam the world over, we never +entirely get rid of our mother tongue." + +"Bad luck to us if we do," answered the captain, laughing. "I might +have guessed that you came from the old country--and now you'll have an +opportunity, if you wish to remain when we reach harbour, of renewing +your acquaintance with it and any friends you may have." + +"There are few, if any, who know me," answered Mr Carnegan. "I played +truant at an early age, and have seldom since then set foot on my native +shore." + +Norah had made no attempt to join in the conversation. The new-comer, +now turning towards her, addressed her in a deferential tone, and with a +look which clearly showed the admiration he felt. He inquired how she +liked the West Indies, and what parts of the islands she had seen, and +whether she enjoyed being at sea. They were but commonplace questions, +but his manner encouraged her to speak freely, and she described with +much graphic power the scenery and places she had visited. + +"I delight in the sea," she added. "I enjoy it in all weathers; and +even when a storm has been raging I have felt no fear, for I knew that +the good ship is sound, and that those in command were well able to +manage her. I should have been ready to accompany my father in as many +more voyages as he might wish to make, and it is not I who have +persuaded him to quit the sea. I fear, indeed, that he will soon get +tired of the quiet life he will lead on shore." + +A complimentary remark was rising to Mr Carnegan's lips, but he +restrained himself, not quite certain how it might be taken, and merely +said, "Captain Tracy will have no cause, I am sure, to regret his +choice. Though I love the sea, I confess that I often long to take up +my abode in some romantic spot in the old country, with the +companionship of one whose happiness I could watch over. In truth, I +could gladly spend the remainder of my days far away from war and +strife, and out of sight even of the stormy ocean--for, should I catch a +glimpse of that, I might at times be tempted to wish myself again +bounding over the buoyant wave." + +The speaker perhaps expected to see Norah cast down her eyes as he +addressed her; but she looked up with a steady glance, and laughingly +answered, "If you think that, you have very little confidence in your +own resolution." + +Mr Carnegan was about to reply, when the captain observed, "Let me +advise you, sir, to keep to the sea, unless you have some better calling +in view. An idle life on shore won't suit you, a young man of spirit; +and those who try it have to repent of their folly. But you will excuse +me when I say that I think you would find as honourable employment in +the merchant service as on board a privateer--not but that I am ready to +allow that many gallant fellows engage in that sort of work; though, +when you look at it in its true light, privateering is but licenced +robbery at the best." + +"I cannot say that I so view it," observed Mr Carnegan; "while +benefiting ourselves and lining our own pockets, we are serving the +country. We capture our foes in fair and open fight, while we run the +risk of being taken ourselves. However, to prove to you that I don't +despise the merchant service, as you appear to be rather short-handed, I +shall be happy to do duty on board as one of your mates, if you will +trust me. I don't ask for wages, but it will be a satisfaction to me to +feel that I am working my passage home." + +"I don't doubt your knowledge of seamanship and navigation, and gladly +accept your offer," answered the captain. + +Mr Carnegan was accordingly duly installed in the office of second mate +of the _Ouzel Galley_. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE STRANGER--MR. CARNEGAN SHOWS HIS +ADMIRATION OF NORAH--APPROACHING IRELAND--A CONFESSION--A SAIL IN +SIGHT--CHASED--THE ENEMY GAINS ON THE OUZEL GALLEY--NORAH AND GERALD +SENT INTO THE HOLD--THE FIGHT BEGINS--THE OUZEL GALLEY HOLDS OUT +BRAVELY, BUT IS RAPIDLY OVERTAKEN--BOTH MATES WOUNDED--THE FRENCHMEN +BOARD THE OUZEL GALLEY--GERALD DEFENDS NORAH--THE FRENCH CAPTAIN'S +COURTESY--THE OUZEL GALLEY IN THE HANDS OF THE FRENCHMEN--THE COQUILLE +GOES OFF IN CHASE--A SLEEP-LOVING LIEUTENANT--AN IDEA OCCURS TO GERALD. + +The wind continued fair and the weather fine, and the _Ouzel Galley_ +made good progress on her voyage. Norah was not free from anxiety with +regard to her father, who had sufficiently recovered his strength to +come on deck and carry on duty, but she longed to get him safe on shore, +where alone she believed he would be restored to his usual health. The +new mate showed himself to be a good seaman, and was evidently +accustomed to command, as far as the captain could judge by the way in +which he trimmed sails and issued his orders to the crew. They obeyed +him as seamen always do an officer whom they look upon as a good +sailor--not that they were particularly disposed to like him, for he +never spoke to any of them except to tell them what to do, and his tone +was always that of a person who intended to have his orders carried out. +Had he come on board in the ordinary way, they would have taken this as +a matter of course; but Pompey had expressed his opinion that there was +some mystery about him--he might be a true man, but it was possible that +he might be of the character of the well-known Flying Dutchman, and had +appeared only for the sake of betraying them. The rest of the crew were +well disposed to take up this opinion; indeed, few believed that a +mortal man could have survived on the raft in the heavy sea there was +running at the time; and Mr Carnegan was more narrowly watched than he +suspected. + +"I tell you what, mates," observed Pompey one evening, when he and two +or three of his especial chums were seated together in the forecastle, +"you may be sartain sure no good will come of having this stranger +aboard. Why de captain make him mate is more than I can tell. De oder +night, as he walked the deck shouting out to de hand on de fore-topsail +yard-arm, I see a flame of fire come of his mouth, and den I says to +myself, `I know who you are.' I tell you only what true, as I am living +man." + +"Shure, he was only knocking the ashes out of his pipe," remarked Dan +Connor; "it's one he brought on board with him, and I've seen him smoke +it many a time." + +"He may have a pipe, but dat was no pipe he was smoking den," answered +the black. + +"I ain't quite sure but as how Pompey isn't right," remarked Tom Stokes, +an English seaman. "I've heard say that the Flying Dutchman he was +speaking of plays all sorts of tricks to get aboard; sometimes he comes +alongside in a boat with a bundle of letters, and woe betide the crew +who take them on board! Their ship's doomed, and will be sure to blow +up, or be burnt, or go to the bottom, or run on a sunken reef. To my +mind, half the ships that are cast away are lost by some such trick as +that. Maybe he thinks he's been found out, and is now trying a new +dodge; if I had my will, we'd lay him by the heels some dark night and +heave him overboard--it's the only chance there is of saving the ship." + +Meantime the subject of these remarks would have been very indifferent +to them had he heard what was said. He was doing his best to ingratiate +himself with the captain and his fair daughter. Whenever Norah was on +deck he was sure to be there also, and was always ready to assist her +when the sea was running somewhat high and the ship was tumbling about +more than usual. She appeared to receive these attentions as a matter +of course, and always thanked him courteously. She could not, however, +fail to remark that, where-ever he was standing, his eye was directed +towards her; and especially, if her father and Owen were below, that he +invariably drew near to enter into conversation. It is possible that +she may have suspected the admiration she had excited, but she certainly +never, by word, or look, or manner, did anything to encourage him. He +also was on his guard not to say anything which might annoy or alarm +her, while his manner was always deferential. He continued on friendly +terms with Owen, and always spoke good-naturedly to Gerald, taking +evident pleasure in describing the countries he had visited and the +strange scenes he had witnessed, to which the boy always eagerly +listened. Although the ship was short-handed, as it was of the greatest +importance to get home as soon as possible, all sail which could be +prudently set was carried night and day. At that period it was the +custom on board merchant vessels to shorten sail at night, go that +should the ship be caught by a squall she might the better be prepared +for it; but as the two mates now took watch and watch during the hours +of darkness, they allowed all the sails to remain standing which had +been carried during the day. A bright look-out was kept from the +mast-head from sunrise to sunset, and occasionally when a strange sail +was seen, as soon as it was ascertained in what direction she was +steering, the course was changed to avoid her. As each day brought the +_Ouzel Galley_ nearer to the shores of Ireland, the captain's spirits +rose, as did his hopes of getting in safe. The second mate seemed quite +as anxious on the subject as any one else on board; but Pompey was not +yet satisfied. + +"We're not in yet," he whispered to Dan Connor. "Why he not send de +ship to de bottom before dis I not know; but you see--he play some +scurvy trick before he done wid us." + +Fortunately for the second mate, the rest of the crew were not so deeply +imbued with Pompey's opinions as to induce them to act according to his +advice; but they still regarded Mr Carnegan with suspicion, though they +obeyed his commands with as much alacrity as at first. Several other +strange sail were seen in the distance, and as before carefully avoided. +The ship had got to about the latitude of Lisbon. + +"How soon may we expect to get into port?" asked Norah of her father. + +"If the wind holds fair, another week will carry us safe up to the quay +of Waterford," answered the captain; "but we may meet with a head wind, +and it may be a fortnight or three weeks before we make the land--but +we'll hope for the best, and it will not be for lack of doing all that +seamen can do if we don't succeed." + +The sea was smooth, the wind being from the southward, while a light +mist prevented the sun's rays being over oppressive. Norah as usual +went on deck after breakfast with her work and a book. Owen was below; +it was the second mate's watch, and soon after she had taken her seat he +approached her. + +"In a few days, Miss Tracy, we shall be doomed to part," he said, "It +may be that, compelled by a cruel fate to wander over the world, I may +never again meet you; but, believe me, the time I have spent on board +this ship I shall ever look upon as the happiest of my life." + +"You are very good to say so," answered Norah, "though I should have +supposed, from the account you have given of yourself, that you would +have met with many other opportunities of enjoying life far more than +you could have done on board the _Ouzel Galley_." + +"It is not the place, Miss Tracy, but the person with whom one is +associated, on which one's happiness depends. I speak from the depths +of my heart--if I could hope to enjoy existence with you, I would not +exchange my lot for that of the proudest monarch on earth," said Mr +Carnegan. + +Before Norah could reply, the look-out from the mast-head shouted, "A +sail on the larboard bow!" At that instant, as he spoke, the captain +came on deck, followed by Owen. + +"What course is she steering?" asked the former. + +"About south-east, sir, close-hauled," was the answer. + +While the captain was speaking Owen had gone forward, and was now making +his way up the fore-rigging. He quickly reached the mast-head; he had +not been there many seconds before the breeze freshening blew away the +mist, disclosing to view a large ship under all sail, her hull already +rising above the horizon. Unslinging his glass, he directed it towards +her. + +"What does she look like?" asked the captain. + +"She is flush-decked, and I make out ten ports on a side, sir," answered +Owen from aloft. Saying this, he quickly came down on deck, from whence +the movements of the stranger, which was standing directly across the +course the _Ouzel Galley_ was steering, could be discerned as well as +from the mast-head. + +"If we hold on as we are now we shall be within range of her guns in +less than an hour, and I much fear that she is an enemy, sir," said +Owen, as he came up to the captain. + +"We'll do our best, then, to keep out of her way," was the answer. +"Port the helm--man the larboard braces--ease off the starboard braces +and bowlines! We'll stand away to the sou'-west till we run her out of +sight; it will cause us some delay, but it will be better than running +the risk of capture." + +The two mates and Gerald, with all hands, went to the ropes, while the +captain taking the helm, the ship was brought on a wind, the mizen, +which had hitherto been furled, being also set, and the _Ouzel Galley_ +stood away on a bowline under all sail to the south-east. + +"She has the look of a fast craft, and is probably strong-handed," +observed the second mate. + +"We shall soon see which has, notwithstanding, the faster pair of +heels--the _Ouzel Galley_ is no sluggard, Mr Carnegan, and we may still +hope to run the stranger out of sight. Let her go along, my lad," said +the captain to the man at the helm; "she sails best two points off the +wind; we'll run on till dark, Owen, and if by that time the stranger +isn't to be seen, we'll tack, and may chance to give her the go-by." + +"I trust we may, sir," said Owen, in a tone of some doubt; "we have the +advantage of being well to windward, though, as Mr Carnegan was +observing, if she has a strong crew she can tack in half the time we +can, and we couldn't do better than to stand on till nightfall, as you +propose, and then try to give her the slip." + +The eyes of all on board were naturally turned towards the stranger. As +yet, however, it was difficult to say whether or not she was gaining on +them. Norah saw that her father and his mates were anxious on the +subject, but, being sure that they were acting for the best, restrained +her own feelings--yet, as may be supposed, she could not help reflecting +what might be her and her father's fate should the stranger prove to be +an enemy and capture them. She had often heard of the cruelties to +which the prisoners of privateers were exposed, and she was well aware +of her father's hatred to the system, although privateering was +generally allowed to be honourable and lawful. The stranger, though an +enemy, might be a king's ship; and, if so, she might hope to receive +courteous treatment from the French officers. Though she had resolved +not to ask questions, she listened to her father's and Owen's opinions +as to the character of the stranger. At noon, which soon arrived, the +captain and his mates came on the poop to take an observation in order +to ascertain the ship's position. They had before this run some way to +the northward of the latitude of Lisbon. + +"Sure, it's enough to provoke a saint," exclaimed Gerald, who was +accustomed to express himself somewhat vehemently; "if it hadn't been +for that fellow out there we should have been half across the Bay of +Biscay by this time or to-morrow. I only hope, if he comes up with us, +that we'll be after giving him a good drubbing; it will serve him right +if we send him to the bottom." + +"What, do you think our father intends to fight the strange ship, should +she prove to be an enemy?" asked Norah, with some natural trepidation in +her voice. + +"I'm sure we're not going to be taken, and lose the ship and our cargo, +and be made prisoners and ruined without having a fight for it," +answered Gerald, "especially as Owen says that he feels pretty sure she +is a privateer. Why he thinks so, I can't quite make out, except that +her masts rake more than those of most men-of-war and her sails are cut +somewhat differently--it is impossible to be certain." + +"Grant Heaven that, if there is a fight, our father and you and Owen may +be preserved!" murmured Norah. + +"They wouldn't fight without a good hope of success--but we must run our +chance," said Gerald, laughing; "but, you know, we shall stow you down +in the hold among the cargo safe enough." + +"Oh no, no! I hope if there is a fight that I may be allowed to remain +on deck, or at least in the cabin, where I may be ready to help any who +are hurt," exclaimed Norah. + +"That would never do," answered Gerald; "you might be hit as well as +anybody else, and you wouldn't like to have a leg or an arm shot off." + +Poor Norah shuddered at the thoughtless remark of her brother. Gerald +observed the expression of her countenance. + +"I didn't intend to frighten you," he said; "I hope that none of us will +be hurt--only of course there's a risk, and we must save you from being +exposed to it. We shall only make a running fight of it, and try to +knock away some of the enemy's spars and prevent her from following us. +If she were to come up with us, she is so much bigger than we are, and +so much more heavily armed, with probably six times as many hands, that +we should have no chance in a broadside fight." + +"If we are captured what will happen?" asked Norah. + +"I suppose we shall be carried into a French port, and be kept prisoners +till the war is over, and you and I must learn to talk French. It won't +be so very bad, after all, so you needn't look so grave, Norah," +answered Gerald. + +"It will break our poor father's heart, I fear," answered Norah, "and +Owen will be miserable." + +"Well, then, though wishing it won't exactly help us, we'll hope to +escape, and that none of the dreadful things you expect will happen," +said Gerald. + +Though Gerald made light of the matter, others on board did not do so. +From the first Owen had had little doubt that the ship chasing them was +French. The captain differed from him, but agreed that she was probably +a privateer. Though her masts raked, so did those of many British +ships, especially of those sailing from Jersey and Guernsey, while there +was nothing that he could see remarkable about the cut of her sails. +The second mate expressed no opinion. After a time, however, a cloud +was seen to gather on his brow. + +"I thought you boasted of this craft being remarkably fast," he observed +to Owen. "Now, as far as I can judge, that ship yonder is sailing +nearly two feet to our one, and will be within hail of us before dark." + +"She sails faster than we do, I acknowledge; but you over-estimate her +speed," answered Owen. "I still expect that we shall keep well ahead of +her till dark, and we may then alter our course and escape." + +"I tell you your hopes are vain; yonder ship is as fast a craft as any +out of a French port--we haven't a chance of escaping her," replied Mr +Carnegan. + +"You know her, then?" answered Owen. + +"I have seen her more than once--before the war broke out, of course-- +and, from her size and the weight of her metal, if we attempt to fight +her we shall be sent to the bottom," was the answer. + +"The captain intends to try and knock her spars away, and thus to enable +us to escape," said Owen. + +"She is more likely to send our masts over the side than to suffer any +harm our popguns can do her," observed the second mate. + +Captain Tracy, who had been watching the stranger for some time, now +summoned them both and asked their opinion. They repeated what they had +before said. "Owen, we can trust our crew?" he observed. + +"Even the sick men would be ready to fight--we can depend on all of +them," said Owen. + +"Then we'll train two guns aft, and fight them as long as our own masts +stand," exclaimed Captain Tracy. "Hoist our ensign, that there may be +no mistake--though I own that I have now little doubt of that fellow +being a Frenchman. We shall soon see--yes--there, up goes the white +flag with the lilies of France; it won't be long before she is within +range." + +"I think not, sir," observed the second mate, "and if you take my advice +you will not attempt to fight--even if we do knock away a spar or two, +with her crew of not less than a hundred and twenty men, I'll warrant +she'll speedily repair her damages; and as she carries heavy metal, if I +mistake not, her first broadside will send us to the bottom." + +The captain made no reply. "Gerald," he said, "take your sister down to +the hold--Dan Connor and Tim will arrange a secure place for her, and I +put her under your charge--remember, you're to remain with her, and not +to return on deck till I send for you." + +Gerald looked very much disappointed, but he well knew that it would be +vain to expostulate. He had fully expected to engage in the fight, or +to "take part in the fun," as he called it. Norah had before this gone +into the cabin, to which Gerald repaired, and with no very good grace +delivered their father's orders. Without a murmur Norah prepared to +obey them. The second mate and some of the men were engaged in dragging +one of the guns aft. As she came on deck, Norah found her father +standing near the companion-hatch. Embracing her, he kissed her brow +and said, "Don't be alarmed, my child; we shall manage to escape the +Frenchman, I hope, and come off without damage. Go into your nest, now, +with Gerald, and I hope before long I shall have a good report to give +you." + +As she went forwards towards the main hatchway she glanced at Owen; he +sprang to her side and without stopping to ask leave assisted her below. +It was a dreary place which had been prepared for her among +sugar-hogsheads, rum casks, and packages of other West India produce. +Dan Connor, who had been till that moment busy in arranging it, appeared +with a lantern to light them the latter part of the way. Norah looked +with no little dismay at the dark recess in which she and Gerald were to +pass the period of the impending action. + +"Shure, Miss Norah, you'll find it more aisy and pleasant than you think +for," said Dan, who observed the expression of her countenance, "when +the lantern's hung up, as I'll be doing to give you light; and I'd make +bold to say that if you'd brought a book to read, or just some work to +amuse yourself, you'd be after finding the time pass pleasantly enough +away." + +Norah, as may be imagined, felt little disposed to read or work, or to +fancy that the time could pass pleasantly. She almost smiled at the +idea. It appeared to her that it would be the most dreadful period of +her existence. On entering, however, she found that Dan had arranged a +seat with some cushions and a grating to keep her feet off any moisture +which might have oozed out of the casks, Dan secured the lantern, as he +proposed, to a sugar cask, while Owen pressed Norah's hand. + +"Hope for the best, dearest," he whispered. "I'd have given worlds to +save you from this; but we can trust to One who rules all things for +protection, and we may still escape the threatened danger. A calm may +come on before the Frenchman gets up with us, or an English ship of +superior force may heave in sight--hope for the best; I must stay no +longer. Gerald, you heard the captain's orders--let nothing induce you +to quit your sister. I know your spirit, and that you'd rather be on +deck; but your duty is to remain below, and by doing your duty, however +much against the grain it may be, you'll be showing truer courage than +by going where round shot and bullets may be flying round your head like +hail." + +"You are right, Mr Massey, and you may depend on my not quitting Norah, +whatever happens;" and Gerald sat himself down on a tub which Dan had +placed for him, and resolutely folded his arms as if he felt that in no +other way could he keep his post. The next moment Owen sprang upon +deck, followed by Dan. Never before had Owen Massey been so anxious to +avoid a fight--indeed, all on board were, for various reasons, much of +the same mind. Captain Tracy was resolved to escape if he could, and to +fight only if it would enable him to do so. The hope that a British +ship of war might heave in sight had only just occurred to Owen when +below with Norah, and as soon as he returned on deck he went up to the +mast-head, almost expecting to see another ship standing towards the +enemy; but though he swept the whole horizon with his glass, not a sail +appeared in sight, and he had quickly to descend to attend to his +duties. The crew, meantime, were bringing up powder and shot from +below, and loading the guns. Two of the longest pieces had already been +run out astern; they were of brass, and of small bore, but were able to +send a shot as far as most guns in use in those days. The others were +smaller pieces, carried for the purpose of defending the ship, should +she be attacked by any of the picaroons, at that time the pest of the +Caribbean Sea. When Owen again looked out, he saw that the enemy had +considerably overhauled them since he went below. Had he before +entertained any doubt about the character of the vessel chasing them, it +completely vanished, and his experienced eye assured him that she must +be a French privateer. The wind also continued as steady as at first, +and with deep regret he was convinced that the stranger was superior to +the _Ouzel Galley_ on any point of sailing, whether before the wind, +going free, or close-hauled; while her numerous crew would give her +every possible advantage in manoeuvring, or repairing damages should any +of her spars or rigging be knocked away. + +Meantime, poor Norah and her brother remained in their dark cell far +down in the hold of the ship, listening anxiously for any sounds which +might betoken the commencement of the action. The air was close and +redolent of unsavoury odours, and would of itself have been sufficient +to weigh down their young hearts; it might be a place of safety, but +they would both of them infinitely rather have been on deck and able to +see what was going forward. Norah sat with her hands clasped on the +couch Dan had arranged for her; while Gerald, soon losing patience, got +up, and, as there was no room to pace backwards and forwards, could only +give vent to his feelings by an occasional stamp of the foot, as he +doubled his fists and struck out at an imaginary Frenchman. + +"Oh, I do hope we shall thrash that fellow," he exclaimed, "big as he +looks. I am glad our father didn't determine to give in without +fighting. It wouldn't have been like him if he had, though the second +mate advised him to do so. I should have thought Mr Carnegan was full +of pluck, but he appeared to me to show the white feather, and I'm not +at all sure how he'll behave--not that it much matters, for I am very +certain that Owen will make the men stand to their guns as long as +there's a shot in the locker." + +"I only hope that we may avoid fighting altogether," said Norah. "Owen +thought it possible that an English man-of-war might appear in sight and +put the enemy to flight, or that we may keep ahead till nightfall, and +then manage to escape." + +"Depend upon it, the Frenchman is coming up much too fast to give us any +chance of keeping ahead till dark--we must not expect that. I have more +confidence in our knocking away some of his spars; Owen is a first-rate +shot, and if it can be done he'll do it. Don't be cast down, Norah; it +would never have done for you to remain where you might have run the +risk of being hit. Our father was right in sending you here, though I +wish he had allowed me to stay on deck--but then, you see, you couldn't +be left alone; and if, after all, the Frenchmen do take us, why, there +would have been no one to protect you. That consoles me for remaining +here, and if the worst happens I'll fight for you. See, I've brought a +cutlass, and a brace of pistols, and it would be a hard matter for any +one to get in here without my leave." + +"Oh, it would be dreadful!" cried Norah, shuddering at the thought of +the ship being captured--for she could not conceal from herself that +such might too probably be the case. "Don't attempt to fight if any of +our enemies should find their way down here--it would be utterly +useless, and only exasperate them." + +"Well, perhaps they won't find their way down here," said Gerald, who +directly he had uttered anything calculated to alarm his sister was +anxious to remedy the mistake; "let us try and talk of something else, +and wait patiently for what may happen." + +The proposal was not as easily carried out as made; in another minute +Gerald was again talking of what might or might not occur. Some time +went by. "Hark! hark! what is that?" exclaimed Norah suddenly, as the +boom of a gun, which from its faintness showed that it must have been +fired at a distance, reached their ears. + +"There comes the first shot, but it didn't strike us--the Frenchman is +trying whether he has got us within range," said Gerald. + +"It shows, though, that the enemy must be very near," cried Norah. + +"It will be the sooner over," said Gerald. "We shall hear our guns go +off soon--they'll make a much greater noise; but don't be frightened, +Norah dear--they, at all events, will not injure you." + +"I am not thinking of myself," answered Norah, "but for those on deck, +and for our poor father--he is still so ill and so little able to bear +all this anxiety--and for Owen, should they be struck by those dreadful +cannon-balls." + +"The round shot, you mean," said Gerald; "but they are not to be so much +dreaded, after all. They may fall pretty thickly aboard without doing +any harm. I've heard some of our men who were in the last war say that +they've known ships firing away at each other for an hour or more +without anybody being hit. Hark! there's another gun; that came from +the enemy, but the shot missed us. I wonder we don't begin to fire--we +soon shall, though, no doubt about that. I wish that I had brought down +the boat's compass with us, to know how we were steering; we are +keeping, however, on the same tack as before--I can tell that by the +heel of the ship." + +Norah, while Gerald was talking, held her breath, expecting every moment +to hear the guns go off with a loud roar, not aware how much the sound +would be deadened before it reached the hold. Neither she nor Gerald +had at first observed the increased motion of the ship, or that she was +heeling over to larboard considerably more than at first. Gerald now, +however, remarked it. + +"The breeze has freshened," he exclaimed, "though I don't know if that +will be in our favour. I wish that our father had not told me to stay +here without moving--I would run upon deck to see how things are going +on, and be back in a moment." + +"Gerald, not for my sake but for your own, I earnestly pray you to +remain--remember, our father ordered you not to leave this, whatever +might happen," exclaimed Norah. + +"Yes, I know that; I was only saying what I should like to do," answered +Gerald. + +Nearly another minute elapsed, during which not a word was spoken; then +came a much louder report than had before been heard. + +"That was one of our guns, I am sure of it," exclaimed Gerald; though, +from its deadness, Norah could scarcely believe that it was from one of +the _Ouzel Galley's_ guns. + +"Hurrah! we've begun at last," cried Gerald, "no fear; I shouldn't be +surprised to find that the shot had knocked away one of the enemy's +topsail yards." + +Another and another gun followed in rapid succession; at intervals could +be clearly distinguished the firing of the enemy's guns, and every now +and then a report succeeded by a loud thud, showing that the shot had +struck some part of the _Ouzel Galley_. + +"Fire away, my boys, fire away!" shouted Gerald. "I wish that I could +be on deck, even if I'd nothing better to do than hand up the powder!" + +Norah again entreated him to remain. For some time the firing +continued, but from the sound of the enemy's guns it was pretty clear +that the ships had not yet got to close quarters. + +"Sure, we must be giving it them," cried Gerald. Scarcely had he spoken +when there came a loud crashing sound, as if one of the masts had been +knocked away and had fallen on the deck. Cries and shrieks of injured +men writhing in pain penetrated even to the depths of the hold. + +"Oh that some one would come and tell us what has happened!" exclaimed +Norah. "I wonder our father or Owen don't send--it must be something +dreadful." + +"I've heard of ships holding out, even though a mast has been shot +away," said Gerald; "we don't know what has happened to the enemy-- +perhaps she is worse off than we are." + +Not another gun was fired from the deck of the _Ouzel Galley_; that was +a bad sign, and presently afterwards there came a violent concussion and +a grating sound, as if one ship had run alongside the other. + +"Gerald, oh, what is taking place?" cried Norah, seizing her brother's +hand. + +"We are about to be boarded, or perhaps we are going to board the +enemy," he answered; "I don't see why one thing shouldn't happen as well +as the other." + +"I am afraid it is as you first suggested," said Norah. "Hark to those +loud shouts; they are the voices of Frenchmen--they must have boarded +us. I hear their feet tramping on deck, and there they come down below. +Our people must have been quickly overpowered; what resistance could +such a mere handful offer to the numerous crew of the enemy? Oh! our +poor father and Owen--can they wish us to remain here? They may be +wounded and bleeding to death, and may require our help." + +It was now Gerald's turn to insist on obeying orders. "Norah, Norah! +stay where you are," he exclaimed. "Should the Frenchmen have boarded +us, you might meet them, and we can't tell how they might behave. If +any come here they'll have to repent their audacity," he added, placing +himself with a pistol in one hand and a cutlass in the other at the +entrance of Norah's retreat. + +"I must fight for you if they come down here--it is my duty, and I'll do +it," answered Gerald to his sister's expostulations; for she dreaded +lest, by offering resistance, he might induce the enemy to kill him. +He, however, would not listen to her entreaties. "At all events, don't +speak, Norah," he said; "the Frenchmen may hear us and find us out-- +whereas if we remain quiet we may escape discovery till the boarders +have gone back to their own ship and ours is left in charge of a prize +crew, and we may be very sure that neither our father nor Owen will be +induced to quit the _Ouzel Galley_ without us." + +Norah saw the prudence of this advice. She wisely also put out the +lantern, the light from which would very certainly have betrayed their +hiding-place. + +We must now return on deck. As soon as Norah and Gerald had gone below, +the captain addressed the crew and asked whether they would stick by him +and assist in making every effort he could devise for escaping. They +one and all declared that they were ready to fight to the last to +preserve the _Ouzel Galley_ from capture and to escape a French prison. + +"Then we'll make a running fight of it, my lads," he said. "The enemy +has probably much heavier metal and many more men than we have, but our +two guns will be of as much service as her twenty if we can keep her as +she now is, right astern--and that's what I intend to do." + +The second mate had narrowly scanned the French ship. "I can tell you +what, Captain Tracy," he said at length, "you haven't a chance of +escaping from her. I know her and her commander well, and not a better +or more determined seaman ever walked the deck of a ship. I have reason +to be grateful to you for the way I have been treated on board this +vessel, and to your first mate for saving my life; and for your own sake +I would advise you to haul down your flag at once and surrender--you +will probably be far better treated than if you lead the Frenchman a +long chase and are taken at last." + +"I am obliged to you for your good intentions in giving the advice you +do," said Captain Tracy, "but my principle is to hold out till the last +hope of success has gone--and we haven't quite arrived at that point +yet. If you don't wish to fight you can go below." + +"You mistake me," answered the second mate, in a somewhat angry tone, +and he walked away. The next instant a puff of smoke was seen to issue +from the bows of the French ship, and a shot came flying across the +water; but it fell short of the _Ouzel Galley_. + +"Stand by to fire our stern-chasers, Mr Massey," sang out the captain, +"but we'll let the enemy find out the range before we throw a shot +away." + +The captain did not fail to keep his eye on the canvas, to be ready to +alter his course should there be the slightest shift of wind. The +second mate continued walking the deck in sullen silence, determined +apparently to take no further part in defence of the ship. Owen stood +ready, match in hand, to fire the stern-chasers. In the course of a few +minutes the Frenchman fired another shot; it went ricocheting over the +water, and passed the quarter of the _Ouzel Galley_. + +"Our guns will carry as far as the Frenchman's," exclaimed the captain. +"Now see what you can do, Owen." + +The first mate, looking along his gun, fired; the shot struck the enemy. +The crew of the _Ouzel Galley_ watched eagerly for the effect of the +shot. It went through the Frenchman's fore-topsail. A loud cheer +showed their satisfaction. + +"Well done, Owen--fire the other and try to wing him," cried the +captain. While the crew were loading the first gun, Owen fired the +second. The captain, who had his glass turned towards the enemy, +shouted, "Hurrah! it's struck the fore-topsail yard." + +The spar, however, remained standing, and some of the Frenchmen were +seen running aloft to fish it. Owen sprang back to the first gun he had +fired, and again discharged it; but the enemy at that moment kept away, +and before what damage it had effected could be seen, clouds of smoke +issued from her, and the shot from her whole broadside came rushing +towards the chase. They were mostly aimed high, and either went through +the sails or passed by without doing any injury; but two struck the +quarter, and another glanced along the side, leaving a long white +furrow. + +"Those shots were well aimed, but if she plays that trick often we shall +have a better chance of escaping," observed the captain, calmly; "try +another shot, Owen." + +The French ship quickly came up to the wind. Owen again fired, and one +of the Frenchmen was seen to drop to the deck. The enemy had now +brought a gun on the forecastle, from which they opened fire in return +to the _Ouzel Galley's_ stern-chasers. Both vessels then fired away as +fast as the guns could be loaded and run out; but though most of Owen's +shot told with some effect, the damage he produced was speedily +repaired, while several of the Frenchmen's shot struck the _Ouzel +Galley_, though as yet no one had been injured. The former was, +however, in the mean time, creeping up nearer and nearer, and also, from +sailing closer to the wind, weathering on the chase. The second mate, +who had been walking the deck with as much calmness as if no fight was +going on, again came up to the captain. + +"I before warned you that it would be useless to contend with yonder +ship," he said, "and before many minutes are over we shall have the shot +from her broadside crashing on board us. By holding out you risk your +own and your people's lives, and the lives of others dear to you--for it +is more than possible that another broadside will send the ship and all +in her to the bottom. We must--" + +Before the captain could reply the enemy fired his two foremost guns, +the shot from which shattering the bulwarks sent pieces of splinter +flying about, one of which struck Carnegan on the arm. + +"It might have been worse," he observed; and after staggering a few +paces he recovered himself. He added, "I will thank some one to bind up +my wound." + +"Shure, I'll be glad enough to do that same," exclaimed Dan Connor; "and +if you'll just step into your cabin, sir, we'll have you all to rights +in a jiffy." + +"I shall not be the only one hit," observed the second mate, as he +allowed Dan to take off his coat. + +Still the captain had not abandoned all hopes of escaping, and kept to +his resolution of persevering to the last. He ordered the guns on the +lee side to be hauled over to windward, and as they could be brought to +bear on the enemy they were fired; but what effect they produced was not +perceptible, as both vessels were encircled in smoke. Several more shot +struck the _Ouzel Galley_, and at length two of her gallant crew fell, +desperately wounded, to the deck, and the next instant a third had his +head taken off. Still no one thought of giving in. + +"We'll shift the stern-chasers, Owen," cried the captain; "they'll soon +be of little use where they are." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered the first mate, and he with several hands began +to haul one of the guns along the deck, when again the enemy fired his +whole broadside. The guns had been elevated--the shot whistled +overhead--a crash was heard, and down came the main-topmast of the +_Ouzel Galley_ on her deck, striking dead another of her crew. The +survivors made a desperate effort to clear the wreck and prevent the +fore-topmast from sharing the same fate, but even the captain now saw +that all hope of escaping the enemy must be abandoned. On looking round +to direct Owen to haul down the ensign, to his grief he saw that he too +was wounded, and apparently severely so from the stream of blood flowing +from his shoulder. At the same moment the French ship, which had +rapidly shot up abeam, ran alongside and, throwing grappling-irons on +board the chase, held her fast, while a party of the enemy headed by an +officer leaped on the deck from the bows. Resistance was vain, but a +few of the British crew instantly attempted to defend themselves with +their cutlasses, the fallen topmast serving as a barricade; but the +Frenchmen scrambling over it, the former were quickly driven aft. Owen +had in the mean time hauled down the ensign by the captain's orders, and +shouted out that they surrendered. The enemy, however, enraged at the +stubborn resistance they had met with, were rushing aft, when the second +mate appeared from the cabin with his arm in a sling and encountered the +officer who led the boarders. + +"You will not injure a beaten foe!" he exclaimed. "You know me, though +you must be surprised to find me where I am. See, my shipmates have +surrendered and can offer no further resistance." + +As he spoke he put out his right hand, which the French officer grasped, +and together they walked aside, where they held a hurried conversation +while the survivors of the crew threw down their weapons. The +Frenchmen, however, while their leader's eye was off them, rushed into +the cabin and began ransacking the lockers and appropriating such +articles as took their fancy. Dan, on observing this, sprang before +them and placed himself at the door of Norah's berth, into which he +would allow no one to enter. + +"You can't come in here, mounseers," he exclaimed; "shure, you'll be too +polite to frighten a lady out of her wits--and it's already fright +enough she's had with hearing all the hullabaloo you've been after +making." + +Dan hoped by this artifice to prevent the Frenchmen searching for Norah, +which he was afraid they might have done had they broken into the cabin +and discovered female gear. As it was, he made them understand that the +captain's wife was the occupant of the cabin. + +Meantime Owen, overcome by loss of blood, sank exhausted on the deck. +The French officer, a fair, slightly built man, with more the appearance +of a Briton than a Gaul, now approached Captain Tracy and addressed him +in English with but little French accent. "I must compliment you on +your bravery, though I cannot do so on your discretion in attempting to +resist me," he said. "Your vessel has become my prize, and, as I +understand that your cargo is of value, I must send you into a French +port; but having heard that you have the yellow fever on board, I will +not remove any of your people to my ship, though I will leave an +adequate prize crew to navigate her." + +Just then the report of a pistol was heard, and a shriek was heard +coming from the hold of the ship. + +"What's that?" exclaimed the French officer. + +"My daughter!--save her from your people!" cried Captain Tracy, hurrying +towards the main hatchway. The more active Frenchman sprang before him +and descended, followed by the captain and Carnegan, who, suffering from +his wound, was less able than they were to move quickly. The Frenchman +by his loud shouts soon let his men know that he was approaching. On +reaching the hold he found Gerald in the hands of several of them, while +Norah was endeavouring to protect him from their rage which he had +excited. + +"Let go that boy!" shouted the French officer, at the same time drawing +his sword to enforce his order. He was quickly obeyed. "Who is this +young lady?" he asked, turning to the captain; "I was not aware that she +was on board." + +"She is my daughter, sir; and I sent her down here to be out of danger +during the fighting. I am sure I can trust to your gallantry to protect +her," said Captain Tracy. + +"You may depend on my doing so," answered the French officer; then +addressing Gerald, he said, "Come here, my lad--you are a brave boy, I +see, and thinking my people were about to insult your sister, you fought +for her. The fellow you wounded deserved his punishment. Return on +deck and go on board your own ship," he continued, addressing his crew +in French. The men quickly obeyed him. "And now, young lady, let me +escort you to your cabin," he added; "you need be under no further +anxiety, as no one will venture to intrude on you." + +Carnegan had before this reached the hold. He was about to assist Norah +in ascending. + +"I must claim that honour," said the Frenchman; and, offering his hand, +he conducted Norah out of the dark place. No sooner had they reached +the deck than her eyes fell on Owen lying wounded on the poop. +Disregarding every one, she threw herself down by his side. + +"Oh, speak to me, Owen--tell me where you are hurt!" she exclaimed. +Owen tried to answer her, but could only point to his wounded shoulder. +"He will bleed to death!" she cried. "Run, Gerald--get some bandages +from the cabin. Oh, father, come and help me!" + +"I will send my surgeon to dress the young officer's wound," said the +French captain, approaching; "he will attend also to the other injured +men, and I regret that I cannot remain near you to be of any further +use." + +Carnegan had watched Norah; an angry frown passed across his brow, but +he made no remark. The French surgeon was quickly on board; he desired +that Owen should be carried to his cabin, where he speedily dressed his +wound and gave him a stimulant which restored him to consciousness. He +then left directions with Norah how to treat his patient, assuring her +that the hurt was very slight, and that he would soon recover. + +"Come, my friend," said the French officer to Carnegan; "as you are not +from the West Indies, we shall have no fear of your giving us the fever. +I must therefore beg for your company--you will require the attendance +of the surgeon, and one wounded man is enough for that young lady to +look after." + +Carnegan appeared to be expostulating; but the French officer refused to +accede to his request, and hurried him on board, without allowing him +even the opportunity of wishing farewell to Norah. + +The French crew had in the mean time brought a fresh topmast on board +the _Ouzel Galley_, to supply the place of the one shot away, and had +been busily employed in getting it up. They had not, however, completed +the work when the look-out from the mast-head of the French ship +shouted, "A sail to the south-east!" and they were immediately summoned +back to their own ship. A young lieutenant and seven men, forming the +prize crew, then came on board the _Ouzel Galley_, the surgeon being the +last person to quit her. + +"Who is the officer who boarded us, and what is the name of your ship?" +asked Captain Tracy, after expressing his thanks to the surgeon for his +attention. + +"He is Captain Thurot, and his ship is the _Coquille_, the most +celebrated privateer out of Dunkirk," was the answer. "It is positively +an honour to be captured by him--let that be your consolation, my dear +sir." + +"Faith, it's but a poor consolation, then," answered Captain Tracy; "but +I thank you for suggesting even a shadow of comfort. I will follow your +directions with regard to my poor wounded fellows, and once again beg to +express my gratitude for what you have done for them." + +The _Coquille_ immediately casting off her prize, made all sail in chase +of the stranger, the rapidly approaching shades of evening soon +concealing her from sight. The French prize crew, aided by the seamen +of the _Ouzel Galley_, went on with the work which had been left +incomplete of setting up the main-topmast rigging and getting the yard +across. Night compelled them to knock off before the work was finished. +The wind, however, continued steady, and the ship ran on almost dead +before it under her head-sails the French officer, Lieutenant Vinoy, was +a remarkably polite young gentleman, but whether or not he was a good +seaman remained to be proved. He expressed his wish in no way to +incommode Mademoiselle, as he called Norah, and declared that he should +be perfectly satisfied to occupy the second mate's cabin, and would on +no account turn her or her father out of theirs. Besides himself, he +had but one person, a petty officer, capable of taking charge of a +watch, so that he had but very little time to bestow on the young lady +those attentions which, under other circumstances, he might have been +inclined to pay. She too was fully engaged in attending on Owen and in +visiting with her father the wounded and sick men. + +The night passed off quietly, and the whole of the first day was spent +by all hands in setting up the topmast. It was not till supper-time +that the lieutenant entered the cabin, and, throwing himself on a chair, +expressed his satisfaction that the task was at length accomplished. +"And your men, captain, deserve credit for the way they have worked," he +observed; "they could not have done so more willingly had they been +performing the task for their own advantage. For my part, I am pretty +well worn out--you may be sure that I shall sleep soundly during my +watch below." + +"Do you generally sleep soundly, Lieutenant Vinoy?" asked Gerald. + +"Yes, I am celebrated for it," answered the lieutenant, laughing; "it +takes a good deal to awake me when once my eyes are closed. I am never +idle, you see; I work hard and sleep hard--that is as it should be." + +Gerald recollected the lieutenant's remark, and a thought at that moment +came into his head which he kept there, turning it and round and over +and over till he carried it into execution. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +A HEAVY GALE AHEAD--THE WIND BECOMES FAIR--GERALD'S PLAN TO RECOVER THE +SHIP--CARRIES IT OUT--NORAH'S RESOLUTION--THE LIEUTENANT CAUGHT +NAPPING--THE FRENCHMEN'S WEAPONS SECURED--BUSSON AND THE FRENCH CREW +OVERPOWERED--GERALD AND NORAH HOLD LIEUTENANT VINOY IN CHECK--THE OUZEL +GALLEY REGAINED--A COURSE STEERED FOR WATERFORD--PRECAUTIONS AGAINST +RECAPTURE--APPROACH THE LAND. + +The _Ouzel Galley_ had run very nearly as far north as the latitude of +Ushant, though she was still some way to the westward. Her crew had got +on very well with their captors, who called them _bons garcons_, and +were perfectly willing to fraternise with them. No one coming on board +would have suspected their relative positions. The lieutenant made +himself at home in the cabin; he was polite and courteous to Norah and +Captain Tracy, and in no way presumed on being, as he was, the real +commander of the ship. Gerald, however, did not seem inclined to +associate with him, and seldom came into the cabin when he was there. +Gerald, indeed, spent most of his time in assisting Norah to attend on +Owen, by whose side he would sit patiently for hours together; or else +he was holding secret confabulations with Dan Connor and Tim Maloney. +Although Owen had been greatly weakened by loss of blood, it saved him +from fever, and his wound, which was not deep, rapidly healed. Of this, +however, Gerald advised Norah not to tell the lieutenant. The other +wounded and pick men continued in their berths, apparently making no +progress towards recovery; so that, of the original crew of the _Ouzel +Galley_, there were only five hands besides Gerald and Tim fit for duty. +These, of course, the Frenchmen, with their officer, considered that +they were perfectly able to keep in order. The weather, which had +hitherto been especially favourable, now greatly changed for the worse; +a strong north-easterly gale springing up threatened to blow the _Ouzel +Galley_ far away to the westward. Lieutenant Vinoy was in despair; he +had been anticipating the pleasure of carrying his prize into Boulogne, +the port to which Captain Thurot had ordered him to take her, in the +course of two or three days--and now she might be kept out for a week, +or three weeks for that matter, and the risk of being recaptured greatly +increased. Still he did his best to hold his ground, keeping the ship +close-hauled, now on one tack, now on the other; while either he or his +mate, Jacques Busson, were ever on deck ready to take advantage of any +change of wind. + +"I shall sleep soundly when this vile wind from the eastward has ceased +to blow," exclaimed the lieutenant one day, on coming down to dinner. + +"I hope you will," said Gerald, looking him boldly in the face. "You +deserve some rest after keeping watch and watch so long." + +"Gerald," said Norah, when they were together in the cabin, the captain +being on deck, "I suspect that you are thinking of attempting to recover +the vessel, and that our father has not been told what you intend to +do." + +"Why should you suppose so?" asked Gerald. + +"Because I see you constantly talking to the men in a way you never used +to do, and because you avoid the French lieutenant and speak to him in +so strange a manner," answered Norah. + +"I won't deny that I have a plan in my head; but you are to know nothing +about it till it has succeeded," replied Gerald. "One thing I'll tell +you, that I'm very sure it can't fail of success if all hands are true +to each other--and, Norah, don't be alarmed if you hear that two or +three more of our people are down with the fever; and if our father says +anything, you can just remark that I told you I was sure they would very +soon be well again." + +"I have confidence in your discretion," said Norah, "but I pray that +there may be no necessity for violence, and that neither the young +officer nor any of the men may be injured." + +"That depends on circumstances," said Gerald; "no one wishes to hurt a +hair of their heads if they behave themselves--if not, they must take +the consequences." + +The gale increasing, it taxed all the strength of the Frenchmen, and the +few of the original crew who remained, to shorten sail; but anxious as +Lieutenant Vinoy was to get into port, he refused to heave to, and +continued beating the ship to windward. At length, one day, soon after +noon, the wind began to decrease, and before dark a moderate breeze was +blowing from the southward. Captain Tracy had every day taken an +observation, the French officer not objecting to his doing so, and +Gerald always asked him whereabouts they were, noting the spot carefully +down on the chart when the lieutenant was on deck, so that his +proceedings might not be remarked. This day, according to Gerald's +calculations, they were exactly a hundred and fifty miles to the +southward of Waterford. The night was cloudy, and, as there was no +moon, it was darker than usual. One-half of the Frenchmen had turned +in, as had Lieutenant Vinoy; Jacques Busson had the middle watch. +Gerald had gone to his berth, but not to sleep; he merely pulled off his +shoes and jacket, and then, lying down, drew the blanket over him. +After waiting for about an hour he got up and groped his way to +Lieutenant Vinoy's cabin; the door was partly open--the sound which +issued from within showed that the French officer was fast asleep. +Gerald cautiously entered and possessed himself of a brace of pistols +which hung within reach of the lieutenant's hand at the head of his cot, +as also of a sword suspended to the bulkhead. Carefully carrying them +out, he then, quietly closing the door, made his way to Owen Massey's +cabin. + +"We could not have a better opportunity than the present," he whispered. +"If you will get ready, I will call my father and warn Norah to keep +quiet. Here are the lieutenant's pistols--do you take one of them, and +I will carry the other and a sword to my father. You will have no +difficulty in keeping the lieutenant shut up in his cabin, while I creep +forward and get Pompey and Dan to come aft and secure Jacques Busson. +Just as they do so I will give a whistle loud enough for you and my +father to hear, and immediately you do so you both will spring on deck +and overpower the man at the helm. The rest of our people are prepared +to act as you have arranged; one of them will knock down the look-out +forward, while the others will throw themselves upon the other Frenchmen +and secure the hatches on those below. You wished Tim and me to keep +ourselves free to act according to circumstances; Tim was to get into +the boatswain's storeroom, and to cut as many lengths of rope as we +shall require. He will have them in readiness for the moment they are +wanted. There can be no mistake, I hope?" + +"None, provided the Frenchmen don't take alarm," answered Owen. "You, +at all events, understand the plan perfectly." + +"We may carry it out, too, I trust, without bloodshed," said Gerald. +"Shall I go forward and give the signal?" + +"Yes. I feel well able to do my part, though my left arm may not be of +as much use as I should wish," answered Owen. "Call your father and +Norah, and then lose no time, or the lieutenant may be waking and give +us more trouble than is necessary." + +Gerald then crept back into the state cabin. He first went into Norah's +berth, and uttered a few words in her ear in a low voice. She had not +undressed, having been warned by Owen of what was likely to happen, and +she had resolved to give every assistance in her power; though her arm +was weak, she possessed nerve and courage, and might be able to keep +watch over the French officer, or even to turn the scale in favour of +her friends, should any part of the plan miscarry. + +"Give me the pistol," she whispered; "I know that it is ready for use, +as I saw the lieutenant loading it this afternoon." + +"Do you think he suspected anything?" asked Gerald. + +"That was no sign of his doing so," answered Norah; "he has frequently +withdrawn the charges and reloaded his pistols since he came on board." + +"All right, you shall have it," said Gerald; "but you mustn't mind +shooting him if it is necessary. Remember, if you don't we may possibly +be overpowered, and shall be much worse off than we are now." + +"I hope that no such necessity may arise," answered Norah, and her voice +trembled as she spoke. + +"There, stay quiet till you're called, and I'll take the sword to our +father," said Gerald. The captain was awake, and prepared for the +attempt to recapture the ship, he and Owen having decided on the best +plan for carrying it out. He took the sword which his son brought him-- +the lamp which swung from the deck above shed a feeble light throughout +the cabin--he had just quickly dressed, when Norah appeared. + +"I had wished you to remain in your berth till we had secured the +Frenchmen," he whispered. + +"Pray do not insist on my doing so," she answered. "I may be able to +help you, and I cannot bear the thoughts of hiding away while you are +exposed to danger. Do let me try to be of use, father; I shall run no +greater risk than I should by keeping in my berth. See, Gerald has +given me a pistol, and I know how to use it. It will serve, at all +events, to frighten the Frenchmen." + +The captain, seeing Norah was determined, at length consented to do as +she proposed. Owen now joined them, and he and the captain crept to the +foot of the companion-ladder, up part of which they mounted, to be in +readiness to attack the man at the helm as soon as Gerald's signal +should be heard. Meantime, Gerald had made his way on deck. He had on +a dark jacket and trousers and dark worsted socks, and by creeping along +close under the bulwarks he would be able, he hoped, to get forward +without much risk of being seen. Jacques Busson, the officer of the +watch, was slowly pacing the deck, now looking up at the canvas which +like a dark pyramid seemed to tower into the sky, now addressing the man +at the helm to keep the sails full or else to steer rather closer to the +wind, now shouting to the look-out forward to ascertain that he was +awake and attending to his duty. Gerald stopped to observe what Jacques +Busson was about; he could distinguish the Frenchman's figure against +the sky, as he paced backwards and forwards on the raised poop, halting +now and then to take a glance to windward, and again taking a few steps +towards the stern. The moment Gerald thought that his back was turned +he again crept forward. He had no fear of being discovered by the man +at the helm, whose eyes, dazzled by the binnacle lamp, were not likely +to distinguish him. Thus on he went, quickly doubling round the guns, +till he reached the fore hatchway, down which he slipped without being +perceived by either of the Frenchmen on deck, who were seated under the +weather bulwarks, and, as he rightly concluded, with their eyes shut. + +"We shall have no difficulty in tackling those two fellows," he thought. +The Frenchmen were berthed on the starboard side of the forecastle, the +_Ouzel Galley's_ people on the larboard side; Gerald was thus easily +able to find his friends. He had previously made all the arrangements +with Dan and Pompey--they had communicated them to the rest of the crew, +who only waited his arrival to carry them out. Gerald and Dan had +undertaken to get possession of the Frenchmen's pistols. It was the +most perilous part of the work to be performed, for should they be +awakened they might give the alarm, and put the watch on deck on their +guard. Both Dan and the black had noted accurately the places where the +Frenchmen had put their weapons, who, instead of depositing the pistols +under their pillows, had hung them up just above their heads, within +reach of their hands, while their cutlasses lay by their sides. To +remove the latter might be difficult without making a noise, and it was, +besides, considered of less importance to get hold of them. Stealing +silently across the fore-peak, Gerald and Dan reached one of the bunks; +Dan then leaning over, felt for the occupant's pistol, which he +carefully unhooked and handed to Gerald, who, almost breathless with +eagerness, grasped it tightly. They then went to the next berth, and +possessed themselves of the other weapons in the same manner. The third +man turned as they approached, and uttered a few incoherent words; Dan +and Gerald crouched down out of sight lest he should awake, but a loud +snore showed them that there was no great fear of his doing that, and +his pistols were successfully abstracted. The fourth man seemed +restless, and at length raised himself on his shoulder, and looked out. + +"Qui va la?" he asked in French. Gerald and Dan were standing in deep +shade, and remained still as mice, scarcely daring to breathe. The +Frenchman, seeing no one, must have thought that he had been dreaming, +and again lying down composed himself to sleep. They waited till they +heard him also begin to snore, and Dan then crept forward and got hold +of his pistols. They each took one, and gave the remainder to their +shipmates. Tim was then sent up, furnished with a piece of line, with +directions to conceal himself close to the hatchway, down which he was +to let the line hang, and his pulling it up was to be the signal that +the Frenchmen were off their guard. On feeling it pulled all the party +below were to spring up on deck and overpower the crew forward. Gerald +accompanied by Dan and Pompey were, however, to make their way aft in +the same cautious manner in which he had come forward. The black, in +order to run less risk of being discovered, had stripped himself naked, +and oiled his body all over. The doing so was his own idea, and he +grinned when he proposed it to Dan. + +"I like one big eel, and if dey try to catch me I slip out of dere +hands," he observed, chuckling. + +"We could not hope for a better opportunity than the present," whispered +Gerald into Dan's ear. + +"All right, sir," answered Dan, touching Pompey and Tim. The former, as +agreed on, noiseless as a cat, crept up on deck, when he immediately +gave a tug to the string. Gerald, with Dan and Pompey, followed, and, +crawling on all-fours, began to make their way aft. The booms and boats +would have concealed them for some part of the distance from Jacques +Busson even had it been daylight; they therefore ran no risk of being +discovered till they reached the after-part of the quarter-deck. Pompey +had now to play the chief part in the drama. Crawling up on the lee +side of the poop, he lay flat on the deck, while Gerald and Dan stole +after him, ready to spring up to his aid directly he had thrown himself +on Busson, leaving the helmsman to be dealt with by the captain and +Owen. Pompey had just reached the break of the poop, having waited for +the moment that Jacques Busson's back was towards him: a few seconds +passed, when the Frenchman again turned round, and, advancing a pace or +two forward, shouted to the man on the look-out. No answer came. +"Bete," he exclaimed, "he is asleep. I must arouse him with a rope's +end." + +As he spoke he advanced, about to descend the steps leading to the +quarter-deck--at that moment Pompey, who had been watching him as a +serpent does its expected victim, springing to his feet, threw his arms +round the Frenchman's neck, while he at the same moment shoved a large +lump of oakum into his mouth before he could even utter a cry. Dan, +quick as lightning, joined him, while Gerald whistled shrilly the +promised signal to his father and Owen. It was heard too by Tim, who +pulling the line, the rest of the _Ouzel Galley's_ crew sprang up, some +throwing themselves on the two Frenchmen slumbering under the weather +bulwarks before they had time to draw their pistols. The men on the +forecastle, however, aroused by the noise, fired theirs at their +advancing opponents; but owing to the darkness and their hurry the +bullets missed their aim, and just as they got their hands on their +cutlasses they were both knocked over with well-planted blows in their +faces, and brought to the deck, at the same instant that Tim, to whom +the duty had been confided, closed down the hatch on the watch below. +The helmsman, on hearing the scuffle, was turning his head to see what +was the matter, when he found his arms pinioned by the captain and Owen. +On seeing this, Gerald ran forward to where Tim had concealed the rope. +He soon returned with a sufficient number of lengths to lash the arms +of Busson and the men, while Tim carried the rest of the rope to his +shipmates forward, who were not long securing the three Frenchmen. The +remaining four of the French crew, who had been aroused by the scuffle, +were now making desperate efforts to force their way up on deck, and one +on the top of the ladder had just succeeded in lifting up the hatch, +when Tim saw his head protruding above the combing. + +"Bear a hand here, or shure the mounseers will be out of the trap," he +shouted, at the same time seizing a capstan-bar, which was close at +hand, and dealing a blow with it at the head of the Frenchman, who fell +stunned off the ladder, back upon his companions following at his heels. +Notwithstanding this, immediately they had recovered themselves they +again attempted to get up, and another man had succeeded in raising half +his body above the hatchway. Tim attacked him as he had done the first; +the man, however, who was a powerful fellow, grasped the capstan-bar, +and getting his knee on the combing was about to deal a blow at Tim +which would have felled him to the deck, when one of the English crew, +attracted by his cries, sprang to his assistance, and, wrenching the +weapon from the Frenchman's hands, struck him dead. Two more only had +now to be disposed of; they, still in ignorance of the fate of their +companions, sprang up the hatchway, and before they had time to gain +their feet were thrown down and secured. The man who had fallen below +was groaning heavily. + +"He'll do no harm," observed Pat Casey. + +"Arrah, don't be too shure of that," said Tim; "if he was to come to +life, he'd be after letting loose the others. It will be wiser to lash +him too; and unless the dead man is kilt entirely, I'd advise that we +prevent him from doing mischief." + +Pat felt the Frenchman's head. "Shure, I never knew a man come to life +with a hole like this in his skull," he remarked, "but to make shure in +case of accidents, we'll heave him overboard;" and without more ado the +body of the Frenchman, who was undoubtedly dead, was shoved through the +foremost port. + +Lieutenant Vinoy had not vainly boasted that he was a sound sleeper, for +notwithstanding the scuffle over his head, he did not awake; and happily +Norah, who had been stationed at his cabin door to keep him in check +should he attempt to break out, was not called upon to exercise her +courage. The two events which have been described were, it will be +understood, taking place at the same time. During those exciting +moments no one thought of what the ship was about; the consequence was +that she flew up into the wind, and it became necessary to box her off. +All hands were required for this purpose--the fore-yards had to be +braced round, the after-yards squared away. Owen, from his wound, being +the least able to exert himself, went to the helm, the captain hauling +away with the rest of the crew. + +"Gerald, do you go forward and keep a look-out on our prisoners," cried +the captain. "If their arms by chance are not securely lashed, one or +more of them may be getting free and setting the others at liberty. +Call Tim Maloney to help you." + +Gerald was about to obey this order, when the sound of loud knocking and +Norah's voice came from below, exclaiming, "The lieutenant is awake and +trying to break out of his cabin." Gerald heard it, and shouting to Tim +to look after the Frenchmen forward, he sprang down the +companion-ladder. He was not a moment too soon, for the French officer, +awaking and believing from the sounds which reached him that something +was the matter, had leaped out of bed with the intention of hastening on +deck, when he found the door fastened on him--then, hearing the captain +issuing orders, he guessed truly what had occurred. Supposing that +there might yet be time to regain possession of the ship, he frantically +endeavoured to break open the door. The only weapon he could discover +was the leg of a stool, which having wrenched off, he managed with it to +prise open the door. The light from the state cabin fell on him as he +appeared at the opening; just at that moment Gerald sprang down from the +deck. Catching sight of the lieutenant, he presented his pistol. + +"Stay, monsieur," he exclaimed, "if you venture out of your cabin, I +shall be under the disagreeable necessity of shooting you." + +The Frenchman hesitated, for, the light glancing on the pistol-barrel, +he recognised his own weapon, which he knew never missed fire, and +showed him also that he was totally unarmed. Gerald saw his advantage. +"Let me advise you, monsieur, to go back and sit down quietly, and no +harm will happen to you," he continued. "The ship is ours, and we +intend to keep her." + +"Parbleu!" exclaimed the Frenchman, shrugging his shoulders; "you have +indeed gained an advantage over me." + +"Very true--but not an unfair one," said Gerald, laughing, but still +keeping his pistol pointed at the officer, who now caught sight of +Norah, also with a pistol in her hand, standing a little behind her +brother. He might have made an attempt to spring upon Gerald and wrench +the weapon from his hand, but from the determined look of the young lady +he thought, in all probability, that she would fire over her brother's +head should he do so. He therefore stepped back and sat down on the +only remaining stool in the cabin, folding his arms with an air of +resignation. + +"I acknowledge myself defeated," he exclaimed; "but when I have a young +lady as an opponent my gallantry forbids me to resist." + +"It all comes of being a sound sleeper, monsieur," said Gerald, "but if +you had kept your weather eye open it might not have happened. However, +you may turn in again now and sleep as soundly as you like till we got +into Waterford harbour, where we shall be, I hope, if the wind holds +fair, in another day or two. But don't agitate yourself we'll treat you +as politely as you treated us, except that we shall be compelled to keep +you a prisoner, in case you should try again to turn the tables on us." + +The ship had now been brought round; the head-yards were squared, and +the course laid for Waterford. Still there was a great deal to be done; +it was necessary to secure the prisoners, so that there might be no risk +of their rising. Jacques Busson was a powerful and determined fellow, +and he would to a certainty, if he had the opportunity, get free and try +to set his countrymen at liberty. The lieutenant also, though addicted +to sleeping soundly, was likely to be wide enough awake for the future, +and would in all probability try to regain possession of the ship. He +was therefore requested to confine himself to his cabin. + +"I am sorry to treat you so inhospitably," said Captain Tracy, "but +necessity compels me, and I hope that it will be but for a short time. +I must warn you, however, if you attempt to break out, that we shall be +obliged to secure you as we have done your men; but to save you from +temptation, we shall secure your cabin door on the outside in a way +which will prevent you from doing so. If, however, you will give me +your promise not to attempt to regain your liberty, you will be treated +with no further rigour." + +"I must make a virtue of necessity," answered the lieutenant; "it is a +very disagreeable one, but I submit." And without more ado he threw off +his coat and quietly turned into his cot. + +"Don't trust him, Gerald, whatever he may say," whispered Captain Tracy, +"till we have the door firmly secured." + +"Ay, ay, father," answered Gerald; "if he shows his face at the door +without leave, I'll make him draw it back again pretty quickly." + +Pompey had been left to watch over Jacques Busson and the man who had +been serving at the wheel. He had no pistol, but instead he held in his +hand a sharp, long-bladed sheath-knife, which effectually kept the +prisoners from stirring. He evidently took especial delight in his +office, and reluctantly consented to drag Jacques Busson into a cabin, +where it was arranged that he should be confined, but at the same time +with his arms and legs firmly secured. The rest of the men were carried +down into the forecastle, and were placed in their bunks, the captain +having examined each of them to be certain that they were lashed in a +way from which they could not liberate themselves. + +Morning dawned soon after these arrangements had been made. Jacques +Busson grumbled greatly at the treatment he had received. + +"What for you make all dis fuss?" said Pompey, who was standing sentry +over him. "You want to take us into French port--we take you into Irish +port. Waterford berry nice place, and when we get dere we take you out +of limbo, and you live like one gentleman." + +"Sacre!" answered the Frenchman, who had only caught a word or two of +what Pompey had said, "if we fall in with a French ship before we get +there, I'll pay you off, mon garcon, for nearly strangling me with your +greasy arms." + +Pompey only grinned a reply. There was no use wasting words, +considering that neither understood the other's language. The +lieutenant took matters more philosophically than his inferior. He was, +however, not to be trusted, and either Gerald or Dan kept watch at his +door with a loaded pistol. The arms and legs of the other men were too +securely lashed to afford much risk of their getting loose; still, a +trusty man was stationed over them, as there was no doubt that they +would make the attempt could they gain the opportunity, and if one could +cast off his lashings he might speedily set the others at liberty. + +The sea was smooth; the sun shone brightly; and the _Ouzel Galley_ made +good way towards Waterford. She was, however, upwards of a hundred +miles from that port, and might before reaching it fall in with another +French ship. She was, indeed, now in a part of the ocean in which +privateers were likely to be cruising, on the look-out for +homeward-bound vessels. It was necessary, therefore, to avoid any +strange sail till her character could be positively ascertained. A hand +was accordingly stationed aloft to give timely notice should a sail +appear in sight. This, of course, weakened the crew, who were already +insufficient to work the ship; the wounded men, though they had aided in +overpowering the Frenchmen, were but little capable of performing +continuous work. Owen felt his wound very painful, yet he persisted in +attending to his duty, and could scarcely be persuaded to lie down on +the sofa for a short time to rest, while the captain took his watch on +deck. Gerald was highly applauded by his father and Owen for his +courage and judgment, which had so much contributed to the recapture of +the vessel; even the French lieutenant expressed his admiration of the +way he had behaved. + +"If young English boys are so brave and cool, no wonder that we should +have been overpowered," he observed. "I only wish that we had had a +French boy on board, and it is not impossible that he might have +discovered your plot and counteracted it. The next time I have charge +of a prize, I will place a French boy to watch the English boys, and +then we shall see which is the sharpest." + +"I don't know which may prove the sharpest, but I am ready to fight any +two French boys of my own age I have ever met in my life," answered +Gerald, laughing; "first one come on, and then the other, or both +together, provided they'll keep in front, or let me have a wall at my +back, when they're welcome to do their worst." + +"Ah, you are too boastful," said the lieutenant. + +"Pardon me, monsieur, not at all. I am only sticking up for the honour +of Old Ireland," answered Gerald. + +The _Ouzel Galley_ was drawing nearer to her port, and the chances of +recapture diminished; still there was another night's run, and no one +liked to boast till they were out of the fire. The crew of the _Ouzel +Galley_ were pretty well worn out, and it was with the greatest +difficulty many of them could keep their eyes open. Perhaps the +Frenchmen counted on this, and the hope that they yet might regain their +liberty prevented them from losing their spirits, and they amused +themselves by singing snatches of songs and every now and then shouting +out to each other. They were also well supplied with food, and as much +grog as they chose to drink. + +"It's shure to comfort their hearts," observed Dan, as he went round +with a big can and a tin cup; "besides, they'll be less likely to prove +troublesome." + +The night came on; the captain, Owen, and Gerald did their best to +encourage the men and to urge them to keep awake, however sleepy they +might feel, continually going among them and reminding them that in a +few hours more they might turn in and sleep for as many hours as they +might like at a stretch, without the fear of being knocked on the head +and thrown overboard. "And, my lads," observed the captain, "if the +Frenchmen retake us, depend upon it that's the way we shall be treated-- +they'll not give us another chance." + +The only person who slept that night was Norah, who, although she had +not gone through any physical exertion, had felt more anxiety than any +one, from knowing the risk those whom she loved were about to run. It +would be difficult to describe her feelings as she saw her father and +Owen steal upon dock to attack the man at the helm; and often during +that night she started up, believing that the scene was again being +enacted. + +The wind continued fair; the _Ouzel Galley_ held on her course, and no +suspicious sail came near her during the night. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +LAND IN SIGHT--A SUSPICIOUS SAIL--THE COQUILLE AGAIN--MANY A SLIP +BETWEEN THE CUP AND THE LIP--NORAH AND GERALD SENT OFF WITH OWEN--THE +WIND CHANGES--RECALLED--THE COQUILLE CHASES THE OUZEL GALLEY INTO THE +HARBOUR--SAFE AT LAST--CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH VISIT MR. AND MISS +FERRIS--CAPTAIN TRACY'S ILLNESS--THE HOUSE DESCRIBED--OWEN MASSEY AND +HIS MOTHER--VISIT OF NORAH AND ELLEN TO WIDOW MASSEY--THE WIDOW GIVES A +HISTORY OF THE O'HARRALLS. + +"Land! land!" shouted Gerald, who had gone aloft at daybreak to be ready +the moment there was light enough to catch eight of the looked-for +shores of Ireland. As the sun rose the coast could be distinguished, +indented with numerous deep inlets; but at first it was difficult to see +what part of it the ship was approaching. At length, however, Gerald, +whose eyes were as sharp as those of any one on board, made out a tall +tower standing at the end of a long, low point of land. "Hurrah! I see +Hook Tower!" he shouted out; "we're all right!" + +"Never made a better land-fall in my life," exclaimed the captain, who +had gone up the rigging, and had been examining the coast with his +glass. As he spoke, Gerald shouted from the mast-head, "A sail on the +larboard bow!" + +"What does she look like?" asked the captain, who had returned on deck. + +"A ship close-hauled under all sail," answered Gerald; "she's standing +this way, and seems to have come out of Dungarvon Bay, as I can see +Helvick Head beyond her." + +"Whatever she may prove, we shall be well in with Waterford harbour +before she can reach us," observed the captain. + +"An enemy is not likely to have ventured so close in to the Irish coast, +with the risk of encountering a British man-of-war," said Owen. + +"Not quite so certain of that," observed the captain; "she may have run +in hoping to pick up a few merchant craft and coasters without much +trouble, and may have ascertained from other prizes she has taken that +there are no men-of-war on the coast. For my part, I would rather be +safe up the harbour than have to speak her." + +The captain and Owen agreed that at all events it would be unnecessary +to keep Lieutenant Vinoy shut up in his cabin. "As he has behaved like +a gentleman," said the captain, "go and tell him, Owen, that if he will +give his word of honour not to interfere with the other prisoners, I beg +that he will come on deck, should he feel so disposed; and that I regret +having been under the necessity of confining him to his cabin for so +many hours--but, Owen, keep an eye on him, notwithstanding; it may be as +well not to trust him too much, and if he were to release that desperate +fellow Busson, the two together might play us some trick we shouldn't +like." + +"No fear of that, sir," answered Owen, glad to show the French +lieutenant an act of courtesy, "but I'll keep my eyes about me." + +He immediately went below and gave Monsieur Vinoy the captain's message. + +"Certainly," answered the lieutenant; "I willingly accept the +conditions. I have nothing to complain of--it was the fortune of war; +you acted towards me as, under the same circumstances, I should have +behaved to you. I will gladly come on deck." + +Saying this, he preceded Owen up the companion-ladder, making a polite +bow to Norah, who had just before joined her father, and was looking out +eagerly towards the land. In a short time the ship could be clearly +discerned from the deck. The squareness of her yards and the cut of her +canvas made it evident that she was not a merchant vessel; but whether +an English or French man-of-war, or a privateer, it was difficult at +that distance to determine. She was making good way with the tide, +which was then about half flood, running to the eastward; as this was +almost across the course of the _Ouzel Galley_, it was rather against +than in favour of the latter, whereas it added greatly to the rapid +progress of the stranger. Under ordinary circumstances probably neither +the captain nor Owen could have had much doubt about the character of +the vessel in sight; but having so narrowly escaped the loss of the +ship, they both felt more than usually anxious. Every stitch of canvas +the _Ouzel Galley_ could carry was set on her, the sails being wetted +that they might the better hold the wind. The captain kept his glass +constantly turned towards the approaching ship. When first seen, she +was about twelve miles off, while the _Ouzel Galley_ was supposed to be +about eight miles from the Hook Tower. At the rate she was going it +would take her upwards of an hour to get off it; whereas, should the +wind hold, the stranger, with the advantage of the tide, would get her +within range of her guns before that time. No flag had as yet been seen +flying from her peak; but even should she show British colours it would +be no proof that she was not an enemy, as she would be certain to hoist +them for the sake of deceiving any merchant vessels she might meet with. + +"I very much fear that she is a privateer," observed Owen, after +carefully examining the stranger through his glass; "still the wind may +fall light and prevent her reaching us--or, better still, shift to the +eastward and throw her to leeward, and we may then soon run up the +harbour, and got under shelter of Duncannon Fort before she can reach +us." + +Lieutenant Vinoy had been eagerly gazing at the stranger--a look of +perplexity appeared in his face. + +"What do you think of yonder ship?" asked Owen. + +"I will not disguise my belief from you that she is the _Coquille_," +answered the lieutenant. "I know her too well to be mistaken, even at +this distance; but remain tranquil--should she recapture your vessel, of +which I entertain, I confess, very little doubt, Captain Thurot will +treat you with the same courtesy he did before, notwithstanding what has +occurred. I am the person he will chiefly blame; and I must beg you to +inform him how long I had been on watch and how fatigued I was when I +retired to my cabin. Morbleu! to tell you the truth, I am as anxious as +you can be to keep out of his way, but don't tell him that I said so." + +"You may rest assured that we will do our best to avoid an encounter," +answered the captain, "and, should we be recaptured, that we will say +all that we can in your favour; but I trust that we shall escape--it +would be cruel to be caught after all." + +The wind was becoming lighter and lighter, and thus their anxiety was +prolonged. Still the _Coquille_--for that such she was very little +doubt existed--kept creeping up. The sea became much calmer. + +"I will send a boat away with Norah and Gerald; it were better to save +her from the annoyance to which she would be exposed should we again +fall into the Frenchmen's hands," said Captain Tracy. "I should wish to +let you go too, Owen; suffering from your wound, you are but ill able to +stand the confinement of a French prison." + +"I am grateful to you, captain; and thankfully would I escort your +daughter, but she will be safe with her brother, and I cannot bring +myself to desert the ship," answered Owen. + +"That is like you, Owen," replied the captain; "perhaps I might have +said the same were I in your place. It is my principle that every +officer should stick to his ship as long as a plank holds together; but +we shall have hands enough to take her in, should yonder stranger prove +not to be the _Coquille_, but a friend--or should we be recaptured, the +fewer people there are on board, the fewer will there be to suffer. I +have therefore made up my mind that you shall go. I will send Dan +Connor or Pompey, and Tim and Gerald can pull an oar and you can steer; +you'll not have more than ten or twelve miles to row before you can get +fresh hands, either at Duncannon Fort or at Passage, to take you up to +Waterford. See, we are scarcely making three knots an hour; the boat +can pull nearly twice as fast as that, and you will be able to keep well +ahead of the enemy. Come, I wanted to see what you would say, but I +have resolved you should go; so order the boat to be got ready, and the +sooner you are off the better." + +Owen was, of course, willing enough to go for the sake of Norah; he had +no choice but to obey his commander. + +"Norah," said the captain, turning to his daughter, to whom the French +officer was endeavouring to make himself agreeable, and who had not +heard the conversation between her father and the mate, "go and get your +traps together, my girl; I am going to send you and Gerald with the mate +on shore, and I hope that we shall be soon after you." + +Norah was too well accustomed to obey her father to question the +command, and immediately went below. + +"Gerald!" shouted the captain to his son, who had some time before come +down from the mast-head, "go and help your sister; you must be smart +about it--the boat will be in the water in less than five minutes." + +In a short time Dan and Tim, who had been sent into the cabin, appeared +with Norah's trunks. She quickly followed. Having learned from Gerald +the reason of her being sent on shore, she addressed her father. "Oh, +father, I must not, I ought not to leave you," she exclaimed; "you think +that the _Ouzel Galley_ will after all be recaptured, and you will be +carried off to France, and perhaps ill-treated by those men from whom +you have retaken the ship, while I shall be left." + +"Far better that it should be so than that we should both be made +prisoners and ill-treated," replied the captain; "so be, as you always +have been, an obedient girl--and now, my child, may Heaven bless and +protect you!" and the captain, giving his daughter an affectionate kiss, +led her to the gangway. The boat was already alongside, and Owen in her +ready to help Norah down. She was soon seated in the boat; Gerald +followed her. Just then the captain took another glance at the +stranger, which was about three miles off; as he did so, the French flag +was seen to fly out at her peak. At the same moment the sails of the +_Ouzel Galley_ gave a loud flap; the captain looked round. + +"Praise Heaven! here comes the breeze from the eastward," he exclaimed. +"Hold fast with the boat; come on deck again, Norah--we'll not part with +you yet;" and, leaning down, he took her arm as she quickly climbed up +the side. The rest of the party followed; and to save time the boat was +dropped astern. All hands were busily engaged in bracing up the yards. +The _Ouzel Galley_ was now well to windward; the French ship tacked, but +was still able to steer a course which would bring her within gunshot. +The two vessels stood on; the _Ouzel Galley_ was rapidly approaching the +land, while the _Coquille_ was getting further from it. Another tack +would, however, place her astern, and it would then be a question +whether she could overtake the _Ouzel Galley_ before the latter could +run up the harbour. Much would depend upon the way the wind blew when +she got inside; it might come down the harbour, and in that case the +Frenchman might overtake her before she could get up to Credda Head, +within which it was not likely even Thurot himself would venture. The +breeze held firm; the captain looked over the side. + +"The good ship seems to know her danger, and is slipping along +famously," he observed to Owen. "We shall be up to Waterford Quay +before nightfall, I hope; we have still a good part of the flood, and +when Captain Thurot finds that there is no chance of taking us, he'll +give up the chase." + +"He'll not do so till the last moment, captain," observed Lieutenant +Vinoy. "There is no man like him; and should the wind fail us when we +are inside the harbour, he will, or I am much mistaken, send in the +boats to cut your vessel out." + +"We'll hope, then, that the wind will not fail us," answered the +captain--and he much doubted whether the Frenchman would venture on so +bold an act. "If your friends come, we'll give them a warm reception, +and we shall be under the necessity of shutting you up in your cabin +again." + +"I shall be ready to submit to your orders," said the lieutenant, +shrugging his shoulders. + +Poor Norah naturally felt very anxious, even though Owen endeavoured to +reassure her by pointing out the position of the French ship, which +could not tack with advantage till a considerable way astern. The +breeze was every moment freshening, and the tall lighthouse on the east +side of Waterford harbour became more and more distinct. + +"No fear now," cried Gerald at length, as the very beach on it stood, +with the water rippling on it, could be clearly discerned, and the +harbour up to Duncannon Fort opened out to view. The _Ouzel Galley_ was +just abreast of Hook Tower when the French ship was seen to tack and +boldly to stand after her. + +"That looks as if the lieutenant were right in his notion; and should we +get becalmed inside, or find the wind drawing down the harbour, Thurot +will send in his boats after us," observed Owen to the captain. + +"I have no fear of being becalmed till we get inside of Credda Head, and +still less of the wind, as it is outside, drawing down the harbour," +answered the captain. "Should the boats get up with us, we must try and +beat them off; we were not afraid of the ship herself, and those +Frenchmen, though brave enough, are not like our own fellows in +cutting-out affairs. See to the guns, however, and get ammunition up on +deck, for, should they come, we mayn't have much time to spare." + +The _Ouzel Galley_ stood on in mid-channel; the well-known landmarks, +church steeples, country-seats, and castles on either side were +recognised; Credda Head, a long, high point at the entrance of the +harbour, was neared, when Duncannon Fort came into view. Still the +daring privateer followed as if her bold captain did not yet despair of +overtaking the chase. The wind, as the captain had hoped it would do, +held fair, blowing over the low land on the east side of the harbour; +once up with Duncannon Fort the _Ouzel Galley_ would be safe, both from +the privateer herself and from an attack by her boats. At length Credda +Head was rounded. + +"Hurrah!" cried Gerald, who, not having to attend to the navigation of +the ship, was watching the privateer, "she's afraid of standing on +further--she's about; but, hillo!--she has hoisted English colours." + +"No proof that she is not French, though," answered the captain; "it is +simply to deceive the people on shore." + +"At all events, she's standing out of the harbour again, and won't do us +any mischief," cried Gerald. + +"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed the captain, "we're safe at last." And the +long breath he drew clearly showed how anxious he had been. + +"A boat coming off from under the Head!" sang out Dan from forward. The +topsail sheets were let fly, the courses trailed up to allow the boat to +come alongside, and a river pilot stopped on deck. + +"Welcome back to Old Ireland!" he exclaimed, as he shook the captain's +hand. "Shure, it's a pleasure to see the _Ouzel Galley_ again, for it's +long we've been looking for her, and many began to say that she was +lost, or taken by the French." + +"We very nearly were so, but we managed to take some of these same +gentlemen instead," answered the captain with a laugh, to which he could +now give vent; "and only just now we had a narrow squeak for it. What +do you think of yonder ship, Pat?" + +"Of course, she's an English man-of-war," answered the pilot; "we've +been expecting one in here for some days past, and we thought that craft +was her. To say the truth, we were going on board her; for, shure, the +_Ouzel Galley_ knows her way up to George's Quay by herself." + +"Had you done so, Pat, you'd have been carried off, and made to serve as +pilot on board a French ship till the end of the war," answered Captain +Tracy. + +"Maybe you're right, captain; but see, she carries the English flag, and +no Frenchman would have the impudence to come into our harbour," said +the pilot. + +"That gentleman says she is French, and he ought to know, for he +belonged to her," observed the captain, pointing to Lieutenant Vinoy. +Pat Monaghan, however, was not convinced; though, as the stranger was +rapidly running out of the harbour again, he had no opportunity of +ascertaining for himself. Under Pat's pilotage the _Ouzel Galley_ stood +on up the harbour, which now narrowed considerably. At length she +rounded Cheek Point, when with a fair wind she ran up the Suir, on the +south bank of which Waterford is situated. It was late in the evening +when at last she dropped her anchor off George's Quay. Before her +canvas was furled, Mr Ferris, the senior partner of her owners, Ferris, +Twigg, and Cash, came on board, and warmly congratulated the captain on +his safe return. On hearing of the gallant way in which possession of +the _Ouzel Galley_ had been regained, Mr Ferris invited Norah and +Gerald to his house. + +"My daughter Ellen will be delighted to see her old schoolfellow, Miss +Tracy, who was a great favourite of hers," he said; "and many of my +friends will be glad to see your son, who from your account was the +principal actor in your adventure." + +"I must not praise Gerald too much," said Captain Tracy, after he had +accepted the invitation; "my mate, Owen Massey, was the chief concoctor +of the plot, and had I not a high opinion of his judgment and courage, I +should not have ventured to give my consent to it." + +Before leaving the ship, Captain Tracy was anxious to be relieved of his +prisoners. Mr Ferris hurried back to the chief magistrate of the town, +who at once sent down a guard to march them off to the jail. The +lieutenant, however, on being brought before him, was more courteously +treated, and on giving his parole not to leave the town or to +communicate with the enemy, he was allowed to be at large. As soon as +he was set at liberty he received an invitation from Mr Ferris to take +up his abode at his house in King Street. + +Thankful indeed was Owen Massey when, the prisoners having been carried +off, he was able to give up charge of the ship and go on shore. He had +a home to go to, though an humble one, with his mother, who resided in a +pretty little cottage in the outskirts of the town. She had seen better +days, for both she and her husband were of ancient lineage; but he had +been engaged in a long-protracted lawsuit, which he ultimately lost, and +died, leaving her very limited means with which to support herself and +their only child Owen. Captain Tracy, an old friend, offered to take +Owen to sea; and the lad was delighted with the thoughts of the life in +prospect. His mother had not only given him the best education the +place afforded, but had sent him to Trinity College, Dublin, to complete +his education. Here his means, however, did not allow him to remain +long; but, being clever and diligent, he was better prepared than most +lads were at that time for his future calling. He knew nothing about +the Royal Navy, or he would certainly have desired to enter it, which he +might easily have done had he possessed any friend able to get him +placed on the deck of a man-of-war. He had, like other youths, read +accounts of the voyages of the old explorers, of the adventures of the +buccaneers, and other works; he was scarcely aware of the difference +which then existed between the officers of the Royal Navy and merchant +service. Captain Tracy, though anxious to promote his interests, did +not think fit to enlighten him, as he fully believed that during the +"piping times of peace" he would be far more likely to succeed in the +latter than in the former service; and belonging to it himself, he +rightly looked upon it as an honourable one. + +Mrs Massey was struck by her son's pale face and languid manner. The +voyage over, the effects of his severe wound, and the long-continued +anxiety he had suffered, at once told on him. She immediately sent for +the best surgeon in the place. Dr Roach quickly arrived; he had a +great respect for Widow Massey, and had known Owen, from his boyhood. +On examining his wound he put on a grave face. + +"It surprises me, my dear boy, that you could have managed to move about +with so fearful a laceration," he said; "it has been well and carefully +dressed, I will allow, or you would not have been alive at this moment. +Many a poor fellow has died from a less hurt than this. However, you +will do well now, if you follow my directions; but you must lie by and +get your mother to nurse you. Come, turn into bed at once; you are not +fit to be about--you'll get well the sooner." + +Owen expostulated; he had been on his legs for several days, and why +should he now lie by? he asked. + +"For the very reason that you have done more than you have strength +for," answered the doctor. + +"But the duty of the ship must be attended to, and I am anxious to see +my captain," urged Owen. + +"And your captain's daughter, eh, my young friend--is it not so?" said +Dr Roach. "Well, I will let her know your wishes; I have been called +in to attend on Captain Tracy, who requires some doctoring, though not +as much as you do--and as to the ship, there are others whose duty it is +to look after her; it was yours to bring her safely into port, and you +did that in a very gallant way, I hear. Now, Mrs Massey, I lay my +commands on your son to remain quietly in bed till I tell him to get up; +if he disobeys me, we shall be having a stiff arm or something worse, so +he is warned. I will come and see him regularly, and you'll give him +the medicines as I direct;" and Dr Roach, kindly shaking the widow's +hand, walked away towards the town, with his gold-headed cane pressed to +his lips--a sure sign that he was lost in thought. + +Captain Tracy was, as the doctor had said, really ill; he was even worse +than it was at first supposed, and required all Norah's attention. +Though much wishing to see Owen and Mrs Massey, she could not venture +to leave him. Gerald, however, willingly undertook to pay a visit to +the mate, who not being positively prohibited from seeing visitors, +Gerald was admitted. Owen more clearly understood the message which +Norah had sent than Gerald did himself. Though longing to see her, he +acknowledged that it was her duty to remain with her father. + +"However, Owen, you need not be in a hurry to get well," said Gerald, +"for the _Ouzel Galley_ won't be fit for sea again for many months; she +suffered so much during her last voyage, and got so knocked about by the +enemy's shot, that she is to undergo a thorough repair. My father, not +wishing me to be idle, talks of sending me to sea in some other craft-- +if I have my choice, I would go on board a man-of-war, where I might +have plenty of opportunities of fighting the enemies of our country. I +don't like the idea of sailing in a ship which may be attacked and +captured by any French privateer we might fall in with." + +"I am sorry to hear you say that, Gerald, for I had hoped to have you +with me when I next go afloat;" answered Owen. "To my mind, the +merchant service is as honourable as that of the Royal Navy, if a man +does his duty. I am very sure that God did not design men to be +fighting animals; it was Satan, and no one else, who put it into their +heads that it is a fine and noble thing to attack and kill each other." + +"Why, Owen, I always thought you a brave fellow, and as fond of fighting +as any man," exclaimed Gerald. + +"I grant you that I am ready to fight in defence of the life and liberty +of my shipmates and the property committed to my charge, because I can +see that to be my duty," answered Owen. "The merchant service affords +ample opportunity for the exercise of a man's courage and determination. +Though I respect the officers and men of the Royal Navy, who are +engaged in fighting for their king and country, I have a very different +opinion of privateersmen, who go forth to plunder the harmless +merchantmen of other nations merely for the sake of enriching +themselves. It may be necessary to destroy the commerce of the enemy +for the purpose of crippling their means of offence; but privateersmen +seldom trouble their heads about that--they are incited by the instinct +of pirates, and plunder is their sole object. Whatever you do, let me +urge you, Gerald, never to turn privateersman; if you were to consult +your father, he would, I know, say as I do, for we have often spoken +about the matter." + +"I dare say you are right, Owen," answered Gerald. "If the _Ouzel +Galley_ were going at once to sea I would gladly sail in her. The +owners, as I heard from my father, intend to give the command of her to +you." + +"I am thankful to him, and very happy to hear it," said Owen; "and I +hope, Gerald, that if you go afloat in the mean time, which it is very +right you should do, that you will be back soon enough to join me. Tell +your father that I will try to get well as fast as I can, that I may +attend to fitting out the _Ouzel Galley_." + +Gerald did not give a very favourable report of Owen Massey; he +described him as looking pale and ill, and dreadfully out of spirits, +quite unlike himself. It made poor Norah exceedingly anxious; she had +bestowed on him her heart's best affections, with the full sanction of +her father, who highly esteemed him. + +To give Gerald employment till arrangements could be made for his going +to sea, he was sent on board the _Ouzel Galley_, to assist in landing +her stores and unrigging her, previous to her being hauled up on the +slip to be repaired. + +A few days on shore had so far restored Captain Tracy's health that +Norah was able to pay her promised visit to Mrs Massey, and Ellen +Ferris offered to accompany her. They set off together. Ellen was +nearly a year older than Norah; both were remarkable for their beauty. +Ellen was somewhat taller and slighter than her friend, with dark brown +hair and clear complexion, and fine, sparkling eyes; many persons would +have admired her the most. Having mixed in good society in Dublin, she +had more the manners of the world than Norah, though in reality equally +artless and unsophisticated; while she was able to take her part in +conversation on any of the topics of the day, of which, naturally, Norah +knew but little. She was amiable, lively, and right-principled, and +altogether allowed to be a very charming girl, the pride of her father, +who had no other child. She was therefore, of course, looked upon as an +heiress; she did not, however, give herself any airs, but was thoroughly +unaffected, her aim simply being properly to do the honours of her +father's house. Their chief residence was in Dublin, but she was always +his companion when he came to his house at Waterford. It was a pleasant +place, a _rus in urbe_, as the worthy merchant delighted to call it. +The house itself, a large, well-built mansion, with nothing remarkable +about it, faced the street. On the other side was an extensive piece of +ground. Immediately behind the house it was level, and laid out with a +lawn and flower-beds. Beyond this a hill rose to a considerable height, +the hillside being cut into slopes and terrace-walks, with an artificial +canal fed by an ever-flowing stream at the bottom of it. In accordance +with the taste of the day, these terraces were ornamented with statues; +and at one end was a fine arch, part of the ruin of an ancient Gothic +chapel. At the other end was an aviary filled with numerous feathered +songsters, several species of gay plumage. Further round the hill was +an enclosure stocked with various kinds of deer, and a white doe, an +especial favourite of the fair mistress of the garden. Besides the +canal, at the foot of the hill were two large reservoirs for the purpose +of supplying it with water, containing carp and tench and other fish; +and at the summit of the hill stood an obelisk to the memory of King +William, whom the owner held in especial reverence. The views from the +hill of the city on one side, and of the rough rocks and wild +uncultivated hills on the opposite side, of the river, the shipping at +anchor, with vessels and boats decked with gay flags constantly moving +up and down the stream, were picturesque and attractive, and afforded an +object of interest to the numerous guests whom the hospitable owner was +wont to entertain at his house. The place was laid out more according +to Dutch than English taste, and of course was especially admired by the +natives of Holland, among whom the firm of Ferris, Twigg, and Cash had +extensive connections, as well as with the West Indies, to which part of +the world they chiefly traded. The _Ouzel Galley_ was only one of the +numerous vessels owned by the firm, and all being strongly built, well +found, and well officered, with sufficient crews, they made successful +voyages. Mr Ferris himself was a dignified, good-looking, and somewhat +portly gentleman, frank and hearty in his manners, fond of a good joke +and a good story, and highly respected for his upright and liberal +conduct. + +Ellen, of course, had many admirers, but as yet it was generally +believed that she had favoured no one. She was, in truth, the light of +her father's home, and he had no wish to part with her. She and Norah +set off one bright afternoon on their walk to Widow Massey's cottage. +Norah had confided to Ellen her engagement to Owen. + +"I am young, and so is he, and we are to wait till he has made two or +three more voyages, while I am to keep house for my father, who does not +intend again to go to sea," she remarked. "He inherited some property +lately, which prevents the necessity of his doing so, and though I +enjoyed the voyage to the West Indies, and the beautiful scenery and +strange sights I saw there, I am very glad to have him remain at home, +especially since the war has broken out, and there is now the risk of +capture by an enemy, such as we so narrowly escaped from. I wish, +indeed, that Owen could give up the sea, but he is very fond of it, and +promises me not to run into more danger than can be helped; and as it is +the lot of so many poor women to have those they love at sea, I must not +complain." + +Ellen, sighed. Norah looked up with an inquiring glance at her +countenance, but Ellen only observed, "It must be borne with patience; +and then, you know, you can pray for those you love, and that is a great +comfort." + +Mrs Massey, who had from her front windows seen her visitors +approaching, opened the door to admit them. She welcomed Norah with an +affectionate embrace, putting back her hair to kiss her fair brow. + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Ferris," she said, "for neglecting you; but you +will excuse me--it is so long since I have seen this dear girl, and I so +rejoice to have her back in safety. My son Owen, the doctor says, owes +his life to the careful way she dressed his wounds." She continued, +after her guests were seated, "He will be wishing to come down and see +you, Norah, and I cannot forbid him, though he is not fit to present +himself before Miss Ferris." + +"Do not let me prevent Mr Massey from coming down," said Ellen, rising, +and giving a smile to Norah; "I will go out and take a look at your +pretty garden, Mrs Massey, and you shall show me the flowers." + +Norah felt grateful for the tact of her friend, and the widow having +gone upstairs to tell Owen that he need not fear the meeting with a +stranger, she returned and took Ellen into her garden, which contained a +shrubbery, a lawn and flower-beds, and an arbour with a view of the +river and shipping in the distance, and invited them to sit down. + +"This is a very pretty spot, Mrs Massey," said Ellen. "Now you have +got your son back, you must be perfectly happy." + +"I ought to be so, my dear young lady, and am indeed thankful to have +him with me," answered the widow; "but recollections of the past will +intrude. I cannot help thinking how different would have been his lot +had he not been unjustly deprived of his inheritance; and little good +has it done those who got it. Wealth gained by fraud or violence never +benefits the possessors." + +The widow, who spent much of her time in solitude, was inclined to talk +when she found a willing listener. Ellen's looks betokened sympathy, +for she was aware of the wrongs the Massey family had endured. + +"The O'Harralls were ever a lawless race," continued Mrs Massey; "they +were leaders among the Rapparees in Cromwell's and James's times, and +lived by robbing their countrymen and neighbours, till William of Orange +established a firm government. They then exercised their cunning by +means of the law, and, supported by the Evil One, their frauds were +successful. Scarcely, however, had they gained possession of Tramore +Castle and its broad lands than they took to their wicked courses. +Denis O'Harrall set all the laws of God and man at defiance; yet, as he +kept open house and entertained guests of high and low degree, he was +universally popular till he had been brought to the verge of ruin. Such +a father could not fail to bring up his sons ill: his eldest son was as +extravagant and reckless as himself. Brian, his second, had more talent +than his brother. Having been sent to college in Dublin, he at first +gave some promise of turning out well. Owen was at that time acquainted +with him, and, harbouring no ill-feeling, was ready to be on friendly +terms; but Brian soon showed the cloven foot, and although he remained +for some time, he was at length dismissed with ignominy. Living near +the sea, he had been accustomed from his earliest days to go out with +the fishermen, and to make short trips to Drogheda, Dungarvon, Youghal, +and occasionally even further. After his return home, having no means +of indulging in the bad courses to which he was addicted, he, it was +said, joined a band of smugglers, who under his leadership became the +most daring and successful of all the gangs of desperate men who carry +on their illicit trade across the English Channel. Now they appeared in +one part of the coast, now in another; so that, although a constant +watch was kept for them, owing to the vigilance of their agents for +several years, they never failed to escape the king's cruisers. From +long impunity becoming less cautious, a valuable cargo in which he had +ventured all his property was captured, with himself and several of his +companions, by a king's ship. They were brought into Waterford, and +were imprisoned in Reginald's Tower, on the quay. During the night, +however, they rose on the guard, whom they killed, to prevent alarm +being given, and stealing a boat made their way down the river. In the +harbour they found a Dutch ship, the _Saint Peter_, of Hamburg, which +had put in from stress of weather. As she was on the point of sailing, +they pretended that they had come down on purpose to take a passage on +board her to Dantzic, for which port she was bound. The captain, +believing their story, willingly received them, as they offered to pay a +considerable sum for their passage-money. Scarcely, however, had they +got out of sight of land than they set upon the captain and his officers +and killed them all, and so overawed the men that no one dared to offer +the slightest resistance. By threats and promises they induced the +greater number to join them, and those who would not do so were thrown +overboard. One, however, a good swimmer, recovering from the blows +which had apparently killed him, got hold of a grating and was picked up +the next morning. Being carried into Cork harbour, he gave information +of what had occurred, and the authorities in all places along the coast +were informed that they might seize the pirates should they appear. +Their intention was to proceed up the British Channel, to plunder any +vessel they could fall in with, and afterwards, when they had completed +their cargo, to sell it and the ship. A violent north-easterly gale, +however, drove them far away to the westward, and it was not till many +days were over that they were again able to stand to the eastward. They +had, as it happened, from not taking proper observations, got out of +their reckoning; while steering, as they thought, up the Channel, they +found themselves close in with the Irish coast. By this time being +short of water and provisions, they ran into Dunmanus Bay, supposing +that, no one suspecting their character, they might remain as long as +was necessary to repair damages and to procure whatever they wanted. +Among the crew was a young black, whose life had been spared under the +idea that he was too stupid and ignorant to think of betraying them. As +he appeared to be perfectly contented on board, he was allowed to be at +liberty; but he was in reality a remarkably sharp lad, and only waited +his opportunity to get on shore. One night, after the ship had been +there two or three days, he managed to slip overboard, and, getting +safely to land, made his way to Dunbeacon Castle, at the head of the +harbour. He here described what had occurred, and it was at once +guessed that the vessel in the bay was the one for which the authorities +had been directed to be on the watch. A despatch was immediately sent +off to Bantry; before the morning a party of soldiers arrived, and, +procuring boats, boarded the ship and captured all found in her. The +ringleader, however, Brian O'Harrall, was on shore, and though strict +search was made for him he was nowhere to be discovered. He had friends +in the neighbourhood, and it was only sufficient for them to know that +the officers of justice were after him to induce them to assist in his +escape. My son happened to be in Bantry at the time, just before he +went to sea; to save the boy, who was carried there, from the vengeance +of O'Harrall, he took him back to Waterford, and Captain Tracy received +him on board the _Ouzel Galley_. It was from Pompey I heard all the +particulars I have narrated. The five other men on board the _Saint +Peter_ were tried and condemned to death, and after their execution +their heads were set up at Waterford, Youghal, Cork, Kinsale, and +Blantyre. The ship and cargo being restored to the owners, O'Harrall +was outlawed, and a price set on his head; but though, from time to +time, he was heard of in connection with various desperate acts, he +never failed to escape the grasp of justice. It was supposed that he at +length joined a band of smugglers, though he has not for a year or more +been heard of. He has, I should have said, a younger brother remarkably +like him in character and appearance, who greatly assisted in his +escape. This brother, Michael, made his appearance now in one part of +the country, now in another, letting it be supposed that he was Brian; +thus distracting the attention of those in search of the culprit. He is +himself, from what I have heard, fully as determined a ruffian as Brian, +and has long followed the same lawless pursuits." + +"What a fearful character!" exclaimed Ellen, shuddering; "and yet you +say that Brian was at one time at college, mixing with young men of +education and refinement." + +"Yes, and, with the talents and advantages he possessed, might have +gained an honourable position in the county," replied Mrs Massey; "for, +his elder brother having no children, he would probably have succeeded +to the estate. I should have been more reconciled to the loss of +Tramore had it been in possession of honourable people, who would have +attended to the property and watched over the interests of the tenantry; +and it is sad to see the place going to ruin, and the unfortunate people +who might look up to the owner for assistance becoming every day more +degraded and wretched." + +"But perhaps, Mrs Massey, if the present owner should die, and as the +wretched men you have been describing cannot succeed, you, or rather +your son, may recover the property," observed Ellen. + +"I fear not," answered the widow, with a sigh. "I do not understand +legal matters, but the youngest brother might, I fancy, succeed in spite +of his crimes, and without ample pecuniary means I believe that it would +be impossible to regain the estate. I have long been reconciled to my +lot, though I should be thankful could Owen avoid the necessity of going +to sea, and enjoy a sufficient fortune to enable him to marry our dear +Norah in the course of a year or two." + +"Now you have told me the particulars of this strange history, I shall +not despair of success," said Ellen. "The want of money must, at all +events, not be a hindrance; there are, I am sure, those who would be +ready to assist your son." + +Ellen sat on, readily listening to all the widow's conversation; for, +heartily sympathising with Norah, she was in no hurry to break in upon +her and Owen's _tete-a-tete_. However, the length of the shadows +stretching across the lawn at last warned her that the evening was +approaching, and she remembered that it would be disagreeable, if not +dangerous, to be compelled to walk home in the dark. Norah, however, +had not noted how time had gone by; but when she looked out of the +window and saw that the sun was on the point of setting, she expressed +her readiness to return home without delay. Ellen, wishing Mr Massey +good-bye, and hoping that he would soon recover, hurried to the door, +leaving Norah, who was putting on her cloak and hat, to follow and pay +her parting adieux in the way she might think proper. Had Owen not been +absolutely forbidden, in spite of his weakness he would have accompanied +them--though Ellen laughed at the idea of there being any cause for +apprehending danger during the short walk into the town. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +ARRIVAL OF A JERSEY PRIVATEER--AN INVITATION SENT TO THE OFFICERS--NORAH +AND ELLEN MEET A STRANGER ON THEIR WALK HOME--ATTEMPT TO CARRY OFF +NORAH--SHE IS RESCUED--FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR THE RUFFIANS--ARRIVAL OF THE +CAPTAIN AND LIEUTENANTS OF THE PRIVATEER--THE MERCHANT'S HOUSE AND +GROUNDS--A BANQUET--CAPTAIN DUPIN REQUESTS THE PLEASURE OF A VISIT FROM +HIS WATERFORD FRIENDS--A DANCE ON BOARD THE PRIVATEER--AN UNPLEASANT +SURPRISE. + +Just after the young ladies had set off on their walk to visit Mrs +Massey, a Dungarvon hooker arrived at the quay, and her skipper brought +the intelligence that a sloop of war had anchored that morning in the +mouth of the harbour. She carried eighteen guns, for he had counted +nine on a side; having boarded her to dispose of some of his fish, he +was sure that he could not be mistaken. When he was more than half-way +up the river, he added, the wind being light, a gig had passed him; but +though he looked everywhere, he had not again seen her. He believed +that she belonged to the sloop, as an officer was seated in the stern, +and she had the appearance of a man-of-war's boat; but of that he could +not be certain. + +Mr Ferris had invited a party to dinner, and as he always wished to pay +attention to naval officers, he immediately despatched a letter by a +fast rowing-boat, requesting the company of the commander and officers +of the sloop at the intended banquet. Mr Ferris received a letter in +reply, signed "Jean Dupin, commander of the _Orestes_, private ship of +war," observing that Mr Ferris had been misinformed as to the character +of the vessel he had the honour to command, she not being a king's ship, +but belonging to Jersey, and the property of a firm with which he was +probably well acquainted, Messrs. Saint Croix and Cie; and he was +unwilling to sail under false colours--but that if Mr Ferris still +desired his company, he and his officers would have infinite pleasure in +availing themselves of his hospitable invitation. Mr Ferris +immediately sent back the boat, assuring Captain Dupin that it would +afford him the greatest possible satisfaction to receive him, and any of +his lieutenants and junior officers who might be able to accompany him. + +"Ellen will be disappointed when she finds that the ship is not a +man-of-war," he said to himself. "She takes much interest in the navy; +she saw a good specimen of the naval officer in that gentlemanly and +pleasing young lieutenant, Norman Foley, who was occasionally at our +house in Dublin when his ship lay off Kingstown, and she has +consequently an idea that all naval officers are like him. However, +many of the Jersey privateers are commanded and officered by gentlemen +of good family in the island, and I doubt not that Captain Dupin will +prove an agreeable addition to our party. I wish that Captain Tracy +were well enough to be present; he and Captain Dupin might find that +they were old acquaintances, and would, at all events, have many +subjects in common to talk about." + +We must now return to Norah and Ellen. They hastened their steps, for +the sun had set, and darkness was stealing over the landscape, and +unless they hurried on they would scarcely have light sufficient to see +their way through the narrow and dimly illuminated street, and might +perhaps meet with drunken men who would cause them annoyance. + +"I am pretty well known here, so that it is not likely any one will +insult us; but it would be unpleasant to encounter strangers," said +Ellen. "I am very sorry, Norah, for it was my fault remaining so long +listening to Mrs Massey's dreadful accounts of the O'Harrall family. I +was much interested, and I have taken it into my head that Mr Massey +may be able to regain his ancestral property. You know I am somewhat +romantic, and I should be so delighted to see you mistress of Tramore +Castle." + +"I am afraid there is very little hope of that," said Norah; "nor am I +ambitious, but shall be content to enjoy with my dear Owen the limited +fortune we shall be able to muster." + +They had just reached the most secluded part of the road, when they +heard footsteps behind them; and Norah, looking round, saw a man +following, his figure shrouded in a Spanish cloak, a broad-brimmed hat +ornamented with a feather drawn down over his brow, partly concealing +his countenance. The end of a scabbard which appeared beneath his cloak +showed that he was a gentleman, while his firm though hurried step gave +proof of what was of still more consequence, that he was perfectly +sober. As he passed them he lifted his hat, an act which served rather +to conceal further than to show his features. After going on a short +distance he stopped; then, facing about, walked rapidly towards them. + +"Miss Tracy," he exclaimed, "I have been impelled by an irresistible +power to endeavour to see you, and I am more fortunate than I expected. +Will your fair friend favour me by going on a few paces before us, while +I speak what I wish to reach no other ear but yours?" + +"Who is this gentleman?" exclaimed Ellen. "Is it your wish that I +should do as he requests?" + +"Oh no, no! do not leave me on any account," whispered Norah, tightly +grasping Ellen's arm. "Surely you must be under a mistake, sir, and +take me for some one else," she continued, turning to the stranger. + +"Miss Tracy, your features, your voice, your figure, are all too +indelibly impressed upon my mind," he replied. "Do not you remember the +last words I spoke to you ere we parted?" + +Norah, on hearing this, was still more convinced than at first that the +stranger was under a mistake. And yet the stranger had addressed her by +name! Could he be out of his senses? + +"Know you not that you have inspired the deepest and most devoted +affection, which death alone can destroy?" he continued. "To meet you +again I have gone through difficulties and dangers which would otherwise +have appeared insuperable; and can you be so cold-hearted as to regard +with indifference a love so ardent and true?" + +His voice as he spoke had more of a tone of anger than affection in it. + +"I must not listen to such language as this," answered Norah, the idea +of who the person was now flashing across her mind; "I beg that you will +not stop my friend and me, as we are anxious to return home without +delay." + +"I must and will be heard," exclaimed the stranger, attempting to grasp +Norah's hand. "Come with me; I offer you a heart which loves you to +desperation, and mine you must be. I have the means of enforcing my +request--if your friend interferes, she must take the consequences, and +will be compelled to accompany you." + +"You are mad, sir, to suppose for a moment that I would consent to such +a proposal; let me and my friend go, I entreat you." + +"For your refusal I was prepared," exclaimed the stranger, "but it will +not avail you;" and putting a silver whistle to his mouth, he blew it +shrilly. It was answered from a distance, and Ellen, looking in the +direction from which the sound came, saw two mounted men, each with a +led horse, approaching. Ellen now gave way to her fears, and uttered +loud shrieks for help. Norah felt all her energies paralysed by the +threatened act of violence, and could only cling to Ellen's arm and +murmur, "Don't leave me! don't leave me!" + +A wall rather too high to be leaped over intervened between them and the +horsemen. They had to make a circuit to reach a gate which opened into +the road before they gained it. The rattle of wheels was heard, and +loud shouts of laughter between snatches of song. Just then Ellen saw a +line of cars, the horses at full speed, coming along the road; the +stranger saw them too, and seizing Norah round the waist, endeavoured to +drag her to the wall; but Ellen and she clung frantically to each other, +Ellen again and again shrieking loudly for help. On came the cars; some +men in seamen's dresses sprang from the first, one of them shouting out, +"Shure, it's the young mistress! Be alive, and dale smartly with the +outrageous thief of the world who's dared to lay hands on her;" and, +joined by a dozen or more men from the other cars, armed with stout +shillelaghs, Dan Connor dashed forward at headlong speed. The stranger +glanced round to see how far off their horses still were from him, and +finding that they had not yet passed through the gate, and that all hope +of carrying off Norah must be abandoned, vaulted over the wall and ran +towards them. His companions, seeing what had occurred, hurried up to +his assistance. Just as the party of seamen had got close upon his +heels, he threw himself upon one of the led horses and galloped off, +followed by the shouts and execrations of the seamen, who were, +fortunately for him, without firearms. + +"Shure, Miss Norah, jewel, you're all safe now, and that mighty big +blackguard, whoever he may be, will do you no harm," exclaimed Dan. "If +you and the young lady will just mount on the car, we'll escort you safe +into Waterford; and if he and a score of Rapparees like himself were to +come back, we'd bate them all off before they could come near you." + +"Let us get up on the car, as the sailor advises us," said Ellen; and +she mounted and helped Norah up, when the seamen running on each side, +they set off at a brisk pace, followed by the other cars. + +"It's at the wake of poor Pat Casey we've been, Miss Norah. He niver +was himself after the wound he got when we fought the privateer--and +shure, we were coming home at daybreak; but somehow or other, what with +the potheen, and the friends we met, and a scrimmage or two, we made a +long morning of it; and bedad, good luck it was, or we wouldn't have +come up in time to put that fellow to flight." + +Ellen, who had somewhat recovered from her alarm, assured Dan how +thankful she felt to him and his shipmates and friends for the service +they had rendered Norah and herself. + +"Service, Misthress Ferris! it was the greatest pleasure I've had since +I was born, and I only wish I'd the same every day of my life. What +would Mr Massey have been after doing if that thundering villain had +got you and Miss Norah upon his horses and galloped off through the +country wid ye!--but he'd betther not be showing his face again in these +parts, whoever he is," answered Dan. "As soon as we've seen you both +safe home, we'll go in chase of him, and it will be hard if we don't +catch him, too." + +Norah did not say whom she suspected the ruffian to be who had attempted +the outrage; indeed, she was far too nervous to speak, and it was not +till, escorted by Dan and his friends, they arrived safely at home, that +she mentioned her suspicions to Ellen. She begged her to make as light +as possible of the matter, for fear of agitating Captain Tracy in a way +which might be injurious to him in his present state of health. Still, +the circumstance could not be altogether concealed from him. Abduction +was at that time too common in Ireland for what had occurred to create +much surprise. The only difficulty was to ascertain who the man could +be, though it was generally believed that his intention was to carry off +Miss Ferris, who was known to be an heiress. At that time there +actually existed in the neighbourhood an association known as the +Abduction Club, all the members of which had sworn to assist each other +in carrying off such young ladies as either of them fixed upon. By +means of their spies, they made themselves acquainted with the fortunes +of every marriageable girl and the domestic arrangements of the family. +Sometimes, when she had not been claimed by any particular member, they +drew lots to whom she should belong, and the rest were then bound to +assist the fortunate winner. No class of society, from the highest to +the opulent farmer or tradesman, was exempt from the depredations of the +associates. They themselves were mostly the younger sons or relations +of families of some standing, who, looking upon commerce as beneath +them, with too little education to succeed in the learned professions, +if they could not obtain a commission in the army, spent their lives in +idleness, and were known as squireens. Generally being able to borrow +good horses from their rich friends, they rode about the country habited +in red waistcoats lined with narrow gold or silver lace or fur, tight +leather breeches, and top-boots; making themselves conspicuous at fairs, +markets, races, and assizes, and in other places where people +congregated. They excelled in athletic sports, especially in the game +of hurling, when they took the lead among the young men of the peasant +class who engaged in it, and thus became identified with them, and could +on all occasions rely on their support. Though the crime of abduction +was punishable with death, as the girls who were thus carried off were +in most instances immediately married, few were found willing to +prosecute their husbands. The law was consequently almost inoperative, +and the abominable practice up to this day had continued unchecked. + +Mr Ferris was of course highly indignant. He at once took steps to +discover the offender, though, as he had not succeeded in his attempt, +there was little probability that he would be captured, or if so, +punished. The annoyance, also, to which his daughter and her friend +must in future be subjected, from being unable to venture outside the +garden without a strong guard, was provoking in the extreme; still, the +daring characters of the men who were known to be combined for the +purpose rendered it unsafe for the young ladies to go abroad unless thus +protected. + +Dan and Pompey, with the other seamen of the _Ouzel Galley_, and several +friends who joined them, as soon as they had left Norah and Ellen safe +at home, set off in chase of the ruffians, armed with such weapons as +they could hastily obtain, in addition to the shillelaghs they had +before possessed. Following in the direction they had seen the horsemen +going, they made their way over all impediments, inquiring of every one +they met, and hoping by perseverance to overtake them. They learnt, +however, after proceeding a considerable distance, that the men had +separated, one going off with the led horses in the direction of the +mountains to the westward, another turning southward towards Tramore +Bay, while the third followed a road which would conduct him to Passage, +near the mouth of the river, whence he could cross into Wexford. The +parties accordingly divided, but had not gone far when they lost all +trace of the fugitives, and as Dan observed, "They might as well be +looking for a needle in a bottle of hay, as hope to find the spalpeen." +Late at night they returned to Kingscourt House, the residence of Mr +Ferris, to report the ill-success of their expedition. + +"Bedad, your honour, we'll be after keeping a sharp look-out on the +fellows, and if any one of them shows his ugly face in the +neighbourhood, we'll be down upon him as quick as lightning," said Dan. + +"But if you don't know the men--and from what I understand, you only saw +their backs in the gloom--you will find a considerable difficulty in +recognising them," observed Mr Ferris, "and may chance to lay hands on +the wrong persons." + +"Shure, your honour, we'll ask them if they're the right ones before we +give them a taste of the shillelagh," answered Dan. + +"At all events, Connor, I wish you, and a dozen stout fellows you may +pick out, to act as a guard at my house, to protect my daughter and her +friend, should any yet more daring attempt be made to carry them off," +replied Mr Ferris. + +"I'll do that same with all the pleasure in life," answered Dan, "though +it may be a hard matter to keep our eyes open to-night, seeing we were +waking Pat Casey till a late hour this morning, and then, after seeing +him laid dacently under the turf, had to drink long life and success to +his sperrit and a short stay in purgatory, where the praste told us he +had gone--though, being a kind-hearted man, he'd do his best to pray him +out of it." + +"I have no fear of any fresh attempt being made to-night, so you may all +sleep soundly in your beds," said Mr Ferris; "but I shall require you +to-morrow, and for some time to come after that, while I remain at +Waterford." + +In those days the dinner-hour, even in the houses of the opulent, was at +two o'clock, and some time before that two well-manned boats, from the +stern of which floated the British ensign, reached the quay at +Waterford. Only three officers, however, stepped on shore, the captain +and two others, whom he introduced as his lieutenants to Mr Ferris, who +went down to meet him. All were dressed in uniforms closely resembling +that of the British navy, for such privateersmen were wont to wear. +Captain Dupin, who spoke with a slight French accent, as most Jersey men +did at that period, was a fair, good-looking young man, with a somewhat +short though well-knit figure, his countenance betoking courage and +determination. His first lieutenant, whom he introduced as Mr +Macarthy, was a man of a very different mould. His well-bronzed +features were concealed by a large beard and moustache, while a black +patch over one eye, and another down his cheek, showing that he had +suffered in the fight, did not add to the attractiveness of his +appearance. + +"As he is a countryman of yours, he was anxious to avail himself of your +invitation, though scarcely recovered from wounds he received is our +last action with a French ship, which we captured after a determined +resistance," observed the captain. "He was shot through the mouth, +which considerably impedes his speech; but he will be able +notwithstanding to do justice to your good fare, as I have no doubt you +will perceive." + +Mr Macarthy shook hands with Mr Ferris, and expressed his satisfaction +at finding himself once more on his native soil. + +"It is many a long year since I left the old country, and from that time +till I landed a few months ago in Jersey I have been knocking about in +distant seas," said the lieutenant. "Although Ballyadare, in Sligo, is +my native place, I have more than once in my younger days visited +Waterford, and this is not the first time I have been on shore at your +beautiful town. Faith, sir, it is a place to boast of; so fine a river, +such magnificent quays, and that old tower I see there--I forget its +name--where will you find the like?" + +Mr Ferris, pleased with the compliment paid to his city, was ready to +overlook the somewhat rough manner and exterior of his guest. + +"Indeed, sir," he said, "we are apt to boast of our virgin city and its +quays, a mile long as you will perceive, at which sixty sail of vessels +can unload at a time; of our dry dock, lately built by our townsman Mr +Congreve; of our conduits, which supply both our houses and the shipping +with water; of the privileges enjoyed by our citizens; and of our +militia, mustering five hundred men, and capable of giving a good +account of any enemy who may dare to invade our shores. You will, I +hope, meet some of the officers at dinner to-day." + +"By my soul, it is a city you may well be proud of," answered the +lieutenant; "and it is to be hoped that no enemy for their own sakes +will ever venture within gunshot of your redoubtable militia." + +The second lieutenant was introduced as a young Jersey man, Mr Latrobe. +He spoke with more French accent than his chief, who accounted for his +so doing by remarking that he had not come to sea till he was nearly +grown up, and had during peace time served on board a French merchant +vessel. "We Jersey men," he added, "though our sympathies are +thoroughly English, yet retain, as you know, the language and customs of +our Breton ancestors." + +"Come, gentlemen, I must conduct you to my humble residence," said Mr +Ferris, and, leading his guests up Hanover Street, so called by the +loyal inhabitants in compliment to the reigning royal family, they +entered King Street, towards the west end of which was situated Mr +Ferris's house, overlooking the river. On reaching the house, as there +was time to spare, Mr Ferris took them round his grounds, of which they +were loud in their compliments. So pleased did they declare themselves +that they begged to go round them a second time, when the lieutenant +might have been seen narrowly observing the localities. As they paced +round the outer circuit on their walk, they met Ellen and Norah, to whom +of course Mr Ferris introduced his guests. The officers bowed, and +Captain Dupin, addressing Ellen, expressed his admiration of her +beautiful garden and the taste with which it was laid out. + +"Surely I need not inquire whether you were the chief designer of these +lovely terraces and sparkling fountains, and that picturesque rockwork," +said the captain, bowing as he spoke. + +"No, I can claim no merit for the beauties you admire," answered Ellen; +"my father purchased the property from the former owner. I should have +liked it better had it been left more to nature." + +"Ah, if you could see Jersey! How you would delight in my own native +island!" exclaimed Captain Dupin; "it contains just the scenery you +would appreciate." + +"I can assure you that in Ireland we have most romantic and beautiful +scenery," answered Ellen; "and in the county of Kerry are the lovely +Lakes of Killarney, such as I believe all strangers consider the most +romantic in the world." + +"Ah, I know nothing of Ireland, though I may hope some day to be better +acquainted with it," said the captain. + +The other two stood aloof, as if they did not consider themselves of +sufficient consequence to address the young ladies to whom their +commander was speaking. Ellen, offering to show Captain Dupin the +aviary, led the way along the terrace. Norah followed by herself, +leaving the two lieutenants in conversation with Mr Ferris. The elder +of the two after a little time stepped forward, and Norah, looking +round, found him walking by her side. + +"Is this spot as attractive as some of the scenes you have visited in +the West Indies, Miss Tracy?" he asked, speaking low. + +Norah started as she heard the voice; but looking at the speaker, whose +countenance she failed to recognise, she asked, "How do you know that I +have been in the West Indies, Mr Macarthy?" + +"I heard from a seaman who came on board the _Orestes_ that you had +accompanied your father on board the _Ouzel Galley_," he answered +quietly. "Irishmen are wonderfully communicative, you know. It is an +unusual thing for young ladies to take such a voyage in time of war." + +"I sailed before war had broken out, or I am very sure my father would +not have taken me," she replied, banishing the idea which had flashed +across her mind. "He probably heard from the seaman that a young lady +was staying with Miss Ferris, and thus guessed who I was," she thought +to herself. + +After again going round the grounds, the party returned to the house, +where the other guests had begun to assemble. Captain Dupin and his +officers were duly introduced and cordially welcomed to Waterford. +Among others, Lieutenant Vinoy was brought up by the host. + +"Though you gentlemen would look upon each other as enemies were you to +meet on the ocean, here, I trust, you will be friends," said Mr Ferris. +The officers bowed politely. + +"I ave moche plaisir to meet Monsieur le Capitaine Dupin in dis +hospitable maison," said the French lieutenant; "if ve evare encounter +vis one anodare on de sea, den ve fight like des braves hommes--n'est-ce +pas, Monsieur le Capitaine?" + +"I could not desire a greater honour," answered the Jersey man. "Nor, +by my faith, could I," exclaimed the first lieutenant of the _Orestes_. + +"Ah, I moche fear I remain prisonare here to do end of de war," sighed +Monsieur Vinoy; "but, ma foi, I am too happy in dis charmante ville vid +dese aimable young ladies to vish to leave. It was de fortune de la +guerre vich brought me here, and I vill not complain." + +"You might certainly have been much worse off," observed Captain Dupin. +"I have no doubt you fought your ship, like a brave man, till all hope +of victory was gone." + +"Ve vill not talk of dat," answered the lieutenant, turning away, +probably not quite relishing the remark, recollecting how he had been +caught napping. + +Three of the officers of the city militia were next introduced to the +naval guests. Judged by their uniform, they were remarkably fine +fellows, for their coats were blue, with scarlet linings and gilt +buttons, their waistcoats and breeches being also of scarlet, and their +hats richly adorned with gold lace. They had evidently, as was natural, +a decidedly good opinion of themselves, and were somewhat inclined to +look down upon the more simply dressed tars. The first lieutenant of +the _Orestes_ eyed them askance from under his shaggy eyebrows, +apparently regarding them, for some reason or other, with no friendly +feeling. After exchanging salutations, he at once turned aside and +addressed himself to some of the civilians. + +"We are expecting a king's ship every day to visit our harbour--the +_Champion_, 18-gun sloop of war, Commander Olding," observed one of the +gentlemen. "Contrary winds may have detained her, or perhaps she has +fallen in with a Frenchman; and I will venture to say, if such is the +case, that she has taken him, for the navy does not possess a more +gallant and resolute officer than my friend." + +Captain Dupin involuntarily shrugged his shoulders and bowed. "I have +no doubt of the gallantry of the officers of the Royal Navy," he +observed. An opportunity occurring, he stepped back and spoke a few +words to his two lieutenants. The younger of the two looked somewhat +agitated; though the elder, whatever thoughts were passing in his mind, +retained a perfect composure. He managed to hand in Norah to dinner, +and to obtain a seat by her side. He spoke in a low voice, which once +or twice, it seemed to her, was unnatural; but he accounted for it as +his commander had done to Mr Ferris, by saying that he had received a +wound in his mouth. He described many strange places and scenes he had +visited, and appeared, notwithstanding the time he had been absent from +his native country, to be well acquainted with various parts of Ireland. +Altogether, he succeeded in making Norah think him an agreeable person, +although ill-favoured and rather rough in his manner. Captain Dupin was +equally successful in gaining the good opinion of Ellen, near whom he +sat; while he contrived at the same time to ingratiate himself, by his +lively conversation and the compliments he paid to Ireland, with most of +the guests--and all agreed that he was superior to most of the privateer +officers they had met. + +The feast need not be described; the viands were in abundance, and +claret, followed by whisky punch, flowed freely. A watchful observer +would have discovered that neither of the officers drank more than they +could help, though they were compelled to take no small quantity, simply +in accepting the pledges they received in turn from the rest of the +guests. The usual Orange toasts were drunk--especially the chief one, +"The glorious and immortal memory!" the whole party standing, although +they did not, as was occasionally done, shiver their glasses on the +ground--the principal inhabitants of Waterford being great admirers of +William of Orange. Soon after this the ladies retired. The officers, +to the surprise of the other guests, rose to take their leave, and some +were inclined to insist on their stopping. + +"It is altogether _contra bonos mores_, gentlemen, to leave us at this +hour with only half a cargo on board," exclaimed Mr Peter Vashan, one +of the sheriffs of the city; "we shall suspect you of being no true men. +Sit down and help us to finish another dozen of claret." + +Similar expressions were uttered by others. Captain Dupin was firm, +even though he saw angry and contemptuous glances cast on them by some +of those whose rule of good fellowship he was about to infringe. + +"To tell you the truth, gentlemen," he said, "I cannot be longer absent +with my chief officers from the ship. You know that privateersmen are +not the most orderly of characters; I am uncertain how my fellows may +behave during my absence, though I can answer for their good conduct +when I am among them. Before I left the ship I gave directions to have +a slight entertainment provided, and I invite our generous host, with +all who favour me with their company, to bring their wives and families +with them. The evening is fine, and the moon will be up to light you on +your return; and, as an inducement to some who have an eye to business, +I may add that we have on board part of the cargo of the last prize we +took, rich silks and brocades, and other manufactures of France, and as +I am in no hurry to go into port, I shall be glad to dispose of them on +moderate terms; while I am anxious to purchase provisions and stores, +which I am sure your town will supply of the best quality." + +The captain, as he spoke, looked round on the party, and was perfectly +satisfied that his invitation would be accepted, and that he would be +able to obtain whatever he required for his ship. No further effort was +made to detain him; even Mr Ferris promised to come, with his daughter +and her friend, and most of the other gentlemen expressed their +readiness to take the ladies of their families on board. Captain Dupin +and his two lieutenants hurried down to their boats, which were in +waiting at the quay, the crews having, according to orders, not even +landed or held any communication with the people on shore, +notwithstanding the pressing invitations they had received from the +tavern-keepers on the quay. + +"Begorra, I never knew a Jersey man who couldn't spake dacent English," +exclaimed one of the men, who had been trying to induce the sailors to +land. "Their captain may be what he says he is; but, shure, it's +strange for sailors to come into harbour and not to look out for a dhrop +of the crathur." + +Similar remarks were made by others, though they ceased when the captain +and his officers appeared and hailed the boats, which came to the shore +and took them in. They immediately pulled down the river as fast as the +crews could lay their backs to the oars. This proceeding began to +excite the suspicions of the people on the quays, but they were once +more lulled when it was known that they had gone on board to prepare for +the reception of visitors from the shore. + +When Norah heard of the invitation, she declined accepting it on the +plea that her father required her attendance, which indeed was the +truth, as he was more unwell than he had been for some days. Having +also lately been at sea, to her there was no novelty in a visit to a +ship; besides which, she had not entirely recovered from the agitation +she had suffered the previous evening. Ellen would have remained to +keep her company, pleased though she was at the thought of visiting a +man-of-war; but her father wished to have her with him, as several +ladies, wives and daughters of the sheriffs and aldermen, were going. +The party, consisting of nearly thirty ladies and gentlemen, soon +assembled at the quay. Their respective boats having been got in +readiness, with civic and private flags flying, the little flotilla +proceeded at a rapid rate down the river, the tide being in their +favour. + +Mr Ferris had invited Lieutenant Vinoy, who had won the good opinion of +his captors by his quiet behaviour and amiable manners, to accompany the +party. He would probably like to see a British ship of war, and of +course there was no fear of his being detained on board. The lieutenant +at first hesitated, but finally accepted the invitation, and accordingly +formed one of the party. + +The boats made good way, and though the pull was a long one, they soon +came in sight of the privateer, which lay in mid-channel. + +"Why, that craft has a spring on her cable," observed Captain O'Brien, +who had accompanied Mr Ferris; "her topsails are loose, as if she was +ready to put to sea at a moment's notice." + +"So probably she would, should she catch sight of a Frenchman in the +offing," observed Mr Ferris; "the enemy's merchant vessels do not +hesitate to stand along this coast, as we have so seldom a man-of-war on +the look-out for them. Captain Dupin is of course aware of that, and +was consequently in a hurry to get us to pay him a visit." + +The ex-merchant captain said nothing, but still kept examining the +_Orestes_ with a critical eye. "She may be a Jersey privateer, but she +has a French cut about her from her truck downwards," he muttered to +himself. + +The leading boats went alongside, and the officers were seen standing +ready to assist the ladies on deck. The other boats followed, and the +whole party were soon on board. Hurried arrangements had been made for +their reception; the after-part of the main-deck was roofed in with +flags, and supper-tables had been rigged on either side, already spread +with white cloths, on which several servants were placing dishes of all +sorts, while a band of musicians began to play lively airs. + +"I must not boast of our music," said the captain, bowing to the ladies; +"but finding that some of my men could play on various instruments, I +formed them into a band, and perhaps the young ladies may be inclined to +walk a minuet or to try a country-dance." + +No young ladies of the party were likely to decline such an offer. The +captain himself led out Ellen, and two or three of his officers, with +Lieutenant Vinoy and some of the young gentlemen from the shore, +followed his example. The minuet being voted slow, a country-dance +quickly succeeded it. The young ladies who had the officers of the ship +for their partners were struck by their extraordinary taciturnity; for, +with the exception of the young lieutenant who had visited the shore, +not one of them spoke a word. Captain Dupin remarked that they were +rough fellows, little accustomed to the society of ladies, and were too +bashful to speak--though Miss Kathleen O'Rourke, one of the belles of +the party, observed that they seemed anything but bashful from their +looks. + +"Ah, they are all more accustomed to French; indeed, scarcely one of my +crew knows a word of English," said the captain. + +While the younger members of the party were dancing away on deck, the +captain, requesting another gentleman to take his place, invited the +merchants who had honoured him by a visit to come below into his cabin, +where they found an elegant supper spread, with an abundance of +sparkling wines. He begged them to be seated, remarking that the +dancers would be entertained on deck, and would prefer the fresh air to +the somewhat confined atmosphere of the cabin. + +"We older hands are seasoned, and the quiet we can here enjoy is more to +our taste," he said. The party at once set to; the wine flowed freely, +and all declared they had never tasted finer claret or Burgundy. The +captain apologised for having only French wines on board, but remarked +that he liked to have them of the best. After some time, one of the +gentlemen reminded him that they had come on business, and begged to see +samples of the goods he had to dispose of. Others expressed the same +wish. + +"As you desire it, gentlemen, I will have them brought," replied Captain +Dupin; and he spoke in French to one of the people in attendance, who in +a short time returned, accompanied by two other persons bringing in +numerous parcels and cases, pieces of cloth, satin and silk. The +captain called for a book, and read out the quantities of each, +requesting his guests in the mean time to examine them. + +"They are sold in good faith, and I believe you will not be +disappointed," he observed. "Now, gentlemen," he continued, "I am in +want of a considerable amount of fresh provisions and stores for my +ship, and with which I feel sure you will be ready to supply me. I +have, however, to remark that I require them immediately, and I shall +feel obliged to you if you will send on shore and order them to be +brought off without delay. From among so many honourable merchants I +have no doubt that I can be speedily provided with the whole amount." + +"Will you furnish us with a list of your wants?" asked Mr Ferris, "and +I and my friends will gladly send them on board as soon as we return on +shore." + +"I do not mistrust your good intentions," answered Captain Dupin, "but +as time is precious to me, and I should be sorry to lose you, I must +request you to despatch orders to your managers and clerks to send off +the stores while you remain on board." + +"I thought so!" exclaimed the old sea-captain, bringing his fist down on +the table. "What fools we were to be so caught! May I ask you, Captain +Dupin, how long you have carried the British ensign at your peak?" + +"Since I came in sight of Waterford harbour," answered Captain Dupin. +"To confess the truth, I have practised a slight ruse on you; but be +assured that I would not cause you or your friends, who are now so +happily amusing themselves on deck, the slightest annoyance beyond the +detention of a few hours--indeed, only until the stores you send for +arrive." + +"Is this vessel, then, not a Jersey privateer, as we were led to +suppose?" asked Mr Ferris, with some little trepidation in his voice. + +"No, sir; I must own that she is the _Coquille_, belonging to Dunkirk, +and that I am Captain Thurot, of whom you may possibly have heard," +answered the captain. + +"Thurot! the most daring smuggler that ever crossed the Channel," +whispered Captain O'Brien, in a low voice, to his neighbour; "we are +caught like rats in a trap. He is as cunning as he is daring, and will +keep us in durance till he gets what he wants." + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +CAPTAIN THUROT DEMANDS A SUPPLY OF PROVISIONS--THE MERCHANTS SEND, FOR +THEM--CAPTAIN THUROT'S HISTORY--THE DISCOVERY--MOST OF THE GUESTS +ALLOWED TO TAKE THEIR DEPARTURE--MR. FERRIS, WITH ELLEN AND CAPTAIN +O'BRIEN, REMAIN AS HOSTAGES--THE CHAMPION APPEARS IN THE OFFING--CAPTAIN +THUROT ALLOWS THE HOSTAGES TO GO ON SHORE IN THE DINGHY. + +The astonishment and dismay of the worthy burghers of Waterford, who had +thus been so unsuspectingly entrapped on board the French privateer, can +better be imagined than described. "I am surprised, Captain Thurot, +that since you are disposed to act so courteously towards us, you did +not when on shore mention your wish, to have the stores sent on board, +when I should have had no hesitation in procuring them for you," said +Mr Ferris. + +"My good sir, I would have done so, but I thought it more than probable +that the stores would be stepped on their passage, and therefore, to +make sure of getting them, I adopted my present plan," replied Captain +Thurot; "besides which, I have enjoyed the opportunity of returning your +hospitality, though in a very inadequate manner, I must confess. I have +likewise recovered one of my officers, who, as he came on board with +your consent, will not break his parole by remaining. I have also to +request that you will send the men captured by the _Ouzel Galley_ in +exchange for your people, who will be detained on board till their +arrival." + +"But, sir," exclaimed Captain O'Brien, who was by this time fuming with +rage, "how are we to return to Waterford without hands to man our +boats?" + +"Most of the young gentlemen on deck can pull, as I have no doubt can +some of you, my friends," answered Captain Thurot; "and you may land at +Passage, from whence you can send over to Waterford for conveyances for +the ladies, as we should be sorry to detain them against their will-- +though we hope that they will continue on board and keep up the dance +for some hours to come; it would be a pity to interfere with their +amusement by telling them of the little ruse which we have been under +the necessity of playing." + +Mr Ferris and the other gentlemen consulted as to what was to be done. +One thing was very certain, that they could not help themselves; and +they finally agreed to send off privately for the stores and provisions +which had been demanded without letting those on deck know of what had +occurred. Writing materials were produced; each merchant was politely +requested to send for what he could supply. + +"Be under no apprehension of any loss," said Captain Thurot; "I promise +to pay liberally for all the stores I may receive. Though a privateer, +I am not a robber; indeed, being your countryman, and loving Ireland as +the home of my ancestors, I should be sorry to treat any of you with +want of courtesy." + +"A countryman of ours!" exclaimed Mr Ferris, looking up. + +"Yes, sir," answered the captain. "I took the name of Thurot from my +mother; my grandfather's name was O'Farrel--and proud I am of a name +which has never been disgraced. But I must not interrupt you, +gentlemen. Go on with your writing; I will by-and-by, if you wish it, +entertain you with my history. I have nothing to be ashamed of." + +The merchants resumed their pens, and having consulted together, their +orders were soon made out and despatched by one of the boats which had +brought them on board. In the mean time the party on deck were footing +it away right merrily, entirely ignorant of what had been taking place +below; the officers of militia, notwithstanding their gay uniforms, +finding themselves eclipsed by the superior terpsichorean attainments of +the Frenchmen. Lieutenant Vinoy seemed in high spirit, and efficiently +performed the office of master of the ceremonies, apparently feeling +himself quite at home. Some of the merchants, having finished their +despatches, were about to go on deck. + +"Stay, gentlemen," exclaimed the captain; "we will discuss a few more +bottles of claret first. We will not interrupt the amusements of the +young people by letting them know the character of my ship, for, depend +on it, they will be treated with all due courtesy, and will not, I +trust, regret having come on board." + +The claret, which had been pronounced first-rate, was a temptation not +to be resisted, and the guests, who had risen, making a virtue of +necessity, resumed their seats, prepared to do justice to as many +bottles as might be placed before them. + +"Now, gentlemen," said Captain Thurot, "you shall, if it is your desire, +hear my history; it will serve to occupy some of the time till the +return of the boat." + +"By all means, captain; we shall be glad to have an account of the life +of one whom none of us are likely to forget in a hurry," said Mr +Ferris. Others also expressed the same wish. + +The captain laughed. "It is pleasant to feel that there is no risk of +being forgotten by one's friends," he observed; "and you will be still +less likely to do so when I have narrated a few of the incidents of my +life. I may remark that some of my acts may not be looked upon by you +in the same light as that in which I regard them. I must be judged by a +different code to yours. I have never owed allegiance to your +sovereign, and therefore you must not blame me for breaking his revenue +laws in the way which I shall have to tell you I have done. However, to +my history. My grandfather, Captain O'Farrel, was an officer in the +army of King James the Second, and fought at the battle of the Boyne, so +fatal to the royal cause. When the king was compelled to leave the +country and retire to France, Captain O'Farrel was among the loyal +gentlemen who followed his fortunes and accompanied him to Saint +Germain. Here my grandfather, having been appointed one of the +gentlemen of the king's household, met with Mademoiselle Thurot, a +beautiful and accomplished young lady of ancient lineage, whose uncle, +with whom she lived, was at that time a member of the parliament of +Paris. A penniless adventurer, as Captain O'Farrel was regarded, was +looked upon with distrust by the young lady's relatives, who endeavoured +to keep him at a distance. Love scorns difficulties, especially when +burning in the breast of an Irishman, and that Irishman a handsome, +dashing officer who has seen service. The captain carried off the young +lady, and she became his wife. So angry were her uncle and her other +wealthy relations in Paris that they discarded her, refusing to +contribute a sou to her support. My grandfather had alone the stipend +he received from his royal master, and when King James died he was left +to his own resources--they were small indeed. He tried by various means +to make an income, but the natives had in every way the advantage of +him; and at last, with his young wife, and the remnant of his property +contained in a valise, he retired to Boulogne, in the hope that some of +his wife's relatives who resided in that town would have larger bowels +of compassion than those he had left in the city. The once gay and +high-spirited officer found himself mistaken: they could not give any +encouragement to one who had set so bad an example to the younger +members of their families; should they support Madame O'Farrel, their +own daughters might be throwing themselves away on some of the Irish +adventurers, with whom the country swarmed, and expect to be provided +with houses and establishments. + +"My poor grandfather, almost broken-hearted, was on the point of +starvation, when he received a small pension allowed by the Queen of +France to all those who had faithfully served their exiled sovereign. +Hard service, wounds, and disappointment soon terminated his life; and +three months after he had been laid in his grave my father was born-- +fatherless before he saw the light--and soon became motherless, for +Madame O'Farrel survived her husband scarcely a year. The destitute +condition of the orphan at length moved the compassion of some of his +relatives of the Thurot family, who adopted him and brought him up under +their own name. He was intended for the law, and studied for some +years; but he had Irish blood coursing through his veins, and, under the +expectation of obtaining a fortune with a wife, he fell in love and +married. He was, however, disappointed in his hopes; but the lady soon +dying, gave him an opportunity of again trying the lottery of matrimony. +His second wife was Mademoiselle Picard, the daughter of a +wine-merchant, or, as some people might have called him, a vintner; but +if, as I hope was the case, he sold good wines, why should I be ashamed +of him? My father's second wife was my mother; but at the moment of my +birth my father was deprived of her by death, and I lost the advantage +of being nursed by a tender parent. My father was heartbroken, and when +he looked at me, a poor frail infant, he believed that I should not +survive. He had two duties to perform--to have my mother buried, and to +carry me to the baptismal font. While the tears were streaming from his +eyes, as he held me in his arms, a dignified and handsomely dressed lady +approached, and, having inquired and heard the cause of his grief, +offered herself as sponsor to the motherless child. She was Madame +Tallard, a lady of high rank and fortune--it being the custom of the +country for ladies of distinction to offer themselves at that period of +the year as sponsors for the children of the poorer classes. Madame +Tallard did more; she sent my father a present for me, and desired that +should I survive till her return I might be presented to her. She was +as good as her word, and not only contributed to the expenses of my +education, but I received much kindness from her and her family. When I +was about fifteen, a stranger called on my father, and hearing whose son +he was, announced that his name was O'Farrel, and claimed relationship. +He stated that he was the commander of an Irish trader, and so worked +upon my father and me by the account of the success of his voyages, that +he stirred up in my heart a strong desire to join him in his +enterprises. As our cousin promised to introduce me to various members +of the O'Farrel family, who were, he said, flourishing in Connaught, and +would be certain to welcome me cordially, my father, seeing also that +there was but little chance of my pushing my fortune in France, +consented to my going; but as I at that time could not speak a word of +English, I should have had considerable difficulty in making myself +understood by my relatives or in understanding them. + +"My Irish cousin having fitted me out, I set sail with him for Limerick; +but I found him wonderfully addicted to the whisky bottle, and being +also of a harsh and tyrannical disposition, I soon quarrelled with him. +Instead of proceeding direct to Limerick, we put in to the Isle of Man, +where, not wishing to remain longer with my cousin, I took the liberty +of deserting the vessel, and, running away inland, I hid myself in the +barn of a farmhouse till I thought she would have sailed. On coming out +of my place of concealment, the first person I met was the owner of the +property. He addressed me in English, of which language I could not, as +I have said, then understand a word. On my telling him in French that +the vessel to which I belonged had sailed away without me, he spoke to +me in my native tongue, and asked if I was hungry--for I suppose I +looked so. I replied that I was, and should be thankful for a loaf of +bread and a bottle of wine. He laughed and said that wine was not the +liquor of the country, but that, if I would accompany him, he would give +me some bread and cheese and beer. I did not refuse his offer--and, _ma +foi_, very excellent I found his viands. I asked him if he had anything +for me to do, as I should be glad to serve him in return for his +hospitality. He laughed again, telling me that I was a sharp boy, and +that, if I wished it, he would take me into his employment. He did so, +when I found that he was the owner of several luggers which ran between +France and the English and Irish coasts to land contraband goods. After +I had remained on shore for some time, he asked me if I would like to +take a trip to sea. I was perfectly ready to do as he proposed, and the +next day I went on board one of his vessels. We were never idle; +sometimes bringing cargoes from France to the Isle of Man, and at others +running the goods across from France to Ireland. I thus gained a fair +knowledge of the trade. My employer was pleased with me, and after I +had served him for some time he sent me over to Carlingford, where I +remained for a year managing his business, which was to dispose of the +goods landed from the luggers. It was here that, by constantly +associating with the people of the country, and seldom meeting +Frenchmen, I learned to speak English with considerable fluency. On my +return to the Isle of Man I resolved to put into execution an idea I had +long entertained, of discovering my paternal relations. On telling my +employer, he advised me, should I fail in my object, to come back to him +without delay. Finding a vessel bound for Dublin, I took my passage on +board her. Great was my disappointment on my arrival to discover that, +although there was no end of O'Farrels, none of them would own me or +acknowledge themselves related to the _ci-devant_ captain of King +James's army. Still, I was not to be beaten, and with a dozen shillings +in my pocket I set off for Galway, where I heard that some of my family +resided. I was not disowned--for the reason that I could find no one to +disown me--and with my last shilling gone, I returned, footsore and +weary, to Dublin. + +"Well, gentlemen, I was now in an unfortunate plight, when I had the +good luck to meet with the French valet of a certain noble lord whose +name I will not mention. He was pleased to fall in with a person who +could speak the language of _la belle France_, and on hearing that I was +of gentle birth, he offered to obtain for me the situation of my lord's +page. It suited my fancy, and, according to my notion, there was +nothing in it derogatory; so I accepted his offer, and for two years +enjoyed a pleasant and easy life--especially as her ladyship's +waiting-woman was a very amiable and agreeable person. An unfortunate +circumstance brought my connection with the family to a close, and I was +compelled to take service with a noble earl whose residence was on the +sea-coast of Antrim. I accompanied the earl on his shooting excursions, +more as a companion than as a servant; but he was frequently absent from +home, and I should have found the place very _triste_ had I not fallen +in with some of my old smuggling acquaintances. With them I +occasionally made trips, to keep up my knowledge of the sea, and by +their means I was able to supply my friends with pieces of Indian stuff, +a few yards of muslin, or tea, or any other articles in request. As +many other persons wished to possess these things, and were willing to +pay for them, I commenced a regular commerce, which quickly filled my +pockets with gold pieces. Leaving the earl's service, in which I could +not conscientiously remain, I again took regularly to the sea, and +having so many friends along the coast, I was able without difficulty to +dispose of my cargoes. A lady of some consideration in the county was +one of my chief purchasers. Some one giving information to the officers +of excise that her house was full of smuggled goods, it was searched, +and they were discovered, when I was accused of having brought them +over. The officers accordingly laid their plans to entrap me. I had +come across from the Isle of Man with three other boats in company; they +were seized, but I managed to make my escape, and sailed over to the +coast of Scotland. Here we landed our cargo, which we hid in a cave-- +but how to sell it now that we had got it safely on shore was the +question. I proposed that three of us should assume the character of +pedlars, and dispose of it piecemeal throughout the country. My plan +was adopted; a pleasant time I had of it, travelling from place to place +and visiting the lord's castle and the farmer's cottage. So successful +were we that my share amounted to a hundred and fifty pounds. With this +sum in my pocket I travelled across to Edinburgh, where, dressing myself +as a gentleman, I took lodgings, intending after seeing the city and +enjoying myself for a brief space to return to France. I happened, +however, to meet a Frenchman long settled in Edinburgh, and the owner of +several vessels which ran between Leith and London. Happening to +require a master for one of these vessels, he asked if I would take +charge of her. To this I agreed, and carried her safely into the +Thames; but, unhappily, a fire breaking out in a large warehouse near +which she was moored, she with several other vessels was burnt, and I +with some difficulty escaped on shore with the property I possessed. +Assuming my Irish name, I took lodgings in Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn +Fields, for the sake of being near a Mr Donnell, an Irish gentleman +famous for his knowledge of mathematics, from whom I received +instruction in navigation. Through his recommendation I obtained the +command of a vessel, in which I made frequent trips backwards and +forwards between the English and French coasts, greatly increasing my +nautical knowledge and adding largely to my circle of friends. I +conceived a warm admiration for the English, for though they have their +faults, they are a brave and generous people, and my wish on all +occasions has been to acknowledge their bravery and generosity. It was +while I was in London that I used to visit a club held every Monday +evening in the Seven Dials, and frequented almost exclusively by +foreigners, mostly Frenchmen. One evening, after they had imbibed more +than their usual quantity of wine, some of them began to abuse the +English and Irish, speaking of them in the most contemptuous manner. I +listened without uttering a word for some time, till my patience +gradually evaporated, when, jumping up, I seized the two persons seated +close to me by their noses, and, holding them fast, dragged them to the +door, and then kicking them out, bolted it behind them. Returning to my +seat, I said quietly, `Come, gentlemen, fill your glasses and let us +change the subject.' Not one of the rest uttered a word, or ventured +again to speak ill of the nation among whom we were living. + +"I shortly after this obtained the command of a vessel which ran between +Dunkirk and London, occasionally putting part of our cargo on shore in +any convenient spot where our agents were ready to receive it without +troubling the revenue. For some years I carried on a free trade between +various French ports and the English coast, my chief place of residence +being London, where I had to go to settle my accounts; and then, wishing +once more to see my father, I went to Boulogne, where he still lived. I +was now, in consequence of my successful voyages, looked upon as the +king of the smugglers. I was proud of the title--but pride is often, as +you know, doomed to have a fall. I may venture to say that during that +period I did not import and export less than twenty thousand pounds' +worth of goods every year. It happened, however, that the French +Government did not quite approve of my proceedings, and the president of +the province, who happened to be the son of my old friend, Madame +Tallard, received orders to put a stop to our commerce. Monsieur +Tallard had been my friend and playmate in our youth, but duty compelled +him to be vigilant, and I and several of my associates were arrested. +Some of them were hanged, but through his interference my life was +spared, though I was thrown into prison, where I languished for many a +long day. At length, however, the French Government requiring the +services of persons well acquainted with the English coast, I was sent +for to Paris, where I was desired to give such information as I +possessed. I now expected to obtain my liberty, but, instead of that, +those official gentlemen considered it prudent to keep me shut up till +they wanted me. My friend Monsieur Tallard again interfered, and I was +suddenly transferred from prison to the command of a fine sloop of war. +It was a pleasant change, I can assure you, gentlemen; but the intention +of invading England having been abandoned by the Government, I found +that my ship was not likely to be employed. I accordingly obtained +leave to resign my commission, and to take the command of the _Coquille_ +privateer, the ship on board which I have had the pleasure of receiving +you as my guests." + +Whatever might have been the opinion held by the Irish merchants as to +the career of their host, they did not think fit to express them. + +"I congratulate you, Captain Thurot, on having at length attained a +position suited to your courage and talents," said Mr Ferris; "and as +you have thought fit to play a trick on us, we have to thank you for the +courteous way in which you have carried it out. I hope your wants will +be supplied, and that we shall stand exonerated with our Government for +having furnished an enemy with stores." + +"I will give you a certificate to the effect that you are under +compulsion," said the captain; "and if you in any way suffer, I will do +my best to make good the loss." + +"That would be a difficult matter," observed Captain O'Brien, "though I +hope that our known loyalty will prevent our being subject to any unjust +suspicions. Now, gentlemen," he continued, turning to friends, "we +should be wishing our entertainer farewell, or we shall lose the flood." + +The party rose. "I am sorry that, if you do go, you will yourselves +have to pull the boats up the river, unless some of you gentlemen and +Mr Ferris like to remain as hostages instead of your men," said Captain +Thurot. "Pray understand that I do not doubt the word of any one of +you, but were I to allow all to return, the authorities on shore might +not consider themselves bound by your promises, and might withhold the +stores I require, as well as the men, I am somewhat anxious also about +my first lieutenant, who remained on shore about some business of his +own. I will not, however, make you answerable for him, unless he is +taken prisoner, and then I shall expect you to return him safe on board; +and I must have a promise from you that you will do so. Perhaps, in +order to induce those same authorities, who are collectively at times +somewhat stubborn, to act more promptly, it might be convenient if Mr +Ferris and his daughter and you, Captain O'Brien, would consent to +remain on board my ship until my people are sent back. Monsieur Vinoy +came on board with your full sanction, so that I consider myself at +liberty to detain him. In the case of Mr Ferris and Captain O'Brien +complying with my wish, you can take your men to row the boats up the +river. The plan will, I should think, greatly facilitate matters." + +"Not a bad plan," exclaimed two or three of the other gentlemen who were +to obtain their liberty. "Ferris, you will not object to remain? nor +you, O'Brien? Without our men we shall be hours getting up to +Waterford." + +Mr Ferris was always ready to sacrifice himself for the public good, +though he would have preferred returning home. + +"I must hear what my daughter says on the subject," he answered; "I will +not detain her against her wish. At the same time, having perfect +confidence in the honour of Captain Thurot, I am ready to remain on +board, in order, my friends, to save you and your families from +inconvenience or anxiety." + +"In that case, so am I," exclaimed Captain O'Brien. "I had my +suspicions from the first that all was not right, and I deserve some +punishment for allowing myself and you to be entrapped." + +"Very kind!" + +"Very generous!" + +"Very public-spirited!" cried the other gentlemen, who were eager to get +out of the scrape as soon as possible. It became necessary at last to +let the party on deck know the true state of the case, and to desire +them to prepare for their departure. Some would not even now believe +that they had been deceived; others were very indignant. The militia +officers pulled their moustaches, swearing that they would return with +their men and capture the pirate, although they could not help +acknowledging that they had been politely treated by the Frenchmen. +Ellen was perfectly ready to remain with her father; she had a thorough +confidence in sailors of every nation, and as it now wanted but two or +three hours only to daylight, she could have the enjoyment of a row up +the river in the morning instead of during the night. She sent a +message to Norah begging that she would not be anxious on her account. + +Nothing could exceed the politeness of Captain Thurot and his officers +as they handed their visitors into the boats, now manned by their proper +crews, who swore that the Jersey men were broths of boys, and it was +just a pity that they couldn't speak a little better Irish. Though +still able to pull, the boatmen gave undoubted proofs that they had not +been stinted in their liquor. + +"Now, bhoys," cried one of the men, standing up and pulling off his hat, +"three cheers for the Jerseyman, and may good luck go with her on her +cruise--hip! hip! hurrah!" and their voices sounded far and wide across +the waters of the harbour. The boats were soon lost to sight in the +darkness. Mr Ferris and Ellen, with Captain O'Brien, having stood +watching them to the last, Lieutenant Vinoy drew near and expressed a +hope that Mr Ferris would not accuse him of breaking his parole. "For +had I done so, I should not have been worthy of addressing you," he +remarked. + +"Certainly not, my friend," said Mr Ferris; "we brought you on board, +and your captain tells me that he has detained you." + +"Ah, that is indeed a satisfaction," exclaimed the lieutenant. "I may +now give a message from the captain, who begs that you will take +possession of his cabin, which is entirely at your service; you must +consider it yours till the return of the boats with our men. They will +soon, I hope, for your sakes, make their appearance." + +Mr Ferris felt satisfied at having sacrificed himself for the benefit +of his friends. Not that he experienced the slightest apprehension of +having to suffer any inconvenience. Ellen declared that she liked the +fun, and only hoped that Norah would not be anxious about her. Still +the time went by; the grey dawn was breaking, and no boats had appeared. +Captain O'Brien, who was much more fidgety than his friend, frequently +went on deck to take a look-out. Ellen, who was reclining on a sofa, +had fallen asleep, while her father sat by her side. A stream of bright +light coming through the cabin windows awoke her. Just then Captain +O'Brien came down. + +"By my faith, I believe our friend is going to carry us off to sea!" he +exclaimed; "I suspected there was something in the wind, and, going +aloft, I discovered a large ship in the offing; so did the Frenchmen, +and they immediately commenced hauling on their spring and letting fall +the canvas ready to make sail in a moment. They don't like going +without their men and the promised provisions; but they will have to do +it if the boats don't return quickly, for I'm much mistaken if the +vessel I saw isn't the _Champion_, which we have so long been looking +for." + +Ellen, who had hitherto been asleep, started as she heard Captain +O'Brien speak. "The _Champion_, do you say?" she asked. + +"I think it more than probable that she is," said the captain. Ellen +did not reply, but the thought--and to her it was an agitating one-- +immediately occurred to her mind, "The _Champion_ will surely attack the +French ship." It was confirmed by the next remark her father made. + +"If so, the Frenchman will have to fight for it, for Captain Olding is +not likely to let him go without questioning him," said Mr Ferris. + +"But where do you think, my friend, we shall be in that case?" asked +Captain O'Brien. "Thurot will scarcely send us on shore first in one of +his boats, and I see no signs of our own." + +"Could we not get him to make a signal for a boat from the shore? He +surely will not detain my daughter, with the prospect of having to fight +his ship," exclaimed Mr Ferris, becoming anxious. "How mad I was to +allow her to remain!" + +"Do not be alarmed about me. I trust that we shall have no difficulty +in getting on board the _Champion_ should she enter the harbour," said +Ellen. + +"We may be confident that Thurot will not wait for her here," said +Captain O'Brien; "but I will go on deck and get him without delay to +make a signal for a boat from the shore, if ours are not in sight. If +they are, he will probably wait for them." + +On going on deck Captain O'Brien found that the corvette had slipped her +cable, that the topsails were set, and that the crew were aloft loosing +the other sails. Still, in spite of the wide folds of canvas which were +rapidly spread on the ship, the wind was so light that she made but +little way. There was yet time for a boat to come off from the shore, +and Captain Thurot without hesitation made a signal as he was requested, +firing a gun to draw attention. No boat however, appeared. + +"Captain Thurot," exclaimed Captain O'Brien, going up to him, "I must +beg that you will send Miss Ferris and her father on shore before you +leave the harbour. It would be terrible to expose her to all the risks +of a battle--and that you will be engaged in one with yonder ship, I +have no doubt. She is a British ship of war, and is sure to attack you +when she finds out your character." + +"But I intend to avoid her if I possibly can, and if compelled to fight, +I will place Miss Ferris and you two gentlemen in as safe a position as +we can find on board," said Captain Thurot. + +"The safest, however, would not be satisfactory under the +circumstances," replied Captain O'Brien. Captain Thurot looked greatly +annoyed. + +"I know that," he said, "but it is necessary to send the boats ahead to +tow. Were I to run the risk of losing the ship, the crew, and even the +officers, would mutiny--these privateersmen are difficult characters to +deal with; as it is, they will be discontented at not obtaining the +stores and recovering their shipmates. My first lieutenant, also, is on +shore. If I send you away, I have no guarantee that the stores will be +delivered, or that my people will be restored to me." + +"You shall have the word of honour of two Irish gentlemen," answered +Captain O'Brien, "that should yonder vessel not prove to be the +_Champion_, or any other man-of-war, everything shall be arranged as you +wish; the stores and men shall be sent off to you, and your first +lieutenant restored, if we can find him." + +Still Captain Thurot hesitated. "You believe that ship out there to be +a British sloop of war?" he asked. + +"I feel almost certain that she is the _Champion_; that she is a large +vessel of your own class, and carries eighteen guns of heavy metal; and, +moreover, I believe that if you venture to engage her she will take you. +If you follow my advice you will do your best to escape from her." + +While this conversation was going on, the larger boats were being +lowered, and were now sent ahead to tow. There was a light air from the +westward; the stranger's courses were rising above the horizon in the +south-east, just clear of Hook Tower. Could the _Coquille_ once got out +to sea, she might either by running before the wind round the +south-eastern point of Ireland, or by keeping close-hauled stand along +the southern coast towards Cape Clear. + +"I confess that I am unwilling to part with you till the last moment," +said Captain Thurot, "but my courtesy will not allow me to detain the +young lady and to expose her to the risk she would have to run. I will +therefore give you my small boat, if you will take charge of her and +convey Miss Ferris and her father to the shore." + +"With all my heart, and I am much obliged to you," exclaimed Captain +O'Brien. "If you will order the boat to be lowered, I will get them up +on deck. The sooner we are off the better; the tide is sweeping out of +the harbour, and we shall have a hard pull of it, at all events." + +He hurried below, and conveyed the satisfactory intelligence to his +friends. By the time that they were on deck the dinghy was alongside, +the courses were hauled up, and the men ahead ordered to cease pulling. +Captain O'Brien stepped into the boat; Mr and Miss Ferris descended the +accommodation ladder. After a brief farewell to Captain Thurot, who +with his officers bowed them politely out of the ship, the dinghy shoved +off. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +ELLEN AND HER FATHER, WITH CAPTAIN O'BRIEN, WATCH THE CHAMPION AND +COQUILLE FROM PORTALA HEAD--THE FIGHT--THE SHIPS DISAPPEAR IN THE +DISTANCE--RETURN TO WATERFORD--NEWS OF THE CAPTURE OF O'HARRALL--ELLEN'S +ANXIETIES--GERALD SENT TO MRS. MASSEY--DURING THE WIDOW'S ABSENCE OWEN +RECEIVES A VISIT FROM O'HARRALL--CONCEALS HIM--THE PURSUERS COME TO THE +COTTAGE--THE WIDOW'S ALARM--OWEN ENABLES O'HARRALL TO ESCAPE. + +The worthy captain had not handled a pair of oars for many a year, but +he seized the sculls and pulled away lustily towards the western side of +the harbour. As to rowing up it against the strong tide then running +out, that, he saw, was hopeless, Mr Ferris being no oarsman. The +_Coquille's_ sails were let fall, and the men in the boats giving way, +she in a short time was clear of the harbour, and was seen to stand +close-hauled towards the south-west, the tide being in her favour. The +stranger had by this time made her out, and was steering on the opposite +tack towards the harbour's mouth. Being far to leeward, there appeared +but little chance, unless the breeze should freshen, of the two ships +meeting. + +"I only hope they may," said the captain, as he tugged away at the oars. +"Thurot is a fine fellow, no doubt about that; but he deserves to be +punished for his impudence, and if the _Champion_ gets alongside him, +he'll find that he's caught a Tartar. Olding isn't the man to part +company with an enemy till she strikes, or one or the other goes to the +bottom. His officers are like him, I hear, and I shouldn't be +astonished to see the _Coquille_ brought in a prize before many hours +are over." + +Ellen looked pale and anxious while the captain was speaking. + +"We knew Mr Foley, the second lieutenant of the _Champion_, very well +in Dublin, when she lay at Kingstown," observed Mr Ferris--"a fine +young fellow. I am sure also that you have described Captain Olding +truly." + +The captain was all the time pulling away with might and main, now +looking ahead to judge of the direction to take, and now watching the +two ships. + +"Thurot hasn't calculated on getting becalmed under the land; if he does +that, he'll find the _Champion_ soon walk up to him," he observed. +"Pulling is harder work than I thought for, or my arms have grown +stiffer than they used to be. The sooner we can get on shore the +better, and we can wait there till the tide turns, when perhaps we shall +find some hooker running up to Waterford which will take us in tow. +I'll pull in for Portala Bay, which you see just inside Red Head." + +"As you please," said Mr Ferris. "By climbing to the top of the Head +we shall, I fancy, be able to watch the proceedings of the two ships." + +The captain pulling on, the boat soon reached a small bay just to the +northward of a headland at the western side of the entrance of Waterford +harbour. Ellen was eager at once to climb to the summit of the height. +The captain and Mr Ferris having drawn up the boat, they set off, and +were not long in gaining it. From thence they could command a view of +the whole coast of Waterford as far as Youghal Bay, towards which the +_Coquille_ was standing. Her boats had been hoisted up, but she was +still, even with a favourable tide, making but slow progress. The ship +to the eastward had now come completely into view. The captain took a +steady look at her. + +"She is a sloop of war--I thought so from the first," he exclaimed, "and +from the cut of her canvas I have little doubt that she is English." + +As he spoke, the stranger's ensign blew out from her peak. + +"Yes, I knew I was right--she is the _Champion_, depend on it. If the +breeze favours her, far as she is to leeward, she'll be up to Captain +Thurot before noon," he continued. "If she once gets him within range +of her guns, she'll not let him go till he cries peccavi." + +Ellen was seated on a rock which formed the highest part of the +headland. Even under ordinary circumstances she would have watched the +two vessels with much interest, but the intensity of her feelings may be +supposed, as she thought of one who was on board the British ship; for +although the gallant lieutenant had not yet spoken, she fully believed +that he had given her his heart, and she could not avoid confessing to +herself that she had bestowed hers in return. In a few short hours he +might be engaged in a deadly strife with a ship equal in size and the +number of her crew to the _Champion_; and though she could not doubt +that the British would come off victorious, yet she well knew the risk +to which each of her gallant crew would be exposed. The _Champion_ had +stood within a mile of the mouth of the harbour, when she tacked and +steered for the French ship. The breeze, as Captain O'Brien had +foretold would be the case, gradually favouring her, enabled her to go +much faster through the water than the other. The captain several times +pulled his watch, resembling a big turnip in size, out of his fob. + +"The tide will soon be on the turn, and if we are to get home to-night +we must take advantage of it," he observed, "though I should mightily +like to see the end of this." + +"Oh, do remain, I pray you," said Ellen; "we can have no difficulty in +getting back to Waterford, for the weather promises to be so fine. Do +you think it possible that Monsieur Thurot can escape?" + +"The chances are against him, Miss Ellen, but it is hard to say what may +happen," answered Captain O'Brien. "Captain Olding is not the man, as I +have observed before, to let an enemy slip through his fingers; in less +than half an hour he will get near enough to the Frenchman to send his +shot on board, and he'll stick tightly to him, no fear of that." + +Ellen held her breath, as she at length saw the ships approaching each +other. A puff of white smoke issued from the starboard bow of the +_Champion_. The _Coquille_ returned it from her stern-chasers, but the +shot fell harmlessly into the water. Again and again the _Champion_ +fired; it was evident that she could only bring her foremost gun to +bear, unless by keeping away and thereby losing ground. + +"Thurot knows the coast as well as, or better than, Olding, and is +unwilling to lose the advantage of being to windward," exclaimed Captain +O'Brien. "See, he keeps his luff, and the _Champion_ is compelled to do +the same; I thought it would be so. The _Champion_ is losing the +breeze, which has hitherto been in her favour, and if she doesn't manage +to wing the Frenchman, the fellow, who has evidently a fast pair of +heels, will slip by between her and the land. See, she's not going to +let him do that. Hurrah! she's kept away; there go her broadside guns. +They'll have told, I hope, with effect on the Frenchman. No, by George! +every spar is standing," exclaimed the captain, as the smoke from the +_Champion's_ broadside cleared away. She immediately again came to the +wind. The ships were still too far apart for the shot to do much +damage; they both stood on for some time longer without firing, and were +now so greatly increasing their distance from Red Head that the three +spectators could but imperfectly discern what took place. Again wreaths +of smoke circled above the side of the _Champion_, and flashes were seen +to issue from that of the _Coquille_, as, imitating the English ship, +she put up her helm and kept away across the bows of the latter. + +"Thurot has made up his mind to run for it," cried the captain; "he's +squaring away his yards, and Olding's after him. The Frenchman has no +stomach for a fight, that's very certain; those privateersmen prefer +plunder to glory. If Olding doesn't ply him briskly with his guns, the +chase will get away after all. I had hopes of seeing the _Coquille_ +brought in here as a prize; we could then have afforded to forgive her +captain the trick he played us." + +In vain the captain and his companions waited for any event to show them +which ship was likely to be the victor. They were both at length hull +down, their masts and spars standing apparently uninjured. Poor Ellen +had watched them with intense interest. How long it might be before her +anxiety could be removed, she could not tell; that the _Champion_ would +be taken, she did not believe possible. But, alas! many of those on +board might be killed or wounded; several days might pass before the +_Champion_ could come into Cork harbour. With straining eyes she gazed +towards the two ships gradually become less and less distinct. + +"Come, Ferris--come, Miss Ellen, my dear--we must be on our homeward +voyage, or our friends will become alarmed, and it will be reported that +we have been carried off by the Frenchman," said Captain O'Brien. + +Very unwillingly Ellen left the height and accompanied her father and +the captain to the boat. He had still some distance to pull, though he +kept a look-out for a larger boat or a sailing hooker on her way up to +Waterford. At length a little high-sterned craft was seen standing out +of one of the many small bays which indent the western shore of the +harbour. The captain stood up, and shouted and waved, and the hooker, +hauling her wind, hove to to await their coming. The skipper, knowing +he should be amply recompensed, was delighted to receive them on board +and to take their boat in tow; and Ellen, seated on a sail, was wafted +up the river in a very different style to that of Cleopatra in her +barge, as far as the mouth of the Suir; when, the wind failing, Captain +O'Brien, with the assistance of one of the crew of the hooker, pulled up +the remainder of the distance to Waterford in the _Coquille's_ dinghy. + +It was late in the evening. As they approached the quay they were +warmly cheered by a number of the townspeople who had heard of their +adventure, information of the departure of the French privateer having +already been brought up to Waterford. It was soon evident to Mr Ferris +that some other event of importance had occurred. + +"What has happened, my friends?" he inquired. + +"Shure, yer honour, one of the French officers has been caught hiding +away in your garden," answered Dan Connor, who was one of the nearest to +him among the crowd. "The thief of the world! he made a mighty fine +fight of it; but we ran in on him, after he had cut down three or four +of us, two being kilt entirely--but we knocked his sword out of his hand +and seized him, and he's lodged comfortably in the Ring Tower, out of +which he isn't likely to get in a hurry." + +"Of which French officer do you speak?" asked Mr Ferris; "we left our +late prisoner on board the _Coquille_." + +"It wasn't him, yer honour, but a big fellow with, a patch on his cheek +and another over his eye," answered Dan. "He isn't a Frenchman at all +at all, but from the oaths he swore he's Irish all the world over--the +thunderin' big villain--no other than Brian O'Harrall, who has a price +on his head. It cost us pretty dear to take him too." + +Further inquiries convinced Mr Ferris that the supposed French officer +was the outlaw who had so long evaded the grasp of justice. The +prisoner, he understood, was under a strong guard. Ellen being much +fatigued, he accompanied her home before going to ascertain particulars. +Norah, who greeted her affectionately, looked pale and agitated. + +"I have had a dreadful fright," she said. "My father had insisted on my +taking a turn in the garden, and as I reached the rocky walk at the end +of the terrace, out of sight of the house, who should appear before me +but the first lieutenant of the privateer, who had dined with us +yesterday. I had then an undefined suspicion of him, and no sooner did +he speak than I was convinced that he was the very person whom we met +the other evening, and who attempted to carry me off, and who, +notwithstanding his disguise, was, I am sure, the man who was picked up +at sea by the _Ouzel Galley_, and acted as second mate on board her. I +knew that I had had the misfortune to excite his admiration, but I hoped +when he was taken on board the privateer which captured us that I should +never again see him. He, however, it appears, was well known to Captain +Thurot, who had appointed him his first lieutenant. He made the most +outrageous professions of affection; I, of course, would not listen to +him; and dreading his violence, before he was aware of what I was about +to do, I darted from him and ran, faster than I had ever run before in +my life, towards the house. He pursued, entreating me to stop and hear +what he had to say. Feeling that he was not to be trusted, I continued +my flight, and providentially just then caught sight of Dan Connor and +some of the crew of the _Ouzel Galley_, who had come up to see my +father, and while waiting to do so had been allowed to stroll into the +garden. Several of the workmen and two of the gardeners, who happened +to be close at hand, joined the seamen, and the whole party rushed at +the stranger, who had by this time reached the bottom of the hill and +found retreat impossible. On this, I understand, he drew his sword and +made a desperate defence, and though unhappily he wounded two of the +men, the rest boldly threw themselves upon him, and wrenching his sword +from his hand held him fast. During his violent struggles to free +himself the patch over his eye fell off, as did his heavy moustache, and +some of the men, as they examined his features, recognised the pirate +O'Harrall, the very man of whom Mrs Massey gave you the account. I had +rushed into my room, too much frightened and agitated to watch what was +taking place. He was carried off to prison, and will of course be +brought to trial, in which case I fear that I shall have to appear as a +witness against him. I was afraid for some time to tell my father, for +the same reason that I did not before inform him of the attack made on +us. However, he now knows all that has happened, and he tells me that +he is well acquainted with O'Harrall's history, and believes him capable +of the most desperate acts of violence." + +Ellen had forgotten her own anxiety in listening to Norah's recital. +She now described to her friend what had occurred, and the feeling which +had agitated her while watching the two ships. Norah offered such +comfort as one young lady under the circumstances could give another. + +"I have heard my father say that ships of war often meet and fire many +shot without doing each other any harm," she remarked; "and you know, my +dear Ellen, that even though some of the crew of the _Champion_ may be +killed or wounded, there is no especial reason that Lieutenant Foley +should be among the sufferers; and it is the lot of naval officers to be +constantly exposed to the risk of battle in war time." + +"I know it too truly," replied Ellen; "but it was dreadful to see the +ship on board which I knew him to be sailing away to attack so renowned +and skilful a captain as Monsieur Thurot--then, to have to wait so long +for the issue of the battle." + +"Perhaps we shall have tidings of the arrival of the _Champion_ +to-morrow," remarked Norah; "and, from what you tell me, Monsieur Thurot +was more anxious to escape than, to fight." + +"So I at first thought," said Ellen; "but I heard Captain O'Brien tell +my father that he suspected Thurot's object was to draw the English ship +away from the Irish coast, that should he come off victorious he might +have the better chance of securing his prize. It was a relief to me to +hear Captain O'Brien say he did not for a moment believe that the +_Champion_ would be beaten; on the contrary, that it would be much more +likely that she would take the _Coquille_. Still, there must inevitably +have been a fierce battle; and oh, Norah, if you knew how I feel for +Norman Foley, you would understand my anxiety." + +"I can fully understand it," said Norah, "and I often think how sad it +must be for poor women left at home, to know that those they love are +exposed to dangers and hardships of all sorts which they are utterly +powerless to relieve. Such must be the lot of all sailors' wives and +those who have engaged their hearts to sailors--and yet it would be +cruel to the poor men if on that account they could get no one to love +them." + +"Yes, indeed," said Ellen, sighing; "but then, remember, we can pray for +them, and we can do our best to make them happy when they return home." + +Norah at length persuaded Ellen, who had had but little rest on the +previous night, to lie down and try to forget her anxiety in sleep. +Soon afterwards Gerald came in. He had been rather indignant at not +having been taken when the party visited the supposed Jersey privateer. + +"Had I seen Monsieur Thurot, I should have recognised him at once, for I +marked him well when he came on board the _Ouzel Galley_; and I suspect, +too, I should have detected his first lieutenant, in spite of his +disguise," he exclaimed. "I wonder you did not find out that he was our +mate Carnegan." + +"I did more than once fancy that I knew his voice, but it seemed so +improbable that he should be on board a Jersey privateer that I banished +the idea," answered Norah. "Now, Gerald, I want you to go and inquire +after Mrs Massey and Owen; they may hear rumours of what has occurred, +and will wish to know the truth. You will have time to go there and be +back again before dark." + +Gerald, who was always good-natured and anxious to please Norah, +undertook to go and deliver any message, written or oral, she might wish +to send. She had already a note prepared for Owen, and with it Gerald +set off. He found Owen much better, and ready, if the doctor would let +him, to walk into Waterford to see Norah; but Mrs Massey was sure that +he overrated his strength, and told Gerald that Norah must not expect +him for some days. She was much interested at hearing the account which +Gerald gave of the various occurrences of the last two days. + +"And can that unhappy man have really been captured? What a sad ending +to a once respected family!" she exclaimed. "He cannot expect pardon. +I bear him no ill-will, though his family has been the ruin of ours; and +even now, in the hope that he may have time for repentance, I would +thankfully hear that he had escaped rather than suffer the death his +crimes deserve." + +"I should certainly not have suspected that the Carnegan we had as +second mate on board the _Ouzel Galley_ could have been a murderer and +pirate," said Gerald. "The men, however, were inclined to believe from +the way he was saved that he was in league with the Evil One, and they +will now be convinced that such was the case." + +"Satan would rather have let him drown," said Mrs Massey, "unless +indeed he wished to employ him in some still more wicked deed. He +undoubtedly mates use of those who willingly yield to him as his tools +to work out his designs." + +While Mrs Massey had been talking to Gerald, Owen had been inditing an +answer to Norah's note, with which, rather later than he had intended, +Gerald set off to return home. It was quite dark before he reached the +town. He was proceeding along a narrow lane which offered a shorter cut +than the high road, when he heard the footsteps of a person running at +full speed, and directly afterwards a man rushed by him whose +countenance he could not see; but it struck him at the time that the +figure greatly resembled that of Carnegan, the second mate of the _Ouzel +Galley_. He was doubtful for a moment whether he should follow: though +brave enough under ordinary circumstances, he felt pretty certain that +if such was the case O'Harrall would not scruple to knock him on the +head or to blow his brains out; and so he did the next best thing which +occurred to him--he ran on, intending to make his way to the Ring Tower +to give information that the prisoner had escaped; though he fully +expected to meet a party in hot pursuit of the fugitive. + +Mrs Massey was at supper with her son, when there came a knock at the +door, and a bare-headed damsel appeared. + +"Mrs Massey, my mother's taken mighty bad entirely, and will it plaze +ye to come and see what ye can do for her?" she exclaimed, in a +petitioning tone. Mrs Massey, who was proud of the medical knowledge +she exercised for the benefit of her neighbours, immediately arose. + +"Indeed, and I'll come, Molly," she answered. "Just wait till I put on +my hood and fill my basket with such things as I may require." + +She speedily getting ready, told Owen that she would soon be back, and +that Mrs Hogan would know that she could not leave him all alone for +any length of time; and off she set, with Molly Hogan carrying a lantern +before her. + +Owen trimmed the lamp which burnt on the table, and sat down to read +till his mother's return. He had not long been thus occupied, when +hearing the door open he looked up, expecting that Mrs Massey had +returned for something she had omitted to take with her. Instead of his +mother, he saw standing before him the second mate of the _Ouzel +Galley_. For a moment he thought that he must be dreaming. + +"You know me, Owen Massey," exclaimed his visitor, "You saved my life +once, when the devil well-nigh had me in his clutches, and I come to +throw myself on your generosity--to ask you to render me a further +service. Should I be recaptured, I should be doomed to the gallows, and +I have no fancy for that fate. Conceal me for a few hours, and I shall +be able to get off in safety; refuse to do so, and I shall fall into the +hands of my pursuers." + +Owen hesitated, not because he was aware that the man before him was +O'Harrall, the enemy of his family, but because he was unwilling to +expose his mother to the penalty of harbouring a fugitive from justice. +He rose from his seat and said, "I now know you to be Brian O'Harrall." +His visitor started, and drew back a pace, as if about to leave the +cottage, believing that all hope of assistance must be abandoned. +"Stay," continued Owen, his generous feelings getting the better of him, +"I do not on that account the less desire to save you if I can. Should +you not have been traced here, I may yet be able to do so." + +"I am not likely to have been traced, for my flight can scarcely yet +have been discovered," answered O'Harrall. "You will run no risk, and I +will be grateful if I can find an opportunity. I have proved that I am +not destitute of gratitude. When on board the _Ouzel Galley_, I +obtained better terms for you from Thurot than you would otherwise have +enjoyed." + +"Follow me, then," said Owen, "and I will conceal you till you have an +opportunity of escaping; but promise me that you will not again return +to this part of the country." + +"I have no hesitation in doing that, for I intend to do my best to +escape from Ireland, never with my own free will to come back," answered +O'Harrall. + +"That is sufficient," said Owen; and he led the way through the cottage +to an outbuilding at some short distance, over which there was a loft, +long disused. Owen found a ladder, by which the fugitive mounted to it. + +"You can easily leap to the ground when you think fit to continue your +flight," said Owen, who had followed him up. "I will bring you some +food, to afford you support both for the present and on your journey; +and if you want money, I will supply you." + +"I give you my thanks, but I have a purse full of gold. Be quick, +however, with the food, or my pursuers may be here and prevent you from +bringing it to me," replied O'Harrall. + +Owen on descending removed the ladder, and, hurrying into the pantry, +collected such provisions as he could most easily find, and for the +disappearance of which he could account the next day to his mother. He +carried them to the fugitive, and then again replaced the ladder in the +spot from which he had taken it. Having done this, he returned to the +sitting-room and threw himself into a chair, resting his head on his +hand. He had performed a generous action, but still he questioned +himself whether it was a right one. He was attempting to conceal from +justice an undoubted malefactor; it was an act then, as now, too common +in Ireland, and was sure to meet with the sympathy of the people should +it be discovered. Owen possibly might have partaken somewhat in the +feeling general among all classes, that it was a right thing to protect +those in distress, whatever their crimes against society. A more +generous motive had influenced him, and he might have been less inclined +to act as he had done should a person indifferent to him, and equally +criminal in the sight of the law, have thrown himself upon his mercy. +Owen did not know the full wrong O'Harrall had attempted to inflict upon +him; even had he been aware of this, it might not have altered his +conduct. + +Some time passed before his mother returned; during it, he did his best +to calm his feelings, for he had determined not to tell her what had +occurred, hoping that before the next morning O'Harrall would have +disappeared. Shortly after she entered the cottage the old lady urged +Owen to go to bed. + +"You look somewhat pale, my son," she said, holding the light to his +face, "and late hours do not suit an invalid." + +"When you set me the example, I will go and turn in," answered Owen, +laughing. As he was speaking, loud shouts were heard, and several +people came running up and knocking loudly at the door. + +"Who is it?" asked Mrs Massey. + +"Shure, it's Pat Magragh. Are ye safe inside, Mrs Massey, honey?" +inquired one of the men from the outside. + +"And where else should I be?" answered the widow, recognising the voice +and going to the door. Owen felt very uncomfortable, for he fully +expected that inquiries would be made for the fugitive. + +"Shure, it's no matther at all, thin," exclaimed the man. "As we got to +Molly Hogan's, she told us that ye'd just left the cottage, and it might +be the big villain we were hunting might have fallen in wid ye and done +ye harm; but if ye didn't see him, it's all right, and we must be +joining the rest of the bhoys who ran after him." + +"Whom do you mean?" asked Mrs Massey. + +"Brian O'Harrall, to be shure," was the answer; "he's broken out of the +Ring Tower, nobody knows how--except he got the help of the devil and +his imps." + +"Thank Heaven I did not meet him! it would have well-nigh driven me out +of my wits," said the widow, trembling at the thoughts of the supposed +danger she had escaped. + +"Good night, Mrs Massey; keep your door closed, lest he should turn +like a fox and bolt in," cried Pat Magragh, as he and his companions +hurried away in pursuit, as they believed, of the escaped criminal. +Mrs Massey did as she was advised, and sat down, endeavouring to calm +her agitation, and feeling but little inclined to go to bed. + +"It is useless to sit up, mother," observed Owen, after Mrs Massey had +been talking for some time about the escape of O'Harrall. "The man, if +he has got away, is certain not to return. At all events, you will be +as safe in bed as anywhere else." + +After some persuasion Mrs Massey consented to retire to bed, and after +listening for some time at last fell asleep. The window of Owen's room +looked directly down upon the outbuilding in which the fugitive was +concealed. Owen felt much relieved, from believing that those who had +gone on were not likely to think of examining the place; still, he could +not go to sleep, and putting out his candle he sat down at the window to +watch, hoping that O'Harrall would take the opportunity of slipping out +and getting off to a distance, no watched in vain. After some hours he +heard the tramp of feet along the road and the voices of men shouting to +each other. They were the people who had gone in chase of O'Harrall. +Could the outlaw have continued his flight and, after all, have been +captured? Owen listened attentively, and felt convinced that they were +returning to the city without having overtaken the fugitive, he could no +longer restrain his wish to ascertain whether O'Harrall was still in the +loft, and cautiously descending the stair, he lighted a lantern and went +out. To place the ladder so as to reach the trap was the work of a +moment. He ascended to the loft, and throwing the light towards the +further end, he saw the man he came to look for sleeping soundly. + +Before Owen had advanced a step O'Harrall awoke and, springing to his +feet, saw who it was. + +"I came to tell you," said Owen, "that the men who had gone in pursuit +of you have, to the best of my belief, returned to the city, and now +would be a favourable time to make your escape." + +O'Harrall hesitated. "What o'clock is it?" he asked. + +"Just past midnight," refilled Owen. + +"Are you certain that the men who are hunting for me have returned to +the city?" asked O'Harrall. + +"Judging from what I heard, and the direction in which their voices died +away, I am confident of it," said Owen. + +"Then I will follow your advice," answered O'Harrall. "You have +increased the debt of gratitude I owe you. I have no means of showing +that I am grateful; but do me one favour more--accept this ring; it +belonged to your family. It has a curious device on it, which is its +chief value. I wish you to believe that, reckless as I am, I still +retain some of the feelings I possessed when you knew me in days gone +by. Come, take it; I cannot leave this place till you have done so. +There, man, take the ring; it might have been yours by right." + +Owen took the ring and placed it on his finger. + +"If we ever again meet, however much changed you may be, I shall know +you by that," said O'Harrall. "Now, farewell--may a happier fate be +yours than will probably be my lot!" + +"Stay a moment, and I will ascertain that no one is near," said Owen, as +O'Harrall was about to descend the ladder. He hid the lantern, and went +out into the open part of the garden and round to the front of the +house. Clouds obscured the stars; not a sound was to be heard, except +the voice of some bird of night, which came from a distance. By some it +might have been thought of ill omen, but Owen was above the +superstitions of the ignorant. He returned to the outhouse, and in a +low voice called to O'Harrall, who immediately descended the ladder. + +"I feel sure that no one is on the watch," said Owen, "and it may be +most prudent for you to get away at once." + +"You are right," answered O'Harrall. "Again farewell, Massey; though we +may never more see each other, I shall always remember that I have met +with one honest and generous man." + +He did not, however, put out his hand, perhaps supposing that Massey +would consider himself contaminated by touching it. + +"Go into your house," he continued, "and let me follow my own course, +that you may not even know what direction I have taken." + +Owen did as he was advised, leaving O'Harrall standing beneath the +shelter of the buildings. Closing the door he returned to his room, +when on looking out of his window, he found that O'Harrall had +disappeared. His mind felt greatly relieved at the thought that he was +no longer harbouring a fugitive from justice. On going into the garden +the next morning, he could perceive no traces by which it might +perchance be discovered that O'Harrall had been there, and he determined +that the occurrence should be known only to his mother and himself. He +considered that it would be wrong to conceal it from her, and, sitting +down, he told her what he had done. She did not speak for a minute or +more. + +"You acted rightly, my son," she said at length. "The O'Harralls have +been our bitter enemies, but our holy religion teaches us that we should +not only forgive our foes, but do good to those who most cruelly +ill-treat and abuse us; whatever man may say, God will approve of your +act, for he knows the motive which prompted you." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +ARRIVAL OF THE CHAMPION--MR. FERRIS GOES ON BOARD--BRINGS BACK +LIEUTENANT FOLEY WOUNDED--GERALD JOINS THE CHAMPION AS MIDSHIPMAN--AN +ACCOUNT OF HIS SHIPMATES--THE CHAMPION SAILS--CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH AT +HOME--THE OUZEL GALLEY PREPARING FOR SEA--RETURN OF THE CHAMPION--SAILS +AGAIN--OWEN APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE OUZEL GALLEY--MR. FERRIS AND +ELLEN GO TO DUBLIN--THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS--NORAH'S LIFE AT HOME--MR. +FERRIS INTENDS TO GO TO JAMAICA--THE OUZEL GALLEY COMES BACK, AND +CAPTAIN TRACY RESOLVES TO GO ROUND IN HER TO DUBLIN. + +"News, Norah! I bring you news, Miss Ellen," cried Gerald, rushing into +the drawing-room where his sister and her friend were seated. "I have +just heard that a man-of-war has brought up inside the harbour, with her +main-topmast gone and her sails riddled with shot. They say that she is +the _Champion_, and that she has had a desperate action with a French +ship, which she sent to the bottom, or which got away from her. Which +was the case, I can't exactly make out, but she has lost I don't know +how many officers and seamen, for there hasn't been such a bloody fight +since the war began. The wounded, I hear, are to be sent on shore, and +we shall thus, I suppose, know all about the matter." + +Ellen turned pale as Gerald was speaking. "Have you heard who the +killed and wounded are?" she asked, in a trembling voice. + +"No; I could only learn the name of the ship, and that there has been a +sharp action there can be no doubt," answered Gerald. + +"Perhaps Gerald's account is exaggerated," remarked Norah, observing +Ellen's agitation. "If the ship is the _Champion_, Mr Ferris is sure +to go down and visit her; he will ascertain the truth of the report." + +"I must--I must go and tell him what has happened, in case he should not +have heard it," said Ellen, rising. She found Mr Ferris in his +counting-house, on the ground-floor. He immediately ordered his boat, +and telling Ellen that, should he find any wounded officers who might +require to be cared for on shore, he would bring them up, he desired her +to make preparations for their reception. Gerald, who was on the +look-out for him, begged that he might accompany him on board. The +boat, with six stout hands, rapidly made her way down the river. + +Ellen and Norah, like good housewives, lost no time in seeing the spare +rooms got ready for their expected guests. The occupation tended to +relieve Ellen's mind. + +"Perhaps, after all, there may be no wounded officers," said Norah. +"Gerald's account was very vague--people nearly always exaggerate +disasters." + +"But I saw the beginning of the battle, and heard the dreadful guns +firing--and some of those on board may have been killed," said Ellen, +scarcely able to restrain her feelings. + +The young ladies had some time to wait after the rooms had been got +ready. Ellen was constantly going to the window, from which she could +see the river and watch for the return of the boat. Norah, like a +faithful friend, did not quit her. + +"There comes the boat," exclaimed Ellen, at length. "Oh, see, Norah! +there is a person wrapped up in blankets lying in the stern-sheets; my +heart told me that he would be wounded." + +"It is better so than had your heart told you he would be killed, and it +had proved a true prophet," said Norah, smiling and trying to cheer up +her friend. Ellen would have hurried down to the quay, but Norah +persuaded her to remain at home. "He may not be Lieutenant Foley, +remember," observed Norah, quietly; "and if he is, you are more likely +to agitate him than to do him any good by rushing down to the quay. +Think how odd it would look were you to exhibit your feelings in public, +or, still more so, should the wounded man prove to be a stranger." + +Norah's sensible remarks prevailed in inducing Ellen to remain quiet +till the arrival of the party in the boat. Mr Ferris was the first +person who appeared. + +"You must not be alarmed, my dear child," he said. "There has been a +fierce engagement, in which two officers and several men were killed--" + +"Oh, father, who were they?" cried Ellen. + +"A master's mate and a midshipman," answered Mr Ferris; "but I am sorry +to say that Mr Foley was among the most severely wounded, and he gladly +accepted my offer to take him on shore; so I brought him up here, and +you and Norah will, I am sure, do your best to look after him." + +While Mr Ferris was speaking, the men bearing the wounded lieutenant +arrived. Ellen, restraining her feelings, received him with becoming +propriety, though his pale lips and wan cheek made her heart sink. He +was forthwith conveyed to the room which, had been prepared for him. +Dr Roach, who had been an army surgeon, and knew well how to treat +gunshot wounds of every description, was immediately sent for, and the +young officer was placed under his charge. + +"We'll pull him through, young lady," he observed, after he had visited +his patient. "You will naturally wish to know what I think of the case +of this fine young officer, who has been bleeding for his country. You +need be under no serious apprehensions; he will be fit for duty again +shortly. You saw how quickly I doctored up Mr Massey, in whom, if I am +not wrongly informed, Miss Norah here takes an interest." + +Norah looked conscious. "Young people have hearts, and small blame to +them if they fall in love now and then," remarked the doctor; "and now, +my pretty maidens, good-bye to you, for I want to hear more about the +battle. I could not let my patient tell me. Remember, I leave him +under your charge, but I must lay an embargo on your tongues; talking, +or listening to talking, isn't good for wounded men, though you may sing +him to sleep with your sweet voices." + +Owen was well enough to accompany Mrs Massey when she returned Norah's +visit, and, moreover, to stroll with her into the garden. He now first +heard of O'Harrall's conduct; his brow flushed as she told him, but he +restrained his feelings, and did not let even her know that he had +assisted his rival's escape. + +"Could the fellow have been aware that she was my betrothed wife, and +yet, after such conduct, ventured to claim my protection? I am thankful +I did not then know of his behaviour; I might have been tempted to +refuse him my aid." Such were the thoughts which passed through Owen's +mind. "However, bold as he is, he is not likely again to appear in this +neighbourhood." + +Owen and Norah, having each other's society, forgot how the time went +by, till Gerald came hurrying up to call them into the house. He had +just returned from his visit to the _Champion_; he was full of what he +had heard of her engagement with the _Coquille_. Two officers had been +killed, and two, besides Mr Foley, wounded; three men had been killed, +and several wounded. The Frenchman, instead of being sent to the +bottom, having knocked away the _Champion's_ main-topmast and cut up her +rigging, had managed to get off and run out of sight before her damages +could be repaired. Captain Olding had chased in the direction the +_Coquille_ had last been seen, but had failed to come up with her, and +was compelled to steer for Waterford. + +"And, do you know, Norah," continued Gerald, "I've made up my mind to go +on board a man-of-war. They all say that Captain Olding will take me, +and place me on the quarter-deck, if Mr Ferris introduces me and would +say a word in my favour; so if our father approves of it, I hope to go +at once, instead of waiting for the _Ouzel Galley_." + +"If it would better promote your fortune to serve on board a man-of-war, +I will not hinder you," said Owen, as they walked towards the house. + +"I would rather you should remain on board the dear old ship, to act as +Owen's mate," observed Norah; "but if our father allows you to go on +board the _Champion_, neither will I try to alter your determination." + +Captain Olding had come up to the house to inquire after his lieutenant. +He and Captain Tracy had been shipmates in their younger days. He was +well pleased, he said, to be able to forward the views of his friend's +son. It was therefore settled that Gerald should join the _Champion_ at +once, and Norah was busy from morning till night in preparing his +outfit. Captain Tracy was now able to get about, and even to +superintend the repairs of the _Ouzel Galley_. He secretly was somewhat +proud of having a son belonging to the Royal Navy. It was the road to +honour and fame; Gerald might some day become one of England's admirals. +Still, had the captain intended to continue at sea himself, he would +have wished to keep his boy with him, and he would also gladly have had +him accompany Owen Massey. Gerald himself was in high glee; he made +frequent trips down to the _Champion_, and always came back with some +fresh account of what she had done, and of what his future messmates, +the midshipmen, fully expected she would do. He described them to Norah +as first-rate, jolly fellows, up to all sorts of fun. + +"And you may tell Miss Ferris, if you like," he added, "that they all +say there isn't a more gallant officer in the service than Lieutenant +Foley, and they hope that he'll soon get well and rejoin the ship. They +don't speak quite so favourably of her first lieutenant, Jonah Tarwig, +who seems as if he had swallowed the mizen-royal-mast as he was looking +aloft one stormy night when the ship was taken aback and it was carried +away. He is six feet two in height--how he manages to stow himself in +his berth it is hard to say, but it is supposed that he doubles his legs +back, for as to coiling away his body, that would be impossible. The +master, old Billhook, is a rough diamond, but he understands navigation, +and spins tough yarns by the score; I'll tell you some of them one of +these days. The purser, Simon Cheeseparings--that isn't his real name-- +was a slopseller in Wapping, but outran his creditors and had to come to +sea to escape from Newgate; and the doctor's a Scotchman whose name +begins with Mac, and for brevity's sake Mac he is always called. Now +you know all about the gun-room officers; but the best fellows, out and +out, are in our berth. We've got two old mates, Beater and Crowhurst-- +at least, they are old compared to the rest of us, and they are always +complaining that they are not port-admirals. Their characters answer to +their names, for Beater is never without a cob in his hand, and he uses +it pretty freely; and Crowhurst is always boasting of his own mighty +deeds or those of his ancestors--and if you are to take his word for it, +they (his ancestors, I mean) came over with William the Conqueror, and +ought to be dukes at the least. However, putting their peculiarities +aside, they're capital fellows, and, if they have an opportunity, will +show that they have the true metal in them--so my chum, Nat Kiddle, +says. He doesn't pretend to be anybody, though I can tell you he's a +broth of a boy, and it's a pity he wasn't an Irishman, for he'd do +honour to the old country; but he happens to be the tenth son of an +English farmer, whose brother was a lieutenant in the navy, and took him +to sea, but his uncle having been killed at the end of the last war, Nat +has to shift for himself. Though he has tumbled into a good many +scrapes, he has always managed to fall on his feet. Then we've got a +young lord, Mountstephen; he is always called Molly, but he doesn't at +all mind, and declares that he'll some day show the Frenchmen what an +English Molly can do. In reality, he is the pet of the mess--not +because he's a lord, but because he's a very nice little fellow, who +looks as if he ought to be in the nursery instead of knocking about in a +sloop of war. But I don't know, Norah, whether you'll care to hear +about the rest of us." + +"Oh yes," answered Norah; "I am very much interested, especially in the +little lord. I hope you'll help to take care of him." + +"Yes, that you may depend on it I will," said Gerald; "if I get into +scrapes, I'll take care he doesn't--though I don't intend to get into +any myself, notwithstanding that they say Irishmen always do. They've +dubbed me Paddy already, but of course I'm proud of that, and shall +always stick up for old Ireland, and sing `Erin-go-bragh' on all +occasions. Well, I'll tell you about the rest of our mess another day, +and something about the warrant officers. We've three of them, the +gunner, boatswain, and carpenter--and as chance will have it, the first +is a Scotchman, the second an Englishman, and the third an Irishman; and +though they're mighty good friends, they are always wrangling about +their respective countries, each one declaring his own to be superior to +the others in every respect. Barney O'Rourke hailed me at once as a +countryman, and was mighty pleased to see one young gentleman, at least, +from the Emerald Isle who would stick up for our country's honour. +`And, by my faith, that's what I intend to do,' I answered--and we +became sworn friends. There now, Norah, I think you know a good deal +about our ship already, and when Lieutenant Foley gets about again, +which I hope he'll do in a few days, you will learn a good deal more; +and when we're away, you'll be able to fancy me on board among my +shipmates." + +Norah sighed as she thought how soon her young brother, who had never +before been parted from her, would be away, with the chance of not +coming back for three or four years, for the _Champion_ had only lately +been commissioned, and might before long be sent to a foreign station. +At length Captain Olding, the _Champion_ being ready for sea, ordered +Gerald on board to perform, duty as a midshipman. He intended, however, +to return in the course of two or three weeks, expecting by that time +that his second lieutenant would be sufficiently recovered to resume his +duties. Norah accompanied her father and Owen down the river to wish +Gerald good-bye, and to see the ship sail. She felt rather sad as the +boat shoved off, when the anchor was apeak and the white canvas let +fall, and the ship began to glide majestically away through the calm +waters of the harbour--for, besides that she grieved to part with her +young brother, the thought occurred to her that the _Ouzel Galley_ would +be the next ship she should see taking her departure from port. Owen, +who was now able to be constantly with her, offered, not unsuccessfully, +all the consolation in his power. Captain Tracy, being now well enough +to go about, removed with her to their own cottage, situated a short +distance from Waterford, and within a mile of Mrs Massey's abode. It +was a pretty spot. The cottage, with its porch covered with clematis +and eglantine, stood in a good garden in which the captain delighted to +work during his leisure hours. From the windows could be seen the +broad, shining river and the shipping in the distance on one side, and +from the other the mountainous regions to the westward. Altogether, no +young lady could have desired a more romantic bower. + +The captain, by his successful voyages, had been able to save a +sufficient sum to live in comfort, with a handmaiden, Biddy O'Halloran, +to attend on him and his daughter, and a gessoon to look after the cows +and pigs and to work in the garden. Still, notwithstanding her present +happiness, it was but natural that poor Norah should reflect that in a +short time Owen must sail away in command of the _Ouzel Galley_, and be +subject to all the dangers of the sea, increased in war time by the +chance of being captured by the enemy. He and her father were now +absent all day long, attending to the fitting out of the ship, which was +making rapid progress. Her owners had decided on sending her back to +the West Indies, and Owen assured Norah that, as he should probably find +a cargo waiting for him, he should not be long absent. She paid +frequent visits to Ellen, who could heartily sympathise with her. +Lieutenant Foley had entirely recovered from his wound, and would have +to rejoin the _Champion_ as soon as she arrived in the harbour, in which +she was every day expected. Norah thought that the lieutenant deserved +all the praises bestowed on him by Gerald, though of course he was not +equal, in her estimation, to Owen. Still, she could not be surprised +that her friend had given him her heart, especially as he had owned that +he had given his to Ellen; and they were now regularly betrothed with +the full approval of Mr Ferris, and were to marry as soon as Mr Foley +had obtained the rank of commander. + +The days and weeks went rapidly by. Mr Ferris intended, as soon as +Lieutenant Foley had joined his ship, to return with his daughter to +Dublin. This would be a great loss to Norah, as she was acquainted with +but few other young ladies in the neighbourhood; indeed, from having +been at school with Ellen, they were more like sisters than ordinary +friends. Ellen had begged that she would visit her in Dublin, but she +could not leave her father, and still less did she wish to quit +Waterford till the _Ouzel Galley_ had sailed; after that, she felt that +she should have no spirit to enjoy the gay society of the metropolis, +even should her father insist on her accepting Ellen's invitation. + +The arrival of the _Champion_ was announced at last by Gerald, who early +one morning rushed into the house. + +"We came in last night, and are to sail again this evening, so I +obtained leave to run up to see you," cried Gerald. "I've got lots to +tell you," he continued, after he had exchanged greetings with his +father and sister, and was seated at the breakfast-table. "We haven't +had any actual fight, but we've taken several prizes, one of them, as +big as the _Champion_, cut out in gallant style. She was seen at anchor +in Saint Martin's Roads, and the captain determined to have her. We +stood away, and the Frenchman must have supposed we had gone; but at +night, when it was very dark, we stood back again. Three boats were +then lowered, and I had the good luck to be sent in one of them. We at +once pulled away for the roads with muffled oars. There lay the ship +right ahead of us; we could just see her masts against the sky. The +Frenchmen must have been all asleep, or keeping a very bad look-out, for +we were alongside and our fellows almost on her deck before we were +discovered. The Frenchmen, thus taken by surprise, made but a very +feeble resistance, and though a few of them were knocked over, we didn't +lose a man. The cable was cut and the topsails sheeted home before the +fort began to fire, and as the wind was off shore, we got out of range +with very little damage. We earned our prize into Plymouth, and our +captain, I believe, gained some credit for his exploit; though except +that he designed it, he took no part, for old Tarwig commanded one boat, +and the master, Billhook, another, and one of our mates and I went in +the third. Had half of us been killed, I suppose more would have been +thought of the affair. While at Plymouth we heard from the bumboat +women, who have always the most correct intelligence, that we were to be +sent to the West Indies, and we soon found that they were right; but the +captain got leave to come in here first, to take Lieutenant Foley on +board, and to obtain fresh provisions; so I shall be visiting the old +scenes again, and, I hope, fall in with Owen. That will be good fun; +perhaps we shall have to convoy him home, or maybe, should the _Ouzel +Galley_ fall into the hands of the enemy, retake the ship. Faith, +shouldn't I be delighted." + +"Oh, don't talk of such a dreadful thing!" exclaimed Norah. "I hope +that you may have to convoy him home, and that we may see you both back +here in five or six months." + +Gerald could stay but a very short time, as he had been ordered to +return on board with Lieutenant Foley. Norah and Captain Tracy +accompanied him into Waterford. They found the lieutenant ready to +start, and Norah remained with Ellen, who had just taken farewell of her +intended husband. Owen, having joined the captain and Norah, went down +to the quay to see Gerald off. + +"We shall meet, I hope, soon, Owen," said the young midshipman. "I feel +half ashamed of myself for deserting you; but if you knew the life we +lead on board the _Champion_, you wouldn't be surprised at my preferring +her to the dear old _Galley_." + +"The time may come when you may think differently. But good-bye, my +lad; I hope you will enjoy yourself and come back safe," answered Owen, +as Gerald sprang on board. + +The lieutenant gazed with eager eyes towards the windows of the large +house overlooking the river, where he could see a white handkerchief +waving to him. Two or three more years might pass before he could again +press the hand lately clasped in his, and it was a hard matter for him +just then to keep up his spirits. Soon after the boat returned on +board, the anchor was hove up, and the _Champion_, under all sail, stood +to the south-west. + +In the evening Mr Ferris desired to see Owen. "My partners and I have +given you charge of the _Ouzel Galley_, Captain Massey, and we trust +that you will be as devoted to our interests as your predecessor has +been," he said, giving Owen for the first time the title of captain. +"Having undergone a thorough refit, we hope that she will require no +fresh repairs for some time to come. We intend to insure her among our +friends in Dublin, and they, knowing her good qualities and your careful +character, would be ready to underwrite her at a moderate premium +considering the war risk." + +"You may rely on my taking the best care I possibly can of the ship," +answered Owen, "and, as she has (I may say it without fear) a fair pair +of heels, on my keeping clear of every enemy I may sight." + +"That is what we wish, Mr Massey," said Mr Ferris. "We don't want men +who will run their noses into danger; and true courage and seamanship +will best be shown in your case by cleverly escaping from your foes. +You will get the ship ready for sea as soon as possible, and take your +cargo on board, and we will then send you further directions from +Dublin." + +Owen took leave of his employer and returned home. The next day Mr +Ferris, accompanied by Ellen, proceeded to Dublin. + +Norah's day of trial came at length. She ought not to have complained, +as she had enjoyed Owen's society for some months. The _Ouzel Galley_ +having shipped her cargo, chiefly of salt provisions, and other produce +of the fertile south of Ireland, hauled out into the stream. Her old +captain, with Norah and Mrs Massey, went on board to bid farewell to +Owen, and proceeded down the river till she had crossed the bar, when +Captain Tracy took Owen by the hand. + +"Heaven speed you, my boy!" he said. "May He who guarded me through the +many dangers of the ocean take care of you, and bring you back in safety +to those who will ever give you a loving welcome! And now, the shorter +you cut the parting with those two the better." + +Mrs Massey saw that the time had come; she threw her amis round the +young captain's neck, and asked God again and again to protect him. +Then she let Norah take her place, while Captain Tracy helped her down +into the boat alongside, in which Owen soon afterwards placed Norah. +They had said their last words of farewell; Norah's had been whispered, +for her heart was too full to allow her to utter them aloud. Captain +Tracy took his seat in the stern-sheets. "Cast off!" he cried to the +bowman. The boat dropped astern; Owen was seen standing aft and looking +over the taffrail; the pilot, who had still the command, ordered the +courses to be let fall, and the _Ouzel Galley_ glided onward. As long +as the boat was in sight, there stood Owen gazing at Norah and his +mother, as again and again they waved. More than once the old captain +turned round to take another look at the ship whose keel he had seen +laid, each timber and plank of which he had carefully watched as the +shipwrights had fixed them in their destined positions--that ship on the +deck of which he had stood when she glided into the water for the first +time, and which he had since navigated with watchful care on every +voyage she had made, amid rocks and shoals, and over many a league of +ocean. + +Mrs Massey had consented to spend a few days with Norah. Though her +own heart was heavy, she knew that she could console that of the young +girl, so unused to the trials of life; while the old captain himself, +she saw, required cheering, and thus in benefiting others she forgot her +own anxieties. The captain had out his chart: he had marked the way the +wind blew, and knew to a nicety the rate at which the ship was sailing, +and could thus calculate from hour to hour the exact spot on which she +floated--always provided, as he observed, if the wind holds as it did +when she quitted port. + +At length Mrs Massey returned home, and Norah settled down to her daily +occupations. Norah was not free from some anxiety on her own account, +for she could not forget the attempt which had been made to carry her +off, or divest herself altogether of the fear that she might be +subjected to a similar outrage. She therefore never ventured abroad +without her father's escort, while he at home ever kept his firearms +ready for her defence. Still, as week after week went by, her hope that +O'Harrall had quitted the country, and that he would not again venture +to molest her, increased. She heard occasionally from Ellen, though +letters were long in coming, and more than once the mail had been +stopped on the road and plundered--a too frequent occurrence to be +thought much of in those days. + +Norah, notwithstanding her fears, was unmolested. The captain had given +out that if any one should venture to run off with his daughter he would +not obtain a farthing of his property--a wise precaution, for it +probably prevented any of the squireens in the neighbourhood from making +the attempt--added to the fact, which was pretty generally known, that +she was engaged to marry Owen Massey. + +Month after month went by. Ellen at first wrote her word that she was +going much into society--more, indeed, than she liked--while she had an +abundance of occupation at home in attending to her father's household. +Latterly, from her letters, she appeared to be living a more quiet life +than at first. She mentioned her father, who seemed to be much out of +spirits, though she could not divine the cause. She again invited Norah +to come up to Dublin and help to cheer him up. + +"You are a great favourite of his, you know," she wrote. "He delights +in hearing you sing, and your merry laugh and conversation will do him +good." + +But Norah could not be induced to leave her father; besides which, she +confessed to Ellen, she was looking forward in a short time to the +return of the _Ouzel Galley_, and she would be sorry if Owen should not +find her at home on his arrival. Ellen, in reply, told her that the +_Ouzel Galley_, after calling at Waterford, would probably have to come +on to Dublin, and she continued--"And my father, finding it necessary to +go out to Jamaica, intends taking a passage in her; and I have +determined to obtain leave to accompany him. I fear that he will object +to my doing so, on account of the danger to which I may be exposed; but, +you know, as I generally manage to have my own way, I hope to overcome +his objections. The ship also will form one of a large fleet of +merchantmen under convoy of two or three men-of-war, and as the _Ouzel +Galley_ sails well, even should the convoy be attacked by the enemy, we +shall have every chance of getting off. You must not be jealous of me, +my dear Norah; indeed, I heartily wish that your father could spare you +to bear me company; and I dare say that the young captain would wish the +same, did he know of the proposed plan. Pray tell him of it when he +comes into Waterford, and I have an idea that he will join his +persuasions with mine." + +This letter made Norah's heart beat quickly. She was much surprised, +too, at hearing of the intention of Mr Ferris to go out to the West +Indies; but, much as she would have liked to accompany her friend, she +felt that it would be impossible to leave her father. + +"I was afraid that things were not going on straight," observed Captain +Tracy, when she told him of the news she had received. "However, Mr +Ferris is the man to set them to rights, and he'll do it; but I wish +that Miss Ellen, instead of going out with him, would come and stay +here. She expects to meet the lieutenant, but he'll be here, there, and +everywhere, and she mayn't see him all the time she is there." + +Norah, in reply, told Ellen what Captain Tracy had said; but Miss Ferris +had made up her mind to go if she could, and was not to be deterred from +her purpose. One evening Norah was seated at the open window with her +work before her, while her father occupied his usual armchair, smoking +his pipe, when a rapid step was heard approaching the house. Norah +uttered a cry of delight, and, hurrying to the door, the next moment was +in Owen Massey's arms. + +"I am glad to see you back, my lad," cried the old captain, grasping his +hand; "you've made a quick voyage, and a prosperous one, I hope?" + +"As prosperous as I could desire," answered Owen. "We have had two or +three narrow escapes from the enemy's cruisers, but the _Ouzel Galley_ +is in good trim, and never sailed better. I heard in Waterford that I +am to proceed to Dublin," he continued; "so I paid my mother a visit, +and she bade me hurry on here. I can remain but a short time, for I +must be on board again early to-morrow." + +"We'll make the most of you, then, my lad," said Captain Tracy, "and +Norah looks as if she intended to do so." + +She was the first to tell Owen of the intention of Mr Ferris to go out +in the _Ouzel Galley_ to Jamaica, and that Ellen had made up her mind to +accompany him. "She has asked me to pay her a visit before she goes," +she added, "and I should much like to do so could I leave my father, but +that I cannot do." + +"Nor shall you, my girl, for I will go with you," said the captain, who +had overheard her remark. "We'll go in the _Ouzel Galley_--to my mind +there's less danger at sea than from those land pirates, the +highwaymen--and if you can pack up your traps in time, we'll go aboard +to-morrow morning. What say you, Owen? Will you take us as +passengers?" + +Owen expressed his pleasure at the proposal, and Norah had no doubt that +she could pack up in time. Owen put aside all fears of capture by the +enemy; indeed, the Channel was so well guarded by British ships of war +that there was little danger, he thought, on that score. He had too +much confidence in his own seamanship to think of shipwreck. After all +arrangements had been made, he went back to spend the rest of the +evening with his mother, while Norah and the captain, with Biddy's help, +prepared for their departure. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS FOR DUBLIN--A STRANGE SAIL TO THE SOUTHWARD-- +FOLLOWS THE OUZEL GALLEY--THE CHAMPION SENDS MR. FOLEY AND GERALD TO +PRESS SOME OF HER MEN--NORAH IN DUBLIN--MR. FOLEY AND GERALD IN COMMAND +OF A PRESSGANG--AN ADVENTURE ON THE LIBERTIES--A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER +CAPTURED--PRESSED MEN CARRIED OFF--ELLEN AND MR. FERRIS SAIL IN THE +OUZEL GALLEY--CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH RETURN TO WATERFORD--THE OUZEL +GALLEY WITH THE CONVOY BOUND FOR THE WEST INDIES--SHARP ACTION WITH +FRENCH FRIGATES--THE ENEMY BEATEN OFF. + +Norah and Captain Tracy were on board the _Ouzel Galley_ before noon the +next day, accompanied by Owen. They had gone round to bid Mrs Massey +good-bye; it cost her much to part again so soon with her son, but she +was proud of seeing him captain of so fine a ship, and had learnt to +bear many trials with fortitude. + +As the breeze blew up the harbour, the _Ouzel Galley_ had to beat out, +which, with a favourable tide, she succeeded in doing in a few tacks, +after which she had a fair wind for Dublin. Dan, coming aft, hat in +hand, welcomed Miss Norah, and wished she was going to sail with them +the next voyage--Pompey, who presumed on long service with Captain +Massey, imitating his example, and making an appropriate speech. Norah +thanked them, and, it is just possible, secretly wished that she was to +remain on board. + +A bright look-out was kept for any sail which might heave in sight; for, +though Owen believed that there was no risk of encountering an enemy, it +was still possible that a French privateer might be on the watch to pick +up any merchant vessel which might come within her grasp. The wind +fell, and the _Ouzel Galley_ made but little progress during the night. +Whatever others might have done, Norah did not complain; she was in no +hurry to have the trip over. Dawn had just broken, when, as a mist +which had for some hours hung over the ocean began to clear away, a hand +who had been sent aloft shouted out, "A sail to the southward!" Owen, +who was on deck, at once went to the mast-head to take a look at the +stranger. She was a large ship under all sail, but the mist prevented +him from making out very clearly what she was. + +"She is bringing up the breeze," observed Captain Massey, when he +returned on deck; "but as we shall probably get it before long, we may +keep ahead of her." + +"We'll try our best to do that same," said the old captain; "it would be +hard to be trapped just as we are going into port." + +"I should never forgive myself for having allowed you and Norah to come +on board," said Owen, feeling much more anxious than he would have done +had he been alone. + +"Don't trouble yourself about that, lad," answered the captain; "she is +more likely to be a British ship than a Frenchman, and she hasn't got up +to us yet, nor will she, I trust, before we are safe in the Liffey. I +shall be glad, however, when we get the breeze." + +They had not long to wait before cat's-paws were seen playing over the +surface of the ocean. The sails were trimmed, and the ship began to +glide through the water; faster and faster she moved, but the stranger +astern still gained on her. Norah soon followed her father on deck, and +the rising sun shining on the white canvas of the ship astern revealed +her more clearly to view. + +"Is that ship chasing us?" she asked, with a little trepidation in her +voice. + +"She is following in our wake, but she may be a friend for all that," +answered Owen, anxious not to alarm Norah. "Should she prove to be a +foe, we'll do our best to keep ahead of her. Fortunately, we have a +port to run for, and have every chance of gaining it before she comes up +with us. See, we have the Wicklow mountains already in sight, and it +will not take us many hours to reach Dublin if the wind holds as it does +now." + +"I quite agree with you, Owen; we have very little cause to fear, go +we'll go below and take our breakfasts with good appetite," said the +captain, the steward having just announced that the meal was ready. + +On returning on deck they could perceive no change in the relative +position of the vessels; but as the day drew on the wind dropped, and +the stranger appeared to gain on them. Still they made some way, and +could distinguish the Round Tower and ruined house on Dalkey Island, off +the Wicklow coast, when it fell perfectly calm, and though the Bay of +Dublin was almost in sight, they were unable to reach it. The old +captain took many a glance through his spy-glass at the ship astern. + +"She looks more like an English man-of-war than a Frenchman," he said to +Owen; "see what you make of her." + +"I agree with you, sir," said Owen. "She is standing after us simply +because she is bound to the same port, and if so, we need not trouble +ourselves further about her; anyway, we shall be safe at anchor before +long, and an enemy would scarcely venture into the bay to cut us out." + +Still Owen, not being altogether free from anxiety, walked the deck the +greater part of the night, waiting for a breeze. It came at length, +towards the end of the middle watch, and as before, astern. He had lost +sight of the stranger during the hours of darkness, but when dawn broke, +as the _Ouzel Galley_ was off Kingstown, he saw her coming up rapidly +not a mile away. With the increasing daylight he made her out, however, +to be undoubtedly a British man-of-war. + +"No mistake as to that point," observed Captain Tracy, who joined him on +deck; "I thought so from the first." + +What was their astonishment, therefore, when the corvette fired a gun +towards them. The _Ouzel Galley_ still stood on, when the sound of +another gun came booming over the calm sea. + +"It is the signal to us to heave to. We must obey," said Owen; "though +they perhaps think that we are too strong-handed, and wish to press some +of our men." + +"There's no help for it," observed the old captain; "better at the end +of a voyage than the beginning of one, as far as the owners are +concerned; but it is a cruel thing for the poor men to be carried away +from their families just as they are expecting to get home." + +The yards were braced up, and the ship hove to. In a short time the +corvette, getting abreast of her, lowered a boat and quickly pulled +alongside, with a lieutenant and midshipman in her. As they sprang on +deck, the latter came running aft. + +"Don't you know me, father?" he exclaimed, as he got up to Captain +Tracy. + +"What, Gerald, my boy! You've grown so tall and brown that, thinking +you away in the West Indies, I didn't till this moment," answered +Captain Tracy. + +"But I thought it was he," cried Norah, as Gerald bestowed on her a +brotherly embrace. He then shook hands with Owen, to whom Lieutenant +Foley, who was the other officer, had at first addressed himself; but, +seeing Norah, he advanced and paid his respects, inquiring for her +friend Miss Ferris. + +"She is well, and about to sail for Jamaica on board this vessel," +answered Norah. "You will, if you land at Dublin, have an opportunity +of seeing her." + +"I hope, then, that the _Ouzel Galley_ will form one of the next fleet +which we have received orders to convoy to the West Indies," said +Lieutenant Foley. "Having been sent home with despatches, we landed at +Plymouth, and were on our way round here when we ran out of our course +in chase of a strange sail. She, however, escaped us, and we are now +bound into Dublin Bay. Are you going to remain on board?" he asked. + +"I am afraid not," said Norah; "but I am sure that it will be +satisfactory to Mr Ferris to learn that your ship will convoy them. +Should I see them before you do, I will tell them so." + +Thereon the lieutenant sent several messages to Ellen, which Norah +promised to deliver, as duty might possibly delay him from going on +shore. He then turned to Owen. + +"I was sent to press some of the hands out of your ship," he said, "but +if you are about again to sail, I feel authorised to take only those who +have not agreed to return with you; and I must beg you to muster your +crew." + +Whatever might have been the intentions of the men, they one and all +agreed to re-enter for the next voyage on board the _Ouzel Galley_, and +Owen thus secured an experienced crew instead of the untried hands he +might afterwards have picked up. + +"It is fortunate that you fell in with us instead of any other +man-of-war, or you would have lost your best hands," said Gerald; "and +we, I suspect, shall have to send pressgangs on shore to pick up all the +fellows we can find. You had better give a hint to your men not to +trust themselves out of the ship, for all would be fish who come to our +net, they may depend on that." + +Gerald had to return with Lieutenant Foley to the _Champion_, while the +_Ouzel Galley_, having taken a pilot on board, at once ran up the +harbour, when Norah and her father proceeded to Mr Ferris's. The +arrival of the _Ouzel Galley_ was hailed with great satisfaction by Mr +Ferris; still more so was the news Norah gave Ellen, that the _Champion_ +was one of the ships of war appointed to convoy the _Ouzel Galley_ and +the other merchant vessels to the West Indies. All diligence was used +in discharging her cargo and taking a fresh one on board; and in shorter +time than usual, thanks to the assistance rendered by her old captain, +she was ready for sea. Owen had the happiness of spending the evenings +with Norah, and Ellen was the better able to dispense with her society +as Lieutenant Foley managed frequently to get on shore, bringing Gerald +with him. Their time, however, was not always passed so agreeably, as +they had on several occasions to take charge of the pressgangs sent on +shore to pick up men, and more than once they were engaged in pretty +severe encounters with the unwilling seamen whom it was their duty to +capture. + +Mr Foley and the young midshipman were spending the evening at Mr +Ferris's, when they were summoned out. + +"We must wish you good night," said the lieutenant to Ellen, returning; +"we have some duty to attend to, and shall afterwards have to go on +board our ship." + +The ladies came into the hall, and were somewhat astonished at the garb +which the two officers quickly assumed. Over their neat uniforms they +put on large Flushing trousers, thick coats of the same material +buttoned up to their throats, round which they tied large comforters, +while on their heads they wore weather-beaten sou'-westers. A cutlass, +buckled on by a leathern belt in which a brace of pistols were stuck, +showed that they were about to proceed on an expedition in which rough +play might be expected. + +"Where are you going?" asked Ellen, in some trepidation. + +"Only to obtain a few loyal seamen to serve his Majesty," answered the +lieutenant. "The fellows don't know their true interests, and may +perhaps offer some opposition; but don't be alarmed--we hope to be on +shore to-morrow to give a good account of ourselves." + +The lieutenant and midshipman set off under the guidance of the +captain's coxswain, a Dublin man, who had come for them. Proceeding to +a public-house on one of the lower quays, they found a dozen seamen +dressed and armed as they were. The lieutenant having given them +directions, they followed him and his guide to that part of Dublin known +as the "Liberties," inhabited by the dregs of the population. The night +was dark; no lamps illumined that part of the town. The lantern carried +by Larry Flynn, the coxswain, enabled the party to thread their way +through several narrow streets till they reached a house, at the door of +which he stopped. + +"This is it, yer honour," said Larry; "but we must be mighty quick, or +they'll be after escaping along the tiles." + +On this he gave a gentle knock at the door. "Hist! Mother O'Flanigan, +open the door, or I'll be taken hold of by the watchmen," he whispered +through the keyhole, as he heard a step within. + +"Who is it?" asked the voice. + +"Shure, it's Dennis Donovan, whom ye'll be after knowing, I'm thinking; +but quick, quick, mother dear, or it'll be too late and I'll be caught." + +As he spoke the bars were withdrawn, and the lock turned, and the old +woman, forgetting her usual caution, slowly opened the door. On this +Larry sprang in, and before she had time to shriek out thrust a woollen +comforter into her mouth. + +"Hold her fast, Bill!" he exclaimed to one of the men who had been +directed to guard the door, while the lieutenant and Gerald, with the +rest, rushed along a narrow passage, at the end of which another female, +a stout, sturdy-looking Amazon, appeared with a light in one hand and a +poker in the other. + +"Who are ye, ye brutes?" she exclaimed, "coming to disturb a dacent +household at this time of night? Shure, the childher are in bed, and +ye'll be waking them up and sending them into fits, the darlints." + +"It's joking ye are, Misthress Milligan, for divil a child have ye got +in the house, barring a score of bhoys with big whiskers on their +faces," answered Larry; "so just keep a dacent tongue in your mouth, and +be quiet with that poker." + +Mrs Milligan, finding that she was known, and as it would be useless to +deny that she had guests in the house, shrieked out at the top of her +voice, "Run, bhoys, run--the pressgang are on ye!" at the same time +attempting, with her formidable weapon, to prevent the seamen from +opening the door before which she stood. Larry, however, dashing +forward, wrenched it from her hand, and giving her a shove which sent +her reeling into the arms of those behind him, burst open the door with +his cudgel; and, the harridan having been handed along to those in the +rear, the rest of the men followed him into the room. It was an +apartment of some size. At one end was a table covered with mugs, a jug +or two, and several bottles of large proportions, and surrounded by +benches; while at the other end were four beds, each with a couple of +occupants, who had endeavoured to conceal their features by the +coverlets. Larry pointed to them, and he and his companions springing +forward and drawing off the coverlets, brought to view eight fully clad +seamen, who, offering no resistance, quietly submitted to their fate; +though sundry oaths and throats of vengeance showed that they believed +themselves to be the victims of treachery. + +"There are more of them stowed away above," exclaimed Larry; and, +leaving the room, he sprang up a rickety stair. + +"Who comes there?" cried a gruff voice from the top. The speaker had +probably been aroused by the noises below. "You'll pay dear for it, +whoever you are who attempt to interfere with me." + +"Shure, Dick Rowan, your time has come at last to serve his Majesty, +threaten and bluster as you like," cried Larry, as he and the rest +continued their ascent. + +"Take that!" cried the previous speaker, firing a pistol, the bullet +whistling near Larry's ear, but striking in the wall behind him. Before +he could draw another, Larry and the lieutenant threw themselves upon +him, and in spite of his struggles dragged him downstairs. His shouts +aroused several other men, who rushed out armed with bludgeons and +pistols. + +"Come up here at your peril," cried one of them, who appeared at the +head of the stair, flourishing his bludgeon and holding a pistol in his +left hand. + +"It's not such orders from the like of you we've a mind to obey," said +Larry, who having handed over the men just taken prisoners, was, with +the lieutenant and Gerald, about to ascend the steps. Gerald was struck +by the voice, and as Larry threw the light of his lantern before him, he +recognised, as he believed, the features of Carnegan, the second mate of +the _Ouzel Galley_--or rather O'Harrall, as he has been better known to +the reader. + +"Seize the ruffian," cried Gerald; "he is an escaped prisoner. I know +him!" He sprang up the steps as he spoke, Mr Foley, Larry, and several +of the men following. + +"Take that for your knowledge, youngster," cried the man, firing his +pistol; and finding that it had missed Gerald's head, though by a hair's +breadth alone, he lifted his cudgel and would have effectually put an +end to his young assailant, had not Larry interposed his cutlass, and, +before the man could again raise his weapon, inflicted so severe a wound +that he was compelled to drop it. The lieutenant and more seamen coming +up threw themselves on him, and in spite of several other people who had +come out, he also was secured. The rest retreated into the room, but +were pursued before they could make their escape from the windows, which +they were attempting to do. One fellow was hauled back just as he had +got outside, and in a short time every male inmate of the house was +captured. + +Rapid as the pressgang had been in their movements, the alarm had been +given outside, and a mob was already collecting in the street, evidently +with the intention of rescuing the prisoners. There was no time, +therefore, to be lost. Mr Foley ordered his men to drag them out and +hurry them along, each of the pressgang holding a pistol to the head of +his prisoner. Larry had taken charge of the man whom Gerald supposed to +be O'Harrall. The ruffian at first waited along quietly enough, but by +the way he turned his head he was evidently on the watch for an +opportunity of escaping. + +"If ye attempt to do it, a bullet will go through yer head, as shure as +ye're a living man," cried Larry, in a tone of voice which made the +prisoner feel certain that he would be as good as his word. His escape +would have been the signal for the rest to attempt breaking loose. Mr +Foley and Gerald, with two of the men who had no prisoners to guard, +brought up the rear, and had enough to do to keep the rapidly increasing +mob at bay. It was mostly composed, however, of women and boys, who +shrieked and shouted, and hurled abuse on the heads of the pressgang. +By degrees, however, they were joined by several men carrying +shillelaghs, but the strict enforcement of the law against the +possession of firearms prevented the lower orders in the city from +having them. Growing bolder as their numbers increased, and seeing that +the pressgang was about to escape from their own especial domain, they +made a furious attack on the rearguard, who could only keep them at bay +by a free use of their cutlasses, with which several of the assailants +were wounded. At length the lesson the mob received made them hold +back, though they vented their rage in still louder execrations, howling +as an Irish mob alone can howl. + +"Not very pleasant work this, Tracy," observed Mr Foley to the +midshipman. "However, as we've got thus far, I hope that we may succeed +in conveying our prisoners to the boats." + +"One of them, at all events, is likely to make further efforts to +escape," said Gerald. "He is the very man, if I mistake not, who got +out of the King Tower at Waterford, and even if we carry him on board, +he is likely to prove a troublesome customer." + +"We'll soon bring the most troublesome down to their proper bearings," +answered the lieutenant. "If he is a good seaman, he'll answer our +purpose." + +"We haven't got him safe on board yet, sir, and if these fellows +gathering round us show any pluck, we shall have a hard matter to keep +him and the rest of the captured men," said Gerald, looking down the +street, the few lights in which dimly showed a mass of people rushing +forward, the shillelaghs of the men waving wildly above their heads. + +"Go on ahead, Tracy, and urge Larry to move faster," said Mr Foley. +"Do you keep your eye on his prisoner and see that he doesn't escape." + +Gerald obeyed the order, and the seamen did their best to drag forward +their captives by threats of blowing out their brains if they did not +keep their feet stirring. Gerald was not mistaken as to the object of +the crowd, though they had apparently intended to attack the head of his +party; seeing them passing, they now came rushing on at greater speed +than before. + +"Stand back," cried the lieutenant, "or we'll fire; it will be your own +fault if any of you are killed." + +No regard, however, was paid to his threats. Some of the more daring of +the crowd leaped forward, springing now on one side, now on the other, +under the idea of escaping the bullets which might be fired at them. +The lieutenant and his two men on this had begun to flourish their +cutlasses, which in such an affray would be of far more use than +pistols, and serve, as before, to keep their assailants from coming to +close quarters; still, as they retreated the mob advanced, and every +moment threatened to make a rush, when by their superior numbers they +must have succeeded in overwhelming the lieutenant and his men and +rescuing their prisoners. At this juncture a loud hurrah was heard, and +a fresh body of seamen came hurrying along the street. The mob no +sooner saw them than the greater number scampered off to a safe +distance, where they gave vent to their feelings by uttering the most +fearful howls and hurling maledictions on the heads of the pressgang; +but the prisoners must have seen that all hope of escape was gone, for +they now quietly submitted to their fate, and when they reached the quay +stepped, as ordered, into the boats. + +The man whom Gerald supposed to be O'Harrall was put into his boat. "We +have met before," said Gerald, after they had pulled some little way +down the river; "I wonder you don't know me." + +"It must have been a long time ago, then, sir, for I haven't the +slightest recollection of ever having set eyes on you," answered the +man. + +"What, were you never on board the _Ouzel Galley_?" asked Gerald. + +"Never heard of her till a couple of days ago, when I saw her alongside +the quay," was the reply. + +"What, don't you know the name of Carnegan?" said Gerald. + +"I may know it--but it isn't my name," answered the man. + +"Then perhaps it is O'Harrall," said Gerald. + +The man started. "How did you come to know that name?" he asked; adding +quickly, "But that isn't my name either. If you want to know it, +Michael Dillon is my name; and since I am to have the ill luck to be +compelled to serve his Majesty afloat, I intend to show that it's one no +man need be ashamed of." + +"It is very extraordinary," thought Gerald. "This man's answers are so +straightforward that I suppose I must have been mistaken." He did not +further question the prisoner. The boats at length reached the ship, +and the captives were sent below under a guard. Mr Foley, at Gerald's +suggestion, gave orders that Dillon especially should be strictly +watched, as should any of them leap overboard, they were sure to have +friends waiting in readiness to pick them up. + +This was only one of several expeditions made by the pressgang on shore, +though none were so successful. On each occasion they were hooted by +the mob; and not without reason, when husbands were torn from their +wives, fathers from their children--several of those taken being either +'long-shore men or not even sailors--but men were wanted, and Captain +Olding had been directed to get as many as he could pick up, to supply +the other ships expected shortly to form the convoy of the fleet of +merchantmen. Two frigates arrived a few days after this, and orders +were issued to the merchant vessels to rendezvous in the bay. Every +effort was made to get them ready, as those not prepared would probably +have to wait for many months before another convoy would sail. + +Ellen, as might have been expected, had gained her object, and her +father had consented to her accompanying him on board the _Ouzel +Galley_. It is as difficult to describe as to analyse the feelings with +which poor Norah parted with her. She was sorry to lose her friend; she +felt a very natural jealousy of her--or, if it was not jealousy, she +would thankfully have changed places. Still more gladly would she have +gone with her--though not for a moment did an unworthy doubt of her +friend, still less of Owen, enter into her mind. But notwithstanding +this, even had the offer been made to her to go out with Ellen, she +would not have deserted her father. When she and Captain Tracy stood on +the deck of the _Ouzel Galley_, as the stout ship sailed out of harbour, +she succeeded in maintaining her composure. Not, indeed, till the +signal gun was fired for the fleet to get under way, and she and the +captain had taken their seats in the boat to return to the shore, did +she show any signs of the feelings which were agitating her. + +"Cheer up, Norah," said the old captain; "we'll pray that they may have +a prosperous voyage and speedy return, and it won't be many months +before we see the _Ouzel Galley_ coming back trim as ever into Waterford +Harbour. Owen will soon make his fortune with the favour of Mr Ferris; +he is a favourite captain, that is evident, and the house can put many a +chance in his way of turning an honest penny. Perhaps after next voyage +the ship will be requiring another repair, and as Owen will then have to +remain for some time on shore, he may think fit to make you his wife, +and I'll not object if he has your consent. I only wish Gerald were +with him; the lad's thrown a good chance away, but he was so bent on +joining the Royal Navy that I hadn't the heart to hinder him, though I +might have been wiser to do so." + +Thus the old captain ran on, his remarks contributing not a little to +calm his daughter's feelings and to induce her to look forward hopefully +to the future. + +After spending a few days more in Dublin, the captain being employed in +transacting some shipping business for the firm, he and Norah set off +for Waterford, where, in spite of his apprehensions of being attacked by +Rapparees, highwaymen, or abductors, they arrived in safety. + +Meantime the _Ouzel Galley_, with about sixty other merchantmen +collected from Liverpool, Glasgow, and various Irish ports, set sail +down Channel, convoyed by the 32-gun frigates, _Thisbe_ and _Druid_, and +the _Champion_ corvette; "Old Blowhard," as he was called, captain of +the _Thisbe_, acting as commodore. The _Champion_ had a busy time of it +whipping up the laggards and calling in the stragglers, who would, in +spite of orders to the contrary, steer their own course. The _Ouzel +Galley_ was among the well-behaved of the fleet, always keeping her +proper position; and though she could have run well ahead of most of +them, Owen never failed to shorten sail when necessary, for which he was +complimented by Mr Ferris. Perhaps Ellen might have preferred more +frequently seeing the _Champion_, which she soon learned to distinguish +from the rest of the fleet. The _Druid_ was employed much as the +_Champion_; but Old Blowhard kept his proper position in the van, making +signals with his bunting or guns as occasion required. + +The greater portion of the passage was accomplished without an enemy's +cruiser having been sighted; indeed, no small French squadron would have +ventured to approach the formidable-looking fleet, as many of the +merchantmen carried guns, and three or four of them would have been a +match for any frigate, or, at all events, would not have yielded without +a hard struggle. + +Meantime Gerald, who was disposed under all circumstances to make +himself happy, thought the _Champion's_ employment very good fun, +notwithstanding the grumblings of old Beater and Crowhurst, who were +from morning till night abusing the slow-sailing "sugar-hogsheads," as +they designated the merchant craft. He was only a little disappointed +at having no opportunity of paying his friend a visit on board the +_Ouzel Galley_--a feeling probably shared with him by the second +lieutenant. The _Champion_ had been compelled to dispose of most of the +pressed men between the two frigates, retaining only a few to make up +her own complement. Among them was the man captured in the Dublin +lodging-house, who had entered under the name of Michael Dillon. When +Gerald came to see him oftener, the supposed likeness to Carnegan wore +off, though still there was a wonderful similarity in the voice and +manner. Dillon soon showed himself to be a bold and active seaman, and +thereby gained the good opinion of the officers, though his behaviour +was generally surly, especially towards the English portion of the crew. +He took pains however, to ingratiate himself with the Irishmen, by +being always ready to do a good turn to any of them, very frequently +even sharing his grog with them--the highest mark of regard one seaman +can show to another. Gerald, who naturally observed the man, fancied +that he looked at him with a suspicious eye, and was inclined to keep +out of his way; but at the same time he treated him, as he did the other +midshipmen, with the required amount of respect, though certainly not +with a particle more. + +"You see, Tracy, I told you that Dillon and the rest of the pressed men +would soon be brought into order by the discipline of a man-of-war," +observed Mr Foley one day to Gerald, who was in his watch. "Blustering +fellows, such as he appeared, become in a few weeks perfectly +lamb-like." + +"I wouldn't trust him overmuch, sir, nevertheless," answered Gerald. +"From a remark the carpenter made to me the other day, he has formed no +favourable opinion of him. He has several times found him talking in a +low voice to the men, as if he had some especial object in view, and Mr +O'Rourke thinks that, if he had an opportunity of doing mischief, he +would do it." + +"I am not fond of hearing unfavourable reports of the men, and I +recommend you not to indulge in the habit of making them, unless +officially required so to do," said the lieutenant, rather annoyed at +Gerald's remarks. + +"I had no intention of bringing them to you, sir," answered Gerald; "but +when you spoke of Dillon, I felt myself called on to say what I had +heard, especially as I have had suspicions of the man from the first. I +indeed believed him to be a person we had on board the _Ouzel Galley_, +and who, it was afterwards discovered, had been guilty of an act of +piracy and murder." + +"But if he is not the man you took him for, you should overcome your +prejudice," remarked the lieutenant. + +"I try to do so, sir," said Gerald, "and I should have thought no more +about him if I hadn't heard remarks which aroused my former suspicions." + +"I believe you are right, after all, Tracy," said Mr Foley; "we'll keep +an eye on the man, and not place him in a position where he can do any +harm." + +This conversation took place when the convoy was about four or five +days' sail from the West Indies. + +"The commodore is signalling, sir," cried young Lord Mountstephen, who +was acting as signal midshipman, "`A sail to the southward!--the +_Champion_ to chase and ascertain her character.'" + +"Make the answering signal," said Mr Foley. "Tracy, go and report to +the captain." + +The wind was at this time about south-east. The _Thisbe_ was in her +usual station to windward of the fleet and abeam of the leading vessel, +and the fleet with flowing sheets was steering to the westward. The +_Champion_, hauling her wind, stood out from among them. + +"The commodore suspects the stranger to be an enemy," observed the +commander to Mr Foley. A look-out with sharp eyes was sent aloft, to +report as soon as the sail indicated by the frigate should appear in +sight. She was before long seen, and was evidently a large ship +standing to the north-west, a course which would bring her up to the +convoy. + +"We must have a nearer look at her," said the commander; "she is more +probably a friend than an enemy." + +"Two other sail," cried the look-out from aloft, "following in the wake +of the first." + +Still the corvette, according to orders, stood on. As she approached +the stranger, the commander changed his opinion. + +"They are Frenchmen," he observed to his first lieutenant; "we'll keep +away and run back to the commodore. If, as I suspect, all three are +frigates, or perhaps larger craft, we shall have to bring them to action +and allow the convoy to escape." + +The announcement caused considerable excitement on board. "We shall +probably be in action before the day is out," cried Gerald, as he went +into the midshipmen's berth, "and have pretty hot work, too, if the +Frenchmen show any pluck." + +"The best news I've heard for many a day," said old Crowhurst. +"Notwithstanding all I've done for my country, it's the only chance I +have of getting promoted." + +"I don't see how that's to be," said Gerald; "mates are not often +mentioned in despatches." + +"But if a happy shot were to knock either of our superiors on the head, +I should obtain the rank I merit," replied the mate. "For that matter, +I've seen service enough and done deeds sufficient to deserve being made +a commander or post-captain." + +"Long life to you, Captain Crowhurst!" exclaimed Gerald. "If I was a +Lord of the Admiralty I'd promote you to-day and superannuate you +to-morrow. I don't suppose the service would be greatly the loser." + +"That youngster requires a cobbing," said Beater, who perceived what the +other did not, that Gerald was laughing at him; and he pulled out his +cob, prepared to inflict condign punishment. + +"Now don't, till the action's over," said Gerald, getting ready to make +his exit from the berth; "then, if the enemy's shot hasn't taken either +of our heads off, you'll be welcome to do what you like--if you can +catch me--and I don't intend that you should do that same just now;" and +Gerald sprang through the doorway out of reach of the irate old mate. +The other members of the berth talked over the probabilities of the +expected fight. One and all were ready enough for it, especially two or +three who had never yet seen a shot fired in anger; they having but +little conception of what the result of a hard-fought action would be, +even should they prove victorious. + +As soon as the _Champion_ got within signalling distance of the +commodore, Captain Olding reported three sail of the enemy in sight. + +On this the _Thisbe_ hoisted a signal to the _Druid_ to join her, while +the merchant vessels were directed to keep together and to stand on as +they were steering. The three men-of-war now hauled up a little, the +sooner to meet the enemy, the _Champion_ being to windward of the +frigates. + +"Old Blowhard expects that the enemy will take us for the advanced +frigates of a large fleet, and will probably think it wiser to keep out +of our way than to come nearer," observed Captain Olding to his first +lieutenant, "Though we should beat them, we should gain but little by an +action." + +"I agree with you, sir. I never fancied fighting for barren glory, I +confess," said Mr Tarwig; "and as our first duty is to defend our +convoy, I conclude that the commodore will be satisfied if we can beat +off the enemy." + +"We may hope to do that, even though the _Champion_ will be somewhat +overmatched; but I can trust to the ship's company to do their duty," +said the captain, in a firm tone. "Clear the ship for action, Mr +Tarwig." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered the first lieutenant, giving the necessary +orders. Lieutenant Foley and the other officers set about carrying them +out with alacrity. He was glad to be actively employed, for many +anxious thoughts oppressed his mind. He could not conceal from himself +the fearful odds to which they were exposed, and what might possibly be +the issue of the approaching conflict. One of the enemy was certainly +greatly superior in force to the _Champion_, and the other two French +ships might be much larger than the _Thisbe_ and _Druid_. Even should +their own ships be disabled, though not captured, many of the merchant +fleet might fall a prey to the Frenchmen, and the _Ouzel Galley_ might +possibly be among the number. What then would be the fate of Ellen and +her father? It was of the greatest importance to Mr Ferris to reach +Jamaica without delay, and instead of that he might very likely be +carried to France, or detained as a prisoner in one of the French West +India islands; while Ellen must be exposed to much annoyance and +suffering. He himself had no coward fears for his own life; but he knew +full well, should he fall, the grief and anguish it would cause her. + +All such thoughts were, however, put to flight as the two squadrons +approached each other, the _Thisbe_ leading and the _Champion_, +according to orders received from the commodore, bringing up the rear. +Old Blowhard's object was to disable one of the French frigates before +he attacked the other two, so that she might become a more equal +antagonist for the _Champion_. As the squadrons approached, it was seen +that each of the French frigates carried more guns than the _Thisbe_ and +_Druid_, and nearly twice as many as the _Champion_. Old Blowhard, +however, nothing daunted, stood on, firm to his purpose of attacking the +enemy and leaving the convoy time to escape. The leading French frigate +was a considerable way ahead of her consorts; on seeing the determined +bearing of the English, she shortened sail, while they spread all the +canvas they could to come up with her--the _Thisbe_ carrying all she +could set, in order to attack her before they could accomplish their +object. Just as the _Thisbe_ brought the enemy on her lee bow, the +commodore threw out a signal to the _Druid_ to keep away and to rake the +French frigate, while he poured his whole broadside into her. He also +ordered the _Champion_ to imitate his example, and then to come about +and fire her larboard broadside. The French captain might, of course, +defeat these various manoeuvres by either keeping away or hauling his +wind. + +Every person on board was watching anxiously to see what he would do. +No moments in a seaman's life are so intensely exciting as those when, +before a shot is fired, his ship is standing into action. The wind was +moderate, the sky of a cerulean hue, and the sea tolerably calm, the +rays of the sun glittering on the snowy crests of the waves. The +looked-for moment at length arrived. The _Thisbe's_ foremost gun broke +the deep silence which had hitherto reigned over the ocean. It was +rapidly followed by her broadside guns, to which the Frenchman replied +with spirit. The _Druid_, suddenly putting up her helm, fired the whole +of her larboard broadside into the Frenchman's bows, then again luffing +up in time to fire her starboard guns, trained well aft, before the +_Champion_ got into a position by which she might suffer from their +shot. The corvette now stood in to action, running so close to her +large antagonist that their respective yardarms almost touched, most of +the shot from the French frigate's upper deck going harmlessly over her, +though she suffered considerably from those of the main-deck. Her +rigging, however, escaping much damage, she was able to haul her wind +and come about. Notwithstanding the severe punishment she was +receiving, the French frigate gave no signs of surrendering. + +"We can tackle her now, I think, by ourselves," observed Captain Olding +to his first lieutenant. The commodore, however, had no intention of +allowing his small consort to do that. His first broadside had cut away +many of the braces of the French ship, and severely wounded her +mainyard. He now, consequently, having come about, was able to range up +on her starboard quarter directly after the _Champion_ had passed on. +Again pouring in his broadside, he shot away the French frigate's +mizen-mast, which came crashing down on deck. Shouts rose from the +decks of the English ships as what had occurred was seen. Both the +English frigates had now to engage the two Frenchmen--one following the +other, they were quickly exchanging broadsides. The _Thisbe_ then +addressed herself especially to the second French frigate, while the +_Druid_ took the third in hand, the commodore ordering the _Champion_ to +continue her attack on the first till he could come to her assistance. + +All three of the English ships had by this time lost a number of men, +though they had inflicted still greater damage on the French frigates. +Captain Olding fought the corvette bravely, manoeuvring to keep ahead of +his antagonist. The great object had already been gained, the escape of +the merchant fleet, the topgallantsails of the rearmost vessels of which +had long since disappeared beneath the horizon. Though the _Champion's_ +rigging remained uninjured, with the exception of a brace or two cut +through, she had received some severe damages in her hull. Three men +had been killed, and six, including her gunner, wounded. + +"We are succeeding better than might have been expected, Tarwig," +observed Captain Olding. "If we can't make this fellow strike, we can +keep him from running away or joining his consorts. See, there goes the +_Druid's_ mainmast, and there comes her foremast. Blowhard must take +care not to have both the enemy on him at once, or he may fare no +better." + +For a few minutes it was difficult to see what the four ships were +about, so close were they together, and enveloped in smoke; for the fall +of the English frigate's masts had encouraged the Frenchmen (whose fire +had somewhat slackened) to fresh exertions, and their fire was renewed +with greater vigour than before. Lieutenant Foley turned his eye +towards them, for it was very evident that the corvette, unless she +could knock away another of her antagonist's masts, was not likely to +gain the victory. He anxiously looked for the commodore's promised +assistance. Presently, one of the combatants was seen issuing from the +smoke, followed closely by the other, and standing towards the corvette. +Unless she could make good her escape, her capture or destruction was +scarcely problematical. The _Thisbe_ was following, firing her guns as +they could be brought to bear; but she could not arrive in time to save +the corvette. Captain Olding had no intention of deserting his +consorts; he hauled up, therefore, to the southward in order to tack and +stand down towards the _Druid_. He now saw that the hulls of the French +frigates were sorely battered. One of them threw out signals, when +their leading frigate, coming round on the starboard tack, made all sail +to the northward, as did both the others, apparently having had enough +of fighting. The commodore now signalled to the _Champion_ to stand +after the convoy, and he himself was soon afterwards seen following, +having sent a party of his hand on board the _Druid_ to assist her in +repairing damages. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +THE CHAMPION STEERS AFTER THE MERCHANTMEN--THE MERCHANTMEN SIGHTED-- +SHOTS HEARD--TWO VESSELS SEEN ENGAGED--THE CHAMPION RUNS ALONGSIDE THE +OUZEL GALLEY--HER CREW DRIVES BACK THE PIRATES--SHE GOES IN CHASE OF THE +PIRATE--NORMAN AND GERALD LEFT ON BOARD THE OUZEL GALLEY--DAMAGES +REPAIRED--PROCEED ON TO JAMAICA--TWO FRESH FOES SIGHTED--THE CHAMPION +ENGAGES THEM--THE THISBE AND DRUID APPEAR--THE ENEMY FLIES--THE CONVOY +ENTERS PORT ROYAL HARBOUR--GERALD RETURNS ON BOARD THE CHAMPION--HIS +ANNOUNCEMENT DISAPPOINTS CROWHURST--LIEUTENANT FOLEY AT EAST MOUNT-- +ELLEN AND HER FATHER GO TO BELLEVUE. + +The _Champion_, under all sail, ran on to overtake the convoy and +announce the satisfactory intelligence that the enemy, severely +shattered, had been beaten off. A look-out was kept from the mast-head, +but as yet no sail were in sight, and as the sun was sinking low, there +was no hope of coming up with them before dark. Still, it was possible +that the corvette might do so before the next morning. By that time +they would be approaching the Bahama or Windward Channel, a short way to +the southward of Saint Salvador, as the Spaniards called it, or Cat +Island, as it was named by the English buccaneers--the first land +belonging to America discovered by Columbus on his voyage in search of +the Indies. + +"They are not likely to attempt running through the passage without +waiting for our convoy," observed the first lieutenant to Norman Foley. +"Besides the French, the Bahamas still swarm with picarooning rascals, +who are ever on the look-out for merchant craft, and would not scruple +to lay aboard any they fancy they can overcome." + +"Even the most daring would scarcely venture, I hope, to attack a fleet +among which are so many armed vessels, well able either to defend +themselves or to retaliate on an intruder," answered Lieutenant Foley, +whose thoughts immediately flew to the _Ouzel Galley_. + +"They would run the chance of getting off scot free in the confusion +their sudden appearance would make," said Mr Tarwig. "There is no +exploit, however hazardous, they would not undertake with the chance of +obtaining a good booty. I took part in the capture of several notorious +pirates a few years ago. One fellow blew up his ship rather than +surrender, and all died hardened villains, as they had lived." + +"The greater need for us to overtake our friends without delay," +answered the second lieutenant, who shortly afterwards went forward to +take a look through his night-glass, in the hope of distinguishing some +of the lights which the merchant vessels had been directed to hang over +the sterns. In vain, however, he swept the horizon with his telescope; +had the lights been there, he must have seen them. The commander was +almost as anxious as the second lieutenant to overtake the fleet of +merchantmen, though he was influenced simply by the desire to do his +duty. The watch below had turned in, but most of the officers kept the +deck; even old Crowhurst was continually on the forecastle in the hope +of seeing the looked-for lights. + +"I fancied that they would have shortened sail and waited for our +coming," said Gerald. "What can have induced them to run on?" + +"The fear that the Frenchmen would thrash us and overtake them," +answered old Beater; "they judge of us by themselves." + +"There are as brave fellows in the merchant service as in the Royal +Navy," said Gerald, who was piqued at the old mate's remark. "When I +was on board the _Ouzel Galley_, we held out as long as any ship of war +of similar force would have done. Depend on it, had the merchant +vessels been allowed, they would have come to our assistance if we had +wanted them." + +"A pretty pass we should have come to, to require their aid," exclaimed +Crowhurst, in a scornful tone. + +"We may require it some day, and you'd be the first to shout for help," +answered Gerald. "I took a fancy to the navy, but I'm not going to +stand by and hear the merchant service abused." + +"Cock-a-doodle-doo! What dunghill have you got to the top of, +youngster?" cried the old mate. + +"One from which I can crow as loud as you do," said Gerald--at which a +chuckle was heard from several of the men standing within earshot. +Crowhurst's anger was rising; he was considering what punishment he +should inflict on the audacious youngster, when the cry was heard of "A +light ahead!" and presently afterwards several others were seen. There +could be little doubt, from their position, that they were shown by +merchant vessels, though the darkness prevented the vessels themselves +from being distinguished. A sharp look-out was kept that the corvette +might not run foul of any stragglers who were neglecting to show their +lights. Presently the sound of a shot was heard, followed by several +others coming up faintly against the wind. + +"Those sounds come from the north-west," observed the master. + +"One of the merchantmen on shore, I fear," said the commander. + +"Those guns we hear are nearer to us than any land. The leading vessels +are not up to Atwood Quay yet," answered the master. "Depend on it, +some of the convoy are attacked and are defending themselves." + +"Let us hope that they may do so successfully till we can get up to +assist them, and turn the tables on the Frenchmen," answered the +commander. + +"Little doubt about our doing that," said the master. "Judging by the +reports, the enemy's ship is not a heavy one--a brig or sloop at the +most--or she may be one of those picarooning craft often found cruising +in these seas." + +The last remark was heard by Norman Foley, who had just then joined the +speakers. An indefinite apprehension seized him that the _Ouzel Galley_ +might be the vessel engaged, but from what Ellen had told him he felt +sure that Captain Massey, if attacked, would not yield as long as he +could keep his ship afloat. The breeze, which had fallen light at +sundown, now freshened up, and the corvette made good way through the +water. At length the rearmost merchantman was overtaken. Commander +Olding hailed, and her master, in reply, gave her name. + +"What do those guns mean?" asked Captain Olding. + +"Can't say, sir," was the answer. + +"Whereabouts in the fleet is the _Ouzel Galley_?" inquired Norman Foley. + +"She was among the leading vessels at sundown, and to the northward of +most of them," answered the master. Before any other questions could be +put or replies received, the _Champion_ glided by the slow-sailing +merchant ship. Several other vessels were passed, generally too far off +for any exchange of words. Now even the flashes of the guns could be +seen, and the exact position of the combatants observed. They were but +a short distance from each other, one to the northward, hanging on the +quarter of the other. The drum beat to quarters, and the watch below +came tumbling up on deck, hurrying to the guns. It was impossible in +the darkness to distinguish the nationality of the two vessels, which +appeared to be about the same size. Captain Olding, addressing the +crew, ordered them on no account to fire, lest they might injure a +friend instead of a foe. As the _Champion_ stood on, he kept a sharp +watch through his telescope on the combatants, neither of which seemed +aware of his approach. Presently the sternmost was seen to put down her +helm and lay the other aboard on the lee side. + +"The sternmost fellow is an enemy, we may depend on that," observed the +captain; "we can't use our guns without the risk of injuring our +friends." + +As the _Champion_ drew near, loud shouts and cries could be heard, and +the flashes of muskets and pistols seen. It was evident that a fierce +combat was taking place; the boarders were called away ready for action. + +"Shorten sail!" shouted the captain, "see the grappling-irons ready! up +with the helm!" + +The next instant the two ships came in contact. Norman Foley and Gerald +were the first to spring on board; the dreadful idea had taken hold of +both of them that the vessel attacked was the _Ouzel Galley_. Of this, +the moment they reached her deck, they were convinced when they caught +sight of Owen Massey's figure, cutlass in hand, backed by Dan and +Pompey, combating with an overwhelming number of enemies, who appeared +already to have gained possession of the greater part of the ship. +Among those who formed the boarding-party was Dillon, who showed as much +alacrity as any one. He was soon in the midst of the fight, attacking +the boarders of the other ship with desperate fury. The leader of the +latter was dressed in a fantastic manner, to give ferocity to his +appearance. He was soon crossing blades with Dillon. + +"These fellows are pirates!" shouted Captain Olding. "Cut them down; +give them no quarter--a reward for the man who gets hold of their +leader!" + +Dillon and his antagonist had made several cuts at each other, which had +been parried with equal skill by both, when the pirate, hearing what +Captain Olding shouted out, sprang back apparently to regain his own +ship. Dillon, instead of attempting to stop him, warded off a blow +aimed at him by another man, and thus enabled the pirate, with a +considerable number of his followers, to leap on board his own vessel. +The lashings which held her to the _Ouzel Galley_ were at the same +moment cut, and before the British seamen could follow she dropped from +alongside. Her helm was then put up, and her head-sails filling, she +ran off before the wind. + +Gerald grasped Owen's hand. "Faith, you've had a narrow escape!" he +exclaimed. + +"Indeed, we have," answered Owen; "and, I fear, have lost a large number +of our crew. Had you not come up, we should every one of us been +killed." + +"Where are Miss Ferris and her father?" asked Norman Foley, turning +round to Owen, whom he now recognised. + +"They are safe, I trust, below, and will be glad to see you and hear +that they have no longer cause for apprehension," answered Owen. "I +have too many duties on deck to go." + +The lieutenant sprang below, just at the moment that Captain Olding +ordered the crew of the corvette to return on board and the +grappling-irons to be cast loose. + +"We must chase the pirate and punish him for his audacity," he +exclaimed. + +It was some time, however, before the order could be obeyed and the +corvette got clear of the merchantman. Gerald had remained on board. +"I ought to tell Mr Foley, or he will be left with you," he said; and +he followed his lieutenant below. Before he returned on deck the ships +were clear, and the corvette was making sail to go in chase of the +pirate. + +Owen had persuaded Mr Ferris and Ellen to go into the hold, to which +they had been hurried when the first shot had been fired by the pirate. +Owen had for some time before been suspicious of the strange sail, which +he saw standing up on his starboard quarter, and, thinking that she was +very probably an enemy's privateer, was not taken altogether unprepared. +He had ordered his powder and shot to be brought on deck, and the guns +to be loaded and run out ready for action; when, therefore, a shot from +the stranger came flying close to his stern, he fired in return, and at +the same time making all sail, endeavoured to keep ahead of her. She +now fired shot after shot from her foremost guns, and he had no longer +any doubt that she was an enemy which had borne down on the fleet, +hoping to pick up one or two of the merchant vessels and be off with +them before morning. + +"The fellow has made a mistake in attacking us," observed Owen to his +first mate. "His greediness tempted him to attack a big ship--he might +have succeeded had he run alongside some of the brigs astern." + +Pompey, who had accompanied Mr Ferris and his daughter below, returned +to report that he had seen them safe in the hold. "De gentlemen want to +come back and fight, but de young lady no let him--she cry so, and hold +his hand, and say he get kill; so at last he sit down and stay quiet," +remarked Pompey. + +"I am very glad to hear it," observed Owen; "he could be of no use in +working the guns, and it would be a sad thing to have him injured." + +These remarks were made in the intervals of firing. The enemy, however, +did not leave them long at rest; their shot soon began to tell with +fearful effect; several of the crew fell killed or wounded, and the +sails and rigging were much cut about. Still Owen's men were staunch, +and stood manfully to their guns, running them in and out so rapidly, +and pointing them so well, that they inflicted as much damage as they +received; and by the way he manoeuvred his ship he kept the stranger at +a distance, and prevented her from running up alongside, which it was +evidently her intention to do. She, however, it appeared, by possessing +a numerous crew, had an immense advantage in being able to repair her +damages far more rapidly than could the people of the _Ouzel Galley_ +those their ship received. At length, however, the rigging of his ship +was so much cut up that Owen could no longer manoeuvre her as he had +done, and the pirate, taking advantage of his condition, ran alongside +him. + +"The enemy are about to board us!" cried Owen; "be ready to repel him-- +they'll give no quarter!" + +The crew, leaving their guns, seized the boarding pikes which had been +placed round the mainmast for their use, and, drawing their cutlasses, +stood prepared to defend their ship against the fearful odds opposed to +them. So occupied had been the combatants that neither of them had +perceived the approach of another ship. Uttering wild shouts and +shrieks, a number of dark forms were seen scrambling on board the _Ouzel +Galley_. The moment they appeared they were attacked vigorously by her +crew, led on by Owen and his mates, and many were hurled into the sea or +driven back on board their own ship. His success encouraged him to +attempt cutting his ship free from the enemy, but while he and his men +were thus engaged, a loud voice from the deck of his opponent was heard +shouting, "At them again, lads! We mustn't be beaten in this way. I'll +lead you; follow me!" and the next moment, another party of boarders +appearing, the crew of the _Ouzel Galley_ were compelled again to stand +on the defensive. And now, in overwhelming numbers, the enemy came +leaping down on the deck, and Owen, with anguish, saw that his chance of +opposing them successfully was small indeed. Still, like a brave man, +he determined to fight till the last, urging his mates and crow not to +yield as long as one remained alive. At this juncture a loud crashing +sound was heard, and a large ship was seen gliding up on his larboard +side. The hearty British cheer which greeted his ears assured him that +succour had arrived, and the next instant the crew of the _Champion_ +came pouring on board. The subsequent events have already been +narrated. + +Norman Foley, on going below, soon made his way into the after hold, +where he found Miss Ferris and her father. The crashing of the ships +together, the shouts and shrieks of the combatants, had greatly alarmed +them both. Mr Ferris had been desirous of going on deck to ascertain +the state of affairs, and, indeed, had it not been for his daughter, he +would have taken a part in the fight. He had done his utmost to calm +her terror, but believed that she had too much cause for it, and had +found it a difficult task. On hearing Norman Foley approach, she was +seized with a not unnatural dread that some of the enemy had made their +way below; but on recognising him, forgetting in her joy the reserve she +generally exhibited, she sprang forward and threw herself into his arms. + +"We are safe--we are safe, father!" she exclaimed; "and you, Norman, +have been the means of preserving us. Oh, how we have been longing for +you! We thought you were far away, and that that fearful ship would +capture us." + +Norman, of course, expressed his happiness at having arrived in time to +save the _Ouzel Galley_ from the enemy, and in a few words explained +what had happened. + +"You may now with safety come into the cabin," he said, "for the +pirate--such I suspect she is--will not again venture to fire. I must +there, however, leave you, to return to the _Champion_, as we shall +certainly pursue the fellow and punish him for his audacity." + +"We shall be glad to get out of this dark place," said Mr Ferris. "Do +you help my daughter, and I will follow." + +Just as Norman and Ellen were about to enter the cabin, Gerald appeared +to summon him on board the _Champion_. After a hasty farewell, he +sprang on deck, just in time to see his ship separated from the _Ouzel +Galley_ and making sail in chase of the pirate. Not, however, unhappy +at the occurrence, he returned to the cabin. + +"I am very glad we shall have your assistance in getting the ship to +rights," said Mr Ferris, "for I fear she is sadly short-handed." + +"Tracy and I will give all the aid we can. I wish we had a few of the +_Champion's_ hands with us," answered the lieutenant. + +"Tell me what to do and I will assist you," said Mr Ferris. + +"Oh, then I too will come on deck--though I am afraid I cannot help you +much," exclaimed Ellen. + +Her father would not have prevented her, but Norman begged that he would +be content to remain below. + +"I regret to say that the deck of the ship presents a scene too dreadful +for Miss Ferris to contemplate; and the rigging has been so much cut +about that there is still danger from falling blocks or ropes--you might +at any moment meet with a serious accident." + +Ellen was at length persuaded to retire to her cabin, Norman promising +not to leave the ship without coming to bid her farewell. The deck of +the _Ouzel Galley_ did indeed present a fearful scene. Several of the +pirates lay dead between the guns, while five of her own crew had been +killed, and many more badly wounded; every plank was slippery with gore, +the rigging hung in festoons, the sails were rent and full of holes. +Here and there the bulwarks appeared shattered by the shot, which had +also damaged the boats and caboose, the masts and spars. + +As now and then other vessels of the fleet came passing by, inquiries +were made as to what had occurred. "Attacked by a pirate--beaten +off--_Champion_ gone in chase," was the only answer Owen had time to +give. + +"No thanks to those who, by clapping on more sail, might have come to +our aid, but did not," he could not help remarking to Mr Ferris. + +The first thing to be done was to attend to the wounded, who were +carried to their berths, where Mr Ferris offered to assist in binding +up their hurts and watching them; the next was to heave the dead +overboard. This sad office was quickly performed, as there was no time +for even the pretence of a service; the dead would not be the worse for +going without it, and the attention of the living was too much occupied +to listen to a word spoken. Before committing the bodies of the pirates +to the deep, however, they were examined by the light of a lantern, to +be sure that no spark of life existed in them, and to ascertain to what +country they belonged. Two were men of colour, and the others white +men, rough, savage-looking fellows; but it was difficult to decide as to +their nationality. + +"It matters little what they were," said the second mate, who was +attending to that duty; "they were pirates, and have escaped the rope +they deserved--of that there's no doubt. Heave them overboard." + +Not a moment was to be lost in repairing damages. All hands now set to +work to fish the masts and spars, and repair and splice the standing and +running rigging. Scarcely had they commenced than day broke, and as the +light increased the _Champion_ could be seen in chase of their late +opponent, who was running under all sail to the north-west. + +"That fellow is well acquainted with these seas, or he wouldn't be +steering as he now is. Reefs and rocks abound in that direction, but he +knows his way among them, and intends, if he can, to lead his pursuer +into a scrape," observed Owen. + +"Our master is too wide awake to be so caught," answered Gerald, "and +the chances are that the pirate escapes. She must be a fast craft; for +see, she continues well ahead of our ship, if she isn't gaining on her." + +A look-out was now kept for the two islands which are found on either +side of the Windward Passage--that known as Long Island being to the +west, Crooked Island to the east, both thickly surrounded with rocks and +reefs, so that it is necessary to avoid hugging the shores of either one +or the other. Crooked Island was first sighted, on the larboard hand. +It being some time, however, before the _Ouzel Galley_ could again make +sail, the greater part of the fleet passed by her, though no one offered +to send assistance. The _Champion_ could still be seen, hull down, but +the chase was lost sight of. Norman Foley and Gerald were frequently +watching their ship through the glass. + +"The fellow has escaped, after all," cried the former, as he handed the +telescope to Gerald; "our ship has kept away, and is steering for the +passage." + +"Can the commander suppose that we were killed, that he doesn't come +back to inquire for us?" observe Gerald. + +"I conclude that such must be the case," said the lieutenant. + +"Then, sir, I suspect old Crowhurst will be bitterly disappointed when +he finds that he isn't to step into your shoes," said Gerald; "he'll +complain that he has lost another chance of getting promoted." + +"I hope that he may obtain his promotion some other way," answered Mr +Foley, laughing. "It is so commonly the wish of old mates, that +lieutenants should not find fault with them, as they don't wish us any +ill." + +"I should think, sir, that that was the worst they could wish a man," +said Gerald. + +"Not at all, provided they don't take any steps to carry out their +wishes," answered the lieutenant. "However, your messmate will not long +be allowed to indulge in his dream." + +The _Ouzel Galley_ was now one of the last of the fleet, most of the +other vessels having passed her. The corvette was seen making signals +to them to keep together; and now that they were so near their +destination, they were all eager to hurry on, in spite of the risk of +capture from any of the enemy's men-of-war or privateers which might be +lying in wait for them off the coasts of Cuba and Saint Domingo. Mr +Foley had fully expected that by this time the _Thisbe_ and _Druid_ +would have come up with them, but neither of the frigates had yet +appeared. He took many an anxious glance astern; but the day drew on, +and yet they were not in sight. + +"I wish we could see them," he observed to Owen; "for, though the +_Champion_ will give a good account of any ship of her own size, if more +than one of the enemy's cruisers were to get in among the fleet, some of +them would be pretty sure to be carried off, as all, I fear, would not +fight as well as you have done, Captain Massey." + +"We must run the chance, sir; it won't do to be waiting for the +frigates, and we may hope to get into Port Royal without another brush," +answered Owen. + +By crowding on all the sail she could carry, the _Ouzel Galley_ soon got +again into the body of the fleet, which was now steering south in pretty +compact order. When the next morning broke, the east end of Cuba was in +sight, while the _Champion_ was a short distance ahead, leading the +fleet. A bright look-out was kept, but no strangers were seen. Some +hours' run brought the north-west end of Hispaniola in view. Ellen came +on deck to enjoy her first sight of West Indian scenery. Lieutenant +Foley was, as may be supposed, very happy in her society, and was in no +hurry to make known his existence to his friends on board the +_Champion_. He had as yet had no opportunity of signalling the +corvette; he therefore entertained the hope that he might be able to +remain on board till their arrival at Port Royal. + +The fleet was about half-way across the broad bay of Gonaves, formed by +two headlands which stretch out on the western side of Hispaniola, when +two sail were seen standing out from the north-eastern corner. They +were large ships, but whether friends or foes it was difficult to +determine. Soon after they were discovered they spread more canvas. +This circumstance was suspicious; signals were made by the _Champion_ +and some of the nearer ships, and she hauling her wind stood back +towards the strangers. They, however, pressed on as before. Mr Foley +and Gerald were now wishing that they were on board. + +"If those are either French or Spaniards, the _Champion_ will have a +brush with them, sir; big as they are, she'll beat them off too," +exclaimed Gerald. "I wish we could go and help her. What do you say, +Captain Massey?" + +"That, with our diminished crew, we could be of no real assistance; +besides which, it is our duty to get into harbour as quickly as +possible," answered Owen. "I am sure Lieutenant Foley will agree with +me." + +"There is no doubt about it," said the lieutenant, who would have been +very unwilling, on Ellen's account, to run the ship into danger, even +had he not seen the folly of so doing. The _Champion_ having placed +herself between the strangers and the fleet, again kept away. She +apparently was satisfied that they were enemies, and too large to attack +with any hope of success. + +"Captain Olding is doing his duty, as he always does," observed Norman +Foley to Owen; "in spite of the great disparity of force, he will do his +best to defend the convoy. See, he is signalling; what does he say, +captain?" + +Owen examined the signal-book. "`Fleet to make all sail and steer for +Jamaica'--that is what we are doing, though, and few of the vessels can +carry more canvas than at present," he answered. + +Some, however, were seen setting royals and studding-sails. Every ship +in the fleet pressed forward over the calm blue waters with all the sail +she could carry. The sight was a beautiful one, as the canvas shone in +the rays of the bright sun darting from a cloudless sky and Ellen +likened them to swans of snowy plumage gliding over some inland lake. +She felt less anxiety than did either Mr Foley or Owen, who saw more +clearly the danger to which the _Champion_ was exposed. Already the +guns of the enemy were heard as they opened on their small antagonist, +while she returned them with her stern-chasers. + +"By the way the enemy are firing, their aim is to wing the _Champion_, +and she'll then, they hope, become an easy prey," said the lieutenant to +Owen. "They may be mistaken. Captain Olding is not the man to strike +while he has a stick standing." + +Some time more passed by. The French gunnery may not have been very +good. Still the _Champion_ sailed on, not a mast nor a spar knocked +away, though her canvas was riddled with shot. Should she be disabled, +it was pretty evident that several of the merchantmen must be captured, +and that the _Ouzel Galley_, crippled as she was, would be among the +number. The proceedings of the _Champion_ and the enemy were therefore +watched with intense anxiety. + +"There goes her main-topmast," cried Owen, almost with a groan. + +"I ought to be on board," said Lieutenant Foley. "I must ask for one of +your boats, Captain Massey." + +"You should be welcome, but not one of them can swim, nor could I spare +you any of my hands; so I am afraid, sir, you must be content to remain +on board the _Ouzel Galley_," answered Owen. "Your presence could not +change the fate of the day, and you would be made a prisoner by the +French, instead of having a chance of escaping." + +The fire of the enemy now became hotter than ever, when Gerald, who had +gone aloft, shouted, "Two ships in sight to the northward!" + +"What are they like?" asked Owen. + +"One looks to me as if one were under jury-masts; the other's all +ataunto," answered Gerald. + +"I trust so," ejaculated Owen; "if so, they must be the _Thisbe_ and +_Druid_." + +Lieutenant Foley immediately joined the midshipman at the mast-head, +carrying his spy-glass. "I have no doubt that they are friends," he +shouted, after inspecting them narrowly; "the enemy have made them out, +and are signalling each other." + +The eyes of many on board the merchant fleet were turned in the +direction of the two ships, which in a short time could be descried from +the deck. Shouts arose from many a throat when the Frenchmen were seen, +having hauled to the wind, standing back up the bay; while the gallant +little _Champion_ continued her course after the convoy she had so +bravely defended. The frigates, instead of following her, stood into +the bay in pursuit of the Frenchmen. At nightfall, however, they were +again descried running out, having apparently either missed the vessels +they were in chase of, or found that the latter had got into harbour for +shelter. The convoy now stood on till the end of Jamaica was rounded. + +The following day, as soon as the sea breeze set in, the merchantmen +approached Port Royal harbour, the _Ouzel Galley_ being among the +leading vessels. Ellen stood on the deck admiring the magnificent and, +to her, so novel scenery, with Norman by her side to point out its +varied features. Stretching away east and west appeared lofty blue +mountains rising above a stratum of clouds which rolled along their +precipitous sides; in some directions the rugged hills were seen +furrowed by ravines, while in others steep cliffs descended abruptly to +the sea; in many places appeared the richest vegetation, covering the +sides of the slopes, and here and there patches of bright emerald green, +with the white residences of the managers just visible amid them. At +length, right ahead could be seen the town of Port Royal, at the end of +a narrow spit of land known as the Palisades, composed of sand and +overgrown with mangroves, which sweeps round from the east and runs for +several miles directly west, the town being at the western end. The new +town has risen above the ruins of its wealthy, iniquitous predecessor, +suddenly overwhelmed by an earthquake, and in a few seconds sunk many +fathoms deep beneath the ocean. The spit forms a natural breakwater to +the magnificent harbour of Port Royal, or Kingston, capable of +containing in its spacious basin the fleets of all the world. The +batteries of Port Royal completely command its entrance, aided by the +guns of Fort Augusta and the Rock Fort on the opposite side. The _Ouzel +Galley_, as she ran in, passed close under the ramparts of Fort Charles, +thickly studded with heavy ordnance which would have effectually +prevented the entrance of a hostile fleet. This passed, she stood on up +the extensive lagoon, towards the further end of which, on the northern +shore, could be seen the city of Kingston, a wide plain extending for a +considerable distance inland, backed by a series of irregular mountains +rising one beyond another, hills piled upon hills of various elevations, +with picturesque valleys, dark chasms, and numerous trees. Far off, on +the top of the declivity on which the city stands, were visible the +barracks of Hope Park Camp, and nearer, on a still more conspicuous +spot, the well-known Admiral's Pen, the residence of the naval +commander-in-chief on the station. + +The _Ouzel Galley_ and most of the merchantmen ran up the lagoon till +they came to an anchor off Kingston. As the _Champion_ had not yet +entered the harbour, Lieutenant Foley undertook to escort Mr and Miss +Ferris on shore, intending as soon as he had done so to engage a shore +boat and return on board his own ship. Gerald begged to be allowed to +remain on board, and his lieutenant promised to call for him on his way +down the harbour. No sooner, however, had the party left the ship than, +seeing a passage boat on her way down to Port Royal, Gerald hailed her +and desired to be put on board the _Champion_, which, he calculated, +would by that time have come into port. Very soon, greatly to his +delight, he saw her come to an anchor, just before the boat reached Port +Royal; and as he climbed up on one side, the captain in his gig shoved +off on the other. As he stepped through the gangway he discovered by +the countenances of those who observed him that his appearance created +considerable astonishment; but, without answering any of the questions +put to him, he went aft to the first lieutenant, and reported himself as +come on board. + +"Why, Tracy, it was supposed you were killed!" exclaimed Mr Tarwig. +"Has Mr Foley escaped as well as you?" + +"Yes, sir, I am happy to say so," answered Gerald; and he briefly +recounted what had happened. + +"The captain will be glad to hear this," observed Mr Tarwig, who having +no time for talking, resumed the duty he was carrying on; and Gerald +hurried away to try the effect the news he had brought would produce on +his older messmates. He looked out for old Beater, who was not to be +seen, and he observed Crowhurst on the forecastle. + +"There he is, crowing as loud as ever," thought Gerald, as he remarked +the consequential air with which the old mate walked the deck and +shouted to the men. The lately trim corvette was much knocked about; +besides the loss of her main-topmast, many of her other spars had been +wounded, her sails riddled with shot, while her bulwarks and deck had +been torn open in several places, one of her guns disabled, and most of +her boats damaged. + +The first person he met who had time to exchange a word with him was the +purser. "What, Tracy," he exclaimed, "you still in the land of the +living! I had written D at the end of your name; I shall have the +trouble of crossing it out again. We were going to put up your effects +for sale to-morrow." + +"Much obliged to you, sir," answered Gerald, "and must apologise for +giving you so much trouble. Were Mr Foley's effects to be sold at the +same time? I suppose Beater or Crowhurst expect to get promoted in his +place." + +"Beater has got all the promotion he ever will, poor fellow," answered +Mr Cheeseparings; "he was the only officer killed in our late action, +though we had six men wounded. But Crowhurst is looking forward to get +his lieutenancy to a certainty." + +"I concluded that he would do so; but as Mr Foley happens to be alive, +he will be rather disappointed," said Gerald. + +"Dear me! has he escaped too?" exclaimed the purser. "Well, though I +haven't to sell his effects, I really am glad; and so, I am sure, will +be Billhook and Mac." + +"If you'll excuse me, sir, I'll go and communicate the pleasing +intelligence to Crowhurst, who will, I hope, rejoice as much as the +gun-room officers," said Gerald. Directly afterwards he met Nat Kiddle. +"Come along," he said, "and see me pull old Crowhurst down a peg or +two." + +The two midshipmen met Crowhurst coming aft. "What, youngster, are you +alive?" he exclaimed. "I shall have some work for you and Kiddle +directly." + +"Yes, old fellow, I'm alive and well," answered Gerald, "and will return +to my duty as soon as the commander or one of the lieutenants orders +me." + +"Let me tell you, youngster, I don't choose to be called old fellow, and +as I am acting lieutenant, you will obey my orders." + +"Certainly," said Gerald, "till Mr Foley returns, which I expect he +will do this evening." + +"What--you don't mean to say so!--did Mr Foley escape with you?" +exclaimed the old mate, his countenance falling, and his whole air +changing in a moment. Gerald then, with infinite satisfaction, +described the way he and the lieutenant had been left on board the +_Ouzel Galley_. Not being required just then, he dived into the berth +to recount his adventures to the rest of his messmates. + +In a short time the two frigates came in, and anchored near the +_Champion_, where already lay several other large ships of war forming +the Jamaica fleet, under the command of Admiral Cotes. Gerald found his +messmates not very much out of spirits at the loss of Beater. The old +mate's body lay between two guns, covered by an ensign; and it, with +that of two other men who had been killed, was carried on shore and +buried in the graveyard of Port Royal, where so many gallant British +seamen sleep their last. + +Meantime Mr Ferris and Ellen had gone on shore, escorted by Lieutenant +Foley. Those were the palmy days of Kingston. Men-of-war and +privateers were constantly coming in with rich prizes, whose cargoes +added greatly to the wealth of the city; the streets were crowded with +blacks carrying bales of all descriptions to the stores; merchants' +clerks were hurrying to the quays to superintend the unloading of +vessels, and naval and military officers were moving about in all +directions; the seamen on leave were rolling here and there, shouting +forth their sea ditties; while black and brown women with baskets of +fruit and vegetables were standing at the corners of the streets, often +surrounded by a party of Jack-tars, who quickly emptied them of their +contents. + +A short walk soon brought the lieutenant and his friends to the +counting-house of Mr Thomas Twigg, the agent of the firm, and a +relative of one of the partners. They were at once shown to a large +airy room over the office, looking out on the harbour, containing a +table spread for luncheon, consisting of numerous West Indian +delicacies. Mr Twigg, of course, pressed the lieutenant to remain. + +"You don't know whether your ship has come in, and even if she has, +they've got on very well without you, and an hour more or less can make +no difference," he observed. Norman Foley was in no hurry to take his +departure. "Mr and Miss Ferris are coming to my pen, about five miles +off," continued Mr Twigg, "and I hope you will accompany them. We +shall start in about a couple of hours, when there will be more shade on +the road than there is at present." + +The lieutenant, very unwillingly, was compelled to decline the +invitation, but agreed to remain to see his friends off. On hearing of +Gerald, Mr Twigg insisted on sending on board the _Ouzel Galley_ to +invite him, and Gerald afterwards found that in his eagerness to witness +the disappointment of his messmate he had thereby lost a pleasant +expedition, he having left the ship before the message arrived on board; +but, soon afterwards, who should come in but Captain Olding, who was so +delighted to find that his lieutenant and midshipman had escaped, that +he at once gave them both leave to accept Mr Twigg's invitation. +Norman Foley had the happiness of accompanying Ellen in one carriage, +while Mr Ferris and his friend, who had much to talk about, went in +another. Ellen was, of course, delighted with the scenery and the +tropical vegetation, so new to her, though she possibly did not examine +them as minutely as she might have done under other circumstances: +Norman would have to leave her in a day or two, and he might not return +for a long time. She had heard her father say that he expected shortly +to accompany Mr Twigg to an estate on the other side of the island, and +even should Norman's ship come into Port Royal, he might not be able to +pay her a visit. Of course he promised to come if he could, even though +he might be able to remain only a few hours. Bellevue was a beautiful +spot about fifty miles off, on the other side of the Blue Mountains, a +short distance from Saint Ann's Bay, and Norman hoped that his ship +might be cruising off the north coast, and that he would then have an +opportunity of seeing her. At all events, they neither of them were +more unhappy than was necessary at the thoughts of their approaching +separation. + +On their arrival at East Mount, Mr Twigg's country house, Ellen was +amused by the number of black slaves who rushed out to receive them, +chattering and laughing, and doing their best to welcome the strangers. +The house was a one-storied building, with a broad verandah round it, +standing on the summit of a hill of considerable elevation overlooking +the plain, with Kingston and the harbour in the distance; it was thus +exposed to the sea breeze, so necessary to anything like enjoyment in +the tropics. Mrs Twigg, a buxom little lady--a fitting partner to her +sprightly, jovial spouse--received Ellen with a hearty welcome to +Jamaica. She evidently saw how matters stood between her and the young +lieutenant, and, as far as her sense of the duties of a hostess would +allow her, left them together as much as they could desire, while Mr +Ferris and her husband were for the greater part of the day absent at +Kingston. Those two days while Norman remained at East Mount were among +the brightest they had hitherto enjoyed. The place seemed a perfect +Eden, with its green lawn kept ever verdant by the sparkling stream +which flowed down on one side from the hill above, bordered by the +graceful and variously shaped trees of the tropics--the tall maple +arrow, surrounded by its flowering crown of yellow; the Spanish needle, +with its dagger-like leaves; the quilled pimploe, a species of cactus; +and numberless others, from the branches of which hung lilac and purple +wreaths in rich festoons--while the sweet notes of the feathered +songsters ever and anon burst forth, and here and there could be seen +tiny humming-birds flitting from flower to flower, fluttering for a +moment and then darting off with the speed of lightning, their gem-like +plumage glittering in the sun. + +Ellen and Norman, though they often talked of the past, spoke most of +the future, when he should have gained his promotion, and, the war being +over, might quit the service without dishonour and live on shore. + +After arranging his affairs in Jamaica, which he believed would occupy +some months, Mr Ferris proposed returning to Ireland. He intended to +make the voyage in the _Ouzel Galley_ when she could sail under safe +convoy. In the mean time he expected to spend two or three months at +Bellevue, and Norman hoped that they might there again meet. Happily +for themselves, they were ignorant of the dark storm which was brewing +over the island. + +At length Norman's leave expired, and he had to return on board the +_Champion_. A few days afterwards Mr Ferris and Ellen, accompanied by +Mr and Mrs Twigg and their family, set off across the island for +Bellevue. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE OUZEL GALLEY ORDERED ROUND TO MONTEGO BAY--FRESH GUNS AND STORES +TAKEN ON BOARD--A CRIMP BRINGS OFF SOME MEN IN NO UNUSUAL CONDITION--TWO +VOLUNTEERS--VISIT FROM GERALD--THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS--SUSPICIONS AS TO +ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS--MONTEGO BAY REACHED--A DINNER ON SHORE-- +WARNINGS--LAST SIGHT OF THE OUZEL GALLEY FROM THE SHORE--BELLEVUE AND +ITS INHABITANTS--ARCHIE SANDYS--DESCRIBES A JUMBY DANCE--SIGNS OF A +COMING STORM--A HURRICANE--ANXIETY REGARDING THE OUZEL GALLEY--EFFECTS +OF THE HURRICANE. + +The _Ouzel Galley_ was soon unloaded. Some time, however, was spent in +repairing the damages she had received from the pirate, after which Owen +was preparing to take on board a fresh cargo, when he received orders to +proceed round to Montego Bay, where a large amount of produce, which the +firm had purchased from a neighbouring estate, was awaiting shipment. + +"You will run but little risk, I hope, from the enemy's cruisers, and +against them we have at all events insured, though not to the full +amount, for we know that we can trust to the sailing qualities of the +_Ouzel Galley_, and to your courage, judgment, and seamanship," wrote +Mr Ferris. "If a convoy can be procured, you will of course take +advantage of it; but if not, so great is the importance of getting the +produce home without delay, that we leave it to your discretion to sail +alone, should you judge that to be most to our interest. You are also +at liberty to increase your armament by two or four guns, if you can +carry them, and not only to replace the men you lost in your action with +the pirate, but to add ten or a dozen more hands if you can obtain them. +You will thus, we hope, be able to beat off any of the enemy's smaller +cruisers or such a piratical craft as attacked us coming out; though you +will, of course, use all the means in your power to avoid a contest and +to make the best of your way home." + +Owen was naturally flattered with the letter, though he considered that +the dangers he would have to encounter were much greater than those he +was likely to meet with in a run home under a sufficient convoy. +Gerald, who had been to Kingston, was paying him a visit on board on his +way down. + +"I wish that I could go with you," he exclaimed, "and so, I dare say, +will our second lieutenant. It isn't far off, I fancy, from where Mr +Ferris is staying. I'll tell Foley--though I don't think there's much +chance of his getting leave, and we shall be sent to sea as soon as we +are ready, for the admiral isn't the man to let the grass grow on the +bottom of any of his ships." + +"I wish that you could come, for I shall find it rather solitary," said +Owen. "However, I see no chance of that, and I will now go on shore to +get the guns--I'll have the four of them--to order some of the stores I +require, and to do what I can to pick up men." + +"I'll try to pay you another visit," said Gerald, as he was about to +step into the boat alongside. "If I don't see you again, remember to +give my love to my father and Norah--and may you have a prosperous trip +home." + +While Gerald went down the harbour, Owen landed, taking with him Dan and +Pompey. The purchase of the guns was an easy matter, as there were +plenty to be had, taken out of prizes. He chose two long brass guns, +9-pounders, and two short ones of heavier calibre. The stores were +quickly ordered, too; but to procure the men was more difficult. It +would be hopeless to expect to get them at all, were he particular as to +how he got them or what class of men he got. Still, if he could have +his choice, he would take a smaller number of good men rather than his +complement of inferior hands. There were, of course, crimps who would +be ready to supply him, and he was compelled to apply to one of these +personages, who promised to send him on board six or eight hands before +next morning. In the mean time Pompey met two old shipmates, blacks +like himself, for whom he could answer; and Dan fortunately found a +countryman of his own, also a trusty fellow. With these three hands +Owen returned to the ship, and the following day the guns and stores +were received on board, the former mounted on their carriages and the +latter stowed away. Sufficient hands only were wanting to enable him to +sail. His friend, the crimp, was as good as his word; which was not +surprising, considering that he was to be well paid for it. Towards +evening a boat came alongside with the crimp and six men, two of whom +only were sitting upright, while the rest were lying along the thwarts. +Jonas Jobson, the crimp, a big-boned mulatto, dressed in a broad-brimmed +hat, nankeen trousers, and a white jacket, dispensing with a shirt or +other clothing, came up the side. + +"Dere dey are, cappen," he said, "prime seamen when dey come to demself, +and only just a little drunkee now. Dese two will answer for dem. +Here, you come up, Sam Tar, and you, Jack Noddin." + +The two men summoned managed to get up the side, though it was very +evident that they were half-seas over. Still they answered for +themselves in a tolerably satisfactory manner, and assured the captain +that they knew the others, who were as good seamen as ever stepped-- +only, when they could get a drop of liquor, they would. "There's no +denying of it," said Sam Tar, "and so do I--only I knows when to stop, +and they don't;" and Sam gave a lurch against Mr Jobson, which called +forth an angry rebuke from that gentleman. Owen was not, as may be +supposed, altogether satisfied, however. The men were hoisted on board +and laid on the deck. Except for their breathing, they might have been +so many corpses, so utterly helpless were they. + +"You've brought me a pretty lot," said Owen; "they're not likely to come +to till I get to sea, and then it's more than probable, to my mind, that +they'll not be worth their salt. You should have brought off sober men, +that I might have judged of them." + +"Ah, cappen, you berry hard on me. How could I keep the men sober? And +berry likely if I did dey not come 'tall," answered Mr Jobson, with +wonderful effrontery. "You werry 'tickler; oder cappens take any dey +can get--drunkee or no drunkee, dese men prime hands when dey come to +demself." + +Still Owen was firm in refusing to take the drunken men, even though Tar +and Noddin muttered that if their mates did not join, neither would +they; whereat Mr Jobson began to fear that he should have his labour +for nothing, and calling for a bucket, filled it alongside and dashed it +over the inanimate forms placed on deck. At first the shower-bath +produced not the slightest effect, but after several buckets had been +thrown over the men, one of them began to move and to stretch out his +arms as if swimming; then another grunted, and desired with sundry +unsavoury epithets to be left alone; while a third actually sat upright, +and looked stupidly about him. The fourth, however, remained motionless +as at first, when Mr Jobson threw another bucket of water over him. At +last one of the mates lifted the man's arm; the moment he let go it fell +to the deck. He then felt the hand. + +"Why, Mr Jobson, you've brought us off a dead man!" he exclaimed. "He +is as cold as ice already." + +Mr Jobson stooping down, having convinced himself of the fact, coolly +observed, "Why, he alive yesterday when he come to my house." + +"Yes, and you allowed him to drink himself to death," said Owen. +"You'll take him on shore with you, for he couldn't have died on board +this vessel." + +Mr Jobson demurred. "Why for dat?" he exclaimed. "You take him to sea +and throw him oberboard; it save much trouble, and I no charge you for +him." + +"I should think not," observed Owen. "As for the other three, if Tar +and Noddin are ready to answer for them, I will keep them, for they, at +all events, are alive and likely to come to in a short time." + +To Mr Jobson's disgust the corpse was lowered into the boat, when, +having received the sum agreed on, he pulled on shore to give the best +account of the matter he could. Owen knew that he would probably state +that the man had died on board the _Ouzel Galley_, and he was taking him +on shore to be buried; for in the West Indies in those days coroners +would not be very particular in inquiring into the way seamen went out +of the world. The three men who had been so unceremoniously treated, +having been stripped of their clothes, were stowed away in their +hammocks to recover from their drunken fit, the other two new hands +being allowed also to turn in. Still, Owen would have been glad to have +his full complement. He had intended to sail that night with the land +wind as soon as the moon was up, and was seated in his cabin waiting for +the pilot, and writing a report of his proceedings to Mr Ferris, when +Dan announced that two men were in a boat alongside, who wished to see +him. He went on deck and told the men to come on board. They did so; +both of them were sailor-like fellows. One of them, stepping forward +and doffing his hat, said, "I understand, Captain Massey, that you want +some more hands. My mate and I are ready to ship for the run home at +the wages you are offering. We were left behind by the _Polly_ +privateer, and as she has been taken by the French, we want to join +another ship; we've no fancy for a man-o'-war, and have had only ill +luck in privateering. My name's John Green, and his is Thomas Routh; +I've been to sea for pretty nearly ten years, and he's been fifteen or +more afloat--so, without boasting, I may say we're both of us able +hands." + +"You give a very satisfactory account of yourself and your mate, John +Green," observed Owen. "Have you any certificates from the last vessels +you served in?" + +"Unfortunately we left them on board the _Polly_, sir, and are not +likely ever to see them again," answered the man--"and we might enter on +board a man-o'-war, as you know, sir, without any questioning; though, +if you don't take us, there are plenty of other masters who won't be so +particular. But to say the truth, sir, knowing your character, we've a +mind to sail with you." + +"That's a fact," said the other man, who had not yet spoken, and who +seemed to be much older than his companion, and a rough fellow--his big +whiskers and shaggy locks almost concealing his features, though he +might not have been ill-looking had his hair been moderately trimmed. +Owen, calling his first mate, asked his opinion of the men, and they +both agreed that, as their story was probable and they had the cut of +seamen, they were not likely to get better men. He accordingly entered +them both. John Green was a fair-haired, ordinary-looking young man, +rather more fluent of speech than might have been expected from his +appearance, his countenance contrasting greatly with the hirsute, +sunburnt visage of his mate. + +Owen had finished his letters, and got them ready to send on shore by +Dan. Among those for England were one for Captain Tracy and mother for +Norah, for he could not tell when he might have another opportunity of +writing. Soon afterwards the pilot came on board, the sails were +loosed, the anchor hove short, and as soon as the boat returned the ship +was got under way, and, the moon rising, she stood down the harbour with +the wind abeam. As she got off Port Royal, the ship was hailed by a +man-of-war's boat, and ordered to shorten sail; and the boat coming +alongside, who should appear on deck but Gerald Tracy. + +"I was sent to ascertain what ship this is, where you are bound to, and +all other particulars; but as I happen to know, I needn't waste time in +asking," said Gerald. "We've lost two or three hands lately, but as I +know you've not got them, I needn't trouble you." + +Owen felt considerable doubt whether he ought not to enlighten his +careless young friend, whose duty it certainly was not to take anything +for granted. However, he thought it very probable that if he did, he +should lose some of his hands; they had come on board of their own +accord, and he wanted them even more than did the _Champion_, which +could easily supply their places. He therefore only replied that he was +very glad Gerald had come, and as he was anxious to get to sea before +the land wind failed, he should feel obliged if his young friend would +make his visit as short as possible, and allow the ship to proceed. + +"Yes, of course," answered Gerald; "but if you get home before I do, +tell Norah that she may look out for a long letter, which I intend to +write as soon as I have anything fresh to say. We hear that, while our +ship is refitting, some of us are to be turned over to the _Augusta_, +Captain Forrest; and as we are sure to have something to do, I shall +have a long yarn to spin." + +The young midshipman, who had been accompanied by Owen to the gangway, +tumbled into his boat and pulled back to his ship, fully satisfied that +he had done his duty. The harbour-master's boat having also paid the +usual official visit and found all right, and the pilot having taken his +departure, the _Ouzel Galley_ stood out to sea under all sail. The soft +moonbeams shed a bright light on the calm waters, just rippled over by +the breeze, the wavelets sparkling like frosted silver. Having gained a +sufficient offing, the _Ouzel Galley_ hauled up to the westward and +stood along the coast, lofty ridges rising on her starboard hand, while +the broad expanse of the Caribbean Sea stretched away on the larboard +side. The watch was set in charge of the first mate, but Owen had no +intention of turning in; for, although few enemies were likely to +approach the coast of Jamaica, where a large fleet was known to be +collected, still one might possibly run in, on the chance of finding a +richly laden merchantman off her guard. It was necessary, therefore, to +be on the watch. None, however, could approach them seaward without +being discovered in good time; but an enemy's vessel might lie hidden +behind one of the many headlands and points, or in some of the numerous +creeks on the coast, and might sally forth when least expected, and +endeavour to capture them if unprepared. The land wind lasted for an +hour or more past midnight, when the _Ouzel Galley_ lay becalmed, with +little prospect of making progress till the sea breeze should set in in +the morning. Owen at length, leaving the deck in charge of the second +mate, lay down in his cabin, desiring to be called should any strange +sail appear in sight. Daylight, however, returned, and when he left his +cabin he found the crew following their usual occupations of the +morning--washing decks, coiling down the ropes. On looking about for +the new hands, to judge of them by the way they went about their work, +he observed that the two last who had joined were flemishing the ropes +down man-of-war fashion, as were two of the others; but the rest, those +supplied by Mr Jobson, were evidently lubberly fellows, who scarcely +know the stem from the stern of the ship. + +"I must practise these men at their guns, or they will be of no use if +it ever comes to a pinch," thought Owen. While he was watching the +crew, the dark-whiskered man who had entered as Thomas Routh came aft, +when Owen got a better look at his countenance than he had hitherto had. +He started, for he fully believed that he saw before him O'Harrall, +whose life he had twice been the means of saving. He looked again and +again, not wishing, however, that the man should discover that he was +especially noticing him; while the latter, apparently totally +unconscious of being remarked, went on with his work. Still, it was not +likely that O'Harrall had voluntarily come on board his ship. At last +he determined to speak to the man, and to judge by his tone of voice and +answers. He called him up. + +"Have you ever served with me before?" he asked. + +"No, sir, not that I know of, for I neither remember your features nor +your name," was the answer. + +"Have you over served on board a man-of-war?" asked Owen. + +"When I shipped aboard this craft I came to do duty as a seaman, not to +answer questions about my previous life," said the man, looking up +boldly into Owen's face. Owen turned away; the voice reminded him of +O'Harrall as much as the countenance, and yet, from the man's perfect +coolness, he could not suppose that he could be that person. Owen had +no doubt, however, that he had served on board a man-of-war, and was +probably a deserter, and that, should any naval officer come on board in +search of deserters, the man would probably be taken. He determined, at +all events, to watch the man and see how he behaved himself towards the +rest of the crew. Owen was not long left in doubt, for, though Green +had at first been put forward, it was very evident that the other was +the leading spirit of the two. He was observed to be associating +chiefly with the new men, and talking to them when no others were +present, endeavouring, not unsuccessfully, to establish an influence +over them. He did not, however, neglect the old hands, and whenever he +had an opportunity he took pains to win their goodwill. To the officers +he was obedient and submissive enough; and when, rounding Negril Head at +the west end of the island, the ship was struck by a sudden squall, he +showed by his activity and courage that he was a first-rate seaman. His +manners, too, were above those of an ordinary sailor, and though rough +in his exterior, he was neat and clean in his person. + +The ship was running in for Montego Bay. Owen and his first mate had +gone down to take a hurried dinner, when Dan came in to the cabin. + +"Well, Dan, how do the new hands get on?" asked Owen. + +"It's just that I want speak to you about, your honour," answered Dan. +"There's not much to be said about most of them, except that they're +pretty hard bargains; but there's one of them, Routh, who, if he isn't +some great lord, will try to make the people believe that he is. It's +only to be hoped that he means well, for if he takes it into his head to +do any harm, he'll do it." + +"Perhaps, after all, he may have no evil intentions. He certainly is +one of our best men," observed Mr Fisher, the first mate. + +"Your honour asked me to say what I thought of the men, and I've said +it," answered Dan. + +"We shall see how he behaves in harbour, and if there is no fault to +find with him we can keep him on board," remarked Owen. + +"Your honour knows what's best," observed Dan, speaking with the freedom +of an old follower, "but I'll stake my davy that he's after no good." + +"Well, Dan, Mr Fisher and I will keep an eye on him, and you can report +anything further you see suspicious in his conduct," said Owen, as he +and his mate returned on deck. + +An hour afterwards the _Ouzel Galley_ was at anchor in Montego Bay. +Owen was just going on shore, when Mr Twigg, who had been waiting for +the ship, came off and gave him directions about receiving his cargo. +Owen reported that he had fully carried out his instructions, showed the +guns he had procured, and mustered his crew. + +"A likely set of fellows," observed Mr Twigg. "You'll do your duty, my +lads, and, if you have to defend the ship, you'll fight bravely. Should +you come back in her you may be sure of good wages; Ferris, Twigg, and +Cash pay well when they are well served." + +The crew cheered, and Routh, who stood foremost among then, was +especially vociferous, though he might have been seen winking to some of +his mates when the eyes of the worthy planter and the officers were +turned away. + +"You'll have the droghers alongside to-morrow morning, and you'll not be +long in hoisting the casks on board, Captain Massey," continued Mr +Twigg, as he walked the poop. "Meantime, I shall be happy to see you on +shore, and should have been glad to take you to Bellevue, as Miss Ferris +is anxious to send some messages to our fair friend Miss Tracy, who won +all our hearts out here, as I understand she has that of another friend +of ours." Mr Twigg chuckled, and Owen looked conscious. "However, as +the distance is too great, Miss Ferris has intrusted me with letters for +her friend, which I can safely confide to you." + +Thus Mr Twigg talked on. "You will pass in sight of Bellevue as you +run along the coast--we'll signal you, so that you can give the last +report of your friends when you reach Dublin." + +The invitation Owen had received was equivalent to a command, and, +though he would have preferred remaining on board, he accompanied Mr +Twigg on shore. He met at dinner several planters, agents of estates, +or attorneys, as they were called; two or three brother skippers whose +vessels lay in the harbour, a military officer, and a few nondescripts. +The conversation was pretty general, though the subject of sugar and rum +might have predominated, and Owen heard more about affairs in Jamaica +than he had hitherto done. The blacks, he found, were in an +unsatisfactory state; they had been discovered holding secret meetings +of a suspicious character. They had more than once before revolted and +committed most fearful atrocities; and one or two gentlemen expressed +the fear that, unless precautions were taken in time, the black's might +play the same trick again. Those gentlemen were, however, looked upon +by the rest of the company as timid alarmists. + +"The cowhide is the best specific for keeping the black rascals in +order," exclaimed Mr Tony Grubbins, an attorney from a neighbouring +estate, who looked as if he not unfrequently used that same weapon of +offence. "We always know in good time what the negroes are about, for +they haven't the sense to keep their own secrets; if they show any +obstreperousness, we shall pretty quickly put them down." + +"As there are ten blacks to one white man, if the negroes are combined +we might find it not so easy a matter to put them down," observed one of +the timid gentlemen. + +"Pooh-pooh, sir!--show them the muzzle of a blunderbuss and they'll be +off like a shot," answered the other. + +From the remarks made by the timid gentleman, Owen felt, however, +inclined to side with his opinion. + +Captain Brown, of the good ship _Sarah Ann_, on hearing that Owen was to +sail without convoy, warned him of the danger he would run. "All very +well, sir," he observed, "when you get to the eastward of the islands, +but you'll find out that you'll have to run the gauntlet of the enemy's +cruisers, for they're pretty thick in these seas; and, in addition, +there are not a few picarooning, piratical rascals who don't pretend +even to be privateers, and boldly hoist the black flag, and rob and +murder all they can capture." + +"I hope that the _Ouzel Galley_ can keep clear of them, as well as of +the regular cruisers of the enemy," answered Owen. "We fell in with a +gentleman of the sort on our passage out, but we had fewer guns and +hands than we have now, and we at first took him for one of our convoy, +or we should have beaten him off without much difficulty." + +"That is more than poor Wilkins, of the _Greyhound_, was able to do," +remarked Captain Brown. "I was in company with him at sunset, when +everything was well on board, and we were standing the same course--but +next morning he was nowhere in sight, and my first mate, who had the +middle watch, told me he saw two vessels astern instead of one. As no +guns were heard, it's my belief that the _Greyhound_ was taken by +surprise and carried before the crew had time to fire a shot in their +defence." + +"Depend on it, we'll keep too sharp a look-out to be surprised," said +Owen, "though I am obliged to you for the warning." + +As the party was becoming a somewhat uproarious one, Owen, who both from +principle and habit was a sober man, stole off and returned on board his +ship. The mate reported all well, and that none of the crew had even +asked leave to go on shore. When Dan, however, made his appearance in +the cabin, he looked while he moved about as if he had something to +communicate. + +"What's the matter? Out with it, Dan," said Owen. + +"Your honour, I don't want to be a talebearer," answered Dan, "but Routh +and Green and the rest of their gang have been talking together the +whole of the watch, and that means mischief." + +"The more necessity for keeping a bright look-out on them," observed the +captain, "and I have no doubt that the honest men in the ship will keep +them down, whatever tricks they may play." + +With a certain amount of uncomfortable feeling Owen turned in, keeping, +as he always did, his pistol and sword by the side of his bed. The next +day he was too busy taking in cargo to think of the matter; and now, +being ready for sea, the _Ouzel Galley_ stood out of the harbour. + +According to arrangement with Mr Twigg, the _Ouzel Galley_ kept along +the coast till she came off Bellevue. As she appeared, a flag from the +flagstaff on shore flew out to the breeze. Owen hoisted his colours and +fired his guns, and the merchantman, looking as trim as a ship of war, +sailed on her course. + +"No fear about that young fellow making the voyage if any man can do +it," observed Mr Twigg to Mr Ferris. + +"He has been brought up under a good captain--a better we have not in +our service," replied Mr Ferris. + +Ellen watched the departing ship which was carrying her epistle to +Norah. The weather was beautiful, though the heat was somewhat more +oppressive than usual; a light breeze filled the sails of the _Ouzel +Galley_, wafting her over the calm waters. It was scarcely possible to +believe that she would have any dangers to encounter on that tranquil +ocean. + +A considerable number of persons inhabited the house of Bellevue. +Besides Mr Twigg and his wife and the manager, there were six young +gentlemen, book-keepers, who were so called though they had no books to +keep, but were employed in superintending the various operations of the +estate. Most of them were young men of respectable families, who looked +forward to becoming managers or to holding other responsible offices. +There were also several assistant overseers, mostly mulattoes, though +some were whites--literally, slave-drivers--whose business was to keep +the negroes up to their work in the fields. The book-keepers dined at +table, and were treated in every respect as gentlemen, though the +manager kept them under pretty strict discipline. One of them, Archie +Sandys, a lively young Scotchman, was a favourite with Ellen, as he +reminded her of Gerald Tracy. He was clever, too, and very well +informed. That he admired her, there could be little doubt, for no one +was more ready to obey her behests, though he might not have foolishly +lost his heart or ventured to lift his eyes to one so much above him in +fortune. + +The _Ouzel Galley_ was still in sight in the offing, when Archie, having +performed his duties for the day, came in and found Ellen seated in the +shade, inhaling what little air was moving. The scene was a lovely one. +The house stood on a height looking over the sea; there was a lawn +green as one in spring, with a shrubbery on either side of tropical +trees and shrubs of varied and picturesque forms, above which towered +several specimens of the graceful palm. Birds of gay plumage and +butterflies of gorgeous hues were flitting about, and many magnificent +flowers, such as are to be seen in hot-houses alone at home, were +blooming around. Words, however, can never give an adequate description +of West Indian scenery. Young Sandys made his bow to Miss Ferris, who +greeted him with a smile. + +"I am not intruding on you, I hope?" he said. + +"Certainly not," she answered, laughing; and seeing that he was not +expected to go away, he stood leaning against one of the pillars of the +verandah. + +"I witnessed a curious scene yesterday, which I have not before had an +opportunity of describing," he said, after a few other remarks had +passed between them. "I don't know what Mr Ferris or our manager will +say to it; I consider myself fortunate in getting away with a whole +skin. You perhaps, Miss Ferris, have never heard of a Jumby dance; I +had, and wished to see one. Yesterday, one of our assistant overseers, +a mulatto, Bob Kerlie by name, to whom I had rendered some service, told +me that he had heard one was to take place on some wild ground between +this and the next estate; and I persuaded him to act as my guide to the +place. He told me that I must be careful what I said or did, as the +negroes were in a very curious humour and might easily be offended. We +carried our cutlasses, and I stuck a brace of pistols in my belt; +besides which, we were each provided with a stout walking-stick. We +started at sundown, and after leaving the cultivated ground we had no +little difficulty in making our way through the tangled brushwood till +we reached the hut in which the Jumby dance was to be performed. It +stood under a vast cotton-tree, on an open space near the bank of the +river which you see running into the ocean to the westward of this. As +we went along Kerlie told me that the chief performer was a big negro, +Cudjoe, reputed to be a powerful Obeah man; that is, a necromancer, or +what the North American Indians would call a medicine-man. He is +supposed to possess wonderful mysterious powers--to be able to cause the +death of any one who offends him. Bob assured me that there was no +doubt about this, and those he denounces never fail to die shortly +afterwards. If such is the case, Master Cudjoe probably knows how to +use poison to bring about the fulfilment of his predictions, and I am +thankful that he does not belong to us. + +"We found upwards of a hundred negroes, mostly men, though there were +some women among them, all decked out in strange and uncouth ornaments, +snakes' heads, dried frogs, various coloured beads forming necklaces +round their throats; their garments were otherwise scanty in the +extreme. They looked surprised and not very well pleased at seeing us, +and Rob had some difficulty in persuading them that I only came for +curiosity and was far too good-natured to say anything about what I +might see which might get them into trouble. The assembly being +pacified agreed to our remaining. I observed that there was a great +deal of talking among them, but as they spoke their native African, +neither Rob nor I could understand what was said. The hut was of +considerable size, though low and thatched merely with palm-leaves. +There were no windows, and only one door; this was now thrown open, when +what looked to me like a huge skeleton appeared at the entrance, and +waved its bony arms wildly about, beckoning the people to enter. They +started to their feet, for they had hitherto been squatting round, and +rushed eagerly to the door. Rob and I followed, when we discovered that +the seeming skeleton was the Obeah man, Cudjoe, who had thus painted his +black body from head to foot. The hut was lighted by some twenty small +lamps, hung from the roof, and in the centre was a figure intended to +represent a human being, with an enormous cock's head. Master Cudjoe, +if he was the artist, had contrived to produce as hideous-looking a +monster as could well be imagined. `That's the fetish,' whispered Rob; +`they worship it as if it were a god.' + +"Cudjoe, on seeing us, asked in an angry tone what we wanted, and Rob +spoke to him as he had done to the other people. `Den you keep quiet, +buccra,' he said, turning to me; `I no hab laffee or talkee.' I assured +him that I would remain as still as a mouse; and with a growl he retired +again inside the hut, where he seated himself in front of a huge +tom-tom, the African drum, and began slowly to beat it, chanting at the +same time one of his native songs, I concluded. Gradually he beat +faster and faster, accompanying the music, if such it could be called, +with his voice. The spectators sat listening in rapt attention, when +suddenly one of the women started up and began dancing, keeping capital +time to the music. The faster Cudjoe played the faster she danced, till +every limb and muscle seemed in movement. Round and round she went in +front of the hideous fetish: no dervish of the East could have danced +more furiously. Presently she was joined by a man, who danced in the +same manner round and round her. One after the other, the whole of the +women, with partners, took a part in the performance; I could scarcely +follow their dark figures, except by the ornaments they wore, as they +moved in eccentric courses within the hut, the tom-tom beating louder +and louder, and the people moving faster. The spectators had hitherto +sat quiet; they at length rose, and were, I saw, apparently about to +join in the saturnalia. Just then Rob touched me on the arm and +whispered, `Come away, sir; I heard something which told me it will not +be safe to remain here longer.' As I had no wish to be offered up as a +sacrifice to the fetish I followed his advice, and as fast as we could +move along we made our way back to the open. On inquiring of Rob what +he had heard, he told me that the negroes were cursing the white men, +and were praying to the fetish to assist them in some design or other +they had on foot. Rob even thought that in their excitement they might +seize us and put us to death. He was so earnest in the matter that he +convinced me he did not speak without sufficient cause. I don't wish to +alarm you, Miss Ferris, but I want you to try and induce your father to +take precautions against any sudden outbreak of the blacks. Our manager +holds them in such supreme contempt that he wouldn't listen to what I +have to say, and would only laugh at me and call me a second-sight +Scotchman. Even the hundred negroes I saw assembled might commit a +great deal of mischief; and there may be many hundreds more united with +them: numbers arrived while we were there, and others were coming in as +we made our escape." + +"I certainly think you are right, Mr Sandys, in not despising the +warning given by the overseer," said Ellen. "I will tell my father what +you have said to me, and ask him to speak to you on the subject, and he +will probably examine Rob Kerlie. It will surely be wise to be on our +guard, even should the negroes not really be meditating mischief. I +confess that what you have told me has made me somewhat anxious; this +hot evening is not calculated to rise one's spirits. Tell me, Mr +Sandys, is the air often as oppressive as it is at present?" + +"No, certainly. It is very hot indeed; I suspect that we are going to +have a storm," answered Archie. "I observed this morning curiously +shaped clouds high up in the sky, which suddenly dispersed from every +point of the compass. I have been for some minutes, watching a bank of +clouds rising above the horizon in the north-west, and it has gained a +considerable height since we were speaking; it seems to have swept round +the western end of the island." + +Ellen looked in the direction indicated; just then a vivid flash of +lightning burst from the dark bank of clouds in the west, followed +almost without interval by several others, and in a few minutes the tops +of the tall palms bent before a sudden blast which came rushing from the +westward. Every instant it increased in fury; the leaves torn from the +trees filled the air, succeeded by branches, many of considerable size. + +"I must advise you, Miss Ferris, to take shelter within the house," said +Archie, "for one of those branches might injure you severely. Even the +verandah itself may be blown away. You have little conception of the +power of a West Indian hurricane." + +As Ellen was hurrying into the house she met her father coming to look +for her. + +"I am afraid we are going to have a violent storm, of which this wind is +only the precursor," he said. "We must seek for safety in the strongest +part of the house; it will not be safe to remain in the open air, or +even near the window, through which a branch or any other object may be +blown." + +Ellen had accompanied her father to the dining-hall, which, being in the +centre of the house, was less exposed to danger than any other part of +the building. So loudly did the wind roar that even there it was +necessary to speak in a high tone to be heard. + +"Oh, what will become of the _Ouzel Galley_ if she is caught in this +fearful gale!" exclaimed Ellen. + +"She has by this time, I hope, gained a good offing; if the wind holds +as it now does, she will be able to run before it till she is out of +danger," answered Mr Ferris. + +As the evening was now drawing rapidly on, the manager and book-keepers +came in from the works in the different parts of the estate. They all +looked somewhat anxious, though no damage had yet been done, and a hope +was entertained that it was not going to be anything serious after all. +Their spirits revived when suddenly the wind ceased and the atmosphere +became as clear as usual. Two or three of them had, however, again to +go out; and on their return they reported that the sky was once more +overcast, and that it was lightening in all quarters. Presently the +rain came down in true tropical fashion, again to stop and again to go +on with greater energy than before. Sometimes it was perfectly calm, +but the lightning continued darting forth from the sky with awful +grandeur; sometimes the whole upper regions of the air were illuminated +by incessant flashes, but the quivering sheet of blazing fire was far +surpassed in brilliancy by the electric fluid which was exploding in +every direction. Ellen and her father and young Sandys were standing as +near one of the windows as they could venture, when they saw a meteor of +deep red hue and globular form descending perpendicularly from an +enormous height. As it approached the earth its motion appeared to be +accelerated, and it then became of dazzling whiteness, elongating in +form till, dashing on the ground, it splashed around like molten lead or +quicksilver and disappeared. The next instant the hurricane again burst +forth, rushing amid the trees with the sound of a heartrending and +piercing scream, so loud as entirely to drown the human voice. The +whole building shook and trembled as if an earthquake was taking place +and it was about to be hurled to the ground. Mr Ferris, seizing +Ellen's arm, dragged her into a doorway. + +"Should the house not withstand this furious blast, we shall be safer +here than anywhere else," he said. + +Young Sandys followed them. Mr Twigg, with his wife and children, was +at the time in another room. Ellen naturally felt anxious for her +friends, and young Sandys offered to go and ascertain how they were +getting on. He quickly returned with the report that they were all +safe, and that the children were clinging round their parents, overcome +with terror, and shrieking piteously. No thunder was at any time heard, +and all agreed that even if the whole battery of a line-of-battle ship +had been going off, the sound would not have been distinguished above +the horrible roar and yelling of the wind and the noise of the ocean, as +its tumultuous waves dashed on the shore, threatening every instant to +sweep over the land and engulf all within their reach. The wind +continually shifted, now blowing from one quarter, now from another. +Suddenly the deafening noise sank into a solemn murmur, and the +lightning, which had hitherto played in flashes and forked darts, +hovered for a few seconds between the clouds and the earth, circling +round and round, causing the whole heavens to appear on fire, when a +similar luminous appearance seemed to burst from the ground, and, +rising, the mass rushed upwards to the sky. After a short interval, +again was felt the breath of the whirlwind with even greater fury than +before, and it seemed as if everything on the face of the earth would be +swept away into the boiling ocean. Again the earth was shaken, and the +house vibrated with a violence which threatened its instant destruction. +Mr Ferris kept a firm hold of his daughter's arm, and she, in a way +which surprised him as well as herself, maintained her composure during +the whole of this fearful strife of the elements. Not till daylight +returned did the fury of the tempest altogether cease; sometimes it +abated, again to burst forth with almost the same power as before. The +house itself, having been strongly built and the roof fixed on with the +greatest care, withstood the hurricane, a portion only at one end having +been blown off; but the out-buildings were materially damaged. Mr +Ferris and his managers waited anxiously to hear a report of the damage +which had been done to the estate. Round the house many trees had been +torn from their roots, others snapped short off, and all had more or +less suffered. The ocean still continued to rage with unabated fury, +even after the wind itself had ceased Ellen naturally looked along the +horizon, but not a sail was in sight, and again and again she asked what +could have become of the _Ouzel Galley_. Her affection for Norah made +her feel as if she was herself personally interested in the fate of the +brave young commander, as much as Mr Ferris was in reality in that of +the ship. He could no longer conceal his anxiety about the _Ouzel +Galley_. How she had fared was the subject of earnest discussion +between him and Mr Twigg. The latter thought it just possible that she +might have got beyond the influence of the hurricane before it burst +with its full fury; and if not, might have weathered it out, as many a +stout ship with plenty of sea room had weathered similar hurricanes +before. He acknowledged, however, that she might have been caught by +it, and if so, while the wind blew from the northward, might have been +driven on shore. The latter point would in time be ascertained, and as +soon as possible a messenger was despatched along the coast, who, though +he reported several shipwrecks, had ascertained that the _Ouzel Galley_ +was not among them. + +"She was well found and not overladen, and as well able to keep afloat, +even in such a sea as we saw running, as any ship which ever sailed the +ocean," observed Mr Ferris. "We shall hear, I trust, in due course of +her arrival." + +Dreadful as the hurricane had appeared, the damage done was not as great +as might have been expected. It was the opinion of many that only the +tail of the hurricane had passed over the island. It was bad enough as +it was. In some places the country appeared as if scorched by fire, in +others the crops were totally destroyed; numerous buildings were +levelled with the ground, and the trees and shrubs uprooted; a number of +people had been killed, and many more seriously injured, by being struck +by shingles from the roofs or branches from the trees, and by other hard +substances which went hurtling like cannon-shot through the air. So +rapid, however, is vegetation in the tropics that nature herself would +repair much of the damage produced, and the industry of man the +remainder--although the proprietors had to suffer severely in their +pockets, while there was no power to restore to life the unhappy beings +who had been killed. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH AT HOME--A LETTER FROM GERALD--HIS ADVENTURES--A +CRUISE OFF HISPANIOLA--ENGAGEMENT WITH A FRENCH SQUADRON--THE ENEMY PUT +TO FLIGHT--DEATH OF A YOUNG MIDSHIPMAN--RETURN TO PORT ROYAL--A SECOND +CRUISE, AND CAPTURE OF SEVERAL RICH MERCHANTMEN--GERALD IN COMMAND OF +THE FLORA--HIS STEWARD PETER--MORE TIDINGS OF THE PIRATES--THE CHAMPION +SENT WITH DESPATCHES TO THE LEEWARD ISLANDS--JOINS THE BUCKINGHAM IN +ATTACKING A FORT AT MARTINICO--GENEROUS CONDUCT OF CAPTAIN TYRRELL-- +PETER'S NARRATIVE--HIS CAPTURE BY PIRATES, AND ESCAPE. + +Norah and her father had for many months been living an uneventful life +in their pretty little cottage near Waterford. She was his constant +companion; indeed, she never ventured out without him. Things had come +to a pretty pass, as he observed, when a young lady couldn't take a walk +by herself without the risk of being carried off by a party of +filibustering squireens, quite as bad in their way as the picarooning +rascals in the West Indies and on the Spanish Main, who had often in +days of yore given him so much anxiety--not that they ever had caught +him, for he was too much on his guard, though he had been chased +well-nigh a score of times; and he intended to be on his guard now, and, +as he hoped, with the same success. + +This state of things, therefore, did not much concern him, as he was +glad of Norah's society, and was always as ready to walk with her as she +was with him. Their walks, indeed, seldom extended much beyond +Waterford, or the often-trod road to Widow Massey's house. Norah never +passed many days without paying her a visit. They were now looking +forward to receiving news of Owen, or indeed, as they hoped, seeing him +himself, as the _Ouzel Galley_, unless detained longer than was +expected, would some time since have commenced her homeward voyage. A +letter had come from Gerald saying that he had just seen her on her way +round to Montego Bay, and giving an account of himself and what he had +seen and done up to that time. He promised to write a longer letter +when he had more to say. A couple of months or more after the arrival +of Gerald's first letter another was received from him. + +"Dear sister Norah," it ran, "I promised to spin you a long yarn, so +here goes, and I hope that you'll get it some day. I told you in my +last that I had seen the _Ouzel Galley_ under way from Montego Bay, and +I suppose Owen has long before this delivered all the messages I sent by +him; and if not, I dare say he will before long, if he hasn't forgotten +them. No matter; they were not very important, so you needn't scold him +for his negligence. + +"I forget if I told you that, while our ship was undergoing repairs in +dock at Port Royal, Lieutenant Foley, Molly--I mean Lord Mountstephen-- +with Nat Kiddle and me, and about twenty of our hands, were turned over +to the _Augusta_, 60-gun ship, commanded by Captain Forrest; and +immediately afterwards were ordered to proceed to sea, accompanied by +two other ships under his orders, the _Edinburgh_, of sixty-four guns, +Captain Langdon, and the _Dreadnought_, of sixty guns, Captain Morris +Suckling. We soon found that we were to cruise off Cape Francois, on +the north coast of Saint Domingo, to watch a French squadron under +Commodore De Kearsaint, who was collecting a large number of merchantmen +which he was to convoy from that port to Europe. The admiral had been +informed that the French had only three line-of-battle ships, which, +although somewhat larger than we were, he knew very well that we should +thrash if we could come up with them. We gained intelligence, however, +from a French despatch vessel which we captured, that the enemy's +squadron had lately been increased by four other ships, one of which, +by-the-by, was a ship of ours--the _Greenwich_--of fifty guns, captured +a few months ago, when commanded by Captain Roddam, off this very +island. He had nothing to be ashamed of, for with his single ship he +bravely faced five sail of the line and several frigates, and wasn't +taken till he had lost all chance of escaping except by going to the +bottom. Thus, you see, the French had seven ships to our three, and we +heard besides that they had been strongly manned by volunteers from the +garrison and merchant vessels, and made sure that they should either +drive us away or capture us. + +"Notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy, we were not to be put to +flight, but kept our ground as if no Frenchmen were in the +neighbourhood. We had been for some days cruising off the cape, always +near enough to keep the port in sight, so that no vessel could steal out +without our knowing it, when early in the morning the _Dreadnought_, +which was inshore of us, made the signal that the enemy was in sight, +and before noon we could see the whole French squadron standing out in +line towards us, the wind being about north-east--if you get the chart, +father will explain matters to you. We were to windward of them, +keeping close together, though not so close as the Frenchmen, who seemed +very anxious to be backing up each other. Our captain now made the +signal for the other two captains to come on board the _Augusta_. As +soon as they stepped on the quarter-deck, Captain Forrest, after shaking +hands, said, `Well, gentlemen, you see the Frenchmen are come out to +engage us.' On which Captain Suckling quickly replied, `I think it +would be a pity to disappoint them.' `And what do you say?' asked our +captain, turning to Captain Langdon. `I heartily agree with Captain +Suckling,' was the answer. `If we disable them, we shall do good +service by preventing them from convoying the merchant vessels, and +maybe we shall take one or two of them. Of one thing I feel very sure, +that they won't take us.' + +"The three captains being agreed, the other two went back to their +ships, and we hoisted the signal to make all sail and to close the +enemy. The _Dreadnought_ led in our line; the _Intrepide_, the French +commodore's ship, led in that of the enemy, followed by the _Greenwich_. +The wind was light, and it seemed to me that we should never get into +action. Though I've seen a good deal of fighting on a small scale, yet +this affair was likely to prove more serious than any I had yet engaged +in. I was stationed on the main-deck, and the scene was very different +to what I had been accustomed to on board the _Champion_ where we've no +deck above us and can see everything that is going forward. Here, it +was only by looking through a port that I could get a glimpse of the +enemy's ships, as they stood on in a long line, one closely following +the other--so closely, indeed, that the leading ship had the jibboom end +of the one next her in line almost over her taffrail. Molly, Kiddle, +and I had charge of the guns manned by the _Champion's_ people. We +reminded them that they must show what they were made of, and maintain +the honour of the little ship; they one and all answered that they +would; and they looked as if they intended to keep to their word, as +they stood with their shirts off, handkerchiefs bound round their heads, +and belts round their waists, ready to fire as soon as the order should +be given. In a line behind where we stood were the powder-boys seated +on their tubs, cracking jokes, and seeming altogether to forget that we +should have, in a few minutes, showers of round shot rattling about our +ears. Though we used to call Mountstephen Molly, he didn't look a bit +like a Molly now, for he walked the deck as calm and composed as if +nothing particular was going to happen. I asked him what o'clock it +was. He said, `Twenty minutes past three.' Just then the _Dreadnought_ +opened her fire on the French commodore; and didn't Captain Suckling +pound him--knocking away in a few minutes several of his spars, and so +wounding his rigging that he fell on board the _Greenwich_, which, as I +said, was close astern of him. As the _Dreadnought_ stood on, we got +up, and the word to fire was passed along our decks; and you may be sure +we quickly obeyed it, blazing away at the two French ships already foul +of each other, when they drove down upon the third astern, and there all +three lay, unable to get clear one of the other. + +"The French had a 64 and a 44 gun ship, besides two 32-gun frigates, +which were able to manoeuvre, and these, as you may suppose, did not +remain quiet while the _Augusta_ and _Edinburgh_ were blazing away at +the three ships, which still lay jammed together. It made the fight, +however, more equal than it would otherwise have been. Their shot came +on board us pretty thickly, and not a few of our men were struck down. +Among them was our first lieutenant, who raised his hand for a moment, +and then fell back, dead. Soon afterwards I saw poor Mountstephen fall; +I ran to help him, when I found that one of his legs had been shot away +and the other fearfully injured. I ordered a couple of men to carry him +below; I should have liked to go with him, poor fellow, but I couldn't +leave the deck. I had returned to my station, when I found myself +suddenly splashed all over with what I thought was water, though it was +rather warm. + +"`What, Paddy Tracy, are you wounded?' I heard Nat Kiddle sing out. + +"`Not that I know of,' I answered; `I don't feel like it.' Then I saw +what had happened--a man standing close to me had been cut right in two +by a round shot, which came through the port, wounding a couple of men +besides. + +"Much as the enemy were knocked about, we were already in a pretty bad +condition, having all our masts, sails, rigging, and boats considerably +damaged, eight or ten men killed, and nearly thirty wounded. If it +hadn't been for the four ships of the enemy still able to manoeuvre, we +should have taken or sunk the other three, for they couldn't manage to +get free of each other, while they could only now and then fire a few +shot at us. At length, to our infinite satisfaction, we saw the masts +of the 64 engaged with the _Dreadnought_ go over the side, while all the +line-of-battle ships were evidently tremendously knocked about both in +hull and rigging. We had been engaged for upwards of two hours, when +the French commodore made a signal to one of the frigates, which, coming +up, took him in tow and carried him out of action; and his example was +followed by the whole of the French squadron, which made sail for Cape +Francois, then to leeward of them. + +"The _Edinburgh_ had been as much damaged in her masts, yards, and sails +as we were, and Captain Langdon signalled that she had also several shot +in her hull. The _Dreadnought_, we saw, had lost her main and mizen +topmasts, while nearly all her other masts and yards were greatly +injured, and she also had received many shot in her hull, besides having +lost as many men as we had. This made Captain Forrest refrain from +following the Frenchmen. + +"I was very glad to find Mr Foley all right, for his own sake, for I +like him very much--and still more for that of Miss Ferris, for it would +be a terrible thing for her were he to be killed, and I hope he won't, +though we all run the risk of losing the number of our mess. As soon as +I could leave my station I ran down below to see how poor Mountstephen +was getting on. He was perfectly sensible, though pale as a sheet. He +said he felt no pain. His first question was, `What are the enemy +about?' + +"`They're running,' I replied. + +"`What, all seven of them?' he asked. + +"`Yes, every one,' I answered. + +"`Hurrah!' he exclaimed, waving his hand above his head, `we've gained +the victory.' + +"Scarcely were the words out of his mouth than he fell back, and before +the doctor could come to him he was dead. + +"When I got on deck again--and I can tell you I was very glad to breathe +some fresh air, after being down in that dreadful cockpit, full of poor +fellows groaning with pain, some having their legs and arms cut off, +others with their sides torn open or heads fearfully smashed--I found +that the enemy were out of our reach, and that not one of our three +ships was in a condition to follow them. This was very provoking, +though we had fought a right gallant action, of that there can be no +doubt. Captain Forrest seeing that, if we got to leeward, we should be +unable to beat off, and very likely be driven on shore and lost, ordered +a course to be steered for Jamaica, where we arrived in a couple of +days. The admiral highly approved of what had been done, and Captain +Forrest received orders to get his ship repaired with all despatch and +return as soon as possible in search of the enemy. The hands were taken +off our sloop for this purpose, and there seemed every probability of +our remaining some time longer on board the _Augusta_. Still, things +are not done so quickly out here as they are in the dockyards at home. +At last we got to sea and sailed for Cape Francois. On looking into +that port we found that the Frenchmen had put their best legs foremost, +and that Monsieur De Kearsaint, having repaired his ships, had some days +before sailed with the convoy for Europe, and we should have no chance +of overtaking him. We had accordingly to come back, when we again +sailed with the admiral, whose flag was flying on board the +_Marlborough_, for a cruise off Cape Tiberon. I should make my letter +too long if I were to describe all that took place. We had not been +many days on the station before we captured two French privateers, and +from their crows learned that a rich convoy was preparing at Port au +Prince to sail for Europe, under the protection of two large armed +private ships. The admiral on this sent in his tender to ascertain if +such was the fact. Her commander, who speaks French, managed to gain +all the intelligence he required; he soon returned, having ascertained +that the information received was correct. The admiral accordingly +directed us to proceed off the island of Golave, to cruise there for two +days, and, should we see anything of the convoy at the expiration of +that time, to return and join him. Golave, you will understand, is in +the middle of the large bay which occupies nearly the whole western +coast of Saint Domingo, to the northward of Cape Tiberon. + +"The afternoon of the day following our arrival, we had got well up into +the bay, when we caught sight of two sloops. To prevent them from +taking us for what we were, we hoisted Dutch colours and stood away from +them. In the evening we sighted seven more sail steering out of the +bay. On this, to deceive the enemy, we hung tarpaulins over the sides +of the ship, set the sails in lubberly fashion, and, hauling our wind, +stood away from the strangers till dark. We then again made sail and +followed them. At ten o'clock we saw two more sail, one of which fired +a gun, and the other then parted company and steered for Leogane. Soon +afterwards eight more sail were seen to leeward. We had not lost sight +of the ship which had fired a gun; though she might have suspected our +character, she did not stand away from us. We accordingly soon ran up +alongside, when Captain Forrest shouted out to him in French to strike, +adding, `If you alarm the other ships, or let them discover by any means +what we are, we'll send you forthwith to the bottom.' + +"The French commander, fully believing that our captain would put his +threat into execution, immediately gave in; and one of our lieutenants, +with thirty-five men, went on board the prize with orders to proceed off +Petit Guave, a small port to leeward, to prevent any of the other +vessels from escaping into it. The vessel we had captured was the +_Mars_, of twenty-two guns and 108 men, all of whom we had now aboard +us, stowed away below lest they should be making signals to the enemy. +We stood on during the remainder of the night, and at daylight found +ourselves in the midst of the convoy, which, on our hoisting our colours +and showing what we were about, began firing at us; but we quickly +silenced them one after the other, and in the course of a few minutes +the whole struck, one small vessel alone managing to get away. There +were altogether eight vessels, richly laden, each carrying from eight to +ten guns. We had to take out their crews and man them from our ship. +The captain, sending for me, greatly to my satisfaction, ordered me to +take charge of one of them, called the _Flora_. Tumbling into one of +the boats with ten hands, I quickly pulled aboard, and found that she +carried twelve guns and a crew of thirty-five men. The Frenchmen looked +very glum when I told them that they were to get into the boat and go +aboard our ship. I kept one of them, a black, Pierre by name, who spoke +English and had been the captain's steward. The first service he did me +was to act as interpreter, and as he knew where everything was stowed, I +thought he would be useful in other respects. Through him I made a +polite speech to the captain, and told him that I was sorry to turn him +out of his ship, but that I was obeying orders. He shrugged his +shoulders, observing that it was the fortune of war, when, bowing, he +followed his men over the side. I wasn't sorry to get rid of the +Frenchmen, for it would have been a hard matter to keep them in order +and navigate the ship with the few hands I had. + +"As soon as we had transferred the prisoners, the prizes were ordered to +make sail, and together we stood out of the bay. A very pretty sight we +presented as we ran on under all sail, keeping, according to orders, +close to the _Augusta_. Our prizes were richly laden, and the admiral, +as may be supposed, was highly pleased when we sighted him off Cape +Tiberon and Captain Forrest told him what we had done, as his share of +the prize would be something considerable. Mine, as a midshipman, would +be a couple of hundred pounds; Mr Foley, as a lieutenant, will get two +or three thousand; so you may fancy what the shares of the captain and +admiral will be. + +"Pierre was, I found, an excellent cook as well as steward. I now +called him Peter, by-the-by, at his own request, for as he observed, +`Now, massa, I come among Englishmen I take English name, please;' and +so Peter he is now always called. He was especially fond of keeping his +tongue wagging; he seemed not at all sorry to have changed masters, and +to have got on board a man-of-war instead of a merchantman. He said +that on their voyage out, when coming through the Windward Passage, the +_Flora_ and another vessel, the _Cerf_, of smaller size, carrying only +eight guns, had been attacked by a piratical craft. They fought for +some time, when the _Flora_ made off, leaving the _Cerf_ to her fate-- +that the pirates boarded her, and that he had seen her go down--that the +pirate ship then made chase after the _Flora_, but by carrying all sail, +and night coming on, she escaped. By Peter's account, I suspect that +she must be the same craft which attacked the _Ouzel Galley_. Peter +says she has a crew of a hundred men and carries twenty guns. She is +known to have captured several merchantmen; some she sends to the +bottom, and others she takes into one of the numerous keys among the +Bahamas, where they are hidden away as securely as they would be among +the unknown islands of the Pacific or Indian Ocean. From various things +which Peter said, I had an idea that he knew more about the pirate than +he had hitherto communicated, and I determined, when I had more +completely gained his confidence, to try and obtain all the information +he possessed. + +"The weather continued fine, and our little squadron making good way, we +were all soon safely at anchor in Port Royal harbour. It was a jovial +sight, let me tell you, as we sailed in with English colours above the +French on board the prizes, the guns firing, the flags flying, and the +people on shore cheering. We at once carried the prizes up to Kingston, +where they were quickly sold for good round sums, for they were all +richly laden. As soon as I get my prize-money, I intend to send it home +to father. Tell him to do as he thinks best with it; I don't want to +spend it here, as many of our men probably will before long. The +Jamaica people seldom get so good a haul as this, though prizes are +being brought in almost every week. Where the money all goes to, I +don't know; it makes somebody rich, I suppose. + +"I was disappointed at not seeing Mr and Miss Ferris, and so, I have no +doubt, was Mr Foley, for we thought that they would be back here by +this time; but they are still away on the other side of the island. I +don't think I told you that there had been a hurricane here, while we +were cruising off Cape Francois, before our action with the Frenchmen. +It was not felt very severely at this end of the island, as they only +got the whisk of its tail; but at the west end it did a great deal of +damage, and a number of people were killed and wounded, though I am +happy to say that our friends escaped any injury. The _Ouzel Galley_, I +understand, had sailed, and, I hope, had got well to the eastward before +it came on. I dare say that Owen Massey will have told you all about it +long before you get this. The worst news I have to give you is +respecting the slaves, who are in a very rebellious state. It is +rumoured that in one or two places they have attacked the whites' houses +and killed several people; but this is not believed, and it is said that +they know too well what a fearful punishment would overtake them were +they to do anything of the sort. + +"To return to my own proceedings. As soon as I had handed the _Flora_ +over to the prize agent, I had to turn again into a midshipman and to go +on board our own tight little sloop, which had just come out of dock and +was now all ataunto, ready for sea. I got leave to take Peter with me, +as he wished to enter on board a British ship of war; he was at once +appointed midshipmen's steward, and a better one we never had. + +"Mr Foley was hoping that we should be sent to cruise off the north +coast of the island, but instead of that we were ordered to carry +despatches to Commodore Moore, who commands on the Leeward Islands +station. Having delivered them, we were on our way back, when we fell +in with the _Buckingham_, Captain Tyrrell. While in company with her we +captured a French merchantman, and her crew being brought on board our +ship, Peter heard from some of them that four privateers had run in for +shelter under a strong battery in Grand Anar Bay, on the island of +Martinico. He having told me, I at once gave information to our +commander, who forthwith went on board the _Buckingham_ to communicate +it to Captain Tyrrell, and he at once resolved to stand in and destroy +the privateers and the fort. Our prisoners, who had no idea that what +they had been talking about had been understood, were very much +astonished at seeing us suddenly alter our course and steer in for the +bay. There, sure enough, were the four privateers with springs on their +cables, and their guns run out, anchored under a strong-looking fort, +mounting ten guns at least. The _Buckingham_ ran in as close as she +could venture, when she dropped her anchor, and we brought up under her +stern and immediately began blazing away at the vessels, which, as well +as the fort, opened fire on us. Though the privateers each mounted not +less than twenty guns, they could not long stand the _Buckingham's_ +heavy shot; indeed, had we been alone we should have taken them. Still, +thinking that the fort would drive us away, they held out longer than we +had expected. Though we were struck several times, and a good many +round shot passed between our masts, not a man on board was hit. We +were wondering when they would give in, when, as a puff of air cleared +the smoke off for a few seconds, we observed that one of them had a list +to starboard. Her next broadside again concealed her from view, and in +a couple of minutes, when the wind again blew away the smoke, all we +could see were her masts as she slowly went to the bottom. I was +expecting that the rest would share the same fate; one of them was to +meet with a more terrible disaster--almost the next instant a thundering +sound was heard, flames burst out of her deck, her masts shot upwards +like sky-rockets, and the whole air seemed filled with fragments of +wreck, which came hissing down into the water, several portions, +whizzing through the air, reaching almost to where we lay. The other +two, seeing the hopelessness of further resistance, after firing their +broadsides, hauled down their colours. On this the _Buckingham_ made a +signal to us to take possession of the two vessels. `Out boats!' was +the order; and in another minute three of our boats, I having charge of +one of them, were dashing through the calm water, while the _Buckingham_ +continued engaging the fort, which still held out. Two or three of its +guns, however, had been disabled, and its fire began to slacken. We +pulled away as fast as the crews could lay their backs to the oars, +fearing that the Frenchmen would set fire to the ships and deprive us of +our prizes. Their boats were already in the water, and the men were +tumbling into them, evidently in a hurry to make their escape. `Look +out, lads; that the rascals play no tricks, and lose no time in seeing +that all's safe below!' sang out Mr Foley, as he dashed by in the gig +towards the northernmost of the vessels. I was making for the one to +the southward, the farthest from the fort. We were soon up to her, and +as we scrambled up on one side we saw several of her crew toppling over +on the other. Just then I caught sight of a man coming up the +companion-hatchway; it struck me that he had been about some mischief, +and leaping on him, I tumbled him down to the foot of the ladder. He +had a slow-match in his hand, which, hissing and spluttering, set his +clothes on fire. + +"`What have you been about, you rascal?' I exclaimed, though I don't +suppose he understood the question. He pointed to the door of a cabin +from which smoke was issuing. I burst it open, and found a match +lighted, leading to a suspicious-looking cask in the corner. I, as you +may suppose, pulled it out in pretty quick time; and, throwing it into +the middle of the main cabin, sang out for buckets of water. A couple +were quickly handed down, and the fire was extinguished. In another +moment, however, we should all have been blown into the air. The +Frenchman, who proved to be the mate of the vessel, was severely burnt, +but little compassion was felt for him. We secured him, and two other +men, who were caught by the legs as they were leaping overboard. + +"Our men had begun to fire at the boats which had shoved off, but I +ordered them to desist, as the Frenchmen had hauled down their flag, and +were perfectly right in trying to make their escape. + +"As soon as the garrison of the fort saw that we had possession of the +vessels, they opened fire at us with one of their guns. On this, Mr +Foley ordered me to cut the cable of my prize, and make sail out of +harm's way, as the wind was sufficiently off shore to enable us to do +so. He at the same time, I saw, was setting the canvas of the ship he +had taken. + +"The _Buckingham_ and _Champion_ having now only the fort to attend to, +poured in so hot a fire on it that the gun which was annoying us was +dismounted before we had been under way more than four or five minutes. +So we again brought up and turned our guns at the fort, which was +gradually crumbling away before the iron shower thrown into it. As the +Frenchmen still kept up a hot fire from four or five guns, which +considerably annoyed the _Buckingham_, Captain Tyrrell ordered the boats +away to storm the fort and put an end to the conflict. I immediately +jumped into my boat, leaving the prize at anchor to take care of +herself, and joined the others, which were pulling to the shore on that +side of the fort where the chief breach had been effected, and where +none of the remaining guns could reach us and out of range of +musket-shot. Captain Tyrrell himself, I found, was heading the party. +We mustered altogether upwards of a hundred and fifty men, about forty +of whom belonged to our ship, with Mr Foley and other officers. The +marines quickly formed, flanked by our blue jackets, armed with muskets, +cutlasses, and pistols. The instant the last man leaped on shore, the +order to advance was given, and up the hill we went at double quick +march, in spite of a shower of musket balls which came whizzing about +our ears. The Frenchmen endeavoured to slew round some of their guns to +fire down on us, but before the muzzles were run through the embrasures, +we were climbing over the parapet in a somewhat helter-skelter fashion, +and, headed by the gallant captain of the _Buckingham_, leaping down +into the fort. So rapid had been our advance that the soldiers had no +time to reload their pieces, and as our cutlasses flashed in their +faces, they hurled them at us and took to flight, endeavouring to make +their way out at a gate on the land side, where, in their hurry, they +got jammed together and stopped by part of the crews of the two +privateers, who were coming in to their assistance. Fortunately for +them, their commandant, after exchanging a few passes with Captain +Tyrrell, had been disarmed and made prisoner; and he, seeing that if +followed by our men they would be cut to pieces, shouted out to them to +come back and submit as he had done. Still they pushed on, and in their +struggles to get out, toppled over each other till a dozen or more lay +sprawling on the ground. They would there have been destroyed had not +Captain Tyrrell humanely called off his people. Of the whole of our +party, not a man had been killed, and a few only were wounded. The fort +exhibited a woeful picture of ruin--nearly a score of men lay dead close +to the guns, while we saw other corpses scattered about in different +parts of the fort. The buildings which served as habitations for the +garrison were shattered to pieces, the embrasures knocked into one, the +guns dismounted and their carriages broken, the flagstaff shot in two-- +indeed, it seemed a wonder that the Frenchmen could have held out so +long. + +"We could see from the ramparts a good-sized town on the banks of a +river, some way from the shore, sheltered by groves of palms and other +trees--a very attractive, pleasant-looking place. Finding themselves +masters of the fort, our men gave three cheers; then the cry arose that +they should go down and attack the town and pillage it. When the +captain heard this, he shouted out to the men, `My fine fellows, I hear +what you say, and I hope you will not longer think of doing that same. +You will agree that it is beneath us to make a number of poor people +miserable by destroying their houses and such comforts of life as they +possess. Remember, you are Englishmen, and should scorn to injure +people who, though they are called our enemies, have not lifted even a +finger against us. Let them remain in quiet; they will bless you, and +wish you well.' + +"This considerate speech had a good effect. The men cheered, and said +they had no wish to hurt the mounseers. The captain, allowing the +commandant to follow his people, who had made their escape, then set us +to work to demolish the fort. The guns which appeared serviceable were +spiked, and then rolled down the hill into the sea, and mines were dug +in different parts of the fort, in which all the powder we found in the +magazine was stowed. A train was then laid to each mine, and we were +ordered to march down to the boats. Captain Tyrrell, who had +superintended all the operations himself, was the last to leave; he +lighted the train, and then followed us. We hadn't got many yards from +the beach when a loud report was heard, and up went a part of the fort, +quickly followed by the other portions, like the joints in a cracker; +and when the smoke and dust cleared off, the whole spot where the fort +had stood was a heap of ruins. It would take the Frenchmen a good many +weeks to repair the damage, if they should ever think it worth while to +make the attempt. + +"The wind was so light that we were unable to get out of the bay; in the +evening we saw a boat coming off to us with a flag of truce. She +contained two of the principal inhabitants of the town, who brought with +them a cargo of fowls, and vegetables, and fruit, which they begged the +captain to accept as a mark of their gratitude for his having spared +their town. They added that another would shortly follow for the +corvette. Captain Tyrrell made a suitable speech, accepting their +present. The other boats soon arrived with the promised supply for us, +and as we took leave in the most friendly manner of the people who +brought it, no one would have supposed the sort of work we had been +engaged in during the morning. + +"A land breeze enabled us to get to sea that evening, when soon +afterwards we parted company with the _Buckingham_, we shaping a course +back to Jamaica. We were all very jolly on board, for we had plenty of +provisions, and had unexpectedly come in for a nice little lump of +prize-money. + +"I must tell you that Peter had become a great favourite on board, and +of this he himself seemed well aware, though he wisely never presumed on +it. I had, as I told you, been curious to find out how he was so well +acquainted with the haunts of the pirates. At last, one day, I asked +him, when I happened to be alone in the berth and he had come to get +something out of a locker. + +"`Me tell you, Massa Tracy, for me now know berry well you my friend,' +he answered. + +"`You're right, Peter,' I replied, `and you may be sure that from +nothing you say will you criminate yourself.' + +"`Me only tell de truth on de honour of gentleman;' and Peter put his +hand on his heart as he had seen the Frenchmen do. + +"`Heave ahead, Peter,' I said, `or your yarn may be out short.' + +"`Berry well, Massa Tracy,' said Peter. `It happen dis way. I was +'board a French ship, _Les deux Amis_, bound from Bordeaux to Port au +Prince, when just as we 'bout twenty league to de eastward ob San +Domingo, keeping a look-out dat no English cruiser pick us up, we see +one evening, just as de sun go down, a big ship from de nor'ard standing +for us. De cappen say she French--de mate say she Spanish--some ob de +men say she Dutch--oders strife she English--I not know what to tink. +De cappen say, "Best make all sail and stand 'way." So we did; but de +bell just strike two in de fust watch, when we see her ranging up +alongside. Den de cappen order de guns to be fired; but before de +matches lighted, de stranger she aboard us. In a few minutes forty +savage-looking fellows came springing on to our deck, pistolling some +and cutting down oders of de crew. I see at once what going to happen-- +if I stay on board de brig, I be killed wid de rest--so I make a leap +and gain de fore-rigging ob de stranger. Running for'ard, I leap down +de hatchway and stow myself away in a berth. Eben dere I hear de +dreadful cries and shrieks ob de crew as dey put to death by de +pirates--for such I guess be de gentry into hands whose we hab fallen. +I know by de sounds I hear as I lie quaking in de berth dat dey were +removing de cargo ob de prize on board dere own ship. It was nearly +daylight before dey hab taken out all de cargo dey wish to secure; den +dey cast off, and directly afterwards I hear several shot fired. I know +dat sooner or later I must show myself, as de watch who hab been working +all night would be coming below to turn in; so I creep on deck, and make +my way aft to where a man I tink must be de cappen was standing. No one +stop me, for dey all too busy or too sleepy to notice me. I take off my +hat and make him a polite bow, and ask in English if he want a +cabin-steward, as I ready to serve him. "And if you like sea-pie, +cappen, I cook one such as nobody can beat, let me tell you dat," I say. +"I head cook."' + +"`You're an impudent rascal, whoever you are,' he reply, `but perhaps, +for once in a way, you speak the truth.' + +"`Do, cappen, just try me to-morrow, or next day, or when you get de +materials to put in de pie,' I say. + +"`I'll think about that, my man,' he answer, licking him lips. And den +I know I all safe. `He not kill me if he tink I make good sea-pie,' I +say to myself; `for black fellow sometimes more cunning dan white +buccra--he! he! he!' Peter chuckled. `Where do you come from?' he ask. + +"`I tell him I carried off and made to serve on board de French ship, +and dat I glad to escape from her. Dis not quite true, but I guess it +make him more ready to save my life.' + +"`Well,' he say, `I happen to want a steward, and if you prove to be +what you say you are, and can cook as well as you boast that you can, +I'll take you into my service; but if not, it will be the worse for +you.' + +"`He den ask sharply, "What do you take this ship for, boy?"' + +"`Of course, sar, English man-o'-war,' I answer--though I know berry +well dat not true. + +"`You haven't quite hit it, but you'll be much better off than if she +was,' he say, tinking me simple lad who no do any mischief. He den +shout out to de crew on deck, and tell dem not to harm me. Just den, as +I look ober de side, I catch a glimpse of de brig which we were leaving +settling down, and in anoder minute de water close ober de mast-heads. +Den I tink I act berry wise in getting on board de pirate. De cappen +den send me down into de cabin to look after de tings dere and put it in +order, saying dat his oder steward been killed in an action a few days +before. We were now, I found, steering to de nor'-west. Two or tree +days after dis we take anoder prize, which was robbed ob eberyting ob +value on board, and was den treated same as _Les deux Amis_ had been. I +was very glad to get off wid my life, but I berry much wish myself out +of de ship again, and determined to make my 'scape as soon as I hab +opportunity. + +"`De cappen each day ask me when I going to make de sea-pie. I always +say, "When I get de fowls, and de turkeys, and de ham, and de oder tings +to put in it. But I make you some lobscouse in de mean time," I say. +And so I did; and he and de mates say dey nebber taste such good +lobscouse in dere lives. "Ah! not equal to de sea-pie I make some day +or oder," I answer; for I know as long as I promise de sea-pie dey not +kill me. I only hope in de mean time no man-o'-war get hold ob us; if +she did, I should be hung up wid de rest, and de judges not believe I +come on board 'cause oderwise I drown, and stay only to make a sea-pie. +We soon get near an island, which I guess was one ob de Bahamas from de +way de ship was steered, now in one direction, now in anoder, between +rocks and sandbanks. De cappen ask me if I know where we were. I say, +"I suppose we somewhere on de Spanish Main."' + +"All right," he answer; "maybe you're not much of a navigator?" + +"`Poor nigger like me know berry little 'cept how to make sea-pie,' I +say. He den order me to go below, and soon afterwards I hear de roar ob +de breakers, and I know we'd got near the shore. Den de ship sail on +and I guess we'd got into a harbour; but she did not come to an anchor, +but sail on and on. Den, looking up through the skylight, I see de +boughs ob de green trees oberhead, and a high cliff which seem about to +topple down on de deck ob de ship. Still we sail on and on, till at +last I hear de anchor let go and de cable run out, and when I come on +deck I find de ship in a wide lagoon wid several oder vessels and some +large boats, and a village ob huts and sheds under de trees on de shore. +I now know dat I was in one ob de old buccaneer hiding-places, and I +guess dat de vessels I see were dose de pirates had capture and carry +off. When the sails were furled I go up to the cappen and ask if he +wish me to go on shore to buy some poultry and vegetables and oder tings +I might require for de sea-pie. + +"`No, no; you stay on board,' he answered. `I'll send off for +materials, and we shall then see what you can do.' + +"`I pretend to be well pleased, and tell him all de tings I want. Dat +evening plenty of provisions came on board. Dere were--let me see-- +butter-birds and whistling ducks, snipe, red-tailed pigeons, turkeys, +clucking hens, parrots, and plantation coots; dere was beef and pork and +venison, and papaw fruit, squash, and plantains, calavansas, bananas, +yams, Indian pepper, ginger, and all sorts ob oder tings. I pick out +what I know make de best pie, putting in plenty of pepper--for dat, I +guess, would suit de taste ob de genelmen--and den I cover the whole +ober wid thick crust. It take de night and the next day to bake, and +when it am ready de cappen and his officers, and some friends from de +shore, dey all say dat dey nebber eat any pie like it; and I laugh, and +say, "I make better one anoder day." Dey all eat till dey could eat no +more, and den drink to wash it down till one and all am so drunk dat dey +couldn't lift up dere heads. When I see dis, I say to myself, "Now's +the best time for me to try and be off;" and I put a piece ob de pie +into a basket, and a calabash of water, and going on deck I see a small +canoe made fast to de side. I drop it under de stern, and den go back +into the cabin. Ebery one ob dem am still fast asleep; so I lowered de +basket into de canoe from one ob de after-ports, and slip down myself +widout making any noise. Cutting de painter, I let de canoe drift away +before the breeze, which blew down the lagoon. I hab watch during de +day one or two boats coming in, so I know the entrance, and as soon as I +get to a distance from de vessels I paddle away as fast as I could. I +might hab a long distance to go before daylight, but as it was only just +dark dere would be plenty ob time. I expected ebery moment to be +ober-hauled by de sentries on de shore, but no one was dere, or, at all +events, dey not see me. On I go till I get under de cliffs which I see +when de ship come in--den I know I in de right passage. Dere was a +current, too, by which I judge dat de tide was ebbing. Next I find +myself between low banks, for de whole country towards de sea am flat. +At last I hear de waves breaking on de shore--not very loud, though; dat +makes me hope dat de water smooth. I soon reach de entrance ob de +creek, and safely pass de bar. I determine to paddle to de southward; I +hab water and provisions to last me for a week or more, and before dat +time I hope to get aboard an English or French vessel--it matter berry +little to me. When morning break I look out astern, but could see no +boat or vessel, and I hope I not pursued; as I was well out ob sight ob +land, even if I was, de pirates would hab a difficult job to find me. +De sea remain smooth, or my canoe, which was only intended for de +lagoon, would hab been swamped. When my pie nearly gone and what remain +was scarcely eatable, I see a vessel standing to de westward. De wind +was light, and by paddling hard I might reach her. I did paddle, for I +no hab a drop ob water in my calabash, and if I miss her I might die ob +thirst. On she come, and de breeze freshen. I was coming from de +north--she was crossing my course; I shriek and shout--already she +nearly pass me; I stand up in my canoe and wave my paddle--den again I +sit down and pull away like mad. Again I stand up and shout wid all my +might and wave my paddle. I praise God, dey see me; de vessel round to, +and in a few minutes I alongside. De cappen ask me where I come from. +I tell him I escape from some pirates who would hab cut my throat if I +hadn't known how to make sea-pie, and dat I make one for him as soon as +I get opportunity. He laugh, and say dat he believe my story, and dat +he gib me a trial. He nebber do so, however, 'cause you capture his +vessel before I get de necessary materials.--And now, Massa Tracy, you +know my history.' + +"From the account Peter gave me, I strongly suspected that the vessel +which had captured him was the one which attacked the _Ouzel Galley_, +and I wished that we might have an opportunity of looking for her. The +captain was, Peter had told me, an Englishman, as were many of the +people with him; but there were others of all nations, as well as +mulattoes, Sambos, and blacks. The descendants of the buccaneers still +inhabit many of the keys on the Bahama bank, and probably the white +population living on shore were some of those people, who keep up the +customs and habits of their ancestors. I must try and learn more from +Peter on the subject, and ascertain exactly where he was picked up by +the _Flora_. If so, calculating the distance he had come in the canoe, +we might be able to discover the hiding-place of the pirates. We have +been some time getting back to Port Royal, and as the _Narcissus_ is +just sailing for England, I must close this to send by her. We received +some bad news on our arrival; the blacks are actually in rebellion and +have committed all sorts of mischief, murdering the whites and all who +oppose them in every direction. We're ordered off to the north coast. +Mr Foley was very anxious to go there, but he is now in a great state +of agitation lest any harm should have befallen our friends; and well he +may be--indeed, I can't help feeling very anxious myself. Still, I +don't want you to be frightened, Norah, and I hope all will go well, and +that we shall find when we get there that the blacks have not attacked +Mr Twigg's house. With best love to father, and kind regards to Mrs +Massey and Owen, if he has arrived, as I make no doubt he will have long +ago-- + +"I remain-- + +"Your affectionate brother-- + +"Gerald Tracy." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +NORAH'S AND CAPTAIN TRACY'S ANXIETY AT NON-ARRIVAL OF THE OUZEL GALLEY-- +HER OWNERS GIVE HER UP AS LOST--THE UNDERWRITERS REFUSE PAYMENT OF +INSURANCE--THE MATTER SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION--CAPTAIN TRACY INVITED TO +DUBLIN--HE IS STILL CONVINCED THAT THE OUZEL GALLEY WILL APPEAR--THE +ARBITRATORS MEET AT A DINNER TO DISCUSS THE SUBJECT AND AGREE TO AWAIT +EVENTS--CAPTAIN TRACY RETURNS HOME--REPORTED LOSS OF THE CHAMPION-- +CAPTAIN TRACY RESOLVES TO GO IN SEARCH OF THE OUZEL GALLEY AND +CHAMPION--NORAH GETS LEAVE TO GO WITH HIM--THE RESEARCH PURCHASED-- +CAPTAIN O'BRIEN GOES TO BRISTOL TO OBTAIN HANDS--A STRANGER BRINGS A +MESSAGE FROM A DYING SHIPMATE--A MESSAGE FROM O.M.--FERRIS, TWIGG, AND +CASH SUPPLY FUNDS--CAPTAIN O'BRIEN RETURNS, AND SAILS ON BOARD THE +RESEARCH. + +Interesting as Gerald's letter was to Norah and her father, it caused +them the greatest possible anxiety. Owen had sailed some considerable +time before it was written, and he had not yet arrived! Poor Norah +scarcely dared ask herself what had happened. Had the _Ouzel Galley_ +been overtaken by the hurricane? Gerald at the same time appeared +certain that she had escaped it, and if she had, by what cause was she +delayed? Had she been captured by the enemy? That was too probable; +but, then, Owen would surely have found means of sending a letter to +England describing the event. Captain Tracy immediately wrote to the +house in Dublin, but they had heard nothing of the ship. + +"Oh, father!" exclaimed Norah at length, in a tone which showed her +alarm, "can he have fallen into the hands of those terrible pirates of +whom Gerald speaks?" + +"The _Ouzel Galley_ was too well manned, and, I may venture to say, +would have been too well handled and fought, to yield to a rascally +buccaneering craft," answered Captain Tracy. "No, no, Norah, don't let +that thought trouble you; she may have been dismasted in a gale of +wind--no skill can at all times prevent such an accident--or she may +have met with long calms in the tropics and contrary winds afterwards. +Wait a bit, cushla machree, and she'll come in some fine morning when we +least expect her." + +Still the old captain himself was sadly troubled about the matter. +Norah could with difficulty keep up her spirits, though she tried to do +so for her father's sake and for that of Mrs Massey, to whom she +endeavoured not to communicate her own alarm; but the poor mother had +begun to feel as anxious as she was, and every time Norah went to see +her, her first utterance was, "No news of Owen yet?" Then she would +sigh, and the tears would trickle down her pale cheeks. The captain +paid daily visits to Waterford, carefully examining the public papers to +ascertain if anything had been heard of the _Ouzel Galley_; but week +after week and month after month went by, yet nothing was heard of her. +Captain Tracy again wrote to Ferris, Twigg, and Cash; in their answer +they said that, having waited so long a time without hearing of her, +they considered her lost, and were about to apply to the underwriters to +pay over the amount of her insurance. Captain Tracy, who, though +holding the firm in great respect, was nevertheless always free and +outspoken, replied that he did not consider the vessel as lost, and that +she might even now some day appear. He had expressed himself in a +similar manner to one of the underwriters, who was then at Waterford; +and when the firm applied for payment, that gentleman declined acceding +to their demand till they could produce evidence of the loss of the +vessel. Ferris, Twigg, and Cash became indignant, and talked of +instituting law proceedings. On this, Mr Thompson, one of the +underwriters, entreated them to desist, and proposed that the matter +should be placed in the hands of arbitrators. Mr Twigg and Mr Cash +agreed accordingly to postpone proceedings till they could hear from +their principal partner, Mr Ferris, who was still in Jamaica; and +finally consented, subject to his approval, to submit the matter to +arbitration. + +"Then let us forthwith proceed to select a dozen good men and true +between us--you shall choose six and we'll choose six, and we'll bind +ourselves to abide by the decision to which they may come," said Mr +Thompson. As it was considered in Ireland, as well as across the +Channel, that a good dinner enjoyed by sensible people produces good +feeling and good fellowship, it was agreed by the contending parties +that they should invite the twelve arbitrators and lay the matter of the +supposed loss of the _Ouzel Galley_ before them on that occasion. As +Captain Tracy was rightly considered to be able to offer an enlightened +opinion on the subject, he was requested to come up to Dublin to afford +them all the information he possessed. Though he hated the land +journey, and looked upon it as a more dangerous adventure than he would +a voyage round the world, he could not refuse to comply with their +request. He therefore arranged to leave Norah with Mrs Massey, to +whom, though her own heart was well-nigh broken, she could afford +comfort and sympathy during his absence. Packing up his valise, girding +his sword to his side, and sticking a brace of pistols in his belt under +his cloak, he set off by the stage, fully expecting to have to fight his +way through half a score of highwaymen and footpads at the least. +Still, thinking it possible that the _Ouzel Galley_ might arrive, he +sent a boat down the harbour the evening before his departure, which +returned only just as he was about to start with the information that no +_Ouzel Galley_ was in sight. + +Notwithstanding his expectation of being attacked by Rapparees or other +robbers, he reached Dublin in safety, and was welcomed by Mr Twigg, who +took him to his own house that they might discuss together the subject +in hand. + +"A sad affair this, the loss of our good ship. We expected to realise a +fine percentage by her cargo, and now we not only lose that, but our +friends refuse to pay the insurance," observed the merchant. "You +surely, Captain Tracy, must be convinced that she went down in the +hurricane, or has been captured and destroyed by the enemy." + +"I am not at all convinced of either one or the other," answered Captain +Tracy, bluntly. "She was, or, I may venture to say, she is, as +stout-built a ship ever floated, and I hold to the opinion that she +would not have foundered while any other craft could keep above water. +I hear, indeed, that two or three vessels which were caught in that same +hurricane, though severely damaged, got at last safely into port. Mr +Ferris wrote word, as you are aware, sir, that, after a thorough +examination of the coast, no signs were discovered of her having been +driven on shore, as all the vessels wrecked were identified and she was +not among them. If she had been captured by the enemy, her master, Owen +Massey, would have found means to communicate with us and let us know +that he and his people were prisoners. By a letter from my son, I hear +that there are still some picarooning villains infesting those seas, but +they generally attack smaller fry than the _Ouzel Galley_. She was, as +you are aware, well armed and well manned, and I can answer for it that +Owen Massey would not have been taken by surprise, and would have beaten +off in a fair fight any such craft, as he would any privateer of equal +or, I may venture to say, of considerably superior force. His orders +were to avoid fighting if he could do so with due regard to his safety-- +and I never knew him disobey orders from the time he first came to sea +with me." + +"Then, from what you say, Captain Tracy, your opinion is opposed to the +interests of the firm," observed Mr Twigg, in a tone which showed that +he was somewhat annoyed. + +"I express the opinion I hold, sir, and you never found Gerald Tracy say +or do anything contrary to the interests of his employers," answered the +captain firmly. "What you want to obtain, sir, is a rightful decision; +and my belief and hope is that, if the insurance money were paid to you, +you would have to refund it." + +"You only say what is true, captain, and you will pardon me for my +remark," exclaimed the merchant, who was really an upright and +generous-hearted man. "Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than +to see the _Ouzel Galley_ coming in under charge of her young master, +with or without her cargo, however much thereby Ferris, Twigg, and Cash +might be out of pocket. We'll now go and join our friends--and I beg +you to believe that nothing you may say will alter the respect in which +I hold you." + +The matter on which the party had been assembled was soon discussed. +Some were of opinion that the _Ouzel Galley_ had been lost; others, that +she had been captured; while several held with Captain Tracy that she +was still afloat, perhaps dismasted or waterlogged, but that she would +in time find her way home. One fact was certain, that she had not yet +made her appearance, and that nothing had been heard of her since she +was seen off Bellevue on the morning of the hurricane. The important +point decided was that the two parties should on no account go to law, +and that they should wait a further decision till efforts had been made +to discover the fate of the missing ship, should she not in the mean +time return to port. Mr Ferris was informed that she had not yet +arrived, and was requested to take all the steps he could devise for +discovering what had become of her. Among others, he was to apply to +the admiral to ascertain if any British cruisers had seen or heard of +such a vessel in distress, while notice was to be sent on board every +merchantman begging the master to make inquiries concerning her, or to +afford any information he might already have obtained. + +Captain Tracy, having concluded all the business he had to transact in +Dublin, went back to Waterford. What a blessed thing is hope! Poor +Norah and the widow were still supported by the expectation of the +_Ouzel Galley's_ return, even although every one else in Waterford +believed that she was long since at the bottom of the ocean. Day after +day and week after week went by, and still the _Ouzel Galley_ did not +appear. Norah's cheek was becoming thinner and paler, and the widow's +heart sadder and sadder. It seemed hard indeed to lose her only child; +but she trusted in God. She knew that He orders all for the best, and +not once did she allow her heart to entertain rebellious thoughts +against His love and mercy. Anxiously did the captain and Norah look +out for letters from Jamaica; they hoped that Gerald would send them +information. At all events, it would be a satisfaction to hear from +him; but since his last long letter, none arrived. News was received +from other sources of a fearful insurrection in the island, but Norah +got no letters from Ellen, and hearing that numerous white people had +fallen victims, she began seriously to fear that her friend might be +among them. The captain wrote to Dublin, but the house there had not +heard from Mr Ferris. At length another report came which added much +to their anxiety, and if found to be true must plunge them into deep +grief. It was to the effect that his Majesty's ship _Champion_, having +sailed from Jamaica on a cruise, had not since been heard of. + +"She'll turn up," exclaimed the captain, when he brought home the +intelligence, which it would be useless to attempt concealing from +Norah. The news appeared in print in the public papers, and an opinion +was expressed that she had not been captured by the enemy, it being +thought more likely that she had been capsized in a squall and gone +down, or run during a dark night on one of the numerous reefs in the +seas she was navigating and been dashed to pieces before any of her +people could escape. + +"I won't believe it, any more than I'll believe that the _Ouzel Galley_ +is lost," exclaimed the captain. "Don't give way, Norah. These +newspapers tell lies; they're published for no other object. I +shouldn't be surprised if we hear that the _Champion_ has never been +missing, and that the admiral has sent her on some particular service; +probably the next packet from Jamaica will give us an account of her +return to Port Royal." + +Still poor Norah could not restrain her tears. "I don't believe that +she's lost, Norah. Don't, now!" repeated her father. The captain, +indeed, did his best to comfort her, but it was a hard matter for him; +especially as he himself, notwithstanding his bold assertions, knew how +likely it was that the sloop of war had really been lost. His honest +heart was racked with grief as he thought that the days of his gallant +young son had been cut short. Fresh despatches arrived from Jamaica, +detailing the capture of several of the enemy's ships, the return to +port of various British cruisers, and the arrival of merchantmen; but +not a word was said about the _Champion_. Further despatches arrived, +which appeared in the public prints. A short paragraph alone mentioned +that all hope of her safety had been given up, while another spoke +somewhat pityingly of the vain notion entertained by a former commander +of a well-known Jamaica trader, the _Ouzel Galley_, that that vessel was +still in existence. "Indeed," it continued, "go certain it is that she +must be lost, that the masters and pilots of the vessels trading in +those seas have ceased to make inquiries about her." + +"I hold to my opinion, notwithstanding," exclaimed the captain; "if +others refuse to help in looking for the good ship, I'll go myself. +There's an old proverb that the man who wants a thing goes for it +himself, and I'll not believe that either Owen or Gerald are lost till +I've had a thorough hunt for them. I've cash enough of my own to fit +out a stout vessel, and to arm and man her too. I intended it for you, +Norah, and Gerald, but there'll be sufficient left for what you may +want, my poor child, even if it comes to the worst; and you must stay at +home and take care of Widow Massey--you've need to comfort each other." + +"No, father, if you go I will go; and go I hope you will," said Norah. +"Would that you had ten times as much fortune to fit out as many vessels +to search round the shores of the whole Atlantic. And, father, you'll +take me with you? I must go; I should die with anxiety were I to remain +behind. In the voyage I took with you I learnt all about a sea life. I +know the various dangers I may have to go through, but I don't fear +them; I am ready to endure whatever perils you may be exposed to, and +I'll not flinch from them." + +Thus Norah argued with her father. + +"But Mrs Massey--what will she do without you?" he asked. + +"She would not detain me. Am not I going to assist in the search for +her son, as well as in that for Gerald?" answered Norah. "Were I Owen +Massey's younger brother, she would not hesitate to send me; she will +not do so now. She has too long lived a life of solitude to object to +being left for a few short months, especially when she can hope that +Owen may be found." + +Norah had gained her point. The old captain was really thankful to have +her society, and so often had he braved the dangers of the sea that he +no longer feared them for his daughter. Firm as the captain was in his +opinion, few others agreed with him; and when it was known that he was +looking out for a ship, most of his acquaintance pitied him, and +whispered that the loss of his son had turned his head. Still, nothing +any one could say changed his resolution; indeed, there was something +grand in his very obstinacy, and worthy of admiration. The only person +who stuck to him was Captain O'Brien. + +"If I were a younger man, faith, I'd be after going out as mate," +exclaimed the brave old captain. "Whether the lads are alive or dead, +the point will be settled, and I am fain to believe that they are still +alive. If I can't go myself, I'll prove my faith in the undertaking by +subscribing five hundred pounds towards it. The sooner you get the ship +fitted out and put to sea, the better it will be for my friend Norah--of +that I'm very sure." + +Though the two old captains were thus of one mind, no one else agreed +with them. The house of Ferris, Twigg, and Cash would have nothing to +do with the matter; they were not inclined to send good money after bad, +and unless they could gain some information, however slight, that the +_Ouzel Galley_ was really in existence, they should consider it folly to +send another vessel to look for her. They would not even help in +searching for a fitting vessel. Captain Tracy, however, heard of one +which had been brought into Cork harbour as a prize, and, accompanied by +his friend O'Brien, he went over to have a look at her. She was just +the vessel they wanted; she was ship-rigged, carried twenty guns, and +was quite new, having been only a few weeks out of port when she was +captured. She was of great beam, and would carry four or six more guns, +if necessary. The purchase was soon completed; and the two captains, +having engaged a few hands to navigate her, brought her round to +Waterford, where she could be fitted out under their own eyes. One of +the points to be settled was her name. Captain O'Brien, bowing to +Norah, proposed that she should be called _Love's Messenger_; but to +this Norah objected, and it was finally settled that she should be +called the _Research_. The captain had devoted Gerald's prize-money, +and the whole sum he had at his own disposal, and the amount contributed +by Captain O'Brien; but still a sum was required for ammunition, stores, +and the wages of the crew. Captain Tracy was in a dilemma; he might +obtain a cargo for the vessel, but then he would have to wait for a +convoy, as no insurance could otherwise be effected on her, and that +would cause a delay. Rather than suffer this, he resolved to sell his +patrimony, though very unwilling to do so. Captain O'Brien, who had +formerly traded to Bristol, had gone over to that port to look out for +efficient officers and any good men he could find to form part of the +crew; the remainder could be obtained at Waterford. + +Captain Tracy was setting off one morning, resolved to make the final +arrangements with his lawyer for the disposal of his property, when just +as he left his house he was accosted by a man, whose ragged dress, +shoeless feet, and thin cheeks showed that he was suffering from the +extreme of poverty. Captain Tracy's well-practised eye convinced him at +once, before the man had spoken, that he was a sailor, and believing +that he came to beg, he put his hand into his pocket to relieve his +necessities, when the man, touching his battered hat, addressed him, +"Plase, yer honour, are you Captain Tracy?" + +"I am. What is it you want with me?" asked the captain. + +"Shure, I'm glad to hear it, for I've been looking for yer honour for +many a day," answered the man, "as I've made a vow, if you were still in +the land of the living, to give you a message from a dying shipmate, and +my mind couldn't rest aisy till I'd done it." + +"What's the message, my friend? Is it a long or a short one?" asked the +captain, eyeing the man steadily, to judge whether he was speaking with +sincerity or uttering a falsehood. "What ship did you belong to, my +friend?" + +"The _Fair Rosamond_, yer honour, homeward-bound from Port Royal. We +met with misfortunes from the time of sailing. We had Yellow Jack +aboard us; then a course of foul wind, and when about a hundred leagues +from the chops of the Channel, we were dismasted in a heavy gale; and at +last, after driving about for many a day till we ran short of water and +provisions, we were cast on the coast of Connemara, and only I and three +others got to shore--the captain and the rest of the hands who were left +alive, for Heaven hadn't spared many of them, were washed away and +drowned. I was like to have died too, but some country people took care +of me, and I pulled through; and then, remembering my vow, I set off +without a shiner in my pocket to give the message to yer honour." + +"Come in, my friend," said the captain, by this time convinced that the +man was speaking the truth, and becoming anxious to hear what he had got +to say. The stranger looked at his ragged garments and hesitated when +the captain invited him into the parlour, where Norah was seated, and +bade him take a chair; however, plucking up courage, he did as he was +desired. Captain Tracy having briefly told Norah what he had just +heard, turned to the seaman. + +"You have not yet given me your name," he said. + +"It's Larry Cregan, yer honour. You may trust to what I say, for I +wouldn't desave yer honour, that I wouldn't," answered the man. + +"Well, Larry, let me hear all about this message," said the captain, +"for you haven't given me a hint yet what it is." + +"Well, thin, yer honour, it's nothing but the truth I'll spake," began +Larry. "We had well-nigh half our crew pressed out of the _Fair +Rosamond_, and had to make up our number with such hands as the captain +could get without being over particular. Among them was a countryman of +mine--Tim Reardon, he called himself. He looked mighty sickly when he +came aboard, and we hadn't been many days at sea before he grew worse. +He wasn't fit for work; but we were short-handed, and he had to stick to +his duty. And says I to myself, `Tim Reardon isn't long for this life, +and so I'll do my best to help him;' and when he was aloft or whatever +he had to do, I always kept near him, and helped him many a time when he +hadn't strength to pull and haul by himself. This won his heart and +made him wish, as he said, to do me a good turn; but that wasn't ever +likely to be in his power. He grew worse and worse, and at last could +no longer crawl upon deck. I used to sit by him when it was my watch +below, and spake such words to comfort him as I could think of. One +day, howsomdever, he says to me, `Larry, I've got something on my +conscience, and something else in my pocket which I want you to take +charge of.' + +"`Anything to serve ye, Tim,' says I. + +"`I've been an outrageous wicked fellow all my life, and have done all +sorts of bad things,' says Tim. `I've consorted with pirates, and have +seen many a robbery and cruel murther committed--but I won't talk of +that now. I can't do much good, I'm afraid, but what I can I wish to +do, what I'd made up my mind some time ago, when I was well-nigh dying +and should have slipped my cable if it hadn't been for the care I +received from a countryman, who took pity on me and nursed me as if I'd +been his brother. As I got better he told me to cheer up, as he felt +sure I should live. "Now, Tim," says he, "if you ever get to Old +Ireland, I want you to find out Captain Tracy, who lives near to +Waterford, and tell him that I am alive, and, please Heaven, will one +day get back to see him and his daughter. I can't tell him whereabouts +to look for me, for the best of reasons, that I don't know where I am-- +nor have I any chance of making my escape; but you, Tim, may some day +get free, and promise me, if you do, that you will take this message to +Captain Tracy, and say that hope keeps me alive."' + +"`But maybe Captain Tracy won't believe me?' says I. `If he doesn't, +his daughter will; and to make sure, take this bit of paper and show it +them,' he replied. He wrote two letters on it; it was but a scrap, but +it was the only piece he had. I put it in my 'baccy-box to keep it +safe. Not two days after that I managed to make my escape, and, getting +back to Jamaica, looked out for a homeward-bound vessel. As luck would +have it, I shipped aboard the _Fair Rosamond_; and now, as death is +hauling away at the tow-line, and I have no chance of fulfilling my +promise, if you wish to do me a service and keep my soul quiet, you'll +promise to take the message to Captain Tracy and the bit of paper in my +'baccy-box; I'll leave that to you, and everything else I've got on +board. + +"I promised Tim that I'd do as he wished, and that if I failed he might +haunt me, if he'd a mind to do so, till my dying day. Tim has come more +than once in my dhrames to remind me, and I've been aiger ever since to +do his bidding." + +"And where's the bit of paper?" asked Captain Tracy eagerly. + +"Here it is, yer honour," answered the seaman, pulling a battered old +tobacco-box out of his pocket, from which he produced a yellow scrap of +paper, on which was written, apparently with the end of a burnt stick, +the letters O.M. Norah had been too much excited even to speak. She +gazed at the paper. + +"Yes--these letters were, I am sure, written by Owen. I knew that he +was alive; I was certain of it!" she exclaimed, her bosom palpitating as +she spoke with the varied emotions which agitated her. "Oh, father, +look at them! They must have been written by Owen; he had no time or +means for writing more, and he was sure we should recognise them if they +were ever brought to us." + +The captain took the paper and examined it. "Yes, I truly believe that +these letters were inscribed by Owen Massey. Had he attempted to write +more, he knew that the whole would probably be obliterated before it +could reach us, so he did the wise and thoughtful thing," he said. "I +praise Heaven that he is alive. I was sure from the first that the +_Ouzel Galley_ did not go down in the hurricane, and this proves it; +though what has become of her, or where Owen is imprisoned, is more than +I can make out--for imprisoned I take it that he is, and strictly +guarded too, or he'd have long since found his way home." + +"The more reason, then, that we should go in search for him," exclaimed +Norah. "Oh, father, let us sail as soon as possible." + +"Captain O'Brien will soon be back from Bristol, and nothing need longer +delay us, except the want of funds," said the captain, "and they must +first be raised. But with the assurance that Owen is still alive--and I +think the account we have heard affords that--I believe that my friends +Ferris, Twigg, and Cash will no longer hesitate to advance the required +amount. For, though we have no evidence that the _Ouzel Galley_ has +escaped destruction, my belief is that she is safe, as well as her +master, although we are at present almost as much in the dark as ever as +to where she is. Had Tim Reardon survived, we should, I have no doubt, +been able to obtain much valuable information to guide us; but as he is +dead, we must trust to what we can hereafter gain. We'll hear, however, +what further our friend the seaman can tell us. Perhaps, after he has +had some food, he may remember more of what Tim said to him." + +"I'm mighty hungry, yer honour--it's the truth," said Larry, looking up; +on which Norah hastened to get some cold meat and bread, not forgetting +a noggin of whisky, at which Larry's eyes glistened. The captain +allowed him to eat in silence, and he proved how hungry he must have +been by the quickness with which he devoured the viands placed before +him. Another examination elicited little further information, however, +from the seaman; his messmate had never mentioned the circumstances +under which he had met the person who had given him the paper with the +initials O.M. on it. He remembered only that he had once spoken of a +fine ship of which O.M. had been master, and which he had not long ago +seen, although he either did not know her name or was bound not to +divulge it. It was evident, indeed, that the unfortunate Tim Reardon +was under some fearful oath which he was afraid to break, and that he +had always spoken with the greatest caution, lest he might in any way +commit himself. + +"Many would call yours a cock-and-bull story," observed Captain Tracy, +"but I believe you, Larry, and you may have the satisfaction of knowing +that you have fulfilled your promise to your dying messmate. Though you +ask for no reward, I'll do what I can to repay you for the information +you have given me; and now you've had some rest and food, if you'll come +in with me to Waterford, I'll give you a fresh rig out, and you can cast +away the rags you've got on your back." + +"Faith, yer honour, I'm in luck thin. I'm ready to walk a dozen miles +or more," exclaimed Larry, jumping up; and, giving a bow with his +battered hat and a scrape of the foot, he added, "The top of the morning +to you, young lady, and a thousand thanks. It's put fresh life into my +heart. Shure, I hope the gentleman you've been inquiring after will +come back alive some bright day." + +Followed by Larry, the captain hurried into Waterford, where, having got +the seaman rigged out from top to toe in a new suit of clothing, he +repaired to Ferris, Twigg, and Cash's office. He there wrote a letter +to the firm in Dublin, giving an account of the information he had just +received, and urging them to advance the sum required to enable the +_Research_ to proceed on her voyage. Soon after he had despatched the +letter, Captain O'Brien arrived, bringing with him two mates and eight +good men. + +"And now, old friend," he said, "as I've neither wife nor daughter at +home to pipe their eyes at the thoughts of my going, and old Molly, my +housekeeper, however unhappy she may be at first, will soon be +reconciled to my absence, I've made up my mind to offer myself as a +passenger, to help look after Mistress Norah, in case anything should +happen to you. Will you take me?" + +"With all my heart," answered Captain Tracy. "I shall be glad of your +society on my own account, and still more for Norah's sake; for, though +I feel as strong and hearty as I did a dozen years ago, yet it may be +Heaven's will to call me, and it would be a comfort to my heart to think +that Norah was left with a friend to protect her till Owen Massey should +appear to claim her as his own." + +"That matter is settled then, and I'll just have my traps packed up and +give directions to old Molly to take care of the house till my return," +said Captain O'Brien. "Having done that, I'll be quickly aboard to take +charge till you appear, as I've already sent the mates and the men I +brought over on board to keep them out of harm's way. I've also given +notice that a few prime hands are wanted, and I hope to pick up two or +three old shipmates in whom I can place perfect confidence." + +As the two old captains left the office they met Larry Cregan, looking a +very different being to what he had done a few hours before. + +"Plase, yer honour," he said, touching his hat, "I've been told that a +few hands are wanted for the _Research_, and though I'm not worth much +at present, after I've put some good beef and pork on my bones I shall +turn out as good a hand as any of them." + +"I'll take you at your word, Larry," said Captain Tracy, "and you may go +aboard as soon as you like." + +"Shure, it's the safest place for me, yer honour," said Larry, "and +maybe I'd otherwise be taking in too much of the potheen, just for joy +with thinking that I'd delivered my message and was free of my oath." + +Captain Tracy accordingly gave Larry an order to be received on board as +one of the crew, while he himself returned homeward, to make further +arrangements and to wait for a reply to the letter he had despatched to +Ferris, Twigg, and Cash. He and Norah paid Mrs Massey a farewell +visit. Norah had already carefully told her the information which had +been so curiously gained. + +"I cannot help you to search for my son," said the widow, "but, though +unable to leave my home, I can pray unceasingly that Heaven will protect +you in your mission, and reward you for your love and devotion." + +Captain Tracy had expressed his earnest desire to sail without delay, +and greatly to his satisfaction, much sooner than he expected, he +received a letter, sent by a special messenger, from his friends, +agreeing to his request and placing the required funds at his disposal. +They also consented to ship a certain amount of goods on board the +_Research_, and no sooner was this known than several other merchants in +Waterford agreed to add to her cargo. When it was known that Captain +Tracy was going out in command of the _Research_, and that Captain +O'Brien was to accompany him, as many good men as were required offered +to ship on board her, and her crew was thus speedily completed. Great +interest was excited when the object of the voyage became generally +known, and multitudes collected on the quays, cheering right heartily +as, her warps being cast off, sail was made and the _Research_ glided +away down the river. The two captains agreed that no ship they had ever +commanded was better found, better armed, or better manned than she was. +A fine northerly breeze earned her out of the harbour, and, all sail +being made, she took her departure from the land, and steered a course +for the West Indies. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +THE SCENERY OF JAMAICA--PROCEEDINGS AT BELLEVUE--A DESCRIPTION OF THE +SLAVES ON THE ESTATE--AN EXPEDITION PROPOSED--ARRIVAL OF MAJOR MALCOLM +AND LIEUTENANT BELT--A MORNING RIDE--A PICNIC--VISIT TO A REMARKABLE +CAVERN--CURIOUS OBJECTS WITHIN--THE GUIDE'S TERROR AT SEEING SHADOWS IN +THE DISTANCE--ARCHIE'S NARROW ESCAPE--WARNINGS--RETURN HOMEWARDS--MEET +MARTIN BRINGING ALARMING INTELLIGENCE. + +Among the numberless lovely islands which dot the ocean, few surpass +Jamaica in beauty and magnificence of scenery, or are adorned with a +richer vegetation. Grand as are the views the island presents to the +voyager who approaches it on the southern shore, they are fully equalled +by those of its northern coast. At a short distance from the beach the +island rises into hills of gentle ascent, generally separated from each +other by wide valleys, amid which numerous streams find their way to the +ocean. The hills, mostly rounded, are covered with groves of beautiful +trees, many of them loaded with rich fruits and flowers scented with the +most delicious odours. Here is seen the pimento, remarkable for its +beauty and fragrance, the dark green of its foliage finely contrasting +with the bright tints of the grass beneath; while in every direction are +fruit trees of various hues, the orange, pineapple, or tamarind, many +bearing at the same time blossoms, unripe fruit, and others fit for +plucking. In the lower grounds are fertile and level savannahs, plains +waving with cane-fields, displaying a luxuriance of vegetation, the +verdure of spring blended with the mellow exuberance of autumn. In the +distance, running down the centre of the island, rise the Blue +Mountains, their tops dimly seen through the fleecy clouds, the greater +portion of the range being covered with impenetrable forests, their +sides often broken into inaccessible cliffs and abrupt precipices. +These forests and cliffs have afforded for several centuries an asylum +and fortress to fugitive blacks, who have there set pursuit at defiance, +the game and wild fruits the woods supply enabling them to find +subsistence without the necessity of descending into the lower regions +to obtain food. Rocks and mountains, woodlands and plains, everywhere +beautifully blending, form conspicuous features in the landscape of +Jamaica. Dotted over the country are the pens, or farms, of the +planters--their residences extensive, though not often more than one +story in height, with gardens surrounding them, the works, +boiling-houses, and other buildings generally concealed from view by +thick woods; while beyond are the cane-fields and the dark, low huts of +the negroes, standing together in the form of a village, far more +picturesque at a distance than when closely approached. But the woods +are the pride and beauty of the country; there the palm, the cocoa-nut, +the mountain cabbage, and the plantain are often associated with the +tamarind and orange, the oleander and African rose growing in rich +luxuriance, the scarlet cordium of a glowing red, the jasmine and +grenadilla vine forming verdant bowers, the lilac with tufted plumes, +the portlandia with white and silky leaves, together with an infinite +variety of flower and fruit bearing shrubs. + +Such was the scenery surrounding Bellevue House, at which Ellen Ferris +and her father had now spent some weeks with the worthy attorney, Mr +Twigg, and his wife and family. Although there were rumours that the +blacks in distant districts were disaffected, it was difficult to trace +whence the reports originated, and it was generally believed that they +were without foundation. The Jumby dance which Archie Sandys had +witnessed some time before was considered a suspicious circumstance by +Mr Ferris; but the overseer assured him that the blacks on the estate +were all peaceably disposed, and that the assembly at the hut under the +cotton-tree was merely for the performance of some rite of their +barbarous religion, and should not cause the slightest uneasiness. + +"I will keep an eye on what goes forward, and if I hear of any more +meetings of the sort, I will take good care to learn their object," said +the overseer. "You must let the blacks amuse themselves in their own +way, provided it does not interfere with work." + +To Ellen, the blacks appeared happy and contented. She had no +opportunity, indeed, of looking very deeply into the state of the +matter. If the lash was used, she did not hear the cries of the +victims, nor see the marks on their backs. She heard that if they were +sick they were taken care of in an hospital, or rather in some huts +appropriated to that object, and that they were attended by the medical +man who had charge of that and two or three neighbouring estates. He +occasionally visited at the house, and appeared to be a good-natured, +merry individual, who told amusing stories about the negroes and their +wonderful ignorance. The negroes of whom she saw most were the domestic +slaves, who seemed attached to their masters, and were always willing +and obedient, and, being well fed, looked sleek and contented. The most +interesting was Martha, the black nurse of Mrs Twigg's children. Her +devoted affection for her charges was remarkable; she seemed to have no +care or thought for anything besides them, and though she occasionally +joined in the village festivities among her own people, she invariably +came back full of anxiety lest any harm should have happened to them +during her absence. She was treated by her mistress with great kindness +and consideration, and perfect confidence was placed in her. The old +grey-headed butler, Martin, was also on a more familiar footing with his +master than any white servant of the same position in an English +household would have been; while all the other domestic slaves, or boys +as they were generally called, were merry fellows, always laughing and +joking, though holding old Martin in great respect--their garments +consisting of a checked shirt, white trousers, and white jacket, though +their feet were shoeless, and they generally dispensed with hats. They +looked neat and clean, and had no reason to complain of want of physical +comfort. Probably, in other cases where the master was ill-tempered, +they would have been liable to punishment, deserved or undeserved. + +"But what about the agricultural labourers?" asked Ellen Sandys, who was +ever, when he could be so with propriety, by her side--she looking upon +him as a well-mannered, intelligent schoolboy; so that Lieutenant Foley +would have experienced no jealous feelings had he seen them together. + +"Well, they, I suppose, are in their way as happy and contented as they +need be," answered Archie. "The field slaves, as we call them, who live +out in the huts there, are divided into gangs. The first is composed of +the stronger men and women, who work together, the women being able to +do almost as much as the men. Their business is to clear the land, dig +and plant the cane-fields, and in crop-time cut the canes and attend to +the mill-house, where the canes are crushed and the sugar and molasses +manufactured. The second gang is composed chiefly of the bigger boys +and girls and more weakly women, who are unable to do the harder work, +and the older men who have lost their strength. They have to weed the +canes and attend to other lighter duties. The third gang consists of +the young children, who are employed chiefly in weeding the gardens, +collecting fodder or food for the pigs, and similar easy tasks. The men +drivers are employed in looking after the first two gangs, and are +allowed to carry whips to hold over them in terror, even if not often +used. The gang of children is confided to the charge of an old woman, +who carries a long switch; and with her it is no mere emblem of +authority, for she employs it pretty frequently on the backs of the +urchins. You have seen Mammy Quasheba, and I dare say she appears to +you to be a very amiable old dame, for she takes care only to tickle her +little charges when you or Mrs Twigg are in sight." + +"But do the drivers often make use of those dreadful whips?" asked +Ellen. + +"On our estate they certainly do not; but on others, seldom or never +visited by the proprietors, the only notion they have of maintaining +order is the lash," answered Archie. "The unfortunate black is +unmercifully flogged for the slightest offence, or for apparent +idleness. You ask how many hours they work. Generally before daybreak +they are aroused by the head driver, who comes into the village blowing +a horn, and if they fail to turn out immediately, they become intimately +acquainted with his whip. They work for three hours, and are then +allowed half an hour for breakfast, during which they manage to stow way +an enormous quantity of vegetable food. They then labour on till noon, +when they have two whole hours, either to take their dinner, to sleep, +or to work in their own provision grounds and attend to their pigs and +poultry. From two till dark they resume their labours, when they +generally knock off and return home, except in crop-time, when it is +important to get the canes cut and carried as rapidly as possible, and +the boiling-house requires a number of hands. However, they become fat +and sleek during that period, as they may suck as much of the cane as +they like, and do not look upon the task as especially laborious. As a +number of artisans are required on the estate, such as carpenters, +blacksmiths, masons, and coopers, the more intelligent lads are selected +and sent as apprentices to learn those trades; though they get pretty +hardly treated at times, they afterwards possess considerable advantages +over the untrained blacks, and often contrive to save enough money to +buy their freedom. Altogether, I don't think the negroes of Jamaica can +be said to be much worse off than the peasantry in many parts of the old +country; they may in some respects be even better off than the Irish +peasantry." + +"But yet the poorest Irishman would not readily change places with +them," remarked Ellen, "and I am afraid, from what I hear, that they are +totally neglected as to their religious and moral condition." + +"As to that, their mental powers are too low to receive religious +instruction, and their habits too confirmed to be improved; and so, +provided they can be maintained in health and perform the required +amount of labour, few proprietors or overseers trouble themselves much +about anything else," answered Archie. "Some, however, have tried to +improve them, and have supported ministers and missionaries among them; +but I don't know with what success." + +"Oh, I wish that something could be done for the blacks on this estate!" +said Ellen. "It is dreadful to think that they should be allowed by +their so-called Christian masters to remain on in their heathen +darkness." + +"It is very kind in you to interest yourself in the poor blacks, and I +am afraid not many white people trouble their heads about them," said +Archie. "But I came, Miss Ferris, to propose an excursion to an +interesting place in this neighbourhood which you should see before you +go away--and I fear that your stay is not likely to be prolonged;" and +Archie looked unutterable things, and heaved a sigh which Ellen did not +observe. + +"What are its peculiarities, and where is it?" she asked. "I should +certainly like to visit any place worth seeing." + +"It is a wonderful cave, about twelve or fifteen miles to the eastward +of this," answered Archie. "I have never been there myself, as I have +not had a whole holiday to enable me to make the trip, nor companions +with whom I could enjoy it; but if you could persuade Mr Ferris and Mr +and Mrs Twigg to go, I am sure they will be repaid for the fatigue of +the journey. By starting early in the morning we can return by +nightfall, as there is a carriage road all the way, or what is called +one in Jamaica; but perhaps you are a horsewoman, and if so, the whole +distance might be performed before the sun has attained an overpowering +heat." + +Ellen was delighted; her only regret was that, the _Champion_ not having +appeared, Lieutenant Foley could not be of the party. Mr Ferris, when +she told him of the proposal, expressed his readiness to go; and Mr and +Mrs Twigg, though they had lived so long in the island, never having +seen the cavern, were also willing to join the expedition. + +"We must let the Pembertons know," said Mrs Twigg. "The other day +Fanny Pemberton told me that she was especially wishing to visit the +cave. She and her brother are sure to come." + +"Pray ask them," exclaimed Ellen. "She is a dear, nice girl; and if she +is fond of riding, she will be ready to accompany me." + +"The sooner, then, we start the better," said Mr Ferris, "or business +of some sort may prevent us, and we must not prolong our stay here." + +"Then I propose we start to-morrow morning," said Mr Twigg. "There's +nothing like fixing an early day, as an ardent lover would say, and we +couldn't well choose an earlier. We'll order the buggies and horses to +be at the door on the first sound of the slave-driver's born, so that we +may enjoy the full freshness of the morning." + +Mrs Twigg forthwith despatched a messenger with a note to Walton Hall, +Mr Pemberton's estate, which was situated about four miles inland from +Bellevue, asking Miss Pemberton and her brother to come over at once, +that they might be ready to start at daybreak. + +The proposed expedition formed the subject of conversation for the rest +of the evening, Archie Sandys being especially pleased that his +suggestion had been so readily adopted. He and two other young +book-keepers were to form members of the party. The family had +collected for an early supper, when horses' hoofs were heard approaching +the house; and it being announced that several gentlemen were coming, +Mr Twigg, followed by half a dozen blacks, hurried out to meet them. +He speedily returned, accompanied by two strangers in military uniforms, +whom he introduced as Major Malcolm and Lieutenant Belt. The officers +bowed to the ladies and shook hands with the gentlemen, and at once felt +themselves at home. + +"Supper will be ready in about ten minutes; in the mean time, will you +go to your rooms and make yourselves comfortable after your ride," said +Mr Twigg. + +"What, did you expect us?" exclaimed the major. + +"We always expect guests," answered Mr Twigg, laughing--"at all events, +we are always ready for them. Let me show you the way, gentlemen; your +valises are already there." + +On their return, Major Malcolm, a fine, soldierly looking man who had +apparently seen much service, explained that he and Lieutenant Belt were +on their way to Montego Bay, having to inspect several small fortresses +along the coast. "We pushed on, however," he continued, "rather faster +than was prudent, and knocked up our horses so that they require a day's +rest before proceeding further; and we must therefore impose ourselves +on you as guests, unless you turn us out." + +"My dear sir, you and your men and horses are perfectly welcome to +remain as long as you please," answered Mr Twigg; "and so you would be +if you'd brought your whole regiment, though we might, in that case, +have found some difficulty in housing you." + +Of course Major Malcolm and the lieutenant heard of the proposed +expedition. Mr Ferris suggested that it could be put off, but the +major begged that that should on no account be done, and that if steeds +could be found for him and Lieutenant Belt, they might accompany the +party. + +"With great pleasure, my dear sir; we can mount you without difficulty," +said Mr Twigg; and turning round, he gave the order to old Martin, who +was standing behind his chair. Supper was still proceeding when Miss +Pemberton and her brother Jack arrived and were heartily welcomed. She +was a Creole, but with far more life and animation than the generality +of her fair countrywomen; still, her cheek, pure as alabaster, was +colourless; but her figure was good, and her features remarkably +handsome. Altogether, she fully merited the encomiums Ellen had passed +on her. She had been sent to school in England, and was thoroughly well +educated and accomplished. Her brother Jack had had the same advantage, +though he spoke, unless when excited, with the usual Creole drawl. From +the few remarks he made--for he was not much addicted to talking--he +was, however, not destitute of spirit; and, among his other good +qualities, he evidently looked upon his lovely sister with the most +devoted admiration. The two young people promised to be a pleasant +addition to the party. + +The family retired earlier than usual, that they might be ready to start +at the hour fixed on. The gallant major and the young subaltern were +escorted to their room by Mr Twigg. + +"I little expected to find two such houris in this out-of-the-way spot," +observed the major, as he was throwing off his uniform. + +"Nor did I," exclaimed the lieutenant. "It is difficult to decide which +of the two is the most charming, but I am most inclined to lose my heart +to the young lady with the roses in her cheeks. She hasn't been long in +this burning clime, I suspect, or they would have faded ere this." + +"We shall not be rivals, then," observed the major, standing up in his +shirt and trousers, and striking out with his doubled fists, as was his +wont before turning in. "I prefer the last arrival, with the classical +features and cheeks as pure as the lily--a fit model for Juno. If I +were to be long in her society, I should fall desperately in love with +her; but I am not likely to commit such a folly, and take care that you +don't, Belt. We shall know more about them to-morrow, and perchance we +shall discover that their charms are not so overpowering as we fancy. I +have often found it to be the case on a second interview." + +"I expect to be more enthralled than ever," remarked the lieutenant. +"However, I have seldom found it difficult to break my fetters; so, +major, you needn't trouble yourself on my account." + +"We shall see by to-morrow evening," said the major. After a few more +remarks in a similar strain, the two officers, both old campaigners, +threw themselves on their beds, and were soon fast asleep. + +They were aroused by a black servant, who, bringing in some large ewers +of cold water, lighted their lamps and announced that the horses would +soon be at the door. On descending to the hall they found the two young +ladies in their riding-habits, whip in hand, ready to mount. Mrs Twigg +and her husband and the other gentlemen soon made their appearance, and +the servants brought round trays with cups of hot chocolate and bottles +of liqueur. + +"You must fortify yourselves, gentlemen," said Mr Twigg. "Let me +recommend this curacoa; it is a good preventive against any ill effects +from the morning air." + +While the major was engaged in sipping his chocolate, the young ladies +had gone out, and the two officers, greatly to their vexation, found +that Archie Sandys had performed the office they had expected to have +undertaken, and had assisted Ellen and Fanny to mount. The horses +provided for the officers were next brought forward. + +"Here is your horse, major," said Mr Twigg, pointing to a fine-looking +animal; "and, Lieutenant Belt, I hope you will not find yours inferior." + +The two officers mounted, and had every reason to be satisfied with +their steeds. Archie Sandys assumed the leadership of the party, and as +they moved forward he managed to place himself by the side of Ellen. +The carriages started almost immediately afterwards. Major Malcolm very +quickly found an opportunity of riding up to Miss Pemberton, a position +he seemed in no way disposed to abdicate. The young lieutenant in vain +attempted to gain an equally favourable place by the side of Ellen, for +Archie kept his post pertinaciously, determined not to be +out-manoeuvred, and the road was not of a width to allow of three +abreast. The rest of the gentlemen followed, talking and joking +merrily. + +The road led between hedges of prickly-pear, eight or ten feet in +height, and often of considerable width, the broad leaves so closely +overlapping each other that they formed a dense mass through which the +light failed to penetrate, bright scarlet flowers and purple fruit +ornamenting the massive wall. Here and there cocoa-nut trees sprang up +from the inner side like oaks or elms in an English hedgerow, most of +them loaded with fruit; while occasionally a cabbage palm or the +palmetto royal towered above them, surpassing its neighbours in graceful +beauty, its straight trunk rising without a branch to the height of a +hundred feet or more, crowned by a waving plume, in the centre of which +appeared a tender green shoot. Through the openings to the right +appeared plantations of sugar-cane, and occasionally fields of Indian +corn--the magnificent yellow cobs, with long, wavy beards, hanging from +their vigorous stalks. + +"Did you taste the cabbage palm the other day at dinner?" asked Archie. + +"Yes, I thought it very nice," answered the young lady, rather surprised +at the question. + +"Do you know where it came from?" asked Archie. + +"From a cabbage garden, I suppose," answered Ellen, laughing. + +"No, from the top of one of those lofty trees," answered Archie. "That +is to say, it was at the top, but to obtain it the tree had to be cut +down." + +"What a cruel sacrifice! I should not have eaten it with any +satisfaction had I known that," exclaimed Ellen. + +"We soon get indifferent to such matters in this country," said Archie. +"See how many of them there are in all directions." + +"I am afraid that you will become indifferent in other matters," +observed Ellen--"to those slave-whips, for instance, though you say they +are only used in cases of necessity. When the drivers are judges as to +whether that necessity is lawful, the poor slaves are likely to feel the +lash very frequently, I suspect." + +"It is found from experience that they cannot otherwise be kept in +order," answered Archie. "I confess that at first I shuddered as I saw +the whip used." + +"Do the blacks never rebel against such treatment?" asked Ellen. + +"They have at times," replied Archie. "In the year '37 there was an +outbreak, and there have been others at different periods; but they were +put down in so rigorous a fashion that the negroes are not likely again, +I fancy, to make the attempt." + +"I trust not," said Ellen, "for it would be a fearful thing were these +tens of thousands of blacks, discovering their strength, to rise on +their masters and attempt to revenge the wrongs they have suffered." + +The conversation between Ellen and her devoted attendant was, it must be +confessed, of a very unsentimental character; indeed, she would very +quickly have put a stop to anything that had been otherwise, although +the romantic scenery through which they were passing might, under other +circumstances, have exercised its influence over her. Not a breath of +wind as yet disturbed the calm, pure atmosphere; the ocean appeared like +a sheet of glass; the blue sky overhead was undimmed by a cloud; the +mountain-tops seen to the right rose above the mass of green, their +outline distinctly marked, though at a considerable distance. The only +sounds which reached them were the lowing of cattle and the signal horns +of the drivers summoning the negroes to their work. In a short time the +light increased, the sun rose above the ocean, and a gentle breeze waved +the topmost boughs of the trees, breaking the sea below on the left into +tiny wavelets. Now the road led round a hill, with a steep precipice on +the left reaching down to the water, and high cliffs to the right +covered with shrubs and creepers of every hue. As it was seen ahead, it +appeared as if there was barely room for more than one horse to pass, +and that no carriage could possibly get along without risk of falling +over the precipice; but as they proceeded it widened out, and Archie, +notwithstanding Ellen's cautions, insisted on still keeping his place, +riding between her and the edge of the precipice. + +"Pray keep behind me, or ride on in front, Mr Sandys," she exclaimed. +"You would horrify me exceedingly were you to fall over the edge; and to +save you from running the risk, I am compelled, you see, to ride so +close to the cliff that I run the chance of having my hat torn off by +the boughs above, or getting my shoulder struck by a projecting rock." + +Still Archie begged to ride on as he was doing. "Were your horse to +shy, Miss Ferris," he remarked, "I might be the means of saving you, and +I would run every risk for the sake of doing that." + +Ellen laughed. "I am very ungrateful," she said, "but I cannot allow +you to be placed in any danger on my account: you make me feel +uncomfortable, if not nervous, and I am almost inclined to be angry with +you for your disobedience." + +Archie at length rode on, though very unwillingly, and the hill being +passed the road now struck more inland, sometimes leading over slight +elevations, and at others along the levels for some distance, when the +steeds, trained to a Spanish amble suitable for a tropical climate, got +quickly over the ground. The groves of tall trees threw a shade across +the road which prevented the heat from being overpowering. Before the +sun had attained its full strength a rocky hill rose before them with a +wood at its base; here they found a tent already pitched, and a fire at +a little distance from it. A number of black servants, who, it +appeared, had been sent on before, were busily engaged in cooking +breakfast. + +"De tent for de missee," said a black, Quambo by name, who acted as +under-butler to old Martin, coming forward. "Dey rest dere till de +carriages come if dey like." + +The gentlemen threw themselves from their horses, eager to assist Ellen +and Miss Pemberton to dismount, the lieutenant rushing forward and +offering his hand to the former, who accepted it with a smile which sent +a pang of jealousy through poor Archie's breast, the gallant major +helping Fanny from her horse. While the young ladies took advantage of +the tent to rest--for the ride had been much longer than they had been +accustomed to take, and they felt somewhat tired--the gentlemen, +lighting their cigars, strolled through the thick wood towards the +entrance of the cavern. On their way they passed a large lagoon of +stagnant water, surrounded by trees, every branch and leaf reflected on +its mirror-like surface with a peculiar clearness. They could discover +only two holes, which looked like the upper parts of arched doorways. +Between them, in the face of the rock, was a niche in which a statue +might have been placed, while just below it was a basin or hollow in the +rock, which appeared to have been formed by art for the purpose of +holding water. + +"I shouldn't be surprised if the Spaniards had made a sort of chapel +here when they had possession of the country," observed Lieutenant Belt. +"See, that niche looks as if a figure of the Virgin Mary, for instance, +had been placed there. This basin was evidently made to hold what they +call holy water. They had probably made an attempt to convert the +Indians by introducing their worship, but finding them obdurate and +unable to comprehend its mysteries, put them to death as a punishment. +From an account I read the other day, the island, when first discovered +by Columbus, was thickly populated; but in the course of a few years, +after the Spaniards took possession, the greater number of the natives +had been murdered or expended in some other way." + +The rest of the party agreed with him. As they were all getting hungry, +they returned to the camp, where, in a space which had been cleared by +the servants, a tablecloth had been spread, and was already covered with +viands, cushions and mats being placed around on which the ladies could +recline. The carriage party soon arrived, and Mr Twigg, in his cheery +voice, summoned his guests to breakfast, which consisted of numberless +West Indian delicacies. In spite of the good appetites their ride had +given them, most of the party were too eager to explore the cavern to +pay them that attention they undoubtedly deserved. After the gentlemen +had smoked their cigars, and the ladies had put on costumes more +suitable for the object in view than their riding-habits, headed by Mr +Twigg the party set forth, Major Malcolm escorting Miss Pemberton, and +Ellen being attended by Archie and Lieutenant Belt, who was determined +no longer to be cut out. Mr Ferris had taken charge of Mrs Twigg, who +confessed that had not the girls required her as a chaperone, she would +rather have remained at home. + +"Martha, indeed, particularly wanted me not to come," she remarked. +"She seemed unusually put out about something or other. Whether she +fancied that the children were not as well as usual, or for some other +cause, I could not guess; but they appeared to me to be so perfectly +happy that I did not think it necessary to listen to her. She urged, +however, that we should come back before dark, and Mr Twigg agreed that +it would be important to get by the cliffs before sunset; after that, +the ride is so easy, and we know it so well that there can be no +danger." + +This was said as they were proceeding through the wood. Mr Ferris +agreed that it would certainly be advisable not to delay their departure +after they had explored the cavern and taken luncheon, and that it would +be better to endure the heat of the afternoon than to run the risk of +travelling in the dark. An experienced guide and a supply of torches, +consisting of bundles of candlewood split into small strips, had been +provided. The party stood before the face of the rock. + +"What, are we to go in there?" asked Miss Pemberton, in a tone of +dismay. + +"I am afraid that we shall discover no other mode of ingress," said Mr +Twigg, as the guide, with the torches under his arm, crept through the +larger of the two openings. "Come, Archie, do you and the rest of you +go next," he said, turning to the two book-keepers, "and hail when the +torches are lighted. You will assist to sweep the passage." + +Archie, not very well pleased, obeyed his superior, and in a short time +the voices of the young gentlemen from within were heard shouting, "All +right!" The gallant lieutenant next went down on his hands and knees, +his long legs disappearing through the entrance. The major stood bowing +to Mrs Twigg, who seemed to consider that it was her duty to go next, +that she might be ready to receive her charges; they, laughing, quickly +followed her, the major and the other gentlemen bringing up the rear. +They found themselves in a circular vestibule about twenty feet in +diameter and fourteen in height, with an irregular concave ceiling +covered, as were the sides, with innumerable glittering stalactites, +reflecting on their polished surfaces the light of the torches held by +the guide and the young book-keepers, who stood round in a circle, +flourishing them over their heads. Several columns of stalactite +forming arches overhead gave the cavern, the appearance of a Gothic +chapel, while between the pillars various openings led into avenues +which diverged in different directions, apparently running far away into +the interior of the mountain. + +"See, there sits the presiding genius of the cavern," said Mr Twigg, +taking a torch and advancing a few steps towards an object which had a +wonderful resemblance to a statue carved by the sculptor's hand. It was +that of a venerable hermit, sitting in profound meditation, wrapped in a +flowing robe, his arms folded and his beard descending to his waist. +His head was bald, his forehead wrinkled with age, while his features +were well defined, the eyes, nose, and mouth being perfect. The +graceful, easy folds of the drapery and the wavy flow of his beard were +especially remarkable. Mr Twigg did not say that he had gone in +shortly before with the guide and artistically touched up the features +by the liberal use of charcoal. + +"Shouldn't wonder if the old fellow was a god of the original +inhabitants of the island," said Lieutenant Belt. "Never saw anything +so natural in my life." + +Expressions of delighted surprise escaped from the young ladies, and +even Mrs Twigg was very glad that she had come. + +"But we have only seen the commencement of this magic cavern; it has +more wonders to reveal to us," remarked her husband, desiring the black +guide to lead on. He accordingly proceeded through one of the widest +passages in front of them, holding his torch high above his head to show +its height, which appeared to be from twelve to fifteen feet. Each of +the young men also carried a torch, which illumined the otherwise total +darkness of the cavern, bringing out the numberless objects hanging from +the roof or appearing on either side--canopies studded with bright gems, +festoons of sparkling icicles, rostrums and thrones, busts of warriors +and poets. Here were skulls grinning from the wall; columns of every +order of architecture; fonts and basins, some holding water; and a +thousand other representations of works of art. Here and there other +passages struck off to the right or left, adorned in the same curious +fashion. Most of the arches and columns appeared to consist of a +greyish marble, and were wild and curious in the extreme. Some of the +pillars were perfect, sustaining apparently the massive superstructure; +others were only half formed; and many were but just commenced by the +dripping of water from above. Several of the apartments were cellular; +others spacious and airy, having eyelet holes through the roof, which +allowed the escape of noxious vapours, and assisted greatly to ventilate +the cavern. The ground beneath their feet was of a soft nature, deep +and yielding, and had a peculiar smell. As they advanced, thousands of +bats flew out from among the crevices of the rock, disturbed by the +light of the torches and the voices of the visitors, which echoed +through the passages and vaulted roof. They had not gone far when the +guide stopped short, and an exclamation of alarm escaped him. + +"What is dem? Did you see dem, massa?" he asked of Archie, who was by +his side. The rest of the party, who were close at his heels, saw +numerous dark forms flitting by at the further end of a passage directly +in front of them, while unearthly sounding voices reached their ears. + +"Those must be shadows cast by the light of our torches," observed the +major; "the sounds are merely echoes." + +"No, no, massa, dey duppies," cried the guide; "de echo nebber take so +long to come back to us." + +Still the major was not convinced, although Mr Twigg suspected that +they had disturbed an assembly of negroes, who, not expecting that the +cavern was about to be visited by strangers, had met there for some +purpose or other. It was some time before the guide recovered his +courage. + +"Come along," said Archie; "if they were duppies they will be afraid of +interfering with white people, and if black fellows, they are still less +likely to trouble us." + +The other young men, who were always ready to follow Archie, insisted on +the guide going on; but he let them proceed in advance, directing them +which way to take. They had gone some distance further, passing the +entrances of several more passages, when the guide cried out, "Stop, +atop, massa; we got furder dan I tink." Scarcely were the words out of +his mouth than Archie and his torch disappeared, and before they could +stop themselves, two of his companions fell over. The ladies shrieked, +supposing that the young men had fallen down some frightful hollow; but +the shouts of laughter which followed soon reassured them, as did the +assertions of the guide, that there was no harm done. It was found that +they had merely gone done a descent of four or five feet, and had +quickly again picked themselves up. The guide followed them, and the +ladies, assisted by the gentlemen, easily leaped down to a lower level +of the cavern. They continued their walk without further interruption, +till daylight streamed down upon them from above, and they found +themselves in an open area, with steep rocks covered with trees +surrounding them on all sides. This area, as nearly as they could +conjecture, lay about a quarter of a mile from the entrance of the +grotto. From it numerous other passages branched off, into one of which +the guide led them. They shortly came to a magnificent circular chamber +with a vaulted ceiling eighteen feet or more in height. The most +curious feature was the straight taproot of a tree which descended from +above, about the size of a cable, uniform in shape from the top to the +bottom. It had apparently made its way through a cleft in the rock, and +penetrated downwards till it reached the floor of the apartment. On one +side was an opening into a narrow passage, which the guide endeavoured +to dissuade the gentlemen from entering. Archie, however, who had +become excited, and considered himself the leader of the party, insisted +on going forward. + +"Don't go, massa, don't go; you'll fall down deep well and nebber come +up again," shrieked the guide. Archie and his companions, +notwithstanding this warning, pushed forward, holding their torches well +before them. The passage became more and more contracted, till they +reached an upright ledge of rock rising like a parapet wall almost +breast high. They climbed up it, but on the other side it sloped +rapidly down, and Archie, bold as he had become, thought it prudent to +draw back; but instead of doing so he found himself slipping forward, +and would have been unable to stop had not one of the other book-keepers +caught hold of his coat and assisted him to scramble up again. Just +then the guide came up. "Massa, you not know what you escape," he +exclaimed. "See." And he threw a stone, which, after descending for +some seconds of time, was heard to plunge into water, the noise echoing +backwards and forwards amid the rocks which formed the side of the +chasm. Archie shuddered as he thought of his merciful escape. Other +stones of larger size being thrown in produced a loud, hoarse sound +which reached to a considerable distance. + +"What a fearful uproar you would have made, Archie, if you'd taken a +leap into the chasm!" said one of his companions. + +"Don't talk of it, man; it is a lesson to me for the future to look +before I leap," was the answer. + +"No, massa, as I say, you nebber come up again, unless you pop up in de +sea," observed the guide. "Dat hole full ob salt water and full ob big +fish; but I nebber gone down, and nebber intend to go--he, he, he!" + +Further exploration in that direction having been cut short, the party +turned back, slowly to retrace their steps, occasionally entering for a +short distance some of the numerous avenues which they discovered as +they proceeded; but they were all apparently much like those they had +already visited. The ceilings were incrusted with stalactites, between +which in several places the fibrous roots of trees and plants forced +their way downwards through the interstices; in many places honeycombed +rocks formed the roof-work of the grotto; and in others, where openings +appeared towards the sky, the ground was strewed with various seeds and +roots, that of the bread-nut especially being in great abundance. +Reptiles, too, of curious shape were seen scuttling away, disturbed by +the intruders--toad, snake, and lizard forms, all curiously covered with +incrustations. The parts of the cavern open to the air were +delightfully cool, and Lieutenant Belt proposed that they should send +for their provisions and lunch in one of the larger apartments. His +motion, however, was overruled, the ladies especially objecting to sit +down with the bats flying overhead, and the creatures they had seen +crawling about round them. Still, they all lingered to examine more +particularly the numberless curious formations, unwilling to bid +farewell to the grotto, which few of them were likely again to visit. +Perhaps, too, they hesitated to commence the undignified exit which they +would have to make. The torches being nearly exhausted, Mr Twigg, +looking at his watch, announced that it was time for luncheon. + +"After which we must not delay in commencing our homeward journey," +observed Mr Ferris, who had remembered Mrs Twigg's warnings. + +With much laughter, Major Malcolm on this occasion leading the way, the +whole party crept in succession through the opening of the cavern, and +stood at length in the free air, their sensations reminding them of the +feeling experienced on entering a hot-house. Major Malcolm had scarcely +for a moment left Fanny Pemberton's side; he now escorted her back to +the camp. His first inquiry of the servants was whether they had seen +any strange negroes in the wood. The blacks all declared that they had +not; but his own man, who had made an excursion by himself to the side +of the lagoon, stated that while he was looking towards the rock he saw +some dozen or twenty black fellows steal out of a small opening and run +off in an opposite direction, evidently, as he supposed, endeavouring to +keep themselves concealed. + +"Were they armed?" asked the major. + +"Yes, sir; each man had a weapon of some sort--a spear or bow--in his +hands, and two or three had firelocks," was the answer. + +"That looks suspicious," thought the major; and he mentioned what his +man had told him to Mr Ferris, who became very grave. + +"Fortunately the fellows don't consider us enemies, or they might have +shot us down with impunity," he observed. "There is something going +forward among the blacks, I fear; and at all events the sooner we are on +our return home the better." + +An ample luncheon of fish, flesh, and fowl, vegetables, and fruit of +every description had been prepared. It was hurried over somewhat +rapidly; the servants were directed to pack up and proceed on their way +homeward; and as soon as the tent was struck, the steeds, which had been +tethered in the shade with their heads in nose-bags, were bridled and +saddled. + +"To horse! to horse! ladies and gentlemen," shouted Mr Twigg. "We must +brave the heat and dust, instead of riding home by moonlight as we +proposed; we shall enjoy the cool evening all the more on our arrival." + +The younger members of the party, who had heard nothing of the cause +which had created anxiety in the minds of Major Malcolm and Mr Ferris, +were somewhat surprised at the summons, but quickly prepared to start. + +"Let me assist you to mount, Miss Pemberton," said Major Malcolm. +Leading forward her horse, and placing his hand a little above the +ground, he dexterously lifted her into her saddle. Lieutenant Belt, +imitating his example, brought forward Ellen's steed, and was delighted +to find that she accepted his services, poor Archie being compelled to +fall into the rear. The party on horseback led the way, the carriages +rattling after them. Major Malcolm, who once having gone a road never +forgot it, rode on with Miss Pemberton, Ellen and her cavalier following +close behind them. They had just passed the cliff, when, the road being +broad and level, Fanny proposed a canter. They had ridden on about a +mile further, when they saw, beneath the shade of the tall trees +directly ahead, a horseman galloping at full speed towards them. As he +approached he was seen to be a white-headed negro, his hat, which just +then blew off, exposing his hoary locks. + +"He is old Martin, Mr Twigg's butler," exclaimed Fanny. "What could +have made him come out to meet us in so great a hurry?" + +"Where Massa Twigg?" exclaimed the old man. "I tank Heaven I meet you +so soon." + +"He is close behind," answered Major Malcolm. "I trust that you are not +the bearer of bad news?" + +"Yes, sar, I bring berry bad news: we all hab our troats cut and be +murdered and burnt before dis night," answered old Martin, who had +fastened a huge silver spur to one of his heels, and had caught up a +slave-driver's whip. Without waiting for further questions he galloped +forward, leaving Major Malcolm and Miss Pemberton as ignorant as at +first of what had occurred. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +MR. TWIGG RIDES FORWARD TO PREPARE FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE HOUSE--THE +REST OF THE PARTY FOLLOW--ENCOUNTER A PARTY OF BLACKS--PROVE TO BE +FRIENDS--THE OVERSEERS INCREDULITY--PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENDING THE +HOUSE--DOUBTS AS TO THE TRUTH OF THE REPORTS--A FRESH ARRIVAL BRINGS +ALARMING NEWS--MR. HAYWARD'S ACCOUNT OF HIS ESCAPE--SCOUTS SENT OUT--ALL +HANDS LABOUR AT THE FORTIFICATIONS--MAJOR MALCOLM AND A PARTY SET OFF +FOR WALTON HALL--THE INSURGENTS APPEAR AND ATTACK THE HOUSE--DRIVEN +BACK--THE SIEGE--PROVISIONS AND WATER BECOME SCARCE--A SORTIE TO OBTAIN +WATER--THE INSURGENTS ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STOCKADES--DRIVEN BACK BY BELT +AND ARCHIE--ANOTHER SORTIE TO DIG YAMS--ARCHIE CAPTURED BY THE REBELS. + +Mr Ferris was acting as charioteer to Mrs Twigg, and took the lead of +the carriages. + +"What's the matter?" she cried out, as she caught sight of old Martin +galloping up, dreadful surmises, however, entering her mind. + +"Oh, Missee Twigg, don't stop, and I tell you as you go along," answered +the old butler, who having seen his master following behind, turned his +horse round. + +"Are the children all safe?" was the next question the anxious mother +put. + +"Yes, dey all berry well; but Martha tell me if I lub dere lives and +yours to jump on horseback and come and tell you to make haste home. +She say, and I know she speak de truth, dat de black fellows who run +away to de mountains, and many oders, tousands and tousands from all de +estates, hab got hold of firelocks and 'munition, and intend to murder +all de whites in de island, from one end to de oder, and before night +dey come and burn down Bellevue and cut de troats of us all. She say +our only hope am to get aboard ship or make de house so strong dat we +able to drive dem away when day come." + +"How did Martha know this?" asked Mrs Twigg anxiously. + +"Dat more nor I can tell," answered Martin. "All I know am dat she +speak de truth." + +"Then tell your master, and we will drive on as fast as we can," said +Mrs Twigg. "Say Mr Ferris and I are considering what it will be best +to do." + +Martin, allowing Mr Twigg to come up with him, gave him the same +account. Mr Twigg received the information with more composure than +his wife had done. "Desert the house I will not," he answered. "We +will fortify it, and defend ourselves like men. It is providential +these two officers arrived with their troopers, as they will be of the +greatest assistance; and if all the boys prove true, we shall have no +difficulty in holding out against any attack, should one be made on us. +Go back, Martin; send at once to find Mr Thompson. Say that I have +reason fully to believe the information Martha has given; beg him to +collect all the white men and trustworthy overseers, with their arms and +ammunition. And also we must not forget our neighbours. Despatch a +messenger--Jericho, Sambo, or any other fellow--to Mr Pemberton, and +advise him either to join us with all his family, or to fortify his +house as we intend doing ours. But stay, Martin. It may be safer, to +prevent mistakes, if I go myself; a gallop, though the sun is hot, won't +kill me. I'll take your horse, and you shall drive the buggy." + +The exchange was soon made, and Mr Twigg galloped forward, telling his +wife as he passed what he proposed doing, and quickly dashing by Ellen +and Fanny. + +"Don't be alarmed, ladies," he cried out; "but the truth is we expect an +attack from some blacks, who have broken out into rebellion, and we are +going on to see what can be done to give them a warm reception." + +"Surely, in that case, Major Malcolm, we ought not to detain you, as you +will wish to assist in preparing for the defence of the house--for I +conclude that is what Mr Twigg means," said Fanny in a calm tone. + +"But we cannot leave you unprotected, Miss Pemberton," answered Major +Malcolm. "Should the negroes really have risen, you might encounter +some on the road, who would, seeing you alone, try to make you prisoners +for the sake of holding you as hostages. I positively cannot leave +you." + +"Then we will gallop on together," said Miss Pemberton. "Miss Ferris's +horse and mine are firm-footed, and I am sure that she will be ready to +do as I propose." + +She turned round to Ellen, who was perfectly willing to go on, and +pressing their horses with their whips in a way which astonished the +animals, they galloped forward. The road was dry and dusty, and in some +places, where unsheltered by the trees, the sun beat down with intense +heat; but in their anxiety they cared not for the inconvenience. On +looking back they saw Mr Ferris and the other carriages coming along at +almost as fast a rate as they were going. Gradually they were +distancing them. Ellen was unwilling to leave her father behind. + +"I am afraid that they are pursued by the blacks," she exclaimed. "Oh, +should they be overtaken!" + +"In that case Mr Ferris would far rather that you should escape," urged +the lieutenant. "Let me entreat you not to stop; supposing the rebels +are pursuing us, we could do nothing." + +Still Ellen checked her horse till Mr Ferris again came in sight, when +she heard him shouting, "Go on! go on!" and at the same time making +signals with his whip as he lashed his horse. Poor Mrs Twigg was +holding on to the carriage, expecting every moment to be thrown out; but +Mr Ferris, an experienced driver, kept a tight hand on the rein. Old +Martin came dashing after him, standing up lashing his horse, and +shrieking out at the top of his voice, "On! on! old nagger; no tumble +down on oo knees!" while still farther off Jack Pemberton, Archie, and +the other horsemen were seen acting as a rearguard, they, even if so +inclined, not considering it respectful to pass the carriages. Ellen, +on hearing her father's shouts, again applied her whip to her horse's +flanks and galloped forward, much to the lieutenant's satisfaction. The +major and Fanny could only dimly be seen amid the cloud of dust in the +road, here darkened by overhanging trees. + +"We cannot be very far, I trust, from Bellevue," said Ellen; "my horse +appears to be flagging." + +"The animal is but little accustomed to move at this rate with any one +on its back. Be ready to check it should it stumble," answered the +lieutenant; "but with your light weight there is very little chance of +that. We have, I believe, but two miles to go, and we shall soon cover +that ground. Don't spare the whip, Miss Ferris; you must think of your +own safety more than the feelings of your steed." + +Following Lieutenant Belt's advice, Ellen made her horse spring forward, +and they at length again overtook Major Malcolm and Fanny. Just then a +party of blacks were seen ahead, coming along the road towards them. +Fanny was about to check her horse, fearing that they had evil +intentions. + +"If they are rebels we must dash by them--it is our best chance of +escape," cried the major, drawing his sword. "I will defend you with my +life, Miss Pemberton. Only keep up your courage and ride straight +forward; they'll not dare to come within arm's length of us." +Lieutenant Belt imitated the major's example, and said something of the +same tenour to Ellen. + +"But my father--they will attack him and Mrs Twigg!" she exclaimed. + +"He has pistols in the carriage, and a shot or two will soon send the +black fellows to the right-about," answered the major. They galloped +forward, and their anxiety was quickly relieved on discovering that the +blacks were headed by one of the book-keepers, who had been met by Mr +Twigg and despatched along the road to render any assistance which might +be required. + +"All's safe at the house, sir, and it's my belief that the blacks on the +estate will prove loyal, whatever may be the case elsewhere," observed +the book-keeper. + +"Go forward and obey your orders, sir," said the major; "we will ride on +more leisurely to the house." + +Fanny drew a deep breath. "I feel inexpressibly relieved," she said, +"though I was sure, Major Malcolm, that you would have protected me; but +I am more anxious about my father and mother and the rest of the family +at Walton. It is more exposed even than Bellevue, and, though perhaps +our own slaves may prove faithful, there are other estates on either +side where the blacks are said to be harshly treated; and they may take +the opportunity of revenging themselves on all the white people within +their reach. I would rather go home at once to share their fate." + +"I am very sure, Miss Pemberton, that should your family be in danger, +they would not desire that you should be exposed to it," answered the +major. "You yourself require rest--and, indeed, your steed would not +carry you much further. I trust that the report which has alarmed us +may prove to be without much foundation, and I will get Mr Twigg to +send over at once to Walton and ascertain the state of affairs--or, if I +find that Bellevue is safe, I will ride over myself to offer my +services." + +"Oh, thank you, thank you!" exclaimed Fanny; "I shall indeed be +grateful." + +Riding somewhat more leisurely than at first, though still keeping up a +smart canter, they soon reached Bellevue, where they found that Mr +Twigg had sent out to collect the book-keepers and drivers, white and +brown, to assemble at the house for its protection. Major Malcolm's +first inquiry was as to his means of defence. + +"I have firearms, which I have kept ready in case of any outbreak such +as that of '37, and all the white men on the estate have their +fowling-pieces and pistols," he answered. "We fortunately procured a +couple of casks of powder not long ago." + +"Very good; but have you a supply of bullets?" asked the major. + +"No--dear me, I am afraid not," said Mr Twigg. + +"But you have moulds, surely, for casting them?" continued Major +Malcolm. + +"Yes; some are stored with the arms, I believe," was the answer. + +"And what about lead?" asked the major. The worthy planter looked +perplexed. "You must surely have some leaden pipes or cisterns, or lead +in some form or other. Pray search in every direction, and I will set +my two fellows to work at once to cast bullets, while we go round and +consider the best means for fortifying the house. It is as well to be +prepared, although I believe that, after all, it will prove a false +alarm." + +The ladies were more tired and overcome with the heat than they had +expected while the excitement of riding lasted, and had to retire to +their rooms. Mr Ferris soon arrived with Mrs Twigg, when she and her +husband immediately sent for the black nurse, Martha, that they might +ascertain from her whence she had obtained the alarming intelligence she +had sent them. She would only reply, "I tell you, massa, what is de +truth. I lub de children better than life; but I know when de black +fellows find out dat I tell you, dey kill me. De Obeah man do it. Even +though he not find me, I die--I know it; but if I save you and de +children, I not care." + +Nothing else could be elicited from Martha, but she persisted in +declaring that they would find ere long that she had given no false +alarm. Both Mr and Mrs Twigg, indeed, were convinced that she spoke +the truth; and Mr Twigg went on with the preparations for the defence +of the house. In a short time Mr Thompson, who had been at the further +end of the estate, and several book-keepers came in. + +"What has happened, Mr Twigg?" he exclaimed. "Sambo brought me a +cock-and-bull story about a number of blacks being in arms, and coming +down to burn and sack the house and murder us all. I don't believe it, +sir. Our people, at all events, are kept in too good order to do +anything of the sort; and I should have heard of any ill-feeling +existing among the slaves in any of the neighbouring estates. I beg +your pardon, sir--but it seems to me ridiculous to suppose that they +would again attempt to rebel; they cannot have forgotten how they were +treated the last time they ventured to rise in arms. Of course, +gentlemen from England and military officers could not be expected to +know anything about the matter, and they are therefore ready to believe +the absurd reports." + +"But I also, Mr Thompson, am inclined to believe that there is more in +it than you suppose," answered the planter, "old Martin is evidently +alarmed--and he is as sensible as he is faithful." + +Still the overseer was incredulous. "I'll obey your orders, however, +sir," he said, "and do anything you or the military officers think +necessary to put the house in a state of defence." + +"Very well, Mr Thompson; collect all the trustworthy people, and direct +them to bring their arms and ammunition, and as large a stock of +provisions as they have ready," replied Mr Twigg, "and we will follow +out any plan Major Malcolm may suggest. He will, of course, take the +command, and for our own sakes we shall be wise to obey his orders." + +The overseer laughed. "Well, sir, we shall take a great deal of trouble +for nothing," he said; "and should the military gentlemen order us to +level the out-buildings, and to cut down the trees surrounding the +house, we shall do more damage than can be easily repaired." + +Several of the young men agreed with Mr Thompson, but Archie Sandys and +Jack Pemberton sided with the other gentlemen. Martha remained as firm +as at first in her belief that if they did not make haste and get ready +to defend themselves, they would all be destroyed. The major's first +care had been to see that the arms and ammunition were in a serviceable +state. The former evidently required cleaning; with the powder he was +satisfied. Though no leaden pipes were procurable, as bamboo canes +serve every purpose for which the former are used in other countries, a +leaden cistern and some pigs of lead which had been sent with the +muskets were found, and the three troopers who had accompanied the major +and his companion were set to work to cast bullets and clean up the +arms; while the major, after twice making the circuit of the house, +advised that it should be surrounded in the first place with a +_chevaux-de-frise_ of timber and stout bamboos sharpened at the ends, +and that, if time would allow, inside that a palisade should be erected +with loopholes for musketry and of a height sufficient to protect the +garrison. + +"At all events," he observed, "no harm can be done by collecting the +materials for the purpose, and we can then proceed according to the +information we receive." + +This plan seemed so sensible that even Mr Thompson did not object to +it, and all the available hands were divided into two parties--some sent +to the nearest cane-brake to cut the canes, and others to fell trees. +Night was approaching, and after the first few loads had been brought +in, Mr Thompson suggested that they should wait till the following +morning. Martha, who was eagerly watching all the proceedings, went to +her master and, with tears in her eyes, entreated that there might be no +delay. + +"I know what will happen dis berry night," she said; "if any one shut +his eyes, perhaps no wake in de morning." + +As the moon was nearly half full, there would be light. For some hours +Mr Twigg accordingly directed that the people should continue their +work. Most of the slaves seemed to labour willingly; but the drivers +who were superintending them observed that they went lazily about their +work, and did as little as they possibly could. Mr Thompson, on being +told of this, remarked that it was no wonder, as they had been toiling +all day, and it was not his custom to work the slaves after sundown, as +was done on some ill-managed estates. As soon as the logs of wood and +the canes were brought in, Major Malcolm and the lieutenant, with their +men, having provided themselves with axes, threw off their coats and +commenced cutting the logs and canes into proper lengths and showing how +they were to be fixed in the ground. Between the canes which formed the +_chevaux-de-frise_ were planted large masses of prickly-pear, through +which no ill-clad black, nor indeed any human being, could force his +way. It was considered that this would stop the enemy even more +effectually than the palisades. It was no easy task, however, to cut +the sword-like leaves and place the plants in their required positions. +The young Englishmen not otherwise employed offered their assistance, as +did old Martin and the other black servants, in forming both the works, +the latter managing to handle the prickly-pears far more dexterously +without hurting themselves than their masters. + +"We shall do no material harm to your lawn, Mrs Twigg," observed Major +Malcolm, "and for your sake I trust that it may not become the scene of +a conflict. By-the-by, Mr Twigg, if there is a serious chance of it we +must barricade the doors and windows, and it will be prudent to have the +materials ready for the purpose. If you have no spare planking, I have +no doubt that one of the out-buildings will supply what we require." + +Mr Twigg of course agreed to this, and, lantern in hand, led the way to +a building at a little distance from the house. + +"I advise you to have this pulled down at once; but if you are unwilling +to do that, you can give directions to one of the young men, who will +superintend the work should it become necessary," said the major. + +Mr Twigg, having sent for Archie Sandys, told him what might be +required, and he, of course, undertook to carry out his orders. Some +time went by. The ladies having rested and partly recovered from their +fatigue, assembled in the supper-room, in which a handsome repast was +spread. Here they were joined by the gentlemen, who, having worked +hard, had good appetites. No one would have supposed as they were +seated round the table that they were apprehensive of the danger +threatening them. + +"It seems very ridiculous to be taking all this trouble and expending +our strength on account of a vague report of which really nobody seems +to know the origin," observed Lieutenant Belt to Ellen. "The major of +course thinks there is something in it; but, for my part, I believe we +shall find that we have all been frightened out of our wits for +nothing." + +"I wish that I could agree with you," answered Ellen. "There have been +terrible outbreaks before in this island, and rumours have been for some +time going about that the slaves are in a discontented state." + +"I had expected, from the way our friends galloped after us this +afternoon, that a body of savage rebels were at their heels," said the +lieutenant, "and I confess that when we reached the house I fancied that +we should have had to stand to our arms, and defend ourselves as best we +could. I was very glad to see our hostess and Mr Ferris and the rest +of the party arrive safely, and was somewhat surprised when no enemy +followed them. We shall find, I suspect, that the foe did not come +because no foe is in existence." + +Ellen, however, could not agree with the young lieutenant. + +Miss Pemberton's anxieties had been somewhat quieted. Mr Twigg assured +her that he had sent a messenger to warn her father, who would of course +make preparations to defend his house; she might soon therefore expect +an answer saying that they were all safe. The party at length became +more cheerful, and Mr Ferris expressed his belief that they might all +go to sleep without fear of becoming dead men before the morning. + +"Belt and I ought to be on our road at an early hour," remarked Major +Malcolm; "but I wish before we go to see your fortifications in a +forward state, and I shall then feel it my duty to ride round to Walton +to render Mr Pemberton any assistance he may require." + +Fanny was on the point of asking him to escort her, but a very natural +feeling made her hesitate, and she resolved to remain with her friends. +The conversation had become more lively than at first, and jokes and +laughter were even being indulged in, when the sound of horses' hoofs +was heard coming along the road from the east at a rapid rate. Mr +Twigg hurried to the door, followed by Mr Ferris. + +"Who is it?" asked the former. + +"Hayward," answered a voice. "Thank Heaven I find you safe! I've had a +narrow escape of my life, and I was afraid that you might be placed in +equal danger; indeed, had it not been for my faithful fellow Tom Yam +here, I should to a certainty have been killed." + +"Come up, then, and tell us all about it," exclaimed Mr Twigg, who the +next instant was shaking hands with the stranger, while Martin took +charge of Tom Yam. Mr Twigg introduced the new arrival. Mr Hayward, +sitting down, tossed off a glass or two of Madeira, for he required some +stimulant before he could speak. + +"I bring you dreadful news," he said. "I would thankfully not have to +alarm you, ladies, but it may be better to know the worst at once. I +had come over to Stillwater, having providentially left my family at +Kingston, when, as I was resting after my journey, Tom Yam, who had been +sent with a message to Fort Maria to ask Captain Torrens, commanding +there, to come over and dine with me, rushed into my room panting for +breath with the fearful news that the entire garrison and a number of +white people from different places assembled there at dinner had +suddenly been surprised by a whole host of blacks. The villains had +been lying in ambush near at hand, and rushing upon them without +warning, had put nearly every human being of the party to death. Among +the few survivors was a black servant of one of the officers, who had +given him the information. He himself had got near enough to see the +blacks in possession of the fort, some engaged in burning down the +buildings, and others carrying off the arms and ammunition. The boy +told him that the white men were at the supper-table, and that all had +there been butchered without being able to reach their arms or strike a +blow for their defence. He hurried back, and as he came along he heard +the negroes close at his heels, shouting and shrieking over their +victory, and threatening to attack Stillwater House. Scarcely had he +uttered the words than the cries of the barbarians reached my ears. Not +a moment was to be lost; I hastily threw on my clothes and followed Tom, +who entreated me to run for the stable, where we could get our horses +and gallop off as the best prospect of saving our lives, for if we +attempted to hide ourselves the rebels were nearly sure to find us-- +many, indeed, of my own slaves having, as Tom assured me, joined them. +So close were they by this time that I was afraid they would see us as +we made our way to the stable. We reached it just as they broke into +the grounds on the opposite side. Some time was lost in saddling the +horses; as I led mine out, I saw several black faces peering out of the +windows above us. I threw myself on the animal's back, Tom having +mounted his horse inside the stable; a shower of bullets, happily ill +aimed, came whizzing about our ears--two, indeed, passed through my +jacket. Away I galloped, followed by Tom; though several more shots +were fired at us, we escaped them all. Fortunately, there were no other +horses in the stable or we should probably have been followed. As I +looked over my shoulder I saw smoke ascending from the roof of the +house, and ere I had got much further flames burst out from every part. +At first I proposed pushing for Kingston, but Tom expressed his belief +that we should find bands of rebels on the road, and I determined +therefore to come on in this direction, and to warn any friends on the +way. How our horses have done so much seems surprising, for you may be +sure we took but a short time to rest. We passed on the way, I should +say, several parties of blacks, but as they had no firearms, we dashed +by them uninjured, although some made an attempt to stop us." + +"Did you say, sir, that all the officers and men were massacred at Fort +Maria?" asked Major Malcolm, in an agitated tone. + +"I have too little doubt about it, sir," answered Mr Hayward. "I can +trust Tom's word, and Captain Torrens's servant assured him that he saw +his master and Ensign Duck murdered with the other white gentlemen." + +"Only two days ago we dined with him, little thinking what was soon to +occur!" said the major, with a sigh. "Poor fellow! poor fellow! how +full of life and spirits he seemed! Such may be the fate of any one of +us!" + +Miss Pemberton looked sad as he spoke. + +"You are now convinced, Mr Thompson, that there is something in the +report we heard," observed Mr Ferris to the overseer, "and that we were +not foolishly alarmed?" + +"How soon do you think that the band of rebel blacks can reach Bellevue, +should they come in this direction?" asked the major of Mr Hayward. + +"They might be here in a day--and my belief is that there are several +bands much nearer at hand, and that it would be wise to prepare for an +attack without a moment's delay," answered Mr Hayward. + +"Preparations have already been commenced," observed the major; "but I +would urge our friend here to follow your advice." + +"I am glad to hear it," replied Mr Hayward. "From the way the rebels +made their attack on the fort, and the rapidity and order with which +they retreated, it is evident that they are no contemptible foes, +besides which, they have obtained a considerable store of arms. I will +remain to assist you, for my horses could not proceed a mile further; +and I should wish indeed, before I go on, to ascertain the state of the +country to the westward. I fear from the report Tom gave that the +slaves in the whole island are in a state of revolt." + +"In that case our only wise course will be to barricade the house and +throw up such other fortifications as time will allow," said Major +Malcolm. "Mr Twigg, will you give the order to your people to bring in +sufficient planking to close up all doors and windows, and we will then +form a stockade round the house. Rouse up all the hands you can muster; +they must work during the night, by the light of lanterns or torches or +fires, if necessary. I will answer for your safety if the work is +completed in time." + +The worthy planter showed that he was a man of spirit--he immediately +issued the necessary orders, and the overseer, now convinced that the +report of the insurrection was founded on truth, ably seconded him. +Coats were thrown aside, and the carpenter's tools in the house being +collected, each person took such as he could best use, and, as soon as +the wood was brought in, began sawing and nailing away with might and +main. Others went on with the _chevaux-de-frise_, while a third party +dug a trench and began erecting a palisade between it and the house. +Major Malcolm and Lieutenant Belt were everywhere, showing the people +how to put up the palisade and lending a hand to the work. Archie +Sandys was especially active; the planter and Mr Ferris laboured away +with hammer and nails in barricading the windows; while the three +troopers who had accompanied the officers, having cast a sufficient +store of bullets, came out and gave their valuable assistance. Major +Malcolm was too good a soldier to forget the importance of having timely +notice of the approach of a foe, and had directed the overseer to select +four trustworthy negroes, who were sent out to do duty as scouts, with +orders to make their way back the moment they discovered the enemy. + +"Can you entirely trust those fellows?" asked the major, after the men +had been despatched. + +"As to that, sir, I can't be answerable for their not running away, +though I believe that they'll not willingly join the rebels," answered +the overseer. + +"Then we must not depend implicitly on them," said the major. "I must +ask some of the young gentlemen to undertake the duty; Lieutenant Belt +and one of my men will accompany them." + +Archie Sandys, on hearing this, immediately volunteered, as did two +other of the book-keepers. The party made their way for some distance +in the direction it was expected that the rebels would appear; and, +leaving Archie in a sheltered spot, the lieutenant conducted the others +round, posting first one and then the other in positions in which they +could command a view of the different approaches, so that on whatever +side the enemy might come, time would be given to the garrison to +prepare for their reception. All the men who had been collected +continued diligently engaged in erecting the fortifications, and were +thus employed when daylight returned. The works were by this time in a +tolerably forward state, and were of a character well calculated to +resist an attack by an undisciplined and ill-armed force, though they +would have been useless against artillery or well-trained troops. No +one proposed stopping for breakfast, for all saw the importance of +getting the works completed before the arrival of the foe. The house +standing high, and a good view over the country round being obtained +from it, there was no necessity to keep the sentries at their posts +during the daytime. The lieutenant accordingly went out to call them +in. They had seen nothing of the black scouts--as the overseer had +thought probable, they had run away and hidden themselves. They, +however, came back during the morning, each one bringing the same +account--"All right, massa, no enemy come yet." + +"You hid yourselves, you rascals," said Mr Twigg. + +"Ki Massa Twigg, de ossifer tell hide selves," answered one of the +scouts. + +"But you went to sleep, Quasho, into the bargain, I suspect," observed +the planter. + +"If ever shut eyes, hear all de same, massa," replied Quasho, with +perfect coolness. + +It was not a time to inflict punishment if it could be avoided, and the +negroes were ordered to assist at the work going forward. + +It was past noon before the fortifications were completed. They were in +such a form that the enemy attacking any portion would be exposed either +to a flanking or a cross fire. The major surveyed them with evident +satisfaction. + +"Provided our ammunition does not run short, we shall be able to hold +out for a siege of any length against such enemies as are likely to +attack us," he observed to Mr Twigg; "although, as the rebels have not +appeared, I think it possible they may not come at all." + +"I trust not, major; but we shall be deeply indebted to you +notwithstanding," answered the planter. "Now, after your labours, come +in and have some breakfast." + +The major willingly accepted the invitation, and found to his +satisfaction the ladies ready to receive him. Miss Pemberton gave him a +grateful smile, but he thought she still looked anxious. She confessed +that she was so on account of her family. Would she wish to send +assistance to them? he asked. + +"Indeed, I would," she answered; "for, though our house can be more +easily fortified and defended than this can, there are fewer trustworthy +people to form its garrison." + +"Would you wish me to go, Miss Pemberton?" asked the major. "I would," +he added, speaking very low, "run every risk for your sake. I, of +course, would not offer to quit Bellevue unless I considered that it +already possessed a sufficiently strong garrison; indeed, I think it +probable that it will not be attacked, or if it is, that the insurgents +will very quickly retire when they see the preparations we have made for +their reception." + +"Oh, it will indeed greatly relieve my mind if assistance could be +carried to Walton!" exclaimed Fanny. + +"Then I will go, and will leave Belt here with two of our men. Your +brother will, I conclude, wish to accompany me," said the major. + +"So will I," said Mr Hayward, "with my man Tom. We shall not too +greatly weaken the garrison of this place, and we may render essential +assistance to the Pembertons." + +Mr Twigg, though he possibly might rather have kept his friends, could +not object to this proposal, and Major Malcolm immediately desired that +the horses might be got ready. Several white men and mulattoes had come +in from two small plantations in the neighbourhood on hearing of the +rebellion, knowing that it would be hopeless to attempt the defence of +their homes; and three of these, who were well mounted and armed, +volunteered to accompany Major Malcolm and Mr Hayward. Fanny thanked +the major more by her looks than in words, as she bade him farewell. +The party, throwing themselves into their saddles, rode off, setting the +heat at defiance. They had been gone scarcely half an hour when Archie +Sandys, who was doing duty as sentry, and had posted himself on a height +from whence he could command a view of most of the approaches to the +house on the and south, came hurrying in with the information that he +had seen a large body of blacks moving along from the latter direction. +"They looked exactly like a swarm of ants as they came over the hill," +he observed. "Hark! you can already hear the shrill notes of their +horns." + +"Then to arms, my friends!" cried the lieutenant. "We must man our +lines, but don't let a shot be fired till I give the order." + +All arrangements had previously been made; each gentleman having a +certain number of men placed under him, while the two orderlies were to +act as the lieutenant's aides-de-camp. To each party was assigned the +defence of a certain portion of the lines, so that the moment the order +was issued the entire garrison knew where they were to go. +Notwithstanding the absence of Major Malcolm and those who had +accompanied him, they felt secure in their numbers and fortifications. + +The shouts and shrieks of the rebels and the sound of their horns were +now distinctly heard as they hurried on to attack the house, fully +expecting to surround it, and in a few minutes to massacre the +inhabitants, as they had done those of several other pens they had +already attacked, little dreaming of finding it so strongly garrisoned +and fortified. + +"Keep under cover, my men," cried the lieutenant, as the enemy were seen +marching from the wood and running forward without order into the open; +"our fire will stagger them, and probably make them scamper off, if we +reserve it till they come sufficiently near for each man to take a good +aim. Don't throw a bullet away. Aim low, remember--aim low!" + +As the rebel blacks advanced, they discovered that there was something +unusual about the house, and at length began to suspect that it was +fortified in a way to which they were unaccustomed. They accordingly +halted, and were seen talking eagerly to each other, while they held +their muskets pointing towards the building. + +Their leader, whom Archie recognised as the ugly negro he had seen at +the Jumby dance, went among them vociferating loudly, and endeavouring +to induce them to advance. Thus encouraged, they rushed forward, firing +their muskets; many of them, who had put the butts against their eyes, +being knocked over by the recoil as they did so. Some fired at one +moment, some at another, with the greatest possible irregularity, many +of the bullets flying over the house, others striking the roof. + +"Let them expend their ammunition as fast as they like in that style," +cried the lieutenant, laughing; "they will not do us much harm. It is +not worth replying to such a salute." + +The lieutenant's remarks greatly encouraged his men, who waited +patiently to fire in return. + +"Now give it them, my lads!" he at length cried out, when the blacks had +got within fifty yards of the palisade. The order was obeyed, and as +the smoke cleared away the rebels were seen running off at full speed, +leaving five of their number on the field; and from the way others +retreated, leaning on their companions, it was evident that several more +were wounded. They, however, halted immediately they got beyond +gunshot, having no intention, apparently, of retreating altogether. +They were now seen assembled as before, a vast amount of talking taking +place among them, while their leaders rushed hither and thither urging +them to renew the attack. But this it at first seemed they were little +inclined to do; most of them, indeed, sat down on the ground as if +determined not to advance. + +"I believe if we were to sally out and charge them we might put them all +to flight," exclaimed Archie Sandys, who, his Highland blood being up, +was full of fight. + +"Don't attempt anything of the sort," said Lieutenant Belt, who showed +that he possessed the qualities so important for a soldier of coolness +as well as of courage. "We might drive those immediately in our front +before us, but we should have their companions on our flanks and be to a +certainty cut off, or have to fight our way back again. As long as they +keep where they are they can do us no harm." + +It was especially trying to the garrison to see their enemies sitting +down quietly just out of the reach of their bullets, without permission +to attack them. The day was waning, and in all probability the blacks +would make another attack at night, when they would have a better chance +of getting near without being discovered. All the time their cries and +shrieks, and the blowing of their horns, were heard from all sides; then +came the sound of other horns in the distance, which were answered with +loud blasts from the rebels surrounding the house. + +"I am afraid that the rascals have been reinforced," observed Mr Twigg. +"As they increase in numbers they will grow bolder, and we shall have +harder work to drive them off." + +"Don't be anxious about that," answered the lieutenant; "as long as our +men prove true we shall have no difficulty in keeping them at bay, and +we may hope in time that troops will be sent to assist us, as well as +others who may be attacked. I hope that many planters will have wisely +taken the precautions you have done, and fortified their houses." + +"My belief is that Mr Pemberton will have done so," answered Mr +Ferris; "if not, I fear that Major Malcolm will be unable to render him +much assistance." + +Weary from hard work as all the garrison were, they could not venture to +take any rest, except such as they could obtain by sitting with their +backs to the palisades or the wall of the house, with their muskets by +their sides, ready for instant service. Lieutenant Belt, who felt the +responsibility resting on his shoulders, divided the other gentlemen +into two watches, so that one party might be continually going round to +see that the sentries were on the alert. As it was fully expected that +the rebels would make a sudden attack during the dark hours of night, he +himself felt that he must dispense with sleep. + +"I quite envy you," said Archie, who accompanied him. "I wish that I +had been a soldier; this work just suits me." + +"You might soon get tired of it. If it were to become the sole +occupation of your life, you would begin to sigh for rest and long for a +quiet life, I can tell you," was the answer. + +None of the men appeared inclined to sleep at their posts, for they all +well knew that their lives depended on their vigilance. + +After some time had elapsed, several dusky forms could be seen creeping +up towards the house, as if to ascertain what the garrison were about. + +"Keep silence," whispered the lieutenant to the men, as he went his +rounds; "when they get near enough we will show them that we are wide +awake. The blacks can then be picked off by any good marksmen among +you." As he spoke, the lieutenant's voice may have been heard, or the +negroes may have observed the heads of the sentries above the palisades, +for they suddenly disappeared under cover. + +Towards the morning the darkness increased, and the garrison redoubled +their vigilance, every moment expecting an attack, for the rebels might +have got close up to the house without being discovered. + +The ladies, meantime, with the nurses and children, had been placed in +one of the lower rooms, into which it was believed no shot could +penetrate. Mr Ferris had urged them, in case of an attack, to lie +down, so that, should any balls make their way through the planking, +they might pass over their heads. + +"But surely we can help in some way or other," exclaimed Fanny. "We +might load the muskets, even if we do not fire them; and if any of our +defenders are wounded, we will come out and take their places with the +rest." + +"I will do my best, but I do not feel that I could try to kill the poor +blacks," answered Ellen. + +"They deserve to be killed," exclaimed Miss Pemberton, "for daring to +rebel against their masters." She spoke as a planter's daughter. + +"Perhaps we might better employ ourselves in attending to any of our +defenders who are unfortunately wounded," observed Mrs Twigg, who knew +Ellen's sentiments, and did not wish to enter into any discussion on the +subject. + +"I trust that, now they have seen the preparations made for their +reception, the rebels will not attempt to attack the house," said Mr +Ferris. "All I beg you to do is to remain quiet, and to keep up your +spirits. Perhaps in the morning we shall find the blacks have +retreated, and gone off to attack some more defenceless houses. +However, if any of the people are wounded, we will place them under your +care. In the mean time, let me entreat you to lie down and get some +rest." + +Somewhat reassured by his remarks, the ladies followed his advice; and, +except the sentries and the officers on guard, the greater number of the +inmates of the house might have been found fast asleep. Not a sound was +heard throughout the building, nor was a light shown which might attract +the notice of the rebels. Occasionally their voices and the shrill +blasts of their horns could be heard rising out of the valley, but even +the keenest pair of eyes among the garrison failed to detect a single +object moving in any direction. + +Day at length broke, and it was hoped that the enemy might have +disappeared; but as the light increased, the blacks were seen amid the +openings of the trees, collected in still greater numbers than on the +previous evening, while in the far distance parties were observed moving +across the country, some approaching the house, others going in the +direction of Walton. + +"I fear that the major and his companions have had some difficulty in +reaching Mr Pemberton's house," observed Lieutenant Belt to Archie +Sandys. "If he could not get in, he will have gone on to Montego, or +some place to the westward where he might hope to obtain troops to +relieve us." + +"But suppose that he has encountered some such large gang of armed +blacks as those we see out yonder; he and his companions must have been +shot down, for what could so small a party do against a whole host of +enemies?" answered Archie. + +"That depends upon how his followers behave. If they prove staunch and +obey his orders, they may put any number of armed undisciplined blacks +to fight," said the lieutenant. "Still I own that I shall be glad to +have tidings of him. What the fellows round this house intend doing, I +cannot make out; but I conclude that they prefer fighting in daylight +rather than in the dark, and that we must expect to be attacked before +long. In the mean time, I shall be glad to have some breakfast and a +few minutes' sleep. Do you take my place, and let me be called if you +detect the slightest movement among the blacks." Saying this, the +lieutenant went into the house, through the only door which had been +left open. Preparations had also been made for barricading that, should +it become necessary. + +The house, it must be understood, was to form the citadel, should the +outer defences be forced or should there be a prospect of their being +so. With this object in view, loopholes had been formed in all the +doors and windows, from whence a warm fire could be poured down upon the +assailants. Still the rebels did not venture to approach nearer. +Archie and the others began heartily to wish that the blacks would +attack them, not doubting for a moment what would be the result. Hour +after hour went by, but no movement was perceived. Still it could +scarcely be hoped that the rebels had given up all intention of +assaulting the house. + +A stock of provisions had been collected, but there were many mouths to +consume them, and no one had expected that the siege would last beyond a +day or two, as all supposed that, after being defeated in the first +attack, the blacks would take to flight. The consumption of water was +also considerable, and it was found that nearly all had been used up. +The well which supplied it was at some little distance from the house. +Water, however, must be obtained at all hazards. Archie undertook to +lead a party with buckets to get what was wanted: it would be more easy +to do that at night than in the daytime. But thirst can be ill endured +in that burning climate; Archie therefore cried out for a dozen +volunteers, six to carry the buckets, and six, fully armed, to defend +them should they be attacked. The well was little more than a hundred +yards off, while the nearest blacks who could be seen were at the +distance of four hundred yards off at least, but others might be +concealed nearer at hand. + +Six white men, book-keepers and others, volunteered to accompany Archie; +the remainder, who were to carry the buckets, were blacks. They crept +along till they got directly opposite the path which led to the well; +headed by Archie, they at once rushed down towards it. The rebels at +first made no movement, apparently not understanding what they were +about; then some of those in front began to retreat, thinking that they +were to be attacked, and evidently not prepared for this. They soon, +however, discovered the object of the garrison; it showed them also, +what they might not before have been aware of, that there was a scanty +supply of water in the house. Summoned by their leaders, they began to +advance, and as they did so fired at Archie and his companions. In the +mean time, the bucket-bearers had obtained the water, and were +retreating up the hill. + +"Don't fire," cried Archie, "till their bullets come whizzing about our +ears. Steady now!" And his men retreated towards the house, looking +over their shoulders to see how far off the enemy still were. As soon +as the slaves had carried the water safely inside, the armed men turned +round and fired a volley which stopped the advance of the rebels. Then, +making a rush, Archie and his companions leaped over the palisades, the +whole garrison at the same moment opening fire on the advancing enemy, +who, having failed in their object of cutting off the watering party, +took to their heels. + +None of the rebel blacks were killed, though some apparently were hit, +but not one of the garrison was hurt. This was the chief event of the +day. Enough water to last them four and twenty hours at least was +obtained, and Archie proposed getting some more at night, when it could +be done with less risk. Food, however, began to grow scarce; the fresh +meat and fowls had become uneatable, and much anxiety was felt as to the +means of obtaining more provisions. The kitchen garden and the yam +grounds, being at the foot of the hill, were in possession of the +rebels. Of course the garrison was put on an allowance both of food and +water, the ladies setting the example to the rest. They now began to +look out anxiously for relief. The news of the insurrection must have +reached Kingston and the other large towns where soldiers were +quartered; and of course troops, with the militia and even the maroons, +who it was hoped would prove loyal, would at once be despatched to +disperse the rebels. Should Major Malcolm not have reached Walton, but +have made his way to Montego, he would there, it was supposed, take +command of some of the garrison of the fort and the militia, who +mustered in pretty strong numbers, and would quickly return. + +The day was drawing towards its close. The blacks had made no movement, +nor could any friends be seen approaching from the west. The planter +and his overseer and Archie made frequent visits to the roof of the +house, whence they could obtain the most extensive view, and Archie, who +was the last to go up, watched the sun sinking into the west and +darkness come on without having any satisfactory intelligence to give on +his return, he felt more out of spirits than he had ever before done in +his life. Not on his own account, however, for he wished that the +blacks would attack the house, as he was ready to fight to the death, +and felt confident that they would be driven off. He was sincerely +attached to Mr Twigg's family, and he thought of the two young ladies-- +especially of Ellen, to whom he had lost his heart--and dreaded the +hardships to which they all might be exposed; indeed, he could not +conceal from himself that they might be in still more terrible danger +than at present. Lieutenant Belt, who had wisely taken some hours' +sleep, rose refreshed and ready for the work before him. He forthwith +went round among the men, urging them to be on the alert, and telling +them that he fully believed the blacks would make an attack before long. + +"Don't be daunted by their shrieks and cries, my men," he said. "Depend +upon it, they will not stand before a few well-aimed volleys from your +muskets. Don't fire till you get them well in view, and then aim at +their bodies. `Let every bullet have its billet,' and I will answer for +it we shall beat them off." + +The men answered with a cheerful "Ay, sir." + +Still the rebels hung back. Perhaps they guessed that the garrison were +in want of provisions, and had wisely determined to starve them out. +Their proceedings were evidently conducted by chiefs who well understood +the art of savage warfare. Midnight arrived; the faint moon, though it +had lasted longer than on the previous night, had disappeared. Archie +proposed again leading out a party to obtain water, and he was on the +point of starting, when one of the sentries cried out, "The enemy are +coming!" The warning was repeated by others, and a black mass could be +seen stealing up the hill, the men bending low in the hope of escaping +discovery till they had got close up to the fortifications. + +"Don't let them know that we see them," whispered the lieutenant, as he +went round to the men; "the effect will be the greater when they receive +our fire." + +The little garrison stood to their arms. + +Onward marched the insurgents, moving up the hill like a dark wave +rolling slowly forward. They could be clearly distinguished, all +bending low to the ground, as they crossed the more open places exposed +to the bright moonlight. On and on they came, but still not a sign was +shown by the garrison that they were perceived. They must have known, +however, that they could not get close up to the fortifications without +being discovered. Suddenly, at a signal from their leaders, up they +rose to a man, uttering the most terrific shrieks and howls, and, +rushing forward, fired their muskets. Thick as hail the bullets came +rattling against the palisades and the upper portions of the house, some +chipping off splinters from the tops of the timbers, others sticking in +the wood, others penetrating through the interstices. None of the +garrison, however, were killed, but several were slightly wounded, +though not in a way to compel them to leave their posts. + +"Now, give it the rascals!" cried the lieutenant, as the blacks were +within a dozen yards of the palisades. Every man fired, and many of the +blacks were seen struggling back or falling to the ground. Their +companions, excited to fury by the rum they had obtained from some of +the plundered estates, sprang forward without noticing them, shouting +and shrieking and throwing themselves desperately against the +_chevaux-de-frise_, forgetting the hedge of prickly-pear which had been +entwined amidst it. With cries of dismay as the sharp points pierced +their legs and wounded their hands, they fell back in spite of the +efforts of their chiefs to urge them on, thus giving the garrison time +to reload. + +"Now fire at them, my lads, and the day is ours," cried the lieutenant. +His men obeyed the order, and once more the negroes rushed away +helter-skelter, nor would listen to the entreaties of their leaders to +stop till they reached the bottom of the hill. "I think we have done +for them this time," exclaimed Lieutenant Belt, in a tone of exultation. +The same opinion was expressed by most of the garrison. + +"There are some desperate fellows among them, or they would not have +come on in the way they have already done," observed the overseer. + +Many of the slaves had lately been imported from Africa, and were likely +to pursue their native mode of fighting, which, it was too probable, +would enable them to obtain that success which they had hitherto failed +to gain. A short time passed away, during which the blacks maintained a +perfect silence. It was hoped by many within the house that they were +about to retreat, when lights were seen suddenly to burst forth along +the whole line, and gradually to approach. It appeared at first as if a +dark wall was rising out of the valley, but this shortly resolved itself +into huge faggots carried at the end of poles. Between every two or +three of the faggots was seen a torch, too evidently for the purpose of +kindling the wood. + +"Good heavens! they are going to try and set our fortifications on fire, +and the house also, I fear, if they can," exclaimed Mr Twigg. + +"And they will succeed too, I am afraid," said the overseer gloomily. +"I was sure they had some accursed trick in contemplation." + +"What do you advise, Lieutenant Belt?" asked Mr Ferris, who remained +more collected than any one else. + +"We must make a sortie and drive them back before they reach our lines," +answered the lieutenant. "I will lead it myself, and I am sure I shall +not want followers." + +Archie was the first volunteer, and nearly a dozen more white men +immediately sprang forward. Not a moment was to be lost. + +"Come on, my lads," cried the lieutenant. "We must make our sortie by +the outlet leading to the well. We will then get round and attack them +on the flank; and, remember, the remainder of the garrison must keep up +a hot fire as they come on at the rest of the line, aiming at the black +fellows' bodies, not at their faggots, which they will hold before them +as shields." + +Saying this, he led out his brave band of followers, Archie keeping +close to him. They had got within sixty yards or so from the blacks +before they were perceived, when, firing their muskets--the garrison, +meantime, not neglecting their duty, but blazing rapidly away--they drew +their cutlasses and threw themselves fiercely on the enemy. So little +did the negroes appear to expect the attack that they threw down their +bundles of wood, to which their torches, let drop at the same time, set +fire, and retreated in confusion. As they ran off, they encountered +another well-armed party of their friends, who were coming up the hill, +either to support them or to attempt carrying the fortification by +assault during the confusion they expected the blazing stockades would +produce. On seeing the white men before them, they fired a volley. +Instead of running away, however, they still advanced boldly up the +hill. + +"Load, my lads, and meet them bravely," cried the lieutenant--"you have +time for it--but do not retreat, or we are lost." As he spoke, Archie, +who was near him, heard the thud of a bullet, and had just time to catch +the brave young officer in his arms before he fell. + +"We must not let these savages get hold of him," exclaimed Archie to his +companions, taking the lieutenant up on his back. "You keep the enemy +in check, and I will carry him to the house." + +He instantly did as he proposed, the blacks shouting and shrieking after +him as he ran, but not daring to advance farther, while the rest of the +party, loading and firing as they retreated--the garrison at the same +time redoubling their fire--kept the enemy in check, and Archie +succeeded in bringing in the wounded officer. The intention of the +blacks was thus frustrated; for, though most of the faggots were blazing +away, they were at a safe distance from the house. + +The lieutenant was carried into a room and laid on a bed, where Mrs +Twigg and Martha immediately came and examined his wound. It was in the +shoulder, and though the sudden pain had made him drop, as far as they +could judge, it did not appear to be serious. He soon recovered after +taking a stimulant. He begged them to bind up his shoulder that he +might go forth and resume his command. The operation was soon +performed, and as he again appeared he was received with warm +congratulations. The other people who had been hurt had also gone in to +have their wounds dressed. Happily none had been killed, +notwithstanding the number of bullets fired at them. + +Every one now believed that the blacks would abandon their enterprise, +but, though foiled so frequently, no signs could be perceived of their +retreating. They had managed to carry off those of their number who had +been killed, and were now bewailing their loss in African fashion, with +shrieks and cries which came up sounding mournfully from the valley +below. + +"I think we have given the rebels a lesson, and need no longer fear an +attack," observed Mr Ferris. + +"We must not make too sure yet," said the overseer. "Had we only +island-born blacks to deal with, the case would be different; but there +are a lot of Coromantees, the most savage of the African people, who are +at the bottom of all this, and they will fight like tiger-cats as long +as life remains in them. They won't be satisfied, if they can have +their will, till they burn us and the house in a heap. They will try it +again, or I am much mistaken." + +The events which have just been described occupied but a few short +minutes. The blazing faggots went out without setting fire to the +plantations, of which there was imminent risk, and all was again quiet. +Even the blacks had ceased shrieking and howling. Though the garrison +had hitherto been successful, if they were to hold out for a protracted +siege more water and food must be procured, and again Archie Sandys +volunteered to obtain both. By taking due precautions he was able to +lead a party down to the well, and to get back without being discovered +by the rebels. In another direction, and rather further from the house, +was a plantation of yams. A few basketfuls would afford subsistence to +all the party for a day or more. Of course, rather than starve, they +must kill one of the horses which were tethered at the back of the house +within the lines. The companions of Archie's previous expedition +volunteered to accompany him, but he considered it more prudent to take +only the blacks, who might dig up the roots and carry them in, while he +stood sentinel to warn them to fly should they be discovered. + +"You're a brave fellow," said Lieutenant Belt, "and I wish you success, +but I tell you I think your expedition a hazardous one." + +"Nothing worth having is to be obtained without trouble," answered +Archie. "I have a good pair of legs, and can jump a fence with any one. +The food must be procured, and I will get it if I can; only, should I +be pursued, cover me with your fire, but take care none of our people +shoot me or any of my companions." + +Saying this, Archie set out, followed by his six blacks, carrying +baskets and spades. He had his cutlass by his side, a brace of pistols +in his belt, and his musket in his hand. As there was ample shelter +down to the yam ground, the lieutenant hoped that his friend would not +be discovered. One thing was very certain, that, should the enemy come +upon them, the slaves would scamper away in all directions, and very +likely make their escape. + +Before Archie set out, every man had been stationed at his post, to be +ready for the rebels should they approach. They stood anxiously waiting +his return. At length one of the slaves appeared, loaded with a basket +of yams; a second and a third followed, and they repelled that Massa +Sandys had made them fill one basket at a time, and had sent them off so +as at all events to secure some. They were looking out for a fourth +man, when two people were seen rushing up the hill without baskets on +their heads. A third followed, but scarcely was he visible, when a shot +was heard and he dropped to the ground. + +"We must go and rescue Mr Sandys," cried the lieutenant; "he must have +fallen into the hands of the rebels." + +"If so, the poor fellow is dead by this time," said the overseer. + +The report of the two blacks who now came tended to confirm this latter +opinion. A party of negroes had suddenly sprung out from a neighbouring +cover as they had just got their baskets on their heads to come away, +when, throwing down their loads, they had made off, though the +hindermost had been nearly caught; and it was more than probable that +Mr Sandys, who was stopping to cover their retreat, had been unable to +escape. This was the saddest event which had hitherto occurred, and all +sincerely grieved for his loss. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +MAJOR MALCOLM PROCEEDS TOWARDS WALTON HALL--SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES-- +THE PARTY CUT THEIR WAY THROUGH THE REBELS AND GAIN THE HOUSE-- +PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK--THE REBELS ATTEMPT TO STORM THE HOUSE WITH +LADDERS AND FIREBRANDS--BEATEN BACK--AN EXPEDITION TO FOLLOW THE +REBELS--MAJOR MALCOLM AND HIS PARTY SET OUT--JACK PEMBERTON TRIES TO +REACH BELLEVUE--FINDS IT STILL BESIEGED--RETREATS--QUASHIE SENT WITH A +MESSAGE TO BELLEVUE--SUCCEEDS IN GETTING IN--A NOVEL FLAG OF DISTRESS +HOISTED--A FIERCE ATTACK MADE ON THE HOUSE--THE STOCKADES SET ON FIRE-- +BLACKS AGAIN DRIVEN BACK--CUDJOE OFFERS TO ABANDON THE SIEGE IF THE +OVERSEER IS GIVEN UP--AMMUNITION OF THE DEFENDERS ALMOST EXHAUSTED--THE +OVERSEER SHOT--ANOTHER FIERCE ATTACK MADE BY THE BLACKS ON THE HOUSE. + +Major Malcolm, influenced by the admiration he felt for Fanny +Pemberton--if a deeper feeling had not already inspired him--had set out +from Bellevue for the purpose of warning her family of the danger to +which they were exposed, and, if he found it necessary, remaining to +assist in their defence. He had intended, immediately he could do so, +to ride on to Montego, to bring up such forces as he could collect, and +to disperse the rebels wherever they could be found; but from the +information his companions gained as they rode along, that large bands +of rebels were already in arms in the intermediate country, he feared +that he should be unable to force his way through them unless with a +stronger party than he now had with him. He was acting according to his +judgment for the best. He certainly could, not leave his friends at +Bellevue without as soon as possible sending them assistance, while most +of his present companions were bound to go on to Walton with young +Pemberton. As they pushed forward as fast as their horses could go, +they frequently caught sight of negroes, three and four together, who +invariably ran away from them. A few old men and women in a great state +of alarm were, however, found in the villages. They said that the +younger men had run off to hide themselves, asserting that they were +afraid of the rebels. But it seemed doubtful whether such was the case, +or whether they had gone to join them. Jack Pemberton, who acted as +guide, now told the major that they were approaching Walton Hall, and +pointed out a house situated on an eminence, the ground sloping round +it. On one side, up which the road led to the front door, the ascent +was more gradual than on the others. + +"I am in great hopes, sir, that the rebel negroes, notwithstanding what +we heard, have not got here yet," said Jack Pemberton. "If they have we +must look out for them, for they cannot be far off, and we shall see +them as soon as we have passed this wood." + +He led the way to the left round a grove of tall trees, when, in an open +space which intervened between the wood and the foot of the hill on +which the house stood, a large body of blacks were seen marshalling +their forces, evidently preparing to attack the place. The party of +horsemen were soon discovered, and the negroes, three or four hundred in +number at least, faced about, and seeing a few white men, with their +usual shrieks and shouts advanced to attack them. + +"Now, my friends," exclaimed the major calmly, "we must cut our way +through these fellows. Trust to your swords, keep close together, and +follow me. Forward!" and putting spurs to his horse, he dashed on. In +another minute he was up to the black mass; and striking right and left +with his sword, he quickly cleared a broad way for his companions, who, +following close at his heels, had scarcely to use their weapons. A few +shots only were fired at them, as the band apparently had but a small +supply of muskets or pistols. The trooper brought up the rear, and as +he saw the blacks attempting to close on him, quickly again drove them +back. + +"On! on!" shouted the major, "make your horses breast the hill, and we +shall soon be under shelter." + +Before the negroes had recovered from their astonishment the whole party +were up the hill, and the doors being thrown open by those within, who +saw their approach, they forced the horses up the broad steps into the +house. Here they were of course heartily welcomed by the planter and +his family. + +His first question was for his daughter. "We have had dreadful reports +about Bellevue, that it was about to be attacked by the whole army of +insurgents; and I was on the point of setting off to assist our friends, +when those fellows down there made their appearance," said Mr +Pemberton, a portly, handsome-looking man with a bald head. + +The major replied that he had done his best to place the house in a +state of defence, and, as no enemy had appeared, that he had come at the +request of Miss Pemberton to the relief of Walton, which it was also +reported was to be attacked. + +"I am afraid, however, as the rebels have favoured us with a visit, that +the rumour with regard to Bellevue is also likely to prove true," said +Mr Pemberton, after warmly expressing his gratitude to Major Malcolm. +"But with your assistance we can easily beat off our assailants. The +house has stout walls, and we have, as you see, barricaded the windows +and doors. We are amply provisioned, and have a supply of ammunition, +so that we can hold out during a long siege should the insurgents +venture to remain in our neighbourhood, which is not, I think, likely. +But perhaps, major, as a soldier, you will think fit to look round the +house, and see if we have left any weak points unguarded." + +"Very willingly," was the answer; and the planter led his visitor +through the building. + +The front of the house was well fortified, but when they arrived at the +back premises Major Malcolm pointed out more than one place through +which a subtle enemy might easily find an entrance during the hours of +darkness. + +"See," he observed, "they might make their way along under the shelter +of that wall and reach this window and door, which might easily be +forced with a few strokes of a roughly constructed battering-ram. I +don't know if these negroes have sense to use such an engine of war, but +the knaves with whom I had to do in India would very certainly have made +the attempt." + +The place pointed out was accordingly more strongly barricaded, and the +major suggested a few other improvements. + +"I feel satisfied," he said at length, "that you are perfectly secure as +long as your provisions and ammunition hold out. My only regret is that +Miss Pemberton did not accompany us. She was more anxious about you +than about herself, as we fully believed that Bellevue was sufficiently +well fortified to resist any attack the rebels are likely to make +against it." + +The worthy planter was much pleased with Major Malcolm, and especially +grateful to him for coming to his assistance and bringing back his son. + +Of course a watch was kept on the movements of the rebels, sentinels +being stationed on the roof at each side of the house to give due notice +of their nearer reproach. They showed no disposition to attack it +during the daytime. It was naturally expected, however, that they would +do so at night, should they entertain any hope of success. It was +difficult otherwise to account for their remaining in the neighbourhood. + +Major Malcolm expressed his wish to continue his journey, and Mr +Hayward was anxious to accompany him, that they might carry out their +intention of collecting all the available military and militia for the +purpose of attacking the rebels wherever they could be met with. Mr +Pemberton, as might be supposed, was desirous of retaining them. + +"My dear sir," he observed, "it is a very different thing to cut your +way up to a fortress in the gallant style you did, and to force a road +through an enemy on leaving it. In the one case, you at once gain +shelter, and in the other are open to the pursuit of the foe. Your +party, too, will be diminished, and you may be surrounded by +overwhelming numbers, in contending with whom the most determined +bravery will not avail." + +Major Malcolm saw the force of this reasoning, and agreed to remain till +the following morning. Besides the book-keepers, overseers, drivers, +and other free persons employed on the estate who formed the garrison of +the house, there were several guests, planters and their families, from +the neighbouring small properties, who had come to Walton for +protection, knowing that they could not hold out should they be attacked +in their own houses. They all brought rumours of the massacre of +numerous families of whites. On still more distant estates one or two +like Mr Hayward had narrowly escaped with their lives. Notwithstanding +this, when they all assembled round Mr Pemberton's hospitable board, +few of them looked like people who had been exposed to fearful danger, +and were at any moment liable to have to fight with a savage foe. Some +of them, it is true, uttered threats of bitter vengeance on the heads of +the villainous slaves, as they called the blacks; but they passed the +bottle freely, and talked, and even laughed, as if nothing special was +happening. + +Major Malcolm was surprised at their apparent indifference to danger. + +"_Carpe diem_ is my motto," observed a jovial, bald-headed gentleman, +who sat next to him. "It does not do to think too much of to-morrow. +`Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.' Of course our pockets +will suffer, but the rebellion will be quickly put down, and all things +will come right in the end." + +"I only hope so," observed the major; but he thought to himself, "If you +were to treat your slaves justly, and do your utmost to instruct them, +there would be less fear of outbreaks for the future." He did not say +this aloud, however, for he saw that his neighbour was not in a mood to +listen calmly to such a remark. + +Major Malcolm was more pleased with the lady of the house than with any +of her guests. He had a good deal of conversation with her, the most +interesting subject being her daughter, of whom she was justly proud, +and she expatiated on her perfections with all a mother's fondness. He +won the good opinion both of his host and hostess, who begged that he +would again favour them with a visit on the first opportunity, when they +hoped that the country would be restored to peace. + +The evening passed away quietly. So little was an attack expected that +some of the guests proposed retiring to their rooms. + +"You will run the risk, my friends, of being roused up in an unpleasant +manner," said their host in a warning voice; "the very silence of the +rebels is, I suspect, ominous of their evil intentions." + +Major Malcolm agreed with him, and advised that a vigilant watch should +be kept, offering to take command of the fortress. Jack begged that he +might be allowed to act as his aide-de-camp. Like a good officer as he +was, the major made frequent rounds of the house, seeing that the +sentries kept a good look-out, and again examining every portion of the +building to assure himself that no point remained unguarded through +which an enemy might force his way. He went also, occasionally, on the +roof, whence he could command an extensive view over the country. On +each occasion he turned his glance especially in the direction of +Bellevue, though he discovered nothing to cause him anxiety. He was +about to descend, when, as he looked down into the valley, it appeared +to him that a number of dark objects were creeping up the hill. He +watched them till he was convinced that they were men. + +Slowly and cautiously they came along. He had no longer any doubt that +the house was about to be attacked. He hurried down and, going from +room to room, warned the defenders to be prepared, while he sent Jack +Pemberton to other parts of the building. As he looked out through a +loophole on the side which the rebels were approaching, he saw that +several carried ladders, and others bundles of firewood, though, for +fear of betraying themselves, they had no lighted torches. + +"Mr Pemberton," he said to his young aide-de-camp, "tell the people to +aim at the fellows with the ladders, and not to trouble themselves about +the others--they can do no harm. The moment a man touches a ladder, +shoot him down. Say those are my orders--they must be obeyed." + +The importance of the advice was soon evident. The insurgents, knowing +that they must be discovered, now rushed forward, uttering fierce +shrieks and yells. As they did so they lifted up the ladders with the +intention of placing them against the walls, their object being +evidently to throw the brands on the roof and set it in flames. Without +waiting for further orders, the defenders fired, and every man carrying +a ladder was shot down. Others took their places, most of whom shared +the same fate; but one succeeded in fixing his ladder, a dozen others +following fast at his heels, and instantly began to ascend. + +Scarcely, however, had the first got half-way up, carrying a torch in +his hand, than a shot struck him. He fell headlong among his +companions. Another, notwithstanding, made the attempt, followed by a +third; but they both met with the same fate, being exposed to the aim of +the two best marksmen in the fortress, the rest of the assailants in the +mean time firing away, aiming at the loopholes and roof. As few of them +had before handled muskets, their bullets flew wide of the mark, while +the garrison kept pouring down a continual fire among them. Even more +experienced troops might have retired before such a reception. + +The blacks showed the most desperate courage, and it was some time +before they discovered that their attempt was hopeless. A few of them, +indeed, again endeavoured to place the ladders against the wall, but as +all of those who did so were shot, the rest, finding that so many of +their companions had fallen, were seized with a panic and began to rush +down the hill. The braver fellows among them lifted the slain and +wounded, and, in spite of the bullets which flew about their ears, +carried them off. + +"If all the insurgents behave as these rascals have done it will be no +easy task to subdue them," observed Major Malcolm to his host. + +Not a single person in the house had been injured, but they could not +help acknowledging that the case would have been very different had they +met the insurgents in the open field, for it would have been no easy +task to drive back a host of savages who displayed the desperate courage +their assailants had done, as Major Malcolm was afterwards to find. + +No one expected that another attack would be made during the night, but +of course a watch was kept as before, though many of the gentlemen threw +themselves on the cane sofas and chairs, or went to sleep on the ground +overcome with fatigue. + +The next morning, when daylight enabled them to discern objects at a +distance, not a black could be seen. Jack Pemberton and several other +young men, on this, volunteered to go out and ascertain if the rebels +had really retreated. They had been gone for some time, and fears began +to be entertained that they had been cut off. However, they at length +were seen coming up the hill. They gave the satisfactory report that +not a black was to be discovered in the neighbourhood. "In what +direction have they gone?" asked Major Malcolm. They had not thought of +making any observations on the subject. "Then I must beg you and a few +of your friends to accompany me that we may ascertain the point," he +said. Jack would go with the greatest pleasure. + +They set out, and in a short time Major Malcolm expressed his opinion +that they had gone northward, in the direction of Bellevue. He returned +to the house and begged Mr Pemberton to allow him to take as many +volunteers as he could obtain, that he might push his way on to Montego, +to gather as large a force as could be collected, in order to attack the +rebels without delay. Mr Hayward assured him that it would be hopeless +to gain assistance in any other direction, as from certain information +he had obtained the whole of the intermediate country was in a state of +rebellion. Jack was very eager to go, but this his father would not +allow. Six other young men, for whom horses could be provided, +volunteered, and they, with the major's servant and Mr Hayward's +follower, made up a party of ten. + +After a hurried breakfast they set off, and were seen from the house +galloping rapidly to the westward. + +The remainder of the day passed off quietly. Not a negro was seen +moving about in the neighbourhood of the house, and, except that here +and there blackened patches showed that the cane-fields had been visited +by the ruthless bands of the insurgents, there were no signs visible of +the fearful rebellion raging throughout the country. Mr Pemberton, +however, had become very anxious to obtain news from Bellevue, for +although Major Malcolm had assured him that the house was well +fortified, he was alarmed at hearing that the blacks who had so fiercely +assaulted Walton had gone off in that direction. Bellevue, from its +position and the character of the house, was less capable of offering an +effectual resistance to a determined attack than Walton, and should the +rebel slaves have resolved on its destruction, he dreaded lest they +might by persevering attacks accomplish their object. + +On going to the roof of the house he could see, both to the northward +and eastward, dense columns of smoke ascending to the blue sky--too +clear evidence that the insurgents had possession of the country, and +were burning the plantations and residences of the settlers. Several of +his guests thus witnessed the destruction of their homes and property, +while they gave vent to their bitter feelings by uttering threats of +vengeance, though they had ample cause to be thankful that they had +escaped with their lives. + +Proposals were made by the more daring to sally forth and disperse the +rebels, but the greater number thought it wiser to remain in a place of +safety. Mr Pemberton himself was unwilling to leave the house without +defenders, lest some fresh bands, discovering that it was unguarded, +might visit it during his absence. + +No news had come from Bellevue, and at length his son Jack and three +other men volunteered to make their way very cautiously in that +direction and ascertain the state of affairs. If the rebel slaves were +attacking the house, or were in the neighbourhood, so that they could +not approach it without the risk of being cut off, they were to return; +but if not, they had leave to go on and visit their friends, and report +that all had gone well at Walton. + +"Remember, my lads, you are to be cautious and not expose yourselves to +the risk of losing your lives by getting between the savages and the +road by which you can retreat to this house. Discretion, in this case, +is the better part of valour. By the time you return we may perhaps +have obtained further assistance, and we will then, if Bellevue is +really besieged, do our best to go to the relief of our friends. The +slaves are, I suspect, especially bent on revenging themselves on +Thompson, the overseer, who is looked upon by them as a hard man and a +severe taskmaster, though our friend Twigg thinks well of him, and is +satisfied with his management of the estate. A slave who has become one +of their leaders--Cudjoe, I am told by our people, is his name--was +flogged some time back by Thompson, and the savage has ever since +threatened to revenge himself on the overseer. This makes me fear that +they will persevere longer than under other circumstances they might +have done, but if our friends at Bellevue can hold out it will be an +advantage, by occupying the slaves who would otherwise have been roaming +through the country and devastating other estates. You may, Jack, if +you have an opportunity, warn Thompson to beware of Cudjoe when the rest +of the slaves have been again brought under subjection, for the savage +is not likely to forego his desire of vengeance, even should the +overseer escape at this time." + +These remarks were made while Jack was preparing for his expedition. He +promised strictly to obey his father's directions. + +He and his friends, well armed, forthwith set out. They were all +spirited young men, who had been educated in England, but had been long +enough in the country to be well acquainted with its ways, and had also +been accustomed to field sports. They were thus admirably suited for +the task they had undertaken. Well aware of the danger they were +running, they advanced cautiously, keeping as much as possible under +cover of the hedges and trees, and looking out well ahead that they +might not suddenly come upon the enemy. They had wisely agreed to keep +shoulder to shoulder, or back to back, as the case might be, should they +be attacked, and being stout-hearted and confident in the use of their +weapons, they had little doubt that they should be able to beat back any +number of assailants. + +The sun struck down with tremendous force in the open places they had to +pass, but they were lightly clad, with thick straw hats on their heads, +and none of them cared much for the heat. When passing across the open +country they pushed on rapidly, but moved forward more leisurely in the +shade. As they avoided the villages, they met no one. The whole +country indeed had, it seemed, suddenly become a desert. They wished to +avoid falling in with any slaves who might give notice to the rebels of +their whereabouts, and also had resolved not to rely on any reports they +might hear, but to trust only to their own observations. + +It took them nearly two hours, from the circuitous route they followed, +to reach the neighbourhood of Bellevue. They now proceeded more +cautiously. All seemed quiet. No shots were heard, and they began to +hope that they should reach their friends without difficulty. + +"We must not trust to appearances, however," observed Jack. "The rebels +may possibly be investing the house, and, judging from our own +experience, they may yet not venture to attack it in the daytime. You +lie down under these bushes while I creep forward, as from the top of +this rise I shall get a sight of Bellevue, and be able to ascertain more +accurately the state of affairs." + +Saying this, while his companions followed his advice, Jack made his way +to the top of the hill, bending low, that should any of the enemy be +posted in the intermediate valley, he might run less risk of being seen. +At length the house came in view. All seemed quiet around it, but he +was still not perfectly satisfied. He advanced a little further towards +a bush, through the branches of which he could see into the valley +without exposing himself. As he bent aside the boughs with the barrel +of his musket to look through them more easily, he caught sight of a +number of black heads moving here and there some five or six hundred +yards below him. There could be no doubt that they were rebels, and +that they were, after their fashion, laying siege to the house. + +Presently he saw a party issue from the stockades, and he thought even +at that distance he could recognise Archie Sandys. The leaders were +white men, and were followed by several blacks with buckets on their +heads. He at once divined their object. For some time, apparently, +they were not discovered by the rebels, but presently one of the latter, +doing duty as a sentinel in advance of the rest, saw what was taking +place. He giving notice to the others, a number of them started forth, +and, dashing up the hill, began firing away at the white men. Jack +witnessed the gallant way in which Archie defended his followers, and +had the satisfaction of seeing them regain their fortifications without +any of them apparently being wounded. + +While this scene was being enacted, as the rebels' eyes were turned +toward the house, he was able, without much risk, to creep forward and +get a more complete view of their position. + +"We should not have the slightest chance of getting in, that's very +certain," he said to himself; "but if we remain here, we shall run a +great risk of being caught." And, not without some fear that he might +be seen by the blacks, who now covered the opposite hill, he hurried +back to his friends. + +They agreed with him that the sooner they were off the better, but that +if they could collect a sufficient force of white men and trustworthy +mulattoes, they might without difficulty out their way through the +undisciplined band of savages, with some prospect also of putting them +to flight. + +"In my opinion, if they are attacked in a determined way, they will very +quickly take to their heels," said Jack. + +Their return occupied a shorter time than they had before taken, for, as +they cared less for being seen, they were able to follow the highroad. +On their way, about a mile distant from Walton, they passed through a +village which appeared to be entirely deserted. Looking into one of the +huts, however, they saw a boy of about twelve years old sitting on the +ground, crying and looking very miserable. + +"What is the matter?" asked Jack, who recognised him as the son of one +of the Walton slaves. + +"Me out in de fields, and when come back find fader gone, me not know +where, but s'pose rebels take him away to kill him, for dey kill +eberybody else who not get off and hide," answered the boy, who was +evidently an unusually intelligent little fellow. + +"Well, Quashie," said Jack, who was kind-hearted as well as brave, "you +had better come along with us, and we will take care of you till father +comes back--as I hope he will. Where is your mother?" + +"Mother lib wid Massa Twigg--she call Martha," he answered. + +"Oh, then I know her. She nurses the children. All right, Quashie. +Cheer up; you shall have something to eat as soon as we get back," said +Jack. + +Quashie started up, and accompanied the young gentleman without further +questioning. + +Glad as Mr Pemberton was to get his son and young friends back again, +he was made very anxious on hearing of the state of affairs at Bellevue. + +"The rebels are evidently bent on taking the place, and from the +desperate character I hear of Cudjoe, I fear that he will not give up +the enterprise as long as he has a hope of success," said Mr Pemberton. + +The matter was talked over by himself and the other planters. Before +any desperate enterprise was undertaken to afford relief to their +friends, it was important to ascertain how much they required it. + +"I will try what can be done by means of Quashie, the boy Jack just now +brought in," said Mr Pemberton. "He would make his way where a man +would fail; and as his mother is a slave of the Twiggs, he can, I should +think, be trusted, for I will let him understand she will be benefited +as well as her master and mistress." + +"A good idea, perhaps. Not that I fancy these slaves have any natural +affection," observed one of the party. + +"I do not agree with you there, my friend," observed Mr Pemberton. +"Both fathers and mothers are very fond of their children in their way; +and I will answer for it that Quashie will manage to carry any message +we may send, and bring back an answer safely." + +Quashie being called, he without hesitation undertook to do what was +required of him. He begged only that he might take his own time and +mode of proceeding, and grinned when some one remarked that he might be +caught by the rebels. + +"Me git in and me come back, neber fear," he answered. + +The only question was how to send a note. Mrs Pemberton proposed +writing what was necessary, and, the paper being rolled up tightly and +covered with black stuff, to conceal it among his thick crop of woolly +hair. "Were he caught, the rebels might search him thoroughly and not +discover it in the way that I will manage," she said. + +Quashie was perfectly content with the proposal, and was evidently proud +of the confidence placed in him. He confessed that he had heard of the +intended outbreak, and had given his mother the information which she +had sent to her master and mistress. + +Quashie, having had a good supper, declared that he should be ready to +set out that night if required; but as it was hoped that during the next +day a plan might be organised more effectually to help their friends +than could be then done, it was agreed that it would be better to wait +till the following evening. From Jack's report they were at present, at +all events, in no distress, and were likely to hold out against any +attack. + +Another night went by, and the next morning Jack and his companions +expressed their wish to set off again to ascertain how their friends at +Bellevue were getting on; but Mr Pemberton would not allow them to go. +The risk, he said, was far too great for the advantage to be obtained. +They could render no assistance, and would run a great chance of falling +into the hands of the rebels and being put to death. In the course of +the day, he hoped that Major Malcolm, with some troops, or at all events +a body of militia, would appear, and that their first task would be to +attack the rebels besieging Bellevue and relieve their friends. In that +case, it would not be safe to leave Walton without a garrison, as the +fugitives, if they found it unguarded as they made their way to the +mountains, would to a certainty in revenge destroy it. "We must wait +patiently till the evening, and then Quashie shall go and bring us word +what they are about," he added. He spoke with more confidence perhaps +than he felt, yet on one point he had made up his mind, that he would +not allow his son to run the risk of losing his life. + +The day drew drearily on. The feelings of the ruined inmates of the +mansion can better be imagined than described. Their friends +slaughtered, their crops and houses destroyed, and their slaves (the +most valuable part of their possessions) in revolt, and, if not killed, +possibly never again to be reclaimed--what the future had in store for +them no one could say. The more confident asserted that the rebellion +would quickly be quelled, but others thought that the slaves, joined by +the maroons and other free coloured and black people, might overrun the +country, and compel all the whites who might escape slaughter to quit it +for ever. + +Mr Pemberton laughed at such a notion. "Depend on it, as soon as the +troops and militia can be collected, the slaves will fly from them as +chaff before the wind, or will, if they resist, to a man be cut to +pieces," he observed. "It will be a bad look-out for us, I confess, for +we shall become bankrupt; but our estates will remain, and we must +procure fresh labourers from other countries, Irish or Germans, who +would stand the climate almost as well as blacks, and do twice as much +work." + +Though the worthy planter talked and went about trying to keep up the +spirits of others, he felt his own sinking when darkness came on, and no +troops appeared. + +Quashie was sent for, and Mrs Pemberton secured the note, done up, as +proposed, in his woolly head. She had written it at her husband's +dictation, in a small, delicate hand, so that it occupied little more +space than a quill. + +It mentioned Major Malcolm's arrival, the attack and defence of the +house, the flight of the rebels, the fact that the major had gone to +collect troops who might be expected every hour, Jack's visit to the +neighbourhood of Bellevue, and his having witnessed Archie's expedition +to obtain water. "We conclude," it continued, "that you are well able +to hold out; but if not, send us word, and, should the military fail to +arrive, we will make an expedition to your relief, and will advise you +to sally forth and cut your way through the savages. They will not for +a moment stand our united attack, and there will be but little or no +danger in the undertaking. We cannot leave Walton unprotected, but we +can muster twenty well-armed men. Be prepared, and directly you see our +signal--a flag flying on the top of the hill--dash out of the house, +with the women and children in your centre. Should the rebels threaten +to attack you, we will charge down upon them; if not, we will be ready +to protect your retreat, and keep the savages at bay till you have got +to a safe distance. I propose this in the possibility of your not +having a sufficient store of provisions, or being unable to obtain water +to stand a long siege. We have an ample supply of food for several +weeks. Our love to Fanny. We were much pleased with Major Malcolm, who +appears to be greatly struck by her." + +Quashie evidently felt the importance of the message confided to him, +and was proportionately proud. + +"Neber fear, massa, I git into de house and out again, and no one see +me," he said, strutting about after the note had been concealed in the +top of his woolly pate. "Look here, massa, you no see it now, or neber +anybody else till moder get it." + +"Well, then, away you go, my boy, and a dollar shall be yours when you +come back," said Mr Pemberton. + +"Ki! dat's good," exclaimed Quashie, eager to be off. + +The planter took him down to a back-door, by which he let him out that +he might creep away, lest any prowling foe might be watching the house; +not that there was much risk of that, or Jack and his friends would not +have performed their expedition so securely. + +Quashie ran on along the well-accustomed road till he got near his own +village, when, taking off the few clothes he wore, he did them up in a +bundle and stowed them away in the hollow of a tree to be ready for his +return, leaving only a piece of black stuff round his waist, with which +Mrs Pemberton had supplied him at his request. The sharpest of eyes +only could have detected Quashie as he crept along under the hedges: he +felt confident there was very little risk of his being discovered. Few +of his age could outstrip Quashie, and making good use of his legs, he +got over the ground in a third of the time Jack Pemberton had taken to +accomplish the distance. He now moved more cautiously, stopping to +listen every now and then for the sound of voices which might warn him +of the whereabouts of the rebels. + +At first he began to fancy that they must have decamped. Creeping down +the hill, he suddenly found himself close to a group of men lying +stretched on the ground fast asleep, while as he peered over a bush he +observed others in the same position. He stole silently back, making +his way to the left at a cautious distance from the besieging force, if +they could be dignified by such a title. Presently, again he drew near, +looking out for some opening in their line through which he might make +his way, but they appeared to have extended themselves so as completely +to encircle the house. Again and again he got up close to the line; +still he was not to be daunted. He had undertaken to get through them, +and he intended by some means or other to do so. Suddenly he heard a +shot, followed by several others. The blacks close to him started to +their feet, and hurried off in the direction from whence the shot came. + +Now was his opportunity. He darted forward down the hill, springing up +the opposite declivity like a hunted hare, at the same time keeping his +body almost bent to the ground; and before he was perceived, he was +close to the _chevaux-de-frise_. In vain, however, he endeavoured to +find his way through it. The garrison were too much occupied with what +was going forward on the other side of the house to observe him; indeed, +his small, black, lithe body could scarcely have been perceived. He ran +on like a mouse, looking for a hole through which to escape, and +considering whether he should not cry out for assistance and ask to be +taken in. At last he got to an opening, and in he darted, just as two +men rushed up from the lower ground, no one in the darkness perceiving +him. As soon as the men were in the inside, several persons filled up +the gap, and he made his way undiscovered within the palisades and +through the door of the house. + +The first person he met was Martha, who had come out to learn what was +going forward. Their delight was mutual. Tears streamed from the eyes +of his mother as she pressed him to her heart. The planter who had +lately expressed an opposite opinion would have acknowledged that the +slaves, degraded as they were, were capable of human affection. + +His errand was soon told, and Martha, proud of his performance, took him +to her master, who was naturally very much surprised at seeing him. + +"I bring message from Massa Pemberton," he said. + +"Where is it?" asked Mr Twigg. + +"Here, massa," answered Quashie, presenting his woolly pate. "You take +it out, please." + +Martha, however, performed the operation; and the note being eagerly +read, a consultation was held on its contents, which considerably raised +the spirits of the besieged party, lowered as they had been by the loss +of Archie Sandys. + +None of them, however, were disposed to attempt cutting their way +through the rebels. Lieutenant Belt was almost disabled--for though, in +spite of much suffering, he still continued the command in the fortress, +he could not use his sword--while the gallant young Scotchman was lost +to them. Mr Ferris was willing to make the attempt if others wished +it, but he feared the risk to which the ladies would be exposed; and it +was finally determined to hold out till the arrival of the troops. + +"The small quantity of yams we have secured will not last us long," +observed Mr Twigg, "and we must remember that we are threatened with +starvation, as well as with another attack from the savages." + +"We have food sufficient for another day," remarked Lieutenant Belt; +"before the end of that time, relief may be sent to us." + +"But should it not come, what then are we to do?" inquired Mr Ferris. + +"Act as our friend Pemberton suggests," said Mr Twigg. "To-morrow +evening, as soon as it is dark, we will send off Quashie. We must take +care in the mean time that the rebels do not see him, or they will know +that by some means or other he got in, and will be on the watch for him. +We may depend on Pemberton's carrying out his plan, and I should advise +that the attempt be made in the night-time." + +Quashie was rather disappointed at finding that he was not to set off at +once, as he was eager to get his dollar. His mother consoled him by +assuring him that he would be allowed to go the following night, and Mr +Twigg made him perfectly happy by at once giving him a dollar, so that +he would become the possessor of two dollars, should he accomplish his +return journey. + +The garrison were not allowed to rest in quiet. The blacks, growing +impatient, made several attempts to surprise them, but, in consequence +of the severe punishment they had received, were more wary than at +first. Each time, on finding that they were discovered, they retreated +so rapidly that few, if any, of them were shot. + +Morning at length arrived; the blacks had retreated to their cover, and, +except that a few shots were at times wantonly fired from a distance at +the house, the day went on as the previous ones had done. Much as they +wanted food, it would be evidently a dangerous undertaking to attempt +procuring it from the yam ground. + +The arrival of Major Malcolm was eagerly looked for, but in vain, and it +was resolved to send Quashie off at dark, with an account of their now +truly desperate condition. He was confident of being able as before to +get through the enemy's lines. + +In accordance with Mr Pemberton's suggestion, it was resolved in the +mean time to get up a flagstaff at the top of the house, with a flag +hoisted half-mast high as a signal of their distressed condition. This +would hasten the arrival of friends to their relief, should any be in +the neighbourhood. It would not, however, prevent the necessity of +sending off Quashie to urge that aid might at once be despatched. +Fortunately a long pole, which Mr Twigg had intended to put up for that +purpose on a neighbouring height, had been brought to the house to be +prepared by the carpenter. It was at once carried indoors, and, the +lower end being fixed in a beam of the ceiling of the upper story, was +run through the trap which led to the roof. Here, under the direction +of Mr Ferris, who had some nautical knowledge, it was stayed up by +ropes to the corners of the house, halliards having previously been rove +through the sheave at its summit. The difficulty was to obtain a flag. +None was to be found, till Mrs Twigg remarked that she and the young +ladies had some light dresses which would answer the purpose. + +"Let us have them at once, then," exclaimed Mr Twigg eagerly; "there is +no time to be lost." + +Ellen and Fanny, hurrying to their room, quickly returned with a couple +of cambric dresses, such as are generally worn in that warm climate. +Before they had time to take their scissors and cut them open as they +had intended, Mr Twigg seized them, and hurried with them up to the +roof, where Mr Ferris was superintending the erection of the flagstaff. + +"Here they are," exclaimed Mr Twigg. "Run them up at once; they will +tell our tale better than any more perfect flag." + +Mr Ferris, with a ball of rope yarn in his hand, fastened the dresses +forthwith to the halliards by the skirts, allowing the full sleeves to +blow out. + +"There!" he exclaimed, with a touch of his native wit. "Faith, they +will show that there are ladies in distress, and if there is any +gallantry in the heart of the islanders, we shall soon have them running +a race to our assistance." + +The dresses thus hoisted flew out to a brisk breeze which blew from the +eastward. Just then several shots were heard, and two or three bullets +fell on the roof, which, though spent, warned those on it that should +the marksmen approach somewhat nearer their position would become +dangerous. Mr Ferris, therefore, calling his assistants down, they all +quickly got under shelter. + +Notwithstanding the signal flying from the roof, the day passed without +any one coming to their relief. Their provisions were almost exhausted, +and affairs were becoming serious. Another consultation was held, when +it was determined to beg Mr Pemberton to come as he proposed, the +garrison undertaking to attempt cutting their way through the rebels, +and abandoning the house to destruction. A note to that effect was +accordingly written, and secured, as the former one had been, in +Quashie's woolly head. About an hour after sundown he crept out at the +back of the house, and the instant after was lost to sight. Even his +mother felt no fear for his safety, and every one believed that he would +make his way without difficulty back to Walton. + +After he had gone the enemy recommenced their system of annoyance, +coming up under cover and firing at the house. Though the garrison +aimed in return at the points from which the flashes of the rebels' +muskets were seen, the latter so rapidly retreated that it was supposed +none of them were hit. Nothing could be more trying. Sometimes for +several minutes together they would remain quiet, when suddenly a shower +of shot would come pattering against the walls. The enemy would then +again retreat, and single shots would be fired, now from one point, now +from another; then again another shower would come, as if the enemy had +made a general advance. + +"Let them fire away as much as they like," observed Lieutenant Belt, +laughing. "I only wish they would fire much oftener at so safe a +distance, as they must thus at last expend their powder." + +Still those unaccustomed to warfare could not fail to experience +uncomfortable sensations as the bullets in rapid succession struck the +walls, although as yet they had done but little damage, five of the +people only, besides Lieutenant Belt, having been slightly wounded in +their shoulders or faces. At length the rebels appeared to have grown +tired of that style of amusement, and perfect silence reigned around the +house. + +Towards morning, when most of the little garrison were lying down, worn +out with constant alarms and watching, the cry was raised that the +blacks were again coming on; and they were seen rushing up the hill, +carrying not only faggots but ladders, evidently intending to attack the +house as they had done at Walton, and to set both it and the stockades +on fire. Should they succeed, nothing could save the lives of the +inmates. + +The shrieks and yells uttered by the blacks for the purpose of +intimidating the garrison were certainly terrific, and even the gallant +lieutenant began to fear that all the efforts made to resist them would +be in vain. On inquiry, too, he found that the ammunition was running +short, a large proportion having been expended during that and the +previous night. Still undaunted, he went round among the people, +inspiring others with his own cool courage. + +"We have more serious work than hitherto, my friends," he said; "but if +we are true to ourselves, we shall beat the enemy as before. Never mind +though they burn the _chevaux-de-frise_, they will not venture through +the flames, depend on that; and if we fail to put out the fire, we must +retreat into the house. As I told you before, do not throw a shot away. +Here they come." + +As he spoke, the savages carrying the faggots rushed forward with the +intention of casting them over the outer line against the stockades. +Many, however, were shot down before they succeeded in doing this; +others were killed or wounded after they had thrown forward their loads. +A number of men now advanced, carrying candlewood torches. + +"Those fellows must be picked off," shouted the lieutenant. + +In some cases the command was obeyed; but many of the blacks, now +leaping on one side, now on the other, eluded the bullets aimed at them, +and threw the burning brands amid the bundles of wood, which catching +fire began to blaze up in all directions, the smoke almost concealing +the combatants from each other. Whenever it lifted, however, the flames +exposed the shrieking mass of blacks clearly to view, and many were shot +down in the moment, as they supposed, of their triumphant success. + +As Lieutenant Belt had expected, none of them ventured through the +burning mass; but here and there the stockades were catching fire, and +it appeared too probable that they would be burnt through and afford an +ultimate ingress to the foe. The scene was indeed terrible to those +standing in the narrow space within the stockades--the crackling of the +burning wood, the lurid flames, the dense mass of smoke, and outside the +shouting, shrieking savages eager to break through the defences and +massacre all within. + +Efforts were made to extinguish the fire, and had there been an ample +supply of water, it might easily have been done, for it was only in +spots where the flames blew against the woodwork that they produced any +effect. Still the back and sides of the house were protected, and until +the stockades were destroyed the besiegers could make no use of their +ladders. + +"I do not think we need fear them," said Lieutenant Belt. "We must +watch narrowly where they are placed, and shoot down the people from the +windows immediately they attempt to mount." + +The blacks, as before, carried off their dead and wounded, and it was +difficult to ascertain how much they had suffered. Already a good many +had retreated, but others were seen coming up with more faggots, which +they attempted to throw amid the already burning mass. By this time the +whole house was surrounded by a hedge of flames, and Mr Twigg, who had +exerted himself as much as any one, made his way up to the lieutenant, +and advised that they should retreat into the house while the enemy were +unable to follow them. + +"Let us make another attempt to drive them off," was the answer. "They +are afraid themselves of the flames they have kindled, and will not +venture through them. Now, my lads, give them one more volley," he +shouted, "and if I mistake not they will turn tail." + +As he shouted "Fire!" at the top of his voice, the order was heard by +the blacks, and away they went scampering down the hill, hoping to avoid +the bullets which they expected would follow. + +The greater number got under cover, or escaped by falling flat on their +faces. Ignorant savages as they were, they were unable to take +advantage of the success their bravery and hardihood had accomplished. +On this the ultimate safety of the hard-pressed garrison depended. Had +they pressed on through the opening which the fire had produced, they +might have forced their way, not only within the stockade, but into the +house itself. Hopes were entertained that the enemy had had fighting +enough for the night, and intended to allow the fire to do its work +before making another assault. Fresh efforts were made by the garrison +to extinguish the fire, which had got hold of the stockades. They had +been composed chiefly of dry timber, which easily ignited and burned +furiously. At length the lieutenant saw that all attempts to save them +would be futile, and that the utmost that could be done would be to +prevent the doors and windows of the house itself from catching fire. +This, by constant watchfulness and great exertion, was done; and he +then, complying with Mr Twigg's earnest appeals, summoned the people to +come within the house, when the door was barricaded, and they prepared +to hold out, in what they had from the first called their citadel, till +the moment for the intended sortie had arrived. + +It was a night of terror to many and anxiety to all. Their ammunition +was running terribly short; but a few rounds only remained, and there +was barely food sufficient to afford a breakfast for the weary garrison. +The water also was almost exhausted. + +Daylight came, and the lieutenant went himself to the roof of the house +to look out, but could see no friendly band coming to their relief. The +young ladies' dresses were flying in the morning breeze, sadly rent by +the bullets which had passed through them. The lieutenant then turned +his glance into the valley, where he saw the black besiegers still +apparently as numerous as ever. The hedge of fire had now burned itself +out; large gaps existed in the stockades, but portions still remained +standing, and would afford some protection to his men in case a sortie +had to be made. His chief object was to examine the ground which they +would have to traverse, should Mr Pemberton carry out his intention of +coming to their relief. He at last descended, and went round to each of +the windows, where he had posted a sentry to keep a look-out on the +movements of the rebels; then, feeling that he had done his duty, he +threw himself down on a cane sofa, to snatch for a short time the rest +he so much required. + +The other inmates of the house, who had been kept awake all the night, +were dozing in their chairs or on their sofas; the men not on guard were +lying down on the ground; the children were in their cribs, watched over +by Martha. She had reserved some food for them, and they were in that +respect better off than any one else. The young ladies and Mrs Twigg +had positively refused to take more than their share. They were happily +also forgetting their troubles in sleep. + +Weary as he was, Mr Ferris felt the dangerous position in which they +were placed too much to rest, and continued going from room to room, +looking out at each window, and occasionally mounting to the roof. He +was standing there, when he saw a single black advancing up the hill +from among the savages. He was unarmed, and carried in his hand a pole +with a large white flag waving from it. He evidently understood the use +of a flag of truce, and trusted to its being respected. He advanced +till he got within hearing distance of the house. He was a tall, +strongly built man, his features unusually hideous even for a negro. On +seeing Mr Ferris, he shouted at the top of his voice, "Will you gib in? +You see what we can do. We ask you to make friends." + +"We shall be ready to do so on condition that you lay down your arms and +return to your duty," answered Mr Ferris. + +The black laughed loud and hoarsely. "Do you know who I am?" he asked. + +"No," answered Mr Ferris. + +"Den I tell you--I Cudjoe. Some inside de house know me, and know dat I +no fool. Listen den. We go away and leave Massa Twigg--he good man-- +and all de people alone on one 'dition, dat you gib up the oberseer and +let us hab him to do wid him as we like. Dat is our 'dition; 'cept it +and you safe. If not--listen, massa--you got one lily-white daughter, +and Massa Twigg him got wife and piccaninnies. You lub dem. You see +what we do dis night; we soon come again wid more faggots and fire and +ladders, and we burn de house ober your heads and kill ebery one. +Cudjoe no fool--Cudjoe speak de truth. Listen, massa, what I say--gib +up de overseer or die." + +"It is useless making such a proposal," answered Mr Ferris; "no one +would consent to it. If you have any other terms to offer we will +listen to them. We can hold out against all your attempts to take the +house. You have already lost a number of your foolish followers, and +many more will be killed if you venture again to attack us." + +While Mr Ferris was speaking, he heard a person coming up the ladder, +and glancing round he saw Thompson the overseer standing by his side, +and on the point of lifting a musket, which he had placed on the roof. +Before Mr Ferris had time to stop him, he had raised it to his shoulder +and was taking aim at the insurgent leader. As he pulled the trigger +Mr Ferris struck up the weapon, and the bullet whistled over the +black's head. + +"Respect a flag of truce, even in the hands of a savage," he exclaimed +indignantly. "If we set such an example, what can we expect in return?" + +Cudjoe had observed the act. "I tank you, massa," he shouted, "but dat +man die before de sun go down;" and, rapidly turning, he bounded down +the hill. + +Several shots, which went whistling after him, were fired by the men on +guard in the lower story. + +"You have done an ill service to the country, sir, and worse to all +within this house," exclaimed the overseer. "That man is the mainspring +of the rebellion. Had I killed him, the blacks in this neighbourhood, +without a leader, would have taken to flight, and we should have been +safe." + +"I did what was right. A flag of truce should ever be held sacred," +answered Mr Ferris. "I do not regret refusing his request, but your +act has prevented us from making other terms, which might have been +done." + +"No terms can be kept with savages. It is impossible to trust them," +exclaimed the overseer. "However, we must now stand the consequences." + +Mr Ferris, who felt his anger rising at what he considered Thompson's +insolence, descended from the roof. + +The firing had aroused the rest of the party. The lieutenant even, +although musket-shots were familiar sounds, started to his feet, +believing that the house was about again to be attacked. Mr Ferris +explained what had happened, and both the lieutenant and Mr Twigg +agreed that he had acted rightly, and blamed the overseer for firing. +Lieutenant Belt especially was indignant at his conduct. + +"They may or may not venture again to attack us, but if they do, and +succeed, we can expect no mercy at their hands," he said. + +"We could have expected none, at all events, I believe," observed Mr +Twigg. + +Some of the garrison, who had a lower sense of honour than Mr Ferris, +were not so well satisfied with his decision, and declared that if they +had had their will they would have given up the overseer to Cudjoe, +though they took care not to utter such an opinion in his hearing. + +The position of the garrison was now truly critical. The shots +uselessly fired had expended several of the few rounds, now of such +inestimable value. The lieutenant, on making inquiries, found that some +of the men had only a single charge apiece; none had more than two. +Should another attack be made, what hope had they of beating off the +foe? He did not conceal the state of affairs from the gentlemen. + +"Then our best chance will be to sally out at once and fight our way +towards Walton," said Mr Twigg. + +"Unless our friends should appear to our relief we should be surrounded +and cut to pieces," answered the lieutenant. "When the blacks find that +we have no powder, they will attack us with greater confidence. We may +still hold out for some hours in the house, and as the enemy are not as +yet aware of our want of ammunition, they may possibly not again venture +on an assault." + +"But if they do?" asked Mr Twigg. + +"Then we must reserve each bullet for the most daring among them. If we +can shoot their leaders, the rest will probably take to flight." + +"But if we fail, and should they force their way in?" asked the planter, +whose spirits were sinking as he thought of the fearful danger to which +his family were exposed. + +"Then, sir, we must endeavour to drive them out again with our cutlasses +and bayonets; or, if the worst happens, place ourselves round the ladies +and children, and fight to the last," answered the lieutenant in a +confident tone. "Though my sword-arm cannot serve me, I can use a pike +or bayonet." + +Mrs Twigg had heard of what had taken place, and began to suspect their +desperate condition. She imparted her apprehensions to Ellen and Fanny, +though neither of them showed any signs of fear. + +"I wish that I could use a pistol or sword," exclaimed Fanny; "but +surely we can do something. We can hurl stones or logs of wood down on +the heads of our assailants from the windows or roof." + +"I will help you," cried Ellen, inspired by her friend's courage. "Let +us get them carried up at once, in case they are wanted. There are +paving-stones which can be dug up and broken into fragments, or pieces +of the heavy furniture will serve the purpose. We will at once tell Mr +Twigg what we are ready to do." + +They hurried into the room where the gentlemen were assembled. + +"A brave idea," cried Lieutenant Belt, looking at the young heroines +with admiration; "but others can do the work you propose. You must not +be exposed to the risk of appearing on the roof. The enemy's bullets, +as we know from experience, would reach you there. Let me entreat you +to remain below. We shall fight with more confidence when we know that +you are safe." + +Ellen's suggestion, however, was carried out, and men were immediately +sent to break up the paving-stones in the back part of the house. The +blacks, at all events, were not likely to gain an easy victory. Hopes +indeed were entertained that they would not make another attack, but +those hopes were doomed to be disappointed. + +"Here they come!" cried several men stationed at the windows. + +Lieutenant Belt, starting to his feet, saw the whole body of blacks +advancing, some in front, others on one side of the house. + +"Now, my men, I charge you not to fire a shot till you can pick out the +fellows leading them on, or, if you cannot distinguish them from the +rest, wait till the ladders are placed against the wall; for see, they +have got ladders with them, and faggots too, and they intend, if they +cannot succeed by other means, to burn us out. But do not let that +alarm you; if you keep up your courage, we shall prevent them." + +As he was speaking, the insurgent slaves were drawing nearer and nearer, +though advancing slowly, apparently to enable those carrying the ladders +and faggots to keep up with the rest. Just then a dense volume of smoke +burst forth between the house and the sea to the north-east, flames +quickly following, driven by a brisk breeze which had lately sprung up. +The blacks, retreating before the fire, had to make a circuit to avoid +it. So furious were the flames that they threatened to set the +neighbouring plantations on fire. The chief effect was to shroud the +view over the sea in that direction from those in the house; another was +somewhat to delay the advance of the blacks, who had evidently +determined to approach the house with their whole body at once. + +The lieutenant having disposed his men to the best advantage, again +ascended to the roof to see if any help was coming. He gazed eagerly +round to the west and north. He could discover neither the looked-for +signal announcing the approach of Mr Pemberton's party, nor any troops +or militia. As he was about again to go down the ladder, he discovered +the overseer lying on the roof with a musket by his side. + +"Why are you not at your post?" he asked. + +"I am of more use where I am," answered the overseer. "I intend doing +what was left undone just now. Don't interfere with me." + +The lieutenant had not time to exchange words with the man; he hastened +down that he might be ready to encourage the rest. + +Suddenly the savages gave forth one of those fearful yells which they +are accustomed to utter as they rush forward to the fight. As soon as +they got within musket range, those in the front line began firing, +showing that they evidently had abundance of ammunition. + +The lieutenant distinguished a tall black, with a musket in his hand, +leading them on. He raised it to his shoulder and fired. At that +moment a fearful shriek was heard--it came from the roof--and a heavy +body fell from the trap to the floor below. The black flourished his +weapon above his head without stopping to reload. + +"De oberseer is dead," cried Martha, who had rushed out of a closet in +which the children had been placed for safety, "he is dead, pity he not +killed dis morning." + +The event had indeed occurred too late to be of any avail to the +garrison. To attempt making a sortie would now have been madness, for, +bad marksmen as were the negroes, the whole party might have been shot +down even before they could have reached any available shelter. + +Cudjoe's success--for he must have seen the overseer fall by his +bullet--encouraged his followers, and now, shrieking, leaping, and +brandishing their weapons, they rushed forward. In vain the lieutenant +charged his men not to throw a shot away; the greater number in their +eagerness fired, forgetting that they had no fresh charges, and when +they felt for their cartridges to reload, they found that their +ammunition was expended. The enemy thus almost with impunity reached +the walls. + +Several of the remaining shots were fired at Cudjoe. He seemed to bear +a charmed life, or rather the wonderful leaps and bounds he made amid +his companions prevented the defenders of the house, none of whom were +over good marksmen, from taking a steady aim at him. Like a swarm of +ants about to devour some creature of the forest, the blacks surrounded +the house, and began to lift the ladders and place them against the +walls. + +The lieutenant now ordered the party he had told off for that purpose to +go up on the roof to force back the ladders, to hurl down the stones, +and to defend it to the last. + +Desperate, indeed, had now become the condition of the devoted inmates +of Bellevue. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE CHAMPION SAILS FROM PORT ROYAL--IN SEARCH OF ENEMIES--CHASES A +PIRATE, WHICH ESCAPES--RETURNS TO THE NORTH COAST OF JAMAICA--NORMAN +FOLEY HEARS OF THE INSURRECTION--FINDS SOME MURDERED WHITES--DREADFUL +SCENE AT FORT MARIA--THE SHIP PROCEEDS ALONG THE COAST--A WHITE MAN SEEN +MAKING A SIGNAL FROM THE SHORE--A BOAT SENT TO BRING HIM OFF--PURSUED BY +BLACKS--RESCUED--PROVES TO BE ARCHIE SANDYS--GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THE +ATTACK ON BELLEVUE--A CONFLAGRATION--SIGNALS SEEN--AN EXPEDITION UNDER +NORMAN FOLEY SENT ON SHORE--THE REBELS PUT TO FLIGHT--THE GARRISON OF +BELLEVUE RELIEVED--MEETING OF NORMAN AND ELLEN--MAJOR MALCOLM AND A +STRONG FORCE ARRIVE--THE CHAMPION SAILS--SIGNS OF A COMING GALE. + +When Gerald wrote the last letter his father and Norah had received, the +_Champion_ was on the point of sailing from Port Royal harbour, on a +cruise between Jamaica and Cuba, with directions to look out for any of +the enemy's privateers or smaller vessels of war, or should she come in +sight of any squadron of larger ships, to watch their movements, and to +return to port with an account of their whereabouts. Captain Olding +also received orders to visit the northern coast of the island, and +ascertain if the reports which had just arrived of the unquiet state of +the slaves had any foundation in truth; but he was not to waste time on +the coast, as the former part of his orders was considered of by far the +greatest importance. Still his second lieutenant very naturally hoped +that he might obtain an opportunity of paying his promised visit to Miss +Ferris, and Gerald expected that he might get a run on shore, and +perhaps spend a pleasant day with his friends. He had inquired, when at +Mr Twigg's office in Kingston, about the _Ouzel Galley_. The anxiety +he had naturally felt when he heard of the hurricane had been relieved +on his being assured that a search had been made for her along the +coast, and that not the slightest trace of her could be discovered. He +therefore hoped that the next packet would bring the account of her safe +arrival at Waterford, and that he might before long meet Owen again at +Kingston. + +The _Champion_, after rounding Port Morant, stood to the northward +towards Saint Jago de Cuba, and chased several vessels, which got away +from her, not perhaps very much to Lieutenant Foley's disappointment. +He even ventured, when dining with the commander, to speak of the +importance of visiting the northern coast of Jamaica, in case the slaves +should really, as was supposed possible, be contemplating an +insurrection. The commander, who did not imagine that such a thing was +likely, was, however, bent on looking out for enemies of a size which he +might hope to capture. He was heartily joined by Lieutenant Tarwig, +who, if he did not care much for honour and glory, was at all events +anxious to obtain a good lump of prize-money, with which he might set up +housekeeping with Mrs Tarwig, whenever he had persuaded some lovely +damsel to share his fortunes. The master and the other officers were +very much of his way of thinking. + +"A sail on the weather-beam, sir," said Gerald, entering the cabin where +the commander, the second lieutenant, the purser, and two midshipmen +were his guests at dinner. + +"Empty your glasses, gentlemen," said the commander hurriedly, rising +and running up the companion-ladder on deck. "What is she like?" he +shouted to the look-out on the mast-head. + +"A ship, sir, going free, and standing to the eastward," was the answer. + +"Make all sail, Mr Tarwig; we shall be up to her before dark, and +ascertain what she is. Haul up a couple of points--she can't escape +between us and the land." + +The breeze was fresh, and the stranger continued on her former course, +either not having discovered the corvette or not being desirous of +avoiding her. Beyond her was seen the coast of Cuba rising into +mountainous elevations, the more distant scarcely to be distinguished +from the blue sky. + +The corvette having been lately out of dock, and being in good trim, +sailed her best. To deceive the enemy, the commander had had some +canvas painted black and hung over her sides, triced up a couple of feet +or so above the hammock nettings, to give her the appearance of a +merchantman, but an observant eye might have detected her by the perfect +trim of her sails. This, however, under the present circumstances, +could not be avoided. + +The stranger, now clearly visible from the deck, was after a time seen +to haul to the wind. She was apparently not much smaller than the +_Champion_, and probably did not carry fewer guns; it was hoped, +therefore, that she would before nightfall heave to and await a contest. + +"She is a fast ship whatever she is," observed Mr Tarwig; "but as to +her wish to fight us, or whether she is French or Spanish, I have great +doubts." + +"She has hoisted Spanish colours, at all events," said Mr Foley, who +had been looking at her through the telescope, "but she does not shorten +sail." + +"She is probably making for Cumberland harbour," said the master, who +had been looking at the chart, "and if she gets in there it may be a +hard matter to persuade her to come out again, unless we send in the +boats and cut her out." + +For a considerable time neither of the ships altered their course. The +stranger, however, going free, was making faster way through the water +than the _Champion_, which was close-hauled, and it seemed very likely, +should the wind shift more to the eastward, that the former vessel would +pass her. The sun was already approaching the horizon, and although the +crescent moon could be seen faintly in the sky, it would not long afford +its light. The stranger, if inclined to escape, might do so during the +hours of darkness. The two ships, however, were now scarcely three +miles apart, and rapidly approaching each other. The _Champion_ was +prepared for action, the crew were at their quarters, and the guns run +out. The sea was sufficiently smooth to allow even the lee guns to be +fought without difficulty. Mr Billhook had taken the telescope and was +narrowly examining the stranger. + +"Shiver my timbers, but I believe she is the same buccaneering craft we +found alongside the _Ouzel Galley_, when we chased her till she had +well-nigh run on those rascally Bahama reefs," he exclaimed, still +keeping his eye at the glass. "Yes, there is a square patch on her +mizen-topsail to repair a hole which I doubt not an enemy's shot had +made, as she was showing her heels in the fashion the picaroons always +do, unless they hope to make a prize of some unwary merchantman." + +The commander, on hearing this, took the telescope. + +"Yes," he said. "If not the same vessel, she is very like her; and +should she be so, she will not wait to allow us an opportunity of taking +her if she can help it, but will run ahead of us even now, unless the +wind shifts a point or two more to the eastward, and then our best +chance of catching her will be to tack and stand in for the land." + +The wind, however, held and the sun went down, when the stranger, +setting flying sails above her royals, stood almost across the +_Champion's_ bows. + +"Try her with our foremost gun," cried the commander to the second +lieutenant, who had gone to his station forward. + +McTrigger, the gunner, who was on the look-out expecting the order, +trained the gun himself, and in the dim light of evening the white +splinters were seen flying from the stranger's side. The next instant +nine flashes of flame issued forth from her, the shot ricocheting over +the calm ocean, three or four passing close to the corvette but failing +to strike her. + +"The fellow wishes to show us that he can give as good as he can take," +said the master. "I wonder, since he has got so many teeth, he ran from +us in the fashion he did before." + +"Perhaps they were not as well sharpened as they are now," remarked the +doctor, chuckling at his own wit. + +"If we get alongside we'll either draw them or knock them down his +throat," answered Mr Billhook. + +"Thank you, kind sir, I owe you one," replied the doctor, who objected +to any one making jokes but himself. + +All on board, now that her character was discovered, were more eager +than ever to come up with the pirate. She was, however, evidently +making better way through the water than the _Champion_. Again she +fired her starboard guns, though she did not alter her course to do so; +while the _Champion_ could not fire her larboard foremost guns without +keeping away a couple of points or more, and thereby losing ground. It +was very provoking to have got within shot of a buccaneer which was +reported to have committed so much damage to the trade of the islands, +for, though the Spanish colours were still flying at her peak, no one +doubted what she was. All the sail the _Champion_ could carry was +already set, and nothing that could be done would make her go faster. +Twice again she fired, but neither shot reached the enemy. The gloom +increasing, dimmer and dimmer grew the enemy's wide spread of canvas, +although the silvery light of the moon, playing on the starboard leaches +of her sails, for some time showed where she floated on the glittering +waters. The moon was, however, going down, and as the night advanced +the darkness increased till the chase was almost lost to sight. The +officers and even most of the watch below remained on deck. + +"She has tacked, sir," cried Mr Foley from forward. + +"We'll tack too," said the commander. "Hands, about ship; helms alee; +raise tacks and sheets; mainsail haul; of all, haul!" The crew eagerly +performed the manoeuvre, and the ship, now on her starboard tack, stood +in towards the land. + +Many sharp eyes on board were directed towards the spot where the +stranger had last been seen. The master had gone to consult his chart; +it was his business to warn the commander not to stand on too long +towards the coast, although it was not as dangerous from hidden reefs +and keys as further to the westward. + +"Can anybody see her?" asked the commander, whose eyesight was less +acute than that of most of his younger officers. + +No one answered. + +"I got a glimpse of her a minute ago, but I can't make her out anywhere +now, sir," said Mr Foley. + +At length the ship stood on for a quarter of an hour, till the outline +of the land could be seen distinctly ahead against the clear sky. Again +she was put about, but nowhere was the chase visible. The _Champion_ +was now standing along the land at a safe distance. If the buccaneer +could not be discovered from her deck, neither could she from that of +the buccaneer; she might come upon her unexpectedly. A sharp look-out +was kept all night, but when morning returned no sail was in sight. A +mist hung like a thick veil along the coast, allowing only the summits +of the higher ridges to be seen, as the sun, rising above the horizon, +tinged them of a red hue with his glowing rays. To look for her to the +eastward was useless, and the ship again being put about, stood to the +westward along the land; but, except a few small craft which immediately +made their escape among the rocks, or within the numerous bays and +creeks, no craft worth overhauling was seen. + +The commander was a calm-tempered man, accustomed to disappointment, or +he might have joined with some of the younger officers in their +expressions of disgust at having lost the picaroon. Lieutenant Foley +tried to look unconcerned when the commander at length expressed his +intention of standing across to the Jamaica coast, touching at different +places to ascertain what was going forward on shore. + +As the wind was favourable the _Champion_ was not long in making the +land. A small bay marked as Peyton's Cove on the chart lay directly +abreast of her. The commander, heaving the ship to, sent his second +lieutenant with a boat to try and ascertain from any of the people in +the neighbourhood what was going forward, that he might direct his +course accordingly. A fisherman's hut appeared not far off from where +he landed, and the lieutenant made his way towards it. The door was +closed, but Mr Foley, on listening, heard a loud snore from within. He +knocked. + +"Ki! who are you? What you come for?" asked a gruff voice. + +"Open the door, my friend, and I will tell you," answered the +lieutenant; "but bear a hand, for I am in a hurry." + +The door was speedily opened, and a stout, well-fed negro appeared. + +"Beg pardon, Massa Osifer," exclaimed the man, who had evidently been +taking his midday sleep after the labours of the morning, for he stood +blinking his eyes as the bright light shone on them; "what you want?" + +"I want to know what is going forward in the country; and if you cannot +inform me, pray say where I can find some one who can, for I see no +dwelling-houses hereabouts." + +"Oh, massa, bad, berry bad. De black slaves great rascals. Dey say dat +dey murder all de garrison at Fort Maria, and kill de white buckras +eberywhere." + +"That is indeed bad news," observed Mr Foley, scarcely believing the +man. + +"It true news too," answered the fisherman in a positive tone. "If you +wish to know, go on along de road up dere, on de top of de hill to de +right, and dere you find a house, and de people tell you what happen, if +dey alive; but me tink all de people dead by dis time, seeing dat dere +troats were cut last night." + +"Is such really the case?" exclaimed the lieutenant. + +"Iss, massa; dey cut my troat 'cause I free gentleman, but I hide away +and pull off in de boat, and so I 'scape." + +The black spoke so positively that the lieutenant, not thinking it +prudent to venture alone, lest some of the insurgent slaves might be in +the neighbourhood, called up his men and proceeded along the road the +fisherman had pointed out, till he reached a house embosomed in trees. +The doors were open, but no one came forth. He entered. Marks of blood +were on the floor, and an odour of burning pervaded the building. Going +along the passage, he found that the fisherman's statement was too true. +At the further end of a room lay on the ground the bodies of a white +man, a brown young woman, and two children cruelly mangled, while in +another room were some extinguished torches, showing that the murderers +had intended to set the house on fire, but had suddenly retreated +without effecting their purpose. As it was important to return +immediately to the ship, he could make no further examination of the +building. It had apparently been the residence of a small proprietor. +The garden and neighbouring fields, though trampled down, had evidently +been carefully cultivated. He hurried back to the beat, passing the +fisherman's hut on his way. + +"I told you so, massa," said the man quite coolly. "Worse tings happen +in other places." + +"You did indeed speak the truth," answered the lieutenant, his heart +sinking as he thought of the danger to which Ellen and her father might +be exposed. + +On reaching the ship he informed the commander of the dreadful state of +affairs, and recommended that they should stand along the coast and make +further inquiries at the towns and forts near the shore. In the last +letter he had received from Ellen, she had told him that she was +residing at a house some way further to the westward, but its exact +position he had been unable to ascertain, and he could not find it +marked on the chart. + +A fresh and favourable breeze blowing, the ship soon came off Fort +Maria, when she hove to, and he--this time having Gerald with him, and +accompanied by another boat, of which Crowhurst had the command--pulled +on shore. As they approached the fort, the appearance it presented +excited their fears that the fisherman's report was likely to prove too +true. The flag and staff had vanished, and no sentries were to be seen +on the ramparts, while in the centre rose a mass of blackened walls. +The guns peering through the embrasures commanded the landing-place, +but, as the fort was evidently deserted, the boats pulled in, and the +lieutenant and his companions at once leaped on shore. They made their +way up a steep path which led to the rear of the fort. The gates were +open, and they hurried in. A fearful sight met their gaze. Every +building within had been set on fire and gutted. Amid the mass of +charred timber lay numerous bodies, apparently, as far as their dreadful +condition enabled the party to judge, of white men--some in the dress of +civilians, while the half-destroyed uniforms showed that others had been +soldiers. Two, from the broken swords still grasped in their hands, +were apparently officers, who had fought their way out of the building, +which had been the mess-room of the fort, and had been shot or cut down +by the savages. A few bodies of blacks were seen, evidently from their +dresses the officers' servants, who had been waiting at table. The +general state of the fort told its own story. The whole garrison and +several visitors had, not dreaming of danger, been suddenly surprised by +an overwhelming body of insurgents, who must have rushed in and +massacred them before the soldiers could stand to their arms. If any +white people in the neighbourhood had escaped with their lives, they +must have gone away and not dared to return to the scene of the +catastrophe. + +The lieutenant and the midshipmen climbed to the highest part of the +fort, and looked round in every direction. Nowhere could they see a +human being, but in the distance they observed several blackened spaces +where flourishing sugar-canes had lately grown or gardens or other +plantations had existed. The fisherman's account was thus fearfully +verified. As no one could be seen from whom to gain further +information, Mr Foley and his companions re-embarked, and pulled back +for the ship as fast as the men could lay their backs to the oars. The +commander thought of landing the marines and a party of small-arms men, +but, without further information, it would be impossible to know in what +direction to proceed. + +The boats being hoisted in, the sails were again filled, and the ship +stood on to the westward as close to the shore as the master would +venture to take her. Every telescope on board was turned towards it, no +one looking out more eagerly than Norman Foley, who dreaded lest they +should come in sight of a once pleasant mansion now reduced to a mass of +ruins. If a well-garrisoned fort had been surprised and thus fearfully +destroyed, what might not have happened in the event of a single +planter's house with small means of defence being attacked. He very +naturally conjured up all sorts of dreadful pictures; at the same time, +he manfully tried to combat his apprehensions, and to hope for the best. + +"I see some one on the shore, sir, making a signal," cried Gerald, who +had a telescope to his eye. "He appears to me to be a white man. He is +running up and down, seemingly trying to attract our attention. There +he is now, under that tall cocoa-nut tree." + +All the telescopes in use were turned in the same direction. + +"Yes, that is a white man, no doubt about it," said the commander. "He +has taken off his shirt and is waving it. Heave the ship to, Mr +Tarwig. Call the gig's crew away, Mr Foley, and pull in to ascertain +what he wants. There can be little doubt that it is a matter of +importance. Come off again as soon as possible, for we shall probably +find places further along the coast, where the white people are +hard-pressed by the blacks." + +The commander's orders were speedily obeyed, and Norman Foley, without +the loss of a moment, followed by Gerald who was directed to accompany +him, lowered himself into the gig. He was eager to be off. Every +moment of time was precious; he had vividly realised the truth of the +commander's last remark. + +"Give way, lads, give way!" he exclaimed, imparting his eagerness to the +boat's crew. + +They bent lustily to their oars, and the boat shot rapidly over the blue +waters towards the sandy beach, where the white man had been seen. It +was yet impossible to discern him, however, without a glass. Mr Foley +kept his eyes fixed on the spot, hoping that he would soon again come in +sight. + +"I see him, sir," cried Gerald; "he is still waving his shirt, and seems +in a desperate hurry. Perhaps he is some one who has escaped from the +blacks, and he wants us to go and help some white people attacked by +them." + +"Very probably," answered Norman Foley, with a scarcely suppressed +groan. + +The boat was nearing the shore. + +"He is now making for the west side of the bay, towards a reef of rocks +which runs out some way into the sea," exclaimed Gerald. "He expects +that he shall reach us sooner." + +"I see him," said Mr Foley; but directly afterwards Gerald exclaimed-- + +"He has disappeared." + +"He has had, probably, to go to the inner end of the rock to climb up +it," observe the lieutenant. "I thought so," he added; "we'll pull in +and look out for a place where we can take him on board." + +"He has good reason to be in a hurry," exclaimed Gerald. "See, there on +the top of the hill are a whole host of black fellows, and now they are +running down towards the sand. I suspect that they are in chase of him, +and if he does not make haste they will catch him, too." + +While Gerald was speaking, a number of negroes, armed with spears headed +with long blades used for cutting the canes, and with axes and other +rudely formed weapons, were seen scampering down the hill. They +possessed apparently no firearms, however, or the fugitive's chance of +escape would have been very small. He made his way along the rough +rocks, leaping across the fractures in his course, and often passing +spots on which he would scarcely have ventured had not a foe been at his +heels. The blacks in their eagerness to catch him scarcely took notice +of the boat, though had they done so they might have suspected that her +crew possessed firearms, with which they could be reached. They were +scarcely more than a hundred yards off, when the boat got up to the +ledge of rock, and the white man, springing forward, aided by the +bowman, leaped on board and was passed along by the crew to the +stern-sheets. + +The lieutenant immediately ordered the boat to be backed off, and her +head being turned in the direction of the ship, the crew once more gave +way. The blacks, meantime, finding that their expected victim had +escaped, gave vent to their feelings of anger in shouts and cries. A +few also, who had been in the rear, now appearing armed with muskets, +had the audacity to fire at the boat, but happily the bullets fell short +of her, and she was soon entirely beyond their range. + +"Where do you come from? What has happened?" asked the lieutenant, as +the stranger sank down by his side. + +"I was hiding from the rebel slaves in the wood up in the hill, when I +saw the ship out there, and came down in the hopes that the commander +would land some of his crew and send them to the assistance of a white +family, friends of mine, whose house is surrounded by savages who are +threatening their destruction," answered the latter. "There is no time +to be lost, for they were fearfully beset, and have neither food nor +water remaining, while nearly all their ammunition is, I fear, +expended." + +"Who are they?" asked Norman Foley, in an evident tone of agitation. + +"A Mr Twigg and his family, with whom Mr Ferris, an Irish gentleman, +and his daughter are staying. There are several other white people in +the house," was the answer. + +"Mr and Miss Ferris in danger!" ejaculated the lieutenant and Gerald in +the same breath. "How far off is the house? Can we soon reach it?" +inquired the former. + +"Twelve or fourteen miles to the westward from here," answered the +stranger. "I should think with this breeze you might get off it in less +than a couple of hours." + +"We'll lose no time, and the commander will, I am sure, afford every +assistance in his power," said Norman Foley. "Mr and Miss Ferris are +friends of mine, and I will use every exertion to go to their +assistance. But how do you know that they are so hard-pressed?" he +added, anxiously. "Have you made your escape from the house?" + +"I did not do so intentionally. Having set out with a number of others +to obtain some yams, we were attacked by a party of blacks, and I was +made prisoner. Happily I had done some service to two or three slaves +among the party, and had saved them more than once from a flogging. +While some of the others proposed putting me to death, they dragged me +off among them, and before the rest of the gang knew what had happened, +it being at night, they enabled me to get off. I made my way along the +shore, as I knew that part of the country and recollected places where I +could conceal myself. I felt pretty sure, however, that should the +black leader or any other instigators of the rebellion discover that I +had escaped they would send in pursuit of me. I could not move fast in +the darkness, and had got to no great distance when daylight broke, so I +climbed up into a big cotton-tree and hid myself among the mass of +creepers to rest. I had intended trying to reach a fort where I could +obtain assistance, but on looking out of my hiding-place in the morning +I saw a party of blacks, who were apparently searching for me. I +therefore crouched down among the creepers, where, as I was pretty well +worn out, I fell asleep. At night I again pushed on, hoping that the +blacks had given up the pursuit. I had reached the hill below which you +saw me, when another day broke, and I had once more to hide myself for +fear of being discovered. On looking out next morning I saw your ship +approaching, and though I thought it probable that the blacks might +still be looking for me, I hurried down in the hope that you would see +me and would go to the assistance of my friends. But two days have +passed since I left them, and I know not what may have happened in the +meantime." + +Norman Foley's anxiety was greatly increased by the account given him by +Archie Sandys, for he it was who had so happily escaped destruction. He +observed the lieutenant's evident agitation, though he might not have +suspected the cause. Gerald plied him with questions, and drew forth +many particulars of the siege and defence of Bellevue. + +On reaching the ship Norman Foley introduced Archie Sandys to the +commander, who, learning from him the state of affairs at Bellevue, +ordered the sails to be filled, and the _Champion_ under every stitch of +canvas she could carry stood along the coast. As she approached that +part where, by Archie's account, Bellevue was situated, a look-out was +kept for a fitting landing-place for the boats. They had all been got +ready for lowering. The marines, under their sergeant, and a party of +blue jackets armed with muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, were ordered to +be prepared to go in them with Mr Foley, Crowhurst, Mr Dobbs the +boatswain, and Gerald; Archie Sandys was of course to accompany the +expedition as a guide. On nearing the spot dense volumes of smoke were +seen rolling along, driven by the wind, concealing the landscape from +view. + +Poor Norman was almost ready to give way to despair. His worst +apprehensions were fulfilled. The savage blacks must have set the house +on fire, and too probably its hapless inmates were destroyed. Many +others on board thought as he did. + +Gerald, who was looking out, however, suddenly exclaimed, "I see the top +of the house above the smoke; the fire does not reach it. There is a +flagstaff with two flags flying from it, though they are odd-looking +ones." + +"It is my belief that they are petticoats, or some female gear," +exclaimed the master. "Yes, no doubt about it; the signal is pretty +clear, it means females in distress. We'll soon help you, my pretty +maidens, whoever you are." + +Mr Foley had taken the glass. After carefully surveying the spot he +began to breathe more freely. Yes, it was a wood on fire, some way +below the house, and that might still be holding out. The flags, too, +he discovered, were light muslin dresses, and he very likely suspected +even then that one belonged to Ellen. It did not require that, however, +to make him spring forward with even greater eagerness than he had more +than once displayed when setting forth on a cutting-out expedition. He +took the lead, the launch and pinnace following. He allowed his crew to +dash on ahead of the other boats, for as they approached the shore rapid +firing was heard. Even now the house was being attacked, and Archie had +mentioned the scarcity of ammunition. Should there be any delay they +might be too late to save its inmates. The thick smoke had concealed +their approach, as it had the ship, from the view of the blacks as also +from those in the house. The former, indeed, not expecting to be +interfered with from the side of the sea, had not turned their eyes in +that direction. + +Norman had time to land, and with the assistance of Archie, who pointed +out the different localities to form his plan of proceeding. It was to +move to the right just outside the burning wood, then to charge up the +hill under cover of the smoke and attack the enemy on the flank, so that +their shot might not be directed towards the house. The other boats +appeared to him to be pulling very slowly, but they arrived at last, and +a small party of marines quickly formed with the blue jackets on either +hand. The orders were given in a low voice, Norman and Archie leading +in Indian file, and at a double quick march. They proceeded a short way +along the shore, and then facing about they rushed up the hill, uttering +a true English cheer. The blacks raised a cry of alarm. Those who with +burning brands in their hands were attempting to mount the ladders let +them drop, tumbling head over heels to the ground. Their companions +scampered off, many throwing down their muskets. Their leader Cudjoe +held his, and sullenly retired, but as several shots came whizzing past +him, he increased his pace, till he began to run as fast as the rest, +and the whole multitude took to their heels, shrieking with alarm, like +a herd of swine, tumbling over each other down the hill, some making for +the opposite height, others rushing along the valley. + +The marines, led by their sergeant, charged after them till the greater +number of the fleet-footed savages had disappeared. + +Archie Sandys accompanied the master with one party of blue jackets in +pursuit of Cudjoe, but the black leader succeeded in reaching a wood, +and was soon lost to sight among the trees. Several negroes, however, +were overtaken. Seeing that they could not escape, they fell on their +knees, begging for mercy. The seamen were about to cut them down when +Archie recognised two or three slaves who had saved his life, and +throwing himself before them intreated the seamen to desist. The +master, who had fortunately heard his account, understanding his motive, +restrained the sailors, and the lives of the poor blacks were spared. + +"I don't forget the mercy you showed me," said Archie, "but I wish you +had managed to run off." Then, turning to the master, he begged that he +would allow the blacks to escape. "If they are made prisoners I may be +unable to save their lives," he said. + +"Well, then, let us go and look after some others," exclaimed Mr +Billhook. "Tell them to show leg-bail and we'll not follow them." + +The kind-hearted seamen fully appreciating Archie's object were well +pleased to let the poor trembling wretches escape, and led by the +master, they pursued some others who had still retained their muskets, +and who proved to be Coromantees, the most warlike and savage of the +blacks engaged in the insurrection. Several of these attempting to make +a stand were captured. + +The shouts of the gallant band of seamen and marines had been heard by +the garrison, and their movements and the flight of the blacks seen from +the windows. The doors being thrown open, the greater number rushed out +to join them in the pursuit of the fugitives, but their ammunition being +expended they were unable to fire a shot, and the blacks happily for +themselves were soon beyond the reach of the whites, or they would have +received less merciful treatment than the blue jackets were inclined to +show them. As it was, indeed, the British officers had some difficulty +in restraining several of the drivers from cutting down the prisoners +who had been secured. In a few minutes not a single black, except those +who had been made prisoners and a few who lay dead or wounded on the +ground, was to be seen. + +Mr Foley, having ordered the recall to be sounded, hurried with Gerald +to the house, where the first person they met was Mr Ferris, who at +once recognised them. Taking them by the hands, he thanked them with +tears in his eyes as the deliverers of his daughter and himself and +their friends. + +"You have rendered me for ever your debtor," said the merchant; "indeed, +it is impossible to repay you." + +Norman, making a fitting answer, eagerly inquired for Ellen. + +"She is there," replied her father; and the words were scarcely out of +his mouth before Norman sprang forward, and there he saw Ellen standing, +somewhat pale indeed, though the colour began to mount rapidly to her +cheeks, with her hands extended to greet him, her trembling limbs, +however, preventing her from moving towards him as her feelings might +have prompted. He had good reason to be satisfied that absence had not +cooled her affection. Mr Twigg kindly allowed them to enjoy each +other's society without interruption. Perhaps Norman would have +remained longer than his duty ought to have permitted him, had not the +sound of hearty cheers reached their ears, and he and Ellen on going +into the hall were informed by Mr Ferris that a party of white men were +seen coming over the hill who were thus welcomed by the garrison. Ellen +now first heard of the escape of Archie Sandys, who had been heartily +welcomed by all hands, among whom he was a universal favourite. He +might before have had his suspicions as to the interest which Lieutenant +Foley entertained for Miss Ferris. When he saw them together, he had no +doubt about the matter, and the slight hopes he had cherished vanished +for ever. + +Mr Twigg in the meantime had dispatched people to the yam ground, and +to every part of the neighbourhood where provisions could be found, +though the blacks had consumed most of the roots and fruits as well as +the animals they could lay hands on near the house. Water had also been +brought up from the well to supply the thirsty inmates, while the +sergeant of marines had drawn up his men, as he said, to observe the +enemy, lest they should venture on another attack. That, however, did +not appear probable, as numbers were seen flying at full speed towards +the mountains to escape the vengeance of their masters, which they knew +full well was likely to overtake them. + +Jack Pemberton and the party from Walton now appeared. + +"We hurried off as soon as Quashie arrived," said Jack, "but he with a +misadventure, and was captured by some rebels who, though they could +make nothing of him, detained him, and he had no little difficulty in +making his escape. On our way we were overtaken by a messenger from +Major Malcolm, who is advancing with a strong force, and depend upon it +he will give the rebels a fearful drubbing if he overtakes them." + +"We are much obliged to you, Jack, for your good intentions, but had not +the party from the ship arrived in the nick of time, you would in all +probability have found the house a heap of ruins, and we all burned to +cinders in the middle of it," answered Mr Twigg. + +No one welcomed Archie Sandys more cordially than did Lieutenant Belt, +who had greatly admired the coolness and courage he had displayed. He +had now also a fellow feeling for him, as he quickly perceived that the +sailor officer had forestalled him in the affections of Miss Ferris. + +The family at Bellevue, notwithstanding the fearful danger they had gone +through, soon recovered their spirits. Such provisions as could be +hastily collected were cooked, and, as there was a good store of wine +and other articles of luxury, an ample repast was soon prepared for +their guests. + +While they were seated round the table, it was announced that a body of +soldiers were seen coming from the west, with several persons on +horseback; and in a short time Major Malcolm and two other officers +galloped up to the door. The expression of his countenance when Mr +Twigg went out to meet him, and as he surveyed the havoc which had been +made around the house, and saw the fearful danger to which the inmates +had been exposed, showed how much he felt. He condemned himself for +having quitted Bellevue, although he had gone at Miss Pemberton's +express wish; but when he entered the room and saw her eyes turned +towards him, and the slight tinge which rose to her generally pale +cheeks, he knew that she, at all events, did not blame him. His stay +could be but very brief, for as soon as the forces who were coming up +arrived, he must push forward in pursuit of the rebel blacks. + +"It is painful work, without honour or glory, and yet duty demands that +it must be done," he observed to Miss Pemberton. "I would that others +had to do it." + +Mr Twigg did not fail to expatiate largely on the gallant conduct of +Lieutenant Belt, and the important service he had rendered them. "It +was indeed a happy day for us when you came here, for, had it not been +for him, I believe that none of us would now be remaining alive; and I +therefore propose the health of the hero of Bellevue, for such he +deserves to be called." + +Every one corroborated Mr Twigg's account, and the gallant lieutenant +made a very neat and appropriate speech. + +"As he is unfit to march, if you desire it, Mr Twigg, I will leave him +here in command of a detachment sufficient to protect the house," said +Major Malcolm, "as probably the marines and sailors may be required on +board their ship, to render aid in other directions." + +Norman Foley was not especially obliged to the major for this offer, as +he had thought it possible that he might again have been sent on shore +in command of a party to protect the house. He had now, however, no +excuse for remaining; he was therefore compelled, very unwillingly, to +order his men to prepare for embarking. + +"You will write to Norah, Miss Ferris," said Gerald, as he was wishing +good-bye. "Tell her all about me, and say that I hope to see Owen +Massey when he comes back again in the _Ouzel Galley_; and also tell her +that we had a brush with, we believe, that same rascally buccaneer which +attacked the old ship on her voyage out, when you were on board. The +fellow escaped us, but we shall keep a sharp look-out for him and take +him one of these days. I suppose that we shall remain on this northern +coast for some time, and then go back to Port Royal, with lots of +prizes, I have no doubt, and perhaps the pirate among them." + +Ellen and Norman had to part, but they expected ere long to meet again +at Kingston, to which place Mr Ferris intended returning as soon as the +country was considered safe for travelling. + +As the evening was approaching, Lieutenant Foley had to hurry his men to +the boats, after a friendly parting with Archie Sandys. He had another +reason for making haste, for he did not altogether like the look of the +sky. + +"What do you think of the weather, Mr Dobbs?" he asked. + +"Coming on nasty, to my mind," answered the boatswain, casting his eye +round the horizon. "Whether it is one of them hurricanes which blow in +those seas, or only a common gale, I can't just say; but the sooner we +are aboard, and the ship can get a good offing, the better." + +Crowhurst, who had been some time before in the West Indies, was of the +boatswain's opinion, and thought that they had already delayed too long; +but, then, he was not, like the lieutenant, in love, and had found +nothing of especial interest on shore. + +The commander was highly pleased at hearing of the service his officers +and men had performed, and did not blame the lieutenant for remaining on +shore so long. Indeed, he observed, "Had no other force appeared to +protect the house, I should have considered it right to send you, with +the marines and a few seamen, back to guard it, in case the rebels +should return." + +Norman heartily wished that Jack Pemberton with his friends, and Major +Malcolm with his troops, had marched after the rebels, instead of coming +to Bellevue. + +The commander had observed the signs of a change of weather, and by the +master's advice, who felt sure that a heavy gale would soon be blowing, +though he could not say from what quarter it might come, the ship's head +was put off shore, so as to gain as good an offing as possible before it +was down upon them. The wind increased, and though the _Champion_ could +still carry her whole canvas, it was necessary to keep a bright look-out +against a sudden squall, all hands remaining on deck, ready to shorten +sail at a moment's notice. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +THE CHAMPION IN A HURRICANE--HOVE ON HER BEAM-ENDS--LOSS OF MAIN AND +MIZEN-MASTS--RUNS ON BEFORE THE GALE--STRIKES ON A REEF--AN ISLAND +DISCOVERED AT DAYBREAK--BOATS AND STORES GOT OUT--THE CREW REACH THE +SHORE--WATER FOUND--SITE FOR A FORT CHOSEN--STORES AND GUNS LANDED--A +GALE--SHIP GOES TO PIECES--LAUNCH LOST--A VESSEL SEEN--CHASED--ESCAPES-- +FORT FINISHED--A SPANISH MAN-OF-WAR APPROACHES--ATTACKS THE FORT-- +SPANIARDS DEFEATED--A GALE--SPANISH SHIP LOST--VAIN ATTEMPTS TO SAVE THE +CROW. + +The _Champion_ was standing across the channel between Jamaica and Cuba. +The night came on very dark. The wind, though blowing fresh from the +north-west, did not increase as much as had been expected, and it was +hoped that the ship would claw off the shore and obtain a good offing +before the morning. The topgallantsails had been handed, and as much +canvas was set as she could carry. The master turned many an anxious +glance over the quarter, where he could still dimly discern the outline +of the land. The ship was heeling over till her lee bulwarks were +smothered in the fast-rising sea. Still the commander was unwilling to +shorten sail while she could bear what she was then carrying. It was +impossible to say from which direction the wind might next blow. It +might come from the northward, and if so, she would have the shore dead +under her lee, and, should her masts go, might be driven helplessly +towards it. Another reef was taken in the topsails, but still she +heeled over to the wind more than the commander liked, notwithstanding +which she was evidently making considerable leeway. + +At length there came a lull; the ship righted, and for some time +continued to stand up better than heretofore to her canvas. The +appearance of the sky, however, did not improve. Dark masses of clouds +flew across it, gradually thickening till a dense canopy hung over the +ocean without any discernible break. The wind howled and whistled, and +the sea rose more and more. + +"We'll heave the ship to, Mr Billhook," said the commander. "We have +got, I should think, a sufficient offing, and we must return to the +shore as soon as the weather will allow." + +"If you will take my advice, sir, we will rather stand on for some time +longer. We are perhaps nearer the coast than we may fancy, and we might +find it a hard matter to get off again, should we discover in the +morning that we have been drifting towards it." + +"Keep her as she is going, then," said the commander, who thought that +the master was probably right. + +Soon after this the wind somewhat lulled, and the ship looked up more to +the northward than she had hitherto done, showing that the wind had +shifted a point or two. Even the master thought that the weather was +improving. The watch below was ordered to turn in and some of the +officers went to their berths. + +It had just gone two bells in the morning watch, when a sound like a +thunder-clap was heard, and Gerald, who was in his hammock, was nearly +thrown out of it. He felt the ship heeling over to starboard. He and +all those below, slipping into their trousers, sprang on deck. The ship +was on her beam-ends, the water washing half-way up to the coamings of +the hatchways. + +"Hard up with the helm! let fly the main and mizen-topsail sheets!" +cried the commander; but the ship did not rise or answer the helm. "Cut +away the mizen-mast!" he shouted; and the carpenter and boatswain, armed +with axes, came aft, and while some of the men severed the rigging, a +few blows served to send the mast, with its spars and fluttering sails, +over the side. At the same moment the mainmast, which must already have +been sprung when the hurricane struck the ship, fell after it, and the +seamen immediately commenced hacking away at the rigging to clear the +wreck. The ship thus relieved, rose to an even keel, and now feeling +the power of the helm, away she flew before the gale. + +The master hurried to the binnacle. The wind had happily shifted to the +westward, and though blowing with far greater fury than before, the ship +was in less peril than she would have been had it continued in its +former quarter. The yards were now squared and preventer backstays set +up, and the carpenter, having examined the mast, reported that it was +secure. The hands were sent to close-reef the fore-topsail; but even +though thus reduced, it was as much sail as the ship could carry. On +she flew, free from the wreck of both the masts, which it was impossible +to secure. Every effort was made to secure the remaining mast, on which +so much depended. Some spare spars still remained, with which, when the +weather moderated, jury-masts could be rigged; but with the heavy sea +now running, nothing could be done. The wind kept veering about, +sometimes to the southward and west, at others getting back to the +north-west. + +"Provided it does not shift to the northward, we shall have room to run +on till it blows itself out," observed the master. But there was no +security that it would hold in the most favourable quarter. + +The hurricane blew harder and harder--for such it might almost be +considered, though not one of those fearful storms which so frequently +devastate the islands of the Caribbean Sea. The rain, too, beat down +furiously, and the spoondrift in thick showers flew off the summits of +the seas, shrouding the ship in a dense mist, through which no objects, +had any been near, could have been discerned. At present, the chief +fear was lest the ship should run foul of any other hove to, for none +could cross her course under sail. + +On she flew. Daylight returned, but the view around was almost as +obscure as during the night. The master consulted the chart. He would +have wished to haul to the southward, but the sea was running too high +and the wind blowing too furiously for that to be done; neither, in +consequence of the loss of her after-rails, could she be hove to. Her +only safe course was to fly before it. Except the close-reefed topsail, +no other canvas was set. The _Champion_ had by this time got to the +eastward of Cuba, and was compelled to run on far away from the coast +her commander wished to reach. + +Another day and night passed by, the wind blowing with scarcely less +fury than at first. The well was sounded, but it was found that the +ship had made no unusual amount of water. If she could steer clear of +rocks and reefs, the only other thing to be apprehended was that, while +in her crippled condition, she might fall in with an enemy's ship of +equal or superior force. Numerous reefs and rocks however existed, and +as it had been impossible to take an observation, or even to keep an +exact dead reckoning, in consequence of the frequent shifting of the +wind, the master confessed that he was not certain of her position. She +was, he supposed, approaching the southern end of the dangerous Bahama +Islands, known as the Great Caicos. The island of Inagua, it was hoped, +was passed, but even that was not certain. + +Another night was coming on. All on board hoped that the gale would +blow itself out, but as the darkness increased, it gave no signs of +doing so. A sharp look-out was of course kept, ahead, and the cables +were ranged ready to let go the anchors should any danger be seen. + +Except when wearied out, in order to snatch a short rest, few of the +officers or men had gone below. Most of them were collected on deck, +when a voice from forward shouted out, "Breakers on the starboard bow!" +and almost immediately afterwards their roar was heard, and the white +foam could be seen dashing up over a dark reef. The helm was put a +couple of spokes to windward; the ship flew on. Scarcely had the danger +been passed, when the wind fell and the sea became rapidly calmer. + +"Has not the sea gone down with wonderful quickness?" observed Gerald to +Nat Kiddle, who was standing near him, both of them trying to peer out +through the darkness. + +"I suppose it is because we are protected by the reef we passed," +answered Nat. "I only hope we shall not meet with others." + +"Breakers ahead!" shouted the look-out from forward. + +"Starboard the helm, hard a-starboard!" cried the commander. + +The ship came to the wind, and as she did so the white foam was seen +rising directly under her lee. The threatened danger was passed, +although so narrowly that her keel grated over a rock below it. + +"Stand ready to let go the best bower!" was the next order heard. + +"Hands aloft to furl the fore-topsail!" Scarcely had the commander +uttered the words than a terrific crashing sound was heard. The ship +had struck a sunken reef. The way she had on her forced her over it. + +"Sound the well, Mr O'Rourke," cried the commander. + +Before, however, the carpenter could obey the order, the ship again +struck and remained fixed, apparently on a reef. Soundings were +immediately taken ahead and astern, and from the small depth, of water +round her, it was too clear that she had been driven hopelessly on a +broad reef. The sea dashed against her, sending the spray in dense +showers over her decks; but it was evident that there were reefs outside +which greatly protected her, and that there was no immediate danger of +her being dashed to pieces, or the crew losing their lives. The +darkness prevented any object from being seen round her, except black +rocks and the snow-white foam which flew off from the summits of the +seas. The crew behaved, as well-disciplined British seamen always do +under such circumstances, with perfect coolness. The men who were going +aloft to furl the fore-topsail were ordered down, and the commander +directed the carpenter to cut away the remaining mast, as it threatened +every instant to fall. A few strokes of the axe brought it down over +the forecastle, the wind carrying it in that direction. + +"I fear the old bark is lost," said Gerald to Nat Kiddle. "I little +expected to see such an ending of her." + +"No doubt about it," answered Nat. "The water is rushing like a +mill-sluice into the hold, and if it wasn't that she is firm on the +rocks, she would not have many minutes to swim." + +"Faith, I don't think she's swimming now," said Gerald. + +"No," answered Nat; "but she is not going down, and that is of +considerable consequence to us. When daylight comes I suppose we shall +find out where we are. I hope that land is not far off, or we may have +to make a voyage on a raft, as the boats won't hold us all." + +Norman Foley's chief feeling was disappointment at the probability of +not being able to return to Jamaica for an indefinite period of time. +The distance was too great to perform with any safety in boats; indeed, +it was doubtful, without masts to hoist her out, whether the launch +could be got into the water. + +As other shipwrecked seamen have done, all wished for day to relieve +their anxieties. At present it was impossible to decide what to do. +Gradually the ship became steadier. As the sea broke over her less +frequently, the master was of opinion that the tide was falling, and +that she had been driven on shore at high water. + +The commander and his first lieutenant accompanied the carpenter round +the ship to ascertain more particularly her condition. They quickly +came to the conclusion that she was hopelessly wrecked. "The first +thing to be done, then, is to get the stores from the hold while the +tide is out, and to save the ammunition," observed the commander. +"Should we reach the shore, we must not leave ourselves defenceless." + +The crew were accordingly at once ordered to set to work, and beef, +pork, flour, and other stores were hoisted up, while the powder was got +out of the magazine and placed in the commander's cabin with a guard +over it. + +Daylight found all hands thus busily employed. The wind had gone down +and the sea was perfectly smooth. The commander was on deck when the +first light streaks of dawn appeared in the sky. As the light +increased, he discerned a line of cocoa-nut trees rising out of one of +the low islands, known as keys in those seas, scarcely half a mile off, +while in the intermediate space were numerous dark rocks, the upper +portions of reefs which extended on every side. Between them, however, +were wide spaces of calm water, so that there would be nothing to stop +the boats from reaching the island. The satisfactory intelligence was +soon made known through the ship. The smaller boats were at once +lowered, while the carpenter and boatswain set to work to erect shears +for hoisting out the launch. As soon as the boats were ready, the +commander ordered them to be loaded with provisions, and canvas for +tents, and a portion of the powder, and they were sent off under the +command of the second lieutenant, with Gerald and Kiddle. The two +latter were directed to remain in charge of half a dozen of the men, +while the boats were immediately to return. In the mean while a raft +was commenced, to assist in transporting the guns and stores, all of +which the commander intended if possible to save. The crew were so +busily employed that they had no time to indulge in apprehensions for +the future, should they have entertained any. + +The commander's chief anxiety was to ascertain if water existed on the +island. Without it they would be unable to support themselves, beyond a +short period, when that on board was exhausted. The midshipmen were +accordingly directed to search for water immediately on their landing. +Away they pulled, their spirits scarcely lowered even by the loss of +their ship. As they looked back at her as she lay on the rocks, with +her masts gone and heeling over on one side, Gerald, however, +exclaimed-- + +"Poor old girl, there you are, and there you will leave your bones. I +don't suppose you care much about it, though you don't find it as +pleasant as bounding over the heaving waves, as the poets say." + +"We shall not find it so pleasant, either, living on that sandy-looking +island ahead there," observed Kiddle. + +As they drew near the island its appearance improved. They could see a +variety of trees and bushes, and that the ground rose beyond them. +Further in the interior the green grass, which here and there was +visible, gave promise of an abundance of water, so that they should not +have, as they at first feared, to suffer from thirst. In a little bay, +with rocks rising on one side, they found a convenient landing-place, +towards which the boats were steered. The goods were quickly got on +shore, and carried up to a level spot under the shade of some cocoa-nut +trees. + +Here, as soon as Mr Foley had shoved off, Gerald and Nat set to work +with their men to put up the tents in which the provisions were to be +stored. Gerald then, taking one of the crew with him, set off to look +for water as he had been directed. The island appeared to be scarcely +half a mile across, but it was considerably longer. A somewhat elevated +ridge ran down the centre, from which, before he had gone far, he saw an +ample stream gushing forth into a pool, after which it ran in a +meandering course towards the side of the island where they had landed. +Having made this discovery, they returned to the camp. Soon afterwards +the boats came back with some men and a further supply of provisions. +He then learned that the commander intended to land the guns. + +The work continued all day long, and towards evening the boats returned, +towing a large raft on which several of the guns were placed. The only +bad news was that, in trying to get the launch into the water, she had +been severely damaged, and as it would have occupied time to tow her on +shore full of water, she had been left anchored near the ship. About a +third of the crew, with the marines, under charge of Mr Foley, had now +landed; the commander and the remainder, with a portion of the officers, +still staying on board. Crowhurst, who came with the raft, said that +there was no danger, and that the commander intended to be the last man +to leave the ship. + +As there was abundance of wood, fires were lighted, provisions cooked, +and the shipwrecked crew prepared to make themselves as happy as they +could. Some, indeed, when they had knocked off work, amused themselves +by playing leapfrog on the sands, and running races; and the black cook, +who had brought his fiddle, beginning to scrape away, set the whole +dancing. At last they were ordered to turn in, and though it was not +likely that any enemy was near, sentries were stationed round the camp, +according to man-o'-war fashion. + +Norman Foley walked up and down on the beach long after his men had gone +to sleep. The boats and raft had returned to the ship. He cast his eye +round to note the appearance of the weather. Should it again come on to +blow, her position would be one of considerable danger, and those on +board might have great difficulty in saving their lives. Should the +boats be destroyed, he and those with him would scarcely be better off +without the means of escaping. They might have to remain there for +weeks or months, for no vessel was likely willingly to approach so +dangerous a neighbourhood. The provisions, though sufficient to last +for some time, must ultimately be exhausted, as would be the ammunition, +with which birds might be shot. Then what would be the consequence? +"It is useless to indulge in such thoughts," he said to himself at last. +"With a few hours' rest I shall feel more cheerful." He did the wisest +thing to be done under such circumstances--he went into his tent and +fell fast asleep. + +On rising the next morning, he saw the raft and boats again approaching. +Mr Tarwig came in command of them, with directions from the commander +to choose a site for erecting a battery on the island with their guns. +"The commander thinks it probable that the Spaniards, when they find out +that we are here, will attack us for the sake of making us prisoners, +and the sooner we are prepared for them the better," he said to +Lieutenant Foley. + +While the other officers and men were engaged in landing the stores +which the boats had brought, the two lieutenants walked together across +the island, and then followed the rise which ran along the centre on the +eastern side. Although there were many reefs on that side, the island +was more approachable than on the west, where the _Champion_ had been +wrecked, and after a careful survey they fixed on a spot below which it +appeared that a ship might approach the shore. Consequently it was the +spot which an enemy would probably choose for landing with boats. + +The lieutenants were not long in marking out the site of their proposed +fort. The ground was here covered more thickly than, in other places +with trees, some of considerable height, which would effectually mask it +from the sea. The island was of a width which would enable the guns in +the fort to defend it on both sides, as some might be so placed as to +command their own landing-place, should an enemy attempt to come on +shore on that side. Having formed their plan, they returned to the +camp. Here all hands were still busily employed in getting the guns on +shore. The difficulty was to drag them up to the site chosen for the +fort. Their own carriages, which had been also landed, were of no use +for this purpose; but the carpenter suggested that rollers should be +placed under them, and, ropes being secured to the breeches, they could +be dragged up by the crew. + +While the first lieutenant returned to the ship, Norman Foley directed +the carpenter to form his proposed rollers, and to try what could be +done with one of the guns. Some of the rigging had already been brought +on shore on the raft, and there was an abundance of ropes for the +purpose. + +The carpenter and his crew were not long in getting all things ready. +Four rollers were placed under one of the guns, and a party were told +off to take charge of four others, while the rest of the crew laid hold +of the towlines. The boatswain sounded his whistle, and off they set. +It was pretty hard work to draw a heavy gun over the soft sand, but +British seamen are not to be defeated when they put their shoulders to +an undertaking. The gun was started amid cheers from the crew, and it +began to move forward faster and faster. The moment one roller was +released it was carried ahead, and at length the gun was dragged up to +hard ground. Now, however, the tug of war began. Though the ground was +hard, it was rough and uphill; but the inequalities were cleared away, +and the gun was got some distance up the bank. It became evident, +however, at length that the whole strength of the crew would be required +to get it up to the site of the fort, and the lieutenant ordered the men +to knock off, and to bring another gun up. This was soon done in the +same fashion. The seamen enjoyed the work as if it had been given to +them as an amusement. + +Thus six guns which had been landed were got a part of the way towards +their destination. Parties of men were next harnessed to the gun +carriages, a boatswain's mate or one of the other seamen seating himself +on each--the former with pipe in mouth, and with a long stick in his +hand, with which he pretended to drive his team, cheering and shouting +in high glee. One of the carriages, however, as the men were running +along with it, capsized and shot its occupant out sprawling on the sand, +greatly to the amusement of his shipmates. It is wonderful what an +amount of work can be got through by seamen when they are allowed to do +it in their own way, and make an amusement of the severest labour. + +It would still require the raft and boats to make very many trips before +all the guns and provisions and stores could be landed. The commander +wisely sent off a proportion of each, so that, should bad weather come +on and the ship go to pieces, a certain amount of all things necessary +might be saved. The weather, however, continued favourable, though the +stormy period of the year had now come on. All the guns and provisions, +and a considerable quantity of the stores, were at length landed. The +carpenter had of course taken good care to bring his tools. He proposed +building a vessel out of the wreck. The commander approved of his +suggestion, and it was arranged that they should return the next day, +and endeavour to procure timber sufficient for the purpose. + +The commander had hitherto not left the ship. The last of the crew who +had remained with him were sent into the boat. His own gig was +alongside. With a heavy heart he hauled down the flag, which had +hitherto been kept flying on a temporary flagstaff, secured to the stump +of the foremast. After looking round his dismantled ship, he descended +into the boat. + +"Shove off," he said, and his voice as he spoke appeared to have lost +its usual cheerful ring. + +He cast another fond look at her as she lay bilged on the cruel rocks. +He had reason to be thankful that not a life had been lost, and that it +was from no carelessness or want of good seamanship that she had been +driven on shore. Had she struck one of the outer reefs, where would he +and his gallant crew now be? Probably not one would have escaped. The +sky as he looked westward had again assumed a threatening aspect. + +"We shall have another gale before long, I suspect," he observed to +Gerald, who had brought the gig for him. "It may not do us on shore +much harm, although it may blow down our tents if we don't stay them up +well, but the poor ship--I fear that her days are numbered. A heavy sea +rolling in here would soon knock her to pieces. Give way, my lads, and +overtake the raft; we may assist in towing it, and the sooner it reaches +the shore the better." + +Fortunately by this time everything of value had been landed from the +ship. The cabins had been stripped of their furniture, even to the +bedding; the men's hammocks, and every article belonging to them, had +been brought off. There was an abundance of water, and there was no +probability of their provisions running short for some time to come. + +Scarcely had the boats and raft been unloaded and the stores carried up +to the camp, than the sea began to roll in with much greater force than +hitherto, and as the sun went down the white breakers appeared on every +side, like horses' manes waving in the wind, above the darkening waters. +The commander was received with hearty cheers by his crew. + +"Now, my lads," he said, "I intend to turn this island into a +man-of-war, and although we cannot get under way--for if we could we +would soon run her up to Port Royal harbour--we will hold her against +all enemies, whoever they may be, who may wish to make a prize of us. I +intend to maintain the same discipline as heretofore, and I expect that +you will still remain the well-ordered crew of whom I have always been +proud." + +The captain's address was received, as he expected it would be, with +hearty cheers, and several voices among the men cried out, "We'll stick +by you, sir, and you won't have to be ashamed of us." + +Several fires had been lighted, round which the men were collected, +cooking their suppers in a fashion in which Jack especially delights +when he has the chance; but the rising wind soon made it necessary to +put them all out, for fear of their setting the bushes and trees in +flames, or lest a wandering spark might find its way to the tent in +which the powder was stored. This, by Mr Foley's forethought, had been +erected some way from the camp, and a sentry placed over it. The next +thing to be done was to secure the tents with preventer-stays, as the +seamen called them. By this means, furiously as the wind began to blow, +not a tent was capsized. Being composed of sails, they were much lower +than ordinary tents, and thus much less exposed than such would have +been. They resembled indeed gipsy tents, though on a larger scale. It +was fortunate for the shipwrecked crew that they had been erected in +good time, for as the night drew on the rain came down in torrents, and +would have drenched them to the skin. The wind increased, howling and +whistling amid the cocoa-nut trees; while the sea, as it dashed with +increasing fury on the shore, uttered continuous and never-ceasing +roars, echoed, so it seemed, by the breakers on the more distant reefs. +The commander, who had scarcely closed his eyes on board, shared a tent +with his lieutenants and the surgeon. His chief care, for the present +was over, and he at length fell fast asleep. + +"It is a hard trial for him, poor man," observed the surgeon, as he and +the two lieutenants sat at their table at the further end of the tent. +"Though it may not be the commander's fault when he loses his ship, he +must feel it dreadfully." + +"Somewhat as you feel when you lose a patient, Mac," observed Mr +Tarwig. + +"Nay, nay," answered the doctor. "I have a better chance of getting +fresh patients, whereas the captain who loses his ship is often looked +upon as unfortunate, and may chance not to get another--" + +"That he may have the opportunity of losing her, doctor, you would say, +just as you would desire to have the chance of losing some fresh +patients." + +"You're hard on me, Tarwig," said the doctor. "My desire is to cure +them. And just remember that men's lives are not in our hands: all we +can do is to employ such knowledge as we possess. That may be but +little, I confess, for I tell you our ignorance is great. If I pride +myself on anything, it is that I am aware that I know next to nothing, +and that is what many fools do not." + +"Well said, Mac," observed Norman. "I always had a respect for you, and +I have a greater now, and shall have perfect confidence in your skill, +if I should have again to come to you for assistance. I believe I owe +my life to you when I was wounded, as far as I owe it to any human +being." + +"Nay, nay," again said the doctor, laughing. "You owe it, to my +thinking, to a fair young lady who looked after you so carefully when we +put you on shore at Waterford--for you were in a bad way then, let me +tell you, though I did not say so at the time." + +"He has repaid the debt, doctor, for I understand that the same young +lady was in the house attacked by the rebels, and that they were on the +point of entering it and murdering all the inmates, when he drove them +to the right-about," said Mr Tarwig. + +In another tent the master and purser, with the midshipmen, were engaged +in amusing themselves in a more uproarious fashion. Many a merry stave +and sentimental ditty was sung, and not a few yarns were spun, anecdotes +told, and jokes cut, albeit not of the newest. The remainder of the +shipwrecked men having been pretty well worked during the day, soon +turned in, and in spite of the storm raging over their heads went fast +asleep; the only people awake being the sentries, who, wrapped in their +greatcoats, their firelocks sheltered under them, stood with their backs +to the wind. + +Thus the night passed away. With the morning light the rain ceased, and +as Norman, who was the first among the officers on foot, looked in the +direction of the spot where the ship had been, she was nowhere to be +seen, but here and there amid the foam-covered reefs fragments of the +wreck could be discerned, tossed about by the tumbling seas. He had +reason to be thankful that such had not been her fate while the crew +were still on board. He was soon joined by Mr Tarwig. He pointed in +the direction of the wreck. + +"Our chance of building a craft to carry us away is gone," observed the +first lieutenant, with a sigh. "Well, we must bear our lot patiently, +and maybe some friendly craft may heave in sight. And if a friend does +not come, why, perhaps an enemy will; and if so, we must capture her, +and change places with her crew." + +"Little chance of that, I fear," said Norman, who, eager as he was to +get off, had from the first not been very sanguine of doing so. + +After the crew had been piped up, and Mr Tarwig had mustered them and +gone through the usual duties performed by a first lieutenant--although, +as he observed with one of his comical looks to Norman, he need not get +the decks washed, the rain having done that already--they re-entered +their tent, to which their servants brought fresh water for their +morning ablutions. Fires were lighted, though the wood did not burn at +first very briskly, and the cooks busied themselves in preparing for +breakfast. + +The commander on going out of his tent took one glance seaward. "I +feared it would be so," he said, turning away his head. "Now, Mr +Tarwig, we'll get our fort under way." + +"It would be a hard matter to do that, sir," answered the first +lieutenant, screwing up his mouth, with a twinkle in his eye, "seeing it +is not built yet." + +The commander, who knew he was fond of a joke, laughed, and desired to +be shown the proposed site. On inspecting it, he highly approved of the +spot selected. + +Immediately breakfast was over, all hands were ordered to man the guns +and commence the work of dragging them up the hill. One at a time, +however, only could be moved, till it was got near enough to a stout +tree to which a tackle could be fixed, and the seamen then ran it up the +steepest part of the ascent with surprising rapidity. + +Before the day was over half the guns were placed in position, and by +means of stout shears, which were erected on the hill, were hoisted on +their carriages. The rest were allowed to remain where they were till +the embankments were thrown up. The smith and his mates, with such +hands as he required, had put up a forge, and he and the carpenters had +been busily engaged manufacturing pickaxes and spades. With such as had +been finished the men were the next day set to work on the trenches, +some being employed in cutting down trees to serve for the woodwork +which was required. Eighty men were engaged in these operations, and it +seemed extraordinary how much that number of willing hands could get +through, the officers all labouring away to set them the example. + +The commander was well pleased as he surveyed the work. "We shall be +able to give a fair account of an enemy should one attack us before many +days are over," he observed to Mr Tarwig. "I think it very probable, +should the Spaniards find out we are here, that they will not let us +alone, as they will fancy that for some reason or other we have taken +possession of the island." + +"Ay, sir; but I have a notion we should be able to beat them off without +these embankments, satisfactory as it may be to have them as shelter," +answered the first lieutenant. + +It took, however, several days to complete the fort, and when that was +done, one of the chief objects of the commander was to find occupation +for the men. He knew that it would never do to let them be too long +idle. Among the stores saved were several seines; one or two of these +were drawn every day on the sandy portions of the beach, and never +failed to catch a number of fish, which added to the store of +provisions. Drawing the seine afforded not only occupation but +amusement to the men, who engaged in it with the greatest avidity. The +fresh fish, too, assisted to keep scurvy at a distance. The surgeon +explored the island in search of any vegetable productions which might +assist in that object. Happily there were a good number of cocoa-nuts, +but it was necessary to husband them, or the men would have consumed +them in the course of a day or two. + +Though it was necessary to prepare for a long stay, the commander took +the requisite measures for attracting the notice of any passing vessels. +A high flagstaff was put up in the centre of the fort, from which the +British ensign was kept flying from sunrise to sunset, and on the two +highest points of the island piles of firewood were placed ready to +light up at night, should it be considered expedient to try and attract +the attention of any ships seen in the offing. There might, however, be +a danger in doing this, lest a stranger, standing too close in, might +run on the rocks. By firing guns, however, she might be warned off. Of +course, by these means it was as likely that an enemy would be attracted +to the spot as a friend, but this caused them no anxiety, as they could +beat off any vessel which might come with hostile intentions. + +Day after day, however, went by, and no sail appeared in sight. As soon +as the weather moderated the boats were launched, and the second +lieutenant and master, with Crowhurst, pulled round the island and +surveyed its approaches in every direction. They found but two channels +through which a vessel of any size could approach to attack them, and +that could only be done with the greatest caution, by those who had a +thorough knowledge of the navigation. Indeed, the island was almost +completely surrounded by reefs, some rising above the surface, others +sunk beneath it at different depths. These, it was found, extended to a +considerable distance from the shore, so that no craft of large size was +likely intentionally to approach. After the survey had been completed, +Lieutenant Foley offered to try and make his way to Jamaica in the +pinnace, the largest boat which now remained, the launch having been +lost with the ship. + +"I cannot let you go," answered Captain Olding. "Even should the +weather continue favourable, the probabilities are that you would be +picked up by a Spaniard or a Frenchman, and you would fail to reach your +destination." + +"But I might as probably be picked up by an English man-of-war or a +merchant vessel, sir," answered Norman, who was eager to make the +attempt. + +The commander, however, was inexorable, and the lieutenant did not again +for some time venture to broach the subject. + +The shipwrecked crew continued in vain to look out for relief, and +Commander Olding remained firm to his resolution of not allowing one of +the boats to try and make her way to Jamaica. + +Notwithstanding the refusal Lieutenant Foley had received, Mr Billhook, +the master, offered to take charge of the pinnace with four or five +volunteers. "No great harm can happen if we are taken, sir, and still +less, some will say, if we go to the bottom, but the chances are we get +clear and arrive all right," he urged. + +"One great harm would happen. Should you be captured, the enemy would +suspect where you came from, even if you refuse to tell them, and we +should have them coming here to try and cut us off," answered the +commander. "Wait patiently, gentlemen. Either some friendly vessel +will appear, or a French or Spanish trader or guarda-costa will some day +come to an anchor within the reefs; then, if we manage carefully, we +shall be able to get aboard her before she has time to cut her cable and +run out to sea." + +This idea of the commander's soon got talked about, and all hands were +constantly on the watch for any vessel which they might hope to capture. +Not that the seamen were in any great hurry to leave the island; as +long as they had an ample supply of food and liquor they were happy, +while they had sufficient occupation to keep them out of mischief. + +A look-out for any craft which might approach the shore was of course +constantly kept on both sides of the island. A mist had hung over the +sea during the night, which completely concealed all objects, except +those close at hand, from view. The sun rising above the horizon +dispersed the mist, when a small vessel was discovered under sail, +threading her way among the reefs to the westward. Those on board her +must have perceived the fort with the people moving about, and the +British flag which had just been hoisted on the flagstaff, for she +immediately kept away, and, the wind being to the eastward, ran off +before it towards the open sea. If she could be captured she would +afford the means of sending to Jamaica, though she could not carry all +the crew. The boats were therefore launched, and chase was made; but, +the breeze freshening, the stranger got clear out to sea, when all +chance of overtaking her was abandoned. Much disappointment was felt-- +but as one vessel had come off the island so might others, and it was +hoped that one of sufficient size would appear to carry the whole ship's +company. The commander, being a sensible man, advised his officers to +be patient, and to make the best of the circumstances under which they +were placed. + +After the fort was completed, and all the huts required were erected, +the officers had work enough in devising employment and amusement for +the men. They encouraged games of all sorts--football, cricket, +rounders, and ninepins; indeed, a stranger coming among them would not +have supposed that the merry fellows he saw were a shipwrecked crew, +especially if they had been found playing leapfrog, or dancing to the +sound of Pat Casey's fiddle. The commander and his officers were not, +however, without anxiety; they knew that no British ships, either +men-of-war or merchant vessels, were likely intentionally to approach +the dangerous reefs which surrounded the island, and that their store of +provisions must in time come to an end. + +"We must not run the risk of starving," observed Commander Olding; "and +in the course of a couple of months, if we do not get off, I will allow +you, Foley, or Mr Billhook to try and make your way, as you propose, to +Jamaica." + +"I shall be ready to go at any time you give me leave," answered the +second lieutenant, well pleased with the thoughts of getting away from +the island and once more meeting Ellen. By that time the hurricane +season would be over, and he hoped to be able to make the passage +safely. + +"I trust, sir, that you will let me accompany you," said Gerald, when he +heard that there was at length a chance of a boat being sent off. + +"That must depend on the commander," answered Lieutenant Foley. "If he +will give you leave, I will gladly take you, as I can depend thoroughly +on you; but I suspect that he will prefer sending Crowhurst. However, +we have some weeks to wait, and many things may occur in the mean time." + +"Thank you, sir, for your kindness," answered Gerald, highly pleased at +the compliment paid him, and thinking nothing of the danger to be run +during a voyage of some hundred miles in an open boat, with a chance of +being picked up by an enemy's cruiser, or by one of the piratical craft +which were known to infest those seas. Gerald was not given to +boasting, but he confided to Nat Kiddle the promise Mr Foley had made +him. + +"I wonder whether he would take me too," said Nat. "I should not like +to be left here without you. I should wonderfully enjoy the trip. What +fun it would be if we were chased, and managed, notwithstanding, to get +away!" + +"It would be no fun if we were caught, however," answered Gerald; "but I +hope that won't happen. Depend on it, Mr Foley will do his best to +keep clear of an enemy." + +Still some weeks had to be passed before the commander would consent to +send off a boat, while not a vessel appeared in sight. The weather had +remained fine for some time, but at length it gave signs of changing. +One evening, as the commander, with several of the officers, were taking +a quarter-deck walk on a piece of level ground near the flagstaff, +occasionally sweeping the horizon with their glasses, now to the +eastward, and now on the west side of the island, the commander, who had +turned his in the latter direction, exclaimed, "There is a sail at last. +Judging from her appearance she is a large craft; we shall soon +ascertain how she is standing." + +The other glasses were turned towards the stranger, and in a few minutes +the general opinion was that she was approaching the island. The wind +was blowing pretty fresh from the south-west. Her topgallantsails had +been above the horizon when she was first seen; gradually her topsails, +then the heads of her courses, rose above the water. "Is she a friend +or an enemy?" was the question asked by several of those watching her. +Hopes, of course, were entertained that she might be the former. Gerald +and Nat Kiddle thought that she must be a British man-of-war. + +"See what a wide spread of canvas she has," observed Gerald; "no +merchant vessel would carry sails like that." + +"If so, then our chance of a trip in the boat is over," said Nat. + +The commander and his lieutenants discussed the subject earnestly. + +"She is not a British ship," exclaimed Mr Tarwig, who had been watching +her attentively through his glass for a minute or more; "that craft out +there is a Spaniard. She is coming here to see what we are about. +Depend on it, the little craft we saw the other day has carried the +information that we are here, and the Spaniards have come to turn us +out, if they can." + +"I believe you are right," observed the commander, after again examining +the stranger. "We must be prepared for whatever may happen. If, as you +suspect, yonder ship is a Spaniard, she comes with the intention of +taking us. What say you, Mr Billhook?" + +"I agree with the first lieutenant, sir," answered the master. + +"And what is your opinion, Foley?" + +"I have little doubt that she is an enemy, and probably well acquainted +with the reefs. If so, she will stand in near enough to attack the +fort; or if its existence is not known, the Spaniards will send their +boats on shore, expecting without difficulty to make us all prisoners," +answered the second lieutenant. + +"They will find that they are mistaken," observed the commander. "Get +all the boats hauled up and placed under shelter behind the rocks, Mr +Billhook. Call the men to their quarters, see that the guns are ready +for action, and serve out arms and ammunition. We shall somewhat +surprise the enemy if they attempt to land, for they are not likely to +know of the existence of the fort, and will probably at once send their +boats on shore, expecting to carry us off without difficulty." + +The men, who had, like their officers, been watching the approach of the +stranger, were well pleased when they heard that she was supposed to be +an enemy, and were eager for a fight. It would be a pleasant variety to +the monotony of their existence, and no one entertained a doubt but that +they should beat her off. The rays of the setting sun, glancing on her +side as it rose above the water, showed her to be a large frigate. +Though her flag could not be seen, not a doubt was entertained that she +was Spanish. The wind, however, had fallen, and she was still some +three or four miles beyond the outer reefs; when darkness settled down +on the ocean, she was seen to haul her wind, apparently to lay to till +daylight. The night was unusually dark, so that nothing could be seen +of her. + +The men were kept under arms, and sentries were posted round the island +at the different points at which boats could land, to give notice should +any approach, in which case the sentries were directed to fire off their +muskets and retire to the fort. The officers continually went their +rounds to ascertain that the men were awake and attending to their duty. +Hour after hour passed by, still no sounds were heard to indicate the +approach of an enemy. + +It was within an hour of dawn, when Mr Foley, who having just visited +the western side of the island, had returned to the fort, heard a musket +fired, and presently afterwards a sentry came running up. "I caught the +sound of the splash of the oars in the water, sir," he said; "they +cannot be far off. They hope to catch us asleep, for they seem to be +making as little noise as possible." + +As the man was speaking, another sentry's musket was heard to go off. +He quickly came up and gave the same report as the first. The garrison +were at once ordered to stand to their guns, and the two sentries were +sent off to bring in their comrades. + +"My lads, we shall probably be attacked in a few minutes by Spaniards: +perhaps there may be soldiers as well as seamen among them, but I know +that I can depend on you to beat them off," exclaimed the commander. +"Not a gun or musket must be fired until I give the order. They may or +may not know, of the existence of our fort; possibly they suppose that +we are without defences, and expect easily to make us prisoners. Don't +cheer now--let not a sound be heard till they get close up to us; they +perhaps expect to surround our camp, but as they know we are awake, they +cannot hope to capture us without a struggle, and will come on +cautiously." + +The guns had been loaded with grape and canister. The men not required +to work them were armed with muskets, so that should even the greater +part of the frigate's crew have been sent on shore, the shipwrecked +party might well hope to drive them back. + +The commander had taken up a position from whence he could command a +view of the approaches to the fort on every side; and other sharp eyes +were likewise looking out. So long a time elapsed that he began to +fancy that the sentries had given a false alarm, and he was on the point +of despatching a party down to the nearest landing-place, when he caught +sight of a body of men emerging from the gloom. They approached +cautiously, evidently doubtful of the reception they might meet with. + +The seamen stood at their guns with the matches in their hands concealed +from view; perfect silence reigned throughout the fort. The enemy crept +steadily on, not knowing how near they were to their expected prey, the +outline of the fort not being yet visible to them through the darkness. +Commander Olding judged from the ground they covered that there must be +between two and three hundred men--double the number of his own crew. +Suddenly they halted, probably having just then discovered the fort. +Two or three figures, apparently those of officers, were seen moving in +front of them; then a shout was heard, and the whole line, advancing, +fired their matchlocks, the bullets flying thick as hail over the fort. + +The commander leaped down from his exposed position unhurt. "Now, give +it to them, my lads!" he cried, and the guns sent forth an iron shower +into the midst of their assailants. Shrieks and cries arose from the +direction of the enemy, who had evidently not expected to find the +English possessed of guns. Still the little garrison fully expected to +be attacked; but when the smoke from the first discharge of the guns +cleared off, the whole body of the enemy were discovered in rapid +flight, making their way back to their boats. + +"Let us follow them, sir," cried several voices from among the men; "not +one of them shall get back to their ship." + +"They have been sufficiently punished, and are not likely to renew the +attack," answered the commander, who had no wish to make prisoners, and +saw no necessity for the utter destruction of the enemy. "If they come +on again they must take the consequences." + +The seamen were somewhat disappointed at this, but they knew that it +would be useless to expostulate. They remained at their guns, hoping +that the enemy would again attack them; but when daylight appeared, the +boats were seen making their way back to the frigate, which lay outside +the reef. On the ground they had occupied when the fort opened fire on +them were stretched upward of a dozen dead men. It was evident that the +Spanish had carried off their wounded, who probably numbered as many +more. A party was at once sent down, accompanied by the surgeon, to +ascertain if any of those on the ground were still alive; but Mac, +having gone round and examined each of these carefully, pronounced them +all as "dead as herrings." + +"There, my lads," he said to the men, who had come with pickaxes and +spades. "Now you may bury them all as fast as you like; their fighting +days are over." + +The seamen carried the bodies off to a distance from the fort, when +having dug a large grave, they tumbled them in without any ceremony. +Before the sun had risen many degrees above the horizon, the dead +Spaniards were for ever put out of the sight of their fellow-creatures. + +Meantime, the proceedings of the frigate had been watched with no +inconsiderable interest by Commander Olding and his officers. The wind +was still blowing a moderate breeze from the south-west, and would +enable her without difficulty to get in much nearer than she was at +present to the island. She was seen to be getting up her anchor. The +topsails were let fall, and, with her boats ahead, she stood in towards +the fort. + +"Her captain, finding that he cannot capture us as he expected, intends +to attack the fort with his great guns," observed the commander. "He +will find, if he attempts to do so, that he has made a still greater +mistake than at first. He must be well acquainted, however, with the +navigation or he would not venture to bring his frigate in among these +reefs." + +The men had in the mean time been piped to breakfast, the commander and +his two lieutenants alone remaining on the ramparts to watch the +proceedings of the frigate. The wind was light, the sea smooth, and she +was enabled to thread her way amid the reefs without difficulty. + +"Her captain maybe a bold fellow, but he is not a wise one," observed +Mr Tarwig. "If it comes on to blow, and I think there is a great +probability that it will do so, he will wish himself well out to sea +again before he can get there. He seems only to be thinking how he can +get near the fort, but if he had kept his eye to windward he would have +observed yonder bank of clouds rising above the horizon." + +The Spanish flag was now seen to fly out from the peak of the frigate, +leaving no doubt as to her nationality. She stood on for a few minutes +longer, when her sails were clewed up and her anchor let drop. Though +she had now got near enough to reach the fort with her guns, she had to +get a spring on her cable before she could bring them to bear upon it. + +"Now, my lads, let us show the Spaniards what English gunnery is like," +cried the commander, as the men returned to their quarters. "Fire!" + +No sooner was the order given than every gun on that side of the fort +was discharged at the enemy, with so good an aim that few missed, some +of the shots striking her hull, others her rigging. In spite of it, +however, the Spaniards managed to get a spring on their cable and to +open fire with the whole of their broadside. + +"They will not hurt us if they can't take better aim than that," +observed Gerald to Nat Kiddle, as the greater number of the enemy's shot +flew either on one side or the other of the fort, or buried themselves +in the bank below it. + +As twelve of the corvette's guns had been brought over to the west side +of the fort, they were not much inferior in number to those the Spanish +frigate could fire in return; while they were much better served, the +English crew firing two guns to the Spaniard's one. Their shot soon +began to tell with terrible effect on the enemy; several were seen to go +through her bulwarks, while her rigging was much cut up. + +The action had continued for nearly an hour, and during all that time +not a single person in the fort had been hit. At length the Spaniard +appeared to have had enough of it. Her boats were observed ahead, as if +about to tow her off the shore. Her cable was cut, and she was seen +steering for a passage which the master had lately discovered between +the reefs to the north-west. + +"She must put her best foot foremost, if she expects to get to sea +before the wind which will come out of yonder black cloud catches her," +he observed. "Should it hold as it does now she may do it, but if it +shifts to the northward or westward she will go ashore as sure as my +name is Billhook." + +As soon as the frigate's head had come round, her topsails were let fall +and sheeted home, and she quickly glided out of the range of the +_Champion's_ guns. The British crew cheered lustily as they saw the +defeat of their enemy. + +"We must not be too sure that she will not come back again," observed +Mr Tarwig. "The Spaniards do not like the look of the weather; when +the squall blows over, they will probably pay us another visit." + +"It is a chance if they will be able to do so," observed the master. +"See! here comes the wind sooner than I expected. If they can manage to +get out between the reefs, they are better navigators than I take them +for," he added, as he eagerly watched the retreating enemy. + +The wind continued for some time blowing from the same direction as +before, enabling the frigate to thread her way between the rocks on +either hand. A blast at length reached her. Over she heeled. There +was no time for shortening sail; onward she flew at a rapid rate through +the water. + +"She will get through, after all," observed the commander. + +The various spectators almost held their breath, for, though the ship +they were watching was an enemy, no one wished her to meet that fate +which it seemed probable would overtake her. Now again she rose almost +to an even keel, but not a brace or a sheet was slackened. Already the +sea was breaking with fearful violence over a dark reef under her lee, +while she was sailing as close as possible to the wind. + +"She will not weather it," cried the master. "They are attempting to go +about. It's too late, though. She's lost--she's lost!" + +At that instant the gale with fresh force struck the devoted ship. Down +she heeled, and a sea striking her before she had come round, drove her +bodily on the reef. The following seas dashed wildly over her, almost +concealing her dark hull from view. For a few moments her masts again +came into view, but directly afterwards they fell over one after the +other, and the vessel herself appeared to be melting away before the +reiterated blows of the fierce waves, which seemed suddenly to rise for +the purpose of effecting her destruction. + +"We must be ready to offer help to any of the poor fellows who may be +washed ashore," exclaimed the commander; "though I fear that few will +reach it alive." + +Both officers and men were eager to carry out his suggestion. A number +of long spars and coils of rope were got ready, and the greater number +of the _Champion's_ officers and crew set off towards the northern end +of the island, the only point where it was at all probable that any of +the Spaniards would be able to land. On reaching it, however, the +desperate condition of the unfortunate crew was still more clearly seen. +To send them help was beyond the power of the English. No boat could +possibly live in the sea already running round the reef on which the +ship had struck. + +Already a large portion of the hull had been knocked to pieces, while +the greater number of her crew had been washed into the raging surf and +drowned. A few wretches alone clung desperately to the forepart of the +ship and the stump of the bowsprit. No assistance could be sent to +them. Every instant the wind increased; the seas rolled up more wildly +against the wreck, as if eager for their destruction. Still the +commander and most of the officers and crew stood watching, on the bare +possibility of the wind again shifting and driving some of the hapless +Spaniards on the beach. + +They waited in vain. The hurricane had only as yet been gathering +strength. Suddenly it burst with terrific violence, which even the +seamen on the firm ground could with difficulty face, as it drove masses +of spray and sand against them, the roar of the seas almost drowning the +commander's voice as he ordered them to retire to the shelter of some +rocks a short distance from the shore. On getting under their lee, as +they again looked towards where the wreck had been, scarcely a vestige +of her remained, nor was one of her hapless crew seen alive. Still, +while a hope remained that some poor fellow clinging to a piece of the +wreck might be thrown on the beach, a look-out was kept to render him +assistance; but some hours passed by, and not a single human being of +those who had lately formed the crew of the Spanish frigate could by any +possibility have remained alive. The commander ordered the men to +return to the fort. The hurricane continued raging with unabated +violence for the greater part of the flight. + +"I say, Nat, it is as well we had not started with Mr Foley," observed +Gerald to his brother midshipman. "What would have become of us, I +wonder?" + +"We should have been in a bad plight, I suppose," answered Nat. "I +can't help thinking that the commander was right in not letting us go as +soon as we wished." + +The stormy weather continued for some time longer. Occasionally the +wind ceased, but only again to blow with almost as much violence as +before. Mr Foley and the master both acknowledged the commander's +wisdom in not allowing them to do as they had desired. The hurricane +season must, however, come to an end, for it had apparently already +lasted longer than usual, and the young lieutenant began to indulge in +the expectation of soon returning to Jamaica. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +TWO VESSELS APPEAR OFF THE ISLAND--ONE CHASING THE OTHER--THE STERNMOST +SUPPOSED TO BE THE OUZEL GALLEY--FIRING HEARD AT NIGHT--A CALM--THE +BOATS PUT OFF--A BREEZE--THE PIRATE ESCAPES--SOUND OF AN ENGAGEMENT +HEARD--BELIEF THAT THE MERCHANTMAN HAS BEEN CAPTURED--A BOAT PREPARED +FOR A VOYAGE TO JAMAICA--JUST AS SHE IS STARTING, A VESSEL IS SEEN AT +ANCHOR INSIDE THE REEFS--THE BOATS PUSH FOR HER--THE STRANGER FIRES AT +THEM--IS BOARDED AND CAPTURED--GERALD'S DISMAY ON DISCOVERING THE "LOG +OF THE RESEARCH, CAPTAIN GERALD TRACY"--DILLON FOUND ON BOARD AS LEADER +OF THE PIRATES--HE OFFERS TO PILOT THE RESEARCH INTO TIGER HARBOUR-- +COMMANDER OLDING AND HIS WHOLE CREW EMBARK WITH GUNS, AMMUNITION, AND +STORES--THE RESEARCH SAILS FOR THE NORTHWARD--A CANOE, WITH FIVE PEOPLE +IN HER, SEEN. + +One morning Gerald and his constant companion, Nat Kiddle, had gone down +just at daybreak to bathe in a pool on the beach, into which no hungry +sharks were likely to enter. It was the only place where the commander +would allow the men to go into the water, and they naturally preferred +getting their swim before the rest of the ship's company. They were +somewhat earlier than usual, and after swimming about for some time had +landed and were dressing, when Gerald, looking to the north-east, caught +sight of a sail just rising above the horizon. + +"Hurrah! I do believe she is standing towards the island," he +exclaimed, pointing her out to Nat. "She will see our signal and +probably heave to, to know what we want. The chances are that she is a +friend. No Spanish vessel would be coming from that direction, at all +events, with the intention of attacking us. She is probably a +man-of-war, or, if a merchantman, she is bound to one of the islands to +the southward." + +"But she is as likely to be a foreigner as an English vessel," observed +Nat; "at all events, she must be greatly out of her course. If bound to +Jamaica, she would have kept through the Windward Passage, or if bound +to one of the Leeward Islands, she would not have come near this." + +The sun, now just rising above the horizon, cast a bright light on the +topsails of the stranger, which must have discovered her to the look-out +at the signal station, who immediately ran up the colours. + +Gerald and Nat were soon after this joined by several other officers who +had come down to bathe. Mr Foley, being among the last, had brought +his telescope. The north-east trade-wind, which began blowing during +the night, was now carrying the stranger steadily along before it. Mr +Foley had lent Gerald his glass. + +"Why, sir," he exclaimed, as he was looking through it--"`It never rains +but it pours'--there is another craft of the same rig as the first, +under all sail. It appears to me that she is chasing the headmost one." + +Crowhurst took the glass, and having glanced through it, agreed that +Gerald was right. He then handed it to the master, who observed, "There +is no doubt about it. The headmost vessel is a merchantman; by the cut +of her canvas, I should say she was English. But the sternmost I can't +quite make out; she is probably a French or Spanish privateer. However, +as they are coming on at a good rate, we shall know before long. In the +mean time I intend to take my dip." + +Gerald and Nat continued watching the strangers as they approached. +They had got considerably nearer by the time the master came out of the +water. + +"They must have encountered dark and heavy weather, and got out of their +course, or they would not have been so close in to this dangerous +coast," he observed. "Lend me the glass again, Foley," he added, +turning to the second lieutenant. "Well, I can't make out what she is," +he continued. "Her sails have an English cut about them, too. We shall +make out her colours before long, for if she is English she is sure to +hoist them when she sees ours flying from the flagstaff." + +Mr Foley and the rest of the party were as much puzzled as the master. +No one felt inclined to leave the spot, even though breakfast-time was +approaching. + +Gerald felt unusually interested; why, he could scarcely tell, except +that he had been the first to discover the strangers. Now he threw +himself down on the sand; then he got up and walked about, and again +borrowed Mr Foley's telescope. + +The course the two vessels were steering would carry them within half a +mile of the outer reefs that surrounded the island. The hull of the +first could already be distinctly seen. She appeared to be either an +armed merchantman or a privateer; but if the latter, it was not likely +that she would run from a vessel not much, if at all, superior to her in +size. + +Nearer and nearer drew the leading vessel. Those on board must have +been aware of the dangerous character of the coast. As it was, she was +standing closer than, under ordinary circumstances, prudence would have +allowed. + +"Yes, she is English," exclaimed Gerald, who had been taking a long look +at her through the glass. "I can see the people on her deck. They are +looking, it seems to me, for some opening in the reefs, but they can +find none on this side, and must see the surf breaking over the outer +rocks. But what can the other craft be? If the first is English, I am +sure she must be so, by the look of her hull and the cut of her sails, +though I can't make out her flag." His hand began to tremble as he held +the glass to his eye--a very unusual thing for him. "Mr Foley, sir," +he exclaimed at length, "will you take a look at yonder vessel, and say +if you have ever seen her before? It seems to me that I ought to know +her." + +He handed the glass as he spoke to the lieutenant, who took a long look +through it. + +"I can scarcely believe it possible; yet, Tracy, she appears to me +remarkably like the _Ouzel Galley_," observed Mr Foley. + +"That is what I think she is, sir; but how she comes to be chasing +another English vessel is mere than I can make out." + +While the lieutenant was speaking a flash was seen, and a shot flew from +the vessel they were looking at towards the one ahead. Another and +another followed from her bow-chasers, but the range was a long one, and +they fell harmlessly into the water, under the counter of the ship at +which they were fired. + +"They were well aimed, and had they been fired from longer guns and with +better powder, they would have hit their mark," observed Lieutenant +Foley. + +"It won't be long before the chase has some of those round shot aboard +her," observed the master. "The sternmost vessel is gaining on her +fast, and unless she can manage to knock away some of the spars of the +other, she must be overtaken in a few hours at most." + +Gerald had again got hold of the telescope. "I cannot make it out," he +exclaimed again and again. "I have just caught sight of her flag. It +is black, with the death's head and cross-bones. There is no mistaking +her character; she is a pirate, but still I never saw a craft so like +the _Ouzel Galley_. She has the same new cloth in her fore-topsail +which she had when she last sailed from Port Royal, and a patch in the +starboard clew of her main-topgallantsail. Can anything have happened +to Owen Massey? He has not turned pirate; of that I am very certain." + +"I am afraid, then, Tracy, if that vessel is really the _Ouzel Galley_, +she must have been captured by pirates," observed Lieutenant Foley. + +"I am dreadfully afraid that such must have been the case, sir," +answered Gerald, almost ready to burst into tears. "All I hope is that, +though she is wonderfully like the _Ouzel Galley_, she is not her, after +all. If she is, poor Owen, his officers and crew must have been +murdered. Dear, dear! what will become of Norah when she hears of it?" + +The two ships were now passing almost directly in front of the island; +indeed, the chase had already got some way to the southward, the pirate +ship--for that a pirate she was there could be no doubt--continually +firing at her. Gerald walked up and down in a state of painful doubt +and anxiety. Nat Kiddle remained with him, though getting very hungry +and wishing to go back to the fort for breakfast. Mr Foley, who was +almost as much interested as Gerald, was the only officer who remained +with him. + +Neither of the vessels appeared to have observed the flag flying from +the fort; at all events, they took no notice of it. Both were too far +off for the guns to reach them, or Commander Olding would not have +allowed the pirate to pass unquestioned. + +The wind, which had been blowing fresh in the morning, as the day +advanced decreased, and by the time the two vessels were about three or +four miles to the southward of the island it fell almost to a dead calm. +They were still, however, at some distance from each other, but their +guns could be heard as they exchanged shots; the headmost vessel firing +her stern guns, and the other her bow-chasers, but, as far as could be +seen at that distance, without inflicting much damage on the other. No +sooner did the commander perceive the state of affairs than, calling his +two lieutenants and the master, he proposed attacking the pirate with +their three boats. + +"If you will allow me, sir, I will gladly take the command," exclaimed +Mr Tarwig. + +"I intended to have gone myself, but I will yield to your wishes," +answered the commander. + +Of course, all the other officers were ready to go. The commander +selected the master and boatswain to take command of the other two +boats. Gerald and Nat Kiddle were eager to accompany them, and greatly +to their satisfaction obtained leave, Gerald to accompany the first +lieutenant, and Nat the master. By keeping among the reefs, many of +which rose considerably above the water, they would be able to get near +the pirate without being perceived, and it was hoped, should the calm +continue until nightfall, that they might take her by surprise. This, +of course, was most desirable, as she might thus be captured without +much bloodshed. No time was to be lost, for the wind could not be +depended on, and it might soon again breeze up, when she would quickly +get beyond their reach. + +The three boats carried altogether thirty hands, armed with firelocks, +cutlasses, and pistols. The pirate's crew was in all probability much +more numerous, but that was not likely to deter British seamen from +attacking them, either by night or day. + +Mr Tarwig led his little squadron, threading his way among the rocks to +the southward. + +Gerald naturally felt an intense interest in the expedition. He was +sure that the pirate was the _Ouzel Galley_, and he hoped from some of +the prisoners they might take to gain information about Owen Massey. + +A considerable portion of the day had been spent before the boats, +rounding the island, again came in sight of the two ships. They were +still as before cannonading each other at a distance. The boats had met +with a strong current, which had considerably impeded their progress. +It wanted a little more than an hour to sunset, while they were upward +of two miles from the pirate. + +"If we wait till dark we shall have a better chance of taking the pirate +by surprise, as she will not expect to be attacked by the boats," +observed Mr Tarwig to Gerald; "but then, again, we run the risk of +losing her altogether, should a breeze spring up.--What do you say, +master?" he shouted to Mr Billhook, who was in the boat nearest to him. +"Shall we wait till darkness comes on, or pull away at once for the +pirates?" + +"As you ask me, I venture to say that we had better wait till dark. If +the pirates catch sight of us before we are alongside, they may knock +one of our boats to pieces, or, for that matter, sink all of them," +answered the master. + +The boatswain, when asked, agreed with the master. Mr Tarwig therefore +decided to wait, under shelter of a high reef of black rocks, which +would effectually conceal the boats from the pirate. + +Gerald felt greatly disappointed. He had hoped to pull on board at +once, and settle the doubts which had been agitating his mind all the +morning. On looking out to the northward, he observed the hitherto +glass-like sea rippled over in various directions. + +"Do you observe those cat's-paws, sir?" he asked, pointing them out to +Mr Tarwig. "If the strangers feel the breeze before we get on board, +we shall lose the pirate, and too likely the other vessel will fall into +her hands." + +"I believe you are right, Tracy. We must give up the idea of surprising +the pirate.--We must pull for her at once, master. You board on the +starboard bow, Mr Dobbs on the larboard, and I will get on board over +the starboard quarter. You will clear a road for yourself along the +starboard gangway, master. I will meet you there." + +Scarcely had these arrangements been made, the boats still remaining +concealed behind the rocks, when the pirate's canvas blew out to the +increasing breeze, and she began to glide rapidly away over the smooth +water. + +"I was afraid so," exclaimed Mr Tarwig. "I am the most unlucky fellow +in existence. We shall lose her, after all." + +As he spoke the pirate was seen to be running rapidly through the water, +the chase at the same time getting the breeze, and, as before, keeping +ahead and doing her utmost to escape. On seeing this, Mr Tarwig gave +the order to the other boats to pull back. + +"I can't make it out, sir," said Gerald, as they were returning to the +island; "I feel more certain than ever that the vessel with the black +flag is the _Ouzel Galley_. I wish that we could have got on board her, +to learn what has become of my friends." + +"It is very disappointing, I allow, Tracy," answered the first +lieutenant, "but I doubt if we should have been much the wiser. Depend +on it, the pirates would not have acknowledged that their craft is the +_Ouzel Galley_, and still less how they had disposed of the officers and +crew." + +"They must have murdered them all," cried Gerald, bending down his head +upon the palms of his hands. "I cannot bear to think of it, for I am +sure that Owen Massey would not have yielded without a desperate +struggle." + +"Well, Tracy, we have all our trials to bear. Cheer up, cheer up, +matters may not be so bad as you suppose," said Mr Tarwig in a soothing +tone. Rough as was his exterior, he was a true kind-hearted man at +bottom. + +The two vessels were soon lost to sight in the darkness, which rapidly +came on. Still the guns could be heard, showing that the chase had not +yet yielded, and was, as before, endeavouring to make her escape. First +they were fired only at intervals, as either one or the other could +bring her bow or stern-chasers to bear on her antagonist; just as the +boats reached the shore the booming sounds came with far greater +rapidity, as if both were firing their broadsides. + +"The pirate has brought the chase to action," exclaimed Mr Tarwig. +"May Heaven protect the right! The merchantman has done her best to +escape, and small blame to her. She will now, I doubt not, fight to the +last, and may, I hope, beat off the enemy." + +The whole party, on landing, stood listening to the sound of the guns, +trying to judge how the fight was going. Broadside after broadside was +exchanged for the space of nearly half an hour; then suddenly the firing +ceased. + +"Can the merchantman have beaten off the pirate?" said Gerald to the +first lieutenant. "Do you think she has, sir?" + +"I much doubt it," was the answer. "What do you say, master?" + +"I believe that the pirate has taken the merchantman," replied Mr +Billhook. "Those buccaneering fellows will stick to their prey like +leeches. They had made up their mind that she would prove a rich prize, +and were determined to have her." + +Most of the party agreed with the master, and few felt otherwise than +sad at the thought of the fate which had probably overtaken the crew of +the merchant vessel. + +They returned to the fort. + +The commander was satisfied that Mr Tarwig had done his best to capture +the pirate. He had observed the breeze coming on, and fully expected +that she would escape. + +The fine weather having now set in, and the stock of provisions running +short, the commander agreed to allow his second lieutenant, without +further delay, to try and make his way to Jamaica. It had become of +double importance that he should get there as soon as possible, both +that a man-of-war might be sent to the relief of the _Champion's_ crew, +and another despatched to search for the pirate, which was likely to be +committing serious depredations on British commerce. + +Mr Foley begged that he might be allowed to start the very next +morning. He had already obtained from the purser the provisions he +expected to require for the voyage, and had selected eight trusty men +from among those who had volunteered to accompany him. + +Greatly to Gerald's delight, the commander gave him leave to go, Mr +Foley having, according to his promise, applied for him. + +The pinnace had been carefully overhauled, and such additions to her +fittings as the second lieutenant thought would be necessary had been +made. Nothing more, therefore, had now to be done than to put her +stores and water on board, and that would not take long, so that she +might set off at an early hour the next morning. + +Nat Kiddle was greatly disappointed at finding that he was not to go. +He again applied, through Mr Foley, for leave, but the commander +considered that another officer was not necessary; he was unwilling to +risk the safety of more people than were absolutely required. There was +but little danger to be apprehended from the weather; the risk was far +greater of falling into the hands of the enemy, who would, of course, if +they were taken, prevent them from proceeding on their voyage. Should +this happen, matters would become serious on the island, though the +commander still hoped to be able to maintain the crew for many months to +come, with the help of such wild-fowl and fish as could be caught. + +Next morning, before daybreak, all hands were roused up, it being +arranged that the pinnace was to start directly there was light enough +for her to see her way between the reefs. Those who were to go were +first to breakfast, while a party who had been told off for the purpose +carried the stores and water down to the pinnace. She was soon loaded; +and a ruddy glow had just appeared in the eastern sky as Mr Foley and +his companions stepped on board. + +It had again become perfectly calm. Not a breath of air ruffled the +smooth surface of the ocean; scarcely a ripple broke on the beach. + +"You will have a long pull of it among the reefs," observed the master; +"but you will get a breeze, I hope, from the north-east when the sun +rises." + +The mists of night had begun to clear away, when Mr Foley, looking +towards the south-west, exclaimed, "There's a vessel at anchor." + +The pinnace was on the point of shoving off. + +"Wait till we see what she is," said the commander, who had come down, +as had all the officers and men, to bid farewell to their shipmates. + +The sun now quickly rising, shed its rays on the stranger, towards which +several telescopes were turned. + +"She is the very merchantman we saw yesterday, or I am much mistaken," +observed the commander. + +"No doubt about it, sir," said Mr Tarwig. + +"Foley, you will be saved a voyage in the boat. We must board her +without delay, or she may be getting under way, although it seems +strange that she should not have noticed our flag," said Commander +Olding. "Can she have beaten off the pirate?" + +"It looks like it, sir," answered the first lieutenant. "Either the +pirate must have escaped or been sent to the bottom." + +"We shall soon hear all about it, I hope; and we must get her to take us +off," said the commander. + +"As the pinnace is ready, I will pull on board at once, sir, if you will +allow me," said Mr Foley. + +The commander hesitated for a moment. "We will run no unnecessary +risk," he observed. "She may have beaten off the pirate, or she may +have become her prize, and if so, it will be safer for all the boats to +proceed together well armed." + +Some minutes were occupied in unloading the pinnace, that more men might +go in her; and in the mean time the crews of the other boats hurried +back to the fort to obtain their arms. Mr Tarwig and the master taking +charge of them, as soon as all were ready they shoved off, and pulled as +fast as the men could lay their backs to the oars towards the stranger. +As they got from under the shelter of some of the higher reefs, which +had at first concealed them, they must have been seen from her deck, as +the British ensign was run up at her peak. + +"Hurrah! after all, she must have beaten off the pirate!" exclaimed +Gerald. + +"I am not quite so sure of that," answered Mr Foley. "If she is a +prize to the pirates, they would hoist the flag to deceive us, and as +they see only three boats, they may hope to beat us off. Don't let us +be quite sure that yonder vessel is not in the hands of the pirates," he +shouted out to Mr Tarwig, whose boat was astern of the pinnace. + +"I agree with you," was the answer. "We will be on our guard." + +The first lieutenant, as the senior officer, now took the lead, and the +other two boats followed a little more than an oar's length apart. Mr +Tarwig's boat carried an ensign, and as he approached the stranger he +unshipped the flagstaff and waved it so that it might clearly be seen. +The boats had now got within hail of the merchant vessel. The British +colours were still hoisted at her peak. + +"Who are you?" shouted a man who just then appeared on the poop of the +merchant vessel. "Keep off, or we shall fire at you." + +"We are British--the officers and men lately belonging to his Majesty's +sloop of war _Champion_," answered Mr Foley. "If you are English we +are your friends, and we intend to come on board." + +"You may be, or you may be buccaneering rascals, and we don't intend to +trust you; so stand off, or we shall fire and sink all your boats," +shouted the man who had before spoken. + +"I repeat that we are British, and you fire at your own risk," answered +Mr Tarwig. + +"There is no doubt that the pirates have possession of the vessel," +observed Mr Foley to Gerald. + +The first lieutenant seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion. +"Pull ahead, lads!" he cried out; and the men again gave way, the +pinnace dashing up on the quarter, and the other two boats on either +side. + +As they approached the stranger opened her broadsides, and firelocks and +swivels were discharged at them; but they were already so close that the +shot flew over their heads, and the next instant the British seamen were +scrambling up the sides of the stranger, in spite of the opposition +offered them from pikes, firelocks, and pistols. As they threw +themselves over the bulwarks, they encountered a savage-looking crew, of +whose character there could be no doubt; but, savage as they appeared, +the cutlasses of the hardy tars quickly played havoc among them. Some +were cut down; others fled to the waist, and leaped below; and several, +in desperation, threw themselves overboard. Within a minute the greater +part of the deck was in possession of the _Champion's_ crew, a small +number of pirates alone standing at bay around the mainmast. + +"We ask for quarter, and if you give it we will lay down our arms and +save further bloodshed," exclaimed one of the party, who appeared to be +an officer. + +"We give you the quarter you ask, and your lives will be safe till you +are brought to a fair trial," answered Mr Tarwig, "but I will not +promise you any other terms." + +The man consulted with his companions. It was evident that all further +resistance would be hopeless, as already the _Champion's_ people were in +possession of the forecastle and aftermost guns, and could in an instant +turn them on the pirates, whom they, besides, considerably outnumbered. + +"We trust to your honour and give in, sir," said the former speaker. + +"I repeat what I have before said--your lives shall be spared," answered +Mr Tarwig. + +On which the pirates threw their arms on the deck. They were forthwith +pinioned by the victors, and those who had escaped below were brought up +and treated in the same manner. + +Gerald had remarked the countenance of the man who acted as spokesman +for the pirates, and was much struck by it. Could he be O'Harrall? The +man, though he had at first stood forward, now tried to conceal himself +among his companions. Gerald, on getting closer to him, felt sure that, +if not O'Harrall, he was the very man whom he had before mistaken for +him, who had been pressed on board the _Champion_ and afterwards made +his escape from her. This, if he was right, would account for his wish +to conceal himself as much as possible from the _Champion's_ officers +and people, who could scarcely fail, however, to recognise him. + +Gerald's attention and that of most of the party was, however, taken up +with other matters. The appearance of the ship showed that she had been +engaged in a hard-fought action. Her masts and rigging were +considerably cut about, though none of her spars appeared to be severely +damaged. Her bulwarks in two or three places were knocked in, and there +were several shot-holes in her sides, which had been hastily plugged. +Splashes of blood here and there on the deck showed that several of the +hapless crew had been killed or wounded while defending their ship. The +pirates had already obliterated the name on her stern. Why they had +done this it was difficult to say, except perhaps, for prudence' sake, +it was their custom immediately on capturing a vessel. + +While the first lieutenant and the master were superintending the +operation of securing the prisoners, Gerald accompanied Mr Foley into +the cabin. At the first glance they saw that it had been lately +occupied by passengers. In the side berth were hanging up two or three +articles of female gear. A book lay open on the table. + +In another cabin were a pair of men's shoes; and in a third, evidently +that of the master of the ship, were several other articles. Gerald +hurried into the latter, for his eye had fallen on a chart hanging +against the bulkhead, the appearance of which struck him. The outside +was marked in large letters, "Caribbean Sea." He had himself written +them. With trembling hand he took it down. Yes! it was a chart +belonging to his father. He hurriedly glanced at other articles, +several of which he recognised. On a locker was a log-book. He opened +it; all doubt was at an end. It was headed "Log of the _Research_, +Captain Gerald Tracy." He hurried over the latter pages. There he saw +that the ship had met with a long course of bad weather when no +observations could be taken. The last entry was--"A strange sail in +sight standing towards us. Latitude 23 degrees north, longitude 73 +degrees 15 minutes west." Leaving the berth with bloodless lips and +pale cheek, he turned to the first page of the book on the table. On it +was written--"Norah Tracy." + +Mr Foley was startled by the cry of grief and alarm which escaped from +Gerald. Unable to speak, Gerald could merely point at the page. Mr +Foley in an instant understood it all. Several articles belonging to +Norah remained in the cabin. In the other were some books, and several +things marked with the name of Dennis O'Brien. + +"Then Captain O'Brien must also have been on board," said Mr Foley. + +"He was my father's greatest friend; but oh, Mr Foley, what can have +become of them? Can they have all been killed by those villainous +pirates?" cried Gerald. + +"I trust not," answered Norman Foley, though his heart misgave him as he +spoke. "Bad as they are, they could not have been barbarous enough to +put to death a young girl and two old men like your father and Captain +O'Brien; beside which, I doubt whether the pirates would have yielded so +quickly if they had been guilty of such a crime. I think we shall find +that they were taken on board the pirate vessel, which stood on for +their stronghold, leaving the prize to follow as soon as she had +repaired damages." + +Norman Foley, feeling sincere sympathy for Gerald, offered him all the +consolation in his power; but still, knowing the savage character of the +pirates, he could not help dreading what might have been the fate of +Norah and the old captains. He guessed at once that they had come out +in search of the _Ouzel Galley_, which, if she had been captured by the +pirates, could not have returned home; and now they themselves had +fallen into the power of the miscreant who had taken her. Mr Foley at +length persuaded Gerald to return with him on deck, where they found the +man whom Gerald had at first taken for O'Harrall, standing with his arms +bound behind his back, while Mr Tarwig was questioning him as to how he +came to be on board the merchantman. Several of the _Champion's_ crew +had in the mean time, it appeared, recognised him as Michael Dillon, the +man who had deserted from their ship in Port Royal harbour, just before +she sailed from thence. Gerald had no longer any doubt about the man, +and corroborated what the seamen had said. + +"I will not deny that I am Michael Dillon, or that I deserted from your +ship. I suppose that I must be prepared to meet the doom of a +deserter," he answered boldly; "but you guaranteed my life, sir, till I +have been fairly tried; and as I conclude that you intend to keep your +word, I need not at present trouble myself about the matter. In the +mean time, I can give you valuable information, and render essential +service to that young gentleman I see there, Gerald Tracy, and to those +he cares for. If you will undertake to let me go free after I have +rendered the service I speak of, I will perform it faithfully. If you +refuse to promise that my life shall be spared, my lips will be sealed, +and you will find no one else to do what I can. You know me for a +determined man, and you may tear me to pieces before you get the secret +out of me." + +"I do not understand you," answered Mr Tarwig. "I must know more about +your offer before I make any promise." + +"I believe that I can explain what the man means," said Mr Foley, +drawing the first lieutenant aside, when he informed him of the +discovery that he and Gerald had made in the cabin, and his belief that +the pirates had either put Captain Tracy and his daughter to death, or +carried them off on board their own ship. + +This of course made Mr Tarwig much more ready to listen to Dillon's +proposals; still, without Commander Olding's sanction, he could not +promise the man his life. He determined, therefore, to send the gig +under charge of the master, who would give an account to the commander +of what had occurred, and receive his orders. It was necessary to keep +the greater part of the _Champion's_ people on board to repair the +damages the ship had received, and to watch over the prisoners. + +"I will not be long absent, depend upon that," said Mr Billhook, as he +jumped into the boat and pulled away for the shore. + +It was a trying time for poor Gerald. He longed to ascertain from the +pirate how his sister and father had been treated; but Dillon and his +companions kept their mouths closed, and would not reply to a single +question put to them. The men not engaged in watching the pirates were +fully employed in more effectually stopping the shot-holes than had +before been done, and in knotting and splicing the rigging; thus Gerald +had but little time to talk on the the subject which engrossed his +thoughts. He just got a few words with Mr Foley, who somewhat relieved +his mind by expressing his belief that Norah and his father had been +made prisoners and carried on board the pirate. "I think there is +another reason for believing that they were not put to death; I suspect +that had they been, Dillon would not have offered to give us any +information, as he would have known that he could expect no mercy at our +hands." + +"I wish that the commander would come off," said Gerald. "I have been +thinking, sir, that if he would agree to man this ship and go in search +of the pirates at once, before returning to Jamaica, we might capture +them. They will not know that we have retaken her, and we might thus +approach them without being suspected. If you will press the matter on +the commander, I hope that he will agree to the plan." + +"I feel nearly sure that he will do so," answered Mr Foley. "The idea +is a good one; he will probably think of it himself; if not, I will lead +him to it. If the plan occurs to him, so much the better, as of course +he will be the more ready to carry it out." + +"Thank you, sir, thank you," answered Gerald, his sanguine temperament +making all difficulties vanish. He could not indeed bring himself to +believe it possible that any beings in the form of men could have had +the cruelty to injure his dear young sister and revered father; but +then, if Owen had been killed, how sad would be Norah's lot! It would +break her heart; of that he was sure. + +"Gig coming off, sir," cried the look-out to Mr Tarwig. + +In a short time the commander stepped on board. The first lieutenant +reported all that had occurred. Commander Olding at once sent for +Dillon. Gerald stood by, almost trembling with anxiety as to what +course would be taken. The pirate boldly confronted his late commander, +and repeated the offer he had already made. + +"How can I trust you?" asked Commander Olding. + +"You can put a pistol to my head and shoot me, sir, if I do not fulfil +my promise," he answered, calmly. + +"If you can enable us to recover the master of this ship, and his +daughter, and any other of the people who were on board her, I will +promise to set you at liberty; but, if you are retaken, you must stand +the consequences," said Commander Olding. + +"That is the very proposal I was going to make, sir," answered Dillon. +"I will undertake to carry this ship alongside the _Ouzel Galley_, which +was captured by buccaneers, and is now used by them to go pirating. Her +former master and several of his people are alive, for I saw them +lately, and if you manage as I will advise you, you will recover them +likewise. I confess, sir, that I wish to save my life, and I desire +also to make what amends I can for the harm I have done. Will you +believe me?" + +"I believe you to be a great villain, but I trust you to perform your +promise, because it will be to your interest to do so," answered the +commander. "Should you prove treacherous, you may depend upon being +instantly shot." + +"I have not the slightest doubt about that, sir," said Dillon, with an +attempt at a laugh. "The sooner you can get this ship ready for sea the +better. I was left here to do so, not supposing that you had any boats +on shore to come off to us; and from the number of shot-holes in her +hull, it was feared that, unless we could get them securely stopped, +should a strong breeze get up she would go to the bottom." + +Gerald felt greatly relieved when he heard the commander undertake to +carry out Dillon's proposal. + +After a short consultation with his lieutenants, Commander Olding +despatched all his own boats, and two of the _Research's_ which had +escaped injury, to bring off the remainder of the officers and crew, +with provisions, ammunition, and stores, and four guns to increase the +armament of the _Research_. These would make her more than a match for +the _Ouzel Galley_. He also directed that the guns left in the fort +should be spiked, as too much time would be lost in bringing them down +to the beach and throwing them into deep water. + +"It will matter little, however, if the Spaniards do take possession of +the island, as no one would wish to deprive them of it," he observed to +Mr Tarwig. + +"I should think not, sir; and, for my part, I hope never to set eyes on +it again," was the answer. + +The boats made several trips, the whole day being expended in bringing +off the stores. The carpenters had in the mean time plugged all the +shot-holes, while the boatswain and the men working under him rove fresh +braces, fished the damaged spars, and repaired all the standing rigging, +so that by the following morning the _Research_ was ready to proceed on +the expedition. + +The commander had had another interview with Michael Dillon, who swore +solemnly that neither Captain Tracy nor his daughter, nor the other old +captain, had received the slightest injury. He had seen them, he +declared, taken on board the _Ouzel Galley_. The young lady's trunks +and their valises had also been removed with them. + +"And what became of the rest of the officers and crew of the +merchantman?" asked the commander. + +"They were mostly expended before we boarded," answered Dillon, coolly. +"They were knocked on the head by our shot; others who resisted were cut +down, and the remainder were taken on board our vessel." + +"Are they still on board her?" asked Commander Olding. + +"As to that, sir, I cannot say," answered Dillon; "but our captain was +in good humour, and may have spared their lives, though I will own it is +not always his custom to let his prisoners live. He ordered me, with +the hands you found on board, to take charge of the prize, and to follow +him as soon as I could get her into seaworthy trim." + +Gerald was satisfied that one part of Dillon's statement was correct, as +on examining the cabin he could find none of his sister's trunks, nor +any in either his father's or Captain O'Brien's cabins, although nothing +else had apparently been removed from the ship. What the intention of +the pirate was with regard to them, it was impossible to say. Dillon +could throw no light on the subject. Mr Foley expressed his hope that +the pirate intended to treat them mercifully, and perhaps, he thought, +would land them at some place whence they could find their way to +Jamaica, or to put them on board any vessel they might fall in with +bound to that island. + +This idea of Mr Foley's greatly relieved Gerald's mind, and he again +began to hope that he should have the happiness of once more seeing +them. The commander gave him permission to visit Dillon, so that he +might try to ascertain the fate of Owen Massey. + +"Though you were among those who dragged me on board the king's ship, I +bear you no ill-will," answered Dillon. "I will therefore tell you that +I saw Owen Massey, alive and well, not ten days ago. He was then on +good terms with the pirate captain, but I cannot answer for what may +happen when the young lady appears on the scene. She may perchance +prove to be an `apple of discord.' The captain has an eye for beauty, +and from what I have heard, Owen Massey is engaged to marry your fair +sister." + +"How do you know that?" asked Gerald, surprised at the man's remark. + +"We hear all sorts of things, and such an idea was current among our +fellows," answered Dillon in a careless tone, which somewhat excited +Gerald's anger. + +"You have given your promise to try and rescue Owen Massey and any of +his companions, as well as my father and sister, and their friend +Captain O'Brien," he observed. + +"I have promised to do my best to help them, and I intend to keep to +that promise," answered Dillon. + +Villain as he knew the pirate to be, Gerald was now satisfied that the +lives of his father and Norah had been preserved. + +Soon after dawn the next morning a light breeze sprang up, which enabled +the _Research_ to get under way. As soon as she was clear of the reefs, +Dillon was brought on deck, and desired to inform the master what course +to steer in order to reach the pirate's stronghold. Look-outs were +stationed aloft and at each fore-yardarm, that any dangers ahead might +be seen and avoided, the commander not trusting alone to Dillon's +pilotage. + +"With this light wind it will take us three days at least to reach +`Tiger Key;' that is the name the buccaneers have given their +stronghold," said Dillon. "It is a place no one, even when looking for +it, would be likely to find, unless he knew the landmarks well, or came +upon it by chance, and they will not thank me for leading you to it. I +must trust, sir, to your not only sparing my life, but protecting me +afterwards, for if I fall into their hands they will murder me to a +certainty." + +These remarks were addressed to Mr Tarwig, to whom the pirate seemed +more inclined to be communicative than to any one else. + +"What makes you so ready to deliver your late companions into our +hands?" asked the first lieutenant. "I thought that buccaneers were +always faithful to each other, although at war with the rest of the +world." + +"In the first place, sir, I wish to save my life--that would be +sufficient reason for what I have undertaken," answered the pirate; +"and, then," he added, a dark scowl coming over his countenance, "I have +sworn vengeance against those who have offended me. I had a quarrel +with the captain, whom, though I am his equal, I was ready to serve. He +treated me with contempt, and refused to trust me. However, it is a +long story, and I will not trouble you with it now. What I say will +convince you that I intend to be faithful, and that it will not be my +fault if you fail to capture the pirate and his followers." + +"And who is this buccaneering captain of whom we have heard so much of +late years?" asked Mr Tarwig. + +"He goes under different names, sir; and, although I may happen to know +his right one, you will excuse me if I decline to tell it," answered +Dillon, the dark frown still resting on his brow as he spoke.--"His +present followers know him as Manuel Bermudez; but he has not a drop of +Spanish blood in his veins, I can answer for that." + +What Dillon said convinced Mr Tarwig that he could be trusted in +carrying out their project. It was arranged that on approaching Tiger +harbour he should appear to have the command of the ship, and that only +as many men as had been left on board by the pirates should be seen on +deck, all of them dressed as the pirate crew had been, and that the +remainder should lie down concealed under the bulwarks, or remain below +ready to spring up at a moment's notice. Commander Olding intended, on +entering the harbour, to run up alongside the _Ouzel Galley_ and capture +her, and then to turn his guns on the people on shore should any +resistance be offered. Dillon assured him that no forts existed on +shore for the defence of the harbour, the pirates trusting entirely to +the intricacy of its navigation. + +The _Research_ stood on for a couple of days more, close-hauled, +frequently having to tack to avoid the rocks and reefs to the westward. +Without the greatest possible care she might easily have shared the fate +of the _Champion_. As she got to the northward the difficulties of the +navigation increased. Dillon, however, proved himself to be an able +pilot. He smiled as he saw the pistol which one of the warrant officers +held constantly at his head, as if he considered the precaution a very +unnecessary one. + +"Nobody desires to see the _Research_ safe inside Tiger harbour more +eagerly than I do," he observed. "Should the ship strike on a reef, it +will not be my fault." + +"A sail on the weather-bow!" shouted the look-out from aloft. + +"What is she like?" asked Mr Foley, who had charge of the watch. + +"A small boat or canoe under sail, sir," was the answer. + +Gerald, who was on deck, was sent by Mr Foley with a spy-glass aloft to +take a look at the boat. "If she steers as she is now doing she will +pass, I take it, a couple of miles from us, sir," he cried out. + +The commander, who just then came on deck, upon hearing this, ordered +the ship to be put about to cut off the boat. At the same time the +colours were hoisted, so that should the people in the boat be English, +they might know that the ship was a friend. A considerable amount of +curiosity was excited as to what a small boat could be about in these +little-frequented seas, and all the glasses on board were turned towards +her. As she had now altered her course and was standing towards the +ship, she was rapidly neared, and five people were counted on board her. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE OUZEL GALLEY OVERTAKEN BY A HURRICANE--DRIVEN TOWARDS THE COAST OF +CUBA--THE MAINMAST STRUCK BY LIGHTNING--FIRE--OWEN EXTINGUISHES THE +FLAMES--CLOSE IN WITH THE COAST--A STRANGER SEEN--A MUTINY ON BOARD-- +CHASED--THE OUZEL GALLEY BOARDED BY PIRATES--O'HARRALL RECOGNISES OWEN, +AND SPARES HIS AND HIS FOLLOWERS' LIVES--THE OUZEL GALLEY CARRIED TO THE +PIRATE'S STRONGHOLD--OWEN AND HIS COMPANIONS IMPRISONED IN THE STORE-- +OLD MAMMY KEEPS STRICT WATCH--O'HARRALL'S CHANGEABLE TEMPER--PLANS FOR +ESCAPING--MONTHS PASS BY--FRESH GUARDS SET TO WATCH THEM--HEAR OF THE +LOSS OF THE EAGLE--THE PIRATES STILL IN THE OUZEL GALLEY--OWEN AND HIS +FOLLOWERS ESCAPE IN A CANOE--SEE THE OUZEL GALLEY--AVOID HER--GET ON +BOARD THE RESEARCH. + +When Owen Massey sailed from Montego Bay, he had hoped to escape all +enemies and make a rapid passage to Waterford; but those hopes were +doomed to disappointment. Scarcely had the _Ouzel Galley_ passed +Bellevue than signs of a coming gale from the westward were perceptible. +So partial, however, are the disturbances of the atmosphere in that +region, that Owen kept the ship under all sail in the expectation of +being able to run out of it before it reached him. Still he was too +good a seaman not to take the necessary precautions. All hands remained +on deck, while he continually turned his eye to windward, to be ready to +shorten sail immediately it became absolutely necessary. As the day +drew on, the blue mountains of Jamaica grew less and less distinct. +Should the gale overtake him, it was of the greatest importance to gain +a good offing, for in mid-channel he would not have much to fear. The +_Ouzel Galley_ was a stout ship, and, if well handled, might brave the +fiercest hurricane. The log was hove. She was making between eight and +nine knots, a speed she could not often exceed. The wind was well aft +and all her sails filled. His hopes of escaping the gale continued. +After some time, however, he saw that the dark bank of clouds which had +long been visible above the horizon was rising more rapidly than at +first. Then masses detached themselves and came rushing across the sky, +breaking into numerous portions, like the riflemen of an advancing force +feeling their way through an enemy's country. Still he carried on to +the last moment. + +"In studding-sails!" he suddenly shouted. "Let fly royal and topgallant +sheets!" + +The first-named sails were speedily hauled down. The crew then hurried +aloft to hand the others, which were fluttering in the wind. + +"Three reefs in the topsails!" was the next order given. + +A strong crew alone could have performed the operation as rapidly as it +was got through. The courses were next brailed up. Still the ship flew +on as fast as previously before the rising gale. + +"Bedad! and it's my belafe that we're going to have old Harry Cane on +board," observed Dan to Pompey. + +"You not far wrong dere," answered the black. "Cappen Massey know what +him about. I'se sooner be 'board _Ouzel Galley_ when a hurricane +blowing dan on board many a king's ship, when de cappen tink he berry +wise an' carry on till de masts go ober de side." + +"Troth! an' ye're right there, Pompey, my jewel! We'll be afther +running out of the harricane, and sorra the worse will we be." + +The confidence felt by the young master's two faithful followers was +shared by most of the crew. + +The _Ouzel Galley_ behaved admirably; she ran on before the fast-rising +seas roaring up alongside. The wind whistled in her rigging, and bright +flashes of lightning darted from the black clouds now gathering thickly +overhead. + +As the night drew on the wind increased, and it was now blowing a +regular hurricane; still, as long as there was plenty of sea room, no +danger was to be apprehended, unless indeed, the ship should be struck +by lightning, against which no skill or seamanship could guard. No one +on board could hide from himself that such might possibly occur, as the +flashes succeeded each other with still greater and greater rapidity, +the lightning frequently running along the yards, now playing round the +mast-heads, now darting over the foaming seas in snake-like forms. In +the intervals between the flashes, so dense was the darkness that the +eye failed to see half across the deck, and had another vessel been +overtaken, the _Ouzel Galley_ might have run her down before she could +have been perceived. The canvas had been reduced to a single +close-reefed fore-topsail, which so tugged and strained at the mast that +every instant it seemed as if about to be torn out of the bolt-ropes. +As long as the wind blew from the westward or south-west, the ship could +run on with safety till she had got to the eastward of Cuba, and before +that time there was every probability of the hurricane ceasing. Her +only safe course was to keep directly before it, for if she were to +bring the seas abeam, they would to a certainty sweep over her and carry +everything before them. + +Owen remained on deck, holding on to a stanchion, while two of his +stoutest hands were at the wheel. For some hours he had stood at his +post, feeling no apprehension of danger, when towards the end of the +middle watch the wind shifted suddenly to the southward, blowing with +even greater fury than before. The helm was put a-starboard, and the +_Ouzel Galley_ was now running towards the dangerous coast of Cuba. +There was no help for it; but Owen expected, as is often the case during +a hurricane, that ere long the wind would again shift. + +For a short time there was a comparative lull, and all on board hoped +that the gale was breaking. + +"We shall be able, I am thinking, sir, to make sail and haul off from +the shore by morning," observed his first mate. "It is well not to get +nearer the Cuba coast than we can help. There are not a few low keys +and sandbanks to bring us up; or one of the enemy's cruisers may be +spying us, and it would give us a job to get away from her." + +"As to that, I am not much afraid," answered Owen. "I shall be thankful +when the hurricane is over and we can stand on our course." + +The hurricane, however, was not over. Again the wind struck the ship +with tremendous force, the lightning, as before, playing round her, +crackling and hissing as it touched the wildly tossing waves. Suddenly +there came a frightful crash. The splinters flew on every side, and the +tall mainmast, tottering for a moment, fell over the side, breaking away +the bulwarks--either it or the lightning which had riven it killing +three men who were standing near. In its fall it carried away the +mizen-mast. + +"Fire! fire! the ship is on fire!" shouted several voices. "Put it out, +then, my lads, and clear away the wreck," cried Owen, seizing an axe +which hung inside the companion-hatch, he himself setting the example, +which was followed by his mates and several others. + +While one party was engaged in cutting away the shrouds and running +rigging, so as to let the blazing mass fall into the water, another was +handing up buckets and throwing water over the stump of the mainmast. +The wreck of the mast being got rid of, the flames on deck were soon +extinguished; but a cry came from below that the heel of the mast was on +fire. + +"We shall soon put that out, lads," cried Owen, with all the calmness he +could assume; and leading the way into the hold, bucket in hand, he +forced a passage through a dense mass of smoke until he reached the seat +of the fire. + +There he took his post, in spite of the heat and the clouds of smoke +surrounding him. As the buckets were handed to him, he hove the water +over the burning wood. Bravely he fought the flames, and at length was +able to shout to his crew that they were extinguished. Having assured +himself of this fact, he hurried on deck. The foremast stood, carrying +the closely reefed fore-topsail. + +"It can't be helped," he observed to his first officer. "As soon as the +weather moderates, we must set up fresh backstays to the mast and try +and rig jury-masts, which will carry us back to Port Royal." + +"I shall be thankful if we can keep clear of the land and escape the +enemy's cruisers we were talking about, sir," answered the mate, who, +though a steady man, had less spirit than the master. + +When daylight broke, the outlines of the lofty mountains of Cuba were +seen ahead, but still indistinct, and, to the ordinary eye, not to be +distinguished from a bank of clouds. Still the ship drove before the +hurricane; but, as the sun rose, the wind began greatly to decrease, +although it still blew with too much force, and the sea ran too high, to +allow the ship to be brought on a wind. She had, therefore, still to +run before it, unwilling as those on board were to approach the +dangerous coast. The sun rose as the land became more and more +distinct, but still the sea was too high to allow of jury-masts being +set up. In the mean time the spars were got ready to do so as soon as +possible. + +As the wind decreased the sea went down, but by the time the ship could +be brought on a wind she was within sight of the coast, and, owing to +the eccentric course she had steered, it was difficult to say exactly +whereabouts she was, although Owen calculated that she was somewhat to +the westward of Cumberland harbour. + +"We can only hope, sir, that no Spanish man-of-war or privateersman lies +anywhere inside of us, and that we shall be able to get a good offing +again before we are sighted by an enemy," observed the mate. + +"I hope so," answered Owen. "What we now have to do is to set up our +jury-masts and make sail as soon as we can." + +All hands were engaged in this important operation. While it was going +on, Owen occasionally took an anxious glance through his telescope +towards the land. As he did so, his eye caught sight of a sail, on +which the bright rays of the sun fell, standing out from it, and he soon +saw that she was a large ship. A friend was not to be expected from +that quarter! He made no remark, however, as all hands were working as +fast as they could. + +His mate at last saw the stranger. + +"What do you think of her?" asked Owen. + +"No good, sir," was the answer. + +"I fear not," said Owen. "All we can pray for is that a calm may come +on, till we can make sail on the ship, and then we may get away from her +during the night." + +"She will be up to us long before that, sir," observed the mate, shaking +his head. + +"At all events, in the mean time we will do our best," remarked Owen; +and, without taking further notice of the stranger, he continued working +away with his officers and men. + +At length her jury-masts were got up, with yards across, and the +main-topgallantsail, and such other sails as they could carry were set +on them. + +By this time the stranger had approached too near to escape the notice +of any one on deck. Of course her character was suspected. + +"You see her," cried Owen. "Now, my lads, I hope you will stick by me; +and if she proves to be an enemy, of which I have no doubt, we will try +and beat her off." + +Several of the crew answered with a hearty "Ay, ay, sir!" but others +were silent; among them were the men who had lately come on board in +Kingston harbour. + +The wind was light, and the _Ouzel Galley_ made but little way through +the water. The stranger was now seen to be a ship of her own size, if +not larger. Owen ordered the colours to be hoisted, but none were shown +in return by the stranger. Again and again he took a glance at her +through his telescope, and at last he called his first mate. + +"Have you ever seen that ship before?" he asked. + +"I have been thinking that I have, sir, and, if I mistake not, she is +the very craft which so nearly captured us on our passage out." + +"I am afraid so," said Owen. "The more reason we should try to beat her +off; and, please Heaven, we will do so." + +"I will stand by you, sir; and so, I hope, will most of the men," +answered the mate; "but I don't like the looks of some of the new hands, +and least of all of that man Routh." + +As he spoke, he caught sight of Routh ascending to the mast-head, from +which he was seen to wave a flag, supposing, apparently, that he was not +perceived from the deck. + +"We must seize that fellow," cried Owen. "He did not make that signal +without a cause." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered the mate. "I will soon learn his object;" and, +calling Dan Connor and Pompey, he went forward to secure Routh as he +descended on deck. + +Just then Owen observed a smaller flag hoisted at the mast-head of the +stranger; then Routh, instead of at once coming on deck, ran out to the +end of the fore-yardarm, from whence he dropped something into the +water, apparently the very flag he had just waved. He then deliberately +returned to the foretop, and after stopping there for some seconds, and +looking at the stranger, he slowly descended the fore-rigging. As he +did so, he caught sight of the mate, with Dan and Pompey, waiting for +him, when, suspecting their object, he sprang up again, and shouted to +several men who were standing forward. They were those of whom the mate +had just before spoken as likely to become traitors. With threatening +gestures, they at once advanced towards the mate. + +"If you interfere with Routh it will prove the worse for you," exclaimed +John Green, who acted as their spokesman. + +The mate's first impulse was to seize the fellow, but his courage failed +him. "You will hear what the captain has to say to this," he answered, +and began to retreat, Dan and Pompey unwillingly following him. + +Routh, on this, took the opportunity of slipping down on deck and +joining his companions. + +Owen, who had seen what had been taking place, at once went into the +cabin and got his own pistols and cutlass, directing the second mate to +arm the rest of the men. Still, notwithstanding the mutiny on board, he +kept to his determination of fighting the ship till the last. +Fortunately, the mutineers had no arms, and before they were aware of it +all the true men had got their weapons. + +"Now, my lads," cried Owen, "if you refuse to do your duty, you must +take the consequences. Go to your guns! The first man I see flinch +from them I will shoot through the head." + +This threat seemed to produce its effect, and even Routh obeyed. + +The stranger was now rapidly overhauling the _Ouzel Galley_, which, +hauled on a wind, was standing to the south-east. Owen had got his guns +ready for action; the crew were at quarters. Crippled as the _Ouzel +Galley_ was, he could only hope to succeed by speedily knocking away the +enemy's masts, or otherwise seriously damaging her; for, unable to +manoeuvre his ship except very slowly, he could not prevent his opponent +from taking up any position which might be chosen, either ahead or +astern, and raking him at leisure--or she might at once run him aboard +and overwhelm him with superior numbers. Still he bravely determined to +fight till the last. + +He anxiously watched the stranger to judge what she would do. She had +at first set all the canvas she could carry, but as she came towards the +_Ouzel Galley_ she shortened sail, gradually also edging away to +leeward, apparently for the purpose of preventing Owen from making his +escape. The enemy had as yet not fired a shot. Directly, however, that +Owen could get his guns to bear he fired them at her; not without some +effect, but that did not make her alter her course. + +"She intends to board us, sir," cried the mate, who had been watching +the stranger. + +"You are right, but we will give her a broadside or two first, and maybe +make her alter her purpose," answered Owen. "Fire, my lads! and run in +the guns and load again as fast as you can." + +The men stationed at the aftermost guns obeyed the order, but the shot +from those forward, manned by the new hands, flew wide of their mark; it +might have been from their ignorance of gunnery, but, considering their +late conduct, it was too probable that it was done on purpose. The rest +of the crew took good aim, and then running in their guns, reloaded +them. + +"Here she comes!" cried the mate. "She will be aboard us presently." + +As he spoke the stranger ranged up alongside, her decks covered with +men. Four of the _Ouzel Galley's_ guns alone went off, and ere they +could be again loaded the stranger was alongside, throwing +grappling-irons on board to secure her prey. + +"Cut them clear!" cried Owen. "Resist boarders!" + +As he issued the order, the pirates, who stood ready in the main and +fore-rigging of their ship, leaped down on the deck of the _Ouzel +Galley_, when, with a feeling almost of despair, Owen saw Routh and +several of his crew join them. Still, rallying his men round him, he +resolved, if possible, to drive back the pirates in spite of their +numbers. Firing his pistols, he gallantly attacked them, cutlass in +hand, seconded by his mates and several of his men, Dan and Pompey +fighting with undaunted courage. + +"On, my lads! on!" he shouted; and so sturdily did he and his companions +attack the pirates, that they drove the greater number back to their own +ship. This, success encouraged his men, and once more they began to +hope that they should get free. + +At this moment, a voice was heard from among the pirates cheering them +on, and a fresh party leaping down on the deck of the _Ouzel Galley_ +bore all before them. In vain Owen and his faithful followers, Dan and +Pompey and others, fought with the most determined bravery; they were +soon overwhelmed by far superior numbers. Owen's foot slipping, he fell +upon the deck. At that moment one of his assailants raised his cutlass, +and was on the point of giving him a death blow, when the leader of the +pirates interposed his own weapon. + +"Let him live!" he exclaimed. "He is one I am bound to protect; and +these fellows with him--we will spare their lives. You hear?" he +shouted, turning to Dan and Pompey; "if you wish to have a longer spell +of life, drop your cutlasses. The ship is ours; give in, or in another +moment you will be among those who lie there on the deck." + +"Faix, thin, yer honour, if yer are going to spare the captin's life, I +have no objection at all at all to live a little longer," answered Dan-- +still, however, keeping his cutlass ready to defend himself. + +"And I'se too glad to 'cept your offer!" cried Pompey, who also wisely +stood on his guard. + +"Let no one touch them, or the boy there," said the pirate, pointing to +Tim Maloney, who, though he had done his part, had now got behind Dan +and Pompey. + +A dizziness had come over Owen's eyes as he fell, but now looking up, he +caught sight of the pirate gazing at him. Their eyes met. + +"Owen Massey," said the pirate, taking his hand; "I know you and +remember my promise." He pointed to the ring which Owen wore upon his +finger. + +"O'Harrall!" exclaimed Owen. "Is it possible that you are the leader of +such men?" + +"It is fortunate for you that I am their leader," answered O'Harrall, +helping Owen to rise. "Were I not, you would have shared the fate of +your crew. I will protect you and the three survivors, although it will +be no easy matter to do so." + +"I accept your offer, and trust that you will keep your word regarding +my men," answered Owen. + +More he could not say, for his feelings overpowered him, as looking +round he saw his two mates stretched dead on the deck, and the rest of +the men who had remained faithful to him weltering in their blood not +far off. Though bruised from his fall, he was not otherwise hurt, nor +were either Dan, Pompey, or Tim wounded. + +"The safest place for you and these three men is your own cabin," said +O'Harrall. "Go in there with them, and I will place a sentry at the +door. I cannot trust my own people, and still less the fellows who +turned traitors to you." + +Owen, fully agreeing that O'Harrall was right, followed his advice. As +he was going below, he saw Routh approaching O'Harrall. After gazing at +each other for a moment, they shook hands. Owen, on seeing the two +together, no longer wondered that he should have mistaken one for the +other, so great was the likeness. + +"They must be brothers, and the man who calls himself Routh is the +younger, of whom my mother has spoken to me," he thought. + +Thankful to have escaped with his life, more for his mother's and +Norah's sake than his own, Owen Massey, sad and almost broken-hearted at +the loss of the ship, threw himself into a chair in his cabin, Dan, +Pompey, and Tim standing round him. + +"Cheer up, Cappen Massey; tings when dey come to de wust begin to mend, +dey say," observed Pompey, anxious to console his beloved master. "As +de pirate sabe our lives, he set us free p'raps, and den we go back to +Jamacee and you get oder ship." + +"Bad luck to the pirates for taking us, though!" exclaimed Dan. "It's +my belafe we should have bate them off, if it hadn't been for that thafe +of the world, Routh, and the other villains. By the powers! if I ever +get the chance, I'll make him repint his treachery; but as you have +escaped, captin dear, the rest matthers but little to my mind in +comparison." + +Owen thanked his followers for their kind expressions towards him, but +he severely felt the loss of his mates and the rest of the crew, besides +that of his ship, while he could not look forward with much hope to the +future. He was very doubtful, also, how O'Harrall might treat him. He +knew too well the savage and lawless character of the man, who, though +he had saved his life, might at any moment, in a fit of passion, turn +upon him and his other prisoners; and although he might withhold his +hand from killing him, would without compunction put the others to +death. For the present, however, their lives were probably safe; and +Owen resolved to follow the pirate's advice and remain in the cabin +until summoned to leave it. He could judge by the sounds on deck that +the pirate crew were engaged in repairing the damages the _Ouzel Galley_ +had received. After this he heard the order given to make sail, and he +found by a small compass in the cabin that the ship was standing to the +eastward. + +After some time O'Harrall himself entered the cabin. "I was compelled +to take your ship, Massey," he said, "and now I have got her I am +equally obliged to keep her; but I repeat to you that your life and the +lives of the two Irishmen are safe, provided you remain below. The +black runs no risk from my people, and he may go on deck and make +himself useful. He will act as your steward, and bring you your meals +while you remain on board. I intend to take command of the _Ouzel +Galley_, so that I shall be able to look after you till you are put on +shore." + +Owen was not inclined, it may be supposed, for conversation; while +O'Harrall had matters to attend to on deck. He therefore, having sent +Pompey there, soon left the cabin. After some time the black returned +with a substantial meal, which he had prepared by O'Harrall's orders. + +Night came on, and the ship still continued her course. Owen's only +hope was that she might be sighted by some man-of-war and recaptured. +This hope, however, was but slight. The pirates were likely to be wary, +and they would take care to keep away from any strange sail. The wind +was light, and the _Ouzel Galley_ made but slow progress. Owen +recollected that the pirate ship was in company. O'Harrall, when he +came occasionally into the cabin, showed no inclination to give him any +information. + +Another and another day went by, and Owen began to lose all hope of +being retaken; still, as long as the ship was at sea, there was a +probability of this occurring. + +"Suppose we are chased--won't the pirates be after cutting all our +throats, sure?" suggested Tim, who was more out of spirits than either +Owen or Dan. + +Owen could not help thinking that such might be the case; yet if the +_Ouzel Galley_ were to be recaptured, notwithstanding the injury +O'Harrall had done him, he determined to plead for his life. Not that +he could perceive a single good quality in the man, except his undaunted +bravery, and he himself felt grateful to him for saving his his life, +though it was done in return for his twice having saved O'Harrall's. + +On the morning of the fourth day the wind freshened, and the ship made +better progress. Towards evening, Owen and his fellow-prisoners could +distinctly hear the roar of breakers. Occasionally the loud voice of +O'Harrall, issuing his orders, reached their ears. The ship rose and +fell several times as if passing over a bar, then Owen felt that she was +gliding on through perfectly calm water. He heard the orders for +shortening sail; still she continued her course for some distance, till +the anchor was dropped and all movement ceased. He could have no doubt +that she had entered a harbour, the rendezvous of the pirates, where +they would consider themselves safe from attack, and that his chances of +escape were now likely to be small indeed. The _Ouzel Galley_ had been +some time at anchor when O'Harrall entered the cabin. + +"I have made arrangements for you and the two Irishmen to live on +shore," he said; "the black can attend on you, and you must make the +best of the circumstances in which you are placed. As to your escaping, +that is out of the question, so I will not go through the ceremony of +taking your word that you will not make the attempt. As to the future, +I can say nothing. If I can prudently at any time set you at liberty, I +will do so, although when that may be is more than I can at present say. +You are at liberty to take with you your clothing, and any books you +may require for your amusement. I have obtained that favour for you. +According to our laws, every article on board the ship is public +property, and must be divided accordingly. I will accompany you on +shore as soon as it is dark. In the mean time, you can employ yourself +in putting your things together, and taking farewell of the old ship. I +little supposed when I was before on board that I should one day find +myself her commander." + +O'Harrall spoke the last sentence in a somewhat ironical tone, and, +without further remark, left the cabin. It was already dark, and Dan +had lighted the lamp which hung from the deck above when O'Harrall +returned. + +"I will take you and your followers on shore now, Captain Massey," he +said. "Ask no questions, and take no notice of anything you see. While +I am with you, you are safe; obey my directions and you will continue +so, but I cannot answer for the conduct of the people hereabouts if you +venture anywhere by yourself. Your men will carry your chest and their +own bags." + +Pompey had entered with O'Harrall, to assist Dan and Tim; taking up +Owen's chest, they followed him and the pirate on deck. Not a man was +to be seen on board; the ship appeared to be deserted. A boat was +alongside, with two people in her. The Irishmen and Pompey lowered down +the chest. + +"Come, Massey, bid farewell to the old craft," said O'Harrall, in the +same tone in which he had before spoken; and he went down the side of +the ship into the boat. + +Owen and his three companions descended after him. + +"Shove off," said the pirate in Spanish; and the crew, obeying, began to +pull towards the low shore, which could dimly be distinguished through +the obscurity. A few trees rose above it, and here and there at +intervals twinkling lights could be perceived, as if proceeding from the +huts of the inhabitants. + +Owen, as he glanced round, saw at once that the ship lay in the centre +of a lagoon of some size, the shores of which were in most parts low; +but to the southward, the direction of which he knew by the stars +shining brightly from out of the unclouded sky, the ground rose to a +considerable height, with what appeared to be cliffs directly above the +water. Near the _Ouzel Galley_ lay another large ship, and he guessed +that she was the one which had captured her, but he wisely forebore to +ask questions. + +"You see the sort of place you are in," said O'Harrall. "It is not one +from which you could easily escape, however much you might desire it; +but let me advise you not to make the attempt. You would to a certainty +be retaken, and I could not save you from the fate to which you would be +doomed. I have already shown that I desire to serve you. I could not +help capturing the _Ouzel Galley_, for the signal made by one of your +crew showed my people that she was a prize worth taking; although I knew +her at once, and guessed that you must be in command, I could not help +myself." + +Owen made no reply to these remarks. Bad as a man may be, he generally +endeavours to offer some excuse to those he respects. But little +further conversation passed till the boat reached the beach. O'Harrall +then gave some orders to the men in her, who, as soon as he and his +companions had landed, pulled away. The black and the two seamen then, +shouldering the chests, followed O'Harrall and Owen, the former +conducting them directly inland, passing some groves of cocoa-nut and +other trees, and avoiding any of the huts which were scattered about +here and there. After they had walked nearly a quarter of a mile, a +largish building, which might have been a barn or store, met their gaze, +a light gleaming from one end of it. + +"Open the door, Mammy; here are your guests," said O'Harrall, and +immediately an old black woman appeared, with a lamp in her hand, which +she held up to enable her to scrutinise her visitors. + +"All right, massa cappen," she said. "Glad to see the gen'lemen. I'se +take good care ob dem, neber fear." + +"Go in, Captain Massey," said the pirate. "Mammy will be your hostess +while you remain with us." + +Owen and the rest entered the hut. He saw that the room in which they +found themselves occupied only a part of the ground-floor of the +building, being divided off from the larger portion by a wooden +partition or bulkhead. On looking round he saw a ladder, which led +through a trap-door to the floor above. + +"Your lodging is to be up there," said O'Harrall, pointing to it. "It +may remind you of a place in which you once gave me shelter. I have not +forgotten that. I wish that I could afford you better accommodation; +however, it is sufficiently large and airy, and you will, I hope, find +it as comfortable as you desire. Mammy will supply you with food, which +your black fellow can cook, with her assistance. The only charge I have +to give you is not to leave the house until you hear from me. A tackle +hangs from the beam overhead. Let your men get your chest and their +bags up at once; so that, should any one come to pay Mammy a visit, it +will not be suspected that you are here. You see, I took precautions +for your safety, and they were not unnecessary. Some of the gentry who +inhabit this island would not scruple to stick a knife into you, if they +thought that you were prying into their proceedings." + +"I will follow your directions," answered Owen, telling Dan to go up the +ladder and lower the tackle. + +They at once hoisted the chest and bags to the floor above. A second +lamp, which the old woman supplied, showed them a large room which +extended the whole length of the building. At one end was a cabin +table, with some chairs and a cot; at the other several bunks and +seamen's chests. There were numerous bales and boxes placed against the +walls, on which also hung a variety of arms: firelocks, blunderbusses, +and pistols, cutlasses and sabres, apparently the spoils of various +captured vessels. + +"You see that I am not afraid of trusting you with weapons," said +O'Harrall who had followed his prisoners into the place, and he pointed +to the arms. "If by chance you are attacked you are welcome to defend +yourselves, but I do not expect that that will happen. This building is +my property; no one will come here, if you keep yourselves quiet. I +have directed Mammy to get some supper for you, and the black will bring +it up shortly. Now, good night. I have matters to attend to on board +the _Eagle_, and it may be some days before I again visit you." + +"I have to thank you for the care you take of us," answered Owen. He +could not bring himself to offer his hand to the pirate, nor did the +latter apparently expect him to do so. + +Without further remark O'Harrall descended the ladder, and, after +exchanging a few words with the old negress, took his departure. + +Owen paced up and down the room, meditating on the strange position in +which he was placed; while Dan and Tim sat on two chests at the further +end, feeling very disconsolate. Pompey, meantime, could be heard below, +chattering away to the old woman while he assisted her in preparing +supper. In a short time he appeared, with a tray on his head, up the +ladder. + +"Cheer up, cappen," he said. "She not so bad ole woman, me tink, and +p'raps tings go better dan we suppose. At all events, she make berry +good fricassee." And he pointed to the dish of fowl prepared as he had +described, which looked very tempting. + +Notwithstanding their misfortune, Owen and his companions managed to +discuss the viands placed before them with tolerable appetites, the two +seamen and Pompey especially doing their part. At length Owen threw +himself into his cot, and endeavoured to forget his sorrows in sleep. +His followers, having secured the trap-door, imitated his example. + +The next day passed without a visit from O'Harrall. Pompey alone went +below to obtain food, Owen thinking it prudent to follow the pirate's +advice. He spent the time walking up and down the room, occasionally +trying to calm his mind by reading; so that he found the hours pass away +more rapidly than did Dan or Tim, who were ignorant of the art. It +occurred to him at last that he might amuse them as well as himself, and +as several of his books were of an interesting character, he read aloud +to them, greatly to their delight. + +"Faix, captin, I niver knew there was sich beautiful things in books," +exclaimed Dan, who had not in his life been read to before; "and I'll +jist make bould to axe you to tache Tim and meself, and you'll find us +apt scholars, if you don't think us too simple to learn." + +"With all my heart," answered Owen; and thenceforth he devoted several +hours during the day to the instruction of Dan and the lad, who, giving +their minds to the task, rapidly learnt to read. + +One day passed very much like another. A month went by without +O'Harrall's making his appearance, so that Owen concluded that he had +again sailed. Pompey could obtain no information. Mammy, he said, had +made him promise not to go outside the door, and had threatened him with +fearful punishment if he ventured to do so. There were windows to the +room, but they were high up and strongly barred. Dan and Tim climbed up +to them, but a grove of trees intervened between the house and the +harbour, so that nothing could be seen of the vessels, while on the +other side was a wide extent of sandy country, with the blue ocean in +the distance. + +Owen was naturally getting very weary of his captivity. What the +pirate's object was in keeping him a prisoner, it was difficult to +understand. He could scarcely intend to keep him a captive for life; +but when would he give him his liberty was the question. Owen +determined to ask him as soon as he returned. He naturally often +thought over some plan for making his escape, but, unacquainted as he +was with the surrounding country, and without means of gaining any +knowledge of it, it was impossible to decide what to do. Dan and Tim +often talked over the subject with Pompey, who, however, declared that +they were so narrowly watched by the old woman that it would be +impossible to succeed. + +"Mammy always sleep wid one eye open and ear wide-awake," he observed. +"Suppose we get out and she not raise a hullabaloo, where we go to? +Wait a bit, and den we see what we do." + +Pompey, in truth, was no more able than the rest of the party to devise +any feasible plan for getting away. + +Imprisonment is galling to all men, but it was especially so to Owen, +who had hoped to make a successful voyage, and to marry his beloved +Norah at the end of it. He had no means of communicating with her, and +she, naturally supposing him to be lost, would be plunged in grief. He +felt that he could better bear his hard fate if he could but let her +know that he was alive. He might some day regain his liberty. He had +no doubts about her constancy; he was sure that she would be faithful to +him; and although her friends might try to induce her to marry, he felt +confident that she would not do that. + +At length, one evening when Pompey was sitting with his shipmates in the +loft, voices were heard below. + +"Hi, dat de pirate cappen," he exclaimed; and Owen prepared himself for +an interview with O'Harrall. + +Before long the pirate came up the ladder. A dark scowl was on his +brow. Owen rose to receive him. O'Harrall advanced and threw himself +into a chair, scarcely glancing at the men as he passed them. + +"I am glad to see you, Captain O'Harrall, for I hope that you will allow +me and my companions to quit this place, and we shall be ready to enter +into any arrangement you may dictate not to betray its position," said +Owen. + +"I am not in the habit of placing myself in the power of others when I +can help it," answered O'Harrall. "Your word may be as good as your +bond, but both may be broken. I tell you plainly I intend to keep you +prisoners as long as I remain in these seas. Circumstances may induce +me to return to Europe, and if so, I may either carry you with me or +land you at some island, from whence you may find your way to Jamaica. +When that may be I cannot say. In the mean time, you must make up your +mind to be content with your lot." + +"You might land me, when you next sail from this, at some such place as +you speak of without any detriment to yourself," said Owen; and, +bethinking him that he would appeal to the pirate's better feelings, he +added, "You have deprived me of my vessel and ruined my prospects of +advancement. I was engaged to marry a young lady who is sincerely +attached to me, and for her sake I plead for my liberty, that I may be +able to return to her, or at all events inform her that I am still +alive." + +"Who is she?" asked O'Harrall, "although I need scarcely put the +question." + +"Captain Tracy's daughter--you have often seen her," answered Owen. + +"I thought so," exclaimed O'Harrall. "You have counted too much on my +generosity. I have not only seen her, as you say, but admire her more +than any woman I have met, and should I ever wed I intend to make her my +wife. Is it likely, then, that I should allow you to return home and +forestall me?" + +Owen's heart sank: he could not reply. + +"You have but ill pleaded your cause," continued O'Harrall in the cold +sarcastic tone in which he often spoke. "You saved my life, and I have +preserved yours; more you cannot expect from me. Those men there +behaved well to me on board the _Ouzel Galley_, and I therefore could +not allow them to be killed. My sense of justice does not go further +than that. You and they must make up your minds to remain where you are +for an indefinite period. I came to see how you had acted, and if you +behave as wisely as you have hitherto done you need not fear being +subjected to any further restraint. I will, by-the-by, send you some +books for your amusement. You will see by this that I do not wish to +treat you with greater severity than is necessary. Now, good evening." + +O'Harrall rose as he spoke, and without further remark descended the +ladder, drawing the trap after him. + +A parcel of books was delivered through Mammy the next day; they +consisted chiefly of voyages and travels, and proved a great boon to the +prisoners. O'Harrall, however, did not again appear until some weeks +after this. He was, when he then came, evidently in a bad humour, his +manner being even threatening towards his prisoners. He spoke as if he +regretted having spared their lives, exhibiting by the expressions he +used his abandoned disposition. Owen knew that his only safe course was +not to answer him. He felt that it would be hopeless to attempt to +arouse any better or more generous feelings. He, however, was more than +ever resolved to try and escape. + +Dan proposed, could they ascertain that the pirates had sailed on any +expedition, to secure the old woman, make their way down to the harbour +during some dark night, and attempt to gain the open sea. Once clear of +the island, they might hope to get picked up by some ship, and under +their circumstances they might trust even to an enemy, or they might +succeed in reaching Jamaica. They must wait, however, until the +hurricane season was over, and they might then, even in a canoe, +navigate these calm seas without much danger. + +Owen thought the plan feasible, although it might prove difficult and +dangerous. It could scarcely be hoped that the pirates would leave the +harbour unguarded. It might be a hard matter to find a canoe suitable +for their object, and they must also obtain a supply of provisions and +water. Mammy's watchful eye would effectually present them from doing +this, and herein lay their first and chief difficulty. + +O'Harrall had now been for some time absent. It struck Owen that +perhaps the account he had given of the savage character of the +inhabitants was to prevent then from leaving the house, and he resolved +to try how Mammy would behave should they attempt to go out. + +Pompey undertook to try and persuade her to allow them to take some +exercise, as their health was suffering from their long confinement. He +got her, therefore, one day into conversation, when she appeared to be +in a better humour than usual, and after some time he made a signal to +Tim, who was on the watch, to come down. Owen and Dan followed. Then, +telling her that they would go out and take a short walk, they left the +house without further ceremony, notwithstanding her expostulations. + +"Nebber mind, Mammy," said Pompey; "dey come back. Me help you cook +dinner meantime." + +Owen took a path in the first instance away from the harbour, but as his +great object was to obtain a view of it, he doubled back on the other +side, and then hurried towards it. Just as they had caught sight of the +water through the trees, they came upon a hut, near which they were +about to pass, when Owen heard the voice of a man, as if in pain, +proceeding from it. Prompted by a kind feeling and a wish to relieve +the sufferer, he entered. On a rude bunk lay a white man, apparently +ill of fever. He appeared greatly astonished at seeing Owen and his +companions. + +"Who are you?" he asked. "I thought the ship had sailed." + +"I would inquire who you are?" said Owen. + +"Well, sir, I am an unfortunate fellow, who wishes that he was anywhere +but where he is. I see that you are not one of the _Eagle's_ crew, and +so I don't mind telling you. I joined her to save my life, and now that +I am ill I am allowed to die like a dog by myself, with no one to look +after me. I was left on shore sick, and since I grew worse I have been +unable to get any food, and I am too weak to walk." + +Owen promised to try and induce Mammy to supply the poor fellow with +nourishment. He would at once have hurried back, but he was anxious, +having got thus far, to obtain a view of the harbour. Accordingly, +telling the man he would send him relief as soon as possible, he, with +Dan and Tim, left the hut, and made their way on, keeping themselves +concealed as much as possible among the trees and bushes till they came +in full view of the harbour. + +It was a wide lagoon, which narrowed towards the southern end, where a +perpendicular cliff of some extent rose directly out of the water, its +summit covered with trees. Both Owen and Dan were of opinion that this +formed one end of the channel leading to the sea. No boats or canoes +could be discovered on the beach. Further along it to the northward +were seen a number of huts and buildings of larger size, probably +storehouses. People were moving about among them, but it was impossible +at the distance they were to know if they were blacks or whites. In the +centre of the harbour lay the _Ouzel Galley_, much in the condition in +which she had been when captured, and there were several smaller vessels +at anchor, completely dismantled. + +So far the inspection of the harbour had been satisfactory; there was +nothing that Owen could see to prevent the possibility of their +escaping. The party hastened back to the house. Mammy scolded them for +being so long absent. "If cappen here, you no do it," she observed; by +which remark they guessed that, though she held O'Harrall in awe, she +had herself no ill-feeling towards them. On Owen's telling her of the +sick man, she consented to let Pompey take him some food, and undertook +to visit him herself, provided they would promise not to leave the house +during her absence. This they readily agreed to do. + +Some days afterwards, when Owen again managed to get as far as the hut, +he found the man greatly recovered. John Hempson (as he said was his +name) professed himself very grateful, and declared his intention of +escaping from the pirates on the first opportunity. "I suppose that +they will take me to sea the next time they go," he observed, "and if I +then have the chance, I will leave them. They are likely to be back +soon, and, indeed, I wonder they have not come in before this." + +"Well, then," said Owen, "if you ever return to the old country, you +must promise to find out Captain Tracy, living near Waterford, and tell +him that I am alive, and hope some day to get back. Depend on it, the +captain will reward you for your trouble." + +"How will he believe me?" asked Hempson. + +"I will write a letter for you to deliver," said Owen. He, however, +recollected that he possessed no writing materials, and he might not +again have the opportunity of communicating with Hempson. That moment +it occurred to him that he had a small book in his pocket. It contained +but a portion of a blank leaf. He tore it out, and with the end of a +stick he wrote the letters "O.M." + +"When my friends see this, they will know that you are speaking the +truth," he said, giving the man the paper. + +Just then Dan, who had gone on ahead, came hurrying back with the +information that a ship was entering the lagoon, and Owen thought it +prudent at once to return to the house. Mammy, on hearing this, told +her captives that they must not again venture forth, and they, of +course, saw the prudence of obeying her. + +O'Harrall, who had returned in the ship, paid them but one visit, when +he evidently wished to find a cause for quarrelling with Owen. Owen +wisely kept his temper, though Dan looked as if he would like to try the +strength of his shillelagh on the pirate's head. Whether or not +O'Harrall suspected that his prisoners contemplated trying to make their +escape, it was difficult to say; but they found that a hut was put up +close to their abode, and that it was occupied by two Spaniards, +ill-looking fellows, who seemed to have nothing to do but to sit at the +door and smoke all day. They did not, however, prevent Mammy going out, +accompanied by Pompey, to obtain provisions; and the latter brought them +word that the ship had again sailed. Pompey also found out that Hempson +had gone on board the ship, and Owen hoped that he would carry out his +intention of escaping. Slight as was the chance that he would convey +any information to Captain Tracy, it yet raised Owen's spirits. + +"We, must wait, howeber, to get 'way till we can manage dese rascal +Spaniards," said Pompey. "Dey keep de eye too wide open to let us go +just now." + +Days and weeks and months went by, and nothing occurred to vary the +monotony of their existence. The Spaniards kept too strict a watch to +enable them to make any excursions out of the house, and Mammy herself +seemed as cautious as she had been on their first arrival. Had it not +been for the interest Owen felt in teaching his two countrymen to read, +his own spirits would have broken down. Pompey also begged to go to +school and join their class, but he had great trouble in learning his +letters, although after he knew them he got on as rapidly as either of +his companions. + +Thus several months more passed by. Twice the _Eagle_ came in, and +again sailed without their receiving a visit from O'Harrall. Owen was +becoming more and more sick at heart. It may seem strange that he and +his three companions should have been kept in such thraldom by an old +woman and two Spaniards, but could these ever-watchful guardians have +been overpowered, and even a canoe secured, it would have been madness +to have put to sea without provisions and water, with the chance of +being pursued or picked up by the pirate ship. He waited, therefore, +for an opportunity, which, however, he at times thought might never +arrive. + +Pompey had at length one day gone out with Mammy, when on his return he +brought the news that the _Eagle_ had been lost, and that the captain, +with a portion only of the men, had returned in a small vessel they had +captured. Owen naturally feared that O'Harrall, after his misfortune, +would be in a worse temper than before, and was thankful that he did not +make his appearance. Pompey accounted for it by informing them that he +and all hands were on board the _Ouzel Galley_, busily employed in +fitting her out. + +It was now again the hurricane season, and some time would probably +elapse before the pirates would venture to put to sea. For the same +reason Owen considered that it would not be prudent to try and make +their escape. Their chance, however, of getting off undiscovered was +less than it had been before, for so great was the demand for hands to +man the _Ouzel Galley_ that the two Spaniards were called away from +their post, and no others were sent to take their places. One evening, +about this time, Pompey made his appearance in a great state of +agitation. + +"What do you tink, Cappen Massey?" he exclaimed. "I talk berry often to +Mammy, and not 'spect anyting, but dis berry morning I'se tell her dat, +when I was one piccaninny, I'se carried away from Africa wid my mudder; +when I'se come to Jamaica, one massa buy her and anoder buy me, and from +dat day I neber set eyes on her. We talkee for some time, and den she +cry out, `You Pompey, my son,' and she trew her arms round my neck and +burst into tears. Den I kiss her and tell her dat she right, and we +laugh and cry togeder for two 'ole hours." + +Owen, upon further questioning Pompey, was convinced that he was not +mistaken. It greatly raised his spirits, and he had now hopes that +Mammy would connive at their escape, even if she would not venture to +assist at it. Pompey was very sanguine about the matter. "She so happy +to find me dat she do anyting I ask," he said positively. "Neber fear, +cappen, we get away soon." + +It was, of course, necessary to wait till the _Ouzel Galley_, now fitted +out as a piratical ship, should sail. With varied feelings Owen saw her +one morning gliding out of the harbour. He, accompanied by Pompey, had +gone as near to her as he could venture. He had but little to fear of +being discovered, as the whole population of the place were watching the +departing ship. It was certainly trying to see his own vessel sailing +away in the hands of the miscreants who had captured her, on an +expedition which boded ill for any merchant vessels she could overtake. +She was rigged exactly as before. + +Owen would not have delayed making the attempt to escape, but the nights +were moonlight, and they would run a great risk of being discovered. +After this bad weather came on, and a further delay occurred. Pompey +had undertaken to look out for a suitable craft. It was necessary to +use caution in the search lest their intention might be suspected. He +had made several trips along the shore, and had discovered places where +boats and canoes were hauled up, but some were too large and heavy, and +others too small. At last he said that he had found one of a proper +size to hold five persons, and provisions and water sufficient to last +them for a week or ten days. "Five persons!" exclaimed Owen. + +"Yes, cappen. Mudder says she go too. If she stop, dat fellow cut her +troat." + +Although Owen would rather have dispensed with the company of the old +woman, yet, in common humanity, he felt bound to take her if she wished +to go. It showed, also, that she had confidence in their success, and +would contrive to obtain the necessary provisions. About this she had +been engaged for some time, getting some in one place and some in +another, so that no suspicions might be raised as to her object. + +The _Ouzel Galley_ had sailed a fortnight or more, when Pompey announced +that all was ready. Mammy packed up all the provisions in bundles, and +had obtained two small casks of water, besides a number of gourds filled +with the precious liquid. Pompey and Dan started as soon as it was +dark, carrying loads, which they intended to hide near where the canoe +was drawn up. + +"We carry all de tings dere first," he said, "and den you, cappen, and +mudder, and Tim, come along, and we shove off widout delay." + +The last trip was made at about an hour before midnight, when Pompey and +Dan returned, and Owen, with the old woman and Tim, accompanied them +down to the beach. The night was very dark; no human being was +stirring. As silently as possible the canoe was launched, when the +stores were quickly put on board. + +"Now, mudder, we put you 'longside cappen," whispered Pompey. "Whateber +happen, don't cry out." + +And taking the old woman up in his arms, he waded with her till he +plumped her down in the stern of the canoe. She knew no more of the +navigation than they did, so she could not be of further use to the +adventurers, and they thus had to depend on their own judgment. + +Owen took the after paddle. Pompey placing himself in the bows, Dan and +Tim gave way, and the canoe noiselessly glided down towards the supposed +entrance to the harbour. They hoped that any look-outs who might, under +ordinary circumstances, have been stationed on the other side of the +channel, would be withdrawn to man the _Ouzel Galley_. They therefore +trusted that they could escape without being questioned. Still the +expedition was one to try the best strung nerves. Owen feared that, +should they be hailed, Mammy might forget her son's injunction. He was +not aware of the determined character of the old woman. + +They soon got into the narrow channel, in the centre of which Owen +steered the canoe. It was necessary to proceed slowly, as from the +darkness the shore on either side was in some places scarcely visible. +The channel was long and intricate, but Owen, of course, knew that there +must be considerable depth of water to allow large ships to get up it. +They had just got to the end of the cliff, when a light was seen. +Whether it proceeded from a hut or from a man with a lantern, it was +impossible to say. + +"Cease paddling," whispered Owen; and the canoe glided on with the +impulse already given to it. + +The light remained stationary. + +"Give way," he again whispered. The men plied paddles as before. They +had got some way further down, when they were startled by hearing a man +shout, "Who goes there?" + +They all remained perfectly silent and motionless. Just then the noise +of the surf on the shore reached their ears, and they knew that they +must be close to the entrance. + +The man did not repeat his question for nearly a minute. As soon as he +again began to speak, Owen told Dan and Tim to paddle away. He and +Pompey did so likewise, and the canoe glided forward at a far more rapid +rate than before. A shot was heard, but the bullet came nowhere near +them. It was evident they could not be seen by the guard. The channel +now widened out considerably, and they could distinguish the open sea +beyond; they made towards it. There was but little or no surf on the +bar, and they crossed without shipping a drop of water. + +Owen had made up his mind to steer to the southward till they should +sight Cuba. He felt sure that the pirate island was one of those which +exist close to the Bahama Bank. Owen steered by the stars. His crew +plied their paddles all night, the wind being too light to make it worth +while to set the sail, and they hoped to be far out of sight of the +island by daybreak. They were not without fear, however, that they +might be pursued. The man who had fired at them would suppose that they +were fugitives. + +"Ill luck to the spalpeens who may be sent in chase after us!" observed +Dan, showing what he was thinking about. + +"Me no tink dat any boat come off after us," said Pompey, "'cos ebery +man who can pull an oar is on board _Ouzel Galley_, so we safe as to +dat." + +The black's remark was cheering to Owen, who had hitherto thought it +very probable that they would be pursued. Mammy, who as yet had not +uttered a word, corroborated her son's statement. + +When morning broke the island could scarcely be seen astern, nor was any +land in sight ahead. The sea was perfectly calm; the sky overhead +undimmed by a cloud. Owen looked round; no sail was visible in any +direction. All they could do was to paddle on, in the hope that a +favourable breeze would spring up to carry them on their course, when +two at a time might get some sleep. The weather looked perfectly +settled, and, though the canoe was somewhat deeply laden, Owen felt +confident that she would be able to go through any sea which was likely +to get up. His chief anxiety arose from the possibility there was of +falling in with the _Ouzel Galley_. Should they do so, they could +scarcely expect any mercy from the pirates. He, of course, intended to +do his best to keep clear of her. This he trusted that he might easily +do, as the canoe, being low in the water, was not likely to be attract +the attention of those on board the ship, while she could be seen in +time to be avoided. + +A breeze came at last; the sail was hoisted, and the canoe ran merrily +before it. Dan begged that he might take the steering paddle, and that +the captain would lie down and get some rest, which Owen was glad to +obtain, as he intended to steer during the night. The sun was setting +when he awoke, and after some supper was served out he resumed the +steering paddle, and told Dan and Pompey, who had hitherto been keeping +watch, to turn in. Notwithstanding the sleep he had obtained, towards +morning he began to feel very drowsy; still his eye was fixed on the +star by which he was directing the course of the canoe. + +Tim had been stationed forward to keep a look-out, and Owen had hailed +him every now and then to ascertain that he was awake. He had not done +so, however, for some time, and was on the point of crying out, when Tim +exclaimed, "By the powers, captin, there's a big ship ahead!" + +"Lower the sail!" exclaimed Owen. "Dan and Pompey, out with your +paddles." + +They started up at hearing their names called, and obeyed the order. + +"Paddle for your lives, lads!" cried Owen, keeping the canoe to the +eastward. + +Tim was not mistaken. The wide-spread canvas of a large ship was seen +towering upwards not half a mile away; in a few minutes more she would +have been close to the canoe. Owen and his companions watched her +anxiously; there could be little doubt that she was the _Ouzel Galley_. +Although she was clearly seen, they might hope to escape observation. +They continued, however, paddling away at right angles to her course +till they were well abreast of her, when Owen once more put the canoe's +head to the southward; but not, however, till she was out of sight did +he venture again to hoist the sail. The danger he had chiefly feared +was past. It would take her probably a day or two before she could +reach the harbour and discover their flight, and they might hope thus to +keep well ahead of any boat sent in pursuit of them. + +Two days more they stood on. One passed by very like the other. The +wind remained steady, the sea smooth. + +On the fourth day, some time after sunrise, a sail was seen ahead. Had +not they all felt sure that the ship they had passed was the _Ouzel +Galley_, they would have avoided her. Although prepared, if necessary, +to perform the whole voyage to Jamaica, Owen judged that it would be far +safer to get on board the first ship they could fall in with. He +resolved, therefore, to approach her, and should she prove to be +English, to run alongside. He little doubted that, even should she be +French or Spanish, on their giving an account of their escape from the +pirates, they would be treated with humanity. He accordingly steered +towards her. + +"Hurrah!" cried Dan. "She's a frind, she's a frind--for, there, up goes +the English flag." + +His quick eye had seen the character of the bunting as it ascended in a +ball to the peak, even before it blew out to the breeze. + +As the canoe approached, the ship hove to, and in a few minutes the +party of fugitives were alongside. Owen was quickly on deck, when the +first person he encountered was Gerald Tracy. Exclamations of surprise +burst from their lips, and Owen was soon shaking hands with Norman Foley +and the rest of the _Champion's_ officers. His companions had followed +him, Pompey shoving up old Mammy with his shoulder, while Dan hauled +away at her from above. Numerous questions were put to Owen as to where +he had come from, and he had to answer them before he could ask others +in return. + +At first he had experienced a feeling of intense satisfaction upon +finding himself on board a friendly ship, but his grief may be imagined +when he now heard that Captain Tracy and his daughter had fallen into +the power of O'Harrall and his savage crew. Instead of rejoicing at his +escape, he regretted having left the island, lest they might retaliate +on their hapless prisoners. He trembled at the thought of what might be +Norah's fate. Gerald, of course, shared his feelings; and, indeed, +every one sympathised with them both. + +As soon as the canoe was hoisted up the sails were filled, and the +_Research_ again stood on her course towards the pirate's island. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +VOYAGE OF THE RESEARCH COMMENCED--NORAH'S ANXIETIES--A CALM--TROPICAL +SEA--A GALE SPRINGS UP--THE SHIP RUNS BEFORE IT--AGAIN STANDS TO THE +WESTWARD--A DANGEROUS POSITION--AMONG ISLANDS AND REEFS--A SUSPICIOUS +SAIL--CHASED--THE OUZEL GALLEY--THE PIRATE'S FLAG--THE PIRATE BEGINS +FIRING--NORAH PLACED IN THE HOLD--A FORT SEEN ON THE ISLAND--NO BOATS +COME OFF--THE ISLAND PASSED--THE PIRATES FORE-TOPSAIL YARD SHOT AWAY-- +THE SECOND MATE AND SEVERAL MEN OF THE RESEARCH KILLED OR WOUNDED--A +CALM--DAMAGES REPAIRED--A BREEZE SPRINGS UP--THE PIRATE OVERTAKES THE +RESEARCH--RUNS HER ON BOARD--FEARFUL SLAUGHTER OF HER CREW--CAPTURED-- +THE TWO OLD CAPTAINS UNHURT--NORAH'S INTERVIEW WITH THE PIRATE--TAKEN ON +BOARD THE OUZEL GALLEY--COURTEOUSLY TREATED--A SAIL IN SIGHT--CHASED BY +A FRIGATE--THE OUZEL GALLEY ESCAPES AMONG THE REEFS--A CALM--THE +FRIGATE'S BOATS APPROACH TO ATTACK HER--A BREEZE SPRINGS UP--SHE +ESCAPES. + +The two old captains were well aware of the numerous perils they might +possibly have to encounter when they sailed on their voyage in the +_Research_, but for the sake of Norah they took care to make light of +them whenever their prospects of success were discussed in her presence. +Norah very naturally would ask questions, and to those questions they +were compelled to try and find answers. In what part of the numberless +groups of those western islands were they to search for Owen and Gerald? +One subject absorbed all their thoughts--on that alone could they +converse. Even when Captain O'Brien, as he frequently did, tried to +introduce any other, it before long was sure to merge into that one. +Norah day after day would unroll the chart of the West Indies, and pore +over it for hours, till she knew the form and position and size of every +island and key, and reef and sandbank, delineated thereon. The ship had +already reached the tropics when a heavy gale sprang up from the +westward, before which she was compelled to run for three days. She +then had a long beat back, and the weather being unusually thick, no +observations could be taken to determine her position. Day after day +the two captains and the first mate came on deck at noon with their +quadrants, but not a break in the clouds appeared through which they +could get a glimpse of the sun. + +They calculated at last that they could not be far off the most western +of the Bahamas, and, as they hoped, near the entrance of the Windward +Passage. At sunset the clouds dispersed, the wind shifted to the +northward, the stars shone brightly forth from the clear sky, and it was +hoped that the next day they might be able to determine their position. +As no land had yet been seen, they stood on for the greater part of the +night; but towards morning, Captain Tracy; afraid of running further, +hove the ship to, to wait for daylight. + +Even before the first streaks of dawn appeared above the eastern +horizon, the two mates, followed by Captain O'Brien, went aloft, eager +to catch the expected sight of land. What was their surprise to +discover it not only to the westward, where they had looked for it, but +away to the south-east and over the starboard quarter. The ship had run +in during the night among a group of islands, but what islands they were +it was difficult to determine. Norah had dressed and appeared from her +cabin as her father and Captain O'Brien came below to consult the chart. + +"Here is our position, if I mistake not," said Captain Tracy, placing +his finger on the chart. "We are further to the south'ard than I had +supposed. An ugly place to have got to, but it might have been worse; +the ship would have chanced to run foul of a reef had we stood on. But, +Heaven be praised, we've escaped that disaster, and we'll now try to +thread our way into the Windward Passage." + +While the course to be pursued was still under debate, a cry from aloft +was heard of--"A sail to the nor'ard!" + +The captains hurried on deck, followed by Norah. "What is she like?" +asked Captain Tracy. + +"A large ship under all sail, standing this way, sir," answered the +second mate. + +In a short time it became evident that the _Research_ was seen by the +stranger, for the latter set every stitch of canvas she could carry, and +steered directly after her. + +A small island appeared ahead. At first it was proposed to pass to the +westward of it, but the look-out from the mast-head discovering several +dark rocks rising above the surface, and extending to a considerable +distance in that direction, the ship's course was altered so that she +would run along the eastern side of the island, as close in as prudence +would allow. It was hoped that, to the southward of the island, a +channel might be found which would lead her clear of the rocks and +shoals by which she was surrounded. + +Norah, who had continued on deck, had seldom withdrawn her eyes from the +stranger, which appeared to her to be much nearer than when first seen. +"What do you think, Captain O'Brien--is not that vessel fast gaining on +us?" she asked. + +"That may be, my dear Miss Norah, but it need not make us fear that she +will come up with us," answered the old captain, who could not deny the +fact. "She hitherto has had the advantage of a stronger breeze than has +filled our sails, but we may shortly get more wind and slip away from +her. If she does come up with us, we may find that she is perfectly +honest, and that we had no cause to try and keep out of her way; so +don't be alarmed, my dear, but go below and have some breakfast--it is +on the table by this time--and your father or I will join you presently. +One of us must remain on deck to look out for any reefs which may run +off that island yonder." + +Captain Tracy giving Norah the same advice, she unwillingly went below, +and took her seat at the breakfast-table to await their appearance. She +waited and waited, but neither of the captains nor the first mate came +below. They were all, indeed, too busily engaged in watching the +progress of the stranger and discussing her character to think of +breakfast. She had been bringing up a much stronger breeze than had +hitherto filled the sails of the _Research_, to which she had now got +almost within gunshot. Captain Tracy had for some time been intently +examining her through his telescope. + +"Tell me if you have ever seen that craft before," he said, handing it +to Captain O'Brien. "My eyes may deceive me, and it may be mere fancy, +but I cannot help thinking that she is a ship I ought to know well." + +"By my faith, I ought to know her too," exclaimed Captain O'Brien. "If +that vessel isn't the _Ouzel Galley_, she has been built to look like +her. Perhaps, after all, our friend Owen may have run her on one of the +unfrequented keys to the nor'ard, and, having only lately got her afloat +and refitted, is now on his way to Jamaica. He is therefore naturally +anxious to speak an English ship, to hear news from home." + +"That vessel may be the _Ouzel Galley_, but Owen Massey would never +hoist such a piece of bunting as that," cried Captain Tracy, who, having +again taken the telescope, was looking towards the stranger, which had +just then run up to her fore topgallant mast-head a black flag with the +well-known pirate's device of a death's head and cross-bones. The +object was evidently to intimidate the crew of the chase. + +Directly afterwards the stranger yawed and fired her foremost gun. The +shot came flying across the water, but, after several times striking the +surface, sank short of the _Research_. There was no longer any doubt of +the character of the stranger. + +"Lads," cried Captain Tracy, "you see that flag! Death or worse than +death will be our lot if we don't beat off the piccarooning villains who +have hoisted it. They think to frighten us; but stand to your guns like +men, and we'll beat her off." The crew cheered, and promised to do +their duty. + +Norah had not heard the sound of the gun fired by the pirate, but the +men's hearty cheers reaching the cabin, she hurried on deck to learn +what caused them. Just as she appeared, the pirate, again yawing, fired +three shot in rapid succession, one of which glanced along the side of +the _Research_. Captain Tracy had just ordered two guns to be brought +aft, and the crew were engaged in the operation, when, seeing Norah, he +begged Captain O'Brien to take her below and to place her where she +could be out of the way of harm. She had seen enough, however, to show +her the state of affairs; her fears were realised. + +"Come away, my dear," said the old captain, taking her hand. "Bound +shot are ugly playthings for young ladies, and the sooner we get you +stowed safely away the more ready we shall be to carry on the game with +yonder gentleman. We'll beat him, so don't be alarmed when you hear our +guns firing. Perhaps we shall knock some of his spars away, and we +shall then take the liberty of leaving him to repair damages at his +leisure." + +Captain O'Brien thus talked on, endeavouring to keep up Sarah's spirits, +as he conducted her to a secure place in the hold, which, with the help +of the cook and steward, he set about arranging for her. It reminded +her of the place to which she and Gerald had been sent on board the +_Ouzel Galley_, when her father and Owen, with their handful of men, had +so bravely fought the famous Captain Thurot and his numerous crew. The +recollection of that event encouraged her to hope that the well-manned +_Research_ would beat off a vessel much larger than herself, however +desperately the pirate's ruffianly crew might fight. She sat with her +hands clasped, endeavouring to retain her composure. She would have +been thankful for any occupation, but she could do nothing but sit still +and wait for the result of the impending fight--yes, she could pray; and +earnestly she did so, that her beloved father and his friends might be +protected from the shot of the foe. + +When Captain O'Brien returned on deck, he found that the two guns had +been pointed through the stern-ports. The match was applied, and both +were fired by the first mate in quick succession; but no visible effect +was produced on the enemy's spars. + +"Run them in, my lads, and load again," cried Captain Tracy. "Let me +see what I can do; if we can wing the pirate, we shall be saved further +trouble." Running his eye along one of the guns, he fired; Captain +O'Brien at the same time discharging the other. Looking through his +telescope, Captain Tracy uttered an exclamation of impatience as he +could discover no damage caused by the shot on the pirate's rigging. +The broad spread of white canvas remained extended as before to the +yards. "We must try again and again till we succeed," he exclaimed; +"maybe we shall have better luck next time." While the guns were being +run in and loaded, he turned his telescope towards the island, which was +now broad on the starboard beam. "Why, as I live, there is a British +ensign flying above what looks very like a fort in the centre of the +island!" he exclaimed. "If there is anchorage under it, we can run in +and set the pirate at defiance. He does not appear to have discovered +the fort, or he would not venture so near it." + +Captain O'Brien took the glass, and minutely examined the coast. "I see +no opening between the reefs through which we could get up anywhere near +the fort," he observed. "Were we to attempt to run in, we should very +probably get the ship on the rocks, and be far worse off than we are +likely to be if we stand on and trust to our guns to beat off the +piccaroon. Though the sea is so smooth here, the surf is breaking +heavily on the reefs and shore. If you'll take my advice, you'll not +make the attempt. There must be Englishmen on the island, though how +they came there is more than I can say, but I am very sure that, on +seeing a British ship chased by a pirate, they would come off to our +assistance if they could launch their boats through the surf." + +Captain Tracy acknowledged that his friend was right. To stand in +closer to the reefs in order to look for an opening through them would +be, should one not be found, to allow the pirate to come up and attack +them with rocks close aboard. + +The two ships ran on for some distance, the pirate gaining but slightly, +if at all, on the chase. All the time a rapid fire was kept up from the +two guns run through the stern-ports of the _Research_, the pirate +almost as frequently discharging her bow-chasers. Her shot as she drew +close began to tell with deadly effect. The second mate was the first +to fall; two of the crew were soon afterwards desperately wounded, and +another was killed; still the spars and rigging had hitherto escaped +much damage. Matters were becoming very serious, when the shot from a +gun trained by Captain O'Brien brought down the pirate's fore-topsail +yard; the studding-sail booms being carried away at the same time, the +studding-sails were seen flapping wildly in the wind. + +"I am thankful that my old eyes are still of some use," he said, as he +saw the effect he had produced. The British crew cheered right lustily. + +The wind, which had been falling, breezed up a little, and the +_Research_ glided on out of reach of the pirate's guns. Not a moment +was lost in repairing the slight damages her rigging had received. It +was seen, however, that the pirates were similarly employed. + +"The yard was only shot away in the slings, without damaging the mast, I +fear," observed Captain O'Brien. "It will take the rascals some time, +however, before they can sway it aloft, and ere then, if this breeze +holds, we shall have run the pirate well out of sight." + +But the breeze did not hold. As the day advanced the wind fell, and the +two vessels lay becalmed just within long range of each other's guns. +Both continued firing as before. + +Poor Norah, as she sat all alone in the dark hold, was not forgotten. +Sometimes Captain O'Brien and sometimes her father hurried below to say +a few cheering words, assuring her that they hoped before long to get +clear of the pirate. + +The calm continued, allowing time to repair damages, and to commit the +poor fellows who had been killed to the deep. A breeze was eagerly +looked-for by all on board the _Research_. Should it come from the +eastward, she would probably get it as soon as the pirate and retain her +present advantage, but if from the northward, the enemy might creep up +to her before she could move. Preparations were made for every +emergency. The crew stood ready to brace the yards, from which the +sails hung down against the masts, as might be required; the guns were +loaded, and run out; pikes, cutlasses, muskets, and pistols were placed +ready, in convenient positions to be grasped, should the pirate succeed +in getting alongside. + +The day wore on, and evening was approaching. The old captains were +looking out astern. + +"Do you see yonder dark line of water?" asked Captain O'Brien, grasping +his friend's arm. "The pirate, after all, will get the wind before we +do." + +"It cannot be helped. We must do our best, and trust in Providence," +answered Captain Tracy. "Our men will prove staunch, and though the +villains outnumber them, and their metal is heavier than ours, we may +still beat them off." + +In less than a minute the sails of the pirate were seen to blowout, and +she began slowly to glide through the water. Those of the _Research_ +gave a few loud flaps against the masts, and then hung down again, then +swelled slightly to the breeze; but before she had gathered way, the +pirate had gained considerably on her. + +"We must try to stop her progress," exclaimed Captain O'Brien. "A gold +doubloon to the man who first knocks away a spar; and if I succeed +myself, I'll keep it in my pocket." + +The old captain fired one of the stern guns as he spoke, but the shot +did no harm to their pursuer. The first mate and the most experienced +gunners among the crew tried their hands with no better success. The +speed of the _Research_ was increasing, but the pirate, having now got a +steady breeze, came on faster than she was going through the water. + +"If we can maintain our present distance, we may still escape the enemy +during the night," observed Captain Tracy. + +The sun was setting on the starboard hand, casting a ruddy glow on the +sails of the two ships. + +"Would that we could knock away a few of her spars, though," said +Captain O'Brien; "it would make the matter more certain." + +"It is to be hoped that she'll not knock away some of ours," remarked +the first mate, as he observed the pirate yawing. + +By doing so she brought her starboard broadside to bear on the +_Research_, and every gun from it was fired at once. Although no one on +deck was hurt, it wrought sad havoc in the rigging: braces and shrouds +were shot away, the main-topsail yard was cut almost in two, the +foreyard was severely damaged, and two or three of the lighter spars +were knocked away. The old captains gazed up at the injuries which had +thus suddenly been produced. To repair them seemed almost hopeless. + +"I feared it would be so," muttered the first mate. "These fellows have +some good gunners among them, as we shall find too soon to our cost." + +Still neither of the sturdy old captains were inclined to despair. +Hands were sent aloft to fish the foreyard, and to knot and splice the +most important parts of the running rigging. The main-topgallantsail +was let fly, the main-topsail brailed up so as to take the strain off +the yard. The two stern guns were in the mean time kept actively +employed. + +The pirate gained more and more on the chase. + +"We shall have to fight it out, yardarm to yardarm, if the pirates so +choose, or maybe they think fit to board us," muttered the first mate. +"They have the game in their own hands, and if we cannot manage to beat +them back, they'll be masters of the _Research_ before long." + +He spoke too low for the rest of the crew to hear him, but his words +reached Captain O'Brien's ears. + +"Cheer up, Mr Rymer; never say die while there's a chance of life," he +observed. "Though we may not like the look of things, it's better not +to let the men know what we think, or our good captain either. He must +be sorely troubled with the thoughts of the fearful position in which +his young daughter will be placed, should the pirates overcome us." + +"Overcome us!" exclaimed the mate. "I'd sooner blow the ship up with +all hands, if it comes to that." + +"No, no, my friend; don't attempt so mad and wicked a deed," said the +old captain. "In doing that, we should be imitating the rascally +buccaneers themselves. We are bound to leave our lives in God's hands, +and He'll order things as He sees best. All we have to do is to fight +to the last, and to try and save the ship from the pirate's hands." + +"I hope we may succeed, sir," said the mate, his spirits animated by the +old captain's remarks. "I, for one, will do nothing desperate, and I'll +tell the gunner and boatswain what you say." + +The pirate continued creeping up on her expected prey, firing her guns +as they could be brought to bear; while the crew of the _Research_, firm +to their promise, returned shot for shot, some aiming at their +antagonist's rigging, others at the hull--though two more of their +number were killed, and three or four wounded. The latter, however, +having stanched the blood flowing from their limbs, returned to their +guns, and continued fighting them with all the energy of despair. + +They could not fail to see that they were suffering more than their +opponent. The pirate ship was already on the starboard quarter of the +_Research_, and in a short time would be on her beam, and thus prevent +her from rounding the southern end of the reef, which it was calculated +she had already reached. + +The gloom of night had settled down on the world of waters, but it was +lighted up by the rapid flashes of the guns. + +"If we could but knock away her foremast, we should still have time to +luff round ahead of her," cried Captain Tracy. "Aim at that, my lads; +if you do it, you will save the ship." + +Twice the starboard broadside was fired, but the pirate's masts and +spars still appeared to be uninjured. + +The crew of the _Research_ were about again to fire her guns, when the +pirate, putting up her helm, ran her alongside. + +"Boarders, be prepared to repel boarders!" shouted Captain O'Brien, +sticking a brace of pistols in his belt, and seizing a cutlass and pike. +"We must drive them back, my lads, if they attempt to get on our deck." + +The mate and other officers followed his example, and the crew armed +themselves with the weapons to which they were most accustomed. The +next instant the pirates were seen swarming in their own rigging, led by +one of their officers--a bearded, dark man, who was encouraging them by +his shouts and gestures. The first mate sprang forward to encounter +him, and the next moment was brought to the deck by a blow from his +cutlass. In vain the two old captains endeavoured to prevent the +ruffians from setting foot on the deck of the _Research_; on they came, +far outnumbering her crew. + +The pirate captain had cut down the gunner and boatswain, and the rest +of the diminished crew found themselves opposed to four times their own +number. They well knew beforehand that it would be useless to ask for +quarter, and to the few who cried out for it, none was given. The +remainder, though fighting desperately, were quickly overpowered. The +two old captains had wonderfully escaped being wounded; standing +shoulder to shoulder, they were driven back to the companion-hatch, when +the pirate captain made his way close in front of them. + +"Yield, old men!" he shouted. + +"Not while we have cutlasses in our hands," answered Captain O'Brien, +warding off a blow made at his friend, who was wielding his own weapon +with all the vigour of youth. + +Just then the pirate captain exclaimed, "Yield, Captain Tracy, yield! +all further resistance is useless. Your present ship is ours, as is +your former craft. If you will drop your weapons, I will save your life +and that of your companion. It is mad of you to hold out longer." + +"He speaks the truth," said Captain O'Brien. "Tracy, we have lost the +day. For the sake of your child, listen to his offers. He can but kill +us at last, and we may if we live be able to protect her." + +"Say what you like, and I'll agree to it," answered Captain Tracy. + +"We will give in if we have your word that we and all the survivors on +board will be protected from further injury or insult. We have a lady +passenger, and I plead especially on her account. Will you promise that +she is in no way injured or molested?" said Captain O'Brien. + +"If you will take the word of a man who fights under yonder dark flag, +you have it," answered the pirate. + +"We yield, then," said Captain O'Brien, dropping his sword. + +Captain Tracy did the same, though both felt very uncertain whether the +next instant they might not be slaughtered by the savage miscreants, who +had now entire possession of the deck of the _Research_. + +"Go below, my friend, before the pirates find their way there. Tell +Norah what has happened, and urge her to prepare for what may occur," +whispered Captain Tracy. "I will try, meantime, to engage the attention +of the pirate." + +The latter made no remark when he saw the old captain disappearing down +the hatchway. + +"We have met before, Captain Tracy," he said. "I owe my life to the +good services rendered me on board your ship, and I should be loth to +have your death on my conscience. I have enough on it already. I know +your friend, too; he is one of the few people to whom I have cause to be +grateful." + +"If you are the man I take you for," said Captain Tracy, intently +regarding the pirate, "you owed a heavier debt to the master of the ship +which I now find in your possession. You know how I regarded him, and +you will relieve my mind if you can tell me where he is to be found." + +"You will probably meet in a few days," answered the pirate. "He is +well in health, though I considered it necessary to keep him a prisoner. +You and Captain O'Brien will now have the opportunity of solacing him +in his confinement." + +"I thank you for the information," answered Captain Tracy. "We shall be +ready to share his lot, whatever that may be." + +The pirates, though they had obtained possession of the deck, had +hitherto not made their way below; for they were all fully engaged, some +in the barbarous work of putting the wounded out of their misery and +heaving the dead overboard, and others in clearing the two ships. The +wind had suddenly increased, and, as they had a dangerous reef aboard, +it was necessary as quickly as possible to get them under command. +Captain O'Brien had thus time to make his way into the hold and to break +the intelligence of what had occurred to Norah. She, poor girl, had +been intently listening to divine by the sounds which reached the hold +how affairs were going. She knew too well that the engagement her +father was so anxious to avoid was taking place; and the rapid firing of +the guns told her that the crew of the _Research_ were gallantly +defending themselves. Then came the crashing sound as the pirate ran +alongside. The shrieks and cries which arose informed her of the +desperate hand-to-hand struggle that was going on. The comparative +silence which ensued when the remnant of the British crew were cut down, +alarmed her even more than did the occasional shouts of the pirates +engaged in clearing the ship which reached her ears. She dreaded the +worst, and had sunk down on her knees praying for strength to endure +whatever trial might be in store, when, by the faint light of the +lantern which hung in the hold, she saw Captain O'Brien standing before +her. + +"Is my father safe? Oh, tell me!" she exclaimed, grasping his hand. + +"Yes; thank Heaven, he has escaped without a wound," he answered. "But +affairs have not gone as we should wish," he continued, in as calm a +voice as he could command. "The pirates have possession of the +_Research_, but their captain, who appears to be an Englishman, has +spared our lives and promised that we shall not be molested. I have +hopes that he will keep his word, and you must not be cast down. We +will not be separated from you, whatever may occur; but it is useless +remaining longer in this dark place. We will go back into the cabin, +where I will stay with you till your father comes down." + +Saying this, Captain O'Brien, taking the lantern, led Norah up from the +hold through a passage, by which they reached the state cabin without +going on deck. + +Norah's agitation made her scarcely able to stand, so Captain O'Brien +led her to a sofa and took a seat by her. The next instant Captain +Tracy entered. She sprang up, and, throwing her arms round his neck, +burst into tears. While he was supporting her a step was heard, and the +pirate leader appeared at the doorway. He gazed for a moment at Norah. + +"Miss Tracy," he exclaimed, "had I known that the shot fired from my +ship were aimed at the one which you were on board of, I would sooner +have blown up my own craft or sent her to the bottom. I trust that you +will pardon me for the alarm and anxiety I have caused you." + +Norah gazed at the speaker with a look of terror as she clung to her +father's arm. His countenance had been too deeply impressed upon her +memory for her ever to forget it. She recognised in him the once second +mate of the _Ouzel Galley_, when he had gone under the name of +Carnegan--the man who had attempted to carry her off, and who had +afterwards audaciously presented himself, when an officer on board the +French privateer under the command of Thurot. Now he was the +acknowledged captain of a band of pirates, and she and her father were +in his power. He had spared the lives of the two old captains, but of +what outrage might he not be guilty when he found that the love he +professed was rejected? She endeavoured to recover herself sufficiently +to answer him, but her efforts were for some time vain. Her limbs +trembled under her; her voice refused to utter the words she would have +spoken. Her father could not fail to observe her agitation. + +"Retain your presence of mind, my child," he whispered, "but don't +offend our captor." + +By a strong effort, while the pirate stood gazing at her, she recovered +herself. + +"I claim nothing beyond the mercy any helpless woman might ask for on +board a captured vessel," she answered at length; "and if you would save +me from further suffering, I would pray that you would put my father and +me, with our friend, on shore at the nearest spot at which you can land +us. The vessel and cargo are yours, by right of conquest, but you can +gain nothing by keeping us prisoners." + +"You are mistaken, Miss Tracy," said the pirate; "I can gain everything +which for long years it has been my fond desire to obtain. You +recognise me, I am sure, and you cannot have forgotten the deep--the +devoted love I have expressed for you. Promise me that you will no +longer despise it, and your father and his friend shall not only be +protected, but treated with every respect and attention they can +require." + +This address increased rather than allayed Norah's alarm. + +"Oh, what shall I say to him?" she whispered to her father. "For your +sake and Captain O'Brien's, I would not, if I can help it, arouse his +anger." + +Norah was, however, saved from the difficult task of answering the +pirate by the appearance of one of his officers, who came to summon him +on deck, that he might give his orders for the management of the two +vessels. He hurried away, and left the trio to consult as to the best +mode of treating him. He was for some time absent, the shouting of the +officers and the tramping of the men's feet overhead showing that +various operations were going forward on deck. + +"You spoke well and bravely, Norah," exclaimed Captain O'Brien, after +her father had placed her on the sofa, that she might the better attempt +to recover from the fearful agitation she was suffering; "keep to that +tone. Don't tell him how you fear and dislike him, but don't let him +suppose that you are ready to consent to any proposals he may make. +Humour him as much as you can, and above all things don't allude to +Owen, or let him discover that he has a rival in the affection he asks +you to bestow on him." + +"Oh no, indeed I will not," said Norah; "and for my father's sake and +yours, I will do all I can to soften his temper and make him treat you +well." + +"I wish you to do as Captain O'Brien suggests, for your own sake rather +than for ours," observed her father. "We may defy him, as he can only +murder us; but we wish to live that we may protect you. At present he +appears to be in a tolerably good humour, and well he may, after +capturing our good ship and her valuable cargo. He would rather have +found her laden with ingots and chests of dollars; but she's a richer +prize to him than the _Ouzel Galley_ could have been, laden with +hogsheads of sugar." + +"The _Ouzel Galley_!" exclaimed Norah. "Has she fallen into that man's +hands? Oh, father! has he, then, got Owen in his power?" + +"He's not likely to have taken Owen's ship without capturing Owen too; +but we know that he could not have put him to death, or Owen couldn't +have sent us the message we received," answered her father. + +"Perhaps our capture may, after all, be the means of our discovering +Owen," observed Captain O'Brien. "You will not regret it then so much, +Norah; and if we can regain our liberty, we may, by some means or other, +carry him off also. It's an ill wind that blows no one good, depend on +that." + +Terribly alarmed as Norah felt, the idea suggested by Captain O'Brien +somewhat cheered her. + +The two captains sat, with Norah between them, endeavouring to prevent +her spirits from sinking. Silence, by all means, was to be avoided, +Captain O'Brien taking upon himself to be the chief spokesman. He did +his best not to allude to the battle, or the slaughter of their brave +crew. Little did Norah think that of all those she had seen that +morning on deck, full of life and activity, not one was then in +existence. She herself felt no inclination to speak of the fight, and +she asked no questions about it. It was sufficient for her to know that +the _Research_ had been captured, and that the great object of the +voyage--the recovery of Owen and Gerald--had come to nought. Weary and +sad, she could not even venture to seek for the consolation of sleep. +The lamp, which had been lighted at sundown, still hung from the beam +above their heads, shedding a subdued light over the cabin. Some time +thus passed. Occasionally the two old captains exchanged a few words in +low tones, but they could not say all they thought, for they were +unwilling to alarm Norah more than was necessary. They must act +according to the pirate's conduct. As he had spared their lives, he +might behave generously towards them and Norah, but of this they had but +slight hopes. + +It flashed across Captain O'Brien's mind that he was one of the +O'Harralls, whom he had saved, when a boy, from drowning, while serving +on board a ship he had commanded, he having jumped overboard in a heavy +sea, and supported the lad till a boat came to their assistance. He had +afterwards had cause to regret having done so, when O'Harrall became +notorious for his evil deeds. "It would have been better to let him +drown, than allow him to gather the sins on his head for which he has to +answer," thought the old captain. "But no, I did what was right; for +the rest he alone is answerable. If he's the man I suspect, he may have +been prompted by the recollection of the services I rendered him to +spare my life, and it may induce him still to act decently towards us." + +Though these thoughts passed through Captain O'Brien's mind, he did not +express them aloud, or tell his friend that he believed the pirate to be +any other than the outlawed ruffian, O'Harrall. + +Captain Tracy was addressing a remark to him, when the cabin door +opened, and the man he had been thinking about stood before them. As he +examined the pirate's features, he was sure that he had not been +mistaken, but he thought it prudent to keep the idea to himself. + +The pirate stood for a moment gazing at Norah. + +"I have come to summon you on board my vessel," he said. "Your old +craft has been too much knocked about, I find, to proceed before her +damages are repaired. This can be done under the lee of the island, +where we will leave her while we return into port. I wish you to +prepare at once to accompany me. Anything you desire to take with you +shall be brought on board, but I cannot allow you much time for your +preparations, Miss Tracy. Your father or Captain O'Brien will assist +you in packing your trunk." + +Captain Tracy, knowing that it would be useless to remonstrate, replied +that they should be speedily ready; and the pirate left the cabin. + +Norah, endeavouring to calm her agitation, immediately set to work to +pack up the things she knew that she should most require, while her +father and Captain O'Brien tumbled theirs into a couple of valises; so +that in a few minutes, when the pirate again entered the cabin, they +were prepared to obey his orders. He was accompanied by a couple of men +who, taking up their luggage, followed them on deck, to which he led the +way. The darkness fortunately prevented Norah from seeing the marks of +blood which stained the planks; she could only distinguish a number of +dark forms moving about, engaged in repairing the damages the ship had +received. She lay hove to, with the other vessel a short distance from +her. A boat was alongside, into which the pirate desired the two old +captains and Norah to descend, he offering his hand to assist her. She +thanked him in as courteous a tone as she could command, and, the boat +shoving off, the crew pulled away for the _Ouzel Galley_. + +"You are not a stranger to this ship, Miss Tracy," observed the pirate, +as he handed Norah on deck. "I regret that I was compelled to capture +her, and to deprive her former master, my worthy friend Owen Massey, of +his command." He spoke in a somewhat sarcastic tone, which Norah +observed, but she wisely made no reply. "You will be safer in the +cabin, where you will find yourselves at home," he continued; "my brave +fellows are somewhat lawless, and it is as well to keep out of their +sight." The pirate, as he spoke, led the way into the cabin. As they +entered it, he requested that she would consider herself its mistress. +"My black steward will attend to your wants, and will bring you whatever +you may order. I have now to see to the navigation of the ship, so that +I cannot for the present enjoy your society," he said. + +Having led Norah to a sofa and desired his other guests, as he choose to +call them, to be seated, he hurried from the cabin. + +The light from a handsome silver lamp hung in the usual position showed +them that no change had been made in its arrangements since the _Ouzel +Galley_ had sailed from Waterford. + +"We might have been worse off, faith! but it's somewhat trying to find +one's self on board one's own ship in the character of a prisoner," +observed Captain Tracy. "However, our captor appears inclined to behave +with as much courtesy as can be expected, and as I hope we shall not +again be interrupted, I wish, Norah, you would try to obtain some sleep. +O'Brien and I will watch by you, and you will be the better able to +endure what you may have to go through." + +"I cannot sleep; I don't wish to sleep," murmured poor Norah. "I should +only dream of the dreadful events which have occurred." + +After some persuasion, however, she consented to try and obtain the rest +she so much needed, and in spite of her assertions, her father saw that +she had dropped off into a calm slumber. He and Captain O'Brien could +now speak more freely than they had hitherto done. Their firm +resolution was not, on any account, to be parted from her. They had +each retained their pistols, which they had concealed in their pockets, +and Captain O'Brien vowed that, should any violence be threatened, he +would shoot O'Harrall, and trust to win over the piratical crew by +promising them the most ample rewards. + +"If we kill their chief, the fellows will be awed, and we shall have +time to throw the bait in their mouths; for the chances are that many of +them will be glad enough to escape from the perilous course they are now +compelled to follow, and if we can gain over some, the rest will not +long hold out," he observed. + +Captain Tracy thought his friend's plan too desperate, but he was at +length won over to consent to it should O'Harrall's behaviour render +some such proceeding necessary. + +By a compass fixed in the forepart of the cabin, they saw that the +vessel was standing to the westward, and that the wind must have +shifted, as she appeared to be directly before it. After running on +this course for some distance, they found that she was then hauled up to +the northward. From this she appeared to deviate but slightly, +sometimes a point or two to the eastward, and sometimes to the westward. +They thus surmised that she was threading her way between reefs with +which the pirates must have been well acquainted. Daylight at length +streamed through the cabin windows, and as the sun rose above the +horizon, they saw his rays glancing across the tiny wavelets which +rippled the surface of the water, showing that a moderate breeze was +blowing, and that the ship was under the lee of an island, which impeded +the progress of the undulations rolling in from the wide ocean. + +"Wherever we are going, it would be a hard matter, I suspect, without an +experienced pilot, to get out again," observed Captain O'Brien. + +"We must trust to protection from above, and we may hope to find the +means of escape," answered Captain Tracy. + +In spite of their intentions to keep awake, the two old captains could +not avoid dozing off, till they were aroused by the entrance of a black, +who announced himself as the steward. + +"Me Jumbo--come to lay breakfast, and cappen say you hab what you like +ask for, especially someting nice for de young lady." + +"We shall be thankful for anything you are able to bring us, Jumbo," +said Captain O'Brien. "We do not wish to give you more trouble than +necessary." + +"Dat berry good," answered the black, nodding as he went out of the +cabin. + +Before long he returned with an ample repast, consisting of several West +Indian dishes and some others, the materials of which had probably been +brought from the _Research_. The prisoners in reality cared but little +for the food, but it was satisfactory to believe that the pirate +intended to treat them with courtesy. Norah, who had taken nothing for +many hours, was persuaded to eat some breakfast. + +"You will feel all the better for it, my dear," said Captain O'Brien. +"I never saw any use in starving one's self, even though one might be in +the midst of an ocean of troubles. Matters always look worse when +people are hungry, and perhaps now that we have had some food, we shall +be able to see things in a brighter light. I have been thinking a good +deal about Owen Massey, and should not be at all surprised that we, +after all, accomplish the object of our voyage and find him. We shall +have paid a high price, to be sure, by the loss of our good ship, but +even that you will, at all events, not think too much if we get him back +safe." + +Norah smiled faintly. She almost dreaded the effect her presence might +produce on the treatment of Owen, should he be in the pirate's power. +The terrible thought had even occurred to her mind that the pirate might +offer her the dreadful alternative of becoming his wife or seeing Owen +murdered before her eyes. The idea, however, was too horrible to allow +her to give it utterance. + +Captain O'Brien endeavoured to amuse Norah by talking on in his usual +way. He succeeded but ill in his attempts. Impossible was the task to +draw her thoughts from present circumstances. "I wonder if we are to be +kept prisoners below all day, or whether our piratical captor will take +it into his head to invite us on deck?" he continued. "I should have no +objection to smoke my pipe and enjoy a little fresh air. When Jumbo +next appears, I'll send our compliments and request the favour." + +The old captain carried out his intentions, and Jumbo returned with a +message from the pirate captain, to the effect that they were welcome to +come on deck if they chose. + +Norah would have far rather remained in the cabin, but, as she dreaded +being left alone, she agreed to accompany her father and Captain +O'Brien. The pirate bowed as she appeared, and placed a seat for her on +the poop, inquiring simply whether she had been supplied with everything +she required. She briefly thanked him, and turned aside her head to +avoid the gaze of the ruffianly crew, as they moved towards the +after-part of the deck in the prosecution of their various duties. +O'Harrall merely nodded to the two old captains, who stood by her side. +The wind was baffling, and he was continually engaged in trimming sails, +so that he was prevented for some time from again addressing her. + +The _Ouzel Galley_ had now got into a more open part of the sea, though +neither of the old captains could tell exactly where they were. Again +the wind became steady, and O'Harrall was coming up, apparently to speak +to Norah, when the look-out from the mast-head shouted, "A sail on the +starboard quarter!" + +One of the chief officers was immediately sent aloft. On coming down, +he reported the stranger to be a large ship running free. + +"Does she look like a merchantman?" inquired O'Harrall. + +"Much more like a man-of-war, judging by the cut of her canvas," was the +answer, in a low voice. + +"Perhaps she will take no notice of us," remarked O'Harrall. "It will +be time enough if she gives chase to make sail; but it would only be +drawing her attention towards us, if we were to do so now." + +Captain Tracy overheard these remarks, but endeavoured to look as +unconcerned as possible, though, as may be supposed, he earnestly hoped +that the officer's surmise was correct, and that the stranger would +endeavour to overhaul them. + +The pirate continued to walk the deck, every now and then turning his +glass in the direction the stranger had been seen, while the officer +again went aloft. Presently he hurriedly came down and spoke a few +words to the pirate captain, who instantly issued orders to the crew to +make all sail. + +Royals were set, and even lighter sails above them. The studding-sails +were rigged out, and various strange-shaped sails were set between the +masts and above and below the bowsprit. The studding-sails, however, +were quickly taken in again, as the wind was too much abeam to enable +them to be carried. + +Captain Tracy managed, whenever the pirate's glance was turned the other +way, to take a look over the quarter, and soon had the satisfaction of +seeing the lofty sails of a large ship appearing above the horizon. It +was pretty evident that the stranger was suspicious of the character of +the _Ouzel Galley_, and was coming in chase of her. + +O'Harrall and his crew seemed to be of the same opinion. They turned +many an angry glance towards the old captains and Norah, as if they +considered them the cause of the risk they were running of being +captured. Though the _Ouzel Galley_ was a fast vessel, the stranger was +evidently much faster. + +"What do you think she is, O'Brien?" asked Captain Tracy. + +"A frigate or a large sloop of war; and though it is a difficult matter +to judge of her nationality, she looks more like an English ship than a +foreigner," he answered. + +"Grant Heaven it may be so, and that the pirates may see the uselessness +of fighting, should she come up with us," said Captain Tracy. + +"They are not likely to give in without a desperate struggle, when they +know that halters are in store for most of them if they are captured," +replied Captain O'Brien. + +O'Harrall was pacing the deck with hurried strides. He could only +depend on the speed of his ship for escaping, and he well knew that no +British man-of-war would engage him without doing her utmost to make him +her prize. Suddenly he walked up to his prisoners, his countenance +exhibiting a more ferocious aspect than they had hitherto seen it wear. + +"You must go below," he said in a harsh tone; "your presence has brought +us ill luck. At all events, my people think so, and I don't know how +they may behave, should they see you on deck when yonder ship gets up to +us." + +"We will of course obey you," said Captain Tracy, taking Norah's hand; +and, followed by Captain O'Brien, they descended to the cabin. + +The latter would gladly have remained to watch the progress of the +stranger, which he was more than ever convinced was a man-of-war. Some +hours must, however pass, before she could get the _Ouzel Galley_ within +range of her guns. Should darkness come on, the latter would still have +a chance of escaping without fighting. The eagerness of the pirate to +avoid a contest showed clearly enough that they were only ready to fight +when they had the hope of booty before them. + +Jumbo appeared as the prisoners returned to the cabin, and placed a +repast on the table. It was in every respect equal to the breaks fast. +Even the old captains, however, could not do justice to it, as they were +too anxious about their prospect of a speedy deliverance from captivity. +They knew very well, also, that considerable danger must be run should +the pirate engage the man-of-war. Shot might enter the cabin, or the +ship might catch fire, or blow up, or be sent to the bottom; or the +pirates, when they had lost all hope of escaping, might, in their rage, +revengefully put them to death. + +Jumbo had removed the dinner things, and Captain O'Brien managed to +project his head far enough from the stern windows to get a sight of the +stranger. + +"She may overtake us before dark, but I very much doubt it," he +observed. "If she does not, these fellows will manage to make their +escape by running in among reefs and islands, with which they, depend on +it, are well acquainted, and where the man-of-war will not venture to +follow them." + +As the time went by there appeared every probability that Captain +O'Brien's surmise would prove correct. A ruddy glow cast across the +ocean showed that the sun was sinking low, and presently the glow faded +away and a grey tint alone remained. By this time the hull of the +stranger appeared above the water, and Captain O'Brien declared that he +was more than ever convinced she was a British frigate. The compass in +the cabin showed, however, that the _Ouzel Galley_ was following a +devious course--now hauling up round a reef, now running for a short +distance before the wind. + +A shot came flying over the water from the frigate. Several others +followed, but they all fell short. She was then seen to keep away +before the wind to the south-west. + +"She has given up the chase," exclaimed Captain O'Brien, "and our chance +of liberty for the present is gone. I was afraid it would be so, but it +cannot be helped." + +Norah, perhaps, felt the disappointment less keenly than her companions. +The thought that she was about to meet Owen was uppermost in her mind. +She fancied that, once having found him, they should be able to devise a +plan for their escape. Shortly after this, O'Harrall came into the +cabin. "You expected the tables to be turned, and that the _Ouzel +Galley_ would be captured by yonder man-of-war," he observed, as he +stood with his arms folded, leaning carelessly against the bulkhead. +"It is as well for you, however, that we had not to engage her, for my +fellows are not men who would consent to be taken alive. Had we not +escaped from her, they would to a certainty have blown up the ship, when +all hope had abandoned them." + +"Then, sir, we may congratulate you and ourselves on having avoided a +fight," said Captain O'Brien. "We may wish you a better fate, and it is +certainly one we are thankful to have escaped." + +"I hope to enjoy greater happiness for many years to come than has +hitherto been my lot," said the pirate, gazing at Norah, who cast down +her eyes to avoid his glance. "Circumstances have made me what I am, +but I intend to abandon my present course, and to engage in some service +where I may gain an honourable name and retrieve the years which have +passed. I already possess sufficient wealth to satisfy my utmost +desires. My only wish is to share it with one whose affections I may +hope to gain." + +The pirate continued for some time speaking in this strain. Norah did +her utmost to pretend that she did not understand him, while Captain +O'Brien stood fuming with rage at what he mentally called the audacious +impudence of the villain. Poor Captain Tracy's heart sank, and though +not less indignant than his friend, he endeavoured to conceal his +feelings. Happily O'Harrall was again summoned on deck. No sooner was +he gone than Norah gave way to hysterical sobs. + +"Oh, father! father! kill me sooner than let him take me from you," she +exclaimed. "I know too well what he means; but I would pray for death +sooner than become his wife." + +"If he really wishes to obtain an honourable name he will offer no +violence, my child," said Captain Tracy, endeavouring to comfort her. +"Heaven will find some way for you to escape." + +The cause of the pirate's being summoned on deck was soon apparent. The +wind had fallen, and the _Ouzel Galley_ lay becalmed, surrounded by the +reefs amid which she had taken shelter. Though the passage occupied her +some time, she was still at no great distance from the open channel. + +"Why, as I live, there is the frigate, not more than three or four miles +off," exclaimed Captain O'Brien, who had been looking through the cabin +window. "Depend on it, she has kept us in sight, and when she finds +that we are still within reach, and not able to get away, she'll be +sending her boats in to take us during the night. I heartily hope that +she may, and we shall run much less risk of injury than we should have +done had she attacked the _Ouzel Galley_ with her heavy guns. I believe +that the pirate's threat of blowing up the ship was all bombast. These +fellows, hardened villains as they are, are seldom in a hurry to go out +of the world, if they can by any means prolong their miserable +existence. Each man fancies that he may have a chance of escaping by +turning king's evidence or getting out of prison. I doubt whether even +O'Harrall himself would have the nerve to set fire to the magazine, +though his capture were certain." + +The darkness was now settling down on the water, and at length shrouded +the stranger from view. + +The pirates had evidently not been idle, and the old captains surmised +that they were engaged in tricing up boarding-nettings and making all +the usual preparations in case of being attacked during the night by the +boats of the frigate, which they must of course have expected. + +The sound of a boat lowered into the water reached the cabin, and the +next minute she was seen through the stern window pulling in the +direction of the frigate, probably to row guard and to give due notice +should the man-of-war's boats be heard approaching: Although, during the +last two nights, the inmates of the cabin had obtained but a few minutes +of sleep at a time, their anxiety prevented them from closing their +eyes. Even Norah, though her father urged her to try and obtain some +rest, could scarcely bring herself to shut hers for a moment. They +listened eagerly, expecting every minute to hear the pirate's boat +return, followed by those of the man-of-war. + +Several hours passed away, when Captain O'Brien, who had been watching +at the stern window, exclaimed, "Here she comes!" and the next moment +the boat dashed up alongside. + +The ship had not been brought to an anchor, showing that the pirate +entertained a hope of avoiding a fight and making his escape, should the +breeze spring up before the boats could get alongside. The night was +dark, and from the lighted cabin it was impossible to see objects at any +distance. Captain O'Brien, however, listened, expecting to hear the +boats approach. Presently he rejoined Captain Tracy and Norah. + +"Here they come," he whispered. "It would be folly to be shot by our +friends, and as the pirates have forgotten to close the dead-lights, the +bullets may be making their way into the cabin. We shall do well to lie +down under shelter. Here, Norah, your own cabin will afford you the +safest place, and your father and I will sit on the deck by your side. +Should the attacking party succeed, at I have no doubt they will, we +shall then avoid the risk of being shot by friends or foes." + +The advice was too sensible not to be followed. Scarcely had they +gained the shelter which Captain O'Brien advised, than both the +broadsides of the _Ouzel Galley_ were discharged, succeeded by a rapid +fire of musketry, and a loud cheer from the crews of the boats. + +"They will be alongside in another minute," cried Captain O'Brien. + +The fluttering of some curtains hung in front of Norah's cabin showed +that a strong breeze was blowing through the stern windows, and it soon +became evident that the ship was moving rapidly through the water. + +The crew of the pirate cheered, and several of her guns were fired. +They were replied to by musketry, but the reports came one after the +other, apparently from different directions. + +"The villains will escape after all," exclaimed Captain O'Brien, who was +on the point of jumping up to take another look through the stern +window, when his friend, holding him down, observed-- + +"A chance bullet may come through the port, or if your head were seen, a +marine would be certain to aim at it, believing that he was firing at an +enemy." + +The _Ouzel Galley_ glided rapidly over the smooth sea, the firing on +both sides ceased, and though the boats were probably still continuing +the chase, they were eventually left far astern. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +THE RESEARCH SAILS TOWARDS THE PIRATE'S ISLAND--OWEN'S CONVERSATION WITH +MICHAEL O'HARRALL--THE RESEARCH ENTERS THE PIRATE'S HARBOUR--GETS +ALONGSIDE THE OUZEL GALLEY--BOARDS HER--DESPERATE FIGHT--O'HARRALL +ESCAPES--LIEUTENANT FOLEY AND OWEN, WITH A PARTY, LAND TO SEARCH FOR +NORAH AND HER FATHER--A JOYFUL MEETING--THE PIRATE VILLAGE SET ON FIRE-- +BOOTY CARRIED OFF--THE SHIPS SAIL--REACH JAMAICA--WELCOMED BY OLD +FRIENDS--THE VOYAGE HOME AND ITS RESULTS--FORMATION OF "THE OUZEL GALLEY +SOCIETY"--HAPPY MARRIAGES--NORMAN AND GERALD AGAIN SENT TO SEA-- +ENGAGEMENT WITH A FRENCH SQUADRON--DEATHS OF THUROT AND O'HARRALL--OWEN +RECOVERS HIS PROPERTY--CONCLUSION. + +Gerald and Norman Foley did their utmost to comfort Owen Massey, who was +almost in despair, as he thought of the fearful danger to which Norah +and her father would be subjected in the power of O'Harrall. To what +extremities might he not proceed? His rage, too, would be great on +finding that Owen and his companions had escaped from the island, and he +might vent it on the hapless prisoners in his power. + +"Should he dare to ill-treat them, swift vengeance will overtake him," +observed Norman. + +"Yes; but the fear of that will not influence the man," exclaimed Owen, +pressing his hand to his brow. "Would that I had remained on the +island! I might in some way have afforded them protection--or the kind +black woman would have done so." + +"Bad as he is, he will not surely venture to injure my young sister and +fine old father," said Gerald. + +Owen, however, who had witnessed the fierce bursts of passion to which +O'Harrall was accustomed to give way, still feared the worst. + +He, with the lieutenant and Gerald, was walking the deck, when his eye +fell on Dillon, with the boatswain standing on the watch new him. + +"Why, that is one of the fellows who betrayed the _Ouzel Galley_ into +the hands of the enemy!" said Owen. + +"He is a deserter from the _Champion_," observed Norman Foley, "and is +the man who has now undertaken to pilot us into the pirate's harbour. +When did he join the _Ouzel Galley_?" + +"At Kingston, with some other fellows of the same stamp," answered Owen; +"and I have good cause to regret having received them." + +"They must have been with you, then, when I boarded the _Ouzel Galley_ +as you went out of Port Royal," Gerald took the opportunity of +observing, after Norman Foley had left them. + +Owen confessed that such was the case. "If you had done your duty, you +would have discovered them," he could not refrain from adding. + +"You are right, Owen," said Gerald. "I now see that every neglect of +duty must produce bad consequences, but I suppose, as it was your +business to conceal them from me because you wanted a crew, so it was +mine to have discovered them. However, the less we say about the matter +the better just now." + +Owen felt a strong inclination to speak to the man Routh, or Dillon, to +learn how O'Harrall had behaved towards his prisoners before they were +taken on board the _Ouzel Galley_. + +With the greatest effrontery, Dillon nodded to him as he approached. +"So, Captain Massey, you managed to get away, after all," he said, quite +coolly. "It is more than any one else has done for a long time, and +several have lost their lives in making the attempt, so you are +fortunate." + +"That is not the matter about which I wish to speak to you," said Owen. +"You were treated well while under my command, and in return I ask you +to tell me how Captain O'Harrall behaved towards those he took from this +ship?" + +"As to that, I know very little," answered Dillon. "We killed most of +the people, but the two old captains and the young lady were unhurt. +They did not look very happy at finding themselves prisoners, but in +other respects they had nothing to complain of, and they were allowed to +take their traps with them. And now, Captain Massey, let me ask you, +how do you happen to know that the real name of the pirate captain is +O'Harrall? He is generally called Bermudez among us." + +"I knew him long before he took to his present evil courses," said Owen. +"I then hoped better things of him, and I will now ask why you are +ready to betray him." + +"To save my own life, and to revenge myself for the way he has treated +me," answered Dillon. "He chose to consider me as his inferior, when I +am his equal in every respect. Has it never occurred to you, Owen +Massey, who I am? I will tell you, for I care not who knows it. I am +Brian O'Harrall's younger brother Michael, whom you also once knew. Our +family ousted yours; and as I conclude that neither of us is very likely +to return to Ireland, and we are the last of our race, you may possibly +manage to recover the property. If Brian is killed, I may perhaps +assist you, and if you will promise me a sufficient recompense I am +ready to do so." + +From what the pirate said, Owen had no doubt that he was the person he +represented himself to be; still he hesitated about entering into any +engagement with a villain of his stamp. + +"I must consider the subject," he answered; "much must depend upon the +success of our undertaking. Should Captain Tracy and his daughter be +rescued by your means from your brother's hands, whatever your motive, I +shall be more deeply indebted to you than I should feel were you to +assist in restoring the property of which your family deprived my +father. Indeed, I cannot understand how you can be instrumental in +doing that. In the mean time I can make no promise with regard to the +matter." + +The subject the man Dillon, or rather Michael O'Harrall, had mentioned +had one beneficial effect in somewhat turning Owen's thoughts, although +only occasionally, from the contemplation of Norah's and her father's +position. + +Two more anxious days were passed, when, towards evening, land was seen +ahead, mostly lying low, with a slight elevation in the centre. The +wind was favourable, and Dillon undertook to carry the ship into harbour +before nightfall, declaring that he could pilot her towards the latter +part of the way as well in the dark as during the daylight. + +It is impossible to describe Owen's feelings. In a short time Norah +might be safe, or he should hear that she had suffered a fate he dare +not contemplate. + +Every preparation was made for surprising the pirates and recovering the +prisoners. A dozen men were dressed to look as much as possible like +the pirates who had been on board when the _Research_ was captured; the +black flag was hoisted at her peak. The rest of the men and the +officers concealed themselves, some below, and others under the +bulwarks. Dillon was ordered to take his post as if in command. A +party of men, well armed, were selected and placed under the orders of +Norman Foley, who, accompanied by Gerald, with Owen, Dan, and Pompey as +guides, were to shove off from the ship as soon as the pirates had +discovered their object, and to endeavour to find out where the +prisoners were confined. + +Everything went well. The wind continued favourable, the bar was +crossed, and the _Research_ glided up through the channel leading into +the lagoon. The sun had set, and darkness was rapidly coming on; Owen +and Gerald were lying down, anxiously looking out from one of the bow +ports. There floated the _Ouzel Galley_, right ahead, in the centre of +the lagoon. The _Research_ was steered towards her, so that it might be +supposed by the pirates that the new arrival was about to bring up. +Instead of letting go her anchor, however, the _Research_ was to run +alongside the _Ouzel Galley_, which the British crew was immediately to +board. As the boats on the larboard side of the _Research_ could not be +seen by the pirates, they were lowered into the water, and Lieutenant +Foley and his party were directed to leap into them the moment +concealment was no longer necessary. + +The _Research_ approached the _Ouzel Galley_. "What are you about, you +lubbers?" shouted a voice from the latter ship. "Starboard your helm, +or you will be running foul of us." + +It was O'Harrall who spoke. Owen recognised his voice. + +"There is something wrong," cried another man. + +"Treachery! treachery!" exclaimed several of the pirates, and two guns +from the _Ouzel Galley_ were fired at the approaching ship. They were +well aimed. One of the shots struck the bulwarks, the splinters from +which wounded several persons; the other flew more aft, and the +traitorous pirate, Michael O'Harrall, was seen to fall. Not a groan +escaped him. The officers and crew sprang to their feet, those who were +below leaping on deck. + +Though the wind had fallen almost to a calm, the ship had way enough on +her to bring her up alongside the _Ouzel Galley_. Grappling-irons were +thrown on board. At the same time two more shots were fired by the +pirates, and although, surprised as they had been, they were seen +rapidly mustering on deck, still there was evident confusion among them. +The British seamen, led by their officers, pistol and cutlass in hand, +were the next instant leaping down on the deck of the _Ouzel Galley. +For_ a few seconds the pirates fought desperately; but, bold as most of +them were, they saw that their chance of success was gone. Then, with +fierce oaths and cries of terror and rage, they retreated to the +opposite side of the ship, and those who could threw themselves +overboard with the intention of trying to swim to the shore. + +One of the last to make his escape was O'Harrall. He had been +hard-pressed by Lieutenant Tarwig, who shouted to him to yield; but, +springing on a gun and aiming a desperate cut at the lieutenant's head +(fortunately the cut was parried, or it would have finished the gallant +officer), the pirate leaped over the bulwarks, and disappeared beneath +the dark waters. Mr Tarwig jumped up on the gun, and eagerly looked +over the side to ascertain what had become of his late antagonist. He +could make out through the gloom several persons swimming away from the +ship, but whether or not one of them was O'Harrall, it was impossible to +say. + +Not a pirate now remained alive on the deck of the _Ouzel Galley_. A +dozen or more had been cut down, and so effectually had the British +seamen wielded their cutlasses that every one of them had been killed +outright. The marines had followed the boarders, and now began firing +away at the pirates in the water; but, the darkness concealing the +swimmers, no effective aim could be taken. As the boats on the +starboard side could not be lowered while the two ships were close +together, and those on the other had gone away under Lieutenant Foley, +the pirates could not be pursued, or probably several would have been +captured. + +Commander Olding, knowing the treachery of which the pirates were +capable, at once ordered a search to be made below, in case they might +have tried to blow up the ship; he himself hurrying into the cabin, +where he thought it possible that the prisoners might still be confined. +He soon ascertained that they were not there, but he discovered a door +leading to the main hold. Obtaining a light, he, followed by the master +and Crowhurst, made his way to the part of the hold which had before +served as a refuge to Norah and her friend Ellen. + +In the mean time, Norman Foley's party, with Owen, had pulled for the +western side of the lagoon. As soon as the boats reached the beach, the +whole of the party leaped on shore, with the exception of a few hands +left to guard the boats. + +"This way," cried Owen, dashing forward in the direction of the building +which had so long been his prison. His fear was that O'Harrall might +have reached the shore, and would carry off Norah. Of one thing he felt +nearly sure, that O'Harrall would have imprisoned her and her father +there as the most secure place in which he could leave them; still even +that was doubtful, and he might have a long search before they could be +discovered. + +Norman and Gerald did their best to keep the men together, and to follow +close at his heels. At any moment they might be attacked by the +pirates. They could not tell how many of the outlaws were collected on +the island; it was probable, they thought, that there were the crews of +other vessels besides O'Harrall's followers. Firing could be heard from +the side of the harbour, and they concluded therefore that fighting was +taking place in that direction. + +It had not occurred to Owen that the prisoners might have been kept on +board the _Ouzel Galley_, and that after all he might be disappointed by +not finding Norah. Dan and Pompey sprang forward to his side, and +assisted him in keeping to the right path, with which they were far +better acquainted than he was. They had got close to the building, when +a voice shouted in Spanish, "Who goes there?" The flash and report of a +musket followed; the bullet whistled over their heads. + +"Bedad, it's thim Spanish rascals who had charge of us," cried Dan. +"Faix, but it's all right, for the captin is sure to be there. Give a +cheer, lads, and they will know we are coming." + +The seaman, without stopping to receive the order from their officers, +uttered a true British cheer, which had the effect of making the Spanish +guard take to their heels; and the next instant Owen, bursting open the +outer door, was mounting the ladder which led to the loft, followed by +Gerald, Dan, and Pompey, the others pressing after them. Quickly +reaching the top, Owen found his hand grasped by that of Captain Tracy. +The next moment Norah was in his arms, while the old captain was almost +overcome with joy and astonishment at seeing his son. For some seconds +their feelings prevented them from uttering a word, when Captain +O'Brien, coming forward, exclaimed-- + +"I am delighted to see you, lad, for we had well-nigh given you up as +lost. How have you managed to make your way here? Tell us all about +it. From hearing the firing we guessed that the pirates must have been +attacked." + +Before Gerald could reply, Dan and Pompey had come up the ladder. Mr +Foley quickly made his appearance, and gave a more succinct account of +the events which had occurred than the rest of the party would probably +have been able to do. + +While the lieutenant was recounting what had happened, Gerald had time +to tell Norah how thankful he was to find her again. She could even +now, however, with but difficulty utter a word. On being brought to the +loft, she had discovered that it had been occupied by Owen, and, not +knowing that he had escaped, her fears for his safety had been +unspeakable, although her father and Captain O'Brien had endeavoured to +persuade her that he must have got away during O'Harrall's absence. +O'Harrall himself refused to afford any information on the subject, +apparently feeling satisfaction at the agony the poor girl was +suffering. He had paid his prisoners two visits, but had not, as far as +they could judge, made up his mind how he should dispose of them-- +although, from some hints he had let drop that very evening, they were +apprehending the worst. + +Norman Foley, who was ignorant of the number of persons on the island, +fearing that his party might be attacked, thought it prudent at once to +return to the boats and get on board the _Research_. Norah and the two +captains were perfectly willing to accompany him; and the seamen +shouldering their trunks, the party at once set off, guided by Dan and +Pompey--Owen very naturally preferring to escort Norah instead of taking +the lead. Her father and Captain O'Brien walked on either side of them, +with cutlasses in their hands and pistols in their belts, the only +articles belonging to the pirates which they had carried off. A sharp +look-out was kept on either hand, lest any of the pirates lying in +ambush might spring out and attempt to recover the prisoners. They, of +course, supposed that the Spaniards, who had made their escape, would +give the alarm. + +Owen breathed more freely when they at length reached the boats. As he +looked along the shore, he observed that all the lights in the huts had +been extinguished, the inhabitants, expecting to be attacked by the +English, having probably fled. The men in charge of the boats reported +that none had approached them, nor had they seen any persons swimming to +shore. + +The party quickly embarked, and were received with loud cheers, as they +got alongside the _Research_, when it was known that the old captain and +his daughter had been recovered. + +With feelings of intense satisfaction and thankfulness, Owen once again +trod the deck of the _Ouzel Galley_, which, though a lawful prize to the +_Champion's_ crew, Commander Olding assured him should be delivered up +to him. The cargo with which he had sailed from Montego Bay had long +since been removed, but a large amount of, treasure was found on board +which, from its character, it was known must have been pillaged from +some Spanish ship. It would therefore now become the property of +Commander Olding and his ship's company. + +Lieutenant Foley, with thirty men, was sent on board the _Ouzel Galley_, +and every preparation was made for her defence should the pirates +venture to attack her during the night. No attempt of the sort, +however, was made, nor indeed was a single boat seen moving across the +calm waters of the lagoon, nor could any of the inhabitants be discerned +on shore. The morning found the two ships floating peaceably in the +centre of the lagoon; and except a few huts scattered here and there +along the beach, and the dismasted vessels further up the harbour, no +sign existed of its being the pirates' stronghold. It owed its security +entirely to its remote position and the intricacy of the channel leading +to it. Before quitting it, the commander considered it his duty to +search the vessels and to destroy the pirates' dwellings. Perhaps, too, +he had hopes of discovering some of their booty. + +An expedition was therefore sent on shore, under the command of the +first lieutenant. The vessels, having been examined, were found to be +empty; none of the huts contained any articles of value. All met with +having been burnt to the ground, the party proceeded inland, until they +reached the large building which had so long served as the prison of +Owen and his companions. A secret door was discovered, opening from the +outer room in which old Mammy had lived. On bursting it open an inner +room was found, nearly full of booty of various descriptions. Among it +were bales of rich silks, muslins, and cloths, cases of cutlery and +casks of wine, boxes of preserves, gold and silver ornaments, caskets of +jewels, and numerous other articles. Those of most value, which could +easily be carried off, were at once shouldered by the men, who forthwith +returned with them to the boat. On their arrival on board, another +party was despatched to bring off the greater part of the remainder, +when the store was set on fire and the rest consumed. + +By this time a breeze had sprung up, and as it was important to take +advantage of it, sail was made, and the _Research_ leading, under the +pilotage of the master and Owen, assisted by Dan and Pompey, the two +vessels began to thread their way along the channel. The lead was of +course kept going; and as they neared the more intricate part, the wind +being light, a boat was sent ahead to sound. Thus, all dangers being +avoided, they at length, just before sunset, got clear out to sea. Fair +breezes now wafted them rapidly along. Owen had remained on board the +_Research_ that he might enjoy the society of Norah, who would not +willingly have again been parted from him. + +The weather continued fine, and after a run of ten days the two ships +entered Port Royal harbour, and stood on until they dropped their +anchors before Kingston. They were immediately boarded by numerous +persons from the shore. Among the first who reached the _Ouzel Galley_ +was Mr Ferris. He was greatly astonished, at finding Norman Foley in +command, and still more so at hearing what had befallen her. + +"Your reappearance, my dear fellow, will restore life and animation to +my poor girl. Although she would not believe you were lost, we had +given you up, for it was generally supposed that the _Champion_ had gone +down in a hurricane, or been sunk by an enemy, or driven on shore +without any one escaping to give an account of the catastrophe. We only +arrived here a few days ago, and have been waiting for a vessel to +return home, with several other persons. One of them is Miss Pemberton, +Ellen's great friend. Poor girl! she had a severe trial, and she and +Ellen have sympathised with each other. You saw her at Bellevue with +that fine soldier, Major Malcolm. They were engaged to marry, having +been smitten at first sight, but he and young Belt, who so gallantly +defended Bellevue, were sent in pursuit of the rebel blacks. They had +followed the rascals into their mountain fastnesses, and, regardless of +the danger to which they exposed themselves, pushed on ahead of their +own men into a defile, where they were both shot down by a party of +negroes lying in ambush. For some time we thought Fanny would never get +over it; but she has been advised change of scene and air, so we are +taking her with us to Ireland. Archie Sandys, that brave young fellow +whom you had on board the _Champion_, also forms one of the party. He +has lately come into a good property, so he has given up his situation +out here. And now, what are you going to do?" + +Norman Foley, eager at once to see Ellen, replied that he must first +deliver up the _Ouzel Galley_ to the prize agents, and as soon as that +duty had been performed he would accompany Mr Ferris on shore. + +"By-the-by, I was forgetting she was no longer my ship, though I +conclude that after the regular forms have been gone through, she will +be restored to us at a nominal value," observed Mr Ferris. + +"The commander has already made an arrangement with her former master, +Captain Massey, on the subject," answered the lieutenant. + +From the _Ouzel Galley_ Mr Ferris proceeded on board the _Research_ to +congratulate his friends on their escape, when he invited them all to +his house in Kingston, where those who were able to do so at once +accompanied him. + +Commander Olding and his officers had, of course, to report themselves +to the admiral, and to give an account of the loss of the _Champion_. +They had to undergo the usual court-martial, and were, as was expected, +honourably acquitted. + +In the mean time the _Ouzel Galley_, having been restored to her former +owners, was quickly fitted for sea, while the _Research_ was purchased +into the navy, and the command given to Lieutenant Tarwig. + +Commander Olding and several of his officers had made up their minds to +return home by the first opportunity, but most of the rest, as well as a +portion of the _Champion's_ crew, joined the _Research_. Of the +captured booty, a handsome share was made over to Owen Massey, in +consideration of his having been instrumental in securing it. + +A fleet of merchantmen being ready to sail, the _Thetis_ frigate, on +board which Commander Olding had taken a passage, was appointed to +convoy them, accompanied by the _Research_. Lieutenant Foley and Gerald +very naturally preferred going home in the _Ouzel Galley_, The weather +was fine, and there was every prospect of a prosperous voyage. + +Much of the time which Ellen might otherwise have spent in comforting +her friend Fanny was, as may be supposed, passed in the society of +Norman Foley. Norah, also, had less time to bestow on her than might +have been the case if Owen Massey had not been on board. To Archie +Sandys, therefore, fell the duty of offering such consolation as he was +able, to bestow on the young lady. Consequences which might not +altogether have been unexpected ensued. Before the voyage was over +Fanny had greatly recovered her spirits, and had consented, when her +friend Ellen Ferris married, to become Archie's bride. This was the +most important event of the voyage. + +On a fine bright morning the _Ouzel Galley_ sailed into the Bay of +Dublin, with flags flying at her mast-heads and mizen-peak. She was +quickly recognised as she ran up the Liffey, and Mr Ferris's partners +and the underwriters who had insured her were soon collected on board to +welcome her long-lost master and their other friends. A dinner was +shortly afterwards given to all who had returned in her, when, to +commemorate the event, and to show their satisfaction at the result of +the arbitration to which they had agreed, it was determined to form a +society, the members of which should be called the captain, officers, +and crew of the "Ouzel Galley," the president taking the title of +captain, and the other office-bearers that of officers; and it was +wisely resolved, instead of going to law, to submit in future any +disputes which might arise connected with underwriting to their +arbitration. As a mark of respect to Captain Tracy, he was elected the +first captain, Owen Massey being appointed his lieutenant. + +Before many weeks had elapsed the three proposed marriages took place, +Archie Sandys departing with his bride for Scotland, while Norman Foley +and Owen Massey made a tour through the south of Ireland before going to +Waterford, where they had agreed to remain for some time, to be near +Mrs Massey and Captain Tracy. Owen would, however, have again to go to +sea, but neither he nor Norah liked to talk of the subject, and wisely +forebore thinking about it. + +Norman was expecting to enjoy some months on shore, when he and Gerald +received orders to join the _Aeolus_, 32-gun frigate, which was at that +time cruising off the Irish coast. On getting on board they found +several of their old shipmates. They had been at sea for some time when +the _Aeolus_ was joined by the _Pallas_ and _Brilliant_ frigates, soon +after which a gale coming on compelled the squadron to put into Kinsale +harbour. Here they were lying repairing some slight damages they had +received, when a courier arrived in hot haste with the information that +a French squadron of three frigates, under the command of Captain +Thurot, had attacked the town of Carrickfergus and plundered the place, +and had had the audacity to demand contributions from Belfast, which he +threatened to treat in the same way. Captain Elliott, who commanded the +_Aeolus_, and was senior captain, immediately put to sea with the other +frigates in search of the Frenchmen. He soon gained information that +they had left Carrickfergus, and were apparently intending to return to +France. As far as force was concerned his ships carried the same number +of guns as the Frenchmen, but the latter had many more men on board. +He, however, felt confident of victory. + +The three frigates were standing towards the Isle of Man, when, early in +the morning, the French squadron was seen approaching from the +northward. Thurot could not possibly escape without an action had he +wished it. He commanded the _Marshal Belleisle_, of forty-four guns, +and had with him the _Blonde_ and _Terpsichore_. Nor was he a man to +yield as long as a hope of victory remained: his character was well +known to all on board the British ships. + +Norman Foley and Gerald had taken part in not a few actions, but they +felt that this was likely to prove, though short, as severe as any in +which they had fought. + +The crews were piped to breakfast as usual. It was quickly got over, +and then every man went to his gun and stood ready for the fight. At +nine o'clock the first shot was fired, and the _Aeolus_, ranging up +alongside the brave Thurot's ship, hotly engaged her. The battle lasted +for upwards of an hour, the English firing with a rapidity which told +fearfully on their enemies. + +The _Blonde_ and _Terpsichore_ at length struck their colours, but +Thurot held out to the last. The _Aeolus_, discharging another +broadside, ran her aboard, when grappling-irons were secured and the +boarders called away, led by Norman Foley and Gerald Tracy. Her deck +already presented the appearance of a perfect shambles, so many of her +crew lay dead and dying in all directions. A determined band still held +out, headed by an officer who, by his shouts and gestures, encouraged +his men to fight till the last. Gerald at first supposed that he must +be Thurot, but a second look convinced him that he was a much taller and +darker man. Just as the British crew sprang on board a rifle bullet +struck him on the chest, and, throwing up his sword-arm, he fell +backward on the deck, when the rest of the crew, retreating, shouted out +that they yielded. One of the men aft immediately hauled down the +French flag. + +Among the slain was Thurot, who had been struck down just before the +ship got alongside. + +Gerald then approached the officer he had seen killed. A glance +convinced him that he was no other than O'Harrall. This was confirmed +by Tim Maloney, who had joined the _Aeolus_ with him, and corroborated +by some of the French prisoners, who stated that he had only a short +time before come on board the ship, having lately arrived from the West +Indies. + +"This will not be unsatisfactory news to Owen Massey," observed Gerald +to Norman Foley. "It is my belief that he is the last of the +O'Harralls, and Owen will have a good chance of recovering the property +of which they so unjustly deprived his family." + +The prizes were towed into Ramsay Bay, in the Isle of Man, for the brave +Thurot's ship had not struck until her hold was half full of water, and +she was in an almost sinking state. + +The French commodore was buried with the honours due to a gallant foe, +and many who had formerly known him mourned his fate. + +The _Aeolus_ being paid off, Lieutenant Foley obtained his commander's +rank. When the war was over his young wife would not allow him again to +go to sea. + +Gerald stuck to the service and became an admiral. + +Owen Massey, having regained his paternal property, remained on shore, +although he joined the representative crew of "The Ouzel Galley," of +which for many years he held the honourable post of captain. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Missing Ship, by W. H. G. 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