diff options
Diffstat (limited to '21476.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 21476.txt | 10741 |
1 files changed, 10741 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/21476.txt b/21476.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..92da0b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/21476.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10741 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Salt Water, 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: Salt Water + The Sea Life and Adventures of Neil D'Arcy the Midshipman + +Author: W. H. G. Kingston + +Illustrator: C. J. de Lacey + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21476] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SALT WATER *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Salt Water, The Sea Life and Adventures of Neil D'Arcy the Midshipman, +By W H G Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +One interesting feature of this book is that it must have been one of +the earliest to be written by Kingston. It does not appear that there +was another edition for sixty years, by which time the author had been +dead for 35 years. + +It is also a very good book of his genre, with lots of battle, murder, +and sudden death. It deals with the adventures of a young boy who joins +the Royal Navy as a midshipman in the care of his uncle. Most of the +action takes place in the Mediterranean, even so far as the Ionian sea, +where he visits Zante (now called Zakynthos), Cephalonia, and even +Corfu. + +Of course practically everybody appearing in the book is slain, except +the young hero, who survives all. + +If you want to read, or listen to, a rattling good yarn, try this one. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +SALT WATER, THE SEA LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NEIL D'ARCY THE MIDSHIPMAN, +BY W H G KINGSTON. + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +NEIL D'ARCY'S LIFE AT SEA. + +MY ANCESTORS--LARRY HARRIGAN, AND MY EARLY EDUCATION--CHOICE OF A +PROFESSION--FIRST START IN LIFE. + +"The sea, the sea," if not my mother, has been my nurse (and anything +but a dry one) from the earliest days of my recollection. I was born +within the sound of old ocean's surges; I dabbled in salt water before I +could run; and I have floated on salt water, and have been well +sprinkled with it too, from that time to the present. It never occurred +to me, indeed, that I could be anything but a sailor. In my innocence, +I pictured a life on the ocean wave as the happiest allowed to mortals; +and little did I wot of all the bumpings and thumpings, the blows and +the buffetings, I was destined to endure in the course of it. Yet, even +had I expected them, I feel very certain they would not have changed my +wishes. No, no. I was mightily mistaken with regard to the romance of +the thing, I own; but had I to begin life again, with all its dangers +and hardships, still I would choose the ocean for my home--the glorious +navy of England for my profession. + +But now for my antecedents. I will not trouble the reader with many of +them. I was born at the family seat in the south of Ireland. My mother +died while I was very young, and my father, Colonel D'Arcy, who had seen +much service in the army and had been severely wounded, after a +lingering illness, followed her to the grave. During this time I was +committed to the charge of Larry Harrigan, the butler and family +factotum; and, in truth, I desired no better companion, for well did I +love the old man. He was a seaman every inch of him, from his cherished +pigtail to the end of the timber toe on which he had long stumped +through the world. He had been coxswain to my maternal grandfather, a +captain in the navy, who was killed in action. Larry had gone to sea +with him as a lad, and they had seldom been separated. A few minutes +before his commander, in the moment of victory, lost his life, Larry had +his leg shot away; and on being paid off, he repaired to where my +mother's family were residing. When my father married, he offered the +old seaman an asylum beneath his roof. He certainly did not eat the +bread of idleness there, for no one about the place was more generally +useful. There was nothing he could not do or make, and in spite of his +loss of a limb, he was as active as most people possessed with the usual +complement of supporters. + +Larry had loved my mother as his own child, and for her sake he loved me +more than anything else on earth. As he considered it a part of his +duty to instruct me in his own accomplishments, which being chiefly of a +professional character, I at a very early age became thoroughly +initiated in the mysteries of knotting, bending, and splicing, and +similar nautical arts. I could point a rope, work a Turk's-head, or +turn in an eye, as well as many an A.B. Not content with this, he built +me a model of a ship, with her rigging complete. He then set to work to +teach me the names of every rope and spar; and when I knew them and +their uses, he unrigged the ship and made me rig her again under his +inspection. This I did several times, till he considered I was perfect. +He next bought fresh stuff for a new suit of rigging, and made me cut +it into proper lengths and turn it all in correctly before I set it up. + +"Now you see, Master Neil," said he, "we've just got the lovely _Psyche_ +out of the hands of the shipwrights, and it's our duty to get the +rigging over her mastheads, and fit her for sea as fast as the work can +be done; so let's see how soon we can do the job." + +Such were our indoor amusements, and thus I rapidly acquired an amount +of knowledge which most midshipmen take a long time to get stowed away +in their heads. Larry also used to take me out on the waters of the +bay, and taught me to row and to manage the sails of a small boat with +tolerable dexterity. I learned also to swim; and had it not been for my +possession of that art, I should probably long ago have been food for +fishes. And here I must endeavour strongly to impress on the minds of +my young readers the importance of learning to swim well; for not only +may they thus be enabled to save their own lives, but they may have the +happiness of preserving those of their fellow-creatures. + +While my poor father lived, he attended to the more intellectual +branches of my education. My mother taught me to read, and for her sake +I loved reading. She also instilled those religious principles into me +which have been my support through life. Short and fleeting as was the +time she remained on earth, inestimable were the blessings she bestowed +on me. Whatever of the milk of human kindness flows round my heart, +from her gentle bosom I drew it forth; and surely I do not err when I +believe that her earnest prayers before the throne of mercy have caused +watchful spirits to shield me from the perils of the stormy ocean, and +from still greater dangers, the treacherous quicksands and dark rocks +which have laid in my course through life. + +I was ten years old before it occurred to any one that a little of the +discipline of a school might be beneficial to me, to prepare me somewhat +better than I could be prepared at home to rough it in the rude world +into which I was ere long to be plunged. To the academy, therefore, of +a certain Doctor Studdert, near Cork, I was sent, where I contrived to +pick up a few crumbs of knowledge and some experience of life. I had no +great dislike to school, but liked home much better; and no one sung-- + + "Packing up and going away, + All for the sake of a holiday," + +more joyously than did I when my first midsummer holiday came round. + +Larry was on the watch for me as I jumped out of the carriage which had +been sent over to Kerry to meet me. The old seaman had expected me to +come back a prodigy of learning; but was horrified to discover that I +was puzzled how to make a carrick-bend, and had nearly forgotten the +length of the _Psyche's_ main-top bowline. + +"And that's what the Doctor calls schooling, does he, Master Neil?" he +exclaimed, indignantly. "Now I'll make bold to say that among all the +bigwigs he has under him, including himself, there isn't one on 'em +knows how to gammon a bowsprit or turn in a dead-eye. Now, to my mind, +if they can't give you more larning than you've got since you've been +away, you'd better stop at home altogether." + +I agreed with Larry, but the higher authorities ruled otherwise; so back +to school I went at the end of the holidays, having regained all the +nautical knowledge I before possessed, with a little in addition. + +I will pass over the sad time of my brave father's death. I was left to +the guardianship of my uncle, Counsellor D'Arcy, the great Dublin +barrister, and of Doctor Driscoll. I was removed to the house of the +latter, with poor Larry, who threatened to do all sorts of dreadful +deeds, if he were not allowed to accompany me. My patrimony, which had +become somewhat attenuated, was in the meantime put out to nurse. I was +rather surprised at not being sent back to school, when one day the +Doctor, as he sat cross-legged before the fire after dinner, rubbing his +shins, called me to him. + +"Neil, my boy, your uncle, Counsellor D'Arcy, has requested me to speak +to you on a very important subject. It is time, he thinks, that your +studies should be directed to fit you for the profession you may select. +What would you wish to be, now? Have you ever thought on the matter? +Would you like to follow his steps, and study the law; or those of your +honoured father, and enter the army; or those of your grandfather, and +go to sea; or would you like to become a merchant, or a clergyman; or +what do you say to the practice of medicine?" + +"That I would never take a drop, if I could help it, Doctor; or give it +to others either," I answered. "I fear that I should make a bad +minister, and a worse merchant; and as for the law, I would not change +places with the Counsellor himself, if he were to ask me. I should have +no objection to the army; but if I'm to choose my profession, I'll go to +sea, by all means. I've no fancy for any but a sea life; but I'll just +go and talk the matter over with Larry, and hear what he thinks about +it." + +The Doctor said nothing. He considered, I conclude, that he had obeyed +my uncle's wishes in proposing the matter to me, and his conscience was +at rest. I forthwith ran off and broached the subject to Larry; not +that I doubted what his advice would be. The old seaman gave a hitch to +the waistband of his trousers, as he replied, with no little animation-- + +"Why, you see, Master Neil, to my mind there's only one calling which a +man, who is anything of a man, would wish to follow. The others are all +very well in their way: the parsons, and the soldiers, and the +big-wigged lawyers, and the merchants, and the doctors, and the +`'plomatics'--them who goes abroad to desave the furriners, and takes up +so much room and gives themselves such airs aboard ship; but what, just +let me ax, is the best on 'em when you puts him alongside a right +honest, thorough-bred seaman? What's the proudest on 'em, when it comes +to blow half a capful of wind? What's the boldest on 'em in a dark +night, on a lee shore? Not one on 'em is worth that!" and he snapped +his fingers to show his contempt for landsmen of every degree. "On +course, Master Neil, dear, you'll be a seaman. With my will, the navy +is the only calling your blessed mother's son should follow. Your +grandfather died in it, and your great-grandfather before him; and I +hope to see you in command of one of His Majesty's ships before I die-- +that I do. But I was forgetting that you were growing so big, and that +you would be going off to sea so soon," continued the old man, in an +altered tone. "You'll remember, for his sake, all the lessons Larry +gave you, Master Neil? And you'll think of your old friend sometimes in +a night watch, won't you, now?" + +I assured him that I would often think of him, and try not to forget any +of his lessons. I then went back to the Doctor, to inform him that +Larry agreed with me that the navy was the only profession likely to +suit me. + +My future calling being thus speedily settled, Doctor Driscoll, who was +aware that knowledge would not come by intuition, sent me to an old +master in the navy, who fortunately resided in the neighbourhood, to be +instructed in the rudiments of navigation. As I was as wide awake as +most youngsters of my age, I very soon gained a fair insight into its +mysteries; and by the time the spring came round, I was pronounced fit +for duty. + +A brother of my mother's, who commanded a large revenue cutter on the +south coast of England, having been applied to for advice by the Doctor, +answered by the following short note:-- + +"Dear Sir,--I'll make a seaman of Neil, with all my heart, if you will +send him across to Portsmouth. Let him inquire for me at the `Star and +Garter.' Should I be away on a cruise, I will leave word with the +landlady what is to be done with him. My craft is the _Serpent_. + +"I remain, faithfully yours,-- + +"Terence O'Flaherty." + +"What! send the child all the way over to Portsmouth by himself!" +exclaimed good Mrs Driscoll, the Doctor's wife, on hearing the contents +of this epistle. "Why, he might be spirited off to the Plantations or +the Black Hole of Calcutta, and we never hear any more about him. What +could Mr O'Flaherty be thinking about?" + +"That his nephew is about to be an officer in His Majesty's service, and +that the sooner he learns to take care of himself, the better," replied +the Doctor. + +"Let him begin, then, by slow degrees, as birds are taught to fly," +urged the kind dame. "He has never been out of the nest yet, except to +school, when he was put in charge of the coachman, like a parcel." + +"He will find his way safe enough," muttered the Doctor. "Won't you, +Neil?" + +To speak the truth, I would gladly have undertaken to find my way to +Timbuctoo, or the Antipodes, by myself; but I had just formed a plan +which I was afraid might be frustrated, had I agreed with the Doctor. I +therefore answered, "I'll go and ask Larry;" and without waiting for any +further observations, off I ran, to put it in train. It was, that Larry +should accompany me to Portsmouth; and I had also a notion that he might +be able to go to sea with me. He was delighted with my plan, and +backing Mrs Driscoll's objections to my being sent alone, it was +finally arranged that he should take charge of me till he had handed me +over to my uncle. Such parts of my outfit as could be manufactured at +home, Mrs Driscoll got ready for me, and Larry was empowered to procure +the rest for me at Portsmouth. + +I confess that I did not shed a tear or cast a look of regret at my +birthplace; but with a heart as light as a skylark taking his morning +flight, I mounted alongside Larry on the top of the coach bound for +Dublin. While in that city we saw my uncle, the Counsellor. I do not +remember profiting much by the visit. He, however, shook me kindly by +the hand, and wishing me every success, charged Larry to take care of +me. + +"Arrah!" muttered the old man as we walked away, "his honour, sure, +would be after telling a hen to take care of her chickens now." + +In London we put up at an inn at the west end, near Exeter 'Change; and +while dinner was getting ready, we went to see the wild beasts which +dwelt there in those days. I thought London a very smoky, dismal city, +and that is all I can remember about it. + +Larry was rigged for the journey in a suit of black; and though he would +have been known, however dressed, by every one for a seaman, he was +always taken for an officer of the old school, and was treated +accordingly with becoming respect. Indeed, there was an expression of +mild firmness and of unassuming self-confidence in his countenance, +added to his silvery locks and his handsome though weather-beaten +features, which commanded it. + +We spent only one night in London; and by five o'clock in the afternoon +of the day we left it we were rattling down the High Street of +Portsmouth, on the top of the fast coach, while the guard played "See +the Conquering Hero Comes"--which I had some notion he did in compliment +to me. + +I thought Portsmouth a much nicer place than London (in which idea some +people, perhaps, will not agree with me); while I looked upon the "Star +and Garter," where we stopped, as a very fine hotel, though not equal in +dignity to the "George." My chest, made under Larry's superintendence, +showed that its owner was destined for the sea. Taking my hand, Larry +stumped up the passage, following the said chest and the bag which +contained his wardrobe. + +"What ship has your son come to join?" asked good Mrs Timmins, the +landlady, curtseying, as she encountered us. + +"Faith, marm, it's not after being the son of the likes of me is Master +D'Arcy here," he answered, pleased at the same time at the dignity thus +conferred on him. "This is the nephew, marm, of Lieutenant O'Flaherty +of His Majesty's cutter, the _Serpent_; and I'll make bold to ax whether +she's in the harbour, and what directions the Lieutenant has left about +his nephew?" + +"Oh dear, now, the cutter sailed this very morning for the westward," +answered the landlady; "that is unfortunate! And so this young +gentleman is Lieutenant O'Flaherty's nephew. Well, then, we must take +good care of him, as she won't be back for a week; and you know, mister, +you needn't trouble yourself more about him." + +"Faith, marm, it's not I will be after leaving the young master till I +see him safe in his uncle's hands," answered Larry, with a rap on his +thigh. "So I'll just trouble you to give us a room with a couple of +beds in it, and we'll take up our quarters here till the cutter comes +back." + +This arrangement of course pleased the worthy Mrs Timmins, as she got +two guests instead of one; and I thus found myself established for a +week at Portsmouth. Having selected our chamber, we went into the +coffee-room and ordered dinner. There were several youngsters there, +and other junior officers of the profession, for the "Star and Garter" +was at that time more frequented than the far-famed "Blue Posts." At +first some of the younger portion of the guests were a little inclined +to look superciliously at Larry and me; but he stuck out his timber toe, +and returned their glances with such calm independence, that they soon +suspected he was not made of the stuff to laugh at; and they then showed +an evident disposition to enter into conversation with him to discover +who he could be. This, for my sake, he did not wish them to do; for, as +he was to act the part of guardian, he thought it incumbent on him to +keep up his dignity. + +We passed, to me, a very interesting time at Portsmouth. We constantly +visited the dockyard, which was my delight. He took me over the +_Victory_, and showed me the spot where Nelson fell; and with old +associations many a tale and anecdote which, long since forgotten, now +returned to his memory, he poured into my eager ear. + +Some people declare, and naval men even do so, that there's no romance +in a seafaring life--that it's all hard, dirty, slaving work, without +anything to repay one, except prize-money in war time and promotion in +peace. Now, to my mind, there's a great deal of romance and chivalry +and excitement, and ample recompense in the life itself; and this Larry, +who ought to have known, for he had seen plenty of hard service, had +himself discovered. It is that some do not know where to look for the +romance, and if found, cannot appreciate it. The stern realities of a +sea life--its hardships, its dangers, its battles, its fierce contests +with the elements, its triumphs over difficulties--afford to some souls +a pleasure which ignobler ones cannot feel: I trust that my adventures +will explain what I mean. For my own part, I can say that oftentimes +have I enjoyed that intense pleasure, that joyous enthusiasm, that high +excitement, which not only recompenses one for the toil and hardships by +which it is won, but truly makes them as nothing in comparison to the +former. All I can say is, let me go through the world sharing the rough +and the smooth alike--the storms and sunshine of life; but save me from +the stagnant existence of the man who sleeps on a feather bed and always +keeps out of danger. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +DON THE TRUE BLUE--ROMANCE OF THE SEA--LARRY AND HIS WIFE. + +My uniform was to be made at Portsmouth. Of course I felt myself not a +little important, and very fine, as I put it on for, the first time, and +looked at myself in the glass, with my dirk buckled to my side, and a +round hat with a cockade in it on my head. We were sitting in the +coffee-room, waiting for dinner, on that eventful day, when a number of +youngsters belonging to a line-of-battle ship came into the inn. They +had not been there long, when the shiny look of my new clothes, and the +way I kept handling my dirk, unable to help looking down at it, +attracted the attention of one of them. + +"That's a sucking Nelson," he exclaimed, "I'll bet a sixpence!" + +"Hillo, youngster! to what ship do you belong?" asked another, looking +hard at me. + +"To the _Serpent_ cutter," I answered, not quite liking the tone in +which he spoke. + +"And so you are a cutter's midshipman, are you?" he asked. "And how is +it you are not on board, I should like to know?" + +I told him that the cutter was away, and that I was waiting for her +return. + +"Then I presume that you haven't been to sea at all yet?" observed the +first who had spoken, in a bland tone, winking at his shipmates, with +the intention of trotting me out. + +I answered simply that I had not. Larry, I must observe, all the time +was sitting silent, and pretending not to take any notice of them, so +that they did not suspect we belonged to each other. + +"Poor boy, I pity you," observed the young gentleman, gravely, and +turning up his eyes. "I'd advise you seriously to go back to your +mamma. You've no idea of all the difficult things you'll have to learn; +of which, how to hand, reef, and steer isn't the hundredth part." + +"In the first place, I have not a mamma to go to," I replied, in an +indignant tone; for I did not like his mentioning her, even. "And +perhaps I know more about a ship than you think of." + +"You! what should you know about a ship, I should like to know?" +exclaimed the midshipman, contemptuously. + +"Why, I know how to gammon a bowsprit," I replied, looking at him very +hard. "I can work a Turk's-head, make a lizard, or mouse a stay--can't +I, Larry?" I asked, turning to the old sailor. "And as for steering, +I've steered round Kilkee Bay scores of times, before you knew how to +handle an oar, I'll be bound--haven't I, Larry?" + +The old man, thus appealed to, looked up and spoke. "Faith, you may +well say that same, Master Neil; and proud am I to have taught you. And +I'll just tell you, young gentlemen, I'll lay a gold guinea that Master +D'Arcy here would get the rigging over the mastheads of a ship, and fit +her for sea, while either of you were looking at them, and thinking how +you were to sway up the topmasts. No offence, you know; but as for +gammoning--I don't think any one would beat you there." + +Several of the midshipmen muttered murmurs of applause at what Larry and +I had said, and in a very short time we were all excellent friends, and +as intimate as if we were shipmates together. They at once respected +him, for they could not help recognising him as a true sailor; and they +also saw that, young and inexperienced as I appeared, I was not quite as +green as they had at first supposed. And we all parted excellent +friends. + +We had been waiting some time at the "Star and Garter," and there were +no signs of the _Serpent_, and from the information Larry gained from +those who were likely to know, he was led to believe that several days +more might elapse before her return; so he proposed that we should look +out for lodgings, as more economical, and altogether pleasanter. I +willingly agreed to his plan, so out we set in search of them. We saw +several which did not suit us. At last we went to Southsea, which we +agreed would be more airy and pleasant; and seeing a bill up at a very +neat little house, we knocked at the door, and were admitted. There was +a nice sitting-room and bed-room, and a small room which Larry said +would do for him. The landlady, who was a pleasant-looking, buxom dame, +asked only fifteen shillings a week, including doing for us; so we +agreed to take it. By some chance we did not inquire her name. + +"Good-bye, Missis," said Larry. "I'll send the young gentleman's traps +here in half an hour, and leave him mean time as security. I suppose +you'll have no objection to stay, Master D'Arcy?" he added, turning to +me. + +I had none, of course, and so it was arranged. While Larry was gone, +the good lady took me into the sitting-room, and begging me to make +myself at home, was very inquisitive to know all about me. I had no +reason for not gratifying her, so I told her how my mother and then my +father had died and left me an orphan, and how I had come all the way +from Kerry to Portsmouth, and how I belonged to a cutter which I had not +yet seen, and how I intended one day to become a Nelson or a +Collingwood. Of my resolution the kind lady much approved. + +"Ah, my good, dear man, if he had lived, would have become a captain +also; but he went to sea and died, and I never from that day to this +heard any more of him," said she, wiping the corner of her eye with her +apron, more from old habit than because there were any tears to dry up, +for she certainly was not crying. "Those things on the mantel-piece +there were some he brought me home years and years ago, when he was a +gay young sailor; and I've kept them ever since, for his sake, though +I've been hard pushed at times to find bread to put into my mouth, young +gentleman." + +The things she spoke of were such as are to be found in the +sitting-rooms of most sailors' wives. There were elephants' teeth, with +figures of men and women carved on them, very cleverly copied from very +coarse prints; and there were shells of many shapes, and lumps of +corals, and bits of seaweed, with the small model of a ship, very much +battered, and her yards scandalised, as if to mourn for her builder's +loss. She was placed on a stand covered with small shells, and at +either end were bunches of shell flowers, doubtlessly very tasteful +according to the widow's idea. The room was hung round with coloured +prints, which even then I did not think very well executed. One was a +sailor returning from a voyage, with bags of gold at his back and +sticking out of his pockets. I wondered whether I should come back in +that way; but as I did not know the value of money, there was nothing +very exciting in it to me. There were two under which was written "The +lover's meeting." In both cases the lady was dressed extravagantly +fine, with a bonnet and very broad ribbons; and the lover had on the +widest trousers I ever saw. Another represented a lady watching for her +lover, whose ship was seen in the distance; and one more I remember was +a seaman cast upon the shore, with a female bending over him; while +there were several pictures of ships, some of which were on the tops of +waves running truly mountains high, and curling over in a very terrific +way indeed. I had time to inspect all these things while my landlady +was getting my bed-room ready. I had not dined; and when Larry, who was +rather longer than I had expected, returned, I found that he had +purchased all sorts of necessary provisions, and that they only wanted +cooking for me to eat them. While he laid the cloth, the landlady +performed the office of cook; and in a little time a very nice dinner of +veal cutlets, ham, and fried potatoes made its appearance. When Larry +had nothing to do but to look about him, I observed him fix his eyes in +a strange sort of way on the model of the ship, and then at the shells +and the other things in the room. At last he turned to the landlady. + +"Please, marm," said he, "where did you get all them things from?" + +"Oh, sir," answered the landlady, "they were given to me by my poor dear +man, who has been dead and gone this many a long year." + +"May I be bold to ask, and no offence, what is your name, marm?" said +Larry. + +"My husband was an Irishman, like you, and my name is Harrigan," +answered the landlady, who held at the moment a jug of beer, from which +she was going to pour me out a tumblerful. + +"Faith, you may well say that he was like me, marm, for, curious enough, +that's my name too," answered Larry. + +"Your name!" exclaimed the landlady, standing still and looking +doubtfully at him. + +"Yes, my name--it is, indeed," said Larry. "And may I ask what is your +Christian name, marm?" + +"Jane is my name, and yours is Lawrence!" shrieked Mrs Harrigan, +letting fall the jug of beer, which was smashed to pieces, and rushing +towards him. + +"By the pipers, you're right now; but if you're yourself--my own Jane +Harrigan, whom I thought dead and buried, or married long ago to another +man, it's the happiest day of my life that I've seen for a long time," +cried Larry, throwing his arms round her and giving her a hug which I +thought would have squeezed all the breath out of her body. + +I looked up at the pictures on the wall, and fancied he was imitating +one of the persons there represented; though, to be sure, my friends +were rather aged lovers. + +"And I thought you were lost at sea long, long ago," cried Mrs +Harrigan, now sobbing in earnest. + +"Faith, so I was, Jane, and it's a long time I've been being found +again," said Larry; "and how we've both come to life again is more than +I can tell." + +"Oh, I never forgot you, and wouldn't listen to what any other man had +to say to me," said Mrs Harrigan. + +"Nor I, faith, what the girls said to me," returned Larry. "But for the +matter of that, my timber toe wasn't much to their liking." + +"I see, Larry, you've lost your leg since I lost you, and it was that +puzzled me, or I should have known you at once--that I should," observed +Mrs Harrigan, giving him an affectionate kiss on his rough cheek. + +They did not mind me at all, and went on talking away as if I was not in +the room, which was very amusing. + +Larry afterwards confessed to me that he should not have recognised his +wife, for when he went to sea and left her for the last time, she was a +slim, pretty young woman; and though she was certainly not uncomely, no +one could accuse her of not having flesh enough. Larry, as many another +sailor has done, had married at the end of a very short courtship, his +wife, then a nursery-maid in an officer's family at Portsmouth; and a +few weeks afterwards he had been pressed and sent out to the East +Indies. While there, he had been drafted into another ship, and the +ship in which he had left home had been lost with all hands. Of this +event his wife became acquainted, and having come from an inland county, +and not knowing how to gain further information about him, she had +returned to her parents in the country. They died, and she went again +into service. + +Meantime, Larry, having lost his leg, came home, and notwithstanding all +his inquiries, he could gain no tidings of her. At last he came to the +conclusion that she must have married again, probably another sailor, +and gone away with him--no uncommon occurrence in those days; so he +philosophically determined to think no more about her, but to return to +the land of his birth to end his days. + +She had gone through the usual vicissitudes of an unprotected female, +and at last returned to Portsmouth with a family in whose service she +acted as nurse. Here, having saved up a little money, she determined to +settle as a lodging-house keeper, and she had taken the house in which +we found her. + +This event, caused me very great satisfaction, for it had occurred to me +that Larry would find himself very forlorn going back to Ireland without +me to look after, and no one to care about; and now, instead, he would +have a good wife, and a comfortable house to live in. She also would be +the gainer, for he had saved some money when in our service; and as he +was a sober, temperate man, he would be able to assist her very much in +her business. On my own account also I was very glad, because I should +now have many opportunities of seeing him whenever I returned to +Portsmouth. + +Several days passed away after this, during which time I must say no one +could have taken better care of me than did good Mrs Harrigan; and I +felt convinced that my old friend would likewise be well looked after +during my absence. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +LIEUTENANT O'FLAHERTY--MY SHIP AND SHIPMATES--THE PILOT'S BOAT--RESULTS +OF DRUNKENNESS--MY FIRST COMMAND. + +One day, on going with Larry, according to custom, to the "Star and +Garter" to learn tidings of the cutter, I saw a fine sailorlike-looking +man, with an intelligent and good-humoured expression of countenance, +talking to the landlady. + +"There's the young gentleman himself," she exclaimed, pointing at me. + +"What, my lad, are you indeed my nephew?" said the officer, kindly, +putting out his hand and pressing mine warmly. "Faith, I needn't ask +that, though; you are the very picture of your poor mother. Well, Neil, +the sooner you get on board and begin learning your duty, the better." + +I answered that I was perfectly ready, for I at once took a great fancy +to him, and thought I should be very happy in the cutter. + +He now observed Larry for the first time. + +"What! old shipmate," he exclaimed, shaking him warmly by the hand, "are +you the trustworthy person Dr Driscoll told me he would send to look +after the youngster? I'm delighted to see you again, and wish I could +give you a berth on board my craft, but I'm afraid the service won't +permit that. You must, however, come and take a cruise with us, and +talk over old times." + +"Faith, your honour, I'm not much fit for duty, I own, with my timber +toe, afloat, and I've just found a snug berth on shore, which I intend +to keep till Master D'Arcy settles down in the halls of his fathers, and +wants my services; but I'll gladly take a cruise with your honour, and +just see how he practises all I've taught him. You'll find him in a few +days, I'll warrant, as smart a seaman as many who've been two or three +years afloat." + +To make a long story short, while Larry remained on shore with his +new-found wife, I went on board the cutter; and the following day we ran +out of harbour, round by Saint Helen's, and stood down Channel in search +of a smuggling craft, of whose movements the Commander had received +notice. + +I found my uncle, on further acquaintance, to be what his looks +betokened him, a thoroughly honest, hearty sailor. His first officer +was a very old mate who had long given up all hopes of promotion in the +service. He was married; and his wife and family lived near Portsmouth. +His name was John Hanks. There was a second master and a clerk in +charge; so that, for a cutter, we made up an unusually large mess. We +had no surgeon, as we could always run into harbour if any of us +required doctoring. + +My uncle, who was a poor man, had taken the command of the cutter for +the sake of his wife and family; and when I came to know my sweet young +aunt, I felt, with her smiles to welcome him when he got home, +Lieutenant O'Flaherty was a happier man far than many who roll in their +easy carriages about the streets of smoky London. + +Mrs O'Flaherty, with the two children she then had, lived in a pretty +little cottage near Ryde, where he was able every now and then to go and +see her. Of course he was never wanting in an excuse, when duty would +allow him, to be off Ryde; and on one of these occasions he first +introduced me to his wife. I loved her at once, for she was a +thoroughly genuine, graceful woman, young and pretty, with a kind, warm +heart, and a sweet expression of countenance, which her character did +not belie. My little cousins and I also became great friends, and I +confess that I felt I would much rather stay with her than have to go to +sea and knock about in all weathers in the cutter; but duty sent us both +on board again, and it was a long time before I had another opportunity +of paying a visit to Daisy Cottage. + +But I have been going ahead of my narrative. + +We were standing down Channel in the _Serpent_. Our cruising ground was +chiefly from Saint Helen's to the Start; but we were liable to be sent +elsewhere, or might go wherever our Commander had notice there was a +chance of catching a smuggler. + +We had been out some days, keeping a sharp look-out off Portland Point +for a noted fellow, Myers by name, the owner of a fast lugger, the +_Kitty_, who was expected to try and run a cargo of tubs in that +neighbourhood. + +The smugglers played us all sorts of tricks, and I must own we were more +than once taken in by them. On one occasion, while it was blowing very +fresh, a cutter hailed us and told us that she had just passed over a +number of tubs, pointing out the direction where we should find them. +While we were engaged in picking them up, she made sail for the shore; +and we afterwards learned, to our mortification, that she had run a very +large cargo of contraband goods. + +Thanks to Larry's instructions, as I was very handy in a boat, and +understood the duties of a midshipman tolerably well, I was, to my great +delight, soon placed in charge of one of the gigs. + +A few days after the occurrence I have described, when we were about mid +Channel, we observed a vessel whose appearance was suspicious. It had +just gone two bells, in the forenoon watch. It was blowing pretty fresh +from the south-west, and there was a lop of a sea, but not enough to +endanger a boat. We made sail towards the stranger, and as we neared +her we perceived that she was veering about, apparently under no +control. + +"Her main-boom has gone," observed Hanks, "and there doesn't seem to be +a soul on deck; her crew have been knocked or washed overboard, I +suspect." + +"I am afraid so," said the Commander. "She looks to me like a +pilot-boat. She was probably struck by a squall, with only a couple of +hands left in her." + +"Lubberly work somehow, at all events," remarked Hanks. + +In another ten minutes we were close to the pilot-boat, and the cutter +being hove-to, a boat was lowered, and Hanks and I were ordered to go in +her and see what was the matter. When we gained the deck, we found that +the boom had knocked away part of the bulwarks and companion-hatch, and +committed other damage. The first thing we did was to lower down the +mainsail and to secure the boom, which task, after some difficulty, we +accomplished. We next set about searching the vessel, thinking that no +one was on board. The main hatch was on, but there was a little cabin +aft, with a small stove in it, and six berths, in which the crew lived. +There was a table in the cabin, and on it were a couple of tumblers, a +thick-necked, square-sided glass bottle, on its side, a broken pipe, and +wet marks, and ashes of tobacco, as if people had very lately been +drinking there. + +"What's wrong here?" said Hanks. "It could not have been long ago since +some one was on board." + +Our eyes soon began to get accustomed to the sombre light of the cabin, +which was darkened by the mainsail hanging over it. I happened to stoop +down, and my eyes glanced under the table, where we had not before +looked. + +"Hillo," I exclaimed, "why here are a man's legs." + +"There seems to be two brace of them," said Hanks, laughing. "Come out, +my hearties, and give an account of yourselves." + +Saying this, he began to drag towards the companion-ladder one of the +men; I following his example with regard to the other. + +"Why, Jim, we ain't got in yet; so let us alone, will ye," grunted out +one, as he turned on his side, without opening his eyes. + +The other was too drunk to speak; indeed, had we not loosened his +neckcloth, I believe he would have died of apoplexy, for he was already +getting black in the face. We placed them near the companion-ladder, +where they could obtain some air; and then, getting off the main hatch, +we proceeded to search the vessel. In the hold were several casks of +French brandy, immensely strong spirit, intended to be diluted before +being sold. From one of these the crew had evidently been helping +themselves, and not being accustomed to so potent a liquid, fancying it +of the ordinary strength, it had overcome their senses before they were +aware of what was happening to them. We found, also, Dutch drops, +several bales of tobacco, and sundry other things, amply sufficient to +condemn the craft as a smuggler, but which also proved that it was an +unusual venture, and that the people were not adepts in the contraband +trade. We searched the vessel throughout, but no one else was +discovered. + +"Who, then, could Jim be?" we asked ourselves. + +The drunken men were still too fast locked in a state of stupor to +answer. When nothing more could be done, Hanks sent me back to the +cutter, to report proceedings, hoping to be ordered to take the prize in +himself. + +When I had made my report, "Very well," said the Commander, "I wish to +try what amount of discretion you possess, Neil; so you shall take the +prize up to Portsmouth, and deliver her and the people over to the +proper authorities. Take Thole and four hands with you. Look out that +the prisoners do not escape, and I dare say you will do well. I shall +be up at Portsmouth in a day or so, to take you off. Now get on board, +and assume your command as fast as you like. Send Mr Hanks on board +again." + +A change of things was soon put up in a bundle, and I and it bundled on +board the prize. + +"And so you are to go, youngster, are you?" remarked Hanks, as I got on +board. "It's all my ill luck, for I thought to go myself; but good-bye, +youngster, and a pleasant trip to you." + +Saying this, he stepped into the boat alongside, and returned to the +cutter, leaving me in possession of my new-fledged honours. The +pilot-boat belonged to some place on the Dorsetshire coast, and had +drifted up off Saint Alban's Head, where we found her. The Needles were +just in sight ahead, or rather the end of the Isle of Wight, off which +they extend, so it seemed an easy matter to run in; but I suspect, +without Thole I should have made some slight mistake or other, which +might have laid my charge on the rocks. Thole showed me the proper +marks, and by keeping the two lighthouses on Hurst Point in one, we ran +in between the Needles and the shoal of the shingles. I felt very +grand, as I walked the deck with my spy-glass under my arm, and watched +the chalk-white cliffs of Alum Bay rising high above us on the right, +and the curiously-coloured strata of sand at the eastern end of it, the +wood-covered heights of Freshwater, and the little town of Yarmouth; on +the left, the old castle of Hurst, and the long extent of the forest +shores of Hampshire, with the picturesque town of Lymington rising among +the green trees and green fields. I had, I confess, a feeling--grand as +I had to appear--that I knew less than anybody else on board about +affairs nautical; but modesty is the frequent companion of merit, and +though I was very little, I might have been remarkably good. + +By this time one of the prisoners began to come to himself, and his +astonishment was only equalled by his alarm when, on sitting up and +rubbing his eyes, he found himself surrounded by strange faces, and +discovered that the craft was running up the Solent Channel. My uniform +at once told him the truth. + +"Where's Jim?" he asked, on seeing only his drunken companion near him. + +"Jim--I don't know who you mean," answered Thole. "If it was any one +you left on deck, master, why, all I can say is, he wasn't there when we +boarded you." + +On hearing this announcement, he started to his feet, instantly throwing +off all appearance of drunkenness, except that his eye was haggard and +his cheek discoloured. He was a man of about fifty, of a stout build +and a weather-beaten, bronzed face, rather full and good-humoured, +certainly not giving one the notion that he was an habitual drunkard. +His hair was somewhat long, and dishevelled and grizzled, from exposure +to the atmosphere. + +"What! Jim not on board?" he exclaimed, rushing on deck. "Where is my +boy--what has happened to him?" + +He stood for a few seconds leaning against the companion-hatch, while +his eye scanned the condition of the vessel, and he seemed instinctively +to comprehend what had happened. + +"Where is Jim?" he repeated, in a hollow voice. + +"I don't know, master," answered one of our men, whom he seemed to +address. "We only found you two below. If there was another of you, he +must have been washed overboard while you lay drunk in the cabin." + +"Drunk!" he ejaculated; "then, my son, I've murdered you." As he +uttered these words he sprang to the side, and would have thrown himself +overboard, had not Thole, who just then came on deck, caught him by the +legs and dragged him forcibly back. The unhappy man struggled violently +in his endeavour to perpetrate his intention. "Jim, Jim, my son! you +gone--gone for ever; how can I go home and face your mother, my boy?" he +cried, his bosom heaving with the passion raging within. Then he turned +frantically to us, swearing oaths too frightful to repeat. "You've been +murdering him, some of you, you bloody-handed king's officers. I know +you of old. It's little you care for the life of a fellow-creature. +Where is he, I say? I left him on deck sound and well, as fine a lad as +ever stepped. How could he have gone overboard? He hadn't touched a +drop; he was as sober as any one of you; but I know how it was, you +chased him and he wouldn't give in--he stood at the helm like a man; so +you, you cowardly hounds, shot him down as if he were a brute. There's +his blood on the deck--the brave lad's blood, and you dabbling your feet +in it--you, his murderers,--and laughing at me, his father." + +Thus the unhappy man went raving on, conjuring up, in his excited +imagination, scenes the most dreadful. Of course we heeded not his +raving abuse, for we pitied him most sincerely. There was now no doubt +that, while the father and his smuggling companion were drunk below, the +son had been knocked overboard. In vain had the voice of the poor lad +implored aid from those whose brutal intoxication prevented them even +from hearing his death-shriek ere he sunk for ever. It was with the +greatest difficulty we could hold the wretched man as we dragged him +below and lashed him into one of the standing bed-places. He there +still continued raving as before, now calling on his son to come to him, +and then accusing us of his murder. His cries and groans at last awoke +the other man out of his drunken trance, but it was some time before he +could comprehend what had happened. He was not a father, and when at +length he came to his senses, he, with brutal indifference abused his +companion for disturbing him. As I stood over the skylight which had +been got off to give air to the little stifling cabin, I heard him growl +out, "Jim's gone, has he? his own fault then, not to keep a better +look-out. It's he, then, who's brought us into this scrape; and I don't +see why you should make such a jaw for what can't be helped. There now, +old man, just belay all that, and let me finish my snooze. We can't +hang for it, you know; there, there, now,"--and he actually turned on +his side and went off to sleep again. At length the father of the +drowned lad wore himself out and fell off, it seemed, into a sort of +stupor. + +"I never knew no good come of smuggling," observed Thole, rather +sententiously. "What they makes they spends as fast as they gets, and +no one's the better for it." + +Nobody had a better right than had he to know this, for he had been +somewhat addicted to the practice in his youth, and had in consequence +been sent on board a man-of-war. The flood and fair wind carried us +right into Portsmouth Harbour, where I dropped my anchor and pulled on +shore to report my arrival to the custom-house authorities. I was in +one respect sorry that my cruise was over, because I was obliged to +descend from my rank as commander to that of midshipman; but as I hoped +some day to regain it, I did not grieve much about it, especially as I +expected to be soon able to set off and pay Larry a visit. The two +smugglers were sent to prison; one afterwards entered on board of a +man-of-war; the unhappy father died raving mad in the hospital, calling +himself the murderer of his son. + +Thus ended what I may consider my first cruise. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +MYERS THE SMUGGLER--I LEARN TO PLAY THE FIDDLE--SMELL GUNPOWDER--ACTION +WITH A LUGGER--LEFT IN THE LURCH. + +The cutter soon after came in, and after seeing my men safe on board +her, I got leave for a day to pay a visit to Larry. On ringing, I heard +him stumping downstairs to open the door. When he saw me, he could +scarcely contain his delight; and forgetting etiquette and all rules and +precedents, he seized me in his arms as if I had been a baby, and almost +squeezed the breath out of my body. Though I had not been away six +weeks, he vowed that I had grown wonderfully, and looked like a man +already. Mrs Harrigan was equally complimentary, and I could not help +feeling myself a person of mighty importance. I was very glad to find +that my old friend was perfectly contented with his wife, and that he +made himself very useful to her, so that there was every prospect of +their being comfortable together. The house was full of lodgers; but +there was a little room which they insisted on my occupying. They +themselves lived in a back parlour, where I spent the evening with them. +I slept at their house, and the next morning returned on board the +cutter. We were ordered to keep an especial look-out for Myers, whose +lugger was reported to have run more cargoes than any free-trader among +the vast numbers engaged in the illicit traffic. She belonged to Beere, +a small town on the Dorsetshire coast, in West Bay. It is a pretty, +quiet little place, and consists of one long, broad street, built in the +centre of a valley reaching close down to the water's edge, with white +cliffs on either side of it. The lugger was often seen off there; but +we could not then touch her, as she was never found with anything in her +to enable us to prove that she was engaged in smuggling. Myers, +whenever on these occasions we paid him a visit, was always the politest +of men; and a stranger might suppose that he had a vast regard for all +king's officers, and for us especially; and yet in reality no man hated +us more cordially, or would more readily have worked us harm. + +Cruising after smugglers is not the noblest work, perhaps, in which one +can be engaged; but it is necessary, not altogether unprofitable, and at +times highly exciting. In the war time, the smugglers had large armed +vessels, which set the king's cruisers at defiance, and seldom failed to +show fight. When I was in the _Serpent_, they were frequently armed; +but their business was to run, and they never fired unless in hopes of +knocking away the spars of a pursuer, or, at the last extremity, to +defend themselves. + +I should be very ungrateful to old Hanks if I omitted to mention his +kindness to me, and the pains he took to give me instruction in my +profession. Among other accomplishments, he taught me one of which he +was not himself a little proud. + +"D'Arcy," said he one day to me, "I've a regard for you, and I'll put +you in the way, my lad, of gaining your bread, should other trades +fail." + +"What is it, Hanks?" I asked. "I am glad to learn anything you will +teach me." + +"It is to perform on the violin, my boy," he answered. "I learned the +art for the reason I mention. I have never yet been called upon to gain +a livelihood by it; but I do not know how soon I may be, if things don't +mend with me." + +"Is it to learn the fiddle you mean?" said I. "Faith, with all my +heart, Hanks; and the sooner I begin then, the better." + +Hanks was delighted at gaining so willing a scholar, though I suspect +our shipmates would rather have had us both securely moored at the +bottom of Fiddler's Race, off Yarmouth. Whenever duty permitted us, our +fiddles were never idle. My performance was not very scientific, +certainly; but I learned to play, after some months' scraping, many a +merry tune, such as would make the men kick up their heels irresistibly +when they heard it. + +"There, D'Arcy," said my kind instructor, at the end of the tune; "now, +my boy, whatever happens, and wherever you go, provided you can save +your arms and your fiddle, you'll be a welcome guest, and will never +want a morsel to put in your mouth." + +I found his words true; and on parting, he gave me one of his two +fiddles, which he valued as much as any piece of property he +possessed.--But I am forestalling events. We had been cruising about +for several days in search of Myers, when one morning at daybreak, we +found ourselves in the midst of a dense fog. It was literally so thick +that one could not see from one end of the cutter to the other. Just +the sort of weather, indeed, when, without unusual care, vessels are apt +to run into each other. There was about wind sufficient to send us +gliding through the water at the rate of three to four knots an hour; +but the sea was perfectly smooth,--kept down, it seemed, by the very +weight of the fog. One hand was stationed forward on the look-out, and +two others on either quarter, to guard against our being run into, or +our running into something else. The wind was about west, and our +whereabouts was as nearly as could be half-way between Portland Bill and +Berry Head. We were all on deck in our thick Flushing coats, for the +fog in its effects was nearly like a shower-bath in regard to wetting +us, and it hung in large drops like heavy dew on many a tarpaulin hat, +bushy whisker, and shaggy jacket; while the sails were stiff and wet as +if it had been raining hard all night. It was not a pleasant morning, +but it might certainly have been very much worse in a hundred ways. We +ran on for a couple of hours, with our main-boom over the larboard +quarter, the tack triced up, and the peak-halyards eased off, for we had +no reason to hurry. It was just about striking five-bells in the +morning-watch, when, as I happened to cast my eyes ahead, I thought I +saw a dark object looming through the mist. The look-out saw her at the +same moment. "A sail on the starboard bow," he sung out in a low +voice--for revenue men learn to be cautious. On hearing this, the +Commander stepped forward, and I followed him. We could just +distinguish through the mist the three sails of a long, low lugger, +standing close-hauled to the northward. + +"By Jupiter, there's the _Kitty_ at last!" exclaimed my uncle, rubbing +his hands. "We'll have her this time, however." + +There could be little doubt that if she was the _Kitty_, her people +would be keeping too bright a look-out not to have seen us; but probably +they fancied we had not observed them, for they did not alter their +course, which would have carried them clear across our bows. For +another minute we stood on as before, thus rapidly drawing nearer the +stranger. During this time, our guns were cast loose, loaded and +primed, ready to fire, in case she should prove to be the smuggler, and +refuse to heave-to. + +"Let the mainsail jibe over; down with the tack; hoist the foresail," +sung out the Commander in a brisk tone. "Be smart, my lads; set the +gaff-topsail. Stand by, to haul in the mainsheet." + +These orders were issued just as the lugger was about to cross our bows; +but our helm being put down, prevented her from accomplishing this +purpose; and a shot, sent skimming along the sea ahead of her, showed +her that we were wide awake. All hands who had time to turn their heads +in her direction, were peering at her through the fog; and the general +opinion was that she was no other than the long-sought-for _Kitty_. To +the shot she paid not the slightest attention, hoping to forereach us, +probably, and to get away in the fog. The chances were much in her +favour, unless we could wing her, for some little time to come; but +after that, we should get her into the bay, and then we might jam her +down into the bight, and catch her. + +"Give her another shot across her fore-foot, Mr Waddilove," cried the +Commander. "If she does not pay attention to that, fire right into her, +and we will try to knock away some of her spars." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered the gunner, right willingly, as he hurried to +perform his duty. + +She did not seem to regard the second shot with more respect than the +first. There was now no doubt that she was a smuggler, and that she +knew her to be a royal cruiser, but whether the _Kitty_ or not still +remained to be discovered. We accordingly, without ceremony, set to +work in earnest to make her a target for our shot; but though we +believed that we hulled her several times, we could not manage to knock +away any of her rigging or spars. Fast as we fancied the _Serpent_, the +chase, whatever she was, could, we soon found, show as fleet a pair of +heels; and this made us doubly anxious to wing her, lest, by the fog +coming down thicker, she might disappear altogether. Not a sound was +heard from her except the sharp pat as our shot at intervals struck her; +nor did she offer other than the passive resistance of refusing to +heave-to. At last, so faint was her outline as she glided onwards on +our starboard bow, that I could scarcely help fancying that we were +attacking a mere unsubstantial phantom. It was only from the large size +she appeared to be, that one could judge of her nearness to us. For +some minutes we ran on without a syllable being uttered, except the +necessary words of command for loading and firing the guns. + +"Now let me see if I can hit the fellow," exclaimed Hanks, growing +impatient at our want of success; and stooping down and taking a steady +look along the gun, he fired. A fearful shriek was the answer sent back +from the lugger's deck. She was standing on as before, her rigging +untouched, and her hull apparently unharmed. That sound must have been +the death-cry of some of her crew. An almost solemn silence followed, +and then, as if slumbering hitherto, the fury of the smugglers burst +forth, and a shower of shot from great guns and musketry came flying +about us. It was evident that she was prepared to resist to the last. +We now found that we had been under-rating her strength. Our two other +guns were run over to the starboard side, the small-arms were got up on +deck and loaded, and cutlasses were buckled on, and all hands not +required to work the guns began blazing away with the muskets. + +"How do you like the smell of gunpowder, my boy?" asked Hanks, as he was +driving down his ramrod. + +"As for the smell, I can't say that I have any objection to it," I +replied, laughing; "and for the shot, they don't seem likely to do us +much harm." + +"Don't be too sure of that till the guns of the enemy are silenced," he +replied. + +Scarcely had he spoken, when I heard a deep groan; and oh, how my heart +turned sick within me, as I saw a poor fellow writhing in agony on the +deck. A round-shot had torn away his chest and ribs. He gave a few +convulsive struggles, and all was over. It was the first time I had +ever seen death in any form, or even blood spilt, and for the moment I +felt so faint that I thought I should have fallen; but Hanks roused me +by calling for a loaded musket, and in a few moments those dreadful +sensations went off, never again to return. Two of his messmates drew +the dead body out of the way, and then returned to their gun without +apparently taking further notice of the matter. Our Commander was all +life and ardour, urging on the men to activity, while he kept a watchful +eye on our opponent, to take advantage of any accident which might +happen to her, or to follow any change in her course. It is difficult +to describe the scene our decks presented. Though our guns were light, +the men, from habit, had stripped themselves to the waist, and each one +had bound a silk handkerchief round his loins and another round his +head; their figures, even at a little distance, being obscured by the +thick fog and smoke from their guns and the small-arms. All the guns +were over on the starboard side, and those not required to work them or +tend to the sails were either loading or taking aim over the bulwarks at +our phantom foe. I did not dare to look at the dead body which lay near +me, and was praying that no one else might be hit, when I heard a sharp +tap, and old Thole, who was standing with his musket at his shoulder by +my side, fell to the deck. I stooped down, shuddering, for I expected +to see such another ghastly spectacle as the other poor wretch had +presented; but he looked as calm as possible, as if nothing was the +matter with him, and I began to wonder why he had fallen. He had not +even uttered a cry or groan. + +"What is the matter, Thole; are you hit?" I asked. + +Hanks heard me speak, and seeing Thole on the deck, he knelt down by his +side and took his hand. + +"There's no use, my lad, in talking to the poor fellow, for he'll never +speak another word," he said, in a calm tone, as if nothing strange or +awful had occurred; and rising quickly, he seized a musket and +recommenced firing away at the lugger with renewed earnestness. + +"Come, my lads, fire away; we must put a stopper on this work as soon as +possible," he exclaimed. + +"Hurrah! see, we've shot away his mizen-halyards." + +I did not see it, for I could make nothing out through the fog but a +dark mass moving along on our beam. The order had been given to keep +the helm up and to stand by the mainsheet, in expectation of the +lugger's running off the wind, when, quick almost as thought, the +mizen-halyards were spliced, and the sail was again hoisted up. + +"Never mind, my lads; try and wing him again," cried my uncle. + +The men answered with a cheer, and several of our shot told. Unhappily, +two more of our people were wounded, though not badly; and as yet we +were no nearer victory than we had been at the commencement of the +fight. I heard my uncle tell Hanks that he had some hopes that the +smugglers were not aware how deep we were running into the bay. + +"I'm afraid, sir, those fellows are far too wide awake not to know +exactly where they are," answered Hanks. + +"I rather am inclined to think that they have some dodge or other they +intend to practise if they can; and if we don't soon manage to stop +them, they will be wishing us good morning without our leave." + +For an instant after he spoke there was a cessation of firing, and then +came a whole broadside of great guns and small-arms concentrated in one +focus, crashing among our rigging. Several of the shot told--the head +of the mainsail was riddled, and down came our peak, the halyards shot +away in two places. The smugglers were not long in discovering our +disaster and the advantage they had gained, and a loud derisive cheer +showed us the triumph they felt. Without the loss of a moment, hands +were sent aloft to reeve fresh halyards; but before the peak could be +got up, the lugger had shot ahead of us, and was rapidly edging up to +windward. Every exertion was made again to set the mainsail; but as we +were swaying up the peak, another iron shower came rattling among us. +One of the hands aloft was hit, and would have fallen on deck, had not +another caught him and helped him down the rigging. It was the last +broadside the smuggler fired, and the next instant we saw him shoot by +our bows, and before we could get a gun over to bear on him, he +disappeared in the fog to the northward. Once well to windward he would +have a decided advantage over us on a long stretch. Luffing as close to +the wind as we could, we stood on for a few minutes in the hope of again +seeing him; and then we tacked, on the chance, should he also have +tacked, as he probably would do, of overhauling him on the other board. +We now more earnestly than ever wished the fog to clear away to give us +a wider view; but yet minute after minute passed away, and still it +would pertinaciously hang down over us like a thick canopy, shutting out +the surrounding world. My uncle and Hanks, who both had seen much of +gun-shot wounds, did their best to doctor the poor fellows who had been +hit; the bodies of the two men who were killed, were placed side by side +abaft the mast, and covered up with a union jack; and we then piped to +breakfast. I had not recovered my appetite, which the scenes I had +witnessed during the morning had taken away. Hanks rallied me on my +sensibility. "Why, my boy, you should get over all those sort of +feelings at a leap, or you'll never be fit for the service. I remember +once upon a time having some of the queer sensations you talk of; but +now, whatever happens, I never let it interfere with my meals, provided +I can get the food to make them of." Instigated by his example and +remarks, I took a little tea, and then a slice of beef and bread; and I +confess that in a few minutes I began to experience my usual +midshipman-like state of perfect health, with perhaps a little weight +about the region of the heart, as if some calamity had happened to me, +but that very soon wore off. We were speedily on deck again, looking +out for the chase; while in the meantime the carpenter and most of the +crew were busily employed in repairing damages. The sun as he rose +higher in the sky, was every instant gaining power, and in almost an +hour after we lost sight of the smuggler, he victoriously darted through +the mass of vapour which in thick wreaths rolled away before it, our +hitherto confined horizon every instant increasing, while the bright +beams of the luminary struck down on our blood-stained deck. No vessel, +however, appeared in the direction we expected; but as Hanks was +glancing round the horizon, his eye fell on a sail, hull down to the +eastward. "There she is," he exclaimed; "I should know her among a +hundred other craft. D'Arcy, run below and tell the Commander that to +my belief the _Kitty_ is in sight down to leeward." + +My uncle had gone to take his breakfast. I descended to the cabin. I +found him sitting with his face resting on his hands on the table. He +did not notice my entrance. I heard him groan deeply. + +"I hope, sir, you are not ill or wounded," said I; for I thought he must +be hurt. + +"No, lad, no," he answered; "but it's a sad thing to have so many of +one's men killed and hurt by a rascally smuggler. But we must try and +catch the fellow, and then get the doctor's aid as fast as we can for +those to whom it may yet be of use. But what do you come for?" + +I made my report. In an instant he shook off the feeling which was +oppressing him, and springing on deck, he ordered the helm to be kept up +and the mainsheet eased off till we were standing after the supposed +smuggler. This was our best point of sailing, and probably the lugger's +worst; at all events that rig of vessel has generally the greatest +advantage on a wind. Our square-sail, square-topsail, and every sail +the cutter could carry was now set, to overtake the chase; and the +breeze freshening as the day advanced, we bowled away at a famous rate. + +"Do you think, Hanks, we have a chance of catching her?" I asked, as +the old mate and I were intently watching her. + +"As to catching her, depends upon circumstances. If we get the strength +of the breeze before her, and she doesn't hide away in another fog; but +she has a long start, and we are out of luck this time, to my mind. +However, why is it, D'Arcy, you are so anxious to have another brush +with the chap? I thought you had had sufficient taste of his quality." + +"To punish him for killing poor Thole there," answered I, for I felt +very bitter against the smugglers for the harm they had done. + +"I thought so," answered Hanks. "It's the way with most people. Before +a blow is struck, they are all peaceable enough; but the moment blood is +drawn, they are all as blood-thirsty as a savage." + +"I hope you don't think me a blood-thirsty savage," said I. + +"I wouldn't trust you, D'Arcy, my boy," he replied. "When the blood +boils, all the ferocity of the heart bubbles up to the top, and we feel +more like wild beasts than men." + +"Are we gaining on the chase, Mr Hanks, think you?" sung out my uncle +at this moment. + +"A little, sir; but the sky has got so much clearer thereaway in the +last half-hour, that perhaps she only appears nearer," was the answer; +and then Hanks went aft, to walk the quarter-deck with his Commander. + +There is off Portland Bill a race, or overfall of water, caused by a +shallow and rocky bottom, where the sea at times breaks so violently +that vessels have been known to be swamped, and to go down amid the +turmoil, with scarcely a possibility of any of the hapless crew +escaping. During south-westerly gales, and with an ebb tide, the race +runs the highest; but sometimes, even in moderate weather, without any +apparent cause, there is a strange chopping and leaping of the sea, +which makes it dangerous for a small vessel to pass through. The faint +outline of the well-known headland was now seen on our larboard bow, and +it was pretty evident that the lugger was getting her starboard tacks +aboard, to haul off round the outside of the race, if not to stand away +towards the French coast. We, accordingly, had to alter our course +after her; but I suspected that there was no very great chance of our +being able to overtake her. Still we stood on, our main hope being that +another cruiser might fall in with her, and turn her again towards us. +After the fog had disappeared, the sky overhead became beautifully +clear; but, as the day drew on, clouds began to gather, and by the time +I went down to dinner they were coming up pretty thick from the +south-west and south, rather an unusual circumstance after the sort of +morning we had had. While we were discussing our meal, the cutter +heeled over, and nearly sent our scanty dinner-service away to leeward. + +"Hillo, what's the matter now?" I asked. + +"Matter! why the breeze is freshening, to be sure," said old Growl, our +acting master. "Look out for your plates, and when you go on deck it +will be time enough to learn all about it." + +Old Growl was in many respects not dissimilar to Hanks. He was of the +same age, if not older; as fond of spirits, if not fonder; and as +addicted, indeed I think more so, to grumbling. He was not a gentleman +by birth, education, or manners; but he was kind of heart, and I liked +him very well. I think I remarked that all the officers were very old +for their standing. Growl's hair was white, and so was Scriven's, the +clerk in charge. I was young enough to be the son of any of them, in +fact, and was treated almost as such. Fortunately, my uncle did his +best to throw responsibility on my shoulders, so that, in spite of the +pains they took to spoil me, I gradually learned to think and act for +myself. Dinner was over, for the best of reasons--that we had eaten up +all our boiled beef and potatoes, and the greater portion of our last +cheese, and I was thinking how much pleasanter it was to be sitting +there quietly, and nibbling biscuit and sipping my glass of grog, than +standing up to be shot at, as I had to do all the morning, when Hanks, +whose watch it had been on deck, came below. His eye immediately fell +on my tumbler of grog, which was, I own, stiffer than usual; and without +saying a word, he emptied half the contents into another, and drinking +them off, filled my glass with water. I dared not remonstrate, for I +had been transgressing his orders in taking more than the quantity he +allowed me. + +"Neil, my child," he used to say, "drink is a bad thing; and it grows +upon a fellow. If you were to take your full allowance now, by the time +you grow up you would be a drunkard, so for your sake I shall swallow +your grog; besides, you know, what is bad for a little chap like you, is +good for an old worn-out follow like me, who wants something to keep his +soul alive in his body." + +I did not exactly understand his reasoning; but as, notwithstanding his +peculiarities, I was fond of my old messmate, I was well content to +yield him up part of my allowance, for the sake of keeping him alive. + +"Well, Hanks, are we gaining on the chase?" I asked. + +"No, boy; but our ill-luck has gained upon us," he replied. "The wind +has taken it into its head to veer round to the south-west, and given +the rascally lugger an advantage she doesn't deserve. Boy, bring me +dinner." + +The boy who acted as steward brought him in his portion of beef, which +had been saved, and I followed Growl, whose watch it was on deck. The +sea had got up considerably, and the cutter was heeling over to the +rapidly increasing breeze. An exclamation from Growl made me look +anxiously ahead for the lugger. + +"Where is she?" he asked of the quartermaster, who had charge of the +deck. + +"Just slipped into that bank of clouds gathering in the southward, sir," +was the answer. + +"Can any of you see her," he inquired of the people on deck. + +"No, sir, no; not a sign of her," said several voices. + +"Then we shan't see her again this cruise," he exclaimed. + +No more we did. We followed her, notwithstanding, for some hours, when +darkness approaching and the wind increasing, we were obliged to bear up +and run into Weymouth, where we anchored at a late hour in the night. +The next day we buried our two shipmates, and a surgeon came off to +attend to the wounded ones, whom he took on shore with him. A gale got +up, which lasted three days, during which time we remained at anchor, +ready, as soon as it should moderate, to put to sea again in quest of +Myers. The engagement with the smuggler made a good deal of noise, we +heard. Some said that we ought to have taken her; others, that our +Commander was not a man to leave undone what could have been done. +However, as no one had any doubt that Myers was in command of the +lugger, a large reward was offered to whoever would give information +that might lead to his apprehension, and a still larger to the person +who should place him, bound, in the hands of justice. One evening, +after dark, a small boat came alongside, with a single man in her. I +was on deck. + +"Is Lieutenant O'Flaherty on board?" asked the man. + +I told him he was. + +"Then," said the stranger, springing on board, "take this note to him, +young gentleman, and say the bearer waits to see him." + +The stranger was of a strongly-built, stout figure, and had the +appearance of a rough seafaring man. I took a paper he handed me into +the cabin. My uncle read it attentively two or three times over, as if +puzzled to comprehend its meaning. + +"I must see the rascal, and hear what he has to say," he muttered. "But +I never like to trust a traitor. Show the man below, D'Arcy." + +I did as I was ordered. The man bowed as he entered, and then I saw him +take a chair and seat himself, without being asked to do so. I longed +to hear what he had to say, so I lingered in the cabin, as if waiting +for orders. The stranger looked at me hard. + +"What I have to say is for your ear, Lieutenant; so I can't speak with +another present, though he is but a little one," he remarked, in a tone +I thought remarkably impudent. + +"Neil, go on deck," said my uncle. + +In about half an hour the stranger appeared on deck, and without saying +a word, jumped into his boat and pulled away. I observed that he did +not pull directly for the shore, but that he steered for a considerable +distance to the northward before attempting to land, thus not allowing +any one who might meet him to suspect that he had visited us. The +mysterious stranger afforded considerable matter for surmise among all +on board, the general opinion being that he had brought off some +important information, which might lead to the capture of Myers or of +some of his smuggling confederates. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +EXPEDITION ON SHORE--THE INFORMER'S FATE--THE SMUGGLERS CAVE--JACK +STRETCHER--THE SMUGGLER'S REVENGE--OUR DREADFUL POSITION. + +The _Serpent_ was again in West Bay, just near enough to Portland Bill +to be distinguished by any one looking out for her; and she was standing +with a light breeze from the north-east, as if bound across Channel. We +stood on till dusk, and then tacked and worked back into the bay, till +we got close in with the Dorsetshire coast. The cutter was now hove-to, +and the boats were lowered and manned, all hands being well-armed. + +"Mr Hanks," said my uncle, as he came on deck, "you will take charge of +the ship, and keep her as near as possible to where she now is: I expect +to be absent about an hour." + +Hanks gave the usual "Ay, ay, sir," and then continued the duty he was +about in superintending the lowering the boats. I seized the +opportunity, while he was waiting for the final preparations, to go up +and speak to my uncle. + +"May I go, sir?" I asked. "If there is anything to be done, I should +like to see it." + +"We shall only find hard knocks and little glory," he replied. +"However, a midshipman should see everything. Can you spare Mr D'Arcy, +Mr Hanks?" + +"Oh yes, sir, if you please," said Hanks, laughing. + +I had at first felt very grand at the way my uncle spoke of me; but +there was something in Hanks' tone of voice which considerably lowered +my pride. However, I gained my object, and jumping into the first gig +with my Commander, the order was given to shove off, and away we pulled +towards the shore. + +There was no moon, but the sky was clear, and the stars overhead shone +brightly forth into the calm, silent water beneath them. I never saw +the water smoother; and the little wind there was came off the shore, +gently sighing as it passed over the dry grass and low bushes which +fringed the edge of the cliffs above our heads. Not a word was spoken, +and our oars were muffled, as we pulled along shore, a considerable +distance to the westward of where we left the cutter. There were three +boats, so we all knew it was possible some considerable opposition might +be expected. + +After we had pulled about three or four miles, our Commander ordered two +of the boats to remain off shore, the crews resting on their oars, till +they should see a blue light burned; they were then to give way as fast +as they could, and support us if necessary. We then pulled slowly in, +our people being told to make as little noise as possible on beaching +the boat. + +"Neil," said my uncle, "we have a chance of catching that accomplished +rascal, Myers, through the means of another rascal, who has offered to +betray him, and who is to meet us off that point yonder, and to conduct +us where Myers and his gang are to be found. If we come to blows at any +time, just keep behind me, boy, and don't be after getting yourself +killed or hurt, or I'll never take you to see any more fun, remember +that." + +It was clear, by this remark, that my uncle had not forgotten the old +country; and I promised to obey his directions. + +In a few minutes the bow of the boat touched the shore, and we, by aid +of a boat-hook, jumped on the sand. Ordering two of the men to +accompany him, and giving directions to the others to keep silence, and +on no account to quit the boat, our commander advanced towards the foot +of the cliff. We went on some little way without meeting anybody. + +"It is very extraordinary," he observed, in a low voice. "I cannot have +mistaken the spot or the hour. It was just here the man Langdon +appointed to meet me." We halted for some minutes and listened +attentively, but not a sound was to be heard except the low, soft, and +musical lap of the tide as it glided by the shingly beach. Above us was +the lofty cliff beetling over our heads, its dark outline well-defined +against the brilliant sky. + +"Something, I'm afraid, is wrong," remarked my uncle; "or can the fellow +have been imposing on me?" + +Having waited for some time in vain, we again advanced. We had not gone +many paces when a figure was seen leaning against the cliffs. The +person, apparently, from his not moving at our approach, was fast +asleep. + +"That must be the fellow Langdon," said my uncle. "Why, what can he be +about?" On this he whistled twice, very softly, but there was no +answer. We then hurried up to the spot where the figure was observed. +It was no optical illusion; there certainly was a person, but he took no +notice of our presence. Our two men then went up to him, thinking to +awake him; but as they took him by the arms he slipped from their grasp, +and fell to the ground. An exclamation of horror made us hurry up to +them. It was a corpse we saw. A dark spot on the forehead, from which +a stream of blood, rapidly coagulating, oozed forth. His singed hair, +and the black marks on one side of his face, showed how the deed had +been done. It was evident that he had been shot by a pistol placed +close to his head. + +"He hasn't been dead above a quarter of an hour," observed Stretcher, +one of the men, feeling his heart. "He is still warm, sir." + +"Then his murderers cannot be far off," said my uncle. "I'll land our +people, and we will hunt them down. The poor wretch could scarcely +expect any other fate were he discovered." + +"What--do you know the man, sir?" I asked. "Yes, he is the informer, +Langdon; the very man who was to have conducted us to Myers' retreat," +was the answer. + +"Here, sir, is a bit of card tied round the man's neck, and close to him +was this pistol and handkerchief," said Tomkins, who had placed the body +on the sands, bringing him the articles. + +"Very well; do you take charge of those things, Tomkins, and on no +account lose them. D'Arcy, do you go back with Sims to the boat; burn a +blue light close down to the water, shade it by the boat's side so that +it may not be seen from the cliffs above; and then, as soon as the boats +come in, order two hands to remain in each, and bring the rest up here." + +"Ay, ay, sir," I replied with alacrity, for I was always proud of having +any orders given me by my uncle; and away I and Sims hurried towards the +boat. We had not got many paces before a shout from Jack Stretcher made +us turn back, and at the same moment several men came leaping down by a +narrow path in the side of the cliff. + +"Run in--they are smugglers--run in!" cried Sims, setting the example, +and shouting to our people in the boat. It was the wisest thing he +could do to get help, for the man was no coward; but before I had time +to think whether or not I could run down to my uncle, I found myself +knocked down by one of the foremost of the new comers, with a not very +complimentary remark to midshipmen in general, and to me in particular. +What became of Sims I could not tell, for the blow on my head made me +feel inclined to keep my eyes shut. When, after a moment or so, I +attempted to rise, I found myself seized by a couple of men. My arms +were lashed behind me in a very uncomfortable way, and which reminded me +of the necessity of not tumbling down, if I was anxious to preserve the +regular outline of my nose; while a handkerchief was secured tightly +over my eyes. Directly afterwards I heard a scuffle, and my uncle's +voice among that of many others; blows were struck, and two or three +pistols were fired; and then there appeared more scuffling, and all was +quiet except the suppressed murmur of apparently many voices as I was +dragged forward by the people who held me. We went along the seashore +for some way, and then up the cliffs; and next we descended, and I was +led along what seemed a narrow path by the careful way in which my +conductors stepped. We went over certainly more than a mile of ground, +and then we halted till other parties came up, and I was led down a +gentle declivity on a soft, sandy soil; but I no longer felt the light +cool wind blowing on my cheek, from which I conjectured we were leaving +the open air. + +Scarcely a word had been spoken to me the whole of this time by any one +of the party. I once ventured to ask my conductors where they were +going to take me; but the answer I got in a low growl--"Hold your +tongue, you young whelp!" and the click of a pistol lock--made me +unwilling to enter on another question. I was more seriously alarmed +about my uncle. For myself I feared nothing, as I did not think that +the smugglers would hurt a young boy like me; but from the manner of +their proceeding, and the few words they let fall of concentrated hate +and anger, I was afraid that, supposing they were the crew of the +_Kitty_, they might wreck their vengeance on his head and murder him. I +had become deeply attached to him. I felt miserable at the thought of +his danger, and I earnestly, though silently, prayed for his +preservation. After we had gone a little way, I was almost convinced, +from the damp, stagnant feel of the atmosphere, that we were in a cavern +or a large vault of some sort or other. I was confirmed in this opinion +by hearing a voice before me say, "Stoop down your head or you will hit +the rock." + +I thought he addressed me, so I bent down as if I were passing under a +very low archway, when my conductors laughed, and one observed to the +other, "The youngster thinks himself a giant; howsomever, he won't ever +be much bigger than he now is, will he, Jim?" + +"No; he's nibbled his last biscuit," growled out his companion. "Come, +heave ahead, master." + +On hearing these last observations I had stopped, scarcely able to make +my feet move on; for I thought the villains were going to treat me as +they had treated the poor wretch we had just found, for I had no doubt +they were his murderers. They again urged me forward, and I presently +found myself in a place surrounded by a number of people--at least so I +judged by the suppressed hum of voices which I heard. + +"Cast off the handkerchiefs from the prisoners' eyes," said a voice in +an authoritative tone. + +I felt a fellow fumbling at the handkerchief round my head; but +pretending, I suspect, that he could not undo it, he forced it down over +my face, to the considerable damage of my nose, and then, giving his +knuckles a turn with the dexterity of a Thug, very nearly throttled me. +When I had somewhat recovered, and the stars had done flying about +before my eyes, I perceived that I was in a large cave, standing at the +foot of a rude table, at the further end of which sat a +powerfully-built, bold-looking man, dressed in a nautical costume, while +a number of other men, mostly seamen, sat on either side of him. + +I looked anxiously round for my uncle, and my mind was much relieved to +see him standing, unhurt apparently, a few paces from me. However, my +satisfaction was much mitigated when, being able to distinguish objects +more clearly, I perceived that there were two men standing on either +side of him, with pistols in their hands; and it instantly occurred to +me that they were there to act the part of executioners, and to blow his +brains out, at the command of the ruffian I saw sitting as judge in this +lawless court. We recognised each other at the same moment; and if I +could judge by the expression of his countenance, he had more compassion +for me than fear for himself. He made no attempt to speak to me, but +instantly resumed his former undaunted attitude, with his arms folded on +his bosom, and his eye resting on the leader of the smugglers. + +But there was another object which was, indeed, well calculated to fill +me with horror. It was the corpse of the murdered man, stretched out on +some rough planks, resting on four casks placed on end; the face +uncovered and bloody; the eyes staring wide open, for no one had taken +the trouble to close them; and the features distorted by the wound or, +perhaps, by fear of the fate which he saw prepared for him when his +murderers appeared. The corpse was close to me, and I could not keep my +eyes from it, dreadful as it was. It seemed to possess a terrible +fascination; and every time I turned my eyes away, it attracted them +back again; so that, wild and remarkable as was the whole scene, that +horrible object is to this day the most prominent to my mental vision, +and all the rest is but an indistinct background to the picture. + +I found that Jack Stretcher was close to me, on my left side, also in +custody of two smugglers. The cave itself was a complete storehouse of +goods of every description. There were arms--swords, pistols, and +muskets; and bales of silks, boxes of laces and ribbons, and casks of +spirits: indeed, everything with a high duty on it was here collected, +ready to be sent up to London or through the country, to the _highly +respectable_ shops which dealt in such things. I had not time, however, +to make many observations, when the fierce ruffian at the head of the +table commenced the proceedings by inquiring who we were and what was +our object in coming on shore that night. + +"You know perfectly well who we are, and with regard to our object on +shore, you certainly are not qualified to question me," answered my +uncle, with a firm voice. + +"Then I must answer for you," replied the smuggler. "You came, +instigated by a wretch whose body lies there, under the hopes of taking +me and my men in our nest. He has received his reward. The very moment +he was thinking he had got us secure, a pistol bullet went through his +head. What do you think you deserve?" + +My uncle did not answer. + +"Speak, and answer me!" exclaimed the ruffian, levelling a pistol at +him. + +I tried to spring forward to throw myself before him, but the smugglers +held me back, though the action, instead of making them angry, seemed to +gain we more respect from them, as they held me less rudely than before, +and no longer amused themselves by twisting the handkerchief, Thug +fashion, round my gullet. + +My uncle looked calmly at the smuggler and answered, "I came on shore in +pursuit of my lawful duty, to apprehend you, or any others, breaking the +revenue laws. Further than that, I have no feeling of ill-will against +you, or any of those connected with you." + +"Very fine talking, Mr Lieutenant; but that won't do here. You came to +injure us; there's no doubt about that, from what you own yourself; and +you must take the consequences." + +"You will suffer for it, if you injure me or any of my people!" +exclaimed my uncle, indignantly. + +"We don't want to hurt any of your people; but you and that young cub of +an officer must be prepared to die this very night. Your man there we +don't intend to hurt; and he may, if he likes, join us, which he +probably will be glad enough to do; if not, we carry him away over the +water, far enough from this." + +"No, that I won't, you cold-hearted scoundrels, you!" exclaimed Jack +Stretcher, vehemently. "My Commander there, I tell you, is a truer and +braver man than any one of you; and you to think of murdering him +because he is doing his duty, and that young innocent boy, his nephew--a +mere baby to any of you,--it just shows what a white-livered crew you +smugglers are; but, howsomdever, if you'll let them go without harm, you +may make a shot fast to my feet and heave me over the cliffs outside +here, or do what you like with me; you can but kill me, and I don't fear +you--so heave ahead, my hearties." + +This address of Jack Stretcher created some considerable sensation among +the smugglers; but their chief seemed immovable. What surprised me most +was, that they were not in the slightest degree enraged at the abuse +showered so liberally on their heads; but, on the contrary, they +infinitely admired him for his fearlessness and fidelity to his +superior. + +"What you say, my man, can't be done; those two die, for conspiring with +a traitor to betray us. We shall keep you shut up for some time, and +then carry you over to America, perhaps, or some distant part; but we +shan't take your life; so now you know what you have to expect. Take +those two off, and heave them over High-Peak Cliff. Be sharp about it, +now." + +Before my uncle could speak a word or attempt to free himself, he was +dragged back and pinioned, and I was treated in the same way; our eyes +were tightly bandaged, as before; and we were forced out of the cavern +by a large body of the smugglers. + +"Never fear, sir," shouted Stretcher. "They'll hang for it yet, and I +shall live to see you revenged." + +Extraordinary as it may appear, I had no particular dread of the fate +which was awaiting me. Perhaps it was a presentiment that I should +escape. I cannot now explain the cause of the feeling; indeed, at the +time, I could not probably have done so. I thought much more of my +brave uncle being thus brought to an untimely end, and of the grief of +my sweet young aunt at Ryde, when she should hear of his barbarous +murder. The atrocity of the deed was increased by the cold-blooded +manner in which the wretches proceeded, by dragging us to their +pretended court, and then condemning us, with scarcely even the mockery +of a trial. Indeed the affair seemed so unusual, that I could hardly +believe in the reality. My most absorbing feeling was bitter +indignation, and a burning desire to break from my guards, and to rescue +my uncle. However, as I wriggled about helplessly in their grasp, I +must own that I was very like an unhappy cockchafer stuck through with a +pin by a cruel schoolboy, without the remotest chance of escaping. My +uncle was dragged away first, and I followed him closely, as I judged by +the voices of the villains who had him in charge. What became of +Stretcher I could not learn, though I supposed that he was detained in +the cavern. Even now, I could scarcely have believed that the smugglers +were going really to put their threat into execution, had it not been +for their acknowledgment of the murder they had committed, and the +perfect confidence with which they exhibited their cavern, and the +smuggled goods it contained; for, though taken blindfold to the place, +we could, of course, have little difficulty in finding it again; and +they must have been well aware that, if we escaped, we should do our +best to discover them and bring them to justice. They appeared to me to +be dragging us for a very long distance. We went up and down hill, and +along the seashore, and then we again mounted, it seemed, to the top of +the cliffs, and went over several miles of ground. I thought we should +never get to High-Peak Cliff. I cannot say that I was in any hurry to +get there, which is not surprising, considering the pleasant prospect +which I had before me. At length we ascended a considerable height, it +seemed; and I concluded, from what I heard some of the smugglers remark, +that we had reached the place of the intended murder. I shuddered as I +felt that I was standing at the edge of the precipice from which I was +in a few minutes to be hurled; a cold perspiration burst out over me, +and I felt an awful horror, such as I had never before experienced. I +was aware that any instant, without a moment's preparation, a shove +might send me rolling over and over down to the rocks below, where I +must instantly be dashed to pieces, as I judged that I was standing +close to the very edge of the precipice; and I even fancied that I could +hear the sound of the water breaking on the sands, many hundred feet +beneath, borne upward on the calm night air. Still, there I stood, as +yet unharmed, and I found the delay was caused by some of the party, +whose voices I could hear at a little distance, holding a consultation +in a whisper. I was hoping that they, more merciful than their leader, +were proposing not to execute his directions, when I was undeceived by +their return. One of them then addressed us. + +"We give you and the youngster, Lieutenant, three minutes more to +prepare for death," said the villain, in a diabolically cold tone; +"after that, we intend to hang you over the cliff by your hands, and +when you can't gripe on any longer, you may let go. Just understand, +now, we do this in mercy to you, that you may not say we sent you out of +the world without warning. Youngster, you hear what is said, so just +make ready, for you haven't many moments of life in you." + +To appeal to the mercy of the wretches was, I knew, hopeless; so I did +my best to prepare for the fate awaiting me. + +"The time's up," said a voice, and I found myself urged back a few +paces, and my feet lifted over the edge of the cliff. It is impossible +to describe my sensations of horror at this moment. I was then lowered +down, every instant expecting to be let drop, till I found my hands +clutching the grass, and my nails digging into the uncertain soil which +fringed it. I judged that my uncle had been treated in the same way, +from what the smugglers said. They then left us, satisfied that we +could not release ourselves. Bad as they were, perhaps they did not +wish to witness our death, though I could hear their mocking laughter as +they quitted the spot. I was light, and I held on for dear life. + +"Uncle, are you there?" I exclaimed. + +"Yes, Neil, I am," he answered; "but I am afraid of using any exertion +to lift myself up, lest the earth should give way. You are light, +though; so try to drag yourself slowly up by your arms, then get your +elbows on the turf, and tear the bandage from your eyes, and come to my +assistance." + +"Oh, I cannot, uncle, I cannot!" I cried, in an agony of fear; for I +found it impossible to move without almost a certainty of missing my +hold altogether. Again I tried all I could to lift myself up, but it +would not do. I shouted at the top of my voice. Every instant my +strength was failing me. + +"I must let go, uncle, indeed I must," I exclaimed. "Good-bye, uncle." + +"So must I, my boy," he answered. "Good-bye, if we do not succeed; but +make a final effort, and spring up. So now--" + +I tried to spring up, and so did he, I conclude. Alas! the earth +crumbled beneath his hands; a deep groan escaped his bosom--not for +himself, but for his wife and children, and all he held dear in the +world. He could hold on no longer. I also failed in my attempt to +spring up. Down I went; but what was my surprise, instead of being +dashed to pieces, to find that I had reached a bottom of some sort, +rather splashy certainly, only a few feet below where I had been +hanging. An exclamation at the same moment from my uncle reached my +ears. I tore off the bandage from my eyes, and looking round, I saw him +but a short distance from me, and discovered that we were at the bottom +of a chalk-pit, with all our limbs safe and sound, instead of being both +of us mangled corpses at the foot of High-Peak Cliff. Our position was +not dignified; and certainly, though it was much less romantic and full +of horror than it would have been had the catastrophe we expected really +occurred, and had we figured in the newspapers as the subjects of a +dreadful accident, it was, I must own, far more agreeable to my +feelings. + +"Uncle," I sung out, "are you hurt?" + +"No, Neil, my boy; but rather wet, from a puddle I've fallen into," he +answered. "So those confounded rascals have been playing us a trick all +the time. However, it's better thus than we expected, and it proves +that they are not as bad as we thought them." + +"So I was thinking," I replied, moving up to him. "But, I say, uncle, +how are we to get out of this?" + +He was sitting down on a ledge of the chalk rock, endeavouring to +recover from the shock which his nervous system had received. + +"Why, as I have not a notion where we are, we had better wait till +daylight, or we shall run a great chance of going over the cliffs in +reality," said he. "The sun will rise in little more than an hour +hence, I hope, and then we shall be able to ascertain whereabouts we +are." + +In accordance with his advice, I sat myself down by his side, and +remained silent for some time, while I watched the stars glittering +overhead. At length I remarked, "It is very odd, uncle, that Myers did +not murder us, as he did the poor wretch we found under the cliff." + +"I fully expected he would; but, after all, there are several reasons +against such an act," he answered. + +"He put the spy to death, both for the sake of vengeance and that he +might not betray any more of his secrets, or show us the smugglers' +hides. Myers, however, knew that if he murdered a king's officer, the +Government authorities would not rest till they had brought him to +punishment. There is also a wild notion of justice among these outlaws; +and as they know we are but doing our duty in pursuing them, they have +not the same bitter feeling towards us as they have towards any of their +companions who turn traitors. Myers, perhaps, might have wished to +secure a friend, in case of need. The fellows who had charge of us, +however, could not resist the temptation of playing us a trick, and +trying to frighten us out of our wits. Some years ago, also, Myers was +in my custody, and I treated him, as I should any fellow-creature, with +some kindness and consideration. I spoke to him seriously, and +endeavoured to win him from his evil courses. I did not consider myself +either as his judge or executioner. Perhaps, therefore, gratitude may +have induced him to spare our lives." + +"I have no doubt of it," said I. "I have to thank you, therefore, +uncle, for my life." + +"I don't suppose they would have hurt you, Neil, had you been alone," he +observed, laughing. + +"Do you think that we shall be able to discover the cavern?" I asked. + +"I fear not," he replied. "Even if we did, it would be emptied of its +contents. Depend on it, the smugglers were prepared to carry off +everything into the interior, and all the valuable goods are by this +time a long way on their road to London. At all events, whatever were +the motives of the smugglers, let us offer our thanks to God for the +preservation of our lives, for they have been in great peril." + +We knelt and prayed. I hope I did so sincerely. What other remarks he +made I do not remember, for I soon after this felt very drowsy, and +quickly fell asleep. I dreamed all the time that I was tumbling head +over heels down precipices, but never reached the ground. So I shall +end this chapter at the bottom of a chalk-pit. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +WE GET OUT OF THE PIT--JACK STRETCHER'S ADVENTURE--SEARCH FOR MYERS-- +HANKS' ADVICE--LOSE OUR SHIP IN A FOG--MINUTE-GUNS HEARD. + +I was awoke by my uncle, and looking up, I saw that the stars had grown +dim, and that the rosy dawn was rapidly spreading over the sky. When +there was sufficient light to enable us to see distinctly, we discovered +that we were in an unusually large and deep chalk-pit. We had, however, +but little difficulty in climbing out of it, and in reaching the top of +the down in which it was situated. What was our surprise, on looking +seaward, to discover the cutter riding at anchor below us, and the boats +just going off to her! We therefore went to the most conspicuous +height, and waved our caps and handkerchiefs, in the hopes that some one +might by chance be on the look-out with a telescope, and perceive us. +We waited for some time, and were just giving up the case in despair, +when one of the boats put off from the cutter, and pulled directly for +the beach, above which we were standing; so we hurried down by a rough +zigzag path cut in the cliff, and were ready on the shore to receive her +when she pulled in. Who should we see in the boat but Stretcher, whom +we fancied all the time held in durance vile by the smugglers. The +honest fellow's satisfaction at seeing us was even greater than our +surprise; for he had fully believed that we had been murdered, and had +reported our death on board. The boat's crew gave three cheers as they +ran up on the beach; and in their delight they almost lifted my uncle +and me into the boat. We were not long in getting on board again, when +the cheers were repeated by all hands; and I must do honest old Hanks +the justice to say, that, though he had doubtless begun to indulge in +dreams of getting his promotion and the death vacancy, his pleasure was +as genuine as that of the rest. He had, we found, been already +arranging a plan to search for us, and to discover and capture the +smugglers. The latter part of it, our Commander determined forthwith to +execute. Before we went to breakfast, Stretcher was sent for to make +his report--a proceeding of which I did not approve, for I was very +sharp-set; but midshipmen's appetites are seldom much thought of on such +occasions. Jack soon made his appearance, with his hat in one hand, +while he smoothed down his hair most pertinaciously with the other. + +"Well, Stretcher, my man; I wish to know how you managed to escape so +well out of the fangs of those rascals," said my uncle. + +"Why, your honour," he answered, "I scarcely know how it all happened +myself, for after the blackguards dragged off you and Mr D'Arcy, I was +in such a taking, thinking that they were going to heave you over the +cliff, that I didn't seem to know where I was or what I was doing. At +last they made the handkerchief fast round my eyes again, so that I +couldn't see a wink; and they began to haul me along, till I found that +I was out of the cave and in the open air. On I went, up and down hill, +some way inland, it seemed; and then back again through a chine down to +the seashore. After a bit they led me up hill, and making me sit down +on a rock, they told me that if I stirred an inch before daylight, I +should meet with the same fate my master had done. + +"`How am I to tell when daylight comes, you lubbers, if you leave me +with my eyes blinded,' said I. + +"No one answered, but I fancied I heard some one laugh close to me. +They then lashed my arms behind me, so that I could not cast off the +bandage from my eyes. + +"`So you are not going to carry me to foreign parts,' said I, for I +thought, as they didn't mind killing my officer, they would think +nothing of sending me over the cliffs also. + +"`We've changed our minds,' said they, `and can't be troubled with you; +so ask no questions.' + +"I didn't like the answer at all, for I made sure they was going to do +away with me somehow; but, as I couldn't help myself, I was not going to +show them what a funk I was in; so I pretended to whistle, quite happy +like. I had been whistling away some time, when I thought I heard their +footsteps moving off; and so it proved; for when I next sung out to +them, no one answered. I called them all manner of names, and +blackguarded them like fun; but it didn't make them angry, because, you +see, there was no one there to hear me. At last, when I'd grown hoarse +with hallooing after them, I thought I might as well go to sleep a bit, +seeing as how I couldn't manage to move, or to cast off the lashings +round my arms. How long I slept I don't know; but I was woke up by +hearing some one hail me, and I soon knew that they were some of the +cutter's people. When they got up to me, and cast off the handkerchief +from my eyes, then I found I had been sitting not ten feet above the +beach, and directly opposite where the cutter is brought up. That, your +honour, is all I know about it; but who the people are who played us the +trick, or whereabouts the cave is, is more than I can say." + +"Do not you think that we might manage to discover the cave, though?" +asked the Commander. + +"No, sir, certainly not," answered Stretcher, positively. "It may be +close to us, or it may be five miles off. To my mind, it's some very +clever hide; and those who took us there knew very well we should never +find it again." + +"We must see about that," observed my uncle. "By-the-bye, Stretcher, I +gave you some things to take charge of; where are they?" + +"Here, sir; they never overhauled my pockets, which shows that they have +some manners, at all events," said Jack, producing a pistol, a +handkerchief, and a card. My uncle took the card, and on it were +written the words, "This is the way we punish informers and traitors." + +"Perhaps, sir, you don't know who the man was who took the lead of the +rest in the cave," said Stretcher. + +"Who was he?" asked the Commander. + +"No other than Bill Myers himself," answered Jack. I knew him directly, +and several of those with him; but I thought it better to keep a silent +tongue in my head, so they didn't suspect me. To my mind, Myers +murdered the man as a warning to others not to attempt to play a like +trick upon him. From what I happened to hear, I suspect the lugger has +run her cargo, and is by this time off again; for I am certain some of +the people we saw belonged to her, and they wouldn't be likely to stay +in this place after the work which has been done. + +Nothing more of importance being elicited from Jack, he was dismissed; +and my uncle arranged with Hanks that all the boats should visit the +shore, and that a strict search should be made to discover the cave; +while we should communicate with the authorities, and state what had +occurred. The mist of the morning having cleared off, a look-out was +kept at the masthead for the lugger, should she be in sight, but not a +sign of her appeared; and as soon as breakfast was over, a large party +of officers and seamen went on shore to hunt for the cave. My uncle, +Stretcher, and I, meantime, went off to the nearest magistrate, to make +our depositions. Mr Gibson, the magistrate, received us very politely, +and expressed his anxiety to sift the affair to the bottom, and to bring +the offenders to justice. He took charge of the things we had found; +and while he entertained us at luncheon, he sent about to make inquiries +on the subject. The man, whose corpse we believed we had seen, was +found to be missing, and we learned that he was well-known to be +connected with the smugglers; but of the cave, and the cargo which we +suspected to have been run, no one could, or rather would, afford any +information. When, however, it was known that murder had been +committed, several persons, who had no objection to assist in simple +smuggling, but had a prejudice against murdering people, came +voluntarily forward to state all they knew and suspected about the +matter. By several, Myers had been seen on shore during the previous +day; and, what is extraordinary, one of the witnesses, an +alehouse-keeper, swore that he had seen him use the very handkerchief we +had found to sweep the crumbs off a table at which he had been eating +bread and cheese, in order to have it clean for writing. He had also +given him a letter to post, which he had forgotten to do. The +handwriting was exactly like that on the card. Another witness said +that he knew Myers by sight perfectly; that later in the day, as he was +taking a cut across some fields near the cliffs, he had seen him seated +under a tree, and that he was either loading or cleaning a pistol of the +size and shape of the one now produced. Indeed there was ample +circumstantial evidence to enable Mr Gibson to issue a warrant for the +apprehension of Myers on a charge of murder, whenever and wherever he +could be found. A reward was afterwards offered to whoever should +capture him. It is very extraordinary that the cave could not be +discovered, nor could we gain any information about the goods which had +been seen. Of Myers himself no tidings could be obtained. There was no +doubt that he had committed the murder, and he must have been aware that +many of his old friends might be tempted by the prospect of the reward +to deliver him up, should he venture again among them. The general +opinion was, therefore, that we should hear nothing more of him. We, +however, continued cruising in search of his lugger; but, though we +chased at different times several craft which we thought might be his, +we never got them within range of our guns. We, however, captured +several other smuggling vessels, and made prize of a considerable number +of tubs. The latter we picked up, either floating out at sea, or we got +them by groping after they had been sunk. Smuggling vessels carry a +considerable portion of their cargo lashed along outside, just above the +water. When hard pressed these are cut away, and the rest are thrown +overboard, so that when overhauled, nothing contraband may be found on +board. When within a short distance of land, so that marks on the shore +can be seen, weights are attached to the tubs, which are all fastened +together; and the marks being observed, so that the spot should be known +again, they are sunk. Sometimes we saw them being hove overboard and +sunk; and then, of course, we did our best to get them again. We at +length took a longer cruise than usual, and were for some time knocking +about in the longitude of Plymouth, and that turbulent portion of the +aqueous world--the Chops of the Channel. There was a light wind and a +smooth sea, and we were dodging along under easy sail, being in no hurry +to get anywhere. I was walking the deck with Hanks, talking on matters +doubtless very erudite and abstruse; but I now forget what they were. +Scriven was casting up his accounts--literally, not metaphorically, be +it understood; Growl was endeavouring to forget his cares, with eyes +fast closed, on two chairs in the gun-room; and our Commander was below, +reading. + +"D'Arcy, I have taken a fancy to you, and I want to give you some good +advice," remarked my companion, after some time. "Just remember what I +say, and it will be useful to you in elbowing your way, as you must, +through this crowded world. First, then, keep that potato-trap of yours +shut, except when you want to catch potatoes in it; and your eyes and +ears open on all occasions. There is little harm in knowing a thing, +but there is a very great deal in repeating it; and much harm often in +letting others be aware that you do know it. Then, my boy, always +remember to look before you leap, and not to let go one rope before you +have a firm gripe of another. You pretty boys from green Erin's Isle +are too apt to do things in a hurry--to knock a fellow down, and then to +ask his pardon, on finding that he wasn't the man you intended to floor; +like the Irish soldier officer who declared that anchovies grew on the +walls of Gibraltar, and when he had shot his friend for doubting his +statement, recollected that it was capers he meant." + +I laughed at Hanks' old story, though it was a hit against my +countrymen; for I have always found it far better to laugh off anything +said against one's self, than to put on the dignities and to look grand. +Laughter and good humour are like polished shields, which make the +shafts of satire glance off on either side; but sulkiness and dignity +are sure to bring them thick around them. + +Our conversation was interrupted by the cry of "A sail on the weather +bow!" The wind was about south-east, and the cutter's head was up +Channel. I went to report her to the Commander, who immediately came on +deck, and, looking at her attentively through his glass, ordered a boat +to be lowered. He then returned below, and brought up a package. + +"Mr D'Arcy," said he--and I felt very grand to be so called,--"take +this parcel on board yonder ship. I think I know her. If she is bound +to ---, leave it with the master, to be delivered immediately on his +arrival; if not, bring it back." I forget now the name of the place he +mentioned. + +"Ay, ay, sir," I answered; and jumping into the boat, shoved off. Jack +Stretcher, who, in consequence of his behaviour with the smugglers, had +gained the estimation of all on board, was with me in the boat. Away we +pulled towards the ship with rapid strokes, for we knew that the faster +we pulled the less distance we should have to go. We were about +half-way between the cutter and the ship, when a bank of mist came +rolling slowly along from the southern horizon, the opposite extremities +seeming to close in, till a circle was formed around us, still, however, +having the cutter and the ship within its confines. On we rowed, the +circle growing smaller and smaller, till, by the time we reached the +ship, our own vessel was completely shrouded from view. As I knew +exactly where she was, that did not trouble me. The ship proved to be +the one I was sent to board--the _Ajax_, I think, was her name. + +I delivered my despatches. The master asked me down into the cabin to +take a glass of wine, which it would have been against the principles of +a midshipman to refuse. I took two or three, and ate some cold chicken +and ham into the bargain. There were, I remember, a number of +passengers, who were very civil, and some gave me letters to take on +shore; indeed it is just possible that one of the reasons why I was so +hospitably entertained was that time might be obtained to finish and +close the said letters. At last the package of farewells, last words, +and before-forgotten directions, being ready, I tumbled with it into the +boat, and shoved off to return to the cutter. + +I calculated that she bore about north-north-west from the ship; and not +having a compass, the last thing I did was to take a careful glance at +the one on board. I then pulled away, thinking that I should not lose +sight of the merchantman before we got hold of our own craft. In about +ten minutes I found that I was not a little mistaken. I had told +Stretcher, who was pulling stroke-oar, to keep his eye on the ship, +while I, meantime, was looking out for the cutter. Every moment I +expected to see her; but, as we advanced, the fog appeared to rise up +with redoubled thickness around us; and my difficulty was still further +increased when Jack Stretcher exclaimed-- + +"I can't see the ship nowhere, sir! She was there not a moment ago, and +just as I passed my hand over my brow, she was gone." + +"Well, we must pull on," I exclaimed. "If we keep the breeze on the +starboard quarter, we cannot be far wrong." + +However, not many minutes afterwards, the wind, true to its proverbial +character of fickleness, died away, and we were left without any guide +by which to steer our course across the trackless deep. Still we pulled +on, I fancied, in the direction of the coast. We should have been wise +had we laid on our oars, and gone to sleep. As I could not see ahead, I +steered by the wake astern, and was under the impression that I was +keeping a wonderfully straight line. How long we had gone on I can +scarcely tell, when we heard the sound of a gun booming along the water; +but, instead of coming from the direction in which we were steering, it +seemed to be astern of us. Still we thought it must be the cutter +firing. The men even declared that they knew the sound of the gun. The +probability was, certainly, that it was her gun, as she would be sure to +fire to show her whereabouts to us; and it was not likely that any other +vessel near us would be firing for a similar purpose. Although I was +very confident, from the straight wake I fancied I had kept, that Jack +was mistaken, and that the sound of the gun had come from some other +vessel, yet I yielded to his opinion, and pulled in the direction whence +we thought it proceeded. We had not made good a quarter of a mile when +we again heard the sound; but still, to our surprise and vexation, it +was indubitably right astern. + +"That gun's from the cutter, sir," said Jack; "but I can't make it out +how it comes from away there." + +No more could I; but determined this time, at all events, not to miss +our vessel, we pulled away directly towards the spot whence we were +certain the sound proceeded. + +"Give way, my lads, we shall soon be up with her," I shouted; and the +crew sent the boat flying through the smooth water. I kept looking out +on either bow for the cutter, expecting every instant to see her looming +through the fog; when, for the third time, a gun was heard, but in spite +of all our hopes and expectations, and almost against our belief, it +also sounded right astern, and further away than any of the others. I +was ready to cry with vexation. It seemed like the work of magic, and +as if a set of mischievous imps or spirits, like those on Prospero's +island, were employed in trying our tempers and patience. There seemed +no use in going on thus, to be constantly baulked; so I ordered the men +to lay on their oars, resolved to wait either till the mist cleared off, +or till we could devise some better means of finding our way to the +shore than we now possessed. Thus for an hour or more we floated +listlessly on the water. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +FALL IN WITH A WRECK--DREADFUL SCENE ON BOARD--MR. MARLOW AND HIS +DAUGHTER--ALICE MARLOW'S ACCOUNT OF THE VOYAGE--BRING THE SHIP INTO +HARBOUR. + +"Hillo! where does that come from?" I exclaimed, as the low deep boom +of a gun came rolling over the calm water. + +Another and another report followed, and then, as if affected by the +concussion, the mist on a sudden lifted a few feet from the surface, and +revealed, about three miles off, the hull of a large ship on which the +rays of the now setting sun glittered brightly for an instant, ere she +sank beneath the wave. It was sufficient to show us our position, and +we might easily have found our way towards the shore; but, as I was +about putting the boat's head in that direction, Jack observed-- + +"There's something wrong with that ship yonder, sir, or she wouldn't be +firing in the way she does." + +I listened attentively. There could be no doubt--those were +minute-guns, the well-known signal of distress at sea. We could do but +little good, probably; but what good we could do I determined to +attempt. My men needed no encouragement. The fact that +fellow-creatures wanted help was sufficient to nerve their arms. Had an +enemy been in sight, and had there been heads to be cracked, it would +have been much the same. Round spun the boat, and away they pulled as +hard as they could lay their backs to the oars. The breeze which had +cleared off the mist, had likewise got up the sea a little, and the +spray flew over our bows as we dashed through the dancing waves. Away +we went; the big sea-serpent could not have beaten us. Every minute the +low, dull sound of the gun reached our ears, growing louder and louder +as we drew nearer the ship. Her distress was evidently great. From the +somewhat irregular way the gun was fired, and from its tone, Jack +pronounced the ship to be a merchantman, as he remarked that minute-guns +from a man-of-war would have been far louder and more regular. The +mist, fortunately, did not again settle down thickly over the ship, so +that, although twilight was coming on, we could still distinguish her +whereabouts. As we drew near, we saw that she was of considerable size, +and that all her masts had gone by the board. We were evidently not +perceived, even though we had got close up to her, for she continued +firing as before. + +"Now, my lads, we'll let the poor fellows know that we are at hand to +help them," I exclaimed; and on this my men joined me in raising a right +hearty cheer, which must have given the people on board no unpleasing +notice of our approach. There was a pause, as if they were recovering +from their surprise; and then it was answered by a shout so feeble, that +it sounded more like the sighing of the wind among the crumbling walls +of some old building, than a cheer of welcome. It was now too dark to +distinguish any one, but I fancied that I saw the heads of several +people over the taffrail, as if eagerly watching us. We were soon +alongside, when some one attempted to heave us a rope, but it fell short +of the boat. We, however, hooked on to the main-chains, and, followed +by Jack, I was not long in scrambling on board. A seaman stood there, +holding a ship's lantern, which shed a feeble light around, where all +was wreck and confusion; and it besides exhibited more strongly his own +countenance, which looked haggard and emaciated in the extreme. The +greater part of the bulwarks, the spare spars, the caboose, and the +boats had been carried away,--indeed, the sea must have made a clean +sweep over her; and it seemed not a little surprising, from the +appearance of the deck, that any human beings should have remained, and +that the ship herself should have escaped foundering. Besides the man +who held the lantern, three equally wretched-looking beings came to meet +us. I observed that some others were lying on the deck, round one of +the chain-pumps, as if they had sunk down with fatigue; while two more +were stretched out alongside the only remaining gun, the report of which +we had heard. I thought to myself, Can those poor fellows be dead? but +I dared not ask the question. + +"You seem in a bad plight," I observed, as I looked round. + +"Bad enough," answered one of the seaman; "and if you don't bear a hand, +we shall have the ship sinking under us." + +"We'll do our best for you; but how can our boat carry all your ship's +company?" I asked, for I thought I saw other people moving aft, and +fancied that some must be below. + +"Oh, she'll carry all of us that's alive," returned the same +rough-spoken seaman. "But, sir," he continued, "we have two aboard here +whom we must get out of harm's way before we look after ourselves." + +"Where are they?" I asked. + +"Right aft, sir," he answered, leading the way along the deck. + +As I followed him, I passed two bodies stretched out at full length. + +"They'll never break biscuit again," observed one of the men. "We were +near thirty souls in all, and this night there only remain six of us +alive." + +There was no time just then to ask questions. The companion-hatch had +not been washed away, and as the seaman held up the lantern, its light +fell on the figure of a man kneeling on the deck, bending over the fair +face of a young girl, who reclined on a seat by the side of it. + +"Rouse up a bit, sir; there's help come when we didn't expect it," said +the seaman. + +The gentleman, for such I saw that he was, had not his voice proved it, +rose from his knees. "Heaven be praised, my child may yet be saved!" he +exclaimed, clasping his daughter in his arms, and scarcely appearing to +notice my presence. "Alice, dearest, bear up but a little longer; we +may once more hope to reach the shore." + +The young girl endeavoured, to raise herself, and feebly returned his +embrace. + +Then turning to me, he said, "You have arrived most opportunely. We had +well nigh abandoned all hope of escaping death. What do you propose we +should do?" + +"As the people on board seem to say that the ship may go down any moment +with slight warning," I replied, "I think, sir, the sooner you and the +young lady get into the boat, the better. We will follow you when it +becomes absolutely necessary. Meantime we must see what can be done on +board." + +I then told him that I belonged to a cutter, which could not be far off, +and that I hoped by daylight we should see her, and that she would come +to our assistance. + +The gentleman, on this, took his daughter in his arms and carried her to +the gangway. + +"How are the poor men who were so ill?" I heard her ask. + +"They are free from all pain," was the evasive answer; but it seemed to +satisfy her. + +We soon got them safely placed in the boat, in which I left two +boat-keepers, with orders to be ready to shove off at a moment's notice. +The rest of the boat's crew came on board to lend a hand to what might +be required. + +I then set to work to see what was best to be done. There was no time +to ask questions as to how the ship had got into her present condition. +My first care was to attend to the wants of the sick. The seaman who +had received us and my own people went round with me. Unhappily, we +found that most of the other poor fellows were beyond human aid. Three +only were still alive, verging on the portals of death. We fortunately +had a flask of spirits, a keg of water, and some biscuits in the boat; +of these I served out sparingly among the crew. The food had the effect +of speedily reviving them. I next took a lantern, and, accompanied by +Jack, went below to discover, if I could, how much water the ship had in +her. I was not quite comfortable during the time, for I thought she +might take it into her head to go down before we could regain the deck. +The water we found was over the cabin floors; but, as far as we could +judge, it was not gaining on her. Half of it might have got in while +the sea broke over the ship. The contents of the cabin, bedding, and +tables, and chairs, and crockery, and books, and clothing, were washing +about together. Returning on deck, we went forward. The forepeak was +much in the same condition. + +"She'll not sink yet awhile, sir," said Jack. "Hark, now! don't you +hear a bubbling sound right forward, there? Now, to my mind, if we were +to get a sail thrummed and brought across her bows, we might carry her +into harbour yet." + +"If you think so, we'll try it, by all means," I answered, feeling no +little pride at the prospect of saving the ship. + +No time was to be lost in setting about the work, if it was to be done. +I had only three men; and the four we found able to move about on board +were still too weak to be of much use. Officers there were none. I +shall have to tell a sad tale on that subject, by-and-by. We had no +little difficulty in getting at the sail-room; but, after much rummaging +about, we discovered a spare topsail, with which we set to work as we +proposed. What with searching for the ropes and getting the sail ready, +it took us an hour before it was brought under the ship's bows. +Meantime the water gained very slowly on us. It was nervous work, for +we could not tell at what moment the last bucketful might come in which +would send her to the bottom. + +"That will do, sir, I think," said Jack Stretcher, who, I must own, was +the prime mover. "The leak seems to suck in the sail, and we may now +try to clear her of the water." + +With a will we manned the chain-pumps, and after an hour's hard work it +became evident that we had materially lessened its depth. In the +meantime the little girl and her father, with the weakest of those we +found on board, had remained in the boat. + +"You may come on board again, sir; I don't think the ship is going to +sink this time," I sung out, as I looked down on them. + +At first the gentleman would not venture to quit the boat, for he could +not believe that the ship was not on the point of sinking. After some +persuasion, however, I got him and his daughter on deck, and we wrapped +her up comfortably, and placed her on the seat by the companion-hatch, +for the cabin was too damp for her to occupy. The sick men we placed on +the poop, with a sail stretched over them, to shelter them somewhat from +the night air. The dead were carried forward. We had no time, however, +to spare from the pumps; but, with the aid of the fresh hands, we again +set to for a spell, the gentleman helping, as far as his strength would +allow him. As may be supposed, I was curious to know who he was; and +while we were pumping away, I bethought me I would ask him his name. + +"You may call me Marlow," he answered. "I ought to have mentioned that +before." + +The reply made me fancy that there was some mystery or other, and my +imagination conjured up all sorts of romantic stories. "And that young +lady," thought I, "is Miss Alice Marlow." "Alice Marlow--Alice Marlow; +what a very pretty name," I kept repeating to myself, while my arms were +aching with the exertion of pumping. Fortunately it remained very calm, +or I suspect we should not have gained on the leak. Mr Marlow was +anxious to get on shore for the sake of his daughter, and would +willingly have abandoned the ship; but at the same time he was glad to +save some valuable property he had on board. All hands worked with a +will, spelling each other, till we were almost knocked up. I thought +the night the longest I had ever spent. We had no time for +conversation, so I was still ignorant of how the ship had been brought +into her present condition. At last the cold grey light of the coming +day appeared. I looked out in the hope of discovering the blue line of +the land on the northern board; but the dull, leaden sea surrounded us +on every side, fortunately, unruffled as a looking-glass. Neither the +cutter nor any other sail was in sight. We had given our own provisions +to the half-famished crew, and were becoming very sharp-set ourselves. +Some nutritious food had, I found--much to the credit of those on +board,--been reserved for the exclusive use of the little girl, and this +had been the means of preserving her life, notwithstanding all the +hardships she had undergone. Mr Marlow, overcome with fatigue, had +wrapped himself in a cloak, and lay asleep at his daughter's feet. Two +of the ship's crew had fairly given in, and dropped off also; but my own +fellows, urged on by Jack, worked away like Trojans at the pump. + +"Do ye see, lads, if we get this here craft into harbour, we shall make +a better job of it than of any prize we are ever likely to pick up in +the whole course of our lives; but if she sinks, why, do ye see, we +shall get nothing," he remarked, whenever he saw them inclined to flag +in their exertions; and each time he spoke, the water always seemed to +flow faster than before out of the scuppers. + +Our prospect was not a very pleasant one. We had a boat certainly; but +with any sea running she would scarcely carry the remnant of the crew +and passengers; and while the ship floated I would on no account desert +her. + +The beams of the sun, as he rose out of the ocean, fell on the little +girl's face. I had fancied her rather pretty at night, but I now +thought her very lovely. While my arms were resting I stood watching +her, when the dazzling light of the sun aroused her from her sleep, and +opening a very bright pair of blue eyes, she fixed them on me with a +look of extreme surprise. It may be laid down as a general rule that a +midshipman, especially an Irish one, does not take a long time to fall +in love, nor, it must be confessed, to fall out again--which latter, +taking all things into consideration, will be considered a very +fortunate circumstance. I, accordingly, instantly conceived a very +ardent affection for Miss Alice Marlow, and felt ready to go right round +the world, and to perform all sorts of prodigies for her sake. She +looked at me, and then around her, as if trying to collect her scattered +senses. + +"Where are we--where are we going?" she asked, in a very sweet and +musical voice. + +"We are in the Chops of the Channel; and we are going nowhere at +present, but we hope soon to be," I answered. "We must try to rig a +sort of a jury-mast, and if we get a little breeze from the southward, +we may hope to fetch Plymouth." + +The idea of getting up a jury-mast had only just occurred to me. + +Her voice aroused Mr Marlow. It was pleasant to see the way in which +the father and daughter greeted each other. I left them together, +offering up their thanks to Heaven for having preserved them to see +another day, while I went forward to propound my idea to Jack. He was +about to propose the same to me, the only want being the spars with +which to make the mast. A few remained, certainly, on deck, but they +were short and broken. On putting them, however, together, we found +that we might splice them so as to form a mast and a yard of sufficient +length to answer our purpose. All hands set to with a will, in the +hopes that a breeze might spring up from the southward or westward, and +blow us on to the English coast. The ebb, I found, had drifted us down +Channel, and the flood, now again making strong, sent us the way we +wished to go. As the sun also rose, and the mist which had so long hung +over the sea cleared off somewhat, we at length made out the land to the +northward, which we had no doubt was the coast of Cornwall. + +Things now began to wear a much more cheering aspect. We had to knock +off mast building, however, every now and then, to take a spell at the +pumps. Mr Marlow assisted us at either work to the best of his power; +and even little Miss Alice seemed very anxious to lend a hand, and, +though I own she could have been but of slight use, her presence +encouraged us to perseverance. It did me at all events. I have all my +life felt doubly energetic in the presence of a lady, and fancy, at all +events, that there is not a deed which I would not dare for the sake of +winning the smile of an amiable girl. + +At last we got something like a mast built, and lashed to the stump of +the foremast. We stayed it up, got a yard across it, and bent a topsail +to it, which we fortunately found below. This was but very little sail: +but it was all we could hope to be able to set, and without a wind even +that was of no use to us. + +The pumps, in the meantime, kept us fully occupied; clang--clang--clang +they went, till I thought I never should get the sound out of my ears. +Jack every now and then turned his eye over the smooth, glassy sea to +the northward, as if he observed some sign which I did not. Before long +he gladdened our ears by exclaiming, "Here it comes! We'll stand by, +sir, if you please, to hoist the sail." I went aft to the helm. A nice +fresh, laughing breeze came rippling and curling up briskly the hitherto +sullen waters. It struck us abeam on the larboard side. The sail was +hoisted, the ship answered her helm, and I steered her in the direction +in which I believed that Plymouth was to be found. + +As the binnacle had been swept off the deck, and the only compass I +could find in the cabin had been so damaged by water as to be of no use, +I had only the distant blue land to steer by. + +Our sail, fortunately, required but little attention, so that my whole +ship's company were at liberty to work at the pumps, which was very +necessary, as, whenever they relaxed in their efforts, the water again +rapidly gained on us. + +Miss Alice, being of no assistance to them, came and stood by me to help +me to steer the ship, which, I assured her, was very kind of her. + +As all danger appeared past, and the sun shone forth bright and warm, +her spirits revived. Her voice was very sweet and low, and I thought +that I had never heard anything more musical. + +"What is your name, little officer?" she asked, putting her hands on the +spokes of the wheel, and imitating my attitude as I stood on the other +side of it. + +"Neil D'Arcy, little lady," I answered, not quite liking the epithet she +bestowed on me. + +"Oh, I so much wished to know it; for papa and I are so very, very +grateful to you for coming to save our lives, and we can never thank you +enough," said she. + +"Oh, I have done nothing at all to be thanked for; I wish that I had," I +replied. "I wouldn't mind any trouble or danger to serve you; and I +would go right round the world for your sake, that I would." + +"It's very kind of you to say so," said Miss Alice. "And I know that I +shall like you some day very much--indeed I do so now--for the service +you have been to us; but tell me, Mr Neil D'Arcy, are you a captain of +a ship?" + +"No, I am a midshipman," I replied, modestly. + +"Is a midshipman higher than a captain?" she inquired, innocently. + +"Sometimes; when he's mast-headed," I answered. This seemed to satisfy +her; and I, not wishing to be lowered in her estimation, was anxious to +change the subject. I therefore said, "It seems very odd that though +I've been on board so many hours, and seem to be so well acquainted with +you, I do not know where you have come from, or how you got into this +terrible plight." + +"Oh, I will tell you all about it, then," she replied. "You must know +that papa has been a great merchant in the Brazils, where we have lived +almost since I can remember. Dear mamma died there; and if it had not +been for my sake, I believe papa would have died too. You cannot tell +how fond he is of me, for I have no brothers or sisters, and there was +no one else in that country for him to love. At last the doctor told +him he must come to England, so he took a passage in this ship, which is +called the _Poictiers_. There were some other passengers, and I had an +old black nurse to take care of me. At first we had fine weather, and +things seemed to go pretty well; but, sad to say, the captain was a very +tipsy man, and we, I believe, lost our way, and the wind blew against us +and kept us back a long time." + +"Oh, I see! the master got out of his reckoning, and met with a +succession of foul winds," I remarked. + +"I don't know, but I know we were very uncomfortable, and had very +little to eat, and what we had was very bad," she continued. "It was +very horrid, was it not? A fever also, which one of the passengers had +brought from Rio, spread among the people on board. Several of the +other passengers and many of the crew died of it, and among others, my +poor nurse Josefa. God was very kind, and saved dear papa and me. I do +not think the captain caught it; but he was always very tipsy, and now +was worse than ever. One night he fell into the sea and was drowned." + +"Drinking brought on _delirium tremens_, and in his madness he jumped +overboard probably," I remarked. "No wonder his ship was in so bad a +condition; but go on." + +"Both the mates died, and we were left without any officers. +Fortunately the crew were very steady, and behaved well; and at last the +fever went away, and those who were sick recovered. The carpenter was +the only person on board who had any idea how we should steer, so the +rest made him act as captain." + +"It was a mercy, under such circumstances, that you found your way into +the Chops of the Channel." + +"Where is that?" asked Miss Alice, naively. + +"Where we now are," said I; and I should probably have gone on to +explain the reason of the name, but that I was very anxious to hear more +of her account. As far as I could make out, three very anxious weeks +passed by while the ship remained in this condition, when, as they were +getting near soundings, a gale sprang up and drove her furiously before +it. "One evening," continued the little girl, "papa and I were in our +cabins, when suddenly the ship rolled over dreadfully on her side, and-- +most horrible!--the water came rushing down into them. At the same time +there was a frightful crash, and we heard sad shrieks and cries. Poor +papa flew into my cabin, and seized me in his arms, for he thought the +ship was sinking, so did I, and we wished to die together." + +"The ship had broached to, and had been thrown on her beam-ends, and the +masts had gone by the board," I remarked. "It was fortunate they did +so, or she would have been sent to the bottom to a certainty. When the +masts went the ship righted, and you saw there was a chance of escape." + +"I was too frightened to think anything just then," said she. "All I +know is, that papa, carrying me in his arms, found his way in the +darkness to the companion-ladder, and then up on deck. When we got +there, I wished that we were in our cabin again. We were in the midst +of high, black, foaming waves and bright flashes of lightning; and when +I looked up, there were no masts and no sails, but the deck was covered +with their broken remains. It was so very dreadful, I cannot talk more +about it now. I did not cry or faint, but I felt my heart beat very +quick as I clung to papa, while he held tight to the companion-hatches, +which, as you see, still remain firm." + +"But where have you lived all the time you have been on the wreck?" I +asked. + +"Oh, I remained where you first found me," she answered. "At night they +covered me up with cloaks and a sail, and in the daytime I was able to +walk about, for the sea, fortunately, was tolerably smooth. The kind +sailors also, though suffering much from hunger, I heard papa say, +brought me all I required to eat, which was not much, you may suppose." + +This was all about the shipwreck I heard from Miss Alice at the time. +It appeared that when the masts had been carried away, the mizen-mast +had hung on by some of the rigging, and by dragging astern had assisted +in making the head of the ship pay off. This caused her to drive before +the gale, and saved the decks from being swept by the seas, which would +otherwise have cleared them of every human being. As soon as all the +damage had been committed, the wind and sea began to go down, and by the +morning there was only a moderate breeze. The carpenter, however, +discovered that the ship had sprung a leak, and all hands were now +summoned to work the pumps; but weakened by disease and famine, and +overcome with fatigue, they were soon obliged to give up the almost +hopeless task. Three days of horror passed away without any ship coming +near them, while several of them died from sheer starvation. +Fortunately, at last they discovered some gunpowder which, being in tin +cases, was not spoilt, and with it they managed to fire the guns which +had attracted our attention. + +Miss Alice told me many more incidents, which I now forget. Our +conversation was interrupted by Jack Stretcher, who came aft. + +"Sir," said he, touching his hat, "I'm afraid we shall have to take to +the boat, for the people are almost all knocked up; and, do all we can, +the ship won't float much longer." + +"I'm sorry to hear that, for I should have liked to have got her safe +into harbour," I answered. "But I suppose there is no help for it." + +"We'll take another spell at the pumps before we give in," he replied. +"But I wanted to tell you, sir, that to my mind that poor gentleman will +be killing himself if he works away as he does; and as he is of no great +use to us, it would be better if he sat down and rested himself." + +On hearing this, Miss Marlow darted forward to her father, and seizing +him by the arm, tried to force him away from the pumps. He soon yielded +to her entreaties, and almost fainting with fatigue, came and sat down +aft. + +"Now, my lads," cried Jack to the men, who, one after the other, had +thrown themselves down on the deck, "we'll see if we can't keep the old +craft afloat till we get her into harbour." + +But no one responded to his summons. Just then my eye fell on the white +sail of a vessel appearing above the dark horizon right ahead of us. I +pointed it out to Jack. + +"It's the cutter, sir, to a certainty," he exclaimed, after scrutinising +it attentively. "Huzza! my lads, there's help at hand, if you will but +hold out an hour longer." + +The men, encouraged by his words and example, resumed their labours, and +again sent the water gushing through the scuppers. It was an anxious +time; for after all I felt that the sail in sight might not prove to be +the cutter, or she might be crossing our course and not see us. Our +last remnant of food and water had been served out, with the exception +of a biscuit, which I had kept for the little girl and her father; so +that all hands were very hungry as well as fatigued. I had tightened my +belt round my waist to serve me for my breakfast. I watched the vessel +as she rose higher and higher above the horizon; and, to my great joy, I +at length saw that she was, at all events, a large cutter, beating up +towards us. I called Jack to look at her again. + +"She's the _Serpent_, and no mistake," he exclaimed. "She'll be down to +us in another hour, if the wind holds. My doubt is if the ship will +swim as long," he added in a whisper to me; "but we'll do our best, +sir." + +"Let me know in time if the water gains much on us, that we may get the +young lady and the gentleman into the boat," said I. + +"Ay, ay, sir," he answered, as he went forward, and with a loud cheer, +resumed his labours. + +The minutes dragged slowly on; for, though I had no fear for our lives, +I was anxious to get fresh hands to keep the ship afloat. + +"Is that little vessel yours?" asked Miss Marlow, pointing to the cutter +as she approached. + +"Yes," said I. "I hope before long to take you on board her." + +"That will be very nice; for dear papa and I want to leave this dreadful +ship. You will carry us home to Old England, will you!" she said. + +"If the cutter makes us out, I hope to get you on shore this evening or +to-morrow," I replied. "But I am not quite certain that she sees us." + +She had just then tacked, and was apparently standing away from us. I +watched her eagerly. Again she tacked, and I was certain she saw us. I +steered towards her, and now, the breeze freshening, we rapidly neared +each other. She stood on, and passing under our stern, kept alongside +of us. + +"Hillo, D'Arcy, my boy, how did you get there?" hailed my uncle, as he +recognised me at the helm. + +"Fell in with her, sir. Pray send some fresh hands, for we are sinking; +and some prog, for we are starving," I shouted, in return. + +The cutter flew by us, and hove-to a short distance ahead. A boat was +lowered, and as we came up, she hooked on to our main-chains, and my +uncle stepped on board. I was thus speedily shorn of the honour of +command. As soon as I had introduced Mr Marlow and his daughter to +him, and given him a brief account of what had occurred, he invited them +on board the cutter, ordering me to take charge of them, and to send +Hanks with another boat's crew to assist in working the ship. He had +brought some provisions, which very soon restored my hungry people, and +enabled them to pull me and my charges on board the cutter, while the +fresh hands took their places at the pumps. Even when Miss Alice +discovered my unexalted position, she did not seem to esteem me the +less, for I had already, I rather fancy, established myself in her good +graces. I did my best to make her and her father comfortable in my +uncle's cabin; and Flitch, his steward, soon placed before them such a +breakfast as they had not seen for many a long day, to which I, at all +events, did not fail to do ample justice. The young lady appeared to +think that naval officers were very hungry mortals, as she saw +numberless slices of bacon and eggs disappear down my throat. + +"We have no lady's maid on board to attend on you, Miss Marlow," said I, +as I got up to leave the cabin; "but Flitch will put your berth to +rights; and if you'll follow my advice, you'll turn in and take a good +snooze, for you want it, I think." + +The poor little girl was almost falling asleep at table. Mr Marlow +thanked me for my good advice, which he said he and his daughter would +follow. + +When I went on deck I found that the cutter had taken the ship in tow, +and that we were running up Channel. My uncle soon came on board, and +praising me for my behaviour, said he should try and carry our prize +into Portsmouth. He was in high spirits, for he expected to get a good +round sum for salvage. The breeze held favourable, and in two days we +were steering safely through the Needles passage. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +ALICE AT DAISY COTTAGE--A BOAT'S CREW CAPSIZED--PICK UP DICKY SHARPE-- +OUR FRIENDSHIP COMMENCED. + +I may as well say that my uncle got a fair round sum for the salvage of +the good ship the _Poictiers_, and a very welcome addition to his year's +pay. Our passengers went on shore at Portsmouth, and as soon as we +arrived there, I thought I was to see no more of them, when, having +accompanied them to the door of the George Hotel, I was about to bid +them farewell. + +"What! we are not going to part yet," said Mr Marlow. "Come in, young +gentleman--come in." + +There was the usual bustle consequent on the arrival of a party at an +inn. It soon subsided. Rooms were selected, and we found ourselves +seated in a parlour, which looked doubly comfortable after the deck of +the dismasted ship and the small cabin of the cutter. + +"You will come and dine with us to-day, Mr D'Arcy; and I must beg you +to convey an invitation to your uncle," said Mr Marlow. + +As midshipmen are not always their own masters, I had to explain that I +would, if I could; though I did not think my uncle would refuse me +leave. I was not disappointed; and at six o'clock I found myself seated +at Mr Marlow's dinner-table, and opposite my Commander. I thought the +little lady, Miss Alice, still looked very much fatigued. + +"She is scarcely yet fit to perform the journey to London," observed her +father. "Still I am anxious to be there, and must also visit Liverpool +in the course of a few days." + +"If you will allow her to remain with Mrs O'Flaherty, I can answer for +my wife being most happy to receive her," said my uncle. + +To my great joy, though I was afraid of showing if, Mr Marlow at once +acceded to the proposal. + +"I will, then, bring Mrs O'Flaherty over to fetch her," added my uncle. +"You will, I suspect, agree very well, Miss Alice." + +"Indeed, my dear sir, you are laying me under a tenfold obligation," +said Mr Marlow. "All our connections are, I believe, in the North, and +in dreary London there is no one with whom I could leave the dear +child." + +I don't remember the rest of our conversation. I know that I discussed +a very good dinner; and that same evening we got under weigh and ran +over to Ryde, and my uncle went up to Daisy Cottage. The next morning +my aunt accompanied him on board, and we returned to Portsmouth. She +received little Alice, as I knew she would, most kindly, and before many +hours had passed they became great friends; and, to make a long story +short, Miss Marlow became an inmate for several weeks of Daisy Cottage. + +We were lying one day soon after this in Portsmouth Harbour, off Haslar +Creek, ready to start for the westward. It was Sunday. My uncle had +gone over to Ryde, and I was in hopes of getting across in the afternoon +to visit my aunt and her guest. I had turned out in full fig; and while +all the people were below dressing for muster, I walked the deck as +officer of the watch, with my spy-glass under my arm, looking out for +the signal from the flag-ship to make it eight-bells. I felt very +important, but I have reasons to doubt whether I looked proportionably +consequential. All the ships in the harbour and at Spithead ran up +their bunting at the same moment; and I had just belayed our signal +halliards when I saw a boat, crowded with seamen and marines, putting +off from a frigate lying right ahead of us. The tide was running strong +out of the harbour. A young midshipman was at the helm, and he did not +seem to have made due allowance for the strength of the current. The +consequence was that the boat drifted down some way below the intended +place of landing, and while he was putting her head up the harbour to +regain his lost ground, her keel struck the mast of a barge which had +sunk the day before, and which scarcely showed above the water. In an +instant over she went, and the people in her were spilt out into the +eddying, rushing tide-way. Some struck out for the shore, a few clung +on the boat, and others came drifting down helplessly with the current. + +So suddenly had the accident occurred, that I had not a moment to +consider what was best to be done, nor to call any one from below. +Fortunately we had a punt alongside. Casting off the painter, I jumped +into her, and shoved off to where three men were struggling, close ahead +of the cutter. I caught hold of one who was just sinking, and hauled +him over the bows, while the other two got in without my help. I looked +round to see what had become of the rest of the people. Two marines +were clinging to the keel of the boat, and she was on the point of +striking our stern, by which she would have been carried under our +bottom, when I sculled alongside and got the two jollies on board. By +the glance I had had at her just before, I observed that another person +had been with them, while, as I was getting in the three first men, a +cry for help had reached my ears. + +"Oh! sir, there's Mr --- gone, poor fellow!" exclaimed one of the +marines saved. "There he is, though!" + +Directly under the water, where he pointed, I saw a head of hair or a +bunch of seaweed, I could not tell which; but, on the chance of its +being the former, I sculled up to it. The sun shone forth brightly, and +I caught a glimpse of a human face convulsed with agony beneath the +tide. Twice it eluded me; but stretching out my arm, and almost going +overboard and capsizing our already over-crowded boat, I got firm hold +of a person by the hair, who, I saw, had a midshipman's patch on the +collar of his jacket. I had some difficulty in getting the seemingly +lifeless body of my brother officer into the boat. + +Seeing that there was no one else to be saved--for several boats had +shoved off from the shore and vessels at anchor near at hand to pick up +the rest of the people--I paddled my nearly sinking boat alongside the +cutter. Hearing my hail as I jumped into the punt, the crew had rushed +on deck, and were standing ready to hand on board the half-drowned +midshipman and the men I had been the means of saving. The latter were +none the worse for their ducking, except that their clothes were +wettish. + +"You'll want a clean shirt, mate," said one of our people to a Patlander +from the frigate. + +"Arrah! now didn't I put a dry one in my pocket this blessed morning; so +it will be all handy for me," he exclaimed, diving into the recesses of +his dripping peacoat. + +The midshipman, who was still insensible, was, by Hanks' advice, carried +down into the gun-room. We were unwilling to run the risk of the delay +which must have occurred had he been conveyed on board his own ship. + +"Bring a glass of hot grog; and let it be pretty stiff, steward!" said +Hanks, as we were engaged in stripping our patient and putting him into +my berth between the blankets. + +We then set to work to rub his body with a coarse worsted sock, the +first suitable thing which came to hand. Having got some of the salt +water he had swallowed out of his mouth, Hanks poured a little warm grog +into it instead. This, with the rubbing, had the effect of speedily +restoring animation. In a few minutes he opened his eyes, and tried to +sit up and look about him. + +"Hillo! where am I? I say, are the poor fellows all picked up?" he +asked, in a weak tone. + +I liked him at once for thinking of his men. + +"All right, mate," I answered; "no harm has come of the capsize, except +a few wet jackets." + +Just then, on looking round, I saw a man, who by his uniform I knew to +be a naval surgeon, standing near me. "So I see you've saved me my +work, gentlemen," he said, smiling. "You could not have acted better +than you appear to have done; and, thanks to you, we shall soon have him +all right again." + +"Thank'ee, Doctor, I've come round pretty well already," sung out the +midshipman. "But, I say, mate, I just want another glass of your stuff. +It's prime physic." + +The medico smelt the tumbler, which stood on the table full of grog, and +then felt the youngster's pulse and looked at his tongue. + +"You may take half a glass--it's quite enough for you, and then we'll +have you wrapped up in blankets, and carried on board," he answered. + +"Oh, thank'ee, Doctor, I'm very comfortable where I am, and my clothes +ain't dried yet; so if you'll let me stay here, I think it would be the +better for me," said the midshipman. + +The Doctor's objections, if he had any, were soon overruled; and, +telling the midshipman to return on board the frigate as soon as his +clothes were dry, he quitted the cutter. + +"What's your name, mate?" asked my new friend, as he was sipping his +glass of grog. + +I told him. + +"Mine's Richard Sharpe; but I'm mostly called Dicky Sharpe," he +answered. "Some of my messmates give me all sorts of names; but I don't +mind them. As long as they don't cob me, it's all very well. I'm a +happy fellow, and ready for all the ups and downs of life. I'm pretty +well wide awake, and know my duty, so I don't often get mast-headed. If +I happen to get a fall, I generally manage to pitch on my feet; and as +I'm some day or other to come into a fortune, I'm not troubled about the +future. If the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty give me my +promotion, it will be all very well; if not, why they'll have to +dispense with my valuable services, and the country will be the loser." + +I was highly edified by Master Dicky's philosophy, and I at once +conceived a great regard and respect for him. + +"Now, D'Arcy, my boy," he continued, in his free and easy tone, "it's +stupid work lying here between the blankets; so if you'll just give me +the loan of some of your toggery till mine are dry, I'll sit up at table +and crack a bottle of wine with you." + +I had to remind him of the early hour, and to confess that wine our mess +did not possess, but that he should have some breakfast and hot tea, +which would be better for him, and that he should be welcome to my +clothes. + +While he was seated at table, Hanks, who had gone on deck to see the +medico off, returned. "Well, D'Arcy, I told him how you had saved the +youngster and the other men," he said. "It will be a feather in your +cap, my lad, and you deserve to wear it." + +"What!" exclaimed my volatile young friend, grasping my hand, while the +tears came into his eyes, "you saved me from drowning. On my word, I'm +very much obliged to you. I shouldn't like to have become food for +fishes just yet. I'd rather eat a few dinners off them first." + +"Oh, faith, I could not have done less if you'd been only a sheep or a +pig," I answered, laughing; "so you've little to thank me for." + +"I suppose, though, even a sheep or a pig would have tried to show their +gratitude, unless you had intended to turn them into mutton and pork +directly afterwards," replied Dicky Sharpe. "So, D'Arcy, I must look +upon you as my friend and preserver; and I just wish, when you can get +leave, that you would come down and see my governor and mother and +sisters. They won't make much of you, won't they, that's all." + +I told him that I should be very glad to accept his invitation if I +could; but at the time I was thinking that my aunt and Miss Alice would +admire the feather Hanks said I might wear in my cap more than anybody +else. I never met a merrier or more contented fellow than Dicky Sharpe. +I was quite sorry to lose him when his clothes were dry and a boat came +alongside to take him on board his ship, the _Cynthia_, What was my +surprise to receive by her, at the same time, a note from the captain of +the frigate, inviting me to dine with him on the following day, stating +that he wished to thank me for the presence of mind I had displayed in +saving the lives of one of his midshipmen and several of his people. + +"I'm glad to hear it," exclaimed Hanks. "It shows your talents are not +hid under a bushel; and now get away over to Ryde with that note in your +pocket, and explain its meaning in the best way you can." + +I jumped into a wherry just then passing, and in less than an hour +landed at Ryde Pier, whence I found my way up to Daisy Cottage. My aunt +was delighted to hear my story, which, I flatter myself, I told with all +the innate modesty of an Irishman. Alice, I thought, blushed her +approval most sweetly; and my uncle congratulated me warmly. I spent a +very pleasant evening, some of the time walking with Alice on the shore, +and resting under the trees, which come almost close down to the water's +edge. I found that I could not dine with Captain Bruff, as we were to +sail next morning for the westward; so I was obliged to be content with +the empty honour of the invitation; and, I dare say, my absence did not +break his heart. I was more sorry to miss seeing Dicky Sharpe again, as +I should have liked to have had another palaver with him; and before our +return the _Cynthia_ would probably have sailed. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +A CHASE--A PRIZE--CAPTURE A FRENCH SMUGGLER--OUR PRISONER'S POLITENESS-- +DO NOT TRUST A GREEK, EVEN WHEN POLITE. + +At the hour I was asked to dine with Captain Bruff we were running out +at the Needles, with a fresh breeze and a thick, drizzling rain, which +called pea-coats and sou'westers into requisition. We cruised about for +three or four days without seeing anything suspicious; not a tub afloat, +nor a craft with a smuggling look about her. At last we found something +to give us employment. One evening a mist settled down over the water, +which, though there was a good breeze, was perfectly calm. Although the +night was in no ways dark, yet the density of the fog prevented our +seeing beyond the bowsprit end, or even so far. It was just such a +night as a smuggler delights in. The cutter was on her old ground, off +Portland Bill. We were slipping through the water at the rate of some +five or six knots an hour, when Stretcher, who was standing close to me, +exclaimed, "Ah! see there, sir; there's a craft of some sort right away +to leeward, trying to steal off from us." I looked, and could just +distinguish the shadowy form of a sail through the mist. The Commander +was called, and the cutter was instantly kept away in chase. Jack +pronounced her to be a wherry; but I thought her something much larger. +The wind was from the southward, and she, choosing what was probably her +best point of sailing, made for the English coast. She sailed well; but +we kept her in sight, for daylight had just broke, and the mist had +partially cleared away. As soon as my uncle came on deck he ordered a +shot to be fired wide of her, to make her heave-to. She paid no +attention to it. + +"Fire another, Stretcher, right into her this time, and we will make her +show her quality," said he. + +The mists had now cleared off sufficiently to show that she was a +wherry, though rather a small one. The shot went through her foresail, +but still she held on. She was heavily laden, and her crew must have +seen that her chance of escape was small, if not impossible. To render +this still more difficult, it was every instant growing lighter and +lighter. There were numerous sharp eyes on board the cutter fixed on +her, and we now perceived her crew heaving the tubs overboard as fast as +they could. They fancied, probably, that we could not see them. There +were no weights attached to them, so they floated; but as we had no time +to stop and pick them up, we noted carefully our course as we passed +them, so as to be able to find them again. + +"Fire away at her, my lads, till she heaves-to," cried my uncle, seeing +that she still held on. + +"Surely she'll not get away from us," I remarked to Jack. + +"Not so sure of that, Mr D'Arcy," he answered. "Now she's got her +cargo out of her, should the wind fall on a sudden, and the fog come on +thicker, she may contrive to hide herself away in it before we can get +our boats out." + +The fog deceived us as to her true distance from us, for after the +first, none of our shot struck her, though that mattered nothing, for +the breeze freshening, we were now coming up with her hand over hand. + +"Lower your canvas!" shouted my uncle, as we got near. + +Her people thought it wise to obey, to avoid the shot, which could not +now well miss its aim. She was next ordered to pull alongside, which +she immediately did; but there was not a symptom of a cask or keg of +spirits in her. She had five hands in her. They were desired to come +on board. One of them acknowledged himself the skipper. + +"We want to know why you chased and fired at us, sir," he said, in the +most innocent manner possible, addressing my uncle. + +"For having contraband goods on board," he answered. + +"Lord love ye, sir--we have contraband goods aboard, sir!" replied the +skipper, with a feigned look of surprise. "We was just taking our +pleasuring, and didn't know but what you was an enemy, or a pirate, or +some chap of that sort, so we runned away, sir, do ye see." + +"Very well; you'll remain on board the cutter for the present, and +perhaps I may prove to the contrary," said my uncle. + +The smugglers were compelled, with a very bad grace, to go below; the +wherry was dropped astern, and the cutter stood back over the ground we +had before crossed. Before eight-bells we had picked up fifty tubs of +brandy. As plenty of our people could swear that they saw a number of +tubs thrown overboard from the wherry, there was no doubt of her being +condemned. When our prisoners perceived that their escape was +impossible, they seemed to screw themselves up to bear their reverses +like brave men. Though somewhat down in the mouth, they apparently felt +no ill-will, but were obedient and respectful. Luck was against them. +They had tried to smuggle, and we, as in duty bound, had stopped them. +The worst they had to expect was a few months' residence in Winchester +gaol. My uncle had each of them down separately in his cabin, to try +and obtain any information they might be inclined to give, especially +about Myers, whom he was most anxious to get hold of. From one of them +he learned that a large lugger was to run across the following night but +one, from Cherbourg; and he resolved to intercept her. A course was +immediately shaped for that port. He had explained his plan to Hanks, +who was to take the wherry with four hands and to keep a bright look-out +for the lugger, and to board her if he met her, as soon as she was +half-way across Channel. I obtained leave to accompany him, for though +I could not be expected to do much while blows were being given and +taken, I was considered a good hand at steering; and my uncle was glad +to let me see as much service as possible, holding the opinion that in +that way only could I become a good practical officer. + +When we had got about mid Channel between Saint Catharine's and +Cherbourg, the cutter was hove-to and the wherry hauled up alongside. + +"Success attend you," said my uncle, as Hanks and I stepped into the +wherry. "Mind, Mr Hanks, keep a sharp look-out for the lugger; but do +not let anything else with a smuggling air about her escape unexamined." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Hanks, as we shored off. "I hope to get hold of +the lugger, and Myers in her." + +We had in the boat provisions for four or five days; cloaks, blankets, a +compass, and lantern; with three muskets, and pistols and cutlasses for +each person. Our directions were to cruise about for three days, should +the weather remain moderate, and then to rejoin the cutter off the +Needles. We started away with a light breeze and a smooth sea, and +stood for a short way towards Cherbourg, while the cutter returned over +part of the course she had come. The weather was very pleasant, and the +sunbeams sparkled cheerily on the rippling wavelets caused by the +meeting of the tide and wind, as we ran through the water at the rate of +some five or six knots an hour. Hanks lighted his favourite short black +pipe, such as in Ireland we should call a "dodeen." He never indulged +in a cigar, except one was given him. While he leaned back, with his +legs stretched along the seats, I steered. I used to think it very hard +that he would never let me smoke, but I have since been much obliged to +him. + +"This is what I call comfort, Neil," said he. "One of the smooths of +life; but it won't last, so let us enjoy it while we can. Before long +we may be getting broken heads, with a gale of wind into the bargain." + +So he smoked his pipe, took ever and anon a sip from the rum-bottle, +sang a snatch from a song, and joked and talked away till the sun began +to hasten his descent into the ocean. We were all the time keeping a +look-out for any suspicious craft. + +At last the sails of a lugger appeared against the evening sky as she +got clear of the land. We made sure it was the vessel we were in search +of, and prepared for action. + +"D'Arcy, do you stay at the helm, and keep the wherry alongside, while +the rest of us jump aboard," said Hanks. "Stretcher, you must knock +down the fellow at the helm; I'll grapple with the skipper, if they show +fight." + +On came the lugger. I thought it very unlikely if Myers was on board, +from his well-known character, that he would fail to show fight; indeed, +it seemed much more probable that he would do his best to knock us all +on the head, and heave us overboard again, should we manage to set foot +on his deck. However, I said nothing, and felt just as eager for the +fray as if such an idea had not crossed my mind. + +Hanks had been taking a steady look at the lugger through his spy-glass. +"Well!" he exclaimed, "hang me if I don't think, after all, that she's +one of those French _chasse marees_. Our lugger hasn't yet come out." + +"D'ye think, sir, that they chaps was deceiving of us?" said Jack. +"They be up to all sorts of dodges." + +"Oh, hang it, no; I hope not," answered Hanks, with considerable doubt, +notwithstanding, in his tone. "The Commander cross-questioned them a +great deal too close for them to deceive us. We shall see the right +craft by-and-by." + +We were soon convinced, however, that the lugger in sight was a _chasse +maree_. She hauled her wind, and stood along shore. Had she observed +us she would probably have had no little suspicion of our business out +there. + +After watching for the lugger to no purpose for three hours or more, the +moon rose out of the dark water, and gave us a wider range of vision. +Hour after hour passed away, and still she did not appear. We began at +last to be afraid either that the smugglers had deceived us, or that she +had slipped out and passed us unobserved. As our blockade might be +somewhat long, Hanks divided the crew into watches; he taking command of +one, and I of the other. When it was my turn to sleep, I rested as +soundly as I usually did in my own berth, though I dreamed that I had +caught sight of Myers, and that I was chasing him round and round the +world with a pair of ten-league boots on my legs. How he kept ahead of +me I could not tell. Hanks awoke me to take some breakfast, and then +let me go to sleep again, for I was so drowsy that I could not keep my +eyes open. While I was still more asleep than awake, I heard Jack's +voice exclaim-- + +"That's her, sir, I'll take my davy." + +"Yes, that's her, and no mistake, this time," added Hanks. + +I was on my feet in a moment, and looking towards the French coast, I +saw a lugger about two miles off, running down to us. All hands were on +the alert, and every preparation was made to ensure the success of our +enterprise. We hauled our wind, and steered a course so as to intercept +her, without, if possible, exciting the suspicion of the smugglers till +we were alongside. As the sea was perfectly smooth and the wind light, +we should have no difficulty in getting on board. Hanks, Jack, and I +alone showed ourselves; the rest were ordered to lie down in the bottom +of the boat. The lugger, we could see, was heavily laden, and her +general appearance betokened her to be French. + +"Remember, my lads, we shall have to give and take some hard blows; but +sharp's the word, and she'll be ours before her people know what we are +after," exclaimed Hanks, in an inspiriting tone. It was an exciting +moment. As we drew near, we could count some twelve men or more on her +deck. We were by this time well over on the British half of the +Channel. + +"Keep her away a little, D'Arcy," said Hanks. The smugglers had been +watching us without apparently suspecting our intentions. "Now, hard +up!--ease off the mainsheet!--hook on!--follow me, my lads!" + +As Hanks uttered the last words we had run alongside. The next moment +he leaped over the bulwarks of the lugger on to her deck, and grappling +with her captain, a Frenchman, tripped him up. Jack at the same time +knocked down the man at the helm with a boat's stretcher. There was a +mighty deal of jabbering and swearing in French, and some round oaths +uttered in English, when, as Hanks was working his way forward, some of +the crew, plucking courage, made a rush, and, seizing him, bore him +overboard, fortunately on the larboard side, on the same which the +wherry was: small thanks to the smugglers on that account. We were +going through the water, it must be remembered, though not very quick. +Hanks made a desperate attempt to clamber on board again by the lugger's +forechains, but missed his aim; then, giving a glance of defiance at the +rascals, he kept himself afloat while he sung out, "Hillo, D'Arcy, lend +me a hand here!" + +Directly I saw what had happened I seized an oar, and thrust it out +towards him. He grasped it as we passed by, and quickly clambered into +the wherry. The moment after, with the stretcher, which he had never +let out of his grasp, he was again on the lugger's deck, belabouring +both right and left those of the crew who still resisted. As none of +the smugglers had seen him get out of the water, they were completely +taken by surprise, and without striking another blow, sung out for +quarter. + +"You don't deserve it, you blackguards, for daring to resist a king's +officer in the execution of his duty," cried Hanks, flourishing his +stretcher. "But, forward with you, there, and don't move till I give +you leave." The Frenchmen did not understand him, but the English +smugglers did, and his action showed what he desired. The crew were +soon penned up in the fore part of the vessel, with the exception of the +captain and the man Jack had knocked down, who were sitting on deck +rubbing their eyes, hardly yet recovered. Scarcely three minutes had +passed since we ran alongside, and the lugger was ours. I was still in +the boat, waiting for orders. + +"Come on board, D'Arcy," said Hanks at length, looking over the side. +"We'll lower the wherry's sails, and tow her astern." + +I gladly jumped out of her when we had stowed her canvas and made fast +the painter. Our prize turned out to be a valuable one, for she had not +only spirits, but silk and lace on board. Her papers clearly proved +also that these goods were intended to be smuggled, so I remember Hanks +saying; but how that was I did not trouble myself, nor do I to this day +know. The smugglers, as well as they might, were certainly sulky; and +Hanks, as a gentle hint for them to behave themselves, stationed a man +with a double-barrelled pistol in his hand close to them, while they +stood huddled together on the little forecastle. I took the helm, while +the sails were trimmed and a course shaped for the Needles. In a short +time a breeze sprang up, and we spanked along at a furious rate. The +French skipper had now recovered, and getting on his legs, with a polite +bow, expressed a hope, in tolerable English, that we would make +ourselves at home on board his vessel. + +"No fear of that, monsieur," answered Hanks. "Cool, is he not, D'Arcy?" + +"You no have taken dinner, sare," continued the skipper. "I will tell +de cook to make dinner ready." + +"Not a bad idea, monsieur," said Hanks. "Which of you chaps is cook?" + +The Frenchman pointed to the fellow whose head Jack had nearly broken. +He spoke a few words to him, and the man--having got up and stretched +himself to ascertain, I suppose, that no bones were broken--dived below, +and presently returned with a white cap and apron, and several pans and +dishes, and began busying himself in the mysteries of his art. Again he +dived, the fire in the forepeak burned up brightly, and savory smells +began to ascend therefrom. In about an hour the skipper, with another +bow, invited us into his little well-like cabin aft, where a collation, +such as an epicure might envy, was placed before us. What were its +component parts I did not inquire. They may have been cats and frogs, +but neither Hanks nor I were in any way particular, and no dreadful +surmises crossed my mind. An Englishman would have broached a keg of +brandy, but our friend, Monsieur Didot, placed a bottle of +fine-flavoured claret and a variety of first-rate liqueurs before us, +not that either Hanks or I was well able to appreciate the former. + +"Come, monsieur, hand us out a bottle of some real stuff or other; I'm +not fond of your pink vinegars," exclaimed Hanks, as he tossed off a +tumbler of the claret. "This isn't bad for washing the dust out of a +fellow's throat on a hot day, but there's no life-blood in it." + +The skipper, with a twinkle of his eyes which betokened mischief, though +unfortunately Hanks did not perceive it, produced a large square bottle, +thick at the top, from which he poured out a glass of first-rate +Scheidam. Hanks smacked his lips as he tasted it. + +"Take care, Neil, my child," said he, "you don't swallow much of that +stuff; it's too good. I'll just smack at another glass, and then we'll +go on deck out of the way of temptation." + +The Frenchman looked mightily disappointed when he saw that Hanks was +not so easily taken in as he doubtless expected he would be. I happened +to look round as we left the cabin, and saw him shrugging his shoulders +and making hideous grimaces, and no very complimentary gestures at us. +Before this little incident I had thought him the pink of politeness. +He wore love-locks and rings in his ears, and was dressed with the most +accurate French nautical precision; in fact he looked thoroughly unlike +an English seaman. In his manners he was a very mild man, and certainly +he had nothing of the ruffian about him. I cannot say as much for his +crew, some of whom were very ill-looking dogs. It would have been wiser +in Hanks to have handcuffed them all, including the skipper and cook +(though we should thereby have gone without a good dinner), and +stationed a sentry with a loaded musket over them, with orders to shoot +the first who should attempt to escape. + +The French skipper, when he found that his plan to obfuscate the brains +of the knowing old Hanks had totally failed, went and sat himself down +forward among his people, apparently in a fit of the sulks. + +Hanks, who was in high spirits at the success of our enterprise, walked +the deck with me, looking out for the high land of the Isle of Wight +above the Needle rocks, which we were approaching. The breeze had +increased and kicked up a little sea, and we were running fast through +the water. + +"D'Arcy, my boy, this is a fine haul, isn't it?" exclaimed my superior, +rubbing his hands. "Credit and prize-money together. Both good things. +When I was a youngster I thought something about the first; but now, do +you see, Mrs Hanks and I have a fancy for t'other. It keeps the pot +boiling, do ye see? I should think your uncle, by this time, was much +of my way of thinking, though he's a round number of years younger than +I am." + +"I'm not so sure of that," said I. "My uncle thinks a good deal of +gaining honour, and I believe he'd rather take an enemy's frigate after +a hard-fought action, than capture a Spanish galleon without a blow." + +"Well, it's the proper spirit," said Hanks, with a sigh. "The revenue +service don't nourish it much, though. Take my advice; get out of it as +soon as you can; or," he continued with much feeling, "it will spoil you +otherwise, depend on it." + +We continued walking the deck for some time longer. We then sat down to +rest, watching the coast, from which we were about three miles distant. + +Jack was at the helm, and the rest of our people were giving a hand to +the sheets, as the wind had veered a little to the westward. + +The smugglers were seemingly fast asleep, with the exception of the +skipper, who had lighted a cigar to console himself under his mishap. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +THE TABLES TURNED--CONSOLE MYSELF WITH THE FIDDLE--SET THE FRENCHMEN +DANCING--CAPTAIN DIDOT--MY PLACE OF IMPRISONMENT--ESCAPE--GREATER +DANGER--FRIGHTEN MY FRIENDS. + +Everything was going on as tranquilly as possible. Hanks was sweeping +the horizon with his glass, looking out for the cutter, when suddenly, +without the slightest warning, I saw the sentry's pistol knocked out of +his fist, and he himself hove headlong into the sea. Away flew the +skipper's cigar, and up he jumped as lively as a cricket, and, with two +of his men, threw himself upon Hanks, who, taken unawares (his eyes +engaged in his telescope), was bundled overboard. I tried to catch him +by the leg, but his old blue trousers tore in my grasp, and a big +Frenchman dealt me such a blow on the head that I was for an instant +stunned. + +When I came to my senses, I saw the wherry dropping astern, and the +Frenchmen, with pump-handles and boat-hooks, striking at the poor +fellows they had hove overboard, with the foul intent of drowning them. +I observed that somebody was in the wherry, for her sails were being +hoisted, and I was bolting aft for the purpose of jumping into the water +and swimming to her, when the skipper caught me by the arm. "Stay, my +little fellow," he exclaimed; "we don't want to hurt you, and don't want +witnesses to this work. You must go with us." + +While he was speaking, some of the smugglers had got hold of the muskets +which our people had brought on board, and presenting them at the +wherry, snapped the locks. Fortunately they were not loaded, or the +priming had fallen out, and the villains were saved from the +perpetration of further crimes. + +The men in the water swam towards the wherry, and I judged from her +movements that those in her were engaged in picking them up. I sang out +and struggled in vain; but the Frenchman held me fast, and finally, to +save himself further trouble, lifted me up by the collar and shoved me +down the companion-hatch into the cabin, closing the slide over me. +There was I, like a mouse caught in a trap. At first I burst into a fit +of tears, more from rage and indignation at being outwitted and +surprised by the Frenchman than from the prospect in store for me, which +was not, however, very pleasant. I might expect to be kept a prisoner +in some out-of-the-way place in France, or perhaps, to be shipped to the +other side of the globe and to be unable to return home for years to +come. I made ineffectual attempts to get on deck to see what had become +of Hanks and our men; but as I could not move the slide, I was obliged +to sit down quietly in the cabin. My melting mood was soon over. +"Better now," thought I to myself. "I won't let these big blackguards +of Frenchmen see me down-hearted, any how. For the honour of old +Ireland and the name of D'Arcy, I'll put a bold face on the matter," and +I began to sing. + +There was a row on deck, and a great deal of jabbering; and the little +vessel heeled over to the breeze; but I had no means of discovering what +was taking place, nor where we were going. + +The only light let into the vessel was through a bulls-eye in the deck, +so that at first I thought I was shut up in darkness. As, however, my +sight got accustomed to the glimmer, I discovered a fiddle and bow hung +up against the bulkhead. + +"Come," thought I, "I'll show the froggies that, though they may shut me +up, they can't damp my spirits in a hurry," and seizing the instrument, +I struck up an Irish jig. It was the most jolly tune I could recollect, +and seldom failed to move the heels of all who heard it. I played away +for some time without any notice being taken of my music; then I heard +one fellow begin to shuffle away overhead, and then another, and +presently it appeared as if the whole crew were toeing and heeling it in +fine style. Then there were loud fits of laughter; and afterwards the +slide was withdrawn and the skipper descended into the cabin. + +"Vell, you are, _bon garcon_, one merry fellow," he said, laughing. +"You make good use of my violin." + +"I am fond of music, and play when I can," I answered in an indifferent +tone; "but I'm tired now, and intend to go to sleep." + +"Well, but I have come to take you on deck to play to my people," said +he. "They are pleased with you, and it will be better for you if you +do." + +"What! you ask me to play for the amusement of the men who have been +ill-treating my shipmates, and murdering them, for what I know to the +contrary," I answered, indignantly. "No! I played for my own +amusement, and do not intend to play any more." + +"Your shipmates attacked us first; and besides, my little man, we have +not murdered them, or done them much harm either, except depriving them +of your company, and of a few muskets and pistols," he answered. "Take +my advice: be as obliging as you can; they will be civil to you in +return." + +"Well, monsieur, I believe you are right," I replied. "If they really +have not hurt my brother officer and our men, I will fiddle for them as +long as they like." + +Saying this, I followed him on deck, where I seated myself on the +companion-hatch; and as I played away, in spite of the tumbling of the +little vessel in the heavy sea running, all the Frenchmen, including +Monsieur Didot, kept skipping, and jumping, and whirling about, hugging +each other like bears, and shouting with glee at having saved their +cargo from the clutches of the revenue people. We were standing, +close-hauled, towards the French coast. I looked anxiously for the +wherry, for I thought Hanks would have followed; but she was nowhere in +sight. One of the Englishmen was at the helm, and the other two were +forward. They were sulky brutes, and seemed much more bitter against me +than were the Frenchmen. Whenever I ceased playing, the skipper gave me +a hint to go on again; and there sat I, one of His Majesty's officers, +scraping away on an old Cremona for the amusement of a set of smugglers +and outlaws. The scene struck me as so ludicrous that I burst into a +loud fit of laughter till the tears began to stream down my cheeks. I +fiddled all the faster, till the delight of the Frenchmen knew no +bounds; and as a proof of their regard, some of them came up and +actually almost hugged the breath out of my body, calling me a brave +_garcon_, a jolly _garcon_ and an ornament to my country. This fun +continued till we made the land, about dark. Some time afterwards, I +found that we were running into a small harbour, with a pier on one side +and a lighthouse on it. Its name I could not learn; but I supposed it +was somewhere to the eastward of Cherbourg. I was trying to make out +the look of the place, when the captain, touching me on the shoulder, +said, "Go down below, _my boy_; when I want you I will come for you." +There was that in his tone which showed me that it would be useless to +dispute his orders; so I returned to the cabin. Finding a berth with +some bed-clothes in it, I crept in, and coiling myself away, was soon, +fast asleep. I was awoke after some time by the skipper's voice. He +was holding up a lantern, and looking round, seemingly much surprised at +not seeing me. He laughed as I poked my head out of my crib. + +"Ah, _mon petit_, you make yourself at home wherever you go," he +exclaimed. "But get up; you must come with me, and I will find a worthy +lady who will take good care of you for some time to come." + +I answered that I was very much obliged to him, but that I wanted to +return home as soon as possible. + +"Ah, that cannot be," said he, in a quiet tone. "I am sorry to +inconvenience you; but you will allow that it is better to be kept a +prisoner than to have been thrown overboard as food for the fish." + +"Much obliged to you, monsieur," I replied. "I cannot dispute your +reasoning; so just be good enough to tell me what you want me to do." + +"To get up and come with me," said he; "and listen, my young friend,--if +you attempt to run away, I will simply blow your brains out. I don't +wish you any harm, as I have proved; but necessity compels me to be +explicit." + +I did not know whether or not he was in earnest; but as it is dangerous +to trifle with a man who has the power to put so unpleasant a threat in +execution, I thought it wisest to obey him. I accordingly followed him +on deck, when he took my hand and led me along a plank which was thrown +from the vessel to the shore. We walked through the narrow street of a +village odoriferous of fish, and then out into the country, which in +agreeable contrast smelt of fresh grass and flowers. Proceeding along a +road which, by looking at the stars overhead, I judged ran inland, we +reached a farm-house, standing a little back from the road. The +smuggler knocked with his fist at the floor, but no one answered, nor +was any light seen through the windows. We waited some further time +without receiving any answer to our summons. + +"_Morbleu_! I forgot the hour; they have all gone to bed. I must knock +again," said he, giving several thundering blows on the door. + +At length a female voice asked who was there. + +"It is Captain Didot and a friend; open quick, good Madeleine," he said +in French. "We are tired and hungry and sleepy, and wish to be inside +instead of outside your door." + +"Ah! it is you, Monsieur Didot, I know full well," answered the voice. +"I will let you in." + +We were, however, kept some time longer, and at last the door opened, +and a young woman made her appearance, dressed in a high white cap and +short petticoats, dark woollen stockings, and wooden shoes, but very +neat and trim. I had never before seen a woman in so odd a rig. She +smiled a welcome to my companion, and shutting the door behind us, a +good deal of talking took place; but though I could manage to make out +Captain Didot's French, I did not understand a word she said. We then +went into a nice clean parlour, with a red-brick floor, and sat down and +talked again. Suddenly, up jumped the lady in the high cap, and after +an absence of ten minutes or so, returned with a tray covered with +eatables and drinkables. I instinctively drew my chair to the table at +the sight without waiting to be bid, whereat our hostess smiled, and +observed that the _pauvre enfant_ was hungry. Captain Didot took the +hint and helped me; nor did he forget himself; and setting to work, we +made a very capital supper. + +"I must now be off," observed Monsieur Didot, as he came to an anchor; +"but before I go, I must give you a caution, Monsieur Englishman. You +are not to make your appearance outside these garden walls for the next +fortnight. If you attempt to get away, ill-will come of it. Remember +that madame here will take care of you, and you may have as much fruit +to eat and wine to drink as you like; and now, good night, my friend. +You hear, do you not?" + +I did hear; but I was so very sleepy that I could not recollect enough +French to answer him. While he continued talking to madame, I dropped +off asleep in my chair, and for long in my dreams I heard the buzz of +their voices. When I was at last awoke, by feeling a hand placed on my +shoulder, the smuggling captain was gone. + +"Come," said the good-natured woman; "you want rest, my boy;" and taking +a candle, she led me into a neat little room with a comfortable bed in +it, where I very soon forgot myself in slumber. + +The next morning, when I turned out, I found that I was an occupant of a +comfortable farm-house, with a garden attached, full of fruit-trees and +vegetables. An old man and his wife made their appearance, and I +discovered that the young woman who had received us the previous night +was their daughter. While we were at breakfast, I heard the old couple +complaining of Captain Didot for having brought me there. They +evidently fancied that I did not understand French. + +"He will be getting us into trouble with his tricks, one of these days," +remarked the old lady. "Ah! Madeleine, my daughter, it would be much +wiser in you to have nothing more to say to him." + +Mademoiselle looked very glum, as if she did not like the counsel. I +pretended to be deeply absorbed, discussing the fresh eggs and other +eatables placed before me. + +"Ha, ha!" thought I to myself; "I see how the wind blows. They will not +dare, then, to keep me a prisoner longer than I like to stay. Well, I'm +very comfortable here at present; so I will spend a day or so with the +good people." + +I saw that I was narrowly watched wherever I went; but I did not forget +the French skipper's advice to take advantage of the fine fruit with +which the garden abounded. When Madeleine saw that I was apparently +contented, we became very good friends; and I must own that I spent the +day not unpleasantly. I began, however, to reflect that I had no +business to remain where I was if I had the power of getting away; so I +turned in my mind how I could best make my escape. I guessed that to do +so would not be quite so easy as at first appeared; for I had observed a +labourer continually near me, and I remarked that whenever I went to a +distant part of the garden his occupation invariably took him in the +same direction. + +"Somehow or other I must manage to make a run for it," thought I to +myself; but when I came to examine the locality, I found that the garden +was surrounded with fields and ditches; and though I might swim across +the latter, I should certainly have been caught and made very +uncomfortable and dirty into the bargain. I therefore gave up that +idea, and amused myself in the best way I could. I helped Mademoiselle +Madeleine in her poultry-yard and dairy, looked in on the old lady +employed in her culinary affairs, walked over the farm with the old man, +and chatted in my somewhat unintelligible French, with every one I met. +Happening to go into my own room in the evening, I found the window +open, and looking out, I saw that the height from the sill to the ground +was not more than from twelve to fifteen feet. + +"Ho, ho!" thought I; "it will be a foolish bird which can't get out of a +cage like this; but I will bide my time." I hurried away, and ran +downstairs, where I was soon after summoned to supper. I made myself +quite at home, and did not fail to do justice to the meal. The +household went to rest early, and as soon as I fancied every one was +asleep I got up from my bed, where I had thrown myself, and reconnoitred +the ground. To avoid the risk of laming myself by a jump, I tied my +sheets together, and secured them to the leg of a table, which I managed +to jam between the shutter and the wall so as to prevent its slipping; +and placing my hat tightly on my head, and buttoning up my coat, I let +myself quietly down to the ground. I was afraid of awakening some one +in the house should I run, as I felt inclined to do; so I crept softly +away, till I had got to some distance, and then took to my heels, as +fast as I could go, in the direction of the town or fishing village +where I had landed. After going for some distance, I thought that I +must have missed my way; but the murmur of the water on the beach +assured me that I had taken the right direction. At last I found myself +among some straggling cottages, my nose helping me to find the locality +I was in search of. My first care was to look out for the lugger, to +avoid her. Much to my satisfaction, she was not there, neither was any +one moving on the quay; so I walked about till I found a shed somewhat +less odorous than its neighbours, where I determined to take up my abode +till daylight. Here I quickly made myself a nest with some ropes and +spars--albeit not a very soft one,--and fell fast asleep. Having the +necessity of being alert on my mind, I awoke just as dawn was breaking, +and, jumping up, I ran down to the quay. The flapping of a sail told me +that some one was astir, and, looking round, I saw at the end of the +quay a cutter preparing to get under weigh. + +"Cutter ahoy!" I sung out, running the chance of anybody understanding +me. "Where are you bound for?" + +"Hillo; who are you?" asked a voice in English. + +"I want a cast across the Channel," I answered. + +"Well, come aboard, and we'll see what we can do for you," said the same +speaker. + +I accordingly ran along the quay, and jumped on the cutter's deck just +as her last warp was cast off. I had a rough Flushing coat buttoned up +close round me; and as I had on also a low tarpaulin hat, I thought I +looked the character I wished to assume. The people on board were +likewise too busy to afford me more than a passing glance as I sprung on +deck. A rough, weather-beaten old fellow, with one eye, who, from the +orders he issued, I knew to be the master, stood at the helm. His crew +consisted of seven hands--strong, active-looking fellows,--many more +than the craft required to work her. This circumstance at once made me +suspect that she was not over honest. + +"Faith," thought I to myself, "this isn't the best place in the world +for a revenue officer to find himself in." + +But it was now too late to get oh shore again. The headsheets were let +draw, the main eased off a little, the peak hoisted up, and, with a fair +breeze, the cutter glided out of the harbour. + +"Well, youngster, you were not long in making up your mind about +coming," said the old skipper, scrutinising me, I thought, pretty +narrowly from head to foot. "What place are you bound for, eh?" + +I told him Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. + +"Well, we'll put you ashore at the back of the Wight; I suppose that +will do for you?" he answered, in a good-natured tone. + +I thanked him for his offer; and we went on talking very amicably for +some time, till we had run some fifteen miles from the coast. I think, +from the first, the old man had some suspicions of me; but I had acted +my part well, and I fancied that I had succeeded in lulling them. + +Just as I thought all was right, as ill-luck would have it, I happened +to want to use my pocket-handkerchief, and in searching for it I +incautiously threw open my jacket and exposed my uniform buttons to +view. + +In the first place, the sort of boy I pretended to be would not have +possessed such an article as a pocket-handkerchief; and I ought to have +remembered that the sight of the crown and anchor would not be +acceptable to persons of my friends' vocation. + +"Why--hullo, youngster! who are you, I should like to know?" exclaimed +the old skipper, seizing me by the arm, and giving me no gentle shake. + +"He's a spy, surely, and no mistake," cried several of the crew. "Heave +the young shrimp overboard." + +"Overboard with him!" exclaimed the rest in chorus. "We'll teach the +Government to send their whelps to hunt us out in this fashion." + +I own that I began to feel very uncomfortable; for the threatening looks +of the fellows were in no way calculated to lessen my apprehensions. +Now my feelings always prompt me to try and escape from a dilemma by at +once candidly confessing the truth. I therefore acknowledged that I +belonged to a revenue cutter, and explained what had occurred. + +"I only obeyed the orders of my superior officers in attacking the +lugger," I observed, in as bold a tone as I could manage to muster. +"Her people carried me off against my will; and, as I wanted to get +home, I came aboard you; but I never thought of doing you or any of your +friends harm, if I could help it. How am I to blame, then?" + +"Never listen to his chaff; heave him overboard, I say," growled out one +of the men. + +"Thank you all the same, master," said I, looking him as boldly as I +could in the face; "but I'd rather stay aboard till I can get put +decently on shore, and not have to swim there, as you would have me do." + +"Swim! By God, you wouldn't swim long, I expect," said the ruffian. + +"Faith, I've no fancy for trying, either," I answered. "If I intended +treachery, do you think, masters, I should have put myself in your power +as I have done? just answer me that." + +"Well, now, I don't think as how you would," exclaimed the old skipper. +"You're a brave lad anyhow, and deserve a better calling than trying to +injure poor fellows who are just doing their best to make a honest +livelihood for their families." + +"Well," said I, seeing the favourable impression I was making, "I'm +going soon to be appointed to a frigate on a foreign station, so there's +little chance of my falling in with you again. If you kill me you will +be hung, that's certain, for murder is always out some day or other." + +"Don't be coming any of your Irish blarney over us," growled out a +sour-looking ruffian. "If you're a spy, overboard you go, that's all." + +"I'm no spy," I answered in an indignant tone. "All I ask of you is to +put me on shore anywhere at the back of the Wight, and I'll give you my +word none of you will be the worse for my being here." + +The skipper gave an approving nod as I pleaded for my life. Some of the +ruffians seemed to give way. + +"Just tell me, then, what harm can a small chap like me do you?" I +continued. "How do I know what you've got on board, or what you're +going to do with it. Be good-natured fellows now, and if I can ever do +you a good turn, I will." + +"Oh, come, let the little chap alone; there's no harm in him, I'm sure!" +exclaimed one of the smugglers, slapping me on the shoulder. "Cheer up, +my lad; we'll do you no harm." + +The others soon came round, and shaking me by the hand, declared that I +was a brave little cock, and they only wished I was one of them. + +A coarse but plentiful dinner was soon afterwards placed on the deck, +the chief part of it appearing in a square iron pot, round which we sat +as merry as crickets; and there was I hob-nobbing with a band of +smugglers as if we were the best friends in the world. + +Towards evening we made the land, no cutter being in sight. I had a +sovereign and a few shillings in my pocket, which I offered the old +skipper, but he would receive nothing; and, as good as his word, as soon +as it was dark, he ran in and put me on shore not far from Shanklin. As +there was some sea on the beach, all hands got not a little wet, but +they took it in good part, and wished me a hearty good-bye as I set off +to clamber up the cliffs. I at length found a path which took me into +the high road; as soon as I reached it I began to make the best of my +way towards Ryde. My legs ached, but I ran and walked as fast as I +could. I had not proceeded far when I heard the sound of wheels coming +along the road. A cart soon overtook me. + +"Is this the road to Ryde?" I asked. + +"Yes, it be," said the driver. "Be you going there?" + +"If I can manage to get as far," I answered. + +"Well, if you be tired, jump in, and I'll gie ye a lift; I be going most +of the way," replied the good Samaritan. I obeyed with alacrity, and +took my seat by his side. He was one of the substantial farmers who +abound in the island. I gave him an account of my adventures, at which +he was much amused; nor did he seem to have any very great antipathy to +my smuggling friends. + +"Lord bless 'e! they wouldn't have hurt your little fingers," he +remarked, when I told him how the crew of the cutter had threatened my +life. He would not part from me till he had deposited me at the gates +of Daisy Cottage. The lights were shining through the drawing-room +windows. My aunt was sitting working, and sweet Alice Marlow had a book +before her. They both looked very sad, I thought. I tapped at the +window, which opened to the ground, to call their attention, and grinned +a "How-d'ye-do" through the glass. No sooner did Alice see my face, +than letting her book fall, she gave a loud scream, as if she had seen a +spectre. + +"Hillo! what's the matter?" I exclaimed, shaking the handle of the +window. "Let me in, aunt, please; I'm not a thief or a ghost, on my +word." My aunt, more courageous than the little girl, had risen from +her seat, and my voice assuring her of my identity, she opened the door, +and I very soon convinced her and Alice that I was a living being by +kissing them both, and then devouring every scrap of supper she set +before me. I found that, from Hanks' report, they had been led to +believe that the Frenchmen had knocked me on the head; and were mourning +for me accordingly. My aunt was, I verily believe, employed in making a +black gown to put on for my sake. My uncle had sailed again to look +after the lugger, so that I was able to enjoy the height of a +midshipman's felicity, a holiday on shore. Three days afterwards the +_Serpent_ came back, having re-captured the lugger and two hundred tubs. +I saw Captain Didot, who was very angry at finding that I had escaped, +and vowed he would pay me off in a different coin, if he ever caught me +again. I told him he might, if he ever did. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +HANKS AND MY GHOST--HANKS' LEARNING--MYERS AGAIN--ESCAPES ONCE MORE-- +APPOINTED TO A FRIGATE--PREPARE FOR SEA--MY SHIPMATES--SAIL FROM +ENGLAND--MESSRS. TRUNDLE AND CHISSEL--DICKY SHARPE AND A TALE OF A +BEEF-BONE. + +On reaching Portsmouth, I took a boat and pulled off to the cutter, +which was lying out in the middle of the harbour. Hanks was walking the +deck as I came alongside, but something having attracted his attention +in the direction of Gosport, he did not observe me. Handing the boatman +a shilling, I jumped on board unnoticed, and just as Hanks turned round, +I stood before him, with my hand out ready to grasp his. For an instant +the colour forsook his cheeks, and he stared at me without speaking, +rolling his eyes round as if he saw my wraith. + +"Why, Hanks, old fellow! don't you know me?" I exclaimed, bursting into +a loud laugh at his extraordinary way of receiving me. My voice +convinced him that it was not my ghost which was offering to shake hands +with him. + +"What, D'Arcy, my boy! is it you, indeed, come back to us after all?" he +cried, seizing both my hands in his own well-hardened paws. "I'm glad +to see you, that I am, lad; we thought those scoundrel smugglers had +done for you. It would have been just like them, to kill the smallest +of the lot. But how did you escape? Come, tell us all about it. We've +had another brush with that rascal Myers: we are certain it was him. He +had the daring to fire into us; killed one of our people, poor Tom +Darling, and wounded two, getting off into the bargain. But we will be +even with him before long, and when we do catch him, we'll pay him off, +that's all. Well I'm glad you escaped, that I am; but come below, and +let us hear the whole story." + +In this way the kind-hearted fellow ran on. Having been welcomed by +Growl, Scriven, and the rest of my shipmates, I went to report myself to +my uncle, who was in his cabin. He seemed truly glad to find that I had +not become food for fishes, though he did not exhibit his pleasure +exactly in the same way Hanks had done. When I was dismissed by him, I +dived down into our berth, and there, over a glass of his too-favourite +beverage, old Hanks listened to an account of my adventures. "It was +the Cremona did it, after all!" he exclaimed, slapping my shoulder. "I +told you it would stand you in good stead. Stick to it, my lad, and +you'll become as great a man as that old chap Orpheus, I've heard tell +of, who made the beasts jig when he fiddled. Who the gentleman was, I +can't say, except that he was one of Julius Caesar's generals, wasn't +he?" + +I must observe that Hanks' knowledge of history, both ancient and +modern, was somewhat limited and confused; indeed he was impressed with +a notion that Julius Caesar, for whom he had a high respect, came over +to England somewhere in the last century, and having taken possession of +the country, was in his turn thrashed by William the Conqueror. Of all +subsequent events till the time of Nelson, he professed total ignorance. + +"Ah, Nelson was the chap who made the English!" he used to exclaim in +triumph; "and as for Nap, whom they talk so much about, what was he to +him, I should like to know. Why, the little Frenchman couldn't put a +ship about in a steady breeze, I'll warrant; and as for handling her in +a gale, I doubt if he could have done it even if his crown depended on +it." + +Hanks had no very great respect for science either. + +"What do I care for your algebra and your trigonometry?" he one day +observed. "I take my John Norie and my Gunter's Scale, and I work out +my day's work as well as any man; and what more should I want to know, +tell me? Your mathematicians are all humbugs in my opinion, and that's +a fact." + +I mention these little traits in Hanks' character, because I shall now +have to bid him farewell for a season. He was a worthy fellow, +nevertheless; not without sense of a practical sort; a curious specimen +of a school now rapidly becoming obsolete. + +Soon after this we were once more on our old cruising ground, to the +westward. We had been a week or more knocking about, when it came on to +blow very hard from the south-west. My uncle was not a man to be +frightened by a capful of wind; so, getting our storm-sails, we stood +off shore, and faced the gale like men; for this was just the weather +smugglers would choose to run across Channel, when they think no one +will be on the look-out for them. Towards evening, however, it came on +to blow harder than before; so that at last we were obliged to up-helm +and run for shelter into harbour; but just as we were bearing up, a sea +struck the cutter, carried away our stern-boat, and stove in one of +those on our quarter. In this squall the wind seemed to have worn +itself out; for before we had made the land it suddenly fell, and by +daylight a dead calm came on, followed by a dense fog. When it cleared +somewhat, we found close to us another revenue cutter. Her commander, +Lieutenant Simmons, came on board and told my uncle that he had been +directed to cruise in search of the _Kitty_ lugger, commanded by the +notorious smuggler Bill Myers. "He has been adding wholesale murder to +his other performances," observed the lieutenant. Two weeks ago, a boat +from the _Hawk_ cutter fell in with him at night. He gave her the stem +and cut her in two. Three of her crew climbed up the lugger's bows, but +were instantly knocked on the head and hove overboard. The rest were +drowned, with the exception of one who clung to the wreck and was picked +up by the cutter the next morning. This account made us more eager than +ever to catch Myers. Another cruiser was sent down to assist us in our +search; but, though for several weeks we kept a sharp look-out after +him, he managed to escape us; and neither he nor the _Kitty_ was again +heard of on that coast. I was destined, however, to fall in with him +again in another clime. + +We were not sorry to get back to Portsmouth after all this knocking +about. The first person I met on going on shore was Larry Harrigan. He +had seen the cutter coming in, and had hurried down to the Point to meet +me. + +"Oh, Master Neil, I've good news for you," he exclaimed, as I jumped out +of the boat and found myself in his arms, for he still looked on me as +the baby he had so carefully watched over. "You are no longer to be +kept in that tub-hunting service, saving his honour your uncle's pardon; +but you are to go to sea in reality, in a fine, smart frigate, which +won't be letting the grass grow under her keel, I'll warrant." + +"That's good news, indeed, Larry; where did you learn it?" I asked. + +"From no less a man than the Captain himself, and that's good authority, +you'll allow," he answered, in a tone of no little satisfaction. "He's +a friend of your honoured grandfather's, and was a midshipman and +lieutenant on board two ships I served in. He has been lodging in my +house for some months back; and when he heard who you were and who had +brought you up and given you your sea-learning, says he, `Larry, you've +made a seaman of him, that I'll answer for. The lad shall go along with +me when I get a ship, for his grandfather's sake and yours too, old +friend.' Those were his last words, Master Neil, they were indeed; and +he's kept his promise, as I knew he would." + +This very satisfactory information Larry communicated on our way to +Southsea. It was confirmed soon afterwards by my uncle, who followed me +up to Larry's house. He, as I suspected, had also made an application +in my favour, and had just received a letter from Captain Poynder--which +was, I found, my future commander's name,--desiring me forthwith to join +his ship, the _Harold_, which was, however, still in the hands of the +dockyard people. Though I would rather have gone afloat at once, this +was, I found, a great advantage, as I had thus an opportunity of seeing +her masted, rigged, and fitted for sea. Officers are often glad to +shirk this, for it is far from pleasant work, and Portsmouth is not the +most delectable of residences. I should advise all midshipmen not to +miss an opportunity of seeing a ship fitted out, if they possibly can. +They will find it will save them an immense deal of after trouble, and +prove the quickest way of gaining a knowledge of their future home. +Meantime Larry was as busy as a bee in getting my kit in order, aided by +his better half; and few midshipmen ever obtained so good an insight at +so cheap a rate. I got leave to run over to Ryde for a couple of days +to wish my aunt and young cousins good-bye. I asked after Alice Marlow. +I was in hopes of hearing that she was coming back to Ryde, that I +might see her before I sailed. I blushed as I mentioned her name, and +had a curious palpitation about the region of the heart. My aunt smiled +as she replied, "I am afraid, Neil, that I shall not be able to get my +young friend to come here again for a long time. Mr Marlow writes me +word that he proposes going abroad and taking her with him. But cheer +up; she will return here some day, I hope; and when you came back from +one of your voyages, you will find her with us, perhaps. I should be, +indeed, very sorry if I did not expect to see the dear little girl +again." + +My aunt was the kindest creature alive; and I was very certain that she +regretted that Alice was not there to bid me farewell. I wished her and +my cousins good-bye. They all cried a little, and so, in truth, did I; +for they were the only creatures I had to love in the world. I, +however, quite recovered my spirits before I got half-way across to +Portsmouth. My uncle came several times on board the frigate, and, had +I been his own son, he could not have taken more interest in me than he +did. As for Larry Harrigan, he was on board every day, and all day +long, following me about to show me how everything was done, and why it +was done. The first-lieutenant was a very worthy, kind man; and as soon +as he had heard Larry's history, he used to talk to him and encourage +him to come on board. Greatly to Larry's delight, he gave me leave to +spend an evening sometimes at his house, and very pleasant evenings they +were. The officers now began to join fast. Lieutenants, mates, and +midshipmen were every day arriving. We soon had our full complement of +men, and having got clear of the dockyard people, were ready to go out +to Spithead. + +I was now to turn over a new page in the history of my career. Although +I had gained a considerable amount of nautical knowledge, my experience +of life was somewhat limited; but henceforth it was to be enlarged and +extended, I trusted, over the greater part of the surface of the globe. +For the present, the lands of the myrtle and vine were to be our +destination--the shores of the Mediterranean; and the man must indeed be +difficult to satisfy who is not pleased with their varied and glowing +beauties. Our gallant ship; our berth, so long our home; my messmates, +as well as our superior officers and men, merit description. I will +touch on each of them in their turn. First I will speak of our berth, +which was in truth somewhat different to the abodes of the naval heroes +of Great Britain of the rank of midshipmen, with which the public are +familiar. Few, perhaps, are like it, though after we had been a year or +two at sea it had sadly been shorn of its glory. Its brilliancy had +departed, and its polish was no more. We happened to have a caterer, +who liked to have everything very natty about him, and who had +accordingly taken on himself to spend a few pounds in having our berth +neatly done up. The bulkheads were painted of a salmon colour; there +was a gilt and blue moulding; a neat oilcloth over the table and +lockers; and at one end a buffet filled with plated dish-covers and +dishes, tumblers and wine-glasses, forks and spoons, and China teacups; +while two swing-lamps hung from the deck above. It afforded a contrast, +certainly, to the times of the old school, when a purser's dip was stuck +in a black bottle, and battered tin cups served alternately for grog and +tea and soup; but though the language of the occupants of our berth was +somewhat more refined, and our opinions more liberal, I will venture to +say that the spirit to will and to do deeds of daring burnt not the less +brightly in our bosoms than in those of midshipmen of former times. +While I was at Ryde the ship's company moved out of the old _Topaze_, +alongside of which we were lashed, into the frigate; and the day after +several mates and midshipmen, with somewhat aristocratic pretensions, +joined us. I got a hint, when I came back from Ryde, that they were +rather inclined to look down upon me as having been a cutter's +midshipman. + +"They shan't cut me, at all events," said I to myself. So as soon as I +got on board I went below, and taking the fiddle old Hanks had given me, +I sat myself down on my chest, and began playing away with all my might +a merry Irish jig. + +"Hillo; who is the jolly fellow out there?" asked one of the new mates +from the berth. + +"Oh, that's the Irish midshipman, D'Arcy," answered Onslow, a mate who +had sometime joined. "Give us another tune, Paddy, that's a good boy." + +On this I forthwith struck up "Saint Patrick's Day in the Morning," and +half a dozen other Irish airs. + +"If no one objects, I'll sing, too, mates," said I, when I had played +out my tunes. + +Without waiting for an answer, I locked up my fiddle, and taking my seat +at one end of the berth, I trolled out, with a very fair voice, several +songs which used to delight old Hanks and my other shipmates in the +cutter. The effect was evidently good. I showed my wish to please; and +though afterwards a few attempts were made to snub me, I took them all +in good humour, as if they were intended as jokes, and finally +established myself as a favourite with the mess, and I may, I believe, +honestly say, with nearly everybody on board. + +As soon as possible we went out to Spithead, and joined a large squadron +under command of Sir Peppery Portfire. We mustered altogether some +eighteen sail of vessels or more, and a very warlike appearance we made. +We were bound, we knew, for the Mediterranean; and we all looked +forward with no little satisfaction to our visit to that most favourite +of stations. + +Our powder was next taken on board, with a further supply of stores, and +more midshipmen. Among the latter, who should climb up the side but my +quondam friend Dicky Sharpe. He did not see me, as I was aloft at the +time, and before I came on deck, he and his traps had gone below. When +my watch on deck was over, I descended to our berth, where I found him +busily employed in cramming his new messmates, and endeavouring to raise +himself to a high position in their estimation. + +"You see, my good fellows, it isn't everybody has got a Minister for a +cousin, and a Lord of the Admiralty for an uncle," he remarked in a +consequential tone, as I got to the door of the berth. + +"And I don't think you have either, Dicky, my boy," said I, laughing. +"But I am very glad to see you, notwithstanding; but don't be after +bamboozling us jolly greens now." + +At first he attempted to look very indignant at the attack made on his +veracity; but no sooner did he recognise me than his good feelings got +the better of his love of trying to make himself of importance; and +jumping up, he seized my hand and wrung it warmly. + +"Why, D'Arcy, is it you yourself, indeed?" he exclaimed. "I am +delighted to find you here, I am indeed. Why, messmates, if it hadn't +been for D'Arcy I should have been food for fishes; I should, on my +word. Think what a loss the service would have had." + +A loud laugh from all hands followed this remark, though I verily +believe Dicky spoke in all gravity; but the fact that I had been the +means of saving his life thus came out. It raised me, I had afterwards +reason to know, in the good opinion of all on board; and Dicky himself +gained many friends by the feeling way in which he spoke of it. I was +very soon seated alongside him in the berth, and our tongues were +rattling away as fast as they could wag. + +Dicky's propensity to brag, amusing as it was to others, was continually +getting him into scrapes. We had an old mate, Adam Stallman by name, +who was proportionably as tall, grave, and silent, as Dicky was little, +merry, and loquacious. + +One day Dicky having thrown a biscuit at me, which, unfortunately, hit +Adam's nose, the latter looked at him sternly. + +"Sharpe, you are small," he exclaimed; "but cobbing was invented to make +midshipmen grow, and I intend to make you grow." + +"Then, faith, Stallman, I suspect your mother began cobbing you as soon +as you were born," answered the undaunted Dicky. + +Adam's hands had been busy under the table with his handkerchief; now, +suddenly leaning forward, he grasped Dicky by the crop of the neck, and +before he had time to expostulate, he had him in such a position that he +could apply with the greatest effect the instrument of torture he had +manufactured. As all the oldsters sided with Adam, the youngsters dared +not interfere; and poor Dicky was held in that undignified position +while other handkerchiefs were knotted, and before he was cast loose he +received a cobbing which made him treat ever afterwards all the oldsters +with abundant respect. But Dicky, if he did not forget, did what was as +wise, he forgave; and I do not think he nourished the slightest ill-will +against his cobbers. + +Of Captain Poynder I have spoken. He was a worthy man and a good +officer; and if he had a fault, it was not being sufficiently strict. + +Then comes Johnny Du Pre, our gallant First. I have still an +affectionate regard for Johnny, though many an hour have I spent at our +masthead at his instigation; while Dicky, promoted by the like +authority, was taking sights at me from another. We were sent there not +without cause, I own, and still the amount of moral turpitude which +gained us that elevated distinction was not such as to make me blush as +I think of it, or to make me anxious to conceal it from the public. +Neither as a first-lieutenant nor as a man was Lieutenant Du Pre +perfect; but who is there with whom one cannot find a fault. He was +kind-hearted, a fair seaman, and anxious to do his duty. + +But our second lieutenant, Basil Vernon, was still more worthy of +notice. Refined and elegant both in person and manners, he appeared, at +first sight, to be what is called a fine gentleman; but kind-hearted, +brave, and generous almost to a fault, a first-rate seaman and officer, +a better fellow never stepped, nor one more beloved by all classes +afloat, as well as by all who knew him on shore. I soon became very +much attached to him, and would have gone round the world to do him a +service. Many times did he save me from punishment when I specially +deserved it. He was indeed very far from being one of those fine +fellows whom no ordinary mortals can approach; for he had a heart tender +as a woman's, and he would as readily sympathise with the grief of the +smallest middy, as with the sorrow or suffering of the roughest tar on +board. He was a sincere Christian too, and, what was more, was not +ashamed of his Christianity. He exhibited his principles in his +practice--in the daily duties of life,--till he taught the most profane +and profligate to respect him, if not to adopt them. I wish there were +more Basil Vernons in the service. Thank Heaven! there are some shining +lights to lighten us in our darkness--leaven, which gradually, though +slowly, may, by God's providence, leaven the whole mass. + +Our third lieutenant, Hugh Summers, wrote poetry, talked sentiment, and +dreamed dreams, and required a flapper to remind him when to put the +ship about at times; but when once aroused into action, he was as +energetic as any one, and had plenty of resources on an emergency. + +The master, surgeon, and purser, were also very good fellows in their +way, and if not shining ornaments, were no disgrace to His Majesty's +service. + +At last the pay-clerks came on board, and paid the ship's company. A +fine bright morning saw the signal flying from the admiral's ship for +the fleet to weigh and work out to Saint Helen's. There was a nice +working breeze, a blue sky, and the water just rippled enough to reflect +with more dazzling splendour the rays of the glorious sun, as he shed +them almost along the path we were to pursue. It was, in truth, a +beautiful sight; and considering the number of ships--some eighteen sail +or more, all beating out together within so narrow a channel,--it was +surprising that much damage was not done, especially when it is +remembered that the crews of half the ships had never been to sea +before, and that the ropes were stiff and new, and did not work well. +One ship, I believe, carried away her flying jib-boom against the stern +of another; and with that slight loss, and a small expenditure of abuse +from the respective crews, who thought each other to blame, we reached +Saint Helen's. The next day we were fairly off to sea; the fleet formed +in two lines, the White and the Blue Squadrons, which Sir Peppery +manoeuvred with much skill, to the no small trouble of the signal +midshipmen. The second day, Ned Lenny, the young gentleman on board the +_Harold_ who held that office, vowed he must leave the service and go +into the Dragoons, if it was to be carried on in that way; though the +following morning he thought better of it. He gained, however, the +_sobriquet_ of the Heavy, which, as he was a cocksparrow of a fellow, he +retained ever afterwards. Captain Poynder was not inclined to save +either officers or crew till we got into good order, which we +accordingly did our best to accomplish. + +After cruising for six weeks, we were ordered to Spithead to complete +our provisions, water, and stores; and then, having taken some +passengers on board, made all sail for our station in Mediterranean. + +We had not been long at sea when Dicky and I, wearying of the daily +routine of duty, began to play pranks which were calculated to bring us +into trouble. The boatswain, who rejoiced in the name of Timotheus +Trundle, was one of the most extraordinary of his class, though not a +bad boatswain for all that. His appearance in foul weather was that of +a short lump of big coats and trousers, with a small red pumpkin growing +out of them. On a nearer approach, one discovered in the said pumpkin a +pair of red, ferrety eyes, an excrescence for a nose, and a hole into +which his whistle fitted for a mouth, and on either side of it, on a +Sunday morning, two very high shirt-collars, they towards the end of the +week gaining a darker hue and an outward curve. On the top of the +pumpkin was a round Spanish hat, the fluff of the catskin which composed +it being long enough to make a dozen beavers. He wore, with +considerable pride, round his neck a handsome silver call and chain. +But with all his oddities, his enemies--and he had a few--were obliged +to confess that he knew and did his duty as well as any man in the ship. +Among his other qualifications, he was a bit of a sea-lawyer; not of +the cantankerous sort, however, for it might be more justly said that he +preferred sitting on the judicial bench, and he was ever ready to settle +all disputes either by arbitration or the rope's-end; indeed, in most +cases he had recourse to the latter, as being the most summary mode of +proceeding. When his duty did not require his presence on his own +territory, the forecastle, he was fond of taking a walk on the +main-deck, alongside the carpenter's bench, for he was of a social +disposition, and delighted in what he called `rasheral' conversation. + +Now, Ichabod Chissel, our carpenter, was another of those heroes of the +tongue, who pretend to know everything, and never fail in a story for +want of a little invention. By his own crew, who looked up to him and +esteemed him for his sterling qualities, he was considered a first-rate +politician. The two officers were tolerably good friends in general; +but a very slight thing would make them fall out, though they as +speedily patched up their quarrels again. + +One day there was a light breeze and a smooth sea, and Trundle, not +expecting to be wanted, had repaired to the main-deck, where Chissel was +superintending his crew at work. Dicky Sharpe and I happened to be +near, and observing that they were both more than usually excited, we +drew closer to see the fun going forward. + +"Well, that was a storm as fierce as ever I did see," remarked Chissel. +"Why, there was a thunderbolt as big as six of my fists put together, +fell right through the decks, and out through the ship's bottom; and if +I hadn't been there to plug the hole, we should all have gone to Davy +Jones' locker, as sure as fate. You was there, Trundle, and you know, +old ship, that I speak true." + +"I was there! Yes; but I know you speak a hanged lie, if you say that," +exclaimed Trundle. + +"What's that you say?" shouted Chissel, highly indignant at being told +he lied before all his crew, though he doubtless would have cared very +little about the matter, had the polite remark been made when the two +were alone. + +Just then Mr Summers, who was the officer of the watch, sung out, +"Hands about ship! Where's the boatswain?" + +"Never in his station," observed Chissel, as Trundle, call in mouth, was +making his way forward. "And very little use when he is there," he +added, either thinking the boatswain would not hear him, or caring very +little if he did. + +Trundle caught the words just as he was going up the fore-ladder, and +though he could not just then take his pipe from his mouth to utter a +retort, he gave a fierce look with one of his ferrety eyes, which showed +that he acknowledged himself deeply in his messmate's debt. His pipe +sounded more shrill than usual, as he could not give any other vent to +his feelings. + +"There'll be a row before long between those two heroes, just you mark +that," said I to Dicky, as we both hurried off to our stations. + +"Ay," said he, giving me a wink; "and I think I can put a spoke in their +wheel to help them along." + +It was near twelve o'clock, the ship being put about, the decks cleared +up, and grog served out preparatory to dinner, when the boatswain made +his appearance before the carpenter, his anger in no way appeased. + +"What's that you were saying about me, Mr Ichabod Chissel, I should +like to know?" he exclaimed, in an irate tone. + +"Why, Mr Trundle, no man likes to have his ferocity (veracity?) +doubted, and if you goes for to affirm that I'm a liar--I don't mince +matters, you'll understand me,--why, all I've got to say is, that you're +the biggest speaker of untruths as ever was born, whoever the mother was +who got you. Put that in your pipe, Mr Trundle, and smoke it." + +This most insulting of all remarks increased tenfold the boatswain's +rage, and the two would have come instantly to fisticuffs, but that, +fortunately, at that moment the order to pipe to dinner was given. The +boatswain's call came into requisition, and all hands, except the watch +on deck, were soon busily employed in discussing the contents of a cask +of beef, boasting of but a small proportion of fat or lean and a +considerable superfluity of bone. + +Now it happened to be Dicky Sharpe's watch on deck while dinner was +going on, and at one o'clock, being relieved, he came down to his own +repast, which he was not long in discussing. While he sat turning a +large rib-bone over and over, in disgust at finding so little meat on +it, and waiting for the boy to clear away, the boatswain, whose cabin +could be seen from the berth on the larboard side, roused up from a nap, +and began to contemplate his visage in his glass, to discover if he +looked in any way as if he had been asleep. It must be understood that +it is contrary to the principles of a boatswain worthy of the rank ever +to require sleep. He would consider himself disgraced in the eyes of +the whole crew, if he were caught taking a wink. A regular-built +boatswain is often on deck from half-past three in the morning till +eleven at night, and should it be bad weather, or from any other cause, +frequently two or three times during the night also; and as to his +cabin, he merely looks in occasionally and keeps his donnage there. + +Now, to do him justice, Trundle was a thoroughgoing boatswain. While he +was rubbing his eyes, to get the sleepiness out of them, pulling up his +shirt-collar, and brushing back his hair, the demon of mischief put a +thought into Dicky Sharpe's head. To conceive, with Dicky, was to +execute. I happened to be descending from the main-deck, when I saw +Dicky standing at the door of the berth, with the rib-bone in hand, and +a wicked look in his eye. I instantly perceived the state of affairs, +and divined what was to happen. Away flew the bone across the deck, +with so good an aim that it made a cannon against the boatswain's nose +and his glass, breaking both one and the other with a loud crash, which +was followed by a volley of oaths. The steerage of a frigate, even when +a sunbeam penetrates through a scuttle, is not over and above +brilliantly lighted; and on the present occasion a purser's dip here and +there just enabled us to grope our way about the deck. Now it happened +that the carpenter at that moment was coming out of his berth, which was +nearly opposite the boatswain's. + +"Oh! you blessed Chissel; I saw you heave that, you aggrawating +so-and-so," exclaimed Trundle, in a towering rage, exhibiting his +bleeding nose and broken glass. + +"I never hove anything, and that you know, you so-and-so," answered +Ichabod, drawing near to his adversary. + +"You did, though, you so-and-so," cried Trundle, doubling his fist, and +dealing Ichabod a hit on the eye which almost stove it in. + +The blow was given back, and returned with interest, with expressions +not fit for ears polite, till the noses of both heroes were streaming +with blood, and their voices were hallooing away at the highest pitch. +Dicky was rubbing his hands in high glee at the successful result of his +experiment, when the captain, aroused by the hubbub, rang his bell to +know what was the matter. This sound, like that of Oberon's magic horn, +instantly paralysed the combatants; and the sentry having put his head +into the cabin, and made some report which apparently satisfied the +skipper, the two warriors, like a couple of lions growling defiance at +each other, retired to their berths, to staunch their bleeding wounds, +and wash away the stains of the fight from their faces. + +Here the first thing which met the eye of the boatswain, as he stooped +to pick up the fragments of his glass, was the missile which had +inflicted the injury. Now, as the officers generally choose the long +ribs of beef for roasting, for which they pay one pound in six for the +good of the ship's company, and the boatswain had actually seen the +carpenter's servant carrying a piece of rib-beef for his master's +dinner, he felt perfectly satisfied who had thrown the bone. Seizing +it, therefore, in his hand, with the fragments of his glass, and his +nose still bleeding, he rushed on deck, and halted, quivering with rage, +on the quarter-deck, in presence of the first-lieutenant. + +"By Jupiter, what a wigging I shall get," whispered Dicky, in a terrible +funk. "I say, D'Arcy, my boy, don't 'peach, though." + +I cocked my eye, and, pointing to the masthead,--"Six hours a day for +the next week, eh!--pleasant, Dicky," I answered. + +Master Dicky dared not show his face, lest his consciousness of guilt +might betray itself; for, though unable to resist doing a piece of +mischief when the temptation came in his way, he had not got the brazen +front of a hardened sinner. I also, anxious as I was to learn the +result of the trial, was afraid of showing too great an interest in it, +lest suspicion should fall on me, and therefore walked the quarter-deck +at a respectful distance, picking up what information I could on the +way. + +"What is this you have to complain of, Mr Trundle?" asked the +first-lieutenant, as he stood at the capstern-head, with the enraged +boatswain before him. + +"Why, sir, as I was a-cleaning myself just now in my cabin, a-thinking +no harm of nobody, Mr Ichabod Chissel, the carpenter of this here ship, +sir, and my brother officer, thinks fit to heave this here rib-bone +right across the steerage against my nose and my glass, and breaks both +on 'em. If that ain't enough to aggrawate and perwoke and--and-- +and--(he stopped for a word) flabbergast any one, I don't know what is, +sir, you'll allow." + +"Very much so, I grant," observed Mr Du Pre, taking the bone between +his fingers and holding it behind his back. "Send Mr Chissel here." + +The carpenter soon made his appearance. + +"Pray, Mr Chissel, what part of the meat had you for your dinner, +to-day?" asked Mr Du Pre. + +"The tail, sir," said the carpenter. + +"What became of the bone after dinner?" asked the first-lieutenant. + +"The boy cleared it away with the rest of the things, sir," was the +answer. + +"Let the boy be sent for," said Mr Du Pre. + +Bobby Smudge soon came rolling along, hitching up his trousers as he +approached the capstern. + +There was a wicked look in the young rascal's eye, which made me suspect +he knew all about the matter. He was the most complete little Pickle in +the ship, and was continually getting punished, and most deservedly too, +by his master. The very day before, the carpenter had reported him, and +he had got eleven finnams on the hand for having, in conveying Mr +Chissel's grog from the tub to his cabin, being detected in the very act +of taking a hatchway nip--the said hatchway nip, let it be understood, +being a sip snatched furtively by the bearer of a glass of grog on the +ladder descending from the main to the lower deck. A finnam, I must +also explain, is a blow inflicted on the hand, with a cane generally, by +the master-at-arms or the ship's corporal. To the said finnams poor +Bobby Smudge's black paws were well accustomed. + +"Boy, what was done with the bone after your master's dinner?" asked Mr +Du Pre, in a severe tone. + +"I'm sure I don't know, sir," replied Bobby Smudge, in a long drawl, +worthy of a London professional street-beggar. + +"Should you know it again if you saw it?" asked the first-lieutenant. + +"Oh yes, sir; I'm sure I should," replied Master Smudge, brightening up +and looking the picture of innocent simplicity. + +"Well, my boy, what do you say to this?" said Mr Du Pre, producing the +bone from behind his back. + +All eyes turned towards Bobby Smudge: the carpenter's fate hung on his +decision. The young monkey felt his importance, and determined to exert +it. Chissel knew it was the very sort of bone he had scraped not an +hour before. Bobby took it, and, turning it round, examined it +narrowly. + +"Oh yes, sir; I'll swear to it, that I will," he exclaimed, holding up +his blistered hand behind his back so that the carpenter might observe +it. "As I was a-trying to get my dinner off it, I notched it with my +knife, I knowed I did, 'cause there was so little meat on it." + +"Oh, you wretched young liar," muttered the carpenter, for he dared not +speak aloud; "won't I pay you off, that's all?" + +The boy heard him, and gave a grin of defiance. + +"Mr Chissel, go to your cabin, and consider yourself under arrest," +said the first-lieutenant; "I must report this affair to the captain. +The discipline of the ship cannot be thus trifled with; and officers +especially, who ought to know better, must not be allowed to set the men +so bad an example with impunity." + +Saying this, Mr Du Pre resumed his walk on the quarter-deck, and I +hurried down to report what had occurred, to my chum Dicky. At first he +was highly delighted at having escaped detection. + +"Stop a bit, Dicky," said I; "I don't think you are quite out of the +fire yet. It will never do to let the carpenter be disrated or +dismissed the ship for conduct of which he is innocent. The truth must +come out; and, to my mind, honesty is the best policy." + +"Well, but don't you see, D'Arcy, I shall get mast-headed and have my +leave stopped, and I don't know what else--all for shying a bone across +the steerage," argued Dicky. "What business had the boatswain and +carpenter to hit each other, I should like to know. If that stupid +Trundle had taken the joke in good part, there wouldn't have been all +this row." + +I laughed outright at Master Richard's style of reasoning. + +"That argument won't stand good with the skipper," said I. "Now, come, +let me do the only thing which can set matters to rights; because it is +the right thing. I'm a bit of a favourite with Mr Du Pre, I suspect; +and I'll go up to him at once, and tell him the truth. If anything can +get you off, that will; and if the affair reaches the ears of the +captain, there will be a very serious row, I'm certain." + +At last Dicky consented to my plan, and without waiting to let him +change his mind, I went on deck, where I found the first-lieutenant. + +"I've got something to say about that beef-bone, sir," I began. + +"What's that, Mr D'Arcy," he exclaimed, turning sharp round. "When am +I to hear the last of that beef-bone?" + +"Why, sir, it wasn't the carpenter threw it, but one of the midshipmen; +he couldn't help it, though. No one could, I'm sure," I rapped out. + +"Why, Master D'Arcy, I verily believe you're the culprit," he exclaimed, +looking at me steadfastly. + +I detected, however, a smile in his eye, which showed that his anger was +not very serious; so I at once told him exactly how the matter had +occurred, and that Dicky had begged me to come and confess the truth and +intercede for him. Master Sharpe was therefore sent for; and having +been severely reprimanded, was told that as soon as we got into harbour +his leave would be stopped, and was then ordered to the masthead for a +couple of hours, to sit there instead of on the stool of repentance. +The carpenter was released from arrest, on condition that he should keep +the peace. The boatswain's nose mended in the course of a few days; and +though reminded of the outrage every time he attempted to shave before +his broken bit of looking-glass, he and Chissel soon patched up their +quarrel and resumed their former intimacy. The person who fared worst +was Bobby Smudge, who, never a favourite with his master, now obtained a +double allowance of finnams, and a sly rope's-ending whenever +opportunities offered. Bobby began to discover that revenge, though +sweet, may recoil on the head of the avenger, and become very bitter. +More ultimately came out of the beef-bone affair. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +REACH THE MEDITERRANEAN--MALTA--A RIDE ON SHORE--A BALL--A HEROINE--OUR +PARTNERS--MR. NIP AND HIS PARTNER--AN ODD EGG HATCHED--ADAM STALLMAN'S +ADVICE--THE RIGHT THING THE BEST THING. + +Nothing of importance occurred that I remember during our passage across +the Bay of Biscay. We had the usual heavy swells (though I have found +it as level as a fish-pond), a stiffish breeze for a day or so, which +gave us a cheery shove on our way, and light and variable winds and +calms, which latter let us roll till our yard-arms almost touched the +water, and effectually turned the landsmen inside out. Ten days after +leaving Plymouth, we were in the latitude of Lisbon. It was early +morning, and the land we were approaching was shrouded to common eyes by +a soft silvery haze, which allowed only a circle of blue sea to be +perceived round the ship, and a patch of about the same size of clear +sky overhead. On the larboard bow was perceived a darker mass of mist, +which after some time resolved itself into the well-known form of the +Rock of Lisbon. The wind being light and variable, we drew very +gradually inshore, till the mist suddenly lifting, as if at the command +of a magician, disclosed to us the splendid and fantastic scenery of +those rocky heights, as they rose proudly from the glittering ocean, +which was dotted with numerous sails of fishing-boats and coasters, and +here and there the canvas of some loftier merchantmen, making for the +mouth of the Tagus. On the lower land, to the north of the Rock, was +seen the royal palace of Mafra--a curious huge pile, imposing from its +height and the large extent of ground it covers. I do not, however, +intend to bother my readers with accounts of places and scenery, which +they may find much better described in numberless books of voyages and +travels. The wind freshening and coming fair, we continued our course, +and, passing the Capes of Ortegal and Finisterre on the second day after +leaving the Rock, were off Cape Saint Vincent, immortalised in naval +memories by Sir John Jervis' great action, and since then, by the way, +by a very pretty bit of fighting under Charlie Napier, when he took +possession of Don Miguel's fleet with one half its size. Cape Trafalgar +next came in sight, and was eagerly viewed by all hands, for, often as +one may gaze on its dark blue cliffs, the deep interest they inspire can +never fail; one is reminded that in their neighbourhood the glorious +navy of England, under the greatest of its chiefs, secured the freedom +of the world, and struck the blow which stopped the victor of +continental Europe in his wild career of conquest. Peace to the names +of England's gallant defenders, who died for their country off +Trafalgar's Cape! and sacred be the memory of the immortal Nelson, our +meteor-flag of victory!--But, little Neil D'Arcy, where are you steering +for? Has the sight of Trafalgar made you fancy you can do a bit of fine +writing? Just get back, boy, to your usual style, and leave such +attempts to the pens of novelists and travellers. + +It was near nightfall when we made the Rock of Gibraltar; and as we +passed through the Straits when I was snug below in my hammock, my +journal contains no description of that wonderful fortress. When the +morning dawned, the high mountains of Spain were just visible in the +horizon; and the next land we sighted was the coast of Barbary, +somewhere to the westward of Tunis. Six days after that we were in +sight of Sicily, when, after hauling off the coast, a gale sprung up, +and such thick and cloudy weather came on, that we could take no +observations. The ship was therefore hove-to; and while sail was being +taken off her I got an ugly fall, which laid me up in my hammock for +several days. During my illness, Dicky Sharpe was constantly with me, +whenever he was off duty, and we became greater friends than ever. + +"Do you know, D'Arcy, I am really very much obliged to you for having +got me so well out of that scrape with the boatswain and the beef-bone!" +he said to me in a tone of confidence one day, after we had reached +Valetta harbour. "I have not ventured to ask Mr Du Pre leave to go on +shore. Do you think he would give it me?" + +"I rather think not, Dicky," said I. "Don't say a word about it for +some time to come, and then you can begin to look dull and melancholy, +and to pine for the shore; and perhaps his heart will soften with +compassion, and he will give you leave." + +"Capital advice! Won't I look melancholy, that's all, when the time +comes?" he exclaimed. "How soon ought I to begin?" + +"Not till I'm well and can go on shore to look after you," I answered. + +The fact was, I wanted Dicky's company when I could go on shore myself, +which the surgeon told me I might do in a few days; and when asking for +myself, I intended putting in a word with Mr Du Pre in his favour. +When I crawled on deck I found the ship had taken up her moorings in +Dockyard Creek, a branch of the Grand Harbour, from which it runs at +right angles, on the opposite side to Valetta. Most deservedly is the +Grand Harbour so called, for in beauty, size, and security it is +unsurpassed; and it is singular that it should exist in an island of +dimensions so limited. Malta has an individuality of its own. It is +like no other spot in the world; and when one looks at the magnificent +lines of batteries, bristling with cannon, and the mass of churches, +monasteries, and houses, which towers above them, one can scarcely +believe that the whole has been hewn out of the solid rock of which the +island is composed. But I am not going to describe Malta. In three or +four days more I was quite well, and having succeeded in obtaining leave +from Mr Du Pre for Dicky to accompany me on shore, we landed at the Nix +Mangiare steps, and took our way through the town. The first thing we +did was to hire horses to take a ride into the country. Both of us +could stick on pretty well (what midshipman cannot?); but as for +science, we had none of it. At first we trotted on gaily enough, and +then our horses broke into a gallop, which we enjoyed very much. + +"Capital goers, these!" exclaimed Dicky. "If they keep up at this rate, +I vote we take a regular circuit of the island." + +"Faith, then, I'm ready for that same," said I; and on we galloped. + +So delighted were we at the way our steeds went, that we sat the saddles +and held our reins rather loosely. On a sudden they both came to a full +stop, and up simultaneously went their heels in the air. Over their +heads we flew, and alighted some dozen yards off; while the well-trained +beasts, with neighs of derision which were truly provoking, galloped +back to their stables, leaving us to find our way into Valetta as best +we could. By-the-bye, the horse-master had taken very good care to get +paid first. Dicky sat up on the ground and rubbed his head, to discover +if it was broken. I followed his example, and finding no bones +dislocated, my spirits rose again. We looked at each other, when there +appeared something so ludicrously forlorn in the expression of our +countenances, that we both burst out into fits of laughter. We indulged +in our mirth for some time, and then got up and commenced our walk back +into the town. Fortunately we had not got any very great distance from +the walls, so the walk was easy of accomplishment. We had proceeded +about a mile or so, when two midshipmen hove in sight, galloping along +in high glee on the very horses which had just disburdened themselves of +us. + +"Hillo! you fellows, those are our horses," sang out Dicky; "just get +off now, will you?" + +But he might as well have called a whirlwind to halt; for +helter-skelter, past us they dashed, without minding us a bit. Dicky +was highly indignant. + +"Well, I never was so treated in my life!" he exclaimed. + +"Wait a bit," said I; for I had a shrewd suspicion that the horses would +play their present riders the same trick they had served us; and sure +enough, in about ten minutes, we heard a clattering of hoofs behind us, +and, looking round, saw the knowing old steeds coming, galloping along +by themselves. + +"Now, now's the time, Dicky," I sang out. "You catch one and I'll catch +the other, and we'll still have our ride out. The horses are ours, +there's no doubt of it." + +Sooner said, however, than done. The beasts came on very steadily till +they got close to us, and then they began rearing and frisking, and +kicking up such a dust that it was impossible to catch hold of their +bridles; and, it must be confessed, we were glad enough to get out of +their way without being trampled over. + +"Where are the brutes?" I asked, feeling very foolish. + +"Where are they?" echoed Dicky, looking the same. "There they go, as +steady as cart-horses. Hang it! they knew we were midshipmen." + +Our only satisfaction was to see a third set of riders come out on the +same brutes, and to be able to laugh in our sleeves, while we wished +them a pleasant ride across the island. What became of all the riders I +don't know. The steeds again passed us just before we reached the +gates.--Three or four evenings after this, the officers of the ship were +asked to a ball, and the captain took Dicky and me. We did not know +anybody, and were hard up for partners, till the skipper introduced us +each to a Maltese girl. They were both very short, though that was a +fault on the right side; but they were also very fat and very dark, and +could not speak a word of English; and one squinted, and the other had +lost an eye. Their noses turned up, and their lips were thick and +large. They were not beauties, certainly; but we danced with them all +the evening, changing every now and then for variety, though I had to +look hard to make out which was my original partner, as I only knew them +apart by the defect in their eyes. Dicky asked me if I didn't think +them as pretty as Alice Marlow, at which I very nearly knocked him down +in the ball-room. But he appeased me by assuring me with the greatest +gravity, that he admired the squinting one very much, and should +certainly, if he were older, make her Mrs Sharpe. He did nothing but +talk about her for two days afterwards; and, as we did not know her real +name, we called her Miss Smaitch, which, though not euphonious, did as +well as any other. On the third day he dined with an officer in the +dockyard who had a numerous family of daughters, to one of whom he +transferred his affections, and they remained steady for nearly a week, +about which time we left Malta. To return to the ball, however. When +Dicky and I were not dancing, we amused ourselves by watching what was +going forward, especially in observing the occupations of our superior +officers. + +"I say, D'Arcy, who is that young lady Mr Vernon is dancing with, I +wonder? She is a stunner, isn't she, my boy?" said Dicky, sidling up to +me, and pointing with his chin towards a very beautiful girl, to whom +our second lieutenant had just then given his hand, and was leading up +to form a quadrille. + +There was a roseate blush on her cheek, and a brightening glance in her +eye, as she looked up at the gallant officer, which betokened more than +ordinary satisfaction at being chosen his partner in the dance. The +colour increased, and the eyes brightened still more, while a smile +played round her ruby lips, as Mr Vernon uttered, in a low tone, a few +words in her ear. + +Dicky observed it. "I twig something there," he whispered. "What will +you bet me, D'Arcy, that Mr Vernon doesn't splice that same young lady, +now? It's a regular case, depend on it. I thought there was something +going on, he's been so constantly on shore since we came into harbour. +He's a right good fellow, and I wish him joy." + +"I hope, if it is a case, that he'll not marry till the ship is out of +commission," I remarked. "I should be sorry indeed to lose him. But we +must not talk so loud, or we shall be overheard." + +Just then the captain came up, to make Dicky dance with Miss Smaitch. I +was left alone to watch proceedings. From what I saw, I was fully +convinced that Master Sharpe's conjectures were well founded, and that +Mr Vernon and the fair unknown were certainly deeply in love with each +other, and most probably engaged. She certainly, as far as I could +judge from mere appearance, was well worthy the love of any man. Young +as I was, she made a deep impression on me; and even at this distance of +time I can bring her Hebe-like figure before me, with almost the vivid +colours of reality. She was not tall, but her figure was full of grace +and life. Her complexion was beautifully fair; her eyes were blue; and +the expression of her countenance was soft, feminine, and full of +sweetness; at the same time, the arch smile which occasionally played +over it showed that she was not destitute of sense and wit. + +While I was looking on, I was joined by Adam Stallman, one of the senior +mates of the _Harold_. I have slightly mentioned him before. He was of +a somewhat grave and taciturn disposition, but generous and kind, and as +brave and honourable as any knight _sans peur et sans reproche_. He +read much and thought more, and was ready to give good advice when asked +for it; but innate modesty prevented him from volunteering to afford it, +except on rare occasions, when he saw that it was absolutely necessary +to preserve a person from following a path which might lead him to ruin. + +Dicky and I were favourites of his; for though he kept us in order, and +more than once had inflicted a sound cobbing on my chum (certainly well +deserved), he was very kind to us. + +"I say, Stallman, can you tell me who the young lady is with whom Mr +Vernon is dancing?" said I. + +"Why do you ask?" he inquired. + +"Because she is very beautiful," I replied. + +The colour heightened on his generally impassive, well-bronzed features, +as his eye fell on the lady whom I indicated. "Yes," he answered, with +a firm voice, "that lady is Miss Blanche Norman, the daughter of Major +Norman, who is out here for his health. But wouldn't you like to dance, +youngster?" + +I told him that I had been engaged by the captain to dance with Miss +Smaitch Number 2. + +"Well, come to me if you want a partner," he said, and moved on. + +I saw him soon afterwards go up and shake hands with Miss Norman. His +lip momentarily quivered, I saw; but his countenance otherwise remained +firm. She received him as an old acquaintance, and seemed glad to see +him. + +I took it into my head that Adam was in love with her, or had been; but +that, as he had little besides his pay to depend on, he could not +indulge a dream of marrying. From what I afterwards learned, I was +right in this conjecture. Poor fellow! he had loved her well and +deeply, but he had never told his love. She might have suspected his +attachment, but with the tact and delicacy of a right-minded woman, she +did not allow him to discover that she did so, but endeavoured, by the +frank kindness of her words and manner, to take away the bitterness from +the wound she was inflicting. I do not mean to say, however, that at +the time I knew this, but I made a pretty shrewd guess at the truth. + +In a little time Dicky came hurrying up to me with a look full of +importance. + +"I say, D'Arcy, I've found out all about it. I heard our medico tell +Old Nip (meaning the purser) that Vernon proposed a few days ago to Miss +Norman, and was accepted; so they are regularly engaged, you know, and +he has a right to dance with her as often as he likes. What fun for +him! I know that I should like to be in his place. That's her father: +not the tall man with the white hair, but the shorter one next him. He +looks almost too young to be her father, doesn't he? Perhaps his being +ill makes him look so. They are soon going home; but they are to stop +at Gibraltar, so the doctor says." + +"I am afraid you've been an eavesdropper, Dicky, to hear all this," I +observed; "and that, you know, is not a very creditable character." + +"I know that as well as you do," he answered; "but I could not help +myself, for I was jammed up in the refreshment room between two fat +Maltese ladies and the supper-table, and I couldn't have moved without +the risk of staving in their sides with my elbows. Old Nip and the +medico were on the other side of them, sipping their negus, and didn't +see me." + +"That's all right; and small blame to you, Dicky," said I. "Well, I +heartily wish Mr Vernon joy; and if his love don't run smooth, and he +ever wants a helping hand, I only hope he'll let me give it him." + +"There's nothing I should like better too, independent of my regard for +Mr Vernon," observed Dicky, pompously. + +I remember that we long discussed the probabilities of Mr Vernon's +requiring our services; and we came to the conclusion that, though we +should be delighted to help him to obtain the lady's hand in any way he +might require, in principle the running away with a lady was decidedly +wrong. + +The subject was changed by our seeing the purser lead out one of the fat +ladies, behind whom Dicky had been hid, to attempt a waltz. Never was +there a more extraordinary performance. Neither of them had a notion of +the dance. They floundered and flolloped, and twisted and turned, and +tumbled against all the other couples, till they spread consternation +around; and at last found themselves the sole performers in the room. +As poor Nip went twirling round, much in the way that a child's +humming-top does when it begins to stagger preparatory to stopping, he +perceived a suppressed laugh on the lips and in the eyes of the +surrounding spectators; and suspecting that he might be the cause of it, +gave a convulsive gripe at his partner's waist, or at the part where her +waist should be, in order to bring himself to an anchor. The effort was +too great for his powers, and both he and she came with a run to the +floor, close to where Dicky and I were standing. There they kicked and +struggled in vain efforts to rise. At this Dicky could no longer +contain himself, but, regardless of the purser's anger, burst into a +loud fit of laughter. However, we ran forward to do our best to get the +hero and heroine on their legs again, though we were too much convulsed +to be of much assistance. + +"I'll pay you off for this, Master Sharpe," whispered the purser, +looking up fiercely. + +"I couldn't help it, indeed I could not," answered Dicky in an +apologetic tone; "you did look so funny." + +"I'll wring your ears off, you young puppy," cried poor Nip, rising and +shaking himself, in his rage forgetting the fair sharer of his +misfortune. + +"Look to your partner, Mr Cheesnip," said Captain Poynder, coming up, +and guessing the cause of the purser's anger. "Here, Sharpe, help me to +put the lady on her legs." + +By some pulling and hauling, and by others shoving behind, we got Madame +Cheesnip, as we ever after called her, into a perpendicular position; +but she was too much shaken to dance again, especially with the cause of +her misfortune. Indeed, for the rest of the evening the ladies fought +very shy of poor Nip, and we took good care to keep out of his way. +Dicky and I stayed to the last, spending our time very satisfactorily +between our two partners and the refreshment and supper rooms; and I am +afraid to mention the vast amount of sandwiches, cakes, and bonbons +which Dicky consumed, washed down by cups of coffee, lemonade, and +negus. At length, when nearly everybody was gone, with the exception of +a few other midshipmen, and the musicians could no longer wag their +bows, we deemed it time also to retire. We had got leave to stay on +shore, but it just then occurred to us that we had forgot to order our +beds. + +"Never mind," said Dicky; "we are certain to find them at some hotel or +other." + +As we were putting on our cloaks, we found that there were five or six +more midshipmen belonging to other ships in the same predicament as +ourselves. To get beds at that hour of the morning, we discovered was +not so easy, as all the Hotels, from some cause or other, were full. We +hunted about for some time, and were proposing trying to get on board +our ships,--though Dicky Sharpe declared he should take up his berth +inside one of the casks generally found down on the shore of the +harbour, with their heads off; but we advised him not, as they are the +usual abode of the beggar boys who infest Nix Mangiare stairs, and would +be apt to have more inhabitants than one,--when some of the party who +were on ahead, shouted out that they had found as cozy a place of +shelter as they could wish. We were in the upper part of the town, +which, as most of my readers probably know, is at a considerable +elevation above the water. As it had lately begun to rain hard, and we +had no desire to wander farther, there was a general rush made to the +front. The cozy place to which we were invited, turned out to be an old +family coach, which was standing at the top of a narrow lane intended to +be used only by foot passengers. However, it was a place where some +midshipmen had lately amused themselves by galloping up and down; but, +to prevent such an exhibition of horsemanship, a guard had been +stationed at the bottom, to prevent any similar attempt for the future. +But to return to the coach. The first comers had taken possession, and +one after the other the rest scrambled in, till by the time Dicky and I, +who were rather behind, got up, it could hold no more: at all events +those inside decided that such was the case. This was not what we had +bargained for, and neither of us was inclined to yield his right to a +share and shelter without a struggle. The doors had not been shut; and +while Dicky boarded on one side, I tried to get in on the other. Wet +caps and fists were dashed in our faces, but, undaunted, we strove on. +I had actually forced my way in, and was stretching over my hand to my +chum, who had got his feet on the step, when some one exclaimed, "By +Jupiter! she is under way." And, sure enough, our struggles had set the +lumbering old vehicle moving. On it went, rolling and rattling down the +steep pathway, which we had totally forgotten. To get out was +impossible, without the certainty almost of knocking our heads against +the walls of the houses on either side, of being jammed between them and +the wheels, or of being run over. We hauled Dicky in to save his life, +and away we all went together, the vehicle every moment increasing its +velocity. The path, from sloping from each side to the centre, kept her +on a straight course, or we should have brought up against some steps, +or a kerbstone, and been saved from the approaching catastrophe. But no +such good fortune was in store for us. Rolling and rattling, and +screeching and creaking, and bumping and thumping, downward went the +carriage, we inside keeping up a chorus of shouts and shrieks. Most of +us laughed; but one or two, who were strangers to the place, were in a +mortal fright, not knowing whether we might find a precipice at the +bottom, and be shot over, perhaps into the sea. Very soon, too, we +reached some steps, down which we went, of course faster than ever, with +terrific bounds, till the cranky old vehicle could no longer stand the +unusual movement. + +"Who goes there?" shouted the sentry at the bottom of the steps. + +"Turn out the guard," echoed the sergeant, not able to make out the +cause of the unusual commotion. Just then the carriage split asunder, +and sent us flying, with swords, dirks, and hats, in different +directions. + +"Arrah, was ever such an egg hatched before?" exclaimed the sergeant, +who was an Irishman, running up and seizing hold of the first he could +lay hands on. "Come, young gentlemen, I must march you off to the +guard-house." + +"March the coach off, if you please, sergeant; but we are innocent, like +the new-hatched babes which we are," cried Dicky Sharpe, who was one of +those in custody. "The order is against people on horseback coming this +way: we hadn't even horses to our egg-shell." + +The sergeant, amused by the way Dicky took up his joke, and seeing there +was no use detaining us, consented not to molest us. We then invited +ourselves to go to the guard-house, where we passed the remainder of the +night, with our cigars to comfort us. I am sorry to say that we did not +go back to try and find the owners of the coach, that we might apologise +to them for having inflicted so much injury on their property, which we +ought certainly to have done. We none of us thought anything more would +come of it. + +"Oh!" said Dicky Sharpe, rubbing his hands, "the owners will think that +the old coach grew tired of waiting all by itself, so ran down the hill +to get warm." + +We resolved therefore to say nothing about the matter. The next day, +while it was my watch on deck, we were ordered to send a boat to bring +off a party of ladies from the shore. Dicky, who belonged to the boat, +went in her. As they reached the ship, and the sides were manned to +receive them, I saw that Mr Vernon was in the boat, accompanied by +Major and Miss Norman, and several other ladies and gentlemen. The care +with which he handed her up the side, and the attention he paid her, as +he showed the party round the decks, convinced me still further that +what I had heard last night was the truth. Adam Stallman accompanied +them; he was grave, but kind and courteous as usual, and seemed to take +great pains to answer all the questions, some of them not a little +ridiculous, which were put to him. Mr Vernon invited him to join the +luncheon-party in the ward-room, so I did not see what followed. + +As soon as the boat was hoisted in, Dicky came up to me. + +"I say, D'Arcy," said he, "it's all blown, and we are in for it, I +guess." + +"What's blown?" I asked. + +"Why, the coach affair, of course," he replied. "As we were coming off +they were all talking of it, and Mr Vernon said he was very sure I was +one of the chickens, so there was no use denying it. If it gets to the +captain's ears we shall have our leave stopped, and I shan't have a +chance of seeing little Miss Smaitch again." + +We consulted long what was to be done, but could come to no decision on +the subject. After the guests were gone, Adam Stallman came down into +the berth. + +"Youngsters," said he, "I suspect both of you were engaged in the +destruction of the coach last night. Is it not so?" + +We confessed the truth, and told him exactly how it happened. + +"Did you endeavour to find out the owners, and to make them all the +amends in your power for the mischief you had committed?" + +We owned that we had not. + +"You neglected your bounden duty, then," he observed. "You should +recollect that every act of meanness committed by a British officer +brings discredit on the cloth. When a man is guilty of a fault, he but +increases it if he neglects to make reparation for it. Now, if I get +leave for you to accompany me on shore, will you follow my directions?" +We promised we would. "Well then, we will find out the owners of the +coach, and you must go and tell them that you are very sorry for the +mischief you committed, explain how it happened, and beg their pardon. +I do not think you can exactly offer to give them a new coach; nor would +they expect it, probably." + +At this Dicky looked very blue; but he could not escape from his +promise, and he soon mustered a sufficiency of moral courage to carry +him through the work. I was, I own, very glad in being thus supported +in doing what I felt was right. + +In the afternoon we went on shore, and set off at once to the scene of +our adventure: The fragments of the coach had been removed. Climbing up +the lane, we made inquiries at the top--at least Adam, who spoke +Italian, did--for any family from the country who might be stopping at a +house near at hand. + +"Oh, you want Signora Faranelli, whose coach was run away with last +night by some ragamuffins!" said the master of a small shop where we +inquired. + +"The same," answered Adam. + +"She and her daughters are staying with Signor Bianconi at the big +house, there." + +Adam led us to the house indicated. + +"I feel in a great funk," whispered Dicky; "don't you, D'Arcy? What +shall we say?" + +"The truth," said I. "It's the only thing we can say. Tell our tale +from beginning to end." + +We sent in our cards, with a message to say that two naval officers +wished to speak to Signora Faranelli. Adam said he should wait outside +for us, and told us to make haste. We were speedily requested to walk +upstairs, and were ushered into a room full of company, when a very +pleasing, kind-looking lady came forward and inquired to what cause she +was indebted for the honour of our visit. As I knew Sharpe would make +some mistake, I had offered to act as spokesman, and at once told the +whole of our tale. + +"Oh, it was very naughty in the carriage to run away with you," she +replied, in a good-natured tone, in somewhat broken English; "and it was +very stupid in my servants to leave it standing on the top of the hill, +though but natural that you, on a rainy night, should take shelter +within it. I had been told that it was purposely sent rolling down the +hill by a party of tipsy naval officers, and I was resolved to complain +of them; but the frank way in which you have come forward to explain the +matter removes all disagreeable feeling on the subject, and I am very +happy to make your acquaintance." + +Dicky Sharpe drew a deep breath, as if some dire forebodings were +removed. I don't know what he thought was going to happen to us. + +"I must now introduce you to Signor Bianconi, and I am sure he will have +great pleasure if you can remain and spend the evening with us," +continued the lady. "I shall hope also to see you shortly at my house +in the country." + +We thanked Signora Faranelli very much for her kindness, but explained +that we had a friend waiting outside for us, who had, however, nothing +to do with the carriage affair. Of course Adam Stallman was requested +to come in, and, to my surprise, he consented. + +"I like what you tell me of the people, D'Arcy, and their acquaintance +must be worth making," he observed. + +We spent a very pleasant evening, got on board in good time, and the +next day, meeting some of our companions in the carriage adventure, were +able to relieve their minds from certain apprehensions of the +consequences, and to tell them of the satisfactory results; nor did we +fail to give Stallman credit, which was his due. They, the rogues, were +now in a great hurry to go and apologise also; but their impudence, for +a wonder, would not carry them up to the point for action. + +Whenever we put into Malta, Dicky and I did not fail to call on Signora +Faranelli and Signor Bianconi: and many a happy day we spent at their +houses. Often and often I have since seen that, by acting with +truthfulness and candour, very much inconvenience, and even misery and +suffering, might have been saved, and much good obtained. There is a +golden rule I must urge on my young friends ever to follow: _Do right, +and leave the result to God_. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +SAILING OF THE ARIADNE--CHISSEL'S CRUELTY--LOSS OF BOBBY SMUDGE--A HEAVY +SQUALL--BOBBY SMUDGE'S GHOST--REFLECTIONS THEREON. + +Shortly after this we were ordered to get ready for sea, though our +destination was not known. Before we sailed, Major and Miss Norman +again came on board, and we heard that, his health being re-established, +they had taken their passage in a brig bound for England. We were very +sorry for this, as we feared that Mr Vernon would be wishing to go home +to marry, and that we should thus lose him. The next morning the +_Ariadne_, the brig in question, a remarkably fine vessel for an English +merchantman of those days (for a more detestable fleet of tubs were +never sent afloat), was seen to be getting up her anchor and loosing +topsails. Mr Vernon had gone away in the second gig at an early hour; +and she was now alongside, while he, with his boat's crew, were on +board. We could see him standing with Miss Blanche Norman on deck. + +"More gallant knight or fairer lady never trod this mortal world," quoth +our poetical Third, as he took a sight at his brother officer through +his spy-glass. + +I heard a deep sigh, and looking round, I saw Adam Stallman standing +near me; but his countenance was unmoved, and turning on his heel, he +continued pacing the deck as if he had been an unconcerned spectator of +what was going on. The anchor of the brig was run up to the bows and +catted; sail after sail was dropped from its brails and quickly sheeted +home; and under a wide spread of canvas the gallant craft came standing +out of the harbour. + +"A prosperous voyage to you," shouted Mr Du Pre through his +speaking-trumpet, as she passed us. + +He and all the officers took off their caps. Major Norman and the +master of the _Ariadne_ did the same, and Miss Norman bowed. It was a +trying moment for her, poor girl; for in a few minutes he whom she had +so lately learned to love must quit her for an indefinite period, to +buffet the rude winds and waves of the ocean, or, perchance, to endure +the dangers of the fight,--so said our third lieutenant, or something to +that effect. We watched the _Ariadne_, as long as her topsails appeared +above the horizon, with no little interest, for Mr Vernon's sake. He +at length came back, after a long pull, and was for several days +somewhat grave and abstracted at times; but that mood wore off by +degrees, and there was a buoyancy in his step, and a light in his eye, +which showed that he loved, and was conscious of being beloved in +return. + +It would be impossible to give an account of all the minor adventures I +met with in the Mediterranean; but such as I can I will narrate. +Captain Poynder was very anxious to make his midshipmen gentlemen, and +to give us a knowledge of polite literature, as well as to instruct us +in navigation and seamanship. Accordingly he got a Maltese on board to +teach us Italian. Poor Signor Mezzi had never, I believe, been at sea +before; and though we tried to make him comfortable, and Dicky Sharpe +generally resisted the temptation to play him tricks--for he was certain +to be cobbed by the oldsters if he did,--I fear that his life was far +from a pleasant one. When we had completed our refit, and had stowed +away a supply of provisions, despatches were sent on board, and we were +ordered to proceed to Tripoli and Tunis. We made a very quick passage +to Tripoli, which is the capital of the most easterly of the Barbary +States. It boasts of a castle and port, and has a large harbour, +defended by a moat and batteries, capable of containing a considerable +fleet of merchantmen. We remained there a very short time, so I do not +remember much about the place, nor exactly for what purpose we went +there. There is another town of the same name in Syria, and they are +often confounded. Leaving Tripoli, we made sail for Tunis. It was on +this trip, if I remember rightly, that a circumstance occurred, which +for some time appeared wrapped in mystery. The adventure of the +rib-bone, in which Dicky Sharpe played so prominent a part, will be +remembered. Since that time, Ichabod Chissel, the carpenter, had led +his unfortunate boy, Bobby Smudge, a very dog's life. I fully believe, +however, that Master Smudge richly deserved every rope's-ending he got. +He was always dirty: he loved dirt, and nothing could keep him clean. +His honesty also was doubtful. While in Malta harbour, some of our +plate had disappeared. Our boy accused Bobby of taking it, though he +denied this, and, to our surprise, confessed that he knew where it was. + +"Why, do you see, sir," he said to Stallman, who sat as judge on his +trial, "it somehow or other got into my tub of hot water, and I never +knowed it; and when I went to heave the water overboard, I then see'd +the glitter of it in the sea, as it sunk to the bottom." + +The defence was ingenious, and as there was no witness to prove to the +contrary, Bobby escaped punishment on that occasion; though, as he had +been seen in deep confabulation with an ill-looking Jew a short time +afterwards, suspicion went much against him. From bad, things grew to +worse with Bobby Smudge. Not a day passed, scarcely an hour, that he +did not taste the flavour of a rope's-end--most frequently bestowed by +his master, the carpenter. + +"You will be the death of me, I know you will, Master Chissel," he +groaned out one day, when his castigator was even severer than usual. +"I'll go and drown myself, that I will, if this goes on much longer-- +you'll see if I don't. I won't stand it, that I won't;" and he +blubbered as few have blubbered before. + +"You will, will you, you young scamp?" exclaimed the carpenter, seizing +a rope's-end. "Take that, then, and remember, when you come back from +the drowning of yourself, I'll give you six times as much." And poor +Bobby got it worse than ever. + +I think Chissel was very wrong in the way he treated the poor wretch. +Had he been tolerably kind and considerate, he might, I am certain, have +worked on his good feelings, and certainly have improved him; but the +unhappy lad had from his earliest days been so constantly knocked about, +and so accustomed to receive more kicks than halfpence, that all his +better feelings had been pretty well beaten out of him. + +It so happened that one evening, as the ship was running pretty fast +through the water, and as darkness was coming rapidly on, a loud splash +was heard alongside, and that cry, so startling to a seaman's heart, was +raised--"A man overboard!" + +"Silence, fore and aft," sang out Captain Poynder, who at the same +moment appeared on deck. "Does anybody see him?" + +There was no answer. + +"Does anybody hear him?" + +There was an ominous silence. A pin might have been heard to drop on +deck. The life-buoy had been let go at the first by the officer of the +watch. Its signal fire now burned bright astern, but no one was seen +clinging to it. There could be little doubt that the poor fellow, +whoever he was, had sunk at once. The ship had been running at the time +a few points off the wind. She was now brought close on a wind, and +then the helm was put down, and she was hove about with her head towards +the life-buoy. While she was in stays, the two quarter-boats were +manned and lowered. Mr Vernon jumped into one of them, and the master +into another; and as the frigate lost her way, they shoved off and +pulled in the direction of the spot where the man was supposed to have +fallen. + +"Who can it be? Who is missing?" was asked by all hands, while we were +anxiously looking out towards the boats, to see if they were picking up +anybody. + +When the ship reached the same locality, she was hove-to, and there we +remained till the boats, having picked up the life-buoy, returned on +board. They brought, however, too probable a sign of some one having +been lost--a boy's hat. It had been picked up exactly at the spot where +the ship was supposed to have been when the alarm was first given. The +ship's muster-roll was now called over, to ascertain who of the ship's +company was missing. One after the other had answered to their names, +and it had so nearly reached the end, that we began to hope there might +be some mistake after all, when that of Bobby Smudge was called. There +was no answer. Poor Bobby! There could be but little doubt that the +unfortunate wretch had put his threat of making away with himself into +execution, rather than longer endure the tyranny of Mr Chissel. I +hoped that the carpenter's accusing conscience would make him repent of +his cruelty. This surmise as to the poor boy's fate was confirmed the +next morning, when some of his clothes were discovered under the +forechains. The next day the chief conversation among the men was about +Bobby Smudge's suicide, and of the threats he had uttered of haunting +the ship. This led to the recounting of similar circumstances; and many +a forecastle yarn was spun that evening, abounding in horrors sufficient +to make the hairs of a less stout-hearted auditory stand on end. From +the extraordinary remarks I heard as I passed about the decks, I +declared, when I went to the berth, that I believed that some of the men +fully expected to see poor Bobby Smudge come in at one of the ports and +drive all hands out of the ship. A seaman will encounter anything +living and tangible with a hearty good-will; but he has a mortal +antipathy to meet any spirit, black, blue, white, or green, from the +nether world. + +"I say, D'Arcy, it would be great fun if we could just manage to give +some of these fellows a fright," whispered Dicky Sharpe. "A white sheet +and a howl would do it. I could manage to imitate Bobby Smudge's voice, +and I should just like to look in on old Chissel when he is taking his +first snooze. I'd just mutter, `Bobby Smudge's ghost come to fetch you +away, you old sinner,' and his villainous conscience would do the rest." + +"Don't play any such foolish trick, Dicky," said I. "You would +certainly be found out in the first place, and get severely punished +into the bargain. Besides, the matter is too serious to be turned into +a joke. Think of that poor unfortunate wretch, driven to despair, and +plunged suddenly into another world, through the cruelty and tyranny of +one who ought to have protected him, and tried to make him better!" + +"But he was plunged into the sea," said Dicky, interrupting me; "and as +for the cruelty he received, I don't think he was so very much worse off +than numbers of other fellows in his position." + +"I tell you, it is not a subject for joking on. Perhaps poor Bobby +Smudge had a mother and sisters who will mourn bitterly when the ship +returns home, and they find he is not in her." + +"Dirty drabs, in all probability, who won't care a rap what has become +of him," persisted the incorrigible Dicky. + +"For shame, Sharpe--for shame," said I; thinking how my cousins would +grieve for me if I were to be lost overboard. I began to feel a strange +sort of satisfaction at the idea. Sentiment, or whatever it might be +called, was very quickly put to flight by the shrill sound of the +boatswain's whistle, and the hoarse cry of "All hands--shorten sail!" + +We were hurrying to our stations aloft as fast as our legs could carry +us--for the tones in which the order was issued showed us that there was +not a moment to be lost,--when, just as we were springing into the +rigging, a squall, which had but the moment before been perceived by the +officers of the watch, struck the ship. As ill-luck would have it, it +was the third lieutenant who had the first watch, and he happened to be +in a poetical mood, and deeply absorbed in composing an ode to Queen +Dido, or the Dodo--I don't remember which it was reported was the case-- +one or the other, I know. The squall was a very heavy one: if not a +white squall, not inferior to it in strength and suddenness. The ship +rushed through the water, which was lashed in an instant into a sheet of +foam; the masts bent like wands, and looked as if they would instantly +go by the board. The helm was ordered to be put up; but before she +could answer it--stiff as she generally was--over she went, as if she +had been a mere skiff, till her yard-arms almost touched the water. It +appeared as if she would never right herself again. Then many a stout +heart quailed, and many a brave man gave himself up for lost; but, +dreadful as was the scene, discipline triumphed speedily over all +unworthy fears. Some of the ports were open, and the water rushed +through them in torrents. Such was the case with the one in our berth. +Poor Signor Mezzi, our Italian master, was sitting there. Never was a +poor wretch more completely horrified. He gave up all for lost, and +fancied that every moment the ship, and all in her, were going to the +bottom. The assistant-surgeon and captain's clerk, who were at the time +in the berth, each seized a pillow from the hammocks, which had just +before been piped down, and cramming them into the port with tolerable +effect, stopped the gush of water; but terror had too completely +mastered the poor dominie to allow him to observe what was going +forward. He shrieked out for mercy from every saint in the calendar, +and entreated one or all of them to carry him on shore, even if it was +but to the sandy coast of Africa. "_Ah! misericordia, misericordia, +misericordia_!" was the burden of his plaint. + +"_E impossible_, signor. If you do go to the bottom, heretics though we +are, you will be in very goodly company," exclaimed Tourniquet. "And +then think of the magnificent feast we shall make for the fishes. Let +that be your consolation." + +But poor Signor Mezzi refused to be comforted even by such a prospect; +and even our medico himself, when he found the ship still remaining in +her unusual position, and heard the uproar going on overhead, began to +entertain some very disagreeable doubts as to the possibility of the +event to which he was alluding actually occurring, and looked very blue +about the gills; whereat little Scribble, the clerk, laughed heartily at +him, and seated himself on the table, with his feet on the side of the +ship, affirming that he was not afraid, and was as contented and happy +as ever--the truth being, not that the young donkey was a bit more brave +than the other two, but that he had not the sense to know the danger he +was in, and that not a seaman on board but saw that the next moment +might be his last. Tourniquet had not the heart to move and give +Scribble a thrashing, or he would have done so. But to return on deck. +The instant the squall struck the ship, Captain Poynder hastened from +his cabin, and, seizing his speaking-trumpet, in a calm tone issued the +necessary orders. + +"Down, every youngster, from the rigging. Clue up--haul down--let fly +of all!" + +It was too late. Before the words were out of his mouth, the ship was +over on her beam-ends, and lay like a log, neither sails nor rudder +having longer power over her. To describe the wild horror of the scene +would be almost impossible. The rent sails flashing and flapping in the +gale; the ropes lashing furiously, as if in an attempt to seize some one +within their deadly coils; every timber quivering and groaning; the wind +roaring; and the foam in thick sheets flying over us. Though the helm, +as I have said, was hard up, still she lay in the trough of the sea, +without a hope of once more rising. + +"Send the carpenter and his crew aft, with their axes," shouted the +captain. + +Chissel and his mates quickly obeyed the summons, for he had seen from +the first that his services would too probably be required. + +"Stand by, to cut away the masts," added Captain Poynder. + +It was a melancholy alternative, but the only one to save the ship from +foundering. Afterwards we must trust to our anchors; and if they failed +to hold with the wind as it then was, we could not fail of being driven +on the inhospitable coast of Africa. And who could tell how many might +reach the shore alive!--perhaps none. The uplifted axes gleamed in the +hands of Chissel and his mates, as they stood round the mizen-mast; +others were sent to cut away the shrouds, and clear the wreck of the +mast as it fell. Once more Captain Poynder raised his trumpet to his +lips. It was to give the dire orders to cut, when, at that moment, the +ship with a violent jerk righted herself, and, speedily answering to the +helm, away she flew before the wind. As such a course would very +quickly have brought us up, sail was taken off her; and then, merely +under her spanker and fore-staysail, she was brought to the wind, for it +was discovered that the bowsprit was badly sprung, and that the topsail +sheets were carried away. Happily the squall, having vented its fury on +our heads, quickly passed over, and we were left with much less wind +than before. + +"This is all that young beggar Bobby Smudge's doing, I'll warrant," I +heard Ned Grummit, a topman, exclaim, as he came down from aloft. "I +never knowed a chap of that sort who went for to go for to drown +hisself, if he threatened to do mischief, but found means to do it. I +knowed it would be so from the first, and we shall be lucky if worse +doesn't come of it." + +I tried to expostulate with the man, for whom I had a liking, for he was +an honest fellow; but to no purpose. He still persisted in the belief +that poor Bobby, who, while alive, had never done anybody harm, was +destined to work us all sorts of mischief. + +Everything had been made as snug as circumstances would allow. The +watch below had been piped down, and had turned in; and silence reigned +on board, and on the face of the ocean around us. It had been my watch +on deck, and I was just about being relieved, when the silence was +broken by a loud, unearthly cry; and the carpenter rushed on deck in his +shirt, his hair standing on end, and his eyeballs starting from their +sockets. Had not several men laid hold of him, I believe he would have +thrown himself overboard. He was carried back to his cabin, and the +doctor was summoned. All Chissel could say was, "Bobby Smudge! Bobby +Smudge! you young villain, be off with you!" The doctor gave him some +stuff or other, and the carpenter went off into a sound sleep; but a man +was ordered to sit up by his side, and watch him. + +"Now," thought I, "this has been one of Dicky Sharpe's tricks, and all +my good advice has been thrown away." But when I looked into Dicky's +hammock, he was sleeping away with such unfeigned soundness that I could +scarcely fancy that he had played any trick; and the next morning he +assured me, on his word of honour, that he knew nothing whatever about +the matter. I had never known Dicky to tell an untruth, and I felt very +sure that he would not conceal anything he had done from me; indeed, the +great pleasure he had in playing any mischievous prank was, to tell me +of it afterwards, if I happened not to be a partaker of it,--a very rare +occurrence, by-the-bye. + +"Suppose you had played your trick on old Chissel, and what he has seen +was really an evil spirit, how very dreadful it would have been for you +to have met the unnameable thing at his bedside!" said I. + +"Oh! don't talk of such a thing," exclaimed Dicky, shuddering. "I am +sure I will never again think of carrying out such a joke as I +contemplated. The idea is too frightful." + +I advised him not; and, after talking the subject over, and turning it +in every way, we came to the conclusion that, as no one else was likely +to have tried to frighten old Chissel, if he had not really seen a +ghost, his terror had been the result of his own evil conscience. + +"Yes, it is a dreadful thing to have a bad conscience," said Dicky, with +a sigh. "Do you know, D'Arcy, I sometimes wish that I had not played so +many wild pranks in my life. I know that they will some time or other +bring me into trouble; and yet, when the fit seizes me, I cannot help +it. I wish that you would remind me of my good resolutions when I next +propose anything of the sort." + +I promised that I would, but suggested that unless he had some higher +motive than the fear of being brought into trouble, he would in all +probability continue as great a pickle as ever, if he did not go on from +bad to worse. Indeed I read my chum a very severe lecture, which he +took with perfect composure, feeling at the time that he fully deserved +it; though I fear that he was not in the end very much the better for my +sage advice. + +We were busy all day repairing damages as well as we could at sea; but +it was found that they were so considerable that the captain resolved to +return to Malta, instead of pursuing our course to Tunis. While the +work was going forward, a man in the forechains discovered a jacket and +waistcoat, which were known to have belonged to Bobby Smudge. This was +considered still stronger proof that the poor lad had destroyed himself, +as no doubt he had hung them there before jumping into the sea. Seamen +are certainly the most superstitious beings alive, for this trifling +matter made them talk the whole evening after they had knocked off work +about Bobby and his ways; and scarcely one but believed that his spirit +would haunt the ship as long as she remained in commission. The +crippled state of the ship prevented our making much sail on her, and as +we had frequently baffling winds, our voyage to Malta was considerably +prolonged. + +Dirty Bob, as poor Bobby Smudge was generally called, excited far more +interest after his death than he had done during his lifetime, as is not +unfrequently the case with much greater men. The night succeeding the +squall passed off, as far as I know, quietly enough; but the next +morning I saw several groups of men talking together, as if something +mysterious had occurred. + +"I knowed it would be so," said Ned Trunnion, as I passed by. "He was +as bold a topman as ever stepped. I knowed the little chap wouldn't let +us alone, after he'd given Mr Chissel a taste of his quality. No, no; +depend on't he'll haunt the ship for many a long day, if he don't manage +to run her ashore, or to send her to Davy Jones' locker outright." + +"What's that about?" I asked, for I suspected the observation was +intended for my ears. + +"Why, sir," said Tom Barlow, another topman, "Dirty Bob (saving your +presence) has been aboard again, a playing off his pranks, and many of +us see'd him as clear as we see you." + +"Nonsense, man," said I. "If you mean Bobby Smudge, he's snug enough at +the bottom of the sea, fifty miles astern of us, by this time; besides, +if any of you saw him, why did you not catch him?" + +"It wasn't 'xactly him we saw, sir," blurted out Ned. "It was his +spirit or ghost like; and a chap might just as well try to catch one of +them things as to grip an eel with greased fingers." + +"How do you know it was his spirit, though?" I asked; for I suspected +that the men had been working on each other's imagination till all +fancied they had seen what perhaps only one had dreamed of. + +"Why, sir," replied Tom Barlow, with a hitch to his waistband, "we +knowed it was him, because it was as like him as he could stare, only a +good deal blacker and dirtier even than he was in his lifetime. It had +just gone two bells in the middle watch, when three or four of us who +was awake saw him as plainly as we do you, sir, now--creeping about for +all the world like a serpent, in and out among the hammocks. It was +more, just then, than any one of us wished to do, to speak to him; but, +thinks I, there can't be any harm telling him to cut his stick, just +civilly like; so I lifts up my head, and sings out, `Be off, you dirty +son of a sea cook!' But scarcely was the words out of my mouth, than he +was away like a shot up the main-hatchway, and through one of the ports, +or right through the bottom of the ship, for what I knowed; for I +couldn't see, you may suppose. All the others who saw him said, too, +there was a strong smell of sulphur, wherever he'd been, and that he +vanished away in a flame of fire; but I can't 'xactly swear to that +myself." + +I laughed outright at the absurdity of the story, and was more convinced +than ever that the men had allowed their imaginations to be worked up to +a pitch which would make them believe anything. + +Dicky Sharpe and I talked the matter over, and agreed not to say +anything about it, as were the circumstances to get to the ears of the +captain, it would certainly make him very angry. + +I thought we should hear no more about the matter; but two days after +this I found the people more busy than ever talking about Bobby Smudge's +ghost. Numbers declared they had seen it. Some described it as having +one shape, some another. Not a few gave it a tail, and horns, and fiery +eyes. All described it as black; and several were ready to affirm on +oath that it smelt strongly of sulphur and other horrible odours. At +length many of the men showed a great unwillingness to go below, and to +turn into their hammocks. + +Old Chissel had become a completely altered character. His conscience +told him that he was the cause of poor Bobby's death. He grew thin and +pale; his voice was no longer heard in loud dispute with his brother +officer, the boatswain; and even his manner was softened towards his +inferiors. The men remarked the change; and all argued that the ghost +had done him some good at all events, though it certainly confirmed them +in their belief of its existence. Night after night, no sooner was it +dark, and the watch below turned in, than Dirty Bob's ghost was sure to +appear to some one or other; till at length the gun-room officers heard +of the matter, and ultimately the captain himself was informed of it. + +At the same time a curious circumstance occurred. Every morning one or +other of the messes had to complain that their bread-bags had been +rifled, and different sorts of eatables had disappeared in a most +unaccountable manner. None of the men suggested for a moment that the +ghost had anything to do with the matter--for what could a ghost want +with biscuit, bacon, or cheese; but Captain Poynder, who at length heard +of this also, had, it appeared, formed a different notion on the +subject. + +Two of the marines--steady old hands--who were ready to believe or +disbelieve in ghosts or spirits, and to fight carnal or spiritual +enemies in any shape or of any colour, as their superior officers might +command them, were sent for into the cabin. What their orders were I do +not know; but one of them, Jabez Cartridge, was placed that night as +sentry on the lower deck. + +The first watch had nearly run out, and Jabez, who had his eyes about +him in every direction, had seen nothing of the ghost, when, as it had +just gone seven bells, he fancied that he observed a dark object gliding +about under the hammocks. He stood as upright and stiff as his own +ramrod. So immovable was he, that any one might have supposed him +asleep on his post; but his little black eyes were not the less +vigilant. The dark object moved slowly and cautiously on till it +reached the lockers, where the men's mess things were kept. + +Jabez saw that it had hands, and, by the peculiar movement of those +hands, he came to the conclusion that it had pockets. Still a ghost +might have hands, and trousers too, for what he knew to the contrary. +To convince himself, he sprang forward, and the ghost, with an unearthly +shriek, took to flight; but Jabez was too quick for the phantom, and +grasping him tight, he sung out, "I don't care if you be a ghost or not, +but I've got you, at all events." + +"Oh, let me go, let me go! and I'll lie snug and quiet till we get into +harbour, and then I'll leave the ship and never come back--that I +won't," answered the ghost, in piteous accents. + +But Jabez was inexorable, and dragging him to the sentry's lantern, by +its sickly light discovered features which belonged to no other than +Bobby Smudge. + +"Why, where have you been, you young scoundrel, all the time?" asked +Jabez. + +"In the coal-hole," blubbered out poor Bobby. "I never thought of doing +harm to no one; but I can't live without eating. Oh! let me go back,-- +oh! do, now." + +"My order is to take you to the captain," replied Jabez, unmoved; and +forthwith to the captain's cabin the unhappy Smudge was led captive. + +He was soon, however, sent out again under charge of the sentry, and +kept in durance vile till the next morning. + +After breakfast the men were called aft; and the captain appeared on the +quarter-deck with Bobby, in the same garb and condition in which he had +been captured. He was truly a wretched object, as he stood trembling, +and blubbering, and covered with coal dust and dirt, before all the +crew. + +"I have called you aft, my men, to show you how foolish you have been to +allow yourselves to be frightened by the equally foolish trick of this +miserable lad," said Captain Poynder. "I am not angry with you; but I +wish you to learn, from this event, that all the ghosts you are ever +likely to see will turn out to be no more ghosts than is this poor +fellow at the present moment. He confesses that to avoid punishment, +and in the hopes of ultimately escaping from the ship, he devised the +scheme for making it appear that he had destroyed himself. He managed, +it seems, to get a lump of coal in the forechains, and after heaving it +into the water, and crying out that a man was overboard, to get in at a +port, and to stow himself away in the coal-hole. Trusting to the +superstition and folly which the people have exhibited, he thought he +might venture out at night to supply himself with food. His plan +succeeded; and had the story not come to my ears, I conclude he would +have kept up the farce till the ship got into port. I ask, my men, do +you think it possible that God, who made this mighty universe, and +governs it by just and wise laws, would allow a mischievous imp, who +could do no harm while alive, to return to earth, merely for the sake of +wreaking his own petty malice, or for troubling and frightening a number +of grown men such as you are. To believe such a thing is both wicked +and absurd, for it is mistrusting God's wisdom and providence; and I +hope, when you come calmly to consider the matter over, you will think +as I do. I have another word to say, both to petty-officers and men. +The lad must have received much cruel treatment to make him attempt to +escape from it by the expedient he followed. Remember, for the future, +I will have no bullying. The discipline of the ship will be kept up far +better by strict justice. Had it not been for this, I should have +punished the lad severely for the prank he has played. As it is, he has +pretty well suffered already. But beware. If anybody attempts to +imitate his example, he will find I do not overlook the matter so +easily. Now pipe down." + +The captain's speech did much good in several ways. It put a stop to +any outrageous bullying for some time; for the men knew perfectly well +that what he threatened he would effectually carry out. It also tended +to cure some of them of their superstitious belief in ghosts and +goblins. + +"Well, I never heard the like afore," said Tom Barlow, as he and his +messmate, Ned Trunnion, were talking over the affair of the previous +day. "The skipper says as how there is no such thing as ghosts; and I +suppose, seeing as how he has as much larning as a parson, he knows all +about it. It don't come within my category, though." + +"What he says is all shipshape," replied Ned. "I never yet met the man +who really did see a ghost, though I've met scores who've heard of some +one who's seen them, and for that matter come to fisticuffs with them; +and certain sure I never see'd one myself till that young cheese-nibble +made himself into one. Then, if he hadn't been found out, I'd have +staked my davy that he was one in reality." + +"That is what the captain says," I remarked, as I stopped a moment. +"All the ghosts which have been seen will turn out to be only shams +after all." + +But enough of Bobby Smudge and his ghost. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +LETTER FROM MY UNCLE--CHASE OF MYERS--SUPPOSED LOSS IN PORTLAND RACE-- +GOOD ADVICE--THE ARIADNE MISSING--MR. VERNON'S ANXIETY. + +Two days after this, much shorn of the pride and beauty with which we +left it, we entered Malta harbour. As may be supposed, Mr Vernon +hastened to the post-office as soon as he could get on shore. I +accompanied him, with a note Captain Poynder had to send to the +governor. His eye brightened as it glanced at the superscription of a +letter which was handed to him. He read it over eagerly. + +"I hope, sir, that you have good accounts from your friends," I said. + +"They have had most provoking light winds and calms; and, when this +letter was written, had not made good half the distance. Heaven grant +that the _Ariadne_ may have escaped any squall such as crippled us." + +"Indeed, sir, I trust so," I replied; but as he again turned to his +letter, I made no further remark. I found a letter also for myself, to +my no little surprise, for I thought no one would take the trouble of +writing to me. I did not deserve a letter, I felt, for I had not +written a line to any one since I left England. It was from my uncle. +I put it in my pocket, to read at my leisure when I returned on board. +It ran as follows:-- + +"My Dear Nephew,--As a word or two now and then from those who are +deeply interested in your welfare, will but tend to keep them in your +remembrance, and to cheer your spirits, should you find yourself +surrounded by troubles or hardships, your aunt and I hope occasionally +to send you a sheet of paper, with an account of what is going on at +home; and I must beg you in return to let us know how the world speeds +with you. Your aunt and cousins are well, and one day passes with them +so like another, that I have little to tell of them. Terence grows +apace, and seems resolved to go to sea. I will not baulk the lad of his +wish when he is big enough; and I hope better times will come in the +navy, both for you and him, than I have seen for some time past. I have +given the cutter plenty of work, and have made several captures; but the +prize I most covet, that villain Myers, has again slipped through my +fingers. I must tell you all about it. It is supposed, indeed, that he +has at length gone to render up his final account in another world; but +even now I can scarcely believe but that he will yet turn up somewhere +or another in this. I had received notice that he had been again seen +in England, and that he had got command of a cutter of about sixty +tons,--a very fast craft, which nothing could come up to; so, of course, +I resolved to try and catch him. I soon found that he was visiting his +old haunts. I conclude that he fancied no one would believe he would +have the audacity to go there after all the crimes he had committed, and +that therefore no one would be on the watch for him. He had succeeded +in running two cargoes, and all the goods were got up to London. He had +gone away for a third, and I learned that preparations were made to +receive it in West Bay, not far from Beere. For two days and nights we +had been cruising about, just far enough out not to be seen from the +shore, in the best spot for cutting him off, when it came on to blow +very hard from the north-west. It had blown long enough to kick up a +heavy sea, when, just as it had gone three bells, in the middle watch, +we caught sight of a cutter standing in for the shore, and going along +at a tremendous rate, not the eighth of a mile to the eastward of us. +We were on the larboard tack; but we were instantly about, and in chase +of her. We could just make her out through the darkness; but I do not +think many eyes could have seen her, but those long accustomed to such +work as ours. It was some time before she perceived us; for, from the +way we were standing, we were end on to her. As soon, however, as she +saw us, she kept away, and off she went like a shot before the wind. We +packed everything on the cutter she could carry, and rather more canvas, +as you may suppose, than under ordinary circumstances I should like to +set; but the stranger, at all events, seemed resolved not to be outdone; +and though by this time it was blowing half a gale of wind, had not only +his whole mainsail, but his square-sail and gaff-topsail all set. This +circumstance made me pretty certain that Myers was on board, for he knew +well that a halter would be his lot if he was caught. I think he would +have done better by keeping on a wind, for before the wind her larger +size gave the _Serpent_ a decided advantage over him. After an hour's +chase, if we had not overhauled him, he certainly had not increased his +distance from us; and we had great hopes, should the wind increase, or +the sea get up any more, that we should at last catch him. It was a +trial of the strength of our sticks, and the goodness of our rigging. I +had every confidence in ours; but I also knew that the smuggler would +not fail to have got a tough stick for a mast, and sound rigging also. +Another half-hour passed, and Hanks agreed with me that we were +certainly gaining on the chase. To give us a chance of winging him, we +now ran a gun forward; but with the heavy sea there was, and the way +both vessels were pitching into it, there was very little probability +that we should do so. We, however, fired several times; but with no +effect. Only think! the fellow had the audacity to run out a couple of +guns, and to return the fire. To be sure, it was his only chance of +escaping; for if he could manage to knock away any of our spars, he +would, he thought, show us a clean pair of heels. His practice was not +a bit better than ours; indeed, it would only have been by chance that a +shot could have hit its mark. However, we both of us kept blazing away +at each other with hearty good-will. In the meantime the wind and sea, +already high, were getting up very much. At any other time I should +have hove the cutter to; but now, follow I must; and I hoped, from our +greater power, we should be able to hold out the longest, and that at +last the smuggler must give in. We were now nearing Portland Race, and +never in my life had I observed the sea running higher on it than it now +did. `The fellows will never attempt to cross it,' observed Hanks: +`they'll be swamped if they do; and if they haul up to round it, we +shall catch them to a certainty.' `Cross it they will try, at all +events,' I replied; `they can never carry canvas on a wind, in a breeze +and with a sea like this. See, they are standing into the very thickest +of the breakers.' Sure enough, there was the cutter approaching the +most dangerous part of the Race. The spring-tide was making down, and +the wind, meeting it, threw the foaming breakers higher up than usual. +Still it was possible, if everything was battened down, that the cutter +might shove through them. We all held our breath. If she got through, +we also must follow. We had everything secured, and were better +prepared than she was. On she went--her white sails appearing against +the dark sky--her whole hull enveloped in foam. For some seconds she +pushed on bravely. I never took my eye off her. Suddenly the white +canvas seemed to bend low down--the breakers danced on as before. I +rubbed my eyes, but without avail: the sail had disappeared. There was +a cry of horror on board the cutter, but no shout of triumph, though our +long-sought-for foe was no more. He and everybody on board must have +been swallowed up in those foaming billows. We had barely time to +shorten sail and to haul off, to avoid sharing the same fate; for I +scarcely think, on that day, that even we could have run through the +race. Some days after this I was on shore on Portland Bill, and the +lighthouse-keeper told me that he had witnessed the catastrophe. He +told me, also, that several planks and spars had shortly after come on +shore, and with these the body of a man. When, however, he went down to +the beach to look for the body, he could nowhere find it; so he +concluded that it had been swept away by the tide. Such is the fate of +the smuggler Myers, and certainly no one ever deserved it more richly. +I have no other events to narrate. + +"I should like to give you some good advice, Neil; but I am so little +accustomed to lecture others, I cannot find words to do it. I will try, +however. Never forget that you were sent into this world to do your +duty to Heaven and to man; not to amuse yourself, but to obey God's +laws,--to prepare for another world, which will last for ever. Remember +always that this world is only a place of trial--of probation. Trials +of all sorts are sent on purpose to prove us. When man, through +disobedience, fell, and sin entered the world, the devil was allowed to +have power over him. He would have gained entire power, and man in his +fallen state would have been inextricably lost for ever; but Christ in +his mercy interfered, and by His obedience, His sufferings on earth,--by +His death on the cross,--was accepted by God as a recompense for all +sinners who believe in Him. By His resurrection, He became a mediator +for us, showing us also that we too shall rise, like Him, from the dead, +in the bodies in which we died. Thus a pure and just God, who cannot +otherwise than hate sin, was able at the same time to show forth his +justice and his mercy,--to punish those who go on in their wickedness, +but to pardon those who believe in their great Mediator, and repent of +their sins. I remind you of these important truths, Neil, because I +know all men are too apt to forget them. Endeavour always to remember +them, and I am sure that they will keep you from evil more than any +other safeguards which I can offer you. I do not tell you, my boy, not +to do this, or not to do that; but I remind you that Christ came down on +earth, on account of the sins of mankind, to teach men His laws; that He +suffered pain, toil, and disgrace, and a dreadful death; and that, in +gratitude to Him, we are bound to do our utmost to obey Him. Read your +Bible constantly--not now and then, but every day; learn what His will +is, and do your best to follow it. Remember, also, that the devil is +ever at your elbow, endeavouring to persuade you not to follow it,-- +telling you that sin is sweet and pleasant; that God will not be angry +with you if you sin a little; that hell is far off; that God would not +be so cruel as to send you there; and that it is cowardly to be afraid. +Oh, my boy, let me entreat you to pray to God for grace to enable you to +resist those temptations. Come they will, assuredly; and never trust in +your own strength to resist them. Christ will give you strength. Fly +to Him in prayer. Go to your Bible,--read that, and you will be strong +to resist all temptations. Of course, never mind what your companions +may say or think on the subject. I ask, are you to be biassed by the +opinions of poor, weak, sinful mortals; or to obey the laws of the great +all-powerful God, who made the whole universe--the innumerable globes +you see in the sky--the world we inhabit, with all its wonders--man, +with his proud intellect--the animals of the forest, the birds of the +air, the creeping things innumerable, scarcely the nature of one of +which you can comprehend,--of the merciful Saviour, who died for you, +and who is eager to preserve you and all who believe on him? Still I +know that, with a full consciousness of God's greatness and goodness--of +Christ's mercy--man is so weak that nothing but constant prayer for +grace will enable him to keep in the right way. I feel, my dear nephew, +that I could not write too much on this all-important subject; but still +I must conclude. Keep my letter by you, and look at it at times when +you are inclined to forget its advice. Your aunt joins me in earnest +prayer for your welfare. + +"Your affectionate uncle,-- + +"Terence O'Flaherty." + +I am most grateful to my kind uncle for having sent this letter to me. +It had a very beneficial effect on my mind. I do not mean to say that +at the time I received it I thought as seriously of its contents as I +did afterwards; yet I tried somewhat to follow its advice,--not as I +might have done; but I read my Bible more frequently, and prayed more +earnestly than I had ever done before. I do not mean to say that I +knelt down by the side of my hammock to pray, as those on shore are able +to do by the side of their beds; but I found many an opportunity to +offer up my prayers during a watch on deck at night, and on those +occasions I felt more freedom and earnestness. Also I often would do so +after I had turned into my hammock, and before I turned out in a +morning. I own that when I was first observed to read my Bible I was +frequently called by my messmates a Methodist and a saint, and Dicky +Sharpe was especially liberal in his application of such epithets to me; +but Adam Stallman soon silenced him as well as others. + +"Let me ask you, Master Dicky, what you mean by a Methodist?" he +inquired. "If it is applied to a man who acts the part of a consistent +Christian, and does his duty methodically--with system, and not by fits +and starts,--it is a very high compliment you pay him; and as for the +term saint, let me assure you that those who do not become saints have +their souls in a very perilous condition." + +These remarks of Stallman's, though my young messmate tried to look +unconcerned and indifferent to them at the time, had, I believe, a very +beneficial effect on him. I will not, however, dwell longer on this +subject, important though it is, or my readers may declare that, instead +of writing my adventures for their amusement, I am giving them a book of +sermons. I will not do that; but still I must urge them to pay +attention to what I have said--never to be ashamed of their religion; +far, far rather to be proud of it, and ever to make God's word the rule +of their conduct.--To return to my narrative. The repairs of the +frigate having been completed, we once more put to sea, and made sail +for Tripoli and Tunis. Our poor Italian master, Signor Mezzi, had +declared most positively that nothing would ever again tempt him to +venture on the treacherous ocean; but a few weeks on the smooth water of +Malta harbour had wonderfully reassured him, and he continued therefore +with us, to our somewhat problematical benefit. Nothing occurred on our +passage to and from those places. + +We were once more entering Malta harbour. Mr Vernon at once went on +shore, and I again accompanied him. He repaired to the post-office, but +there were, to his evident disappointment, no letters for him. He +considered for a moment. "We'll go to the agents of the _Ariadne_; she +must have arrived at Gibraltar long before the last mails left." + +The agent's office was close to the harbour. We threaded our way to it +among bales, and casks, and packages. + +The senior partner, Mr Dunnage, received us very politely; and when Mr +Vernon inquired for the brig, his countenance assumed a grave look. + +"We must hope for the best," he replied; "but she is, I own, very long +overdue, and we have had no tidings whatever of her. She may have put +into some little-frequented port, with the loss of her spars or masts, +and the master may not have been able to communicate with us." + +"Nay, I am sure it must be so," he continued, seeing the agitation into +which the information had thrown my lieutenant. + +"Was the master a steady and good seaman?" asked Mr Vernon, in a voice +husky with emotion. + +"Not a steadier man nor a better seaman comes to this port," replied Mr +Dunnage. "If his craft was caught by a squall, or got into any other +difficulty, I am sure he would have done all that could be done for +her." + +"We fell in with a terrific squall soon after she was at sea," mused Mr +Vernon. "Heaven grant that she was not exposed to it." + +"It is impossible to say," answered the merchant in a kind tone. "I +feel more than usually anxious, on account of her passengers, I own. +Sailors are accustomed to hardships; they expect to meet them in their +career; and they are aware, when they go afloat, that they must be +prepared to lose their lives in the gale or the battle." + +Mr Vernon shuddered. He began to realise the possibility of the loss-- +the dreadful death of her he loved. Still he was a right-minded, brave +man, and what is more, a sincere Christian; and he resolved not to give +way to despair. + +Mr Dunnage perceived, at length, the effect his information had +produced, and he now did his best to mitigate the anxiety of my +lieutenant, entering warmly into all his plans for gaining information +as to the fate of the brig. + +It was agreed that he should write round to all the ports on the shores +of the Mediterranean, near which it was possible the _Ariadne_ could +have been driven; and that his correspondents there should send boats +along the coast from port to port, so that no part should remain +unexplored. + +"I should advise you also to see the Admiral; he will, I am sure, take a +warm interest in the matter." + +No sooner said than done. When sensible men are in earnest about an +affair, they do not lose time by talking, the plan of action being at +once decided on. + +Mr Dunnage having penned the draft of a circular letter to be sent to +the ports, left it to be copied by his clerks, while we set forth to see +the Admiral, who was, fortunately, at Malta. + +The worthy old man at once entered into all the proposed plans for +searching for the brig, and suggested others. + +"We'll send the _Harold_ to sea at once; and I'll despatch all the small +craft I can spare on the search. Stay,--you shall take an order to +Captain Poynder to sail forthwith. I suppose he's ready to go?" said he +to Mr Vernon. + +"We are well supplied with provisions, and can soon fill up with water; +we can be off this evening, I know," replied Mr Vernon. + +"Away with you! and may your search be prosperous," said the Admiral, +with much feeling. + +The order to go to sea again was at first received with no little +surprise on board; but the fact that the _Ariadne_ was missing being +generally known on shore, and the blue-peter being hoisted, the officers +who had gone on leave came hurrying back. + +That night, with a fine breeze we had run Malta out of sight. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +SAIL IN SEARCH OF THE ARIADNE--FALL IN WITH A BOAT AND CREW--THE MASTER +OF THE HELEN--HIS NARRATIVE--ATTACK OF PIRATES--CAPTAIN DELANO--CAN HE +HAVE SEIZED THE ARIADNE? + +"Something black and low over the starboard bow," sung out the man +stationed on the main-topgallant-masthead. + +"How far off is it?" hailed the first-lieutenant. + +"Two miles or thereabout, sir," was the reply. + +"What does it look like?" was again asked. + +"A boat, I think, sir, as much as anything," answered the look-out. + +Scarcely had the seaman aloft hailed the deck, than Mr Vernon, his +countenance paler than usual, showing the agitation within, had slung +his glass over his shoulder, and was on his way up the rigging. At the +topgallant-masthead he now sat, eagerly looking out towards the point +indicated. The ship's course was instantly directed towards it. It was +an exciting moment. It might prove to be a boat, keel uppermost, and +have no tale to tell, except to let us surmise that she had proved no +ark of safety to those who had trusted to her; or she might have living +beings on board, whom our discovery of her might rescue from starvation +and death. Other officers followed Mr Vernon aloft. + +"She is a boat afloat, and pulling towards us," sung out one of them. + +Everybody on board was looking over the sides or out of the ports at the +boat, which we neared rapidly. We soon made out that there were several +people in her besides those who were pulling; but whether there was a +lady or not, we could not discover. I pitied poor Mr Vernon's feelings +all the time very much. He came down on deck again, and stood at the +gangway pale as death, but manfully suppressing his emotion. The boat +drew near us. She was evidently belonging to a merchantman, and, from +her build, and the appearance of the people, they were English; but +there was no female form among them. Mr Vernon scrutinised the +countenances of those in the boat as she came alongside; but he soon, +apparently, recognised none as those he had seen on board the _Ariadne_, +for he drew a deep breath, and, I thought, seemed more composed. + +The people from the boat now came up the side, and she was hoisted up. +She was in a very battered condition, and had evidently been lately +repaired in a hurried manner. + +They were received at the capstern by Captain Poynder. An honest, +sturdy-looking gentleman stepped forward as spokesman. + +"I see that I am fortunate enough to have got on board a British +man-of-war," he began. "Well, sir, I have a pretty account of piracy +and attempted wholesale murder to give." + +"Let me hear it at once, sir, that I may judge what is to be done," said +Captain Poynder. + +"Yes, sir, certainly. My name is Hudson, sir. You must know that I am, +or rather was, master of the _Helen_ brig. We sailed from Liverpool, +where we took in a valuable cargo of manufactured goods, chiefly silks +and fine cottons. We were bound for Leghorn. While we were taking in +our cargo, there lay alongside of us a fine new brig, the _William_, +owned by some very respectable merchants of our port. Her master was a +certain Captain Delano, a very well-spoken, fine-looking man. I cannot +say that I ever liked him. There was something in his eye, and way of +talking, which made me doubt him. Not but that he said many things that +were very good and right, but there was nothing hearty in them; and now +and then he let out opinions which made me sure he was a bad man, +notwithstanding the way he had managed to come over his owners. There +were several suspicious things which I had heard of him from time to +time. He was an American, hailing from New York; yet he fought very shy +of all masters coming from thence, and had refused, on some excuse or +other, to take charge of a vessel going there. He, two years ago, had +command of a barque, the _Brunswick_, trading up the Straits. Some +queer things were said to have taken place in her; and I'm very much +mistaken if the black flag did not fly aboard her more than once. At +last this Mr Delano was caught attempting to carry out a large +smuggling transaction in Malta harbour, as, perhaps, you may have heard, +sir, when you have been there. He was convicted, and thrown into +prison. After having been shut up for a year, he was liberated, ruined +in character, and without a penny in his pocket. Any other man, almost, +would never again have been able to lift up his head; but his tongue +served him in good stead, and finding his way to Liverpool, he had the +impudence to present himself before his owners, and the wit to persuade +them that he was a much-injured individual, and innocent as the new-born +babe of all the charges brought against him. They gave him in +consequence, as I said, the command of the _William_, a new brig just +off the stocks. On some pretext or other, he was constantly aboard us +as we were taking in our cargo; and, with the thoughts I had of him, I +cannot say that I quite liked it. I understood also, from my people, +that four of the _Brunswick's_ crew had found him out, and shipped with +him; and the night before he sailed another very suspicious-looking +character shipped aboard, and, as the vessel went out of harbour, was +seen doing duty as mate. I mention these things, sir, that you may +judge whether I am likely to be right in my conjectures as to what +afterwards occurred. I will not now keep you longer than I can help. +We had a fine passage to the Gut, though with three or four days of +light and baffling winds. We had got through the Straits; and about a +couple of days after we had passed them, we made out on our weather-bow, +a brig, under easy canvas, standing across our course. + +"`Where can she be bound to?' says I to my mate, here. + +"`Only to the coast of Africa,' says he; `for you see, sir, she had a +fair wind up or down the Mediterranean.' + +"`She is in no hurry, at all events,' says I, `with that sail she has +set.' + +"`I can't make it out,' says he. `See, sir, she looks as if she +intended to speak us. She has altered her course a couple of points. +Ay, I see how it is--she is short-handed, by the way those sails are +set, and the ropes, too, are all hanging slack about her. Perhaps she +has lost some of her people by fever, or maybe they have been washed +overboard in a squall.' + +"As I looked at the brig more attentively, there was a strange foreign +look about the paint on her sides and figure-head which puzzled me, and +still the cut of her sails and the rake of her masts was English. +Presently, however, an ensign, with the stars and stripes of the United +States, flew out at her peak. That seemed to set the matter at rest. +The stranger soon bore down on us, and I hailed her to know who she was, +and what she wanted. + +"`The _Crescent_, from New York, bound for the Levant,' was the answer. +`We've lost more than half our ship's company in trying to save some +people off a wreck, and have ourselves sprung a leak. Can you send any +of your people aboard to help us to try and stop it?' + +"`Ay, ay,' I answered; for you see, sir, I am always glad to lend a hand +to any other ship's company requiring assistance. To show that what he +stated was true, three or four hands were working at the pumps, though I +did not see that they were forcing much water over the sides. We +lowered a boat accordingly, and I jumped in, with four hands, and pulled +aboard the stranger. As the bowman caught hold of the main-chains-- + +"`Why, she has canvas over her sides,' he remarked. + +"`Shove off, my lads; it's not all right,' I sung out. + +"But before the bowman could clear his boat-hook, a couple of cold shot +were hove into the boat, and she began to fill rapidly. We had no +choice but to scramble on board, or to go down with her. As soon as we +were on the deck of the stranger, we found ourselves knocked over; and +before we could get on our legs, we were bound hand and foot. The men +who acted as officers, as well as the crew of the vessel, were rigged +out in so odd a fashion, and their faces so covered up with hair and +black patches, that I could not have recognised them had I known them +ever so well; but still, at the time, it struck me that the fellow who +seemed to be the captain, had a figure very like that of Delano. Of +course I did not say anything, as I knew that to do so would be a sure +way of getting knocked on the head, and made food for fishes. Leaving +my people and me on the deck to think what we might, the villains, who +had now got a boat in very good condition, lowered her, and, with +pistols hid under their shirts, and cutlasses and muskets stowed away +underneath the thwarts, went aboard my brig. In a few minutes they +hailed, which showed me that they had made quick work in taking +possession. The two vessels were now brought alongside each other, and +lashed together, and my men and I were then handed on board our own +craft, and carried below--I into my cabin, and the rest into the +forepeak, where others of the crew had been already conveyed. I won't +attempt to tell you how I felt, as I saw the villains rifling my boxes +and lockers, and carrying off everything worth having. They made quick +work of it, being hurried on by their captain; and then they set-to to +take possession of our cargo. They left me in my own sleeping-berth, on +my back, so that I could see nothing; but, from the sounds I heard, I +judged that they were handing bale after bale of our cargo into their +own craft. Their cargo, if they had one, I suppose they hove overboard, +to make room for ours. How long they continued at this work, I don't +know. It seemed to me an age, you may be sure, sir. At last they +knocked off, and there was silence for some time. I thought they were +going to leave us, when I heard them return on board; and there was a +sound which I could not mistake. The murderous villains were boring +holes in the ship's bottom. I felt it was all up with us. They +intended to let the brig founder, with all her crew, so that there +should be no witnesses to their robbery. In vain I tried to get my +hands loose. They were too well secured, and I had, therefore, nothing +to do but to resign myself to my fate. It was not the first time that I +had faced death; and, sirs, I knew in whom to trust. He had before +preserved my life. Gentlemen, I should be an ungrateful wretch if I did +not thus at once acknowledge God's great mercy to us. He has preserved +our lives, and we are here." + +The reverential way in which the worthy master spoke made a deep +impression on me. There was no ostentation, no hypocrisy, no cant; but +heartfelt gratitude, and humble reliance on God's protecting hand. + +"No excuse necessary. What you say is right--perfectly right. You +speak as a Christian should, and I honour you for it; but go on," +replied Captain Poynder, who was evidently anxious to arrive at the +conclusion of the master's somewhat prolix narrative. + +"Well, sir," he continued, "of one thing I felt pretty certain, that +Delano was the perpetrator of this horrible outrage. It was the very +trick he was reported to have played before, and which, from what I had +seen of him, I judged he would be ready to play again. I could hear the +water begin to rush into the ship, but it did not reach the deck of the +cabin so soon as I expected. There was a good deal of noise on deck, as +if the pirates were knocking things to pieces; and then I judged that +the vessels had separated, and that the pirate had sheered off to leave +us to our fate. All was silent, and I could not tell whether my poor +fellows had been carried off or been left to share my fate with the +brig. Some twenty minutes or half an hour had passed in this state of +uncertainty, when I heard a noise, as if bulkheads were being knocked +in, and my own name was called by a voice which I recognised as that of +my mate. I shouted joyfully in return, and in a few seconds he and some +of the crew rushed into the cabin and released me. `The brig seems in +no way inclined to go down, captain,' they exclaimed. `If we could but +get the pumps rigged, we might save her as well as our lives; but the +pirate has only sheered off to a short distance, and if the villains on +board were to catch sight of our faces on deck, they would soon return +and put a finishing stroke to us.' `Let's see if we can do anything to +keep the water out,' said I, though I had little hope of success. On +going into the hold, which was pretty well free of cargo, on examination +I discovered that the holes had been bored through the timbers, instead +of through the planks. `Either a friend or a lubber has done this,' +exclaimed my mate. `I think the former,' I observed. `Get some plugs +as fast as you can, my lads, and we'll soon stop these leaks, and yet +keep the old barkie afloat.' The holes were bored mostly high up, so +that they were easily got at, and we thus had the greater number of them +quickly plugged. There is no doubt in my mind that the man who bored +the holes hoped by that means to save our lives. One of the crew, who +had all been shut up in the forepeak, told me that the man who had +lashed his hands took occasion to pass him, when he whispered, `Don't +move till we're clear off. Things are not so bad for you as they look.' +When I heard this, I was sure that all on board the pirate were not as +great villains as their leaders. As soon as this man had got his hands +free--which he did without difficulty, for they were purposely ill +secured--he loosed the rest; and then, afraid to show themselves on +deck, lest the pirates should see them, they worked their way aft to my +cabin. A strong confirmation to my suspicions that the pirate brig is +no other than the _William_, commanded by Delano, is, that as one of my +people lay bound on her deck, when we were knocked down on boarding her, +he observed the name of the sailmaker on her fore-topsail--John +Reynolds, of Liverpool. He remarked the name particularly, because he +was the maker who had furnished the sails of the last vessel he had +sailed in; and he remembered that he had observed the same name on the +_William's_ sails. We remained below for some little time after we had +plugged the holes, and then we managed to wrench off the hatches of the +forepeak. When we had done this, I crept cautiously out, and looking +over the bulwarks, I saw the pirate about a quarter of a mile off, +laying by us apparently to watch till we should go down. This made our +position very perilous, for any moment the pirates might return and +knock us all on the head, though, for that matter, I resolved that if +they attempted it, we would sell our lives at no cheap rate. As I +glanced my eyes along our deck and up aloft, a sad scene of havoc and +destruction met them. Our running rigging was un-rove and carried off, +our standing rigging was cut through, and what sails remained on the +yards were hanging in shreds. On deck, our boats were stove in, the +caboose knocked to pieces, and the cooking things gone. Indeed I could +scarcely have supposed that so much mischief could have been committed +by a few people in so short a time. Having made these observations, I +again went below to hold a consultation with my mates as to what was +best to be done. We made up our minds that as long as the water did not +gain on us, and the pirate lay near us, all we could do was to remain +quiet below; but we agreed to arm ourselves in the best way we could, +and, if the pirates returned, to rush out on them in a body, and to +attempt to take them by surprise. The arms from my cabin had been +carried off; but there were three brace of pistols and a couple of +fowling-pieces in a chest in the after-hold, which had escaped their +notice; as also some ammunition. We had also among us a couple of axes, +and some thick ends of crowbars; so that we were likely to prove pretty +formidable in a close scuffle. When we were ready, we almost wished +that the fellows would come back, that we might punish them for what +they had done, and I believe that we should have rendered a good account +of them. But at the same time, as bloodshed must have followed--and +that in any case is bad,--and we could not have regained our property, I +cannot say but what I am glad they did not make the attempt. If we had +had the brig under control, we might have done something; but without +sails, and almost sinking, we were helpless. I now returned on deck, to +watch the movements of the pirate. All this time the water kept coming +in, and I began to fear that our brig would not keep afloat till the +pirate had sheered off, when suddenly I saw her sheet home her topsails, +let fall her courses, and make sail away to the eastward. After +watching her for a quarter of an hour--which seemed four times as long a +period,--to make sure that the pirates could no longer see us, I called +the people up from below to rig the pumps. The pirates had, however, +done their utmost to render them useless, and we soon found that we must +give up all hopes of clearing the ship of water. We then turned-to to +examine the boats. One was so completely stove in that she was +perfectly useless; and we made up our minds that we should have to take +to a raft, when the carpenter reported that he could in a very short +time render the other boat seaworthy. We accordingly did our best to +make her fit to float, though darkness came down upon us before we had +finished. We could only find one lantern, which enabled us to continue +our work, but very slowly. We made a rough sort of a raft to keep us +afloat, in case the brig should go down suddenly; but I never passed a +more anxious night. It was noon the next day before the boat was ready. +Scarcely had we got clear of the brig before she went down; and +certainly it was from no mercy of Delano's that we did not sink in her. +I at once shaped a course for Malta, as the wind had shifted round to +the westward, and it was the British port we could most easily reach, +and where we could at the same time get aid to go in search of the +pirate. What with baffling winds, we have been a long time knocking +about, and might have been still longer, had we not fallen in with you, +sir. All I can say more is, that the sooner a stop is put to the career +of those villains, the better. It is impossible to tell what other +atrocities they may have committed." + +While the master of the _Helen_ was giving his narrative, I saw Mr +Vernon turn very pale; and as he made this last observation, I thought +he would have fallen. It had evidently occurred to him that the +_Ariadne_ might have been seized by Delano. By a mighty effort of +self-command, however, he recovered himself. + +"I am much pleased with your clear statement, Mr Hudson," said Captain +Poynder. "We will return to Malta immediately, and take steps to +discover what has become of the _William_, or rather the pirate which +plundered you. I cannot doubt that they are one and the same craft." + +"Thank you, sir; that's what I think should be done," said the worthy +master. "I've no doubt the pirate will be found before long." + +"Captain Poynder, is it possible that the pirate could have fallen in +with the _Ariadne_?" said Mr Vernon in a hollow voice, trembling with +agitation. + +"I trust not--I trust not," replied the captain. "We'll hope for the +best: at the same time we will do our utmost to ascertain the truth." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +RETURN TO MALTA--SAIL IN A SCHOONER--SEARCH FOR THE WILLIAM--THE IONIAN +ISLANDS--REACH SMYRNA--SURPRISE THE PIRATES--I PRESERVE THE SHIP FROM +BEING BLOWN UP--MYERS AND HIS TRICKS. + +We had a foul wind, and it took us three days to beat back into Malta +harbour. Our return caused much surprise, for it was deemed prudent to +keep Captain Hudson's narrative a secret till we had ascertained what +had become of Delano, lest any of his friends should hear of it, and, by +giving him notice, might enable him to escape. I was again Mr Vernon's +companion on shore, where we went as soon as we had dropped our anchor. +We first bent our steps to the office of Mr Dunnage, as he seemed to +take a warmer and more active interest than anybody else in the +mysterious disappearance of the _Ariadne_. We were shown into the +worthy merchant's private room, where he sat surrounded by piles of tin +boxes, with long bygone dates marked on their sides, and heaps of old +ledgers and journals; with pictures of ships on the walls, and a model +of one of antique build, fully rigged, over an old dark oak press at his +back. Mr Dunnage had a full fresh, Anglo-Saxon countenance, which, +though I at first thought rather grave and cold, after a few minutes' +conversation seemed to beam with kindness and good nature. He looked +grave as we entered, and having motioned us to be seated, shook his head +as he remarked, "I have no news, lieutenant, of the brig, I am grieved +to say. Have you anything to report." + +"The worst surmises only, sir," said Mr Vernon; and he then gave him an +account of our having picked up the master and crew of the _Helen_, and +of the outrage they had suffered. + +Mr Dunnage listened with deep interest. + +"Ah! that fully accounts for a circumstance which has puzzled me +exceedingly. That very brig, the _William_, belongs to my friends, +Hodge, Podge, and Company, of Liverpool; and I am sure they would have +consigned her to me, had they intended her to come here. Here she came, +however, consigned to a Jew, a man of very disreputable character; and I +understand that she discharged but a very small part of her cargo. We +must try and find out what has become of it, and see if Captain Hudson +can identify any portion of it. When I sent down to inquire about her, +I found that she had sailed again, and, it was reported, had proceeded +up to the Levant. Altogether my suspicions were very much excited, +especially when I found, on inquiry, that Delano was her master. Her +crew, also, were said to have come on shore in gay-coloured silk +waistcoats, and to have spent more money than seamen are likely to have +lawfully possessed." + +"Oh, let us at once try and find out what was the nature of the cargo +sold by Delano," exclaimed Mr Vernon. "Can you tell me what the +_Ariadne_ had on board?" + +"I see the drift of your question," answered Mr Dunnage; "but I do not +think that, foolhardy as Delano may be, he would have ventured to offer +for sale articles which had been shipped from this, and would be so +easily recognised. No; all that we can hope to prove without a doubt +is, that the _William_ is the brig which plundered the _Helen_; and we +must then take means to find out, without delay, what has become of her, +and to put a stop to her career. Stay; let me consider what is best to +be done. The Admiral will, I am sure, gladly send all the men-of-war +that can be spared to look out for her." + +"I have thought of that already," said Mr Vernon; "but, my dear sir, I +suspect that such would not be the best way to capture the pirate crew. +They would very likely hear of our being on the search for them, or +would become suspicious at the sight of a man-of-war, and contrive to +make their escape. We shall require to use great caution to get hold of +so clever a fellow as Delano is described to be. I would propose rather +to fit out a small merchantman, a xebeque or schooner, and to man her +with men-of-war's men. We may, in a craft of that description, be able +to get alongside the _William_, unsuspected, and to capture her without +loss of life." + +"A capital idea," exclaimed Mr Dunnage. "I have a craft in my eye, +which I think you will consider suitable for the object; and I am +certain the merchants here will gladly defray all expenses." + +So the matter was settled; and as neither Mr Dunnage nor my lieutenant +were men who would allow the anchor to block up Mr Neptune's cottage +door for many days together, we immediately set off to have a look of +the vessel proposed. She was a small schooner, the _Thisbe_,--most +vessels in the Mediterranean have classical names; and the result of the +examination was the opinion that she was well suited for the purpose. + +"Now, my dear lieutenant," said Mr Dunnage, "do you go on board and +beat up for a crew. I will run round to the merchants to get them to +share the expenses. By this evening she shall have her stores on board +and be ready for sea. Don't suppose I'm bragging. Where there is a +will there is a way." + +Off ran our excellent friend, while Mr Vernon and I hastened on board +to describe the proposed plan to Captain Poynder, and to get his leave +to borrow some of the _Harold's_ men. As may be supposed, there were +plenty of volunteers for the expedition,--indeed, everybody wanted to +go; but we had to wait patiently till Mr Dunnage came on board, as he +promised to do, to announce what arrangements he had made. When I got +back into the berth, I found all the youngsters discussing the subject +of the disappearance of the _Ariadne_. It was the general opinion that +it was possible Delano and his crew might have fallen in with her; but +still she had had ample time to reach Gibraltar. We made up our minds +that Mr Vernon would be placed in command of the expedition, and we +each of us hoped to be selected to accompany him. Adam Stallman, who +was in the berth, did not make any remark; but after a time he got up +and went on deck. He looked, I observed, more sad and full of care than +even Mr Vernon. At last Mr Dunnage came on board with a despatch from +the Admiral to Captain Poynder. Mr Vernon was soon afterwards sent for +into the cabin. The consultation was very short. When he came out, he +informed Adam Stallman that he had applied for him as his mate, and, to +my great satisfaction, told me that I was also to accompany him. I was +very anxious to get Dicky Sharpe; so, mustering up all my courage, I +boldly asked Captain Poynder if he might be of the party. + +"I suppose Mr Du Pre can dispense with his valuable services in the +ship for a time," replied the captain; "so, if Mr Vernon will take +charge of him, and you, Mr D'Arcy, will undertake that he gets into no +mischief, he has my leave to go." + +The truth was, the captain was glad to allow the mates and youngsters to +go away in small craft, as he considered that they thus gained more +knowledge of seamanship, and confidence in their own resources, than +they could have done by remaining on board. Twenty picked men were +selected from among the volunteers to man the schooner. Mr Hudson, and +four of his crew, were also asked to go, to identify, if they could, the +pirates. As soon as the volunteers had got their bags ready, and been +mustered, we were ordered away in the boats to bring the schooner down +to the frigate, from up a creek in the harbour where she lay; while the +purser was directed in the meantime to get provisions and stores in +readiness for her. Where a body of disciplined men labour with a will, +a large amount of work can be done in a short time; and thus, before +night set in, we had the _Thisbe_ fitted for sea, provisioned, stored, +and watered. We shipped, likewise, four light guns, and a supply of +small-arms and cutlasses, that we might make sure of mastering the +pirates, in case the plan of taking them by surprise should miscarry. +We were also ordered to take with us our rough clothes, that we might +look as much as possible like merchant seamen. Our shipmates in the +_Harold_ gave us three cheers as we cast off from her side, and, with a +light breeze and a clear sky, stood out of the harbour. The merchants +had left full discretion to Mr Vernon to proceed as he judged best from +the information he might obtain; but they suggested, at the same time, +that he should run through the Greek islands, among which it was +probable the pirate would have gone; and, not finding her there, proceed +to Smyrna, where it was reported one of the pirates had said they were +going. Both Mr Vernon and Adam Stallman had been on shore all day +picking up what information they could. Among other things, they found +that the crew of the _William_ had been very profuse in their +expenditure on shore; and, as if to account for the quantity of cash +they possessed, had said that they had the luck to fall in with an +abandoned vessel. To show, however, how difficult it is for rogues to +agree in a false story, one had said that they had met her in the Bay of +Biscay, and another, inside the Straits, while a third had the audacity +or blind folly to declare that the name was the _Helen_, though the +others gave her different names. As soon as it was known that +suspicions were attached to the crew of the _William_, several tradesmen +came forward to say what they knew about them. One of these gentlemen +said that he thought it rather odd, as I think indeed he might, when one +of the men ordered twenty silk waistcoats of him of different gay +patterns, and paid the price down at once, while another bought six +green coats. I dare say Mr Snip charged him a full price. He declared +that he had not sufficient reason to give any information to the police +about the matter, as seamen were curious fellows, and sometimes fond of +displaying fine clothes. Another had spent large sums in a jeweller's +shop, and had gone out with several gold chains about his neck. From +what was reported, indeed, it appeared that the wretched crew had spent +a large part of their ill-gotten wealth. To account for their having so +much cash, it was ascertained that they had at first gone to Leghorn, +where Delano had doubtless disposed of some part of the cargo. It is +only surprising that the authorities at Leghorn had not detained her, +when there were so many suspicious circumstances about her. Thus, all +the time that the wretches were under the idea that their crime was +unknown, and themselves unsuspected, they were insuring the means of +their own detection and capture. I kept the first watch, with Adam +Stallman, the night we sailed, when he made the above remark, and many +others. + +"You will observe, D'Arcy," said he, "as you go through life, that +evil-doers nearly always lay nets for their own destruction: I might, I +think, safely say always. These men have already given us evidence +which must be sufficient to convict them; and, if not, depend on it, we +shall find it before long. Now, how do you think this happens? +Because, as I believe the Evil Spirit is ever going about seeking whom +he may devour, he tempts men to commit sin; and then so blinds their +minds, that they can no longer form a right judgment, even to save +themselves from the detection of their fellow men. His temptations, +also, are so weak and frivolous, when viewed in their proper light, +that, did not one know the folly of man, one would be surprised that he +could venture to make use of them. His baits are always of a tinselly +or shadowy nature, either worthless when caught, or altogether +illusions, as useless to people in general as the gold chains and silk +waistcoats are to these rough pirates. Should it not make our hearts +sink with sorrow, when we see the worthless wealth, the empty titles, +for which men barter away their souls?" + +I agreed with Stallman as to the correctness of his remarks. My +excellent messmate was very fond of endeavouring, in a similar mode, to +give instruction to the youngsters brought in contact with him. To do +him justice, he contrived to do so in a more interesting way than my +account might leave my readers to suppose. We had a fair wind, though +light, for the first twenty-four hours, and the schooner made good way; +but at the end of that time it shifted round to the eastward, a regular +sneezer came on, the sea got up, and, close-hauled, the little schooner +was soon ploughing her way through the foaming waves. My long service +in the cutter made me perfectly at home; but Dicky Sharpe, who had never +been in a small craft in his life, was very soon done up. He threw +himself down on a locker in the little cabin aft, looking the very +picture of misery. + +"Oh! D'Arcy, my dear fellow, do have the kindness to heave me +overboard," he groaned out. "I can be of no further use to any one in +this world, and it would be a charity to put me out of it. It would, +indeed, I assure you." + +"Oh, nonsense, Sharpe," I answered. "You are speaking gross folly: only +your sea-sickness excuses you." + +"Now, don't scold me, Neil,--don't," he replied. "If you felt as I do, +you would not be inclined to be very sensible." + +"Well, then, get up, and be a man," said I. "If you give in like that, +and fancy yourself dying, and all sorts of things, you deserve to be +thrown overboard; though I'm not the person going to do it." + +"All hands shorten sail!" sung out Adam Stallman, who had charge of the +deck. + +I sprang up the companion-ladder, followed by Dicky, and from that +moment he forgot all about his sea-sickness. + +We soon got the little craft under snug canvas, and time it was to do +so; for, as man-of-war's men often do small craft, we had been treating +her like a big ship, and carrying on till the last moment. Never had +the _Thisbe_ been shoved through the water, probably, at the rate we had +lately been going; but more haste the worst speed, as we ran a great +chance of proving to our cost, for we were very near carrying the masts +over the sides, or making the small craft turn the turtle. + +For two days we beat up against the gale, not one of us keeping a dry +thread on our backs; but after forty-eight hours of a good honest blow, +the wind seemed to have done enough for the present, and turning into a +light baffling breeze, left us to make an easy, though slow, passage +across the blue calm sea. This sort of weather continued till we made +the mountainous and wild-looking coast of the island of Cephalonia. We +ran in close along shore, as there are no rocks to bring up a vessel; +and, standing up a deep bay on the western side, with Guardiana, or +Lighthouse Island, on the north, dropped our anchor off Argostoli, the +chief town. Most of the people were ordered to keep quiet below, while +Mr Vernon, in plain clothes, went on shore in the dinghy. He came back +in a short time, and reported that he could gain no tidings answering to +the description of the _William_. + +My own knowledge of Cephalonia is but slight; but Stallman, who had been +there before, gave me some information about it. It is one of the +Ionian Islands, under the protection of England, and had an English +garrison, at that time consisting of about five hundred of the rifle +brigade. Thanks to Sir Frederick Adams, the country appears to be in a +flourishing condition; the roads are excellent, and the inhabitants +cultivate not only the fertile valleys, but every inch of soil to be +found among its rocky heights. There is another neatly-built and +pleasantly--situated town, called Luxuria, about three miles from +Guardiana. + +If we thought Cephalonia interesting, Zante, the next place at which we +touched, was far more so. Its citadel occupies a lofty hill, situated +at the head of a deep bay. The citadel, bristling with guns,--the town, +with its steeples and domes,--and the surrounding country, with its +groves of olives, its fields of waving corn, and its villas and hamlets, +presented to our eyes a scene of surpassing loveliness. Not a word of +information could we obtain of the objects of our search; so we again +weighed anchor and stood on towards Corfu, the most beautiful and +interesting of all the Ionian Islands, within sight of the lofty and +picturesque mountains of Albania. The citadel of Corfu, standing on an +island on the southern side of the town, may, from its lofty position, +surmounted by a lighthouse, be discovered at a considerable distance out +at sea. Its southern side is completely inaccessible, and art has +rendered the other sides equally difficult to ascend; so that it is +almost, if not entirely, impregnable. The island is connected to the +mainland by a bridge, at the end of which is the fine open place called +the Esplanade, extending from the west side of the bay, to the palace of +the Lord High Commissioner on the east. Most of the streets run at +right angles to each other; the principal, the Strada Real, runs to the +gate which forms the chief entrance to the town. The houses are for the +most part built in an irregular and slovenly manner; and even the public +buildings cannot boast of much beauty. The inhabitants, of the town +especially, are a mixture of Greeks and Venetians. In the country the +population is more purely Greek. The roads, constructed chiefly by +fatigue parties from the garrison, are excellent, and extend to every +corner of the island, and must contribute much to its material +prosperity. At all events, British rule has been of great benefit to +the Ionian people. It might have been of greater. More might have been +done to educate and improve the people, both morally and religiously; +but had they been left to themselves, they would most probably be in a +far worse position than they now are. + +Our inquiries here were as little satisfactory as at other places; and +we were just tripping our anchor, when a merchant-brig, coming up the +harbour, passed us. Mr Vernon hailed her, to learn where she came +from. + +"Smyrna," was the reply. + +She brought up near us, and he went on board. He returned shortly with +more animation in his countenance than I had long seen there. + +"I have at last notice of the fellow," he said. "A vessel answering the +description of the _William_ was in Smyrna harbour when the brig came +out. The crew, by their conduct, seem to have excited some suspicion; +and my only fear is that they may find it not safe for them to remain, +and will, therefore, take their departure." + +This information put us all in spirits, for we had begun almost to +despair of catching the pirate after all. Not a moment was lost in +getting under weigh, and in making all sail the schooner could carry. + +We had a fair wind, and nothing worthy of note occurred on the passage, +till we made the entrance of Smyrna harbour, in the outer port of which +we dropped anchor. Mr Vernon then dressed himself like the mate of a +merchantman, and with one of our own people, and one of the crew of the +_Helen_, prepared to leave the schooner's side in the dinghy. Just at +the last moment I mustered courage to beg that he would let me accompany +him. I had rigged myself in plain clothes, and might, I fancied, have +been taken for a steward, or the captain's son. Mr Vernon considered +for a moment. + +"Yes, come along, D'Arcy," said he. "You will not do us any harm in +that dress, and your eyes and judgment may be of service." + +I was delighted at the permission I had gained, and eagerly jumped into +the boat. Away we then pulled up the harbour, in the lazy fashion of a +collier's crew. We scrutinised narrowly each vessel in our course, but +none answered the description of the _William_. At last John Norris, +the seaman from the _Helen_, exclaimed-- + +"There, sir, that's her; inside the barque there. See, she's got her +fore-topsail loosed, and there's the name of the maker on it--the very +thing which first let us know that she was the _William_." + +To make more sure that the man was not mistaken, we pulled up the +harbour a little way, and then touching the shore, so as not to excite +the suspicion of the pirates, should they by chance observe us, we +passed close by the vessel on our return. There was, I thought, as I +watched her, a dark, ill-boding look about her; but that might have been +fancy. One man only was to be seen. He was walking the deck, with his +hands in his pockets, and occasionally looking over the side. He caught +sight of us as we pulled by, and seemed to be watching us narrowly. I +felt almost sure that he suspected something was wrong; but probably he +had got a habit of scrutinising everything which approached him, as a +London pickpocket does when he knows that the police are aware of his +course of life. As we dropped past the brig's quarter, I got a better +view of his countenance, and I felt sure that I had seen it before. It +was that of a man I supposed to have been hidden long ago, with all his +crimes, beneath the waves--no other than Bill Myers. It was a +countenance I could not readily forget, after our encounter in the +cavern. Then, in spite of all probabilities, he had contrived to escape +from the breakers of the Portland Race. I was afraid to look up again, +lest he should also recognise me, and give the alarm to his shipmates; +indeed, I was not at all satisfied that he had not already suspected our +intentions. A small boat was floating astern of the brig. He watched +us for some time, as we returned towards the schooner, and as long as I +could observe him, he was keeping his eye on us. We lost not a moment, +on returning on board, in getting out a merchantman's long-boat, which +we had brought with us. She pulled four oars, and was a large, roomy +boat. Besides the hands to pull her, eight of our men were stowed away +under a tarpaulin, which was thrown over them, to look exactly as if it +were covering up some merchandise. All hands under the tarpaulin were +strongly armed, and arms were placed in readiness, stowed away for the +use of those who were pulling. + +Mr Vernon again changed his dress, and I followed his example, lest +Myers--or the man I took for him--might recognise us. With beating +hearts we once more left the schooner. We pulled slowly up the harbour, +and soon came in sight of the pirate brig. The people, who had probably +been at their dinners when we before passed, were now some of them +aloft, fitting the rigging, and others working on deck. It required, +therefore, careful management on our part to take them by surprise. We +pulled up, as if we were going to pass them at some little distance on +the starboard side. The men imitated admirably the lubberly, sluggish +fashion in which some merchant seamen handle their oars. Just as we +were abeam, each of the two men pulling our port oars pretended to catch +crabs, and this suddenly brought the boat broadside on to the brig's +side. Before, however, we could hook on, even the hands aloft seemed to +suspect that something was not right, and came sliding down the rigging. +But notwithstanding this, we were too quick for them, and before they +could get below to alarm the rest, the party under the tarpaulin had +thrown it off, and we all together sprung up the sides, and attacked +every one we encountered. Some fought desperately. One fellow tried to +throw himself overboard; but we soon overpowered them, and had them +lashed hands and feet. To rush into the cabin was the work of a moment. +The door was locked, but we burst it open. The noise made the captain, +who was in his hammock, start up. He gazed at us for a moment, wildly +and fiercely, and then drawing a pistol from under his pillow, fired it +at us. The ball passed close to Mr Vernon's ear, and buried itself in +the bulkhead. With a savage oath, the pirate was drawing out another +pistol, when we threw ourselves on him and seized his arms. The weapon +went off in the struggle, and very nearly finished my career--the ball +actually taking off the rim of my tarpaulin hat. Before he could make +any further resistance, three of our people followed us into the cabin, +and we soon had him, with his arms lashed behind him, and his feet +secured together. While the operation was going on, he glanced at us +like a tiger, but did not utter a word. The remaining few of the +pirates, who had been asleep forward in their hammocks, had been secured +without resistance. I looked round for Myers, or the man I had taken +for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. + +Just as we had finished securing Delano, I bethought me that I smelt an +unusual sulphurous odour. A dreadful suspicion had seized me. Outside +the main cabin was a door, leading to a smaller one. I forced it open, +with a strength I did not think myself capable of exerting. I felt that +there was not a moment to be lost. On the deck were a couple of casks, +and a slow match, burning at one end, communicated with one of them. I +cannot say that I thought, and yet I was conscious, that in another +moment I and all on board might be blown into eternity. I know not what +impulse moved me; but, bending down my mouth, I seized the burning match +between my teeth, and, though it much burned my lips and tongue, held it +there till it was extinguished. Then, overcome by the excitement of my +feelings, I sunk down over one of the casks. There I lay for a moment, +almost unconscious of anything. I need scarcely say that the casks were +filled with gunpowder. I should have fainted had not Mr Vernon come +in, and had me carried on deck. + +"Your presence of mind has saved all our lives, D'Arcy, and I can never +forget it," he exclaimed. "But we have still more work to do. Lift off +the hatches, my lads." + +This order was quickly obeyed. With eager haste he hunted through every +part of the ship. I guessed at length what was in his mind. He was +seeking to discover any property of the Normans, or any articles which +might have been on board the _Ariadne_. It was a moment of dreadful +anxiety. Nothing, however, was to be found which could lead us to +suppose that the _Ariadne_ had fallen into the power of Delano. Mr +Vernon had directed Adam Stallman to get the schooner under way, and to +bring her up alongside the pirate brig, as soon as he calculated we +could have taken possession. She now appeared, and, furling sails, +dropped her anchor close to us. The scuffle on board the _William_ had +attracted the attention of the crews of the vessels lying near, several +boats from which presently came alongside; and it was, I fancy, at first +believed that we were a band of pirates, attempting to cut out a British +merchantman. Mr Vernon explained to them what had occurred, and after +a little time satisfied them that we had full authority for what we were +doing. I can scarcely describe events in the order they occurred. Our +search over the brig having been concluded, and no one else being +discovered, we made inquiries among the pirate crew, to learn who had +laid the plan for blowing up the ship; but one and all denied having any +knowledge of it. Even Delano was taken by surprise when he was told of +it by Mr Vernon. + +"Ah! that's the work, then, of that unhung scoundrel, my mate, Dawson," +he exclaimed. "It was a thought worthy of him. What! and has he +escaped?" + +"We found no one who appears to be your mate," said Mr Vernon. "But +what could have induced him to commit such an atrocious act?" + +"To try and save his own neck by sending us all to perdition before our +time," exclaimed Delano, evidently for the moment forgetting all +caution, from his feeling of exasperation, and thus clearly inculpating +himself. + +"Where do you think he has gone, then?" inquired Mr Vernon, quickly, +hoping to gain further information from the pirate in his present mood. + +"That's not for me to say," he replied; but not another word could we +elicit from him on the subject. + +He kept his fierce eyes glaring on us as we searched the cabin. We came +on a box of cigars in one of the lockers. + +"Ah! bring me one of those," he growled out. "You will let a man make +himself comfortable in his own cabin, at all events." + +A seaman, as sentry, had been placed over him, with a pistol in his +hand. + +"May I give it him, sir?" asked the man. + +"No; not on any account," replied Mr Vernon; "but do you, D'Arcy, light +one and put it in his mouth." + +As I stooped down to follow my superior's directions, I fancied the +pirate would have tried to bite off my fingers, he gave so vindictive +and fierce a look at me. As I stood by him, I asked, "Has your mate, +whom you call Dawson, ever been known by the name of Myers?" + +"What's that to you, youngster? Most men have more than one name," was +his somewhat equivocal answer. + +His manner, however, rather confirmed me in my suspicion that the man I +had seen on deck was no other than the daring smuggler we had so often +tried in vain to capture in the cutter. Having thoroughly examined the +ship, we transferred Delano and five of his crew into the schooner, +while the remainder were secured on board the brig, into which Adam +Stallman and Sharpe, with ten of our people, were sent as a prize crew. +Before sailing, Mr Vernon went on shore to report to the English +Consul, as well as to the Turkish authorities, what had occurred. He +got great credit from the merchants for the mode in which he had +captured the pirate. It appeared that even there the conduct of the +crew had begun to excite suspicion; but as it happened to be nobody's +business to inquire into the affair, they would have escaped, had we not +opportunely arrived, that very day. + +No information could be obtained of the missing mate. He had not been +seen to land, and no one had heard of him. The dinghy, however, having +disappeared from the brig's stern, was sufficient proof that he had +effected his escape in her. I was too much occupied all the time I was +at Smyrna, to make many observations about the place. Figs are the +great staple produce and subject of conversation for the greater part of +the year, enlivened now and then by a visit from the plague, and then +people talk about that; but at the time I speak of, I do not know that +it had ever occurred to the inhabitants that they had the means in their +own hands of avoiding its constant presence by properly draining their +city. I have since, from the observations I have made in my course +through life, come to the belief that there is not an ill which afflicts +mankind which they have not the means of mitigating, if not of avoiding +altogether.--But to return to my narrative. As there was nothing more +to detain us at Smyrna, the two vessels made sail, and shaped a course +for Malta. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +VOYAGE TO MALTA--THE REPENTANT PIRATE--THE PLAGUE--A SQUALL--BOBBY +SMUDGE PROVES USEFUL--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE THE SCHOONER--TRIAL OF THE +PRISONERS--THEIR EXECUTION--THE YOUNG PIRATE'S DYING COUNSEL. + +We had been five days at sea, and a fair breeze, though somewhat light +at times, had sent us tolerably well on our course. A strict watch had +been kept on the prisoners. All seemed very unconcerned as to the +almost certain fate which awaited them. They ate and drank, and laughed +and conversed among themselves, as if they were to be released at the +end of the voyage. One of their number, however, who had received a +severe hurt in the scuffle when they were captured, was in a very +different temper. He kept as far apart from them as he could, and +joined neither in their jokes nor conversation. He was far younger than +the rest; and as I watched him I observed an expression in his +countenance which would not have been there had he been a hardened +villain. He seemed grateful to me also for noticing him, and I +consequently frequently took an opportunity of saying a word to him +appropriate to his situation. + +"I should like to read, sir, if I had a book," he said to me one day. +"I once was used to reading, and it would be a great comfort." + +I promised to try and get him a book. When I told Mr Vernon of the +man's request, he advised me to lend him my Bible. "He may not care for +it at first," he observed; "but as he wishes to read, he may draw +instruction and comfort from it; and it may, by God's grace, enable him +to perceive the evil of his career." + +I accordingly took the pirate my Bible--it had been my sainted mother's. +The unhappy man's eye brightened as he saw it. + +"Well, sir, I was ashamed to ask for it, and I knew not if one might be +on board; but that is the book I wanted." + +I left it with him, and he was constantly reading it attentively and +earnestly; nor did he allow the sneers and jeers of his companions to +interrupt him. I had perceived a considerable change in him since he +was brought on board; and he every day seemed to grow thinner and +weaker. I thought that he was dying; and I believe that he was of the +same opinion. + +Some bulkheads had been run up in the after-part of the hold to form a +cabin for Delano--not for his own comfort and convenience, because he +was the greatest villain of the gang; but in order not to allow him an +opportunity of communicating with his companions. He lay there on a +mattress, with his heavy handcuffs, and his legs chained to staples in +the deck, like a fierce hyaena, glaring on all who looked at him. I +should not, however, picture him properly if I described him as a +wild-looking savage. On the contrary, there was nothing particularly +objectionable in his face and figure. His face was thin and sallow, +without much whisker; his features were regular, and could assume a very +bland expression; his figure, too, was slight and active, and his +address not ungentlemanly: but it was his eye, when either sullen or +excited, which was perfectly terrible. Conscience he seemed to have +none: it was completely dead, as were all the better feelings of which +our nature is capable: they were destroyed, too, by his own acts--his +long unchecked career of wickedness. Once he had been gay, happy, and +innocent; but no good principles had ever taken root in his heart. Very +early, those a mother's care had endeavoured to instil into him had been +eradicated; and step by step--slow at first, perhaps--he had advanced +from bad to worse, till he became the consummate villain he now was. +But I am forestalling the account I afterwards got of him. + +We had three officers' watches on board the schooner. Mr Vernon kept +one, I kept another, and an old quartermaster we had with us kept the +third. Mr Vernon, in compassion to poor Bobby Smudge, had applied for +him as cook's boy, to get him out of the way of Chissel the carpenter, +his master, and in hopes of improving him by a somewhat different +treatment to what he had been accustomed. The good effect of +considerate kindness was already apparent; and the poor lad seemed most +grateful for any encouraging word spoken to him. The best of our men +had been sent on board the brig, and we remained only with eight and the +_Helen's_ crew--a very fair complement, had we not always required two +to stand sentry over the prisoners. We had another and a more insidious +enemy on board, of whom we wot not, and whom no sentry could control-- +the plague--that fell scourge of Asiatic cities. How it came on board +we could not discover. It might have been in some of the pirates' +clothes, or some of our men might have caught it while they were on +shore for a short time; or it might have been concealed in the schooner +long before, and only brought forth by a congenial state of the +atmosphere. There it was, however. It made its appearance on the fifth +day, and in two days carried off three of our people and one of the +_Helen's_ crew. The pirates escaped unscathed. It seemed, indeed, in +no way to alarm them. They laughed and talked, and blasphemed more than +ever. We hailed the brig, which had hitherto kept us company, and found +that she was free from the affliction; so that, of course, except at a +distance, we could hold no communication with her. I will not attempt +to describe the appearance of that dreadful disease. It was sad to see +the poor fellows attacked, with so little prospect of their recovery; +while no one could tell who would be the next victim. As they died they +were sewn up in their hammocks, with a shot at their feet, and at once +consigned to the deep. Mr Vernon read the funeral service appointed by +the Church of England for such an occasion. + +After the first man was buried--a fine, active young fellow two days +before, apparently full of life and strength--he addressed the crew:-- + +"Do not suppose the prayers I have read can do any good to him who has +just gone for ever from our sight. For your benefit they were offered +up. A like fate to his may be that of any one of us before another day +has passed; and I would earnestly urge you, for the short time which yet +may remain for you, to turn your hearts to God--to prepare for +eternity." + +Something more he said to the same effect. It was good advice at the +proper time. I am sorry to say that it was very little heeded, or, at +all events, very quickly forgotten. Two of those who stood by and heard +it, were themselves, within two days, called to their last and dread +account. Mr Vernon took it very much to heart; anxious and agitated as +he had been of late, his nerves were much shaken, and I feared that he +would be the next victim. He bore up bravely, like a Christian, for +some time; but, as one after another of the crew was taken ill, he +succumbed, not to the malady itself, but to very weariness, and was +compelled to take to his cot. My commander's illness threw a larger +amount of responsibility on me than I had ever before enjoyed. I felt +on a sadden grown wonderfully manful, and did my best to be up to my +duty. Watson, the quartermaster, was a great aid to me. The old man +seemed never to want sleep. He was on deck at all hours, constantly on +the look-out, or seeing that the sentries were on the alert. Perhaps he +did not place full confidence in my experience. We had had light winds +or calms, with a hot burning sun, and sultry nights, for nearly a week. +When this weather commenced, the plague appeared. The barometer had +been falling for some hours; but still there was no other indication of +a change of weather. A fourth man was taken ill. I had gone below to +report the case to Mr Vernon, when I heard Watson's voice, in quick +eager tones, calling the people on deck to shorten sail. I sprang up +the companion-ladder. The sea was as smooth as glass, and the sky was +bright and clear enough in the south-east, whence a small dark cloud +came sweeping up at a rapid rate towards us. I perceived that there was +not a moment to lose. The people sprang to the halyards and brails; but +before all the sail could be taken off the vessel, the squall had struck +her. Over she went on her beam-ends. A cry of terror was heard above +the roar of the wind in the rigging, and the rattling of ropes and +blocks, and the dash of the surging waves. The water almost reached the +combings of the hatches: everybody on deck thought we were gone. Two of +the men were washed overboard. Watson, who was aft, hove one of them a +rope. He seized it with convulsive energy: his life, dear to the +meanest, depended on the firmness of his grasp. We hauled him in out of +the seething cauldron; but the other poor fellow drifted far away. To +the last he kept his straining eyes fixed on the vessel. He was a +strong swimmer, and struck out bravely--lifting himself, every now and +then, high out of the water, as if that useless exertion of strength +could bring him nearer to us. Perhaps he was looking for a plank, or +something to make for, to support himself. Unhappily, none was hove to +him in time. All hands were too much occupied in the means for +preserving their own lives. Weak and ill as he was, Mr Vernon had +rushed on deck as he felt the vessel going over. He had ordered the +helm to be put up; and Watson had seized an axe, waiting his directions +to cut away the mainmast, when the throat-halyard block parted, the +peak-halyards had already been let go, and the mainsail coming in of +itself, the vessel righted in an instant; then, feeling her helm, and +the headsail being yet set, she flew off before the squall. While we +were rejoicing at our own preservation, we almost forgot our poor +shipmate. Never can I forget the cry of despair he gave as he saw us +flying from him. He knew full well that it was impossible for us to +return; not a spar or plank was near to support him, to prolong his life +even for a few short hours. The brig, also, was too far away to leeward +to render him any help; so that aid from man he had none. Lifting up +his arms, with eyeballs starting from his head, he gave one last look at +us; and then, uttering a cry of agony, sunk for ever. It had been +dreadful to see strong men struck down by the plague, and die by rapid +degrees; but I know not whether a scene like this was not still more +harrowing. In the course of an hour we had run out of the squall, and +the weather had become cool and refreshing. The squall had one very +beneficial result, for no other persons were attacked with the plague, +and the man who was suffering from it began rapidly to recover. Vernon +also sensibly felt the change in the weather, and every day I saw an +improvement; though the causes of his illness were too deeply seated to +callow the atmosphere to have much effect on him. We very soon repaired +the damages which the schooner had sustained, and by the next morning we +were all to rights. Our chief anxiety was for the brig. We had lost +sight of her in the squall, and we could not tell whether she had been +more prepared than we were to meet its fury. Even had she not suffered +from the gale, the plague might have broken out in her. Mr Vernon came +occasionally on deck, but he was compelled, from weakness, to spend the +greater part of the day in his cot, though this was very much against +his inclination. We had in vain questioned and cross-questioned our +prisoners, to discover if they knew anything of the fate of the +_Ariadne_, but not a particle of information could we obtain; and I was +myself satisfied that they really knew nothing about her. Our late +peril suggested a new cause of alarm to the mind of Mr Vernon, which +apparently had not before occurred to him; and he began to fear that the +vessel in which the Normans had sailed might have been overtaken by one +of those white squalls so common in the Mediterranean, and might have +suffered the fate we so narrowly escaped. Since the squall, our +prisoners had remained unusually quiet; though, while the plague was +aboard, they were as noisy and blasphemous in their conversation as +ever. The sick man continued in the same state as before, though he +seemed more reserved when I spoke to him than he had been at one time. +He continued reading all day, as long as there was light, and asked to +be allowed to have a candle to read at night; but this, of course, could +not be permitted. There was evidently something working in his mind, +which he would gladly be rid of, but could not. Having lost so many +hands, the duty fell, naturally, more severely on the survivors; and we +had enough to do to keep watch on deck, and a vigilant guard over our +prisoners. + +One night I had charge of the deck. Besides the man at the helm there +was the look-out forward, and two hands lying down by the windlass. +There was no moon, and the sky was covered with clouds, so that it was +very dark. As I kept moving about, now looking out to windward, now +over the lee-side, and then at the binnacle, to see that the schooner +was kept on her proper course, I fancied that I saw a dark figure come +up the main-hatchway; and while I stopped at the waist, I heard a voice, +in a low whisper, say-- + +"Hist, sir, hist! I want to speak to you." + +"Who is it?" said I, in the same low tone. + +"Bobby Smudge, sir; listen: there are not many moments to lose, before +we shall all have our throats cut, if we don't take care." + +This piece of intelligence put me on the _qui vive_, though, remembering +Master Smudge's pranks, I own that I did not much credit it. + +"Come here," said I, rather impatiently, "and let me know all about it." + +"I didn't like to be seen, sir," he replied, coming cautiously up to me, +and looking round to ascertain that no one was near. "I don't know, +sir, who's a friend and who's an enemy aboard here, just now." + +"What do you mean, boy?" I asked. + +"Why, just this, sir. That thundering scoundrel below there, is just +trying hard to turn all the men's heads; and if we don't look alive, +he'll do it, too." + +I now felt that there might be some truth in poor Smudge's information. + +"Go on, my lad," said I. + +"Well, sir, I has to confess that he first tried it on with me. While +the people were dying with the plague, and no one was looking on, he +called me to him, and told me that he knowed where loads of gold was +stowed away--enough to sink the ship and freight another twice the size; +and that if I would help him to get his liberty, he'd show it to me, and +that I might have as much as I wanted. I listened to him, and thought +there would be no great harm if I was to help him to get free, and save +his neck; so I agreed to take a message to the rest of the brig's +people, to tell them to keep up their spirits, and to try and get their +arms and legs out of limbo. He then told me to hunt in the carpenter's +chest for a file, and a cold-chisel and hammer. While I was looking one +night for the tools, the thought struck me, all of a heap like--if this +chap was to get free, what would he do with Mr Vernon and you, sir, who +had been so kind to me, and saved me from so many of that Mr Chissel's +finnams? Why, he'll be cutting their throats, to be sure, and making +off with the schooner; and where should I then be, I should like to +know. So I goes back to Captain Delano, and tells him I couldn't find +the tools. He swears a great deal at this, and tells me to go and look +for them again; and that if I didn't bring them, he'd be the death of +me. How he was to do me any harm while he was chained hand and foot, I +couldn't tell; but still I was very much frightened. Well, +howsomedever, I keeps a watch on him, and I soon seed that he was trying +it on with some of the _Helen's_ crew; and at last, that he'd got one of +our people to listen to him. How far he had succeeded in getting them +over to his plans, I couldn't tell till just now. I had stowed myself +away in the coil of the hawser, just before the bulkhead of his cabin, +where I lay in a dark shadow, so that no one could see me, when I heard +a man talking to him. I made out that he had almost got his fetters off +his limbs, and that the other people would be shortly free of theirs; +and that they knew where the arms were to be found; and that as soon as +they had got them, they would make a rush on deck, and throw overboard +all who wouldn't join them. Then they were to carry the schooner to the +coast of Africa, to the very place where all Captain Delano's gold is +stowed away." + +How much of this story might be true, and how much imagination, I could +not tell; but it was too serious a matter to allow any risk to be run; +so I ordered him to slip below, and to beg Mr Vernon would at once join +me on deck with his pistols. He was then to make his way forward, and +to rouse up Watson, with directions to him to come to us. Bobby was so +quick in his movements, that before a minute had passed they both joined +me. They were but just in time, when some dark heads were seen rising +up above the combings of the hatchway. Before, however, they had time +to make their footing good on the deck, Mr Vernon, Watson, and I had +sprung on them, and knocked them below again with the butt-ends of our +pistols. At the same time, before they could make another attempt, the +three men forward came running aft, and we quickly got the hatches on +over them. There they and the two wretched traitors Delano had +inveigled to release them remained, like wild beasts shut up in a +cage,--much more dangerous, however, for they had the sentries' muskets, +and perhaps other arms which might have been conveyed to them. They +were, moreover, driven to desperation, and it therefore required great +caution in dealing with them. Mr Vernon had recourse to a _ruse_ to +assist in damping their spirits. + +"Brig ahoy!" he sung out, "send your boat aboard here well-armed; our +prisoners have broken loose. Watson," he whispered, "go and get the +people up from forward. I suppose you can trust them." + +"Ay, ay, sir, they are all true enough," he replied; "it's only one of +the merchant-brig's crew, and that poor fellow, Nolan, who was always +weak-like. They ought never to have been placed as sentries." + +When all the people were mustered, we outnumbered the pirates; but, +though we had arms in our hands, so had they; and if we took the hatches +off, we could scarcely hope that they would yield without a struggle, +which would very probably prove a bloody one. Still, if we let them +remain below, they might commit some mischief--very probably set the +ship on fire, or force their way out through the bulkheads, either +forward or aft, when we were not expecting them. While this state of +things was continuing, I happened to look over the side: my eyes caught +sight of an object looming through the darkness. + +"A sail on the weather bow!" I sung out, with no little satisfaction. + +We hauled up a little, and stood for her. She had seen us and shortened +sail. + +"What vessel is that?" I inquired. + +"A prize to his Majesty's ship _Harold_," answered the voice of Adam +Stallman. + +"All right; we want your aid. Heave-to, and send your boat aboard, with +the people well-armed," I sung out. + +In a few minutes Adam himself stood on our deck, with four well-armed +followers. The inconvenience of a lengthened quarantine, to which he +would be exposed, was not, under the circumstances, to be taken into +consideration. A plan of operations was soon settled on. We agreed to +have lanterns ready, and by swinging them down into the hold the moment +the hatches were off, we hoped to discover where the pirates were +stationed, and thus, if they attempted to fire, to be able to take +better aim at them in return. It was an anxious moment. At a signal +the hatches were in a moment thrown off. Delano stood like a lion at +bay, with a musket in his hand. He fired it at Stallman, and then +attempted to spring up on deck. Happily the ball missed its aim, and he +was knocked over by several stout fists, which his head encountered, and +fell like a log back into the hold. Several shots were exchanged, and +the four pirates fought desperately in their hopeless attempt to regain +their freedom. They were soon, however, overpowered, and borne down on +the deck, without loss of life to either party. The only people who did +not fight were the two traitors and the sick pirate, and he remained +bound as before, having refused to be liberated. Delano had been +stunned by his fall, and when he regained his senses, he found himself +again in irons, with additional chains round his arms. This showed him +probably that all that had passed was not a dream, as it might otherwise +have appeared to him. He growled out curses against his ill-luck, but +he had no other means of venting his rage and disappointment. The other +men took the matter very coolly. It appeared to me that their minds +were too dull and brutalised, and their hearts too callous, to +comprehend their awful position. Seared in their consciences, they were +truly given over to a reprobate mind. The two men who had been gained +over by Delano to assist him we sent on board the brig, exchanging them +for two who could be relied on; and now our misfortunes seemed to have +come to an end. The young man I have spoken of belonging to the +pirate's crew, after this seemed to sink faster than ever. Mr Vernon, +in consideration of his condition, had him removed from the immediate +neighbourhood of the others, and placed within a screen in the +after-part of the hold. I then, at his request, went to visit him one +afternoon. He was sitting up, with the Bible on his knees, and his back +resting against the bulkhead, so that the light which came down the +hatchway-glanced on his forehead and the leaves of the sacred book. His +hair, which was of a light brown (almost auburn, it had probably been, +as a lad), was very long, and hung down on either side of his high, +smooth, and sunburnt brow. His dress was that of an ordinary seaman, +and when he was first captured it was perfectly neat and clean. I went +and sat down on a bucket by his side. + +"I have asked to see you again, sir, for you are the best friend I have +found for many a year," he began, in a weak voice, speaking apparently +not without pain and difficulty. "From this book I have discovered, at +length, the cause of all my crimes, my sufferings, and ultimate doom. +Disobedience brought me to what I now am. I never learned to obey or to +fear God or man. I was born in the same rank of life in which you move, +perhaps with far greater expectations; and when I think of what I might +have been and what I am, it drives me to madness, and I wish that I had +never been born. My father was a man of property and position, and much +esteemed for many virtues. My mother was highly educated and refined, +and of religions feeling. It might be supposed that a child of such +parents could not but turn out well. Unhappily for me, they loved me +much, but not wisely. I was allowed to have my own way in all things, I +was never taught to obey. As I grew up, my self-willed disposition +became more and more developed. I could not bear constraint of any +sort. Too late they discovered their error. I had received at home +some little religious instruction; I even knew something about the +contents of the Bible, but its spirit was totally beyond my +comprehension. At last it was determined to send me to school. I went +willingly enough, for the sake of the change; but, not liking it, ran +away. I was not sent back, but instead a tutor was provided for me. He +was totally unfitted for his occupation, and was unable, had he tried, +to make any good impression on me. We quarrelled so continually, that +he was dismissed, and I was persuaded to go to school again. Once more +I ran away; but this time I did not run home. I wanted to see the +world, and I was resolved to become a sailor. I cannot bear to dwell on +my ingratitude and heartlessness. I knew that my disappearance would +almost break my mother's heart, and that my father would suffer equally; +yet I persevered. I little thought what I was to go through. A fine +brig was on the point of sailing for the coast of Africa. I fell in +with the master, and offered to go with him. He asked no questions as +to who I was, or where I came from; but, wanting a boy, he shipped me at +once. The next day we were at sea, and all means of tracing me were +lost. I was not ill-treated; for the captain, though bad enough in many +respects, had taken a fancy to me. We were to engage, I found, in the +slave-trade. At first I was shocked at the barbarities I witnessed, but +soon got accustomed to them. We did not always keep to that business. +The profits were not large enough to satisfy our avarice; and even +piracy we did not hesitate to commit at times, when opportunity offered. +At length the brig was cast away, and many of the crew and all our +ill-gotten gains were lost. I, with two or three others, who escaped, +shipped on board a Spanish slaver. We changed from bad to worse. +Knives were in constant requisition; more than once I dyed my hands in +blood. I gained a name, though a bad one; and was feared, if not loved. +Such was the training--such the scenes of my youth. After a time I +began to weary of the life, and wished to see English faces, and to hear +English spoken once more; so, finding a vessel short of hands returning +home, I ran from the slaver, and shipped on board her. We were cast +away on the south coast of England; many of my shipmates never reached +the land. I was picked up by a boat's crew when almost exhausted, and +was carried by them into a cave near the shore. + +"They belonged to a large band of smugglers,--their leader one of the +most daring and successful on the coast. I was too much hurt to be +moved for some days, and passed the time listening to their adventures, +which they were at no pains to conceal. I became so much interested in +their mode of life, that a few words of encouragement from their chief, +who was known under the name of Myers, induced me to join them. I +thought I would take a few cruises with him before I paid a visit to my +home, to inquire for my father and mother. A wild life I spent for some +time. Our lawless occupation led us into many acts of violence, in +which I was never backward. One you are cognisant of. I was in the +cavern when you and your commanding officer were brought there, and I +assisted in hanging you over the pit. I was a favourite with Myers; and +he trusted me entirely. When he was obliged to leave the country, I had +resolved to start homeward; but was engaged in running a cargo on shore, +when I was captured by the revenue men, and after an imprisonment of +some months, sent on board a man-of-war. She was bound for the coast of +Africa. I laughed at the climate which carried off many of my +shipmates; but the discipline of a king's ship did not suit me, and I +took an early opportunity of running from her. + +"I lived among the blacks for some time; but it was a weary life, and +finding a trader homeward bound, I got on board, and at length reached +Liverpool. I went to my father's house. Both he and my mother were +alive, but I had great difficulty in persuading them of my identity. +When they were convinced of it, they were ready to receive me like the +Prodigal. But I had not repented. I was not fit to dwell with them. I +felt like a wild beast among lambs. I had not an idea in common with +them. When the novelty wore off, my evil habits came uppermost. I +asked my father for money. He told me that he wished me to embrace some +regular calling, and desired to know what I would choose. I laughed at +the notion. He still declined giving me the sum I asked for, but I +insisted that I must have it. My looks alarmed him, and at length he +reluctantly gave it me. With it I set off for Liverpool, where I soon +spent it. Then the first pang of remorse came across me. I thought of +the calm quiet of that home for which I had so completely unfitted +myself. I was meditating returning to it once more, and asking my +father to explain his wishes, when, as I was sauntering along the quays, +I encountered Myers. He was much disguised, but he knew me and stopped +me. He told me that he was engaged in a scheme by which a rapid fortune +was to be made; that he could not then unfold it; but that, if I would +ship on board a vessel with him, he would explain it when we were at +sea. My impulse was to refuse; but I was tired and weary, and consented +to enter a tavern with him. He there plied me with liquor till all my +scruples vanished, and I became once more his slave. + +"What occurred on board that vessel I cannot now tell; but you will +probably know ere long. But the favour I have to ask of you is, that if +I die, as I hope to do before our trial, you will find out my parents, +and tell them, not all the truth, but how you encountered me on the +point of death, and that I died repentant." + +I promised the unhappy young man that I would do as he desired, and, at +his request, I took down the name and address of his parents. + +I have often since thought, as I recollected this story, that if parents +did but consider the misery they were storing up for themselves and +their children by neglecting the precepts of the wise King of Israel, +they would, oftener than they do, search that book for counsel and +advice, and would teach their children also to seek instruction from its +copious pages. + +Oh! my young friends, remember that you cannot live well without some +rule of conduct, any more than you can steer a ship across the ocean +without a compass or knowledge of the stars. Then, let me urge you to +take the best rule you can find; and where, let me ask, does there exist +one comparable, in any way, to that found in the Proverbs of Solomon? +If you would be truly wise, learn them by heart, and remember them +always. + +We were very thankful when, at length, we reached Malta harbour. Of +course we were put into quarantine, but we were relieved from the charge +of our prisoners. To his own surprise, as well as mine, Charles Adams-- +so he called himself--the young man whose short history I have just +narrated, still survived, and there appeared every probability that he +would be able to undergo his trial. Our first inquiry was to ascertain +if any news had been received of the _Ariadne_; but nothing had been +heard of her, and poor Mr Vernon was doomed still longer to endure the +tortures of suspense. + +At last our quarantine was concluded, the pirates were carried off to +prison, and we returned on board our ship, which had come in from a +cruise just in time to receive us. For several days we did nothing but +talk about our adventures with our own messmates, as well as with +various people who came off to see us. I got great credit for the way +in which I had saved the brig from being blown up; though, as I was as +much interested as any one else in the success of the performance, I +cannot say that I thought I had done any great thing. + +Poor Bobby Smudge came in, too, for his share of praise for having +informed us of the plot of the pirates to retake the schooner; and most +certainly he had been the means of saving all our lives. No one after +this attempted to bully him, and I observed a marked improvement in his +appearance and character. + +The trial of the pirates came on at once; and the _Harold_ was kept in +harbour, that we might attend it as witnesses. I will not enter into +minute particulars. The leading facts of the case will be of sufficient +interest. Evidence had been collected to prove that the _William_ had +sailed from England with one description of cargo, and that her master +had disposed of various articles not among it. To account for this, +Captain Delano replied that he had fallen in with an abandoned ship, and +had taken part of her cargo out of her. He stood bold and unabashed, as +if confiding in his innocence; but his countenance fell when two of his +own crew appeared in the witness-box, and he was informed that they had +turned King's evidence. + +"Then there is a conspiracy against me, and my life will be sworn away," +was his reply. + +Nothing that he could say, however, made any one doubt his guilt. + +I was in hopes that the young man in whom I had taken so much interest +would have been allowed to turn King's evidence, but I found that he had +refused to do so. + +"No," said he, when asked the question; "I do not wish to preserve my +own worthless life by aiding in the condemnation of others. If I am +found guilty, I am ready to suffer with them." + +Nothing, I found, would alter his determination. When brought into +dock, he was far too weak to stand; but there was a look of calm +contentment in his countenance--I might describe it almost as +happiness--seldom borne by a person in his awful position. His +appearance excited much interest in all those who saw him, though few +were aware of the mighty change which had taken place within his bosom, +and still less of the cause of that change. How different did he look +from the rest! No ferocity, no callousness, no stoical indifference, no +assumption of innocence could be traced in any one of his features. +Calm and thoughtful, he sat watching the proceedings, as one deeply +interested in their result. People could scarcely believe their senses +when they heard the evidence given against him. Who more blood-thirsty, +who more eager for plunder, who so regardless of the terror and +sufferings of others, as Charles Adams? + +From the evidence brought out in court, it appeared that Delano, late +master of the _William_ brig, belonged to New York, in the United States +of America. Though of most respectable parents, at an early age he had +taken to evil courses, and was at length compelled to leave his native +city for some notorious act of atrocity. His plausible manners, +however, enabled him after a time to get command of several merchantmen +in succession. One after another, they were cast away under very +suspicious circumstances. The underwriters suffered, and the owners +built larger and finer vessels, while he had evidently more money than +ever at command. It now appeared, by the evidence of one of the +prisoners who had sailed with him, that one at least he had purposely +cast away, for the purpose of obtaining the insurance, she being insured +for a far larger amount than she was worth. After this he got into the +employment of a highly respectable firm in Liverpool, and sailed in +command of a fine brig for the Mediterranean. Here was a good opening +for making an honest livelihood; but such a course did not suit the +taste of Delano. Several of his crew, brought up in the slave-trade, or +as smugglers, were ill-disposed men; others were weak, ignorant, and +unprincipled, and were easily gained by his persuasions to abet him in +his evil designs. Finding, after they had been some time at sea +together, that neither his mates nor his crew were likely to refuse +joining in any project he might suggest, he boldly proposed to them to +turn pirates; and not only to plunder any vessels they might fall in +with, whose crews were unable to offer resistance, but, by putting them +out of the way, to prevent all chance of detection. They waited, +however, till they got into the Mediterranean, and they there fell in +with a fine brig, out of London, laden with a valuable cargo. They +surprised and overpowered the crew, whom they confined below, while they +plundered her of everything valuable. Some of her crew had recognised +them. To let them live would certainly lead to their own detection; so +they scuttled the ship, and remained by her till she sunk beneath the +waves, with the hapless people they had plundered on board. Then they +went on their way rejoicing, and confident that no witnesses existed of +their crime. They knew not of the Eye above which had watched them; +they thought not of the avenging witness in their own bosoms. In the +wildest revels and debauchery they spent their ill-gotten wealth. This +time they were true to each other, and if any one suspected that their +gold was obtained by unfair means, it was found impossible to prove +anything against them. It was before this, I believe, that Delano had +attempted to carry out some smuggling transaction at Malta, and had been +thrown into prison; on being liberated from which, ruined in fortune, he +had taken to the desperate courses I have described. He next got +command of the _William_ brig, in which he was joined by four of his old +crew. Two were put in by the owners,--the carpenter and another man. +He would willingly have sailed without them. He was also joined by an +old comrade, Bill Myers, who had just lost his cutter off Portland. He +had no fears of finding any opposition to his projects from his +scruples. The _William_ lay alongside the _Helen_, which vessel was +taking in a rich cargo. He easily excited the cupidity of his crew by +pointing it out to them. His own vessel had a cargo of very inferior +value--chiefly, I believe, of earthenware. The _William_ sailed a short +time before the _Helen_. He first proposed the plan of plundering her +to the four old pirates. They did not offer the slightest objection, +but expressed their doubts whether all the crew would join them. + +"They must be made to do it," answered Delano, fiercely. + +Myers at once acceded to Delano's proposal. Charles Adams was the next +to join them. They now felt themselves strong enough to talk openly of +their project. Each man boasted of the deeds of atrocity he had +committed with impunity, especially of their last act of piracy, and of +the mode in which they had spent the proceeds of their crime. They told +tales of the buccaneers of old--of the adventures of pirates in their +own day, of which they had heard, and of some with which they were +acquainted--of the hoards of wealth they had acquired. When they found +that these stories had not sufficient effect with some of their +shipmates, they applied to Delano, and liquor was freely served out. +Most of those who had before resisted now consented, in their drunken +state, to join in the proposed scheme. The most persevering and eager +tempter was the mate. If he could not persuade, he laughed away the +scruples of the more honest or more timid. + +"Detection! nonsense!" he exclaimed. "Who can ever find it out? Who +can know it, unless you go and talk of it yourselves? What's the reason +against it? Let's be men! Let's be above such folly! If they go to +the bottom--why, a gale of wind and a started butt might easily send +them there; so, where's the difference? In one case, their rich cargo +would go with them; now, you see, shipmates, we shall get it. So, hurra +for the black flag, and overboard with all scruples!" + +Now, however glaring the folly and wickedness of such reasoning may +appear to us, it seemed very tempting and sensible to the miserable men +to whom it was addressed. The carpenter only, and another man, refused +to drink, or to participate in any way in the project. They could not, +however, turn the rest from their intentions. The treacherous mode in +which the _Helen_ was taken possession of, I have already described. +The carpenter alone held out; the other man pretended to join them, with +the hope, it appeared, of saving the lives of their prisoners. When +they had mastered the crew of the _Helen_, the pirates jeered and +laughed at them, as they were removing the cargo, and, bound as they +were, even kicked and struck them, and treated them with every +indignity. They then compelled the carpenter to accompany them on board +with his tools, and, holding a pistol at his head, made him bore holes +in the ship's bottom. No one appeared to have been wilder or more +savage than Adams. Having completed this nefarious work, as they +thought, effectually, the pirates left their victims to their fate. +They would certainly have returned to remedy their mistake, and to send +the _Helen_ more speedily to the bottom, when they caught sight of a +ship of war in the distance. They watched impatiently, but still the +_Helen_ floated. At length the strange sail drew near, and, fearful of +being found by her in the neighbourhood of the plundered vessel, they +stood away under every stitch of canvas they could set. Scarcely had +the deed been committed, than each began to fear that the other would +betray him; and, as if oaths could bind such wretches effectually, they +all agreed to swear, on crossed swords, that they would never divulge +what had occurred. They compelled the carpenter and the other honest +man to join them in their profane oath, threatening to blow out their +brains forthwith, if they refused. It seems strange that men guilty of +such crimes should make use of the sign of the cross to confirm their +oaths, and call God especially to witness their misdeeds. What +extraordinary perversity such is of reason! Yes; but are not those we +mix with every day guilty of similar wickedness and madness, when in +their common conversation they call on the name of the most high God to +witness to some act of folly, if not of vice, of extravagance, of +cruelty, or senselessness? + +The pirates sailed first for Leghorn, where they sold part of the +plundered cargo, and spent the proceeds in a way to excite much +suspicion. They then sailed for the island of Sardinia; but they there +found that they were already suspected. Nothing could be more foolhardy +than their visit to Malta, where the crew spent their money in rigging +themselves out in gold chains, silk waistcoats, and green coats. How +their conduct should not have excited suspicion, I cannot say; but it +does not appear that the people with whom they dealt thought anything +was wrong. It is one of the numberless examples to prove that criminals +are deprived even of ordinary wisdom. Delano, however, saw, from the +way his crew were behaving, that if he remained long at Malta, they +would inevitably bring destruction on themselves. Having, therefore, +got them on board, he sailed for Smyrna. On the voyage Myers tried to +induce them to plunder other vessels; but none they could venture to +attack fell in their way. Their rage against Myers was excessive when +they found that he had attempted to blow them up, and that he had done +so doubtless for the purpose of getting possession of a considerable +amount of treasure which had been left on shore in the hands of an agent +of Delano's. I afterwards heard that he had in all probability +succeeded, as the agent had stated that he had presented an order from +Delano for its payment about the very moment we were taking possession +of the brig, and, as he thought, being blown into the air. Search was +made for him throughout Smyrna before we left the place, and continued +for some time afterwards; but the last accounts had brought no +intelligence of him, and it was concluded that he had escaped in +disguise. + +During the greater part of the trial, Delano had maintained his +confidence and composure; but at length the evidence of his own people, +and the master and crew of the _Helen_, became so overwhelming that he +lost all hope, and, overcome by the most abject fear, sunk down, and +would have fallen, had he not been supported. Recovering himself a +little, he broke forth into earnest petitions that his life might be +spared. He made the most trivial and weak excuses for his conduct, +utterly unlikely to avail him anything. He declared that he had been +led on by Myers; that his crew had forced him to consent to the piracy; +that he had endeavoured to dissuade them from it, and that the fear of +death alone had induced him to consent. Nothing he could say could, of +course, alter the decision of his judges; and he, with six of his +companions, was condemned to be hung at the fore-yard-arms of the +_William_, then lying in Quarantine Harbour. It was dreadful to hear +the shriek of despair to which Delano now gave vent. + +"Mercy! mercy! mercy!" he cried. "Oh, spare my life! I am unfit to +die! Send me to toil from day to day in chains, with the meanest in the +land; but, oh, take not away that which you cannot restore!" + +"Let him be removed," said the judge of the court; and he was borne +away, still crying out for mercy. + +The miserable man, who had never shown mercy to others, still besought +it for himself. The other prisoners said not a word in their defence. +One only voice was heard when all others were hushed in the court. It +was solemn, though hollow and weak. + +"Our doom is most just. We suffer rightly; and may God have mercy on +our souls," were the words spoken. + +I recognised the voice of Charles Adams. I saw him the night before his +execution. He was calm and happy. + +"O that my fate," said he, "might be a warning to others! and I should +feel still more contented to die." + +He begged to keep my Bible to the last, promising to give it to the +chaplain to be delivered to me. I will not dwell on the dreadful +particulars of the execution. No Maltese could be found willing to +perform the office of executioner. The chief of the police, therefore, +ordered a swinging stage to be formed on either side of the vessel, on +which the criminals were placed with ropes round their necks, secured to +the fore-yard-arms, three on each side. These stages were secured in +their horizontal position by ropes rove through blocks made fast to the +fore-rigging, with lanyards at the end. As the chaplain reached a +certain word in the Service, the seamen stationed at the lanyards were +ordered to cut them. This was done, and the stages sinking from under +their feet, the miserable men were launched into eternity. A barge was +then brought alongside, into which the bodies were lowered, and carried +to Fort Ricasoli, at the entrance of the great harbour. Four of the +bodies, being sewn up in tarred canvas, were hung in chains to a lofty +gibbet; while two were buried beneath it. For many long months +afterwards the four pirates hung there,--a terrible and disgusting +sight, and an awful warning to all who might be inclined to pursue the +same evil course. + +The chaplain returned me my Bible the following day. Within it I found +a note from Adams, first, thanking me warmly for my attention to him; +and it then continued,--"Shameful as is my merited fate, I would that +all my young countrymen may know it. Tell all you meet that they are +sent into this world, not to live for themselves, but for others,--as a +place of trial, not of amusement; that if they would secure contentment +now, and happiness for the future, they must, first of all things, learn +to conquer themselves; they must overcome their tempers--their +passions--their love of ease--of self-indulgence; they must remember +that they are surrounded by snares and temptations of all sorts, all +allowed to exist for the purpose of trying them; that the devil is +always going about, ever ready to present the bait most likely to lure +them to destruction. I entreat you--I adjure you--to make this known +wherever you can. The knowledge of this may save numbers from ruin. It +cannot too often be brought before the minds of the young. I was +ignorant of it. I thought that I had a right to follow my own +inclinations,--that it was manly to do so; and, oh! how sorely have I +suffered for my ignorance!--how bitterly do I repent my infatuation. +Yet, miserable as is my fate, if I can but prove a warning to others, I +shall not have lived in vain." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +CAN SHE BE THE ARIADNE?--SAIL FOR THE REEF COAST--DISCOVER THE LOST +VESSEL--MAKE A PRISONER--ADVENTURES ON SHORE--VISIT THE OLD SHEIKH--FIND +JACK STRETCHER--HOW WE DID THE REEFIANS--JACK AND HIS HORNPIPE--OUR +FLIGHT--PURSUED--ESCAPE. + +So completely had Mr Vernon's health and spirits given way, that we on +board the _Harold_ were afraid he would have to leave the ship and go +home. At this juncture a merchant-brig came in from the westward, and +the master reported that, having been driven close in on the African +coast, he had seen a vessel, apparently a complete wreck, on shore. He +stated that he had stood-in to examine her more closely, when, seeing +through his glass a number of armed men come down and prepare to launch +their boats, he judged it prudent to stand-off out of their reach. Mr +Dunnage obtained this important information, and instantly brought it on +board. Mr Vernon's eye brightened as he heard it; for hope, almost +extinguished, once more dawned within him. + +Captain Poynder, who felt a deep interest in the fate of Major Norman +and his daughter, easily managed to get ordered down to the Barbary +coast to examine into the matter. Having ascertained from the master of +the merchantman the spot, as nearly as he could describe it, where he +had seen the wreck, we made sail for the westward. We came off the +coast about dusk, and then hove-to. "Boats away!" was on this occasion +a welcome sound; for we knew that it portended that there was work to be +done. Mr Vernon commanded one of the boats, and I went with him. +Stallman had charge of a second, and Dicky Sharpe, who since our trip to +Smyrna had much improved in steadiness, accompanied him; while +Stanfield, another mate, went in a third. A light gun was placed in the +bow of each boat; and each man had a musket and brace of pistols, as +well as his cutlass; so that we were well-armed and ready for anything. +We were in high spirits, though we knew full well that it was no party +of pleasure we were on; for, if discovered, we might expect some pretty +sharp fighting, as the inhabitants of that part of the coast are the +most warlike and determined pirates along the shores of the +Mediterranean. With muffled oars and in perfect silence we pulled +towards where the wreck was supposed to be. There was no moon; but the +stars of a southern clime were shining--as they well know how to do in +that region,--so that we could distinguish the dark outline of the +coast, backed by a range of high mountains. The only sound was from the +splash of our oars, which, as they rose rapidly from the water, let drop +a sparkling shower of phosphorescent fire. I steered, while Mr Vernon +with his night-glass swept the coast, in the hopes of discovering the +wreck. We got close in with the shore; but not a sign of her was to be +seen. + +"Avast pulling, and let the other boats close up," he whispered. + +When the boats had got near enough, he ordered Stallman to pull to the +eastward, and directed me to steer to the west, and Stanfield to follow +us. That the coast was pretty thickly inhabited we had strong evidence; +for so close in with it were we, that we could hear dogs barking, and +music, and even human voices; while now and then the report of firearms +showed that some Arabs were coming home from hunting, or were firing off +their muskets at some festival or other. We had pulled at least five +miles along the coast, when I fancied that I discerned, still further +on, some dark object on the sands. We pulled up to it, and there, sure +enough, lay a stranded vessel. Mr Vernon now directed Stanfield to +wait off about a quarter of a mile, while we went in and tried to board +the vessel, to ascertain positively what she was. + +"Should any accident happen to us, or should we be taken prisoners," he +continued, "you will wait till nearly dawn to render us assistance, in +case you have an opportunity, and then make the best of your way back to +the ship. Captain Poynder will then, without doubt, devise some plan +for rescuing us or any other persons we may find on shore." Stanfield, +of course, knew very well what he meant by this, and promised to keep a +bright look-out, whatever might occur. Using still more caution than +ever, we approached the vessel. She lay with her head inshore, in a +small inlet, and it appeared much more likely that she had purposely +been hauled in there, than that she had been driven on shore. There was +ample water for our boat right under her stern. The stern-windows were +open. Holding on by the rudder-chain, Mr Vernon climbed up, and got in +at a sternport. Without asking leave, I followed his example, and the +bowman then handed us up a lantern. I had a match-box in my pocket. We +struck a light and lighted the lantern, and then commenced an +examination of the cabin. At the first glance we saw it was that of an +English merchantman. There were the state-cabins on either side, the +buffets for plate and crockery, the neat book-case, the racks for charts +and telescopes, the sofa at one end, and the fireplace, all showing an +attention to the comfort of any passengers who might be on board. +Everything valuable had, however, been carried away, the more cumbrous +articles alone remaining. Mr Vernon looked round with deep anxiety +depicted on his countenance. "Yes, D'Arcy, this is indeed the +_Ariadne_. I know her well," he whispered. "I myself put up that +book-case, and screwed in those hooks for a cot in the state-cabin. Oh! +what can their fate be? I must ascertain it without delay." + +"It would never do to go on shore as you are at present, sir. You would +be taken prisoner or murdered outright, to a certainty," I replied. He +was silent for a minute. + +"You are right, D'Arcy, you are right," he replied, in a dejected tone. +"The affair requires time and great circumspection. These people are +not to be trifled with, I know. Force alone will not succeed, or I am +certain Captain Poynder would land every man who can be spared from the +ship, and would compel these Reefians to let us know what has become of +their captives." + +"Yes, sir, and every man would gladly follow, wherever you might lead," +I replied. + +"I know they would--I know they would, D'Arcy," said he. "But let us +take a look over the ship, and perhaps we may find out something to +direct our proceedings." + +We opened the cabin-door cautiously, and crept up the companion-ladder. +The hatch was off. We got on deck: no one was there. Shrouding the +lantern, we crept along the deck, and descended into the main-hold. The +entire cargo had been removed. We concluded that the vessel had no one +on board, and were about to return, when I suggested that we should look +into the forepeak. We therefore moved cautiously, as before, along the +deck, and were descending the ladder, when Mr Vernon touched my leg. + +"There is some one breathing down here," he said. "Be prepared for a +rush." + +When we got to the bottom of the ladder, as he threw the rays of the +lantern round the place, they fell on the sleeping form of a young Arab, +dressed in a turban, and his white haick folded gracefully round him. +The instant the light fell on his eyes, he started up with a look of +mute astonishment, and laid his hand on the hilt of a dagger by his +side. Before he could unsheath it, Mr Vernon had thrown himself upon +him, and wrenched it from his grasp, while, I following, we without much +difficulty secured him; for, though graceful and active in appearance, +he had not much muscular power. He did not call out. Perhaps he +disdained to do so. But to prevent him, should he show any inclination +to call for help, Mr Vernon rather unceremoniously thrust a +handkerchief into his mouth. + +"Now, hurry, D'Arcy, and call up one of the men to help carry this lad +into the boat. Here is a prize worth having indeed," he said. "He may +be of incalculable service to us." I did as I was ordered, and he +quickly got the lad securely bound and up on deck. As we were dragging +him along, the handkerchief fell out of his mouth, and he gave a shriek, +which showed that he was no willing prisoner. The noise, however, only +made us hurry him along the faster down the companion-ladder, and out at +the port into the boat. We handed him along into the stern-sheets, and +then, Mr Vernon giving the order to shove off, we backed out of the +creek, and got the boat's head round, to pull out to sea. We were only +just in tune, for the lad's cry had attracted the notice of his friends; +and we could hear people shouting, as they ran down to the beach, to +learn who it was that had cried out. Unfortunately the splash of our +oars attracted their notice, and they began firing away at us, as fast +as they could load their matchlocks. "Give way, my lads, give way!" +cried Mr Vernon, more from habit than that the men required any +inciting to pull fast, as the shot came splattering about us. The young +Moor made one or two attempts to rise, evidently with the intention of +springing into the water, and swimming on shore again; but we held him +down; and, as we got further off, he either saw that the attempt would +be useless, or, from something he learned from the shouts of his +countrymen, he thought it wiser to remain quiet. We were congratulating +ourselves on none of the shot reaching us, and fancied that we were +getting out of danger, when we saw a dark object glide out from a creek +or harbour to the westward, followed by another, and then another, which +we at once made out to be row-boats, pulling probably some twenty oars +or so, and famed for their speed. We had the start of them, however, by +half a mile or more; and, as our two gigs were far from slow coaches, we +did not altogether despair of escaping. Still the odds were fearfully +against us; and, even if we were not killed outright, potato-digging and +water-drawing for the rest of our days was not a pleasant prospect for +contemplation, independent of failing in the object we had in view. +This made all hands bend to their oars with redoubled vigour. Happily +the row-boats had no guns in their bows, or if they had, the people had +forgotten their powder or shot, as the few bullets which reached us now +and then were the only missiles we had to dread. Well, away we pulled, +with the Reefian row-boats after us, our great hopes being that we +should decoy them within range of the _Harold's_ guns, and then, if we +could bag a boat-load, we might hope to treat advantageously for any +prisoners they might have taken. We made the dark, smooth water hiss +and bubble under our bows, as we clove our rapid way through it, +throwing up a mass of shining foam before us, and leaving a line of +liquid fire in our wake. We soon gained more hope of escape, from the +rate at which our pursuers came on; and we began to suspect that the +boats, probably in the hurry of the moment, were manned with old men and +lads, and any one who was at hand; and that they were likely rather to +fall off than to increase their speed. This proved to be the case. We +gained on them slowly at first, but more rapidly by degrees, till we +actually ran them out of sight. Our next business was to find our ship; +and I kept a bright look-out for her. Our young captive, meantime, lay +at the bottom of the boat, and when he found that we had escaped from +his countrymen, he seemed to take things very coolly; and when Mr +Vernon assured him that we meant him no injury, he replied, that if we +took his life, his tribe would some day cut us up piecemeal, and throw +the bits to the jackals. As we were pulling along, we heard a shout, +which proved to come from Stallman, who had, of course, seen no wreck; +but he had discovered a spot where the water was deep up to the shore, +and where there appeared to be no inhabitants, so that he had been able +to pull close in, and could have landed, if necessary. We now +altogether pulled out to sea, and in another hour fell in with the +frigate. She then stood off shore, and by daylight we were out of sight +of land, so that the Reefians could not have guessed who their visitors +could have been. I think that I before have said that Mr Vernon was a +great linguist. He spoke Arabic perfectly, and was thus able to hold +communication with our young prisoner, whose fears, before long, he +succeeded completely in silencing, and whose confidence also he soon +appeared to have gained. All the morning Mr Vernon was in earnest +conversation with the young Reefian, and, by his countenance, he +appeared to be gaining information of a highly interesting character. +He then went into the captain's cabin, and after a long conversation +with him, the ship's course was shaped for Tangiers. + +Just before we reached that place, he called me to him. + +"D'Arcy," he said, "I have remarked your steadiness and discretion above +your years; and as I have a difficult and--I will not conceal it from +you--a hazardous expedition to make, in which a companion to assist me +would be very valuable, I wish to know whether, if the captain will +allow you, you would be willing to accompany me?" + +Where is the midshipman who would not have answered as I did, and say +that I should be delighted, and that the more danger the better fun? In +fact, my heart almost came into my mouth at the proposal; and my only +fear was that the captain might put his veto on it. + +"Oh! just tell him, sir," said I, "that I have neither father nor +mother, nor brother nor sister; and I don't think that the great +Counsellor D'Arcy would break his heart if anything happened to me, nor +bring an action against him for expending a midshipman uselessly. My +other uncle is a naval officer, and he would never dream of objecting." + +I do not know if these reasons had any weight with the captain, but he +granted his consent to my accompanying Mr Vernon, who forthwith gave me +a sketch of his proposed plan of proceeding. + +"You must know, D'Arcy," said he, "that the young Reefian informs me +that the _Ariadne_ was driven inshore by a heavy gale; and that before +she had time to haul off, a calm came on, when several boats, manned by +his people, pulled off to her. The master, who seems to have been a +brave fellow, had no notion of yielding without a blow, and, arming his +crew, gave them a warm reception. Several of the Reefians were killed +and wounded before they could make good their footing on board. The +gallant master was killed, and so were more than half his crew. Major +Norman and the rest of the people escaped without a wound, though they +expected to be cut to pieces; but their defence had so excited the +admiration of their captors, that they were, instead, treated with +considerable kindness, though ultimately marched off as prisoners. Miss +Norman was discovered in the cabin; but when it was known who was her +father, he was allowed to accompany her. The people who captured the +brig belong to a tribe ruled over by a powerful chief, who resides some +miles along the coast. He seems to have claimed the brig as his own +perquisite; and this youth, who is a relation of his, was living on +board to take care of her. Miss Norman and her father likewise became +his property, but I cannot speak my gratitude to Heaven, on finding that +she is treated with the most perfect respect, while her father is +employed in the gardens of the Kaid. His young nephew describes him as +a fierce, despotic old fellow, not at all likely to give up his +captives, unless compelled by force. He says that he is so very +wealthy, that no temptation of a high ransom will influence him. This, +however, I am resolved, without delay, to ascertain, and to employ every +means in my power to liberate my friends. He seems to owe no allegiance +to the Emperor of Morocco, or to any other acknowledged potentate; so +that I will not attempt the long business of negotiation, which would, +too probably, end in disappointment. At first I thought of taking the +lad with me, but then I considered that he would be of more service as a +hostage on board; and I have promised him that, if his information be +correct, and I succeed in recovering my friends, I will give him an +unerring rifle and a silver-mounted dagger, so that I have won him over +completely to our interest. As I speak Arabic as well as any Turk, I +have resolved to assume the character of a Turkish jewel-merchant on a +journey to buy precious stones for the Sultan. I feel that I can act +the part very well. How does the plan strike you?" + +"Very good; capital, sir," I answered, the romance of the thing taking +my fancy immensely. "But, as I do not speak a word of Arabic, or any +Eastern language, I do not see how I am to help you." + +"I have thought of that," said Mr Vernon. "You must pretend to be +dumb; I hope that you will not have to hold your tongue long. I wish +you also to take your violin. I do not know that the Turks ever play +it; but you must be my slave, you know--a Christian slave, not long +captured,--and that will account for your knowledge of so Nazarene-like +an instrument. Miss Norman heard you play once on board, and you will +thus certainly attract her notice, and be able to hold communication +with her." + +"Oh! excellent--excellent," I exclaimed, enchanted at finding the very +event I had once dreamed of about to be realised. "When are we to +commence our adventure?" + +"As soon as I can arrange our costumes, and make other necessary +preparations. Captain Poynder, after he has landed us, intends to watch +off the coast, and to stand in at night, to be ready to render us any +assistance we may require." + +Two days after this conversation, a party of travellers were seen +issuing from the ancient gates of the city of Tangiers,--in days long +gone by, when Charles the Second ruled the land, held by a British +garrison, till delivered over to the Portuguese. He who seemed to be +the leader of the party rode a strong, active horse, and was habited in +long, dark, flowing robes, a turban of many folds of muslin, long yellow +boots, and spurs of great size. A large moustache, and a beard bushy +and long, almost concealed his month. The ink-horn at his waist, and +his want of weapons of defence, showed that he was a peaceable +character. A lad also, in an Eastern dress, though of simple and +somewhat coarse materials, followed him on a stout mule, which likewise +carried a pair of saddle-bags, and a small square chest secured in +front. Slung over the back of the youth was a long case, of curious +form. A dagger at his side was the only arm he wore. A tall man, +well-armed with matchlock and scimitar, rode ahead on a stout nag. On +his head was the high red Moorish cap, with many folds of muslin twisted +round it. The flowing hair fell over his shoulders, above which he wore +a soolham of red cloth, while gaily-worked yellow boots, and a pair of +spurs of cruel length and sharpness, adorned his feet. He evidently +felt his importance, as the protector and fighting-man of the party. +Another personage followed, of inferior rank, with a mule, which carried +the chief part of the baggage. The country through which they travelled +was of an undulating character, but parched by the suns of summer, the +beds of the winter torrents being now stony ravines, and the only green +visible being furze and palmetto, and here and there patches of Indian +corn not quite ripe, though the stubble of fine wheat and barley +extended over a considerable portion of the ground. + +"D'Arcy, my boy, how do you like being turned into a young Turk?" said +Mr Vernon, calling me up to him, after we had proceeded some way. + +I touched my mouth, and pointed to out escort. + +"Never mind them," he replied; "they are, I am assured, faithful to the +backbone, and know how matters stand. There is little use of giving +such men half-confidences." + +"Then," said I, "I'll make play with my tongue while I can. I like the +fun amazingly. What do you propose to do, sir, next?" + +"In the first place, when we get up to the territory of the old chief, +Mulai Mohamed, we must leave our escort and proceed alone to his +village. We must present ourselves at his residence, and, inquiring +whether he has jewels to sell or wishes to buy others, must endeavour to +gain access to the inmates of his harem; or, at all events, we must try +to meet with Major Norman, or some of the crew of the _Ariadne_. +However, we must be guided entirely by circumstances." + +It was a great satisfaction to me to be able to talk, for I fancied that +I should have had to hold my tongue from the moment I set foot on shore. +I wish that my space would allow me to describe my journey, for it +lasted a considerable number of days, and was very amusing. We pushed +on as rapidly as the strength of our steeds would allow, though that was +far from fast enough to suit Mr Vernon's impatience. We met with a +variety of adventures also. At night we used to halt, and pitch our +tent, and fetch water, and cook our supper; while our followers would +sit before the fire, recounting their adventures, or boasting of the +deeds of their ancestors or friends, or telling tales of genii or +ghouls, and a variety of other beings, in whose existence they firmly +believe. As we journeyed on, we killed a quantity of game, chiefly +partridges, which crossed our path in great numbers; and now and then we +got a shot at a wild boar, and knocked him over. At night, watch was +always kept with a good fire, or we should have had the jackals, who +were always howling round us, paying us a visit. These beasts the Moors +do not object to eat, though they will not touch pig. We one day fell +in with an encampment of a powerful tribe, the Sheikh of which insisted +on my master, Taleb Moostafa, otherwise Lieutenant Vernon, dining with +him. I accompanied him for the pleasure of looking on, though, of +course, I was not expected to eat likewise. On arriving at the tent of +the Sheikh, we found him seated within it, on a cushion, covered with +thick skin, another being placed for the Taleb, or scribe, for to that +learned profession Mr Vernon thought he might venture to belong. A +variety of compliments having passed, a table was brought in and placed +between them. It was circular, about two feet in diameter, and scarcely +more than six inches from the ground, richly inlaid and painted in +arabesque. A large bowl, full of a highly-seasoned soup, with some sort +of macaroni in it, was first placed on the table. The bowl contained +spoons, with which the guests were to help themselves at the same time. +Next came a plate of beef, much stewed, and garnished with melons; and +lastly a huge dish of kesksoo,--a thick porridge, made of wheaten flour +piled up, which the Sheikh attacked most vigorously, while my master +attempted to follow his example. When dinner was over, some of the +tribe assembled on horseback, and played all sorts of pranks. Some +stood on their heads while their horses went; they charged each other at +a rapid speed; they changed places with their companions at full gallop; +then they would dash up to where we stood, and, discharging their +muskets, wheel about and give place to others, who followed at their +heels. Some would dash their haicks or turbans on the ground, and +leaning from their horses, would pick them up, without for an instant +slackening their speed. Next they shot at a mark, a flower on a pile of +stones being their target; and certainly they managed to hit it in a +wonderful way. The same men, however, would probably have but a poor +bag of game to show after a day's walk over the moors in Scotland. Our +friendly Sheikh accompanied us some way on our journey on the following +day, with many good wishes for our welfare. I must leave out the rest +of our adventures, till one evening, Hamed, our chief guide, pointing to +a line of lofty mountains which fringed the coast, exclaimed-- + +"There, most learned Taleb, at the foot of yonder mountains, you will +find the residence of the fierce Sheikh you seek. Further we dare not +go, as we have no wish to feel our throats being cut. Here we will +remain till you return, if you ever do return, which Allah grant may +soon be, though I am doubtful of it. If you do not come back, we will +report your loss to your friends, and trust they may find means to +avenge you." + +Taleb Mohammed laughed at this speech, though he saw the difficulties in +our way; and next morning, leaving our tents and heavy baggage, we +entered the district of the Reefian chief. It was towards evening that +we approached his dwelling, which we discovered from its superior size +to the rest of the neighbouring sun-dried brick cottages, thatched with +reeds. It was surrounded by a garden, full of melon plants and vines, +and many other fruits, delicious in a hot climate; and backed by fields +of Indian corn. Before entering the village, we ascended a height, +whence Mr Vernon took a long anxious glance over the blue sea with his +telescope, which he had brought with him. + +"There she is, D'Arcy," he exclaimed at length, in an animated tone, +pointing to a white speck just seen above the horizon, which I made out +to be a ship's royal. "I knew that Captain Poynder would be up to his +time. Now we can depend on help from without, if we can but find our +friends." + +It was near the time that the voice of the Mueddin, from the summit of +the village mosque, announced that the hour of evening prayer had +arrived, and called on the faithful to worship Allah, when we entered +the village. Without halting, we rode at once up to the entrance-gate +of the great man's abode. Cool confidence afforded us the best chance +of success. We were brought up at a porch, with a closed gate, in a +high wall which ran round the mansion. We knocked loudly, and after a +time the gate was opened by a slave, who salaamed low as he demanded our +business. + +"To see your great, powerful, and most illustrious master, etcetera, +etcetera, etcetera," said Mr Vernon, in Arabic. "Tell him that I have +come to treat with him about a matter of great importance." + +The slave on this disappeared, keeping us outside, though he shortly +returned, with two or three more slaves and a couple of armed men. Two +of the slaves taking our steeds, the first signed us to advance, and led +the way through a garden full of sweet-scented plants, the verbena, the +jessamine, and rose, and shaded by luxuriant vines, trailed on bamboo +trellice-work over head, the fruit hanging down in tempting bunches +within our reach. In front of an alcove, or summer-house, on a rich +carpet, sat a stout old man, in flowing robes, and long white beard, +which hung down over his breast. We bowed low, and then stood still +before him, for he did not offer us cushions to sit on; while Mr +Vernon, paying the fullest compliments his knowledge of the language +could command, opened his business. + +"I do not understand clearly what all this is about," said the old +Sheikh, in reply. "Jewels to sell and jewels to buy. Perhaps to-morrow +I may understand better. Come again in the forenoon, and show me your +wares, and we will see what is to be done." + +Taking this remark as a signal that we were dismissed, we salaamed as +before, and retired down the garden. We had reached the entrance, when +a slave overtook us, and informed us that his master would allow us to +sleep in a guest-room, opening into an outer court-yard, on one side of +the main entrance. Mr Vernon told me afterwards, that not having any +definite plan, he thought it would be wise to accept the Sheikh's offer +with a good grace, as more likely not to excite suspicion. The room to +which we were shown was a small one, without windows or furniture, some +little apertures over the entrance alone admitting light and air when +the door was shut. It had the advantage, however, of enabling us to get +out without being observed. Still a great difficulty remained--how we +were to obtain any information about Miss Norman in the first place, and +how we were to gain access to her in the second. In my character of a +slave, I assisted the Sheikh's slaves in bringing in the box of jewels, +the saddle-bags, and saddles, and horse-cloths, as well as our blankets, +which we had brought to form our beds at night. Our room being +arranged, Mr Vernon told me to remain within, while he went out to try +and obtain some information in the village, advising me in the meantime +to amuse myself with my fiddle, which had already delighted the ears of +many of the believers of the Prophet of Mecca during our long journey. +I had some misgivings about his going, for I was afraid that the +villagers might suspect his character, and might ill-treat him. For +myself I had no fear as long as I could continue to feign dumbness, as +my character was easily kept up. He had told the Sheikh's people that I +was a Nazarene lad, who was ignorant of their language. Being dumb, +they considered me under the peculiar care of Providence. + +After a little time, having recovered my spirits and cast all +forebodings from me--which are, after all, but the result of a morbid +imagination, or of a want of trust in God's providence,--I sat myself +down on the chest, and pulling my fiddle out of its case, began playing +away most vigorously some of the old tunes Hanks had taught me. I had +gone through some five or six of them, when a voice, which I felt sure I +had often heard, hailed-- + +"Hillo! shipmate, what part of the world do you come from?" The faint +light which came through the door was obscured by the figure of a +seaman. + +"Why!" I exclaimed, forgetting that I was dumb, as he stepped into the +room,--"why, if I can believe my senses, there is Jack Stretcher +himself." + +"What! is that you, Mr D'Arcy?" he answered; coming up to me, and +taking my hand. "I should not have known you in that rum rig, sir, if +it hadn't been for your voice, I declare." + +Our errand was soon explained; and he then told me that, having been +offered a berth as second mate of the _Ariadne_, he had obtained his +discharge from the cutter. To my great satisfaction, he told me that +Major Norman was really a slave in the Sheikh's house, and that his +daughter was in the harem. What had become of the rest of the crew he +could not tell. + +While I had been speaking, I had been scraping away to drown my voice, +in case anybody came near. I now urged Jack to go and find the major, +to let him know that help was at hand. + +"Time enough by-and-by, when he comes in from the fields, where they've +sent the poor gentleman to work. They put me to field labour at first, +but they found out that I was handy as a rigger, so they've put me to +refitting some of their craft. They've given me to understand that if +I'll consent to turn Moor or Turk, or somewhat of that sort, and worship +their Prophet, they'll make me a captain, or admiral for what I know, +and will give me one of their black-eyed young women for a wife; but +I'll see them all triced up at their own yard-arms before I changes my +religion, or forgets my own faithful rosy-cheeked Poll at home." + +I applauded his resolution, and charged him to adhere to it in ease he +should not escape. + +"No fear of me, sir, I hope," he answered. "But, I say, sir," he added, +in a serious tone, "I hope Mr Vernon, who used to be a very nice young +gentleman when I knew him in the _Turtle_, ain't turned Turk in +earnest." + +I assured him that he was only acting the part for a short time, which, +I believed, was lawful. + +"Well, I'm glad of that, sir," he replied. "But, I say, sir, what do +you think?" He looked out of the door, and then came back, and +continued,--"I see a number of these Moorish fellows coming here, drawn, +it's pretty clear, by your music. Now I'll just see if we can't +astonish the natives. Do you strike up a right jolly hornpipe, and I'll +toe and heel it till all's blue, and see if I don't make them understand +what a real sailor can do with his feet when he's inclined." + +The idea pleased me amazingly; so I came to the door, and began to +scrape away right merrily, while Jack commenced one of the wildest +hornpipes I ever saw danced. How he cut and shuffled,--how he crossed +his feet and sprang up in the air, and kicked and capered,--it is almost +impossible to describe. I could scarcely forbear laughing myself, +especially when I saw a number of grave long-bearded Moors assembled +round him, with looks of mute astonishment and admiration at his +agility. + +Mr Vernon soon joined them, and was as much astonished, evidently, as +the rest. At last even Jack's physical powers could hold out no longer, +and, exhausted, he threw himself down on one of our horse-rugs near the +door. He had, however, not remained there long, when one of the +Sheikh's slaves made his appearance, and, salaaming Mr Vernon, said +that his master had been informed that his young follower possessed a +wonderful instrument, and a wonderful talent for playing on it, and that +he wished to hear him. He intimated also to Jack that he must get up +and go through his hornpipe again. Jack, nothing loth, sprang to his +feet, and, as he passed Mr Vernon he whispered, "Now's your time, sir; +look about you." + +We and several of the spectators were now forthwith ushered into the +presence of the great chief. We found him seated in the garden-porch of +his house, a number of lamps hanging from the trees around him. It was +a picturesque and romantic scene. Four or five persons--mostly grave +old gentlemen with long white beards--sat on cushions on either side of +him; while others, in rich dresses, which betokened some rank, stood +behind him. He had evidently been having a dinner party, and now wanted +an evening entertainment. Mr Vernon salaamed before him, and asked +what was the pleasure of so generous, magnificent, and grand a chief. + +"Why, this: Understanding your young slave can play in a wondrous +manner, I wish to hear him," said the Sheikh. "But tell me, O merchant! +how is it that he can communicate with my captive, as I am told he does. +They must have been acquainted before." + +This question at first puzzled the pretended Turk, but he promptly +replied, "O most wise and sagacious chief, worthy of being monarch of +the faithful, know that these Nazarenes are in their youth instructed in +many arts and sciences. Some play on instruments, some dance, others +sing, or paint likenesses of men and beasts, strange abomination as that +may appear. Now my slave is one who has learned to play on an +instrument, and he who has the happiness to be owned by your highness, +is one who has learned to dance." + +"I see, I see," exclaimed the chief; "and it is a sin that two such +accomplished slaves should belong to different masters; therefore, +merchant, what price do you fix on yours? for, if he answers my +expectations, I intend to become his purchaser." + +This announcement puzzled Mr Vernon somewhat; but, of course, he could +not refuse at once. + +"He is unworthy of being possessed by your highness," he replied; "for +nature has not allowed him the power of speech. But, rather than speak +of that matter, let him show you a specimen of his art." + +He then made a sign to me, and I struck up Jack's favourite hornpipe; +the Moors, old and young, black beards and grey, short and long, forming +a circle round him. Up he jumped, and, with arms akimbo, commenced his +dance. If he had before shuffled, and kicked, and capered, he now +redoubled his efforts, snapping his fingers, clapping his hands, turning +and twisting in every conceivable way. Scarcely ever before was such a +hornpipe danced. It drew forth rounds of applause from even the gravest +of the spectators. The chief was delighted. Turning to one of his +attendants, he gave an order, which I did not then comprehend. Mr +Vernon had kept outside the circle, to be ready for any emergency which, +as Jack hinted, might occur. I, meantime, played away a variety of +other tunes, till Jack, jumping up from the spot where he had thrown +himself, made a sign to me to begin another hornpipe. This time he even +outdid either of his former attempts; indeed, before, I believe that he +was only shamming being tired; for my fingers and elbows began to ache +before his legs or breath gave any signs of his wish to end the dance. + +"Change the tune, Mr D'Arcy. Wallop-ahoo-aboo! I'll just give them an +Irish jig to keep them staring." + +A jig I played, and a jig he danced, with agility enough to win the +heart of any Nora Creina in old Ireland. Then I tried a Scotch reel, +and he almost outdid the jig: nor did he cease till he saw Mr Vernon +rejoin the circle. + +"Now if we haven't bamboozled the old gentleman famously, my name's not +Jack Stretcher!" he exclaimed with a loud laugh, slapping his thigh; an +action which was naturally supposed by his audience to mark the _finale_ +of his barbaric dances. + +Exclamations of wonder broke from the lips of all around; and I, having +played a few more airs, we were dismissed, graciously, to our dormitory. + +Mr Vernon then told me that, while Jack was dancing, he had managed to +speak both to Major Norman and his daughter, the chief having sent for +the inmates of his harem to witness the strange seaman's dancing. + +It was arranged that we should the following night try to communicate +with the frigate's boats; and if they could manage to send a party on +shore, that we should scale the walls of the harem, and carry off Miss +Norman--they being ready to support us. She, at at all events, would be +prepared for the emergency. + +Mr Vernon told me that, from what he heard, there would be no use +negotiating, as the old chief boasted that he never had given up a slave +he had taken, and never would. He was also subject to fits of fury, so +that no time was to be lost in carrying out our plans. The great +difficulty was to communicate with the boats, but Jack undertook the +task. While employed in the harbour he had observed where some small +skiffs lay, and he declared that he could easily steal off with one of +them, and should without difficulty fall in with the boats. The next +day was to be spent in marking out our line of retreat, and in settling +the spot at which the boats were to land. + +In the afternoon Mr Vernon was sent for to exhibit his jewels, and I +went with him. The Sheikh laughed at the idea of he himself having any +to sell, but he had no objection to buy some; and that the ladies of the +harem might select for themselves, we were ushered to the entrance of +its sacred precincts. I kept my eyes very sharp about me, and I saw +that, by scaling a not very high wall, we could easily get up to the +very door of the harem, which was separated from the main building. I +at once recognised Miss Norman, though she was veiled like the rest of +the ladies. She came forward to examine the jewels, and looked at +several which the Sheikh offered her. One after the other she put them +back into the box, till at last Mr Vernon contrived, unobserved, to +slip a paper into her hand. + +"It's all right," thought I. "Miss Norman will now be prepared when we +are ready to help her to escape." + +A few jewels were bought; but Mr Vernon signifying that he would be +happy to return on the following day, should any of the ladies desire to +change their mind, they unanimously declared that he must certainly +come. + +Several times during the day Jack made excuses for coming up from the +harbour, and each tune brought his ample pockets full of rope. As soon +as it was dark he came cautiously into our chamber, where we all set to +work, and in a short time had manufactured a rope-ladder quite long +enough to go over the garden wall. + +"Now," said he, "I must be off, and try and fall in with the frigate's +boats. I have a skiff all ready, but I may have some way to pull; so +don't, sir, make a start till I come back and let you know all's right." + +Several very anxious hours passed away after Jack's departure, and Mr +Vernon and I at last began to fear that some accident had occurred to +him, or that he had missed the boats, and that we should have to risk +another day within the old Sheikh's power. Major Norman and his +daughter must have been still more anxious, for they were separated from +each other, and less able to account for the delay than we were. At +length our anxious ears caught the sound of a light footstep, and Jack +poked his head in at the door. + +"All right," he whispered. "The boats are ready to pull in when I +signalise them. While you, gentlemen, go and get the young lady, I'll +be off and call the major." + +Eagerly Mr Vernon and I hurried out, carrying the ladder between us. +It was a wonder some of the numerous dogs, found in every Moorish +village, did not give tongue at us. We reached the part of the wall +nearest the harem. Mr Vernon soon clambered up it, and, hoisting up +the ladder, secured one end on the garden side, by pegs in the ground, +which we had before prepared; while I held down the outer side. I heard +him give a low whistle, as he had arranged. While I was anxiously +waiting his return, I felt a hand placed on my shoulder. I started with +horror, and almost let go the ladder, for I thought it was a Moor come +to capture me, and that our enterprise had failed; but, looking up, I +saw Jack's honest face, and Major Norman behind him. + +"I think, sir," said Jack, "if you were to go over the wall, and help +the lady up, it would make quicker work, and it won't take you long to +follow." + +His advice seemed so good that I did as he recommended. Fortunately I +did so, for I do not think otherwise the ladder would have kept in its +place. I found Mr Vernon waiting at the door of the harem, in despair +almost at the non-appearance of Miss Norman. At length the bars within +were gently removed, and, the door opening, she stepped forth into the +garden. There was no time for greeting. Closing the door, Mr Vernon +took her hand, and hurried on to the ladder. Climbing up, he had lifted +her over the wall, and placed her in safety in her father's arms, and I +was following, when a door in another part of the building flew open, +and a bright light streaming forth, I saw the old chief and a number of +his attendants, with arms in their hands, rush out into the garden. I +was over the wall in an instant, pulling the ladder after me, and not +waiting to see which way they came. + +"Fly, sir, fly!" I exclaimed. "The old tiger is after us." + +No second warning was necessary, and Mr Vernon and her father, lifting +Miss Norman between them, hurried along the road towards the beach, Jack +and I bringing up the rear, to keep our pursuers at bay. Lights now +appeared in different parts of the village, and just as we turned a +corner we saw the old Sheikh and his people in hot pursuit of us. + +"Run, sir! run as fast as your legs can carry you, and bring up the +people from the boats," cried Jack, as he saw our enemies coming after +us, and drawing a cutlass with which he had provided himself from the +boats, and buckled to his side. "I'll keep these chaps off from the +young lady till help comes to us, I'll warrant." + +I darted forward as fast as my legs could carry me. I was afraid every +instant of being stopped by some Moor who might dart out from his house; +but happily at that time the inhabitants of the village were fast +asleep, and as yet there had been no noise to awaken them. Fortunately +the old Sheikh was too fat to move fast; and his slaves, probably, had +no fancy to encounter the formidable Englishman, whose agility of heel +had made them fancy him little short of a Gin, or evil spirit of some +sort. At last I reached the little creek where the boats were lying, +the men resting on their oars, ready to shove off at a moment's warning. + +"Help! help!" I exclaimed, panting for breath. "Help! or Mr Vernon +will be retaken." + +In a moment Adam Stallman, and a dozen men from the different boats, +were by my side. All had been arranged for the emergency which had +occurred. On we ran, in close order, at a double-quick step. Scarcely +were we in time. The Moors were up to our friends, but Jack was laying +about him in such gallant style, that no one could manage to lay hold +upon them. His sword flew round his head like a flash of lightning; and +though his opponents cut and thrust at him from all sides, he remained +unhurt, while he had drawn blood from several of their sides. He +shouted, and shrieked, and leaped about, springing now on one side, now +on the other, yet back again in the middle of the road, if they +attempted to press too much forward. Stallman, seeing at a glance how +affairs stood, divided his people, so that they could encircle Mr +Vernon and his friends; and then, coming up to Jack's assistance, for a +moment entirely drove back his assailants. By this time the whole +village was aroused, and the Moors, collecting in numbers from the +houses, attacked us furiously on all sides. Our brave fellows, however, +kept them at bay, and retreated in good order towards the boats. We had +no time to lose, in truth, for they were making for the boats +themselves, and, if they got in our rear, might cut us off, and +overpower also the party left in the boats. It was with no small +satisfaction that I heard the voice of Dicky Sharpe shouting out to us +to come on; and then a brisk fire from the men with him cleared the +intervening space of Reefians, who had got ahead of us. The old chief +and his slaves had hitherto not fired, either for fear of hurting Miss +Norman, or because they had no powder or firearms. Now, however, the +blood of all parties was up, and pistols began to flash, and sabres to +clash, and a hot fight was going on, as we made a dash for the boats, +and Miss Norman was lifted safely in. The Reefians now rushed furiously +down on us. Adam Stallman and Jack Stretcher were the last men in, they +keeping a whole host of Moors at bay, while the boats were being shoved +off; then, by a desperate leap, Jack, by Stallman's order, got into one +of the boats, while he himself sprang into another. Alas! at that +moment a volley came rattling down among us, and before Stallman could +take his seat he fell into the bottom of the boat. It was the one I had +reached. I stooped down. + +"Where are you hurt, Stallman? Oh! tell me, tell me," I exclaimed, +taking his hand. + +"In my side; lend me a handkerchief, pray," he answered, faintly. "But +give way, my lads--give way; never mind me." + +The men had stopped in their exertions for a moment, and were leaning +forward to discover if he was much hurt. They needed not, however, a +second order, for volley after volley came rattling over us; while the +foremost and more daring Reefians in their rage rushed into the water, +in the hope of seizing us. Some who grasped the gunnel had reason to +repent their temerity; for we dealt them such blows with our cutlasses, +that they were compelled to let go, every wound they received increasing +their fury. Others waded after us up to their arm-pits, firing their +pistols, and cutting at us with their scimitars, shouting fiercely at us +all the time, and grinding their teeth with rage and disappointment. It +was no child's play; for, had they caught us, they would have destroyed +every one of the party. By dint of great exertion the boats were at +length got clear and into deep water. By the flashes of the firearms I +could see the old Sheikh standing on the beach, and trying to urge his +followers to pursue us still further. When they found that all hope of +preventing our embarkation had gone, they hurried of to the harbour to +launch their own boats for the pursuit. We had a long way to pull, +several of our people were hurt, and the boats were likewise full of +men; so that we felt we were far from certain of escaping after all. +Mr Vernon ordered the gun in the bow of his boat to be fired, to draw +the attention of the frigate, should she not have heard the sound of the +musketry; and I followed his example. By this time we were a couple of +miles or more away from the shore, but the frigate was still some five +or six miles from us. Before long, by the light of the dawn just +breaking, we could see the Reefian boats stealing out from the land; but +we had now no great fear of being caught. Still our enemies pulled very +fast, and were animated with every feeling of rage and revenge to excite +them to exertion. Hitherto there had been a dead calm, which much +facilitated our progress; and as the gloom of night cleared away, we +could see, in the grey of the morning, the frigate's topsails hanging +uselessly in the brails. I kept anxiously looking back at our pursuers. + +"Do they gain on us?" asked Stallman, who sat propped up in the +stern-sheets. + +"I fear so," I replied; "but the frigate is still not so very far off." + +"If they overtake us, I will ask you, D'Arcy, to drop astern a little, +and try and keep them at bay, so as to afford the first gig a better +chance of escaping," he said, faintly. + +This was the boat Miss Norman was in. + +"Of course, Stallman," I answered, "every one here will do their best to +defend the young lady. Won't you, my lads?" + +"Ay, ay, sir; never fear," replied the men, with one voice, at the same +time giving a cheer. "Hurra! hurra!" + +The enemy's boats were now drawing uncomfortably near, and the headmost +ones had begun to fire, though their shot did not reach us. Still it +was too evident that they would be up to us before the frigate could +come to our assistance. There she still lay, like a log on the water. +I did not much fear the enemy; but I knew if they overtook us, even if +we escaped, it would be the cause of much more bloodshed. Presently, as +I was thinking of this, I saw a light ripple curling over the smooth, +shining surface of the leaden-coloured sea. Another and another +cat's-paw followed; the frigate let fall her topsails--they were sheeted +home; sail after sail was set; and just then, as the sun rose in a blaze +of glory, our gallant ship was seen standing towards us--a magnificent +and welcome sight--under a press of canvas, lighted up by the bright +rays of the warmth-giving luminary. A simultaneous cheer rose from the +boats' crews as they beheld the spectacle; and, with redoubled efforts, +they gave way to meet the ship. The Reefians saw that their prospect of +catching us was gone; and giving us a parting, though happily harmless +volley, they pulled round, and made all haste to the shore, to avoid +being themselves in their turn pursued and captured. We were, soon +after this, on board, and heartily welcomed. The poor fellows--there +were four or five of them who had been badly wounded--were carried to +their hammocks, and tended carefully by the surgeon. Adam Stallman was +conveyed to Mr Vernon's berth in the gun-room. He was evidently more +hurt than anybody else. The doctor gave a very unfavourable report of +his case to the captain from the first. Every one on board grieved much +to hear of his danger, for he was much beloved; but he seemed calm and +contented. When I saw him his looks were cheerful--a smile was on his +lips. Few would have believed that he was a person about shortly to +die, and that he full well knew it. It was not a stoical indifference +to death; not the courage of a man endowed with physical hardihood; but +true Christian fortitude and resignation to the will of God, trust in +his Maker's promises, hope in the future, which supported him. We were +now returning to Malta; for Captain Poynder saw that there would be no +use of attempting to punish the Reefians for their late acts, and that +we should certainly only be the chief sufferers if we attacked them. + +One day Adam Stallman sent for Dicky Sharpe and me. + +"My dear boys," he said, "I have sometimes given you good advice, and I +much regret that I have not given you more, as you always took it well. +I may never have an opportunity of speaking to you again." + +"Oh! don't say so, Stallman," sobbed my young messmate. "Don't die! +You must recover, and stay with us." + +"Life and death are in God's hands alone," replied Adam Stallman. "As +you have a regard for me, promise me that you will try not to forget +what I say to you. Remember always that you were sent into this world +as a place of trial--that you have numberless bad propensities existing +in you, and many temptations constantly offered to you--that your trial +consists in the way you conquer the one and resist the other; but also +recollect that you have no power whatever of yourselves to do this--that +of yourselves you would not even know how to resist--you would not know +that it was necessary to resist. But then you must know that God is +just, merciful, and kind; that He has given mankind a guide, not only to +tell them that they must resist, but to show them how to resist +temptation--how to conquer evil propensities; that if they will pray to +Him, He will give them knowledge and grace, and strength sufficient for +all their wants. In that guide--that Book of books--He tells them that +He sent His only Son, that His sufferings and death might be accepted +instead of their eternal suffering and death, to which their sins would +most justly have consigned them. Therefore, my dear boys, I want you to +study, that book, day after day--never give it up. But, at the same +time, do not fancy that you are doing a meritorious act by merely +reading it. You must examine it, and treasure it, as you would a +precious gift. You should read it with thankfulness and joy that God +has given you that precious gift. You are not doing him any service by +reading it. The acts alone which result from reading it do him any +service; and, after all, those acts are only your bounden duty. Common +gratitude demands them from you. Never forget. You must pray daily-- +pray for grace, and faith, and strength, and knowledge; and be assured +that God will give them to you at last. Never cease praying. What I +have said may seem hard to you, my dear boys; but it is the truth; and I +could not have died happy without saying it, as I felt that it was my +duty to say it. Be religious, and never be ashamed of your religion. +Hoist your colours in sight of the enemy, and fight bravely under them +wherever you go." + +Much more our friend said, but the above was the pith of his discourse. +I believe that neither my young messmate nor I ever forgot what he said. +By following his advice, we have found a comfort, a joy, a strength, +which we should never otherwise have known. Our kind friend's +forebodings were speedily fulfilled; and before we reached Malta he had, +in perfect peace, yielded up his life to the God who gave it. + +"What! did the good Adam Stallman really die?" some of my young readers +may ask. Yes; good and bad, rich and poor, of all ranks and stations in +society, are often summoned in their joyous youth, their flowering +manhood, by a just God, to render up an account of their mode of life. +Oh! my young friends, remember that you, too, may be summoned away from +this bright world, and all you hold dear, in an hour, a day, a year--at +a moment you think not of; and that you, too, must render up an account +of how you have lived on earth before the great, the just, the +All-seeing Judge; that every thought of your heart, every action you +have performed, will then be laid bare; and that, unless you can say, I +did my duty to the best of my power and knowledge, and I trusted to +Christ to save me, it were better, far better, that you had never been +born. I shall be glad to find that my adventures amuse you, but I +should also deeply blame myself if I did not try and make you understand +these things; and I should feel that it were also far better that my +book had not been written. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +RETURN TO ENGLAND--APPOINTED TO THE OPOSSUM--THE COMMANDER'S OATH--HOW +HE KEPT IT--THE GALE--LOSS OF MASTS--OLD POPPLES--DEATH OF COMMANDER-- +THE PIRATE--END OF MYERS. + +I forgot to say in the last chapter, that before shaping our course for +Malta, we ran a little way down the coast, and landed our young Reefian +prisoner. It might have been better had Captain Poynder endeavoured, +through his means, to treat with the old Sheikh for the liberation of +his captives; but, probably, the success of such a plan was considered +too doubtful to be attempted. What became of Mr Vernon's jewel-box I +do not know: I fancy the contents were of very little intrinsic value. +We carried Major Norman and his daughter to Gibraltar, whence they went +to England. Mr Vernon did not marry for upwards of a year after this. +He and his wife are among my most intimate friends. We met with no more +adventures worth recording in the old _Harold_. At length we returned +to Portsmouth, and being paid off, I was once more a gentleman at large. +I did not long remain so, for my kind uncle took care to get me another +ship as soon as possible. In the meantime, I accompanied Dicky Sharpe +to the home of his father and mother, Sir John and Lady Sharpe. They +were excessively kind, and made a great deal of me; and so did the +Misses Sharpe, who, being a good deal older than Dicky, treated us +somewhat like little children, petting and humouring our fancies, which +did not altogether please me. It made me much more inclined to act like +a child, and to join Dicky in any pranks he proposed. I was very sorry, +however, to have to go away. It was, at the same time, no little +satisfaction to both of us, that we found ourselves appointed to the +same ship--a fine sixteen-gun brig, just fitting out--the _Opossum_, +Captain Cranley. Dicky, however, got leave for two or three weeks, +while I had to join at once. His friends got him the appointment +because it was considered better that he should see some service in a +small craft, with a smart officer, which our commander was said to be; +while I joined because I was not likely to get a better. I had gone to +see Larry as soon as I reached England, and found him and his wife +flourishing. When I got back to Portsmouth, while the brig was fitting +out, I paid him frequent visits, to the old man's great delight; and he +used to tell everybody he met what a first-rate sailor I had become, +winding up invariably, with a look of no little pride, "Ay, sir, and +'twas I taught him--didn't I, Master Neil?" + +I must not forget to mention my kind uncle and aunt, and Daisy Cottage, +where I was always a welcome guest. He had paid the cutter off, but +expected soon to obtain another appointment. Of the Marlows I could +only hear that they had gone abroad; but as Miss Alice had promised to +write to my aunt as soon as they had settled, I was in hopes of hearing +about them. But I must get on with my story. The _Opossum_ was at sea, +running down Channel, with orders to wait at Falmouth for despatches and +mails for Halifax, Nova Scotia. With the exception of Dicky Sharpe, all +my brother officers were strangers to me, and mostly to each other, so +it took a little time before we became acquainted and shook into our +places. Captain Cranley, I found, was somewhat of the old school--very +kind-hearted and simple-minded, and not less strict towards himself than +towards others--with a nice sense of honour, and very sensitive of +rebuke. I was very glad to find that my old friend Jack Stretcher had +volunteered, with the hope of one day becoming a warrant-officer. I +must also mention the boatswain, who, though an oldish man, had not long +taken out his warrant. He was a prime seaman, with nothing very +remarkable in his appearance, except that he was tall and thin, and had +a long bushy beard, now somewhat grizzled. The aforesaid individual, +Mr Popples, was neat and clean, and had really good manners; his great +ambition being to rise in the world, though he had begun to ascend +rather late in life. We youngsters had a great respect for him, +notwithstanding some of his peculiarities, and should never have dreamed +of playing him the tricks we did old Chissel and Trundle in the +_Harold_. Two days after we left Falmouth, the wind, which had been +from the eastward and moderate, chopped round to the westward and +north-west, and began to blow very heavily. Our commander, however, was +not a man to be frightened by a capful of wind; so we close-reefed the +topsails, and lay upon our course as near as we could. The gallant +little brig headed the seas bravely, and gave us every reason to hope +that we might weather out the gale without damage. Towards the evening +of the third day, however, it came on to blow harder than ever; the +clouds came gathering up in thick masses, as if hurried one on the +other, without the means of escaping, and the sea rose higher and +higher. Mr Pullen, the master, kept glancing to windward in a +significant manner. + +"What do you think of it, master?" asked Captain Cranley. + +"Why, sir, the sooner that we up-helm, and run into port, the better for +the ship and ourselves," replied Mr Pullen. "There's no use straining +a vessel till every timber in her creaks and groans with pain,--that's +my opinion." + +"A very just one, master, and I'll follow your advice," said the +captain. "All hands wear ship." + +The delicate, operation was successfully performed. The helm was put +up--the aftersails were brailed up and furled--more headsail was got on +her. For an instant she rolled heavily in the trough of the sea; then +her headsail, feeling the full force of the wind, carried her head away +from it, and, like a sea-bird released from imprisonment, off she flew +on rapid wings before it. A number of vessels, driven in by stress of +weather, were collected in Falmouth Harbour as we entered. We ran by +them, past the flag-ship, for the purpose of bringing up, when we were +hailed with-- + +"What! Captain Cranley, are you afraid of a capful of wind? There's +nothing to hurt you now outside; so go to sea again without bringing +up." + +These words stung our old captain to the quick. + +"It's the first time James Cranley was ever taunted for being afraid of +anything, much less a gale of wind; and it shall be the last time, too, +whatever comes of it, so help me Heaven!" + +Fearfully did the old man keep his vow. Accordingly, we forthwith stood +out again to sea. When we were clear of the land, we found the gale +completely abated, and we had a very fine passage, till within about a +hundred miles of our port, when it fell calm. Never do I recollect a +more perfect calm. The sea was like lead in colour, but as smooth as +glass, though every now and then there came a long, slow, gently-moving +undulation, as if there were some unseen power beneath the water. There +was something, I thought, very ominous in the whole appearance of the +atmosphere. The barometer, the seaman's warning friend, began also to +sink, and each hour the quicksilver got lower and lower. Thus passed +two days, but not a breath of wind came. Captain Cranley paced his deck +with uneasy steps. The master likewise looked far from satisfied, I +thought, with the appearance of the weather, and kept continually +glancing round the horizon, in search of the expected sign of a change. +The sails hung idly down against the masts, every now and then flapping +loudly, as the vessel rolled slowly in the swell. It would have been +more seamanlike had they been furled; but, to tell the truth, our +commander appeared seized with a fit of infatuation, which deprived him +of his usual clear judgment on professional matters. He had not got +over his late unjust reprimand. With a morbid feeling of injured +honour, he allowed it to rankle in his bosom. People are apt to have a +foreboding of evil; but on the present occasion there were ample reasons +for dreading mischief. + +"To my mind, if we were to furl every stitch of canvas, and send down +our topmasts, we should be acting like seamen," said old Popples, as I +was forward, attending to some duty. + +"Why do you say that?" I asked. "The sea is like glass, and there's no +wind, nor chance of any, as far as I can judge." + +"Because I haven't sailed round the world for the last forty years with +my eyes shut, Mr D'Arcy," he replied. "Be sure, when the weather's +like this, there's no slight gale coming on; but the commander is a good +seaman, and I suppose he'll give the order soon." + +The commander, however, did not seem to apprehend any immediate change +of weather. Not so Mr Pullen. Whenever he went into the cabin, he +found that the silver in the barometer had sunk lower than ever; and +each time he came on deck, looking more anxious than before. After some +time spent in watching the sky to the northward, he walked up to the +commander. + +"Captain Cranley, sir," said he, "it's my duty to tell you that, in my +opinion, this weather won't last many hours longer--not to say minutes, +perhaps; and if the squall I look for catches us with all this canvas +set, it will carry the masts over the side to a certainty." + +"It's the custom in the service generally for officers to wait till +their opinion is asked," replied the commander, turning on his heel, and +taking a few more turns on the quarter-deck. At last he stopped, and +looked out towards the northward and westward, where a thick mass of +clouds was banking up, each instant rising higher and higher. + +"Mr Fairman," he said, to the first-lieutenant, "call all hands to +shorten sail; put the brig under double-reefed topsails. Whichever way +the squall comes, we mustn't be frightened at it this time, eh?" + +The command was quickly obeyed, but the air remained as stagnant as +ever. Still old Popples was not satisfied. + +"We are better so than we were before, I'll allow," he remarked; "but +the gale, when it does begin to blow, will, to my mind, be a regular +hurricane, and we shall be glad to run before it under bare poles. Mark +my words, Mr D'Arcy!" + +Boatswains do not always deliver their opinion thus freely about their +captain; but old Popples was privileged, at all events with us +midshipmen. Mr Pullen shrugged his shoulders and said nothing, though +he evidently held the same opinion as the boatswain. The commander had +just retired to his cabin, while the master continued his walk, turning +his eye every now and then towards the quarter whence he expected the +wind to come. Suddenly he stopped. + +"Here it is!" he exclaimed. "Up with the helm--square away the +afteryards." + +Scarcely had he spoken, than a terrific roar was heard, and down came +the gale upon us with unbridled fury, driving before it vast masses of +spoondrift, and tearing up the water into huge waves, which every +instant rose higher and higher. Off flew the brig's head, however, +before it, and it seemed like a race between her and the dense sheets of +spray which careered over the seas, and the clouds of scud which chased +each other across the sky. Her course, however, was to be suddenly +arrested. The commander made his appearance hurriedly on deck. + +"What means this?" he exclaimed. "There's our port, sirs," pointing to +the north-west. "Bring the ship on a wind--down with the helm--brace up +the yards!" + +The officers stood aghast, but the order was not to be disputed. + +No sooner did the brig feel the full force of the wind, than she heeled +over, till her lee guns were buried in the waves, and the spray came +flying over us, fore and aft. Still we looked up to it, and, had the +wind not increased, we might have weathered it very well; but it was +evident that the gale had not yet come to its height. Magnificently the +brave little brig dashed through it; but it was fearful work,--the +timbers groaned, and the masts bent, every instant threatening to go by +the board. Once more Mr Pullen urged the commander to bear up. + +"No, no, master," he answered, shaking his head; "I've sworn that no +power shall ever again turn me away from the port to which I am bound; +and James Cranley is not a man you would ask to break his oath, I hope." + +"Well, sir, but the brig will hold her own better under closer canvas, +you'll allow," urged the master. + +After some time the commander permitted the topsails to be close-reefed, +but not another stitch would he take off her. Still the brig had too +much sail set; and wearily and heavily she laboured through the yet fast +rising seas. + +I had been on deck for some hours, and, drenched to the skin, was +shivering with cold, when Mr Pullen, with whom I was a favourite, told +me to go and lie down in his berth, our own not being tenable, from the +water which the straining of the ship allowed to run into it. All the +officers and the watch were on deck. In spite of the heavy pitching of +the ship, I soon fell asleep. How long I remained so I know not, when a +terrific noise awoke me. I felt the suffocation of drowning, and for a +moment saw the water in dark green masses rushing into the cabin. In +another instant it was all dark. I uttered a prayer for mercy, for I +felt that the brig was on her side and sinking. Still the love of life +did not desert me. Through the darkness I discerned one bright spot +overhead. I made for it, and as I found my hands grasping the combings +of the gun-room skylight, the brig, with a sudden jerk, righted again. +I thought it was only preparatory to going down. Still I held on. The +water rolled away, and disappeared from above and beneath me, and I was +able to obtain a clear view along the deck. What a scene of destruction +and horror met my view! Of all those living men who lately peopled her +decks, not a soul was there--not a mast was standing--not a boat +remained--as if the destroying sword of the Archangel had swept over +them. The decks were swept clear of everything; while the green +foam-topped seas, in mountain masses, rose above them, threatening every +instant to overwhelm my hapless vessel. A glance showed me all this. +Looking forward, I saw another head rising from the fore-hatchway; it +was that of old Popples, the boatswain. + +"What! are they all gone?" he shouted; "then I'm captain. Lend a hand, +Mr D'Arcy, and we'll try and get the ship before the wind." + +"Captain of a sinking ship you may be, Mr Popples," I answered, amused, +even in that moment of horror, at the old man's extraordinary ambition. + +But there was no time for talking. I sprang on deck, as he had done, +and at the same instant a cry reached our ears, and looking to leeward, +we saw the faces of several of our shipmates, clinging to the spars and +rigging, which still hung on to the ship. + +At first, surrounded as they were with the seething foam, their +countenances convulsed with terror or agony, as they clung with their +death-grasp to the rigging, it was difficult to recognise them; while, +one by one, they were torn from their uncertain hold, and borne far away +to leeward. Still some clung on. I trusted my friend Dicky Sharpe +might be of the number; for even then, strange as it may seem, I +pictured to myself the grief and misery his loss would cause at that +home where I had lately seen him the hope and joy of a loving mother and +affectionate sisters. These thoughts occupied scarcely a second. In a +few moments I recovered from the sensation of almost overwhelming horror +which the scene had caused; and, as I gazed more attentively, I +recognised Dicky himself, with Captain Cranley, and the master, yet +clinging to the rigging. + +The watch below, whom the boatswain had summoned, joined us without +delay; and I must do him the justice to say, that no one could more +nobly have exerted himself than he did in trying to save those who would +speedily deprive him of his new-fledged honours. The foremast and its +rigging, in falling, had torn away the chain-plates and everything which +secured it forward; and the whole tangled mass of spars and ropes now +hung on by the after-shrouds, and had both served to put the brig before +the wind, by holding back her stern, while it allowed her head to pay +off, and acted also as a sort of breakwater, which saved us from being +pooped. The poor fellows in the water were crying loudly for help as +they caught sight of us on deck. One of the nearest was Dicky Sharpe. +Calling Jack Stretcher to my aid, I got him to heave a rope with a bight +at the end which I had made. It fell close to Dicky's head. He grasped +it with one hand, and slipped it over his shoulders. We hauled on it +till we got him near the side. Just then the foreyard came surging up, +and I thought would strike him. + +"Give me your hand!" I shrieked out. + +I caught it barely in time. Stretcher leaned through a port, and we got +Dicky in at the moment that the yard came thundering against the side, +almost grazing his foot. All this was but the work of a second. +Popples had in the meantime, by great exertions, managed to get the +master on board; and his next attempt was to save Captain Cranley. He, +however, was much further out, hanging on to one of the topmasts. None +of the ropes near him which we could reach would come home. There +appeared to be no means of saving him. Two other men were, however, got +in. + +"Come, I can't bear to see our old skipper washed away before our eyes. +What will his wife and children do?" exclaimed Jack Stretcher. "I've no +one at home to care for me; so some on you clap on here, while I just +make a fly out, and see if I can't get hold of him." + +The gallant fellow had made a rope fast to his waist, and was on the +point of making his perilous attempt by springing into the raging sea, +when a terrific wave came rolling up astern. Its curling crest lifted +high the spar to which the commander clung. I fancied that I could see +his starting eyes take one last earnest glance at the ship, and his lips +moved as if imploring us to save him. Then down came the wave; and as +the ship was hurried on before it, its broken waters tore away his +already failing grasp, and in a moment he was buried from our sight. We +had no time to mourn for him then. Mr Pullen instantly took command, +and Popples was fain to act as his first-lieutenant; while Sharpe and I +did our utmost to make ourselves useful. + +The wreck of the masts, as I have said, kept the brig before the wind. +While some hands set to work to rig the pumps, others got up a bit of a +jury-mast, secured to the stump of the foremast. On this we managed to +spread a topgallant-sail, which helped her along famously. All hands +who could possibly be spared were required to work the pumps, spell and +spell; and the wonder was, when we found the immense quantity of water +she had taken on board, that she had not gone down. As it was, her deck +and upper works leaked in every direction; and we all felt that such, +even now, might be our fate. I shall never forget the anxiety of that +first night, as, amid the raging seas, with the gale howling round us, +our near sinking ship, battered and dismasted, ran through the darkness, +every sea, as, foam-crested, it came rolling up astern, threatening to +overwhelm us. Who but fools would not, on such occasions, feel the +utter helplessness of their own arm to help them, or would fail to put +their trust alone in Him who is all-powerful to save. Yes; it is amid +the raging storm and on the battered wreck that the seaman, if his mind +be but directed aright, gains a practical knowledge of the value of +religion. But alas! how few--how very few--are taught religious truths; +and the very men who wander round the globe, and might act as important +pioneers of civilisation and Christianity among the heathen, are +allowed, for the most part, to remain ignorant and profane--a disgrace, +instead of an honour, to the Christian nation to which they belong. +Such a state of things ought not to exist; and I ask you, my young +friends, to aid in conveying the blessings of the gospel to our gallant +seamen, and, through their means, to the far distant nations of the +earth. But to return to the brig. For two days we ran to the +southward, without any change in the weather. At length it began to +moderate, and in three days more we had run into comparatively a smooth +sea. + +No one would willingly have blamed our late unfortunate commander; but +we all felt that, had he bore up in time, as a seaman should have done, +instead of obstinately persisting in holding his ground, he would have +saved his own and many valuable lives, and the brig would have escaped +the disaster she had suffered. + +Mr Pullen had shaped a course for the Bermudas; but, low as they are, +it was necessary to keep a very sharp look-out, to prevent running past +them, or on to the coral reefs by which they are surrounded. Our +landfall, however, was better than we expected; and one of the fine +pilot-boats, for which the islands are so deservedly noted, coming off +to us, we were safely towed into harbour. The brig was some months in +the hands of the dockyard people before we were ready for sea, our +despatches, after some weeks' detention, being sent on to their +destination. + +During the period of our stay, the merchants, as well as the military +officers, were very kind to Dicky and me. The Bermudas are also called +Somers' Islands, because Sir George Somers was cast away on them in +1609, since when they have been inhabited by English settlers. Their +productions are very similar to those of the West Indies. There are a +number of blacks on them, who at the time I speak of were slaves, but +are now, of course, free. They consist of four principal islands, the +chief of which is called Saint George, and other smaller ones. They +take their name from Juan Bermudez, who discovered them in 1522. I have +no time to say more about the place. + +Before we were ready for sea, a new commander was sent out from +England--Captain Idle. His name was very far from appropriate to his +character. He brought us the pleasing information that we were destined +for the coast of Africa, where some fast cruisers were much wanted to +put down the slave-trade. + +Captain Idle had seen some service. He had been thirty years at sea, +out of which time he had not probably spent two on shore. He had been +in the North Seas and West Indies, in the Antarctic Ocean, and on the +coast of Africa, in the Indian seas, and in every part of the Pacific. +There was not an unhealthy station in which he had not served. He had +served for ten years as a first-lieutenant. He had been three times +wounded, and had obtained his rank, both as lieutenant and commander, +for two remarkable deeds of gallantry; and now, as a special reward for +his services, I suppose, he was sent out to the coast of Africa. + +A first-lieutenant also joined us--Reuben Spry by name,--and two mates, +the senior of whom did duty as second lieutenant--Holland and Waller. +The very day we were ready for sea we went out of harbour, and made the +best of our way towards the coast of Africa. A succession of easterly +winds had kept the _Opossum_ more to the west than she would otherwise +have been. We were about the latitude of Barbadoes, when, having run on +during most of the night with a fair breeze, towards morning it dropped +altogether, and we found ourselves rolling away in a tropical calm. As +we were already in the seas where slavers are to be found, a bright +look-out was kept, in the hopes of our falling in with a prize, though +as yet not a sail had been seen to which it was thought worth while +giving chase. As morning broke, of a day I shall not easily forget, +there appeared to the southward, not four miles from us, two vessels +becalmed like ourselves. One, a large barque, somewhat the nearest to +us, was clearly an English merchantman; the other, a low, black +schooner, had the wicked, rakish appearance of a Spanish slaver. The +look-out from the foretopmast-head gave notice at the same time that he +could see two boats pulling from one vessel to the other. The captain +and all the officers were speedily on deck. + +"There's some mischief going on there," exclaimed Captain Idle, after a +look at the vessels. "Mr Spry, call the boats away; we must send and +overhaul these fellows." + +Three boats, under the command of the first-lieutenant, were speedily in +the water, and manned, all hands being well-armed. Waller had charge of +one boat, I of the third,--and not a little proud did I feel of the +honour. A cup of cocoa and some biscuit being first served out to each +of us, to give us strength for the work to be accomplished, away we +pulled towards the barque. It was hot enough when we started, but as +the sun rose higher it grew hotter still, and the glare on the smooth +water became so bright as almost to blind us; but nothing relaxed our +exertions, all hands feeling that there was some work before us. The +other boats had reached the barque when we were yet three miles off, and +very probably had not observed us, although the people from the rigging +of the merchantman must have done so. The report of firearms was now +heard, and this made us redouble our efforts to get up. + +"The merchantman is attacked by pirates; there is not a doubt of it," +shouted Mr Spry. "Fire off your muskets, my lads; it will give both +parties notice that we are coming to put a stop to their fun." + +Those not pulling blazed away right merrily for a few minutes, and then +watched for the result. It seemed to have encouraged one party and to +have disheartened the other, for the boats we had before seen were +observed pulling back to the schooner. + +"Follow me, Waller. After the boats, my lads!" shouted Mr Spry. +"D'Arcy, do you board the barque. See if any assistance is required, +and if not, pull for the schooner." + +It took me but a short time to find myself alongside the barque, while +the rest of our party were in chase of the strange boats. So eagerly +were those on board looking out at the chase, that they did not observe +me step on board. Alas! the appearance of the deck showed too plainly +that mischief had already been done. One man lay dead, and two more sat +on the deck, supported by their shipmates. But there were two persons +in a group standing aft, whom I thought I recognised. I looked again. +I was sure I could not be mistaken, and running up to them, I found +myself shaking hands most warmly with Mr Marlow and his daughter. He +did not recognise me; but she did in a moment, and told him who I was. + +"Again you have helped to save our lives, Mr D'Arcy," he exclaimed; +"for, thanks to our brave captain here, we were able to resist a band of +villainous pirates who attacked us, till your appearance frightened them +off." + +I of course told them how happy I was to be of service, and then, +finding that my presence on board the barque was not required, I tumbled +into my boat, and gave way after my shipmates. The pirates' boats had +gained the schooner about ten minutes before they had. I was not long +behind them, and the aid of my boat's crew was very welcome. The deck +of the schooner was crowded with men, who were making a desperate +resistance. The most prominent of them fought more like a demon than a +human creature. With desperate energy he wielded a huge cutlass, with +which he kept the deck clear around him. His men, however, a mixture of +Spanish, Portuguese, blacks, and a few English or Americans, were +falling thick on either side, and several had actually been driven +overboard. My gallant fellows gave a loud shout as we scrambled on +deck, and, led by Jack Stretcher, they cleared everything before them. +Some of the pirates were forced down the hold, others overboard, and +several sunk on the deck to rise no more. Still the captain stood at +bay. I now had a better opportunity of observing him, and at once I +recognised my old enemy, the villain Myers. + +"Your time is come at last, Bill Myers," I shouted. + +The words seemed to have a paralysing effect. What thoughts they called +up, I know not. Perhaps he had not for long been known by that name. +He made a few steps backward, and then, with one bound, cleared the side +of the vessel and leaped overboard. There was no land to swim to--no +boat to pick him up--but ravenous sharks surrounded the scene of strife, +already collected by the taste of blood. In another instant the +long-sought-for smuggler, murderer, and pirate was their prey. The +remainder of the pirates yielded without another blow. We found that +they had shipped for a slave voyage only; but had been induced by Myers, +who had lately got command, to commence a course of piracy, which, by +our appearance, had happily been cut short. After some hours, a breeze +springing up, we brought the vessels together. Waller and I were +ordered to take the prize into Barbadoes, where the barque also was +bound; while the _Opossum_ cruised outside to look out for slavers. + +Mr Marlow was going to spend some time at Bridgetown, where he had a +house of business. He received Waller and me most kindly, and nothing +could exceed the hospitality of the inhabitants generally when they +heard of our exploit. Captain Curtis, also, the master of the barque, +got great credit for the way he had defended his vessel till we came to +his assistance. Miss Alice Marlow had grown somewhat, but still she was +very little for her age. She was, however, as kind as ever, and I, for +one, was very sorry when the _Opossum_ came in with another prize. The +survivors of the men who had boarded the barque were hung, and the +schooner herself was condemned. This business being accomplished, the +_Opossum_ once more made sail for the coast of Africa. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +LOOK OUT FOR SLAVERS IN A BOAT--WEARY OF WAITING--A SAIL IN SIGHT-- +CAPTURE HER--ATTACKED BY A LARGER SLAVER--DESPERATE FIGHT--BEAT HER OFF. + +We had been some weeks on the coast without having taken a prize, +although we had chased several suspicious-looking craft, which had +contrived to get away from us. At Sierra Leone we had shipped a dozen +Kroomen, to get wood and water for the ship, a work which Europeans in +that climate are unable to perform without great risk. At length +Captain Idle began to grow impatient. One day he sent for Waller, who +had been on the coast before with him, and was a very clever, active +fellow. + +"Waller," said he, "I want you to go away in the pinnace, and while some +of these slaving gentlemen are running away from us, perhaps you may be +able to render a good account of them. You will require a companion. +Will you like to take D'Arcy with you?" + +Waller expressed his readiness to go, and to have my society; and so it +was settled. Among his other accomplishments, he was a first-rate shot +with a rifle, and it was reported, when he was before on the coast, that +he used to pick off the men at the helm, and any of the crew who went +aloft or appeared above the bulwarks, and had thus caused the capture of +several slavers. I was to see this talent exerted. Jack Stretcher, who +was a capital companion, went with us as coxswain. We were all dressed +in thick flannel shirts, and had blankets in which to wrap ourselves at +night. We had water and provisions for ten days, and a small stove, +with which to warm up our cocoa and tea, and to make a stew or a broil +on occasion. I do not remember that we had any other luxuries. Towards +the end of the afternoon watch we shoved off from the brig's side, +having wished our shipmates "Good-bye!" with a sort of feeling that we +might not meet again. While the _Opossum_ stood away on a bowline to +the northward, we shaped a course for the mouth of the Gaboon river. We +arrived at our cruising ground before daybreak. Waller then ordering +the men to lay in their oars, which had hitherto been kept going, and +lowering the sail, told them to wrap themselves in their blankets, and +to lie down under the thwarts. I kept watch while he also slept. The +night was bright and beautiful, and the sea, smooth as a mirror, +reflected the glittering stars which shone forth from the dark blue +heavens, while our boat lay floating idly on its slumbering bosom. So +deep was the silence which reigned around, that the breathing of the +sleepers sounded strangely loud, and I fancied that I could hear +vessels, even though out of sight, passing by, or fish rising to the +surface to breathe, or cleaving the water with their fins. At other +times my imagination made me fancy that I could hear beings of another +world calling to each other as they flew through the air or floated on +the ocean; and I almost expected to see their shadowy forms glide by me. +About an hour before dawn, Waller got up and told me to take some rest. +I was not sorry to lie down, albeit my rest was far from refreshing. I +soon began to dream, and dreamed that I was a plum-pudding, and that +Betty, the cook at Daisy Cottage, had fastened me up in a flannel +pudding-bag, and put me into a pot to boil. The water soon began to +simmer, and I to swell and swell away, till the string got tighter and +tighter round my throat, while a thick black smoke arose from some coals +which she had just put on. I was looking out of the pot, and meditating +on the proverb, "Out of the frying-pan into the fire," when, being +unable to stand it any longer, I jumped out of the pudding-bag, and +found myself rolling at the bottom of the boat. + +"Why, D'Arcy, I thought you were going to spring overboard," said +Waller. When I told him my dream, he laughed heartily, and agreed there +was ample cause for it. + +Our blankets were wet through and through, and a dense black fog hung +over us, through which it was impossible to discover the position of the +sun, which had some time been up, or of any object ten fathoms off; +while the sea was as smooth as a sheet of glass, and as dull-coloured as +lead. As I awoke I found my throat sore from the unwholesome moisture I +had inhaled. We had nothing, therefore, to do but cook and eat our +breakfast, and practise patience. There was little use exhausting the +men's strength by pulling, as we were as likely to pull from, as +towards, a vessel. Hour after hour thus passed away, till at length the +sun conquered the mist, and gradually drew it off from the face of the +deep, discovering a wide expanse of shining water, unbroken by a single +dot or speck which was likely to prove a sail; while to the eastward +arose a long dark line of mangrove-trees, at the mouth of the Gaboon +river. The land-breeze came off to us, smelling of the hot parched +earth; and we turned our eyes anxiously whence it blew, in the hope of +seeing some white sail dancing before it over the bar of the river; but +we were doomed to disappointment. The hot sun struck down on our heads, +and tanned and scorched our cheeks, and the upper works of the boat +cracked with the heat, till a beefsteak might have been broiled on the +gunwale. At last the land-wind died away; there was again a dead calm, +in which we roasted still faster, till the sea-breeze set in and +somewhat cooled our parched tongues. Now we looked out seaward, in the +hopes of finding some slaver, unsuspectingly standing in, either to ship +the whole or the portion of a cargo, having already, perhaps, taken some +on board at another part of the coast. Nothing is more trying to the +temper than to have to sit quiet and do nothing; yet such was our fate +from day to day, as we lay like a snake ready to spring on its prey. +The sun rose, and roasted us, and set, leaving us to be parboiled, and +rose again, without a sail appearing. We ate our breakfasts, and +dinners, and suppers, and smoked our pipes, and sat up, and went to +sleep again, in the same regular manner for several successive days. + +At length, one morning, a light breeze sprang up; and, as the fog was +blown off in dense wreaths, the topsails of a schooner were seen rising +above them. + +"Out oars, my men, and give way with a will!" exclaimed Waller, in an +animated voice. "We are not yet seen, and may get alongside before they +find us out." + +The men, in their delight at the prospect of having something to do, +would have cheered, but he silenced them. We hoped that she was a +slaver; but she might, after all, be only an honest Liverpool trader. +When first seen, she was little more than a mile off, to the south-west +of us, running in for the land with the wind, which was from the +northward abeam. + +"What do you think of her, Jack?" asked Waller, after Stretcher had been +eyeing her narrowly. + +"Why, sir, to my mind, those topsails have only been cut by Spanish +fingers; so I make pretty sure she's nothing else than a nigger +passage-vessel." + +This announcement made the men give way still more heartily, for, though +the wind was fair, we did not make sail, as we should thereby have been +more quickly seen. Away we pulled, the water bubbling and hissing under +our bows as we cut through it. When we got within a quarter of a mile +of the chase, she saw us, we judged, by hearing a musket fired and +seeing a bullet strike the water near us. + +"That proves he has got no guns on board. Give way, my lads!" shouted +Waller. + +The men cheered, and bent to their oars with greater vigour. We then +hoisted the British ensign, and fired a musket to make the fellow +heave-to; but, taking no notice of the signal, he held on his course. +The wind continued so light, however, that we were overhauling him fast; +but there were signs, both on the sky and water, that it might again get +up, and afford him a better chance of escaping. At all events, he was +evidently not inclined to give in. + +"I must teach the fellow that the British flag is not to be trifled +with," said Waller, taking up his rifle. "I have no compassion on these +slaving villains." + +Scarcely had he spoken, when a man, whom we both took to be the captain, +jumped into the netting abaft the main-rigging, and made some very +significant gestures to us to be off; and directly afterwards, seeing +that we continued our course, several of his crew let fly their muskets +at us. + +"You've brought it on your own head," exclaimed Waller, loading his +rifle. He fired. The next moment we saw the man fall back upon his +deck. There was then a great deal of shouting on board the schooner; +her helm was put up, and, the breeze freshening, she began to pay off +before the wind. She had not got round, though, before we were under +her quarter. + +"Hook on to her main-chains, my lad,--hook on fast!" cried Waller. + +Unfortunately the bowman missed his aim; and the schooner, falling off, +brought the stern of our boat in contact with her counter. Without a +moment's thought, Waller had sprung over her low bulwarks, followed by +Stretcher and me. In an instant we were attacked by the whole of the +slaver's crew, who, with loud shouts and ferocious gestures, rushed aft, +fully hoping, as they saw that the pinnace had dropped astern, to make +us an easy prey. + +The mainsheet of the schooner had been eased off, the foreyards had been +squared, and, with the now strengthening breeze, the schooner was +running fast through the water. Waller took one glance over his +shoulder, and that showed him that there was scarcely a chance of the +boat overtaking us. Our fate was sealed: no mercy could we expect from +the slaver's crew. One hope only remained,--Waller had thought of it. + +"Knock down the man at the helm, and jam the tiller down hard!" he sung +out to Stretcher. "We will keep the other fellows at bay in the +meantime." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Jack, as coolly as if he had been merely ordered +to give a pull at the main-brace. + +There was a cry, and the next moment the body of the helmsman dropped on +the deck. Jack had literally cut his head off with a sweep of his +cutlass. The sight had the effect of making the Spaniards hang back for +a moment, when Jack, putting the helm hard down, made the sails all +shiver, and finally got her fore-topsail aback. Seeing what had +occurred, the crew of the pinnace cheered, and, giving way, were soon +clambering over the counter, while we made a dash at the Spaniards, few +of whom attempted to oppose us even for a moment; most of them, indeed, +throwing away their arms, made their escape to the forecastle. The rest +followed their example; and in two minutes the schooner _Zerlina_, with +a hundred and fifty slaves on board, was ours. Besides the captain, and +the other man who was killed, there were twenty stout fellows, two or +three only being out of fighting order with their wounds. We had +difficulty enough to keep the rest quiet. They were, in truth, very +sulky, and inclined to revolt, when they had recovered from their +fright, and saw to how few they had succumbed. Curses, loud and many, +escaped their lips, and showed that, if they had an opportunity, they +would murder us, and retake their vessel, without scruple. We therefore +kept four of our men as a watch over them, with loaded muskets, with +orders to shoot the first who showed signs of proving mutinous. Having +made these arrangements, we turned our attention to the living cargo +crowded between her decks. It was a sickening sight, as we got the +hatches off and looked down upon the mass of black faces which, with +their white eyeballs rolling and mouths agape, gazed up at us, wondering +what was next to happen. There sat a hundred and fifty human beings +chained down to iron bars running across the deck--men and women of all +ages, their chins resting on their knees, without space to stretch out +their limbs, or to alter their position in any way; a rag round their +loins being their only covering. They were in good health, not having +been out many days; and there was a good supply of water and farina on +board. We did our best to make them understand that we were friends, +and would set them on shore again, and make them free, as soon as we +could. + +During our examination of the schooner, we had discovered a number of +spare handcuffs. Jack Stretcher brought them from below, and threw them +on the deck, with a significant look at the Spaniards, who, in defiance +of orders, had made several attempts to come out on deck. + +"I think if we was to clap 'em on to them Spanish lubbers, it wouldn't +be amiss, sir," said he to me, holding up a pair before me. + +I mentioned the suggestion to Waller, who at length agreed that it would +be safe to follow it, taking one-half at a time, while the rest remained +in their berth under the forecastle. Jack received the necessary +orders. + +"Ay, ay, sir," he answered. "Senhor Dons, understando, move forewardo +instanto, or I'll drive the pointo of my cutlasho into vostros +sternosos." + +The prisoners understood his actions more than his words, for he fully +suited the one to the other, and they showed no inclination to dispute +them, he having evidently made them respect him, from his strength, and +the daring he had displayed on boarding. Some we confined forward--some +in the after-cabin; and most fortunate it was that we did so. + +It was some time before all our arrangements were made. About an hour +before dark we tacked, to stand inshore again, Waller intending, should +we not fall in with the brig, to shape a course for Sierra Leone. We +tacked again about midnight; but when daylight came, not a sign was +there of the _Opossum_; and, accordingly, towards the above-mentioned +place we steered. We had the pinnace in tow; but we had taken the gun +out of her, and placed it amidships on the deck of the schooner. +Overcome with fatigue, Waller had thrown himself down aft, wrapped up in +his blanket, while I stood near him, with my eyes winking, and trying in +vain to be wide awake, when I was startled by the cry of "A sail on the +weather-bow!" + +"Which way is she standing?" asked Waller, springing to his feet. + +"Right down for us," answered Jack, who had gone aloft. "I was hoping +she might be the brig, at first; but she's a large square-topsail +schooner, and, by the cut of her canvas, she looks like a Spanish or a +Portuguese slaver." + +As the stranger drew near, no doubt as to what she was remained on our +minds. Waller took his measures accordingly, with perfect coolness. +Seeing that the prisoners were thoroughly secured, we got ready all our +arms, and supplied ourselves with ammunition. The gun amidships was +also loaded to the muzzle, and covered with a tarpaulin. With the calm +courage which British seamen on all occasion display, our men waited the +approach of the stranger. As she drew near, we made out that she had +three guns on each side, and that her decks were crowded with men. +Notwithstanding this overpowering disparity of force, our men looked at +her in no way daunted; and I felt sure that what men could do they would +for our defence. Waller, however, judged that it would be as well to +animate their courage with a few words. + +"Now, my men," said he, "we are but ten of us on board this craft, but +we are true and honest; and though there are probably fifty or sixty +Spaniards in yonder schooner, they are a set of slaving scoundrels, who +cannot stand up a moment before British seamen. They will not attempt +to hull us with their shot, because they will wish to get back the +schooner uninjured; so they will try to take us by boarding. I hope +they may, that we may show them that they have caught a Tartar. All we +have to do is to blaze away with our muskets till we can give them a +taste of our cutlasses. Our big gun we'll keep for a last dose; so now, +my boys, trust in a righteous cause, and huzza for Old England and +victory." + +Our men cheered long and lustily, and the sound must have reached the +ears of the Spaniards, and at once showed them, had they before doubted +it, that the schooner was a prize to a British cruiser. They forthwith +began to blaze away with their guns; but, as we had expected, they fired +high, in the hope of cutting away some of our rigging, that they might +the more easily lay us aboard. We replied with our musketry as soon as +they got within range, and Waller picked off several of their people +with his rifle, so that they probably fancied we had some good marksmen +concealed under our bulwarks. When they drew nearer, however, they +could not have failed to discover the smallness of our numbers. As they +sailed faster than we did, all we could do to prevent their raking us, +which more than once they attempted to do, was to keep away when they +endeavoured to cross our bows, and to luff up again when they threatened +to pass under our stern. Seeing, therefore, that the quickest way of +deciding the engagement was to run us on board, they bore right down +upon us; and, unable to avoid them, the fluke of our anchor became +hooked on to their fore-rigging. At the same instant full thirty +swarthy figures were seen crowding into the Spaniard's riggings and +nettings, brandishing their swords, with fierce cries of vengeance, +thinking to terrify us into surrendering. + +"Now, my lads! give them the dose I spoke of," shouted Waller. + +The enemy leaped down on our deck, and were already in possession of the +forecastle. The tarpaulin was cast off from the gun, and the muzzle, +loaded as it was with missiles of all sorts, was turned towards them, +and fired right in among them where they mustered the thickest. +Scarcely a man escaped being hit; five were killed outright; and so +astonished were the rest, that, thinking probably that the vessel +herself was blowing up, they tumbled, scrambled, and clambered back into +their own schooner in the greatest confusion. + +"On! my boys, on!" shouted Waller; and, making a dash at the fellows, we +much expedited their movements. In an instant not an enemy was left +alive on our decks. + +"Up with the helm!" sung out Waller; and at the same time Jack and +another man cutting away at the fore-rigging of the enemy, we sheered +clear of him; while he, backing his fore-topsail, dropped under our +stern without firing a shot. We therefore hauled our wind, and kept on +our course, and soon afterwards he filled his sails, and stood away to +the southward. He had enjoyed a sufficient taste of our quality. Not +one of us was hurt, while a quarter of his people must have been killed +or wounded. + +Our men gave a loud huzza as they found themselves free. To me it +seemed like a wild dream. A few minutes before we were engaged in a +desperate struggle for life; and now, uninjured, we were sailing gaily +over the calm water, victors in the strife. Had it not been for the +dead bodies of our foes remaining on the deck, we could scarcely have +believed our senses. This action is considered one of the most gallant +that has occurred on the coast. + +The next day, to our great satisfaction, the _Opossum_ hove in sight. +Captain Idle, having taken our prisoners out of us, ordered us to +proceed forthwith with the negroes to Sierra Leone for adjudication. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +BLOWN OFF THE COAST--WALLER'S KINDNESS TO THE NEGROES--RUN SHORT OF +PROVISIONS AND WATER--VESSEL LEAKING--AMERICAN HARD-HEARTEDNESS-- +WALLER'S NOBLE RESOLVE--BEACH BAHIA--AUDACIOUS TRICK OF BRAZILIAN +SLAVE-DEALERS. + +We had parted from the _Opossum_ about a couple of days, when we +observed signs of one of those terrific easterly gales which sometimes +blow off the coast of Africa. Waller, from his previous experience, +knew them, and remarked them in time, so that we were able to get all +snug to meet the wind when it came. On a sudden the hitherto calm +leaden water was covered with a foam-drift, like the fine sand swept +across the stony desert. The only sail we had set was a close-reefed +topsail and storm-jib; the helm was put up, and away she flew before the +gale, swift as the albatross on its snowy wing. Away, away we sped, and +soon, leaving the African coast far astern, were ploughing the water of +the South Atlantic. The _Zerlina_, though a beautiful model, as are +most of her class, was flimsily built, and far from a good sea-boat, +speed only having been cared for in her construction. As we got away +from the land, we met a good deal of sea, in which she laboured much; +and Ned Awlhole, one of the carpenter's mates, who was acting carpenter, +came one afternoon with a very long face into the cabin, where Waller +and I were sitting at dinner, to inform us that she was making far more +water than was satisfactory. + +"Get the pumps rigged, then, and we must try and keep her clear till we +can manage to beat back to Sierra Leone," said Waller, as coolly as if +it were a matter of slight importance. + +"It is rather a serious thing this, is it not?" I observed. "I wonder +you make so light of it." + +"Very serious; and on that account it behoves us, as officers, to keep +up our own spirits, and to cheer up the men," he replied. "I am sorry +to say also, that I very much fear we shall fall short of water before +we get into port, if this wind continues; and, with all these poor +blacks on board, that will indeed be a very serious thing. Good +seamanship may enable us to keep, the ship afloat, but God only can +provide us with water." + +"What must we do, then?" I asked. + +"We must place all hands on short allowance, and we may fall in with +some vessel which may supply us; or showers may come, and we may collect +enough for our more pressing wants," he replied. "We must keep the poor +negroes on deck as much as possible--with fresh air they may exist with +less water." + +Waller had speedily won the confidence and affection of the negroes, by +his kindness and considerate conduct. At first, when we had taken +possession of the vessel, they looked upon us as enemies, for the +Spaniards had told them that we should cook and eat them; but Waller, +who could speak a few words of their language, soon tranquillised their +fears on that account. He then got upon deck the sick, and those whose +limbs were chafed or bruised, and gave them medicines, and dressed their +wounds with his own hands. He told them that they should be set free to +go where they wished, and should, if possible, be enabled to return to +their own country. Few, however, had any hope of being enabled to do +the latter, for they had mostly all been taken in war, or kidnapped from +districts away from the coast, the wars being undertaken by the chiefs +nearer the sea for the express purpose of making prisoners to sell into +slavery. Two or three of those who had been kidnapped had already been +at Sierra Leone, or other British settlements, and as they understood a +good deal of English, we were able to communicate pretty freely with +them. We found them, poor children of Ham, very intelligent fellows, +and as capable of receiving instruction as the people of any other race +I have ever met. Waller's good example was followed by the crew, and at +last each man vied in showing kindness to the poor wretches, so that +they learned to look on us truly as their friends and protectors. We +did but our duty. They were our fellow-creatures, and we were soon to +be fellows in suffering. At first I own it was very trying, and more +than once, as I was dressing their wounds, I turned sick; but I +recollected that they were fellow-beings, with human feelings, and souls +to be saved, like ours, and I returned to my duty with renewed strength +to perform it. At length we found that we could, with perfect safety, +allow all the blacks to come on deck as they liked. Whenever Waller +appeared, they shouted after him--"How do, Masser Waller? Bless 'um, +Masser Waller!" And some would come and kneel down, and put his hand on +their heads, with a look of affection which was unmistakeable. + +"I believe, sir, it's all very right with these poor fellows, and +there's no harm in them," said Jack Stretcher to me one day. "But, to +my mind, it doesn't do to trust these strange niggers too much. They +sometimes, I've heard, rises and cuts the throats of their friends." + +I agreed with Jack that it was necessary, in most cases, to be cautious; +but in the present instance it was evident, as things turned out, that +it was owing to Waller's judicious treatment of the negroes that all our +lives were preserved. + +All this time the wind was blowing so strongly from the eastward, that +we found it impossible to beat up against it, so we had nothing else to +do but to continue running before it. Every day matters were getting +more and more serious; our own provisions were growing shorter. Of +anything like luxuries we had none--salt beef and pork, hard biscuit and +rice, and a little tea and sugar, with a cask of rum--none of the best +either, by-the-bye. Waller called me into the cabin for a consultation. + +"To get back to the coast is now impossible," he remarked. "If this +wind holds, and we can keep the craft afloat, our best chance is to try +and make the coast of Brazil. The port of Bahia is the nearest, and I +propose steering for that place." + +I agreed with him; but we neither of us had any very strong hopes of +being really able to make it in time to save our own lives and those of +the negroes. On carefully examining our stock of provisions, we found +that only by the most economical expenditure of them, and with the most +favourable weather, should we be able to reach our destination in time. +A foul wind, or a day or two of calm, would ruin us; and a gale would in +all probability send us to the bottom. The blacks, of their own accord, +took their spell at the pumps, and finally relieved our men entirely of +the labour. Had they been compelled to continue pumping, it would, I am +certain, have worn them out. We most dreaded a want of water. Not a +cloud appeared from which we might draw it forth, and scarcely could we +expect a shower. Though constantly on the look-out, not a vessel could +we see, from whence we might get provisions. At length, one morning, as +Jack Stretcher had gone aloft-- + +"A sail on the weather-bow!" he sung out, in a cheery tone, which gave +hope to all our hearts. "She's standing across our course, so we can +speak her without altering it." + +In about two hours we were up to her. She was a good sized brig, and +the ensign, with the stars and stripes, which flew out at her peak, +showed that she hailed from the United States. We had a signal of +distress flying, in addition to the British ensign. + +"Hillo! what are you?" sung out a man in her main-rigging. + +"A prize to His Britannic Majesty's brig of war _Opossum_," answered +Waller. "What are you?" + +"The _Go-along_, from Baltimore, bound for Rio," answered a person on +board the brig, through a speaking-trumpet. + +"Heave-to, if you please, sir, and I will pay you a visit--we are in +great distress," said Waller. + +"Ay, ay, sir," was the reply from the brig, as she was speedily brought +up on a wind and hove-to. + +So soon as we could get a boat in the water, leaving Jack in charge, +Waller and I went on board the brig. The master, a tall, thin, sallow +man, with a pointed beard, no whiskers, and a hooked nose, with a huge +cigar in his mouth, a straw hat on his head, loose nankeen trousers, and +a gingham swallow-tailed coat, received us at the gangway. + +"Walk into the cabin, gentlemen, and let's liquor a bit," said he, as we +stepped on board, showing us the way before we had time to reply. + +The cabin, to our eyes, looked luxuriously furnished, and not unwelcome +was the repast of cold beef and ham and fine biscuits which the steward +placed speedily before us, not forgetting a spirit-stand with four tall +bottles. We did ample justice to the good things placed before us. + +"And now, what's your pleasure, Mr Lieutenant?" laid the master of the +brig. + +Waller explained exactly what had occurred. "And now," he continued, +"we are in a sinking state; we have neither provisions nor water to last +us till we can reach a port; and the destruction of all these poor +people is sealed if you do not help us." + +"What! take all them dirty niggers aboard my craft?" exclaimed the +skipper, with a look of ineffable disgust. "You Britishers have rum +notions, I calculate." + +"No, pardon me," said Waller. "I only ask you to preserve from almost +certain destruction a number of our fellow-creatures; and any +remuneration which you may require will certainly be paid you." + +"What! do you call them black niggers fellow-creatures, master? That's +a rum joke, I guess," exclaimed the skipper. "I should be happy to be +of service to you, but you are so unreasonable,--that you are." + +"Scarcely unreasonable, sir," urged Waller, mildly. "Can you not name a +sum for which you could land all the people I have on board at Bahia, or +the nearest port we can make." + +"No, sir; I guess no sum would pay me to defile my vessel in the way you +propose," said the Yankee. "I'll take you and your own crew with +pleasure; but the niggers are out of the question." + +"What! would you leave the poor wretches to perish in the most horrible +way, with thirst and starvation?" exclaimed Waller, shuddering at the +thought. + +"They are niggers," said the Yankee, coolly puffing forth a cloud of +smoke, and leaning back in his chair with a self-satisfied look. + +"Hear me, sir!" exclaimed Waller, rising, a flush mantling on his brow. +"I have six thousand pounds of my own in this world. That sum I will +make over to you, by every legal means you can devise, if you will take +these poor people on board your brig, and land them in a place of +safety. This shall be over and above what my Government may award you. +I entreat you, as you hope for mercy here and hereafter, to do as I +ask." + +"Not if you were to go down on your knees and pray till to-morrow +morning," replied the Yankee, slowly. "Niggers are niggers, and they +can't be otherwise. If you and your people like to come aboard, you are +welcome. You've got my answer, Sir." + +"Then, sir," exclaimed Waller, rising from his seat, "I'll trust to the +negroes' God, to mine, and to yours, for that help which you deny them. +May you never be in the same strait and seek in vain for help. Good +day, sir." + +The Yankee looked at us with an expression more of surprise than anger +as we left the brig's deck. + +"Stay! you are not a bad chap, I guess. Here, just take these things; +you are welcome to them." + +Saying this he ordered a cask of water, some beef and biscuits, and a +few little luxuries, to be put into the boat. We were not in a position +to decline the gift; and, to do the Yankee full justice, he would +receive no remuneration. We thanked him sincerely; and assured him that +we regretted deeply our opinions on the nature of negroes did not +coincide; at which he shrugged his shoulders, and we pulled back to the +schooner. + +We again made sail for the westward. + +When I told Jack Stretcher what had occurred, he slapped his hand on his +thigh, and exclaimed: + +"Mr Waller was right, sir, that he was, not to think of deserting the +poor niggers; and there isn't a man of us but would gladly stick by him +to the last." + +I told Waller what Jack had said, and he replied that he was sure all +our people would have refused to have deserted the poor blacks, even if +he had proposed so cruel a proceeding to them. We husbanded to the +utmost the provisions we had brought from the brig; though, divided +among all the people, there was scarcely more than enough to sustain +life for a day. Still, not a seaman grumbled. Far from so doing, he +willingly shared his own scanty allowance with any negro who appeared +more particularly to require sustenance. It was amusing to see the +weather-beaten, thick-bearded men carrying about the little black +children, whose mothers were too weak to bring them on deck. + +Though these Africans had hitherto been taught, with good reason, to +look upon white men as incarnations of devils, they began to consider +our gallant fellows as something approaching to angels; and, like +savages in general, always in extremes, they were ready now to worship +us. Providentially the easterly wind continued, and the sea remained +calm, so that we made very good way, and were able to keep the leak +under. It was with a sense of deep gratitude that we at length made the +land, when we had not a drop of water remaining, and with scarcely food +enough to sustain life for another day. We fondly believed that all our +troubles were over. The negroes shouted, and clapped their hands, and +laughed with joy: some of them fancied, I believe, that they had got +back to Africa. The next morning we dropped our anchor in the harbour +of Bahia. Waller proposed to get the schooner repaired, to take in a +supply of provisions, and to return to Sierra Leone, intending, if +necessary, to bear all the expenses himself. Now I am going to relate a +circumstance which may seem very strange, but is, nevertheless, +perfectly true. As soon as we brought up, Waller went on shore, +intending to report all that had occurred to the British Consul, and to +get his assistance in carrying out his intentions. I was in the +meantime left in charge on board. Waller had been gone a couple of +hours, and I was looking anxiously for his return, hoping that he would +bring some provisions and water, when, as I was walking the deck, I +observed three boats pulling off towards us. As they came near, I saw +that one of them contained several men in uniform. They stepped on +board without ceremony; and one of them presented a paper, in +Portuguese, which looked like an official document, though, of course, I +could not make it out. I shook my head to signify this, when he +commenced explaining in broken English that he and his party were sent +by the Governor to convey the negroes on shore, that the vessel might be +the more speedily hove-down to be repaired. I was somewhat surprised +that Waller had not first returned; but it never occurred to me to +suspect a fraud in the matter. + +While the Portuguese were speaking, three more boats came alongside, and +in a very few minutes all the blacks were transferred from the schooner +into them. Without an instant's delay, the boats left the schooner's +sides; but instead of making towards the town, they pulled away to a +spot some distance from it, where the negroes were landed, and I lost +sight of them. About an hour after this, Waller returned. + +"I have settled with the Consul, who will have a large store, where our +poor blackies can be housed comfortably while the schooner is repaired; +but he says we must keep a strict watch over them, for the people here +are such determined slave-dealers, that they will kidnap them before our +eyes." + +My heart sunk as I heard these words, and I felt like a culprit. + +"Why," I exclaimed, "the Governor has sent and had them all conveyed on +shore." + +Waller could scarcely believe his senses when he found all the negroes +gone. He hurried back to the Consul, who went with him to the Governor. +The Governor knew nothing whatever of the matter, nor did any of the +officials of the town. The Consul and some of the British in the place +made every inquiry in their power, but no information whatever could +they obtain. There could, however, be no doubt that some slave-dealers +had carried out the nefarious plot, while, by the employment of bribes, +they easily contrived to escape detection. Waller felt the matter very +severely. To have the poor negroes, in whom he took so great an +interest, carried into slavery, after all the toil and danger he had +gone through, was almost heartbreaking. For long afterwards he could +scarcely bear to speak on the subject. + +It was not without difficulty that we got the schooner repaired; but at +last she was ready for sea, and without further delay we made sail for +Sierra Leone. We had a very fine run across. Within a day's sail of +the coast, we fell in with a slaver, which, supposing us to be of the +same kidney as herself, allowed us to ran alongside; so that, without +the slightest opposition, we took possession of her. Although she had +no slaves on board, she was in every respect fitted to carry them. She +had but a small crew, it being evidently intended to take more men on +board when the slaves were shipped. Waller thought it best to remove +them into the _Zerlina_, while he sent me and three hands, with Jack +Stretcher as my first-lieutenant, to navigate the prize into port. As +may be supposed, I felt very proud of my new command, and pictured to +myself the satisfaction I should have in reporting my arrival at Sierra +Leone. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +MY NEW COMMAND--A HEAVY SQUALL AND CAPSIZE--SAVED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE +SCHOONER--TAKEN OFF BY A SLAVER--CHASED BY THE OPOSSUM--THE SPANIARD'S +THREAT--A HURRICANE--SHIPWRECK--MY FRIENDS THE MARLOWS--CONCLUSION. + +There is a common saying that "there's many a slip between the cup and +the lip." I experienced the truth of it on the present occasion. +Scarcely had I got on board my new command, when one of the thick fogs I +have before described came on. The _Zerlina_ was leading, and being by +far the faster vessel of the two, was already a mile ahead of us. +However, I was pressing on all sail to keep up with her, while Waller +shortened sail to enable me to effect this object. The fog grew thicker +and thicker, and at last night came on, and we lost sight of our +consort. The fog lasted two days. When at length it partially cleared, +we saw a sail hull down to the southward; but not another speck was +visible in the whole circle of the horizon. + +"We must pack on her, and try and overtake Mr Waller," said I to Jack +Stretcher. "He will heave-to for us, probably, when he finds we are so +far astern." + +Pack on her we did, in truth. If Jack had a fault as a seaman, it was a +too great fondness for carrying on to the last. We neither of us took +warning from our misfortune in the _Opossum_. The faster the little +schooner ran through the water, the greater was our satisfaction. + +"If we continue to make as good way as we do at present, we shall soon +overtake the _Zerlina_," said I to Jack. + +"She's got a clean pair of heels of her own, I'll allow; but we have +taught our little craft to go along too," he answered, looking up with +no small amount of pride at our well-set canvas. + +A true sailor has a pride in the good behaviour of any craft he happens +to be on board. Thus a couple of hours passed, and we certainly were +gaining on our consort. I own that I had not been keeping that look-out +to mark any change in the weather which I ought to have done. In a +tropical climate, especially, a seaman cannot be too careful--the +changes are so very sudden. I had gone below to dinner, that meal +consisting of some cold salt beef and hard biscuit, washed down with +rum-and-water drunk out of a tin cup. I had been off the deck rather +more than half an hour, and was just putting my head up the +companion-hatch, when I heard Jack Stretcher sing out, "Let go the +fore-sheet!--down with the helm!--down with the--" + +Before he could finish the sentence, there came the rushing sound of a +heavy squall. Down bent the schooner to its fury--over, over she went. +To spring on deck and to clamber up to the weather-bulwarks was the work +of a moment. Still the vessel rose not: the helm had lost its power; +the sheets remained fast; her sails reached the water. + +"She's gone!--she's gone!" shouted my crew. + +I still had a faint hope she might right herself again; but when she +made the attempt, the furious wind beat her back, the sea washed over +her sails, and in another moment she turned completely over. I can +scarcely describe my sensations. I had no time, I fancy, to experience +any; at all events, I do not remember what they were. I never lost +hope; for, bad as things were, I did not expect to be drowned. In the +meantime I had clambered to the outside of the bulwarks. + +"Give me your hand here, sir!" I heard Jack Stretcher sing out, and +looking up, I saw that he was hanging on to the main-chains. With his +assistance, as the vessel went over, I managed to climb up on her keel, +and there we together sat for the moment in comparative security. Like +a true sailor, he had caught hold of a rope, and brought the end up with +him. Our first thought was to look out for our shipmates. One had, +unhappily, been below; the other two had been washed off the deck. They +were, however, supporting themselves in the water, at no great distance +from the vessel. When they saw us they shouted to us to help them, for +neither of them were good swimmers. + +"Keep up, my lads!" cried Jack, in return. "Get a little nearer, and +I'll lend you a hand." + +Meantime he was hauling in on the rope, and coiling it up ready to heave +to them. + +Just then I saw something dark moving under the water close astern of +the vessel. Jack saw it also, as I guessed by the glance of his eye. + +"What's that!" I asked, a thrilling sensation of horror creeping over +me, for I knew too well. + +"One of those sea-devils--a shark, sir," he answered, in a low tone. +Then he shouted out, "Strike away, my lads!--strike away! you'll soon be +within reach. Never say die! Strike away! Hurra!" + +Inspirited by these words of encouragement, one of the men at length got +within reach of the rope. Jack hove it to him. He made a spring and +grasped the end, and without difficulty we hauled him up, he little +suspecting the terrific danger he had for the present escaped. The +strength of the other poor fellow was evidently fast failing. The +dreaded monster of the deep was not far from him. Still, happily, he +did not know of its presence, and the exertions he made kept it at a +distance. + +"I'm afraid poor Sandy will never reach us, sir," said Jack, looking at +him compassionately. "Just do you, sir, and Jim Dore, lay hold of the +end of the rope, and I'll try and carry it out to him. There isn't much +fear of Jack Shark as long as one keeps moving; and I see a bit of a +stick down there, which I'll catch hold of, and give him such a rap on +the nose if he attempts to meddle with me, that he'll remember it for +many a day to come." + +He said this as he was coiling up the rope again. I could not dissuade +him from his gallant resolve, and yet so dreadful seemed the risk of his +being destroyed by the shark, that I almost wished he had not thought of +it. + +Jim and I caught hold of the other end of the rope, and seizing it +without another word, he plunged into the sea, encouraging Sandy to +perseverance with his loud shouts. He first grasped the piece of wood +he had seen, and with it in his hand he swam towards Sandy, every now +and then stopping to strike the water vehemently with it. Although the +foam was flying over the tops of the waves all the time, and the sea was +washing up the sides and almost sweeping as off from where we sat, under +the lee of the vessel it was comparatively calm. Anxiously indeed did I +watch my brave shipmate's proceeding. Every moment I expected to see +the shark make a dash at him, but his splashings and kickings kept the +monster at bay. He was almost up to poor McTavish, when the latter +threw up his arms and disappeared from our sight. Jack was after him, +though; and, diving down, in another instant appeared holding him by the +hair. Throwing the bight of the rope under his arms, he sang out to us +to haul away on it. We did so, while he supported the man with one +hand, and kept slashing the water with the stick which he held in the +other. + +Meantime I saw the fin of the shark as the monster kept swimming about +in his neighbourhood, eager evidently to make a dash at him, yet afraid +of approaching. At length we got the almost drowned man up to the side +of the vessel, and were hauling him up, Jack still being in the water, +when some feeling, I scarcely know what, prompted me to look in the +direction where I had just before seen the shark. The monster was no +longer there. I instantly cried out to Jack. The words were scarcely +out of my mouth, when he made a spring and scrambled out of the water by +the main-chain-plates. Then, turning round, he dealt a tremendous blow +at the tail of the shark, who had closely followed him. + +"I'll teach you to play such a sneaking trick as that, my boy!" he +shouted, as the greedy fish swam off discomfited. + +I breathed more freely when brave Jack was once more seated alongside of +me on the keel of the vessel Sandy McTavish, whose life he had thus so +gallantly preserved, now came to his senses, and in a short time was +sufficiently recovered to take care of himself. Our position, however, +was far from enviable. Here were we, four human beings, seated on the +keel of a vessel which might any moment go down, with neither land nor a +sail in sight. For some time, after all our exertions, we sat silent, +collecting our thoughts. + +"Well, Jack," said I, "what are we to do?" + +"Wait patiently, till God sends us help, sir," he replied. "We can't +help ourselves. It's fortunate we've just had our dinners. We shall +hold out the longer." + +We scarcely exchanged another word for some hours, but kept wistfully +glancing our eyes round the horizon, in the hopes of a sail appearing. +Shortly before darkness came on, and the hour of ten passed by, I began +to feel rather hungry. At the same time I happened to put my hand into +my pocket, and there I found the greater part of a ship's biscuit, +which, as I was quitting the cabin, I had mechanically thrust into it. +I almost shouted for joy as I found the prize--though it was not much to +be divided among four men. The discovery made the rest fumble in their +pockets. McTavish had a tobacco-box, which he had only just filled, and +Jack found a huge lump of grease, which, though not very savoury, was +not to be despised. How it had come there he could not recollect. +These treasures, however, we determined not to begin to consume till the +following morning, for that night we had no hopes of being taken off the +wreck. The squall had rapidly passed off, and the ocean was now as calm +as before. The sky was clear, and the sun went down in a blaze of +glory, shedding a bright ruddy hue over the wide expanse which +surrounded us. Night came on, and the stars burst forth from the blue +vault of heaven, and cast their reflection on the smooth, mirror-like +water, as we sat on, hour after hour, afraid of going to sleep, lest we +should slip from our hold, yet longing for repose. At last it occurred +to me to have the rope passed from one to the other, and secured round +our waists, so that if one fell asleep and began to slip, the rest might +support him. Thus we got through the longest night I had ever then +passed. + +The grey dawn came at length, and as the light rapidly increased, we +looked anxiously around the horizon, but nothing but the smooth glassy +sea met our sight. Oh, then, well do I remember it! There came over me +a deep sense of our utter helplessness, and of the palpable necessity of +dependence on a higher power. Of what use was our strength? Of what +use was our seamanship? Our strength without food would quickly leave +us; while all we could do was to sit still. I spoke my thoughts to my +companions. They listened attentively, and we all knelt down together +on our unstable support, and prayed to God for preservation from our +great peril. After this act we felt refreshed and encouraged; and I +observed that the voices of my companions assumed a more cheerful tone +than before. Our trials, however, were but commencing. As the sun rose +in the sky, his beams struck down on our undefended heads and scorched +us dreadfully, till Jack bethought him of fastening his handkerchief +over the top of his, and we followed his example. Instead of breakfast, +we each of us took a quid from Sandy's box, and that had the effect of +staying our appetites for some hours. This, however, did not satisfy +our stomachs entirely, and a short time after noon we could no longer +resist attacking our scanty store of provisions. My biscuit I broke in +two, and returning one-half to my pocket, I divided the other into four +parts, Jack treating his lump of grease in the same way. We ate it with +a relish I can scarcely describe. It was the only food we consumed for +the whole of the day. Again the sun went down without a sail having +appeared. That night passed away as had the former one, though each of +us got rather more sleep. The next morning there was the same dull +calm. Noon came, and with a heavy heart I served out the remainder of +our provisions, but none of us seemed to care much for food. Water was +what we craved for. A thimbleful to moisten our tongues would have been +worth its bulk in gold. A raging thirst was growing on us. I urged the +men to abstain from drinking salt water, for I well knew that if they +did, it would only increase their sufferings. Earnestly did I pray that +we might not have to endure another night on the wreck, for I thought +that we could never exist through it; but the night came, and we passed +it, how, I scarcely know, for, though not asleep, I was certainly not +fully awake, except to a sense of some overpowering misfortune. The day +came, a day which we must pass without food or water. Our sufferings +hitherto had not been great, but this morning they became very intense. +Hope, which had till now never deserted us, began to grow faint, and +alas! even trust in God's providence to wane. I tried to pray, but my +thoughts were confused. I could not for two consecutive minutes fix +them on the same subject, and I experienced practically the folly of +attempting to wait for a death-bed repentance, for sickness, or for such +a moment as the present, for reconciliation with God. I speak of my own +feelings, and I believe that they were not far different from those of +my men. Hour after hour we sat gazing stupidly at each other. The hot +sun rose and scorched us as before, while the bright glare his rays cast +on the smooth ocean almost blinded our eyes. Several times I tried to +rouse myself to talk to my men, and to encourage them; but I own that I +failed miserably in the attempt, and, from weakness, I was scarcely able +to refrain from giving way to a flood of tears. It was some time past +noon, when I saw Jack's countenance brighten up. + +"What is it?" I asked. + +He pointed eagerly to the southward. I turned round, and looked, and +there I saw in the horizon a long, thin, well-defined, dark blue line, +and in the centre of it a white speck. + +"A breeze! a breeze!" I cried. + +"Ay, and a sail, too," added Jack. "She is standing this way. Huzza! +my lads." + +Jim and Sandy cheered faintly. They were the first words they had +uttered for some hours. We now all found our tongues, a fillip had been +given to our spirits, and we thought scarcely of our hunger or thirst. +The dark blue line advanced, and grew wider and wider, till it spread +itself over the ocean; and the white speck grew higher and higher, till +the topsails of a vessel were seen rising out of the water. Oh! with +what intense anxiety did we watch her, fearing every moment to see her +alter her course, or pass by without noticing us. + +"Can she be the _Zerlina_?" said I to Jack. "I think when Mr Waller +found that we were not following him, he would have put back to look for +us." + +"No, sir; she has too wide a spread of canvas, to my mind, for the +_Zerlina_," answered Jack. "I'm doubtful what she is." + +"Maybe she's the _Opossum_ hersel'," remarked Sandy. "I ken she ought +to be found hereabouts." + +"No, no, my boy; that craft is a square-rigged schooner, and a big one +too," said Jack, positively. + +Less than an hour showed us he was right, and a long, low, black, +rakish-looking schooner, with a wide spread of canvas, everything set +alow and aloft, to catch the breeze, came sweeping past us. + +"She's a slaver," I exclaimed, with dismay. + +"Ay, and has as wicked a look as I ever wish to see," said Jack. + +He was right in his description, and as she glided by us, a villainous +set of ruffians of every shade of colour, of every variety of costume, +appeared looking at us over her bulwarks. Still, ruffians as they might +be, it appeared better to be taken off by them than to remain and perish +where we were. We waved to them to come to us, and Jack and Jim Dore +sung out, "_Misericordia_! _misericordia_!" + +They appeared, however, to take no notice, either of our signs or our +cries, and our hearts sank within us. Happy would it have been for us +had they left us where we were (so it seemed a short time afterwards). +However, directly they had passed us, their studding-sails were taken +in, the yards braced up, and in fine seamanlike style the schooner was +rounded-to, close to leeward of us. A boat was instantly lowered, and +pulled up alongside the wreck. Her crew did not improve in appearance +on a nearer inspection. As they made signs to us to get into the boat, +we slid off the bottom of the schooner, when they hauled us in, and +placed us in the stern-sheets. + +While they were pulling on board their own vessel I saw them eyeing my +uniform with suspicious glances, and they made remarks which I did not +understand. Our condition was sad enough to excite the compassion of +anything human. When we were lifted on deck we could scarcely stand, +and even Jack, with drooping head, had to support himself against the +bulwarks, and little would any of those who saw him have supposed the +gallant deeds of which his brawny arm was capable. Our lack-lustre eyes +and parched lips showed what we most needed, and at last some of the +crew brought us some water in a bowl, which speedily revived us, while +others came with a mixture of soup and beans. I never ate anything I +thought so delicious, in spite of its being redolent of garlic, and +containing no small quantity of grease. While we were being fed, the +boat was hoisted in, the schooner put before the wind, and the +studding-sails again set. She was a powerful vessel, and, from several +unmistakeable signs, I perceived that she was full of slaves. I had +done eating, and was beginning to look about me, when a little, dark, +one-eyed man, who by his dress I saw was an officer, came up to me, and +taking me by one of my uniform buttons, asked-- + +"What for this?" + +"It's the button of my coat," said I, in a simple tone. + +"I know. You officer, then?" asked my friend. "English ship?" + +"I have that honour," I replied. + +"What ship, then?" he inquired. + +I told him. + +"How came you, then, there?" he asked, pointing to the wreck, which we +were fast leaving astern. + +I told him the truth. + +"What say you, then, if we cut your throats, and heave you overboard?" +he asked; and as I looked at the twinkle of his one eye, and the +expression of his lips, I thought that he was capable of any act of +atrocity; but I determined to put a good face on the matter. + +"I do not see why you should murder us," I replied, calmly. "We neither +wish to harm you, nor can we; and as you have just preserved our lives, +it would be something like destroying your own work." + +"We will see about that," he remarked. "You might find us sometimes in +a humour when there would not be much doubt about the matter. Your men +are safe enough, as they will doubtless join us, and three stout hands +will be welcome. You may think yourself fortunate, if you ever set foot +ashore alive." + +I saw Jack, who was listening, put his tongue in his cheek, as much as +to say, "Do not reckon on my joining your villainous crew." I had +remarked that the captain of the slaver, for such I guessed the little +man to be, improved in his way of speaking English as he proceeded, and +I therefore warned Jack and the others to be careful what they said, +lest they should offend him. After this conversation we were left +alone, and sitting down on deck, I was very soon fast asleep. I was +awoke by a man bringing me a mess of some sort to eat, and when I had +devoured it I should have fallen asleep again, but the captain came up +and told me that I might turn into a spare cabin on deck. Taking off my +clothes, I threw myself on the bed, and slept without moving till the +grey light of dawn came in at the scuttle. I was awoke by a loud +jabbering and swearing, and presently the sound of a gun came booming +over the water. There was then the noise of blocks creaking and ropes +rattling, denoting that more sail was being made on the vessel. I +dressed quickly and opened the door of my cabin, but scarcely had I +stepped out on deck when my shoulder was roughly seized by the captain +of the slaver, while with his other hand he pointed to a large brig +about three miles off, under all sail, standing directly for our +larboard quarter. + +"What craft is that?" he asked, fiercely. "Your men say they do not +know her. Do you?" + +I looked again. I had no doubt she was the _Opossum_. "If I am not +mistaken, she is the ship to which I belong," I replied, calmly. + +"Is she fast?" he asked. + +"She is reputed so," I answered. "But I doubt it she is so fast as this +vessel." + +"For your sakes, as well as for ours, it is to be hoped not," he +observed, with a grin which I thought perfectly demoniacal. "If she +overhauls us, we shall be obliged to put into execution a trick we play +at times, when too hotly pursued by your cruisers; only, instead of +expending our negroes, who are valuable, we shall be compelled to make +use of you and your people. It will be happy for you, if there are no +sharks ready to grab you before your ship lowers a boat to pick you up. +You understand me?" + +I did, too well. The slavers, when hotly pressed by a cruiser, will +throw overboard some of their blacks, one by one, lashed to something to +float them, trusting that the humanity of the British commander will +induce him to heave-to, and to pick them up, although thus delaying him +in his chase. + +I felt very sure my one-eyed friend would put his threat into execution; +and though it certainly afforded us a way of getting back to our ship, +the risk in the interim of being caught by a shark was far too great to +be contemplated with equanimity. + +"If you do throw us overboard, I only hope that you will provide us with +sticks, or some weapons with which to defend ourselves against the +sharks," said I. + +"You are a brave boy," said he, "and deserve a better fate; but it +cannot be helped." + +There was a fine breeze, but nothing more; and by the time the +schooner's sails were trimmed, as I looked over the side I saw that she +was making good way through the water. I doubted whether the _Opossum_ +could go faster; and I saw, at all events, that, like other stern +chases, this would be a long one. It very probably would last two or +three days, perhaps longer. I scarcely knew what to wish. Were it not +for those dreadful sea monsters, we all of us might be able to get on +board the brig, and help to capture the schooner afterwards, I thought +to myself. We were allowed perfect liberty to walk about the decks as +we liked; so I went up to Jack, and asked him what he thought about the +probability of the brig overtaking us. + +"Why, sir," he replied, after contemplating her, and looking over the +schooner's side for some time, "this craft has got as clean a pair of +heels as any vessel I was ever aboard; and though our brig, I'll allow, +is no laggard, I doubt if she'll overtake her, if the wind holds steady, +before we reach the West Indies, where, I take it, we are bound." + +Jack was right, with regard to the relative speed of the two vessels, at +all events. As I kept my eye on the brig, I could not but acknowledge +that we were slowly but surely increasing our distance from her. This +put the captain in good humour. + +"Ah! my young friend," he said, tapping me on the shoulder, "you have +escaped the sharks this time, I believe." At night I turned in and went +to sleep, for I had not yet recovered from my want of rest and unusual +anxiety. The next morning, there, however, was the brig, right astern +of us, though we had much increased our distance from her. When I +appeared, the captain gave me no friendly look; and it was only towards +the evening, when we had brought her topsails beneath the horizon, that +his good humour was re-established. Another night passed, and the brig +was out of sight. I thought it more than probable, however, that +Captain Idle was still following, in the hopes of finding us becalmed, +or in some other way falling in with us. I cannot stop to describe the +scenes of gambling and fighting continually going on among the +schooner's lawless crew, though their outbreaks of fury were generally +repressed, before arriving at extremities, by the energy of the little +captain. We got on tolerably well with them. Jack danced his hornpipe, +I sang, and the other two men made themselves generally useful. I, +therefore, no longer had any great fears about our present safety. + +A dreadful doom was, however, prepared for most on board. One night I +was awoke by a terrific noise, and, rushing on deck, I found that one of +those fierce hurricanes which occur at times in the tropics had just +commenced. Amid a mass of spoondrift the schooner drove helplessly +before it. The night was dark as pitch, except when vivid flashes of +forked lightning darted from the clouds and shed a bright blue glare on +our decks, exhibiting a scene of horror and confusion seldom surpassed. +The seamen ran to and fro shrieking with terror, calling on their saints +to help them, and vowing candles and other offerings at their shrines, +the fiercest and most quarrelsome generally showing the most abject +fear. The little captain, to do him justice, kept his presence of mind, +and endeavoured to restore order, but he had lost all control over his +crew. Jack found his way aft to where I was standing, and I was truly +glad to have him near me. + +"It's to be hoped there's no land under our lee, or it will fare ill +with us," said he. "But I'm not quite certain. Just now, when there +was a bright flash of lightning, I thought I saw something very like it +right ahead of us. We must be ready for the worst, I'm thinking, Mr +D'Arcy." + +I felt this to be the case, and prayed earnestly to God to stretch forth +His hand to save us. Scarcely a minute had elapsed after Jack had +spoken, when the tempest, thundering down on the accursed slave ship +more violently than before, the lightning flashing more vividly, a +terrific shock was felt, which made her tremble as if about to part +asunder; the tall masts bent like willow wands, and fell with a crash +into the sea; and the voracious waves came curling up, foam-crested, +astern, and sweeping everything before them. The howling of the fierce +hurricane overpowered the agonised shrieks of the drowning crew, as they +were carried overboard; while from the hold arose the heart-piercing +cries of despair and terror of the helpless negroes who were confined +there, deprived of even a chance of escape. Our two shipmates had found +their way aft, to where Jack and I were holding on for our lives, +sheltered partly by the raised poop. Still we drove on. We had +evidently been forced over a reef, and we hoped that we might reach +smooth water. The sea no longer broke over us. + +"What say you, lads? Let's try to give those poor fellows down there a +chance for their lives," cried Jack. + +All agreed to the proposal. There were scarcely any Spaniards left to +stop us; and had there been, I do not think they would have ventured to +interfere. I had observed some axes hung up inside the cabin-door, and +seizing them, we tore off the hatches, and leaped down among the +terror-stricken wretches below. Sandy had bethought him of securing +some lanterns, for in the dark we could do nothing. As soon as he had +brought them, and we had got them lighted, Jack singing out, +"_Amigos_!--_amigos_!--have no fear, my hearties!" we set to work with a +right good will, and knocked the fetters off a considerable number of +the unfortunate negroes. The operation was nearly completed, when we +felt another terrific shock vibrate through the ship. Again and again +she struck. We had just time to spring up the main-hatchway, followed +by the howling terrified blacks, when the sides of the ship seemed to +yawn asunder; a foaming wave rushed towards us, and at the same moment a +vivid flash of lightning showed us the shore, not a hundred yards off. + +"There's hope yet," I heard Jack exclaim. + +There is, after that, a wild confusion in my mind of shrieks and groans; +of foaming, tossing waters; of pieces of plank driven to and fro; of +arms outstretched; of despairing countenances, some pale or livid, some +of ebon hue, lighted up ever and anon by a flash of lightning. I was +clinging, I found, to a small piece of timber torn from the wreck. Now +I was driven near the sands; now carried out to sea; tossed about on the +tops of the foaming waves, rolled over and over, and almost drowned with +the spray. Still I held on convulsively, half conscious only of my +awful position. It seemed rather like some dreadful dream than a +palpable reality. How long I had been tossing about in this way, I knew +not. Daylight had been stealing on even before the final catastrophe +had occurred. At length I know that I felt myself carried near the +sands, and while I was trying to secure a footing, some black figures +rushed into the water and dragged me on shore. My preservers were, I +discovered, some of the negroes who had escaped from the wreck. I was +too much exhausted to stand; so they carried me up out of the reach of +the waves, and laid me on the sands, while they returned once more to +the edge of the water. Their object was evident. By the increasing +light I saw several figures clinging to the rocks, against which I +concluded the vessel had struck. Full twenty negroes were on the beach, +which was strewed with bits of plank and spars, and coils of rope, and +other portions of the wreck. Presently I saw four or five of them +plunge into the water together, holding the end of a rope. They struck +out bravely, and though more than once driven back, they still made way, +till they reached the rock, up which they clambered. The people on the +rock helped them out of the water. There were several negroes, a few of +whom were women, and three white men. One of the white men held a black +infant in his arms, and as the light increased, I recognised my friend +Jack Stretcher. "Just like the gallant fellow!" thought I. At that +dreadful moment, when most people would have been thinking only of their +own preservation, he looked out for the most helpless being, that he +might try and save it, even at the risk of his own life. I hope the +mother of the infant has escaped to thank him; but, at all events, he +will have his reward. The other two men were my shipmates. Of the +slaver's crew, not a man had escaped. After this I remember nothing; +for, from exhaustion, consequent on the blows I had received in the +water, I fainted. I had a dreamy notion of being lifted up and carried +along some distance, and of the hot sun scorching me; and then of +entering the cool shade of a house, and of hearing a voice which I +fancied I recollected, and thought very sweet, say, "Why, papa, it's +that little officer again. Poor, poor fellow! how ill and wretched he +looks!" I tried to open my eyes to look at the speaker, but had no +strength left to lift even my eyelids. How long I had remained in a +state of unconsciousness I could not tell, though I afterwards found it +was some weeks. The next time I recollect opening my eyes, they rested +on the features of Miss Alice Marlow, and by her side was a young man in +a lieutenant's uniform while at the foot of my couch stood Jack +Stretcher. "Where am I? How's all this?" I asked, in a faint voice. + +"You are in Mr Marlow's house, in the island of Barbadoes," said the +young officer. "As to the rest, it's a long yarn, and we'll spin it +another time." + +"Ah, and now I know you. You are Waller," replied I. "Well, old +fellow, I'm glad you've got your promotion." + +"But the doctor says we must on no account have any talking; so come +away, Henry; and here, Jack, is the fruit for Mr D'Arcy. He may eat as +much of it as he likes," said Miss Alice. + +I recollect this scene; but I fancy after it I got a relapse, through +which, however, I was mercifully carried, after a tough contest with +death. Oh! how tenderly and kindly I was nursed; every want was +attended to--every wish gratified, almost before expressed--by an old +black woman, who, day or night, scarcely ever left my bedside. I quite +loved her good, old, ugly face--for ugly it was, without the possibility +of contradiction, according to all European notions of beauty, though +some of the descendants of Ham, in her own torrid land, might at one +time have thought it lovely. She was assisted in her labours by a +damsel of the same ebon hue, who had been saved out of the slave ship; +and I believe that the attention of the two women was redoubled on +account of the way I had treated their unhappy countrymen on board that +vessel. Jack Stretcher had been obliged to rejoin the brig, and had +gone away in her. I was, however, frequently favoured by a visit from +Miss Alice Marlow and her kind father, in whose house I remained for +many months, treated as if I had been a well-loved son. At length I was +one morning riding down by the seashore, when the wide-spread canvas of +a man-of-war caught my sight, standing in for the land. I recognised +her at once as the _Opossum_, and was therefore not surprised when, some +hours afterwards, Waller walked into Mr Marlow's drawing-room. Captain +Idle and the doctor followed soon afterwards, and a consultation having +been held, I was pronounced fit for duty, and compelled, with many +regrets, to leave my kind friends, and to go on board. The brig soon +afterwards returned to the coast of Africa, where we took some slavers, +went through various adventures, and lost several officers and men with +fever; and I again fell sick, so that my life was despaired of. Now, +entertaining as these sort of things may be to read about, no one was +sorry when, one fine morning, another brig-of-war hove in sight, +bringing us orders to return home. "Hurra for old England!" was the +general cry, fore and aft. "Hurra! hurra!" + +At length I once more found myself an inmate of Daisy Cottage, and many +happy weeks I spent there--perhaps the happiest in my life--in the +society of my uncle and aunt and young cousins. I there slowly, but +effectually, recovered from the effects of the African climate, and the +hardships I had lately gone through, and was ultimately pronounced as +fit as ever for service. When Larry Harrigan heard that I was ill, he +came over to Ryde, and could scarcely be persuaded to leave me for a +moment, till assured by the doctor that I was in no danger whatever, but +even he seemed much to doubt the judgment of the learned disciple of +Galen. Afterwards he allowed very few days to pass without coming to +set me, till I was strong enough to return his visits, which I did not +fail to do. The good, kind old man! He never went back to Ireland, but +lived on at Southsea, in perfect comfort, till he and his wife reached a +green old age. He used to tell me, confidentially, that there was an +honest navy agent, who had found him out, and insisted on paying him a +wonderful interest for a certain share of prize-money, which he had +fortunately neglected to claim in his younger days. It was, in truth, a +way I took of contributing to maintain the old man in comfort, without +his feeling that he was a pensioner on my bounty. + +Some time after I had been at home, I heard from my gallant friend +Waller, who had gone back to Barbadoes. He gave me a piece of +information, at which I own I was not very much surprised, namely, that +he was on the point of bringing Miss Alice Marlow to England as his +bride. "I hope that she will prove worthy of him, for a finer fellow +does not exist," said I. + +A short time before I left Daisy Cottage to join my next ship, I was +sitting in the drawing-room, when Sir Richard Sharpe was announced, and +in walked Dicky himself. We almost wrung each other's hands off before +we could speak, and then we did indeed rattle away. His father was +dead, he told me. + +"I have been compelled to deprive the navy of my services," said he, +with perfect gravity. "But you see that I have my estates to look +after, and my mother and sisters' welfare to attend to; and I could not +fulfil my duties in these respects were I to remain afloat. Do you +know, D'Arcy, I am very glad indeed that I went to sea," he continued, +more seriously. "It made me think much less of myself, and cured me of +many faults; for I am very sure that I should have been spoiled had I +remained at home. They always let me have too much of my own way, and +that is bad for the best of us. Now in the service I got cobbed and +mast-headed, and made to do what I was told; and I'm all the better for +the discipline, though I did not like it at the time. Then I learned a +very important lesson,--that every man, whatever his position, has his +duties to perform; and that, if he does not do them to the best of his +power, he must certainly expect to be disrated." + +"You mean to say that you learned this out of the man-of-war's +Homily-book,--the Station Bill," said I, smiling at my own conceit. + +I must explain that this Station Bill is a book in which is entered the +place which every man on board is to occupy, as well as the duties he is +especially to attend to, though at the same time he is expected to do +his very utmost in performing any other work which may be necessary. + +"That's just it," replied Sir Richard. "I used to think that the +captain of a man-of-war had a good deal to do to keep his ship in good +order; but I can tell you that I feel that the owner of a large estate +has many more and multifarious duties; and that in a great degree every +soul upon it is committed by God to his care, and at his hands will they +be required." + +I fully agreed with my old messmate in these matters, and was rejoiced +to find that he had really discovered the true object of life. I am +happy to say that he was after this a very frequent visitor at Daisy +Cottage, and that ultimately one of my cousins became Lady Sharpe. +They, the Vernons and the Wallers, are among my most valued friends; and +at the houses also of Admiral Poynder and Captain Idle, and most of my +subsequent commanders, I am a welcome guest. + +I must not forget to mention, once more, my gallant companion in so many +adventures, honest Jack Stretcher. He volunteered into the next ship to +which I was appointed, to my very great satisfaction; and afterwards +taking out his warrant as a boatswain, he was with me for several years, +and a better boatswain there is not in the service. I have never +revisited my ancestral halls since I left them with Larry to go to sea; +and, to say the truth, the Encumbered Estates Court knows more about +them than I do. The ocean is my only heritage; my ship is my wife, and +I look on my crew as my children. I went to sea again as a midshipman; +then, after passing, I spent four years as a mate, and six as a +lieutenant; during which time I saw a good deal of hard service. At +length I got my promotion as a commander, and have still to look for my +post step. + +Every career has its trials. A naval life has many; but we must always +bear in mind that we were sent into this world for the express purpose +of undergoing them, and that while some persons are proved by hardships +and poverty, others are so by abundance of ease and wealth. I, for my +own part, feel that I have much for which to be grateful; and though I +have neither rank nor riches, I do not consider myself unfortunate nor +ill-treated. And once more I say, that, had I to begin my career again, +I should prefer to every other a life on Salt Water. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Salt Water, by W. H. G. Kingston + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SALT WATER *** + +***** This file should be named 21476.txt or 21476.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/4/7/21476/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |