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diff --git a/24678.txt b/24678.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43b1174 --- /dev/null +++ b/24678.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18726 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Three Commanders, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Three Commanders + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: T.C. Dugdale + +Release Date: February 23, 2008 [EBook #24678] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THREE COMMANDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Three Commanders, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This is the third in the tetralogy commencing "The Three Midshipmen" and +ending with "The Three Admirals," so the three principal characters will +have been familiar to Kingston's youthful readers. As with the other +books it is a very good introduction to Naval life in the middle of the +nineteenth century, but there are other things we can learn from this +book, as well. + +The action soon after the start moves to East Africa, where we see how +the anti-slave trade was pursued. The British were against slavery, but +the Portuguese, the Americans, the Arabs, and some of the East African +states were getting on with it whenever the British backs were turned. + +Then we move to the Crimea, where we get a very good view of the naval +participation in that war. If you want to know more about the Crimea, +you should definitely read this book. + +Finally we move to the Pacific, to Sydney and to Hawaii. Here again it +is interesting, particularly with regard to the volcanoes of the Hawaii +group of islands. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +THE THREE COMMANDERS, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +MURRAY'S HIGHLAND HOME--A VISIT FROM ADMIRAL TRITON--ADAIR AND HIS +NEPHEW APPEAR--MURRAY APPOINTED TO THE OPAL, ADAIR FIRST LIEUTENANT-- +PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE--ADMIRAL TRITON AND MRS DEBORAH INVITE MRS +MURRAY TO STAY AT SOUTHSEA--THE OPAL AND HER CREW--A POETICAL +LIEUTENANT--PARTING BETWEEN MISS ROGERS AND ADAIR--THE OPAL SAILS FOR +THE EAST COAST OF AFRICA. + +Alick Murray had not over-praised the Highland home of which he had so +often spoken when far away across the wide ocean. The house, +substantially built in a style suited to that clime, stood some way up +the side of a hill which rose abruptly from the waters of Loch Etive, on +the north side of which it was situated. To the west the hills were +comparatively low, the shores alternately widening and contracting, and +projecting in numerous promontories. The higher grounds were clothed +with heath and wood, while level spaces below were diversified by +cultivated fields. To the east of the house, up the loch, the scenery +assumed a character much more striking and grand. Far as the eye could +reach appeared a succession of lofty and barren mountains, rising sheer +out of the water, on the calm surface of which their fantastic forms +were reflected as in a mirror. Across the loch the lofty summit of Ben +Cruachan appeared towering to the sky. The scenery immediately +surrounding Murray's domain of Bercaldine was of extreme beauty. At +some little distance the hill, rising abruptly, was covered with oak, +ash, birch, and alder, producing a rich tone of colouring; the rowan and +hawthorn trees mingling their snowy blossoms or coral berries with the +foliage of the more gigantic natives of the forest, while the dark +purple heath, in tufted wreaths, and numerous wild-flowers, were +interspersed amid the rich sward and underwood along the shore beneath. +Behind the house were shrubberies and a well-cultivated kitchen-garden, +sheltered on either side by a thick belt of pines; while in front a +lawn, also protected by shrubberies from the keen winds which blew down +from the mountain heights, sloped towards the loch, with a gravel walk +leading to the landing-place. Murray had added a broad verandah to the +front of the house, to remind himself and Stella of Don Antonio's +residence in Trinidad, where they had first met. Indeed, in some of its +features, the scenery recalled to their memories the views they had +enjoyed in that lovely island; and though they confessed that Trinidad +carried off the palm of beauty, yet they both loved far better their own +Highland home. + +It was a lovely summer day, and Stella was sitting in the verandah with +a small stranger, whom her faithful black maiden, Polly, had just placed +in her lap. She was fully employed in bestowing on him those marks of +affection which a loving mother delights in affording to her first-born. +Alick stood by her side, watching her and their child with looks of +fond pride. He had just come in from the garden, which it was one of +his chief occupations to tend, and had taken off his gardening gloves, +that he might pat his child's cheek and tickle its chin to make it coo +and smile. He might have been excused if he was proud of his boy, for +he was a noble little fellow,--a "braw chiel," as he was pronounced to +be by his grand-aunt, Mistress Tibbie Mactavish, who had presided at his +birth,--and likely to do no discredit to the name of Murray. + +"The cutter ought to have been back by this time," said Alick at length, +looking at his watch; "Archie has had a fair tide from Oban, and a +leading wind up the loch. I hope that he has not managed to run the +_Stella_ ashore. Ben Snatchblock knows the coast, and he himself should +be pretty well acquainted with it." + +"Perhaps Mr Adair did not arrive at the time expected, and Archie +would, of course, wait for him," observed Stella. + +"That may be the case," said Alick, taking the telescope from a bracket +on the wall, and looking through it down the loch. "There is no sail in +sight like her, but I see a four-oared boat, which has just passed Bunaw +Ferry, pulling up the loch. Can Adair by any means have missed the +cutter, and be making his way alone to us?" + +"Probably she contains a party of tourists on an excursion," said +Stella. + +"She is, at all events, steering for Bercaldine," observed Murray; "if +she does not bring Paddy Adair, you will have the opportunity of +exhibiting the small Alick to some other visitor. I will go down to the +pier to receive him, whoever he is, with due honour." Saying this, +Murray, having bestowed a kiss on his wife's brow, and given another +tickle to his baby's chin, which produced an additional coo of delight, +hurried down to the landing-place, towards which the boat was rapidly +approaching. He had his telescope in his hand. He stopped on the way +to take another look through it. + +"It is not Terence, but--who do you think?--our old friend, Admiral +Triton!" he shouted out, as he looked back to his wife; and then hurried +on to the landing-place, that he might be there before the admiral could +step ashore. In a few minutes he was receiving the old man's hearty +grasp of the hand, as he helped him out of the boat. + +"I had long promised to pay a visit to some friends in the Highlands, +and I determined to make a trip a few miles farther and take you by +surprise, for I knew that I should be welcome at whatever time I might +arrive," said the admiral. + +"Indeed you are, my dear sir," answered Murray; "most sincerely I say +it. We are flattered by your visit." + +"Give me your arm, my boy, for I don't walk up hill as easily as I used +to do a few years back," said the admiral, leaning somewhat heavily on +the young commander as he stumped along with his timber toe. "Stay! by +the bye, I must dismiss my crew," he exclaimed, stopping short. + +"Let them come up to the house first, admiral," said Murray; "they would +consider otherwise that we were forgetful of Highland hospitality at +Bercaldine. You will find your way up to the kitchen, my lads, by +yonder path," he added, turning round to the boatmen. "The cook will +have a snack for you before you pull back to Oban." + +The men touched their bonnets, and gratefully grinned their assent to +the laird's proposal, as they tumbled out of the boat; while Murray +conducted Admiral Triton by the centre path, which led through the +grounds to the house. + +Mrs Murray, having deposited the wee Alick in the arms of Polly, stood +ready to receive them. + +"I am delighted to see you looking so bright and blooming, my dear Mrs +Murray!" exclaimed the old admiral, shaking her warmly by the hand; "it +shows that the Highland air agrees with you, notwithstanding your long +sojourn in the West Indies." + +"Except in being more bracing, the climate differs but little from that +to which I was accustomed in the north of Ireland till I grew up; and I +was scarcely long enough in the West Indies to become acclimatised," +answered Stella, and a shade passed over her countenance as she +recollected the trying scenes she had gone through during the time to +which the admiral referred. + +He observed it, and changed the subject. "And so you are expecting to +see our old shipmate, Terence Adair?" he remarked, as he sat himself +down in a chair which Murray placed for him. "I shall be heartily glad +to shake him by the hand again, and to talk over old times. I haven't +forgot his making me carry his portmanteau for him, the rogue!" and the +admiral chuckled and laughed, and told Stella the story while he rubbed +his hands. "I made him pay, though. He thought he was going to do me +out of that, but I was too sharp for him. Ha! ha! ha!" and he laughed +till the tears ran down his cheeks. He was becoming more garrulous than +before--another sign of advancing age, which Murray was sorry to +observe. He told many of his old anecdotes, laughing as heartily at +them as ever. He was interrupted by the appearance of Polly, who had +been watching for an opportunity of introducing the baby, which she now +brought to its mamma. + +The admiral started up on seeing it. "What! I hadn't heard of this +small stranger!" he exclaimed; "is it a boy or a girl? A fine little +creature, at all events! I congratulate you, my dear Mrs Murray, with +all my heart. A sailor's wife is all the better for a few small ones to +occupy her thoughts when her `guid mon,' as you call him in Scotland, is +away from home; though I suppose you have no intention of letting Murray +go to sea again just yet?" + +"I hope not, indeed," answered Stella, turning pale at the thought. +"There are numberless officers who have nothing to do on shore, and he +has plenty to occupy him." + +"But he ought to take a trip to sea, to prevent himself from growing +rusty," said the admiral. "We want the best officers to command Her +Majesty's ships, and he is among them. You will not contradict me on +that point?" + +"I am sure he is," said Stella, with a sigh. + +"Then, in case the Admiralty require his services, you will not dissuade +him from accepting an appointment?" + +"Oh, admiral, are they going to send him to sea?" exclaimed Stella +suddenly. + +"Not that I know of," answered the admiral. "I have not been let into +their secret intentions, and I don't wish to act the part of a bird of +ill-omen; though I confess that, were he to have the offer of a ship, I +should advise him to accept it." + +Stella's lips quivered. She had thought herself very heroic, and that +she should be ready to sacrifice her husband for the good of his +country; but when it came to the point, she could not bear the idea of +parting from him. + +Alick had gone round to see that the boat's crew were attended to. On +coming back, he took another glance through his telescope down the loch. +"Here comes the _Stella_; we shall soon have Terence Adair with us!" he +exclaimed. + +"What brought him home?" asked the admiral. "Surely he went out with +Jack Rogers to India?" + +"He got an ugly wound in cutting out a piratical junk in the Indian +seas," said Murray. "It was a near thing for him, and the doctors +insisted on his returning home as the only chance of saving his life; so +he wrote me word in a few lines. But he is not much addicted to +letter-writing; I, therefore, know no particulars. He will give us the +account when he arrives." + +Murray stood watching the cutter, while the admiral continued talking to +Stella. The little craft, a vessel of about twelve tons, had been built +by the young commander soon after he settled at Bercaldine. What naval +officer, who has the means in his power, would fail of possessing a +vessel of some sort? She was not only a pleasure-yacht, but was useful +as a despatch-boat to bring the necessary stores for the house from +Oban, and served also for fishing in summer and for wild-fowl shooting +in winter. She was a trim yacht, notwithstanding her multifarious +employments. Ben Snatchblock, who acted as master, with a stout lad as +his crew, was justly proud of her. He boasted that nothing under canvas +could beat her, either on a wind or going free, and that in heavy +weather she was as lively as a duck. Not a better seaboat could be +found between the mainland and the Hebrides. Indeed, she had often been +pretty severely tried; and on one occasion Murray had had the +satisfaction of preserving the crew of a wreck on a dangerous reef, when +no other craft was at hand to render them assistance. He had, of +course, named his yacht the _Stella_; for what other name could he have +thought of giving her? He now watched her with the interest which every +seaman feels for the vessel he owns, as, close-hauled, she stood up the +loch. Now a breeze headed her, and she had to make a couple of tacks or +more to weather a point. Now she met a baffling wind, and it seemed +impossible that she would do it. "Keep her close, Archie!" exclaimed +Murray, as if addressing his cousin; "now keep her full again and shoot +her up round the point. That will do it, lad. Capital! Another tack +and you will have the wind off the shore; that is only a flaw. Put her +about again. With two more tacks you will do it." + +The breeze freshening and proving steady, in a short time the _Stella_ +was near enough to enable Murray to distinguish Terence Adair and +another person, in addition to those who had gone away in the yacht. As +the jib and foresail were taken off her, she shot up to the buoy. +Murray hastened down to the landing-place, in time to meet Adair and the +stranger, whom Archie pulled on shore in the punt. + +Adair sprang to land with much more agility than the old admiral had +exhibited, and was warmly greeted by Murray. "As you told me that +Archie was staying with you, I brought that broth of a boy, my nephew, +Gerald Desmond, to bear him company and to help keep him out of +mischief," exclaimed Adair, turning round and pointing to his nephew, +who hung back till his uncle had offered some explanation as to the +cause of his appearance uninvited. + +"Desmond, you have grown such a strapping fellow that I didn't recognise +you," said Murray, putting out his hand. "You are welcome to +Bercaldine, and we can easily stow you away in some odd corner or other, +notwithstanding your inches. Will you come up to the house with us, or +will you wait for Archie?" + +"I will wait for Archie, sir, thank you," answered Gerald; and Murray +and Adair walked on. + +"We have had sad times at Ballymacree," said the latter, speaking in a +much graver tone than usual for him. "Gerald only arrived a couple of +weeks ago. Although he has grown so much, the climate of the China seas +has played havoc with his constitution, and I didn't like to leave him +in a house of mourning. His mother died while he was away, and my poor +sister Kathleen caught cold, and went off in a rapid consumption a few +days after he arrived." + +"Your sister Kathleen! to whom Rogers was engaged!" exclaimed Murray; "I +am truly sorry to hear it. What a blow for him, too, poor fellow! You +said nothing about this in your letter, though I saw that you were in +mourning." + +"Faith, I hadn't the heart to do so," answered Terence. "I knew that +I'd have to tell you all about it, and so I thought it better just to +ask the question whether I might come and see you, without saying more, +knowing very surely what your answer would be, if I didn't get it--which +I didn't, seeing I left home before it arrived; but I suppose it's all +right, as Archie said that you were expecting me?" + +"Of course, my dear fellow," said Murray. "Poor Jack! Have you written +to him?" + +"No, but Kathleen did, while she had strength to hold a pen; and her +mother put in a few words to tell him that all was over. On my life, I +couldn't have done it. Things have gone badly, too, at Ballymacree in +other respects. The old place must go, after all; and it will break my +father's heart, I am very certain. If we had had a good rattling war, +and I had picked up lots of prize-money, I might have saved it. But +that is not to be thought of. And then, my dear Murray, a little +private affair of my own, which has put me out sadly. I wrote, when I +first came home, to Lady Rogers, asking leave to pay a visit at +Halliburton Hall. I got an answer from Sir John, very kind and very +polite. At the same time, he gave me to understand that he considered +it better I should not make my appearance there; in other words, that I +wasn't wanted. I fancied that Lucy had begun to care for me, and so +Jack thought, I suspect, from what he said when I confessed to him that +I was over head and ears in love with his sweet little sister, and had +for her sake kept my heart intact, notwithstanding the fascinations of +all the charming creatures we met with in the West Indies. So in truth, +Murray, I am about as miserable a fellow as any in the three kingdoms +just now." + +"I am very sorry to hear what you tell me," answered Alick. "We will do +our best to cheer you up; and our old friend, Admiral Triton, who +arrived a couple of hours ago, will, I am very sure, lend a hand in the +good work." + +Terence, having unloaded his heart of his griefs, had considerably +regained his usual spirits by the time he had got up to the house, and +had shaken hands with Stella and the admiral. While he was talking to +the latter, Murray hinted to his wife not to ask questions about his +family or the Rogers', telling her briefly what had occurred. The +admiral immediately attacked Terence about the old story of the +portmanteau, and that led him into a whole series of yarns, laughing so +heartily himself at them, that Adair was compelled to laugh also. + +"You must give me a cruise in the _Stella_ to-morrow, Murray," he said; +"she will be far the best style of locomotion for me, for these +mountains of yours don't suit me--and yet I should like to see something +of the magnificent scenery surrounding you." The proposal was at once +agreed to, and Stella said that she should like to go also. + +Archie and Desmond now arrived, and paid their respects to the admiral. +Desmond was introduced in due form to the young heir of Bercaldine. + +"Faith, Mrs Murray, he'll be after making a fine young midshipman one +of these days," said Gerald, patting the baby's cheek. "Won't you just +let Archie and me take him to sea with us next time we go afloat? We'll +watch over him as carefully as any she-nurse can do on shore, and teach +him all manner of tricks." + +"I daresay you would," said Stella, laughing. "His nautical experiences +must be confined at present to a cruise on board the yacht now and then +in fine weather, though I don't forget the good care you took of Master +Spider on board the _Supplejack_. By the bye, what became of your pet, +may I ask?" + +"Tom Rogers and I took him with us on board the _Niobe_. He was making +immense strides in civilisation, having taken to sleeping in a hammock +under bedclothes, and learned to drink tea in a teacup, when he was lost +at sea in a gale of wind rounding the Cape. Tom tried to write a poem +to his memory, but broke down, declaring that his feelings overcame him; +though in truth he couldn't manage to make even the two first lines +rhyme, so that that might have had something to do in the matter." + +While Gerald was rattling on, Archie produced the letter-bag, which he +had hitherto forgotten to give to Commander Murray. It contained +several letters for him, as also others forwarded by his navy agent to +Lieutenant Adair. Among them were two long, official-looking +despatches, with the words, "On Her Majesty's Service," printed outside. +Murray looked somewhat grave as he read his; at the same time, an +expression arising from gratified pride appeared on his countenance. + +Terence tore his letter open. "They don't intend to let me rest on +shore, at all events. I expected to have my promotion, however; but +instead, their lordships send me off to sea again. I am appointed to +the _Opal_, just commissioned at Portsmouth, as first lieutenant. I +ought to be highly flattered; and, Desmond, my boy, you are to go with +me." + +"The best thing that could happen to you; I congratulate you," said the +admiral. "And what news does your despatch contain?" he continued, to +Murray. Without answering, Alick put the letter into the admiral's +hands, and, taking his wife's arm, led her into the garden, where they +were concealed from sight by the shrubbery. + +"It will be a blow to her," said the admiral, as he glanced over the +official document; "still it is flattering to Murray, and, unless he has +resolved to give up the service altogether, I could not wish him better +luck. You and your old shipmate are not to be parted, Adair. He is +appointed to the command of the _Opal_, and I have a notion that she +will be stationed at the Cape, and probably sent to the East Coast of +Africa, where there is work to be done, and prize-money to be picked up, +not to be got every day in these piping times of peace. It is no easy +matter, however, to catch those slippery Arab slavers, so you mustn't +count your hens before they are hatched. Still, the _Opal_ is a fast +craft, and if any man can do what is to be done, Murray will do it." + +"At all events, I am delighted to hear that I am to serve with him. I +was anxious to be off to sea as soon as possible, and it makes amends to +me for my disappointment in not getting my promotion." + +"I say, Archie, I suppose that you will be appointed to the same craft?" +exclaimed Desmond. + +"Nae doot about it, mon," answered Archie; "I've a notion it's the doing +of our cousin, Admiral McAlpine, who returned home not long ago from the +West Indies, and would of course have been looking after our interests, +for he is a very kind man." + +"I suspect that Mrs Murray considers it a very cruel kindness," +observed the admiral; "but every sailor's wife must be prepared to be +parted from her husband, and to make the most of him when he is on +shore." + +"He is a lucky fellow who has got a wife to be parted from," said +Terence, thinking of Lucy; "at all events, when he is away, he can look +forward to the happiness of being again united to her, instead of having +to come home, as is the lot of some of us, without anyone who cares for +him to give him a welcome; so the favours of Heaven are very fairly +divided, and in my opinion Murray has the best of it, though it may give +him and his wife a severe pang to part from each other." + +"Here they come, and we shall learn how they have settled the matter," +observed the admiral; "but as duty has ever been my friend Murray's +guiding star, I am very sure that he will not allow his inclination to +prevent him from acting as he thinks right, and, unless I am mistaken as +to his wife's character, she will not utter a word to prevent him." + +No one would have supposed from the countenances of Alick and Stella how +much their hearts were agitated. "I am sorry, admiral, we must give up +our projected cruise for to-morrow, and cut yours and Adair's visit +short, as we shall have much to do in preparing to leave Bercaldine, +though I must beg you to stay as long as we remain," said Alick, quite +calmly. "We must treat you without ceremony; and I know, Adair, that +you and Desmond will lend a hand in setting things in order for our +departure." + +"Then you have made your mind up to accept the command of the _Opal_," +said the admiral. "I said it would be so; I was sure of it. I must +compliment Mrs Murray, for there are some wives, who don't love their +husbands a jot the better, who would have turned the scale the other +way. Duty, my lads, duty should carry everything before it," continued +the admiral, turning to the midshipmen. "Learn a lesson from your +superiors, and never let anything induce you to swerve from duty!" + +Murray, of course, had an immense amount of work to get through. It was +at once settled that Stella should accompany him to Portsmouth, and +should take up her residence in the neighbourhood during his absence. +Bercaldine was to be let, and a tenant had to be found, arrangements +made with the factor and grieve, and other retainers; various articles +to be stored up, and others to be carried with them; the _Stella_ to be +laid up, and the horses to be sold. + +A couple of days thus passed rapidly away, and, all working with a will, +the party were ready to start. The rays of the sun, just rising above +the lofty summits of the hills, glanced down the loch as they assembled +on the landing-place with their dependents, and every cotter on the +estate from far and near, who had come to bid them farewell. Many a +tear was shed by the females of the family, as Mrs Murray, the baby and +Polly, with the gentlemen of the party, embarked on board the _Stella_, +which was to convey them to Oban. The men waved their bonnets, and +uttered a prayer in Gaelic that the laird and his good wife and the +"bairn" might be brought back to them in safety. + +Sail was made, and the little craft glided away from her moorings with a +fair breeze down the loch. Mrs Murray looked with fond regret at the +lovely home she was leaving, though no longer the home it had been to +her without her husband. The admiral, of course, did his best to keep +up her spirits, and whatever Alick might have felt, he was as cheerful +as if they were merely making a day's excursion. The scenery around the +home he loved so well looked even more attractive than ever. On the +port hand Ben Cruachan rose proudly amid the assemblage of craggy +heights which extended to the eastward along the shores of the loch. +The ruins of Ardchattan Priory, covered with luxuriant ivy, and +o'er-canopied by lofty trees, soon came in sight on the starboard side. + +"The monks of old, wise in their generation, chose pleasant places for +their residences," observed the admiral, pointing to the ruins. + +"They must have been of great benefit to the surrounding population in +those turbulent times," said Mrs Murray. "I have sometimes thought +that it would be well if they still existed in districts where no landed +proprietors live to look after the people." + +"Very well in theory, my dear madam," said the admiral; "but we must +take into consideration what human nature really is. Monks in many +instances proved themselves to be arrant knaves, and among every +assemblage of mortals such will ever be found in time to leaven the +whole mass. These and friaries and convents were not abolished a day +too soon; and, advanced as the present generation esteems itself, I am +very sure that if we were to shut up a dozen men together, picked from +among the most learned and enlightened students at our universities, or +the same number of the most charming women to be found, and insist on +their living as celibates to the end of their days, and devoting +themselves to a certain routine of strict forms and ceremonies, they +would very soon come to loggerheads, and do more harm to themselves and +others than they could possibly do good. The wisest men in all the +nations of Europe have seen the necessity of abolishing the conventual +system, and I cannot suppose that English men and women are more likely +to be holy and immaculate than the people of other countries. The whole +thing is an illusion; and I am very sure that the system, if, as +according to the wishes of some, it should again prevail in England, +would only tend to the corruption of those who are beguiled by it, and +to the dishonour of true religion." + +"You are right, admiral, and certainly my wife does not advocate the +re-establishment of monasteries in this country," remarked Alick. + +"Oh no, no! I was thinking rather of the past," said Stella; "and +probably, if we could look into the interior of convents in their best +days, we should see much to grieve and shock us." + +The tide was on the ebb, and as the cutter passed through the narrows at +Connel Ferry, she pitched and tossed in the turbulent current, here +forming a perfect race, in a way which put a stop to further +conversation. The breeze being steady, she, however, with Murray's +skilful handling, ran through and glided forward on her course. Now +Dunstaffnage Castle, standing on a slight elevation near the shore, came +in sight--a picturesque ruin, its high walls and round towers rising +boldly against the sky. Farther on appeared Dunolly Castle--an +ivy-clad, square keep, in former times the seat of the Macdougals of +Lorne; and now the cutter entered the bay of Oban, with the long island +of Kerrera on the right, and brought up amid a fleet of small craft and +coasters. A steamer on her way to Glasgow was waiting for passengers, +and the party had just time to get on board before she began paddling on +to the southward. + +"You will take good care of the craft, Dougal," said Ben Snatchblock, as +he handed over his command to the old Highland skipper, into whose +charge Murray had given the yacht: "cover her over carefully, and keep +the sun from her in summer and the snow in winter, and we'll have many a +cruise in her yet when we come back from the East Indies." + +"Dinna fash ye, mon; she'll no' take harm under my charge," said Dougal. + +"Dougal has been somewhat jealous of Ben on account of his having been +appointed to the yacht instead of himself," remarked Alick. + +Glasgow was reached before nightfall, and the next morning the whole +party started by train for the south. Admiral Triton insisted on +accompanying his friends to Portsmouth. "My sister Deborah and I have +taken a house on Southsea Common for three years, and you and your wife +and bairn must be our guests, and we have a room for Archie till it is +time for him to take up his berth on board. You will cheer us up, and +we old people want companionship, for I can't get about as I once did; +and the young fellows fight shy of me and don't laugh at my yarns, as +you and Jack used to do; and I say, Murray, if you want to do me a +favour, you will let your wife stay on as our guest. The boy will be a +great amusement to us both. We'll not spoil him, depend on that. I +then can come and go as I like. And when I am away, she'll help to keep +my good sister alive and cheerful. When Deb hasn't me to look after, +she's apt to get out of spirits, and to be thinking about her own +ailments--fancied more than real, for she is as hearty as she can expect +to be at her age; while, if she has a guest and a little child to occupy +her thoughts, she'll be perfectly happy and contented; so, you see, +you'll be doing her and me the greatest possible favour. Don't say no, +but settle the matter at once." + +Murray, of course, thanked the admiral very heartily. He was sure that +the invitation was given from the kindest of motives, and he fully +believed that Stella would contribute greatly to the happiness of the +old man and his sister, who, without kith or kin, required someone to +solace them in their declining years. He seemed truly grateful when +Murray, after talking the matter over with Stella, accepted his kind +proposal. + +"She mustn't consider herself a mere visitor, but must be as much at +home as if Deb were only her housekeeper--that is just what Deb will +like. And I must be looked upon as their visitor when I come back from +paying a visit to any of my friends who are still willing to receive me; +though the only people on whom I can now depend to give me a hearty +welcome are Sir John and Lady Rogers; they don't get tired of my yarns, +and Sir John laughs at them as heartily as he did many a long year ago." + +So the matter was settled; and, on reaching Portsmouth, Murray and +Stella accompanied the admiral to his very comfortable house at +Southsea, at the entrance door of which Mrs Deborah Triton--she had +taken brevet rank--stood with smiling countenance ready to receive them. +It overlooked Spithead and the Isle of Wight, with the Solent +stretching away to the westward; the entrance to Portsmouth harbour, +with steamers and vessels of all sizes running constantly in and out, +being seen at no great distance off across the common. But Sister Deb, +as the admiral generally called her, is more worthy of a description +than the house. She was remarkably like her brother, except that she +had two feet, whereas he lacked one; and that her still plump face was +free from the weather-beaten stains contracted by his honest countenance +during his days afloat. Her figure was short and round, exhibiting +freedom from care--it was such, indeed, as only a good-natured person +could possess; but her face was the index of her mind and heart. That +bore an unmistakable expression of kindness, gentleness, and +good-temper, which perfect faith in the simple truths of Christianity +could alone give. Murray felt perfectly confident that his wife and +child would be in good keeping during his absence, and his heart felt +lightened of one of its chief cares. + +Next morning, Murray, accompanied by Archie, went on board the _Opal_, +which, having just been brought out of dock, lay alongside the hulk. +She was still in the hands of the riggers', who, busy as bees, swarmed +in every part, rattling down the rigging, swaying up the topmasts, and +getting the yards across. Her appearance in that condition was not +attractive; but as he surveyed her with a seaman's eye, he felt +satisfied that she was a fast craft, and well calculated for the service +on which she was to be sent. + +"I have no wish to command a steamer, but I cannot help fancying that a +pair of paddles would be more likely to catch the Arab dhows we are to +go in search of than is the fastest craft under canvas," he observed to +Adair, whom he found on board. + +They at once set to work to collect a crew, in which business Ben +Snatchblock was especially active. Ben a few days afterwards received, +to his satisfaction, his warrant as boatswain, his zeal being +considerably enlivened thereby. He, before long, managed to pick up a +number of prime hands from among his old shipmates, on whom he could +thoroughly depend. The gunner and carpenter joined the same day he got +his warrant. The former, Timothy Ebbs, was a little man, but he had a +big voice and a prodigious pair of black whiskers, which, sticking out +on either side of his face, gave him a sufficiently ferocious aspect to +inspire ship-boys and other young members of the crew with the necessary +amount of awe; while the able seamen respected him for his tried courage +and undoubted nautical experience. Adair was very glad to find that Jos +Green was appointed as master, as he had known him well when he was +second master of the _Tudor_, in the West Indies, and a more merry, +kind-hearted, better-disposed fellow never stepped. Jos, it was said, +never went anywhere without finding friends, or came away without having +made fresh ones. Adair, Archie, and Gerald, with all the officers who +had as yet been appointed to the corvette, took up their quarters on +board, and the work of fitting out made rapid progress. + +"I wonder whom we shall have for our second lieutenant?" said Gerald, as +they were sitting in the berth; "an old shipmate or a new one? I hope +we may get a good sort of a fellow. I should like to have old Higson. +What a good-natured chap he was!" + +"That was when he was first promoted; he may have grown rusty by this +time, at not getting another step," observed Archie. "He is older than +the captain, and yet junior to Mr Adair." + +On going on deck soon afterwards, an officer came up the side, who +introduced himself to Terence as Lieutenant Frank Mildmay, come to join +the _Opal_ as second lieutenant. No two persons could be more +dissimilar than the first and second lieutenants of the corvette. He +had a smooth face with pink cheeks, whiskers curled to a nicety, and +hair carefully brushed. His figure was slight and refined, and he wore +lilac kid gloves, his appearance being certainly somewhat effeminate; +indeed, he looked as if he had just come out of a bandbox. + +"He'll never set the Thames on fire," observed Paddy Desmond to Archie. +"Faith, the men will be after calling him Mr _Mildman_, unless he +condescends to dip those delicate paws of his into the tar-bucket." + +The men probably looked on their second lieutenant with much the same +feelings as did the two midshipmen; while he, regardless of what they +thought of him, accompanied Adair into the gun-room to make himself +acquainted with the rest of his messmates. The remainder of the +gun-room officers and midshipmen joined the next day, and, the +complement of the crew being made up, the corvette, casting off from the +hulk, took up her moorings in the middle of the harbour. Of the +new-comers, two small midshipmen, who had never before been to sea, +Paddy Desmond immediately designated one "Billy Blueblazes," in +consequence of his boasting that he was related to an admiral of that +name, while the other was allowed to retain his proper appellation of +"Dicky Duff," Paddy declaring that it required no reformation. An old +mate who was always grumbling, and two young one who had just passed +their examination, with an assistant-surgeon, two clerks, and a master's +assistant, made up the mess; and pretty closely stowed they were in the +narrow confines of the berth. The only other person worthy of note was +the third warrant-officer, the carpenter, who rejoiced in the +designation of Caractacus Chessle, the name of the British hero having +been bestowed on him by his father, who had once on a time been a +stage-player. He was as tall and bulky as the gunner was short and +wiry; indeed, the three warrant-officers formed a strange contrast with +each other. + +Murray frequently came on board to see how things were getting on, but +never interfered with Adair's arrangements. He was sometimes +accompanied by Admiral Triton, who seemed to take almost as much +interest as he did in fitting out the ship. The sails were now bent, +and Murray waited in daily expectation of receiving his sailing orders. +Meantime, the kind admiral and his sister were moved with the thoughts +of poor Stella's approaching bereavement, and, knowing nothing of +Adair's attachment, he got Deb to write to Lady Rogers, inviting one of +her daughters to pay them a visit, and assist in taking care of Mrs +Murray. As it happened, he said nothing of the first lieutenant of the +_Opal_, and Sir John and her ladyship, supposing that Adair was at +Ballymacree, made no objection to Lucy's accepting the invitation. She +accordingly, much to Murray's satisfaction, arrived the very day the +ship was ready for sea. It so fell out that Adair, who had managed to +escape from his multifarious duties, and was not aware of her coming, +called to pay a farewell visit at the house. He was ushered into the +drawing-room, where a lady was seated with a book in her hand, though +her eyes were oftener cast over the blue ocean than at its pages. + +The servant announced his name; the lady rose from her seat, and gazed +at him with a look in which surprise was mingled with pleasure, a rich +blush suffusing her countenance. "Mr Adair!" she exclaimed, holding +out her hand, which Terence took, and seemed very unwilling to +relinquish. Nor did she withdraw it. + +"I thought you were at Ballymacree," she said. "I was very sorry that +papa thought it right not to accept your proposal to pay us a visit at +Halliburton while Jack was absent, but, believe me, he did not intend to +be unkind." + +"I felt that, though it made me very unhappy," answered Terence; "but +did you wish me to come?" + +"Yes," said Lucy, "I should have been very glad to see you; I should not +be speaking the truth if I did not say so." + +"Then, if I get my promotion and come back with lots of prize-money, may +I hope--" + +"Pray don't speak about that," answered Lucy, growing agitated; "I can +make no promise without papa's sanction, and I have already said enough +to show that I am not indifferent to you." + +Terence was an Irishman, and Irishmen are not wont to be bashful, but at +that moment Alick and Stella entered the room, not failing to remark the +confusion their appearance created. Terence, of course, explained that +he had called, not expecting to see Miss Rogers, but had come to pay his +respects to Mrs Murray. She tried to send her husband out of the room, +intending to follow, but he would not take the hint; and Terence, who +had but a short time to spare, was compelled at length to pay his adieux +without eliciting the promise he wished from Lucy. She looked very +sorry when he had gone, but probably was the better able, from sympathy, +to afford consolation to poor Stella, when the moment for her parting +with her husband arrived. That moment came the very next day. It need +not be dwelt on. Stella's lot was that which numberless wives of naval +officers have to endure; but, though widely shared, her grief was not +the less poignant as she watched with tearful eyes through the admiral's +spy-glass the corvette under all sail standing down the Solent. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +CROSSING THE EQUATOR--BILLY BLUEBLAZES LOOKS OUT FOR THE LINE, BUT DOES +NOT SEE IT--HE AND GERALD MASTHEADED--TRISTAN D'ACUNHA: JOS GREEN, AS +USUAL, "MEETS WITH A FRIEND"--THE OPAL AT THE CAPE--SAILS FOR +MADAGASCAR--COMMODORE DOUCE OF THE RADIANT--A BOAT EXPEDITION UP THE +ANGOXA RIVER--THE SLAVERS' STRONGHOLD--MILDMAY'S SONNET INTERRUPTED BY +THE GUNS OF THE FORT--ATTACK ON THE SLAVE-DHOWS--THE COMMODORE IS LANDED +BY TOM BASHAN--CAPTURE OF THE FORT--CROSSING THE BAR. + +Her Majesty's corvette _Opal_, under all sail, was slowly gliding across +the line, for which Dicky Duff and Billy Blueblazes were eagerly looking +out, Paddy Desmond having assured them that if they watched fast enough +they would be sure to see it. Mr Mildmay, being addicted to poetry, +was busily engaged in writing a sonnet on the subject, which, however, +did not corroborate Gerald's statement, as it began, "Ideal cincture +which surrounds the globe;" but as he was interrupted by Ben +Snatchblock's pipe summoning the crew to exercise at the guns, the +second line was not written, when Jos Green caught sight of the +manuscript which he had left on the gun-room table. + +"I say, Desmond, Dicky and I have been looking out this last hour or +more for the line, and haven't sighted it yet," said Billy. + +"Of course not; and you never will on deck. You should go to the +fore-topgallant-masthead; you will see it clearly from thence, if you +keep your eyes open wide enough; but if not, you have no chance." + +"But if we do, we shall miss Neptune's visit. I suppose he'll be on +board us before long?" answered Billy. + +"Of course he will, if he doesn't happen to be otherwise engaged; but he +has plenty of work on hand just now, and is just as likely as not paying +a visit to some other ship away to the eastward. You see, he can't be +everywhere at the same time. Or maybe his children have got the measles +or whooping-cough, and of course he wouldn't like to leave them, +especially if his wife happens to be out marketing. He's a domestic old +fellow, and the best of husbands and fathers. So you youngsters mustn't +depend on seeing him; and lucky for you, too; for his barber would be +after shaving your chins off, seeing you've nothing else round your +faces for him to operate on." + +Paddy, the rogue, knew very well that the commander did not intend to +allow the once usual frolics and gambols to take place; the +time-honoured custom having, of late years, been generally abandoned on +board Her Majesty's ships of war, as has the barbarous custom of burning +Guy Fawkes been given up on shore by the more enlightened of our times; +albeit the fifth of November and the lesson it teaches should never be +forgotten. + +The two midshipmen, who mustered a binocular between them, thus +instigated by Paddy, made their way aloft, where, for their own +pleasure, they remained looking out for Mr Mildmay's "ideal cincture" +with the utmost patience, though they would have grumbled greatly had +they been ordered up for punishment. At length they were espied by the +first lieutenant. "What are you two youngsters doing up there aloft?" +he shouted. + +"Looking for the line, sir," was the answer, in Billy's shrill voice. + +"Then remain till you see it, or till I call you down!" cried Adair. "I +say, Gerald, you've been after bamboozling those youngsters," he added, +as he caught sight of a broad grin on his nephew's face. "Go up to the +main-topgallant-masthead, and assist them in looking out for the line. +Perhaps you will sight it sooner than they will, and it will help you to +correct your day's work." + +Gerald, pulling a long face, began to ascend the rigging, greatly to the +amusement of Archie and his other messmates. + +"I say, Adair, you're somewhat hard upon the youngsters," observed the +commander, who had just then come on deck. "You remember that Rogers +and you and I thought ourselves severely dealt with when we three had to +grace the mastheads of the old _Racer_." + +"Faith, but I think we were rightly punished, and that's the reason I +sent Desmond aloft, and allowed the other youngsters to remain where +they had gone of their own accord." + +"You forget that the sun is somewhat hot, and they may come down by the +run and knock their brains out; so don't you think it would be better to +call them down presently, and give Master Gerald a lecture on the +impropriety of playing on the credulity of his younger messmates?" + +Of course Adair did as the commander wished, though he had some +difficulty in keeping his countenance when he called up the three +youngsters before him to receive his lecture. + +"Remember, Master Desmond, if you begin by bamboozling, you may end by +practising more serious deceptions on your fellows; so let me advise you +in future to restrain your propensity in that direction," he wound up by +saying, with as grave a countenance as he could command. He then +informed the youngsters that the line was only imaginary, to denote the +sun's course round the globe. + +"An `ideal cincture,' you will understand, youngsters," observed the +master, who had heard Adair's remarks, giving at the same time a nod to +Mr Mildmay, who blushed an acknowledgment of being the author of the +poetical simile. + +The two youngsters were very greatly disappointed when they found that +they had got some way to the south of the line without having made +acquaintance with Neptune and his charming family. + +Rio was at length reached, and Gerald and Archie had time to pay visits, +in company with the good-natured master, to many of the localities with +which they were acquainted when there before, though unable to get up +the harbour, as they wished to call on the officious old magistrate, the +Juiz da Fora who had imprisoned them and Higson. They remained, +however, only long enough to take in a stock of fresh provisions and +water, and then steered eastward across the Atlantic to the Cape of Good +Hope. + +About sixteen days after leaving Rio, land was sighted. + +"What, have we got to the Cape already?" exclaimed Desmond, who heard +the cry from aloft. + +"No, my lad; if you had been attending to your day's work you wouldn't +have asked the question," answered Green. "The land ahead is the island +of Tristan d'Acunha, not the most delectable of spots for the residents, +though I believe there are some on it. We are going to put in to get +some more fresh mutton and beef, with any vegetables they are able to +spare." + +"Hands shorten sail and bring ship to an anchor!" shouted Adair soon +afterwards, and the corvette brought up before a green slope, spotted +with small whitewashed buildings, the hill becoming more rough and +craggy till it reached an elevation of eight thousand feet above the +sea. The other side of the island, as they afterwards discovered, rose +sheer out of the water in a vast precipice to the summit. Between the +anchorage and the shore was a prodigious mass of enormous seaweeds, +inside of which the water was perfectly calm, forming a safe harbour for +small craft. Off it appeared two small islands, known as Inaccessible +and Nightingale. To the latter, Billy and Dicky Duff were anxious to go +and catch some of the birds, from which, as they were informed by the +irrepressible Paddy Desmond, the island took its name. Its feathered +inhabitants are, however, only the wild sea-fowl which seek their prey +from among the denizens of the ocean. + +"You will not find any friends here, Jos, I suppose?" said Adair to the +master. + +"It is possible, as I have never been off the place before," answered +Jos; "but still I am never surprised at meeting someone who knows me. +Once, when pulling up the Nun, in Africa, on the first visit I paid to +that delectable stream, as I happened to be remarking that I had no +friends there, at all events, a black, who had swum off from the shore, +put his head over the bows and exclaimed, `Massa Green, glad to see you. +What! sure you 'member Jiggery Pop, who served aboard the _Frisky_, at +the Cape?' And sure enough I remembered Jiggery well, seeing that I had +once picked him out of the water when he was near drowning, and he had +served me the same good turn." + +While Jos was narrating this anecdote, a boat, pulled by half a dozen +stout seamen in blue and red shirts, was coming off from the shore to +the ship. Without ceremony they stepped on board, when one of them, +coming aft, touched his hat to the master. "You'll remember me, sir. +Served with you aboard the _Pantaloon_. I'm Jerry Bird." + +"Glad to see you, Jerry; you saved me from being cut down when we had +that affair out in the Pacific." + +"No, sir, I think it was t'other way," said Jerry; "I haven't forgotten +it, I can tell you, sir." + +"Well, it was one or the other," observed Green. "Tell me what brought +you to this out-of-the-way place?" + +"Couldn't help it, sir--ship cast ashore, and I was the only one to get +to land alive, and have been living here ever since; but, if so be the +captain will ship me aboard, I'll enter at once." + +As Jerry was a prime hand, the offer was not likely to be refused, and +he was entered accordingly. + +A boat with several officers visited the shore, making their way, not +without difficulty, through the floating breakwater of seaweed. The +inhabitants, consisting of about forty men, women, and children, +gathered on the beach to welcome them in front of their little +stone-boxes of dwellings which were scattered about here and there. +They appeared to be a primitive race, the descendants of two old +men-of-war's men, who, having been discharged from the service at the +end of the last century, had lived there ever since with wives whom they +had brought from the Cape, their respective children and grandchildren +having intermarried. Their wealth consisted in bullocks and flocks of +sheep, which, having increased in the same proportion as their owners, +were now very numerous. Their carcases, as well as the skins and wool, +were exchanged for such luxuries as they required with the skippers of +ships calling off their island. Here the old patriarchs, with their +families, had dwelt for well-nigh half a century or more, knowing little +of what was going forward in the world, and by the world unknown. + +The _Opal_, having supplied herself with a stock of fresh provisions, +once more weighed anchor, carrying off Green's old shipmate, Jerry Bird, +who seemed heartily glad to get away from his friends, whom he described +in no very flattering colours. After a run of twelve days, the _Opal_ +came in sight of the Cape, but it was night before she dropped her +anchor in Simon's Bay. Dark masses of land were seen towering above her +mastheads, and rows of light streaming from the maindeck ports of two +frigates, between which she took up her berth; while the sound of bugles +coming across the water betokened the neighbourhood of troopships, with +redcoats on board, bound out to India, or returning home. It reminded +those whose thoughts were with the loved ones in Old England, to lose no +time in sitting down to their desks. Of course the commander wrote to +his wife, and Adair humbly requested that he might be allowed to enclose +a letter to Lucy, in case, as he observed, she might still be staying +with Mrs Deborah Triton. They both also wrote to the kind old admiral. + +As the morning broke, a ship was seen standing out of the harbour, and a +boat sent with a well-filled letter-bag to overtake her. How hard the +crew pulled! for they knew by the commander's manner that he intended +that letter-bag to be put on board. They did it, however,--as British +seamen generally do whatever they are ordered,--though at no small +expenditure of muscular strength, and, of course, received, well +pleased, a glass of grog on their return on board. + +The _Opal_ remained but a short time at the Cape. Murray received +orders to follow the _Radiant_, one of the frigates seen on the night of +her arrival, to the Mozambique Channel, as soon as she had filled up +with water and other stores. + +The corvette made but a short stay, and again sailed for Saint +Augustine's Bay, at the southern end of Madagascar, which island was +sighted in little more than a fortnight. The _Radiant_ was found at +anchor in the bay, Commodore Douce, who commanded her, having put in to +water the ship. + +Murray went on board to pay his respects and receive his orders, and +numerous visits were exchanged between the two ships. The commodore, a +remarkably small man with a fiery countenance, overshadowed by a +prodigious cocked hat, was walking the deck with hasty strides as Murray +came up the side. + +"I have been expecting you here for three days, at least, Commander +Murray," he exclaimed, as Alick made his bow. "There is work to be +done, and the sooner it is done the better. I have received notice that +a piratical band of Arabs, who have long had possession of a strong fort +up the river Angoxa, have a number of barracoons full of slaves and +several dhows lying under the protection of their guns. I have resolved +to make a dash up the river to cut out the vessels, capture the slaves, +and destroy the fort." + +"I am very glad to hear it, sir," answered Murray, "and will send my +boats on shore to procure water immediately, so that we may be ready to +sail with as little delay as possible. The men, when they hear the +object, will work with a will, you may depend on that, commodore; and I +trust that the crew of the _Opal_ is not to be surpassed in smartness by +that of any other ship in commission. I think that you will acknowledge +that when you have an opportunity of judging." + +"Well, well, you brought to in very good style, I must confess that," +answered the commodore, who, though inclined to be irascible, was +quickly appeased. "When you send your boats on shore, let the officers +in command keep an eye on the natives, and take care that none of the +crew stray. The people about here are treacherous rascals, and would +murder anyone they could catch hold of without any provocation. I'll +send three of the frigate's boats to assist you, and order the crew of +one of them to remain on guard while the others are filling the casks." + +The news which Murray took when he returned on board made everyone +alive. In a few minutes the boats were ready to shove off. The +brown-skinned natives kept hovering about all the time, seeing the +sailors engaged in filling the casks; and it was very evident that, had +they dared, they would have treated their visitors as the commodore had +thought probable. Not long before, in the bay, a short distance to the +northward, the inhabitants had murdered an officer and boat's crew, +without, as far as could be ascertained, the slightest provocation. +Murray was therefore thankful when his boats returned safely on board. + +Leaving Saint Augustine's Bay, the frigate and corvette sailed across +the Mozambique Channel, and came to an anchor off the mouth of the +Angoxa. During the passage, every possible preparation was made for the +intended expedition; the firearms were looked to, cutlasses sharpened; +the surgeons packed up their instruments, bandages, and medicines. The +Arabs were not fellows to yield without a determined struggle, and some +sharp fighting was expected. About midway across the channel, a thin +wreath of smoke was observed to the southward. "A steamer in sight, +standing this way, sir," reported Adair to the commander. "The +commodore has made the signal to heave-to." + +In a short time the steamer got near enough to allow her number to be +made out. "The _Busy Bee_" reported Archie, who was acting as +signal-midshipman. The commodore directed her to join company; her +boats would be an important addition to the proposed expedition. The +three vessels now stood on to the mouth of the river, off which they +brought up, for the depth of water on the bar was not sufficient to +allow even the _Busy Bee_ to enter. The boats were therefore +immediately lowered, those considering themselves most fortunate who had +to go in them; and it was hoped that by pulling up at once the Arabs +might be taken by surprise. The frigate sent four boats, the corvette +three, and the steamer two of her paddle-box boats and a gig. The +larger boats were armed with guns in their bows, capable of carrying +shell, grape, and canister, as well as round-shot. The crews were +provided with muskets, pistols, and cutlasses; and all formed a pretty +strong body, against which the Arabs were not likely to make any +effectual stand. All hands were in high spirits--there is nothing Jack +enjoys so much as an expedition on shore, whether for fighting or for a +game of cricket. Provisions for three days were stowed away in the +boats, with plenty of ammunition, and numerous articles, including pots +and pans for cooking, blanket-frocks and trousers, blankets and other +means for making themselves comfortable at night. The surgeons did not +forget a supply of quinine to mix with the men's grog, the only way in +which they could be induced to swallow the extract, albeit the only +reliable preventive for fever. + +Jos Green was much disappointed at being compelled to remain in charge +of the corvette. "I fully expected to find some old friend or other +among the Arabs or captured slaves; however, give my kind regards to +anyone who knows me, and say I shall be happy to see them on board," he +exclaimed, as Terence went down the side. + +Murray went in his gig, accompanied by Archie; Adair had command of the +pinnace, a mate and Desmond going with him; Mr Mildmay commanded the +cutter, accompanied by Billy Blueblazes; and Dicky Duff was in the +boatswain's boat. The commodore led the expedition in his own gig, in +the stem of which sat, as coxswain, Tom Bashan, noted as the biggest man +in the fleet--even the carpenter of the _Opal_ looked but of ordinary +size alongside him. He had followed Captain Douce from ship to ship, +and had often rendered his commander essential service, when the little +man might otherwise have come to serious grief. Bashan had the +affection for his chief which a nurse entertains for the child under her +charge, and considered it his especial duty, as far as he had power, to +keep him out of harm--not that the commodore ever suspected that his +subordinate entertained such a notion; he always spoke of him as an +honest, harmless fellow, who knew his duty and did it. + +The bar being tolerably smooth, the boats crossed without any accident, +the crews giving way with a will up the river. The tide was flowing, so +they made rapid progress. + +"This is something like our expedition up the San Juan de Nicaragua," +observed Desmond to Adair. "Except that we had white fellows to fight +instead of Arabs, and a hot stream to pull against instead of having the +tide with us." + +"The tide will turn before long," answered Adair; "and if the boats get +aground we may find these same Arabs rather tough customers. However, +we must look out to avoid the contingency, and if we can take the +fellows by surprise, we may manage to get hold of a good number of +slaves." + +The tide before long, as Adair predicted, began to ebb, and the boats +made much slower progress than before. It was nearly nightfall when +they got up to Monkey Island, inside of which the commodore ordered them +to anchor; the boats being brought up close together, the awnings were +spread, the mainbrace spliced, and other preparations made for passing +the night. An extra allowance was served out to induce the men to +swallow the quinine mixed with it; for though some made wry faces, their +love of grog induced them to overcome their objection to the bitter +taste. + +After the grog, songs were sung alternately by the crew of each boat, +the commodore, who had nothing of the martinet about him, being always +ready to encourage his men to amuse themselves harmlessly; and they were +yet too far off from the fort to run any risk of their approach being +betrayed by their voices. + +"Sweethearts and wives," sung out a voice from one of the boats, and was +taken up by the rest, as the last drop of grog was drained. Murray and +Adair drank the toast heartily, though in a less demonstrative manner +than their companions, who possibly might have been very little troubled +with the thoughts of either wives or sweethearts. No one for the time +dwelt on the somewhat serious work on which they were likely to be +engaged the next day. At length, each man looked out for the softest +plank he could find, and turned in to sleep, the officers enjoying no +more luxurious couches than their inferiors; to some poor fellows it +might be the last rest they were to take here below. + +A look-out, however, was kept, in case any of the Arab dhows should slip +down the river. Two of the gigs were sent alternately ahead to watch +for any craft which might come in sight. None, however, were seen, and +just as the first streaks of daylight appeared in the sky, the commodore +gave the order to "pipe to breakfast." Fires were lighted on the +island, and cocoa and coffee warmed up, while another dose of quinine +was served out to each man. + +The operation did not take long, and once more the flotilla advanced, +the tide carrying them rapidly up the river. About noon, as the sun was +beating down with tremendous force, Angoxa came in sight, with, as the +commodore had expected from the information he had received, several +dhows at anchor before it under the protection of its guns. Directly +the boats rounded the last point, which had before concealed their +approach, the red flag was hoisted above the fort, and at the same time +the loud sounds of the beating of tom-toms and drums commenced, +continuing incessantly, as if to intimidate the English tars and induce +them to pull back again to their ships. + +The men laughed. "What a row them niggers do kick up! I wonder whether +they think we're going back frightened by all their tom-tomming. We'll +show them presently that we've got some chaps aboard which will bark not +a little louder and do a precious deal more harm," exclaimed Ben +Snatchblock, who accompanied Mr Mildmay in one of the _Opal's_ boats. +That young officer took things very coolly. He was observed with his +notebook jotting down his thoughts, but whether in the form of a +poetical effusion or not, Billy Blueblazes, who was beside him, could +not ascertain, though he tried hard to do so. + +"The great Wolfe recited poetry when about to die in the arms of victory +on the heights of Abraham," observed Mr Mildmay to the midshipman; "do +you recall the lines to your memory, Billy? What were they?" + +"I think, sir, they were something about `the curfew tolling the knell +of parting day,' but I can never recollect more of the poem." + +"Ah! so they were--let me see," and the lieutenant bit the end of his +pencil. "`As Britain's tars who plough the mighty deep.'" + +"`Sheep' or `sleep' come in rhyme with `deep,'" suggested Billy. + +"Be silent--I want a grander term," said the lieutenant. "`Where waves +on waves in wild confusion leap'--that's fine isn't it?" + +"Yes, sir," said Billy. "We're up an African river, and are going to +lick a lot of blackamoors; you'll have a difficulty in bringing +blackamoor into your lines, I've a notion." + +"Of course I should call them Arabs, their proper designation, when I +get as far," replied Mr Mildmay. + +Just then the boat grounded, as did several others near her, and there +the whole flotilla lay in sight of the fort, outside of which appeared a +number of barracoons, but whether full of slaves or not it was +impossible to say. The unavoidable delay of the leading boats enabled +the others to overtake them; and as the tide rose, their crews shoved +them over the shoals, and once more they advanced in line abreast. +Their progress was slow; again several of the larger boats grounded, and +the whole, consequently, had to wait till the rising tide floated them. +The next time they grounded, the Arabs seemed to have discovered that +they were within range of the eight guns mounted on the fort, as well +indeed as the muskets of the large party sent out along the bank. The +latter, as well as the guns in the fort, now began blazing away, shot +and bullets flying thickly over and around the boats. Mr Mildmay at +this juncture thought it as well to put his notebook into his pocket. +The boats' guns, however, were not to be idle; the commander gave the +order to fire, and immediately they opened with spherical case-shot, +grape and canister, the former thrown with great accuracy into the +middle of the fort, while the latter quickly sent some of the swarthy +heroes under shelter, and put the greater number to flight. Several of +the men in the boats had been hit, which excited the eagerness of the +crews to get at the foe. The first thing, however, to be done was to +destroy the dhows. As the boats worked their way up over the shoals +towards them, a hot fire was opened from those lowest down. This was +quite sufficient to show their character, and the marines and +small-armed men began peppering away at every Arab turban or cap of +which they could catch sight, while the shells and grape prevented the +enemy from returning to their guns in the fort. The tide, rushing in +more rapidly than before, quickly enabled the smaller boats, led by +Adair, to get up to the dhows. He was the first on board the largest, a +craft of a hundred tons or more. Her crew, having had no time to +escape, fought desperately. Some were cut down, and the rest driven +overboard, not a human being remaining alive on board. She was at once +set on fire, and the rest of the dhows were attacked in the same manner +in succession. On board, some resistance was offered, but the crews of +others, leaping overboard, attempted to save themselves by swimming to +the shore. As there was no object in carrying any of them off, they +were all burned, there being no doubt of their piratical character. + +Though the guns in the fort were for the time silenced, they were still +capable of mischief, and the commodore wisely resolved entirely to +destroy the hornets' nest. "We must land, Commander Murray, and drive +the enemy into the woods, burn their stockade, spike their guns, and +tumble them into the river," he shouted. The first part of the +business, on which the rest depended, was not so easily accomplished. +The banks shelved so gradually that the boats grounded when still some +twenty yards or more from the shore. The rising of the tide would in +time carry them nearer; but in the interval they were exposed to a +galling fire from the enemy, who were under shelter both in the fort and +in several other spots along the bank; while, in all probability, before +the fighting on shore was over the tide would again ebb and leave the +boats high and dry, exposed to the attacks of the numerous bands who +were gathering on the spot in the hope of wreaking their vengeance on +their foes. Still the plucky little commodore, in spite of all risks, +was determined to carry his plan into execution. The commanders of the +boats received orders to sweep round in line, run their bows as far up +as they could, and while the enemy were driven from the banks by showers +of grape and canister, the marines and small-armed men were to land and +attack them with the bayonet should they attempt to make a stand. + +The order was quickly obeyed; the guns from the larger boats sent forth +so deadly a shower of missiles that the Arabs, who were coming down in +force to dispute their landing, took to flight, leaving many dead and +wounded. The difficulty was now to get on shore; the bottom was likely +to be muddy, the water tolerably deep. Murray and Adair, with their +boats' crews, were among the first to gain a footing on dry land. The +commodore was eager to be up with them, but, at the same time, was very +unwilling to get wet. Tom Bashan, having stepped out into the mud, +received orders from his chief to lift him on his shoulders and carry +him on shore. Tom, who had his musket in his right hand, did as he was +ordered by taking the little commodore up with his left arm and placing +him behind his back, where the brave leader of the expedition sat, his +head just above Tom's grinning countenance, while he waved his sword +with no little risk of cutting off his coxswain's nose, shouting in his +eagerness, "On, my lads! on! form on the beach as you land--skirmishers +to the front. Now let the brown-skinned rascals see what British +sailors are made of!" + +The marines, who had landed by the time the commodore had been deposited +by Tom on the ground, formed in good order, with parties of bluejackets +on either flank. The Arabs appeared to be taken completely by surprise, +never apparently supposing that the British would leave their boats. +They had halted at some distance, and looked a formidable body, ten +times more numerous than those who were about to attack them; while the +commodore, nothing daunted, waving his sword and dashing forward, +shouted, "Charge, my lads! charge!" + +The British bayonets gleamed brightly in the sun, as, with steady tramp, +the line of redcoats and bluejackets advanced at the charge. The Arabs +fired a round, the scimitars of their leaders flashing for a few +seconds, and then, unable to face the bristling wall of bayonets, their +courage gave way, and they fled helter-skelter for safety towards the +neighbouring woods. The English pursued them for some distance, firing +as they advanced, and halting only to give sufficient time to reload. +If they advanced too far, as the fort was yet unsubdued, there was a +risk of a sally being made from it and the boats being destroyed. The +commodore, carried away by his ardour, had already gone farther than was +wise. Discovering his error, he ordered his followers to fall back as +rapidly as possible on the boats. + +Just then a strong body of men were seen issuing from the fort. Not a +moment was to be lost, or they might reach the boats. The commodore was +pretty well blown by his recent exercise, but, putting forth all his +strength, he led his men back even faster than they had come. As soon +as the enemy saw their approach, they hastily retreated within the +stockades. + +"Now, my lads," cried the commodore, "we have the last part of the +business to accomplish. Before a quarter of an hour is over, we must be +inside that fort. I know that you can do it, and will do it." + +The men replied by a loud cheer, and advanced, in high spirits at their +previous success, towards the stockades. The Arabs, who had seen their +friends beaten, lost heart from the first; and though they defended the +stockades for some minutes with considerable bravery, they quickly took +to flight as the bluejackets came tumbling down over their heads, +cutlass in hand. In a few minutes the place was won, the garrison +escaping by a western gate, as the English forced their way in over the +eastern side. The commodore's first impulse was to follow the enemy, +but there were still too many people in the fort to make such a +proceeding safe. The non-combatants, women and children, received +orders to take themselves off with such of their personal property as +they could carry, an act of leniency which surprised them not a little. +In a short time not a single inhabitant remained behind. + +The guns were then spiked and dragged to a part of the fort directly +over the stream, into which they were tumbled, and from whence it would +give the Arabs no small amount of trouble to fish them out again. The +place was next set on fire in every direction, when the party, each man +carrying such booty as he had managed to pick up, left the fort to the +destruction awaiting it. The flames spread amid the wooden and +thatch-roof buildings, till the surrounding stockades caught fire, and +the whole hornets' nest was one sea of flame. + +The barracoons, from which the slaves had, as it was expected, been +removed, were treated in the same manner, when the commodore, highly +satisfied with the result of the expedition, ordered the men to embark. +To get the heavy boats afloat, however, was no easy matter; the tide had +already begun to ebb; it seemed very doubtful whether they could be got +off, till the crews, putting their shoulders under the gunwales, lifted +them by sheer strength into deeper water. Before a single man attempted +to get on board, the gallant commodore, who, though not afraid of the +hottest fire, had an especial dread of getting wet, was again carried +for some distance on Bashan's shoulders, till he was safely deposited in +the sternsheets of his boat, where the giant, with dripping clothes, +followed him. + +Further delay would have been dangerous, as, the channel being unknown, +the boats might at any moment get aground, and be left there by the +rapidly-falling tide. It was, besides, important, for the sake of the +wounded men, to return as soon as possible to the ships. Although not a +man had been hit on shore, either when attacking the enemy in the open +or storming the fort, during the first part of the day several +casualties had occurred; two poor fellows had been killed, and six +others had been wounded, one very severely. Excepting, however, on +board the boat in which the dead bodies lay, the men were in as high +spirits as usual, exulting in the success of the expedition. Now and +then they restrained their mirth, as first one and then another of the +boats grounded, and there seemed a probability that the rest would share +their fate. They, however, were got off, and the flotilla continued its +course down the stream, one boat following the other in line. + +They reached their anchorage inside Monkey Island soon after darkness +came on. Though the water was here of sufficient depth, even at low +tide, to allow the boats to keep afloat, and, the dhows having been +destroyed, they could not be assailed from above, still their dangers +and difficulties were not over; for, should their position be +discovered, a force might gather on the banks, and cause them +considerable annoyance. During the night, therefore, the men were +ordered to keep their arms by their sides, ready for instant use--it +being impossible to say at what moment they might be attacked. + +The bar, also, had to be crossed. It was sufficiently smooth when they +came over it, but how it would be on their return was the question. +Those who had before been on the coast declared that they had frequently +seen a surf breaking over it in which even a lifeboat could scarcely +live. + +"Faith, Archie, we've had a jolly day of it," remarked Desmond, whose +boat was lying alongside that of the commander of the _Opal_; "if this +is the sort of fun we're generally to have, I'm mighty glad we came out +here." + +"Small fun for the poor fellows who have been shot," answered Archie; "I +hear one of them groaning terribly; the sooner we get back to the ships +the better for them." + +"Faith, it isn't pleasant to have a shot through one, and I hope that +won't be our lot," said Desmond. "I only wish Tom Rogers was with us. +From what I hear, the boats of the squadron are constantly sent away on +separate cruises to look after slavers, and it would be capital if we +could get sent off on a cruise together--much more amusing than having +to stick on board the ship with the humdrum, everyday routine of watches +and musters and divisions." + +To this, of course, Archie agreed. The youngsters, forgetting that +their commander was close to them, were chattering away in somewhat loud +voices, when Murray ordered them to knock off talking, and to turn in +and go to sleep. The night passed away quietly, and all hoped to get on +board their respective ships at an early hour the next morning. + +After the men had breakfasted on the island, the squadron of boats, led +by their gallant commodore, pulled down with the ebb towards the mouth +of the river, up which a stiffish breeze was blowing, just sufficient to +ripple over the surface of the water glittering in the rays of the +rising sun. On either hand rose a forest of tall trees, their feathery +tops defined against the clear blue sky. In a short time the ships +could be discerned in the offing, rolling their masts ominously from +side to side, while ahead rose a threatening wall of white foam, +extending directly across the river's mouth. The crew of the +commodore's boat ceased pulling, and the other boats as they came up +followed their example. + +"Here we are, caught like mice in a trap, gentlemen!" exclaimed Adair, +as Murray and the commander of the _Busy Bee_ came up alongside him. + +"It will be madness to attempt forcing the boats through yonder +breakers; the largest would be swamped directly she got among them," +observed Murray. "It's now nearly low tide; but perhaps at the top of +high-water they may prove less formidable, and we may be able to get +out. We shall, at all events, have to wait till then." + +As the boats, during this conversation, had been carried somewhat close +to the dangerous breakers, the commodore ordered them to pull round and +to make their way some little distance up the river, where the men could +lie on their oars and wait for an opportunity of crossing the bar. Many +an eye was turned towards the shore, where a game of leap-frog or some +other amusement could be indulged in, but not a spot appeared on which +they could land. The sun rose higher and higher in the sky, his rays +beating down on their heads and blistering their noses and cheeks, while +the stock of water and other liquids which had been brought rapidly +diminished. + +"I hope that we shall be able to get out when the tide rises," said +Desmond to Adair; "if not, I've a notion that we shall be pretty hard +pressed." + +"So have I," said Adair; "but it is possible that the bar may remain in +its present state for several days together, and, if so, we shall have +to forage on shore for whatever food we can pick up. It may not be so +easy to find pure water, though." + +"For my part, I should be ready to drink ditch-water," exclaimed +Desmond; "I never felt so thirsty in my life." + +Many others were in the same condition as Paddy, but no one complained. +A small quantity only remained, which was willingly given up for the use +of the poor wounded men, who of course suffered greatly. Hour after +hour passed by, and anxious eyes were cast at the white wall of surf, +which cut them off from the blue ocean beyond; its summit, dancing and +leaping, glittered brightly in the sun's rays. + +At length, the tide rising, the breakers appeared to decrease somewhat +in height. "I think, sir, that I could carry my gig through," said +Murray, "and, if so, the heavier boats may be able to follow." + +"You may make the attempt, provided all your people can swim, for your +boat may be swamped," said the commodore; "but as the tide is rising, +you will be drifted back, and we must be ready to pick you up." + +"All my boat's crew are good swimmers," said Murray, "but I hope they +will not be compelled to exercise their powers." + +Murray, having placed the remainder of the stores, with all unnecessary +weight, on board the larger boats, prepared to make the bold attempt; +Adair and Snatchblock following him, as close as they could venture, to +the inner line of breakers. Standing up and surveying the bar for some +minutes, he at length selected a part where the rollers which came in +from the ocean appeared to break with less violence than on either hand. + +"Give way, my lads," he cried suddenly; and the crew bending to their +oars, the boat shot quickly up the foaming side of the first of the +formidable watery hills which had to be passed before the open sea could +be gained. His progress was watched with intense eagerness by those in +the other boats. Now she was lost to sight, as she sank into a valley +on the farther side of the inner roller; now she rose to the foaming +summit of the next. + +"He'll do it!" cried the little commodore, standing up in the +sternsheets, that he might the better watch the progress of the young +commander's boat, and clapping his hands like a midshipman. The more +dangerous part of the bar, however, had not yet been reached; still +Murray continued his course. Now the summit of another roller was +gained, the white foam hissing and sparkling over the boat, and almost +concealing her from sight. + +"She's capsized after all, and they'll have a hard swim of it," shouted +someone. + +"No, she isn't," cried another voice; "I see her bows rising up on the +outer roller. In another minute she'll be clear of them." + +"Bravo! well done!" exclaimed the commodore, dancing with delight; +"she's through it, and will soon be on board the _Busy Bee_." + +The officer in charge of the steamer, it should be said, not finding the +boats at the time expected, had, according to orders, got up steam and +stood in to ascertain what had become of them. + +"Now, my lads," cried the commodore, "what the gig has done we can do. +I'll bring up the rear, and be ready to help any boat which may meet +with an accident. The post of most danger is the post of honour, which +I claim for myself; for those in the last boat will have less chance of +being rescued than any of the rest." + +Adair was the next to attempt the hazardous experiment. His boat was +half filled, but he got through without being swamped, and the water was +baled out. The rest in succession followed, each officer waiting for a +favourable opportunity to steer through the line of surf. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +MOZAMBIQUE--VISIT TO THE GOVERNOR--HAMED, THE INTERPRETER--ESCAPE OF A +SLAVE TO THE OPAL--PREPARATIONS FOR SHARP WORK--A SLAVE DHOW IN SIGHT-- +HER WRECK--ADAIR AFTER HER THROUGH THE BREAKERS--SEVERAL OF THE SLAVES +RESCUED--BEN SNATCHBLOCK ATTEMPTS TO COMFORT THEM--HIS EFFORTS NOT +APPRECIATED--RETURN TO THE SHIP--HORRIBLE STATE OF THE RESCUED BLACKS. + +While the frigate stood to the northward, and the _Busy Bee_ buzzed +across to Madagascar, the _Opal_ stood for Mozambique, where Murray had +to obtain an interpreter, to pick up all possible information regarding +the movements of slavers. Two days afterwards the corvette came to an +anchor off the chief settlement of the Portuguese on that coast. + +The town stands on an island, about a mile and a half in length, +situated on a deep inlet of the sea, into which several small rivers +fall. The harbour is of considerable size, its entrance guarded by a +fort, beyond which appeared an avenue of trees on a gentle slope, then a +collection of flat-roofed whitewashed houses, then the palace of the +Portuguese governor, with pink walls, and a considerably dilapidated +cathedral, below which a stone pier, with buttresses of a sugar-loaf +form, runs out into the sea. + +"Not a very attractive-looking place," observed Terence to his brother +lieutenant, as they viewed it from the ship. + +"Yet it speaks of the bygone magnificence of the once proud Lusitanian," +answered the poet. "I must write some lines on the subject. The place +is not without interest." + +"Those dhows, and low, dark, piratical-looking schooners, have +considerably more interest to us, however," said Adair; "they are not +employed in any honest calling, depend on that; and there lie two +Spaniards and a Yankee. If they have no slaves on board, they will have +before long, and we must do our best to catch them. We must depend on +our own wits, though, for it's impossible to get any correct information +from the Portuguese officers--they are most of them as arrant +slave-dealers as the Arabs themselves. That man-of-war schooner, for +instance, is much more likely to help the slavers to escape than to +assist us in catching them, and is very likely often employed in +bringing off a cargo of ebony from the shore." + +The schooner he pointed at was a handsome vessel, with a thoroughly +piratical look about her. However, she formed a strong contrast to the +Arab dhows by which she was surrounded. They were of all sizes, the +largest measuring, perhaps, three hundred and fifty tons. + +"If I had to describe a dhow, I should say that her shape was like half +a well-formed pear, cut longitudinally," observed Adair, looking towards +the large craft over the quarter, which lay at some little distance, and +was preparing apparently to put to sea. "See, her bow sinks deeply in +the water, while the stern floats lightly upon it. Large as that craft +is, she is only partially decked. She has cross-beams, however, to +preserve her shape, and on them are laid flat strips of bamboo, which +enable the crew to make their way from one end to the other. At the +afterpart she has a large house, lightly built, the roof of which forms +a poop, while the interior serves, I have no doubt, for the cabin of the +skipper, and probably for his wives and children, as well as his +passengers and the whole of his crew. She has a heavy, rough spar for a +mast, tapering towards the head and raking forward. The sail which they +are now just hoisting is, in shape, like a right-angled triangle, with a +parallelogram below its base; the hypothenuse or head of the sail is +secured to a yard, like an enormous fishing-rod; the halyards are +secured to it about a third of the way from the butt-end, and it is +hoisted close up to the head of the mast. A tackle brings down the +lower end of the yard to the deck, and serves to balance the lofty +tapering point, while the sheet is secured to the lower after-corner of +the sail. Though many of the smaller dhows have only one mast, that big +fellow has two, with a sail of the same shape as the first, but more +diminutive. The larger sail is of preposterous proportions, and it +seems wonderful that she can carry it without being capsized. It +appears to be formed of a strong soft cotton canvas, of extreme +whiteness. Those vessels don't tack, but when beating to windward wear +by putting up the helm and taking the sheet round before the yard and +bringing it aft again on the other side; the deepest part of the dhow +being, as you see, under the foremast, it forms a pivot round which the +shallow stern, obeying the helm, rapidly turns. Clumsy as they look, I +hear that these craft are wonderfully fast, and, with the wind free, +will put us on our mettle to overhaul them." + +"I should like to judge for myself on that point," observed Mildmay. +"Fellows who have allowed prizes to escape them always declare that the +craft they have chased is faster than anything afloat." + +"I hope we shall have the chance before long," said Adair; "we must keep +a bright lookout from the ship and try to do what we can. The commander +intends running down the coast, and then despatching all the boats which +can be spared to look into the creeks and harbours, and other +hiding-places in which any slavers are likely to take shelter. I should +like to go on such an expedition myself, if the commander can spare me, +shouldn't you?" + +"No, thank you," answered Mildmay; "I've no fancy for going away and +sleeping in an open boat, without a change of linen or any of the +necessaries of life." + +"Well, then, I'll leave you to do my duty on board, and volunteer to +command the first expedition sent away," said Adair; "you'll take good +care of the ship in the meantime." + +"Ah, yes!--though I have never aspired to the post of first +lieutenant,--to oblige you," said Mildmay. + +"Thank you," answered Adair, laughing. + +In the afternoon the captain and lieutenants went to pay their respects +to the Portuguese governor, and Desmond and Archie were invited to +accompany them. Landing on the stone pier before described, they made +their way along the narrow, dirty streets, which literally swarmed with +slaves. There were faces of every form, if not of colour, for all were +black as jet; their faces disfigured in every variety of manner, some +with lip-rings, others with rings in their noses, and some with pieces +of bone stuck spritsail fashion through the cartilage. Some, instead of +bone, wore brass-headed nails, while many had pieces of bone through +their ears. The faces of others were fearfully gashed, a yellow dust +filling up the grooves. + +Mozambique, indeed, is the chief slave-mart of the Portuguese, and +thousands of unhappy beings are kidnapped and brought there from all +parts of the interior, ready to be shipped to any country where +slave-labour is in demand. + +The English officers found the Portuguese governor seated in a broad +verandah, in an easy chair, smoking a cigar, and enjoying the +sea-breeze, while sheltered from the hot sun. He received them +courteously, begging them to be seated, and ordering coffee and +cigarettes, which were immediately brought by his slaves, the latter +accompanied by a plate of hot charcoal, from which to light them. He +expressed himself gratified by their visit, and assured them that his +great desire was to put down the slave-trade; but, shrugging his +shoulders, he acknowledged that it was no easy matter. "In spite of all +I can do," he added, sighing, "my subordinates will indulge in it. What +can be expected? They do not like the country, and are naturally in a +hurry to make their fortunes and get away again. It is a second nature +to the Arabs, and their chief mode of existing; and as long as the +French and Brazilians and Cubans will buy slaves, what can prevent it? +The former, to be sure, ship them as emigrants and free Africans, though +not a negro would leave his country if he could help it." + +The governor was so frank, and apparently so sincere in his offers of +assistance, that Murray told him one of his chief objects in coming to +Mozambique was to obtain an interpreter who could thoroughly be trusted. + +"I know the man for you," said the governor; "though not a beauty, he is +worthy of confidence--knows the whole coast and the tricks of the +slave-dealers, and would obtain for you all the information you require. +I'll give directions to have him sent on board, and you can there make +any arrangements you think fit." + +Murray having thanked the governor for his courtesy, he and his party +took a walk round the island. "Faith, for my part, I'd rather be first +lieutenant of the _Opal_ than governor-general of all the Portuguese +settlements in the East put together," exclaimed Adair; "for of all the +undetectable places I ever set foot in, this surpasses them in its +abominations." + +Soon after they returned on board, an individual, who announced himself +as the interpreter sent by the governor-general of Mozambique to serve +on board Her Majesty's warship, came up the side. + +"And what's your name, my fine fellow?" asked Murray, as he eyed the +unattractive personage. The governor had certainly not belied him when +he described him as destitute of good looks. On the top of his grisly +head he wore a large white turban. His colour might once have been +brown, but it was now as black as that of a negro, frightfully scarred +and marked all over. He had but one eye, and that was a blinker, which +twisted and turned in every direction when he spoke, except at the +person whom he was addressing. His lips were thick, his nostrils +extended--indeed, his countenance partook more of the negro than of the +Arab type. His feet were enormous, with toes widely spread. He wore a +loose jacket, striped with blue, over a dirty cotton coat reaching to +his knees, and huge blue baggy trousers. + +"Me Haggis ben Hamed at your sarvice, Senor Capitan," he answered, +making a salaam; "me undertake show where you find all the slaves on the +coast, and ebbery big ship and dhow that sails." + +"And what payment do you expect for rendering us these services?" asked +Murray. + +"Forty pesados for one month, sar; eighty, if I take one dhow; and +hundred and sixty, if I help you to one big ship." + +"Pretty heavy payment, Master Hamed," observed Murray. + +"Ah, Senor Capitan, you not take one vessel without my help--you see," +answered the interpreter, drawing himself up and looking very important. +Murray suspected that he was right, and finally agreed to pay the +reward demanded. From that moment Hamed was installed on board. + +As a fair breeze blew out of the harbour, Murray was in a hurry to be +off. The pilot, however, asserted that he could not venture to take out +the ship except during broad daylight. The _Opal_ had therefore to wait +till the next morning. The pilot accordingly took his departure, +promising to come off again at an early hour. Some time after sunset, +Adair and the master were walking the deck, discussing the plan of their +proposed boat excursion, to which the commander had agreed, when, as +they turned aft, they caught sight of the dark figure of a man who had +just climbed over the taffrail, and now stood quaking and shivering +before them. + +"Where do you come from, my friend?" asked Jos; but the stranger did not +reply, except by an increased chattering of his teeth, though he put up +his hand in an attitude of supplication. + +"Well, no one wishes to hurt you," said Green; "come forward and let us +see what you are like," and he called to the quartermaster to bring a +lantern. The stranger, gaining courage from the master's kind tone of +voice, followed him and Adair. He was evidently greatly exhausted. + +"Bring a cup of hot coffee and some biscuit; it will restore the poor +wretch, and help him to tell us what he wants," said the master. + +After taking the food and liquid, the negro speedily revived, and, +drawing his finger across his throat, with the addition of other signs, +he intimated that his master was about to kill him, when he made his +escape; and it was evident that he must have swum a distance of two +miles or more at the risk of his life, to put himself under the +protection of the British flag. His name, he intimated, was Pango; and +that his master, if he should recapture him, would carry him off and +kill him. Hamed, on being summoned, interrogated the black; and from +the account he gave, Adair and Green were convinced that they had +clearly understood Pango's pantomimic language. + +The commander, who had not turned in, on coming on deck and hearing the +case, promised poor Pango that he should be protected; and to do so +effectually, at once entered him on the ship's books. The negro +expressed his gratitude by every means in his power, and, being taken +below by Ben Snatchblock the boatswain, was speedily, to his delight and +satisfaction, rigged out in seaman's duck trousers and shirt. He was, +notwithstanding, far from being at ease, dreading lest the tyrannical +master from whom he had fled should discover his place of retreat, and +claim him. Hamed, however, made him understand that he now belonged to +the ship, and that all on board would fight for him with their big guns +and small-arms, and go to the bottom rather than give him up. On +comprehending this, he showed his joy by capering and singing, and +making a variety of demonstrative gestures, signifying that if his +former owner came to look for him, he would get more than he bargained +for. At length he stopped, and a shade of melancholy came over his +countenance. Hamed, who, in spite of his ugliness, possessed some of +the better feelings of human nature, asked him what was the matter. + +He sighed, and said that he had a brother on shore who was as badly off +as he had been, and that he should now be parted from him for ever, as +he could never venture back to Mozambique, or set his foot on shore in +the neighbourhood, lest he should be kidnapped and carried back to a +worse bondage than that from which he had escaped. + +Hamed, of course, could give him little hope of rescuing his brother, +and advised him to turn in and be thankful that he himself had escaped. +Notwithstanding poor Pango's fears, no one appeared to claim him, and +the next morning he was seen among the men forward, lending a hand at +all sorts of jobs, evidently anxious to make himself useful. + +The pilot at length came off, announcing that the tide and wind would +now serve for taking out the ship. "Hands shorten in cable!" shouted +Ben Snatchblock, his pipe sounding shrilly along the decks. Pango +remained forward, concealing himself behind the foremast, though he +every now and then took a glance at the ill-favoured pilot, a big, +cut-throat, piratical-looking individual, who was standing aft near the +master, while his boat hung on alongside the quarter. + +Sail was made, the anchor lifted, and the ship was gathering way, when a +black sprang out of the boat alongside through a port, and tried to hide +himself under one of the midship guns. The savage-looking pilot espied +him, and ordered him back into the boat. Instead of obeying, he clung +tightly to the gun. "Remove the man and put him back into the boat," +said the commander; "but do not handle him roughly." Now, as the poor +black clung with might and main to the gun, and shrieked loudly for +mercy, the latter order prevented the seamen from executing the former. + +"The nigger won't let go, sir," shouted the master-at-arms, Ned Lizard, +"unless we cut off his hands and feet--might as well try to haul a +cuttle-fish from a rock without leaving its feelers behind it." + +"Let him alone, then," said Murray; and, turning to the pilot, he +intimated that he must take his man himself if he wanted him, but that +he must, in the meantime, look out not to run the ship on shore. + +The pilot accordingly continued at his post, every now and then glaring +savagely at the poor negro, and uttering a growl signifying that he +would very soon have him in his power. Blackie still clung fast to the +gun, casting a piteous look at the good-natured countenances of the +seamen, imploring them to help him, which it was evident they would be +very ready to do. + +At length the ship was in the open sea, and the pilot, who had received +his payment, was in a hurry to return. Approaching his slave, he +ordered him to get into the boat; the latter only replied by piteous +shrieks and cries, clinging as tightly as before to the gun with arms +and legs, while he seized the tackle in his jaws. + +"Tell the pilot, Hamed, that he must carry off the gun and all, if he +wants the man; but take him by force he must not," said Adair. + +No sooner had Hamed interpreted this than the pilot, drawing his dagger, +would have plunged it into the back of the miserable slave, had not the +master-at-arms seized his arm, exclaiming, "No, no, my fine fellow; +we'll have none of that sort of thing on board here. If you want the +man, as the lieutenant says, you must take him by fair means; and, if +not, you must let him stay. Tell him, Hamed, if he tries that trick +again, he'll be run up to the fore-yardarm there before he is many hours +older." + +The pilot stamped and swore all sorts of Mohammedan oaths, which might +have shocked even the ears of the prophet, and appealed to the +commander, who intimated, in return, that if the slave sought the +protection of the British flag, it would be granted him, and that it was +very evident he had no desire to go back to Mozambique. At last +Mustapha saw that he must make up his mind to lose his slave, and, +casting a last ferocious look at him, as much as to say, "If I ever +catch you on shore, my fine fellow, your skin and bones will part +company," he lowered himself down into the boat. + +Blackie peered through the port till he saw that she had actually let go +and was dropping astern, when he jumped up, and the next instant, Pango, +coming from his hiding-place, rushed aft, and the two blacks, throwing +their arms round each other, burst into tears of joy. The last runaway +was no other than Pango's brother, who was forthwith christened Bango. +Not forgetting the pilot, they together ran aft, and waved their hands +triumphantly at him, as the ship, increasing her speed, left the boat +astern, he shouting and grinning with mad and impotent rage. + +The corvette stood down the coast, a bright look-out being kept both for +native dhows and square-rigged vessels, of which not a few Brazilians, +Spaniards, and Americans were known to be engaged in the nefarious +traffic. The carpenters had been busy fitting the boats, raising the +gunwales of the smaller ones, and adding false keels to the larger, to +enable them the better to carry sail; and all hands guessed that +something was to be done, but what it was the commander kept to himself, +or made known only to his lieutenants. + +In spite of the utmost vigilance of the look-outs, not a vessel had been +seen, till one morning, just at daybreak, as the ship was standing in +for the land, the wind being to the southward, a dhow was discovered +coming up before it, her canvas of snowy whiteness glittering in the +rays of the rising sun. The commander, who was on deck, in a moment +gave the order to lower the lifeboat; and Adair, with Ben Snatchblock +and Desmond, leaped into her and pulled away for the coast, so as to +intercept the dhow should she attempt to pass ahead of the corvette. + +"We've caught the dhow in a trap, at all events," observed Adair, "for +she's no chance with the ship on a wind. She is certain to try and run +for it close inshore, when we shall as certainly catch her. Give way, +my lads! she hasn't seen us as yet, and stands on with a flowing sheet, +thinking that she has a good chance of slipping between the corvette and +the land." + +The wind being light, the corvette was making but little way through the +water, and had a breeze come off the land, the dhow would have had a +fair chance of escaping, had it not been for the boat ready to intercept +her. The dhow, under her immense spread of canvas, glided on rapidly; +and her Arab captain was probably congratulating himself on the prospect +of escaping from his powerful foe, when he caught sight of the boat +lying in wait for him. Heavy rollers broke on the shore, sending the +surf flying up many yards over the beach. The dhow was seen suddenly to +put up her helm and to steer directly for the shore. + +"Good heavens!" cried Adair; "the Arab isn't going to attempt to carry +his vessel through those breakers?" + +"He is, though, sir," observed Snatchblock. "It's a pretty sure sign +that he has got a cargo of slaves aboard. Poor beings! not many of them +will reach the beach alive." + +Adair immediately steered the boat towards the dhow, though he had +little hope of reaching her in time to prevent her from running on +destruction. Several shots were fired to make her heave-to, but the +Arab crew heeded them not; and Adair had got almost within a cable's +length of the breakers when the doomed vessel was seen plunging in their +midst, to be cast in a few seconds on the shingly beach. + +Wildly the sea broke over her, and almost as if by magic, her bulky +hull, melting away, exposed to view a hundred or more black forms +struggling in the water, endeavouring to make their way to dry land. +Some of the unfortunate beings succeeded, but others were carried back +into the surf, and, hurled over and over, were lost to sight, none of +them being drifted out as far as the boat. + +All this time Adair was pulling in towards the breakers. He saw that +the Arab crew, who had been the first to reach the shore, were urging on +the blacks to run towards a thick wood, the outer edge of which was a +few hundred yards only from the beach. + +"I think we can do it," he said to Snatchblock; "I have been through +worse breakers than those in a less buoyant boat than ours. If we don't +manage to get on shore, the Arabs will carry off every one of the +slaves." + +"She'll go through it, sir," answered Snatchblock, looking round at the +breakers. + +"We might save some of the poor wretches, at all events. Give way, my +lads!" cried Adair, and the boat, urged forward by the stout arms of the +crew, was speedily in the midst of the breakers. The sea struck her +abaft, and washed clean over her from stern to stem; and had not +Snatchblock aided Adair in hauling away on the yoke-line, she must have +broached-to. A lifeboat alone could have existed amid those heavy +breakers. + +The next instant another sea struck her, washing over her whole length, +and covering everyone in her; but as it went right over the bows, only a +few inches of water remained. A third time she was deluged, and then +down she sank, it seemed, into comparatively smooth water, and glided up +easily on to the shelving beach. + +The firearms, having been fortunately covered up, were fit for use. +Calling to his men to follow, two only being left in the boat, Adair set +off in pursuit of the Arabs and their captives. It seemed extraordinary +that the latter should have been willing to run off when friends were at +hand eager to rescue them from captivity, but they were evidently as +eager to escape as their masters. The Arabs, seeing only a small number +of Englishmen, would probably, as soon as they had gained the shelter of +the wood, have turned round and fired, and Adair fully expected to be +attacked. Fortunately, in their hurry to escape from the dhow, they had +left their muskets behind them, and their only chance of safety was by +flight. How the slaves, when they found them unarmed and in their +power, might be inclined to treat them was a different question. + +Several black forms were still seen running as fast as their legs could +carry them towards the bush, and Adair and Desmond, who kept ahead, came +up with two young men, looking more like skeletons than living beings. +As they caught them by the arm, the poor wretches sank down on the +ground, shrieking with terror. Snatchblock and the men caught three +more, but it was no easy matter to induce them to run to the beach. Not +one Arab was to be seen, and the remainder of the blacks disappeared +among the thick bushes, where it would have been next to madness for so +small a party to have followed them, not knowing what enemies might be +lurking near at hand. After some persuasion the blacks were induced to +come back to the beach, though trembling in every limb from terror and +weakness as they walked along. Here four small children were found in +the same emaciated condition as their elders, and one unhappy woman, to +whom one of the children appeared to belong; she had injured her foot in +landing, and had been unable to run away. From her cries and shrieks it +was evident that she believed some dreadful fate was about to befall +her. How many poor creatures had been lost in the surf it was +impossible to say, and, as Hamed had not accompanied them, no +information could be gained from the blacks. + +Adair, indeed, had now to consider how they were to get off again. As +from the higher ground on which he stood he looked over the wide belt of +foaming breakers, it seemed almost impossible that the boat, buoyant as +she was, could be forced through them. Even Snatchblock eyed them +anxiously. "We may do it, sir," he remarked, "if there comes a lull; if +not, we shall have to wait here till the sea goes down. The worst is +the want of grub and water, and we are not likely to find either in +these parts, I've a notion, unless some wild beast or other comes to +have a look at us; then we may give him a shot, and try what his flesh +tastes like." + +The day was by this time drawing on. As not a particle of food or a +drop of water had been brought in the boat, all hands were excessively +hungry and thirsty. It was dangerous to separate, though, in search of +provisions, as it was more than possible that the Arabs might instigate +the natives to attack them. Snatchblock and Desmond, however, +volunteered to go, taking different directions, each accompanied by one +man. For the sake of the poor blacks, who seemed literally perishing +from starvation, Adair would willingly have consented, but it would be +far better, he thought, if possible, to get off to the ship. Anxiously +he watched the long line of breakers, but they extended up and down the +coast as far as the eye could reach, without an opening through which +the boat might possibly pass. Another hour or more went by; no shade +was to be obtained except at a distance, under the trees of the forest; +and Adair considered that it would be dangerous to venture so far from +the shore, as the natives might then have the opportunity of stealing on +them unawares. They accordingly sat down on the beach watching the +breakers, in the hopes, as the tide rose, that their violence might +decrease, and an opening appear through which the boat might be forced. +The rays of the sun struck down on their heads with terrific force, +quickly drying their drenched clothes; but they would gladly have +remained wet as they were, could they have found a few yards of shade +beneath a neighbouring tree or rock. + +The wretched blacks sat with stolid looks, as if totally unconscious +that their liberators wished to benefit them. Every now and then, when +they fancied that they were not observed, they cast frightened glances +at the sailors. "I don't know what the poor niggers are thinking of," +observed Snatchblock; "maybe they fancy that we're going to eat them, +though it would be a hard matter to scrape enough off the bones of all +of them to feed a young dog. I wish I knew something of their lingo, +I'd try to make them understand that when we get on board we'll give +them a good blow-out, and that in a week or two they'll not know +themselves. I say, Sambo! we not want to mangy you, old chap," he +added, to the black nearest him, and making significant signs; "we want +to put some honest beef and pork flesh on that carcass of yours and fill +you out, boy; then you dance and sing, and become as merry as a +cricket." + +The black certainly did not understand what was said, and probably +misunderstood his pantomimic gestures. One of them, the farthest off +from the men, had been sitting with his head sunk down between his bent +knees, apparently utterly unable to move; turning his head over his +shoulder, he suddenly started up, and, before anyone could seize him, +darted off towards the wood. + +"Come back, you silly fellow!" cried Desmond, who, with two of the men, +rose to follow him; but before they had got many paces, a large party of +natives armed with bows, arrows, and spears, accompanied by several of +the Arab crew, rushed out from among the trees, uttering threatening +shouts, as if to intimidate the Englishmen. + +"Stand to your arms, my lads," cried Adair; "we must not let those +fellows get near us, or we may be overpowered by numbers." Still the +natives came on, some flourishing their spears, and others preparing +their bows to shoot. Adair lifted his rifle. "Don't any of you fire +till I tell you," he said to his men, while he took aim so as to strike +the ground a few yards in front of the headmost of the party. No one +was hit, but they knew enough of the effect of firearms to be aware that +another bullet might find a billet in one of their bodies. Springing +back, the foremost tumbling the rear-ranks over, they threw themselves +flat on the ground, and began to creep away towards the shelter of the +bush. Adair, shouting to them, pointed to his own rifle and to the +muskets of his men, intimating that if they ventured to advance, they +would have to receive their contents. + +The hint, apparently, had the desired effect; for, though the Arabs +seemed to be doing their utmost to induce the blacks to attack the +strangers, they remained carefully hiding themselves among the trees. +As, however, they might at any moment rush forward, the seamen kept +their muskets ready for instant service, with a watchful eye on their +movements. In the meantime, the black who had escaped had joined them. +What account he had given of the white men it was impossible to say. +One thing was certain, that the presence of the natives would prevent +any attempt to go in search of food and water, and that if they could +not get off, their sufferings from thirst and hunger would become +serious. With increased anxiety, Adair cast his eye over the foaming +rollers, both up and down the coast. The breeze blew strong as ever, +and not a break appeared in that long line of glittering surf. The +party were literally hemmed in, almost without hope of escape. They +might have beaten off the natives, and made their way into the interior +till they could fall in with some game and a stream of water, but then +they would have had to leave the boat and the blacks unprotected. +Still, to starve where they were was not to be thought of. + +"Faith, I'm growing fearfully peckish," exclaimed Desmond; "if you'll +let me, sir, we'll try and get hold of one of those fellows, and make +him order the rest to bring us some grub; if the sea won't go down, it's +the only chance we have." + +Snatchblock was of Desmond's opinion, and of course the men were ready +to follow them. Still, Adair was unwilling to run the risk of being +overpowered. "No, no," he answered; "we can hold out some time longer, +and if at last we find it impossible to get off, we can but do as you +propose." + +"I think, sir, the sea is going somewhat down," said Snatchblock, at +length; "we might get through just a little to the right there. See, +sir, some of the rollers come in with only just a slight top to them, +and if we take the right moment, we may get through." + +"We can but try it," cried Adair. "Lift the poor blacks into the boat; +they'll not add much to her weight. Be smart about it, my lads, +though." + +The negroes seemed very unwilling to move, and shrieked out as if they +were about to be put to death; but they were but as infants in the arms +of the stout seamen. The woman clung to her child as she was lifted +with it into the sternsheets. The men were carried next, and placed at +the bottom of the boat with the little children between them. She was +then run off into the smooth water inside the breakers, the crew jumping +into her; but each time the water receded, she struck on the hard coral +beneath, her admirable construction alone preventing her from being +stove in. The oars were got out, and the boat pulled along till the +spot Snatchblock observed was reached. Her head was then put to the +sea. + +"Give way, my lads," cried Adair, he and Desmond holding on to one +yoke-line, while the boatswain held the other, their eyes eagerly cast +towards the foaming breakers, amid which they were about to force their +way. The crew put forth all their strength. The first breaker was +past. Though they bent to their oars like true British seamen, the +second, as it came thundering on, hurled them back; and it required all +the skill of Adair and his companions to manage the boat till they +reached the smooth water. + +"Never say die, lads!" cried Adair, after waiting a few minutes to allow +the men to recover their strength; "we'll try it again; if the +ash-sticks hold, your muscles will, I am sure." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" answered the crew; "we're ready." + +"Then give way." The attempt was made as before, but again a mighty +roller dashed back the boat, and sent her nearly up to the beach. Still +Adair was unwilling to abandon the attempt. He waited as before, +allowing the boat to remain where there was just water to float her. + +"I am afraid we shall have, after all, to haul up the boat, and sleep on +the beach without our suppers," he observed to Snatchblock; "we can +easily keep the natives at bay, and must hope for smoother water in the +morning." + +"If it must be so, it must," answered the boatswain, standing up, +however, as he spoke, and looking seaward. "We'll tackle them this +time, sir," he exclaimed suddenly; "the outer line of breakers has gone +down since we shoved off." + +Adair stood up. "Yes, we'll not be driven back again, lads; never +fear!" he cried, dropping into his seat. The crew, with a hearty shout, +bent to their oars, and the boat, urged by their strong arms, bravely +breasted the foaming rollers. The first and second were past; the third +came on hissing and roaring; the boat still advanced; its heavy curling +crest swept her from stem to stern, but she held her way, and was ready +when another came on to meet it boldly. Over it she went, throwing out +the water which she had taken in, and in another minute was dancing +merrily on the heaving seas outside the breakers. + +Adair looked anxiously to see whether any of his sable passengers, young +or old, had been washed away. In spite of the risk they had run, all +were safe. The poor mother had grasped her child, and the men the other +young ones. The sun was by this time sinking behind the land; the crew +pulled away with right good will towards the corvette, which could be +seen at a distance of three miles or so. She was standing away from the +land to get a good offing during the night. "They've seen the state of +the surf, and have thought we couldn't get through it, or maybe that we +were lost," observed Snatchblock. + +"Shure, it'll be the greater pleasure to them when we come back," said +Desmond. "Mr Mildmay will be mighty glad to find that he hasn't to do +duty as first lieutenant, though I don't know what old Sandford may wish +in his heart of hearts. He might not object to be made acting +lieutenant." Sandford was the senior mate on board. + +"Had he thought that any accident had happened to us, the commander +would have sent in a boat to ascertain the fact," said Adair. + +Darkness was rapidly coming on, and by degrees the canvas of the +corvette became shrouded in the mists of night. Adair, however, had +taken her bearings, and by the help of the stars was able to steer +directly for her. Still Desmond, who had become perfectly ravenous, +could not help wishing that the commander, instead of keeping off the +coast, had stood in nearer to pick them up. + +The men, however, pulled away cheerily, encouraged with the thoughts of +a good hot supper and a quiet snooze till the next morning. After some +time, a bright light burst forth, sending a lurid glare across the +ocean. + +"There's the corvette," cried Snatchblock; "they hadn't forgotten us. +We'll be snug on board before many minutes are over." + +At last the boat reached the ship's side, and eager hands were stretched +out to lift the emaciated creatures they had brought off on board. The +doctor took charge of them, and administered some weak broth, while the +rest of the party hurried below to obtain the more substantial viands of +which they stood so much in need. + +On Hamed's questioning the liberated slaves, it was discovered that +Snatchblock had been right in his suspicions that the Arabs had told +them, in order to induce them to escape on shore, that if captured by +the white men they would be cooked and eaten. They stated that the dhow +had been crammed full of slaves, many of whom had been drowned in their +attempt to reach the shore, while it was probable that a still larger +number would perish before they were again put on board another +slave-ship by their cruel masters. Had anything been necessary to +induce the officers and crew of the _Opal_ to exert themselves in +putting down the horrible traffic, the state of these poor negroes, and +the account they gave, would have been sufficient to stir them up. One +of the men and two of the children, notwithstanding all the care taken +of them, died before morning. The rest quickly recovered, their skins +filling out perceptibly every day with the good food they received. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +ORDERED AGAIN TO ANGOXA--ISLAND OF MAFAMALE--SEINE FISHING--DESMOND'S +VICTORY OVER THE FISH--THE CARPENTER TRIES HIS HAND, BUT CATCHES A +TARTAR--LIFE ON THE ISLAND--JERRY BIRD'S "KETTLER"--SECOND BOAT +EXPEDITION--LIGHTNING IN THE TROPICS--UP THE RIVER--CAPTURE AND BURNING +OF A DHOW--LAND FOR PROVISIONS--TREACHERY OF NATIVES--ADAIR AND DESMOND +MADE PRISONERS--ADAIR TURNS THE TABLES ON THE OLD CHIEF. + +The corvette lay becalmed, lapping her sides in the shining water, as +the glass-like undulations under her keel rolled her now to starboard +and now to port, the sun striking down and making the pitch bubble up +out of the seams of her deck. No sail was in sight, but still a bright +look-out was kept. In case any slaver bringing up a breeze might +attempt to slip by inshore of her, the boats were in readiness to shove +off in chase. + +"A steamer to the nor'ard, sir," shouted the look-out to the second +lieutenant, who reported the same to the commander. All hands were +quickly up on deck. She was probably a British cruiser, perhaps +bringing news for them--a mail _via_ the Isthmus of Suez and the Red +Sea. + +At last, after various conjectures as to what she was, the _Busy Bee_ +made her number, and paddled up in a way which made the crew wish that +they possessed similar means of locomotion. She blew off her steam when +close to them, and a boat from her side brought her commander on board. +He was the bearer of despatches from the commodore. + +Murray called Adair into his cabin. "The commodore has received +information that the Arabs are rebuilding the fort we destroyed," he +said, "and so I suppose that we shall have to go up the river to do the +work over again. He has directed me in the meantime to station two of +our boats, with one from the _Busy Bee_, to be joined shortly by a +fourth from the frigate, at the island of Mafamale, which is about seven +miles from the mouth of the river. I may select the officer to command +the expedition, and if you wish to go, I will appoint you, with Jos +Green and Desmond and Gordon. You will look out for dhows either going +up to, or coming down from Angoxa, and for others running along the +coast, which are certain to pass between the island and the mainland. +The corvette and the steamer will in the meantime stand down the coast, +and the dhows seeing us will hope to get to Zanzibar without +interruption. The plan seems to be a good one, and I trust that we +shall be able to strike a more effectual blow at the slave-trade than +the commodore has hitherto been able to give it." + +Terence, who had been wishing for this sort of work, gladly accepted +Murray's offer. The corvette stood on till she came off the island, +when the pinnace and barge, well fitted for the duties they were at once +to engage in, were got out. The _Busy Bee_ landed a couple of water +tanks, for not a drop of the necessary fluid was to be found on the +island; while she and the corvette sent three months' provisions on +shore, with tents, arms, and ammunition. + +With three hearty cheers from the crews, responded to by their +respective ships, the boats shoved off and pulled away for the island, +to become their headquarters for the next three months. Its appearance +was not over-attractive, for it was low and sandy, scarcely more than +two miles in circumference, with a small forest of Casuarina trees on +the highest part, bordered by a belt of thin grass. + +One of the first boats sent on shore contained a large seine, and Jos +Green was directed to haul it as soon as possible for the purpose of +supplying the ship's company with fresh fish. All hands were well +pleased to hear the order, and the men destined for that object quickly +transmogrified themselves into fishermen with blue jerseys, tarry +trousers, and red caps, looking more like lawless pirates than +well-conducted men-of-war's men. Two of the smaller boats under the +command of the master, who was accompanied by Desmond and Archie, then +pulled in. On the north side of the island was a shelving beach, where +the water was perfectly smooth and not a rock or stone to be found. It +was just such a beach as to satisfy all the requirements of men-of-war's +men, capable at the same time of supplying sand for holy-stoning the +decks, and to afford admirable ground for hauling the seine. + +The net was quickly run out, forming a wide semicircle, and surrounding, +no doubt, vast numbers of fish, as they could be seen of various forms +and sizes sporting in the clear water. The boats being hauled up, the +work of hauling the net began. Just at that juncture several officers +who had before landed came across the island to see the fun, and +immediately all hands tailed on to the hauling-lines. As the net drew +nearer and nearer to the land, innumerable specimens of the finny tribe +could be seen leaping and springing about, mutually surprised at finding +themselves brought unexpectedly in such near proximity to each other and +to the shore; evidently thinking that it was time to make a dash for the +more open water. Vain were the attempts of those who foolishly fancied +by swimming slow and concealing themselves they might the more surely +effect their escape. The bolder fish, who, leaping high, cleared the +encircling net, were alone successful, some enormous fellows setting the +example. Others attempted to follow them. + +"We shall have them all getting off if we don't bear a hand," cried +Green; "haul away, my lads." + +"Better be after them and hook them out," exclaimed Desmond, suiting the +action to the word, and plunging in amid the struggling fish. Archie +could not resist doing the same, and presently every officer, including +the commander and Adair, were up to their knees in the water, each +trying to seize one or more of the monsters, who, it was evident, would, +if they attempted it, clear a passage for themselves through the meshes. +Desmond had fixed upon two, and down he went upon hands and knees, +endeavouring to kill the creatures leaping, wriggling, and struggling to +get free. As he did so, one of them, making a bolt between his legs, +toppled him over on his nose, where he lay kicking and plunging, +scarcely to be distinguished from the fish surrounding him. He quickly, +however, got his head above water, as he did so, spluttering out, +"Arrah, the baste! I haven't let him go, though," and, kneeling on the +creature, he managed to work his hands under its gills, when, holding it +up, he dragged it triumphantly to the shore. + +One of the smaller youngsters, Billy Blueblazes, upon trying to follow +his example, was literally dragged off his feet, and, had not Archie +seized him and the fish which he held by the gills, might very possibly +have been drowned. + +The shouting and laughing and hallooing which arose on all sides would +alone have been sufficient to drive the unfortunate fish out of their +minds, as officers and men were plunging about here and there grasping +at the larger fish right and left. At length the greater number of the +monsters who had failed to escape having been captured, the men drew the +seine high up on the beach, with some hundreds of fish, most, if not all +of them, as Green declared, excellent eating. As soon as they had been +rendered incapable of effecting their escape, the seine was again +carried out; and though it might have been supposed that the fish would +have avoided the spot, as many as at the first haul were speedily drawn +to land, when a similar scene was enacted, and, all hands being +thoroughly wet, everyone not required for tailing on at the +hauling-lines plunged in as before. Among the most adventurous was the +carpenter, who in his eagerness rushed forward till the water was up to +his armpits; when, fancying he saw a fish of unusual size, and desirous +of gaining the honour of bringing it to shore, he plunged down his hand. +Scarcely had he done so, when, with a shout which might have reached +almost to the ship, he drew it up again, exclaiming, "Bear a hand, +mates, and help me to get rid of this imp of Satan. I'm blessed if I +thought such creatures lived in the ocean." + +He uttered this as he staggered towards the shore, when it was seen that +his whole arm, which he held at full length, was grasped by the dark +slimy tentacles of a monster which, with a beak resembling that of a +bird, was attempting to strike him in the face; had the creature got +hold of a smaller person, it might have succeeded in doing so. Desmond +and Billy Blueblazes were at first inclined to laugh, till they got +closer to the hideous creature. Several of the men with their knives +open hurried forward to the assistance of the carpenter, who bravely +kept his arms stretched out till they succeeded in cutting off its head; +but even then those powerful tentacles retained so much vitality that it +was necessary to remove them one by one. The carpenter's arm was almost +paralysed, and he complained of considerable pain and irritation. + +His adventure, however, did not prevent the rest of the party from +continuing their chase of the larger fish, though they kept a bright +look-out not to be caught by crabs, or to avoid catching hold of a +squid. Though, as before, some escaped, the second haul was almost as +productive as the first. The boats, being loaded with the fish, +returned to the ship. + +The shore party then set to work to prepare for their Robinson Crusoe +life, while the _Opal_ stood away to the northward. Tents were set up, +a hut for the blacksmith's forge, and another for the carpenter close to +the beach, before which a coral reef made a secure harbour for the +boats. A third hut was built near the camp for the cook--not that any +skilled one belonged to the party. The magazine was wisely placed at a +distance, in case a spark from the kitchen or a tobacco-pipe might +chance to find its way to the gunpowder. Everyone was in high spirits +and supremely happy. As soon as the work of the day was over, the men +took to playing leap-frog, diversified by bowls and quoits, which had +been brought on shore. The officers had not forgotten foils and +boxing-gloves, as well as books and writing-desks and drawing materials. +All was not play, however; the arms had to be cleaned every morning, +the men inspected, and a bright look-out kept from dawn to sunset, and +even at night, when the moon afforded sufficient light to distinguish a +sail at any distance gliding over the dark waters. For this purpose a +platform was erected between the summits of two trees, which grew +conveniently close together at the west end of the island, with steps +cut in the trunk of one of them, a man-rope hanging from the top making +it an easy matter to get up. + +Jerry Bird, Green's old shipmate, the man who had been taken off from +Tristan d'Acunha, was the wit of the party. He was the cook the first +day. "Now, my boys, I'll give you a treat," he exclaimed, as he carried +off the various provisions served out by the storekeeper; "don't suppose +that I have lived among savages for no end of years without learning a +trick or two." The fire was lighted, and Jerry put on a huge kettle to +boil. He was soon busily plucking a couple of the fowls which had been +obtained from the last place at which the ship had touched. It was +naturally supposed that there was to be roast fowl for dinner. While +the rest of the party went in various directions,--some to collect +oysters, which clung to the rocks, with hammers and tomahawks to break +them off; others to the look-out man up the tree; and some to lie down +and read under the shade of the tents,--Jerry proceeded with his +culinary operations. A frying-pan and a ladle served him instead of a +gong. When dinner was ready, he commenced a loud clanging, which +sounded from one end of the island to the other. The hungry party soon +collected. There were rows of plates, with knives and forks and basins +with spoons laid out in order, while Jerry stood, ladle in hand, before +his kettle, stirring away with might and main. + +"Here, Tim, stand by with a plate and basin, and take the officers their +dinner," he said. Tim Curran was one of the ship's boys who did duty as +officers' servant. + +As Jerry ladled out the contents of the kettle, it was seen to contain +every article with which he had been furnished; the fowls and beef cut +up into small bits; peas, biscuit, flour, preserved vegetables, emitting +a most savoury odour. No one had cause to complain, for Jerry had added +a seasoning which all acknowledged to be superior to anything they had +ever tasted. + +"I knew you'd like my `kettler,'" he observed, with a self-satisfied +air, as he sat down with his messmates, who gathered round him. + +The rogue had wisely beforehand consulted Adair, who had approved of his +proposal on the subject, and so excellent was his "kettler" pronounced, +that from henceforward it was the everyday meal of the party; and though +others tried to surpass him when their turn came, they all confessed +that they could never do it, and it was voted that it was unequalled by +the best Scotch hotch-potch, which it much resembled. + +They were not long, however, allowed to lead so pleasant a life on +shore. Adair sent off one of the boats across the channel to the +mainland to be in readiness to pounce down on any dhows creeping up on +that side, while he himself went away in the pinnace to the southward, +accompanied by Gerald and Archie, leaving Jos Green in command of the +island. Jerry Bird formed one of the crew, so the party on shore lost +their cook. Pango also, one of the escaped slaves, went as interpreter, +he having by this time acquired enough English to make himself +understood and to understand what was said to him. The boat was +provisioned for three weeks, and Adair hoped, by getting fresh food and +vegetables from the shore, to be able to stay out longer if necessary. +He had on board several articles for barter, and, in addition, a store +of empty beer-bottles, for which he had heard the natives have an +especial fancy. + +Adair's intention was to examine every opening and indentation in the +coast in which a slave dhow could take shelter. He accordingly steered +for the mainland, towards the first bay to the south of Angoxa, into +which it was possible one of the hoped-for prizes might have crept +during the night. On reaching the bay, however, no vessel was to be +seen, and the pinnace accordingly stood out again with a light breeze, +which enabled her to stand down the coast. The day was passed much as +men-of-war's men are accustomed to spend their time on boat expeditions; +the meals were cooked in one pot, common to officers and men, whether +"kettler" for dinner or chocolate for breakfast and supper. Pipes were +smoked, yarns spun, songs sung, journals written up, and now and then, +though not often, books were read. Regular watches were of course kept, +and, as a rule, everyone took as much sleep as he could get. The life, +as all agreed, was pleasant enough while the weather was fine, but it +would be pleasanter to catch a few dhows, send them as prizes into port, +and restore the negroes found on board to liberty. + +"Faith, I wonder whether we ever shall catch one of those rascals," +exclaimed Desmond, beginning to lose patience when, after three days at +sea, not a single dhow had been caught sight of. + +"No fear, Gerald," observed Archie; "they'll be dropping into our jaws +before long if we keep them wide enough open." + +At night the boat was sometimes hove-to, or when the wind was light kept +slowly gliding on over the calm surface of the deep. One night Archie +Gordon had the middle watch. Scarce a breath filled the sails; the +ocean was like glass; not a cloud dimmed the sky, from which the stars +shone forth with a brilliancy which afforded light almost equal to that +of the full moon; every star, reflected in the mirror-like deep, gave it +the appearance of being spangled and streaked with gold. Suddenly there +burst forth over the land so vivid a flash of lightning that rocks and +trees and the distant hills for a moment stood out in such bold relief, +that Archie could not help fancying that the boat had been carried by +some unknown current close to the beach. With a cry of surprise he +aroused his companions. + +"Is anything the matter?" asked Adair, starting up. + +"Arrah, what's in the wind now?" exclaimed Gerald, echoing the question. + +"The whole country seems on fire," answered Archie. "I can by no means +make it out." As he spoke, another flash lighted up, as brilliantly as +during the brightest sunshine, the distant hills and wide expanse of +ocean. The flashes continued bursting forth in rapid succession, +lasting fully ten seconds, with even a less interval between them. Not +the slightest sound of distant thunder was heard; silence reigned over +the ocean. Even the men, who had roused up their companions to gaze at +the wondrous spectacle, uttered not a word. A slight flapping of the +sail against the mast, as a catspaw caught it, or an increased ripple of +the water against the bows, alone struck the ear. + +These brilliant phenomena lasted the greater part of the night. + +"It's very fine," exclaimed Jerry Bird at last; "but to my mind a sound +snooze is more to the purpose than straining our eyes out by winking at +it, seeing we can't say what work may be cut out for us to-morrow; and +so I'm going to turn in." + +His example was followed by the rest of the watch below, though the more +sentimental of the officers continued gazing at it for some time longer. +Adair wished that Lucy Rogers could enjoy it with him. + +"I say, Archie, wouldn't Mr Mildmay now be after writing a +splendiferous sonnet if he was here?" whispered Desmond. + +"Can't you try your hand, Gerald?" said Archie. + +"Not I; I'm no poet. I can make a very good line to begin with, but +when I come to the second, I can never manage to fit the words in +properly." + +"Just try now," said Archie. Thus encouraged, Desmond at length +exclaimed-- + +"`The lightnings flashing o'er the boundless deep--'" + +"Very good," said Archie. + +Gerald repeated the line several times. "`Arouse the seamen from their +"something" sleep,'" he added. "I'll get Mr Mildmay to put in a proper +word instead of `something,' for it's more than I can be after doing." + +"Hold your tongues, youngsters!" exclaimed Adair, whose thoughts had +been far away till they were brought back by his nephew's voice. "Turn +in and get some sleep instead of chattering nonsense." + +The midshipmen, obeying, coiled themselves in the sternsheets, while +Adair, who took the helm, sat indulging in a mood to which he had +hitherto been a stranger. + +The morning came, and soon after breakfast, as the boat was running +along the coast, the entrance to a river, apparently of some size, was +discovered. The sea was tolerably calm on the bar, and as it appeared a +likely place for slavers to ship their cargoes, Adair resolved to run in +and explore it thoroughly. The wind carried them close up to the mouth, +when, it failing altogether, the oars were got out, and the crew pulled +away lustily, in the hopes of at length finding a slaver which they +could make their lawful prize. At this time, however, the Sultan of +Zanzibar issued licences to no inconsiderable number of vessels, on the +pretence that they were engaged in bringing him negroes to work on his +plantations; although, were his island ten times the size that it really +is, he could not have employed one-tenth of the blacks carried off to +slavery. On this flimsy pretext they might therefore find a dhow full +of blacks, and yet not be able to capture her. This, of course, was +often the cause of great disappointment to the crews engaged in the +suppression of the slave-trade. + +A belt of mangrove trees running far into the water being passed, a long +reach of the river was opened up, with a large dhow at the farther end +of it, lying at anchor in mid-stream, apparently ready to sail. The +crew of the pinnace could not restrain a shout of satisfaction. In +spite of the hot sun beating down on their heads, they eagerly bent to +their oars in the hopes of soon being on board her. As they approached, +they saw that her sails were unbent, so that she could not have been on +the point of putting to sea. On getting still nearer, about twenty +fierce-looking Arabs popped their heads over the side, and in loud +voices, with threatening gestures, ordered the boat to keep off, +intimating that if she did not, they would fire into her. That she +possessed the power of doing mischief was evident, as a three-pounder +gun was seen mounted on a sort of raised deck in her bow. + +Neither Adair nor his crew were likely to be deterred by the menaces of +the piratical-looking fellows from boarding the dhow. With a loud cheer +they dashed alongside, and quickly scrambled on her deck, cutting down +several of the more daring of the band, who, not knowing what English +seamen were made of, ventured to oppose them. A fine-looking old +fellow, with a long white beard, who proved to be the Arab captain, +exchanged a few passes with Adair, who, however, quickly disarmed him, +and tumbled him head over heels into the hold, while the rest of his men +leaped below to escape from their daring assailants. On following them, +Adair found, to his disappointment, that there were no slaves on board. +The Arab crew having been secured, Adair ordered his men to bend the +sail, while he and Desmond, accompanied by Jerry Bird, searched the +vessel to ascertain whether she had anything on board by which she could +be legally condemned. Besides the three-pounder gun, a number of +muskets, spears, and swords were found on board, with a supply of water +and a large quantity of rice, in addition to which her hold was fitted +with three tiers of bamboo decks, which could be intended for no other +purpose than for the stowage of slaves. + +Adair pointed this out to the old skipper, and made him understand that +he considered the vessel his lawful prize. + +"It is the will of Allah," answered the captain, who made no attempt to +show either papers or colours, so it was considered evident that he did +not possess them. + +"There are whole hosts of people collecting on shore, sir," shouted +Archie; "many of them are armed, and by the signs they are making they +don't seem in a friendly mood. They've got, too, plenty of canoes, and +it looks very much as if they intended to come off and attack us." + +Adair hurried on deck, and could not help being of Archie's opinion. +"Be sharp there with the sail," he cried. + +"It's more than we can manage to bend it, sir," answered Jerry Bird; +"for there's not a bit of rope-yarn or stuff of any kind we can find to +do instead." + +Adair and Desmond, stepping forward to lend a hand, found that the men +were right. The blacks on shore, increasing in numbers, were already +uttering most terrific shouts and cries, and had begun to launch their +canoes. It would be impossible to defend the dhow without running the +risk of losing the boat. Adair had no wish to bring on an encounter +with the savages. + +"We must burn the craft and make the best of our way out of the river," +he exclaimed. "Get the prisoners into the boat, and we will then set +the dhow on fire, and prevent her, at all events, from taking on board +another cargo of ebony." + +While the men were carrying out his orders, the old Arab captain, who +had been left at liberty, came up to him, and made signs that there was +some object of great value in the hold which he was anxious to recover. +In his eagerness, as with half bent body he stretched out his hands, he +seized Adair by the beard, tears actually running down his eyes. + +"Can he have his wife or children stowed away anywhere?" suggested +Desmond. + +"It may be, but we must not let them be burned, at all events," said +Adair. "Well, old fellow, go and bring them up," he added, making a +significant gesture. The Arab, however, did not comprehend him, and at +length, pulling out a piece of gold, he made signs that he had a box or +bag full of such pieces stowed away. + +"Faith, it's myself will go and help ye hunt for them," cried Desmond, +about to accompany the old Arab, who was hurrying below. + +"Stay," exclaimed Adair; "there is not a moment to spare. See, the +canoes are coming off, and we shall be surrounded presently. I suspect +it is only a trick after all, that he may induce us to remain till the +tables are turned. Here, tumble the old fellow into the boat, and set +the dhow on fire fore and aft." + +While the men obeyed this order, Archie and Gerald, who had been +lighting some bundles of tow, threw one of them down forward among the +other combustible materials, while another was placed aft; and another, +still larger, which Desmond ignited, was let drop into the hold. A +thick smoke, followed by flames, immediately burst forth, showing that +the craft had been effectually set on fire. + +A good-sized canoe was floating alongside the dhow. "We will have her," +said Desmond; "make her fast astern. She'll assist us in landing the +prisoners, and be useful afterwards." + +A whole fleet of canoes, full of shrieking savages, was now coming off +towards the dhow. "Give them a shot from the six-pounder," said Adair, +putting the boat's head round; "it will teach them that they had better +not follow us." The missile went flying over the water, just ahead of +the canoes. It appeared to have had the desired effect, for some ceased +paddling, and others went back as fast as they could make way towards +the shore; while the pinnace, with the canoe in tow, proceeded down the +harbour. + +Night had now come on; the flames, which rose from every portion of the +burning dhow, their glare extending down the river and casting a ruddy +light against the tall trees on either side, enabled them, without +difficulty, to make their way towards the ocean. The cut-throat-looking +Arabs, with their venerable captain, appeared to be very uneasy in their +minds, not knowing what was to be done with them; perhaps supposing that +their captors were carrying them out to sea to drown in deep water. +They were evidently much relieved when, a point some little way down the +river being reached, Adair intimated to them that they were forthwith to +be put on shore. As many as the canoe would hold were tumbled into her, +and they, being quickly landed, she returned for another cargo. The old +skipper was the last. As he gazed at his burning vessel, he wrung his +hands, mourning his hard fate. + +"Very hard for you," observed Archie; "but it would have been harder for +the unfortunate blacks you would have carried off into slavery." + +During this time the natives, gaining courage, were coming down the +river in vast numbers, beating their tom-toms and shouting and +shrieking. They could be easily beaten off, provided they were not +allowed to get too near; but Adair had no wish to shed blood, and +therefore, having completely destroyed the dhow and got rid of the +prisoners, he stood on down the river. The bar was fortunately as +smooth as when they entered, and running out, the pinnace, with the +captured canoe, was soon in the open sea. The latter was light enough +to take on board should bad weather come on; but, as she would +inconveniently occupy much space, she was allowed, while the sea +remained calm, to tow astern. + +"Well, we've done something," said Desmond, as, the boat having got a +good offing, all hands were piped to supper; "only I wish we'd got hold +of that box of gold." + +"I very much doubt the existence of the box of gold," said Adair; "the +object of the old Arab was to delay us till his friends could come to +his assistance, and cut our throats. However, if I am right, he acted +his part to admiration." + +The pinnace continued her cruise. Happily the weather remained fine, +and no one had to complain of hardship, though all hands would have been +glad to get a run on shore, instead of being cramped up day after day in +the boat. As their water was, however, running short, they at length +stood into a small bay which offered a safe landing-place. The canoe +was found very useful in conveying them on shore, while the pinnace +brought up a short distance from the beach. Several natives came down, +who appeared friendly, and showed Adair and Desmond, who had landed, a +spring of water where the casks could, without difficulty, be filled and +rolled down to the canoe. While four of the men remained in the boat +with Archie, the rest brought the casks on shore, and all went on well. +A supply of water was taken on board, and trifling presents, as an +acknowledgment of the services they had rendered, given to those who +appeared to be the leading men among the natives. Hands were shaken, +and the party embarked. + +"We must mark this spot," observed Adair, as they once more made sail; +"the natives appear to be good sort of fellows, and we'll pay them +another visit on our way northward." + +The balmy weather which had hitherto prevailed was not to continue. The +south-west monsoon had begun to blow, and the sea got up, washing over +the bows and flying-deck, and giving ample occupation to all hands in +baling out the water as fast as it broke on board. It was impossible to +spread the usual awning drawn over the boat in ordinary rainy weather, +or when at anchor, as it would have been blown away in an instant; and +all that could be done was to keep her jogging on under close-reefed +sails. It was somewhat trying work, as the fire could not be lighted to +cook, and the party had therefore to subsist on raw salt pork and +biscuit, washed down with cold grog. Everyone, of course, was wet to +the skin; but when the sun again burst forth, their clothes were +speedily dried. The boat behaved admirably, rising over the seas like a +duck. Two days the gale lasted, and then the weather again cleared. + +"If we get any more downpours, I don't intend to let my clothes get +wet," said Desmond. + +"How are you going to prevent that?" asked Archie. + +"Why, by stowing them away in the locker and jumping overboard," +answered Desmond. "It's the wisest plan, depend on it. That's the way +the nigger boatmen manage in the West Indies, and it will answer here +just as well." + +"Not if it is blowing hard, as it has just been doing," said Archie. + +"No," replied Gerald; "but if it's tolerably calm, we can easily get on +board again when the rain is over." + +Adair, who had heard of the plan being adopted by other boats' crews, +had no objection; and the next day, when the clouds again gathered and +sent down a deluge, such as only falls in the tropics, all hands, with +the exception of two, who remained to take care of the boat, stripped +off their clothes and jumped overboard, swimming about and amusing +themselves till the rain was over. They did the same half a dozen times +during the day, whenever a torrent descended from the clouds, and then +again clambering on board, after rubbing themselves over, put on their +dry garments. The only wonder was that no one was carried off by a +shark, but probably, as they were splashing about and making a loud +noise all the time they were in the water, the savage monsters were kept +at a distance. + +The weather again permanently cleared up. Several dhows were chased and +overtaken. The first they boarded had, in addition to her brown-skinned +Arab crew, an equal number of black seamen, who were pulling and hauling +and making themselves very busy; while she also had a large party of +black passengers, who sat ranged round the deck mute as statues, dressed +up in Arab costume, each man having with him two or three wives and +several children. + +The captain, or "negoda," as he was called by the Arabs, met Adair with +a smiling countenance as he stepped on board, and expressed himself in +choice Arabic as highly delighted to see the English officer. + +"Well, my friend, who are all those black fellows there?" asked Adair, +pointing to the negroes, who were jumping about and tumbling over each +other as they ran from side to side. + +The negoda or skipper made signs as if hauling on a rope. "Oh, they are +your crew, are they?" said Adair; on which the skipper nodded his head +as if he had really understood the question. + +"And who are those ladies and gentlemen seated so comfortably on the +deck?" continued Adair. The skipper signified that they were coming +from some place in the South, and bound to Mozambique or Zanzibar to +join their relatives. He did this by pronouncing the names of those +places, talking away all the time, and transferring a piece of money +from one hand to the other, as if to show that they had paid their +passages. + +"Now let me see your papers," said Adair, moving his hand as if holding +a pen and writing. The Arabs being accustomed to signs, the negoda at +once understood him, and produced from a case some documents written in +Arabic characters, which were about as comprehensible to the English +officer as the words which the voluble skipper was pouring forth into +his ear. The papers might be, for what he could tell, bills of sale for +the negroes on board, or directions to the skipper how to avoid the +English boats and cruisers, with the hint, should he find himself strong +enough, to knock every Briton he could fall in with on the head. Adair, +it is true, had his suspicions that all was not right, but how to +ascertain this was the question. + +Pango, who knew the true state of the case, was evidently very much +troubled in his mind on the subject; but in vain he tried to explain his +ideas while he sat in the boat, wriggling and twisting his body, and +making such extraordinary grimaces as he tried to get out his words, +that the rest of the crew burst into fits of laughter, which effectually +prevented him from giving the information he possessed. + +Had Hamed come in the boat, the case would have been different, and +Adair resolved, if possible, not to go cruising again without the +interpreter. + +The skipper had no objection to his examining the vessel, though he +seemed highly pleased on seeing his visitors about to take their +departure. He and several of his crew shook them warmly by the hands, +and showed an especial eagerness to assist them into the boat. + +As the dhow stood away to the northward, both Gerald and Archie declared +that they heard shouts of laughter proceeding from her; but Adair was of +opinion that the Arabs were not wont to indulge in such exhibitions of +hilarity, though he had very strong suspicions that he had been +humbugged. + +The southern limits he had designed for the cruise having been reached, +Adair put the boat's head to the northward, intending, as before, to +search all the inlets and creeks; for although no birds had been +entrapped on their previous visit, some might be caught on a second. He +was half inclined to suppose that the slave-trade could not be carried +on to the extent which was reported, for so many of the dhows boarded +had no slaves or fittings for the reception of slaves, while others were +carrying only black passengers, seized with the desire apparently to see +the world. Adair was sorely puzzled. "I wish we had brought Hamed with +us," he repeated for the twentieth time; "he would have cleared up the +difficulty, and enabled us to obtain more information than we are likely +now to pick up." + +As they were again in want of water, by the time they came off the +pretty little village where they had before been received in so friendly +a manner, he determined to pay it another visit. The pinnace was +accordingly steered into the bay, and anchored a short distance from the +shore. Adair and Desmond landed in the canoe, accompanied by two men +and as many breakers as she could carry. While the two men paddled back +for more, he and his nephew walked up to the village. The +primitive-looking palm-leaved thatched huts were picturesquely situated +an eighth of a mile or so from the beach, under the shade of a grove of +lofty cocoanut-trees. The chief man, with a party of his followers, +came out to meet them, and invited them into the principal hut, used +apparently as a guest-house. The chief made signs that the women were +preparing food, and begged their guests to rest till it was ready. +Adair was inclined to accept the invitation. + +"There seem to be a good many of the fellows collected, considering the +size of the village, and I see that they are all armed," observed +Desmond; "the chief, too, is evidently mighty eager for us to go into +the hut. They may be very honest, but they may mean mischief." + +"I am inclined to agree with you," answered Adair; "we must be on our +guard, at all events, though I don't suppose they will venture to commit +any act of violence." + +He, accordingly, when the chief again pressed him to enter the hut, made +signs that he was in a hurry, and could not accept his hospitality. He +and Desmond, however, stood talking, or rather exchanging pantomimic +gestures with the chief for some time, while the men were engaged in +filling the casks and carrying them back to the boat. Desmond, who had +returned a short distance towards the shore, to a spot whence he saw +that the canoe was shoving off with her last cargo, on turning back to +tell his uncle, what was his dismay to see a dozen savages throw +themselves upon him, and, seizing his arms, hold him in a way which +prevented him from offering the slightest resistance! Desmond, who had +on his sword, as well as a rifle in his hand, was rushing back to render +what help he could, regardless of the danger he ran, when another party +of the natives, concealed behind the trees, suddenly sprang out upon +him; and before he saw them, they had seized him and thrown him down on +the ground. He struggled to free himself, as every Irishman would do, +especially an Irish midshipman, but in vain. Some seized his legs, and +others his arms, while one of the party threw a piece of cloth round his +mouth to prevent him from crying out. He managed to get that off, +however, and shouted at the top of his voice, in the hopes that the men +in the canoe would hear him. Finding that all attempts to escape were +hopeless, he submitted with as good a grace as he could, and was placed +by his captors on his feet Adair was, in the meantime, trying to make +the chief say why he had committed the outrage, and threatening him with +the vengeance of Her Majesty's fleet in those seas if he and the +midshipman were not immediately released. The chief might possibly not +have understood a word he said. At all events, he was not moved by his +threats. + +"Now, you scoundrel, what do you intend to do with us?" asked Adair. +The chief seemed to understand the question, possibly from the tone in +which it was put, and, pointing his musket first towards him, and then +at Desmond, gave him to understand, by a sign not to be mistaken, that +he intended to shoot them both. Things were now, indeed, becoming +serious. They were just out of sight of the boat, and it was a question +whether the men in the canoe had heard Desmond's shouts. If not, +probably more of the men would come on shore to look for them, and would +to a certainty be made prisoners, and in all likelihood murdered. + +"What is to be done?" asked Desmond. "I'll give another shout, even +though the rascals may gag me for doing so." + +After remaining perfectly quiet and apparently resigned to his fate, +raising his voice to the highest pitch, he shouted out, "Help! help!" +He had only time to utter these words, when a big negro standing near +him clapped his hand before his mouth, and effectually prevented him +from uttering another sound. + +"Never fear, Desmond," said Adair; "I think they must have heard that +shout, and Gordon will to a certainty suspect what has happened to us." + +While a number of negroes collected round their captives, regarding them +with savage looks, the chief and some of his principal men assembled to +hold a consultation as to what was to be done with them. An immense +amount of jabbering took place, and Desmond, who was closest to the +circle of councillors, looked anxiously at their countenances to +ascertain, if possible, what decision was likely to be arrived at. He +gazed in vain--nothing could he learn from the expression of the hideous +faces of those who might at any moment determine to shoot him and his +uncle. + +"It's all owing to not having Hamed with us," sighed Adair; "or even had +we brought Pango on shore, he would probably have suspected the old +rascal of a chief, and warned us in time; but cheer up, Desmond, I don't +think the black villains will dare to kill us. I'll try and make them +understand that if they do, a terrible vengeance will be wreaked on +their heads." + +"That won't help us out of the scrape, I'm afraid," said Desmond; "but +they are getting on their feet, and I suppose we shall soon know." + +In a short time the chief and his advisers, having come to a resolution +what to do, approached their prisoners, and, with very little ceremony, +seizing them by their collars, two on each side of them, dragged them +along towards the beach till they reached a couple of trees, whence the +boat was clearly visible. The canoe had returned on board, and Adair +observed that the men had got out their arms and were pulling her in +towards the shore, while Jerry Bird, who acted as gunner, was standing +on the forecastle, busy apparently in loading the gun mounted on it; the +greater portion of which was, however, covered up with a piece of +tarpaulin, so that the natives might not discover what was there. The +rest of the crew not pulling had their muskets in their hands ready for +use. All this was seen at a glance. + +Directly they arrived at the two trees, the savages without further +ceremony bound Adair to one, and Desmond to the other, facing the boat; +while the chief and several of his followers, who were armed with +muskets, levelled them at their heads. + +"By my faith, we're in an unpleasant position," exclaimed Desmond. +"Sure the fellows can't be after blowing our brains out." + +"They most certainly will, if Archie ventures to open fire on them; but +I don't think he'll do that while we're alive," answered Adair. "Had +Hamed been with us, we could have learned what they want. As it is, I'm +afraid that there is as little hope of our understanding them as there +is of their making out what we say. However, I'll try." Though Adair +was lashed to the tree, his arms were left at liberty, and beckoning to +the chief, he tried to make him signify what it was he wanted. At +length he seemed to understand Adair's question, and, going through the +action of rolling a cask down the beach, he put on an angry look, and +then, holding his musket and a piece of cloth in his hand, he showed +that he wanted those articles in payment for the water carried off. + +"The rascal!" exclaimed Adair; "however, it's better to pay them than +run the risk of being shot," and, shouting to Archie, he directed him to +send two of his men on shore with the articles demanded, there +fortunately being still a supply of cloth on board, which had been +brought for bartering with the natives. + +"Let the small-armed men cover the men while they are landing," he again +shouted, "and let them leave the things on the beach, and take good care +that the natives don't seize them." + +Archie heard the order, and soon afterwards the canoe came towards the +beach, bringing an old musket and a few yards of calico. + +The chief, eager to possess himself of the treasures, hurried down to +the water, while the men in the canoe, as directed, paddled back to the +boat. When the chief had got possession of them, he, like Pharaoh, +hardened his heart, and refused to liberate his captives, insisting on +having a further ransom. Adair was very much inclined to refuse, and +shook his head to show that he would pay no more. On this the chief +levelled his musket, with significant gesture's, showing that he +intended to persist in his demand. + +"We must yield to the fellow," said Adair; "it would be folly to run the +risk of being shot for the sake of maintaining our dignity." + +"I don't think that musket would be after shooting us," observed +Desmond, with perfect calmness. + +"Why so?" asked Adair. + +"Because it happens not to have a lock," answered Gerald; "and, as far +as I can see, it is the best of the lot." + +"So far that is satisfactory," said Adair; "as the fellows can't injure +those in the boat; but, notwithstanding that, they may give us club-law +or run their daggers into us, so it won't do to try them too much." +Adair asked the chief what he wanted in addition to the things he had +received, but he could not make out the meaning of the old fellow's +reply. He therefore directed Archie to send some large rings and beads, +and a few other articles used to trade with the natives. On these being +received the chief seemed tolerably well satisfied, and ordered his men +to release the prisoners, putting out his hand as if he had acted in no +extraordinary manner, and wished to part good friends. Adair, not to be +outdone, shook his hand, and, taking him by the arm, walked with him +slowly down towards the beach. + +"Stick close to his other side, Desmond," he said. "I'm going to play +the old fellow a trick he little thinks of." + +The chief seemed to have no suspicions of Adair's design, and was +evidently anxious to do away with the effect his conduct had produced. +When they had got about half-way to the beach, however, on finding +himself at some distance from his followers, he stopped, when Adair, +suddenly pulling out a pistol from his pocket, which the natives had not +discovered, held it to the old fellow's head, and made him understand +that he would shoot him through the brain if he refused to come on to +the canoe, or if any of his people approached to his assistance. +Archie, seeing what had occurred, had sent in the canoe, which had just +reached the beach with a couple of hands. He had likewise brought the +gun to bear on the mass of natives, who stood very much astonished at +the sudden change of circumstances. Some way from the water, the old +chief, fully believing that the English officer would put his threat +into execution, sang out to his followers to keep quiet, and not to +attempt to rescue him. + +"Come along, old fellow, come along," cried Desmond, hauling away at the +arm of the reluctant chief, who had, by the bye, fastened Adair's +sword-belt round his waist. The old man, who exhibited but little +heroism on the occasion, trembling in every limb, turned an imploring +glance at the lieutenant, to entreat him not to pull the fatal trigger. + +"Now, Desmond," cried Adair, "trip him up by the heels as soon as we get +to the canoe, and we'll give him a lesson neither he nor his followers +will forget in a hurry." + +The two men in the canoe, guessing what their officers intended, kept +her afloat; and Adair and Desmond with a sudden jerk running the old +chief into the water, the latter tripped up his heels, and, before he +knew where he was, he was hauled on board and stowed away in the bottom. + +"Shove off," cried Adair, as he and Desmond sprang into the stern; and +the next instant they were paddling away in the canoe, before even the +natives on shore had clearly comprehended that their chief was being +spirited off. He groaned and shrieked, without exciting the slightest +compassion, and was soon lifted crop and heels on board the boat. +Archie had already begun to weigh anchor; the sails were hoisted, and +the wind being off-shore, the boat stood out to the offing, leaving the +natives lost in wonder as to what had become of their chief. + +"Thank you, Gordon; you behaved admirably under the circumstances," said +Adair. + +"I am glad of your good opinion, sir," answered Archie; "but, if you +will allow me to say so, I think you and Desmond acted still more +admirably." + +The crew, of course, were loud in their expressions of admiration at +their officers' conduct. + +"Now we've got him, what are we to do with him?" asked Desmond. + +"Treat him well, and send him back a wiser if not a better man than he +was," answered Adair. "We'll carry him with us on board the _Opal_ as a +proof of the transaction, and perhaps, after a few months' stay on +board, he will have learned better manners." + +The old chief, however, did not seem at all to approve of the change of +his circumstances, and at first it was thought that he was going to give +it up as a hopeless case, and die of vexation. Jerry Bird, however, +patted him on the back. "Don't take on, old fellow, in this fashion," +he said, in a consoling voice; "you thought you were going to play the +lieutenant a trick, and, like many a better man, you found you caught a +Tartar. What's the odds? we'll give you as much pork and biscuit as you +can eat, and a glass of grog to cheer you up, and you'll come all right +by and by." + +Whether it was the words of this address, or the tone in which it was +uttered, need not be discussed; but it seemed to have the effect of +bringing the old chief round, and when a basin of "kettler" was served +out to him, he did not inquire what were the ingredients, but gobbled it +up with evident gusto. He smacked his lips, also, after tasting the +pannikin of grog which Jerry offered him, and though he put it down +again once or twice, as if doubting about the matter, he finally drained +it to the dregs. + +"I thought as how you'd like it," said Jerry, patting him on the back; +"you shall have another presently, and you won't have to say that we +treated you with scant hospitality. That ain't our way aboard ship." + +Adair, however, interfered, and prevented the men from giving the old +chief as much liquor as they were ready to bestow on him, lest he might +get drunk, and take it into his head to run a-muck or jump overboard. +He had taken enough, however, to send him fast asleep in the bottom of +the boat, where he lay, as Jerry observed, "like a porpus in a gale of +wind." + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +THREE DHOWS CHASED--ONE IS CAPTURED AND LEFT IN CHARGE OF DESMOND AND +ARCHIE--FRIGHTFUL CONDITION OF SLAVES ON BOARD--HORRIBLE CRUELTIES +PRACTISED BY ARABS--JERRY BIRD SETS THE SLAVES DANCING TO KEEP UP THEIR +SPIRITS--DESMOND'S WATCH--HE AND ARCHIE THROWN OVERBOARD. + +As the breeze continued light and favourable, the boat ran on all night +under easy sail. A bright look-out was kept, however, in the +possibility of meeting a dhow creeping along-shore. Just as morning +dawned, and they arrived abreast of a deep bay which Adair intended to +explore, three dhows were seen standing out from under the land, with +their wide spread of canvas wooing the light breeze. + +It was pretty evident that the boat had been discovered. Adair +therefore ordered the crew to lower the sails, and to take to their +oars, which they did with right goodwill, hoping to catch two, at least, +of the strangers in sight. + +The smallest and leading vessel showed Arab colours. A shot across her +fore-foot quickly made her haul them down. The other two exhibited no +bunting. From the efforts they were making to escape, it was pretty +evident they were full slavers. As soon as Adair reached the first +dhow, he leaped on board; but a glance told him that she was a legal +trader, with not a slave in her, as far as he could judge; although +there were several black men, whom the negoda affirmed belonged to the +vessel. + +"We'll give you the advantage of believing you," said Adair, jumping +back into his boat, which pulled away to the nearest of the other +vessels. Just then she lowered her sail. + +"Hurrah!" cried Desmond; "she has given in." + +"Not a bit of it," answered Adair; "see, she is going to set a wider +spread of canvas than before." + +He was right. Presently a long tapering yard rose to the head of the +stern, the sail swelling out like the balloon jib of a racing yacht, and +shining brightly in the rising sun. + +"Should the breeze increase, she will walk away from us like greased +lightning, as the Yankees say," observed Adair. + +"We'll hope, then, it will remain calm," said Archie. As it was, though +the men strained at their oars, it taxed their utmost strength to gain +on her. Still, they were gaining. Desmond and Archie stepped forward +to assist Jerry in getting the gun ready to fire a shot as soon as they +got near enough to make her heave-to. Light as was the breeze, the dhow +continued to slip rapidly through the water. It was evident, however, +that the boat was gaining on her, and the men redoubled their efforts. + +"Shall we fire, sir?" asked Archie. "We might manage to bring down her +sail." + +"Fire over her," answered Adair; "a shot might chance to hurt some of +the poor slaves, instead of the rascally Arabs." + +Jerry elevated the gun, and pulled the trigger. Away flew the shot +right through the dhow's huge sail; but her crew, looking to windward, +fancied that the breeze was about to freshen. The gun was quickly +sponged and again loaded. + +"Try another shot," cried Adair; "if you can hit the yard or mast, it +will save us a long pull." + +Jerry willingly obeyed; but again the shot, though well aimed, only went +through the sail. + +"Very good practice," said Adair, "but just let it be a little better." + +Jerry Bird, though watching the chase, could not help now and then +taking a look at the countenance of the old chief,--Mustapha Longchops, +the sailors called him,--but whether he wished the dhow to escape or +not, it was difficult to say. Jerry had again got the gun ready, and, +putting it on the breech, he exhorted it this time to do its duty. +Again he pulled the trigger, when the next instant down came the long +yard by the run on deck. The midshipmen uttered a hearty cheer, taken +up by Adair and the crew, and in a few minutes they were alongside the +vessel. + +The Arabs, however, seeing only a single boat, and unsupported, had made +up their minds, it seems, not to yield without a struggle. Some twenty +savage-looking fellows, some armed with two-handed swords, others with +muskets and assegais, stood ready to defend their vessel. As the +pinnace ranged up alongside, several shots were fired and assegais +hurled at them, one of which, whizzing close to Adair's ear, stuck +quivering in the sternsheets as he was springing up the side. The +dauntless seamen, however, were not to be stopped by their show of +weapons and threatening gestures. In spite of the Arabs, who cut and +slashed right and left with their two-handed swords, several of the +bluejackets were about to spring up the vessel's side, when one of the +former, aiming a blow at the head of the boat-hook, with which Jerry +Bird was holding on, cut it right through; and at the same instant some +of the Arab crew, who had in the meantime been bending on fresh +halyards, hoisted away on the sail, the dhow forging ahead. + +"Fire at those fellows!" cried Adair to the small-armed men; who, +letting fly with their muskets, bowled over three at once. The oars +were meantime again got out, and the sail having come down on deck, the +boat once more dashed up, this time making for the starboard bow. Jerry +took the precaution of making fast with a stout rope; and, led by Adair, +all hands were quickly on board, two more of the Arabs being shot down. + +The others, however, still bravely attempted to defend their vessel, +wielding their weapons with the same vigour as before; but, desperate as +they were, they could not withstand the British cutlasses, and were +driven aft for refuge in the cabin, crying out for mercy. All this time +shrieks and groans arose from the hold, while the vilest of odours, a +mixture of everything abominable, pervaded the vessel, leaving not a +doubt, even had the crew not attempted to defend her, that she was a +full slaver, and a legal capture. + +"Hand over your arms," cried Adair, "and we'll spare your lives." It is +possible some one among the Arabs might have understood English; at all +events, the whole of the crew soon hurried up and handed over their +swords and other weapons to the victors. + +"Tumble their arms into the pinnace," said Adair; "we must have that +other dhow. Gordon and Desmond, I'll leave you with five men to manage +these fellows, while I go in chase of her. If I take her, keep close to +me. Signalise should they show any inclination to be mutinous, and I'll +bear down and help you. I'll leave you the canoe; we shall make better +way without her." Saying this, Adair shoved off and pulled away in +chase of the third dhow. + +The first care of the midshipmen was to complete the task in performing +which the three Arabs had been killed, and to hoist up the sail, aided +by several of the crew, whom they compelled at the point of their swords +to lend a hand; while, one of the seamen being sent to the helm, the +dhow steered after the pinnace in hot chase of the still uncaptured +slaver, the canoe, which had hitherto been alongside, being stowed +astern. + +The deck of the dhow, on board which the midshipmen found themselves, +presented a horrible appearance. The three men who had first been shot +lay stiff and stark, weltering in their blood at the foot of the mast. +Farther off sat the negoda, with a shot through his leg and another in +his body, glaring fiercely at them; while another man lay not far off, +writhing in agony, with life ebbing fast. The rest of the crew, greasy, +dirty ruffians, with close-fitting turbans and caps on their heads, +baggy trousers, and vests covering their bodies, stood about with sulky, +hang-dog looks, regarding the victors. + +"We must keep an eye on these fellows," said Jerry Bird to Archie; +"they'll not mind cutting our throats if they have the chance." + +"Little doot aboot that," said Archie; "but hallo! here's our old friend +Mustapha Longchops. How did he get on board?" + +It was very evident that the old chief must have scrambled up after the +seamen boarded, and stowed himself away till the fight was over. What +was his object in so doing was difficult to ascertain. + +"It wasn't with any good intention, I've a notion," said Desmond; +"however, we'll be up to him." + +"I think, sir," said Jerry Bird, "we may as well see if they've got any +more arms stowed away. If they have, the sooner they're hove overboard +the better; for if they get hold of them, the Arabs would prove somewhat +ugly customers on a dark night." + +Jerry's advice was followed. While two of the hands kept an eye on the +crew on deck, Jerry and Desmond, with the rest, searched the +after-cabin, and discovered no less than a dozen muskets, several +pistols and swords, and some formidable-looking knives or daggers, which +would have proved deadly weapons in the hands of the Arabs. They were +all quickly hove overboard, greatly to the disgust of their former +owners. They were, however, not the only articles discovered. + +"Hallo! what's this?" cried Jerry, drawing out a box from the locker; +"it seems pretty heavy for its size. Shouldn't be surprised to find it +full of gold." + +Desmond, who was superintending the search, laughed. "We can scarcely +expect such good luck as that," he answered. + +"We'll try, sir," said Jerry, prising open the top with one of the +daggers which he had retained. "Hurrah! I was right, sir," he sang +out; "golden pieces every one of them, four or five hundred, at least!" + +"No doubt about it," observed Desmond, examining the box; "it is not +ours, however, after all. We must hand it over to the commander as part +of the cargo found in the prize, as well as every other article of +value; though we shall get our share in due time." + +"To be sure, sir, to be sure," answered Jerry, with a sigh. "At first I +thought you and Mr Gordon, and the rest of us, might pocket it; but +it's all right--we must share and share alike." + +Desmond ordered the box to be stowed away in the forepart of the cabin, +which he and Archie intended to occupy. The Arab captain cast a longing +glance at his treasure as it was carried away, possibly regarding the +present possessors with no friendly feeling. The discovery induced the +seamen to make a further search, and jewellery, pieces of cloth and +silk, and numerous rich Arab garments were brought to light, sufficient +altogether to fill a considerable portion of the cabin. + +"Now let's look after the slaves below," said Archie; "the poor fellows +must have been in a fearful quandary while the fighting was going +forward." + +Whatever feeling of pity the condition of the wounded Arabs might have +excited in the breasts of the English was removed when they came to +examine the hold. Indeed, the horrible state of the unhappy beings +surpasses all description. Upwards of two hundred human beings were +found stowed away in the hold of the craft, which could not have +measured more than a hundred tons. On a bamboo deck, scarcely raised +high enough above the keel to be free of the abominably-smelling +bilge-water which occupied her lowest depths, lay some eighty or ninety +men, doubled up, and packed so closely together that it was utterly +impossible for them to stretch their legs; while there was not room +enough for them to raise their heads without touching the deck above. +They were stowed away, indeed, literally, as Jerry Bird observed, "like +herrings in a cask." Above them were an equal number of women huddled +together, doubled up in the same fashion, the space being insufficient +for them to sit or recline. On the highest deck were penned away a +still larger number of children of various ages, ranging from six years +old to twelve or thirteen, girls and boys, with even less space allowed +them, in proportion to their size, than their elders. The miserable +wretches were evidently suffering fearfully from starvation and +dysentery. Many were too weak to move, and several on the point of +breathing their last. Five or six of the women had infants in their +arms but a few weeks old. As one of the mothers was brought on deck, +she exhibited her child with its head crushed in, which she intimated +had been done, just after the boat had been discovered in pursuit, by +one of the Arabs, because the child had been crying somewhat lustily. + +"Let's see the fellow who did it," exclaimed Desmond, "and we'll pay him +off for his barbarity." + +The woman understood him, and looked about among the crew till her eye +fell on the wounded Arab, who still lay writhing on the deck. + +"Is that he?" asked Desmond. "Well, he has got his due, and little pity +any of us can feel for him." + +The midshipmen, with their cargo of slaves and villainous prisoners, +found themselves in a very trying position, requiring the full exercise +of all their wits and energies. Probably, had Adair had time to +consider, he would not have left them with so small a force on board; +but his eagerness to overtake the other dhow prevented him from +reflecting on the difficulties and dangers they would have to encounter. + +Their first care was to try and ameliorate the condition of the slaves. +Search was made for such food and water as the dhow contained, and the +Arabs were ordered to prepare a hearty meal for them--a task they set +about with no very good grace. The only provisions they discovered were +rice and millet seed, with scarcely drinkable water, and of these in +most limited portions, on which the slaves would have had to subsist +till the termination of their voyage. No wonder that many had died, and +that nearly all looked more like living skeletons than human beings. + +"If we'd had Dick Needham on board, he'd have told us how they managed +with slavers captured on the West Coast," observed Archie. + +"I'll tell you," said Jerry Bird; "I've seen many a one taken. The best +way is to get up forty or fifty at a time on deck and set them dancing. +It seems to put new life into them, bad as they may be." + +The midshipmen followed Jerry's advice at once, and released fifty of +the men, who crawled up and squatted down on either side of the deck. A +mess of rice, with a little water, was then served out to each of them. +They eagerly swallowed the food, cramming it into their mouths like +monkeys, but with less intelligence or animation in their countenances +than those creatures exhibit. + +"They don't look as if they had much dancing in them," observed Gerald. + +"Stay a bit," said Jerry; "we'll soon see," whereon he began skipping +about, snapping his fingers and singing. Then he took hold first of one +and then of another, and in a few seconds more than half of them were +dancing like magic on their feet, imitating his movements; many more of +them seeming willing to join in the sport, had they possessed the +requisite strength. They sang and laughed and jabbered away as if they +had not a care in the world. + +"Faith, they look more like dancing skeletons than anything else," said +Gerald, watching the poor fellows. The voices of many of them were also +so faint as scarcely to be audible, in spite of their efforts to sing +out; indeed, it seemed a wonder that they could utter any notes except +those of wailing and despair. + +Of course, an anxious eye had been kept on the pinnace and the vessel +she was chasing. "She's up to her," cried Desmond, who was looking +through his glass; "she struck without a blow, and there go our fellows +tumbling on board. Little doubt, however, about her being a slaver, +though, as they must have seen the way in which we got hold of this +craft, they thought it as well to save their bacon, and make the best of +a bad job." + +It was evident that Adair had got easy possession of the third dhow, as +the sail, which had at first been lowered, was quickly hoisted again, +while the pinnace was dropped astern. He appeared to consider that all +was going well on board the first capture, as he did not shorten sail to +allow her to come up. Perhaps he was too busy with the Arab captain and +the slaves to think about the matter. + +The first gang of blacks, having enjoyed themselves for some time in +their own fashion, were ordered below. The women were next got up. +Poor creatures! there was very little dancing power in them; many of +them being mothers who had lost their children, and others with dying +infants in their arms, many of them in the last stage of sickness. +Still, some of them, on being set to work, began skipping about, +clapping their hands, laughing and singing, at no little risk of +breaking in the frail deck; for, in general, being fatter, they were +heavier than the men. The Arabs looked on with evident disgust, not +comprehending the object of the English in expending so much food, and +allowing the negroes to move about, thereby increasing their appetites. +The poor children were the last to appear on the stage, and they were +all turned out together, looking more like apes than human beings. +Having been on the highest deck, with some ventilation from above, they +were less in want of air than the grown-up people, though they seemed to +enjoy the exercise allowed them even more than the rest; but not a +particle of the animation of childhood was discernible among any of +them. From the way they moved about, they seemed to fancy that their +dance was but a prelude to their being put to death to fill the +cooking-pots of the white men, which their Arab captors had told them +would be their lot. + +All hands had been so busy that no one had thought of eating themselves. +It was then discovered that a bag of biscuit alone had been brought on +board and a bottle of rum, which one of the men in the pinnace had +handed up to Jerry just as she was shoving off. This was, however, +better than nothing, and they hoped before long to be up with the other +prize, and to obtain more substantial fare. The day was now drawing to +a close. The wind continued light as before, and the two dhows retained +their relative positions; the last taken being about half a mile on the +port-bow of the other. The four dead bodies were hove overboard (for +the badly-wounded wretch had followed his companions to the other +world). + +Archie and Gerald had done their best to bind up the hurts of the +negoda, who had been placed in the cabin with such care taken of him as +circumstances would admit. They tried to make him understand that, as +soon as they could fall in with a surgeon, his wounds would be better +dressed. The Arab crew, being tired, coiled themselves away in +different parts of the vessel, while Mustapha Longchops had seated +himself at his ease near the skipper. Thus the management of the dhow +was left entirely to her captors. + +Archie and Desmond consulted together as to whether they ought to clap +the crew in irons, or, rather, to lash their arms and legs together, +thus putting it out of their power to commit mischief. They settled, +however, as Adair had said nothing about it, to allow them to remain at +liberty. Archie, of course, took one watch and Desmond the other, with +the crew divided between them. As the night advanced, the wind +increased, and the dhow made rapid way through the water, steering after +Adair's prize. No moon was shining, clouds gathered in the sky, and the +night became darker than usual in those latitudes. Desmond was to keep +the first watch, with one man at the helm and another on the look-out; +while Archie lay down just inside the door of the cabin, with Jerry near +him, the other two men going forward. + +"I'll sleep with one eye open, sir," said Jerry, "and will be up in a +moment if I'm wanted." + +The Arab crew were sleeping about in groups on the deck, where they had +lain for some time, none of them having offered to lend a hand to do +anything. Desmond had been awake for the greater part of the previous +night, and, having undergone a good deal of excitement during the day, +it was no wonder that he found it difficult to keep his eyes open; +still, he did his best to watch a light which Adair had hung over the +stern of his prize, and, after looking for some time, he felt convinced +that they were slowly gaining on her. Every now and then he turned to +the man at the helm with some remark, and then shouted to the other +forward to keep a bright look-out. At length, however, the light ahead +began to flicker and dance, and now to grow larger, now to decrease, +till it was scarcely visible. He was holding fast on to the side of the +dhow, and found some support necessary. He looked up at the huge sail, +which, bulging out, seemed to grow larger and larger till it towered up +into the sky. Desmond was a very promising officer, but even the most +promising are made of flesh and blood, and require sleep to restore +exhausted nature. The most vigilant would not have found him nodding, +for he would have promptly answered with perfect correctness had he been +spoken to. Notwithstanding that, Gerald Desmond was certainly not broad +awake--or rather, he was as fast asleep as a midshipman standing on his +legs, with his eyes wide open, could be. His thoughts, too, were +wandering, now to Ballymacree, now to Commander Murray's home in the +Highlands, and now away to the West Indies, where he might still be for +all he knew. + +Just then, suddenly he felt a cloth thrown over his eyes, and before he +could put up his hands to draw it away, he found his arms pinioned +behind him. The same instant he heard Archie and Jerry Bird sing out, +and the man at the helm struggling desperately with a number of the +Arabs, while from every part of the dhow arose shouts and cries. Then +there came a splash, then another and another; the next instant he was +hurled headforemost overboard, happily his arms getting free as he +struggled impulsively to save himself from his impending fate. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +ADAIR BOARDS THE THIRD DHOW--HER CREW AND PASSENGERS--PANGO DISCOVERS +THAT THE LATTER ARE SLAVES--ADAIR RETURNS WITH THE DHOW TO THE ISLAND-- +GREEN ABSENT ON AN EXPEDITION--ADAIR'S FEARS AS TO DESMOND AND ARCHIE-- +GREEN RETURNS WITH THE DHOW LEFT IN CHARGE OF DESMOND, BUT WITHOUT THE +MIDSHIPMEN--ADAIR'S ANXIETY INCREASES--INTERROGATION OF THE ARAB CREW--A +SAIL IN SIGHT--SHE PROVES TO BE THE OPAL--ADAIR INFORMS MURRAY OF THE +LOSS OF THE MIDSHIPMEN--THE COMMANDER'S GRIEF--THE DHOW BLOWS UP WITH +ALL ON BOARD, AND SAVES THE HANGMAN A JOB--THE OPAL GOES IN SEARCH OF +THE MIDSHIPMEN. + +Adair, after leaving the midshipmen on board the first dhow, eager to +capture the second, urged his crew not to spare their arms, or the tough +ash-sticks they handled. They, fully as eager as the lieutenant, were +not the men to do that, and the boat made rapid progress through the +calm water. They had every hope of catching her, unless a breeze should +suddenly spring up, when they well knew that she would slip away from +them at a speed which they had no chance of equalling. In case of such +an occurrence, the gun mounted on the bow was reloaded, ready to send a +shot after her. + +The wind continued light, and at length, laying in their oars, they +ranged up alongside, taking good care to make the boat fast; when, +following their lieutenant, all hands leaped on board with cutlasses and +pistols, ready to make short work of any who might oppose them--though, +to their surprise, not the slightest resistance was offered. The deck +appeared crowded with passengers, their skins black as jet, but dressed +in every variety of Oriental costume. The numerous crew, a large +proportion of whom were black, were collected forward; while the negoda +stood aft, near the man at the helm. He advanced with a smiling +countenance, and made a profound salaam to Adair, who, sheathing his +sword, with his men at his back, stood ready to receive him; a couple +only, one of whom was Pango, remained in the boat to look after her. + +He was a wiry, daring-looking fellow, with a bold, piratical swagger, +which gave an impression that he would not hesitate at the most +audacious acts of atrocity which he might suppose would forward the +object he happened to have in view. He put out his hand in the most +cool and impudent manner to shake Adair's, and then stood calmly eyeing +his uninvited visitors, as much as to say, "Now make the most of me you +can." + +"Well, amigo, where are you come from?" asked Adair. The negoda, who +seemed to expect some such question, though he probably did not +understand the words, pointed to the south, and then uttered a long +string of sentences, in which Adair thought he could distinguish +Zanzibar. + +"Well, my friend, and who are all these people you have got on board?" +continued Adair, pointing to the silent figures on deck. + +The Arab poured forth a torrent of words, pointing in the same direction +as before, and next putting a piece of coin from one hand into the +other. + +"Yes, I understand; they are travellers, going to see the world, and +have paid their passage-money, all right and proper. And when they get +to Zanzibar, what are they going to do?" asked Adair. + +The last question the Arab evidently did not understand, and Adair saw +that it would be useless to press the point, knowing that whatever the +Arab might say, whether true or false, he should not be the wiser. "And +now, as to those fellows tumbling about there, and butting against each +other with their curly pates, and looking more like chimney-sweeps than +sailors," said Adair, "what have they got to do here?" + +The Arab, who guessed by the direction of Adair's eyes that he was +asking questions about the men forward, made signs of pulling and +hauling. + +"Oh, they form part of your crew, do they? Well, I should like to see +your papers, and how many hands you are licenced to carry," said Adair, +making the usual signal of pretending to write, which the negoda clearly +understanding, produced from his capacious pocket various documents +scrawled all over with Arabic characters. + +Adair took them, but of course did not understand a single one of the +curious-shaped letters and papers. "Very shipshape," he remarked, +pretending to scan the papers. "If you have no slaves on board, nor +fittings for slaves, we must let you proceed on your voyage," he added, +returning the papers with a polite bow, on which the skipper appeared +highly delighted. "You'll give me leave first, however, to search the +hold and take a look into your cabin." The negoda's countenance fell, +as Adair, followed by two of his men, made their way into the space +under the high poop. "Hallo! who are all these?" he exclaimed, as he +saw seated round the sides some thirty sable damsels, bundled up in +silks and cottons, with a variety of ornaments on their curly heads, +most of them with children in their arms, or seated by their side, +little and big. + +The skipper looked somewhat nonplussed; but presently, pointing out +three of the best-looking, he tried to make his visitor understand that +they were his wives. + +"Oh! very well," said Adair, who comprehended his meaning; "but to whom +do all those others belong?" + +To this the negoda, without replying directly, shouted to his Arab crew, +who came aft, each man taking the hands of a couple of negresses, and +declaring that they were his better halves. Thus all the people who had +hitherto been seen were accounted for, and the hold alone remained to be +examined. Above the cargo, which was stowed in no very regular fashion, +was a bamboo deck; but that of course would be necessary for the +numerous male and female passengers and their offspring, and was not +sufficient in itself to condemn the vessel. Still Adair was not +altogether satisfied. + +On returning on deck, he determined to interrogate some of the silent +negro passengers, who did not look as if they were accustomed to the +fine clothes they wore. Without an interpreter, this was a difficult +undertaking. When he addressed the blacks, men or women, they put on +the most stolid looks, showing him that it would be vain to hope to get +any information out of them; but it was a wonder that such +stupid-looking people should have any desire to see the world, or could +be travelling either on business or pleasure. At last he had to give it +up, and to turn to the black sailors. Going forward, he addressed one +after the other; but as he spoke, their countenances also changed, and +they stood before him with downcast looks, pictures of stolidity. +Suddenly he at last bethought him of calling up Pango from the pinnace, +to try if he could elicit any information from his sable countrymen. +Pango, on being summoned, immediately sprang on board. No sooner had he +done so than his eye fell on one of the blacks, from whom Adair was +vainly endeavouring to extract information. The two negroes stared at +each other for an instant. "Ki!" exclaimed Pango. "Ki!" answered the +other, scanning Pango's nautical costume. "Ki!" cried Pango, in a +higher key; and then, both making a spring, they seized each other's +hands and began shouting at the top of their voices, now laughing, now +crying, and again looking in each other's faces. + +A rapid conversation then took place between them, the seeming Arab +seaman asking Pango all sorts of questions, which he as quickly +answered. + +"What's it all about?" asked Adair, pointing to the former. + +"Brudder! brudder!" answered Pango. + +"Where does he come from?" inquired Adair. + +Pango gave the incomprehensible name of a village in the interior, +adding, "Make slavey, make slavey." + +"And who are all those others?" asked Adair. + +"All slavey, all slavey," cried Pango eagerly. + +"Ah! I thought so," exclaimed Adair. "Tell them that they shall be set +free, and that they need no longer sham being sailors, which one can +tell with half an eye that they are not." + +Pango understood enough of what Adair said to make his fellow-countrymen +understand that they would be liberated very soon, as they had the +British flag hoisted over their heads. Although a few believed what +Pango told them, the rest did not appear altogether convinced of the +fact. Adair, however, had now sufficiently ascertained the character of +the vessel to warrant him in keeping possession of her. + +The negoda, on discovering the resolution which the English officer had +formed, looked very much taken aback. In vain he stormed and swore in +the choicest Arabic, and cast vindictive glances at Pango, threatening +him with condign punishment should he ever catch him on shore. Pango, +caring very little for his threats, talked away eagerly with his +countrymen, and soon the greatest number went over to the side of the +English tars. + +Their first care was to disarm the Arabs, and to throw their weapons +overboard, while the dhow was searched fore and aft for any others which +might be concealed. The negoda, finding he was discovered, very quickly +stripped the blacks of their fine garments, and reduced them to the +primitive appearance of veritable slaves, giving Adair to understand +that the dresses were his private property, and that he expected to be +allowed to carry them off. The poor women seemed very loth to part with +their borrowed plumes; but the negoda treated them without ceremony, +and, as evening approached, sent them and the children all down into the +hold. The men were then made to follow them. + +Adair had the satisfaction of feeling that he had caught a second +slaver, but he saw that it would require all his vigilance to prevent +the Arabs from playing him any trick. Looking out astern, he saw the +first captured dhow following in his wake. "All right with the +youngsters," he thought; "they and Bird have their wits about them, and +will keep the slaver's crew under." + +As the dhow appeared to be coming up with him, he saw no necessity for +shortening sail, as he hoped that she would close with him before +nightfall. By the time the sun went down she had got considerably +nearer, and, satisfied that all was right, he stood on. The night came +on much darker than usual, but he made out the peak of her triangular +sail rising against the sky, and therefore still felt perfectly at ease +about her. With so many doubtful characters on board, he would not lie +down even for a moment, or allow any of his crew to do so, but kept them +together, ready to defeat any attempt the Arabs might make to regain +their vessel. As they hoped to reach the island the next day, they +might then take a long snooze to make up for their want of sleep. +Several times he looked astern, when he saw the other prize still about +the same distance as before. Suddenly there came a squall and a +downpour of rain, but the wind being right aft, the dhow flew on before +it. He, however, thought it prudent to send his men to the halyards, so +as to be ready, should the wind increase, to lower the sail, the Arabs +showing no inclination to assist in working the vessel. + +The darkness was greater than ever. The rain indeed, even by itself, +was thick enough to hide any objects except close to. In about an hour +it cleared off again, when, on looking out for number one prize, he +could nowhere distinguish her. "I suppose Gordon and Desmond judged it +prudent to lower their sail; they will be hoisting it again presently," +he said to himself. Soon afterwards he thought he made her out, rather +more over the port quarter than she had been before. Yes, he was +certain of it, though she seemed to him farther off than she had +hitherto been; still, if the midshipmen had lowered their sail that was +to be expected. + +Adair, still believing that all was right, continued his course, eager +to reach the island, and to arrange for despatching the two dhows to the +port of adjudication; though he had no doubt that they both would prove +lawful prizes. When morning at length broke, dhow number two was +nowhere in sight. This made him somewhat anxious, and he regretted that +he had not shortened sail at first to allow her to come up. Still the +midshipmen had their wits so completely about them, and Bird was so +trustworthy a fellow, and fully alive to the importance of keeping an +eye on the Arabs, that he had no very serious apprehensions about their +safety. + +A clump of trees rising in the centre of the island at length, to his +infinite satisfaction, came in sight. He dropped his anchor in the +small harbour formed by the coral reef which circled round the southern +portion. He was seen coming in, and one of the boats pulled off to +welcome him. He was informed that a vast number of dhows had been +boarded, but none as yet captured, all being, as far as could be +ascertained, lawful traders; though several had, like his prize, no +small number of black passengers on board. + +"Depend upon it, then, you have been deceived," said Adair, "as I +should, had I not the fortunate chance, by means of Pango, to discover +the trick the rascally Arabs are playing us. All those black passengers +were really slaves, dressed up by their masters. However, we'll take +care in future that their trick doesn't avail them, and they must take +to some other dodge if they wish to escape us." + +Jos Green, he found, had gone over towards the mainland, to watch for +any vessels running in or out of Angoxa, or slipping by up the coast, +and as he had been away for several days, it was expected that he would +soon be back. Several times before going on shore Adair swept the +horizon with his glass in search of the missing dhow, expecting every +instant to see her sail, like the dark fin of a shark, rising above the +waters. He looked, however, in vain. The other officers climbed, one +after the other, to the look-out place, but came back with the report +that no sail was in sight. + +He at once, therefore, made up his mind to send the pinnace, with a +fresh crew, in search of the dhow. The wind, though contrary, was +slight, and she might reach the spot where the dhow had last been seen +before nightfall, and, if any accident had happened to her, render +assistance. His only dread was that she might have been leaky, as he +knew to be the case with many such craft, and perhaps have gone down. + +He and his men were pretty well worn--out from want of sleep and hard +work. Having seen the slaves landed, and fresh hands placed in charge +of the dhow and the Arab crew, he therefore lay down in his tent to +obtain the rest he so much required. Completely exhausted, he slept on +till morning. + +His first inquiry on awaking was for the pinnace. She had not returned, +nor had Green made his appearance. He naturally became more anxious +than ever; something serious, he feared, must have happened to the +midshipmen, or they would not have failed to have reached the island by +that time. + +He was on the point of despatching another boat, when the look-out man +from the signal-station reported that a dhow was in sight coming across +from the mainland. Her arrival was eagerly looked for. There could be +no doubt that she was a prize made by Green. This was ascertained +positively to be the case, and in about an hour she came to an anchor +off the island, having Green's boat astern. The two remaining boats at +once put off, Adair going in one of them, accompanied by Pango (Bango +had gone with Green to act as his interpreter). + +"Why," exclaimed Adair, as he drew near the dhow, "she's the very vessel +we captured! and has, I hope, the midshipmen and the rest of the boat's +crew on board." + +Green hailed them from the deck as they approached. "Glad of your +assistance," he said, "for I've got a pretty shipload of scoundrels, who +gave us a tough job to take them." + +These words made Adair feel more anxious than ever. He recognised the +Arab skipper and Mustapha Longchops on deck, but neither of the +midshipmen nor any of the men. He was quickly on deck and shaking hands +with Green, though the dreadful feeling which oppressed him prevented +him for some moments from speaking. + +"Where are the midshipmen, Desmond and Gordon," he asked, "and the men I +left on board this vessel?" + +"You left?" exclaimed Green; "why, I only captured her last night, and +had no notion that she had ever been in our hands before, except, by the +bye, that Bango has tried to make me understand something which he had +heard, though I confess I couldn't exactly comprehend his meaning." + +"The night before last I left the midshipmen safe and sound, with four +hands and a canoe towing astern," said Adair; "the canoe, I see, is +gone, but they would certainly not have deserted the vessel. We must +seize these scoundrels, the skipper and that black fellow, with the rest +of the Arabs, at once, for I very much fear they have been guilty of +some foul play." + +Calling more of his men on board, Adair ordered them to handcuff the +whole of the party. The Arabs looked somewhat alarmed, their skipper +very much so. "What have you done with my officers and men?" asked +Adair. The negoda, recovering himself, with the coolest effrontery made +the action of shaking hands, then pointed astern, as if to signify that +those whom Adair was asking after had parted good friends and gone off +in the canoe. + +"A very likely tale," said Adair sadly; "let's try what Pango and his +brother can make out of the old black chief." On this Green told them +to hear what the old man had to say. They evidently spoke the same +language. At last Pango, turning round to Adair, tried hard to give the +information he had obtained. What with the numerous signs, and the few +words of English uttered by the black, Adair understood that the old +chief grieved for what had happened, but that he himself had nothing to +do with it; that the Arabs had set upon the Englishmen, two of whom were +below, had blindfolded them and thrown them overboard. + +Adair and Green both interrogated their black friends, and each time +came to the same sad conclusion. There could be no doubt that the two +lads, Jerry Bird, and the other men had been foully murdered. Adair +felt very much inclined to hang all the fellows at once, but of course +this could not be thought of; they must first be tried, and there could +be no doubt that they would be convicted. What satisfaction would it be +to hang the scoundrels? Putting them to death would not probably +prevent others from committing similar deeds, nor would it bring those +who were lost to life. + +It was necessary, however, to land the slaves at once, for the sake of +preserving their health; for even during the last few hours several of +the grown-up people had died, and nearly a dozen of the children; and +others, it was clear, would not survive unless carried on shore, and +supplied with better food and fresh water. Superintending this work +occupied Adair, and prevented him from mourning over the loss of his +young nephew and Archie. The party on shore had been occupied for some +time in putting up huts for housing any slaves who might be brought to +the island. These were soon filled with the women and children and the +sick men. The others not so greatly requiring immediate shelter were +set to work to put up some huts for themselves, an operation most of +them seemed to understand very well. + +In the meantime, the Arab crew were kept on board, under charge of an +officer and a party of seamen. Towards evening the boat was seen +returning, and Adair had some faint hopes that she might have obtained +some information of the midshipmen, in case the skipper's version of the +affair was true. Adair hurried down to meet her. + +"We bring you no news of the missing ones," said the officer in charge; +"we went as far as you directed, and then swept round inshore, but no +dhow could we see." + +Adair, more out of spirits than he had ever been in his life before, got +back to the camp. One of the men came running in with the information +that a ship was in sight to the northward. Adair and several others +hurried to the nearest point from which they could see her, and he and +Green were both of opinion that she was the _Opal_. This was confirmed +when she got near enough to make her number. Hopes were entertained +that she was coming to take them off; for, though not exactly tired of +the life they had been leading, they would gladly have gone to some +other locality, where they would be likely to meet with better success +than they could boast of hitherto. Adair, however, found himself +wishing that Murray had not come back. How could he face him with the +account of the loss of the two midshipmen? Murray might blame him, and +not unjustly, for want of judgment in leaving them in charge of a vessel +manned by desperate ruffians, who would, of course, be glad of the +opportunity to revenge themselves on their enemies. "Why did not I +think of that before?" exclaimed poor Terence more than once. + +However, he ordered the gig to be manned, and as soon as the corvette +approached the anchorage, he pulled away for her. She had just brought +up, and the hands were aloft furling sails, when his boat got alongside. +Murray was, of course, well pleased to see him, though struck by his +grave looks. + +"All hands are well, I hope? and the youngsters, have they managed to +keep themselves out of mischief?" asked Murray. + +Adair, a very unwonted thing, felt inclined to hang down his head, as, +with a faltering voice, he told the story of their loss. + +"You don't mean to say you left those two lads, with only four careless +men, to manage a set of cut-throats!" exclaimed Murray. + +"I am sorry to say I did, not supposing that the said cut-throats would +venture to turn upon them," answered Adair. + +"That's it, Adair, that's it," exclaimed Murray, more testily than he +was accustomed to speak; "you are too apt not to consider the +consequences of what you do, and, from want of judgment, the lives of +those boys have been thrown away." + +"Really, you are hard upon me," cried Adair. "I acted as well as the +circumstances would allow, and it was my duty to try and get hold of the +other dhow." + +"You should have left a stronger force to keep in check a set of +ruffians, with whom only a few minutes before you had been engaged in a +struggle for life and death," said Murray; "they acted according to +their instincts, and murdered the poor boys." + +"I had no time to think of that or anything else," said Adair, about to +turn away; "it was my duty to take the other dhow, and I succeeded in +doing so." + +Murray, observing how much Adair was moved, felt that he was speaking +too harshly. "Well, well, I am sure you did as you considered best," +said he. "It is a very sad affair, but I don't know that we ought to +give them up as lost. You may have misunderstood the two blacks, though +circumstances are strongly against the Arab captain. However, I will +examine him and his crew and the old black chief, with the aid of Hamed, +whom he can understand; and perhaps we may elicit something which will +give us ground for hoping that they after all escaped." + +"I wish I could think so," said Adair; "I shall blame myself as long as +I live for their loss. I am certain they would not willingly have +deserted their charge." + +Murray, having ordered Hamed to accompany him, pulled off in his gig +with Adair. He found the rest of the officers standing on the beach +ready to receive him, and he at once issued orders to have the slave +captain and his companions brought on shore. Two boats were on the +point of putting off to bring them, when a loud report was heard, and +thick wreaths of smoke were seen issuing from the dhow, followed almost +directly by flames bursting out from all parts. The boats dashed on to +rescue those on board; as they did so, they saw a number of men, whom +they recognised as their shipmates, swimming towards them, but not the +dark face of an Arab among them. + +The boats quickly picked them up one after the other, none, happily, of +the party left on board being missing. Neither the officer nor any of +the men could account for the accident. They were all on deck, the +sentry near the hold in which the prisoners were confined; suddenly an +explosion occurred which lifted up a portion of the deck, and sent the +sentry and two other men standing near him overboard. Flames instantly +afterwards burst out both fore and aft, and the natural impulse of the +rest was to leap into the water to save their lives. The master's +assistant, who commanded the party, seeing that any attempt to rescue +the prisoners would be utterly hopeless, to save his own life was +compelled to follow his men. + +Just as the last English seaman was picked up, the dhow's stern, already +a mass of flames, lifted, and she glided down, bow foremost, beneath the +surface; a few pieces of charred wood and bamboo marking the spot where +she had lately floated. + +"Serve the fellows right," observed several of the men who were watching +the occurrence; "the hangman has been saved a job, and stout rope left +for a better purpose." + +Murray and Adair, although acknowledging that the murderers, as they +deemed them, had met with a just fate, could not help regretting that +all means of obtaining information as to what had become of the +midshipmen and their companions had thus been lost. + +"All I can now do," said Murray, "is to cruise over the ground the dhow +must have traversed after you left her, and look out for the canoe, in +case any of the party may have succeeded in getting into her. It is +possible that some of them may have done so, although in this long +interval they must have suffered fearfully for want of food." + +As no time was to be lost, Murray returned on board, leaving Adair with +his party still on the island. The corvette, immediately weighing +anchor, stood away close--hauled to the eastward, that she might on +another tack fetch the spot where her search was to begin. Murray's +remarks had slightly raised Adair's hopes that one if not both of the +midshipmen might have been saved, had they been hove overboard alive; +but it was too probable that the Arabs would have knocked them on the +head first, and then thrown them into the water. He expressed his +thoughts to Green. + +"I don't altogether give them up," answered Jos. "Midshipmen have a +wonderful way of keeping in existence, and by some means or other they +may have escaped, though I can't say how it may have happened." + +Adair's anxiety prevented him from sitting quiet in his tent, and, in +spite of the hot sun, he continued walking about, now visiting the +look-out man, now seeing how the unfortunate slaves were getting on. +Pango and Bango were of great assistance in communicating with them and +dissipating their fears, though their captors had taken good care to +instil into their minds the belief that the Englishmen wished only to +catch them for the sake of salting them down for food, or disposing of +them in some other horrible manner. Poor creatures! what their future +lot was to be no one could tell. One thing was certain: they had been +torn from their homes and families, many of those dearest to them had +been killed by the savage men-hunters, and they themselves had been +treated with horrible cruelty. + +The boats, as usual, were kept in readiness to start off at a moment's +notice, while the look-out men had their eyes about them in search of +any dhows running up the coast. "A sail in sight to the southward," +shouted the man up the tree. + +"What is she like?" asked Adair. + +"Square-rigged vessel, sir, with a broad spread of white canvas." + +Here was likely to be work. She might prove a Spanish or American +vessel, or carrying the flag of one of the other powers which still +permitted the slave-trade. If a slaver, she was not likely to yield +tamely if she had a chance of escape. Many such vessels were known to +be strongly armed, and to be commanded by daring fellows, who would be +perfectly ready to fight if they saw a chance of success. All the +boats, therefore, were manned, to be ready to attack her should she +stand near the island; which, from the course she was steering, there +was every probability she would do. Everyone looked forward to the work +with satisfaction. The only fear was that she might be empty, and might +simply be coming north to take in her slaves at Angoxa, or some other +place farther north. Cutlasses were buckled on, pistols freshly capped, +and other usual preparations made when fighting was in hand. + +The wind was somewhat light, but at length the stranger's courses rose +above the horizon, when Jos Green, who had mounted to the +signal-station, shouted out, "She's an English brig-of-war, and is +making her number." Adair sent for the signal-book, and, inquiring the +flag seen, quickly made her out as the _Romp_. + +"Why, she's been on the East India station," he observed. "We shall +soon know all about her, for she's evidently steering for the island, +and the breeze seems to be freshening. She'll come to an anchor before +long." + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +THE MIDSHIPMEN SWIM FOR THEIR LIVES--FIND THE CANOE--ADRIFT ON THE +OCEAN--THEIR SUFFERINGS--PICKED UP BY THE ROMP, COMMANDER JACK ROGERS-- +TOM'S MEETING WITH DESMOND AND ARCHIE--ADAIR'S JOY ON SEEING THEM--THE +BANQUET ON THE ISLAND--"MUSIC HATH CHARMS"--BURNING OF A NATIVE +VILLAGE--THE OPAL AND ROMP SAIL FOR ZANZIBAR. + +When Gerald Desmond, surprised by the Arabs, was tumbled overboard, he +happily managed to get his head clear of the cloth which had been thrown +round it, and, striking out, he endeavoured to keep himself afloat, +though he had little hopes of saving his life. Though the night was +dark, he made out two or three objects floating near him. "Who's +there?" he shouted out. + +"Is that you?" asked a voice which he knew to be that of Archie Gordon. +"Help me, Gerald, to get this thing off my head, or I shall be drowned. +Where are we? What has happened?" + +A few strokes brought Gerald up to his messmate, and he quickly tore off +the cloth which the Arabs had bound round his head. + +"Praise Heaven that you've escaped, young gentlemen!" exclaimed another +person, who proved to be Jerry Bird; "we've a long swim before us, but +we must try to keep afloat somehow." + +While these remarks were being made, the dhow was gliding rapidly away, +leaving them astern. "I'm afraid it's more than mortals can do to swim +all that distance," said Desmond; "but hallo! what's that? a huge fish +coming to seize us?" + +"No, sir," cried Jerry Bird, "it's the canoe. Someone has cut her +adrift, and we've a better chance for our lives than I thought for." + +While they were speaking, a fourth head was seen, which Jerry hailed, +and found that it was that of the man who had been at the helm. Urging +him to keep up his spirits, the midshipmen and Jerry swam towards the +canoe. It was no easy matter to get in without capsizing her; but they +managed it, Desmond climbing over the bow and Jerry holding on to the +stern. As soon as the two were in, Archie followed Desmond, and then +Jerry himself got in. Their first impulse was to go to the assistance +of the man who was swimming some little way off; but what was their +disappointment on feeling about for the paddles to discover that none +were on board. They managed, however, with their hands to work up to +the poor fellow, who, being a bad swimmer, was almost exhausted, and on +the point of sinking. Jerry caught him by the collar just as he was +going down, and sang out to him to catch hold of the stern; but the +difficulty was to get him in without the greatest possible risk of +filling or capsizing the canoe, her gunwale being almost flush with the +water. + +"You must manage, Sam, to get in of yourself," said Jerry at length; +"I'll go more for'ard. But take your time about it; there's nothing to +gain by being in a hurry, and all to lose." + +Sam Potts, having recovered his presence of mind, did as he was advised, +and, the rest nicely trimming the canoe, he was enabled to crawl in +directly over the stern, though not without causing a considerable +amount of water to flow in over the gunwale. The midshipmen with their +caps, and the two men with their hands; quickly baled it out; but so low +was the canoe with their weight, that it was very evident, should any +sea get up, that they would run a great risk of being swamped. + +In vain they looked out for the other men, but no sign of them could +they discover. They hailed, on the chance of their having been thrown +overboard when the dhow had got more ahead, but no reply came to their +shouts. They must either have been kept on board, or sunk immediately. +Their own situation was, however, too precarious to allow them to +trouble themselves much about the fate of their companions--without food +or water, or the means of propelling their canoe, they might too +probably, even if not drowned, die of hunger and thirst. Still, they +had reason to be thankful that the canoe had been cast adrift at that +very moment, and that they had been enabled to get on board her. The +circumstance appeared providential, and why should they, therefore, +fancy that they were to be allowed to perish? + +The sea continued calm, and a downpour of rain gave them a sufficient +amount of fresh water, which they caught in their hats and caps, to +quench their thirst. They dared not move, so Sam Potts remained aft, +Jerry amidships, Desmond next to him, and Archie forward, all of them +sitting with their legs stretched out at the bottom of the canoe. The +rain made them feel somewhat cold, notwithstanding that after some time +Desmond went off to sleep, to finish the snooze so fatally indulged in +while trying to keep his watch on the deck of the dhow. Before long +Archie followed his example, as did Sam Potts, leaving Jerry alone +awake. + +Thus the night passed away. The two midshipmen were both awoke at the +same moment by finding the rays of the sun shining in their eyes. +"Where are we?" exclaimed Desmond. "Faith, I fancied that I was away +snug at home at Ballymacree, and little did I think that I was floating +about in a canoe out in the Mozambique Channel." + +"We may be very thankful that we are not at the bottom of the said +channel," remarked Archie. + +"Faith, you may say that, my boy," said Desmond; "small thanks to the +rascally Arabs that we are not there. I only hope another of those +slaving dhows won't come by and run us down. They're not likely to +treat us with much courtesy if they guess what has happened." + +"If a dhow does come by, we must try to board her and take her," +exclaimed Jerry Bird. + +"But we've got no arms," said Archie; "how are we to manage without +them?" + +"Take them from the rascals, to be sure, if they show fight," said +Jerry. "As to running us down, we'll show them that they've made a +mistake if they attempt it. If a dhow comes near us, we must make the +canoe fast alongside, jump on board all together, seize the arms of the +fellows nearest us, and then lay about us with right goodwill till we've +driven the crew below or overboard." + +Although Jerry's plan seemed a somewhat desperate one, its discussion +served to keep up the spirits of the party, who entered into it +cordially; and all agreed that it should be attempted, should they have +the opportunity. The sun now rose and beat down on their heads with +fearful force, while around them the calm sea shone like burnished gold. +Their hunger increased, while already they began to feel the want of +water. The midshipmen suffered most. "I say, Archie, I'm getting +mighty ravenous," whispered Desmond; "I shall be turned into a living +skeleton pretty soon, with no more flesh on my bones than some of the +unfortunate slaves." + +"I've taken in a couple of reefs in my belt, and somewhat stopped the +gnawing I was feeling just now," answered Archie; "you'd better do the +same." + +"Faith, I should be after cutting myself in two," said Desmond, "before +I could stop this abominable biting in my inside." + +Still the two midshipmen kept up their spirits, and talked away in a +cheerful strain, in spite of the heat and their consequently increasing +thirst. The sea continued calm and the wind so light that it would be +long before a dhow or any other vessel could reach them. As their +thirst increased, their inclination to converse lessened; and at length +they and the two men continued, often for half an hour together, without +uttering a word. + +"I wonder what's become of Harry and Bill," said Sam Potts. "I've been +thinking of them. Maybe they're worse off than we are." + +"Too likely," said Jerry. "The slaver's crew wouldn't have left them +alive to bear evidence that we were hove overboard; so, depend upon it, +if they didn't send them after us, they knocked them on the head, or cut +their throats whenever they found them. Bad as we are off, they, poor +fellows, are much worse. We may be thankful, Sam, that we are where we +are. This isn't the first time that I've been in a boat out in +mid-ocean, without a drop of water, and with nothing to eat except maybe +a flying-fish and a brace of noddies we caught, and a dead bird we +picked up, till we came across a whale floating, and, fed on the blubber +for a week or more, though we had to hold our noses as we put it into +our mouths, till we were at length picked up. So you see, bad off as we +may be, we've no business to give way to despair; help will come from +one side or the other." + +These remarks contributed to keep up the spirits of all the party, which +had naturally begun to flag. As the day advanced the heat became +greater and greater. They did what they could to keep themselves cool; +they wetted their shirts and their clothes, but they very speedily +became dry again. The evening of another day was approaching; nearly +four-and-twenty hours had passed since they had taken any food, and not +a biscuit had anyone by chance in his pocket. At length, after +rummaging in his pocket for some time, Sam Potts drew out a +black-looking lump of about the size of the end joint of his thumb. +"Hurrah!" he exclaimed; "here's a treasure! Jerry, ask the young +gentlemen if they'd like to have a chaw, I suppose they won't take it +amiss, seeing we're all in the same boat." + +The midshipmen thanked Sam, but declined his offer, feeling that it was +more likely to increase their thirst than to lessen it. Jerry, however, +expressed his gratitude to his mate, who generously gave him half his +precious quid, which he immediately stuffed into his cheek. "Ah, this +is something like!" he exclaimed; "bless my heart, it's like meat and +drink. Them as never was out at sea in an open boat, without as much +food as would cover a sixpence, they shouldn't cry out and abuse us poor +fellows for taking a chaw, or enjoying a blow of baccy when we've a +chance." + +"You're right, mate," said Sam; "I'd have given my last golden guinea +for a quid, and I believe it will help to keep our bodies and souls +together better nor anything else we was likely to find out here." + +The midshipmen, who had heard Jerry's remarks about noddies and +flying-fish, kept looking out in the hopes that they might get hold of +some denizens of the sea or air. Though occasionally the fin of a shark +appeared above the surface, or some huge monster was seen gambolling at +a distance, no living thing, however, came near to enable them to +satisfy their craving hunger. Thus the day passed away, and night once +more threw her sable mantle over the ocean. The sky was clear. Archie +thought it was his duty to try and sit up and keep watch, but it was +more than he could do, and in a short time both he and Desmond dropped +off into a sound slumber. Hour after hour they continued in a +half-waking, half-sleeping state, their strength decreasing for want of +food, and even when awake their minds wandering in a strange fashion, +from which they were only aroused when Jerry or Sam spoke to them. +Their case was becoming, they could not help feeling, serious indeed, +and they were conscious that, should relief not arrive, they must, ere +many hours were passed over their heads, succumb to hunger and thirst. +The night seemed interminable, and they could only pray that the +daylight might bring them assistance. Towards morning they were +somewhat aroused by feeling the canoe tossing about far more than she +had hitherto done, while every now and then the top of a sea washed over +her gunwale, just sufficiently to show them that they had a new danger +to apprehend. By this time, however, they felt almost indifferent to +anything that might happen. They were, at length, aroused to action. + +"It won't do, sirs, to let the canoe get swamped. We must turn to and +try to get the water out of her as fast as it comes in," cried Jerry. + +"Of course," answered Archie, throwing off the torpor which oppressed +him; "we'll do our best." Gerald said the same, and at once they began +baling away. They were thus employed, managing to keep the canoe pretty +clear of water, when dawn again broke. + +"A sail! a sail!" cried Jerry, as he was casting his eyes round the +horizon, from which the shades of night were gradually rising; "she's +coming up before the wind, but I'm much afraid that she's one of those +slaving craft after all. Still, though her crew may be arrant +cut-throats, they can't do us much harm, seeing we're bad enough off at +present." + +All the party now kept their eyes fixed on the approaching sail. On she +came, steering apparently directly for them. As she drew nearer, she +was seen to be a large dhow, and, there could be little doubt, a slaver. +She was within a mile of them, when, just in her wake, rising above the +horizon, appeared the loftier sails of a square-rigged vessel, also +approaching directly before the wind. The crew of the dhow had in all +probability seen her, and were endeavouring to escape. + +"By the cut of her canvas," exclaimed Jerry, after watching for some +moments, "she's an English man-o'-war." Sam was of the same opinion. +The two midshipmen hoped they were right. The question, however, was +how the dhow would treat them. They were certainly less anxious than +they had been before to get on board her. Would her crew, from mere +revenge, on recognising the midshipmen's uniforms, give them her stem? +If she did, they must do their best to scramble on board; but then, with +their strength so diminished, they would scarcely be able to clamber up, +much less to fight, as Jerry had proposed. + +A few minutes more must settle the question. As the ship was standing +directly after the dhow, they might, at all events, be picked up by her; +and they, therefore, earnestly hoped that the latter might pass without +observing them, or, if she did, without molesting them. On she came. + +"She's steering somewhat wide of us, sir," exclaimed Jerry, "and I don't +think we've been seen as yet." + +What the Arabs might have done had they not been chased, it was +difficult to say. The canoe was apparently not discovered till the dhow +was within a few cables' length of her. The dhow would have had to +deviate slightly from her course to run down the canoe; as it was, she +passed scarcely twenty fathoms off, her dark-skinned crew casting savage +looks at the Englishmen. While the dhow was gliding by, the two +midshipmen and their companions sat up watching her. + +"They've made out who we are, sir," cried Jerry; "and the villains, if +they're not pointing their matchlocks at us! Lie flat down, and we +shall have a better chance of escaping." Scarcely had he spoken than +several shots came flying by the canoe, one close over her; but happily, +as Jerry's advice had been followed, no one was hit, and the dhow, +impelled by the fresh breeze, went rapidly ahead, leaving the canoe far +astern, before the slavers could fire another volley. + +"You arrant scoundrels!" shouted Jerry; "we'll pay you off one of these +days." + +After this excitement the whole party would have sunk back into their +former state of apathy, had not the approaching vessel given them matter +to keep them aroused. Her topsails were now above the horizon, and soon +her courses appeared; by which time, however, the sails of the swift +dhow had already begun to disappear on the other side. Indeed, it was +evident that she was gaining rapidly on her pursuer, which would have +very little chance of catching her. + +"That craft is an English brig-of-war," exclaimed Jerry, at length. +"Though she hasn't a chance of catching the slaver, she'll see us, I've +a hope, and before long we shall have some grub and water on board." + +"There's no chance, I trust, of their passing us?" said Archie. + +"No fear of that, sir," replied Jerry; "they keep too bright a look-out +on board. Depend on't, they've made us out before now." + +The wind was again failing, and should it become calm, the brig might +not come up before dark. Still, if the canoe, as Jerry supposed, was +already seen, of course a look-out would be kept for her. For half an +hour or more, hopes and fears alternately predominated. "They've made +us out--no fear on that score," cried Jerry; "I saw the people on the +foc's'le waving to us." As he spoke, the brig shortened sail; a boat +was lowered, and, ere a minute had passed, she sheered alongside the +canoe. A midshipman and warrant-officer, with four hands, were in her. + +"Bear a hand; lift the poor fellows on board carefully--sharp about it," +cried the former. "We must not lose a moment; they seem very far gone." +Desmond and Archie were placed in the sternsheets, while even Jerry and +Sam could not, without the help of others, manage to crawl into the +boat. + +The canoe was dropped astern, while the boat pulled back to the brig; +the whole manoeuvre, being properly executed, occupying but a very few +minutes. The midshipman, attending simply to the work in hand, had not +looked at the countenances of the people he had rescued. Just, however, +as the boat had hooked on, he cast his eyes at the face of one of his +companions, and then at the other. "Why, gunner," he exclaimed, "I do +believe that they are Gerald Desmond and Archie Gordon!" + +"You're right, Tom," cried Gerald, who was not so far gone as to be +unable to speak; "and mighty glad I am to see you--only, as you love us, +get us some grub, or we shall be after hopping the twig." + +"No fear about that, young gentleman," said Dick Needham, who was the +warrant-officer in the boat; "we'll have you on board in a quarter less +no time, and under care of the doctor; he'll soon bring you round, +though you mustn't be eating too much at first." + +The midshipmen and their companions were speedily hoisted on board, when +Tom Rogers announced to the commander who they were, and the condition +in which he had found them. Broth and other restoratives being quickly +prepared, and duly administered, in a very short time they were able to +use their tongues sufficiently to give an account of themselves. + +"Well, I'm glad we fell in with you," cried Tom, "and so is my brother +Jack--if not for your sake, on account of his old shipmates, Murray and +Adair. They would have been precious sorry to lose you, and so should +I. And now we've fallen in with each other, we shall have the chance of +some good fun together, for the brig is to be employed, during the +remainder of her commission, in slave-hunting. My brother Jack is only +acting-commander of the _Romp_, but he's sure to be confirmed before +long. He got no end of credit in the work we've been engaged in up the +Irrawaddy, of which I'll tell you by and by. I often wished that you +fellows were with us. It beat all the service we saw out in South +America." + +"And Archie and I have often, of late, said how we longed to have you +with us, Tom," answered Desmond; "not that we've had the same sort of +fun we enjoyed in our first cruise. It has been much rougher work, on +the whole, and I haven't fallen in with any Irish cousins, or the lots +of nice girls we met in the West Indies; but, after all, the life we +lead when boat-cruising is as much to my taste as anything I can fancy." + +Tom, of course, replied that he hoped to have some of it, and that he +should try to get his brother to send him away on an expedition. + +Though but a short time had been lost in picking up the canoe, it was +sufficient to allow the dhow to run out of sight. Jack, who was bound +for Zanzibar, of course had now to bring up off Mafamale, for the sake +of landing Archie and Gerald, and to set Adair's anxiety about them at +rest. He was very glad also of the opportunity he should thus obtain of +seeing his old shipmates. + +The two midshipmen, though still somewhat weak, had greatly recovered by +the time the island was sighted. Scarcely had the _Romp_ dropped her +anchor than Adair came on board. His surprise on seeing Jack was almost +as great as his satisfaction at finding the midshipmen and the two other +men safe and sound. Jack had some time before heard of the death of +Kathleen. The recollection of her threw a shade of melancholy over the +meeting of the two friends, but after a short time he managed to cast it +off, and talked away eagerly of their past adventures and future +prospects. + +"I am glad to find, Jack, that you are so certain of your promotion," +said Adair; "I wish that I could think the same of my own prospects. +Lord Derrynane will do the best he can for me; but when he paid his last +visit at the Admiralty, the First Lord told him that, though I was a +remarkably promising young officer, he had so many promising young +officers deserving of promotion that he should fill the service with +commanders if he was to attend to the requests of all his friends. I +can only hope for the chance of doing something which must compel their +Lordships to promote me." + +"I hope you may, Terence, with all my heart," exclaimed Jack; "and if +not, we must get Admiral Triton to advocate your cause. I shouldn't +feel comfortable getting my step unless you, who deserve it quite as +much, obtained yours also." + +As soon as Adair returned on shore, he found that Jos Green and the rest +of the party had been arranging to invite the commander and officers of +the _Romp_ to a banquet on the island; and a note, couched in the usual +formal style, was immediately despatched, a favourable answer being +returned. + +"But, as to provender--what have we got, Green?" asked Adair. + +"Some of it isn't yet caught, to be sure," answered Green; "but we've +sent the men out with the seine, and we shall have an ample supply, +though there may be no great variety." + +Shortly before the dinner-time arrived, a sail was seen standing up from +the southward, and was soon pronounced to be the corvette. The proposed +banquet was therefore postponed till her arrival; an additional haul of +the seine was made, and a further supply of fish secured. The breeze +was fresh, and, as she was under all sail, the _Opal_ soon came to an +anchor, and Murray and his officers at once accepted the invitation sent +off to them. He had naturally become very anxious at discovering no +traces of the midshipmen, and was proportionately thankful when he found +that they were safe. + +Thus the three old shipmates, after an absence of upwards of two years, +once again met. At the appointed hour, the invited guests from the two +men-of-war arrived on shore. Jos Green had undertaken to superintend +the arrangements. All hands who could be spared from their culinary +duties, rigged out in their cleanest, were marshalled to serve as a +guard of honour. He had formed also a band, and though regular musical +instruments were scarce, he had with much ingenuity contrived half a +dozen drums made out of empty meat-tins, the same number of horns formed +of conch shells, and a similar number of fifes and flutes, which had +previously been manufactured on the island, during the leisure hours of +some of the men who took delight in harmonious sounds. + +Murray and Jack, as they walked up from the landing-place, laughed +heartily at the preparations for their reception. Though the music was +open to criticism, the banquet surpassed their expectations. Their +seats were three-legged stools, but the table was bountifully spread. +At one end was a huge bowl of peasoup, at the other a similar one of +fish; at the sides were several varieties of fried fish and boiled fish, +roast and boiled fowls, obtained from a dhow--a legal trader, which had +been overhauled; salt junk, of course, was not wanting, with preserved +vegetables, and a liberal supply of yams; while bottles of beer, porter, +and rum, constituted the chief beverages. Lastly, too, plum-puddings, +somewhat resembling those stone-shot used by the Turks in days of yore, +were placed before the carvers, and were pronounced excellent as to +composition, but were declared to possess rather more consistency than +was absolutely requisite. Indeed, few of the guests, with the exception +of the midshipmen, made any great inroads on them. + +The viands being removed, songs were sung and healths drunk; the most +important of the latter being the success of Britain's arms by sea and +land, a speedy end to the slave-trade, and health and prosperity to the +Queen and all the royal family. Dinner being over, races were run, +leap-frog indulged in, games of rounders played on a grand scale, and +hits made such as only sailors could accomplish, and a variety of other +sports which the nature of the ground and circumstances would allow. + +Business, however, had to be attended to. Adair had left four men on +board the dhow, and two only besides the midshipmen had been recovered. +There could be no doubt, therefore, that two had been murdered, as would +have been the case with the whole party, had not the canoe so +providentially got adrift at the right moment. It was suspected that +the old chief, Mustapha Longchops, had instigated the crime, and though +he and the Arabs had been sent to their account, his people, who had so +grossly insulted the British officers, were not to be allowed to escape +unpunished. The corvette and brig, therefore, early the next morning, +accompanied by the boats, proceeded off to the village, where they +brought up. The sea being tolerably calm, and there being no surf, as +they neared the shore six boats were at once manned and sent in to +inflict condign punishment on the heads of the transgressors. + +The party, headed by Rogers and Adams, formed on the beach. Their +arrival had been observed by the natives, who, with tom-toms beating and +horns sounding, were drawn up in large numbers on the side of the hill +to defend their village. Jack gave the order to advance; the natives +stood for a few seconds--then, even before a single shot had been fired, +they turned tail and scampered off as fast as their legs could carry +them. The only volley fired brought a few down, and hastened the flight +of the rest, who were out of sight before the village was reached. Not +a human being was found in any of the huts, which were speedily set on +fire and burned to the ground, while a grove of trees growing near was +cut down--a far more severe punishment than the burning of the miserable +huts, which could be easily restored. This necessary though +unsatisfactory work being accomplished, the party returned on board, and +the corvette and brig, having received the captured slaves, made sail +for Zanzibar. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +ANOTHER DHOW CHASED--SLAVES THROWN OVERBOARD--DHOW CAPTURED--HER HOLD-- +ZANZIBAR--"SPICY ODOURS"--A TRIP ON SHORE--THE SLAVE-MARKET--HORRORS OF +THE SLAVE-TRADE IN THE INTERIOR--A STORE IN ZANZIBAR--MURRAY AND ADAIR +PAY A VISIT TO THE SULTAN--SUMMARY JUSTICE. + +Upwards of a fortnight had gone by since the corvette and brig last +weighed anchor. Neither of them had been idle; numerous dhows had been +chased, some of them overtaken and boarded. A large proportion of them +had been of necessity let go, from want of sufficient evidence to +warrant their condemnation. The corvette had captured two with slaves +on board, and continued her course with them; while the _Romp_ had +parted company, chasing a suspicious sail which made every effort to +escape. On being turned from the shore by the _Opal_, whose boats had +been sent after her, she had stood to the eastward. + +She was a large craft, with an enormous spread of canvas, and the little +_Romp_ had to put her best foot foremost to keep her in sight. Jack +Rogers, however, was not to be disappointed of his prey. Setting every +stitch of canvas the brig could carry, he steered after her, hoping that +by some fortunate chance he might at length get her under his guns. + +Dick Needham and Tom were standing on the forecastle, with their glances +directed towards the chase, on which it was evident they were at length +gaining. "It seems to me, Mr Needham," observed Tom, who had been +taking a long, steady look at the chase, "they're heaving something +overboard; what it is I can't make out,--scarcely a cargo of ballast,-- +but we shall soon discover when we get up to her, as we shall, I hope, +before long." + +Needham took another steady look. "As true as I'm an Englishman, it is +her cargo though," he exclaimed; "a living cargo, or what was living not +long ago. They're heaving overboard the black slaves; not one at a +time, as I've seen down on the West Coast, just to induce the cruiser in +chase to heave-to for the purpose of picking them up, but dozens at a +time, so it seems to me. Yes, I am sure of it, the outrageous villains! +they've no notion of the power of our glasses. I wish our guns would +carry as far; we'd soon make them understand that we'd our eyes upon +them." + +"I'll go and tell the commander," exclaimed Tom. "Can nothing be done +to stop them?" + +"We're doing all we can, for we can't make the brig walk faster than +she's going," answered Needham. + +Tom hurried aft with the information, and Jack and most of his officers +were soon directing their glasses on the dhow. Although some doubted +that the black objects they saw thrown over the side could really be +human beings, the majority were of opinion that such was the case. +Little had Jack thought, when going in chase of the slaver, that he was +to be the unintentional cause of the death of numbers of his +fellow-creatures; yet he was convinced that such really was the case. + +Eager as all were to stop the butchery they believed going forward, it +was impossible to set more sail or to do anything else to make the brig +move along faster. They could only wish that they had steam-power, +when, if a dead calm should come on, they might quickly have got up with +the dhow. As it was, all they could do was to steer steadily after her, +and as soon as they could get her within range of their bow-chasers, to +fire away, and compel her to heave-to. The best of the day was before +them, so that, should the wind hold, they must ultimately come up with +her. This was their only consolation. Since she was first sighted they +had gained a couple of miles on her, and should they continue to gain on +her at the same rate, they might soon be throwing shot and shell through +her canvas. + +The men, when they heard what was taking place, entered fully into the +feelings of their officers. Many a sincere prayer was offered up that +the dhow might be taken and the murderers punished. Anxiously the +course of the sun was watched as it sank towards the distant coast; for +should night come on before the dhow was captured, the murderous Arabs +might escape from the avenger of blood in hot pursuit after them. + +"If they have been guilty of the horrible deed we suspect, I don't think +that they will escape," said Jack. "Even if they do get free of us, +Heaven will inflict on them the punishment they deserve, by some other +means." + +Two more hours passed, when, the brig having gained another mile, the +hopes of all on board rose proportionately. At length Needham came aft. +"I think, sir, we might reach her with our long six-pounder, and a shot +or two through her sails would take the speed out of her." Already the +sun's lower limb was touching the horizon. + +"The experiment is worth trying," answered Rogers. + +The gun was mounted on the forecastle, and charged with a shell. The +first shell burst astern of the dhow, which still continued standing on. +Needham was quickly ready, and fired another. "Hurrah!" he exclaimed; +"I thought so." It touched her large sail, and, exploding at the same +moment, rent it in all directions. Still she did not heave-to. A third +and fourth shell were thrown, the sail being again torn by the latter. +The brig now gained fast on the chase; still, so rapidly does darkness +come on after sunset in that latitude, that the Arabs possibly still +hoped to effect their escape. Their courage, however, at length gave +way, as one shot after another struck them, and both sails were seen to +come down together. The brig now quickly got up with the chase, and, +heaving-to to leeward, two boats were lowered, Tom accompanying the +second lieutenant in one, with the interpreter, while Needham had charge +of the other. + +As they got up alongside, about thirty piratical-looking ruffians, +headed by their skipper, stood prepared to receive them. They appeared +in no way disconcerted as the English leaped on board. + +"Ask the negoda what has become of the slaves with which he lately +sailed, Hamed," said the lieutenant. + +The Arab answered at some length: "He says they have had no slaves on +board, and the dhow was becoming leaky, and they had to throw the cargo +into the sea," said Hamed. + +"Then inquire why he ran away from us," said the lieutenant. + +Again Hamed and the skipper had a long talk. "The negoda says he was in +a hurry, and thought the brig was a pirate," said Hamed. + +"Very likely. You don't think he speaks the truth?" observed the +lieutenant. + +"He speakee lie," said Hamed. + +"Tell him we, at all events, intend to search his vessel," said the +lieutenant, "and we shall judge whether she's leaky or not, or whether +there's any foundation for his statement." + +Lanterns had been brought in the boat. While one-half of the English +kept watch over the villains on deck, the others descended with Tom and +Needham into the horribly-smelling hold. A large quantity of bamboos +were found, the remains of slave-decks, with a larger supply of rice, +millet, and water than the Arabs were likely to carry for themselves. +There was a miscellaneous cargo below under the slave-deck, which had +certainly not been interfered with. There was evidence sufficient to +condemn the vessel, but not a proof that the slaves had been murdered, +though there could be no doubt that, if not lately landed, they must +have been disposed of by foul means. + +"I fancied I heard a groan," said Tom, as he was groping about. Needham +came to the spot, and eager hands were soon engaged in removing some of +the cargo; when, from beneath it, in a hollow space, they drew forth a +human being, a boy ten or, twelve years of age, fearfully emaciated. +One of the seamen carried him on deck, his appearance causing a +considerable agitation among the Arab crew. Hamed addressed the lad, +who replied to him in a faint voice. Even the interpreter's +unattractive countenance expressed horror. + +"He say he got loose, and hide away because he hear the cries of the +rest of the slaves. The Arabs cut their throats, and tumble them into +the sea. He sure they were two hundred or more this morning, men and +women and children, and now he alone remain," said Hamed. No further +evidence than this was necessary to condemn the Arab crew, and the +lieutenant immediately ordered them into the boats, and sent them on +board the brig, leaving Tom with four hands to take charge of the dhow. + +On their arrival Jack immediately held a court to try the accused, with +himself as judge, and his two lieutenants as assistants. The evidence +of the slave boy was considered conclusive; the prisoners were called up +one by one for their defence, but as they had no time to concoct a +story, they each of them told a different tale. Jack felt very much +inclined to run them all together up to his yard-arm, but as this might +be looked upon as too summary a way of proceeding, he ordered them to be +placed in irons, to undergo a regular trial as soon as he could fall in +with the commodore. He arrived, however, at the conclusion that the +dhow was a lawful prize, and to prevent the risk of her ever carrying +more slaves, he issued an order that she should immediately be set on +fire. Tom, who had been anticipating the result, was very much pleased +when the gunner returned with Jack's orders for her destruction. Light +was set to her fore and aft, and as the boats pulled away, flames burst +out from all directions, the glare, as they rose higher, extending to a +far distance across the ocean. + +The Arabs were kept on deck to witness the burning of their vessel. For +a few minutes the fire raged furiously, the flames rising in one huge +pyramid, till on a sudden they disappeared as she sunk beneath the +surface, to which so many of her hapless passengers had lately been +consigned. + +"It would have served the villains right if they'd been left on board," +observed Needham; "and I say, Hamed, just tell them so, and it is to be +hoped they will get their due before long." + +Meantime, the _Opal_, with her prizes, sighted the southern end of +Zanzibar. As she ran along the western shore, the flat-roofed +buildings, like palaces with numerous windows, gave the place an +appearance of considerable opulence and magnificence. On either side of +the city stretched away a low coast-line of glittering sand, above which +could be seen cocoanut palms, raising their lofty heads at intervals, +while the country, gradually rising towards the centre, appeared covered +with bright green plantations of cloves, pineapples, and sweetly +blossoming mangoes, the perfume of which Mildmay declared he could +inhale even from that distance. + +"Wait till you visit the town, and then you may talk of inhaling +perfumes, though they're not of the sweetest," observed Jos Green. "If +the wind comes off-shore we may get a sniff of spicy odours, but I never +found them quite strong enough to swear to, whatever the poets may say +on the subject." + +"Your olfactory powers are too coarse to enjoy them, that's the fact," +observed Mildmay. + +Here and there valleys opened up covered with orange-groves, sugar-cane, +cassava, and other valuable productions of the soil. The harbour was +full of dhows of all sizes, some at anchor full of slaves bound +northward, but which, having licences from the Sultan, the English +cruisers could not touch; others close to the wharves, landing or +trans-shipping ivory, brought across from the African coast, gum, copal, +spices, cocoanuts, rice, mats, and other produce of the island, besides +several German, American, French, and other foreign vessels. Here also +lay the Sultan's fleet, with blood-red ensigns floating from their +mastheads, the ships being remarkable, if for nothing else, for their +weather-beaten, sunburned appearance. + +"They put me in mind of scarecrows in a garden, which the birds have +learned to look at with contempt; and so, I doubt not, do the Arab +slavers or piratical gentry who cruise in these seas laugh at these +useless ships," observed Green. + +In the afternoon, Murray, accompanied by his second lieutenant and the +two midshipmen, went on shore. "We shall be after smelling the spicy +odours in full vigour," observed Desmond to Mr Mildmay, he having +overheard the conversation of the morning. They had not, however, set +foot on the shore many seconds, and commenced their walk through the +narrow streets, before the lieutenant had his handkerchief to his nose. +"Horrible! detestable!" he muttered; "never was in so vile a place in my +life." + +The whitewashed houses, too, which appeared handsome palaces in the +distance, were now discovered, with few exceptions, to be sadly +dilapidated; while the streets were thronged by an ill-favoured mob of +all hues, from jet black to a sickly parchmentlike yellow. There were +shops in the dirty-looking town, filled with all sorts of goods from +Birmingham and Sheffield. Their owners were chiefly Banians, who were +seen sitting cross-legged among their wares, the men dressed in turbans +of many folds, reaching to a point, with long robes and collars of gold +or silver round their necks; the women profusely decorated with +ornaments, with rings on their fingers and toes, and golden +nose-ornaments and ear-ornaments studded with precious stones; while +many had massive silver bracelets and anklets. + +In an open court under the verandah was seated a schoolmaster, with long +white beard, his pupils sprawling about on not over-clean mats, studying +a huge Koran placed on a stand before them, mumbling in monotonous tones +their lessons; the teacher more asleep than awake, the pupils imitating +his example, and looking as lazy and indifferent as possible. + +Inside and out of many of the shops were heaps of ivory-tusks, collected +by the traders in the interior of Africa, and brought down to the coast; +and in others food of the most disgusting appearance--sharks' flesh, +rancid ghee, and other unsavoury articles, the vendors of which were +hideous negresses, rolling in fat, scarcely bearing any resemblance to +the female sex. The commander and his followers, glad to get out of the +narrow streets, found themselves in a square, where in a semicircle they +saw collected a number of slaves, some standing up, others sitting down, +incapable of supporting themselves on their feet; most of them miserably +emaciated skeletons, looking as if they had not many hours to live. +Within the semicircle were a number of Arabs of high and low degree, a +few of them well-dressed and armed to the teeth, others dirty and +shabby; but all intent on business. They were either slave--dealers, or +purchasers of slaves for their private establishments. In one part of +the square were five or six female slaves for sale, their ages ranging +from twelve to sixteen, gorgeously dressed in coloured garments. One of +the gentlemen Arabs approached to make a purchase. The slave-dealer +vaunted the qualifications of his merchandise, much as an auctioneer +does the goods of which he has to dispose. The purchaser felt the poor +girls' limbs, looked into their mouths, and trotted them out to see +their paces; then, after haggling for some time, walked off with two +which he had selected. The others were purchased much in the same +manner; the remainder of the lots were disposed of with much less +ceremony. On one side was a row of little boys from four to six years +old, who were valued, so Hamed said, at about three dollars apiece. The +girls, who were of a somewhat maturer age, went at from six to twelve +dollars, while stout young fellows, out of whom plenty of work might be +got, went for much higher prices. + +The rest were wretched old men, broken down by the hardships they had +endured during the fearful overland journey, and the not less miserable +voyage. Many fetched not more than a dollar apiece. The old women, all +of whom were either hideously tattooed, or had their lips extended with +large holes, showing their teeth, went for very little more than the +men. There they had been sitting since the morning, exposed to the +fierce rays of the sun, their brutal owners having given them no food, +or even a cup of water to quench their thirst. So worn out were +several, that even when told to get up, they, as if not understanding +the order, stared in stolid apathy. Had they exhibited the same +obstinacy on the mainland, they would, in all probability, have been +knocked on the head, and left to die on the roadside. Perhaps the most +melancholy sight was the group of little children, all infantine life +and animation crushed out of them. There they silently sat, without +attempting to move, till ordered by their owners to rise. Poor little +creatures! long ago they had been torn from their parents, and those +parents probably murdered, or, if captured, disposed of to some other +slave-dealers, while the persons around were in most instances utter +strangers, perhaps from distant parts of the country, and unable to +understand their language. They had been brought in legal traders under +the sanction of the Sultan, and were intended either for domestic +service, or to labour in the various plantations on the island. + +Murray was glad to quit the scene, but it was important that he should +have seen it. He was satisfied that his midshipmen should have done so +likewise, that they might the better understand the horrors and +abominations of the slave-trade. + +"Faith, I'll never complain of any hard work we may have to go through, +provided we can catch more of those slavers," exclaimed Desmond; "it +would be a glorious thing to put a stop to the traffic altogether." + +"We'll do our best, Desmond," said the commander; "though it may take us +long before we can teach the Arabs that it is more profitable to them to +deal in the produce of the country than in their black-skinned +fellow-creatures." + +Every seaport town abroad has its general store, kept by some noted +individual, at which articles of every possible description, from a +chain cable to a paper of needles, can be purchased, at more or less +exorbitant prices; where masters and mates of merchantmen, and ofttimes +their crews, as well as traders of high and low degree, congregate to +discuss their business affairs, and to renovate the inner man with +beverages more or less potent. Zanzibar, albeit not one of the most +civilised cities, boasted such an establishment, kept by a personage +yclept French Charlie. Although he possessed a Gallic appellation, he +had nothing French besides his name about him; he being a mongrel of +mongrels, with a large dash of Portuguese, and perhaps some African and +Arab blood. Whatever his other qualifications, he had his eye open to +the main chance. + +Murray having now to order some stores, directed Hamed to lead him to +the house. With pocket-handkerchiefs at their noses, the party +proceeded along one of the narrowest and most dirty of the streets till +they arrived before a stone edifice in a most dilapidated condition-- +such, indeed, is the normal state of all the buildings in the city. The +main door opening into the street, they immediately entered the store, +having to pick their way amid casks and huge coarse sacks filled to +bursting, piled up to the ceiling; the dirty earthen floor full of holes +more or less deep, while countless ants, cockroaches, spiders, +centipedes, and other reptiles, crawled in all directions. On one side +through an archway was seen a second apartment, in which, round a large +table covered with tumblers, jugs, and flat round bottles, were seen +seated a dozen or more merchant seamen of various nations, those from +Yankee-land predominating, with an equal number of half-caste females +gaudily dressed in Oriental costume, the whole party by their attitudes +and looks already more than half-seas-over; some shouting and singing at +the top of their voices, others attempting to sing, but uttering only +spasmodic sounds, as the fumes of the liquor they were pouring down +their throats mounted to such brains as they might possess. + +Murray turned from the disgusting scene, and, passing on, was met by +Monsieur Charlie, who, order-book in hand, with his dark-skinned, +woolly--covered cranium and squat figure, resembled more a toad than a +human being. "Anything, Senor Captain, you vant?--me got in my store, +all so cheap and so excellent," he said, making an attempt to bow, his +keen, twinkling eyes fixed on his visitors, while he waited eagerly to +note down the orders he might receive. "You will take vun glass, sare, +of something cool? I have Bordeaux just arrived; and de young +gentlemen, dey surely like something--and my goot friend Hamed, we know +each oder, and surely de Prophet not object to him to take just a little +vine for him tummuck." + +Murray, who had no wish to inhale longer than necessary the ill odours +of the place, declined his liberal offers for himself and his +companions, and, examining his list, gave an order for the articles he +required, which Senor Charlie promised should be on board punctually the +first thing next morning. + +On their way back to the landing-place they caught sight of several of +the _Opal's_ crew, who had been allowed to come on shore, surrounded by +a group of ill-looking Arabs, all with arms in their hands, by their +gestures showing that they were endeavouring to incite the Englishmen to +quarrel, as they kept stalking round them, clutching their daggers. The +sailors, each of whom carried a thick stick, regarded the Arabs with the +utmost contempt, as they rolled onward along the streets, every now and +then only turning round and advising them to keep at a respectful +distance. As they caught sight of their commander, touching their hats, +they came to a standstill, while the Arabs, scowling fiercely at them, +hung back. Murray was thankful that he had fallen in with them, for it +was evident that the Arabs would have taken the earliest opportunity of +attacking them, in revenge for the loss of the slaving dhows which they +had assisted to capture. He ordered them, much to their disappointment, +to return with him to the boat, thereby saving them from the Arab +daggers, or an almost equally dangerous visit to French Charlie's store. + +As he got down to the harbour, much to his satisfaction, he saw the +_Romp_ standing in, and before returning to his own ship he went on +board her. Jack gave him an account of his capture of the slaver, and, +having Hamed with him, they were at once able to interrogate the slave +boy who had been saved, and to examine some of the prisoners. The boy, +who had lately recovered by a few days' good food and kind treatment, +showed more than the ordinary intelligence exhibited by captured slaves. +He had been taken while away from his native village, with several +other boys, watching their cattle. The men of their tribe, hearing of +their capture, attempted to rescue them, but were driven back with the +loss of several killed and a considerable number taken alive. They were +all, he and his friends, dragged away, till they joined the main body, +who were forced along, secured two and two by a heavy pole with a fork +at each end, into which their necks were fixed. He saw several drop +from fatigue, whom the Arabs endeavoured to compel to rise with the +points of their spears; if they refused to do so, the masters either +killed them with their axes, or, driving their spears into their bodies, +left them weltering in their blood, either to die of their wounds or to +be devoured by wild beasts. After travelling for upwards of twenty +days, the coast was reached, and they were embarked on board the dhow, +which ran in to receive them, taking many more at other places, till her +hold was filled. Having been detained by calms, they had been badly +fed, with a limited amount of water; and, an epidemic breaking out among +them, several had died, and not only they but others who appeared in a +dying state were hove overboard. He, being strong and active, had been +employed in assisting to carry food to the other slaves. He had, +moreover, learned a little Arabic. + +When chased by the brig-of-war, he had overheard the Arabs talking about +what they would do should it become likely that they would be captured. +He understood that they intended to throw all the slaves overboard, so +as to pass for a legal trader. On finding this, he managed to creep +below, and to stow himself away in the place where he had been found. +Scarcely had he concealed himself when he knew, by the cries and shrieks +of his own countrymen, that the work of butchery had begun. He had +little hopes of escaping, but life even to him was dear, and he kept in +his hiding-place, hoping, at all events, to prolong it. His evidence +was clear and circumstantial. + +Several of the Arabs were next examined, and had no valid excuse to +offer, except that the slaves were their own property, and they had a +right to do with them as they thought fit. As many had already died, +and as, probably, the greater number would have been carried off by +disease before they could reach their destination, this was probably +their real opinion, and accounted for their determination to murder the +whole of their captives in the hopes of saving their vessel from +condemnation. + +Murray and Jack at once resolved to call on the Sultan, and to state the +case to him, on the possibility of its opening his eyes to the horrors +of the slave-trade, and inducing him the more willingly to assist in its +suppression. + +As it was still daylight, and Hamed informed them that the evening was +the best time to see the Sultan, they at once pulled on shore. Going +through the dirty streets, they reached the Sultan's tumbledown-looking +palace, where His Majesty was seen seated in a half-open apartment +facing the street, furnished with divans and piles of mats. He was +surrounded by Arabs of rank, many of them dressed in rich costumes, +talking familiarly with him, while his bodyguard of Beloch soldiers, +cut-throat-looking individuals, lounged outside. + +Murray and Jack, accompanied by the midshipmen, entering the hall, made +their salaams, Hamed following them to act as interpreter. The +universal pipes and coffee having been produced, they sat smoking, with +intervals of dignified silence, while Hamed did the talking. The Sultan +inquired whether the English commanders had made many captures, to which +Murray replied that they had condemned only such vessels as were without +legal permits; and Jack then introduced the subject of his capture, and +described the murder of the slaves by the Arab crew. + +The Sultan did not look quite as horrified as they expected he would. + +"Surely the villains deserve condign punishment," observed Jack; "if +they are your Highness's subjects, you will, of course, at once have +them all hung up." + +His Highness shrugged his shoulders. "If I had to hang all the +cut-throats in my dominions, there would be more work than a dozen +executioners could get through," he answered. "If they are my subjects, +I give you full leave to treat them as you think fit; and if they are +not, you are the best judges as to what should be done with them." + +Jack, who was convinced that all the Arabs on board the dhow, taken +red-handed as they were, deserved hanging, would gladly have left the +task of putting them out of this world to the Sultan. The difficulty +was to prove that they were his subjects; and they were not likely to +acknowledge this to be so, unless they thought that he would pardon +them. After some further conversation, the two officers, with their +companions, took their leave, feeling that they had taken very small +change out of His Highness. + +Jack accompanied Murray on board to dinner, and Adair, of course, was +asked to join them. It was the first time for several years that they +had been together with time to talk over old days. Though now and then +a shade of melancholy came over Jack's honest face, a joke of Adair's, +or some pleasant recollection conjured up by Murray, quickly banished +it, and a very pleasant evening they had. + +"Here's to your speedy promotion, Terence," said Jack; "the last letter +I had from Admiral Triton, he told me that he had seen Lord Derrynane, +who had promised that he would stir heaven and earth, and such bowels of +compassion as the Lords of the Admiralty might possess, to obtain it, so +that I've little doubt that you will ere long hear that you've got your +step." + +"Faith, I've a great deal of doubt about the matter," answered Terence. +"To tell you the truth, I would rather get it in consequence of some +dashing deed which would give me a claim to it than through family +influence, by which any dolt may be pushed forward in the service." + +"Well, for my part, I hold that we should be thankful for favours on +whatever account they may be granted," said Jack; "you have seen as much +service as any officer nowadays, and have twice been highly spoken of, +and no one who knows you doubts that you will do any work which may fall +in your way as well as it can be done." + +The three old shipmates were laughing and talking right merrily, when +they were interrupted by a loud cry. Murray sprang on deck, followed by +the rest of the party. Just as he reached it, an uproar of voices arose +from forward, amid which those of Pango and Bango were the loudest, +shrieking for help, while Ben Snatchblock was calling out, "Seize the +rascals! tumble them overboard! knock them on the head! they've no +business here!" while other voices in Arabic and negro language were +uttering various incomprehensible cries, betokening either anger or +alarm. + +On going forward, Murray saw a confused mass of his own men, with three +or four turbaned strangers and several blacks in their midst, among whom +he distinguished Bango and Pango by their nautical costume. The +strangers were quickly mastered by the seamen. Among the crowd he +perceived the old pilot, who was forthwith dragged up to him. + +"What's all this disturbance about. You seem to have something to do +with it," said Murray. + +"Me know nothing except that man come to take away him slaves," was the +answer. + +"Who are the men who dared to venture on board with any such intent?" +asked Murray; "and as to slaves, none remain such under our flag." + +"Me know nothing," answered the pilot, in a dogged tone, which showed +that he did not intend any more information should be got out of him. +Hamed, who had turned in, was summoned on deck, and the strangers were +speedily examined. One of them, with considerable hesitation, believing +that he should be put to the torture if he did not, answered that he and +his companions had come by the express orders of the pilot, for the +purpose of seizing his former slave Bango; that while the boat was +alongside, Bango having been enticed on deck to come and hear about some +of his old friends on shore, he had been suddenly gagged and nearly +tumbled over the side, when Pango, who, suspecting mischief, had drawn +near, shouted out and called some of the watch to their assistance, who +had seized the Arabs before they could make their escape. + +Murray was much inclined to have the fellows who had attempted so daring +an outrage triced up and thoroughly flogged; but, not wishing to create +more ill-feeling among the Arab population of the island than already +existed, he merely ordered them and the pilot to be trundled forthwith +into the boat and dismissed, with a warning not again to attempt a +similar undertaking. The pilot, to whom some pay was due, was mulcted +of it--a punishment which he would consider pretty severe; besides +which, he was warned that he would never again be employed on board one +of Her Majesty's ships. + +It was some time before poor Bango could recover from his alarm, and the +thoughts of the narrow escape he had had. "If him me get, he sure kill, +after floggee," he exclaimed; "oh! him poor black feel de whip even +now," and he wriggled and rubbed his shoulders about, as if undergoing +the torture he believed his late master would have inflicted. + +"Never fear, my man," said Snatchblock, to whom he spoke; "we'll take +care the Arabs don't get hold of you, and as long as you do your duty +aboard here, and don't get drunk, there's no fear of the cat and your +back becoming acquainted." + +The next morning Jack again examined his Arab prisoners, when one and +all declared themselves to be the subjects of the Sultan of Zanzibar. +As there was no proof to the contrary, Jack handed them over to the +authorities to be tried and punished for the murder of the slaves. +They, having numerous friends in the island, fully believed that through +their influence they would escape. No one appeared to assist them, and +the Sultan, wishing to prove his zealous desire to put down the +slave-trade, ordered them to be taken out and shot; and as they had lost +the means of bribing their guards to assist them in effecting their +escape, they met the fate they so richly deserved. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +TOM ROGERS SPINS A YARN--ADVENTURES IN BURMAH--UP THE IRRAWADDY--CAPTURE +OF MARTABAN--TOM'S WHISKERS--CAPTURE OF PROME--EXPEDITION ON SHORE-- +GENERAL BUNDOOLAH THINKS DISCRETION THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR--CAMPING +OUT IN THE JUNGLE--ATTACK ON THE GUERILLA'S FORTRESS--DEATH OF CAPTAIN +LOCH--ARCHIE CORRECTS TOM'S LATIN--THE OPAL ORDERED TO SEYCHELLES-- +DISEMBARKATION OF THE SLAVES. + +The corvette did not sail so soon as Murray had at first intended, it +being necessary to allow the captured slaves a longer time in harbour to +recruit their exhausted strength, glad as all hands would have been to +get them out of the ship. Poor wretches! their unclean habits made them +far from pleasant visitors. They were housed under awnings rigged over +the deck, which it was necessary to wash down frequently with abundance +of water; but even then the sickly odour which pervaded the ship was not +only unpleasant, but calculated to produce sickness among the crew. +Notwithstanding this, the officers made themselves as happy as +circumstances would allow. The midshipmen of the corvette invited those +of the brig to a dinner on board, and Tom Rogers, with several +companions, arrived at the appointed hour. + +"Satisfactory enough to capture slavers, but I don't envy you fellows +having to look after the poor slaves now you've got them," observed Tom, +as he glanced his eye over the long rows of negroes seated on the deck, +the men on one side, the women and young children on the other, all +looking pictures of stolid misery, and scarcely yet comprehending that +they were free. All they could think of was that they had been torn +from their homes and families, and were to be carried to a strange land, +where they must of necessity toil hard to support themselves. They +could not yet understand the real benefit they were to derive from the +change, that from henceforth they would live in peace, able to enjoy the +proceeds of their labour without any further expectation of attacks from +foes, and having their dwellings plundered and burned, and themselves +murdered; and, above all things, that they would be instructed in +Christianity and civilisation. + +Archie had been looking into the subject. "You see, Tom," he observed, +"until the slave-trade can be altogether abolished on shore, we do all +we can to put a stop to it afloat. The atrocious Arabs are the cause of +all the misery and suffering the slaves endure. It is impossible to +return them to their homes; indeed, in most instances, those homes have +been utterly destroyed; but if they were not, the poor creatures would +run the risk of being again captured; so we do our best to place them in +a far better position than they before enjoyed; and though I'm afraid +that a large number are carried into perpetual slavery, and that many +more perish miserably, still that's not our fault." + +"You're right," answered Tom; "I only wish that we had twenty times as +many cruisers out in these seas as we have at present, and that it was +lawful to hang up every skipper, if not the whole of the crews, of all +the dhows with slaves on board whom we could catch. If people in +England knew all the horrors the poor Africans endure, which seem to me +twice as bad as those of the West Coast traffic, I believe they would +rise to a man, and insist on its being put down at whatever cost." + +The rest of the midshipmen responded to Tom's generous sentiments, and +the young ones, at all events, agreed that they should be ready to +devote their lives to the service. + +A wind-sail brought sufficient air down below to enable the midshipmen +to sit with comparative comfort in their berth--comparative, for the +thermometer stood at not less than 85 degrees; but they were by this +time well accustomed to heat, and endured it with stoical indifference. +Archie and Desmond were especially eager to hear an account of Tom's +adventures since they parted, and he, having no objection to spin a long +yarn, was willing enough to recount them. + +"I little thought, when Jack and I went out, that we should see so much +service in a short time," he began. "On our arrival in the Hooghly +river, we found that an expedition had been despatched to teach the King +of Ava better manners than he had lately been exhibiting towards the +British. You will understand that a large river, the Irrawaddy, flows +from north to south through the country. It has several mouths. On the +shores of one of them is situated the town of Rangoon, a biggish place, +with a good deal of trade. Higher up is Prome; while there is another +place, Martaban, on the shore of the gulf of that name. Ava, the +capital, where the king lives, is situated in the interior. + +"The governor of Rangoon had been playing all sorts of tricks, +imprisoning several merchant skippers, and insulting and fining others. +They laid their complaints before the authorities at Calcutta, who +resolved to make the governor of Rangoon apologise and recompense the +sufferers. We were, therefore, immediately ordered off to the +Irrawaddy, as soon as we could get in a supply of fresh provisions and +stores. We found the squadron, with a considerable number of troops on +board, anchored off Rangoon. It is a pretty strong place, fortified by +stockades, with heavy batteries of guns. The commodore had sent on +shore to demand an apology of the viceroy, and, as it was supposed he +would at once give it, we had very little expectation of fighting. +However, in the evening, instead of an apology, came a message, +declaring that, if the British ships should attempt to pass the +stockades erected along the banks of the river, they would be fired on. +We had heard that a large number of troops, some said five thousand, +were collected within the fortifications; and each of the boats which +had been sent out reconnoitring brought word that, during the night and +day, they had seen no end of war-boats, full of men, coming down the +Pegu river, evidently to assist in the defence of the place. +Instructions were at once sent to the merchant-vessels to get under way, +and drop down out of the line of fire, while a steamer towed the +commodore's frigate within four hundred yards of the stockade. Here she +anchored to protect the merchant-vessels as they dropped down. + +"We had heard, meantime, of a large Burmese war-vessel, of which one of +our steamers was sent in search, while the company's steamers proceeded +up the river to meet a fleet of war-boats, pouring in a tremendous fire +on the stockades on their way. The war-boats, in spite of their gay +flags, and the row their crews kicked up to frighten us barbarians, were +speedily sunk or sent to the right-about; while the batteries on shore, +having soon had enough of it, ceased firing. In a short time we saw our +steamer, the _Hermes_, come puffing up, with the huge Burmese +war-vessel, which she had captured, in tow. After this we did nothing +for some time, except blockading the mouths of the river, completely +putting a stop to the enemy's trade. It was thought by this that the +King of Ava would knock under, but he held out, till at length Admiral +Austin arrived in the _Rattler_, and some days afterwards General +Godwin, as commander-in-chief, with twelve of the company's steamers, +which had nearly six thousand troops on board. + +"Our first work was to take Martaban. The steamers, running close into +the city, discharged broadside after broadside, our fire being returned +with considerable spirit; but the enemy's guns being silenced, the +troops were landed, and the Burmese, not liking the glitter of their +bayonets, took to their heels in all directions, we having completely +knocked to pieces all their defences. Leaving a garrison at Martaban, +we proceeded to Rangoon, which had not given in. The fleet, therefore, +took up a position before it, and began in earnest firing away shot and +shell into the batteries for the best part of the day. We soon knocked +the enemy's outer stockades to pieces, and set them on fire; but to do +the Burmese justice, they fought as obstinately as bull-dogs; so we sent +the naval brigade on shore to help the troops. For three days the +fighting continued; stockade after stockade was stormed and taken in +gallant style. Still the enemy retained possession of the city and the +great pagoda. + +"On the third day a grand attack was made on it by all the troops and +the naval brigade, and, after some pretty sharp fighting, it fell into +our hands, though we lost several officers killed and wounded. + +"We next attacked Basein, where the Burmese fought with a good deal of +bravery, defending themselves in the great pagoda of the city. Again +the naval brigade showed what they were made of. Having landed with a +party of troops, they stormed the great pagoda, into which a large body +of the enemy had thrown themselves; but the place was gallantly taken, +though not without some loss on our side. Meantime, we heard that +Martaban, which had been left with a very small garrison, had been +attacked by the Burmese. We were hurrying back to the assistance of our +friends, when we received intelligence that Major Hall, who had been +left there in command, had driven off the enemy. We had made pretty +sharp work of it already, but there were other and more important places +up the river to be taken. Orders were, therefore, received to send a +squadron of man-of-war's boats to accompany the _Phlegethon_, carrying +between two and three hundred soldiers and about a hundred bluejackets; +and I had the luck to go with them. + +"Leaving Rangoon, the _Phlegethon_ steamed away with the boats in tow, +like a comet with its tail out. We came near Pegu, when we found +ourselves under a hot fire from the Burmese on the top of the high +banks. As we were unable to fire in return from the boats, a strong +party was landed under the command of Captain Tarleton. The Burmese +were driven from point to point, till they took shelter within the walls +of the city, when they began firing away pretty warmly with their +jingalls and muskets. As the enemy's shot were flying somewhat thickly +about us, it would never have done to halt. Captain Tarleton, +therefore, having found a native, who, for a bribe, undertook to show +the way, pushed on along the causeway till the city ditch was reached. +Here it was seen that, on one side of the gateway, part of the wall had +tumbled down. Halting for an instant to gain breath, Captain Tarleton +singing out, `On, my lads!' away all hands dashed right up to the wall, +and, scrambling over it like cats, jumped down inside, to the great +astonishment of the enemy, who, not liking their looks, fled for shelter +within their great pagoda; for these fellows always seemed to think that +their temples were the safest places. + +"The boats had, in the meantime, been attacked, but were bravely +defended; and the troops, pushing on, soon made their way unexpectedly +into the city. Before the Burmese were aware what we were about, we +stormed the great pagoda, which we soon carried, and the city was ours, +with the loss of one man killed and three wounded. After blowing up the +fortifications, as we had not troops enough to hold the place, we +returned to Rangoon. + +"After this we had a good deal of boat-work, cruising along the banks of +the rivers, and dislodging the enemy, who often appeared in some force, +for the purpose of trying to stop the provision-boats which came down to +supply the fleet with grub. Sometimes we landed and drove the fellows +far away into the country. Although they were ready enough to fire at +us from a distance, they never liked the look of our whiskers," whereat +there was a general laugh. + +"Whose whiskers, Tom?" asked Archie. + +"Well, those of the sogers and bluejackets, of course," said Tom; "how +could they tell that I hadn't a pair too?" + +"Well, go on, Rogers," cried several voices; "what did you do next?" + +"There was another large place," he resumed, "called Prome, high up the +river, which it was considered important to take, as it formed the chief +defence of the capital. Captain Tarleton was, therefore, ordered to +proceed up the Irrawaddy in the _Medusa_, with three other steamers, of +one of which my brother Jack had the command. Away we steamed for some +distance, without any of the enemy daring to show their faces. We had, +as you will understand, already put them all to flight. At length, at a +place with a precious hard name, Kononghee, about twenty-five miles +below Prome, we came in sight of a large body of men collected on the +banks. We threw a shell into their midst, as a hint to them to be off, +instead of which they began firing away at us with musketry and several +heavy guns. We returned the compliment pretty briskly, till they, +getting the worst of it, as usual, showed their discretion by scampering +off, and not stopping till they thought our shot would not reach them. + +"As we were in a hurry to be at Prome, we didn't stop till they came +back, but steamed on till sunset, when we anchored off the town of +Meaoung. We found that the river divided just ahead of us into two +streams, the western and deepest being the only navigable channel for +the greater part of the year. We had arrived, however, at a time when +the eastern channel had plenty of water in it, as we learned from the +pilots. This was a fortunate circumstance, as you shall hear. When we +got near the western channel, we found an immensely strong fort at the +end of a range of hills which completely overlooked the river, +garrisoned by a force of not less than ten thousand men, under a certain +General Bundoolah, the most celebrated warrior in the Burmese army, so +the pilots told us. Though his troops were only armed with matchlocks, +and might have been bad shots, they would have committed a good deal of +mischief by peppering down on our decks; not to speak of what the heavy +guns might have done, placed in a position to rake us as we steamed up. +Had it been necessary, I have no doubt Captain Tarleton would have stood +on; but as there was no object in running the risk if it could be +avoided, just as we came close to the works, and the enemy had begun to +pepper us, he put his helm to port, and, greatly to their +disappointment, steered away up the eastern channel, where not one of +their shot could reach us. We kept the lead going, every moment fearing +that we might get aground, when we should have been somewhat in a mess. +We never had less than two fathoms of water, and sometimes more, so that +we got through without accident; and by steaming on all night, the next +morning at daylight came off Prome. + +"At the south end of the city we made out four heavy guns, but the +troops, every man Jack of them, had gone off with General Bundoolah, and +left not one behind to fight them. We therefore brought up abreast of +the spot, and hove them off, spiking the iron guns, and carrying the +brass ones on board, twenty-three in all. Higher up we found between +twenty and thirty more. + +"This done, we again got up steam, and paddled ten miles higher. We +were now within four days' steaming of Ava, with a broad, deep river, +easy of navigation, before us. We all hoped that the commodore would +push on and capture the capital. As far as we saw, there was nothing to +prevent him, but the orders he had received were simply to survey the +river as high as Prome, and then to return; so of course he had to obey +them. Why he had not been given discretionary powers to proceed +farther, I don't know. A golden opportunity was lost of catching the +King of Ava by the nose, for we had so nimbly doubled on old Bundoolah +that the chances were we should not have met with the slightest +opposition. You may fancy, therefore, our disappointment when the order +was received to `'bout ship,' and run down the stream again. But it +couldn't be helped--orders are orders--it wasn't the fault of our +gallant commodore. + +"After holding Prome four-and-twenty hours, we evacuated the town, and +soon got back into the shallow channel up which we had come. On getting +into the main stream, we caught sight of General Bundoolah's army, some +of the troops on shore, some in boats crossing the river, evidently with +the intention of following us along the banks. I don't suppose they +much liked our looks, for they evidently didn't expect to see us so +soon. Steaming on, we quickly got up to them, and opened with shot and +shell, both on the boats and on the dark-skinned troops which, crowded +together, covered the shore. You may fancy what fearful havoc and +confusion our shells created among the masses of human beings. Many of +the boats were sunk, and the people in the others, finding escape +impossible, hauled down their flags, and made signs that they +surrendered. It was calculated that we captured or sunk forty or fifty +boats. Among them was the old general's state barge and several large +war canoes. On board them were found loot of all sorts, with two gold +umbrellas and a standard. It was some consolation to have these +trophies to exhibit; and as soon as we got back, the commander-in-chief, +who, I daresay, was somewhat vexed at not having beforehand told our +commodore that he was to do as he thought best, ordered us to go back +again with a large body of troops and to take possession of Prome. + +"As soon as we got ready, away we steamed, and, the river being still +full, quickly reached our destination. There was not much fight in old +General Bundoolah, after all; one reason was that we had carried off all +his heavy guns. After battering the city, the troops were thrown on +shore, and though the Burmese stood their ground for a short time, they +quickly turned tail, and we entered the city in triumph, without a +single man killed, and only four wounded. As we left Pegu without any +defenders, though the inhabitants had taken a strong liking to us, while +we were away a pretty large Burmese army marched into the place and +began fortifying it. We had therefore to attack it again. Perhaps our +chiefs thought that there wouldn't otherwise be work enough, and so left +the cities we took unguarded. + +"We proceeded up the river, and during the night came off the place. At +daybreak, during a thick fog, with as little noise as possible, a body +of troops and another of bluejackets were landed, and we making a dash +on the town, the Burmese, who had no notion we were at hand, were +completely taken by surprise, and away they scampered as hard as their +legs could carry them, as usual to the pagoda, just as rats do to their +holes; whether from being a sort of sacred place they fancied that it +was safer than any other spot, I don't know; at all events, it was more +easily defended. We, however, did not allow them to hold it long, +though they fought desperately. Our troops, making a rush, dashed into +the place and drove them out, not, however, without some considerable +loss, half a dozen of our men being killed, and more than thirty +wounded. + +"We had now got hold of all their chief cities except Ava, and why that +was not taken is more than I can say. We might certainly have captured +it, with the king, his white elephant, and all his lords and ladies +together, not to speak of his treasure, which would have given us +something handsome in the way of prize-money. Perhaps it was thought +best not to drive him to desperation, as we had already punished him, or +rather, his unfortunate subjects, pretty severely. + +"We had still no end of expeditions on shore; one especially turned out +most disastrously. The Government of Burmah, fancying that we had now +become pretty quiet, and that they could drive us into the sea, allowed +a number of guerilla bands to be organised, which scoured the country in +all directions, and mercilessly robbed the unfortunate people. Among +the most noted of the leaders was a fellow called Mya Toon. After +burning down a number of villages, and committing all sorts of mischief, +he threw himself into a stronghold about twenty-five miles inland from +Rangoon, or rather from a place called Donabew, on the river. A force +of about six hundred men was ordered to get ready to attack the daring +chieftain; about half were soldiers, the remainder seamen and marines, +with their officers. Jack and I had the luck to be chosen, and we +expected to see something of a new style of fighting, and to enjoy a +tramp of twenty miles or more through the country. The expedition was +placed under the command of Captain Loch, whom we all knew to be as good +an officer as any in the service. We carried with us two three-pound +field-guns, and on reaching Donabew landed, and began our march without +encountering an enemy. We were fortunate enough to get hold of some +natives who were willing to act as our guides; for you will understand +that the natives everywhere were friendly to the English, and the troops +only were our enemies. + +"We started early on the 3rd of February, the natives drawing our guns +along the pathway, which lay through a thick jungle of tall trees and +brushwood. It was not the pleasantest style of country to traverse, +seeing that a tiger might spring out and carry off a fellow, and that +the enemy, if they had had the wits to do it, might have placed an +ambush, and shot us down without our being able to see one of them. +However, after marching about fifteen miles, we arrived at an open +valley, where we bivouacked. We could hear the enemy all night long +popping away ahead of us pretty smartly. I suppose it was under the +idea they should frighten us barbarians, and prevent our advancing. +However, in that they were mistaken. We lighted our fires and cooked +our suppers, and pretty hungry we were. We then lay down to sleep, +thinking of the work before us on the morrow, and we were of course all +very jolly, expecting to get hold of Mr Mya Toon, and to carry him back +with us in triumph. Little did many of the poor fellows who lay down +that night suppose that it was to be their last on earth. + +"The bugle sounded at daybreak, and, springing up, we breakfasted and +recommenced our march, moving along the same sort of path as before, +till it suddenly terminated on the side of a broad nullah, a sort of +natural ditch. The bank on the opposite side was much higher than the +ground we stood on, and we soon saw that it was strongly fortified, +after the Burmese fashion, with sharp-pointed bamboos, over which it was +as difficult to leap as it was to force our way through. The path, too, +was here narrowed by an abattis of the same sharp-pointed bamboos, which +made it impossible to deploy the whole strength of our column; indeed, +our advance guard, consisting of seamen and marines, could only march +two abreast, while our two guns, hauled along by the natives, were in +the rear. Suddenly, as we were looking about us, and thinking what a +nasty sort of place it was, we found ourselves exposed to a tremendous +fire from a horde of banditti, who had hitherto been concealed behind a +breastwork on the opposite bank. + +"A gallant officer of the _Fox_, Lieutenant Candy, who commanded the +advanced guard of the bluejackets, and Captain Price, of the Bengal +infantry, led on their men in the most dashing style, intending to force +their way across the nullah and to storm the breastworks. Before they +had gone many paces they were both shot dead, as were many of their +followers. Captain Loch now hurried to the front, and led another party +to the attack. It got some way across, when so murderous was the fire +that he was compelled to retreat, leaving a number of men behind who had +been killed close to him. Still undaunted, he again made the attempt, +and a second time was driven back. + +"`We must take the place!' he shouted out; and a third time, rallying +the seamen and marines, he rushed forward, sword in hand, determined to +capture the fort. The Burmese must have had their marksmen, for one +after the other our officers were struck. This time everybody thought +he would succeed, when, as he was advancing, a fellow who had climbed up +a tree overlooking the nullah fired at him, and wounded him desperately, +driving his watch right into his body. Though he suspected that the +wound was mortal, he had strength sufficient to fall back to the rear, +when Commander Lambert, the son of the commodore, took his place. +Though our men were falling thickly around, two more attempts were made +to get across that horrible nullah. Commander Lambert, who had himself +received four shots through his clothes, though he had escaped unhurt, +seeing that success was impossible, as more than half our party had been +killed and wounded, at length ordered us to fall back. I had not +thought about myself, but I thought about my brother Jack a great deal, +and I was thankful to see him get off clear without a wound. + +"The enemy kept firing at us as we retreated, but their shot did not +commit much damage, after we got to a little distance. One bad part of +the business was that we were obliged to leave the dead on the field, +for our rascally dhoolie bearers and guides had treacherously decamped, +and we had scarcely men enough remaining to carry the wounded. The +seamen undertook this duty, while the Bengal infantry, in a very gallant +way, for which we were heartily obliged to them, covered our retreat. +The only road that we could possibly take was the one we had come by. +The jungle on each side was so thick that we could not force our way +through it. Happily, for the same reason, I suppose, the enemy did not +get round and meet us in front. They followed, but were afraid to +advance near enough to molest us, the soldiers' rifles reaching farther +than their jingalls or Birmingham muskets. + +"We all felt very downcast at the loss we had sustained, but more +especially for that of our brave leader, Captain Loch. He was still +alive, but the surgeon gave us no hopes that he would recover. The heat +was tremendous, the sun burning down on our heads, while we hadn't a +drop of water, and the men had to carry our leader and the rest of the +wounded for nearly twenty miles. Still, all hands did their best to +keep up their courage and discipline, the strongest helping, as far as +they could, the weakest; four or five of our officers, who were +themselves wounded, setting the rest an example. Thankful enough were +we when we caught sight of the river, after a march of twelve hours, and +found ourselves at length seated in the boats, the troops being embarked +on board the _Phlegethon_. Shoving off, we made our way back to +Rangoon, and the next day we heard that Captain Loch had expired within +two days after he had received his wound. We agreed that it was a very +sad affair, and it would have been better had we tried to catch the +robber and his band while they were out foraging. + +"We buried Captain Loch on shore, near the great pagoda, at Rangoon, and +I am sure I never joined in a sadder procession than we formed, as, +shoving off, we followed the coffin of our late gallant chief on shore, +and marched to the neighbourhood of the great pagoda. He was buried +with all the honour we could show. + +"The robber, Mya Toon, held out for some time longer, till a +considerable force, under Sir John Cheape, was sent against his +stronghold. Even then he showed much pluck, and was not dislodged till +several officers and men on our side had fallen. This was just before +the King of Ava knocked under and sued for peace, giving up the province +of Pegu, which was accordingly attached to the British dominions. The +soldiers had most of the fighting, but we had a good share of it, +_quorum pars magna fui_, and so ends my yarn." + +"Bravo, Rogers! an excellent yarn, and capitally told," said several +voices. + +"Ye dinna pit your light under a bushel, laddie," remarked Archie. + +"Why should I?" exclaimed Tom; "it was for your sakes more than for +mine; you wouldn't have been half as interested if I'd only told you +what I'd heard, whereas I've enabled you, in imagination, to take part +in all the scenes in which my brother Jack and I were engaged." + +"Then you should have said _quorum pars magna_ fuit _frater Jackus +meus_," said Archie; "but I suspect that he was the principal actor." + +"Of course he was," said Tom; "there's not another fellow in the world +like my brother Jack; I always said so before I came to sea, and now I +have been with him so long, I can say it from my own observation. I +might have said a great deal more about him, only my object was to be +brief." Others of the _Romp's_ youngsters who had been in the +expedition corroborated all that had been said, and made Tom's hearers +wish to have the chance of sailing with Jack Rogers, who was sure, they +agreed, wherever he might be, to cut out work of some sort or other. + +More yarns were spun, and many a song sung, before Tom and his shipmates +returned to the brig. + +Next morning, as the corvette was weighing anchor, the frigate was seen +coming in from the southward. The _Opal_ accordingly again brought up, +and waited for her arrival. As she came to an anchor, the flags run up +to her masthead summoned Murray on board. The commodore, on hearing of +the number of slaves he had taken, ordered him, instead of going on to +Aden, to proceed to Seychelles, where arrangements had been made for the +reception of liberated Africans, and, as soon as he had landed them and +refreshed his ship's company, to return to the coast, and prosecute his +search for slavers. + +"We must strike a blow at this abominable traffic, and put it down at +all cost," exclaimed the commodore; "we have done nothing effectual as +yet--for one vessel captured, fifty have escaped." + +The commodore, having come on board the _Opal_ to inspect the slaves, +ordered Murray to get under way immediately. The corvette, running out +round the north end of the island, hauled her wind, and stood eastward +till she reached Seychelles. A look-out was still kept for slavers +which, having hugged the Madagascar shore, might be steering for the +Gulf of Persia. All hands, from the commander downwards, were eager to +arrive at their destination, and to land their cargo of blacks. +Everything possible was done to keep the poor creatures in health, but +notwithstanding this, several died on the voyage every day. Part of the +deck was cleared, and they were encouraged to dance and sing, and amuse +themselves after their own fashion. At first, when they stood up, they +appeared scarcely able to move, but in a short time, their spirits +rising, they began to snap their fingers, bend their bodies, and shuffle +round and round; then to clap their hands and shout and laugh as if all +thoughts of the miseries they had suffered had vanished. To the intense +satisfaction of all on board, the corvette at length, just as the sun +was setting, came in sight across the purple ocean of the green, +foliage-clad islands, in a setting of white sand, surrounded by coral +reefs, amid which she had carefully to pick her way. At some distance +rose the lofty mountains of the principal island of Mahd, while on +either hand were tree-fringed islets, backed by others far-off, blue and +indistinct. + +The pilot, coming off, brought the ship to an anchorage a considerable +distance from the town. Anxious as Murray was to get the slaves on +shore, it was impossible to do so that night. Next morning the +disembarkation commenced. Those who wished it were allowed to engage +themselves either as domestic or agricultural servants to the +inhabitants, while the rest were placed on a island where they might +erect huts and cultivate the ground for their own advantage. Pango and +Bango had their choice of landing or remaining on board, but they +preferred continuing in the ship among the crew, whose goodwill they had +secured by their good-humour and willingness to oblige. + +All hands luxuriated in the endless variety of fruits brought off by the +boats which were quickly alongside; oranges, plantains, bananas, +alligator-pears, limes, pineapples, and numberless others, including the +bread-fruit; and on going on shore, as some compensation for the +horrible odours they had lately inhaled, they enjoyed the scent of the +countless beautiful flowers which grew not only in every garden, but +lined the roadside and covered the slopes of the hills. + +Though the islands belong to England, nearly all the inhabitants +appeared to be French, and French was everywhere spoken. Mr Mildmay, +the only officer who professed to care much for society, was sadly +disappointed on finding that there were no ladies in the place. He, +therefore, in some stanzas which he wrote, described it as a "Paradise +without an Eve." + +The great drawback to the place was the heat; for behind the town rises +a precipice upwards of seven thousand feet in height, which effectually +shuts out the breeze, except from one quarter. The summit, however, +being covered by luxuriant vegetation, adds another beautiful feature to +the scenery of the island. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +NEWS FROM ENGLAND--JACK ROGERS APPOINTED TO THE GAUNTLET--ADAIR +PROMOTED, AND SUCCEEDS HIM IN COMMAND OF THE ROMP--THE THREE MIDSHIPMEN +TRANSFERRED TO THE GAUNTLET--A TRIP ON SHORE--SAILORS IN THE +SLAVE-MARKET--THE SULTAN APPEARS--GAUNTLET ON THE NORTHERN STATION--TOM +KETTLE AND BILL SAUCEPAN, THE KROOMEN--A TRAP FOR SLAVERS--MR LARGE'S +EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF WILDFOWL--FINDS MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR--IS +THE ISLAND BEWITCHED? + +The corvette was within a hundred miles of the African coast, when a +sail was sighted on the port-bow coming down before the wind. She was +soon seen to be a large ship, and little doubt was entertained that she +was the _Radiant_. That she was so was in a short time proved, when she +got near enough to allow her number to be seen. The corvette +accordingly hove-to, to await her coming. As she drew near, she +shortened sail, and hoisted a signal to send a boat for mail-bag. + +No summons could be more willingly attended to. The boat was soon +alongside, when a large letter-bag was lowered into her, and Adair was +summoned to give an account of the trip to Seychelles. + +He of course inquired the news. There were some changes in the station. + +"Commander Rogers has been confirmed in his rank," said the commodore; +"and I have appointed him to succeed poor Danvers, the late commander of +the _Gauntlet_ steamer, which arrived out on the station after you +sailed. I hope that he'll have gained some experience in the _Romp_, +for I mean to do something in putting down the slave-trade. I am +determined to strike a blow at the traffic before I return to the Cape, +where the doctor tells me I ought to go for the sake of the health of +the ship's company and my own; and so I will, as soon as I hear that a +few more captures have been made. By the bye, you've been pretty +successful, and I'll give you an acting order to command the _Romp_ till +someone is appointed from home. I expect you to show your zeal in the +service, and I have no doubt that you will be able to give a +satisfactory account of your proceedings." + +Adair, highly pleased, thanked the commodore, and hastened back with the +letter-bag to the corvette. He longed to see its contents, for he felt +sure that he should hear from Mrs Murray, if not from Lucy herself. +The contents of the bag were quickly distributed, and every officer, and +not a few of the men, were soon deeply immersed in perusing their +various epistles. It was a wonder the corvette did not run away with +them; fortunately Jos Green was the officer of the watch, and, shoving +his letters into his pocket, he issued the order to brace round the +foreyard, and the corvette once more stood close-hauled to the westward, +while the commodore ran on for the island of Pemba. + +Murray, of course, had a letter from his wife, containing a smaller +missive, which he held in his hand while he read the contents of the +former. Adair had just received a long official-looking epistle, at +which his eyes sparkled with more than usual animation. "Good luck has +come at last!" he exclaimed; "I've got my promotion, thanks to Admiral +Triton and Lord Derrynane." + +"I congratulate you heartily," said Murray; "and here's a little billet +which I hope may add to your satisfaction. I suppose Stella thinks it +all right, or she wouldn't have undertaken to forward it." Adair took +the note, and, eagerly opening it, ran his eyes rapidly over the +delicately-formed characters. + +"Hurrah, my boy, I'm the happiest fellow alive!" he said, with +difficulty restraining an inclination to throw his cap into the air and +give an Irish caper. "That capital fellow, Jack, has been taking my +part; and Lucy says that Sir John and Lady Rogers are inclined to +relent, and she's certain would not withhold their consent provided I +obtain what I've just got; and so I may conclude that it will all be +settled, and that I may make my appearance at Halliburton as soon as I +return to England." + +"I'm truly glad to hear it," said Murray; "from what my wife says, I +thought you would be satisfied with her friend's letter. The only +drawback, as far as I am concerned, is that I shall lose you as my first +lieutenant. However, I mustn't complain, and I might have a much worse +one than Mildmay, who will, I am sure, turn to with a will when he finds +himself once in the position, and I only hope I may get an efficient +officer in his place." + +Adair was sorely tempted to go home by the first opportunity, instead of +taking command of the _Romp_; but two motives prevented him--first, he +had been appointed commander; and, secondly, hoped by capturing a number +of dhows to be able to pick up some prize-money, which might assist him +in setting up house when he got back to England. + +"I say, Uncle Terence, am I to follow you on board the brig or to remain +here?" asked Desmond, when he heard of Adair's appointment and +promotion. + +"If the commander can spare you, I think, Desmond, I will take you with +me," answered Adair, "but it must depend upon him. He may be unwilling +to lose the services of so valuable an officer." + +"Arrah now, Uncle Terence, you're poking fun at me," exclaimed Desmond; +"but I'm after thinking how Archie Gordon will get on without me. We've +been together ever since he came to sea, and it will seem strange to him +and to me if we're separated." + +"I've a notion that each of you will get along very well by yourselves, +and neither of you will be able to lead the other into mischief," said +Adair. + +"Mischief d'ye mane, Uncle Terence," cried Desmond; "sure it's what +neither of us are capable of." + +"No, of course you are both of you wonderfully well-conducted young +gentlemen," replied Adair; "and, besides, you are getting rather too old +for playing monkey tricks; but still I'd rather keep my eye upon you, +and so I intend to ask Commander Murray to lend you to the _Romp_ till +she's ordered home." + +The next day the corvette reached Zanzibar, where the first object which +greeted the eyes of those on board was a fast-looking screw-steamer such +as had never before appeared in those waters. The first person who +stepped on board was Jack Rogers, looking as fresh and jolly as if he +had just come from England, instead of having been roasting in the East +for the last two years or more. Following him came Tom, who dived down +into the midshipmen's berth to have a talk with his old friends. + +Jack expressed himself well pleased with the steamer, though he had +never belonged to one before. "The only bother is that I don't +understand the engineer's reports; and when he tells me that so much +steam has been blown off, all I can reply is, `Make it so,'" he +observed, laughing; "however, I suppose I shall know all about it by and +by, as I go down as often as I can into the engine-room and inspect the +machinery, with as knowing a look as I can assume. I've a notion that +the engineer has found me out, but he is a discreet man, and doesn't +take advantage of my ignorance; so I expect to get on very well, and +hope that we shall catch no end of dhows, which will be unprepared for +our mode of making our way through the water." + +Adair at once went on board the _Romp_, accompanied by Desmond, who took +Tom's berth. Thus the three young commanders found themselves all +together, each captain of his respective ship. Their great object was +the suppression of the slave-trade; for this purpose they laid their +heads together to concoct a scheme to carry it effectually out. Their +plan was to proceed along the coast, each taking up a position a couple +of hundred miles or so apart, and to send their respective boats' crews +north and south, thus keeping up the chain of communication, imparting +information, and the one aiding the other. + +Jack was glad to find his old friend Higson first lieutenant of the +_Gauntlet_. He had become, if not a temperance man, at all events as +sober as a judge, and devoted to the duties of his position. His old +shipmates were glad to meet him. He dined with Murray and Adair the two +days they remained at Zanzibar, "the only times," he declared, "that he +had been out of the ship since she left England." + +The three commanders had a consultation regarding the disposal of their +three young relatives. They agreed that as they were all well up in +seamanship, and knew nothing about steam, that it would be to their +advantage to remain for some time on board the steamer. "There's no +doubt that steam is making great progress, and for the sort of work on +which we are engaged, at all events, steamers will be universally +employed," observed Murray, with his usual forethought. "I should not +be surprised if we were to have all our larger as well as the smaller +vessels fitted with the auxiliary screw, and it is, of course, very +important that an officer should be well acquainted with its management, +as well as with the working of steam-engines in general." + +"Faith, I believe you are right," answered Adair; "though I'm mighty +afraid that if steamers come into vogue, they will do away with all the +romance once upon a time supposed to belong to a naval life." + +"I shall not make myself very unhappy on that account," said Murray, +laughing; "it will be a great thing not to have to depend on the fickle +wind for making a passage, and still more to know that we may pounce +down upon those rascally fast-sailing dhows whenever we can sight them +in a calm, and be sure of overtaking them." + +"I agree with you," said Jack; "I only wish that I knew a little more +about a steamer. However, I shall pick up some knowledge of the matter +before long, and hope to make good use of it. My engineer appears to be +a sensible man, and I shall be glad to have Gordon and Desmond on board, +and to place them under his instruction. I will, of course, look after +them as carefully as I do my young brother Tom." + +So it was arranged that Archie and Desmond should be lent to the +_Gauntlet_, she having only one other midshipman and two old mates on +board. They, of course, were highly delighted to hear the decision to +which their elders had come, not so much perhaps on account of the +advantage it was expected they would derive, as from the thoughts of the +fun they would have together. As the ship was not to sail till the next +day, they all three forthwith asked leave to go on shore for the purpose +of getting a ride into the country, in company with the master of the +_Opal_ and some of the midshipmen of the other vessels. As Jos Green +undertook to look after them, Jack gave them leave, charging them to be +on board before dark. A party of the men from each ship had likewise +obtained leave to go on shore to purchase curiosities for their +sweethearts and wives. + +The Sultan had lately made it known that his stud, consisting of a +hundred horses and more, was at the disposal of the British naval +officers who might wish to take a ride into the country; and the +midshipmen were therefore directing their course to the palace, when +Desmond proposed that they should take a stroll first through the town. + +"It isn't the sweetest of places, I'll allow, but we may come upon +something worth seeing, and have some fun or other," he exclaimed. All +hands agreed to the proposal, and two and two they made their way +through the narrow streets, not exactly knowing where they were going. +They agreed, however, that except the crowds of savage, dirty-looking +Arabs, and still more hideous blacks, tumbledown houses, and bazaars +full of trumpery goods, there was nothing to be seen in Zanzibar. +Suddenly they found themselves in a square, which Desmond recognised as +the slave-market. It was far more crowded than when Archie and he had +been there before. As they looked round, they calculated that there +were three or four hundred slaves of all degrees; some, mostly women, +gaudily, if not gorgeously dressed, looking plump and well; and others, +who had apparently lately been imported, in a most miserable state of +starvation. The sight was sufficient to excite the feelings of the most +callous observers. Many were little more than skeletons, with their +skins, often covered with sores, drawn tight over their distorted bones; +their eyeballs protruding hideously, evidently in consequence of the +falling away of the flesh on their faces; their chests sunk, and their +joints swelled and knotty, contrasted with their withered limbs. + +Several such groups were seen in different parts of the square. In +another part, seated under the shade of a projecting roof, were a group +differing greatly from the last described. They were women-slaves, +considered of high value. On their heads they wore dark veils, covered +with glittering spangles, and various ornaments, though the way in which +their faces were painted with black and yellow detracted from any +natural beauty they might have possessed, according to the taste of the +English officers. Another similar group of ten or a dozen negro girls +were still further decorated with mantles of a blue muslin thrown over +their shoulders, of which they appeared to be not a little proud, +though, from the expression of their faces, it was impossible to say +what feelings animated them. Although some few of the poor girls might +have been considered attractive but for the daubs of paint on their +faces, the greater number were fearfully scarified, not from cruelty, +but in order to increase their beauty according to the taste of their +countrymen. + +There were numerous groups also of men and boys, such as have before +been described. Each of the groups was in charge of an Arab auctioneer, +who put them up to sale, much in the way that ordinary goods and +chattels are disposed of at auction marts in England. A dozen or more +auctioneers were busily at work together, trying to attract purchasers, +pulling at the sleeve of one as he passed by, then at the skirt of +another; somewhat after the fashion of old-clothes sellers in London. +The Arab purchasers showed no eagerness, however, but turned away from +the tempting offers, however much they might have desired to possess +them. Business was going on in a tolerably quiet way, the appearance of +the midshipmen in no way interrupting matters, till a large party of +bluejackets arrived on the scene. Just then, some of the least +interesting lots having been disposed of, an old Arab, with a long white +beard, was putting up for sale one of the highly-adorned female lots, +his example being followed by several of his rivals in trade. A stout +female, with a face deeply scarred and hideously painted, and an arm +strong enough to fell an ox, was speedily disposed of. As she seemed to +take kindly to her new master, no sympathy was raised in her behalf. +The case, however, was different with regard to a group of young girls, +many of whom could not fail to excite interest. Two, especially, who +were apparently sisters, were seated together, with their hands clasped, +and their arms round each other's necks, their countenances exhibiting a +greater expression of shame and grief than did those of most of their +companions. + +Notwithstanding the horrors innumerable they might have gone through, +they seemed to be aware that a still greater trial was in store for +them. Several of the number had been knocked down, not literally, but +to buyers, after a considerable amount of bidding, and all, it seemed, +had gone off at high prices. The sailors had been looking on, making +remarks, which it was as well neither auctioneers nor purchasers +understood. Their feelings of sympathy, already excited by the sales +they had witnessed of the other groups, were rapidly becoming less and +less controllable. They eyed with no very friendly glances the +ill-favoured Arabs who, grasping the poor girls by their arms, claimed +them henceforth as their chattels. At length the turn of the two +sisters came. Several bidders stood by, each offering an increase on +the price last named by the auctioneer. Jerry Bird, who was among the +seamen, could not make out whether they were to be sold together or +singly. "It will be a shame if they're parted; but the whole thing is a +shame, and there's nothing I'd like so much as to send the rascally +buyers and sellers to the right-about, and to set the poor creatures +free," he exclaimed. + +Just then a wizen-faced, one-eyed old Arab, his rich dress showing that +he was a man of wealth and importance, came up and fixed his single +blinker upon one of the negro girls. He quickly outbid all competitors. +The auctioneer offered him the other sister, but he only wanted one, +and nothing could induce him to offer for the other. At length, losing +patience, he grasped the negro girl by the arm, and was about to drag +her off by the wrist, when her sister, not yet sold, threw her arms +about her neck, both uttering a wail of despair which might have gone to +the hearts of the most obdurate. It had an electrical effect on the +sensitive seamen. "Well, that's more than I can stand," cried Jerry. +"Down with the brutal Arabs, and let's set the whole lot of the poor +creatures free!" + +He gave but expression to the feelings which were animating the breasts +of his companions. Dealing blows right and left, they simultaneously +set upon the surrounding Arabs, the old fellow who had bought the girl +being the first knocked over, and the auctioneer with the glib tongue +the second, the others, who drew their daggers, having their weapons +whirled from their hands; while the greater number, astonished by the +suddenness of the attack, took to flight in all directions, pursued by +the now infuriated seamen. The girls crowded together, more alarmed, +probably, than delighted at the efforts made by the gallant tars in +their favour. + +Having succeeded, as they believed, in rescuing one of the party, the +seamen, without an instant's hesitation, set upon the other auctioneers +in their immediate neighbourhood, whom they quickly put to flight; and +sweeping on, flourishing their cudgels and shouting at the top of their +voices, they in a short time cleared the square of every trafficker in +human flesh. Jos Green and the midshipmen, who had been at the farther +end of the square, did not understand what was happening till they saw +the Arabs scampering off, turbans trailing behind them, daggers whirled +through the air, slippers left on the ground, sword-blades shivered into +fragments, while not a few long-robed rascals lay sprawling in the dust; +the rest flying at sight of the enraged bluejackets at their heels. +However much Jos and his party might have sympathised with the men, they +at once saw that their proceedings might lead to serious consequences. +In vain, however, he shouted out to them to hold fast; the sailors were +too eager to be stopped, and continued the pursuit of the Arabs towards +every avenue opening into the square. Whenever a party halted, they +immediately, with loud shouts, made at them, compelling them again to +take to their heels. + +The midshipmen, indeed, who thought the matter very good fun, encouraged +the men by their shouts and laughter, instead of abetting Green in his +efforts to stop the fray. They were now undoubted masters of the field, +but what to do with the liberated blacks was a question which had not +entered their heads. Had they been allowed, they would have liked +amazingly to have followed up their victory till they had driven the +Sultan and all his subjects out of the city, or burned it down over +their heads; but before they proceeded to extremities, His Highness +himself, with a body of his troops, happening to be passing through the +neighbourhood, encountered some of the flying populace, and, +ascertaining the cause of the uproar, rode into the square. + +Instead of charging the British and cutting them down, he wisely, by +means of an interpreter who happened to be with him, shouted to them to +keep together, and let him hear what they had to say for themselves. On +this Green and the midshipmen hurried after those who were still +pursuing the Arabs in different directions, and succeeded in calling +them back. They quickly collected in a body, and, not dreaming that +they had done anything especially out of the way, but rather had fought +bravely and in a laudable cause, without hesitation, still grasping +their cudgels, boldly faced the Sultan and his party. + +"Tell His Royal Majesty that we found them rascally Arabs knocking down +these here unfortunate blackies, just like so many hogs at Smithfield +market," answered Jerry to the interpreter's interrogations. + +The latter was sorely puzzled to explain the sailor's reply to the +Sultan. "Neither the auctioneers nor the others would do anything to +knock down the slaves or do anything to hurt them," he answered. +"Inshallah! His Majesty allows no violence in his dominions." + +This was a broad assertion on the part of the interpreter, considerably +remote from the truth. However, the Sultan, who was extremely anxious +not to get embroiled with the English, at once accepted their excuses, +and either believed, or pretended to believe, that the slave-dealers had +been using violence towards the blacks. Catching sight of Green and the +other officers, he sent to request their attendance, and desired them to +collect their men and march them down to the water, undertaking to +protect them from the violence of the inhabitants, who would have +otherwise undoubtedly set upon them in overwhelming numbers, and cut +them to pieces. He observed, however, that they must on no account +again venture on shore, as it would be impossible to guard them from the +violence of the Arabs, who would certainly attack them if they had the +opportunity. + +Green, thankful to get the men out of the scrape, ordered them to keep +close together, and follow the Sultan's advice. + +"But what are we to do with the poor nigger gals, sir?" asked Jerry, who +seemed in no way conscious that he and his companions had illegally +transgressed the bounds of propriety. + +"I'm afraid we must leave them to their fate," answered Green; "if you'd +carried them off, you wouldn't have known how to dispose of them; and, +when we get to sea, we must do our best to put a stop to the traffic by +catching as many slave-dhows as possible." + +"Ay, ay, sir," shouted the men. The affair, which, at first, appeared +likely to be very serious, was thus terminated satisfactorily; and the +scene they had witnessed certainly contributed to make both men and +officers more eager than ever to catch the slavers, independent of any +secret hopes they might have entertained of collecting a good quantity +of prize-money. + +Jos Green and his companions, though deprived of their ride, resolved +not to bring the matter before their officers, who might look upon it in +a different light to the seamen, unless complaints were made by the +authorities. In that case they determined to defend them as far as they +had the power. The consul, however, was likely to hear of the matter, +and it would, they suspected, prevent any man-of-war's men being allowed +on shore at Zanzibar. + +The three vessels sailed together for the northward, when the +_Gauntlet_, with her screw lifted, was found to make as good way as her +full-rigged consorts. She was destined to take the most northern +station, the corvette to cruise next to her, and the brig to remain in +the south, to watch Pemba and the adjacent coast. The brig was the +first to haul her wind, the corvette next; and Jack then, parting from +her, stood for his station in the north. Higson had been out on the +coast before, as had the gunner and boatswain, and Jack was therefore +glad to consult them. The boatswain, Mr Large, was very unlike his +brother officer of the corvette, his appearance answering to his name. +Although not unusually tall, he required an unusually wide cot in which +to stow himself away. His countenance was stained red by hot suns and +air, rather than by any excess in drinking, though he took his grog, as +he used to observe, "like an honest man, whenever it came in his way, +either afloat or ashore." He was sufficiently active, and remarkably +strong. + +On her outward voyage the _Gauntlet_ had touched at Sierra Leone, and +shipped a gang of Kroomen, who proved as efficient as any part of the +ship's company. The head Krooman, a fine-looking fellow, rejoiced among +his shipmates in the name of Tom Kettle while his mate was christened +Bill Saucepan,--names to which they willingly answered,--while on the +rest of the gang similar names were bestowed. The men of the tribe to +which they belonged are infinitely superior to all others of the West +Coast, and every man-of-war employed on the station has been for long +accustomed to receive a party of them on board to perform the severer +labours of the ship, under which English seamen, in that climate, would +not fail to suffer. Their dress is that of ordinary seamen, and they +are particularly clean and neat in their persons, while they receive the +same rations as the other seamen; indeed, they are treated in all +respects like the rest of the crew, except that they mess by themselves, +and are under the immediate command of their head man and his mate. +They are good-natured, merry fellows, as brave as lions, active and +intelligent, and always ready to perform the most dangerous and +fatiguing duties without grumbling. Tom Kettle and his men were +therefore great favourites on board. Black Tom, as he was generally +called by the midshipmen, soon became great friends with his namesake +and his companions, who treated him with the respect which was his due, +and consequently won his affections. + +He had nothing of Captain Marryat's Mesty about him. He did not pretend +to be the son of a prince, or to have any wrongs to avenge; on the +contrary, his boast was that his father and grandfather were seamen +before him, who had ever proved true to their colours; and he was +prouder of that than he would have been of being allied to the greatest +potentate under the line. + +Jack was on the alert himself, and kept everybody else on board on the +alert, in the hopes, by some means or other, of inflicting a heavy blow +on the abominable slave-trade, for he felt as much interest in the +matter as did the old commodore himself. It reconciled him completely +to being compelled to command a steamer, which formerly, with the +feelings of the old school, he had looked upon as a somewhat derogatory +employment. Night and day the brightest lookout was kept, and every +suspicious dhow chased and boarded. For some time, however, only legal +traders were fallen in with. + +It was natural to suppose that as Jack was fresh on the station he would +require the most efficient interpreter, and Hamed was therefore +transferred to the _Gauntlet_, Murray taking another provided by the +consul in his stead. Jack began to feel vexed at his want of success, +but Hamed assured him that only the first part of the trade had begun to +move northward, and that the slavers would soon be coming, fast and +thick. + +"I hope so," said Jack, "for this is fearfully dull work." + +"Well, captain, I tinkee you gettee more prize if you hide ship under +lee of some island, and den pounce out on de dhows like wasps," said +Hamed. + +Jack, accordingly, examining the chart with Higson, looked out for the +most suitable island for their purpose. The first on which they fixed, +a short way to the northward, was low and sandy. It had some tall trees +in the centre, of a height to hide a ship's masts. The _Gauntlet_ +accordingly proceeded on to the northern end, off which she brought up, +thus concealed from any dhows coming from the southward. A mile and a +half or so to the north was another much smaller island, towards which +numerous birds were seen wending their way; and it was evidently, from +some peculiarity of the soil, a favourite resort of the feathered tribe. + +The ship had been at anchor for several hours, and as no dhows had as +yet been seen, and it was thought probable none would make their +appearance for a day or two, the time hung heavily on the hands of all +on board. Desmond and Tom, having been at work all the morning studying +the steam-engine, took it into their heads that they merited some little +relaxation, and set to work to persuade Mr Large to accompany them on a +shooting expedition to the island. "You see, Mr Large," observed Tom, +"we're certain to make a good bag, and you like roast goose as much as +any man; though we shall have to do without apple sauce, I'm afraid. +I'm certain that the birds I saw must have been geese, from their size; +we can even now make them out, hovering over the island. We shall very +likely get enough to dine the whole ship's company." + +Mr Large's mouth watered as Tom expatiated on the dainty dish he hoped +to provide. "If we can't get any of the boats, we can at all events +have our canoe," Gerald Desmond observed. It was the same canoe in +which they had been picked up and saved by the _Romp_, and which Adair +and Murray, who both claimed the ownership, had presented to Jack. + +Mr Large, in an evil hour, yielded to the midshipmen's representations, +and consented to accompany them. They, without difficulty, obtained +leave from the first lieutenant, promising to be back before dark with +the canoe loaded with birds. Mr Large, who considered himself a +first-rate shot, was the happy possessor of a fowling-piece, which he +boasted was superior to the best owned by any officer in Her Majesty's +Service. The midshipmen contented themselves with two ship's muskets, +which, as they carried a large amount of shot, would, they conceived, +kill no end of birds every time they were fired. + +Having dined, they had no need of provisions; so, taking plenty of +powder and shot, with their three weapons, they shoved off, Mr Large +sitting in the after-end, while the two midshipmen paddled well forward, +in order in some degree to counteract his weight, which, as it was, +brought the canoe considerably down by the stern, and lifted the bows +almost out of the water. Tom Kettle, who was unaware of their +intention, did not see them till they had got some distance from the +ship. "They had better take care," he observed, "or sea come over de +stern and swamp de canoe." + +The water, however, was smooth, and neither Mr Large nor his companions +had any apprehensions on the subject. Away they went, intending to land +on the nearest point. As they approached the point, they were not +disappointed in their expectations of finding it crowded with sea-birds, +many of large size, which Tom averred were the geese he had seen; while +there were various species of ducks, which appeared to be living in +harmony with the other inhabitants. + +The wind had got up a little, and as they drew near they saw that there +was some surf on the shore; but Mr Large declared that it was nothing +to hurt the canoe, and that they might pass easily through it without +shipping a thimbleful. He hesitated, however, as he drew nearer. +"Don't quite like the look of it," he observed. "If we'd had the large +boat we might have got on shore easy enough, but if a sea was to catch +us we might be rolled over before we could tell where we were." + +"Arrah, but it won't do to turn back," cried Desmond; "those geese now +will be after roasting us instead of our roasting them, not to speak of +the laugh that there'd be on board when we got back without a feather to +show, except the white feather which they'd be after talking about." + +Thus incited by Desmond's wit, the boatswain determined to attempt +landing. "Now, young gentlemen, paddle away with a right good will," he +shouted out, moving farther from the stern. The midshipmen pulling away +with all their might, on flew the canoe, with every chance, apparently, +of reaching the beach, when the boatswain, turning his head over his +shoulder, saw a huge foam-topped sea come rolling up with unusual speed. +He shouted to his companions to paddle on. In half a minute more the +stern of the canoe would have touched the beach, but before it got +there, down thundered the sea upon them, deluging the boatswain, washing +the two midshipmen high up on the beach, and capsizing the canoe, which +it rolled up with Mr Large under it close after them. Picking +themselves up, without losing their presence of mind, they turned round +to see what had become of their companion, and were happily in time to +catch hold of him and drag him up before the following sea carried him +off. + +"Thank you, young gentlemen; you've saved my life, and I've saved my +fowling-piece. But I'm afraid the muskets are lost, and, what's as bad, +so are the powder-horns and shot," said Mr Large. + +"No, there's one of the muskets," cried Tom, as he caught sight of the +butt lifted above the surface amid the creamy water, and, rushing in, he +seized it, though the next sea nearly carried him off his legs. + +"And there's the other," exclaimed Desmond; and, notwithstanding Tom's +narrow escape, he plunged in and secured it. The canoe was thrown up on +the beach, not much the worse, and the two paddles were saved. "I'm +afraid there's little chance of our finding our ammunition," said Tom in +a melancholy voice, not a bit minding the wetting, "and unless we can +manage to knock down the birds with our firearms, we shall have to go +back after all without any game to show." + +"But we must manage by hook or by crook to catch some of them," +exclaimed Desmond. "Sure we may catch them by the legs, if we lie +quiet, as they come flying by. There seems to be no end of young ones; +we may get hold of them, at all events." + +While Tom and Desmond were discussing the subject, Mr Large was +watching the breakers, which came tumbling in every instant with +increased violence. "I am sorry to say, young gentlemen, that we've no +chance of getting off till the sea goes down," he remarked, "unless we +drag the canoe across the island, or a boat is sent from the ship to our +assistance; and I'm afraid that that mayn't be thought of till night +comes on." + +"Well, perhaps we may find some eggs," observed Desmond; "they will +afford us a supper, and we can manage to get back in the morning." + +"They may chance to be over-savoury, considering that so many young ones +have already been hatched," said Tom. "However, if we get hungry we +shan't be particular." + +The boatswain continued looking with a dissatisfied glance at the +tumbling waters. "I doubt, even should the boat be sent, whether she +would be able to take us off," he observed. "The commander won't be +very well pleased when he finds what's happened. Instead of sleeping +comfortably on board, we shall have to spend the night out on the bare +sand." + +"No very great hardship in that, is there, Mr Large?" observed Tom, +trying to console the boatswain. "If we light a fire and roast a goose, +we may be pretty jolly after all." + +"We must catch the goose first, Mr Rogers; and then, as to lighting a +fire without a match-box or gunpowder, how is that to be done?" asked +the boatswain. + +Tom had forgotten, and had to acknowledge that they might have to go +without the fire. It was agreed, however, that they should search for +eggs, which, although they might be somewhat high, might assist in +keeping body and soul together. + +"Roast goose would have been very pleasant, and a drop of grog to wash +it down," observed the boatswain, who could not forget the loss of his +creature comforts. + +Having hauled the canoe high up on the beach, the boatswain set off in +one direction, and the two midshipmen in the other, in search of eggs. +They discovered here and there a few broken egg-shells and a few young +birds. At length Tom came upon two or three eggs, which he eagerly +seized. "Here's a supper for us," he exclaimed, breaking open one of +them; but he threw it down with intense disgust. + +"Faith, a fellow must be hard up before he could eat that," said +Desmond; "try another." + +"No, thank you," answered Tom; "one is enough to satisfy me. But we'll +keep them for Mr Large; he may not be so particular. Only we must take +care not to break them in our pockets, or we shan't be able to wear our +jackets again." + +They went on some way farther, the birds shrieking and pecking at their +legs as they passed, but showing no further sign of anger, as they had +not time to seize the young ones. As they got farther round the island, +they saw, from its peculiar conformation, that the sea swept round it, +and broke almost with as much violence on the one side as on the other; +though still it might be possible, could they get the canoe across, to +launch her. However, they were very unwilling to return without having +something to show, and agreed that it would be better to wait till the +following morning. + +They had got more than half-way round when loud cries reached them, and, +looking ahead, they caught sight of the boatswain scampering away over +the sand faster than he had run for many a year, with a vast flight of +birds hovering about his head, and uttering loud shrieks and cries of +anger; some darting down and attacking him from behind, and others +wheeling round and flying at his face, which he had the greatest +difficulty in defending. The midshipmen, seeing the predicament that he +was in, hurried forward to his assistance; when the birds, undaunted by +their appearance, commenced an assault on them, and they too had to beat +a retreat, pursued by their persevering foes. In vain they struck about +them with their muskets, which, being heavy, the birds easily evaded, +only to return to the assault with greater vigour, caring neither for +their aimless blows nor their loud cries. + +The midshipmen could easily have outstripped the boatswain, who, already +blown, rushed on puffing and panting like an asthmatic steam-engine; but +they, like young heroes, refused to desert him, although Desmond, as he +flourished his musket, very nearly brought the muzzle down on his +companion's nose. The faster they ran, the more determined the birds +became, till matters were really growing serious; and the poor +boatswain, unable any longer to continue his flight, suddenly came down +with a run on his face in the sand. + +The midshipmen now making a stand in order to defend him, the birds +retreated, croaking and shrieking louder than ever. "We must lift Mr +Large up, or he'll be suffocated," said Tom, and, aided by Desmond, they +rolled him round till his face was out of the sand. He was breathing +very heavily, and they became greatly alarmed. "I'm afraid he's got a +fit of apoplexy, or something dreadful," cried Tom. "I say, Gerald, go +and fetch a cap full of water,--there's no other way of getting it--and +we'll try and bring him to." + +Gerald, as desired, ran off to the beach, and hurried back with his cap, +from which the water was of course rapidly streaming out. They managed, +however, to clear the boatswain's nostrils and mouth of sand, and at +length had the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes, his first +impulse being to try and get up. He could not as yet speak, and gazed +about him wondering what had happened. The shrieks of the birds still +hovering near reminded him, and he soon came to. + +"Thank you, young gentlemen; if it hadn't been for you, I don't know +what would have happened," he said, in a faint voice. He had reason, +indeed, to thank the midshipmen; for had they not stayed by him, he +would, to a certainty, have been suffocated. Some time had thus been +spent. They had been longer making the passage than they had expected, +and night was fast approaching. They were wet and hungry, and not very +well satisfied with their performances; knowing also that, whether a +boat was sent for them or not, they would all be severely reprimanded on +their return on board. + +After sitting for some time, the boatswain declared that he should catch +his death of cold if he remained quiet much longer; so, getting up, they +all three set off running to try and restore circulation. No sooner did +the winged inhabitants of the island see them on the move than, perhaps +supposing that they were again about to invade their nests, with loud +shrieks they darted once more to the attack, flying round and round +them, and every now and then threatening to pounce down and attack their +faces. Even when they did stop, the enraged creatures hovered round +them, giving them no rest, and keeping them constantly on the watch to +ward off their threatening beaks. At last Tom thought of the paddles, +which had been left in the canoe, and, making their way back to her, he +and Desmond armed themselves each with one, which were likely to prove +more serviceable weapons than the heavy muskets. The birds seemed to be +of this opinion, for no sooner did the midshipmen boldly assault them +than they flew off to their nests. The boatswain, between his fear of +catching cold should he lie down in his wet clothes, and his weariness, +was in a sad perplexity. At length, however, he threw himself on the +sand, declaring that he could no longer move about, and must submit to +his fate, whatever that might be. The midshipmen themselves were +getting somewhat tired, but tried to amuse themselves by talking of old +times, every now and then taking an anxious look in the direction of the +ship, in the hopes of seeing a boat coming to their assistance. + +No boat, however, was discernible; nor indeed could they see the ship. +They began to grow somewhat uneasy. What could have become of her? Had +she steamed away and left them to their fate? but that was not at all +likely to be the case. The boatswain had been for some time quiet, and +a loud snore showed them that he had fallen fast asleep. Desmond was +the first to speak. "I say, Tom, what do you think of our trying to +knock some of the birds on the head while they're asleep on their nests; +we might in a little time kill as many as we should have shot; and if we +could return with a boatful, we should, at all events, not be laughed +at, as we shall be if we go back empty handed." + +Tom was perfectly ready, and, armed with their paddles, they set off +along the beach, creeping quietly forward, in the hopes of coming +suddenly upon a colony of the birds. On and on they went, but no birds +could they find, the fact being that the tide was low, and they had kept +close down to the water instead of making their way over the dry sand. +This they did not find out till they had got to a considerable distance. +Turning off inland, they, however, quickly found themselves in the +midst of hundreds of birds, when they began to lay about them right and +left, knocking over vast numbers; those they missed only poking out +their long necks, and quacking and screeching at them. + +"I thought we should have good sport," cried Desmond, highly delighted; +"we shall surprise the old boatswain when he wakes by and by and finds a +pile of birds close to him." + +On they went for some time, till they found themselves among a colony of +a different species, who, instead of tamely submitting to be knocked on +the head, flew up with loud screams, and attacked them with the greatest +desperation. The midshipmen, of course, fought bravely, wielding their +paddles with some effect, while they retreated to the beach. Their +assailants then took to flight, and they set to work to collect the +birds they had knocked over. Some had partially recovered, and showed +fight with their beaks when they attempted to catch hold of them, so +that they had to give a good many the _coup de grace_ before they could +throw them over their backs. Having each collected as large a load as +they could carry, they set out to return to the canoe along the line of +hard sand. The road seemed much longer, as they were now heavily laden, +and it was some time before they came near the canoe. + +As they approached, the shouts of the boatswain and the shrieks of a +multitude of birds reached their ears. Hurrying on, they saw dimly +through the gloom numberless wings flapping in the air, circling in the +darkness, now advancing, now rising, while the figure of the stout +boatswain appeared in their midst whirling round his fowling-piece, with +which he every now and then caught a bird more daring than its +companions, and brought it to the ground or sent it shrieking away. + +"Help, young gentlemen, help!" he shouted out, though almost breathless +with his exertions, "or these imps of Satan will be too much for me." + +Tom and Desmond rushed to the rescue, and, laying about them, at length +succeeded in again driving off the birds to a respectful distance. +"Glad you came when you did, young gentlemen," said the boatswain, after +he had recovered his breath. "Thinking you were keeping watch by my +side, I was enjoying my first sleep, when I was awoke by a sharp tweak +of my nose, and such a shrieking in my ears as I hope never to hear +again. It was a mercy I hadn't both my eyes pecked out; I started up, +thinking that a whole horde of niggers were upon me, or might be a party +of these beastly slave-catching, murderous Arabs had landed, when I +discovered that they were those savage birds again; and finding my +fowling-piece in my hand, I began to lay about me, as you saw, with +right goodwill, though I own they were almost too much for me. I can't +help thinking that the island is bewitched, for such birds as these I +never met in my life before, and hope never to meet again. Maybe an +empty stomach makes matters worse, for I feel all nohow--more like a +sucking baby than the boatswain of Her Majesty's steamer _Gauntlet_." + +"You'll get all right in the morning, Mr Large," said Tom; "I believe +you've hit the right nail on the head; but we shan't starve; see, we've +brought plenty of food, and we left fifty times as many behind us, +waiting till we go and get them." + +"If we had a fire it would be very well," sighed the boatswain; "though +I suspect they're somewhat of a fishy flavour--not that we should be +particular when sharp set." + +"Faith, I forgot, Mr Large," said Desmond, "that we've found some eggs, +and we've brought you a couple, knowing that your constitution requires +nourishment." + +"It does, young gentlemen, it does," said Mr Large, in a grateful tone; +"I feel a gnawing in my inside which quite unmans me." + +"Here they are," said Desmond, producing the eggs from his pocket; "they +may perhaps have a strong flavour, but, as you say, one shouldn't be +particular." + +"If we'd but a fire we might make an omelette of them," observed the +boatswain, holding one of the eggs in his hand, and preparing to crack +it, so that he might gulp off its contents. Scarcely, however, had he +done so, than he threw it from him, exclaiming, "Faugh! it's as bad as +the essence of a slave-hold." + +"We thought it might be pretty strong, Mr Large," said Desmond, +stuffing his wet handkerchief into his mouth to prevent himself from +laughing; "but try the other, perhaps that is sweeter." + +As Mr Large was not a man to be knocked down by an egg, he did as he +was advised, but the odour which issued from the second was even worse +than that of the first, and, throwing it to a distance, he declared that +it would be long before he would try another duck's egg. + +Gerald asked Mr Large if he had any tobacco and a pipe. "I have the +first, young gentlemen, and thank you for reminding me of it; but how is +the pipe to be lighted without a match?" he replied; "but I'll take a +quid, though I've given up chawing since I became a warrant-officer; I +used once to indulge in it. I wouldn't advise you, though, to do so, +for it's very likely to turn your insides out." + +Mr Large had his reasons for giving this advice to the midshipmen, +seeing that he had only tobacco sufficient to form a decent-sized quid +for himself. It comforted his heart, and, advising his companions to +follow his example, he once more lay down to sleep. They tried to do +so, but they had not been quiet for many minutes before the birds found +them out, and, with loud screeches came flying above them, quickly +awakening the boatswain, who declared that he believed they were imps in +the form of birds, and would to a certainty attack them again if they +had the chance. Tom said he thought so too, and that he remembered +reading at school about some harpies who lived on an island, and played +all sorts of tricks--that was in the Mediterranean, but he saw no reason +why the same sort of creatures should not be found in the Indian Ocean; +perhaps they had flown to this very island, as they certainly were no +longer to be found in their old locality. + +This information did not much comfort poor Mr Large. At last a bright +idea struck Gerald. "Let's turn the canoe bottom upwards, and creep +under her; the beasts can't find us there, at all events," he exclaimed. + +"I wonder we didn't think of that before," said Tom, and they +immediately carried out Gerald's suggestion. Mr Large had some +difficulty in creeping under it, and very nearly brought the canoe down +upon himself, but by choosing the broadest part he found sufficient room +to lie on his back; while Tom took one end and Gerald the other. Though +the birds screamed as loudly as ever, the canoe-wrecked party knew that +they were perfectly safe, and could afford to laugh at them. However, +they soon went to sleep and forgot all about the matter. They might +have slept on till the middle of the next day, as there was no one to +call them, had not Tom been awakened by the pangs of hunger; when, +starting up, forgetting where he was, he gave his head such a thundering +knock against the bottom of the canoe that the noise awakened Desmond, +who did precisely the same thing. When the boatswain, giving a heave +with his body, turned over the canoe, they discovered that the sun had +already risen several degrees above the horizon. + +"Here's a pretty kettle of fish to fry, as my missus would say," +exclaimed Mr Large, as he sat up rubbing his eyes; "we ought to have +been on board by daybreak, and here we are as if we were upon leave for +a month." + +"I only wish we'd something for breakfast," exclaimed Desmond, as he got +on his legs; "we shall have to breakfast on the raw birds after all." + +"Look out there, young gentlemen, where we left the ship--what's become +of her?" cried Mr Large. + +The midshipmen looked round with dismay; the ship was certainly not +where she had been. "I can't make it out," he exclaimed; "if she's gone +I ought to have gone with her, and a pretty scrape I am in. It won't +matter so much for you young gentlemen, as, of course, it will all be +laid to my door; and here we are now without a drop of rum, or a drop of +water to mix with it, or anything more eatable than raw, fishy geese. +We shouldn't starve if we were left here for a week, but we should +suffer pretty severely from want of water." + +"I hope that we shall not have to wait here for a week," said Tom; "and +as it seems to me that the surf has gone down, I think the sooner we +load the canoe and go in search of the ship the better, since she +doesn't come in search of us." + +Tom's proposal was at once agreed to, it being evident that the surf had +considerably gone down. The only objection to shoving off was the want +of the third paddle; greatly, however, to the boatswain's satisfaction, +they espied it washed on shore. The only difficulty now remaining was +to know where to pull to. The boatswain suggested that they should make +the best of their way to the other island, as the ship was certain to +return to her former anchorage. They accordingly loaded the canoe with +as many birds as she could carry, and while the two midshipmen ran her +off, Mr Large sat aft ready to use his paddles directly they jumped on +board. This they nimbly did, and seized their paddles. Mr Large would +have certainly upset the canoe, had he made the attempt to get in after +she was afloat. Desmond and Tom managed it, however, very cleverly; and +away she dashed. They were soon amid the breakers; the canoe, however, +rode buoyantly over them, and was quickly skimming across the placid +water to the southward. + +They had not gone far, when a wreath of smoke was seen rising above the +island, and presently the _Gauntlet_ herself appeared towing a dhow, +which they had little doubt she must have captured. + +"My luck!" cried the boatswain; "I'd have given a week's pay rather than +to have missed being on board while she was catching her first prize; +however, it can't be helped. There's one good thing; as the ship must +have gone away early in the night, for what the commander and everybody +else knows, we may have been waiting out here for them ever since. +Don't talk about the way I was treated by the birds, young gentlemen, if +you please; my brother officers, the gunner and carpenter, would never +cease chaffing me about it." + +Of course Tom and Gerald promised to be discreet; and they were now only +anxious to get over the interview with the commander, hoping that they +would not be asked any questions difficult to answer. "At all events, +it was not our fault that we were not on board earlier," said Tom; "he +can't say that; and as we bring a good supply of birds, both he and +everyone else ought to be thankful to us." + +The canoe was alongside directly the steamer came to an anchor. They +took good care to hand up the birds first; and Jack, on hearing their +story, took very little notice of their prolonged stay, only expressing +his satisfaction that they had got off safe. Before the ship was under +way, blue lights had been burned and guns fired to recall them; but it +had been at the time when they were having their first skirmish with the +birds, and the signals had not been observed. What those birds were +none of them could ever discover; and the boatswain was fully persuaded +that they were the harpies of whom Tom had told him. + +Tom was tolerably discreet, but Gerald, before long, let out the whole +story, greatly to the amusement of the other warrant-officers, who were +continually reminding poor Mr Large of his night on "Harpy Island." + +"Harpy it might have been, but _happy_ it was not," he answered with a +groan. "I only wish that you two had been there; you wouldn't be so +fond of talking about it as you seem to be now." + +As the boatswain had supposed, a dhow had been made out by the party +which had landed on the larger island, and as soon as steam could be got +up, the ship had gone in chase of her. She had managed, however, to run +up a somewhat narrow creek, into which the boats had been sent to bring +her out, and had succeeded in doing so; though all the slaves had been +taken out of her, with the exception of two who had been found in her +hold in an almost dying state. The Arab crew had escaped; the +examination of the poor slaves the next morning left no doubt of her +character. She was accordingly scuttled, and being then set on fire, +went to the bottom. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE LOOK-OUT PARTY ON THE ISLAND--A SLAVE CARAVAN--UNWELCOME VISITORS-- +THREE DHOWS CHASED--WRECK OF THE DHOWS--RESCUING THE SLAVES--DANGEROUS +POSITION OF THE PARTY ON SHORE--THE KROOMEN CROSS THE SURF WITH +SUPPLIES--TENDERNESS OF THE SAILORS TO THE SLAVES--"WASHING A BLACKAMOOR +WHITE." + +As Jack was not perfectly satisfied with the anchorage near Harpy +Island, he proceeded farther north, to a spot which answered all his +requirements, off a lofty headland with a deep bay. On the northern +side of it lay a rocky island of considerable height, with trees +covering the larger portion. Here a line-of-battle ship might have +remained concealed from any vessels coming from the southward, till they +were within range of the ship's guns; so that she might, if necessary, +compel them to strike, without even getting under way. Farther north +the island assumed the low and barren appearance of that part of the +African coast, a region as inhospitable and unattractive as could well +be conceived. Within the bay was a smooth beach; farther on, the coast +was lined for some miles with threatening rocks, against which should +any unfortunate vessel be driven, she must quickly be dashed to pieces. + +The _Gauntlet_, carefully feeling her way, came to an anchorage in the +bay. The second lieutenant was at once sent on shore, with a party of +men, to climb to the summit of the peak; no very easy task, as it turned +out. However, they got up at last, and the lieutenant on his return +reported that from the summit of the headland he had enjoyed a view over +fully thirty miles out to sea, and up and down the coast, so that in the +daytime no vessel could pass within that distance without being sighted. + +Several dhows had been chased and boarded, but the evidence for their +condemnation had been insufficient, and with much reluctance Jack had to +let them go. Both he and all under his command would have liked to be +allowed to burn every dhow with a black man on board, but as such a +proceeding would have been illegal, they were compelled to restrain +their zeal. The _Gauntlet_ had again come to an anchor; an hour before +daybreak Tom and Desmond, with a party of men, had been despatched to +make their way to the top of the headland, that they might obtain as +extensive a view as possible over the ocean. As soon as the sun rose +above the horizon a ruddy glow suffused the sky. On reaching the rocky +height at which they were aiming, the rocks they saw around appeared as +if ready to topple down into the plain on the one side. On the other +were deep crevices, sufficient to contain a number of men; thus forming +a natural fortress which might be held by a small party against greatly +superior odds, while here and there shrubs jutted out from the hollows +in which soil, in the course of ages, had been deposited. + +As, however, it did not appear likely that any foe would take the +trouble of climbing up to molest them, the midshipmen did not bother +themselves about the advantages of their position. They valued the +hollows rather as affording them at some period of the sun's course a +shelter from his rays, and enabling them to take a quiet snooze while +off watch. The summit of the cliff, however, on which they had to make +their signals to the ship, was perfectly exposed on all sides, and from +it they could take a view, not only over the ocean, but across a +considerable part of the country to the eastward. + +"There's a sail," cried Tom, as he swept the wide expanse of water with +his telescope; "and there's another, and another. They're coming up +with a spanking breeze, and will try the old kettle's powers to get up +with them. Make the signal, Desmond; she must stir up her fires and get +under way pretty smartly, or they will have slipped by before she can +pounce down on them." + +The signal was made, and in a short time a column of black smoke was +seen ascending from the funnel of the ship. Two of the boats were at +the island, with armed crews ready to pull off towards any dhows which +might come near enough to be overtaken. The boats had already seen the +signal from the headland, and were pulling out from under the lee of the +island. The dhows had not as yet, apparently, discovered that foes were +at hand. Out glided the steamer, her black smoke clearly indicating +what she was. Two of the inshore dhows quickly disappeared behind an +intervening point, almost as high as that on which Tom and his party +were posted. The boats, each selecting her prey, pulled away towards +two dhows nearest the island, while the ship steered towards three +others which were somewhat farther out and ahead of the rest. + +The wind was strong; they were all carrying moderate sail, and as they +made no apparent effort to escape, it was supposed that they were legal +traders. Such for some time, apparently, was the commander's opinion, +as the ship's head was seen to be turning more to the southward towards +one of the other dhows. Just then a sail of one of the leading dhows +was seen to come down. + +"She's carried something away," exclaimed Tom; "and the ship can easily +overhaul her." + +"No, she hasn't," exclaimed Desmond; "see, she's only been shifting her +canvas;" and presently, in spite of the fresh breeze, an enormous sail +was spread in lieu of the smaller one. The other dhows followed her +example, and the ship was quickly in chase of them, setting, as she went +along, sail after sail; and as the broad sheets of white canvas were +expanded to the breeze, her speed was evidently increased. + +"She's not got her full steam up yet," observed Desmond; "when she has, +she'll be after them like a shot." + +"The shot must fly pretty fast then; see how they bowl along," cried +Tom; "look, two of them are edging in for the land, while the third +holds her course. The ship seems doubtful which she will follow. They +may be all rogues together; or the last may be honest, and only wishes +to lead her a wild-goose chase for the sake of favouring the others. +No; the commander has made up his mind that the last is no better than +the rest. See, he's determined to make her heave-to, at all events." + +As Tom spoke, a puff of white smoke was seen to fly out from the bow of +the _Gauntlet_, and the faint sound of a gun reached their ears. +Another and another followed, forming curves in the air; the ship was +throwing shells over and around the nearest dhow to frighten her into +submission. For some time she stood on, when she too altered her course +to the westward; this was probably what Jack desired, because he might +thus hope to capture two or three vessels instead of one. Two other +guns were now discharging shot and shell from the port-bow. + +"I wish I was on board," cried Tom; "surely one or other of the rascals +must be caught." It was doubtful, however, whether this would be the +case. One thing alone was clear, that all the three vessels had slaves +on board, or, rather than run the risk of being struck, they would +immediately have hauled down their sails. Tom now turned his attention +to the boats, which were still at some distance from the southernmost +dhows, and seemed likely to cut them both off. The other two had not +reappeared, but had probably found anchorage in a bay to the southward, +not supposing perhaps that they had been seen. + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed Desmond, who had been watching the ship; "she's +brought down the sail of one of the rascals, and is firing away sharply +to prevent her rehoisting it." + +Some few more minutes passed. "She's up to her," he cried; "see, she's +shortening sail, which will help to give the other fellows a better +chance of escaping; but she'll not be long about it." + +Once more the sails were sheeted home, and the ship rushed forward after +her prey, the boat she had lowered appearing like a small speck on the +ocean, close to the dhow about to be boarded. The steamer was now in +hot chase after the other two dhows, still considerably ahead of her, +and making, apparently, for the shore, from which she was endeavouring +to turn them by a rapid discharge of shot and shell. The boat's crew +she had left behind were quickly in possession of the dhow, the Arabs, +as far as could be seen, having made no resistance. + +"I thought the coast was rocky all the way to the north," observed Tom; +"if those dhows run on shore they will be knocked to pieces in no time, +and every human being on board them drowned." + +"I heard the master say only yesterday that there were one or two sandy +beaches of no great extent some miles on, and I suppose the dhows are +making for them, though I shouldn't have thought they had got so far," +answered Desmond; "I only hope the ship won't be knocking her nose on +the rocks in her eagerness to get hold of the fellows." + +"No fear of that," said Tom; "my brother Jack is too careful to do so +bungling a thing; though he's ready enough to run every risk when +necessary. He wouldn't esteem your remark as a compliment." + +"I don't doubt his judgment," said Desmond; "though if you are not on +board to give him the benefit of your advice, he may be after getting +into a scrape. But, I say, what are the other two boats about? I had +almost forgotten them." + +Tom turned his telescope to the south-east, in which direction the white +bulging sails of the dhows could be seen shining brightly, as they +floated above the blue ocean; while the boats lay ahead of them, like +two crouching savage animals waiting for their prey. They were more +than a mile apart, so that they could render no assistance to each +other; but, apparently, they considered that would not be necessary, as +the Arabs, even if they had slaves on board, were not likely to offer +any resistance with a man-of-war in sight. There was no escape for +either of the dhows, for the surf broke upon every part of the coast +visible to the southward with a fury which must preclude all hope of +escape to any human being on board; and thus, if they intended to fight, +they must be prepared to conquer and run ahead of the ship while she was +engaged with her companions nearer the shore. Still, there was +sufficient probability of their doing so to make Desmond and Tom, with +all the men on the rock, watch the proceedings with intense interest. + +On flew the dhows, their bulging sails swelling in the breeze, and the +white foam flying up under their low bows. Matson, the second +lieutenant, commanded one of the boats, and the senior mate the other. +The object of the dhows, since they could not avoid the boats, was to +try and give them the stem, but the English officers were not to be +caught so at a disadvantage. The second lieutenant's boat was nearest +in; as the dhow came dashing on, the lieutenant ran his boat alongside, +and he and his men, like ants, could be seen scrambling up over the +bulwarks. Some small tiny puffs showed that fighting was going on. +Then came a pretty considerable number, though the reports which reached +them sounded no louder than those of pop-guns. Tom declared that he +could see the flash of steel as the cutlasses glittered in the sunshine. +One thing was certain, that the British crew had gained the slaver's +deck--for that a slaver she was there could be no doubt. + +Again puffs of smoke were seen, and the cutlasses flashed once more; and +then all was quiet. The midshipmen would have given anything to have +distinguished what was going forward on deck, but they could only make +out that the boat was alongside, and they could have little doubt that +their friends were victorious. Still the sail continued set, which was +a suspicious circumstance, but the dhow was scarcely yet sufficiently to +the northward to run in under the island. In the meantime the second +dhow had got up to the mate's boat; but she being still farther off, it +was difficult to see what was taking place. She had a gun in her bows, +which, as soon as the fighting began on board the first dhow, was fired +into her antagonist; then there came puffs of smoke from the latter, and +she was presently alongside; whether or not the English had got on +board, it was impossible for some time to ascertain. Desmond thought +that they were firing from the boat, while the Arabs were returning +their fire from the dhow. Whether or not such was the case, it ceased +on both sides. + +"Our fellows have got on board, depend upon it," cried Tom; "and they're +making short work of it; the Arabs can never stand our fellows' +cutlasses." + +The second dhow, like the first, continued her course; in about a +minute, down came her huge sail, making it evident that she was +captured, as the Arabs, if they had been successful, would have been in +a hurry to get away. The first dhow had now got sufficiently to the +northward to haul in for the anchorage, her helm was put down, and, +heeling fearfully over, she made her way towards it. + +"Good heavens!" cried Tom; "what's happening to the other dhow?" He had +turned his glass but for a minute to look at the first, when, on again +glancing at the latter, her bows had disappeared, and her high stern was +just sinking beneath the surface. The boat was there, but it was +impossible to see who was on board. The party on the cliff were +therefore left in a state of intense anxiety as to the fate of their +shipmates. They could only picture to themselves numberless human +beings struggling for their lives, those in the boat employed in +endeavouring to pick them up. The lieutenant's party had too much to do +in keeping the Arabs under to go to their assistance; by the time they +could have arrived, indeed, all who had not been picked up by the boat +must have sunk for ever. + +The first dhow was rapidly approaching the anchorage, and the boat, +hoisting her sail, soon afterwards followed her. At all events, it was +evident that their shipmates had been successful. The two midshipmen +were eager to go down and meet them, to hear what had happened, but they +had been ordered to remain on the cliff, and could not--without being +guilty of disobedience--leave their post; they had, therefore, to sit +quiet and curb their impatience, while they continued to keep a lookout +over the ocean. + +Tom and Desmond now turned their glasses towards the ship. The dhow she +had captured lay with her sails lowered, waiting for her return, to be +towed up to the anchorage, while she herself was still seen afar off, +though at too remote a distance for her proceedings to be understood. +Against the wind, however, the dhow could do nothing, and was drifting +away to the northward. They were for the present, indeed, more +interested with the dhows taken by the lieutenant and the other boat. +Both appeared crowded with people, Arabs and blacks, besides the seamen +of the _Gauntlet_. The boat which had carried Tom and Gerald's party on +shore had returned to the ship, so that even could they have ventured to +leave their post, they would not have been able to get off to satisfy +their curiosity. According to the directions given, they continued +looking out to the southward for the approach of any other dhows, +although there was but little chance of their being stopped; as it was +very evident that neither of the boats were in a condition to put off in +chase of them. In a short time they saw that the boats were employed in +carrying the people from the dhow to the shore, but even before they +landed they were hidden from sight by the intervening rocks and trees. +From the frequent trips the boats had to make, they judged that the dhow +had contained a large number of slaves. + +By the time the blacks had been landed, three of the dhows they had at +first seen had got almost up to the southern end of the island. "Why, I +do believe they are coming to bring up at our anchorage," observed Tom. +He was right; the headmost dhow, hauling her wind, stood close round to +the north of the point, as if well acquainted with the locality; and +although the dhow at anchor must have been seen by those on board, she +stood on past her without lowering her sail. She rounded to at some +distance farther in; as near, indeed, to the shore as it was safe to go. +The inside dhow followed her example, as did the third, and all three +lay close together, as if no enemy existed near them. + +"They seem pretty bold fellows," observed Tom; "or else they confide in +their numbers. Supposing each carries thirty men, and I think I can +count as many on their decks, there must be ninety in all--rather heavy +odds against our boats' crews, who have, besides, their prisoners to +look after. I say, Desmond, suppose they land? we should be feeling +rather foolish." + +"I don't think the lazy rascals would take the trouble to climb up +here," answered Desmond; "and if they do, we've got our revolvers, and +the men have their muskets and cutlasses, and we shall easily be able to +defend ourselves; but they probably are not unprovided with long guns; +though they may be only matchlocks or old muskets, they may contrive to +pick us off while they keep at a safe distance." + +The state of affairs had indeed become serious. The midshipmen and +their party were completely cut off from receiving any assistance from +their shipmates on the island, who might indeed also not be in a +condition to afford it. In all probability, with the pretty severe +fights both boats had had, some of the men had suffered; still, if one +whole boat's crew could be mustered, Lieutenant Matson would scarcely +fail to try and capture the three dhows which had so audaciously entered +the lion's den. That he had not done so already made Tom and Desmond +not a little anxious; although the Arabs on board the dhows might not +have seen the boats or the people on shore when they first entered the +bay, they could not fail to do so where they now lay; yet, instead of +again weighing and standing on, which would have been their wisest +course, they remained as quiet as if no enemy was near. + +The midshipmen's chief hope now was that the ship would quickly come +back and catch the three dhows before they again stood out to sea. They +expected every instant to catch sight of the boats pulling off to attack +the dhows. Neither appeared, and they at length began to fear that +either Lieutenant Matson or Collins the mate, or perhaps both of them, +had been killed or wounded; and that so many of the men had been hurt +that they were unable to make the attempt. + +The day was drawing on. They had brought up a small keg of water and +some provisions, or they would by this time have been almost starved, as +under ordinary circumstances they would have been relieved at noon. +However, as Desmond observed, they had to "grin and bear it." Still, +not forgetful of their duty, they were keeping a look-out over the +ocean, when one of the men exclaimed, "We shall have more visitors than +we bargained for; see, Mr Rogers, here come a whole tribe of the +rascally Arabs; and if they find us out, we shall have a squeak for it." + +Tom turned his glass in the direction to which the man pointed. "There +are Arabs, and not a few, but the greater number of the people are +blacks," he observed; "by the way they are walking, they must be slaves. +That accounts for the dhows bringing up here; I've no doubt it is a +caravan from the interior, and the poor wretches are being brought down +to be embarked. Had the ship remained here, all three would have been +set free as local traders. I fancy Mr Matson suspects something of the +sort, and is just waiting till they get their slaves on board to capture +them. Now I think of it, I heard him yesterday say that he had +discovered a deep bight at that end of the island, into which the boats +could be hauled and remain perfectly concealed. If that is the case, +the dhows have not seen them, and fancy that the people on shore, whom +they can't have failed to discover, have no means of getting off." + +"Faith, I hope that's the case," observed Desmond; "for if those Arabs +who are coming this way were to find us out, they'd be after shooting at +us in a somewhat unpleasant manner." + +Tom and the rest of the party could not help feeling that Desmond was +right. However, they determined to make the best of a bad case; and, as +they were tolerably well posted, to defend themselves against all odds. +In their exposed position there could be no doubt that they had already +been seen, so that they could not hope to conceal themselves, which +might have been their wisest course. Tom, therefore, ordered his men to +fire off two muskets to attract the attention of the party on the +island, trusting that they would, as soon as they saw the Arabs, push +off to their assistance. + +No answering signal, however, being made, the midshipmen began to have +serious misgivings as to what had happened. "Well, my lads," cried Tom, +addressing the four seamen who had accompanied him and Desmond, "we'll +make the best of a bad case, and hold out as long as our ammunition +lasts and we've got strength to hold our swords and cutlasses." + +"Ay, ay, sir--no fear about that," was the answer; "the brown-skinned +beggars won't be in a hurry to climb up here; and if they do, we'll +tumble them back again faster than they came." + +That their men would prove staunch, the midshipmen had no fear; still it +would be very provoking to see the Arabs embarking the slaves, and not +be able to stop them. It would, however, be the height of madness to +venture down from their post; for the slave-traders, being all well +armed, would, to a certainty, overpower them with numbers, and, however +they might have acted alone, were not likely to abandon their prey when +on the point of receiving payment from the purchasers in the dhows. The +Arabs, who had just approached cautiously, on discovering how small was +their party, looked up at them, making threatening gestures, and +uttering loud shouts and cries. The poor slaves, apparently, could not +understand the matter, and marched on with their heads cast down, many +of them pictures of wretchedness and despair. There were women, some +with infants in their arms, others leading little children by the hand; +a large number appeared to be girls of all ages, who walked together, +with scanty garments, but unencumbered by the loads which were carried +by most of the rest. Then came a gang of boys, many of whom limped +sadly, as their drivers compelled them to move forward at the point of +their spears. + +Some few old men were among them, who were tottering under loads too +heavy for their frail limbs to bear; and then came a numerous body of +men, secured two and two by heavy poles, with their necks bolted into +forks, one at either end of the pole. Some trod the earth boldly; +others tottered at every step, trying to exert themselves to avoid prods +from the points of the spears with which their drivers were constantly +threatening them. Such had, too probably, been their mode of journeying +for many weary miles of desert, since they had fallen into the hands of +their persecutors. + +"I wonder how many of those poor wretches have sunk down and died on the +road?" observed Tom; "or been knocked on the head by those wretched +Arabs?" + +"Faith, it makes one's blood boil!" cried Desmond; "in spite of all +odds, I should like to pounce down upon them, and set the poor negroes +free." The men expressed themselves much in the same strain, and would +very willingly have followed the midshipmen, had they acted according to +their wishes; but both knew that they had no business to leave their +post, even had there been any probability of success. + +Boats now came off from the dhows, and the business of transporting the +slaves on board commenced; while an armed party of Arabs was drawn up +near the foot of the cape, to prevent any attempt which might be made by +the British seamen to interfere with their proceedings. Nearly all the +slaves had been got on board, when the Arabs, no longer being engaged in +guarding them, began to show evident signs that their intentions were +hostile. Presently a personage of more importance, probably the chief +slave-dealer, arrived, with several additional armed attendants. The +midshipmen saw the other Arabs pointing them out to him. A consultation +which was then held resulted, apparently, in a resolution to attack +them. Shouts and cries of hatred arose from the assembled Arabs, who, +flourishing their weapons, advanced towards the hill, evidently with the +intention of climbing it. + +We must leave the midshipmen in their perilous predicament, and follow +the _Gauntlet_, which, having captured one of the dhows, of which she +was in chase as has been described, stood after the other two. They +were both fleet vessels, and, with their enormous sails filled to +bursting, seemed to glide over the surface like those winged creatures +which may be seen in summer skimming across the surface of a pool. The +boilers were heated to the utmost, and with sail and screw the ship +dashed forward in chase. + +The nearest dhow was the first to haul in for the shore, while the other +continued her course, hoping to escape. "The first bird is already +ours," observed Jack to Higson; "she'll not venture to run her stem on +the rocks, and if we attempt further to interfere with her, we shall +lose the second. If she ventures to run out to sea, we shall have time +to settle with the one ahead, and catch her into the bargain." + +The dhow spoken of was continuing her course towards the shore, with the +intention, it was supposed, of anchoring, and waiting till she could +again make sail, and run out to sea before the ship had settled with her +consort. The _Gauntlet_ stood on as before, though she was gaining +little, if anything, on the fast-sailing dhow; still, one of the shot or +shell she was firing might carry away a mast or tear the sail in pieces; +and Jack, trusting to that chance, hoped to capture her at last. + +A stern chase is a long chase, under most circumstances, and the Arabs +probably thought that they might possibly keep ahead till nightfall, and +escape during the darkness. She was a large vessel, and she might have +three or four hundred slaves on board, and was on every account, +therefore, worth catching. On she went for several miles, the +_Gauntlet_ inch by inch at length gaining on her. Two shot had already +passed through her sail, and a shell had burst so near that possibly +some of her crew might have been hit. Gradually she was edging towards +the shore, where a sandy beach could be discovered from the ship. It +was of no great extent, as there were rocks at either end; but if the +dhow could reach it, she might be run on shore, and the blacks landed +before the boats could reach her to prevent them. To stop her from +doing this was impossible, unless a happy shot should carry away her +mast or yard. + +Nearer and nearer she drew to the beach, on which a heavy surf was +breaking. "The fellows will drown themselves if they attempt to land +there," said Jack. + +"I'm not so certain of that," answered Higson; "a certain percentage may +be lost, but the Arabs will care nothing about that, provided they can +get the greater number on shore; and as they themselves swim like +fishes, they have no fear of losing their own lives." + +The dhow heeled over to the breeze, but still kept her large sail +standing; there was no longer any doubt that the Arabs had resolved to +beach her. "Give her a shot," cried Jack, "right over her; it may show +them that even if they do reach the shore, they have no chance of +escaping from us." A shot was fired; another and another followed, +flying over the dhow's sail and pitching into the beach, towards which +she was rushing to her destruction. Should she strike it, could any of +the human beings on board escape? The surf was rolling in heavily, and +breaking with continued roar on the sand; rushing far up, and then +receding with still greater rapidity. Notwithstanding this, the Arabs, +maddened at the thoughts of capture, stood desperately on; they +themselves might escape, and what mattered to them the lives of their +wretched captives? should a few be rescued, it would be better than +letting the whole fall into the hands of the hated white men. The +miserable blacks had no choice between a speedy death or a lingering +captivity. The foam-topped breakers were dancing up on either side of +the devoted vessel; through them she rushed, and the next instant, by +the fearful heave she gave, it was seen that she had struck. + +Every glass was turned towards her as the ship stood on, keeping the +lead going, till, the water shallowing, she must come to an anchor. A +minute scarcely had elapsed after the dhow struck, when a black stream +was seen issuing from beneath her, some moving figures on shore in +coloured dresses showing that the Arabs had first escaped. But of what +does that string consist? Of hundreds of human beings, men, women, and +children, who had, when the vessel struck, been set free by their +owners. + +Now one breaker, now another, burst down upon them, and carried some of +the dark string away. Their ranks were quickly filled up, and on the +string went. It seemed never-ending, as the blacks in the hold, +scrambling up on deck, threw themselves overboard to join those who had +already reached the shore. + +"They must be stopped, at all events," cried Jack; "if they attempt to +cross the desert they will be starved to death, or fall into the hands +of the murderous Saumalis." + +Notwithstanding the heaviness of the surf, it was soon seen that a large +number of blacks had reached the shore. At first they assembled in +groups; but now, as they looked towards the ship, terrified by the tales +their Arab captors had told them of the white men's cannibal +propensities, they began to fly, as fast as their cramped limbs would +allow them, in parties towards the interior. + +"They will escape to their certain destruction, if they are not +frightened back," said Jack; "keep the guns playing; fire another shot +ahead of them, it will stop them from going off in the direction they +are taking." + +Several shot were fired over the heads of the fugitives, each column +being turned as the wretched beings saw the sand thrown up just before +them, and believed that destruction would await them if they took that +direction; it was, however, only to try and escape in another. In the +meantime, the instant the steamer had stopped her way, three boats had +been lowered, and, impelled by their hardy crews, regardless of the +danger run, were making their way towards the dhow. Two boldly pushed +through the surf, while the third brought up just outside the breakers, +ready to receive any of the slaves who might be caught. Archie Gordon +was in one, with the second master; the boatswain was in another, with +Hamed, the interpreter; while Higson took command of the large boat. + +Jack watched them with no little anxiety, for the expedition was a +hazardous one. The guns continued firing away, now by their shot or +shell checking the advance of the fugitives in one direction, now in +another. Still, in spite of the shot, the Arabs kept urging on the +slaves, and, making them scatter far and wide, induced them to continue +their flight. The two boats, at some little distance apart, entered the +breakers, and almost immediately were seen to have reached the shore, +while Mr Large remained by the boats with three hands to look after +them. + +The rest of the party, led by Archie and Hamed, set off in pursuit of +the fugitives. Strong and active, they quickly overtook a large party +of the blacks; and Hamed, as was seen by his gestures, was addressing +them, probably telling them of their folly in being alarmed, and +advising them to return to the shore. + +As the crews had landed, the boats had been hauled off by their crews +from the beach. Presently Mr Large was seen hauling one of them up on +the beach, and, having done so, he hastened away towards the second; but +before he arrived, she was observed in the midst of the breakers, the +next instant to be cast a shattered wreck on the beach. He and the two +men with him twice rushed down into the surf, the second time with +another man who had joined them; again and again they made the same +desperate rush into the boiling waters--the life of a fellow-creature +depended upon their success. The last rush they made they were +successful, and a human form was soon dragged out of the water; but he +did not rise to his feet. Carrying him up some little distance, they +laid him on the sand, bending over him; then, rising and casting a +lingering glance behind them, hurried on to meet a party of blacks who, +escorted by some of their shipmates, were approaching the beach. + +The Arabs and fugitive slaves had, in the meantime, disappeared over the +sandhills, with the seamen still in hot pursuit, enjoying the chase, +shouting to each other, and turning here and there as they caught sight +of the larger party of blacks ahead, whom they were striving desperately +to overtake. Sometimes one, in his his eagerness, would tumble over on +his nose, but quickly picked himself up again. Now an unfortunate black +was overtaken, and seized by the arm,--for collar he had none to catch +hold of,--down he would fall on his knees, imploring his captor not to +murder him, when the sailor would pat him on the head and try to make +him understand that his intentions were friendly. + +Hamed, with his robes girded round him, was as active as anyone, +shouting to the blacks that no harm was meant them, and that the sailors +only wished to prevent them from being carried off into the desert to +perish miserably. His exhortations, and the seamen's activity, resulted +in the capture of fifty or sixty blacks, who were brought in from all +directions; but still some of the seamen continued the pursuit, and +Jack, fearing that they might be carried by their ardour too far, fired +a gun and hoisted a signal for their return to the beach. Fortunately +the signal was seen by Archie, and the stragglers returned, most of them +leading one or more blacks, some with children in their arms, one or two +trotting along with a child under each arm, generally squalling and +crying like a couple of sucking pigs. + +It took some time before the whole of the party were collected on the +beach. It was then seen that they were making arrangements for coming +off. Jack felt considerable anxiety about the matter; the surf had +greatly increased since they went on shore, and even then one of the +boats had been lost. Now all depended upon one boat, which must of +necessity be heavily laden. He was not quite at his ease, however, with +regard to the ship; she was much closer inshore than any sailing vessel +would have ventured. Though he knew that the screw would enable him +quickly to gain an offing, he had not as yet that thorough confidence in +its powers which long experience could give. Nearly all his officers, +and a large portion of his crew also, were away; indeed, he had never +before been so short-handed. However, nothing could be gained by delay. +He made a signal for the boat to come off as soon as possible, a line +being carried from the first lieutenant's boat outside the surf to the +shore, and by its means the small boat was to be hauled through the +breakers. + +First a portion of the blacks were placed in her, when, the boatswain +taking his seat in the stern, with four hands to pull, she, with her +living freight, was shoved off. Now she rose to the top of a sea which +rolled in, and now she sank into the hollow between that and the +following sea, which so completely hid her from sight, that it appeared +as if she had gone down. Jack heard one of the youngsters crying out, +"She's lost, she's lost!"--but no; once more her bow emerged amidst the +foaming waters, and on she came towards Higson's boat, his crew hauling +away manfully at the tow-line. + +Jack breathed more freely when he saw her alongside, and the blacks +being transferred to the large boat. The instant they were out of her, +she made her way once more to the shore. A second cargo was now +embarked, and the process was repeated, happily without any accident. +"She must make two more trips before they are all off," said Jack to the +surgeon, who was standing near him. + +The third was accomplished as safely as the other two. "The rest will +have no difficulty in embarking, I hope," observed the surgeon. + +"The sea has been rapidly getting up," replied Jack; "I wish that they +were all safe on board." The fourth and last trip was about to be made; +even the ship was much less steady than at first. As he took a glance +to the eastward, he observed that the foam-crested seas which rolled in +had increased in height. Every man on shore had embarked, and Higson's +crew now began to haul in on the line. As they were doing so, a huge +sea which came rushing on struck the boat, sending many a bucketful into +her, and then, with a thundering roar, hissing as it went rolling on, +caught the smaller boat, which had by that time performed half of her +passage. Down it came upon her; the next instant the men at the warp +were seen to come toppling down backwards--the rope had parted. + +For an instant the boat had disappeared; the next, she was seen rolled +over in the surf, while those who had been in her were struggling +desperately to regain the shore. Jack felt more anxious than he had +ever before been in his life; fortunately, four of the Kroomen had gone +away in the boats. Numerous heads were seen amid the seething waters; +now one emerged, and now another, as the beach was gained, while the +gallant Kroomen, with the best swimmers of the party, went darting here +and there to assist their shipmates or the drowning blacks. + +All eyes in the ship were fixed on them. By degrees they emerged from +the breakers, and Jack was in hopes that all had escaped, when he +observed three of the Kroomen and two of the sailors plunge once more +into the foaming waters. They returned dragging a body with them; then +they went in and brought out another and another. One of these, by his +dress, was seen to be a seamen, and the rest were blacks. + +Then the party rushed down to save their boat, which was hurled on the +beach; but their efforts to preserve her were in vain. Down she came +with a thundering crash, those in the water narrowly escaping being +crushed by her. Getting hold of her they dragged her up, and were seen +standing round her. It was, however, very evident that her bow had been +crushed in, so as to render her unfit again to be launched. + +Higson, on coming on deck, expressed his fears that some of their +shipmates had lost their lives in addition to the poor fellow who was +first drowned. Fifty blacks had been rescued; as many more possibly had +been drowned, with numerous children whose bodies had been seen floating +about, while many had been dragged off, to undergo fearful sufferings, +if not a cruel death, by the slaver's crew. + +How to rescue the party on shore was now the question; two boats having +now been lost, and three others being away, only the dingy and a canoe +remained for use. Their situation on shore seemed dangerous in the +extreme; all the arms they had carried had been lost, and should the +Arabs discover their defenceless condition, they would certainly not +lose the opportunity of avenging themselves. Still, by no ordinary +means could they be got off. Jack bethought him of consulting Tom +Kettle, who, coming aft, touched his hat. + +"Billy Saucepan and I, we do it, sir. We go on shore in the canoe, and +carry whatever you wish to send," answered Tom. + +"I am sure you will," said Jack; "we must send them some arms and +ammunition, a keg of water and some provisions, though it will not do to +overload the canoe." + +"We take four muskets and whatever you order to send, they not sink the +canoe," replied Tom Kettle. + +Jack directed that the arms should be wrapped in oil-cloth, and that +they, with the keg and a small cask containing a few eatables for the +party, should be secured in the bottom of the canoe; so that, should she +be capsized, they might not get washed out or be damaged. Going below, +he also wrote a letter to Archie, directing him to fire off three +muskets should the Kroomen reach the shore in safety. + +"All ready, sir," said the head Krooman; "we get there, never fear." +The canoe was lowered, and Tom and his companion shoved off. Away they +dashed, energetically working their paddles. The canoe was seen to +enter the surf. Jack was too anxious to speak. + +"They'll do it," cried the doctor; but he was mistaken. The canoe +dashed into the surf, and the next instant appeared bottom uppermost, +rolling over and over. "The fine fellows are lost!" he exclaimed. A +time of anxious suspense passed by; now the canoe could be seen in the +surf, now she disappeared; but the gallant Kroomen could not be +discovered, though many an eye was looking out for them. + +Jack took a hurried turn on deck, considering what was next to be done. +Higson proposed once more going in the large boat, and sending a line on +shore, so as to tow the people singly off. "They would be drowned +before they got half-way," said Jack. + +"I fear they would," answered Higson; "and the dingy would never live in +such a sea, even with only one man in her." + +Jack feared that he should have to remain till the next morning, but in +the meantime he would certainly lose the other dhow which had been seen +close inshore, while it was important to get hold of the first captured +before dark, and to carry her to an anchorage. While he and Higson were +discussing the subject, their ears were saluted by the report of three +muskets, fired in rapid succession. "Tom and his mate are safe, at all +events," he exclaimed; "and the best thing the party can do is now to +make their way overland to the bay. Having got arms, they will be able +to beat off any Arabs who may venture to attack them." + +The proper signal was accordingly made to Archie, who showed that he +understood it by waving a handkerchief; and the whole party were seen at +once to put themselves into marching order, when they began moving to +the southward along the shore. The anchor was then weighed, and the +ship stood towards the spot where the dhow she had before chased was +last seen. The slaver, which had some time before hoisted her sail, was +seen standing to the eastward; but suddenly down came the sail. + +"She's given in, finding it useless to attempt escaping," remarked the +doctor. + +"I'm not so sure of that," said Higson. "See, up goes her canvas again; +there, she's standing for the shore on the other tack." + +All hopes of cutting her off were vain; the ship dashed on, head to +wind, while the dhow bounded towards the rocky coast. "The madmen!" +cried Jack; "she'll be dashed to pieces in a few minutes. Throw a shell +ahead of her, it may induce the Arabs to haul down their sail." + +The missile flew over the doomed vessel, but still she held on towards +the coast. "Try and hit her," he cried out; "it may be better to sink +her where our boats can pick up some of the poor wretches, than allow +them to be dashed to pieces on those cruel rocks--fire shot." Gun after +gun sent their shot at the dhow; but the range was a long one, and +tossed as she was from sea to sea, while the ship herself was far from +steady, they flew ahead of their mark. Jack had a hard matter not to +stamp on the deck from rage at the conduct of the Arabs, and pity for +the poor creatures they were thus carrying to destruction. Nothing he +could do would make the ship steam faster, nor could he blame the +gunners for not taking better aim. + +"Cease firing," he cried at last; "it is of no use now, as the dhow is +within a cable's length of the breakers." The dhow flew on with her +huge sail stretched to the utmost, and already heeling over fearfully. +It seemed that the water must be rushing into her hold. + +"There is a narrow opening between the rocks," exclaimed Higson; "the +dhow has been making for that." Scarcely had he spoken when she was in +the midst of the breakers. They roared around her, and the next moment +she was hurled up towards the beach, her huge sail flying away to +leeward, and flapping wildly in the wind. It seemed impossible that any +human being could escape from amid that furious mass of foam, except the +strongest of swimmers; but notwithstanding this, ere another minute had +passed, a black line was seen here and there, like some enormous +serpent, crawling over the yellow sand from the dark wreck, the Arabs +being distinguished by their coloured dresses as they made their way on +shore. Onward went the miserable blacks, the line becoming thinner and +thinner; still the headmost were flying, when an enormous sea, dashing +on the shore, enfolded the stranded dhow in its embrace. Even the +escaping blacks halted to gaze at the spectacle, as the despairing +shrieks of their wretched countrymen reached their ears; while the dhow, +shattered to fragments, was carried off with all those remaining on +board by the receding billows. + +The blacks stopped but a few moments, and then, terrorstricken, fled on +into the desert, there in all probability to perish miserably. "This is +terrible work!" exclaimed Jack. "Had we allowed the dhow to pass, +though those poor creatures might have been kept for ever as slaves, +they might have retained their lives, it may be, and bettered their +condition; but it was our duty to destroy the dhow at all events. Do +you think it possible that any can have escaped, Higson?" + +This question was put as the ship neared the scene of the catastrophe. +"Not likely," answered the first lieutenant; "but we can but look for +them." The ship's way was stopped, and a boat being lowered pulled +towards the shore. Here and there a few fragments of the wreck were +seen, but not a human being could be distinguished. After examining the +rocks on either side, of the spot where the dhow went on shore, Higson +returned to the ship; the boat was hoisted up, and a course steered for +the dhow which had at first been captured. + +Jack had been looking out for the shore party; he saw them, as he +believed, still farther to the northward, making their way over the +sand. "A dreary march they'll have of it," he observed to Higson; "but +with the firearms they possess they will be able, I hope, to keep the +Arabs at bay, should any of the rascals take it into their heads to +attack them." + +"It is fortunate that Hamed is with them, as he may be able to +communicate with any natives they may fall in with, and obtain them as +guides over the hills," said Higson. + +"I would rather they should not fall in with any natives, who are more +likely to prove treacherous than to afford them assistance," answered +Jack. The attention of the officers was now, however, engaged in +looking out for the dhow; evening was approaching, and it was important +that they should pick her up before dark. + +"There she is, right ahead," cried the look-out from aloft. With her +sail lowered she presented but a small object on the water. + +The ship soon neared her; the officer in charge replied to Jack's hail, +"All's right, sir; but I hope that the blacks may be received on board; +for if you take us in tow, I doubt if the craft will hold together." + +"The sooner they are out of her the better," answered Jack. The dhow +was accordingly brought alongside, and now began the task of removing +the unhappy beings to the ship. The men eagerly came forward to assist +in carrying the weak and helpless creatures up from the hold of the +slaver, the horrible odour from which was sufficient to overcome the +most hardy. So weak and emaciated from their long confinement, and +their still more dreadful overland journey, were most of the negroes, +that the greater number could not walk without assistance, and were +carried on deck in the strong arms of the seamen. With the greatest +tenderness and care did those gallant fellows carry their helpless +burdens, notwithstanding the mass of filth with which they were covered, +in consequence of their long imprisonment in the pestilential hold. + +There were nearly a dozen infants on board; the mothers of some of them +being too weak to carry them, they were lifted up by the seamen, who +tenderly bore them along the deck, chirruping and talking to them as +they would have done to their own offspring. Though two or three were +sickly, and one was found dead in its mother's arms, yet they had +suffered less than the somewhat older children, who had been unable to +obtain their share in the scramble for food, which, from the mode the +Arabs had of distributing it, must have taken place; the more helpless +ones went without it, while the stronger got a double portion. + +There were nearly a hundred and fifty children under ten years of age. +Some were in the very last stage of suffering, and were mere skeletons. +There were comparatively few middle-aged men, showing that they must +have either fallen in battle, or escaped the raids made on their +villages by the slave-procurers. Some, again, were old women, who +would, it might be supposed, from their very worthlessness, have been +allowed to remain behind by their barbarous captors. + +"The poor old crones would not have fetched half a dollar apiece," +observed Higson; "had these rascals any bowels of compassion, they would +have spared them all the sufferings they've had to endure; but for the +sake of the few dollars they may pocket, they would not mind what amount +of torture they inflict. I wish we had liberty to string up the whole +lot of them at our yard-arms, they would only get their proper deserts." + +Some time was spent before the dhow was cleared. Her Arab skipper and +crew were then placed on the poop, as they came, sulkily enough, on +board. They were received by the ship's corporal and corporal of +marines with no very friendly looks, and were compelled pretty roughly +to strip, in order that they might be searched for arms and money. +While they took charge of the former articles, the latter commodity was +handed to the paymaster. On their clothes being returned, they were +sent on to the poop under charge of a sentry, to await their fate, +whatever that might be. + +"Are all out of the dhow?" asked Higson of the carpenter and his crew, +who had been sent on board her. + +"I'll take one look more round," was the answer; and a lantern being +handed to him, he descended with some of his men into the hold. They +presently returned carrying three human beings, but what they were it +was difficult to say, till they were handed up on board. One proved to +be an old woman, who could scarcely open her eyes; the other two were +lads, who had been found almost buried in the sand which served as +ballast for the vessel. They were placed among the other worst cases, +of whom the doctor expressed his belief that several were past recovery. +The younger and best-looking young women, as being the most profitable +part of the cargo, had been better cared for than any of the rest, while +the men and boys had been almost starved, the object of the Arabs being +to expend as little on food for them as possible. + +"The dhow is clear, sir," reported the carpenter. + +"Scuttle her," said Jack, "and set her on fire. The Arabs shall see +that we don't take them for the sake of their craft; it may serve as a +slight punishment for them to see her burning." + +With infinite satisfaction the carpenter and his crew distributed some +bundles of oakum and shavings in different parts of the vessel, and, +setting them on fire, quickly climbed out of her, when Jack shouted, +"Turn ahead!" and the _Gauntlet_ steamed on, leaving the dhow enveloped +in flames. The whole operation was so speedily performed that the Arabs +opened their eyes with astonishment. Most of them took it, however, +quietly enough; but the negoda, to whom the vessel belonged, plucked his +beard with rage as he saw his property destroyed. + +"Serve him right," was the remark made by not a few of those on board, +though the greater number were too actively employed to notice what had +occurred. Their first business was to clear the unfortunate creatures +from the filth with which they were literally covered from head to foot. +Warm water and sponges and towels were brought from below to perform +the operation on those who were too weak to bear any more severe +process; while the larger number were placed under the steam hose, which +was set to work pumping water over them, the seamen turning them round, +and exposing those parts of their bodies to which the dirt clung the +thickest. + +"Well, if we can't make a blackamoor white, we can wash him clean, at +all events," remarked Nat Bolus, the wag of the crew; "though I don't +think as how we could have done it without the help of this here steam." + +Even the stronger ones were handled kindly, but the poor weak creatures, +who could scarcely lift their arms, were treated with such gentleness by +the rough seamen as any trained hospital nurses could have used. Their +dirty rags, on being removed, were immediately thrown overboard as +utterly unfit for further use. In the meantime, the cook had been busy +in the galley boiling beans and rice, some of which had been found in +the dhow, though the ship had a quantity for such emergencies. The next +operation was to clothe the poor blacks, for which purpose both officers +and men ransacked their wardrobes. Sheets, tablecloths, towels, +bed-curtains, shirts, and flannels, were willingly brought forth and put +over their naked bodies as they came out from under the hose. + +By the time they were all washed, the cook announced that the food was +ready, and they were made to sit down in circles of twenty on the deck, +when the men told off for the purpose carried round the bowls, which +were placed in the centre of each ring. The degraded state to which +they had been reduced was now more fully exhibited, for, instead of +gratefully receiving the food, they rushed at it much as a pack of +hungry dogs would have done, scratching, crying, and striking at each +other, for fear that their neighbours might get a larger share than +themselves. It was humiliating to the lookers-on to see beings with +immortal souls thus acting the part of wild beasts; and yet these very +beings were capable of receiving the truths of the gospel, and it might +be hoped that even now many might have the opportunity of being raised +to a state much superior to that from which they had fallen. + +In spite of the exhortations of the seamen to the poor creatures to be +quiet, they continued their shrieks and cries, each thrusting his or her +hand into the dish to seize as large a portion as it would hold, and +then to cram it into the mouth much after the fashion of a monkey. +Indeed, as Nat Bolus remarked, "they looked for all the world like an +assemblage of huge baboons." + +The smaller children, who were too weak to feed themselves, were +committed to the care of the seamen; and a dozen or more hardy tars were +to be seen with basins and spoons in their hands, and little children on +their knees, ladling the food down their throats, till the doctor had to +interfere to save the infants from being killed from repletion. The +worst cases had been removed to the sick-bay, where every care was +bestowed on them both by the surgeon and officers, who produced +preserved milk, wine and spirits, and various delicacies which might +assist in restoring almost exhausted nature. Many were too far gone to +exhibit any feeling, their only desire apparently being to be allowed to +die in peace; but others endeavoured to express their gratitude by all +the means in their power, though, as Hamed was on shore, they had no +means of doing so in words. + +The great difficulty was to stow away so large a number of persons on +the deck of the ship. Of course they could not be allowed to go below, +where the crew were already somewhat closely packed for that hot +climate. The poor creatures were made to lie down side by side, and +sails being got up were spread over them, while screens were rigged to +keep off the wind, and an awning stretched over all. Here, at all +events, they had fresh air, and were tolerably protected from the +weather. Even now many, it appeared, did not understand that all was +being done for their benefit; while a large number, their limbs aching +with pain, gave utterance to the most lamentable groans and shrieks, +which were heard all night long throughout the ship, as she made her way +to her former anchorage. + +This was only one of many similar scenes which Jack witnessed while +engaged in the suppression of the slave-trade. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +THE LOOK-OUT PARTY ATTACKED--REPULSE AND FLIGHT OF THE ARABS--SECURING +THE PRISONERS--A NIGHT ON THE BEACH--REJOIN THE SHIP--BURNING OF THE +DHOW--ARABS ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE TO THE MAINLAND, BUT FALL VICTIMS TO +SHARKS--ENCOUNTER WITH ANOTHER SLAVE CARAVAN--RETURN TO THE SHIP. + +Tom Rogers and Gerald had watched the approach of the Arab slave-dealers +to the foot of the hill. + +"You may howl as you like, my boys," cried Gerald, "but if you attempt +to climb up here, you will be sent tumbling down again faster than you +came up." Tom, meantime, was keeping an eye on the movements of the +Arabs, and the moment he saw them lift their matchlocks, he shouted to +his men to jump down into one of the hollows, he himself setting the +example; so that the bullets either flew over their heads, or struck the +rocks behind which they were concealed. + +"The rascals think they've blown us off the face of the earth," said +Tom, who had found a spot with a bush through which he could thrust his +telescope and yet remain perfectly sheltered behind the rock; "they're +looking about them, wondering where we've gone to. If we had but a few +more muskets, we could pick off every one of them." + +Still the Arabs showed no inclination to climb the face of the hill. +Had the midshipmen and their party remained concealed, possibly the +slave-dealers might have taken their departure inland; but Gerald, +forgetting the danger they were in, could not resist jumping up on the +top of the rock, and shouting out in a tone of derision at their foes. +Tom, seeing the Arabs about to take aim at him, pulled him down just at +the moment that a whole volley of shot came whizzing through the air. + +"You may fire away as much as you like," cried Desmond, "but you won't +hurt us." + +Though it would have given the Arabs infinite satisfaction to cut the +throats of the whole of the party, they still hesitated to run the risk +of being shot themselves at close quarters, probably supposing that the +English were better armed than was the case. Tom watched all their +movements through his glass. At length the chief of the slave-dealers, +who had gone off to the dhows, returned on shore with several +companions. Tom saw the others apparently telling him what had +occurred. He appeared to be addressing them and working them up to +mount the hill, then, waving his crooked sword, he led them on towards +the only path by which they could ascend, they following, shouting and +shrieking out vows of defiance. + +"They're coming," cried Gerald; "there's no mistake about it this time." + +"Well, then, you take one pistol and I'll take another," said Tom, "and +as they get near enough we must pick off the leaders. Tim Nolan and the +other fellows must manage the rest, after they have fired their muskets, +with their cutlasses; and I've no fear but we shall give a very good +account of the whole party." Tom directed the men where to post +themselves, so that they could remain concealed behind the rocks till it +was time to spring out and meet the enemy hand to hand. + +"That chief, or whatever he calls himself, seems a bold fellow," +observed Tom, "for he keeps ahead and seems to be encouraging his +followers, who wouldn't, without him, have had any stomach for the +fight. We must do our best to try and pick him off, and if we can +manage to give him his quietus, the rest will very quickly run away." + +The path made by the signal party was so narrow that there was not room +for two people abreast; some little way down, however, there was a sort +of platform, on which a considerable number could collect together. "If +we could stop them before they get up there," observed Tom, "we should +have only one at a time to handle, whereas if they manage to assemble at +that place, they might pepper us in an unpleasant manner." + +"I'm ready," cried Desmond; "if you'll give the word, we'll all spring +out together and stop them before they reach it." Desmond told the men +what Rogers proposed doing; they, of course, were ready to obey him, +though it might have been safer to remain where they were. Still it was +important that they should conceal themselves till the last moment. The +leading Arab, with his sword in his teeth, was only about a couple of +yards or so below the platform. + +"Let fly at the fellows," cried Tom. The men fired their muskets. +"Now, lads, we'll be at them," shouted their young leader, and, +springing up, he bounded over the rock, followed by Desmond and the four +men, just in time to catch the leading Arab as his hand was on the edge +of the platform. With a down-handed cut of his sword, Tom sent the Arab +falling headlong down the cliff. The next met with the same fate, but +the chief, who had allowed the other two to precede him, shouted to his +followers to fire at the Englishmen. The order was obeyed, and a shower +of bullets came whizzing by them. Tom, in return, fired at their +leader, and, without stopping to see the effect of his shot, shouted to +his men to fall back under cover before a second volley could reach +them. Scarcely had they got under shelter when the Arabs again fired. +He saw that his former manoeuvre would not be again executed with the +same success. + +The death of two of their companions appeared to have damped the ardour +of the Arabs, who remained perched about the rocks, waiting for an +opportunity to pick off any of the defenders of the height who might +venture to show themselves. This, however, neither Tom nor his +companions intended doing. Tom had recovered his glass, which he had +left behind, and had taken a glance over the ocean to the northward in +the hopes of seeing the ship, believing that her appearance would very +quickly induce the Arabs to hurry off. She was nowhere to be seen, +though he caught sight of several dhows running to the northward. + +While thus engaged, the voice of the old chief was again heard, and +though they could not understand his language, yet they judged from his +tones that he was endeavouring to induce his countrymen to renew the +attack. "It can't be helped," observed Tom calmly; "if they attempt to +storm our position we must drive them back. Our wisest plan will be to +keep under shelter as long as we can, and then to spring out on them as +soon as they get their noses near enough." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the men in cheerful tones; "we'll soon give them a +taste of our cutlasses, and they'll not wish to have a second bite." + +Tom's suspicions were confirmed, when in another minute a hot fire was +again opened, the bullets just clearing the edge of the platform; and +directly afterwards the chief and several of his followers sprang up +upon it. Once having gained possession of the ground, it was easy +enough for the rest. Matters were now becoming far more serious than +before. From another opening in the rock, Tom, although still concealed +from the Arabs, was able to look down upon the anchorage. "Hurrah!" he +exclaimed; "Mr Matson has not been asleep; there comes the boat from +the island, and if the slavers are not sharp about getting under way, +she'll have the whole of them; but one or two are pretty sure to be +caught." + +As he spoke, the report of a gun was heard, and it was seen that the +boat, as she pulled towards the slavers, was firing at them from her +bow. The Arabs on the hillside, startled by the sound, looked round; +those who were in a position to see what was happening below, shouted to +their companions, who speedily began to leap down the rocks; most of +those on the platform, in their hurry and fright, springing down a +distance by which they ran an imminent risk of breaking their necks; +others bounded down the pathway in a mode terror alone could have +prompted them to venture on. + +"Now's our time!" exclaimed Desmond, seizing several large stones which +lay in the hollow; "if our bullets can't reach them, these will;" and he +and Tom, leaping from under cover on to the platform, while their men +kept up a brisk fire, began to pelt the retreating Arabs, three of whom +were knocked over, several others having broken their legs or necks in +their flight, till the hillside presented the appearance of a +battlefield. All this time the midshipmen and sailors were shouting and +hallooing at their flying foes. The larger number of the Arabs, +however, reached the bottom of the hill unhurt, and were seen hurrying +down to the shore, apparently with the intention of shoving off to the +dhows to assist their countrymen. They were all collected together, +engaged in launching a boat, when a shell plunged right in among them, +killing and wounding several. The rest, fearing the visit of another +missile, took to flight. The desire, however, of preventing the slaves +being captured, either by bringing them on shore or beating off the +English, induced them to go back and make a second attempt; but scarcely +had they collected when another shell pitched right into the boat, +shattering her to pieces, and laying low two more of their number. + +This was more than their greed of gain could stand; again they took to +flight, following their chief, who made towards the only shady spot in +the neighbourhood, where a horse was left tethered. Mounting, he +galloped off, followed by the rest of his gang on foot. + +The party on the hill were at first doubtful whether they ought to +follow the fugitives, as Desmond had suggested. Tom, however, thought +that they decidedly ought to prevent any slaves who might be landed from +escaping. One of the dhows was seen hoisting her sail. Having cut her +cable, she stood out to sea, while the other two, in order to give her a +better chance of escaping, commenced firing at the boat, expecting that +she would at once attack them. The lieutenant, however, had made up his +mind to have all three, and, disregarding their shots, he pulled away +after the first, at the same time firing his bow-gun at her rigging. +She was a fast vessel, and was leading the boat out of harbour. The +other two dhows, seeing this, began to hoist their sails for the purpose +of slipping out astern of her. As he might possibly lose all three, the +lieutenant now put back, and managed to run on board one of the dhows. + +The Arabs fought desperately, and it seemed doubtful who would gain the +victory. "I wish we were on board to help them!" exclaimed Desmond; "if +I thought we could swim as far, I should propose going off to her." + +"Better stay where we are," said Tom; "we shall have work enough to do. +See, the other dhow is coming round with the intention of running on +shore; probably those on board don't see their friends scampering off, +and they hope to re-land their slaves. It is fortunate we are here to +prevent them escaping; perhaps they have been so busily engaged that +they may not have seen us, and I propose that we hide ourselves behind +those rocks out there, and, if the slaves land, we can rush out and +surprise them." The plan suggested by Tom was instantly put into +execution. Notwithstanding the opposition of the crew, the dhow +attacked by the lieutenant was quickly captured, and again brought to an +anchor; when, leaving some of his people on board, he made sail after +the first dhow, which there was still a possibility he might overtake. +The midshipmen could hear his gun rapidly fired, showing that he was +trying to bring down her sail. + +The last of the three dhows had now stranded, and the cries and shrieks +which arose showed that the Arabs were throwing the unfortunate blacks +into the water, and compelling them to make their way on shore. Tom and +Desmond agreed that it would be no easy matter to stop the blacks and to +fight the Arabs at the same time, as they would be certain to try and +make off with as many of the negroes as they could. Looking out from +their hiding-place, they saw the beach covered with blacks, who had swum +and waded on shore; but the Arabs themselves were waiting on board till +all were out of the vessel, intending to come on shore in their boat. +Probably they expected that their friends would hurry down and assist +them in securing their captives. + +Just as the boat left the side of the dhow, the midshipmen, uttering +loud shouts, rushed out of their hiding-place; while the blacks, seeing +them, ran on either side like a flock of scared sheep. The sailors in +vain tried to reassure them; as they had not much time to do it, it was +necessary to attack the boat before the Arabs reached the shore. The +latter were evidently taken by surprise, and, cramped in the boat, which +was tossing about, were unable to use their firearms to any effect. A +few shots were fired wildly, and the next instant, as she was thrown on +the beach, the midshipmen and their followers, rushing into the water, +attacked the crew so vigorously with their cutlasses that half their +number were killed or wounded before they could defend themselves; while +the rest, as they were dragged out, were made prisoners. The wounded +were allowed to lie on the shore, while the rest were secured by ropes, +which had been brought on shore to bind any refractory slaves. + +No victory could have been more complete. The next business was to stop +the blacks, who were hurrying away in different directions. In vain the +sailors shouted to them, some persisted in running off into the +wilderness; but a considerable number were at length turned back to the +seashore, where they all stood crowded together, too much alarmed to +know what to do, and gazing at their late masters with astonishment. +Still, should they attempt to break loose, it would be no easy task to +stop them. Every now and then Tom kept looking out for Mr Matson's +boat, and was not sorry to see her returning, though one of the dhows +had escaped. + +"There is a chance still that the ship will pick her up," observed Tom. +"We want his help to take care of the poor blacks, and to look after +these Arabs. How to feed them all will be a puzzle." + +"I suppose there's food on board the dhow?" observed Desmond. + +"Yes, but how are we to get it? If we pull off to her, the blacks will +run away, or the wounded Arabs will get up and release their +companions," said Tom. + +"Faith, then, the best way will be to take them on board with us," said +Desmond; "it's somewhat like the story of the fox and the goose and the +peas." + +The day was wearing on, and the lieutenant's boat had been led a long +way out to sea, so that it would be almost dark before she could reach +the shore. The midshipmen themselves were becoming very hungry and +thirsty, for they had left their provisions on the top of the cliff, and +could not venture back to procure them. They had not a moment's rest; +every now and then they were compelled to start off, now in one +direction, now in another, to turn back the negroes, who were constantly +making attempts to run off. + +While Tom was watching the boat, two shots were heard in rapid +succession from the island, towards which he at once saw her alter her +course. + +"She'll not be coming here, after all!" he exclaimed; "something has +happened on the island, and that was a signal to her to put in." + +"We must make the best of a bad case, then," said Desmond. "I propose +that we compel all the blacks to sit down in a ring; they will be better +off than they were in the hold of the dhow, and will have no reason to +complain. We must make them understand that if any of them attempt to +get up they will be shot. As for the wounded Arabs, we must place a +sentry over them, and tell them the same; while we must see that the +prisoners' arms and legs are securely lashed. If the other fellows +don't come back, I see no reason why, provided we keep our eyes open, we +shouldn't get on very well. It won't be very pleasant to walk about all +night, but it will be better than allowing the Arabs to cut our throats, +or letting the blacks escape, for their sakes and our own." + +"A very good proposal, Desmond," said Tom; "I couldn't have thought of a +better myself, and we will at once carry out your plan." Tom explained +to the men what they wished to have done, who, choosing a spot just +above high-water mark, made the blacks understand that they were to go +and sit down there. They put the women and children in the centre, then +the weaker-looking people and lads, and the stronger men outside of all. +They could thus better keep an eye on those most likely to try to +escape; and they managed to impress on their minds pretty clearly what +they intended doing, should they make the attempt. These arrangements +being made, they hoped to get through the night without losing any of +their prisoners, even should Mr Matson not arrive to their assistance. +They were, however, suffering considerably from hunger and thirst, and +at last Tim Nolan, touching his hat, offered to go off to the dhow and +bring on shore something to eat. + +As there was still some daylight, Tom thought that he could manage to +keep the blacks in order, and agreed that Desmond should go, accompanied +by Tim, while he and the other two men kept a strict watch over their +charges. As the tide had already run out, the boat had but a short +distance to traverse. In a short time Desmond came to the bow of the +dhow, and shouted out that he had found plenty of food, and would bring +some kettles on shore to cook it. + +"By all means," answered Tom. After a little time the boat returned +with several casks and bags, two large cooking-pots, and a quantity of +wood. These things were indeed welcome. Being carried up to a spot +somewhat inland, where the blacks sat, a fire was kindled, the pots put +on to boil; and a cask of water having been brought from the vessel, +with some bamboo cups, it was served round to the prisoners, after they +themselves had first drunk. It was difficult, however, to help them, as +the first who seized the mug would not pass it on, in spite of all the +seamen could do, until he had drained it to the bottom. The seamen +would not allow those who had already drunk to have any more till the +whole of the party had been supplied. + +By the time the water had been served out, the contents of the pots were +sufficiently boiled. Now came the most difficult task--to divide the +food fairly among so many people. They would gladly have fed the +children and women first, but, placed as they were, that was impossible. +However, they were afraid to let them shift their positions; the moment +a basin was handed to one of the men, he would not give it up until he +had emptied it. Even when the men had been fed, they would scarcely +allow their weaker companions to receive their portion, but tried to +snatch it from the hands of the seamen. + +Night found them thus employed. The fire they had kindled was now of +the greatest assistance in enabling them to continue serving out the +food, and, at the same time, to watch their prisoners. Though some figs +and other delicacies were found on board, the midshipmen would not give +them to the Arabs, but properly allowed them only such food as they had +laid in for their captives. The fellows grumbled, but hunger made them +accept it. At last, by using kind tones and by gentle treatment, the +seamen quieted the fears of the blacks, who now seemed perfectly +resigned to their lot, and showed no inclination to run away. Still the +midshipmen did not relax in their vigilance; so busily employed were +they that the night passed away more rapidly than they had expected. + +Their chief anxiety was regarding the events which had happened on the +island, and which had induced Mr Matson to land there instead of coming +to their assistance. They feared that the Arabs taken in the dhows had +given more trouble than those they had captured; possibly the +lieutenant, confiding in the strength of his party, had not thought it +necessary to bind them, and they had consequently attempted to regain +their liberty. However, this was only conjecture, and they were +compelled to wait patiently to ascertain the truth, hoping that nothing +very serious had happened. + +Notwithstanding the general quiet observed by the prisoners, now and +then a black got up and looked about him as if contemplating a start, +but was detected almost immediately by Tom and Desmond, or one of the +seamen, and compelled to sit down again in a good-humoured manner. "You +mustn't be after giving leg-bail to us, old fellow!" exclaimed Tim +Nolan, patting the black on his back; "you'll have plenty of grub +tomorrow, and we'll be taking you to a pleasanter country than this. +Ah, there's another of them!" and away he would start farther round the +circle. + +There was evidently no combination among the blacks, or by a number +rising together they might have made their escape. They had all, +probably, been brought from different districts, and scarcely understood +each other's language, many of them having come from the neighbourhood +of Lake Nyassa, and others purchased from the Portuguese much farther +south. A still stricter watch was kept over the Arabs, who growled and +cursed at their captors, but were unable to cast off the well-secured +lashings by which they were bound. Thus the night passed on; tired as +all hands were, no one sat down even for a moment, and six people, armed +only with pistols and cutlasses and a couple of muskets, were able to +keep three hundred in subjection. + +"I'd give a good deal to be able to turn into my hammock!" exclaimed +Desmond. + +"We may have the chance before long, then," said Tom. "See, there are +the first streaks of dawn; and, hurrah! there comes the ship. I thought +I saw her a minute ago, and now! I am certain of it," he added, looking +through his telescope. "She'll be here in less than an hour." + +As daylight increased, some of the blacks caught sight of the ship, +which, steaming on, head to wind, seemed to create no little +astonishment, and still more alarm, in their minds. The seamen did +their best to quiet them, going round and round the circle, and talking +in cheerful tones, which had their due effect, although the words they +spoke were not understood. Desmond proposed getting some more wood and +provisions from the dhow. They were quickly brought on shore, when the +fires, which had almost burned out, were again made up and another +supply of food cooked. The same scene took place as before. The poor +negroes scrambled and screamed over it, though the seamen did their best +to serve it out impartially. Then the Arabs had their share of food, +and the wounded men were looked to. One of them had died during the +night, it having been impossible to attend to him--indeed, they were not +aware how badly he had been hurt. + +With infinite satisfaction the two midshipmen at length saw their ship +come to an anchor. A couple of musket-shots attracted the attention of +those on the look-out on board, and a boat was seen to put off from her. +In a short time Higson, with a party of men well armed, stepped on +shore. "I can heartily compliment you both," he said, after he had +heard the account Tom and Gerald gave of their proceedings. "Now, the +sooner we get these poor fellows on board the better. We have a good +number already, and there must be as many more, from what I saw on the +island; but they stow pretty closely, and we must make the best of our +way to the Seychelles or some other place to dispose of them. The Arabs +deserve to be left behind, but, as they would certainly die in this +inhospitable region, we must in charity carry them off and leave them to +be disposed of by the Sultan of Zanzibar as he may think fit." + +Although the women and children under some circumstances would have been +the first to be removed, as the men would be likely to give most trouble +if left on shore, fifty of them were embarked and carried on board the +ship, the boat then returning for another cargo. Thus, in the course of +time, all were transferred on board. Tom and Gerald, who had gone in +the second trip, received their due praise for their conduct. The +prisoners from the second dhow, captured by Mr Matson, at length +arrived, with a large number of slaves and the Arab crews. He had a sad +account to give, but Tom and Gerald, though they had been eager to hear +it, were by that time fast asleep in the berth, thoroughly done up with +their exertions. + +Both the dhows were set on fire, that they might not fall into the hands +of the Arabs. On the sinking of the dhow by the senior mate, in his +attempt to save some of the women and children, he himself had lost his +life; but the Arab crew, from swimming well, had been picked up. Two +seamen had been killed, and only forty blacks had been rescued; and the +boat herself had been so damaged that it was with difficulty she reached +the island, when the Arabs, who had not been secured, leaping on shore, +made off among the rocks. The dhow captured by Mr Matson was in so +leaky a state that he had been compelled to land all the blacks, as well +as the Arabs, who entreated not to be left on board. Trusting to their +gratitude, he allowed them, when landed, to remain at liberty, without +having examined them to ascertain whether they had concealed any arms +about their persons. His boat also had suffered considerably; he was +thus prevented from attacking the three dhows when they first came to an +anchor. He had, indeed, enough to do to look after the numerous +liberated blacks; while several of his crew, who had been badly-wounded, +required to be attended to. + +So occupied had he been that not till the dhows appeared did he think of +sending the carpenter's mate and two men to repair the boat. In the +meantime, several of the Arabs had stolen off and joined their +countrymen who had before made their escape. Leaving a small party only +to guard the blacks and protect the wounded, as soon as the boat was +repaired he set off, as has been described, to attack the three dhows. +After his unsuccessful chase of the one which escaped, he was returning +to help Tom and Gerald when he was summoned to the island by a +prearranged signal. On landing, he found that the Arabs had rushed down +on the camp, liberated the remainder of the prisoners, and, having +attacked the party left in charge, were inciting the blacks to escape. +His speedy return compelled the Arabs to fly, but not till they had +induced thirty of the blacks to run off with them. + +As they could not get over to the mainland, Jack sent a large party on +shore to sweep the island from one end to the other, and to capture +every Arab and black who could be found. Tom and Gerald, who, after +their snooze, awoke, as they declared, perfectly fresh, begged leave to +join it, as they were as eager as any to rescue the poor blacks who had +so quickly again been brought into slavery by the Arabs, while they +wished to recapture the latter, and to stop their slave-dealing for the +future. + +The party had proceeded half-way along the island, Tom and Gerald being +on the right or the western side, when he caught sight of a black object +in the water moving away from the shore. Directly afterwards he saw +several others in the same direction. "Those must be Arabs attempting +to swim to the mainland," he shouted; "on, lads, and stop them! Pass +the word along the line." + +He and the men accompanying him hurried on, and were soon joined by +Gerald and his party, when they caught sight of a dozen Arabs in the +water, while many more were on the beach, endeavouring to induce the +blacks to accompany them. Tom shouted to those in the water to return. +The nearest obeyed on seeing the seamen present their muskets, but the +others still held on their course. + +"Stop the fellows!" cried Tom; when the seamen fired several shots. One +of the nearest was hit, but the rest continued striking out. Another +volley had the effect of making two more turn back. Six or seven still +held desperately on. Shot after shot was fired at them; but the +wretches had other foes besides the British seamen. Soon after the +leading swimmer had got out of gunshot he was seen to throw up his arms, +a piercing shriek was heard, and the next instant he disappeared beneath +the surface. The rest still held on, as it was as hazardous to turn +back as to go forward. Another shortly afterwards shared the fate of +the first. What horror must have filled their minds as they made their +way through the water, knowing that at any instant a ravenous shark +might seize their legs and drag them under! + +Two or three, however, reached the shore. Tom, who was watching them +through his glass, saw them throw themselves, utterly exhausted, on the +beach. "Without food or water, their fate will be as terrible as that +of those who have just lost their lives. They deserve it richly, +however; there will be so many slave-traders less in the world," he +observed coolly. He, like many others acquainted with the atrocities +committed by the Arabs, could no longer feel the slightest compassion +for any sufferings to which they were subjected. + +The whole of the blacks were secured, as were the surviving Arabs, and +marched back to be carried on board the ship. Jack, meantime, had been +very anxious about the party who had to proceed overland; and he +determined to send some men, well armed, with provisions and water, to +meet them. Tom and Gerald begged leave to go, in company with the +doctor, who carried restoratives and medicines. The day was far +advanced when they landed. They at once struck off to the north, +keeping a bright look-out for the Arabs on one side and their friends on +the other. + +It was near evening when they saw some figures wending their way over a +rocky hill to the northward. They were at first doubtful whether or not +they were Arabs; if such was the case, they were fully prepared for +them. "No, they are our fellows!" exclaimed Tom. Just as he spoke, +another much larger party were seen on the left, making their way +towards the first. Tom's glass was at his eye in a moment. "Those are +Arabs; no doubt about it," he said. "They have muskets, too, and it's +very evident that they are intending to cut off our friends. We shall +disappoint them, though, I hope." + +The officer in command of the party, having ascertained that Tom was +right, gave the order to push forward as rapidly as possible. The Arabs +had apparently not yet discovered them, and were still advancing, with +their gaze fixed only on those whom they hoped to make their prey. +Besides the Arabs, there were numerous blacks, secured together, in the +ordinary barbarous fashion, with forked sticks. There could be little +doubt that they were slaves who had escaped from the wrecked dhow, and +were being taken back to the coast, to be embarked on board another +slaver. + +The seamen, descending into the valley, soon lost sight of both parties. +In spite of the burning sun, which made the air in the valley like that +of a hothouse, they pushed rapidly on. Presently they heard some shots +fired, which seemed to come from the heights above them. Those heights +must be scaled before they could reach their friends. The firing became +more and more rapid as they climbed up; they at last caught sight of +Archie and his party, who, posted on some rocks, were defending +themselves against overwhelming numbers of Arabs. Tom and Gerald +uttered a loud cheer, which was taken up by the men, and then, without +waiting an instant to gain breath, first firing a volley, they rushed +with their cutlasses at the Arabs, who, turning and throwing down their +arms, scampered off with the activity of cats, leaving five or six of +their number dead or wounded behind them. + +The seamen pursued them along the ridge of the hill, cutting down all +they overtook; but the larger number saved themselves by the fleetness +of their feet. A party of them kept together, however, and made their +way towards the group of slaves, in the hope, as it seemed, of carrying +them off. The seamen were, however, at their heels before they could +accomplish their object; and they were glad to make their escape into +the desert, leaving their captives in the hands of the victors. + +Hamed, who had followed them, was soon able to calm the fears of the +blacks, whose bonds were speedily loosed, and their necks relieved from +the forked sticks. A spot which could be easily defended, should the +Arabs venture to attack them, was selected for their night encampment. +The ground being too uneven to allow them to travel in the dark, it was +necessary to remain till the next morning to return to the ship. They +had brought an ample supply of provisions, and the Arabs had compelled +the slaves to carry food for themselves. The low shrubs growing on the +hillside afforded an abundance of fuel; camp-fires were soon lighted, +and pots set boiling. Altogether, the midshipmen made themselves +perfectly happy. The other officers sat round the fire, recounting +their various adventures; Archie's party had met two or three wild +beasts, and been threatened on their road by the Arabs who had escaped +from the wrecked dhow, but they kept them at a distance with their +firearms; and the fellows had not dared to attack them till, joined by +other parties proceeding to the coast, they gained confidence from +superior numbers. + +"They must be remarkably bad shots," observed Archie; "for though they +had thirty muskets among them, at the least, not one of us has been +hit." + +In the morning they returned to the ship, having seen nothing more of +the Arabs, who thought it prudent to keep at a distance from the hated +Feringhees. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +SIX MONTHS PASS AWAY--THE GAUNTLET GOES IN SEARCH OF THE ROMP--JACK +STANDS BY HER--"BREAKERS AHEAD"--ANXIOUS SUSPENSE--PROBABLE FATE OF THE +ROMP--JACK PROCEEDS TO ZANZIBAR--SEARCH FOR ADAIR--DESMOND AND HAMED +CAPTURED BY ARABS--ADAIR AND HIS COMPANIONS RESCUED--OPAL AND GAUNTLET +AT THE CAPE--A BALL ON SHORE--JACK MEETS AN OLD FRIEND--FALLS IN LOVE-- +RETURN TO ENGLAND--PROSPECT OF WAR WITH RUSSIA--MASSACRE OF SINOPE--THE +THREE COMMANDERS APPOINTED TO SHIPS. + +Six months had passed away, and Jack Rogers had disposed of the +liberated blacks, and had since been the means of setting many others +free, though unhappily also the innocent cause of sending not a few to +destruction, who might have otherwise drawn out a weary existence in +abject slavery. Often had he to console himself with the reflection +that their death truly lay at the door of the accursed slave-dealing +Arabs. "It is the only way of putting down slavery that I can see, +though a rough one," said Jack to himself, "till English missionaries +and English merchants take possession of the country, and we can drive +the Arabs and Portuguese out of it, and induce the natives themselves to +rise and aid us in the glorious work; however, I shall not see those +days, I fear; and in the meantime we must do what we can to catch the +villains at sea." + +The _Gauntlet_ was slowly proceeding southward when she fell in with the +commodore. Jack, going on board to receive orders, was directed to look +out for the _Opal_ and _Romp_, which were to proceed to Zanzibar, and +thence to the Cape of Good Hope. "That means that they are to be sent +home, I suspect," observed Jack to Higson, when he returned on board; +"the commodore ought to be going there too--he looks very ill; and the +ship's company have suffered much from sickness." + +"I hope that we shall soon follow," observed Higson; "this slave-hunting +is all very well in its way, but it's a style of work one might get +easily tired of." Jack agreed with him; but as the ship had not yet +been her full time on the station, there was every probability of her +having to remain some months longer. + +She had proceeded some way down the coast, when she fell in with one of +the _Opal's_ boats, of which Jos Green had the command. He had captured +one full slaver, but said that the ship had taken none. "Nor will she," +he added; "steamers or boats are the only craft suited for this sort of +work." He was very thankful to have his boat hoisted on board; and the +next day the _Opal_ was fallen in with. The news that there was a +prospect of her returning to England was received on board the _Opal_ +with immense satisfaction, by no one more than by her commander. + +Jack paid Murray a short visit, but, having a cargo of liberated slaves +on board, he had to continue his voyage to Zanzibar. The _Opal_, +meantime, sailed in search of her missing boats. Two days afterwards, +as Jack was running down the coast, a bright look-out being kept for the +_Romp_, the weather, which had been threatening for some days, became +rapidly worse; the wind shifted to the south-east, then to the eastward, +blowing furiously on the coast. A headland had just been doubled, +forming the northern side of a deep bay, and Jack was about to put the +ship's head to the eastward to gain a safe offing, when a sail was +sighted on the quarter, some way up the bay. He turned his glass +towards her; "What do you make of her?" he asked of Higson. + +"I have little doubt that she is the _Romp_, and, if so, I wish that she +were well out of her present position," he answered. "See, she has just +gone about, she's carrying on in the hopes of beating out of the bay, +but it's as much, I fear, as she will do; and, as far as I know, there +isn't a place in which she can anchor--while the shore all round the bay +is as wild and rocky as can be." + +"We must stand in and help her!" exclaimed Jack. + +"We should only run the risk of losing the ship if we attempt it," said +Higson, "for it will be as much as we can do to hold our own in the +teeth of this gale; and as to towing her off, that will be impossible." + +Jack took a turn on deck. "I cannot bear the thoughts of leaving you, +Terence, to your fate," he said to himself. He knew, as well as Higson, +the danger that would be run, for even a steamer embayed in such a +place, with the full force of the gale blowing into it, would have hard +work to get out. He took another turn on deck. "We must try it, +notwithstanding!" he exclaimed; "should the wind moderate ever so +little, we may carry her out; and if we are compelled to cast her off, +she may still have a chance of escaping by bringing up and riding out +the gale." + +Higson was not convinced, though almost as anxious as his commander to +assist the brig, which was heeling over to the blast, rushing at +headlong speed towards the southern side of the bay. She appeared +already close upon the rocks, when about she came, and, her sails +flattened in, she began racing back through a mass of foam towards the +point from which she had come. Again she went about; but the slightest +change of wind at the moment, or any want of seamanship, might allow her +in a few seconds to be sent, by the furious seas rolling in, on to the +black rocks under her lee. + +"She's gaining nothing, I fear," observed Jack, as he watched her. + +"She's rather losing ground, I suspect," answered Higson. Presently the +brig fired a gun; another and another gun followed, at the interval of a +minute. "It is as I feared," observed Higson, "she's driving farther +and farther up the bay, and Commander Adair knows that there is no +holding-ground which can be trusted to." + +"We must go in and help her, at all risks!" cried Jack; and the helm +being put up, the steamer, under her head-sails, went rushing forward +towards her small consort. In the meantime, the engineers were also +ordered to get up as much steam as possible. Again the guns were heard. +"Adair would not make those signals unless he were in great distress," +observed Jack; "tow her out we must; though I fear that unless we're +very brisk about it, we shall lose much ground in doing so." + +Two stout hawsers had been ranged aft and well secured, ready to carry +on board the brig. Her movements were eagerly watched by all eyes on +board. Desmond felt more anxious than he had ever before been in his +life, for he loved his uncle heartily, and clearly saw the danger he was +in. All round the shores of the bay appeared a broad line of snowy +foam, contrasting with the dark shore. Not a break was there to be +seen, not a spot where the brig could be beached with any prospect of +affording escape to her crew. As she stood across the bay, she appeared +to be not more than a couple of miles from the deepest part--and in how +few minutes would she be driven that distance! + +She had again reached the northern shore; once more her head-sails +shivered in the gale, and the hearts of the bravest on board the +_Gauntlet_ trembled, lest, missing stays, her fate might be sealed. +"She's about all right!" shouted several voices; and like a gallant +steed galloping across the course to the winning-post, she came plunging +on through the troubled waters. Though Adair saw his friend coming to +his assistance, he must not for a moment, he knew, relax his own +efforts. By this time the _Gauntlet_ had reached the centre of the bay, +and her head being put to the wind, she waited at a spot which the brig +must pass on her next tack to cross the bay. + +The _Romp_ was nearing the southern shore; again she came about. Adair +gave proof that he was a good seaman, and his crew in prime order, or it +could never have been done. He was seen standing aft conning the brig; +the topmen were in the rigging, ready to swarm aloft to shorten sail; a +party of the hands stood on the forecastle with the second lieutenant +and boatswain, ready to secure the hawsers. The rest of the hands were +at their stations on deck. The work, to be done successfully, must be +done smartly; everyone knew that. Rapidly the brig approached. Two of +the strongest and most active seamen were on the poop ready to heave the +lines on board. Adair's voice was heard above the gale, shouting, "Down +with the helm--shorten sail!" In an instant the topmen were on the +yards, the staysails were hauled down, and, the brig luffing up, the +_Gauntlet_ moved slowly ahead, while the hawsers were rapidly hauled on +board. + +Some flags were run up to the foremast and head of the brig. "He thanks +you, sir," said Desmond, who had the signal-book in his hand; and Adair +was seen pointing significantly at the fierce breakers dashing over the +rocks astern. + +Short as had been the time occupied in the operation, the vessels had +drifted farther into the bay. Now came the tug of war. The hawsers +being secured, the _Gauntlet_, with all her boilers at full pressure, +steamed ahead. Jack kept his eye on the shore, anxiously watching what +way was made; both hawsers were at full stretch; though the screw was +exerting all its power, yet the vessels scarcely seemed to move onwards. +Higson, who was looking out at the other side, was unusually grave; +anxious as he was to assist Adair, he thought that Jack had no business +to venture into his present position. + +"If anything goes, we are done for," he muttered to himself; "she +doesn't move an inch ahead." Jack thought the same; he sent for the +chief engineer to ascertain if more pressure could be put on the +engines. + +"They will not stand it--they are doing their utmost, sir," was the +answer. Still, Jack was determined not to abandon Adair. On board the +brig the hands were still aloft sending down topgallant-masts. Jack +hoped against hope that the gale would decrease, and that he should then +be able to tow Adair out of the bay; if he once weathered the headland, +the brig might stand away on a bowline and gain the offing--but within +the bay she lost, each time she tacked, more ground than she had gained. + +Clouds were gathering thickly in the sky; down came a deluge of rain, +such as is only known in the tropics, like a thick veil of mist +obscuring the brig astern. The water lay deep on the decks before it +had time to run off; all sight of the shore was completely shut out. As +the steamer plunged into the sea, tugging away at the tow-ropes, Jack +could not help believing that she must be going ahead; on and on she +went--the rain showed no sign of ceasing. + +"It must come to an end, at last!" exclaimed Jack, trying to peer +through it at the shore, the dim outline alone of which he could +distinguish. + +The lead was of course kept going, but as it reached the bottom, it +scarcely ran out of the lead-man's hands. "She's going more astern than +ahead!" he shouted at length. + +"Provided she doesn't go much astern, we must keep at it in the hopes of +a lull," observed Jack to Higson. + +Another ten minutes passed. Various were the expressions of opinion on +board; the midshipmen were sanguine that they would succeed. "My +brother Jack has determined to do it, and he will do it," said Tom. + +"Suppose the hawsers were to carry away?" said Archie. + +"There are two of them; if one doesn't hold, the other may," answered +Desmond. + +Jack paced the deck; at length the rain passed by. The marks on shore +showed that they had not changed their position; still the destruction +of the brig had been delayed, for by this time she would have been on +the rocks. Thus far something was gained; still the appearance of the +sky indicated no improvement in the weather. "Hoist the +signal--`Prepare to anchor and strike topmasts,'" cried Jack at length. +The brig made the answering signal. Preparations had already been going +forward on board her, the topmasts were at length struck; still no +effect was produced. Nobly the steamer tugged and tugged away. Higson +did not offer any advice, but he was ready to give it as soon as his +commander should ask for it. "There's a lull!" cried Jack; "thank +heaven, we may do it!" + +Now the vessels moved ahead; had the water been smoother, by a steady +pull the work might have been done; but, as it was, having to plunge +into the heavy seas, the _Gauntlet_ was in the trough of one while the +brig was on the summit, or sometimes on the other side, of the one which +had just passed astern of the leading vessel. "Here comes a lull-- +Heaven be praised! Surely she's going ahead, Higson?" said Jack. + +"It may be, though slowly," was the answer. The occasion was a trying +one to the young commander. "She's doing it now, sir!" exclaimed +Higson, with more hope in his tone than he had yet shown. There could +be no doubt about it--the vessels were drawing out from the bay, but +still the headlands appeared over the bows on either side. + +"If the weather continues to be moderate, all may be right!" cried Jack, +taking a turn with more elastic step. All on board were looking forward +to saving the brig, when suddenly down came the tempest with renewed +force, and a report like thunder was heard; one of the stout hawsers had +parted. Still the other held, and might possibly hold. It was watched +as anxiously by Jack and those in the ship as by all on board the brig, +whose lives, in all probability, depended upon it. To replace it was +impossible, as no line had been retained for the purpose; should the +ship's speed be slackened, and thus take off the strain, both vessels +must drift back, and perhaps share a common fate. All now depended upon +the single hawser. Hope was not abandoned; the day was drawing on; for +more than three hours the steamer had been tugging away at the brig, and +if the hawser would hold, Jack determined to tug on till the storm +should abate. In that he was following the instincts of his nature-- +every British officer worth his salt would have done the same. He was +impelled also by his faithful friendship for Adair, and he would have +been ready to risk his own life to save that of his old shipmate. + +Again there was a lull, and the hopes of all revived; but it was only +for a time. A squall, heavier than any of its predecessors, struck the +vessels, accompanied by a tremendous downfall of rain. Every fibre of +the hawser was stretched to its utmost; a fearful sea came rolling in, +deluging the deck; two poor fellows on the forecastle were washed off, +but no help could be given them. Not a sound was heard as they were +borne into their ocean graves. Shrieks and cries arose from the unhappy +blacks on the maindeck, who believed that their last moments had come. +Just then another loud report was heard, the hawser flying like a huge +snake in the air; and many a voice exclaimed, "She's parted! she's +parted!" + +As they looked astern, the brig was seen broadside to the sea, driving +helplessly before the gale; while the ship, relieved from her task, +seemed to bound forward. With a heavy heart Jack ordered her to be kept +on her course; stern duty demanded that he should abandon his friend; +nothing that he could do could save the brig. Painful as it was to +watch her, he could not help looking out aft to try and ascertain her +fate. She might have been about two miles from the shore when she broke +adrift, driving before the furious gale, but a few brief minutes must +elapse ere she would be hurled on the iron-bound coast. On and on she +drove, growing dimmer and dimmer to view, shrouded by the spray which +filled the air. + +"She's scarcely a mile now from the shore," observed Higson; "she's +making head-sail; they must be looking out for the least dangerous spot +on which to run her." Just as he spoke there came another furious +downpour, forming a thick veil round the ship, which shut out every +distant object, so that scarcely the outline of either lofty cliff could +be seen. + +"She may bring up and cut away her masts," said Jack, with a deep sigh; +"it is her only chance." + +"The holding-ground may be better than we suppose," observed Higson, +wishing to console him; "or there may be some opening up the bay which +we could not discern; he has probably surveyed it." + +"I hope so," said Jack. "Who are the men who are lost overboard?" he +asked, turning his mind to his own ship's company. The crew was +mustered, and on the names of John Jackson and William Davis being +called, no reply was made. The paymaster struck them off the ship's +books, and the next day their effects were sold, and the proceeds placed +to the credit of their heirs, and all matters concerning them were +brought to a conclusion, though now and then their shipmates might +mention them with an expression of regret at their untimely fate. + +The gale continued blowing as fiercely as ever, while the ship was still +forcing her way ahead, and Jack could not help confessing that the +steamer was a finer craft to command than he had ever supposed. His own +ship in safety, his thoughts again recurred to Adair. He was acquainted +with Lucy's feelings for him, and, should he have lost his life, he +thought of all the sorrow it would cost his sister. Desmond was very +unhappy, though Tom and Archie did their best to console him. The +general opinion on board was that the brig would go on shore, and that +few or none on board her would escape with their lives. + +Not only provisions for the blacks, but coals were running short, and it +was therefore important that the ship should get to Zanzibar as soon as +possible, when Jack intended to return and ascertain what had become of +the _Romp_ and her crew. If she had gone on shore, and the crew had +escaped, they would be exposed to many dangers, either from want of food +or from attacks by the natives. + +On the arrival of the _Gauntlet_ at Zanzibar, the slaves were handed +over, by the directions of the consul, to another vessel, which was to +take them to their future home. The _Gauntlet_, having then, with all +possible despatch, obtained a supply of coals, steamed away northward to +ascertain the fate of the _Romp_ and to rescue any of her crew who might +have escaped on shore. + +Nothing had been seen of the _Opal_, and Jack began to fear that she +might have suffered in the gale, which had blown with unusual violence +all along the coast. The _Gauntlet_ had got nearly up to the bay she +was to visit, when, much to Jack's satisfaction, the _Opal_ was sighted, +steering for Zanzibar. Jack immediately signalised that he wished to +speak her. In a short time the two vessels hove-to, and lay within a +few cables' lengths of each other, when Jack immediately went on board. +Murray heard, with great concern, of the too probable fate of their old +shipmate, and, having no liberated slaves on board, willingly agreed to +assist in the search, as his boats' crews would be of service should an +armed force be required to obtain the liberation of any of her crew who +might have been made prisoners. + +The wind being favourable, he followed Jack into the bay, where he +brought up at a respectful distance from the shore; while Jack steamed +farther in to look out for the wreck. All eyes were turned towards the +shore, where, instead of the belt of surf, there now appeared a broad +fringe of rocks, some rising to a considerable height out; of the water. + +"A cruel place that for the ship to go on shore," observed Jack, with a +sigh, "there would not have been much left of her by the morning." + +"There she is! there she is!" cried several voices from forward; in +another minute or so the wreck of a vessel, with her masts gone, could +clearly be discerned jammed in between two rocks. + +"She has held together better than I could have supposed," said Higson. + +"Put the ship's head off-shore; we will bring up," said Jack. + +As soon as the ship came to an anchor, two of the boats were lowered, +Jack himself going in one, with Hamed and Tom and Desmond, Jack knowing +that the latter was eager to gain the first tidings of his uncle. They +pulled in with some faint hopes of finding the people still on board, or +encamped on the shore; but no signal was seen, and their hopes grew less +and less. + +Jack now looked out for a place suitable for landing, and as he +approached, he saw several small sandy beaches, where a boat could land +without danger. He chose one nearest the wreck, and both boats steered +in for it; still not a sign of human beings could be seen. He at once +landed, with Matson, who was in the second boat, and accompanied by him +and the two midshipmen, and a party of his crew, well armed, proceeded +at once to the wreck. It being now low water, they could almost reach +her by clambering along the rocks. On getting close to her, it was seen +that she had suffered more severely than had been supposed; her whole +stem frame was knocked in, and the sea must have made a clean breach +through her, so that no one could have remained on board. Her masts and +guns were gone, and the whole of her stores had either been washed out +of her, or had since been carried away. There were signs, indeed, that +she had been plundered by a large party, as the marks of numerous feet +were discerned on the sand above high-water mark. + +While Jack and most of the party had been examining the rock, Hamed, +with Desmond and Tim Nolan, had gone on towards a height some distance +from the shore, under the expectation of being able to obtain from its +summit an extensive view inland. After leaving the rock, Jack sent the +party, two or three together, to examine the rocks, to ascertain if the +bodies of any of the crew had been washed up upon them. Jack still had +hopes that the crew had been able to hold on to the wreck, till the +falling tide should have allowed them to reach the shore. Still he +could discover nothing to settle the point; it was only evident that the +guns must have been thrown overboard, and the masts cut away, before she +reached the shore. Perhaps Adair might afterwards have set off overland +to try and reach one of the Arab towns belonging to the Sultan of +Zanzibar, where he could obtain provisions, and from whence he could +send notice to the consul where he was, so that a ship of war might be +despatched to render him assistance. + +Jack was looking out for Hamed, when he caught sight of a figure running +along at full speed from the direction of the hill, and every now and +then casting a look behind him indicative of alarm. Jack immediately +summoned the men from the rocks, and, as he hurried forward, he +recognised Tim Nolan. + +"Yer honour, it's bad news I bring!" he exclaimed, panting for breath, +though he did not forget to touch his hat to his commander; "the +spalpeens of Arabs have been and taken Mr Desmond, and our 'terpreter +Hamed, and they'll be after cutting their throats if we don't look sharp +and carry them help. As they were hurrying them down the hill, and +looking thunder and lightning at them, Hamed cried out to me, `Run for +your life and tell the captain!' and shure, run I did, for they'd have +been after cutting my throat if I hadn't." + +On receiving this intelligence, Jack immediately despatched Mr Matson's +boat to the ship with directions to signalise Murray to send his boats, +well armed, on shore, desiring his own lieutenant to return with two +more from the ship. He immediately, with his boat's crew, pushed on in +the direction Tim believed Desmond and Hamed had been carried. Instead, +however, of going over the hill, he led his men round it at a turn, +hoping by this to cut off the Arabs as they descended into the plain. +Tim, one of the most active of the party, kept well ahead. He had just +rounded the rocky point, when he caught sight of a party of Arabs, +twenty or more in number, with Desmond and Hamed in their midst. Hamed, +by the gesticulations he was employing, was apparently expostulating +with his captors; while Desmond was using strenuous means to show them +that he was disinclined to move forward. + +The Arabs were so engaged with their prisoners, that they did not +observe the approach of the English till they were close upon them. +Jack and his companions redoubled their speed. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Tim. "Knock the blackamoors down right and left, and +we'll be up soon." + +Desmond was perfectly ready to follow this advice, and two or three +well-directed blows enabled him to spring out from among the astonished +Arabs and join his friends. Hamed made a similar attempt, but, being +tripped up, was caught by the Arabs, two of whom held their daggers at +his breast. + +"They stickee into me, they stickee into me!" shouted poor Hamed, "if +you not doee what they ask." + +"What is it?" inquired Jack, who continued advancing towards the Arabs. + +"Dey let goee if not shootee," answered Hamed. + +"Tell them that, though they deserve to be punished for daring to +capture Her Majesty's officers, I will not injure them if they will +inform me in what direction our friends have gone," said Jack. + +Hamed on this appeared greatly relieved, and a long parley ensued +between him and the Arabs. Their chief, a ragged old fellow, with +somewhat tattered, though once rich, garments, stepped forward, and, +making a profound salaam, uttered a long address, which Hamed briefly +interpreted. "He say you pay him a hundred dollars, he takee where +English stop, and fightee black fellows." The Arab himself and his +followers were as black as negroes, by the bye, having probably more +African than Asiatic blood in their veins. + +"The rascals!" exclaimed Jack; "why, we are sparing their lives, and +they have the impudence to name their own terms. Tell them we'll shoot +every one of them if they refuse to guide us to our friends." + +Hamed had another talk with the chief. "He say very well, you shootee +his people, and be no wiser than at first." + +"The old fellow's got sense in his brains," observed Jack, "and as we +can't pay him the dollars till we get back to the ship, the bribe may +prevent him from acting treacherously and leading us into an ambush. +Tell him that if through his means we recover our friends, I promise him +the hundred dollars, though he must come on board my ship to receive +them." + +The old slave-dealer again salaamed, and, through Hamed, expressed his +perfect satisfaction with the arrangements. Jack would gladly have set +off at once, for he suspected, from what Hamed had learned from the +chief, that Adair and his crew must be very hard pressed, and destitute +both of provisions and water. The Arabs looked greatly astonished at +the strong force which landed, and became very humble and submissive. +Perhaps Jack might have saved the hundred dollars, which were certain to +be employed in the slave-trade, had he waited the arrival of the other +boats. He had, however, promised them, and there was no help for it; he +could only hope that the old fellow and his crew might be caught with a +full cargo of slaves on board their dhow. + +To Jack's surprise, instead of proceeding south, their guides led the +way to the northward. Hamed explained that so large a force had +appeared in the south, that the shipwrecked crew had been compelled to +retire northward; and Jack concluded that they had done so in the hopes +of being able to communicate with the corvette, which Adair knew to be +in that direction, or perhaps with some of the _Romp's_ boats which +might be cruising in the same quarter. + +Sailors are always in high spirits when tramping overland, in the hopes +either of having a fight, or succouring those in distress. If the chief +was to be believed, there was a fair probability of both these events +occurring. Murray, as senior officer, of course took command of the +expedition. He and Jack marched on together. Not entirely trusting +their guides, they sent out scouts on either hand to feel the way, while +the men were ordered to keep well together, and to be in readiness at +any moment, in case of a surprise. + +"Arrah, now," exclaimed Desmond, who with Tom and Archie were in the +rear, "I hope we may get a scrimmage with these blackamoors; the +spalpeens, to be attacking my uncle and his shipwrecked crew instead of +lending them a hand, as any decent people would, when we want to help +them and to put a stop to slavery." + +"That's the very thing they don't want to have stopped," observed +Archie; "as long as they can make more money by selling their +fellow-creatures, though no blacker than themselves, they'll do it." + +"If we had a fleet of merchantmen on the coast," said Desmond, "ready to +give good prices for their ivory and ostrich feathers, and anything else +their country produces, while all and every slave-trader knew that if +caught he was to be hung up, I fancy that the slave-trade would soon be +knocked on the head." + +"A very good idea of yours, Desmond, but it may be a difficult matter to +induce merchants to send their vessels out. It will be done in time if +they find out that it is to their advantage," said Archie. + +"If I had the management of affairs, I'd make them do it!" cried +Desmond. "When a thing ought to be done, the sooner it is done the +better; and if, as you say, it is the only way to stop this abominable +slave-trade, and the misery and death of tens of thousands of Africans, +we Englishmen shouldn't stop haggling about the cost, but do it at +once." + +"That's my notion," said Tom; "and when my eldest brother gets into +Parliament, I'll give him no rest till he gets the thing done, somehow +or other." + +The other midshipmen were all of accord on the matter, but their +conversation was interrupted by one of the scouts coming in with the +information that he had seen a large party of men at the foot of a rocky +height in the distance ahead, very busy about something or other, but +what it was he could not make out. Hamed, after questioning the old +chief, informed Murray and Jack that the people seen were undoubtedly +those who had followed Adair and his crew, who were in all probability +not far off. + +The force therefore pushed on, and, passing over some very rough ground, +reached a spot whence they could make out three or four hundred people +on the low ground, and a small party on a rocky height. Two or three +tiny jets of smoke, sent forth every now and then by the latter, showed +that they had firearms, though very few; and, from the intervals which +elapsed between each shot, it was evident that they were husbanding +their ammunition, and only firing when necessity compelled them to keep +their assailants in check. + +On observing this, Murray ordered his party at once to fire a volley, +which would inspirit their friends, and intimidate the enemy. +"Forward!" cried their commanders; and they pushed on at a rate which +quickly brought them close to the scene of action. As they advanced, +leaping over rocks and all impediments, towards the mongrel army, the +leaders of the latter were seen to be moving about in evident alarm. At +the instant a shower of bullets was sent rattling among them, they, to a +man, faced about, and scampered off as fast as their legs could carry +them. The relieving force quickly surmounted the height, where they +found Adair with six or seven of his officers, and little more than half +his crew. Jack and Murray were soon shaking him warmly by the hand; his +and his companions' appearance showed, before a word had been spoken, +that succour had come most opportunely. Their emaciated looks and +hollow eyes told too plainly how they had suffered from hunger; not a +particle of food remained in the camp, or a drop of water; and not more +than three rounds of ammunition for the six muskets which had been saved +from the wreck. + +"If you hadn't come, my dear fellows, it would have been all up with us, +I fear," said Adair; "we'd made up our minds to rush down on the enemy +and try to put them to flight; but without food, and no chance of +getting any, we should only have gained the advantage of being allowed +to die in peace, unless one of our boats had appeared, for which we came +here to look out. It is the saddest thing which has ever happened to +me; twenty poor fellows drowned, besides the loss of the brig; and as we +have seen nothing of our boats, I am afraid some harm must have happened +to them." + +Jack and Murray did their best to comfort him, while all hands were +employed in serving out the provisions and water which had so +thoughtfully been brought. As the _Romp's_ crew were too weak to march, +the party bivouacked on the hill, with plenty of camp-fires, for which +the blacks collected abundance of fuel. + +Just as they were about to start at daylight, two boats were seen +rounding a point, and Adair had the satisfaction of finding that they +were those which had been despatched from the brig some weeks before, +and which had since been cruising in search of her. The more sickly men +were at once placed on board them, and they were sent round to join the +_Gauntlet_; while the rest of the party set off overland, accompanied by +their Arab guide, who kept close to them for fear of losing his dollars. + +On getting on board, Jack paid him punctually, with a warning, imparted +through Hamed, that if they were employed in the slave-trade he would +lose them again, and get himself into further trouble. Whether or not +the old fellow followed the advice he received, Jack had no means of +ascertaining. + +On their return to Zanzibar, the _Opal_ and _Gauntlet_ received orders +to proceed to the Cape. Loud cheers rose from the decks of both ships +as the news was announced on board; and even poor Adair, though he had +the unpleasant anticipation of a court-martial for the loss of the brig, +felt his spirits rise considerably. Jack comforted him with the +assurance that the evidence his officers had to give must acquit him of +all blame, and that he himself had done everything possible to save the +brig. + +"But I had no business to have been caught in the bay," sighed Adair. +"My prospects in the service are ruined, and I shall never get another +ship." + +"Never fear," answered Jack; "we shall have perhaps a war before long, +and, depend upon it, you will not be overlooked when ships are fitting +out. Officers of dash and determination will be wanted, and you possess +the required qualities." + +The packet from England had come in the day before they arrived at the +Cape, and Jack found a letter from Admiral Triton. "We shall have some +of the old work again before long, my boy, depend upon that," he wrote. +"I have it from the best authority that the Russians have made up their +minds to quarrel with the Turks, and take possession of Constantinople. +They have been for some time past badgering them about the Holy Places, +and insisting that their co-religionists are ill-treated by the +Moslems,--not that they really care about the matter,--and that is +sufficient to convince anyone who has got his weather-eye open that they +only want a pretext for war, decent or indecent. The news has just +arrived, though it has not yet been made public, that we should be +suspicious of the designs of Louis Napoleon, who has so wonderfully been +transmogrified into an emperor--though for my part, I believe that no +ruler of France has ever been more friendly disposed towards us, and the +Russians will find that they are mistaken in wishing to set us by the +ears. That Prince Menzikoff, their ambassador to the Porte, has +presented the ultimatum of the Russian Government, which means war, for +the Turks are certain not to knock under; and we and the French would +not let them, if they thought of doing so. The Russians intend to +invade Turkey with all possible despatch; indeed, they have an army all +ready to throw across the frontier. Menzikoff will be away from +Constantinople in the course of a day or two, and then the business will +begin. Our Government intends to send a fleet through the Dardanelles +without delay, and as the Russians have no small number of ships in the +Black Sea, we may hope to have a brush with them. I wish you were here, +Jack, to take a part in whatever goes on; and I am glad to find that +your ship is ordered home, so that there is a chance of your being in +time; you will not let the grass grow under your feet; and as you can +steam through the calm latitudes, we may hope to see you here before +long. I never liked steamers, but they have their advantages, there's +no doubt about that. In the meantime, I'll use all the influence I +possess to get you a craft you'll like; and as I fancy that more work is +to be done in a steam-vessel than in a sailing-ship, I'll try and get +one for you." + +The admiral's letter contained a good deal more in his usual style of +chit-chat; Mrs Murray had gone to stay with her friend Lucy at +Halliburton Hall, though he expected both of them back again, and hoped +that they would be with him when Jack arrived. Jack showed the letter +to Terence, who sighed when he read it. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jack. + +"I'm only thinking that an unlucky dog like myself, who has lost his +ship, has very little chance of getting another," said Adair; "and that +the bright hopes I entertained of soon getting my post-rank must be +abandoned for ever." + +Jack, of course, did his best to console him. "Come along," he said; +"there's a grand ball to-night at the governor's, and we're asked; we'll +take the youngsters--it is a good thing to let them enjoy a little +society, and will help to polish them up before they return home." + +Adair was unwilling to appear in public, but he yielded to Jack's +wishes. The three midshipmen were of course delighted, and busily +employed themselves, with the aid of their marines, in burnishing up +their long unused uniforms; so that when they entered the ballroom they +presented a very respectable appearance following in the wake of their +commanders. + +Adair soon recovered his spirits, and Jack laughed as he watched him +whirling round and round in the valse, or prancing away in the galop +with true Hibernian vehemence. The midshipmen had entered into a +compact to introduce each other to their partners. They did not fail to +admire the blue eyes, light hair, and fair complexions of the Dutch +damsels. + +"Never saw so many pretty girls under one roof in my life!" exclaimed +Tom; "I'm over head and ears in love with every one of them." + +"`There's luck in odd numbers, cried Rory O'More,'" answered Desmond; +"to my fancy, the girl I last danced with is handsomer than any of them. +She was asking me all sorts of questions about our ship and the +commander and my uncle, and seemed very sorry about the loss of the +brig, of which she had evidently heard. I'll introduce you, Tom,--she +was engaged for the next dance, but said that she should be happy if I +would bring you up for the following one,--so come along. She's only +been here for a short time on her way home from India, so I gathered +from what she said; but I daresay she'll tell you if you ask her, for +there's evidently no nonsense about her." + +"That's just the sort of girl I like," said Tom, as Desmond led him +across the room to a young lady who was seated far back in an alcove, +from whence she could watch the crowd without being observed. Tom, as +he made his bow, and was received with a sweet smile, thought that she +fully came up to Desmond's description, though she was certainly older +than most of his previous partners. He willingly, in answer to her +inquiries, told her all about the ship, his brother Jack, and Adair. +She then got him to talk about Halliburton, and he was surprised to find +that she was well acquainted with the country. At last she said, "I +wonder you do not remember me, Tom;" on which, looking into her face, he +exclaimed, "Why, you are Julia Giffard!" + +She acknowledged that such was the case, and that she had gone out to +India with her father, Colonel Giffard, who had been compelled, on +account of ill-health, to visit the Cape, and had been advised to return +home without going back. + +"Jack will be delighted to see you," said Tom; "I'll go and find him and +bring him to you, if you will allow me." + +Julia replied that she should be very happy to talk about old times with +Captain Rogers, and Tom, after the dance was over, leaving her in her +former seat, hurried off to find his brother. + +"I thought it must be her," said Jack; "but yet, as I fancied she was at +home, I concluded that she was only remarkably like herself. She +doesn't look a day older than when I last saw her." + +Miss Giffard held out her hand as Jack approached, and they were soon +engaged in an interesting conversation. Jack did not dance with anyone +else during the evening. He promised to call the next morning on +Colonel Giffard, who had not been well enough to come to the ball. The +result of the visit was that Jack offered to convey him and his daughter +to England. As the _Gauntlet_ was to sail immediately, and might hope +to make a quick passage, and the colonel being anxious to arrive at home +as soon as possible, he gladly availed himself of Jack's offer. Julia +seemed very well pleased at the arrangement, and the midshipmen were +delighted when they heard that they were to have a lady on board. + +The _Gauntlet_ and _Opal_ sailed the same day. It was to be a race +between steam and wind; at first the trim corvette, with a fair breeze, +distanced her consort, and Archie, who, though still on board the +steamer, retained a natural feeling of pride in his own ship, declared +that she would win. + +"Stay a bit, till the wind falls, and we get our fires alight," answered +Tom; "the old kettle will then show how she can go along." + +Miss Giffard had not been on board long before the commander's +attentions to her were remarked, and in the midshipmen's berth it was +decided that it was a gone case. Miss Giffard had heard of Jack's +engagement to the beautiful Irish girl, and of his bereavement; and the +sympathy she exhibited quickly melted any ice which might have existed +round his heart. His sisters would have been highly pleased could they +have known the turn affairs were taking. Long before the ship reached +Spithead, Jack was engaged to Julia Giffard, with the colonel's full +consent. + +The _Gauntlet_ received orders immediately to go into harbour, and +scarcely had she picked up her moorings, than a note from Admiral Triton +came on board, begging Jack to come to Southsea as soon as possible, as +his sister and Mrs Murray were anxious to see him. Jack and Adair +escorted Colonel Giffard and his daughter to The George, where leaving +them, they hurried on to the admiral's house. Stella was anxious to +receive news of her husband, while Lucy's happiness at seeing Jack and +Adair was somewhat marred at being told of the loss of the brig. When, +however, the admiral heard all the particulars, he assured Adair that he +would be honourably acquitted, and that it would not stand in the way of +his getting another ship. + +"I've good news for you, whatever others may think of it," he added; +"the Russians have already invaded the Principalities, and, at the +Sultan's request, the British and French fleets have passed through the +Dardanelles, and taken up an anchorage before Constantinople. They were +there when news arrived--which reached me only this morning--that the +Turks had a squadron of eight frigates and a few smaller vessels lying +at anchor in the harbour of Sinope, according to Turkish custom, totally +unprepared for battle. Instead of remaining where they were, they would +have acted more wisely had they got out of the Black Sea and run for +safety to the British fleet. As it was, there they lay, not dreaming of +danger, when, during a thick log, the Russian admiral, Natchimoff, +sailed out of Sevastopol with six line-of-battle ships, two frigates, +and several small vessels, and suddenly appeared off the port, when the +Turks, not liking his appearance, fired a few shots at him. +Unfortunately for themselves, he immediately, without giving them the +chance of striking their flags, opened upon them a tremendous fire from +the broadsides of his line-of-battle ships. Though they could not have +had the slightest hope of victory, they fought on with the utmost +desperation, either refusing to strike their colours, or, if they were +hauled down, the Russian admiral was too blind to see it. With +barbarous resolution, he continued blazing away, till frigate after +frigate sunk or was blown up; and four thousand of the brave fellows who +had manned them were killed. One steamer only managed to get away and +carry the news to Constantinople. Scarcely four hundred Turks, all of +those more or less wounded, escaped on shore. The town was also +dreadfully knocked about, and many people were killed. Natchimoff, +having waited till the next day, returned to the harbour of Sebastopol. +I only hope the next time he sails out of it, whether or not he has the +whole of the Russian fleet to back him, that he will fall in with a +British squadron. Depend upon it, England will not allow this outrage +to go unavenged. The allied fleets are by this time in the Black Sea, +looking out for the enemy. I wish you were there, but we shall be +reinforcing the fleet in the Black Sea, as well as sending another up +the Baltic to attack the Russians on their northern shores." + +This was not a time that Adair could press his suit with Sir John, +though Colonel Giffard promised to use his influence as soon as he +returned home. Meantime the colonel and Julia accepted the admiral's +and Mrs Deborah's invitation to remain at Southsea till Jack had paid +off the _Gauntlet_. She was to be immediately recommissioned as soon as +she had undergone the necessary repairs. + +The court-martial to try Adair for the loss of the _Romp_ immediately +took place; when not only was he honourably acquitted, but next day he +was appointed to the command of the _Gauntlet_, ordered to proceed with +the squadron under Sir Charles Napier to the Baltic. Jack, taking it +into his head that he was to be placed on the shelf, proposed to marry +at once; but the very next day he was appointed to a new steamer ordered +to be brought forward with all despatch for the Mediterranean squadron. +He had time, therefore, only to run home for a few days, and to return +immediately to Portsmouth. + +The _Opal_ meantime had arrived, and, being paid off, her crew were +turned over to Jack's new ship, the _Tornado_. Murray, once more with +his dear Stella, very naturally had no wish to leave her, and they were +on the point of setting off for Scotland, when he received a flattering +note from Captain Hemming, which completely altered his plans. "I have +been appointed to the _Briton_, seventy-four, and, having to select my +commander, I beg that you will allow me to name you, as I am very sure +that you will get her well manned and quickly fit for sea, and that you +will ably second me in any work we have to perform. I consider you, my +dear Murray, as efficient an officer as any with whom I am acquainted. +I do not know yet whether we are to be sent to the Baltic or the +Mediterranean, but we are certain to go to one or the other." + +Alick placed the matter before Stella, who looked very pale, but +answered heroically, "You must do what you conceive to be your duty. I +have before advised you not to give up the service, and I must therefore +say, accept Captain Hemming's flattering offer." + +"I knew that you would decide rightly," answered Murray. + +"I heartily congratulate you!" exclaimed the admiral. "Deb and I will +take good care of your wife while you're away; it won't be for a long +period, I hope; and it won't be Hemming's fault if you have not some +opportunity of distinguishing yourself and gaining your post-rank. I +should like to see you all three captains before I slip my cable, which +I must expect to do before many years are over; and it will give me more +pleasure than I can well express to see you all whom I knew as +youngsters gain your well-earned promotion. You've always done your +duty, and will, I am sure, prove ornaments to our profession as long as +you remain afloat." + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +REVIEW AT SPITHEAD--ADMIRAL TRITON'S OPINION OF STEAM-VESSELS--THE +ALLIED FLEETS IN CAVARNA BAY--JACK VISITS MURRAY ON BOARD THE BRITON-- +BOMBARDMENT OF ODESSA--LOSS OF THE TIGER--JACK IN COMMAND OF THE TORNADO +RUNS INTO THE HARBOUR OF SEBASTOPOL--A VISIT TO THE GUARDS' CAMP. + +"A magnificent sight! What would Nelson have done with such a fleet?" +exclaimed the admiral, as, with his eye at a telescope turned towards +Spithead, at an early hour on the morning of the 11th of March 1854, he +gazed at the fleet collected there under Sir Charles Napier. "We must +have a nearer look at them, ladies; the _Gauntlet_ goes out of harbour, +and Adair has sent his coxswain to say that his gig is waiting at the +pier. Come, Deborah; come, Mrs Murray; get on your wraps. Lucy, my +dear, you mustn't mind appearances; though the sun is bright, the wind +is still keen, and you will find it cold enough coming on shore again." + +The ladies, who had already finished breakfast, were soon equipped; and +the admiral, helped by Miss Rogers and his sister, had got into his +pea-jacket, and, Lucy having tucked the ends of the comforter which +surrounded his throat well into it, he was ready, stick in hand, to +tramp across the common. Lucy's well-fitting yachting-dress, with an +overcoat calculated to withstand all weathers, became her well. The gig +was soon alongside the _Gauntlet_, at whose gangway Adair stood ready to +receive his guests. It was the first time Lucy had come on board, and +with no little pride and happiness he helped her up the accommodation +ladder. + +The next instant, casting off from her moorings, the _Gauntlet_ steamed +out of the harbour towards Spithead. "Well, after all, there is +something to be said in favour of steam," observed the admiral; "and +though I did once think it would never come to much, I must confess I +was wrong; though, had it never been invented, we should not have felt +the want of it." + +"At all events, admiral, it enables us to get out to Spithead, which we +otherwise should have found it a difficult job to do," answered Adair, +laughing. "Look at the magnificent _Duke of Wellington_, with her 131 +guns; see the _Royal George_, and _Saint Jean d'Acre_, with what ease +they can now manoeuvre, by the aid of their screws. I suspect Nelson +would have been willing to exchange the whole of his fleet for three +such ships at Trafalgar, and not only would have gained the victory, but +would not have allowed one of the enemy to escape." + +"It might have been so," said the admiral; "but I suspect, had the +chance been given him, he would have preferred having his tough little +_Victory_ and the other stout ships of his fleet, to all the new-fangled +contrivances." The admiral, it was evident, had still a hankering for +the good old days when he first went to sea. + +The _Gauntlet_ was able to steam through a considerable portion of the +fleet before she took up her destined station; thus passing in +succession the _Duke of Wellington_, Sir Charles Napier's flagship, the +_Neptune, Saint George_, and _Royal George_, 120-gun ships, the _Saint +Jean d'Acre_, 101 guns; fourteen other ships carrying from 60 to 91 +guns, most of them fitted with screws; five frigates, each able to +compete with an old line-of-battle ship; and eighteen paddle-wheel and +screw-steamers, anyone of which would speedily have sunk the largest +ship of ancient days. + +In a short time the Queen appeared in the _Fairy_ yacht, passing through +this superb fleet, when, the yards being manned, the crews greeted her +with hearty cheers, and such a salute broke forth from their guns as had +never before been heard. + +"Well, admiral, I hope when we come back we shall be able to give a good +account of our proceedings, if the Czar ventures to go to war," observed +Adair; "we may at least expect to take Sweaborg, Helsingfors, and +Cronstadt, and perhaps lay Saint Petersburg itself under contribution." + +"If Sir Charles is at all like what he was a few years ago, I hope you +may," answered the admiral; "but though Charley is some years my junior, +I should have declined ten years ago accepting such a command. He may +be tough enough, but the sort of work he has to do wants nerve, and +that, as a man advances in life, is apt to slacken." + +Still, notwithstanding Admiral Triton, the prognostications of Adair +were shared in by all in the fleet, as well as by the nation at large, +and grand results were expected. The admiral had engaged one of the +steamers plying between Ryde and Portsmouth to come alongside and take +his party on shore. Poor Lucy, it was very trying to her, though Mrs +Murray from experience could give her heartfelt sympathy. Alick had +already sailed for the Black Sea, and Jack some weeks previously had +proceeded in the same direction. + +We will make our way on board the _Tornado_. She had a quick passage +under sail and steam to Malta, where she lay taking in a fresh supply of +coals, and thence proceeded on through the Aegean Sea up the Bosphorus. +Jack recognised with no small amount of pleasure many of the islands he +had visited as a youngster; he had then thought them very beautiful, and +he acknowledged that they were so still, though the proportions of the +scenery appeared lessened in his eyes after the grander features of the +West Indies and South America. + +Tom and Desmond were inclined to turn up their noses at them, not having +any great respect for the surrounding classical associations. "Very +pretty hills to adorn the surface of a moderate-sized lake," observed +Tom, "but Trinidad and Jamaica completely take the shine out of them." +Higson, whom Jack had obtained as his first lieutenant, was much of the +same opinion. Mildmay, who had been appointed by the Admiralty, not +having seen the West Indies, was in raptures, and, with notebook in +hand, stood dotting down the lines inspired by his muse. Jos Green, the +master, suggested that he would be better employed in making outlines of +the headlands and other prominent features of the land. + +"Very well for you, master, who have to navigate the ship, but we are +above such grovelling notions," answered Mildmay; "you have nothing +Byronic in your composition." + +"Just take care when it's your watch that you don't run the ship ashore +in a fit of poetical abstraction," said Green, laughing; "your Byronic +enthusiasm would not be received as a valid excuse at a court-martial." + +Besides the officers named, Jack had several of his own and Murray's old +shipmates--Dick Needham as gunner, Ben Snatchblock as boatswain, with +the two midshipmen, Dicky Duff and Billy Blueblazes; Jerry Bird; the +Irishman, Tim Nolan; and several others, all good men and true. + +With patriotic pride Jack saw the magnificent fleet under Admiral Dundas +lying at anchor in Cavarna Bay as the _Tornado_ steamed into that +roadstead. It lies on the western side of the Black Sea, a little to +the north of Varna. There lay the _Britannia_ and _Trafalgar_, of 120 +guns, the admiral's flag flying at the masthead of the first; the +_Queen_, of 116 guns; the _Agamemnon_, a name renowned in naval story, +of 101 guns, carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons; the +_Albion_, of 91 guns; the _Rodney_ and _London_, of 90; the _Vengeance, +Bellerophon_, and _Sanspareil_, of 84, 80, and 70 guns respectively; the +_Arethusa_, of 50 guns, twice the size of her predecessor, known in song +as the "gallant _Arethusa_;" and numerous other frigates and steamers, +the smallest equal in power to any frigate of the olden times. There +too lay the French fleet, fifty sail of the line and twenty-one frigates +and smaller vessels, with the flag of Admiral Hamelin flying on board +the _Ville-de-Paris_, of 120 guns, and that of the second in command, +Admiral Bruat, on board the _Montebello_, of the same force. What might +not these fleets accomplish if only the Russians would dare to sail out +from amid their stone walls and fight? There was the rub. + +Jack, having paid his respects to the admiral, made his way on board the +_Briton_, accompanied by Archie, whom he knew Murray would be glad to +see. Jack, of course, brought despatches from Stella. "Now, Alick," he +said, after the first greetings were over, "you read those quietly, +while Gordon and I look up some of our old shipmates whom you have on +board." + +Jack was not disappointed, for though he could not boast of having as +many friends as Jos Green, he seldom went anywhere without finding some +former shipmates. All were in high spirits at the thoughts of active +service, though as yet nothing of importance had been done. A very +gallant act, however, had been performed, of which Jack now heard. It +was very important to gain exact information as to the present state of +the harbour of Sebastopol and the forts protecting it, for there was +every reason to believe considerable alterations had of late been made. +As soon as the news of the massacre of Sinope had reached England, the +Government sent out orders to the admirals to enter the Black Sea, to +stop every Russian ship they met, and to prevent by force, if necessary, +any fresh aggression on the Turkish flag, that no repetition of such +atrocity might occur. As war had not yet been formally declared, it was +necessary to inform the Cabinet of Saint Petersburg and the Governor of +Sebastopol of this resolution. Captain Drummond, commanding the +_Retribution_, a steamer of twenty-eight guns, was accordingly ordered +to proceed to Sebastopol, and to deliver the despatches to the governor. +In order to make the necessary survey, he was to remain there as long +as he possibly could without allowing his design to be suspected by the +Russians. It was the middle of winter; the weather, as is generally the +case at that time of the year, was very thick. This was favourable to +the design. As he had a good chart of the coast, he stood boldly on, +keeping the lead going, till he made his way between the two outermost +forts into the mouth of the harbour, when he came to an anchor before he +was discovered by the Russians. Great must have been their astonishment +at seeing an English frigate thus boldly bearding them. + +The fires were kept banked up, so that she might, if necessary, make her +way out again, should the Russians venture to fire at her, of which +there was a very great probability; indeed, it was said that the guns in +the forts were actually loaded, ready at a moment to sink the audacious +intruder. The instant the anchor was dropped, the boats were sent out +to take the necessary soundings, while an accurate survey was commenced +of both shores of the harbour and the forts, with the number of their +guns which guarded the entrance. The fortifications were indeed of a +most formidable character. On two sides of the harbour eleven forts and +batteries were counted; one, which appeared to be the key to the entire +works of the place, had its guns concealed from view, but in the other +ten no fewer than 722 guns, mostly thirty-two pounders, were counted, +half of which pointed seaward, and commanded the approach to the +harbour; and the other half commanded the harbour, in which lay the +Russian fleet itself. In every direction men could be seen +strengthening the works and erecting new ones. The town was surrounded +by a wall fifteen feet in height, and loopholed for musketry, with a +ditch in front. So narrow was the entrance that two line-of-battle +ships could barely sail in abreast. + +Having delayed as long as he could, Captain Drummond sent a boat with an +officer to convey the despatches to the governor, who at first expressed +himself very much astonished at the appearance of an English ship at +such a juncture. Being assured, however, that the frigate had come to +perform an act of courtesy, he was satisfied, and, salutes having been +exchanged, the _Retribution_ lifted her anchor and steamed again out of +the harbour, with the important knowledge which had been obtained, and +which was quickly conveyed to Admiral Dundas. Captain Drummond was of +opinion that the place was entirely unassailable by ships alone, but +that it might easily be blockaded and harassed by shells thrown into it +at night, though he was convinced that should a ship enter the harbour +in order to destroy the Russian fleet lying there, it must be +annihilated before it could get out again. He advised, therefore, that +Sebastopol should be attacked by a combined naval and military force; +and, as far as could be learned, the authorities had determined on this +mode of proceeding. + +Jack, having left Murray time to read his despatches, rejoined him, and +heard more of what had taken place. "The army have suffered +dreadfully," said Murray, as Jack was seated in his cabin; "not from the +enemy, but from cholera and fever. It has also appeared on board the +fleet, and nearly every ship has lost a good many men. Upwards of fifty +have died on board the flagship, and we have had thirty or forty on the +sick list at a time, many of whom have succumbed to the disease. The +steamers have, I hope, a better chance of escaping, but it has not left +them entirely alone." + +"Well, I trust we shall keep free," said Jack. "The best thing we can +hope for is that the commander-in-chief will give us something to do +before long." + +After describing the halt of the British forces at Scutari, and various +incidents which had occurred, Murray went on with an account of what had +since taken place: "After remaining for some time at Scutari, the +greater part of the English force was moved on to the neighbourhood of +Varna, where they have been distributed on the heights south of Varna +Bay, and at various other points," he continued. "The first division, +consisting of the Guards and Highlanders, with two field-batteries, are +encamped at Gevreckler, a dreary common covered with a short, wiry +grass, one of the most desolate-looking plains I ever visited." + +"I am sorry to hear that," said Jack, "for my brother Sidney is out +there. I must try if I can get the chance of paying him a visit. Poor +fellow! he was very anxious to come out, but he will find campaigning +very different sort of work from a review in Hyde Park." + +"The chances are you are sent there on duty," observed Murray; "if you +go, remember me to Mackenzie, Gordon, and Douglas, of the +-- Highlanders. Heaven knows whether we shall meet again, for the +cholera, I am sorry to say, has got among them, and it is expected that +the allied army before long will have some hot work with the Russians, +who are now besieging Silistria. The place is holding out nobly, the +Turks being aided by those two gallant fellows, Captain Butler and +Lieutenant Nasmyth. The Russians have already lost several thousand men +before the place, but everybody believes that it must fall ere long, and +that the Russians will then march on Constantinople. We shall do our +best to stop them; and though we, of course, shall win, it will not be +without heavy loss." + +"The fortune of war," said Jack. "I only hope that the Russian fleet +will soon sail out of Sebastopol and give us something to do. I have no +fear but that we shall lick them." + +"Of course we shall," answered Murray; "and if Charley Napier can meet +their fleet in the Baltic and give them a drubbing too, they will have +had enough of it, and we shall shake hands and be friends." + +Little did the young commanders, who thus easily settled the campaign, +dream of the prolonged and sanguinary struggle which was about to take +place. Jack and Archie remained on board to dine. The latter went back +to the _Tornado_ full of the news he had picked up, which he was as +ready to impart to Tom and his shipmates as they were anxious to hear +it. + +"Look here," said Archie, as he sat on one side of the berth, with Tom +opposite to him, and most of the midshipmen surrounding the table, "I've +been studying the chart, and I think I've a pretty correct notion of the +position of the different places. Here's the Black Sea, which we'll +call an irregular oval running east and west, and at the north side is +the Crimea, something like a shoulder of mutton in shape, hanging on by +the Isthmus of Perekop to the mainland. Sebastopol, the fortress we +hear so much of, is at the southern end of a broad bay on its western +side. Going back to the mainland, we find on the southern side of the +Danube, which as it approaches the sea runs north, and then again to the +east, at a considerable distance from the sea, the fortress of +Silistria, where the Turks are bravely holding out against a numerous +Russian army. South of Silistria are Varna and Schumla, between which +places our troops are encamped, to be ready to intercept the Russians +whenever they have captured Silistria, and thus to prevent them from +getting to Constantinople. Some way north of the Danube, on the +seashore, is Odessa, not far from the mouth of the Dnieper. To the +north-east of the Crimea, with a narrow passage between it and the +mainland, is the Sea of Azov. Near the entrance to that sea is the +mouth of the river Kouban, where the gallant Circassians have long held +out against the Russians. Here we have the Bosphorus at the south-west +corner of the Black Sea, with Constantinople on the one side, and +Scutari on the other; and rather more than half-way along the southern +coast is Sinope, where the Russians so barbarously massacred the +unfortunate Turks. Thus Russia possesses the northern shore of the sea, +Turkey the western and southern, and Circassia the eastern. Still, with +a tremendously strong place like Sebastopol almost in its centre, Russia +may be said to command the whole of its waters; and that's the reason, I +suppose, that we shall try to destroy Sebastopol and the fleet, which at +present lies snugly under the batteries." + +All hands agreed that they understood Archie's account. He forgot to +mention that several fortresses had been erected by the Russians on the +Circassian coast. Their garrisons were, however, seldom able to venture +far beyond their walls, the brave mountaineers being continually on the +watch to attack them. Among other pieces of news that Archie had heard, +was that the _Furious_, Captain Loring, had been sent to Odessa with a +flag of truce, to bring off the British consul and any British residents +who might be in the town. The day after Jack had joined the fleet, the +_Furious_ was seen coming in from the northward, and, soon after she +anchored, it was reported that, notwithstanding her flag of truce, the +Russians had fired at her, and also at the people she was bringing off. + +This, of course, made the admirals very indignant, and several steamers +were sent to the north to blockade the port; and, on the 17th of April, +the combined fleets weighed and proceeded in the same direction, +arriving off Odessa on the 28th. + +"I thought it wouldn't be long before we had something to do," said +Archie, as he and Tom stood on the deck, watching the coast along which +the _Tornado_ was steaming. + +The city stands on the southern shore of a bay, with the houses built on +the slopes, with moderately high hills rising up from it. In the centre +of the bay was a citadel armed with heavy guns, overlooking the whole of +the bay, with strong batteries placed at different points, so as to +sweep it with a crossfire; while the ends of three piers were heavily +armed with batteries. + +As soon as the ships came off the place, the admiral sent in a summons +to the governor, demanding, as an atonement for the insult offered to +the flag of truce, that all English and French ships should be sent out, +and the Russian ships surrendered; and threatening, should this demand +not be complied with, that the combined squadron would open fire on the +place. The officers and men on board the ships waited eagerly for the +governor's answer, whether he would yield to their demands and send out +the vessels, or would try the chances of war. All hands hoped that he +would prove obstinate, and give them the chance of trying their shot and +shell against his stone batteries. + +By the evening of the 21st no answer had been given, and Jack, with the +other captains and commanders, having been summoned on board the +flagship, returned in high spirits with the announcement that the place +was to be attacked. + +The next morning, Ben Snatchblock's shrill pipe sounding along the decks +roused up the watch below, who sprang on deck with even more than their +usual alacrity. The midshipmen, turning out of their hammocks, quickly +dressed. Everybody by this time knew that work was to be done. The +grey light of morning was just breaking in the eastern horizon, beyond +the combined fleets of England and France, which lay outside of the +steamers. On the west was the city of Odessa, rising to a considerable +height above the calm surface of the water, green fields and woods on +either side, while in front could be seen the citadel and its numerous +forts armed with heavy guns, ready to pour showers of shot and shell on +the ships which might dare to oppose them. + +The English and French admirals threw out the signal for the +steam-squadron to weigh. It was answered with alacrity--the vessels, +urged rapidly through the water by their paddles, stood in towards the +shore. As they approached, the silence of the morning was broken by the +loud roar of the Russian guns from the citadel and lower forts, +responded to by those of the allies fired from the decks of the +steamers; which, having delivered their broadsides with excellent aim, +stood off again to give place to their successors in the line. Having +made a semicircle and reloaded, they again came into action; this +manoeuvre being repeated without cessation, so that not a moment of +breathing-time was allowed to the Russians in the batteries. Most ably +were the guns of the latter served, many of them firing red-hot shot as +well as round-shot. At length, several of the former striking one of +the French steam frigates, flames were seen to burst out from her, and +she was compelled to stand out of action while her crew, not without +difficulty, extinguished the fire. + +A breeze springing up, the gallant _Arethusa_ was seen standing in under +sail, and as she closed with the batteries, she opened her fire with +tremendous effect; then, putting down her helm, she came about and stood +off once more, amid showers of shot and shell which came sweeping over +and about her; though, close as she was, not a shot touched her. +Greatly to the disappointment of her gallant captain, he saw the signal +made from the flagship for his return. Thinking that he might shut one +eye, as Nelson did at Copenhagen, he however once more stood in, +delivering a fire from his eight-inch-shell guns, standing in even +closer than before. This manoeuvre he repeated several times; but again +the admiral, fearing that he would receive more damage than would be +compensated for by the injury inflicted on the enemy, finally recalled +him, and, sending for him on board the flagship, complimented him upon +his gallantry and the skilful way in which he had manoeuvred his ship. + +The attacking squadron was now strengthened by several other steamers +and gunboats. The _Tornado_ had been playing her part. "We shall make +our fire tell before long," observed Jack to Higson, who stood by his +side, just as the ship had delivered her broadside and was standing out +of action. "See, flames are bursting out from the fort at the end of +the mole,--that won't trouble us again,--look there on the other side, +there must be numerous works and storehouses on fire. If we keep on in +this fashion the Russians will have the whole place burnt about their +ears." + +The men were at their quarters, with shirt-sleeves tucked up, their +heads bound by handkerchiefs, and belts round their waists. Another +circle was made, when, just as the _Tornado_ had delivered her fire, a +terrific sound was heard; the fort in front of her seemed to rise in the +air, the flames shot upwards, and huge blocks of stone came hurtling +down on either side. Loud cheers burst from the British crew. +"Hurrah!" cried Tom, "I hope that won't be the only fort blown up before +long." As he spoke, it was seen that several other forts were in +flames. Soon after the squadron was brought closer in to attack the +shipping within the mole. The shot and shell poured upon them rapidly +did its work. Some of the vessels were sunk; others, with the rest of +the storehouses, were set on fire. No efforts made by the Russians +could quench the flames, which continued burning all night. + +The work was most complete; all the Government vessels, barracks, +storehouses full of ammunition and military stores, were completely +destroyed. Next day the Russians were, however, seen attempting to +rebuild their earthworks; but a few shells from the _Arethusa_ dispersed +them. Several Russian vessels having been captured at sea, the admiral +sent in to propose to exchange their crews for those on board the +vessels which had been detained in the harbour. The governor, however, +replied that he had no authority to make an exchange of prisoners, which +personally he much regretted. Admiral Dundas, on hearing this, sent his +prisoners, who were all merchant seamen, on shore, observing that he was +at war only with the Government of the country, and did not wish to +inflict annoyance on the peaceable inhabitants. Some time after the +return of the fleet to Baljik, the English merchant seamen who had been +detained at Odessa made their appearance, having been released by order +of the Czar, who would not be outdone in generosity by the English. + +Several vessels had been left in the north to cruise up and down the +coast. Among them were the _Tornado, Tiger_, and two others. Several +prizes had been made when the _Tiger_ parted company in a thick fog. +Jack had been for some time looking out for her, when the sound of heavy +guns was heard inshore. The _Tornado_, in company with another steamer, +stood on in the direction from whence the sounds proceeded; in a short +time a rapid firing of musketry was heard. + +"One of our cruisers is being engaged with the enemy," observed Higson. + +"I suspect so," said Jack; "but I very much fear that she must be on +shore. At all events, we must stand in and drive away the enemy, while +we try to get her off." + +Jack hailed his consort, and, putting on all steam, the two vessels +stood towards the land. Just then the firing ceased, and directly +afterwards, the fog lifting, Cape Fortan, a headland about four miles to +the south of Odessa, appeared in sight. Every glass on board was turned +in the direction of the land. + +"There is a vessel on shore close to the cape," observed Higson. + +"She must, I fear, be the _Tiger_" said Jack; "we may still be in time +to help her. Perhaps she has driven off the Russians." + +"I am afraid not," said Higson, "for I can make out several boats +surrounding her. I fear that Captain Giffard has been compelled to +strike his flag, and that the Russians are removing the prisoners." + +"He would not have done that as long as he had the slightest hope of +saving his ship," said Jack; "still we may be in time to prevent her +from falling into the enemy's hands." + +While all on board were watching the ship on shore, flames were seen to +burst out from her fore and aft. + +"She's done for; and all her crew, I fear, will be made prisoners," said +Jack. + +Deep sympathy was felt on board for the unfortunate ship's company, and +vexation that so fine a vessel should be lost. Little hope remained of +their being able to extinguish the flames. Still Jack determined to try +what could be done. In a few minutes, however, the matter was set at +rest--the fire increased, the masts and spars of the doomed ship were +enveloped in flames; and then there came a thundering report, her deck +lifted, the masts shot upwards, and an instant afterwards, as they came +down hissing into the water, a few blackened timbers alone remained of +the stout ship which had lately floated buoyantly on the ocean with her +gallant crew. + +Jack and his consort opened their fire on the Russian troops, who still +remained in sight; but they, knowing that their field-pieces could +produce no effect upon the ships, quickly retired out of harm's way, and +the steamers again stood off the shore. + +It was not till some time afterwards, on the release of the crew, that +Jack heard of the circumstances connected with the loss of the _Tiger_. +She had gone on shore during a fog, when her situation was perceived by +a body of Russian troops, who at once brought a battery of field-guns to +bear upon her, assailing her incessantly also with a fire of musketry. +Her captain was suffering from a severe fever at the time, but, +immediately going on deck, was giving directions for hauling her off +when he fell mortally wounded, both his thighs broken by a round-shot. +Several of his men were struck down at the same time; and at length the +first lieutenant, finding it impossible to get the ship off, hauled down +his flag. Directly the Russians ceased firing, boats came off, and the +officers and crew, with their wounded captain, were carried on shore. +Instead, however, of receiving the rough usage they expected, all the +prisoners, especially the wounded, were treated by the Russians with the +most considerate humanity; and they acknowledged that, had they been +wrecked on their own coast, they could not have received greater +attention and kindness than was bestowed on them by their enemies. +Nothing, however, could save the life of Captain Giffard, who quickly +sank from the effects of his terrible wound. + +Jack, as well as several of his brother commanders, had long been +wishing to take a look at Sebastopol, knowing that the information they +might gain would be acceptable to the admirals. The Russian fleet, +supposed to be numerous and powerful, had not yet shown itself outside +the harbour since its cowardly attack on the Turks at Sinope. Jack +talked the subject over with Mildmay; the latter was ready for anything. +He especially wished to take a sketch of the renowned fortress, and +purposed making some lines on the subject. Jos Green was delighted with +the idea; but how was it to be accomplished? They might run in at +night, but then, as he observed, as they should see nothing, they would +not be much the wiser. They were discussing the matter, when the +look-out shouted, "A sail on the weather-bow." + +The vessel's head was turned in the direction of the stranger, and, the +wind being light, she had no more chance of escaping than a mouse has +from a cat in open ground. She proved to be a brig under Russian +colours, though the master and several of the crew were Austrians. They +took their fate very quietly, and were ready to give all the information +they possessed. The master had frequently been at Sebastopol in former +days; he stated that an Austrian steam-packet, about the size of the +_Tornado_, occasionally called off the port. Jack got a full +description of the vessel from his informant, and he and his lieutenants +agreed that they could give the _Tornado_ much the same appearance. + +"I have often read in the old war of the way vessels were disguised to +deceive the enemy. It is quite a lawful proceeding," Jack observed. + +Sail-makers and painters were fully employed in shaping and painting old +sails to conceal the heavy guns and figure-head, and to alter the +general appearance of the ship. When all was done, Jack, with his first +lieutenant and Needham, pulled off to a distance to have a look at her, +and were fully satisfied that the keenest of eyes on shore would not +discover her real character. The crew were also ordered to rig in their +working-day clothes, and it was arranged that one watch should go below, +while only a few officers in undress uniform were to appear on deck. + +Highly delighted, Jack steered towards the lion's den. The Austrian +skipper was in a state of great trepidation. "If discovered, the ship +will be inevitably sunk!" he exclaimed. + +"No fear," said Jack; "we'll see what's to be seen, and then steam out +again at a rate which will give the Russian gunners no little trouble to +hit us." + +The midshipmen were of course in high glee; Tom was only sorry that +Desmond was not with them. "How he would have enjoyed the fun!" he +exclaimed; "only perhaps he's finding some still better in the Baltic." + +That night, few slept out the morning watch, all being so eager to have +an early look at the fortress, as Jack had determined to enter the +harbour soon after daybreak, when, as might be supposed, the garrison +would not have got the sleep out of their eyes. As morning broke, the +high cliffs on either side Sebastopol appeared in sight. The Austrian +colours were hoisted, the greater portion of the crew were sent below, +the remainder being ordered to lounge about in merchantman fashion; +while Jack and Jos Green and the two lieutenants, with the Austrian +skipper, walked the deck with the perfect composure of men who were well +acquainted with the place. Keen eyes were, however, looking out from +many a port at the rocky shores ahead, as the _Tornado_ drew in to the +land. Two brigs-of-war were discovered at anchor on either side of the +harbour's mouth, and as of course they would be on the alert, there was +a great probability of their discovering the character of the stranger. +A few shot might, however, quickly send them to the bottom, in case they +should attempt to stop her. The crew were ordered to be in readiness to +spring on deck at a moment's notice, and every man below hoped that that +notice would be given. On stood the _Tornado_, no sign being given on +board the brigs that her character was suspected. Jack and his +officers, as the steamer ran in, had time to count the guns which +frowned down upon them from the four forts on either side of the +harbour, each with three tiers of batteries; and, what was of more +importance still, to make out the number of ships in the harbour. + +"I can see three three-deckers and several two-deckers," said Jack. + +"There are at least four frigates," added Higson, "and fully half a +dozen smaller craft; and see, over the point, those mastheads; there are +four of them, and evidently ships of the line. That makes not much +fewer than our fleet; if they've any pluck in them, they'll come out and +fight us; and our admirals are the men to give them every chance of +doing so." + +The _Tornado_ had now got as far up the harbour as Jack considered +prudent, and she was gradually brought round as if about to come to an +anchor, with her head turned towards the harbour's mouth. It had +required no small amount of resolution to bring her into that position; +at any moment twelve hundred pieces of artillery in those frowning forts +above their heads might open their fire, and send their shot, which, +plunging down upon the ship's deck, would turn her into a sieve in a few +seconds. Jack and his officers were equal to the occasion. He and +Higson calmly lighted their cigars, and, as they walked backwards and +forwards on deck, puffed away with might and main; both of them, +however, keeping an eye on the forts, waiting for the moment when they +might open fire. The ship, having been brought round, glided slowly on +for some distance; then Jack gave the order to turn ahead at full speed, +and out she shot between the two brigs, their crews even then wondering +what had induced her so suddenly to take her departure. Not till she +was well outside them did they begin to suspect the character of the +stranger which had paid them a visit that morning, when their +signal-flags were seen run up to the mastheads, answered by two or three +of the outermost frigates. + +Just then a schooner was seen entering under Russian colours. "We must +take her," cried Jack; "the impudence of the act will have a good +effect, and show the Russians what Englishmen can dare and do. Haul +down those colours--hoist our ensign," he added. The change was rapidly +effected; the signalising between the brigs and frigates went on still +more vehemently, while the former sent a few ineffectual shot at their +audacious visitor. + +"Keep her for the schooner," cried Jack. The skipper of the Russian +merchantman was evidently much astonished at perceiving the Austrian +steamer suddenly turned into an English man-of-war. Finding that he +could by no possibility escape, he hauled down not only his colours, but +his sails, when the steamer, running alongside his vessel, took her in +tow, having first removed him and his crew to her deck. He proved, like +the first, to be an Austrian; the two skippers mutually condoled each +other on their misfortunes. + +Away the _Tornado_ steamed out to sea, but a sharp eye was kept on the +proceedings of the Russian fleet. The two brigs were seen getting under +way; presently afterwards three of the outside frigates slipped from +their moorings, and stood out under all the canvas they could spread in +chase of the daring intruder. The officers and crew had now mustered on +deck, and, the painted canvas being got rid of, the ship was quickly +made ready for action. + +"Only let two of them come on at a time, and we shall have them in tow +before long," observed Dick Needham, a sentiment which was heartily +responded to. The breeze, however, increased, and the frigates came +dashing on, keeping pretty close together, at a rate which made it more +than possible that they would overtake him. Jack heartily wished that +he could have carried off the schooner as a prize, but it was not worth +while to risk the loss of his ship in making the attempt. He could not +hope to capture even one of the enemy, unless he could separate them, +and this, as they were favoured by the wind, he saw that he should be +unable to do. Prudence, therefore, compelled him very unwillingly to +cast off the prize, upon which the Russians speedily pounced, but only +to find her empty. + +The crew cheered heartily, while many a laugh resounded through the +ship, as they witnessed the Russians' disappointment, and saw the +squadron sail back again into port, jack communicated the information he +had received to the admiral. Soon afterwards the fleet of the allies +appeared before Sebastopol, two or three of their ships having been sent +out of sight in order to make their forces equal, and to induce the +Russians to come out and fight them. The latter, however, knew too well +what would be the result to make the attempt. Admiral Lyons sailed away +with a small squadron to reconnoitre the shores of Georgia and +Circassia. During the trip, he endeavoured to persuade Schamyl, the +far-famed Circassian chief, to co-operate with him in taking the +fortresses of Soujak and Anapa, two of the only three fortresses still +held by the Russians; but the old warrior was not in a condition to +undertake the enterprise. Redoubt Kaleh was however attacked, and the +garrison, after setting fire to it, retreated. The number of prizes +captured by the squadron, which sailed throughout the Black Sea, +sweeping it of every vessel except those of the allies, was very great. +Jack was elsewhere, he having been employed in running several times to +Constantinople, and back to Cavarna. + +He at length obtained the wished-for opportunity of visiting his brother +at Gevreckler. Taking Tom with him, they landed at the nearest village +on the shore, where they obtained horses. The scenery was picturesque, +and sometimes exceedingly beautiful. They passed through a Turkish +village at the base of some low hills. The village consisted of +mud-walled and thatched houses built on either side of green lanes +bordered by trees, with farmyards attached, and enormous whitewashed, +dome-shaped clay ovens. The streets all led to a common centre, like a +village green in England; here and there were wells, from which girls in +Oriental costume were drawing water. They were perfectly ready to chat +with the strangers had they understood each other's language, but, as +that was not the case, they laughed and smiled in friendly fashion. On +the level ground vast cornfields appeared spread out, already yellow +with ripeness, and here and there patches of tall guinea-grass of +deepest green, the fields being intersected by low copses, and +occasionally rows of trees of greater height, while to the west appeared +numerous hills of graceful form covered by waving woods. Far in the +south could be seen the blue outline of the Balkan range. + +At length, mounting the last height, Jack and his companions reached the +plateau of Gevreckler, when the white tents of the Guards and +Highlanders appeared, extending far and wide before them. Here lay +encamped the flower of England's warriors; but, alas! Jack, as he rode +through the camp, was struck by the pallid countenances and feeble gait +of many of those he met, while from the canvas walls of a large tent +came the cries of strong men in mortal agony. He inquired of a soldier +near the cause of the cries. + +"Some more fellows down with the cholera," was the answer; "they've got +the cramps, and they are precious hard to bear, I know; had them myself +last night, but they passed off." As the man spoke, his countenance was +overspread by a deadly pallor; he sank on the ground, shrieking out. +His cries attracted several of his comrades, who, lifting him up, +carried him into the nearest hospital tent. A little farther on Jack +came upon an open space, where groups were collected round a person +acting as an auctioneer, who was disposing of uniforms, clothes, camp +equipage, and even horses and various other articles which had belonged +to officers and men just carried off by cholera. It could not fail to +have a depressing effect; he almost dreaded to ask about his brother +Sidney. Regaining his composure, he inquired the direction of his tent, +and was relieved to hear that he had been seen a short time before alive +and well. + +In a few minutes he found him, seated in front of his tent, in a +washing-tub, which served as an arm-chair, with a book on his knee, and +a cigar in his mouth. "What! Jack! Tom!" he exclaimed in a more +animated tone than was his wont in England; "I am very glad to see you, +for I little expected that you would be able to make your way out here. +I can't give you a very hospitable reception; but here's a camp-stool +for you, Jack; and bring yourself to an anchor on the top of my hat-box, +Tom. Things don't look as bright as we should wish, but we can keep up +our spirits with the hopes of a change for the better. The Turks are +tremendously hard pressed in Silistria, and we are expecting every hour +to hear of the fall of the place; when we shall have the Russians down +upon us. I turn out every morning in the belief that before the day is +over we shall be ordered to march and meet the enemy; when the wind's +from the north we can hear their guns and those of the fortress +thundering away at each other; and any day we can hear the sounds of +mines exploding, and other music of glorious war," and he smiled +faintly; "I painted the pleasures of fighting in a very different light, +and cannot say that the reality comes up to them. However, you must +have some luncheon, and then we'll ride towards the Schumla, where we +can hear, though we can't see, what is going forward." + +As soon as luncheon was over, Sidney ordered his horse, a sorry steed, +not quite suitable for Rotten Row. He, with his two brothers, set out +for the position of the second division. They had got but a short +distance from the camp, when they passed a party of men carrying +stretchers, on each of which was laid a human form, the rigid outline of +the features and feet showing through the blanket shroud. The chaplain +followed to read the funeral service; but few, except those required +officially to attend, followed their comrades to their last +resting-place. Farther on were two groups of men, six or eight in each, +shovelling out the earth from some oblong holes. Silently they +laboured; no smiles were on their countenances, no jokes passed between +them; they themselves might soon be the occupants of similar +resting-places. Tom shuddered. "I have been too much accustomed to +scenes like these to take notice of them," said Sidney; "we seldom pass +a day without the loss of two or three men, and sometimes many more." + +They at length reached the height towards which they were riding, and, +on dismounting from their steeds, they could hear the rolling thunder +which came from far-off Silistria, one continued roar, as the garrison +poured the fire of their guns on the persevering hosts of Russia. + +"It seems to me as if every man in the Russian army must be blown to +pieces by this time," observed Tom. + +"So they would if they were above ground," answered Jack, "but they are +in their trenches, and only occasionally do those iron missiles carry +death in their track, except when an assault is being made, and then +they sweep them down by hundreds." + +The despatches Jack had to convey not being ready, he was compelled to +remain on shore till the following morning. All night long the low +thunder of the siege was heard even more continuously than before. He +awoke just at dawn, and listened; the wind came from the same quarter, +but no longer was the booming sound of the cannon heard. "It is all +over with the brave garrison of Silistria, I am afraid," he observed to +Sidney, who had joined him outside the tent. + +"If it is, we shall soon have a brush with the Russians," was the +answer; "I heartily hope so, for active service will help to stop the +fearful ravages of the cholera. Half a dozen of our poor fellows have +died during the night, and the army will be decimated unless something +is done to arrest the disease." Just then the reveille sounded, and the +camp was quickly astir. The news spread that Silistria had fallen. The +hope that the time of inaction was over was expressed by everyone in the +camp. The event detained Jack on shore much longer than he had +expected. At length a Turkish horseman was seen spurring towards the +camp of the allies. Officers and men hurried out to meet him, fully +expecting to hear that the enemy were advancing. He pointed to the +north, however, and an interpreter explained what had happened. He +brought glorious news, of which his countrymen might well be proud. +Prince Paskiewich, with his shattered hordes, had raised the siege, and +was in full retreat from before the brave city he had in vain assailed +for so many long weeks; but one of its gallant defenders, Butler, after +exhibiting the most heroic bravery and skill, had fallen. + +Soon afterwards another important victory was gained over the Russians +by the Turks, led by General Cannon and several other English officers, +in which also Lieutenant Glynn and Prince Leiningen, of the _Britannia_, +commanding some gunboats, took an active part. This compelled the enemy +to abandon the Principalities. Jack after this had to return to +Constantinople, where Sir Edmund Lyons and Sir George Brown were busy in +preparing rafts and chartering steamers for the embarkation of the +artillery and cavalry. + +On Jack's return he again paid a visit to Murray on board the _Briton_. +The cholera had been making sad ravages among her crew, as well as on +board other ships of the fleet, but, strange to say, not an officer had +been attacked. Hearing that Murray was below in the sick-bay, he sought +him there, and found him, with two lieutenants, assisting the surgeons +in attending to the sufferers, of whom there were at least thirty in +various stages of the disease. Murray was standing by the hammock, and +holding the hands of a poor fellow--a stout, thick-bearded man, whose +countenance was of a livid hue. + +"It's hard to bear, sir, it's hard to bear!" cried the sufferer, +writhing in agony. "Shall I get over it, do you think, sir?" looking up +in the commander's face with an inquiring glance, such as a child might +cast at its mother. + +"I hope you may," answered Alick; "but cheer up--many have been as bad +as you are, and have recovered; hold on bravely." The man seemed to +grow calmer; again, however, there came over him a fearful paroxysm of +pain. "Don't leave me, sir, don't leave me!" he exclaimed, as soon as +he could speak. Alick, who was about to go on to another man, again +held his hands, pouring some cordial down his mouth, which the doctor +handed him. He was soon quiet, but it was the quiet of death; and the +commander passed on to others who required his aid. + +Thus he and the other officers went from hammock to hammock, +endeavouring to soothe the pain of those to whom their services could be +of any avail. The dead man was lifted out and quickly sewn up in his +blanket, with a shot at his feet, to be launched overboard. Three were +committed to the deep at the same time. + +Such were the scenes going forward on board most of the ships in the +squadron; the _Britannia_ alone was destined to lose upwards of a +hundred men. On board other ships the officers devoted themselves in +the same way, and in many cases succeeded, where the medical men might +have failed, in arresting the malady. It was now known that a descent +on the Crimea was to be made; as, however, in the suffering state of the +ships' crews, it would be impossible to embark the troops, the admirals +put to sea, in the hopes of arresting the progress of the cholera. It +appeared not to have the desired effect, and many more lost the number +of their mess; and fears began to be entertained that the enterprise +must be abandoned, when suddenly the disease stopped; not a man more was +attacked. + +The ships sailed back into Cavarna Bay, and soon the operation of +embarking the army commenced. The duty was under the charge of Sir +Edmund Lyons. By the aid of the rafts he had constructed, which +consisted of two boats lashed together with a platform on the top, he +got on board the ships destined to carry them sixty pieces of field +artillery and the complement of horses belonging to every gun. He then +commenced embarking the cavalry, to the number of a thousand horses, and +twenty-two thousand infantry, on board the numerous large transports +waiting for their conveyance. + +The officers of the fleet were engaged under him in superintending the +operation. During some days a heavy swell set in, which put a stop to +the business of embarking the cavalry. The weather again changing, +however, the whole of the force was got on board without the loss of a +man. Never before had so large a fleet anchored in those waters. There +were hundreds of sailing transports, steamers innumerable, both +men-of-war and merchantmen, while above all towered the tall masts of +the line-of-battle ships. The French, having only their own infantry to +embark, most of whom were taken on board their men-of-war, got through +the process more rapidly than the English. + +Men-of-war's boats were pulling backwards and forwards, some carrying +messages, others towing-off the rafts; while smaller craft of all sorts +were moving about in every direction, bringing stores and provisions. +It was hard work for all hands, but it was cheerfully and willingly +performed. + +Jack, having to pass near the French fleet, observed a boatful of +Zouaves pulling off to a transport; the French steamer was approaching +her; the crew of the Zouaves' boat attempted to pass her bows, while +those on board her were keeping a bad lookout. The consequences was +that the steamer ran right into the Zouaves' boat. The poor fellows, +encumbered with their knapsacks and greatcoats, being utterly unable to +swim, the larger number, uttering shrieks of despair, sank like shots +before help, so near at hand, could be afforded them. + +Unhappily the cholera lingered among the troops on board the transports, +and every day several were launched into their ocean graves, as it was +impossible to carry them on shore for burial. Under such circumstances +it is usual to secure shot to the foot of the corpse in order to sink it +rapidly to the bottom. In some instances shot of insufficient weight +were used; for though the body at first sank, yet when decomposition set +in and gases were generated, it again rose to the surface; and those on +board the ships, as they looked over the side, were horrified at seeing +the bodies of their late comrades floating about, bowing to them as if +in mockery, moved by the undulations of the water. + +One evening Billy Blueblazes was on duty at the gangway, with orders to +report any boats coming alongside; as he was looking out in the dusk, he +saw, as he thought, a man swimming and approaching the ship. He hailed, +but there was no answer; still the figure came nearer and nearer, and +presently touched the foot of the accommodation ladder. "What is it you +want?" asked Billy; no answer was returned. As in duty bound, he went +up to report the circumstance to the first lieutenant. + +"There's a Turk, or some fellow of that sort, has swum off to the ship, +sir; but he won't give his name, or say what he wants." + +Higson ordered Tim Nolan, who was acting as quartermaster, to go down +and ascertain who the man was. + +"Arrah, sir, it's not a living being at all!" shouted Tim; "he's one of +the poor fellows who slipped his cable in the cholera on board the +transports, and the sooner he's made to go back where he come from the +better, seeing he isn't altogether pleasant company to living men." + +Higson was of Tim's opinion, and, ordering a shot to be securely slung, +he directed Tim to make it fast round the neck of the corpse; this was +quickly done, and the unwelcome visitor disappeared beneath the surface. + +Many other similar occurrences took place, to the great annoyance of the +seamen, as well as of the soldiers, and made them all the more anxious +to get away from the spot beneath which lay so many of their unhappy +countrymen. The English fleet having an ample supply of transports, no +troops were taken on board the men-of-war, which were thus left free for +action; but the French having secured only small vessels, their +men-of-war were so encumbered with troops that they were ill prepared to +go into action should the Russian fleet come out to attack them. The +information was received with unmitigated satisfaction on board the +British men-of-war, and all hoped that the Russians, gaining courage, +would venture from beneath their fortifications, as on the English fleet +would devolve the honour of engaging them. + +To every English sailing-ship-of-war a steamer was attached. The +English army was under the command of Lord Raglan; Admiral Dundas had +his flag flying on board the _Britannia_; while Admiral Sir Edmund +Lyons, in the _Agamemnon_, had charge of the transports. To each vessel +was assigned her particular place, so that there might be no confusion. +It was generally believed that the Russian fleet would sail out of +Sebastopol and intercept the flotilla, and that they would have to bear +the brunt of the fight. The masters of the transports were accordingly +called on board the _Emperor_, the largest of their squadron, where the +admiral's instructions were read to them, and they were asked whether +they would willingly take a part in the naval engagement, should one be +brought on. Having satisfied themselves that their widows would receive +compensation should they fall, they replied to the question with three +hearty British cheers. Thus were the preparations made for the +contemplated descent on the unknown shores of the Crimea. + +The Three Commanders--by W.H.G. Kingston + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +DESCENT ON THE CRIMEA--LANDING TROOPS--TOWING RAFTS--BATTLE OF THE +ALMA--TOM AND ARCHIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD--THE HORRORS OF WAR--BRINGING +OFF THE WOUNDED--BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL--JACK AND MURRAY IN ACTION. + +"Just gone seven bells, sir," said Billy Blueblazes, as he entered +Jack's cabin, sent according to orders by Mr Mildmay, who had the +morning watch on the 7th of September 1854. Jack was speedily on deck, +for there was plenty of work to be done that day. A gentle breeze blew +off the shore; not a cloud dimmed the sky, from which the moon cast her +beams over the calm surface of the ocean. By her pale light the +sailing-ships in all directions could be seen loosing their canvas, +while from numberless funnels wreaths of smoke were ascending, showing +that the steamers were preparing to move. All the officers were quickly +assembled on deck; many an eye was cast eastward to watch for the first +signs of coming day. The men were ordered to their stations. At length +a ruddy glow above the eastern horizon announced the approach of day; +shortly afterwards the loud roar of a gun from the lofty side of the +_Britannia_ gave the signal to weigh. The sails hanging from the yards +were let fall and sheeted home, the steamers sent forth denser columns +of smoke, which, rising in thick wreaths, floated in all directions +round the ships' funnels, obscuring the view. + +The order had been given to rendezvous forty miles due west of Cape +Tarkand. Instantly the outer ships began to move; Sir Edmund Lyons' +ship, the _Agamemnon_, with signals flying at her masthead, proudly +gliding through their midst. The English transports, in five columns of +thirty each, obeying his orders, moved slowly eastward; then came the +ships of war, the guardians of the fleet, in single column. The French, +more numerous, but with much smaller vessels, sailed out in less compact +order, with their warships crowded with troops; the Turkish fleet, +similarly encumbered, followed. Among the English perfect order was +maintained, for every captain could thoroughly trust, and well knew that +he must obey, his gallant leader. + +The French soon became scattered; their general, with some of their +line-of-battle ships, had sailed several days before, and what had +become of them was not known. + +By the morning of the ninth the whole English fleet was anchored at the +appointed rendezvous, but as yet the point at which the troops were to +land had not been selected. Next morning Lord Raglan accompanied Sir +Edmund Lyons, with several English and French engineer officers, on +board the _Caradoc_, which, after passing the mouth of Sebastopol +harbour, steered round Cape Chersonesus and looked into Balaclava, +surveying those heights ere long to become the scene of many a bloody +conflict. Returning northward, she steered close into the shore, the +generals looking eagerly out for a fitting spot on which their legions +might land. A low, sandy beach was at length perceived near Kalametra, +with two lakes beyond it. It was exactly the spot Lord Raglan desired. +Late in the evening the _Caradoc_ returned. + +During the two following days the French and Turkish vessels, which +could be seen scattered in the far distance, came slowly in; and now it +became known that the long looked-for enterprise was at once to be +commenced. + +Early on the 13th the fleet came off Eupatoria. A small party, with an +interpreter, were sent on shore to summon the town to yield at +discretion. The _Tornado_, with other steamers, being close inshore, +Jack sent Jos Green, with Tom and Archie, to obtain some fresh +provisions. They found the old governor a strict disciplinarian, +protesting against the strangers landing without having performed +quarantine, and he insisted on fumigating the missive sent him before +reading it. They might capture the town, to that he had nothing to +say--he was not there in a military capacity, but what he had to do he +intended to do in strict accordance with his orders. As all the +military authorities had run away, and only a few invalid soldiers +remained, no resistance was made, and Eupatoria became the first place +occupied by the British troops in the Crimea. + +Jack, having obtained some Russian coin at Constantinople, was able to +purchase provisions. The Tartar inhabitants, finding that they could +bring their produce to a good market, were perfectly ready to part with +whatever provisions they possessed. + +The fleet, now proceeding southward, came to an anchor in a line +parallel with the shore, the English to the north, the French and Turks +to the south, about five or six miles to the north of the Balaclava +River. During the night of the 13th it was arranged that a buoy should +be placed, to divide the English and the French fleets, in the centre of +the bay. When morning dawned it was found to be afloat almost at the +northern end of the bay, having been placed in that position, either +from ignorance or treachery, by the French. There was no time for +expostulation, the French were found already to have occupied the whole +ground. To avoid the risk of a dispute, Sir Edmund Lyons, like a wise +man, knowing that a similar landing-place existed a little farther to +the north, also with a lake inside it, at once ordered the transports to +proceed there and take up their proper places. + +The day was fine and the water smooth, and early in the morning the +landing commenced. So admirably were the arrangements made that the +troops landed in the order they were to take on the march, while the +line-of-battle ships remained outside, thus keeping up the communication +with a steamer stationed off the mouth of Sebastopol harbour, so that, +should the Russian fleet sail out, they might at once proceed to meet +it, and prevent it from interfering with the transports. Jack's ship, +and other disengaged steamers, were in the meantime sent to cruise up +and down the coast and annoy the enemy. Jack ran down to the south, and +communicated with the vessel off the mouth of the harbour. Greatly to +his disappointment, no signs were to be perceived among the Russian +fleet that they were likely to come out and give battle. Now was their +opportunity, if they intended to do so, for their scouts on shore must +have informed them that the French and Turkish men-of-war were employed +in landing their troops, and for what they could tell the English were +similarly occupied. + +"You may depend on it," observed Jack, "by some means or other they know +that our ships are ready to meet them, and they feel pretty sure that +they would get the worst of it." + +The _Tornado_, keeping clear of the formidable batteries which frowned +defiance from the northern side of the harbour, now stood close inshore. +Above her rose a series of cliffs, with a broad plateau on the summit, +extending as far as the mouth of the Alma River. A group of tents were +near the edge of the cliff. + +"Where there are tents there are men," observed Higson; "are we to fire +at them?" + +"It is our business to do so," answered Jack, "though it is not much to +my fancy to fire at men who cannot return the compliment. Elevate the +guns so as to clear the top of the cliff." The engines being stopped, +the _Tornado_ opened her fire. Presently one tent went down, then +another and another, showing that she had got the exact range. The +figures of men could be discerned scampering off, leaving their tents to +their fate. The engines being put in motion, the ship steamed on till a +body of horsemen were discerned, who had apparently come down to +ascertain the cause of the firing. Several shot were sent flying close +to them, making them wheel about; but before they had got out of sight +two other guns were fired, and a horseman was seen to drop from his +saddle. The rapid movement of the rest showed that they were wisely +anxious to avoid a similar fate. + +Near the mouth of the Alma a considerable body of infantry were +observed; not being aware of the long range of the stranger's guns, they +stood watching her approach. Suddenly stopping her engines, she opened +on them with her whole broadside; two or three were seen to fall, but +still they stood their ground. + +"They are waiting for orders to march," observed Higson; "they would be +wiser if they took ours." With considerable reluctance, Jack gave the +order to fire another broadside; he did not like shooting down men in +cold blood, but yet he must obey his superiors. Scarcely had the smoke +of the guns cleared away than the Russians were seen beating a rapid +retreat, though they still kept together. Three more shot had the +effect of making them increase their speed, and they disappeared behind +some rocky ground which afforded them shelter. Here and there some +tents were seen, as well as cavalry and infantry, who, however, moved +off as the warship approached, well aware, small as she looked, of the +mischief she could do them. + +Returning to the fleet, where the landing was taking place, Jack found +that the greater part of the English infantry were already on shore. +From what he had seen, he made his report that the enemy was not likely +to make any immediate attack on the invading forces. Still a +considerable portion of the cavalry had to be landed; the weather +changed for the worse, and rain came down heavily, wetting the troops on +shore, who had no tents or protection of any sort, to the skin. Jack +received orders to send two of his boats to assist in towing one of the +rafts now alongside the transport to the shore. Green had charge of one +of them, and Tom and Archie the other. They found two heavy guns +already on the raft, with several horses. The detachment of +artillerymen belonging to the guns now came down the ship's side and +took their places on board, forming altogether a pretty heavy cargo. + +The raft was one of those built at Constantinople, and consisted of two +clumsy boats lashed together side by side and boarded over; very well +suited for smooth water, but extremely dangerous with a heavy sea +running. However, as it was important to get the guns on shore, Green +determined to make the attempt. Two of the artillery officers were +invited into the men-of-war's boats, and all being ready, they shoved +off, taking the huge raft in tow. By this time it was perfectly dark, +and the sea increasing made the operation of towing the raft very heavy +work. + +"Give way, my lads," cried Green; "we haven't far to go; and see, we +shall have a warm welcome when we get there." + +He pointed to the beach, which was lit up along its whole length by +fires which had been kindled with the planks of several disabled boats +and rafts. + +The heavy swell tossed the raft about not a little, but the crews pulled +away lustily as British seamen always do, and the raft at length +approached the shore. The roar on the beach as the surf broke on it was +not encouraging; still, orders were to be obeyed. Just then a snorting +noise was heard, and a magnificent horse came swimming by, as he +splashed the water with his forefeet, surrounding himself with a blaze +of phosphorescent light. To catch him was impossible. + +"He has probably escaped from a raft which has been capsized," observed +Green; "his chances of being drowned are considerable, though he may +have sense to swim back to the ship which brought him here." + +"I hope that won't be the fate of our own raft," observed the artillery +officer. + +"I can't warrant its safety," said Green; "had I been asked, I should +have advised waiting till the morning; however, we'll do our best, and +it will be a much harder matter to pull back than it has been to reach +the shore." + +Just then the light of the fires falling on the raft, showed her to +those on the beach, from whence a loud authoritative voice came ordering +her to return to the ship. + +"More easily said than done," observed Green. + +However, he gave the order to Tom and the officer in command of the +other boat to pull round and do their best. Every instant the swell was +increasing; the boats' crews, though pretty well tired, pulled as +before. The raft tossed fearfully about, threatening to heave her whole +freight of guns, horses, and artillerymen overboard. The latter, with +their arms in their hands, shouted out that the boat was about to sink; +and sad would be the fate, Green saw, of most of them if it did so; +while in the darkness, amid the struggling horses, it would be scarcely +possible to pick them all up. The only thing to be done was to pull +away with might and main; sometimes, in spite of all their efforts, the +raft seemed drifting back to the shore; at others the waves sent it +rushing forward, threatening to stave in the sterns of the boats. + +"Here's a pretty piece of work!" observed Tom; "I only hope we shall be +able to get hold of one of the transports before long." + +"There's one ahead of us, if we can but reach her," said Archie; +"there's nothing like trying." + +Try they did, cheering on the men; and by dint of hard pulling they got +within hail of the transport, and asked for help. "We cannot give it +you," was the answer; "we have a boat-load of horses alongside." A +second transport was neared, and then another and another, but all +declared their inability to render assistance. Green was almost in +despair; the artillerymen were shouting out more lustily than before, +asserting that the raft was fast filling. At length the boats managed +to tow her up alongside a transport, the master of which responded to +their appeal, and assisted them in securing her. Fortunately the +artillerymen she had brought out had not yet been landed, and, the +officers turning them out of their berths, they assisted the crew in +hoisting the horses and guns on board. The gun-carriages, however, +being too heavy, were left on board the raft, and she was let drop +astern. As, however, their loss made the guns useless, Tom and Archie +were sent to the nearest ship to obtain assistance. As they got +alongside, they found that she was the _Briton_, and, Archie having +explained matters to his uncle, who was on deck, Commander Murray sent a +boat with a fresh crew, by whose means the gun-carriages were at length +hoisted on board. + +Soon afterwards the sorely-battered raft went to pieces. Tom and Archie +were still alongside, when they caught sight of the noble horse which +they had seen coming off from the shore still struggling in the waves. +Instinct had directed it to the very vessel from which it had been +disembarked. Shouting to the crew on deck, they called for slings, +which were sent down, and being secured--not without difficulty--round +the body of the horse, the animal was lifted safely on board, to all +appearance not much the worse for its swim of upwards of two hours. + +The weary crews at length got back to their ship. The next day, the +wind going down, more of the artillery and horses were landed, and by +the evening of the 18th the whole army was on shore without a man being +lost; the disembarkation having been superintended by Captain Dacres of +the _Sanspareil_. + +The French were posted on the right, close to the sea, the Turks +somewhat in their rear, and the English on the left of the line; the +duty of protecting the left flank of the army being confided to the +British cavalry. The Turks, accustomed to this sort of work, were at +once at home, with their tents well pitched, and surrounded by such +luxuries as they deemed necessary; while the young troops of England and +France, few of whom had seen active warfare, were sitting wet and +comfortless round their camp-fires. + +The natives, with their black lambskin caps and long pelisses, came to +the camp in considerable numbers, bringing provisions, and, what was of +more consequence, camels, and carts drawn by oxen for the conveyance of +stores. + +On the morning of the 19th of September the bugles sounding through the +camp aroused all sleepers, and in a short time the army began its march +to the southward. The transports, having performed their duty, sailed +away for the Bosphorus, while the ships-of-war moved slowly on abreast +of the army down the coast, coming to an anchor when it halted, and +again weighing when it recommenced its march; the larger ones, for want +of water, being obliged to keep at some distance out, while the steamers +stood in with the lead going as close as possible, somewhat in advance +of the army, throwing in their shot and shells whenever they caught +sight of any troops at which to fire. + +Towards evening the armies reached the first river in their march, the +Bulganak, on the banks of which they bivouacked for the night, in order +of battle, as it was thought possible that at dawn they would be +attacked by the Russians. The night closed in with rain--bad +preparation for the work which all knew would take place on the morrow. +The morning dawned more brightly; it was to be the last day many of +those brave men in the allied hosts were to see, but few expected to be +among the slain. A glorious victory was to be gained by their prowess, +they believed, though victory was not to be won without hard fighting. +As the sun glanced over the hilltops the steamers got up their steam, +and the line-of-battle ships loosed their sails. + +Tom and Archie climbed to the masthead, where they determined to remain +with telescopes in hand till called down to attend to their duty on +deck. In front of them was a line of cliffs extending to the mouth of +the Alma, bordering a wide extent of undulating ground. Beyond the Alma +rose broken cliffs with a broad plateau on their summit, on which the +enormous army of Russia was posted, their lines extending from the coast +far away out of sight. In front of the steep hillsides were numerous +heavy batteries, capable of sweeping the invading force back into the +stream of the Alma, till its waters should run dark with blood. More to +the left the French forces could be seen forming in order of battle, +with the Turks in the rear, while only for a short distance could the +red-coated soldiers of England be distinguished. Now and then a party +of horsemen could be made out. When the sun rose, its rays glittered +for a moment on the helmets and breastplates of the heavy cavalry as +they moved off to protect the left flank of the invading forces. + +The hours went slowly by; they were of intense interest to the +spectators, and much more so must they have been to those who had to +take an active part in the coming strife. Not, however, till eleven +o'clock were the armies seen to be advancing. The ships near the cliffs +began the action by throwing shot and shell among the Russians posted on +the heights. The light infantry regiments could be seen moving in +advance, throwing out skirmishers; then came the heavy infantry +battalions, with firm tread pressing the ground. At length the blue +coats of the French, who had crossed the Alma at its mouth, were +observed climbing the rugged heights, the summit of which being gained, +they rapidly formed, greatly to the astonishment, apparently, of the +Russians, who had not perceived their approach. Now there burst forth +from the whole hillside the roar of artillery and the rattle of +musketry, so rapidly as to blend into one continuous sound, telling of +death to many a brave heart. + +"The British are advancing!" cried Tom; "see, they are pushing across +the river, but they don't appear on the hill yet. The Russian +skirmishers are disputing the ground with them. What a rattling fire +they are keeping up!" + +Some time passed by: the redcoats were hotly engaged with the enemy near +a large village, that of Bourliouk. In a short time the village burst +out into flames, completely hiding the troops on its farther side; then +the British were again caught sight of, after they had crossed the river +beyond the village, fighting their way up the slope, encountering the +fearful fire of the Russians, and small red spots could be discerned on +the ground over which they had passed. + +Here and there the British redcoats could be distinguished fighting +their way up the hillside; but the broken nature of the ground hid the +larger number from sight, and it was impossible to discover how the +battle was going. Only at length it was seen that the banners of France +occupied the ground where the Russians had before stood; still some time +passed before they advanced. The Turks remained below, which was a good +sign, as it showed that their aid was not required. Now, far away, the +redcoats could be discerned scattered over the hillside. Could it be +that they were defeated? No; just then a long thin line, like a scarlet +thread, was seen amid the smoke, far, far away, moving up the slope, in +one spot having a parti-coloured hue. + +"Those must be the Guards and Highlanders," exclaimed Tom. "My brother +Sidney will be in for it; I hope he'll escape, poor fellow. I wish I +could be there to help him, if he gets wounded." + +Onward advanced that thin unbroken line up the hill; the brow was +reached, when there appeared in front of it a grey mass, which seemed +like a square patch of withered grass on the greener herbage. Many such +patches were seen sending forth wreaths of smoke from their midst. The +midshipmen guessed rightly that it was a column of Russian infantry. +From the red column issued a sheet of flame and smoke; not for one +moment did it cease. Minutes went by; now that parti-coloured portion +of the line reached the summit of the hill and moved on, smoke issuing +from it as it moved. The dark mass of the enormous Russian column began +to recede before it, at length breaking and scattering in all +directions. + +The French, meantime, had disappeared, sweeping the enemy before them +over the hill, till they were lost to sight. The batteries, which had +been pouring their shot down on their assailants, had ceased their fire, +for those assailants had already stormed and captured them. The English +attack in front had been successful, and more troops, which had been +kept in reserve, went streaming up the hill. The whole British and +French armies had not only gained the heights, but, as it seemed, were +sweeping the Russians before them. The rattle of musketry was now only +occasionally heard; then came a few salvoes of artillery, and the fierce +uproar which had raged for the last two hours almost ceased. + +The slopes which partly faced the sea were the most visible, and on +these could be seen numerous red spots--some strewn thickly together, +others scattered more apart, marking the places where the Russian fire +had carried death and wounds into the British ranks. Still at that +distance nothing clearly could be seen. + +"It must be the case," cried Tom at length. "Hurrah! we've won, and the +Russians are running away; you'll see that I'm right. Now, my brother +will be as anxious as I am to learn how it has fared with Sidney; I hope +he's all right, poor fellow; but I am terribly afraid, with all that +firing which has been going on so long, an immense number must have been +killed." + +The midshipmen, who had been allowed to retain their seats, were at +length called down. There was considerable excitement on board, +everybody anxious to hear news from the shore, though no one doubted +that a splendid victory had been gained. They had not long to wait; the +signal staff set up on shore was soon at work. A complete victory had +been gained, and it was requested that boats might be sent immediately +on shore with hammocks on which to carry the wounded on board ship. The +appeal was quickly responded to. Jack immediately ordered two of his +boats to be got ready under the command of Higson, with whom he sent Tom +and Archie, giving the two midshipmen permission to make their way on +till they could find the Guards, to ascertain the fate of his brother. + +Tom was delighted with the duty. + +"Stay," said Jack; "you may find many poor fellows wounded, who will be +the better for some brandy, and some may want water. Take as much as +you can carry; you'll not have more than is wanted, I fear." + +Search was made for flasks, and each midshipman carried three, and two +bottles of water. Archie, with due forethought, also tore up two of his +shirts, which he stuffed into his pockets. Higson followed their +example in carrying a supply of spirits and water. + +Away the two boats pulled for the beach near the mouth of the Alma, +where numerous others were already assembled. For the first half-mile +or so, after landing, there were few signs of the conflict, but in a +short time they met parties of English and French soldiers carrying +wounded men, most of them looking more dead than alive from loss of +blood; while, as they advanced, they found numerous tents set up, in +which the surgeons were already at work amputating arms and legs, and +dressing the more severe wounds. Where the conflict had raged the +hottest, the surgeons, who had followed closely the advancing forces, +were employed with tourniquets doing their utmost to stop the life-blood +flowing from the veins of the wounded. Although the two midshipmen had +seen a good deal of fighting, they both turned sick as they gazed at the +fearful wounds inflicted by the round-shot. + +The road they took leading them some way to the north of the Alma, it +was only after they had proceeded a considerable distance that they came +to the part of the ground where the English had chiefly fought. On the +eastern side was the burned village of Bourliouk; the hillside was +covered with the corpses of the men of the infantry regiments, +intermingled with the bodies of the grey-coated, helmeted Russians. The +cries of the wounded soon attracted those who came to succour them, and +the seamen under Higson were speedily laden with wounded men. After the +wounded had been inspected by a surgeon, and pronounced fit to be +removed, the party set off to return to the boats, while Tom and Archie +made their way up the hill in the track the Guards had taken, Tom +looking out anxiously on every side in search of his brother, whom he +dreaded to find among the killed. + +They met numerous parties of soldiers, with a few sailors, who had +already landed, some carrying wounded men towards the village on the +banks of the Alma, the houses of which had been turned into hospitals; +others going in search of fresh burdens. The work of burying the dead, +who thickly strewed the ground in those parts where the fight had raged +the hottest, had not yet commenced; the living men had first to be cared +for. Here and there surgeons of the army, as well as many of the navy, +who had landed even before the battle was over, were attending to the +more desperate cases requiring immediate aid. The Russians received the +same attention as the English, and were at once carried off to the +hospitals. Some poor fellows lay under the walls and other shelter, +where they had crawled after being wounded; the larger number were found +where they fell. + +Tom was in a hurry to push on, while he looked about on every side for +the uniform of the Guards. From all quarters came groans and cries, and +the midshipmen could not resist stopping to afford some relief to the +sufferers. Several Russians lay with their heads placed on the corpses +of their brother soldiers; some had their arms, others their legs, blown +away by round-shot. One poor fellow was still alive, though both his +thighs had been thus broken. He had strength to point to his lips, and +Tom, kneeling by his side, poured some water down his throat. The dying +man cast a grateful look at the young officer, but before they left him +he expired. Several had their heads blown off; others, who had their +faces carried away, presented the most dreadful spectacle. + +At length Tom exclaimed, "There are some Guardsmen!" Several high +bearskin caps marked the spot to which he pointed; the first men they +came to were dead, but higher up the hill they saw more. One of them +was alive, with a bad wound in his side, and a shot through his arm; he +was apparently bleeding to death. Archie produced his bandages, while +Tom poured some brandy down his throat. It contributed to revive him; +Tom inquired eagerly if he had seen Captain Rogers. + +"Yes, sir," was the answer; "he was marching on with the regiment when I +fell." + +Having done their best to stop the blood flowing from the man's wound, +Tom and Archie hurried forward. Farther to the right the ground was +still more thickly covered with corpses. On examining them, Tom +observed that though many were Guardsmen, they did not belong to his +brother's regiment. Several officers lay dead, numerous Russians +mingled with the British. The greater number appeared to have been shot +by bullets, but several had been killed by the bayonet or sword, and +exhibited ghastly wounds. Apparently, the wounded officers had been +removed, for none were seen alive. Numerous helmets, knapsacks, and +other accoutrements thrown away by the Russians, together with the +greater number of their dead, showed that they had been put to flight by +the victorious advance of the British. + +"This is terrible," cried Tom; "I had often pictured a battlefield, but +I had not fancied it anything like so horrible as this is." + +"It must be worse to the poor fellows who lie scattered about us, +suffering fearful tortures from their wounds," answered Archie, "with +the prospect of dying from them; or even if they recover, being maimed +for life." + +"I hope poor Sidney is not among them," exclaimed Tom, for the twentieth +time; "I can't help thinking more of him than of anyone else." + +Making inquiry of some soldiers whom they at length met with stretchers +carrying the wounded men they had picked up, Tom asked if they could +tell him over what ground the-- + +Guards had passed. + +"You must keep farther to the left," was the answer; "you will come upon +some dead Highlanders, and they are just beyond them." + +The bonnets of the Highlanders were soon discovered, and not far off the +tall bearskins showed where the Guards had fought. The midshipmen, +however, made but slow progress, for they could not help stopping to +relieve those who required their aid, both friends and foes, till Archie +had used up all his bandages, and their spirits and water were nearly +expended. As Tom had not found Sidney, his spirits rose with the hope +that, at all events, he might have escaped being killed. The enormous +number of Russian dead, who were now seen covering the plain, showed the +part of the ground where the last desperate conflict had taken place. +Whole ranks of the enemy had fallen under the withering fire of the +Guards and Highlanders. In one spot they came upon an entire line of +Russians, every man of whom had been shot down apparently at the same +moment; indeed, far as the eye could reach on either side, the plain was +thickly strewn with the dead. + +At length a long line of upright figures was seen arrayed on the left, +with numerous banners waving above their heads, and horsemen moving to +and fro; the red hue on the left showing where the victorious soldiers +of England stood, halted on the battlefield, while on the right appeared +the masses of the French army, with the Turkish troops who had marched +forward to their support. They occupied the ground on which they were +to bivouac before advancing again in pursuit of the flying foe. + +The midshipmen made their way towards the troops on the left, and were +able, by looking at the lofty bearskins of the Guards, to find out the +regiment to which Sidney Rogers belonged. Almost breathless with +eagerness, Tom inquired for his brother. + +"He is there," said a sergeant, pointing to a spot where a group of +officers stood together, eagerly discussing the events of the day. + +Tom, unable to restrain his feelings, gave a shout of joy, in which +Archie joined him. As they hurried forward, Sidney advanced to meet +them, and they were soon shaking him heartily by the hand, and +congratulating him on his escape and the victory he had contributed to +win. + +"I am thankful to have come out of it unhurt," said Sidney, "especially +when I hear of the number of officers who have been killed; between +twenty and thirty, at all events; and not far short of a hundred +wounded." + +Tom then gave Jack's message, and delivered a case containing a few +luxuries brought from the ship. The midshipmen could not, however, +remain long, as they had received orders to return at night, and the day +was now rapidly closing. They were brave youngsters, but they had no +wish to be compelled to make their way over the battlefield in the +darkness, amid the dying and the dead. Wishing Sidney good-bye, they +rapidly retraced their steps; as they once more descended the hill, +their ears were assailed with cries and groans, but as they had no +longer any means of assisting the unhappy sufferers, they hurried on. +At the foot of the hill they reached the road which ran along the bank +of the river, having to pass in their way close to the smouldering ruins +of the village which had been set on fire at the commencement of the +battle. Here it was supposed that several English as well as Russian +riflemen had perished, while engaged with each other, the flames having +spread round them before they had time to make their escape. + +It was already dark when one of the _Tornado's_ boats came to take them +off. Neither of them were very much inclined to talk of what they had +seen; and even Jack, when they got on board, had some difficulty in +gaining more information from them than the fact that they had found +Sidney safe and well. After a glass or two of wine, however, Jack drew +forth an account of the scenes they had witnessed on the battlefield. +Tom often shuddered as he described the fearful condition of the +wounded, and the numbers of dead they had seen. + +Next morning they were all to rights, and were ready to go in charge of +a fresh party of seamen, who were sent on shore to bring off more of the +wounded. All day long the seamen were engaged in collecting the wounded +men and carrying them to the hospitals, or bringing them off to the +ships; while parties, told off from the different regiments, were +employed in burying the dead, generally in large pits, into which +friends and foes were tumbled without much ceremony. All the time +bodies of cavalry were kept patrolling on the left to guard the people +employed in the service from the attacks of the Cossacks, who were seen +hovering in the distance, ready to pounce down upon any unwary +stragglers. + +As soon as Jack had received on board as many wounded officers and men +as he could accommodate, he proceeded to Constantinople to place them in +the hospitals which had been got ready for their reception. Several +died on the voyage, some of their wounds and some of cholera, which +killed many officers and men after the battle. Jack was eager to get +back again to see what was going forward. Hopes had been entertained +that the allies would at once enter Sebastopol; but the news had reached +Constantinople that, instead of doing so, they had marched round the +city and had posted themselves on its southern side, the English having +occupied the harbour of Balaclava, while their army had taken up a +position on the ground above it, extending towards the fortifications of +Sebastopol. + +The _Tornado_ was still steaming at full speed across the Bosphorus, +when, soon after dawn, though still out of sight of land, a loud booming +of guns came from the northward over the calm water. "There is another +furious battle going forward," said the first lieutenant to the +commander, who had just come on deck; "I wish we were there--can the +fleet be engaged?" + +"I very much doubt that the Russians will have ventured out of their +harbour," answered Jack; "I suspect rather that the allies have +commenced the bombardment of the city. The last account stated that +they were busy preparing for it, and I think it probable that the +admirals will take the fleet in to engage the sea-batteries." + +"They will not do much against those stone walls, unless they are +complete shams," observed Higson; "however, we shall be there before +long, and if there is an honest battle at sea going on, I hope we shall +be in time to take part in it." + +Of course there was great excitement on board, everyone looking out +eagerly for the land. Surmises of all sorts were made as to what was +going forward. The engineers did their best to urge the steamer along, +but the wind was so light that the sails were wholly useless. Billy +Blueblazes and Dicky Duff, who were somewhat jealous of Tom and Archie +having been on shore, were eager to be there to see the "fun," as they +called it. + +"I can tell you fellows that it is no fun at all," said Tom, who had +become unusually grave since he had visited the battlefield of the Alma; +"I have got a brother there, and in all probability he is in the midst +of the fight." + +"And if the fleets are engaged, I have got a cousin who is as dear to me +as a brother," observed Archie, "and I don't want any harm to happen to +him. You youngsters talk glibly of fighting; but let me hear what you +have to say about it when you have seen the thing in reality. It is a +necessary evil, but an evil notwithstanding." + +The younger midshipmen laughed, and declared that it was just what they +had come to sea for. "So did we too," said Tom; "but only because it's +our duty to fight to protect our country--not that I can see that we +forward that object by coming out here to attack the Russians." + +Soon afterwards, "Land! land!" was heard from the masthead, adding to +the excitement of all on board. At length the high cliffs of the +Chersonese appeared in sight; the thunder of the guns, as the ship +advanced, increasing in loudness. Now the fleet could be seen coming +forward from the roads off the Katcha River to the north; no sails were +set, as the ships had either their own steam-power, or were moved by +steamers lashed alongside. + +"The French fleet are leading," observed Jack to Higson; "it is evident +then that their destined position is the southern end of the line, and +that our ships are to attack Fort Constantine and the other forts on the +north side of the harbour." Slowly the proud ships glided onwards, but +not a shot was fired from them; they were still out of range of the +forts. It was already near one o'clock in the afternoon. In the French +division thirteen ships could be counted, two of them carrying the +Turkish flag. Onward they glided in admirable order, still preserving +perfect silence. + +"To my mind," observed Higson, "they would be likely to do much more +good if they were farther in, and my belief is that so they would be if +they had English captains to fight them." + +"Probably the French admiral is afraid of getting his ships on shore +were he to stand in closer," observed Jack, who held the French in more +respect than did his first lieutenant. At length, as the French ships +came within range, the Russian forts opened their fire, but still no +reply was made. The whole French squadron had now one by one anchored +at exact distances from each other, extending more than half-way across +the harbour; then the signal was given, and the roar of six hundred guns +broke the silence which had hitherto prevailed, the dense clouds of +smoke which arose almost concealing them from sight. At the same moment +the English flagship was seen to throw out a signal, when three of the +English steam-frigates, which had been standing inshore, commenced +firing away at the northern forts. Another signal presently went up, +and the _Agamemnon_ was seen gliding on at more rapid speed than +heretofore towards the shore, some little distance to the north of Fort +Constantine, the nearest point which a shoal running off from the land +would allow her to reach. A gallant little steamer, the _Circassian_, +was observed leading the way, fearless of the shot which the guns of the +fort threw at her. As the _Agamemnon_ passed the _Sanspareil_, which +had been ahead of her, hearty cheers resounded from their crews, and +then both commenced firing, clouds of smoke quickly enveloping them and +assisting to baffle the gunners of the two batteries on the high ground +above them. Meantime the _Britannia, Trafalgar, Vengeance, Queen, +Rodney_, and _Bellerophon_, were proceeding southward in order to +complete the line across the harbour, while the _Sanspareil, London, +Arethusa_, and _Albion_ took up positions to the northward of the +_Agamemnon_. + +Not till afterwards, of course, did Jack hear of the gallant conduct of +Mr Ball, in command of the little steam-tender _Circassia_, which was +seen ahead of the _Agamemnon_, taking soundings for her, and leading her +close up to the shoal. Sir Edmund told him that his ship would probably +be sunk, and undertook to have his boats in readiness to pick up him and +his crew should such an event occur. As the tender moved ahead of the +great ship, the lead-line was struck out of the leadsman's hands; but +another line was immediately found, and the little vessel continued her +course. Though she received nine shots in her hull, the leadsman was +the only man wounded on board. Having performed her duty, she steamed +off out of harm's way. The _Agamemnon_ was, however, so well placed to +the north-west, that the rear guns only of the fort could be brought to +bear on her, and as she was much nearer in than the enemy expected, most +of their shot struck her masts and rigging. + +So close was the _Sanspareil_ to her stern that that ship's foremost +guns could not at first be fired. This made it necessary for her to +haul off, but it was only to return to render her able support to the +_Agamemnon_. The greater number of the ships were now hotly engaged, +well-nigh twelve hundred guns firing rapidly away at the various forts, +and crumbling the upper works of the nearest to pieces; but still all +the time the iron shower sent by the Russians came crashing on board the +ships of the allies, sending many a brave seaman to his account, and +wounding a far greater number. + +"The admiral is signalising us," exclaimed Higson; "we are to run +alongside the _Briton_, and carry her into action." + +No sooner had he uttered the words, than a loud cheer arose from the +crew; in a short time, having obeyed the order she had received, they +were where they had longed to be--in the line of battle, under the +enemy's fire, the _Briton_ having, as was the case with many of the +other ships, landed a considerable number of her people to join the +naval brigade on shore. A portion of the _Tornado's_ crew were called +on board to assist in working her guns; happy did those consider +themselves who were thus employed. Among the officers were Mr Mildmay +and Tom and Archie. As they were stationed on the upper deck, they +could occasionally see, when the dense wreaths which encircled the +combatants blew by, what was going forward. Mr Mildmay stood as cool +as usual, every now and then pulling out his notebook and making notes +in it. + +"I really believe," said Tom to Archie, laughing, "that he's writing a +poetical description of the battle. Perhaps it's a song, to be called +`The Battle of Sebastopol'--`There we lay, all that day, At stone walls +a-blazing away!'" + +"I wonder when the Russians intend to give in--it doesn't seem much like +it at present," observed Archie; "I expected that we should sail up the +harbour and sink their ships." + +"They've done that already themselves, right across the mouth. I heard +the first lieutenant tell the master so," said Tom. + +"I only wish that they were afloat, and that we were fighting them +instead of these forts," observed Archie. "When we have knocked them to +pieces, I don't see what good they will do us." + +"Why, of course, to help the soldiers on shore to get into the place," +answered Tom. + +These remarks, which were made at intervals between the firing of their +guns, were cut short by a shot killing two of the crew of one of the +guns under Tom's command. He had to summon others to take their places; +after this he felt very little inclination to talk, nor, indeed, had he +much opportunity of doing so. The position of those who remained on +board the steamer was very trying; they had nothing to do, but were +tolerably secure from damage, while the enemy's shot went flying over +their heads. Hour after hour the battle continued to rage, the troops +on shore being hotly engaged with the batteries turned towards them, the +thundering roar of their guns answering to those of the ships. Never, +perhaps, in the same space of time had so many round-shot and shells +been flying through the air. + +Little more could be seen of the ships in line across the harbour's +mouth. The French remained stationary, but some of the English +frequently moved their positions to the support of Sir Edmund Lyons and +the inshore squadron, which were enduring the brunt of the battle, +exposed as they were to the tremendous fire from Fort Constantine and +other batteries. Now flames were seen to burst forth from the _Queen_, +when, a steamer taking her in tow, she stood off to extinguish them. +Some time afterwards the _Albion_ was seen to be on fire, fearfully +mauled and unable to fire a shot, with the risk of drifting on shore. +She also stood off, helped by the steamer attending her. + +The _Rodney_ was now seen standing in to support the _Agamemnon_ when +she took the ground, and though exposed to a tremendous fire, she +continued fighting her guns. It seemed almost impossible that she +should escape destruction, but she still kept firing away till, two +steamers going to her assistance, she at length got clear. Not till +darkness came on did the battle cease, when the ships returned to their +anchorage. Jack was thankful to find that Murray and the midshipmen had +escaped, though five of his own crew and many more of the _Briton's_ had +been killed. The next morning the "butcher's bill," as Jos Green called +it, was made out, when it was found out that forty-four British seamen +had lost their lives, and that two hundred and sixty-six had been +wounded, while the _Albion_ and _Arethusa_ had been so knocked about in +their hulls and rigging that the admiral sent them off to Malta to be +repaired. + +The French ships presented a still more disabled appearance, and had +lost altogether in killed and wounded under two hundred men. Then came +the question, what had been done? and the opinion generally was that, +although a good many of the Russians might have been killed, no +essential damage had been done to the forts, and that it would be wiser +in future for the ships to let them alone. + +"I suppose the work of the fleet is pretty well over," said Murray to +Jack, who had gone on board the _Briton_, "unless we have to attack +other places along the coast. You will probably be sent on that +service, and I confess I envy you." + +"I hope we shall," was the answer; "though I am afraid that at present +we shall be employed as a despatch-boat. I should like to see what is +going forward on shore, and shall be glad if I can take a turn of duty +with the naval brigade, but I have very little hopes of that." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +THE TORNADO AT BALACLAVA--THE ALLIED CAMPS--RUSSIAN CAVALRY AND +HIGHLANDERS--THE FLYING TURKS AND THE HIGHLAND WIFE--CHARGE OF THE HEAVY +BRIGADE--"INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH RODE THE SIX HUNDRED!"--DEATH OF +CAPTAIN NOLAN--AFTER THE BATTLE--TOM AND ARCHIE PROPOSE TO LEAVE THE +NAVY FOR THE ARMY, BUT THINK BETTER OF IT--THEIR VISIT TO THE GUARDS' +CAMP--THE STERN REALITIES OF WAR--ATTACKED BY THE RUSSIANS--THE +MIDSHIPMEN IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT. + +The _Tornado_ had been ordered to proceed to Balaclava. She entered +that landlocked harbour, on the southern end of the Crimea, on the +evening of the 24th of October. As she was to remain there the whole of +the next day, Jack resolved to take the opportunity of paying a visit to +his brother Sidney, and seeing what was going forward before Sebastopol. +There was no time to set off that evening; he, however, landed with his +second lieutenant and some of his younger officers, including Tom and +Archie, to have a look at the country, and to engage horses for the next +day. + +Steep hills rose on either side of the harbour, on the right of which +the little town was situated, with steep, narrow streets leading down to +the water's edge. Above it was a line of defences, garrisoned by the +bluejackets forming the naval brigade, and the marines of the fleet. To +the left, across the Chersonese, ran the road to Sebastopol; while +directly in front, connected by a gorge with the harbour, was a broad +valley, called the South Valley. Beyond this rose a ridge known as the +Causeway Heights, on which were situated six redoubts, garrisoned by the +Turks, to whom had been committed what formed the outward defences of +Balaclava; along this causeway ran the Woronzoff Road. At the eastern +extremity of the valley there was a knoll between five and six hundred +feet in height, joining the Kamara Hills to the right by a neck of high +ground, the knoll jutting out over the valley, as a promontory does over +the sea. This knoll, on which Number 1 redoubt had been thrown up, was +called by the allies Canrobert's Hill. On the western extremity of the +valley was the Col, or gap through which the road passed to Sebastopol. +Eastward of Canrobert's Hill were the village and heights of Kamara; +completely overlooking it. On the farther side of the Causeway Heights +was what was called the North Valley, with a range of heights rising out +of it on the opposite side, denominated the Fedoukine Hills. + +Jack and his party, having ascended from Balaclava to the height of +Saint Elias, could look down into the South Valley, at the left end of +which they saw the tents of the heavy and light cavalry, with their +horses picketed about them, while just below them were encamped Sir +Colin Campbell's Highlanders. Horses, mules, carts, and vehicles of all +sorts were making their way from the harbour along the well-beaten road +to the allied camps. Not a foe was in sight; some of the officers in +command of the marines and bluejackets, who garrisoned the lines +extending from Saint Elias to the sea, whom Jack met, told him, however, +that there were rumours of the Russians not being far-off, and that they +should not be surprised if before long they were attacked. + +"You'll lick them, of course," said Tom; "but I should think they had +enough of fighting on the Alma." + +"I am not so certain of that," was the answer; "the Russians are brave +fellows, and they would like to drive us into the sea if they could." + +After spending some time with his friends, Jack returned on board, +having arranged to start at daybreak the next morning. Tom and Archie +again accompanied their commander. They turned out before daylight, and +Jack, who was anxious to see as much as he could of the operations +before Sebastopol, was ready to go on shore directly day broke. Their +horses were sorry steeds, but would save them fatigue, and enable them +to get over the ground faster than they could on foot. Remembering how +acceptable were the provisions they had before taken to Sidney, Tom and +Archie each carried a couple of baskets full of different articles of +provender, from which they might also supply themselves when they got +hungry. + +Jack had promised to call upon another officer who had been sleeping on +shore in the marines' quarters, and who had undertaken to act as their +guide. As they were mounting the hill, the loud thunder of guns broke +on their ears. "I suppose those are the siege guns," observed Tom; +"they begin work pretty early." + +"No; they came from the direction of Canrobert's Hill, to the eastward," +answered Jack; "away on our right. They must be the Turkish guns in the +redoubts." + +They hurried up the height, whence they could look down on the South +Valley and across the line of redoubts held by the Turks. They were +quickly joined by Jack's friend, who, riding up, exclaimed, "We shall +have some warm work before the day is over. Look, look! there come the +Russians in great force over those distant heights. They evidently +intend to attack the redoubts. Yes, I was sure of it; see, their +leading division has already commenced the assault on Canrobert's Hill." + +One of the first objects which had caught the eyes of the naval officer +was the English cavalry already mounted and drawn up in front of their +camps. A general officer, accompanied by other horsemen, probably his +staff, went galloping by from the direction of the harbour. + +"There goes Lord Cardigan to join the cavalry," observed their friend; +"he has been sleeping as usual on board his yacht; a pleasant way of +campaigning, eh, Rogers? However, he is no carpet knight, and if the +Russians come into the valley, we shall see what he and his cavalry can +do." + +As far as the eye could reach Jack saw masses of Russians, some +advancing southward, others apparently turning off to the right along +the North Valley, when they were hidden from sight by the intervening +ridge. Besides the Turks, the only troops to oppose them were the +cavalry at the west end of the valley, the 93rd Highlanders, under Sir +Colin Campbell, and the marines and naval brigade on the heights above +Balaclava, with a battery of field-guns. Some little way from the foot +of the hills, and almost directly in front of the gorge leading to the +harbour, in which stood the little village of Kadikoi, was a long, low +hillock running east and west, and inside it--that is to say, to the +south of it--was the Highland camp. On this hillock the gallant 93rd +was drawn up. + +An officer had been observed galloping at full speed towards Sebastopol, +evidently to inform the commander-in-chief of the appearance of the foe. +Jack at once abandoned all idea of visiting Sidney, as he was sure that +the chief part of the fighting, if there was to be a battle, would not +be far-off. The Russians, who had for some minutes been assaulting the +first Turkish battery, now pushed forward in overwhelming numbers. In +vain the Turks fought to defend the post committed to them; the enemy +swarmed over their entrenchments, while at the same time another equally +large body assailed the second redoubt. For some time the fight raged +fiercely, the Turks were defending themselves with their accustomed +bravery--a few hundred men against the seemingly countless hordes led to +the attack. + +"If they can but hold out till the arrival of the succour Lord Raglan +will certainly send them, it will be a great thing, but the odds are +fearfully against them," observed Jack. + +Scarcely had he made the remark when one or two figures were seen +leaping over the trenches and descending the hill; more followed, "as +fast," Tom declared, "as sand runs out through the hole in the bottom of +a bag;" and then came others, till all the survivors of those who had +garrisoned the fort were in full flight. In a few minutes the Turks in +Number 2 battery, also taking to flight, came scampering down the side +of the hill, making their way across the valley. Jack could only hope +that the remainder of the batteries might be held till relief could +reach them. As it proved, he was disappointed; presently the Turks in +all the other batteries, seeing the fate of their countrymen, broke away +from their posts, and, rushing at headlong speed down the hillside, were +seen crossing the valley to Balaclava, those who were escaping from the +two first batteries being followed by Cossack cavalry spearing all they +overtook. Had not the English light cavalry made a demonstration as if +about to charge, many more would have been killed. Meanwhile the +Russian artillery poured down upon them the fire of their guns. As they +approached, a naval officer who had hurried to the ground did his best +to rally them, but though he succeeded with some, nothing could stop the +rest till they reached the neighbourhood of the harbour. + +Jack and his party hurried down to assist the officer, who, with cheery +voice and gestures, was endeavouring to rally the Turks and induce them +to form up on the right of the Highlanders. Having done all they could, +the party rode up to higher ground, whence they could better witness +what was going forward. In the far distance, to the north of the Col, +Jack could distinguish through his glass a group of officers whom he +guessed must be Lord Raglan and his staff, who had hastened up to direct +the coming battle, while the heads of French and English columns were +observed marching from the direction of Sebastopol. Soon after this, +Jack and his companions, who were watching the English cavalry, +expecting to see some of them sent in pursuit of the Cossacks, greatly +to their surprise observed the whole of them moving away to the +northward over the ridge till they were lost to sight, summoned, +apparently, by one of Lord Raglan's aides-de-camp, thus leaving +Balaclava without any other defence than the Highlanders and the battery +of field-guns. + +At this juncture a large body of Russian cavalry appeared in the +direction of the third and fourth redoubts, having come thus far up the +North Valley. Just then the English batteries on the edge of the +Chersonese opened on them; this turned them, and they came moving over +the causeway, as if about to descend into the South Valley, while the +Russian artillery, which had advanced over the ridge, opened fire on the +Highlanders and Turks, who were posted at the foot of Balaclava heights. +Sir Colin, therefore, ordered them to move back to the foot of a +hillock which they had before crowned, and to lie down under shelter. +Directly afterwards four squadrons of the Russian cavalry, detached from +the larger mass, came shaping their way across the southern valley +towards the gorge which led to the harbour, the defence of which had +been confided to the Highlanders, who were now supported by a hundred +invalid soldiers, marched up from Balaclava. Directly the Russian +cavalry were seen, the greater number of the Turks, thoroughly +disorganised by their previous defeat, again took to flight, and rushed +off towards the harbour, shrieking out, "Ship! ship! ship!" as if their +only hope of escaping was to get on board the vessels in the harbour. +The Highlanders, who were still lying down, watched them with +contemptuous looks, and not a little merriment, as they observed the +frightened expression of their countenances. Within sight, behind them, +was the Highlanders' camp. As the terror-stricken Osmanlis were +scampering away past it, some even attempting to find shelter within, +there issued forth a tall figure with a thick stick in hand, who, by her +dress, was seen to be a female of Amazonian proportions. + +Shouting loudly in Gaelic, she ordered the fugitive Turks to return to +their ranks, but her voice being unheeded, she placed herself before +them and attempted to drive them back with her cudgel. Her efforts +being still of no avail, after striking at several on either side, she +rushed at a big, burly-looking Turk who was coming headlong towards her, +and, seizing him by his jacket, began belabouring his back and head with +a fury which was likely to prove as effective as the shot of the enemy, +from whom he was trying to escape, in sending him to enjoy the bliss of +Paradise. + +Shouts of laughter burst from her friends in the distance as they +witnessed her exploit. The Osmanli on whom she had seized roared out +for mercy, till at length she let him go, giving him a shove towards the +position he had deserted, while she kept flourishing her club behind him +till he returned to his post. Whether or not she added materially to +the strength of Sir Colin's force may be doubted, but the incident had a +good effect upon her Highland countrymen; reminding them that they had +not only their own lives to defend, but hers and others in the camp in +their rear. In spite of the serious state of affairs, Jack and those +around him could not help bursting into fits of laughter, though they +themselves were not free from danger, for occasionally a round-shot came +flying towards them from the Russian guns, but with not sufficient +frequency to make them shift the advantageous ground they occupied for +witnessing what was going forward. + +Sir Colin was now left, exclusive of a small body of Turks who still +kept their ground, with scarcely six hundred men to defend the approach +to Balaclava. + +The veteran general felt the gravity of the occasion; but his stout +heart did not quail, for he knew well that the brave men under him would +stand firm. Riding down the line, he exclaimed to them, "Remember, +there is no retreat from here, men; you must die where you stand." + +"Ay, ay, Sir Colin, we'll do that," cried the Highlanders. The four +squadrons of Russian cavalry, amounting to not less than six hundred +men, now approached over the northern side of the valley, making direct +for the gorge; apparently ignorant that a body of English troops were +ready to bar their way, and evidently hoping to seize one of the +batteries on the side of the passage. Sir Colin allowed them to come +within long-musket range of the hillock, when he gave the word to his +Highlanders, who, springing up, in an instant afterwards crowned the +whole length of the ridge, forming a line only two deep; Sir Colin, +confiding in their muscular power and the nature of the ground they +occupied, not deeming it necessary to throw them into square. When they +saw their enemy before them, they exhibited the greatest desire to rush +down into the plain and charge the cavalry with their bayonets. + +"Ninety-third! Ninety-third!" cried the old general fiercely; "none of +that eagerness." Sir Colin's stern voice checked the men, who now +opened their fire. The Russians, evidently taken by surprise, wheeled +to the left and swept round, apparently intending to attack the +Highlanders on the right flank. Immediately the Grenadier company of +the 93rd brought its left shoulder forward to show a front to the +north-east, and, pouring in a rattling fire, compelled the Russian +squadron again to wheel to the left, and retreat much faster than they +had come. On this the English battery opened fire, considerably +scattering the horsemen, as they galloped back across the valley to the +north to join the main body, which was seen coming over the ridge, +increasing every moment in size. It looked, indeed, more as if the +whole surface of the earth was moving, so compact was the dusky mass of +the several thousand units which composed it. + +Onward it advanced, as if about to descend into the South Valley. Now +was the Russian general's opportunity. As far as he could then see, he +had only a weak battery and six hundred infantry opposed to his enormous +band of horsemen. By making a sudden dash across the valley he might +annihilate the 93rd before the still distant infantry of the allies +could come to Sir Colin's relief. + +"Matters look serious," observed Jack. "We can scarcely dare to hope +that the Highlanders will be able to withstand the charge of that +prodigious body of cavalry; and if they give way, the Russians will +quickly be into Balaclava. We ought to be on board to fight the ship or +to get her out of the harbour, though I don't like to leave the ground +while there is the chance of a turn in the state of affairs." + +"They'll not venture on it," answered his friend. "See! see!" + +As he spoke, the cavalry halted on the side of the hill to the east of +Number 5 redoubt. The Russian commander had indeed some reason to +hesitate, for, besides the English battery posted in his front on the +side of Kadikoi, which would play upon him as he advanced, he might have +seen the leading files of a French column appearing through the Col, and +which might, before he could overthrow the little band of Highlanders, +attack him on the flank. + +Just then also Jack distinguished, coming round from the north end of +the ridge, several squadrons of English dragoons, their burnished +helmets and breastplates glittering brightly in the rays of the sun. +These were the Scots Greys, the Inniskillings, and two regiments of +Dragoon Guards. They moved along at some distance from each other, +riding carelessly, as if not aware of the near vicinity of the enemy. +The rough nature of the ground had hitherto hidden the Russians from +their view, and prevented the latter from seeing them. Scarcely, +however, had their leaders caught sight of the foe than their decision +was made. While one party came between the two cavalry camps, the +larger body formed up to the north of the light cavalry camp, directly +in front of the head of the Russian squadron. + +"I do believe our cavalry are going to attack the Russians!" exclaimed +Jack. + +"No doubt about it," answered his friend. "That is General Scarlett at +their head, with his aide-de-camp--and see, that must be Lord Lucan who +has ridden up to him." + +What was to be done could only be judged by the movements of the +squadrons. About three hundred British horsemen, composed of +Inniskillings and Scots Greys, were forming in line with as much care as +if they were on parade. Another body of cavalry, the Dragoon Guards, +were moving to the right; while two others farther off, also Dragoon +Guards and Royals, formed more to the north. The arrangements were +speedily made. Lord Lucan came galloping back towards the +Inniskillings; and General Scarlett, accompanied by three other persons +on horseback, was seen to place himself at the head of the Scots Greys +and a squadron of the Inniskillings. The enemy's cavalry had now halted +on the slope of the hill. General Scarlett giving the order to advance, +his sword glittering in the rays of the sun, he, with his three +companions, dashed forward, followed by the gallant troop of cavalry, +their horses' hoofs shaking the ground as they rushed towards the +enormous body of Russians. + +"They must be swallowed up and annihilated," exclaimed one of Jack's +companions. + +"They have no intention of letting the Russians do that to them," +answered Jack; "though I fear the general and his comrades will be cut +to pieces before the rest of the men overtake them." + +There was but little time, however, for making many remarks. Onward at +full gallop went that gallant band of horsemen, their leaders still +fifty yards in advance, while a shower of bullets poured from the +Russian ranks. Every moment it was expected that the Russians would +charge, but still motionless they stood awaiting their foe. Now, like a +thunderbolt, Scarlett and his three hundred horsemen hurled themselves +on the Russian cavalry, he and his companions still keeping the lead, +and appearing like a sharp point of the mighty wedge of red which was +clearing its onward way amid the dark-grey mass of Russians, the swords +of the British troopers flashing as they whirled them right and left, or +pointed them at the foe; the clash of steel and the muttered roar of the +combatants being heard far away across the valley. On and on went those +daring horsemen, till the greater number seemed engulfed, though not +overwhelmed; for still the red coats and those flashing blades could be +seen ever surging onward amid the surrounding mass of grey. + +The Russians had thrown out a wing on their left flank; and +notwithstanding the prowess of the British horsemen in their midst, +there were no signs of their giving way. The spectators on the heights +watched the combatants with a burning anxiety, expressed by the broken +ejaculations they now and anon uttered. Still the tall horsemen, +towering above their dark-coated antagonists, moved here and there, +cutting their way as best they could amid the mass, who yielded as they +advanced, only to close again. Anxiety for the fate of those who had +thus hurled themselves amid numberless foes continued to increase, when +the regiment of Inniskilling Dragoons on the English right went +thundering down on the Russian left flank, while the Dragoon Guards +dashed forward to attack their front. The Royals next advanced at the +gallop towards the squadron sent out on the Russian right flank, and +another regiment of dragoons which had just appeared on the ground, +keeping close under the hill, assailed the enemy on the same flank; +while numerous other horsemen, among whom was a butcher in his +shirt-sleeves, and several without helmets or breastplates, were seen +galloping up from the camp to join in the fight. + +Scarcely had the last-arrived squadron of Inniskillings cast itself at +headlong speed on the Russians than their deep-serried ranks began to +relax. Many an eye was watching the gallant leader of the charge, who, +fighting his way round to the right, with a portion of his troopers, at +length emerged on the left flank of the Russians, shortly afterwards +followed by the colonel of one of the regiments; who immediately ordered +the trumpeter to sound the rally, the other officers also quickly +re-forming their men. + +The whole mass of Russians had by this time begun to heave upwards +against the slope of the hill; the horsemen on the outside were first +seen breaking away, and the next instant the whole of the vast body +began to disperse, retreating, and endeavouring to save themselves by +flight, followed by some of the victorious troopers; who were, however, +as speedily as possible recalled, to save them from being exposed to the +fire of the Russian artillery, which would have opened on them from the +opposite heights. As the enemy were seen in flight, the 93rd, which had +been among the most eager of the spectators, greeted them from afar by a +loud cheer; while Sir Colin Campbell, his countenance beaming with +delight, was seen to gallop forward, and, taking off his hat, to +compliment the Greys on their gallantry. Long as the time had appeared +during which this strange combat had taken place, Jack, on pulling out +his watch, discovered that but eight minutes had passed from the time +when General Scarlett at the head of his three hundred threw himself at +his foes till they were in full flight up the hill. + +Jack and his naval companions, who freely criticised all that occurred, +had been watching with astonishment the Light Brigade, to the number of +nearly seven hundred, who all this time, drawn up on the side of the +hill, had been spectators of the fight without attempting to take the +least part in it. "I suppose we shall hear all about it," said Jack, +"but to me it seems one of the most surprising things; and I suspect +that the fellows themselves must have chafed not a little at being thus +kept back, when they would have done such good service by following the +enemy, and rendering their overthrow even more complete than it has +been." + +As there appeared to be no more chance of seeing any fighting where they +then were, the party of naval officers directed their course towards the +high ground on the Chersonese, whence they could look up the North +Valley, at the eastern end of which it was evident the greater part of +the Russian army was posted. As they rode along, they passed two French +brigades, which had hitherto been watching the South Valley. The French +officers greeted them in a friendly way, one and all expressing their +admiration at the gallant exploit just performed by the Heavy Brigade. +They caught sight directly afterwards of an English brigade, which they +learned was General Cathcart's, coming down from the Chersonese. +Trotting on, they themselves were about to climb up the heights on their +left, where Lord Raglan and his staff were stationed, when some of the +party proposed that they should turn to the right along the Woronzoff +Road, in the direction of the redoubts now occupied by the Russians. + +"We shall be able to beat a timely retreat, if necessary," said Jack; +"and we shall, from one of the higher points, have a view of what is +going forward in the North Valley as well as in the South." + +Without further discussion as to the wisdom of their proceeding, they +trotted on eastward along the Woronzoff Road, keeping a bright look-out +ahead, in order that they might avoid getting under the fire of the +Russian riflemen who might be advancing along the causeway. Before +leaving the hills of Balaclava, they had observed that the Russians had +not got farther west along the causeway than Number 3 redoubt, known as +the Aratabia redoubt. On they went, till they reached a height a little +to the west of Number 4 redoubt, whence they had an excellent view up +and down the North Valley, as well as across it to the Fedoukine Hills, +where they saw that the Russians were strongly posted. + +The Light Brigade had by this time moved from its former position down +into the western end of the North Valley, where also the heavy cavalry +regiments were drawn up, as well as the magnificent body of French +cavalry, under General Maurice. Far-off, at the distance of a mile and +a half, they could see a large battery of Russian guns, supported by +enormous masses of cavalry. Jack and his companions continued their +comments on all they saw. + +"To my mind," observed Jack, "the first thing to be done would be to +retake the redoubts and prevent the Russians from carrying off the guns +they captured from the Turks. I suppose that is what General Cathcart +will do when he reaches the causeway, though he is a long time coming; +and if I were Lord Raglan, I should be in a considerable rage with him. +I only wish we had a few hundred of our bluejackets; we should very +soon, I suspect, be masters of one or more of the redoubts the Russians +have got hold of." + +"See, see!" cried Tom; "here comes an aide-de-camp from Lord Raglan; for +my part, I believe that the cavalry will do the work if General Cathcart +does not come up in time." + +Just as this remark was made, the English infantry were seen descending +along the Woronzoff Road. As they marched on they left some troops in +the two western redoubts deserted by the Turks; and the naval officers +had to move down the hill a little way to allow them to pass on to +Number 4 redoubt, close to which General Cathcart halted his troops. As +he did so, a cloud of skirmishers were seen advancing along the causeway +towards the Russians in front of the Aratabia. Here the general +appeared to have made up his mind to remain, instead of advancing and +driving the Russians before him, as Jack thought he would do. Having +got clear of the English infantry, the naval officers again took up +their post on the top of the hill, whence they could look directly down +on the Heavy and Light Cavalry Brigades, near which they distinguished +Lord Lucan, the general commanding them. + +"I wonder nothing is being done," exclaimed Jack at length; "if they +don't look sharp about it, those Russians will carry off the Turkish +guns in spite of them." + +"Here comes an officer, at all events, from Lord Raglan, in hot haste; +he must be a first-rate horseman," exclaimed one of the naval officers, +"or he would break his neck coming down that steep hill." + +As he spoke, he pointed to the side of the Chersonese, down which an +aide-de-camp was seen galloping at a speed on which few horsemen over +such ground would have ventured. Though every moment it seemed that his +horse must come down and crush him as it fell, he continued his course +in safety, and then came galloping up to Lord Lucan. + +"He's saying something pretty strong, if we are to judge by his +gestures," observed Jack; "see, he is pointing with his sword up the +valley. No, it must be at the Russians on the causeway. He's ordering +the cavalry to do just what those infantry fellows ought to have done +long ago; and so they would have done it if they had had their will." + +"I know that aide-de-camp," remarked one of the party; "he is Captain +Nolan, he belongs to General Airey's staff." + +Directly afterwards Lord Lucan was seen addressing Lord Cardigan, who +immediately galloped forward towards where the light cavalry were drawn +up. + +"See, the regiments of light cavalry are forming line; they are going to +attack the Russians near the redoubts, after all," exclaimed Jack. "The +heavy cavalry is preparing to support them; they will drive away the +Russians as chaff before the wind." + +After this, few remarks were made by any of the group, so deeply +interested were they in watching what was going forward. Lord Cardigan +was seen to place himself at the head of the light cavalry, while Lord +Lucan came closer to them. All eyes, however, were riveted on Lord +Cardigan and the light cavalry; he could easily be distinguished by his +commanding yet slight figure, as he sat upon his tall charger at a +distance of some five horses' lengths in front of the line, which now +began to advance. The spectators expected to see the light cavalry +wheel with their left shoulders forward towards the Russians on their +right front, whom it was supposed they were about to attack. Instead of +doing so, Lord Cardigan, sitting in his saddle, with his face down the +valley, galloped on straight before him. Scarcely had he gone a hundred +paces, when a figure, recognised at once as that of Captain Nolan, was +seen to dash out from the left of the line and to gallop diagonally +across the front. The aide-de-camp was waving his sword, pointing +eagerly towards the Russians on the right, who were engaged in +endeavouring to carry off the guns captured from the Turks. + +He had just passed Lord Cardigan when a shell burst close to him, and +his horse, wheeling suddenly, dashed back towards the advancing ranks. +At the same moment, his sword falling from his hand, while his arm +remained extended, a fearful shriek, unlike anything human, burst from +him, and his horse passing between the 13th Light Dragoons, he at length +fell to the ground a lifeless corpse. If, as it seems certain, his +object had been to point out the direction the cavalry were to charge, +Lord Cardigan took no notice of it, but continued on right down the +valley towards the Russian guns and masses of Russian horsemen at its +eastern end. + +"Good heavens! they will be annihilated!" exclaimed Jack. "Where are +they going?" + +Well might he have said that, for in a short time from the heights on +either side the Russians began to pour down showers of shot and shell +and rifle balls upon the devoted band. Many were seen to drop; +riderless horses came galloping back, some falling in their course, +others uttering cries of agony from the wounds they had received. Here +and there human forms could be distinguished, some lying in the quiet of +death, others writhing on the ground or endeavouring to drag themselves +back up the valley. + +Now the guns in front sent forth their deadly missiles, filling the air +with dense clouds of smoke, into which the cavalry charged with headlong +speed. + +While the Light Brigade was thus rushing on apparently to utter +destruction, the heavy cavalry was advancing, following Lord Lucan. + +"Can he be going to lead them to the destruction to which he has +consigned the light cavalry?" exclaimed one of the naval officers. + +"Thank Heaven, no," observed Jack; "they have had a taste already of +what they would have to go through. See, they've halted; though why he +does not lead them up to attack the Russians on his right I cannot make +out." + +The heavy cavalry had already lost several men under the withering fire +to which they had been exposed during the few minutes their advance had +lasted, and they were now compelled to remain inactive while the action +was going forward, as their brethren of the light cavalry had been in +the morning. It was pretty evident that Lord Lucan could not be aware +of the enemy on his right, or he would at once have found ample work for +his heavy horsemen. At this juncture a portion of the French cavalry, +the famous regiment D'Allonville, was observed to be moving forward, +sweeping round the western base of the Fedoukine Hills, up which they +charged, rushing forward as fast as the uneven nature of the ground +would allow them at the Russian infantry and artillery which had so long +been posted there. As they approached, the artillery limbered up and +galloped off to the eastward, while the infantry quickly retreated, +though not till many of the gallant Frenchmen's saddles had been +emptied. + +Several minutes of awful suspense had passed away since the last of the +red line of light cavalry had been seen rushing into the cloud of smoke. +The guns which had dealt death into their ranks had ceased to roar; but +what had become of them or of the brave horsemen it was impossible to +say. At length here and there a single horseman was seen moving slowly +back, he or his charger sorely wounded. Now more and more appeared, +several, alas! being seen to drop as they retired; the whole centre of +the valley, as far as the eye could reach, being strewed with the bodies +of men and horses. As the cloud of smoke cleared off, a dark mass only +could be discerned in the distance, the glitter of sword-blades and the +confused murmur of voices which came up the valley alone indicating that +the fight was still raging, sounds ever and anon of musketry being added +to it. + +At length the numbers of those who were coming up the valley increased; +among them appeared the tall form of their leader, he and his horse +uninjured. Then came larger parties, followed again by single horsemen +and men on foot, still exposed to the fire from the causeway. Presently +a number of Cossacks came galloping after the fugitives, spearing some +and taking others prisoners; but just then the Russian guns on the +Causeway Ridge again opened, and the Cossacks were compelled to abandon +the pursuit, many of those whom they had surrounded making their escape. +The naval officers now rode back to the slope at the foot of the +Chersonese, on which considerable groups had assembled, and towards +which the gallant men who had come out from amid that valley of death +were now collecting. The officers were speaking eagerly together; +surgeons who had hurried down were attending to the wounded; several +parties were on their way into the valley to endeavour to bring in those +who were on the ground still, unable to move. + +Among the last to come in was an officer on a weary horse, which could +scarcely drag itself up the valley; numerous persons went forward to +meet him. "That is Lord George Paget," said one of the naval officers. +He had, with Colonel Douglas, led out the remnant of the 4th Light +Dragoons and a portion of the 11th Hussars; not only had the brigade, +though separated into several bands, broken through the guns, but, +driving the Russian horsemen before them, and finally breaking through +all opposition, had made their way again up the valley, passing directly +in front of a large body of Russian Lancers, and once more, under a fire +of shot and shell, they returned to the foot of the Chersonese. The +naval officers could not, naturally, tear themselves from the scene. +For some time stragglers and riderless chargers were coming in, and then +there was the numbering of horses, and afterwards the melancholy +roll-call. Of the gallant brigade, which half an hour before had +numbered nearly 700 horsemen, not 200 now remained fit for duty. A +hundred and thirteen men had been killed, 134 wounded; while close upon +500 horses were killed or rendered unfit for service. + +Now came the sad work of searching for the slain who could be reached +and brought in for burial; but numbers still lay where the fire of the +Russian batteries commanded the ground, as they could not be interred +till a cessation of arms was agreed on for the purpose. Many a gallant +trooper hurried forward notwithstanding to search for his wounded +officers or comrades, and several were thus saved from perishing on the +battlefield. + +Another scene took place, trying to many a trooper who had managed to +bring his wounded steed out of the fight. The farriers went round to +examine those which had been rendered unserviceable by their hurts. +Some of the men pleaded hard for those that were condemned, in the hopes +that they might recover, but the farriers knew well that they would +never again be fit to carry their riders in the fight. + +"Shure, it's myself would rather have been wounded than the poor baste," +exclaimed an Irish trooper, throwing his arm round his horse's neck; +"you wouldn't have shot me, at all events. Just be after letting him +live for a few days, at laste, and I'll see what I can do to doctor +him." + +"I'm obeying orders, Pat; I tell you, if he gets stiff he'll never carry +you fifty yards, much less the mile and a half you galloped over this +afternoon," was the answer. + +Poor Pat, whose hacked blade showed the deadly work he had been doing, +burst into tears, as the farrier led off his well-beloved horse to the +spot appointed for its execution, where, with upwards of forty others, +it was shot. + +As it was too late by this time to go on to the Guards' camp, Jack +considering it his duty to sleep on board, and having had the +satisfaction to hear that Sidney was well, and of sending him a message, +he and his party returned to Balaclava. Tom and Archie were full of the +exploits they had witnessed, and so excited did they become in +describing them to their messmates, that they declared they would give +up the service, and try and get their friends to obtain them commissions +in the cavalry. + +"Which means that your friends are to buy you commissions, which will +cost them some thousands to begin with, besides finding you five or six +hundred a year to enable you to live like the rest of your brother +officers," observed the assistant-surgeon. "I should just like to have +the fortune which is lost to his family by each of the poor fellows who +bit the dust this afternoon in yonder valley of death. I'd quit the +service, you may depend on that, and buy a good practice on shore, with +enough to set up my carriage at once." The next morning Tom and Archie +had changed their minds, and had resolved to continue serving their +Queen and country afloat. + +Jack, finding that he could not sail till the evening, went on shore, +taking the two midshipmen with him, to make another attempt to visit +Sidney. Having obtained the steeds they had ridden the previous day, +they took the way to the Col, halting on the first high ground they +reached. They saw that the Russians still retained in considerable +force the redoubts they had won from the Turks. + +"They seem unpleasantly close to our lines," observed Tom to Archie; +"our fellows must keep pretty wide awake, or they will be taking us by +surprise some fine morning." + +"Trust Sir Colin Campbell for that," answered Archie; "we Highlanders +are not men to be found napping in the face of an enemy." + +They had not gone far when they met Lord Raglan and some of his staff, +and presently afterwards Sir Colin Campbell came up, when an earnest +conversation took place between the two generals. Jack was moving on +with his two midshipmen, when an aide-de-camp overtook him, from whom he +heard that it was in contemplation to abandon Balaclava, that the ships' +guns and stores not in use were to be embarked, and that all the vessels +not required were to go out of the harbour, or to be moved lower down +towards its mouth. Disappointed again, Jack had to return on board to +carry out his orders. He, however, gave the midshipmen leave to go as +far as the Guards' camp, with directions to return immediately they had +communicated with Sidney. + +In high glee they rode on, determined, if possible, not to be again +stopped. Having passed through the Col, they skirted the edge of the +Chersonese to the right, when a windmill, for which they were told to +steer their course, appeared in sight. After going about two miles they +reached the Guards' camp, on some level ground at the top of the +plateau. Sidney was seated in his tent, unwashed and unshaven, wrapped +in his greatcoat, looking very unlike the trim Guardsman Tom had +hitherto seen him. He had just come in from the trenches. Having +thanked the two midshipmen for the welcome provisions they brought him, +he made them sit down, one on a portmanteau turned sideways, the other +on his only spare camp-stool. + +"So you have come to witness the glories of war, Tom," said Sidney, with +a faint smile; "for my part, I confess I wish we could have another +stand-up fight, and get over the work in the trenches. I can tell you +it is not very pleasant to stand out in the cold for hours together, +with the chance of being shot at any moment." + +"Archie and I couldn't help wishing that we were dragoons, with the +chance of charging the enemy in the magnificent way we saw General +Scarlett and his heavy cavalry do yesterday," said Tom. + +"Such a chance doesn't come more than once in a campaign, and you +wouldn't exactly wish to perform the feat the unfortunate light cavalry +had to go through yesterday, from what I hear," answered Sidney. "Stick +to the navy, lads; you have the best of it." + +Luncheon was scarcely over, when a rattling fire was heard, followed by +the sound of heavy guns. "There's something going forward," cried +Sidney, going out of the tent. In an instant the whole camp was astir. +The bugles sounded, and the brigade of Guards fell in, orders having +been received to march northward along the heights, in the direction of +Inkerman. The midshipmen, forgetting the caution they had received to +return immediately to Balaclava, hurried forward, taking their way +somewhat to the left of the line on which the Guards had marched, who +were thus on their right. + +"Push along!" cried Tom; "we haven't much time to lose, and we must see +some of the fun at all events." + +The direction they had taken led them along a high spur of the hill, +past a small body of soldiers, some of whom called to them; but, not +hearing what they said, they went on; when, coming to the extreme end of +the spur, they saw a deep glen before them. Plunging into it, they +quickly climbed up on the other side, when they again found themselves +on high ground. Just as they reached it, the loud rattle of musketry +saluted their ears, and they caught sight of a large body of Russians +making their way over another hill on their right, their advance opposed +by some English light troops who were skirmishing in their front. On +looking back, somewhat to their right, they caught sight of a brigade of +English troops drawn up, and apparently standing at their ease, +spectators of the fight. They could make out, however, in front of +them, two or three batteries of guns. On came the Russians; every +moment it seemed as if a general battle would begin. + +"I wish we had rifles," cried Tom, "we'd go and join those brave +fellows, and help to keep the Russians back." + +"No, no," answered Archie, "that isn't our duty; the soldiers can do +very well without us." + +"Well, then, let's go to our left, where I see some bluejackets," said +Tom, who had been looking through his telescope; "to my mind we ought +then to be about-ship, and find our way to where we left our horses, or +we shall be getting into a scrape." + +To reach the spot at which Tom pointed they had again to descend into +another valley, and to climb up some steep height; but this was a feat +they easily performed. Scarcely, however, had they got there than they +caught sight of a body of redcoats farther down the glen, firing rapidly +as they retired before a dense mass of Russians. The English soldiers +they made out in a short time to be Guardsmen, who, though retreating, +were doing so with a definite object, and were certainly not running +away. The midshipmen soon saw, a little in the rear of where they were +standing, a trench towards which apparently the Guards were making their +way. Archie suggested that they also should get behind the trench, and +there do their best to help the Guards in resisting the enemy. Tom +agreed that it was the wisest thing they could do. Scarcely had they +got behind it than the English soldiers, numbering no more than sixty +men, who had hitherto been retreating, came to a halt; and, getting +behind the trench, stood shoulder to shoulder, as if determined to bar +the farther progress of the Russian column. In vain the Russian +officers endeavoured to get their men to advance; whenever they did so, +they were met by a rattling fire, and a bristling line of bayonets. +Thousands might have been in their rear, but they could make no +impression on the gallant little band. + +Scarcely had the Guards come to a halt than from the very midst of the +Russian column two persons sprang out, and were received in their midst +with a shout of joy. They proved to be one of their captains and a +sergeant, whom they supposed had been taken prisoners or killed by the +Russians. The officer advised the midshipmen to go, as they could do no +good where they were. + +"But before we wish you good-bye, sir, may we ask how you managed to get +out alive from among so many Russians?" inquired Tom. + +"In a very unexpected manner," answered the officer. "I had gone on +with the sergeant to some distance ahead of the men, when, on turning an +angle, we found ourselves confronted by a whole mass of Russians +hurrying up at a great rate, apparently intending to effect a surprise. +The first men we saw fired at us, and, after we had retreated up the +hill, several followed, intending to make us prisoners, but we knocked +them over with the butts of our rifles. We then found ourselves hurried +along by the advancing masses of the enemy. As we had on our +greatcoats, the fresh men did not recognise us, and, by taking care not +to keep near the same persons longer than we could help, we were carried +on till we caught sight of our own men directly in front of us; and the +Russians thinking we were going to lead them against their foes, we were +able, without a blow aimed at us, to leap into the midst of our +friends." + +"It was indeed a wonderful escape," said Tom; "but I wish you would let +us stop and help you; we could use our rifles as well as your men." + +To this the officer would not consent, again urging them to make good +their retreat while they could do so without risk. After going a little +way up the valley, they began to ascend the steep side of the hill to a +place where they were protected from the shot which flew high over the +heads of the gallant band below. On reaching the summit, they saw +before them a battery manned by English sailors. They made their way +into it, and as it was upon high ground, they could see, on their right, +vast masses of Russians, who, having driven back the English +skirmishers, now crowned the top of a high hill. The enemy soon +afterwards, bringing up several field-pieces, began to fire at the +English brigade in their front. Scarcely had they begun to do so than +the English guns rapidly replied, their shot taking fearful effect upon +the closely-pressed body of Russians, which seemed rent and torn in +every direction by the iron showers hurled into their midst. For some +time the Russians stood their ground bravely, and, more masses coming +on, they threatened not only to cut off the gallant little band in the +valley below, but to surround the battery in which the midshipmen were +posted, and towards which several of the enemy's guns were now directed. +The shot came flying into and around it; the bluejackets who manned the +guns returned the fire with interest. But first one was struck, then +another and another, and there appeared every probability that the +battery would be overwhelmed. + +Dangerous as was the position into which the midshipmen had got, they +were ashamed to retreat. Several more men had been killed, when a +sergeant hurried into the battery, ordering the naval officer in command +to spike his guns and retreat. "When my captain directs me to do so, I +will obey," was the answer. "In the meantime, this gun will be of +service." As he spoke, the Russians, who had been driven from the hill +on the right, were seen climbing up the sides of the valley, threatening +to take the battery in reverse. Not a moment was to be lost; by immense +exertion part of the parapet was thrown down. "Lend a hand, all of +you," cried the naval officer. His appeal was responded to. The gun +being slued round by the sailors and a few soldiers, the midshipmen +exerting themselves with hearty goodwill, it was fired directly down +upon the enemy with such effect that they immediately abandoned their +intention of making their way in that direction, and retreated with the +rest of the attacking force towards Sebastopol. + +"Hurrah! we've done for them," cried Tom, unable to restrain his +feelings of satisfaction, while the gun continued to hurl its missiles +into the midst of the enemy as long as they were in sight. + +The midshipmen, on their way back, fell in with the officer whose +acquaintance they had just before made, and found that he and his +gallant little band, with the aid of another small party, had not only +defeated their host of foes, but had succeeded in making several of them +prisoners. They now hurried back, under the guidance of a brother +officer of Sidney's, to the Guards' camp. Sidney himself soon after +arrived; and after rowing the midshipmen for having unnecessarily thrust +their noses into danger, and giving Tom a message for Jack, bade them +hasten back to Balaclava as fast as their steeds would carry them. They +got a slight glimpse of the field of Inkerman, on which, before many +days were over, a desperate battle was to be fought. From the high +ground on which they stood near the Guards' camp, they could look down +into a deep valley covered with brushwood, with a line of lofty hills on +the farther side. + +By urging on their steeds they got back to the harbour before dark. On +reaching the ship, they heard that Lord Raglan had given up his +intention of abandoning Balaclava. Next morning the _Tornado_ sailed +for Constantinople with a number of sick and wounded men. Several poor +fellows died on the voyage, and the rest were carried to the hospital at +Scutari. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +STORM IN THE BLACK SEA--JACK AIDS VESSELS IN DISTRESS--RESCUES MURRAY-- +THE TORNADO RENDERS ASSISTANCE--SHIPWRECKED CREW ON SHORE ATTACKED BY +COSSACKS--THE LATTER ARE DRIVEN OFF. + +The _Tornado_, exerting her steam-powers to the utmost, was on her way +back to Balaclava. On the 13th of November the glass fell; the weather, +which had hitherto been calm and sunny, began to change, and there was +every indication of a heavy gale. The commander knew that his safest +course would be to run back to Constantinople, but his orders were to +proceed to Balaclava without loss of time. Soon after sunset a heavy +squall struck the ship, followed by fitful gusts, gradually increasing +in strength, while the hitherto calm sea was covered with foaming waves, +through which the _Tornado_ forced her way. Most of the officers were +on deck, for few felt inclined to turn in; the lieutenants stood near +the commander, ready to carry out his orders, while the midshipmen were +collected in a group on the quarter-deck. + +"This seems likely to prove a pretty heavy squall," observed Tom. + +"You may call it a hurricane, lad, and you won't be far out," observed +Jos Green, who overheard him. "May Heaven have mercy on the unfortunate +vessels caught by it outside the harbour! the holding-ground is none of +the best." + +During the remainder of the night the _Tornado_ stood on, a bright +look-out being kept for any vessels which might, rather than trust to +their anchors, be endeavouring to haul off the land; though none but the +most powerful steamers, or very well-handled vessels, could hope to do +so successfully with the fierce gale now blowing. As morning broke, the +high cliffs of the Crimean coast could be seen ahead, while the masts of +numerous vessels were distinguishable rolling from side to side, or +tossed wildly up and down amid the sheets of spray which flew off the +troubled waters. Jack could trust to his engines, and Jos Green, who +was thoroughly acquainted with the entrance to Balaclava harbour, +undertook, if necessary, to carry in the ship, though there was a risk +of running foul of some of the numberless vessels brought up before it. + +"Our orders are to go in, and the despatches we carry may be of +importance," observed Jack. The _Tornado_ accordingly stood on; as she +approached, the fearful danger to which the ships at anchor were +exposed, became more and more evident. Over many of the smaller vessels +the sea was making a clean breach, sweeping their decks fore and aft; +several of the larger ones were dragging their anchors; and three or +four vessels had already broken away from them, and were driving rapidly +towards the threatening rocks which frowned under their lee. Steamers +were endeavouring to get up their steam; but too many had been caught +unawares, and before they could get their engines to work, might be +driving helplessly towards the cliffs. + +Such was the spectacle which presented itself when the _Tornado_ was +still at some distance off. As she drew near, it was seen that matters +were even worse than had been anticipated. "There are three vessels on +shore already," cried Higson, who had been looking through his glass; +"their masts are gone, but I can make out their hulls, with the sea +breaking over them and flying high up the cliffs--and there goes another +large craft, a screw from her appearance. Had she got up her steam in +time, she might have worked off the shore, but as it is, no power can +save her." + +As he spoke, the vessel at which he pointed was seen, by those who had +their glasses at their eyes, to strike an outer reef; the next instant +her hull was scarcely visible from the mass of foaming breakers which +dashed furiously over her, and ere another minute had passed, she looked +as if utterly torn to pieces, her vast hull rapidly melting away, till +scarcely a single dark spot remained to show where her stout timbers had +lately been. "Can any of the poor fellows have escaped?" asked Tom. +"Not one," answered Green; "and from the size of the ship her crew must +have numbered upwards of a hundred. It is only to be hoped that her +passengers had landed; she was, I suspect, a large screw we saw pass +through the straits a few days ago with troops and stores. There must +be a fearful loss of life." + +Jack was consulting with Higson as to the best means of rendering +assistance to the vessels most in peril. Several had signals of +distress flying; he was steering towards one of the nearest, over which +the sea was breaking with extreme violence; it would be impossible to +run alongside her, but ropes might be hove on board as the _Tornado_ +passed within a comparatively safe distance. Jack stood on, intent on +his mission of mercy, but when his ship was scarcely three cables' +length from the hapless vessel, a heavy sea with a prodigious crest went +hissing towards her, just as a previous one of less height passing on +had lifted her stern. The mass of water rolled onwards; for an instant +her masts could be seen inclining forward, but her bows never again +rose, and the foaming waves leaped wildly over the spot where she had +been. Not a human being could be discovered to whom a rope or lifebuoy +might have been thrown; the latter, indeed, would have been useless; for +even had a struggling swimmer clung to it, he must ultimately have been +driven towards the cruel rocks on which the sea was fiercely beating. + +But another sight still more fearful was to be witnessed. A Turkish +line-of-battle ship lay some way out, pitching heavily into the seas. +Suddenly her cables parted, her vast bulk availed her not, the savage +seas caught her on the broadside. An attempt might have been made to +cut away her masts, but long before the task could be accomplished, she +heeled over, till the water rushed in through her lee-ports. + +"She's gone! she's gone! no power can save her," exclaimed Higson. She +never again rose on an even keel; for a few minutes her dark hull could +be seen, the waves dashing over it. It sank lower and lower; again her +masts rose suddenly, but already the foaming waters were above her +bulwarks, and ere another minute had passed, her mastheads had +disappeared beneath the surface. Many a stout heart on board the +_Tornado_ uttered a cry of grief as they saw the catastrophe. Long +before they could reach the spot, the strongest swimmers of her crew +must have perished. Not a human being could be discovered amid the +tumbling seas. + +Jack was unwilling to run into port while he could hope to render +assistance to any of his fellow-creatures. Several vessels had signals +of distress flying, and others could be seen in the distance, either +driving towards the shore, or pitching so heavily into the seas that it +was evident they were in the greatest possible danger of going down. +Jack had been looking at one some way off along the coast, when his +attention was directed to another vessel to the northward. When he next +turned his head, the first had disappeared suddenly. In those few short +moments she must have gone down with all on board. They had now to +decide whether they would run into the harbour or keep the sea. Green +urged that they should not venture nearer the coast; for should anything +go wrong in the machinery, the _Tornado_ must inevitably be driven on +shore. The difficulty of entering the harbour was increased in +consequence of several vessels, some of which had brought up off it, +others having been drifted in that direction. The _Tornado's_ head was +accordingly brought round during a lull, and with topgallant-masts on +deck and yards pointed to the wind she stood off-shore. + +"We came round not a minute too soon," observed Green, as he watched the +progress the ship was making; "we are going ahead scarcely half a knot +an hour." + +Another vessel still lay a considerable way out on the port-bow. +"She'll not keep afloat many minutes longer," observed Higson, who had +been watching her, "unless she parts from her anchors, and then it will +only be to get out of the frying-pan into the fire." + +"We might reach her, and should she appear likely to go down, we might +get the crew out of her," observed Jack. + +"It will be no easy matter, but it may be done," answered Higson. + +"We'll try it," cried Jack, giving directions to Green, who was standing +by the men at the helm, to edge the ship off towards the transport. As +they approached her, they saw that they were arriving not a moment too +soon. Already the seas were sweeping over her deck, and it seemed that +each plunge she made would be her last. Jack determined to steer up on +her starboard side; picked hands were stationed in the rigging, and in +every spot whence ropes could be hove on board to assist the crew in +escaping. They could scarcely hope to save all, but some by activity +might avail themselves of the assistance offered them; the chief danger +in the undertaking was that the sides of the vessels might strike each +other, or that the rigging might get foul. To guard against this as +much as possible, the lower and topsail braces were "manned" ready to +"brace round" smartly in the event of her yards fouling those of the +other vessel, and men were stationed with axes and tomahawks to cut the +ropes. + +The _Tornado_ stood on till she was nearly astern of the vessel she was +about to assist. The faces of the crew could be seen, as they turned +their eyes towards the coming succour, while they clung on to the +rigging and bulwarks of their ship, ready to seize the ropes hove to +them. The danger to the _Tornado_ was very great; for should the cable +of the vessel ahead give way at that critical moment, she might be +hurled against her bows, when, in all probability, both vessels would go +down together. The _Tornado's_ progress in the teeth of the gale was +very slow, and the fear was that the vessel ahead would go down before +she could reach her. On the other hand, when once she got alongside, +more time would be allowed to the crew to leap on board. At length the +_Tornado's_ bows were up to the transport's quarter, but not till she +was completely alongside, and both vessels should rise and fall on the +same seas, could any attempt be made to rescue the crew. + +"Don't heave a rope till I order you; and take care that the men are +secure before you haul in," cried Jack. More than another minute +passed; Green, who with two hands to assist him was at the helm, +skilfully brought her alongside. "Now heave," cried Jack, and twenty +ropes or more were hove with a good will on board the sinking vessel. +Most of them were eagerly seized by the almost despairing crew; some +fastened them round their waists, others, grasping them tightly, +attempted to leap on the _Tornado's_ bulwarks. Some succeeded, and were +seized by the hands of those on board; others missed their footing, and, +with shrieks of despair, letting go their hold, dropped into the +intervening space. Many still remained on board; more ropes were hove +to them; of these several were officers. Warned by the fate of those +who had failed to leap on board the _Tornado_, each of them, as he +caught a rope, secured it round his waist; some springing into the main, +others into the mizzen-rigging, thus attaining a greater height. Among +them Jack observed one who wore a naval uniform, though he had as yet +been unable to distinguish his features. + +The risk the _Tornado_ was running of falling on board the vessel was +very great, and Jack was about reluctantly to give the order to sheer +off from her, when he saw the remainder of those on deck prepare to make +the desperate leap which would either terminate in their destruction or +place them in comparative safety. Just at that moment, as his eye was +fixed on the naval officer, he recognised Murray. + +"I must save him, at all events," was the thought which passed through +his mind. Murray had grasped the rope, which he was fastening round his +waist; he sprang into the main rigging of the ship, and stood waiting +for a favourable opportunity to take the desperate leap. Jack pointed +him out to Higson, who, securing himself in the same manner, sprang up +on to the hammock nettings, and, stretching out his hands, stood ready +to grasp him. In another instant the two vessels must either be +separated or be hurled against each other. Murray stood calmly holding +on to the rigging by one hand, while with keen eye he watched the +movements of the _Tornado_. Now her side rolled away from him, now it +again approached, and seemed to be sinking far lower down than the level +on which he stood. It was the moment for which he had waited; letting +go his hold, he sprang with outstretched arms towards the _Tornado_. +The crew held the rope; hauling it in, Higson grasped his hand at the +same moment that his feet touched the hammock nettings of the _Tornado_, +which the next was separated several feet from the vessel he had +quitted. + +Those who had hitherto hesitated to leap now sprang overboard, and were +dragged up the side of the _Tornado_ by her crew. The master and one of +his mates were thus saved, but nearly half a dozen people still remained +on board. Jack had barely time to shake Alick by the hand, but not a +moment to inquire how he happened to be on board. Jack's wish was, if +possible, to save the poor fellows still clinging to the sinking vessel. + +"We may do it," said Higson; "but we've run a fearful risk already of +losing the ship." + +"We will try it," cried Jack. + +"She's sinking! she's sinking!" shouted several voices. + +Such indeed was the case; a heavy sea came rolling up, which even the +_Tornado_ with difficulty breasted, while it ran clear over the other +vessel lying at anchor. For some moments it seemed doubtful whether she +would rise, but another sea came hissing on into which her bows plunged, +not again to appear. Those on deck must have been washed far away, for +no human power could have withstood the furious sea which assailed them. +Ere another minute had passed, the masts of the ill-fated vessel had +disappeared beneath the foaming ocean. + +The _Tornado's_ best chance of safety was now to stand out to sea, and +to battle bravely with the storm while it should last; still, while +there was a possibility of rendering assistance to others in distress, +Jack was unwilling to go to a distance. Some way off was another vessel +with signals of distress flying; he ordered Green to keep away for her, +intending to try and get the people off if there was a risk of her +foundering, as he had done from the first vessel. The sound of a gun +came from her, as if to show her urgent necessity for help; another and +another followed. + +"We are doing our best," muttered Higson; "though it's little good, I +fear, we can do you." + +The sound of the last gun had just reached their ears when the vessel +from which it came was seen to be moving; her cable had parted. Away +she drove before the fierce gale; her crew were seen attempting to range +another cable. The sea caught her starboard bow, and she drove bodily +onwards towards the rocky shore on which the fierce breakers were raging +savagely. To attempt getting nearer would have been worse than useless, +for Jack saw that should he try to do so, he might involve his ship in +her fate. + +Though many others had signals of distress flying, Jack knew well that +he could render them no effectual assistance, and therefore once more +put the _Tornado's_ head off-shore. He now for the first time had +leisure to inquire from Murray how he happened to be on board the vessel +which had gone down. Murray briefly told him that he had been sent by +the admiral, who had steamed on to the Katcha, with despatches on board +the Turkish flagship, with directions afterwards to visit several other +vessels, and then to run in to Balaclava. He had been detained on board +the Turkish ship longer than he expected, and his boat being nearly +swamped before he had finished his mission, he had gone alongside the +nearest vessel, intending to remain on board till the morning. His boat +had been lost before she could be hoisted up, and the gale having so +rapidly increased, he had been prevented leaving in one of her boats. +Three of his people had unhappily been lost, but the remainder succeeded +in reaching the _Tornado_. + +"I am indeed thankful that we came to you in time," said Jack; "though I +little expected when I determined to run down to the assistance of that +vessel, that I should be the means of saving your life." + +"Not the first time that we have helped each other, and I am very sure +that it will not be the last if we either of us require help and have +the opportunity of rendering it," answered Murray. "I expect soon to be +appointed to the command of a ship, as the admiral has offered me the +first vacancy, which Hemming advises me to accept, as the smaller craft +will in future have more to do than the line-of-battle ships." + +As may be supposed, there was but little time for conversation. Jack +still wished, if possible, to try and render assistance to some of the +many other vessels at anchor off the coast, but both Higson and Green +strongly expressed their opinion that the attempt to do so would +endanger the ship; and Murray concurring with them, he was compelled to +abandon his intention. The _Tornado_ proved herself a first-rate +seaboat; indeed, had she not been so, she would have shared the fate of +so many other vessels during that fearful gale. By keeping her head to +the southward, she was able in a short time gradually to draw off-shore. +For the greater part of the night the gale blew with unabated fury. +Towards morning, however, the wind began to abate. Soon after daylight +the ship's head was brought round, and she stood back towards Balaclava. +A melancholy spectacle was presented to those on board, as she neared +the harbour; the whole coast, as far as the eye could reach, was strewn +with masses of wreck, while the entrance was nearly blocked up with +shattered spars and pieces of timber; while numerous dead bodies floated +about, or had been thrown by the foaming surges on the rocks on either +hand. The _Tornado_, having not without difficulty made her way in, +brought up; and Jack immediately sent his despatches on shore. The +vessels in the harbour had not escaped. Brought up close together, they +had been driven in one mass towards the head of the harbour, directly +down upon the line-of-battle ship at anchor, carrying her upwards of a +hundred yards, when she grounded by the stern; while few had escaped +without more or less damage. + +The gale considerably abated towards noon, when Jack received orders to +run down the coast, to try and bring off any of the crews which might +have escaped from the wrecked ships. Accordingly, he immediately got up +steam and put to sea. A number of boats were already engaged in the +humane object; but few of the people belonging to the vessels which had +been wrecked in the immediate neighbourhood of Balaclava had escaped. +Farther down the coast, however, two or three ships were seen on shore, +from which it was possible the crews might have landed in safety. Jack +kept in as close as he could venture, steering for the first wreck he +saw. She lay with her masts gone broadside to the sea, which was +sweeping fiercely over her. Not a human being was seen near the wreck. + +"Not a man, I fear, could have escaped," said Jack, as he surveyed the +coast with his glass; "and yet, from the position of the vessel, I +cannot help thinking that they might have made their way to the shore-- +see, near yonder wreck farther south, a good number of people appear to +be collected." + +The _Tornado_ was accordingly steered in the direction Jack pointed. +Higson had been watching the group through his telescope. + +"They appear to be expecting an attack," he observed; "there are fifty +or more of them, and they are standing to their arms. Their ship is +evidently a large transport, and from her position I should judge that +they managed to land without much difficulty, and would carry their +muskets and ammunition with them." + +Directly afterwards a forest of lances were seen above the hill, and a +band of Cossacks came galloping towards the wreck. Jack immediately +ordered the port gun to be brought to bear on the advancing horsemen, +who seemed not to be aware that they could be reached from that +distance, and went on, making sure of being able to capture the whole +shipwrecked crew. On seeing that the latter were armed, they levelled +their lances, and were bearing down upon them, when Jack gave the word +to fire. The first shot struck the horse of their leader, which came +down, rolling over him; it seemed as if both rider and steed were +killed. The next shot pitched into the midst of their ranks, emptying +at least a couple of saddles. The third shot did still more damage; +when the cossacks, not knowing how many more might be coming, wheeled +quickly round and galloped off into the interior; the crew of the +transport, meantime, firing a volley which, though at a considerable +distance, brought two or three to the ground. + +As soon as he came abreast of the wreck, Jack sent three of his boats on +shore to bring off the crew; Murray volunteered to take command of them. +As he neared the beach, he saw the Cossacks still hovering in the +distance, out of the reach of the guns, but threatening to pounce down +again, probably still in the hopes of making some prisoners. The +_Tornado_ accordingly stood in as close as she could venture, to cover +the boats, which soon reached the beach. The transport's crew stood +ready to receive them; scarcely, however, had they begun to embark, than +the Cossacks once more came galloping up. Murray immediately ordered +those still remaining on shore to face about; while, just as the +Cossacks reached the high ground above the beach, a couple of shells +thrown from the _Tornado's_ guns burst amid their ranks; when, once more +wheeling about, they galloped off at a rapid rate, leaving the rest of +the crew to embark without molestation. + +Having carried them on board, Murray returned for the purpose of +destroying the transport, that her stores might not fall into the hands +of the enemy. He had for this purpose to pull round inshore. It was +not without some difficulty that he, Higson, and Needham made their way +on board. Such combustible materials as could be found were soon +collected, and lighted in the hold of the transport; the boat then at +once pulled away for the _Tornado_. She had got to some little distance +from the ship, when the Cossacks were again seen coming down towards the +shore, this time accompanied by a couple of field-pieces, which quickly +opened fire. The first shot, however, fell short, and the party were +soon safe on board the _Tornado_. + +As the _Tornado_ steamed off, the Cossacks were seen again coming +forward, in the hopes possibly of still being able to plunder the wreck. +Just then, however, the flames burst furiously forth from every part of +the wreck, and in another minute a loud roar was heard, and a portion of +her deck rose high in the air, while her sides, rent and shattered, flew +out in every direction; and as the smoke from the explosion cleared +away, a few burnt timbers of the wreck alone remained, while the +Cossacks, disappointed of their booty, were seen galloping off in the +distance. + +The scanty remnant of another shipwrecked crew having been saved by the +_Tornado_, she steamed back to Balaclava. During that fearful storm no +less than forty vessels, with upwards of four hundred men, had been +lost; one Turkish line-of-battle ship, and several transports, had gone +down with all hands. The French lost one of their finest line-of-battle +ships and a corvette, with nearly twenty smaller craft. The most severe +loss was that of the _Prince_, with a crew of a hundred and fifty men; +she had arrived two days before with troops, who had providentially +landed--but the army was doomed to suffer terribly from the loss of her +cargo, consisting of warm clothing, ammunition, medicine, and supplies +of all kinds. + +A few ships being left to watch Sebastopol, the remainder of the fleet +and all the transports were sent back to the Bosphorus; and soon +afterwards, Admiral Dundas having struck his flag, Sir Edmund Lyons +became commander-in-chief. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE BEGINNING OF 1855--MURRAY IN COMMAND OF THE +GIAOUR--SHELLING SEBASTOPOL BY NIGHT--TOM FINDS MATTER FOR SERIOUS +THOUGHT--THE TORNADO CHASES A RUSSIAN STEAMER--ATTACK ON A FORT--ANOTHER +STEAMER SIGHTED--FRIEND OR FOE?--PROVES TO BE THE GIAOUR--THE FLASH +APPEARS--THE FORT STORMED. + +The fearful Christmas of 1854 was over, and of the troops, which in +gallant array had left England, more than one-half had died or been +disabled by the shot of the enemy or the still more deadly pestilence. +Sufferings, such as an English army had never before been called upon to +endure, had been borne with fortitude. The siege, notwithstanding, had +been carried on, and now reinforcements, and clothing, and stores, and +provisions were arriving in the camp of the allies. Affairs looked +brighter than they had done for many a day; the fleet, notwithstanding +the battering some of the ships had received at the opening of the +bombardment, was in as efficient a state as ever. It had rendered good +service at Eupatoria in assisting the Turks to defend the place against +a powerful force of Russians, which had been driven back with great +loss. The naval brigade had been doing good service on shore, not only +in the batteries, but by laying down a railway from Balaclava to the +Chersonese, by which the transport of heavy guns, ammunition, and stores +was greatly facilitated. + +The _Tornado_ had not been idle, though, in consequence of the straining +her engines had received during the storm, she had been compelled to +remain some time at Constantinople, to have them set to rights. Once +more she was steaming across the waters of the Black Sea, with another +vessel of similar size in company. + +"The _Giaour_ will beat us if we can't get up more steam," observed Jack +to his first lieutenant, who was walking the deck with him. + +"We have on our full power, and are doing our utmost," answered Higson; +"the _Giaour's_ engines are new, and we must make up our minds, I +suspect, to let Commander Murray get ahead of us." + +"I am always happy to follow wherever he leads," said Jack; "if there is +work to be done, he'll find out the way to do it." + +The _Giaour_ was coming up slowly on the _Tornado's_ quarter, gaining +foot after foot but never losing an inch, so that at length she was +abreast of her; both vessels were steering for Sebastopol. The land was +soon afterwards made, and, as they approached, the admiral's flag was +seen flying at the masthead of the _Royal Albert_, a magnificent +three-decker of a hundred and thirty guns, to which Sir Edmund Lyons had +shifted it from the _Agamemnon_. She, and several other English and +French line-of-battle ships, lay across the entrance of the harbour, +effectually preventing any of the enemy's ships from getting out. + +"The admiral is speaking to us and the _Giaour_" said Tom, who was +acting as signal-midshipman. + +"Let's see what he is saying," said Jack, looking at the signal-book; +"it's `Keep under weigh' and `Commanders to repair on board the +admiral's ship.' We are to be sent somewhere together, I hope." + +The two steamers closed rapidly with the fleet, beyond which could be +seen the frowning batteries on the other side of the harbour of +Sebastopol; while on the right appeared thin curls of smoke, marking the +course of the shells thrown from the lines of the allies into the city +and those sent by the batteries in return: while the thunder of the +artillery was heard with fearful distinctness. On reaching the +flagship, Jack and Murray went on board, when they received directions +to take a part in the work which had been going on nightly. Some time +before, the boats of the fleet had set up signals on shore within reach +of the French camp, and men were sent down soon after dark to light +them. By their means every night an English and French steamer had +stood in and shelled the town, greatly to the astonishment of the +Russians, who were utterly unprepared for such a mode of attack. They +of course fired in return; but as they could scarcely see their foes, +the ships were but seldom struck; while not only did they commit a good +deal of harm, but thus harassed the garrison by night as well as by day. + +Jack was to take the lead that night, in company with a French ship. +All hands were well pleased at the work cut out for them, and eagerly +looked forward to the hours of darkness when they might begin shelling +the enemy, little troubled by the thoughts of the shot which might be +sent on board them from the Russian guns in return. Tom and Archie were +especially in high glee at the thoughts of what they were to do. + +"Who knows but one of our shells may burst in one of the enemy's chief +magazines, or knock down some of their defences, and allow the allies to +take the place?" said Tom. + +"We shall not be much the wiser if we do do it," observed Archie; "and, +depend upon it, they will insist that it was their own guns did the +work." + +Soon after dark the _Tornado_ and her French consort steamed in towards +the harbour, steering by the lights which had been placed on shore. The +screws made but little noise, and perfect silence was maintained on +board, so that the enemy could not discover their whereabouts till they +opened fire. The lights were so placed as to enable them to know with +terrible accuracy the position of the forts into which they were to +fire. As they glided onwards through the darkness for some minutes +together, not a sound was heard in the direction of the beleaguered +city, which to all appearance lay in profound slumber. Then came from +the far distance the reports of a few dropping shot, showing that the +riflemen of both parties were awake. They again ceased, and the same +silence as before reigned over the scene. + +The _Tornado's_ heavy guns were loaded, and elevated to throw their shot +into the city, and their crews stood ready to fire at the word of +command. Jack waited till his ship had reached the point he was +directed to gain. "Fire!" he shouted. The next instant the loud roar +of his guns echoed through the harbour, arousing many a weary sleeper in +the Russian fortifications. The French ship immediately fired her guns +in rapid succession, and then both vessels steamed round away from the +spot they had previously occupied, towards which numberless Russian guns +immediately directed their fire, though not a shot touched either of +them. The _Tornado's_ guns were reloaded, and, standing back, she +rapidly discharged them, the French ship following her example. Again +the shot from the forts came rushing through the air, falling around the +ships, but without striking them. In this way they continued circling +round, now firing from one point, now from another, and each time after +firing taking different directions. + +At length every gun which could be brought to bear on the harbour began +to play upon them, but, by keeping ever on the move, for a considerable +time not a shot took effect. At length, as Tom and Archie were standing +close together, a shot from one of the heights whistled by close to +their heads, and struck the bulwarks behind them. + +"I say, Tom, if that shot had been a few inches on one side, where +should you and I have been by this time?" said Archie. + +"Not a pleasant subject for contemplation," answered Tom; "however, a +miss is as good as a mile." + +"I have been thinking seriously of the matter," observed Archie; "not +that I am afraid, but I am very sure that we ought to be prepared to go +out of the world, seeing that at any moment either of us may lose our +lives." + +"It doesn't do to think of that sort of thing," said Tom, not liking +Archie's tone. + +"Now there you're wrong. I believe that it is much wiser to think about +it than to be taken unprepared," replied Archie. "My Cousin Alick +thinks very seriously, and no one can say that he is not as brave an +officer as any man in the fleet. I tell you honestly that I have been +saying my prayers, and asking God to help me to take Him at His word, +and to trust to His plan of salvation--that is what I want you to do, +Tom, also. I should be very miserable if I saw you killed and could not +feel sure that you had gone to heaven. I should be unhappy in either +case; but it would be ten times worse if I thought that I should not +meet you again." + +"Do you really, Archie, think that I am so wicked that if I was to be +killed I should not go to heaven?" said Tom. + +"I only know what the Bible says about it, and I believe that," answered +Archie firmly. "Just obey God, and you'll be all right, and it won't +make you a bit less brave than you are now." + +"I will," said Tom; "still I hope that neither you nor I will be hit +to-night, though the shot are falling pretty thickly about us." + +The moment after he had spoken, a loud cry was heard from one of the +crew of the nearest gun, and the sound of a person falling heavily. +They sprang to the spot, and found a seaman stretched on the deck. They +tried to lift him up, but, inexperienced though they were, they both +felt convinced that he was dead. Others, coming up, confirmed their +opinion; the shot had struck his chest, and killed him in a moment. + +Notwithstanding the heavy fire to which his ship was exposed, Jack +continued at his post, firing away till the hour arrived at which he was +directed to leave the harbour; and he and his French consort steamed +away to rejoin the fleet. Tom was unusually serious during the +following day. + +"I say, Rogers, what's the matter with you?" asked Billy Blueblazes. + +"He didn't quite like the fun we had last night," observed Dicky Duff. + +"I'll tell you what, youngster," said Tom, "you wouldn't have thought it +any fun if either of you had one of those Russian round-shot walking +into you, as poor Norris had." + +On which Tom spoke to them as Archie had been speaking to him, much to +the latter's satisfaction, for it showed him that his words had not been +thrown away. Tom, indeed, afterwards came to him, and begged that he +would get out his Bible, and more fully explain what he had been talking +about on the previous night. Archie gladly did so. It was the +beginning of many Bible readings they had together. Others joined them, +and they then to their surprise found that several of the men had long +been in the practice of meeting together to pray and study God's Word. +They heard also that such was done on board many of the ships in the +fleet, and that the men who thus occupied themselves were looked upon as +the best and steadiest of their respective crews. + +The next night Murray was directed to stand in and engage the forts, +also accompanied by a French ship. Thus, night after night, the fleet +harassed the unfortunate garrison, while the guns of the besieging army +played on them in the daytime, giving them no rest during the +four-and-twenty hours. + +A short time after this a considerable squadron, composed of English, +French, and Turkish ships, with some thousand troops on board, proceeded +to the eastward, for the purpose of attacking Kertch, at the entrance of +the Sea of Azov. Well might the garrison of Sebastopol have felt alarm +when they saw the fleet sailing past the mouth of their harbour, for on +the shores of that inland sea were placed the chief granaries from which +they drew their supplies of provisions. + +The _Tornado_ and _Giaour_, with numerous other steam-vessels, +accompanied the fleet. Passing along the rocky and picturesque southern +shore of the Crimea, the expedition soon came off Cape Saint Paul, in a +small bay near which the troops were landed without a casualty; the +steam-vessels scattering a body of Cossacks, the only hostile force that +appeared to dispute the disembarkation. The line-of-battle ships +continued their course along the coast, which at every available spot +was strongly fortified. The ships were standing in to attack the +batteries when a thundering roar was heard, the concussion from which +shook even the vessels at sea. Another and another followed. + +"The Russians are performing our work for us, and saving Her Majesty a +considerable expenditure of gunpowder," observed Higson to his +commander. "I am afraid if they play that trick, of which they seem so +fond, they will leave us nothing to do." + +"Never fear, we shall be too quick for them," answered Jack; "and, from +what I hear, there are numerous magazines all round the coast." + +"The inhabitants of Kertch must be glad to save their town from a +bombardment, for really it is a much handsomer place than I expected to +find in this part of the world, and those lofty stone houses give it a +very imposing appearance," observed Higson. + +"At all events, we shall not have injured them," observed Jack; "we are +especially directed to do as little harm as possible to private +property, and to let the Russians understand that we are not warring +with them, but with the Emperor and his Government." + +The fleet having thus gained a bloodless victory, the line-of-battle +ships came to an anchor; the larger number of the steamers proceeded +into the Sea of Azov, while the remainder were sent along the coast to +look out for any vessels which might have been concealed in any of the +inlets or deep bays with which it is everywhere indented. The _Tornado_ +was ordered on this service, greatly to the disappointment of her crew, +who expected to have more stirring work within the Straits. + +She had just lost sight of the fleet, when standing in as close as she +could venture, Jos Green, who was forward, observed a light cloud of +smoke ascending above a rocky point, the summit of which was feathered +with a grove of lofty trees. It was a question, however, whether the +smoke proceeded from a fire on shore or from the funnel of a steamer. +Green inclined to the latter opinion. It had moved some distance since +he first sighted it, he declared, so that it must come from a steamer on +her way out to sea. The _Tornado_ stood on, keeping as close inshore as +possible, so that her presence might not be discovered till the other +vessel had got well clear of the point; after that, Jack hoped to get up +to her before she could run in anywhere else for shelter. + +A suppressed cheer from those on deck showed that Green was right, and +the _Tornado_ stood away after the stranger. The latter was no laggard, +and it was soon evident that the _Tornado_ must do her best if she was +to come up with her. The chase, though a vessel of some size, showed no +inclination to come to close quarters with her pursuer. + +"If we can but keep her in sight, we shall catch her at last," said +Jack; "and if she runs into any harbour, we must follow her, or send the +boats in after her." + +"We haven't had anything so exciting for a long time," said Tom; "I hope +that we may have to cut her out with the boats." + +"Her crew will blow her up sooner than let us do that," observed Archie; +"the Russians seem to be fonder of that sort of thing than fighting." + +The chase, however, kept well ahead, and there seemed a good prospect, +should night come on, of her escaping altogether. Still the _Tornado_ +was really going faster than the Russian vessel, though so slight was +the difference of speed, that at first it was scarcely discernible. At +length, however, Jack considered that he had got the Russian vessel +within range of his long guns, and was on the point of issuing the order +to fire, when a shot from her came flying across the intervening space, +but fell some twenty fathoms or so short of its mark. + +"And now, let's see what we can do," cried Jack; "starboard the helm-- +steady--now, fire!" The _Tornado's_ shot struck the Russian's counter, +apparently committing a considerable amount of damage. This first +specimen of the power of his pursuer's guns seemed to satisfy him that +he had better not engage at close quarters. The dense volumes of smoke +which issued from his funnel proved that he was endeavouring to get more +steam, in the hopes of still keeping ahead. As the _Tornado_ could not +be made to move faster than she was then going, Jack had to content +himself with the prospect of the chase's getting on shore, running short +of coal, or of some accident happening to her machinery. Another shot +was tried, but it fell short, showing that she had again drawn ahead. +Some miles more had been run, when Green brought the chart on deck, and +pointed out a fort situated on the shores of a bay a short distance off. + +"The chase has evidently been making for that, and thinks that she will +be secure under its guns," he observed. + +"We'll stand on, and attack both ship and fort together," said Jack; +"we'll sink the ship first, and then knock the fort to pieces." + +In about ten minutes more the chase rounded a point, when a bay opened +out, on the farther side of which appeared a strong-looking fort, +guarding the mouth of a river which ran into the bay. + +"She may escape us after all if she runs up that river," observed +Higson, "unless we can first silence the guns of the fort, and then +follow her." + +"We must just do that same then; and if we can't knock the fort to +pieces with our guns, we must land and storm it," said Jack. + +His remark was received with universal satisfaction, as no one thought +of the superior number of the garrison likely to oppose them. The chase +was now more eagerly watched than ever, it being fully expected that she +would run up the river to escape them; instead, however, of doing so, as +she drew near the fort she let off her steam, and came to an anchor +close under its guns. + +"Now we've got her," cried Jack exultingly. + +The _Tornado_ stood on to within half a mile of the fort, when she +opened fire on it, and now on the ship, which fired with some spirit in +return; but as the _Tornado_ kept moving about, their shot invariably +missed her. She had been thus engaged for a quarter of an hour or more, +her guns having told with considerable effect on the Russian vessel, +when a column of smoke was seen ascending at some little distance behind +the fort, apparently from the river. + +"That must proceed from another steamer coming down to assist our +friend," observed Higson; "and see, there is another rising just beyond +it--we shall have no lack of enemies to fight." + +"We must settle with the first, then, as soon as possible," cried Jack, +in a cheery tone; "we'll then take the others in detail." + +The crew cheered as they heard his remark, and worked away at the guns +with redoubled zeal. Several shot had struck the vessel under the fort; +first one of her guns ceased firing, then another and another; still she +kept her colours flying, and in another minute the bows of a steamer +were seen emerging from the mouth of the river. A shot was instantly +fired at her; it struck her bulwarks, and evidently caused some damage. +Instead, however, of running under the guns of the fort, she stood away +up the bay, evidently not wishing to come to close quarters with the +audacious stranger. A few minutes afterwards another vessel appeared, +which, receiving one of the _Tornado's_ shot, followed the example of +the first. After getting nearly two miles away, they brought their +broadsides round, and opened a brisk fire. The _Tornado_, however, +moving rapidly about as before, escaped every one of their shot; while +she fired her guns as they came to bear on her antagonists, and seldom +failed to hull one or other of them. Still, their guns were of heavier +calibre than hers, and their shot frequently went far beyond her, and +she had to stand towards them to make hers tell with effect. + +At length a shot came crashing on board just abaft the funnel, wounding +one man severely, and another, Tim Nolan, slightly. + +"Arrah, now, it's but a fleabite," he exclaimed, getting a shipmate to +bind a handkerchief round his shoulder; "we've given them more than that +already, and it's better than having the funnel shot away." + +Still Jack had no intention of abandoning the attack, and, wishing to +settle the first vessel before he attended to the other two, he directed +his guns at her and at the fort, although the shot from the former +continually hulled him. One, at length, went through the ship's side +between wind and water, and the sea came rushing in like a mill-sluice. +The midshipmen, who up to this time were enjoying the fighting, thought +that things were beginning to look serious. + +Dicky Duff, especially, expressed his apprehensions to his chum Billy. +"If another shot comes in like that, we shall certainly go to the +bottom; and I am not quite sure what will happen even now, for the +commander has not told us to knock off firing. I wonder if he knows +what has happened? He is such a plucky fellow, however, that I suppose +he will go on fighting till the ship sinks below our feet." + +The youngsters were somewhat relieved by seeing the carpenter and his +crew going below with the means for stopping the shot-hole; while Ben +Snatchblock, with a rope round his waist, allowed himself to be slung +overboard to reach the injury still more rapidly from the outside. He +had just performed his task, when another shot went right through the +forepart of the ship; happily, without hitting anyone, and the damage it +had caused was as quickly repaired as the other had been. Jack had +carried on the unequal contest for half an hour or more, when a third +steamer was seen gliding out of the river, and as she opened her fire, +it was soon discovered that her guns were heavier than those of either +of her consorts. The first shot she fired came crashing through the +_Tornado's_ side. + +"I suppose we shall have to run for it now," cried Dicky. + +"Not a bit of it," exclaimed Tom, who overheard him; "the commander +wouldn't be turned from his purpose, even if a dozen Russian steamers +came out on us, and we shall soon settle with our old friend--she has +not fired a shot for the last minute." As he was speaking, a thick +smoke rose from the afterpart of their antagonist, followed quickly by +bright flames, which darted upwards through the hatchway. Directly +afterwards a fire burst out in the forepart of the ship, and raged with +a fury which it was clear the crew were incapable of overcoming. Her +boats were lowered, and her people were seen dropping down into them +with a rapidity which showed that they had abandoned all hope of saving +their ship. As they could no longer offer any resistance, Jack humanely +ordered his crew to refrain from firing on them. He directed, however, +all his guns at the fort, for the purpose of silencing them before the +other vessels should come up to take a closer part in the action, which +he fully expected that they would do. + +Though the damage he had received was considerable, there was nothing as +yet, he conceived, sufficiently serious to make him haul off. Still he +could not help wishing to see the flag of the fort come down, +comparatively slight as was the damage he had received from its guns. +Having destroyed the vessel he had chased, he might without any +discredit haul off, considering the immense superiority of the force +opposed to him; but Jack Rogers was not a man to haul down his flag, or +get out of a fight, as long as he had a stick standing; and his spirit +animating his officers and crew, the _Tornado_ kept blazing away, +throwing shells into the fort, and firing shot, as he could bring his +guns to bear at the three steamers. They had now, however, drawn +considerably nearer than they had hitherto ventured to approach, and +there seemed considerable likelihood of Dicky Duffs apprehensions being +fulfilled. + +Jack now looked at the three vessels, now at the fort. "It might be +done," he said, turning to Higson, "if the fort were stormed, and its +guns turned against the steamers." + +"I would undertake it," said Higson; "but with its own garrison and the +crew of the vessel which has just been burnt, it would be a hard job." + +"I would ask no one to lead it but myself," said Jack; "I will leave you +to fight the vessel in the meantime; should I be killed, I give you +orders to retire, for with a diminished crew you would have little +prospect of doing more than has already been accomplished." + +"I do not advise you to command the expedition," said Higson; "you know +me, and that I am not likely to be stopped by any ordinary hazard." + +Jack, without answering, still kept eyeing the shore, looking out for a +place where his boats might land. + +"There's a steamer in the offing, sir, standing in for the bay," said +Archie, coming up to him. + +"Another enemy," exclaimed Higson; "we shall have enough of them." + +"We'll tackle them, notwithstanding," answered Jack; "they show no +inclination, however, to come to close quarters." + +Another shot from the enemy struck the _Tornado_. + +"The commander is just a little o'er brave," observed Dicky Duff to +Billy Blueblazes; "we've got terrible odds against us." + +"He knows what he is about, and he'll manage to lick them all, one after +another, depend on that," said Billy. + +"I don't exactly see how he's going to do that," said Dicky. "If we +could but tackle one at a time it would be fairer, and we should have a +better chance of licking them." + +"That's just what they don't want to give us," said Billy. + +"Another steamer coming in from the southward, sir," said Archie, who +had been looking out. + +"Friend or foe?" observed Jack to Higson; "if the latter, we must stand +out and meet her, and leave the three vessels in the bay till we can +come back and settle with them." + +Still Jack showed no inclination to quit the neighbourhood of the fort, +into which shell after shell was thrown, till most of its guns had been +silenced. Many an eye, however, was turned towards the approaching +strangers, till at length the first showed English colours. A cheer +rose from those of the crew not engaged at the guns, the only sign they +gave of their desire for assistance. In another minute the number of +the approaching steamer was made out, "She's the _Giaour_" exclaimed +Archie. + +If Jack ever felt any inclination to be jealous of Murray it was now, as +he was his superior officer; but the feeling which arose in his breast +was speedily quelled. The _Giaour_ came rapidly on; Murray signalised +to Jack, "Remain where you are, and I will attack the vessels in the +bay." Jack ordered the signal to be made, "They will attempt to escape +up the river." + +"Stand on and stop them," was the answer from the _Giaour_. + +The _Tornado_ accordingly steamed on towards her three antagonists, +which now began to turn their heads, as Jack had expected they would, +towards the mouth of the river. They were thus unable any longer to +fire at him, while he was still able to reach them with two of his guns, +one firing shot and the other shell. The _Giaour_ now signalised, +"Steamer to the south, English." + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed Tom; "we are now on equal terms, and can bag the +whole of them." + +The three Russian vessels were still half a mile away from the mouth of +the river when Jack got off it, and by this time the _Giaour_ was near +enough to take a part in the engagement, her shot beginning to tell with +considerable effect on the nearest of the enemy. The Russian vessels +now swept round, apparently with the intention of running across the +bay, firing their broadsides at the _Tornado_, but with little effect; +and she, in return, as they exposed their sterns in flight, kept up a +brisk fire at them with shot and shell. One of them now burst into +flames, and in half a minute blew up, destroying the greater number of +her unhappy crew. + +The other two, however, still continued on their course, hoping, +apparently, to get out of the bay ahead of the _Giaour_, not being +aware, it was evident, that another English ship was near at hand to cut +them off. Jack, knowing that they must both be intercepted, made a +signal asking leave of Murray to pick up any of the Russians still +floating on the wreck of the steamer. This request was at once granted; +and, lowering two of his boats, of one of which Tom took the command, +and of the other Ben Snatchblock, he again stood on in pursuit of the +two steamers. They, however, had not got far when they made out a third +vessel coming to attack them, and finding that all hope of escape was +cut off, they both hauled down their colours. + +Murray, who was nearest to them, at once sent a couple of boats to take +possession of the two prizes; while Jack stood back to pick up his +boats. Of the whole of the Russian crew they had saved but six men, two +of whom were much burnt, and one died directly after he had been taken +on board the _Tornado_. One of the survivors, a Finn, who, having +served on board English merchantmen, spoke English perfectly, informed +Jack that a considerable quantity of corn and other provisions were +stored in warehouses on the banks of the river, some way from its mouth. + +"It is our duty to destroy them," said Jack to Higson. + +"I will undertake to do it," was the answer. An expedition was at once +planned, the command of which Jack, with Murray's approval, gave to +Higson; Archie was to accompany him, while Green and Tom were to go in +another boat. The fort, however, still held out, and several of its +guns had again opened fire on the English vessels. Murray determined to +take it by assault as soon as the approaching steamer had come into the +bay. She now made her number; the bunting flying from her masthead +showed her to be the _Flash_. + +"She can only lately have arrived in the Black Sea, and is probably on +her way to join the fleet, for she was only building when we left home," +observed Jack. "I wonder who commands her." + +By the time the preparations for attacking the fort had been made the +_Flash_ had come close up to the _Giaour_. A gig from the former was +seen to pull to the latter vessel; Murray now made a signal to Jack to +come on board; he was soon alongside the _Giaour_. Stepping on deck, +who should he see with his hand extended to greet him but Terence Adair; +standing a little way behind him was Gerald Desmond. Archie, who had +accompanied his commander, and Desmond were soon in eager conversation; +while Jack, at Murray's invitation, went below with Adair. There was +only just time for Jack to hear that Terence's former ship, having +received some damage, had been sent home to be repaired, and that he in +the meantime had been appointed to the command of the _Flash_ destined +for the Black Sea. + +"I was glad to get her," he observed; "for, judging from our first +year's experience in the Baltic, I suspected that we were not likely to +have much to do in that part of the world; first, because the Russians +showed no inclination to come out and fight us; and, secondly, because +Charley Napier--" + +"Never mind the second reason," interrupted Murray; "here you are, and +very glad we are to see you; and now let me hear what you say to our +proposed attack on this fort." + +"That I am perfectly ready to go in for it," answered Adair. "How many +boats' crews do you require, or shall I send the whole of my ship's +company?" + +"Two boats' crews will be sufficient, and the sooner you send them off +the better," replied Murray. + +"In other words, you direct me to trundle on board as fast as I can," +said Adair. "I should like to lead the expedition myself, and as we +pull in I can take a sufficient survey of the fort for the purpose. As +I have had no share in the glories of the campaign, you will not refuse +me?" + +Murray willingly agreed to Adair's request, and two of the _Flash's_ +boats being quickly manned, the three steamers stood towards the fort. +As they approached, they were received by a pretty hot fire, which they +returned, while still standing on, with shells from their guns; and, +running close in, they brought their broadsides to bear on the fort, +into which they forthwith poured a shower of shot and shell. The boats +then cast off, and, led by Adair, pulled for a landing-place on one +side, from which a road led up apparently into the interior. The ships +meantime kept up a furious bombardment on the fort; and though one gun +from it was brought to bear on the boats, none of them were hit. Adair, +rapidly pulling for the shore, quickly landed, and without a moment's +loss of time led the way up the hill. Every instant he expected to see +the enemy, but none appeared. Turning to the right, and keeping under +cover of some rocks and trees, he made his way towards the fort. Ben +Snatchblock had been provided with a red flag, which he exhibited at the +last point whence it could be seen from the ships; and it was calculated +that in three minutes more after this the party would reach the rear of +the fort. Directly that time had elapsed, the ships were to cease +firing. + +Adair and Higson led, followed closely by Ben, the two midshipmen being +ordered to bring up the rear. Ben having showed his flag, the party +rushed on, and directly afterwards a shower of bullets whistled over the +spot where they had been; but by that time Tom and Archie were a dozen +yards ahead. In less than three minutes they had reached the ditch in +the rear of the fort. Not a Russian helmet was to be seen on that side; +Adair and Higson had to restrain the ardour of their followers, who were +eager to climb over the defences. They waited till the last shot fired +from the ships came crashing into the fort; three or four seconds +passed, and no others came. Adair began to count--"One, two, three, +four, five, six--now, my lads, you may come on!" he exclaimed; and he +and his party, springing forward, began, with the agility of cats, to +climb over the defences. + +Not a Russian soldier could be seen except those who were labouring at +the guns, the rest of the garrison having wisely betaken themselves to +their bomb-proof chambers. In consequence of the hot fire kept up by +the ships, they had not expected that the party they had seen landing +were about to attack them, and Terence and his men had actually jumped +down into the fort before the garrison had mustered in sufficient force +to resist them. They were, of course, quickly seen; the bugle sounded, +and the troops rushed out of their bomb-proof chambers. A considerable +body, headed by their commandant, at length drew up across the fort for +the purpose of impeding the progress of their daring assailants. + +"On, lads, on!" cried Adair, seeing that their best chance of victory +was to attack the garrison before they had time to form into a compact +body. They had indeed been completely taken by surprise, many having +hurried out without bayonets fixed, others with unloaded muskets, some +only with pikes or swords in their hands. Ben Snatchblock had brought +an English ensign under his arm; keeping his eye on the flagstaff, he +directed his course, with a few companions, towards it. As Adair and +Higson led on the main body, the garrison gave way, some hurrying off to +conceal themselves in the chambers from which they had just before +emerged, while others made for a gate in the rear of the fort leading to +the drawbridge, which was, however, up. Before they could lower it, +Adair, with most of his men, was upon them, when, with a loud voice, he +ordered them not to touch the chains unless they wished to be cut to +pieces. + +Meantime Ben and his companions were fighting their way towards the +flagstaff; a few men who were collected were quickly put to flight. + +"Now, up goes the British ensign and the fort is ours," cried Ben; and, +suiting the action to the word, the Russian flag being hauled down, that +of England was hoisted in its stead. The commandant, finding that the +fort had really been captured by the English, came forward with a low +bow, and presented the hilt of his sword to Adair, who took it in the +most gracious manner he could assume, observing as he did so, "You have +gallantly defended your fort, and deserve every consideration at our +hands; but at the same time I must warn you that I cannot allow any of +your garrison to escape from the fort. After they have laid down their +arms, I will settle how they are to be treated." + +The bugle on this sounded, and the garrison from all directions came out +and piled arms in the centre of the fort. A few minutes afterwards, as +Terence stood on the ramparts, he observed Murray with a couple of boats +pulling to the shore. Adair, thinking it prudent not to lower the +drawbridge, for fear any of the garrison might escape, called to Murray +and his party to make their way over the walls into the fortress. +Murray, having brought on shore some strong tackles, at once set to work +to dismount the guns for the purpose of carrying them off, while the +greater number of muskets, which were of no value, after being broken, +were hurled into the sea below the fort. Murray highly approved of +Adair's proceedings; and the commandant was politely informed that he +and his garrison must be for the present content to remain prisoners +within their own fort. He and his officers shrugged their shoulders, +and observed that it was the fortune of war; while the garrison seemed +very indifferent to the matter, probably very glad to have nothing to +do, and to run no risk of being shot by their enemies. + +Murray, however, took the precaution of shutting them all up in the +bomb-proof chambers, to prevent them from running away, while at night a +bright look-out was kept from the ramparts on all sides, and all hands +ordered to be ready to turn out at a moment's notice, lest an attempt +might be made by any Russian force in the neighbourhood to recapture the +fort. The commandant was allowed to occupy his own quarters, to which +he invited the English officers, who found a very welcome repast +prepared for them. A remarkably pleasant evening was spent, and the +commandant, expressing a hope that the war would soon be over, invited +them, as soon as that happy event should occur, to his country-house, +which he told them was only a few miles off up the river. They all +promised gladly to avail themselves of the invitation, should +circumstances allow them to do so. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +AN EXPEDITION UP THE RIVER--ATTACK ON THE MAGAZINES--BURNING STOREHOUSES +AND VESSELS--HIGSON AND ARCHIE HAVE TO RUN FOR IT--PULL DOWN THE RIVER-- +HIGSON AND TOM HAVE TO RECRUIT THE INNER MAN--RUSSIAN NIGHTINGALES-- +HOSPITABLE RECEPTION--HIGSON SUCCUMBS TO BEAUTY--THE OLD TUTOR--PROVES +TO BE ONE OF GREEN'S FRIENDS--UNPLEASANT INTERRUPTION BY COSSACKS. + +At early dawn the two boats, as had previously been arranged, shoved off +from the side of the _Tornado_, on the proposed expedition up the river, +for the purpose of destroying any Government stores or munitions of war +which could be discovered. + +"It is lucky we didn't attempt to come in till we had silenced the +guns," observed Higson, pointing to the strong walls which frowned above +them, from which the guns had been removed. + +The country on one side was level; on the other, hills, some of +considerable elevation, rose from the bank of the river, which twisted +and turned, forming several short reaches, and prevented those going up +from seeing to any considerable distance ahead. + +"We must be prepared for anything that may happen," shouted Higson to +Green; "for what we know we may meet another steamer coming down to look +after her friends, or we may fall in with a troop of Cossacks or other +soldiers, who may give us a somewhat warm reception, if they suspect +what we are about." + +"I suppose we shall board the steamer if she appears," said Green. + +"Depend on that--and take her too," answered Higson; at which the men +laughed, as if they thought there was no doubt about the matter. The +boats pulled on, passing some pretty-looking country-houses, surrounded +by gardens, and backed by orchards or vineyards planted on the hillside. + +"A good style of country this to live in," observed Higson to Archie; "I +always have my eye on pleasant spots, and amuse myself with the idea +that I shall some day come and settle down there, when I have had enough +of a sea-life. After knocking about for the best part of his days, a +fellow longs to find himself quietly settled on shore." + +"But surely, Mr Higson, you wish to become post-captain, or an +admiral?" observed Archie. + +"That is more than I ever shall be, youngster, unless I'm a yellow +admiral; indeed, I shall consider myself fortunate if I get made a +commander, and after serving a year or two am allowed to retire from the +service," said Higson. "Now, that is a place to which I should have no +objection," he continued, as, having opened a fresh reach, he pointed to +a house of greater pretensions than those they had before seen. "After +we have performed the work we have been sent on, when we come down we'll +look in there and request the inhabitants to provide us some dinner, for +I am very sharp set, as I daresay you are." + +Of course Higson shouted to Green, telling him what he intended to do, +and, of course, the master and Tom very willingly agreed to his +proposal. "We have, however, first our work to do," observed Higson; +"to burn a few granaries and stacks of wheat, and as many vessels as we +can fall in with; that won't take us long, however, if we meet with no +opposition, and if we do we must fight, and get the matter over as soon +as possible. We must finish it, as Shakespeare says we should a +beefsteak." + +"I don't think it's Shakespeare says that," observed Archie; "however, +there's no doubt that unless we can do it quickly, we may miss doing it +altogether, as those Cossack fellows who are in the neighbourhood will +be coming down and trying to cut us off." + +"Well, as they can't charge into the river, they'll have a hard job to +do that," said Higson; "and when we land we must take care not to get +far from the boats. It is to be hoped that Commander Adair will keep +the garrison shut up in their fort, and so the people up the country, +not knowing what has happened, will be unprepared for us." + +As they pulled along the officers in the two boats kept a bright +look-out on either bank, and, not having seen any horsemen, were in +hopes that they might come suddenly upon the place they wished to reach, +if no peasantry saw them; or, if they saw them, as they had no flag +flying, the peasantry might easily mistake them for Russians, as they +would scarcely suppose that two English boats would have ventured up so +far from the protection of their ships. + +The river rather narrowed as they proceeded, and they observed that the +banks were fringed with wide belts of rushes, so that, should they have +to run the gauntlet between foes on either bank, by keeping in the +centre they should be a good distance from both of them. This was +satisfactory; for the bravest of men do not find it pleasant to be shot +at without the chance of getting at their enemies. Still Higson hoped +that they should be able to accomplish their object, and make their +escape again without loss. At length, having rounded a point over which +the masts of several vessels were visible, they saw before them several +long, high buildings, with a line of stacks in front of them, and a +collection of, apparently, private houses and cottages beyond, while in +front were between twenty and thirty vessels moored to the shore, and +lying so closely together that by setting fire to two or three the rest +must inevitably be burnt. + +Without stopping the two boats pulled on, keeping close together, so +that Higson could give his directions to Green. He ordered him to pull +up alongside the farthermost vessels, and to board and set them on fire +as quickly as possible; which beneficent work being accomplished, he was +to come back and join him on the shore in front of the storehouses and +stacks. It could scarcely be supposed that so much property would be +left without protection; still no soldiers had been seen, and Higson +hoped that they might accomplish their object before any could come down +to oppose them. + +"The truth is, I suspect," he observed to Archie, "the Russians have +depended on their fort at the mouth of the river, and it did not occur +to them that an enemy could force his way past it. The steamers may +have been lying much nearer the entrance than this, and had not time to +communicate with the village before they came down to attack us; the +chances are that the people on the banks, who saw them go down, fancy +that they sent us long ago to the bottom, and have no idea that we have +taken their fort." + +"They must have heard, however, the sound of the vessel blowing up," +observed Archie. + +"If they did, they may have thought it was one of ours," answered +Higson, who had made up his mind that all was to go smoothly. The boats +soon got up to the place, when Green pulled away to perform his part of +the undertaking; while Higson steered for the shore. As he did so, a +rattling fire of musketry was opened on him from behind a small fort, or +earthwork, which he had hitherto not perceived. Probably the Russians +had only just then discovered that the approaching boats belonged to +their enemies. Not a man, however, was hit, though several bullets +struck the boat; and the next instant she was alongside the wharf. +Higson, springing on shore, followed by Archie and most of his crew, two +only remaining to take care of the boat, made a dash at the earthwork; +from which the defenders, if so they could be called, rushed out as +their assailants leaped in. + +"Don't follow them, lads," cried Higson; "small-arm men, just pepper +them and prevent them coming back. And now we'll fire the storehouses." + +The men had been provided with matches and torches, and more quickly +than it can be described they threw their burning brands into the open +windows of the storehouses, which the instant after were in a blaze from +one end to the other. They then with equal rapidity lighting the huge +stacks close to the water's edge, they also were soon blazing away, with +a fury which would have defied all the attempts of the Russians, had any +appeared, to save them. As the wind blew on the shore, the dense +volumes of smoke which were driven in the faces of those on the other +side completely concealed the perpetrators of the deed from their sight. + +Green and Tom had, in the meantime, not been idle. A slight opposition +only was made by the crew of the first vessel they boarded; finding it +useless to defend her, they made their escape across the intervening +craft to the shore. The English then set fire in succession to all +those on the outside, the flames from which quickly caught the masts and +rigging of the rest; and before the master's boat rejoined Higson's, +every vessel was blazing away with a fury which secured the destruction +of the whole. Higson, believing that the work was done, ordered Green +to follow him down the river; he, however, had only just got clear of +the line of burning stacks, when he perceived that another storehouse +standing a little farther back than the others had not as yet been set +on fire. + +"We must not leave the work unfinished," he exclaimed. "Come, Archie, +you and I and Tim Nolan will soon do the job;" and, springing on shore +with a torch which he had just lighted, followed by Archie and Tim, each +with a musket as well as a torch, he made his way towards the +storehouse. As the party ran on they caught sight of several people in +the distance, and Archie thought he saw some horsemen with long lances; +but they believed that they could reach the building, and get back to +the boat, long before the latter could be down upon them. As they +arrived at the storehouse, they found that the door was closed, and that +the windows were too high to enable them to throw in their torches. A +piece of timber lay near at hand. + +"We must make a battering-ram of this," cried Higson; "here, Gordon, you +and Tim lay hold of it on one side, and I'll take the other, and we'll +soon knock in the door." + +The first blow failed in its intended effect. "Now, lads, heave with a +will," cried Higson, and the door gave way. + +Picking up their torches, as well as their muskets, which they had put +down to handle the battering-ram, they sprang in; and Higson, running to +the farther end, ignited some woodwork and a pile of sacks; while Tim, +leaping up a ladder, left his torch burning on the upper floor. In a +few seconds Higson came back, and, throwing Archie's torch as far as he +could into the building, they all rushed out again. As they were making +their way as fast as their legs could carry them to the boat, Archie, +turning his head over his right shoulder, saw the horsemen he had before +observed galloping at full speed towards them. + +"Here come the Cossacks, Mr Higson," he shouted out. "Run, Mr Higson, +run, while Tim and I keep them at bay." + +Higson, having grown somewhat stout, was not as active as formerly; and +Archie knew that he and Tim could soon overtake him. Higson, aware of +this, did as he was advised, while he shouted out to the rest of the +people in the boat to cover the two who remained behind. + +"Oh, Mr Green, Archie and the man with him will be cut off if we don't +pull in and help them," cried Tom, who, just as the boat got clear of +the smoke, caught sight of the Cossacks. + +Green on this pulled to the shore, and part of the two boats' crews +landing, just as the Cossacks got within twenty yards of Archie and Tim, +they opened fire, which emptied two of their saddles, and made the rest +of the troop wheel quickly round; while Archie and Tim, having also +fired their muskets, took to their heels and soon joined their +shipmates. + +"Give way, my lads," cried Higson, as he once more took his seat; "we've +done the work effectually, and there's no use stopping to get fired at +as we pull down the river." + +The dense volume of smoke which rose up from the bank of the river +completely concealed the Cossacks, and of course prevented them from +seeing the boats, which they possibly might have supposed were still +lying off the place, ready to commit other mischief. Higson had +received orders, however, on no account to injure private property, and +he could only hope that the flames had not reached the buildings he had +seen beyond the storehouses. Just as they got a little way beyond the +point there came the thundering sound of an explosion. + +"That must be a magazine blown up," observed Tom. + +"Perhaps one of the vessels has powder on board," said Green; "I think I +caught sight of some spars through the smoke, but they may have been +fragments of timber." + +Just then there came another explosion as loud as the first, and +scarcely had its echoes died away among the hills on the left when a +third occurred. + +"No doubt about it now," said Green; "some of the vessels we set on fire +must have been laden with powder." + +"I hope no unfortunate people were on board them. A pretty considerable +amount of mischief we have done this morning," said Tom; "but I suppose +it was our duty, so we mustn't think too much about it." + +"Of course it was," answered Green; "if people will go to war, they must +take the consequences." + +"But perhaps the people didn't want to go to war," said Tom; "it was all +their Emperor's doing." + +"Then they ought not to live under such an Emperor," said Green. + +"How can they help themselves?" asked Tom; "I daresay, if they had been +asked they would have preferred remaining at peace." + +"I confess that I don't feel any animosity against them; I would much +rather be fighting the French; but they, by a sort of hocus-pocus, are +our allies," remarked Green. "In reality we are not making war on the +Russian people; we are expressly ordered not to injure any of their +property; our business is only to destroy Government stores." + +"Well, that's some comfort," said Tom, "though it may not always be easy +to distinguish one from the other." + +This conversation took place as the boats were pulling away, as hard as +the men could lay their backs to the oars, down the river. As yet they +had seen no Cossacks or foot-soldiers on either bank; possibly they +might have remained to try to put out the fire, or the nature of the +ground on the left bank, on which the stores were situated, prevented +them from making rapid progress over it. As the boats had come up, +Green had observed an extensive marsh with a wide stream, which, unless +there was a bridge over it, would have alone proved an effectual barrier +to the progress of cavalry. To the right, on which the houses had been +seen, were high and picturesque hills, some rising almost directly out +of the water, with fertile valleys, groves, orchards, and vineyards. +Had any number of armed men been in the neighbourhood, they might +greatly have annoyed the boats as they went down. The tide, however, +was with them, and they made rapid progress. + +They could still see a cloud of smoke collected over the stores and +vessels they had set on fire, which convinced them that any attempt +which might have been made by the soldiers to extinguish the flames must +have proved unsuccessful. They were pulling along, as has been said, at +a rapid rate, when, in order to take the shortest course, they kept +close round a wooded point on the right bank, the current, which was +very strong, helping them along. Scarcely had they rounded the point +when both boats struck with great force on a rocky ledge, the existence +of which had not been perceived. + +"We have made a pretty big hole in our boat, sir," observed Archie. + +"Why, the water's running in like a mill-stream! Back all!" cried +Higson; "now pull round the port oars." + +The men gave way with all their might. Higson steered the boat to the +shore. The water was almost up to their thwarts before they reached it; +they all leaped out on the bank, or she would have sunk with them. +Green's boat had also received considerable damage, and he, not without +difficulty, followed them. + +"We are in a pretty plight," exclaimed Tom; "what are we to do now?" + +"Repair the damages as fast as we can, and continue our course," said +Higson. + +To do this, however, it was necessary to haul the boats up; as they were +full of water, this was a very difficult matter; they had to tow them +along for some distance to a convenient spot, where the bank, shelving +gently down, enabled them by degrees to get them up and bale the water +out. Should the enemy find them while thus employed they would all be +taken prisoners; Higson felt considerable anxiety on this score, his +only consolation being that they might be exchanged for the commandant +and garrison of the fort. By all working together they first hauled one +boat up and then the other. Though the men got pretty wet in the +operation, Higson and Green and the midshipmen kept tolerably dry. + +"I say, Archie, are you not very hungry?" said Tom. + +"Yes," answered Archie; "Mr Higson said he would go up to one of the +houses on our way down, and try and get some food; I vote we ask him." + +"He has probably forgotten all about it; I'll remind him," said Tom; "I +know what will make him as eager as we are for something to eat Mr +Higson," he said, going up to him, "don't you think, sir, it would be +pleasant if we had a dish of Irish stew, with a few bottles of porter to +discuss, while the boats are being put to rights?" + +"What made you think of that, youngster?" asked Higson; licking his +lips, however, at the bare thoughts of his favourite dish. + +"You told Gordon, sir, when you came up, that you thought of putting in +to try and get something to eat," answered Tom; "he and I are almost +starved; and I should think you and Mr Green and the men must be pretty +sharp set also. Now would be a good opportunity, and Gordon says that +the cottage we saw a quarter of a mile or so off is the one which you +thought so pretty, and where you said you would like to spend the +remainder of your days." + +"What business has he to be telling you what I said?" exclaimed Higson; +"I don't approve of you youngsters chattering about me." + +"Of course not, sir," said Tom; "but it was the thought of the Irish +stew, or some other nice dish, which the good people of the house might +be inclined to set before us, made us propose asking you to let us go up +and try what we could get." + +"Well, I have no objection to make an excursion to the house," said +Higson, "provided we can ascertain that the coast is clear, and I will +take one of you with me. As you can talk French, I shall take you and +leave Gordon to assist the master." + +"Thank you, sir," said Tom; "I am pretty sure that there are no Russians +in the neighbourhood, or they would have been down on us some time ago." + +Before starting, however, Higson, accompanied by Tom, took the +precaution of climbing to the top of a hill, from whence they could look +up and across the river, and over a considerable part of the right bank. +Not a human being was visible moving anywhere, nor was a boat of any +description to be seen floating on the surface of the stream. Had it +not been for the houses and the cultivated ground, they might have +supposed that they were in some wild country; the fact being, probably, +that the male part of the population had been drawn off either to +garrison the forts or to serve in the army, while the women were +attending to their household duties within doors. + +Higson, directing Green to launch the boats as soon as they were +repaired, and to fire a musket should any enemy appear, and promising to +bring the party some food if he could obtain it, set off with Tom in the +direction of the country-house he had thought so attractive. The first +part of their way was over wild ground, without any beaten track; but as +it was tolerably open, they were able to get along without difficulty. +At length they came upon a path which led apparently from the house to a +landing-place, near which a small, gaily-painted boat was hauled up, and +a boathouse, which they concluded contained a larger craft. + +"Now, this looks as if the people in the house yonder are well to do," +observed Higson, "and are likely to have a good store of provisions." + +"That is of the chief consequence to us just now," said Tom; "shall we +go up to the front entrance and tell them our errand, or find out the +back door, and get a servant to go in and say what we want?" + +"Go in at once and explain what we require," answered Higson. + +While speaking they were making their way along the path they had +discovered. In a short time they reached a small gate, and seeing the +roof of the house over the shrubbery, they concluded that by going +through the gate they could make a shorter cut through it. As time was +of consequence, they accordingly proceeded on by the pathway which led +through the shrubbery, when, just as they were about to emerge from it, +they heard the sound of a female voice singing in an accomplished and +very sweet manner. Higson put his hand on Tom's arm, and signed to him +to stop. + +Those who have for many months been accustomed to the roar of guns, the +howling of the tempest, and the gruff voice of the boatswain, may +conceive what effect such dulcet notes were likely to produce on the +lieutenant and midshipman. They stopped for some time listening with +delight. + +"I would not for the world run the risk of frightening her, whoever she +is," said Higson, when at length the lady ceased singing; "if we go on, +we shall come directly in front of the room in which she is sitting; the +window is open, or we should not hear the sound so plainly. We must try +and find some other way of approaching the house." + +"If you will let me, sir, I'll creep forward and try to get a look +through the trees without being seen," said Tom, who was highly +delighted with the adventure, which promised, as he hoped, to be of a +romantic character. He was more of an age to enjoy the sort of thing +than his lieutenant. Higson, however, preferred looking for himself, as +he was, in reality, quite as much interested as Tom. They could just +see that the path opened out on a gravel walk, which ran along the +well-kept, smooth lawn, with flower-beds dotted about on it. Just at +this juncture they heard a childish laugh, and caught sight of a little +boy with a hat in his hand, running across the lawn in chase of a +butterfly, presently pursued by a young lady in a white muslin dress, +who, overtaking him, lifted him up in her arms, and was returning with +him to the window, from which she had apparently issued, when her eyes +fell on the two strangers. She stopped and looked at them, without +exhibiting any particular sign of alarm, apparently wondering who they +could be and what had brought them there. + +The little boy, however, uttered a loud cry, which produced a question +from another person who was yet invisible. As they were now discovered, +they did the best thing that, under the circumstances, they could do. +Taking off their caps, they advanced with low bows, when they saw +another young lady who had just come through the Venetian window which +opened on to the lawn, under a broad verandah running along the side of +the house. + +"Pray do not be frightened, young ladies," said Higson, bowing first to +one and then to the other; "we had no intention of intruding on you so +suddenly, and I beg you ten thousand pardons." + +As neither of the ladies replied, Tom thought that they probably did not +understand English, and began repeating in French, as far as his +knowledge of the language enabled him, what his lieutenant had said. +The young lady who had just appeared at the window, and who was +evidently the elder of the two, smiled as she listened to Tom's bad +French. "You have not alarmed us, I assure you," she answered at +length, in very good English. "Gentlemen, I know, would not act +uncourteously. I am surprised, however, at seeing you, as our two +nations are unhappily at war; but may I inquire whence you have come, +and what it is you want?" + +Higson, of course, did not think it necessary to say that they had been +up the river burning the Russian granaries and vessels, and he merely +therefore explained that they had landed from some men-of-war's boats, +and, having come away without provisions, would be very much obliged if +they could be informed where they could obtain food for themselves and +their men. + +"This seems very strange," said the young lady; "I thought that none of +the enemy's boats could come up the river past the fort at its entrance, +of which our papa is the commandant. We heard a great deal of firing +yesterday evening, and were very anxious to know what it was about; but +were assured by Herr Groben, our brothers' tutor, that some English +vessels, which were attacking it, had been beaten off, and that no harm +could have happened to the defenders; indeed, three of our war-steamers +went out from the river, and we of course supposed assisted to put the +English to flight. You have, I hope, therefore, come up with a flag of +truce? Surely Herr Groben could not have been mistaken. Can you give +us any tidings of our papa?" + +"I am very glad to be able to assure you, young lady, that when I had +the pleasure of seeing him he was perfectly well, though somewhat vexed +at the loss of his fort, which we were under the painful necessity of +capturing, as also the man-of-war steamers which came out of the harbour +to assist him," answered Higson. + +The young ladies spoke to each other for several minutes in Russian, so +that Higson and Tom could not understand what they said. + +"Though we have no enmity against the English, you bring news which is +painful to us, as we know that our papa will grieve for the misfortune +which has happened to him," said the elder of the young ladies. "We +are, however, obliged to you for informing us of his safety, and should +be glad to do our best to supply your wants." + +Higson and Tom had been all this time standing with their caps in their +hands, in front of the window. While the lieutenant was addressing the +eldest of the two ladies, Tom was turning an admiring glance at the +youngest, who still held the little boy in her arms, while he had thrown +his round her neck, and was every now and then taking an alarmed look at +the strangers. + +"I am afraid that he is frightened at us," said Tom. "I must really +apologise for our intrusion; I can assure you that it was not +intentional, and we should have retired at once had we not stopped to +listen to some delightful singing. Was it you or your sister we heard?" + +"It was my sister; but we both sing," answered the young lady, "and we +shall be very happy to sing to you by and by if you wish it." + +Of course Tom thanked her very much, and felt quite at home in a minute. +The elder sister then invited them to come in and sit down, while she +ordered some supper to be prepared for them and their men. While she +was absent, and the younger lady was sitting with the little boy in her +lap, doing her best to entertain them, the door opened, and an old +gentleman, in a sky-blue suit, with a periwig on his head, entered the +room, making a profound bow as he did so. The young lady introduced him +as Herr Groben. He probably had heard about the English officers from +the elder sister, for he looked in no way surprised, and, at once coming +forward, welcomed them with apparent sincerity. He made no remark about +the capture of the fort or vessels; perhaps he thought it better to let +the subject alone. On hearing that the party at the boats were in want +of provisions, he at once volunteered to carry down a supply as soon as +it could be got ready. Higson, who thought him a very agreeable person, +at once accepted his offer; for he himself had been so much struck by +the appearance of the elder of the young ladies, and by her sweet +singing, that he was in no hurry to go away. + +Herr Groben said he must apologise for the absence of the lady of the +house, Madame Paskiewich being unable to make her appearance, as she was +confined to her room by a slight indisposition; but she sent her +compliments, expressing a hope that they would be satisfied with the +treatment they might receive during the time they might think fit to +remain. Higson, not to be outdone in politeness, begged to assure +Madame Paskiewich that he was grateful for the kind reception he had met +with, and should be happy to be the bearer of any message or more +weighty articles which she might wish to send to her husband. On the +return of Mademoiselle Paskiewich, who had gone to order supper and to +superintend the packing of some baskets of provisions, Herr Groben made +his bow, and was shortly afterwards seen crossing the lawn, followed by +two long-shirted servants carrying a couple of hampers slung on a pole +borne on their shoulders. + +Tom had asked the young lady her name, which she told him was +Feodorowna. "My eldest sister's," she added, "is Ivanowna. And have +you any sisters?" she asked. Upon which Tom told her all about his +family, and that he had several brothers, one of whom commanded the ship +to which he belonged, and that another was in the Guards; all of which +pieces of information considerably raised him in the young lady's +estimation. He wisely thought it better to say nothing about Higson, +except that he was the first lieutenant of his brother's ship. While +supper was being prepared, Ivanowna, observing that the English officers +were good enough to be pleased with her singing, went to the piano and +sang several songs, with which Higson expressed himself highly +delighted. Every moment his admiration of the young lady evidently +increased. She was not, it must be acknowledged, possessed of what +could be called classical beauty; she was fair, certainly, with blue +eyes, but they were rather small; while her figure was too short and +round to be graceful, and her nose differed considerably from that of +the Venus de Medicis; but then she had smiling lips, and a good-natured +expression altogether. + +Her younger sister, Feodorowna, who was scarcely fifteen, was certainly +very much prettier; indeed, Tom was inclined to pronounce her perfectly +beautiful, and he was still more delighted with her when she sang, +though her voice was not equal to that of her sister. + +Supper being announced, they went into the dining-room without waiting +for the return of Herr Groben. His two pupils, boys younger than +Feodorowna, however, made their appearance. They reported that they had +gone down to the boats, and had seen Herr Groben shaking hands with the +officer in command, having apparently found an old friend. + +"That is not surprising," observed Higson; "our master, Jos Green, finds +old friends everywhere, and I believe that if he were to go to the North +Pole he would fall in with an acquaintance." + +Higson and Tom had been now nearly two hours at the house, and it was +high time that they should be off; but neither of them felt any +inclination to quit such agreeable society. Still, Higson was too good +an officer to forget his duty, and he at length told Tom that it was +time to go; and they were on the point of wishing their fair hostesses +good-bye, Higson promising with perfect sincerity that, if able, when +the war was over, he would come back; and Tom, with equal honesty, +saying much the same thing, when they saw Herr Groben hurrying across +the lawn towards the drawing-room window, and panting for breath. + +"I am sorry to say, gentlemen, that I bring you unsatisfactory +intelligence," exclaimed Herr Groben. "As I was sitting on the point, +enjoying my meerschaum with my old friend Green, I caught sight of a +number of foot-soldiers and a troop of Cossacks, who had come over the +hills farther down the river, and who, it was very evident from their +gestures, had caught sight of the boats hauled up on the bank, and the +English seamen around them. I advised Green to launch the boats, and to +come round to the landing-place near the house to receive you on board. +There is not a moment to be lost, for they outnumber your people as five +to one, and can find plenty of shelter; and were they to discover you on +shore, they would make you prisoners." + +Higson and Tom smiled. "They are not likely to do that," answered +Higson; "though we are very much obliged to you for your warning, and +most unwillingly we must wish our kind hostesses good-bye." + +"Oh, do go! do go!" cried both the young ladies in a breath; "we should +deeply regret if you were to be made prisoners, and grieved still more +were you compelled to fight the Cossacks." + +"We must first thank you for your kindness, which, believe me, we shall +never forget," said Higson, who, supposing that the Cossacks were still +at a distance, did not feel that there was any necessity to be in a +hurry. Tom was thanking Feodorowna in still more sentimental language, +when the old tutor seized their arms. + +"Come down, come!" he exclaimed; "even now I am afraid that you are too +late. I hear the hoofs of the Cossacks' horses clattering along the +road, and they will catch sight of you before you can reach the +landing-place." + +As he spoke, he went round to the front of the house, and quickly came +back again. + +"It is as I feared," he exclaimed; "your retreat is cut off, and if the +boats come in to take you on board, they will to a certainty be fired +on. I must go and warn them, and leave you to the care of the ladies." + +"But if you can go, so can we," said Higson, preparing to accompany Herr +Groben. + +"Oh no, no! they will recognise you at once from your uniforms; but they +will not suspect my object. Besides, you will have to show yourself," +said Herr Groben, "as you try to get on board; but I can remain +concealed, while I warn your friends to keep off the shore." + +Higson and Tom still persevered in their intention of making their way +down to the landing-place, and were on the point of hurrying off, when +the young ladies seized their hands and entreated them, with tears in +their eyes, to remain. + +"You will both of you be shot, for you will have to pass within a dozen +yards of the spot the Cossacks have reached, and it would be so dreadful +to have you killed. Do stay, and we can easily conceal you till they +have gone away, for they dare not search this house; indeed, they will +not suspect that English officers are within it." + +As the young ladies spoke, they led Higson and Tom to a side window, +from whence they could see a troop of Cossacks, followed by a +considerable number of foot-soldiers, passing along the road a short +distance off beyond the garden. There could thus be no doubt that their +retreat was cut off. + +"You are perfectly safe here," said Ivanowna; "though, as a protection, +we will shut the windows leading into the garden. I have great hopes +that Herr Groben will reach the boat in time to warn your friends, so as +to prevent bloodshed, which is our great object; there has been too much +spilt already in a bad cause. We could not sympathise with those who +are guilty of the massacre of Sinope, and we believe that this cruel war +was unnecessary. It may seem strange to you that I should thus express +myself," she continued, observing Higson's look of surprise; "but our +mother is half an Englishwoman, and we have been taught to regard the +English with affection." + +"I am very glad to hear it," said Higson, a strange feeling taking +possession of his heart; indeed, he was much inclined to ask whether she +could regard an Englishman with affection, but he wisely forbore to put +the question. He, indeed, just then had his thoughts occupied about the +boats. "Could you allow us to go to a window from whence we could watch +what is going forward on the river?" he asked. "I am afraid that my +friends may be tempted to remain, in the hopes of receiving us on board, +till the Cossacks are down upon them." + +"Not if Herr Groben succeeds in carrying out his intention," she +answered. "But come with us to a room in the second storey, and from +thence you will have a view of the river, and be able to watch the +progress of the boats. It is our boudoir, but under the circumstances +we will venture to admit you." + +Higson and Tom assured the young ladies that they very much appreciated +the confidence placed in them, and forthwith accompanied them upstairs. +Just as they entered the room, which they had time to see was prettily +ornamented with pictures on the walls, an easel, ladies' embroidery +frames, and numerous other elegant articles, the loud rattle of musketry +reached their ears. The young ladies uttered a cry of alarm. + +"Pray do not be over-anxious about the matter," said Higson; +"musket-balls do not always reach the object they are aimed at, and it +does not follow that any harm is done." + +As he and Tom and the young ladies looked out of the window, cautiously +keeping concealed behind the curtains, they saw a party of Cossacks on +the landing-place, and some foot-soldiers under shelter of a wall. The +two boats, a hundred yards off or more, were pulling away out towards +the middle of the river. + +"Herr Groben has had time to warn them," said Higson; "and as far as I +can judge, by the way the men are rowing, no one has been hit. We are +deeply indebted to him, ladies, and to you also; and I have no doubt +that when Green supposes that the Cossacks have retired, he will come +back and relieve you of our company." + +"Oh, do not say that," observed Ivanowna, "we shall be sorry to lose +you; and I am sure we shall have done what our papa would wish by +treating you with hospitality." + +Higson and Tom watched the progress of the boats with interest; they +somewhat expected that Green would lie on his oars and wait till the +Cossacks had gone away. Perhaps he might have thought that they were +already made prisoners and that there would be no use in doing this; at +all events, he continued his course down the river, till the boats were +lost to sight in the distance. The Cossacks, disappointed in their hope +of surprising the English, turned their horses' heads round, followed by +the foot-soldiers, and marched back the way they had come, without even +visiting the house. + +The young ladies seemed highly pleased. "We are perfectly safe now," +observed Ivanowna; "but to prevent surprise, we will send our young +brothers to keep watch, and bring us notice should any of the officers +take it into their heads to pay us a visit. They can be thoroughly +trusted." + +Soon afterwards they heard Herr Groben's cheery voice in the passage. +"All right," he exclaimed; "I had time to warn Green, though I was +nearly caught, I must confess; but the horsemen did not get as fast over +the rough ground as I did. I fear, however, that Green did not +understand that you were in safe keeping, and may possibly conceive that +you have been made prisoners; though he will know that you are not +likely to be ill-treated." + +"I am sure that he must have thought that, or he would not have pulled +away," said Higson. "However, we have no cause to complain; my only +fear is that we shall be trespassing on the hospitality of this kind +family." + +"On that point I can answer with confidence that you are welcome," said +Herr Groben; "they are all, as I am, devoted admirers of the English; I +have great cause to be so, and especially have I reason to be grateful +to my dear friend Green. You will be curious to know how I became +acquainted with him; it happened in this wise. Many years ago I was +making a voyage, when my ship caught fire, and I--with the officers and +crew--escaped in three of the boats. The other boats were lost; and +after several of my companions had died of hunger, we were picked up by +a ship to which Green belonged. All the officers and crew treated us +with kindness; Green especially took care of me, and pressed on me the +use of his purse when we arrived in England, where I was also treated +with great kindness. Such conduct can never be forgotten, and I have +ever endeavoured to imbue the hearts of my pupils with a love for +England, and for everything English." + +"We are very much obliged to you and Green," said Higson, "since we have +benefited so largely by your instructions." + +As there was no longer any danger, Higson proposed going back into the +drawing-room. The young ladies, however, first showed him and Tom their +drawings and embroidery, and numerous other samples of their handiwork, +which passed the time very agreeably. When they went downstairs, they +found a huge samovar bubbling and hissing on the table, and such tea was +offered them as they had never before tasted. Higson, indeed, in +compliment to his hostess, begged to have his cup replenished again and +again, till he had drunk six or eight cups-full; though, to be sure, +they were not of any unusual size. Herr Groben undertook to take charge +of Higson and Tom for the night, and to give them due warning should +there be any danger of their being discovered, though he thought that +this was not likely; still, he acknowledged that there were some persons +who might prove treacherous should they hear of English officers being +in the house; and he begged them on no account to make their appearance +out of doors without him, a caution which they promised to observe. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +GREEN RETURNS WITHOUT HIGSON AND TOM--JACK GOES IN SEARCH OF THEM-- +COLONEL PASKIEWICH'S HOUSE--HIGSON AND TOM CAPTURED BY COSSACKS--TOM'S +ESCAPE--MISS FEODOROWNA'S JOY--THE FORT BLOWN UP--THE MOSQUITO FLEET-- +GALLANT EXPLOIT OF CAPTAIN LYONS--JACK HEADS EXPEDITION INLAND--ESCAPE. + +Murray and Rogers had been employed during the day in removing the guns +from the fort, while Adair and his party watched over the prisoners. It +was their intention to blow it up, but they were unwilling to do this +until the return of the boats. Evening was approaching, and as they had +not yet made their appearance, Jack became somewhat anxious as to what +might have happened to them. The smoke rising from the conflagration of +the stores and vessels could be discerned in the far distance, so that +it was evident that they had accomplished their work; but it was +possible that some disaster might afterwards have happened to them. +Jack accordingly went on board the _Giaour_ to consult with Murray, who +agreed to send up a couple of his boats at daybreak the next morning to +search for those under Higson, and to negotiate for his and his party's +release, should they have been taken prisoners. Jack begged that he +might lead the expedition himself, to which Murray willingly agreed. + +Darkness had for some time set in, and still the missing boats had not +appeared; as Jack, whose anxiety had increased, was walking the deck +with Mildmay, the splash of oars was heard. The sentry hailed, and +Green's voice replied; the boats were soon alongside, both of them half +full of water. + +"Where are the first lieutenant and Mr Rogers?" asked Jack. + +"I am afraid, sir, that they are in the hands of the Russians;" and +Green gave an account of what had happened, adding, "Had it not been for +an old friend of mine, who warned us of the approach of the troops, we +should ourselves have been over powered, or at all events have had a +pretty hard tussle for it." + +Green took care not to throw any blame upon Higson, who might have been +accused of acting imprudently, if not of neglecting his duty, by +remaining longer than was necessary at the house which he had visited to +obtain provisions. Having heard Green's report, Jack again went on +board the _Giaour_, and as some time would be required to repair his own +boats, Murray arranged, as he had before promised, to send two of his +half an hour before daylight, so that they might enter the river as soon +as they could see their way. + +Just as the ruddy streaks of dawn appeared in the sky, Jack shoved off +from the _Tornado's_ side. He took Green with him to pilot the boats, +and also to communicate with the old German tutor, through whom he might +be able to learn what had become of the prisoners. He carried also a +flag of truce, in the hopes of gaining his object by pacific measures. +As the boats passed under the walls of the fort, they were hailed by the +sentry on the ramparts, by whose side Gerald Desmond directly afterwards +made his appearance. Jack told him to inform Commander Adair where they +were going, and that he hoped to be back again in the course of a few +hours. + +"The Russian commandant, sir, wishes to send a letter to his family to +inform them of his safety, and he will be obliged to you if you will +convey it." + +"That is more than I can undertake to do," answered Jack; "but inform +the commandant that if he will let me know where his family reside, I +shall be happy to give them any message he may send." + +Gerald disappeared, and quickly afterwards returned with the commandant +and Adair. The commandant, in surprisingly good English, described his +residence to Jack, and requested that he would tell his wife and +daughters that he was well, and, as he was to be liberated on his +parole, that he hoped to remain with them till the end of the war. + +"This information will be more satisfactory to them, probably, than had +I gained a great victory," he added; "so that they will be ready to +receive you as friends rather than as enemies." + +"I shall be happy to deliver your message, colonel," answered Jack; "and +regret that I am unable to carry a written communication." + +A few further compliments having been exchanged, Jack ordered his men to +give way, and the boats proceeded up the river. + +"Why, sir, that house must be the very one which Mr Higson and your +brother visited," said Green; "unless the Cossacks have carried them off +to a distance, they may, I hope, be easily recovered." + +"That is satisfactory," said Jack; "whether we recover them or not, we +must be away from this early to-day, as there is work to be done in +other places." + +The boats pulled on some way, when they caught sight of a vessel +stealing along on the opposite shore towards the mouth of the river. +Jack immediately steered for her, ordering Archie to pull ahead, so as +to cut her off should she attempt to slip by them. On seeing them +approach, however, the Russian skipper immediately hauled down his +colours. + +Jack found, on stepping on board, that the Russian skipper was not aware +that the English vessels were still off the mouth of the river, and had +expected to get clear; he said that his was the only vessel that had not +been burnt. + +"Sorry to have to condemn yours to the fate you have escaped," said +Jack. + +"It is the fortune of war," answered the skipper, shrugging his +shoulders; "I only wish the war had come to an end." + +The operation did not take long; the unfortunate skipper and his crew +were landed, to make their way home as best they could; when the vessel, +being set on fire, drifted on to the bank, where she quickly burnt to +the water's edge. Jack then pulled on, and in a short time the boats +reached the landing-place near the colonel's house, which Green pointed +out. Having, as far as they could from the water, examined the ground +before them, they came to the conclusion that no enemy was in the +neighbourhood. Green, who felt that some blame might have been attached +to him for deserting his commanding officer, volunteered to proceed by +himself to the house to ascertain how matters stood. He assured Jack +that he could trust Herr Groben, who would give him warning should the +enemy be near. Jack agreed to this, and Green set off. + +In a short time he was seen returning to the boat, accompanied by the +old German tutor, who, as he approached, appeared to be much agitated. + +"Bad news, sir," said Green, as he came up to Jack; "the Cossacks have +got hold of Higson and your brother." + +"It was dere fault, it was dere fault," broke in the old tutor; "dey +would go out walking vid de young ladies when I warned dem not to go, +and a troop of Cossacks came galloping up to dem, and carry dem both +off. It almost break de young ladies' heart, and dey have not done +crying yet." + +"Then they must be still in the neighbourhood!" exclaimed Jack, "and we +may be in time to overtake them." + +"Oh no, captain," answered Herr Groben; "I fear not, for dey mount upon +two horses and gallop away." + +"At all events, if you can supply us with a guide to show us the way +they have taken, we will pursue them," said Jack. + +"Perhaps one of my pupil vill go, for dere moder, Matame Paskievich, is +very unhappy at the thoughts the officers were made prisoner, as she +consider that they were under her protection; and as dey come as +friends, dey should be allowed to go away as friends." + +As there was no time to be lost, Jack, ordering Green to remain, with a +couple of men in each boat, set off, accompanied by Archie and Herr +Groben, who promised to find him a trustworthy guide, though he showed +no inclination to go himself. The name of Paskiewich had struck Jack, +and, on making inquiries from the old tutor, he found that the owner of +the house was the commandant of the fort. + +"I think, sir," observed Archie, who was walking by his side, "if that +is the case, we shall be able to exchange the colonel for Mr Higson and +Tom." + +"I would rather get them back without having to do that," said Jack; +"the colonel is to be liberated on his parole; but, should we find it +necessary, we shall be able, as a last resource, to recover them as you +propose." + +On arriving at the house they were met by Madame Paskiewich and her two +daughters. Jack, fortunately recollecting the colonel's message, +delivered it to his wife, who expressed herself very grateful for the +kind treatment he had received, and assured them how grieved she was +that, notwithstanding all her precautions, the Cossacks had captured the +two officers. Jack, in reply, expressed his conviction that it was from +no fault of theirs, and comforted them greatly by telling them that +probably in the course of the day the colonel would be enabled to return +to them. + +On hearing of their want of a guide, Madame Paskiewich at once consented +to allow her eldest boy to show them the way the Cossacks had gone, +though she believed that by this time they were far beyond pursuit Herr +Groben's pupils soon made their appearance, and the eldest, Ivan, who +spoke English very well, without hesitation undertook to guide them, and +to make inquiries on the way as to where any troops were stationed, so +as to prevent them from being surprised. Jack, though perfectly +sensible of the risk he ran, resolved to persevere; and, accompanied by +young Ivan, at once set off at the head of his party, who, as they were +well armed, had no fear of the result should they meet three times their +number. + +They had gone some distance, when Jack learned, from Ivan's inquiries, +that the Cossacks were already a long way ahead; he at length began to +despair of recovering his first lieutenant or Tom; he felt, too, the +imprudence of advancing farther into the enemy's country, when, before +he could secure his retreat, the foe might gather between him and the +boats. He was at last obliged unwillingly to confess that he must give +up the pursuit. + +"I am very sorry for it, sir," said their guide; "the English midshipman +and I had become great friends; and though I don't think he will be +treated ill, yet he will not like to be kept away from his ship. +However, when my father returns, I promise to do my best to get him set +at liberty." + +"Thank you," answered Jack warmly; "I will trust you." + +He now gave the order to his men to face about, and they began to +retrace their steps. They had gone but a short distance, when the loud +clattering of hoofs struck on their ears, and, looking round, they +caught sight of a horseman galloping towards them at headlong speed. + +"Hurrah! that's Tom himself!" cried Archie; and Tom appeared from amid a +cloud of dust, riding as he had done many a day after the hounds in -- +shire. He was within hailing distance, when a couple of hundred yards +or so behind him were seen a number of Cossacks in hot pursuit. Jack +ordered his men to fix bayonets, to be prepared to receive cavalry. As +Tom came galloping along, they opened to let him pass, when, not without +some difficulty, he pulled up at their rear. + +"I've done them!" he exclaimed; "I was sure you would come to look for +me, though I little expected to find you so near at hand." + +The Cossacks, of whom there were scarcely more than a dozen, and who had +by this time got within a hundred yards of them, on seeing the resolute +bearing of the British sailors, pulled up, and, after a moment's +hesitation, wheeling round their horses, galloped off, followed by a +shower of bullets. + +"The only thing you have done wrong was to fire without my orders!" +exclaimed Jack; "reload, and now right-about face and march--double +quick time." The party, without a moment's delay, hurried back on the +road they had come. + +"I'm afraid Mr Higson's in for it," said Tom. "The Cossacks had halted +for breakfast, when the thought came into my head that we might make our +escape while the men were all dismounted, and eating some horrid mess or +other, their horses being picketed some distance from them. I did my +best to persuade him to come too, but he never was much of a horseman, +and declared that he could not do it; though he told me to take my +chance, and that he would try and prevent anyone from following me. I +had already fixed my eyes on a horse. While the men were all engaged, I +sauntered up to where their steeds were tethered, and, before anyone had +observed me, I set a dozen or more of them at liberty, when, finding +that the men suspected what I was about, I leaped on the back of the one +I had fixed on, and, giving a loud shout, galloped off as fast as the +wind, with a troop of riderless horses scampering at my heels. I had +got a fine start, and intended to keep it, and it was not till just +before I caught sight of you that I knew I was pursued; still even then +I did not give up all hopes of escaping, though I little knew how near +help was at hand; I only wish Mr Higson had followed my advice." + +As Jack had no wish to encounter the Cossacks, who were certainly not +likely to bring Higson with them, he hurried on his men, and at length +reached Colonel Paskiewich's house. The fair Feodorowna, in an artless +manner, showed her pleasure at seeing Tom in safety; while Ivanowna +could not restrain her tears on hearing that the lieutenant was still a +prisoner. + +As Jack considered it his duty not to delay a moment longer than was +necessary, he was compelled to decline Madame Paskiewich's invitation to +remain for breakfast, and, accompanied by Herr Groben, who wished to bid +farewell to Green, he hurried to the boats. In a few minutes they were +again pulling down towards the mouth of the river. + +On arriving at the fort, Jack found that all the necessary preparations +had been made for its evacuation. Colonel Paskiewich and his officers +were liberated on their parole not to serve again during the war, while +the men were transferred to the _Flash_, to be conveyed on board some of +the larger ships of the fleet. + +"I'll do my best to obtain the liberation of your first lieutenant," +said the colonel to Jack, as he bade him farewell. + +"We might arrange for exchanging you with him," observed Jack. + +"Thank you, but I would rather not," answered the colonel significantly; +"I should then be compelled again to fight in this detestable war, +whereas at present I may remain as a non-combatant with my family; which +I confess--though mention it not, my friend--much better suits my +principles and taste." + +"You are a brave man, and defended your fort gallantly," observed Jack. + +"That was my duty," answered the colonel; "a man, I hold, may be +physically brave, and yet abhor fighting. As long as it was my duty to +fight, I fought; I can now with honour sheathe my sword, in the earnest +hope that I may never again have to draw it, especially against +Englishmen. There are many of my countrymen, who, I doubt not, feel as +I do. Good-bye, my friend; may we meet again in happier times!" + +Jack accompanied the colonel out of the fort, and, as soon as the last +Russian had taken his departure, Jack fired the trains which had been +laid to the mines in different parts of the fort, and, leaping into his +boat, pulled away towards the _Tornado_. Before the boat had got +half-way, the first explosion was heard, the stout walls trembling and +shaking, while clouds of dust and smoke, and fragments of stone and +timber rose in the air; and in a few seconds the spot where the fort had +stood presented a mass of shapeless ruins. + +"We've done for the fort, at all events," observed Tom; "I hope that +before long our army will treat Sebastopol in the same way." + +"I wish they were likely to do it at so slight a cost," said Jack, as he +thought of Sidney, from whom he had not heard for some time; for he knew +what sorrow his loss would cause to his family at Halliburton. + +The three commanders, having delivered over their prizes to the admiral, +proceeded to carry out their instructions, in conjunction with the +Mosquito fleet, engaged in the destruction of the vast magazines of corn +and other provisions accumulated at numerous places on the shores of the +Sea of Azov, as well as the fleets of vessels loaded with supplies for +the Russian army in the Crimea. + +"It seems to me a wanton destruction of property," observed Jack when he +first received his orders. + +Murray, to whom he spoke, smiled. "Sagacious commanders have to take +into consideration the appetites of their men, as well as those of the +enemy, quite as much as their battlefields and the weapons they use," he +observed; "if we can cut off the supplies of the garrison of Sebastopol, +we shall render as effectual service as the guns of the besiegers, and +quickly bring the war to a conclusion." + +"Then I'll set about it with all my heart!" exclaimed Jack; "though I +wish, instead of burning the wheat, we could ship it off to our people +at home." + +"That would prove a somewhat too long operation," observed Murray; "and +if we remember that every stack we burn will perhaps shorten the war by +as many hours, any scruples we may feel on the subject will soon +vanish." + +Jack and his brother commanders, remembering this, set energetically to +work to perform what would have been otherwise a very disagreeable duty. +The gallant Lyons, who in the _Miranda_ had been some days in the Sea +of Azov, had already inflicted immense damage on the enemy; on his +arrival off Genitchesk at the entrance of the Putrid Sea, he found a +large fleet of merchantmen at anchor, protected by a strong force of +infantry and a battery of field-pieces on the mainland. On sending in +to summon the flotilla to surrender, his demand being refused, he +despatched his boats under the command of his first lieutenant, +Mackenzie, through the strait, covering their advance with a heavy fire +of shell on the town and troops. In spite of all opposition, thus +protected, the brave lieutenant set fire to seventy-three vessels and +several corn-magazines. On returning to their ship, the party +discovered that some of the vessels had escaped the conflagration; on +this, Captain Lyons despatched a second expedition with three other +officers, Lieutenants Buckley and Burgoyne, and Mr Roberts, a gunner of +the _Ardent_. On approaching the shore, and discovering that the enemy +were prepared to give them a warm reception, the three latter officers +determined to land by themselves, so that their men might escape the +risk of being cut off; while Mackenzie undertook the destruction of the +shipping. The vessels were quickly set on fire, and the magazines had +shared the same fate, when a troop of Cossacks bore down on the three +officers who had landed. They, accordingly, had to take to their heels; +and, keeping well ahead of their pursuers, were received in safety by +Mackenzie on board the boats, which pulled back to the ships without the +loss of a single man, one only having been slightly wounded. + +Thus he went on from place to place, destroying stores and vessels in +the same daring manner, his two lieutenants frequently landing in a +four-oared gig, and setting fire with their own hands to different +Government buildings. Taganrog, a place of great strength, was +attacked, and though the town was protected by some heavy batteries, and +above three thousand troops, who kept up a hot fire on the ships and +boats, every Government building and magazine was destroyed. In this +way Captain Lyons sank or burnt upwards of two hundred and fifty vessels +laden with supplies and provisions and stores, to the value of many +thousands of pounds, and at the present juncture of immense importance +to the Russian army and the beleaguered city. His brave career was, +however, drawing to a close; rejoining the squadron off Sebastopol, at +the end of a fortnight, he was shortly afterwards struck by a shell, +while running into harbour at night to annoy the enemy, and in a few +days breathed his last at the hospital at Therapia, to which he had been +removed. + +He was succeeded in the command of the squadron by Captain Sherard +Osborne, an officer of equal determination, courage, and sagacity, who +was not likely to leave any of the work he had undertaken undone, or +half-done. Our three commanders proceeded in the same spirit to the +execution of their duty. On revisiting several places where a few weeks +before they had destroyed all the then existing supplies, they found +that the Russians, supposing they would not return, had rebuilt their +storehouses, and completely replenished them, giving a proof of the +productive power of the neighbouring districts. All the work before +them was not, however, accomplished with the same ease; hitherto they +had had only to dash boldly on shore, protected by the guns of the +ships, set fire to the stores, and to be off again as fast as they +could. Spies were not wanting, who brought them information of the +position of stores; from one of these men, Jack, who was stationed off +the spit which separates the Putrid Sea from the Sea of Azov, gained +intelligence that some large stores, situated on the Crimean shore, had +lately been replenished, and that the grain was only waiting the means +of transport to be removed to Sebastopol. + +Jack asked the spy whether he would lead a party to the spot; this, +however, he declined, but gave so exact a description of the country, +that Jack felt convinced that he could find it out without the man's +aid. Plenty of volunteers were ready to go; but having, as he said, got +every inch of the way into his head, he determined to lead the +expedition. He did not, however, hide from himself the dangers to be +encountered. "If I destroy these stores, the siege may be shortened by +one or two days, or it may be more, and the lives of several of my +fellow-creatures saved; then it is my duty to go." + +Had Higson been on board, he might have entrusted the expedition to him; +Green would be very likely to carry it out; but he feared that Mildmay +would fail. He had perfect confidence that Tom would obey his orders; +he accordingly fixed on him, with Dick Needham and Jerry Bird, in +addition to his gig's usual crew. Standing in at nightfall as close to +the spit as the water would allow, he pulled on shore. The boat had now +to be dragged across the sands, and launched on the opposite side. He +and all hands uniting their strength, accomplished it, however, and away +they pulled with muffled oars across the Putrid Sea. A mist lay on the +placid water, which would have shrouded them from the view of any boats +which might have been passing, even at a hundred yards' distance. Not a +word was spoken above a whisper; it was impossible to see the shore, and +difficult to know when they might come upon it; indeed, had not the boat +been provided with a compass, the commander would have been unable to +steer a direct course. + +The men gave way with a will, as the success of the expedition depended +on the rapidity with which it was carried out. On a sudden, as Jack +fancied they were still a considerable way from the shore, he felt the +boat's keel passing over a soft bottom; directly afterwards she remained +fixed. In vain the men pulled away with might and main, endeavouring to +force her over; the water appeared shallower ahead even than astern, and +at length all hands had to jump overboard, including the commander and +Tom, when they sank almost up to their knees in mud. + +"Pretty condition we shall be in if daylight finds us here!" said Tom. + +"No fear of that," answered Jack; "off the boat must come." + +Needham, with boat-hook in hand, went ahead to ascertain the depth of +water, and on his return reported that after some yards it deepened +considerably, whilst, as he could see nothing of the land, he concluded +that they were on a mudbank. + +"No doubt about it," said Jack; and all hands together lifting the boat, +they bore her along for fifty yards or so, when, washing the mud off +their legs, they tumbled on board, and again gave way. + +"Pretty mess we're in," observed Tom. + +His brother laughed. "We shall be in a worse mess before long, as we +have a couple of rivers and a marsh or two to wade through before we +reach our destination. Needham, you are in good wind, I hope?" + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Dick; "I doubt whether any Russian would +overtake me if we have to run for it." + +"I wish that I was to go with you," said Tom. + +"No, you must remain by the boat, and keep a bright lookout that you are +not surprised," answered Jack; "have your muskets ready for instant use; +and should we at the last be pursued, be ready to cover our retreat; you +don't know at what time we may come. We may be turned back before we +reach our destination, or we may succeed, and still be hard pressed to +escape capture; the last is most likely to occur: at all events, be on +the watch." + +Jack had previously made all his arrangements; the gunner and Jerry Bird +each carried match-boxes in waterproof cases, and small torches which +they could easily ignite, so that the moment they stepped on shore they +could proceed on their expedition. A sense of the importance of the +work to be accomplished made Jack enjoy it, otherwise an act of +incendiarism would not have been to his taste. The gunner and Jerry +Bird, it must be confessed, did not trouble their heads much about the +matter. + +At length a group of trees, seemingly of unusual magnitude, standing +apparently on the top of a hill, appeared ahead, but almost an instant +afterwards the bows of the boat touched a bank with a few willows or +alders growing on it. As far as Jack could judge, it was the very spot +he would have chosen for landing, as the bushes would afford sufficient +concealment to the boat during his absence. + +"Remember my orders," said Jack, as he sprang on to the bank, followed +by Dick and Jerry. They had not gone many yards when they found +themselves floundering in the mud, at which the two latter began to +grumble, as seamen will grumble, not at the work before them, but at the +mud, which prevented them from advancing as rapidly as they desired. + +"Never mind," said Jack, as he led the way, "we shall get on the firm +ground presently; those in the boat are much less likely to be taken by +surprise than they might have been by the side of a hard bank." + +The marsh, however, was broader than Jack expected, but, as they ran +lightly over it, their feet did not sink down very deep. They at length +reached firm ground. According to the commander's calculation, they had +about two miles to go before they could get to their destination. A +pocket compass, and a small lantern which threw its light on it, enabled +him to steer a direct course. The country was unpopulated and open, the +chief impediments in the way of the party being the streams and marshes +and rivers. They got on rapidly over the hard ground, but found it +heavy work wading amid the expanse of rushes which bordered the streams. + +"No crocodiles or alligators about here, I hope, sir?" whispered Jerry +to the gunner. + +"If there are, it's our business not to mind them," answered Dick, with +a low growl, intended as a rebuke to Jerry; "if there was a shoal of +sharks, either, we should have no business to cry out till we were +caught." + +They dropped a few feet behind while thus speaking, but quickly again +overtook the commander, who was wading across the stream, the water +gradually getting deeper and deeper, till it rose up to his waist. + +"Maybe we shall have to swim for it," whispered Dick; "but where's the +odds, provided we get across at last?" + +Jack led on, not listening to the low, whispered remarks of his +companions. One river was thus crossed; still there was another, on the +farther bank of which were situated the stacks of wheat destined to +destruction. The ford was some way above the stacks, so that they would +have to cross the river by it, and then descend the bank, taking the +same route on their return. Jack had been unable to ascertain what +sentries were likely to be posted in the neighbourhood, or what guards +protected the stacks. An extent of open ground had now to be passed +over, and there was then a tolerably extensive wood, with more open +ground between it and the river. Jack was able to recognise each +feature of the country from the description given to him by the spy; he +thus felt sure that he was on the right road. He went on and on till +the bank of the river was reached, and he could see a town or village on +the opposite side. He now led the way up the stream till he discovered +the ford, which he and his companions crossed without difficulty, though +he had some fears that he might find a guard-house on the opposite side. + +No one, however, appeared; the Russians undoubtedly supposing, from the +numerous impediments in the way, that no enemies would venture to attack +the place. They had now to make their way along the bank of the river +for some distance before they could reach the stacks destined to +destruction. It was necessary to proceed with the greatest caution, for +the slightest noise might betray them to the enemy, and ensure their +capture. They had gone part of the distance when they heard a dog bark, +and they could make out, a few yards from the river, the roof of a +cottage, from the neighbourhood of which apparently the sound came. +They could only hope that the dog was chained, for, should he be loose, +he might rush out upon them, and though they might kill him with their +cutlasses, the noise they might make would, in all probability, bring +his owners on their track. + +The mist had cleared away and the stars were shining brightly overhead, +so that they had to keep under cover as much as possible. Jack hoped, +however, that all the inhabitants of the place would be in bed. Again +the dog barked. Jack, in a whisper, ordered the gunner and Jerry to +crouch down and remain perfectly quiet for a few minutes, when +immediately the dog became silent. After waiting a minute or two, he +again led the way forward till he could see the tops of the lofty stacks +rising high above the houses against the sky. They had made some way, +when again the dog barked fiercely, and they could hear the animal +leaping and rolling about, as if trying to break his chain. + +"Here comes the brute!" cried the gunner, stepping forward; and they +caught sight of the animal, a huge mastiff, bounding towards them. Dick +held his drawn cutlass ready in his hand, and as the creature sprang up +to seize him by the throat, with one sweep of his weapon he laid it dead +at his feet, with its head almost severed from the body. + +"Well done, Needham!" exclaimed Jack. + +"It was necessary, sir, but I was sorry to kill the poor brute!" +answered Dick. + +"We have no time to think about that," said Jack, "for we must set the +stacks on fire at once;" and they again crept forward. Brave as he was, +and fully convinced of the importance of the act he was about to do, he +could not help reflecting that it was not the sort of work in which he, +as an English officer, would wish to be discovered. However, it was to +be done, and the sooner it was done the better. As he got close to the +stacks, he looked to either side, to ascertain whether any sentry was +posted in the neighbourhood, but discovering no one, he placed his two +companions, one at one end, and the other at the centre of the stacks, +with directions to strike their lights immediately they saw him ignite +his, so that they might fire them at the same moment. He then crept +forward to his post, and waited a few seconds to listen; not a sound was +heard from the neighbouring village, and, quickly obtaining a light, he +set fire to a bundle of stalks which he pulled out of the stack, +strewing it along the side. His companions imitating him, in one +instant the whole of the immense pile was in a blaze, the flames +ascending with unexpected rapidity. + +"We must put our best foot foremost," said Jack, suiting the action to +the word; and off they set running as hard as they could. Fortunately +there was a tolerably well-beaten path along the bank of the river, by +which they had come, but concealment was hopeless, and Jack observed the +glare of the fire falling on the backs of his two companions as he +followed at their heels, feeling it his duty, as he had led the advance, +to bring up the rear. + +Shouts and cries were presently heard; every moment he expected to see a +body of the enemy in hot pursuit. At first he thought of plunging into +the stream and swimming across; but, fully clothed as they were, it +would have been a difficult undertaking, and they might get over by the +ford quite as quickly. They accordingly kept on till it was reached, +and then, wading across, they returned down the opposite bank, Jack +considering it important to keep in the road they had come. By the time +they had got opposite the stacks, the whole were blazing fiercely up, +throwing a ruddy glare on all the objects around to a considerable +distance. They thus stood revealed to the inhabitants on the opposite +side, who appeared not to be aware till then who were the perpetrators +of the deed. + +Just then they saw a large body of Cossacks galloping up towards the +fire, some of whom by their gestures had, it seemed, at that moment +caught sight of them. + +"We must put on all our steam, or these fellows will be at our heels," +said Jack; and again they set forward. One glance he cast over his +shoulder showed him the Cossacks making for the ford; he could not help +feeling very doubtful whether he and his party could keep ahead of them. +The bank of the first river they had crossed was again reached, and +plunging in, partly by swimming, and partly by wading, they boldly +pushed across, thus avoiding the loss of time by going round by the +ford. + +Scarcely, however, had they got over, when through the gloom of night +they distinguished the Cossacks galloping towards them. They did not +stop long to shake themselves, but dashed on, still hoping to keep +ahead, as the Cossacks would have to go some distance up the stream to +cross the ford. + +"I only wish the fellows would try to swim," said Dick; "their horses +would stick in the mud and rushes we've had a hard job to get through. +Keep up, Jerry, keep up," he continued, observing that his companion was +flagging; "we've a clear road before us, and we mustn't let our legs +play us false." + +Thus encouraged, Jerry made fresh efforts to keep alongside his +companions. Jack felt his own legs moving somewhat heavily, and could +not help acknowledging to himself that there was every probability of +their being overtaken; once across the stream, the Cossacks on their +fleet steeds would soon be up to them. The thought of being speared in +the back by a savage horseman, and left to die like dogs, was too +terrible. + +"No; if we are overtaken, we must fight for it, and die like men, with +our faces to the foe," said Jack aloud. + +"Ay, ay, sir, that we will!" exclaimed Dick; "maybe, however, they'll +miss us; and if we can get anywhere near the boat, Mr Rogers and our +fellows will help us by peppering them." + +At length Jack was compelled to stop for a moment to draw breath; he +took the opportunity of casting a look behind him, to ascertain in what +direction the Cossacks were coming, but he could nowhere see them. + +"I hope that you are right, Needham," he whispered; "and now, on we go, +and we may get up to the boat before we are discovered." + +Scarcely had he spoken, than a shout was heard, and the figures of the +horsemen, with their long lances, were perceived against the sky. + +"On! on!" cried Jack; "they see us; no matter, we are still well ahead +of them." + +Dick, seizing Jerry's arm, again sprang forward; on came the Cossacks +clattering in their rear; the boat was still at too great a distance to +enable them to make themselves heard by Tom. The ground was hard and +level, and, straining every nerve, they ran faster than they had ever +before done in their lives. No mercy could be expected from the +Cossacks, should they be overtaken. + +Again Jerry began to slacken his pace. "Cheer up, mate, cheer up!" +cried Dick; "the Cossacks' lances are not within a good many inches of +us yet, and it will be time enough to cry out when they get inside our +waistcoats." + +Jack, though he might have gone faster than either of his men, would not +leave them behind; if he sprang ahead, it was merely to have time to +look round and ascertain how far off were their pursuers. He calculated +that they were approaching the boat, and that if they shouted loudly Tom +would bear them; once more he looked round; the horsemen were within a +hundred yards of them; they might have stopped them with their carbines; +possibly, however, they were unloaded, when they hurriedly threw +themselves on horseback. Jack, as he sprang forward, felt the ground +very soft beneath his feet, and recollected that they must have reached +the marsh they had crossed on leaving the boat. To run across it seemed +scarcely possible, as their feet had before sunk in every few yards they +trod; there appeared to be no hope of escape. + +Just at this moment down came poor Jerry--who had for some few seconds +been floundering along, though doing his best to keep up--with his face +in the mud. + +"Go ahead, sir, go ahead!" cried Dick; "don't stop for us; I'll do my +best to set Jerry on his legs." + +"I will not desert him," answered Jack, stooping to lift up the fallen +seaman, while Dick lifted him up with the other arm, and quickly again +set him on his feet. + +"Heave out that quid of mud from your mouth, and give your eyes a rub +over, and you will be all to rights," said Dick; "don't say die yet; now +on we go;" and suiting the action to the word, dragging Jerry along with +him, they began moving forward in a "hop-skip-and-a-jump" fashion, which +enabled them to get over the soft ground with tolerable rapidity. They +were scarcely more than a quarter of the way across, when the Cossacks +reached the edge of the marsh, of the existence of which they were +apparently not aware, for, without pulling rein, they plunged in; the +consequence being that, with the impetus they had attained, and the +weight of their horses, they sank deep down in the soft mud. + +Jack, with infinite satisfaction, saw that they were floundering about, +but he did not allow his companions to slacken their speed, for the +horses would still, probably, be able to make their way across it. He, +therefore, assisting to support Jerry, moved on as fast as his weight +and the nature of the ground would allow. Jerry's fall, however, had +given an advantage to their pursuers, who were now making their way +across the morass, sometimes stopped by a soft portion, and again moving +faster where the ground was comparatively firmer. Still the Cossacks +had somewhat gained upon them, and were scarcely fifty yards off, when +Tom's welcome shout reached their ears. + +"We see you, we see you; and we see your pursuers too!" he cried; "we've +got our muskets ready to cover you." + +"Then fire!" cried Jack; "and reload quickly." + +A volley from the boat somewhat staggered the Cossacks, for though none +of them were seen to fall, yet the bullets whistled pretty close to +their ears. It might have made them less eager in spurring on their +steeds; still, on they came. The sound seemed to revive Jerry, who, +though nearly done up, again made an effort to push on. A few shots +were fired at them by their disappointed pursuers, who might have +guessed that they would soon be beyond their power. + +Tom had kept the boat ready to shove off at a moment's notice; the +latter part of the ground was somewhat higher and harder; across it they +rushed as hard as they could pelt, for the Cossacks had already passed +the softer portions, and, once upon it, they would be up to them. The +points of their long lances were couched not many yards behind, and Jack +again shouted to Tom to fire, while he, with the gunner and Jerry, +almost the next instant sprang into the boat. + +"Shove off!" cried Jack, seizing an oar; Dick and Jerry imitated him, +while the rest were reloading their firearms. The boat was but a few +yards from the bank when the Cossacks reached it, and had to pull up +sharp to avoid plunging into the water. + +"Good-bye, old fellows!" shouted Dick; "you've had a hard scamper, and +now you may go back and look after your corn-stacks." + +That these had not been put out was evident by the ruddy glare which +suffused the sky in the distance. On receiving another volley from the +boat, the Cossacks wheeled about and made their way over the marsh, +where, had Jack thought fit, they might all have been picked off in +detail; but he had from the first seen the wickedness of killing a +single human being unnecessarily, and now that they could no longer +impede their flight, he was glad to let them escape. Lest, however, +they might give notice to any armed Russian boats to proceed in chase of +the daring Englishmen, Jack ordered his crew to pull away as hard as +they could, so that they might possibly regain the ship before daylight. + +They were not, however, free from danger, as the burning stacks would +put the people on the shores for miles round on the alert, and they +could scarcely expect to escape pursuit. Jack, by steering rather more +to the northward, escaped the bank on which they had before run, and he +hoped now to make a straight course across the water. The sandpit had +then to be passed before the boat could be launched into the more open +sea. Poor Jerry was so exhausted that it was some time before he could +handle an oar, so he employed the interval in trying to wash the mud out +of his eyes and nose. + +The mist had again come down, and but a few yards could be seen ahead; +thus the crew were pulling on as hard as ever, when, before jack was +aware that they were near, the boat's bows grated against the sand, +which fortunately yielded easily or they would have been stove in. + +"All hands leap out!" cried Jack; and the men, seizing the boat, began +hauling away, without stopping an instant, across the sand. + +They had got very nearly to the water's edge on the other side, when Tom +shouted out, "See, sir, here come some Cossacks!" + +It was fortunate that Tom had observed them; in another minute they +would have been up to the boat, but the men, giving her a shove which +sent her skimming away over the calm surface, leaped on board, and, +getting out their oars, pulled away at a rapid rate, leaving the +Cossacks to shake their lances at them in vain. + +After pulling some way, they caught sight of the _Tornado's_ light, when +the commander and his party were welcomed with a hearty cheer on board, +the crew having felt very anxious when they heard of the dangerous +character of the expedition on which he had gone. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +DICK NEEDHAM'S EXPEDITION--DICK AND ARCHIE CAPTURED--ATTACK ON THE +CARAVAN--UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH HIGSON AND MIDSHIPMEN--HIGSON'S +UNWILLINGNESS TO RETURN--JACK'S SOLUTION OF THE DIFFICULTY--THE YOUNG +LADIES' GRIEF--TOM, AGAINST HIS WILL, JOINS THE FLASH--CAPTURES A FORT +AND GUNS--THE SLEEPING BEAUTIES--THE FLASH AGROUND--ATTACKED BY +RUSSIANS--FATE OF FLASH--DESMOND THINKS OF EMIGRATING--TOM'S "PRIOR +ENGAGEMENT"--CAPTURE OF KINBURN. + +The Mosquito fleet had been employed for many weeks in destroying almost +immeasurable quantities of provisions and stores, effectually crippling +the resources of the Czar's armies. Private property had invariably +been spared, so that the inhabitants of the country did not exhibit any +ill-feeling towards the English. The few men who by chance fell into +their hands were treated with considerable kindness. + +Jack's usual plan was, after having ascertained the whereabouts of the +magazines or stacks, which were nearly always placed on the seashore, to +steam up to the spot just before daybreak, and immediately to send in +one or two boats, the officers of which, landing with torches, quickly +set the stores on fire, and scampered back before they could be pursued. +Night after night, now in one place, now in another, stores and +magazines were destroyed; and as there were upwards of a dozen vessels +thus engaged, it may be conceived what mischief was committed. + +There is an old saying, however, that the pitcher which goes often to +the well gets broken at last. Jack had heard from his faithful spy, +Niuski, that some large stores existed on the shores of a lake about a +mile from the coast, the river communicating with which was too shallow +to allow of the boats proceeding up it. He had intended going himself, +but an attack of illness made him feel that it would be imprudent to +venture, as he might break down on the way. Dick Needham, hearing of +what was required to be done, at once volunteered to lead an expedition, +and Jack gladly accepted his offer. Tom and Archie, who had been +burning to distinguish themselves in some exploit of the sort, begged +that they might be allowed to go. + +"There are no fellows on board who have better wind or can run faster +than we can," observed Tom; "Archie, with his long legs, gets over the +ground at a great rate, and I can keep up with him by making my short +ones move so much the faster." + +Jack, believing that there was no greater risk than usual, consented, +greatly to the midshipmen's delight. Billy Blueblazes was ordered to go +in the boat, to remain in charge of her while the rest of the party were +on shore. The spy had informed Jack that there were no enemies in the +neighbourhood. Tom and Archie were in high glee. Dick Needham had +settled to take only one man with him, besides the midshipmen, leaving +the rest under the command of Billy Blueblazes to cover their retreat. +The boat, with muffled oars, pulled in for the shore, when, no one being +seen, Dick and his companions landed. + +"Remember, Billy, the commander's orders are that you are on no account +to leave the boat; and should by chance the enemy come down upon you, +you are to pull off to the ship, and obtain further orders," said Tom; +"not that there's much chance of that." + +"Good-bye, my laddie," said Archie, as he and Tom leaped on shore; +"we'll be back in little more than half an hour, and you will know when +to look out for us by seeing the jolly bonfire we are going to light." + +There was no moon, but the stars shone brightly forth, enabling them to +steer their way by them. The country being pretty level, they hoped, +should they have to run for it, to make rapid way; it was also tolerably +open, with here and there copses composed of trees of moderate height, +by advancing along the side of which Dick expected to be able to keep +concealed till they had gained their destination. + +"We may reserve our strength for the run back after we have set the +stores on fire," he whispered to the two midshipmen; "we learned a +lesson about that in our other expedition." + +Whenever they had to cross an open space, they bent down like North +American Indians on a war-trail, keeping perfect silence, so that they +might have passed close to an enemy without being discovered. Thus on +they went, Dick calculating that it would take them about half an hour +to reach the magazines, and they expected to return in half that time. +Dick led, Tom and Archie followed, and Tim Nolan brought up the rear. +Each one of them knew beforehand what they were to do, and there seemed +no risk of failure. + +The magazines and stores were at length reached, presenting much the +same appearance as those which had before been destroyed. Not a sound +which could indicate that any human beings were in the neighbourhood was +heard; not a dog barked. In less than a minute they all had their +torches lighted, and effectually set fire to the buildings and stores, +which blazed up so rapidly that had any people been out of doors at the +time the flames would have quickly betrayed them. Their task being +accomplished, they set off at a rapid speed towards the boat, Dick as +before leading. The midshipmen enjoyed the scamper, and they had every +reason to believe that they should get back in safety. They had not got +far, however, when they heard the voices of people from the neighbouring +cottages, who had been, it was evident, aroused by the glare, and who +would soon, from the nature of the conflagration, suspect that it had +been the work of incendiaries. Unless, however, they could throw +themselves on horseback, there was no risk of their overtaking the +nimble seamen; still concealment was difficult, for as the fire +increased its glare fell upon them and betrayed their whereabouts. + +They had passed over the widest extent of open ground, and had made +their way along under the shelter of a copse, when they were again +exposed to view. As they were passing another copse a short distance on +their right, several shots whistled by them. + +"Push on, Needham!" cried Tom; "they're not very good marksmen." + +A cry from Tim Nolan made Tom turn his head, when he saw a party of the +enemy, who had rushed out from the copse, close upon him, while Tim, by +actively dodging, tried to escape. "Arrah, never mind me!" he shouted; +"though I'm after being made a prisoner, you'll get off if you keep +going." + +Archie, who was some little way behind him, endeavoured to escape, when +his foot struck against a stone, and the cry he uttered made Tom again +look round and spring back to help him get on his feet. In his hurry he +also fell; the cry he had uttered made Dick also look round, when, +believing that one or both of the midshipmen were wounded, though he was +so far ahead as to have been able to reach the boat without difficulty, +he immediately turned back to assist them. As he did so, he saw the +Russians hurrying up. Drawing his cutlass, he threw himself between +them and the midshipmen, hoping to drive back their foes, and allow them +to make their escape. Tom and Archie were quickly on their legs, but +before they could do as Dick told them and run for their lives, they +were surrounded by a party of helmeted Russians. + +Dick, however, laid about him so lustily with his cutlass, that had the +midshipmen been willing to leave him, they, at all events, might have +made their escape. They were endeavouring to draw their swords, when +the Russians, throwing themselves on them from behind, seized their +arms; and Dick received a wound from a bayonet in his sword-arm which +made him, very much against his will, drop his weapon. In an instant, +more Russians coming on, they were completely overpowered and dragged +away; not, however, till Dick, in a stentorian voice, had let Billy +Blueblazes know what had happened, and directed him to pull back to the +ship with the news. + +Billy had caught sight of the party in the distance just as the enemy +rushed out on them, and had seen Dick turn back to help Tom and Archie. +Had he not been ordered to remain in the boat, he would have landed, and +tried to assist them. Fortunately, perhaps, he did not make the +attempt, as his men could not have fired at the Russians for fear of +hitting their friends, and he and his party would, in all probability, +have been captured, with the loss of their boat. As soon as he heard +Dick's voice, he shoved off and pulled away for the ship, in the hopes +of getting assistance. + +Jack, however, saw that it would be useless to send a party on shore, as +the Russians would to a certainty carry off their prisoners to a +distance. As Billy stated that he saw a large number of men, the fresh +party might very likely be overwhelmed. Jack naturally felt very much +grieved at the loss of the midshipmen and gunner, although they were not +likely to be otherwise than kindly treated; still the war might last for +some time, and they would lose the advantage of the experience they were +gaining--while he could ill afford to dispense with Needham's services, +or lose Tim Nolan, a good seaman on whom he could always depend. + +"The midshipmen are pretty sure to fall on their feet wherever they are +carried," observed Mr Mildmay, "so we need not, I hope, be over-anxious +about them." + +Next morning, Jack sent a flag of truce on shore to inquire what had +become of his captured officers and man, and to offer to send them any +necessaries they might require. Before the boat returned, another +steamer hove in sight, which proved to be the _Giaour_. Murray had +orders to summon the _Tornado_, with any other vessels he might fall in +with, in order that their boats might form an expedition up the river-- +across which ran the great highroad leading to the Crimea. Information +had been received that a large amount of stores and provisions were on +their way to the garrison of Sebastopol. + +"If we can cut them off, we shall commit incalculable damage--perhaps +starve the garrison into surrender," Murray observed. He was, of +course, sorry to hear of Archie's capture, but the two commanders agreed +that they need not make themselves very unhappy about the matter. +Green, who had gone on shore with the flag of truce, returned, saying +that he had been unable to fall in with anyone who could communicate +information about the prisoners; and they had therefore to be left for +the present to their fate. + +A few hours afterwards the _Flash_ appeared, and the three commanders +proceeded to the rendezvous, a short distance out of sight of land. It +had been arranged that they were to stand in at nightfall, and +immediately to send their boats up the river, so as if possible to take +the enemy by surprise. In the meantime several of the fleet were sent +to different parts of the coast, to burn all the Government stores they +could discover, and thus to assist in misleading the enemy. The +squadron was delayed longer than had been expected, but at length +information was received that a caravan was on its way, and might be +expected near the mouth of the river the next night. Jack settled to +take command of one of his boats, while Green took command of the other. +Adair went in one of his, and Desmond, greatly to his delight, had +charge of the second. Murray also despatched two of his, and the other +ships sent the same number. + +The squadron came off the mouth of the river about an hour and a half +after dark, when the flotilla of boats, without a moment's delay, +proceeded up the stream, with muffled oars. A mist lay on the water, +though the stars could be distinguished overhead, which, as they kept +directly in the centre, would, they hoped, conceal them from any persons +on the banks. The crews were ordered to keep perfect silence; the +larger boats were armed with guns in their bows, capable of throwing +shot and shell, so that they were well able to compete with any force +which might appear, even though accompanied by field--pieces. It was +known, however, that the enemy possessed but few in that part of the +country. + +The boats at length got up within about a quarter of a mile of the ferry +at which the caravan was expected to pass. Either bank of the river was +lined with a broad belt of tall rushes, in which they were directed to +conceal themselves, while Adair in his gig pulled up to try and +ascertain whether the waggons had reached the bank. The commodore had +settled to wait till some had crossed, so as to attack as many as +possible close to the edge of the water, making sure of destroying them +as well as those actually crossing. + +The crews of the boats were waiting in anxious expectation for the order +to dash out of their places of concealment. Day at last dawned; the +startled wildfowl flew up from among the rushes, screaming loudly at the +intruders; while, as the light increased, the dark water assumed a +brighter hue, though a mist still lay on the surface, which greatly +assisted in the concealment of the boats. At length Adair's gig was +seen dimly through the mist, pulling at a rapid rate down the stream. +In an instant the crews of the boats, jumping into their seats, got out +their oars ready to give way as soon as the order should be received. +Adair soon reached the commodore's boat; he said that the +provision-waggons had begun to cross, and that several were already on +the opposite or western bank. The boats had been ordered to pull up in +two divisions, the larger to attack the east bank, the other the west; +Jack's and Adair's boats belonged to the latter. + +The welcome order to advance was heard, and the boats, emerging from +their cover, pulled away in two lines, as fast as the men could bend to +their oars, moving along like two huge serpents darting on their prey. +Not a word was uttered; so that the boats, still shrouded by the mist, +were close up to the ferry before they were discovered. The Russians +were taken completely by surprise; the waggons on board the ferry-boat +were at once captured. The small body of troops sent to convoy them +fired a volley from the east bank, on which side the greater number of +waggons were still advancing to cross, and then, seeing the strong +forces approaching to the attack, retreated; while shouts and shrieks +and cries resounded on all sides, the drivers endeavouring to turn round +their animals and escape--while the seamen, who sprang on shore, set to +work to cut the traces, to prevent them from so doing. + +Jack and Adair, with their men, had landed on the west bank, where the +drivers of the waggons were doing their utmost to urge on their beasts. +The sailors were getting quickly up to the nearest of them to put a stop +to their progress, while the others ahead still endeavoured to escape; +some in their hurry getting off the road upset. The wildest uproar and +confusion ensued, the drivers shrieking to their beasts, the seamen +shouting as they rushed forward. + +One of the leading waggons, as it dashed forward, overtook a carriage +which had apparently been on its way down to the ferry, when the +postillions, alarmed by the sounds which reached their ears, turned it +round to escape in the opposite direction. A waggon coming against its +hinder wheel, had upset it on one side of the road. Just at that +juncture, Adair and Desmond, who with their men had gone ahead, arriving +at the spot, heard cries for help from female voices proceeding from the +carriage. At the same moment they saw a gentlemanly-looking personage +in a travelling-dress emerging from one of the windows, and several +others, who had evidently been on the outside, endeavouring to pick +themselves up in a field into which they had been thrown. + +"If that isn't Tom Rogers, I'm not an Irishman!" exclaimed Desmond; "and +there's Archie Gordon, too--hurrah! provided they haven't broken their +legs or arms, they'll be all to rights after all;--and that's no other +than our friend Colonel Paskiewich." + +Hurrying forward to assist Colonel Paskiewich in extricating himself +from the overturned carriage, they perceived that there were several +ladies in the inside, who, although they every now and then uttered +screams, were wisely remaining quiet, holding each other in their arms. + +"Thank you, gentlemen," said the colonel; "I must now ask you to help +out my wife and daughters, who are naturally fearfully alarmed at what +has occurred." + +"We regret to have been the unintentional cause of their disaster," said +Adair politely; while he and Gerald, climbing up on the side of the +carriage, caught hold of one of the young ladies, who proved to be +Mademoiselle Feodorowna. They were quickly joined by Tom and Archie, +the former of whom took the fair Feodorowna in charge. Another person +now made his way up from the field into which he had been thrown. + +"Why, Higson, my fine fellow, I am very glad to see you!" exclaimed +Adair; "where do you come from?" + +"I'll tell you all about it by and by," answered Higson, "when we have +got out the ladies;" and he lending a hand, Mademoiselle Ivanowna was +next hauled up, Higson taking her in his arms with the most affectionate +solicitude and carrying her to a place of safety by the side of the +road; while the rest dragged out her mamma, who, if not much hurt, was +greatly alarmed. The coachman, who had also been thrown off his box, +had in the meantime been assisting the postillions in cutting the +traces; which, having been done, the latter galloped off, under the +impression, probably, that should they remain they would be made +prisoners with their master. + +While this scene was taking place, Jack, with Jos Green, and their men, +had advanced towards the post-house, in front of which a small body of +troops were drawn up, waiting an opportunity, apparently, to attack the +English as soon as they were still more scattered in their pursuit of +the waggons, as it was evident they would quickly be. No sooner, +however, did they perceive Jack's compact party of seamen in +well-ordered array advancing towards them, than, without even firing +their muskets, they went to the right-about, and scampered off as fast +as their legs could carry them. + +Just as they disappeared, a window in the post-house was thrown open, +and out of it jumped Dick Needham, followed by Tim Nolan. +"Erin-go-bragh!" shouted the latter; "it's ourselves have gained our +liberty." + +"There's no time to tell you how it all happened, sir," said Dick, as +Jack welcomed him; "we were not badly treated by the Russians, but I am +main glad to get out of their hands--I only wish there was as good a +chance of your brother and Mr Gordon getting set at liberty; but I am +sorry to say they gave their parole, as they called it, to the colonel; +and when I told them that Tim and I had got a plan for getting off from +the Russians and making our way to the coast, they told me that they +could not join in it, as they were bound to stay till the war was over." + +Commander Rogers, however, had no time to listen further to what his +gunner had to say, as he had to set to work at once to destroy the +captured waggons. Having examined the post-house to ascertain that no +enemies lurked within, he set fire to the leading waggons; and, upon his +way to the river to destroy the remainder, he came upon the overturned +carriage, near which he found the colonel's family, with Higson and the +midshipmen. The colonel expressed his pleasure at seeing him, and +informed him that he was on his way to visit an estate, remote from the +seat of war, in the eastern parts of the country, when he heard that +some English officers and seamen who had been made prisoners were in the +neighbourhood, and that on visiting them he discovered that they +belonged to the _Tornado_. Upon making application to the governor of +the district, he had succeeded in obtaining the release of the officers +on their parole, though the men had to continue in charge of their +guard. "I am afraid, therefore," he added, "that I cannot restore the +former to you, unless you choose to consider me your prisoner." + +"As you are a non-combatant at present, we certainly cannot capture you +or your family," answered Jack; "but with regard to my lieutenant and +the two midshipmen, I am somewhat in doubt whether or not to do so." + +Greatly to Jack's surprise, Higson and Tom both expressed their decided +opinion that as men of honour they ought to remain; though Archie seemed +much less confident on the subject. + +"We'll get your carriage on its wheels and then think about this matter, +colonel," said Jack; "and if you will send your coachman to bring back +the runaway postillions and their steeds, we will escort you across the +river, and see you on your journey to the eastward." + +As there were no enemies to contend with, the plan proposed by Jack was +quickly carried into execution; the horses were brought back; the +carriage, which was an old-fashioned family coach, had not received much +damage. Jack consulted Adair as to how he should act towards the +lieutenant and midshipmen. + +"As they are in our power, we are bound to lay hands on them whether +they like it or not," answered Adair; "if they go unwillingly, their +parole is not broken;" whereupon Jack told Higson and the midshipmen +that they must consider themselves under arrest, and prepare to return +in the boats to their ship. + +On hearing this, both the young ladies began to evince signs of +agitation. + +"Surely you are not going to take away Lieutenant Higson!" exclaimed +Ivanowna. + +"You cannot be so cruel as to carry off our dear Tom!" cried Feodorowna. + +"We had all sorts of pleasant schemes to make them contented during +their exile," added Ivanowna. + +"I must be very hard-hearted, and perform my duty," answered Jack. + +It was pretty clear that both Higson and Tom had no objection to +remaining, but he was firm; though Archie seemed happy enough to get +back. + +"I'll tell you how it is," he whispered to Desmond; "the first +lieutenant and Tom are spooney on the young ladies; it is my belief that +they expect to marry them some day. The colonel and his wife seem to +have taken a great fancy to Higson." + +"Oh, oh!" said Jack; "that makes it doubly important to keep them out of +harm's way." + +In vain the young ladies again and again pleaded, supported by their +mamma and the colonel; Jack was inexorable. The remains of the waggons +burnt on the banks of the river having been cleared away, the colonel's +carriage was escorted to the ferry-boat, which conveyed it across to the +opposite bank. Here, however, so many more waggons had been destroyed +that some time was spent before it could proceed. Higson and the +midshipmen now got leave to pay their farewells to the ladies. Ivanowna +could with difficulty restrain her feelings, as the gallant lieutenant +approached to shake hands; and Archie declared to Desmond that he heard +him vowing unalterable affection, and making a promise that as soon as +the war was over he would come back and marry her, with her parents' +permission. + +The more impulsive Feodorowna threw her arms round Tom's neck and kissed +him on both cheeks. He, in return, made the same promise as his +lieutenant, with a proviso that he should obtain his papa's permission. + +"All right," said Jack, when he heard of it; "he's very safe." + +A considerable amount of damage had been inflicted, but the waggons +proved only to be a leading detachment, a second and larger portion +being some miles in the rear, and they, getting timely notice of the +raid of the English, retreated to a safe distance. The commodore, +receiving information that troops with some field-pieces were advancing, +prudently conducted his boats down the river, to avoid an engagement +which could have produced no satisfactory results. + +Tom Rogers was at first very much downcast, but in the company of his +old friends quickly regained his spirits; and he and Archie were loud in +their praises of the hospitality with which they had been treated. +Higson did not say much, but Jack could not help suspecting that he no +longer relished being engaged in hostile operations against the +countrymen of his charmer. He confessed as much: "Still, you've known +me long enough to be sure that though it may be against the grain, I'll +do my duty whatever happens." + +Higson kept to his word, and no man was more active in the operations +which soon afterwards took place off Gheisk, Vodnia, and Glofira. +Strange as it may seem, considering that the places had before been +attacked, the Russians had accumulated along the shore in their +neighbourhood enormous rows of stacks, several miles in extent. They +had, however, four thousand troops to protect their property, while they +were aware of the small force possessed by the English, who could not +muster more than two hundred men for boat service. The larger vessels, +from want of water, had to remain in the offing, while the gunboats +towed the other boats as near as possible to the shore, and then covered +them by their heavy fire. They pulled in, when their crews, springing +to land, drove back the enemy, and set fire to the stacks in succession; +proving that it is much easier to commit harm than to prevent it. + +These attacks being made simultaneously at different points, so +distracted the enemy, that they knew not in which direction to proceed; +scarcely had the flames burst out at one point than they saw fires +blazing up at several others. The stores at Vodnia and Glofira having +been destroyed, the squadron proceeded off Gheisk. Here, for full four +miles, stacks of corn and hay were arranged close to the water's edge; +while under the protection of the forts around the town were vast piles +of timber, cured fish, naval stores, and a number of boats. Here again +the shallowness of the water prevented the larger vessels from +approaching; even the gunboats could not get in nearer than long range; +such boats as could carry heavy guns, being distributed in four +divisions, were sent in to cover the landing-parties in the smaller +boats, about a mile from each other. As they approached, they saw that +the Russians had thrown up light breastworks along their front, from +which they kept up an unremitting fire on their invaders. Fortunately +the wind blew on shore, and carried the smoke from their own and the +British guns in their faces; the landing-parties, rapidly advancing, +sprang on shore, and, dashing with bayonet and cutlass over the Russian +breastworks, speedily put the enemy to flight. + +The stacks along the whole of the line, being simultaneously lighted, +blew so dense a cloud of smoke into the eyes of the Russians, that, +though they rallied and opened a hot fire, they were unable to take aim +or ascertain what their persevering foes were about. In six hours every +stack, as well as the timber and naval stores and boats, were destroyed, +with no other loss to the British than five men wounded. + +These proceedings, unheroic as they might appear, tended greatly to +bring the war to a conclusion. The _Flash_, with several other vessels, +had in the meantime been despatched to different parts of the coast to +carry on a similar work. Tom had a short time before been sent to serve +on board her. After he had been brought back to the _Tornado_, he +appeared a changed being; unless when compelled, he spoke to no one +except Higson, and they two seemed to have much interesting conversation +together. Jack observed it, and came to the very natural conclusion +that Tom was over head and ears in love with the Russian colonel's +daughter; he consulted Murray on the subject. + +"Send him on board the _Flash_," was Murray's answer; "Adair and young +Desmond will soon knock all that sort of nonsense out of him. It never +does for midshipmen to be falling in love; it is bad enough for a +lieutenant--except under some circumstances," added Murray, recollecting +how both he and Jack had acted. + +"At all events my father would not approve of his marrying a Russian, +even putting her religion out of the question," said Jack. + +The _Flash_ being in company at the time, Jack pulled on board her and +soon arranged the matter with Adair, who very readily consented to take +charge of Tom. That young gentleman was somewhat astonished at finding +that he was thus to be disposed of, but he could not venture to +expostulate with his commander, even though that commander was his +brother. With a deep sigh he wished Higson good-bye. + +"Perhaps if you are sending a letter on shore you will put in a word +from me to Feodorowna, and assure her that I shall ever be faithful," +said Tom. + +"As to that, Tom, I don't think there is much chance that I shall have +an opportunity of writing to anyone living in the enemy's country," +answered Higson, who could not help perceiving the absurdity of the +thing. "You, with the interest you possess, have certain prospects of +promotion, and you will be giving them all up, and be separated from +your family, if you were to marry a Russian and settle down in this part +of the world. My case is very different; I have no interest--am getting +on in life, and shall probably not get my next step till I am old enough +to retire from the service. The young lady has, I'll allow, a fancy for +you, but she'll soon get over it; and if I ever come out and marry her +sister, I'll persuade her that it is the best thing she can do." + +Tom did not quite fancy this advice, but, like many another midshipman, +he had to grin and bear it; and was two minutes afterwards proceeding +with his chest on board the _Flash_. Gerald welcomed him warmly, and, +having received the cue from Adair, said not a word for some time about +the fair Feodorowna. The _Flash_ being actively engaged, Tom had plenty +of work, and very little time to think about his lady-love. His +conscience was not at all troubled when he was sent in to burn stacks of +corn and hay, and other Government property; indeed, had he been so, as +he had heard Jack observe that by doing so the war would be the sooner +brought to a conclusion, he would have considered that he was doing what +would be well pleasing to the colonel and his family. + +Although Adair thought Tom a goose for falling in love, he yet placed +great confidence in his gallantry and discretion. The _Flash_ had been +sent to the eastern end of the Sea of Azov. She was cruising one day +close inshore, when her commander observed a fort which mounted six +guns, but could see no gunners to fight them. He accordingly came to +the conclusion that they had been withdrawn to garrison Taganrog, or +some other important fortress. + +"We must have those guns," observed Adair. "I intend sending you, +Rogers, and Desmond, in to-night to bring them off, should I find, as I +suspect, that they are undefended," he said to Tom. "You will be +supplied with a scaling-ladder, with which you can take a peep in and +ascertain the state of affairs. If there are only three or four +soldiers, you must secure them; then shut the gates of the fort, to +prevent anyone getting in, while you hoist the guns into the boat." + +Tom and Gerald were delighted with the thoughts of the proposed +expedition, and undertook faithfully to carry out their commander's +orders. The _Flash_ continued steaming on till she was out of sight of +the fort, when, as soon as it was dark, her head was put inshore, and +she ran back to within a short distance of the fort Tom and Gerald were +ordered to burn a blue light should they require assistance, but if not, +to carry out the work as quietly as possible. + +"You may trust us, sir," they said, as they stepped into the gig, which +had a crew of six hands, and a supply of tackles for lowering the guns. + +"This is just the sort of fun I like," observed Tom, as they were +pulling for the shore. + +"Much better than sighing your breath out for the Russian damsel," +answered Desmond; "I am sure of that." It was the first time he had +ventured to touch on the delicate subject. + +"What, have you heard about my little affair?" asked Tom; "I suppose, +then, the whole fleet have been talking about it?" + +"Don't trouble yourself as to that," whispered Desmond; they were both +speaking in a low voice, so that neither their own men nor the enemy +could hear them; "however, it is time, unless we want to be discovered, +to clap a stopper on our jaw-tackles." + +"You are right," said Tom; "we shall soon be up to the fort." They +pulled on till they came under the walls, which rose sheer out of the +water. Landing on one side, and leaving a couple of hands in the boat, +they carried the scaling-ladder to a wall which offered a fair prospect +of their being able to mount to the top. Tom claimed the post of honour +for himself, the rest of the party being prepared to mount as soon as he +should summon them. The instant after the ladder was placed he was on +the top of it. On looking down, not a human being could he see, either +awake or asleep. Making the signal to his companions, they speedily +followed him, and dropped down noiselessly into the fort. + +Their first care, as ordered, was to secure the gate; and then, lighting +their lanterns, they began to search the various chambers in the fort. +They had not gone far when they heard voices from what appeared to be a +guard-house. "At all events, we shall have no great difficulty in +securing them," said Tom. As they opened the door, they found four +soldiers, a flagon of vodka before them, and their heads resting on the +table. + +They were excessively astonished to find their arms seized by a party of +Englishmen, who signified by their gestures that the less noise they +made the better. They were then lashed to their seats, and almost +immediately afterwards dropped off to sleep again. + +"At all events, we are not likely to meet with much opposition," said +Tom; "though, if we had had some fighting, we might have gained more +credit." + +No other persons being found in the fort, they immediately set to work +to unship the guns and to lower them down into the boat, which was +brought under the wall for the purpose. They were of brass, and not +very heavy considering their size, but it was soon found that three were +as many as the gig could carry. Having secured these, they pulled back +to the _Flash_, which now stood in as close as she could venture, when +they returned for the other three. They looked in as they arrived at +the drunken garrison, who were still fast asleep and unconscious of what +was taking place. The remaining guns were then removed as the first had +been. + +"Faith, those Russian fellows will be astonished when they wake +to-morrow morning and find themselves minus their guns," exclaimed +Gerald, laughing. + +"I only hope that they won't be shot in consequence," said Tom. "I +think we ought to have left a notice of the way we surprised the fort, +with a request that the brave garrison may not be punished." + +On returning to the ship, they received due commendation from their +commander for the way in which their exploit had been performed. The +next day Adair himself determined to undertake a still more hazardous +expedition, very similar to that in which Tom and Desmond had been +captured. He had to proceed north, two miles from the coast, to the +banks of a river, where he burned a large number of stacks. On his +return he was chased by a body of Cossacks; he fortunately got within +fire of his men in the boats just as the Cossacks were up to him. He +acknowledged on getting on board that he had never had a harder run in +his life. + +Thoroughly knocked up, he turned in, leaving orders that the ship should +be kept along the coast, so as to draw off their attention from other +places which were to be attacked. Adair was in a deeper sleep than a +commander under such circumstances generally ventures to enjoy, when +suddenly he was startled by a shock, accompanied by an ominous grating +sound, the meaning of which he too painfully knew. + +"The ship's on shore!" he exclaimed to himself, starting up and with the +practised rapidity of a seaman putting on his clothes. An officer +entering his cabin, he found his worst apprehensions realised. The +_Flash_ had struck on a reef, not a quarter of a mile from the beach. +He was on deck in a moment; the hands were turned up, and the boats +immediately lowered to lay out an anchor astern to haul her off. The +day was just breaking, and as the light increased rocks were seen inside +of the ship, with a sandy beach and a wide extent of level country. + +In vain the officers and crew exerted themselves; the tide had been +falling, and every instant made the task of getting the ship off more +difficult. Adair had once before lost his ship under circumstances when +the best of seamanship could not have saved her; but he now felt that +she had been got on shore by inexcusable carelessness, and this thought +made him inclined to become almost frantic. He restrained his temper +and feelings, however, in a wonderful way for an Irishman, and with +perfect coolness bent all his energies to the task of getting her off. +His first lieutenant was on the sick list; the second had a short time +before been relieved by a mate who somewhat resembled Mr Mildmay, +without the sterling qualities of that officer, and for the sake of +being better able, as he thought, to examine the coast, had kept the +ship just a point or two, as he said, to the northward of the course +given to him. However, had he even steered directly for the shore the +commander was answerable, Terence knew too well. + +In vain the crew laboured away at the capstan till the hawser was taut +as a fiddle-string; not an inch would the ship budge. The master +suggested that by heaving the guns and stores overboard she might be got +off. + +"And perhaps even then we might stick fast, or before she is afloat the +enemy might make his appearance and find us at his mercy," answered the +commander; "no, no--we'll keep our teeth, and show them too, to some +effect, as long as the ship holds together." + +Tom and Desmond were not very complimentary to the stupid old mate who +had been the cause of the disaster. Tom, who was acting as +signal-midshipman, had been for some time examining the shore, when he +caught sight of some figures moving along in the distance. Presently, +as they approached, he could see that they formed a small body of +Cossack cavalry; two of them galloped on ahead, till they got near +enough to ascertain the condition of the ship. A shot from one of her +long guns, though it missed them, sent them to the right-about, and the +whole body soon afterwards disappeared. No long time, however, had +elapsed when they were again discerned coming in the direction of the +ship, accompanied by a body of infantry and several field-pieces. + +"We must be ready for those fellows," observed Terence, "and do our best +to dismount their guns." + +While one portion of the crew were sent to their quarters, the others +were kept employed in endeavouring to haul off the ship. On came the +infantry, looking out for such imperfect shelter as could be found on +the coast; and the guns, which had remained some way behind them, opened +their fire on the ship. They were not ill served, and their shot fell +pretty thickly about her. Terence immediately ordered his guns to be +fired in return, when the Cossacks, wheeling about, retired to a safe +distance. + +"I can't say much for the gunnery of those fellows," said Tom; "not a +shot has struck us yet." + +"Wait a bit, my boy," answered Desmond; "they'll get the range +presently. It's more easy for them to hit a big object like our ship, +than it is for us to reach those little gimcracks of guns." + +The Russian riflemen having in the meantime advanced, their bullets kept +whistling through the air, close to the heads of the crew, who, however, +took no more notice of them than had they been pellets from pop-guns. +At last a shot from the _Flash_ struck the earth directly in front of +one of the Russian guns, which at the same instant was fired, and the +next, when the dust and smoke had cleared away, it was seen upset with +its carriage broken, and several gunners lying stretched on the earth on +either side of it. The other guns, however, still kept their position, +and fired away as briskly as before. + +"They'll be after getting tired of that," observed Desmond, "if we can +manage to send another of our pills down their throats like the last." + +The firing was kept up for some time on both sides without intermission, +no apparent effect being produced on the enemy, while the ship was +frequently hulled by their shot. Still Adair did not despair of getting +her off, and as soon as the tide began to rise, he set to work with +renewed energy. He and his crew seemed to bear charmed lives; for +though the shot caught the rigging above their heads, and came plunging +into the ship's side, not one of them had been hit. + +"There's a fresh body of the enemy coming down, sir," said Tom, pointing +to the north-east. + +"If they are only Cossacks they'll not harm us," answered Adair, taking +a look in the direction Tom pointed through his telescope. "I am not +quite certain about that same," he observed to his first lieutenant. + +"They appear to me to be artillery," answered that officer. + +In a few minutes more this became evident; up came the officers, +galloping at full speed, with four more guns. + +"They are not of very heavy metal, or they would not come along so +fast," observed Adair. "We'll be ready for them," and he ordered one of +the after-guns to be trained so as to give them a warm reception as soon +as they came within range. As they approached, however, the guns +separated, and took up positions a considerable distance from each +other, while those which had already been engaged followed their +example. + +This, of course, increased the difficulties of the _Flash_, as each of +her guns could only engage one opponent at a time. Her heavy +sixty-eight pivot-gun was, however, worked with such rapidity and skill +that the enemy were frequently compelled to abandon their guns, and many +of their men and horses were killed. Still fresh horses were brought up +to move them to new positions, not allowing the crew of the _Flash_ a +moment of rest from their labours. Every time one of their shot was +seen to tell with effect they cheered lustily; and as they worked away +they seemed to enjoy the fun, laughing and joking as if no round-shot +and bullets were whistling through the air near their ears. + +The master had just reported that the water had risen another inch, and +Adair had begun to entertain fresh hopes of getting the ship, ere long, +afloat, when the smoke of a steamer was seen in the offing. + +"I hope she's the _Tornado_ or _Giaour_," observed Desmond; "they'll be +for sending the boats on shore and putting the enemy to the rout." + +Adair naturally hoped pretty much the same, but, on consideration, he +could not help suspecting that the ship in sight was the _Anaconda_, +commanded by Commander Allport, his superior officer, for whom, on +account of previous circumstances which need not just now be mentioned, +he had no special regard. + +"At all events, he is a brave fellow, and will stand by me," he said to +himself. + +As the stranger drew near, Adair found that his surmises were correct. +He had, in the meantime, been continuing his efforts to get the _Flash_ +afloat, the crew working away as energetically as at first. + +"She's the _Anaconda_, sir," said Tom, who had been watching the signals +as they appeared at the masthead of the approaching vessel. + +"Say the ship's ashore, but I hope to get her off, and beg _Anaconda_ to +stand in and support me," said Adair. + +The signals were hoisted. It was possible that the wreaths of smoke +which circled round the ship might have prevented them from being seen +clearly. The enemy continued firing away at her as if hoping to secure +her destruction before support could reach her, while her crew worked +her guns with the same ardour as before. Adair calculated that, in +another hour, she would be afloat, perhaps in less time. The _Anaconda_ +stood in nearer, and began again to make signals. Adair looked over the +signal-book. + +"It can't be that!" he exclaimed, as he read, "Abandon ship, and come on +board me with your crew." + +"There must be some mistake," he added in an undertone. "I wish that I +was blind of one eye and not able to see it. Answer it," he said at +length, "`Before we quit the ship, we'll try what we can do.'" + +With reluctant heart he gave the order to heave the pivot-gun overboard, +taking care to secure a buoy to it, hoping that he might yet get it up. +The engine was set going, once more the capstan was manned, but still +the _Flash_ did not move. + +"If that Commander Allport would stand in like a true man and lend us a +hand, we might get off even now," exclaimed Desmond. "Arrah, my poor +uncle, 'twill be after breaking his heart to leave the barkey here." + +The _Anaconda_ now fired a gun and made fresh signals, ordering Adair +immediately to quit the ship. The boats, all of which had escaped +injury, were hoisted out, and the crew were ordered to leave the ship +they had fought so bravely. Adair was the last man to quit her. + +"Well, I am the most unfortunate fellow alive!" he exclaimed. + +He was thinking of Lucy and his promotion stopped, and all the other +unpleasant consequences of the loss of his ship. The only thing which +kept up his spirits was the hope that he might persuade Commander +Allport to stand in and make fresh efforts to get her afloat. It was a +wonder none of the boats were struck as they left the ship. They, +however, at length succeeded in getting on board the _Anaconda_. +Commander Allport, who was standing on deck, received Adair with a +supercilious air. He had been many years a lieutenant, and his temper +had been considerably soured before he had got his promotion; indeed, +some of those whom he had known as midshipmen were now admirals, and he +seemed to take especial pleasure in acting in a dictatorial manner +towards all those under him. + +"Well, Commander Adair," he observed, as Terence stepped on deck, "you +have made a pretty business of this somehow or other; young officers +are, however, not always the best navigators, and the _Flash_ has been +lost to Her Majesty's Service. It won't bring much credit on those +concerned." + +Adair bit his lip, but, though ready enough to retort, he wisely +restrained his temper, and answered, "If you will let me have your +boats, or will stand in and give us a tow while we keep the enemy at +bay, we may get the _Flash_ off before many hours are over; she has not +a shot-hole in her to signify, as we plugged them all as soon as they +were received." + +"Impossible, Commander Adair," answered his superior officer; "the only +thing we can do is to prevent the _Flash_ from falling into the enemy's +hands. I cannot uselessly expose the lives of my crew in so hopeless an +undertaking. Those who have the advantage of experience know that it is +the duty of an officer to watch with a father's care over his people. +We'll stand in closer, and then see what is to be done." + +Adair still urged the possibility of saving the _Flash_. + +"I am your superior officer, and it is my duty to act as I think fit, +without taking your opinion," answered Commander Allport. + +Adair turned away with no very affectionate feeling in his heart towards +his "superior officer." + +The _Anaconda_ stood on till, when still at a safe distance from the +enemy's shot, she brought her broadside to bear upon the unfortunate +little _Flash_, and commenced practising with her heavy guns. A groan +escaped from Adair's bosom, echoed by many others from his crew, as he +saw one huge missile after another strike his devoted craft, and in a +short time commit more mischief than the enemy had inflicted on her +during the gallant fight he had waged for so many hours. + +"We must take care, should she fall into the hands of the Russians, that +she is reduced to an utter wreck," observed Commander Allport. + +"You are certainly setting about the right way to make her so," observed +Adair. + +He even now was strongly inclined to urge the old martinet to desist, as +he saw shot after shot strike the hull of his vessel. The enemy, seeing +that the English were engaged in destroying her, wisely saved their own +powder by ceasing to fire, and allowed them to finish the work which +they had commenced. + +While the _Anaconda_ was thus employed, another vessel hove in sight, +steaming up from the westward. + +"She's the _Giaour_," observed Commander Allport, looking at the +signal-book; "Murray will assist us in knocking her to pieces." + +"I very much doubt whether he will do anything of the sort," answered +Adair, unable to restrain himself; "I only wish he had come an hour ago, +to save her from destruction." + +"You are forgetting our relative positions, Commander Adair," observed +Commander Allport, beginning now to fume. + +"I only expressed my opinion that Murray would not have tried to knock +the _Flash_ to pieces, till he had assisted me in making further efforts +to get her off," answered Adair; "and I only ask you to desist from +firing till you have his opinion." + +Now Commander Allport did not recollect that Murray was his senior. The +latter had been promoted a few weeks before him, and would have power to +decide the question. Instead of desisting, however, he directed his +guns so as to concentrate their fire upon one portion of the _Flash_, +thus more completely to ruin her. Adair knew that it would be useless +to plead any longer; his only regret was that he had obeyed his superior +officer's command, and quitted the vessel, instead of remaining on board +and taking the consequences. Had he remained he felt that he would +certainly have run the risk of censure for disobeying orders, but he +would have saved his ship, and that alone would have proved a sufficient +excuse had Commander Allport brought him to a court-martial; which it +was very likely he would not have dared to do. Terence consoled himself +with the reflection that he had fought his ship gallantly, and would +have continued to fight her till she had been knocked to pieces, and +that he had acted in obedience to the orders of a superior in quitting +her. + +"Well," he said to himself, "as Murray always used to advise, `Do right +and take the consequences.' I have done right in obeying, but the +consequences are not less unpleasant. I shall be reprimanded for losing +my ship, and shall be sent on shore with a black mark against my name, +and all my prospects in the service ruined; and Sir John will be less +likely than ever to allow me to marry Lucy. I _am_ the most unfortunate +fellow alive." This was about the twentieth time poor Terence had +uttered the expression since he had been compelled to leave the _Flash_. +As long as he continued on her deck, fighting her bravely, he had not +cared half so much about her having run on shore; besides which, he had +never abandoned the hope of getting her off. So completely did his +feelings run away with him that he even began to contemplate, though his +calmer moments would have forbidden him doing so, the idea of calling +out Commander Allport, as the only way of avenging the injury he had +received; but he, happily, had strength to banish the thought almost as +soon as it was conceived, and, walking to the other side of the ship, he +anxiously watched the approach of the _Giaour_. + +As soon as she drew near, he ordered his gig, and, without holding any +further communication with Commander Allport, pulled on board her. + +"Why, Adair, what have you been doing with the _Flash_?" asked Murray, +as he sprang up the side. Terence briefly explained what had happened, +and declared his conviction that the ship might have been saved by the +adoption of proper measures. + +"Instead of that, old Allport is expending powder and shot in making a +target of her, for no earthly reason beyond that of showing that he is +my superior officer, though of equal rank. I wish to goodness he had +been laid on the shelf, the only position he is fit for." + +"We must try what can be done," said Murray. "Happily, I am _his_ +superior officer, which he will find out by looking at the _Navy List_, +if he does not know it already;" and Murray directed a signal to be made +to the _Anaconda_ to "Cease firing." Commander Allport, who still had +not discovered that Murray was his superior, was at first inclined to +pay no attention to the signal; till his first lieutenant, happening to +know the true state of the case, brought him a _Navy List_, and pointed +out to him Murray's date of promotion. + +"The old fellow is in the wrong box," whispered Desmond, he having +observed what was taking place; "there's a chance after all for the +little barkey." + +"Cease firing," cried Commander Allport. Directly afterwards Murray +sent his second lieutenant to the _Anaconda_, with a request that the +commander would come on board his ship to consult with him as to the +best means of saving Her Majesty's ship _Flash_, now in sight on the +rocks. The request, of course, amounted to an order, which Commander +Allport, however unwillingly, obeyed. + +"Save her?" he exclaimed; "surely you mean destroy her as soon as +possible. I have done my best for the last two hours to knock her to +pieces." + +"I am very sorry to hear it," answered Murray; "we should never abandon +a vessel while there is the slightest hope of saving her; and the enemy +might easily have been kept at a sufficient distance to prevent them +from interfering with us, when getting her off. I must ask you to stand +in towards the shore, as close as you can venture, and keep the enemy in +check with your guns." + +For the first time for some hours Adair's heart began again to beat with +hope, as the two steamers, with the lead going and a bright look-out +kept ahead, stood towards the shore. The artillery were seen to +limber-up and gallop off, while the infantry scampered away, as fast as +they could go, to a safe distance; judging correctly that as they had +made no material impression upon a single ship, they were unlikely to +impede the proceedings of two. + +Murray, accompanied by Adair, and followed by the whole of the boats of +the _Flash_, immediately pulled on board her. Groans, and expressions +which were certainly not groans, however much they were like growls, +proceeded from the crew, as they observed the damage committed by the +_Anaconda's_ shot. A very brief inspection satisfied Murray and Adair +that she was too completely ruined to allow of any hope that she could +be got off. + +"It can't be helped," exclaimed poor Terence; "the only thing now to be +done is to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy. I would +sooner have gone down in her to the bottom of this wretched pool than +this should have happened. We must blow her up; I know it--I am the +most unhappy fellow alive--I shall never get another ship, and Lucy is +farther off than ever." + +"We must set her on fire, of course, or the enemy will boast that they +have captured her; but as to any blame being attached to you personally +at a court-martial, I don't believe it," answered Murray, in a tone +calculated to soothe the feelings of his friend. "From what I see, I am +pretty sure that, had old Allport not taken it into his head to knock +her to pieces, we should have got her off and put her to rights in a few +hours. The side exposed to the enemy is but slightly damaged, and he +allows that you must have fought her bravely, and that he only ordered +you to desert her for the sake of preserving the lives of you and her +crew. The first thing, however, we have to do is to weigh her guns." + +Murray, having formed his plans, summoned the larger boats of the +squadron, when, after much labour, the guns were weighed, and conveyed +on board the _Giaour_. The Russian troops had taken their departure, +and a good many parties of the peasantry were seen on the shore, +spectators of what was going on, probably hoping that the wreck would be +deserted, and that they should find a rich booty on board her. They +were to be disappointed. Now came the scene most trying to Adair; +everything of value, and that time would allow, was removed; the _Flash_ +was set on fire, and the boats pulled away, leaving her in flames fore +and aft. + +"There goes our little barkey," exclaimed Desmond; and in a short time +she blew up, covering the sea on every side with the fragments of wreck. +"I am glad, Tom, it was not you or I got her on shore; I don't envy old +Fusty his feelings, if he's got any; perhaps he hasn't. If Uncle +Terence doesn't get a ship, he'll be for cutting the service and going +out and settling in Australia; and I intend to go with him, to keep +sheep and ride after wild cattle, and lead an independent sort of life. +I say, Tom, won't you come too?" + +"Oh no; I am bound to come out here, and marry my little Feodorowna," +answered Tom; "though perhaps she'd like to come out to Australia with +me." + +"You be hanged, Tom! that's all nonsense," answered Desmond. "I thought +you had forgotten all about that affair." + +"Of course not!" exclaimed Tom indignantly; "if she's faithful to me, I +am bound to be faithful to her." + +"Always provided Sir John approves of your faithfulness," put in +Desmond. + +"Let's change the subject," said Tom. "It's time that you and I and +Gordon should pass for seamanship, and as soon as we go home we shall +get through the college and gunnery, and then, I hope, before long get +our promotion." + +Castles in the air erected by midshipmen are apt to fall to pieces, as +well as those built by older persons. They serve, however, to amuse +their architects, and after all, as they do not exhaust the strength or +energy, are not productive of any harm. + +The squadron continued their depredations along the coast, till not a +Russian vessel, or any craft larger than a cock-boat, remained afloat, +and every storehouse and stack of corn or hay which could be got at by +the British seamen had been destroyed. As no private property was +intentionally injured, these proceedings produced scarcely the slightest +ill-will among the inhabitants, though they might have thought the +perpetrators somewhat impious for thus daring to offend their sacred +Emperor. History tells how gallantly the naval brigade behaved before +Sebastopol, and how at length, the night before that proud fortress +fell, the Russians sank their remaining line-of-battle ships; and how +the English and French admirals, to prevent a single keel from escaping, +placed their fleets across the mouth of the harbour, when the garrison, +despairing of saving even their steamers, set them on fire with their +own hands; and after proud Sebastopol had fallen, how Kinburn, not far +from the mouths of the Boug and the Dnieper, a strong casemated fort, +armed with seventy heavy guns, supported by well-made earthworks, each +furnished with ten guns more, was attacked by the combined fleets. Its +best defence, however, existed in the shallowness of the surrounding +water and the intricacy of the navigation, so that ships of the line +could not approach it; while the smaller vessels ran the risk of getting +on shore when attempting to do so. + +The fleet consisted of between thirty and forty steam-vessels, and +numerous transports conveying four thousand troops. The French had as +many troops, but fewer ships of war; among them, however, were three +newly-invented floating batteries, from which the Emperor Napoleon +expected, it was said, great things. Difficult as was the navigation, +every inch of ground was well known to the commanders of the fleets, it +having been thoroughly surveyed by Captain Spratt of the _Spitfire_. + +Early on the morning of the 15th the troops were thrown on shore, to the +south of the principal fort, when they immediately entrenched their +position, to cut off the retreat of the garrison. The next day proving +too rough for the ships to co-operate with the troops, the attack was +postponed; but on the 17th the work was begun in earnest by the English +mortar-boats, which first opened fire on the devoted fort. The French +floating batteries followed suit, throwing their shot and shell with +effective precision, while the enemy's round-shot dropped harmless from +their iron sides, their shells shivering against them like glass. After +this game had been carried on for about a couple of hours, the ships of +the line stood in on the southern side of the forts, till they got +within twelve hundred yards. + +"Now comes our turn!" exclaimed Jack Rogers to Adair, who was serving as +a volunteer on board the _Tornado_, which ship, following close astern +of the _Giaour_, formed one of a large squadron of steamers which had +been directed to approach the forts on the northern side. + +The two squadrons reached their destined positions at the same time, +when they both opened a tremendous fire, literally raining down shot and +shell upon the hapless garrison. Stubborn as were the Russians, human +endurance could not long withstand such a fire. + +"Faith, I'm very glad I'm not inside those walls," said Gerald to Tom, +as they watched the effects of their shot, hundreds of shells bursting +in the air together, and raining down fragments of iron on the heads of +the unfortunate garrison; "if each round-shot and shell only kills a +single man, there won't be one left alive in the course of a few +minutes." + +"Fortunately, I fancy that it takes fully five shot to kill a man," +answered Tom, though he may not have been perfectly correct in his +estimate. + +"I should doubt if even a cat could escape, unless she hid herself in a +cellar," said Desmond; "it is tremendous." + +His last remark correctly described the scene; from the two lines there +issued, without intermission, flashes and wreaths of smoke, each +denoting the passage of an engine of destruction against the fortress; +the shells forming continuous arches in the air, the shot flying with +more direct aim, till the whole atmosphere became filled with dense +clouds of smoke, amid which the walls of the fort and dark hulls of the +ships, with their masts and rigging, could only be indistinctly seen. +At the end of ten minutes there appeared, in a conspicuous part of the +fort, a white flag. In an instant, as if by magic, the wild uproar +ceased, and the only sounds heard were the cheers of the seamen at their +speedily-gained victory. + +The admirals at once proceeded on shore, when the governor and his +officers, coming out of the fort, presented their swords, which were +politely returned to them, when a French garrison was left in the fort. +Two generals and a large staff of officers thus became prisoners, +besides which a large number of guns, ammunition, and stores were +captured. + +As the Government still held out, the fleet proceeded to the attack of +Oczakov, but, greatly to the disappointment of the allies, the Russians +evacuated it, and blew it up. This was almost the last action of any +consequence during the war; though the Mosquito fleet still continued +their depredations on the shores of the Sea of Azov till the winter +compelled them to retire, when, before the return of spring, peace with +Russia was concluded. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +ADAIR ACQUITTED FOR LOSS OF FLASH--APPOINTED TO GLEAM--THE TORNADO IN +THE BOSPHORUS--ARRIVAL OF HERR GROBEN--HIGSON OBTAINS LEAVE OF ABSENCE-- +TOM ASKS FOR IT, AND IS SENT ON BOARD GLEAM--HIGSON PROMOTED--HIS +MARRIAGE WITH THE FAIR RUSSIAN--BALL ON BOARD THE TORNADO--THE GLEAM IN +A STORM--TOM AND ADAIR LOST OVERBOARD--DESMOND'S GRIEF--THE ADMIRAL'S +HOME--APPEARANCE OF THE MISSING ONES--JOY OF THE ADMIRAL--ADAIR NARRATES +THEIR ADVENTURES--JACK AND ADAIR MARRIED--GENEROSITY OF ADMIRAL TRITON. + +Antecedent to the events mentioned in the last chapter, one of +considerable importance to Terence Adair occurred. He had to undergo a +court-martial for the loss of the _Flash_. She had been run on shore, +of that there was no doubt; but when there he had fought her with the +greatest gallantry, and had done his utmost to get her off. The result +of the investigation was that, having been admonished for the loss of +his ship, his sword was returned to him. + +"Really, my dear Adair, I don't think you need break your heart about +the matter," said Jack to him when he returned on board the _Tornado_, +which he had joined as a volunteer; Tom and Desmond were already on +board her. "Depend upon it, it won't stand in the way of your getting +another ship or promotion. I hear that the admiral highly approves of +your conduct, and that he has stated he will give you solid proof of his +opinion as soon as a vacancy occurs." + +These remarks raised poor Terence's spirits, and he wrote a very hopeful +letter to Admiral Triton, which he hoped might be shown to Lucy rather +than the one he had penned some time previously. Still some weeks went +by, and Adair remained without a ship; he at length got a cheery reply +from his old friend in answer to his letter, urging him to keep up his +courage, and prophesying that all would turn out well at last. "There +is a young lady by my side who fully agrees with me, and who is as ready +as I am to admire the gallant way in which you fought your ship, and to +appreciate your merits, whether the Admiralty do so or not. I am the +last man to advise a promising young officer to leave the service; but +should you be compelled to come on shore, and turn your sword into a +reaping-hook, I have made such arrangements as will enable you to do so +without having to depend solely upon your pittance of half-pay," wrote +the admiral. + +"What can the kind old man mean?" asked Terence, when he showed the +letter to Jack. + +Jack smiled. Perhaps he had heard something about the matter. + +"It is evident that he has your interest at heart," he answered, "and +intends to give you substantial proof of his regard; however, my opinion +is that you will not be laid on the shelf, and that if you remain out +here the admiral will give you the first vacancy that occurs." + +Jack, was right; a few days afterwards, on the return of the _Tornado_ +to the fleet, the admiral sent for Adair, and, complimenting him on the +gallant way in which he had fought the _Flash_, informed him that he was +appointed to the _Gleam_, the commander of which had just been invalided +home. Adair's heart bounded as if a load had been taken off it. +Without loss of time he went on board his new command. His natural wish +was now to do something by which he might gain credit. + +"Let me advise you, my dear fellow," said Murray, who paid him a visit +on board, "not to trouble yourself about that, but just go straight +forward and do your duty, and you'll gain all the credit you can desire +in doing that." + +Terence followed his friend's advice, and was warmly complimented by the +admiral for his zeal and activity in carrying out the orders he had +received, although he had done nothing to fill a page in history. + +The _Tornado_ was lying in the Golden Horn, having made her last trip to +the Crimea, when a caique came alongside, an old gentleman in somewhat +quaint costume seated in the stern. Green, who happened to be near the +gangway, on looking down recognised his old German friend, Herr Groben. +"Glad to see you," he exclaimed, as he ran down to help him up the +accommodation ladder. + +"Ah, my friend Green, I am delighted to see you," answered Herr Groben, +shaking his hand warmly with both of his. "I come on a very delicate +and important matter, and you can help me greatly." + +"Very glad to help you to do anything you wish," answered Green, +"provided it doesn't amount to treason or petty larceny." + +"Ah, no, my friend, this is no treason," answered the old tutor, looking +over his shoulder as if he expected to see a Russian spy there; "it +relates entirely to another sort of affair. You know that Mr Higson, +the first lieutenant of this ship, fell in love with the eldest sister +of my pupils; and, to confess to you the truth, the young lady fell in +love with him, and she has been expecting now that the dreadful war is +over that he would go back and claim her hand." + +"So I suppose he intends doing when the ship is paid off; but, till +then, he is not his own master, and he could not get away however much +he might wish it," answered Green. + +"Ah, Mademoiselle Ivanowna does not understand that sort of thing, and +began so to pine and fret that she became very ill indeed; and, seeing +her state, I volunteered to come to Constantinople, where I heard your +ship was likely to be found, to bear a message to Lieutenant Higson; and +I have been greatly anxious till I got on board lest the ship should +have sailed away. Where is your first lieutenant, that I may deliver +myself forth of my message?" + +"For a wonder he has gone on shore," answered Green, "but he will be off +again soon; and, in the meantime, we will take good care of you; so come +down at once into the gun-room, and we shall have luncheon on the table +immediately." + +Herr Groben was warmly received by the officers when they heard who he +was, and soon had out of him the whole history of the loves of +Lieutenant Higson and the fair Ivanowna. Lieutenant Mildmay expressed +his intention of writing it in verse; the doctor proposed their healths +during luncheon, in conjunction with that of the Queen of England and +the Emperor of Russia, now the best friends in the world. After +luncheon, as Higson did not appear, Herr Groben expressed a wish to go +round the ship, and Green at once offered to conduct him. As he was +going round the lower deck, he popped his head into the midshipmen's +berth, when, whom should he see seated directly before him but Tom +Rogers. + +The recognition was mutual; Tom started up. "Oh, Herr Groben, I am +delighted to see you!" he exclaimed. "Do tell me, how is Miss +Feodorowna? Have you just come from there?" + +"Not very long ago," answered Herr Groben; "and I can tell you they have +not forgotten you, and she told me if I saw you to give her very kind +remembrances." + +"Is that all?" asked Tom. + +"Of course," exclaimed Paddy Desmond, who was seated in the berth; "what +more could you expect from a young lady?" + +"Then doesn't she care about me?" cried Tom, forgetting that several of +his messmates were within hearing, and that they were not likely to +forget his question. + +"As to that I must be discreet," answered the old tutor, laughing; "if +you ever come back to Russia in peaceable guise, not in one of your +ships with big guns to batter down our forts, you may depend upon it. +Colonel Paskiewich and his family will be very happy to see you." + +The conversation was cut short by Green, who had gone away, returning to +conduct Herr Groben into the gun-room. Soon after he was seated there, +Higson returned on board, little expecting whom he was to find. Though +he had never been known to exhibit the slightest signs of nervousness, +he looked excessively agitated on seeing the old tutor; who, after +telling him that he had lately come from the family of Colonel +Paskiewich, requested a private interview. The old German had evidently +something of importance to communicate beyond what he had told Green. +Higson's agitation as he proceeded increased; he, however, at length +came to a decision, and Herr Groben returned on shore, saying that he +should expect to see him the next day. + +When Jack, who had gone on board the _Gleam_ to see Adair, just on the +point of sailing for England, returned to his own ship, Higson begged to +have a few minutes' talk with him. Jack, of course, granted it, and, +begging him to come into his cabin, sat down to listen to what he had to +say. + +"We have been shipmates a good many years, Commander Rogers, and I am +going to ask a favour of you," he began. "You know how I fell in love +with a young lady in Russia, and she has fallen desperately in love with +me, it seems. I don't say it as a boast, and cannot account for it, +and, what is more, her mother sends me word that she is dying for fear I +should go away and forget her, or, at all events, not come back again. +Now, I have no thoughts of doing anything of the sort; though the young +lady may believe what I will write to her, I would rather give her +practical evidence of my affection by paying her a visit at once. I +could be there and back in a week or ten days, and if you could manage +to give me leave for that period, I would run over and see them, and I +trust that neither the service nor the ship will suffer from my +absence." + +Jack reflected on the request made to him, and considering that Higson +merited all the favour he could grant at his hands, and that the duty of +the ship could be carried on in the meantime, gave him the leave he +asked. Higson expressed himself very thankful, and set about making +arrangements for his intended journey. + +Scarcely had Higson left the cabin when Tom entered, and begged to have +a few minutes' conversation with his brother. + +"What is it?" asked Jack. + +Tom went into the whole story of the kind treatment he had received from +the family of Colonel Paskiewich; "And you must know," he continued, +"that I fell in love with Miss Feodorowna, and promised to go back and +marry her as soon as the war was over." + +"Really, Tom, I hope with the proviso that you should obtain the +permission of Sir John," remarked Jack. + +"I don't know about provisionally," answered Tom; "I promised to go back +and marry her as soon as peace was settled; and as you wouldn't wish me +to break my promise, I hope you will give me permission to do so at +once." + +Jack burst into a loud fit of laughter. + +"I'll tell you what, Tom, I am much more likely to marry you to the +gunner's daughter," he answered. + +"That is very cruel treatment," exclaimed Tom; "you'll drive me to quit +the service and expatriate myself for ever." + +Jack only laughed louder. + +"Do you mean to say that you are going to deprive the country of your +valuable services, bid farewell to your father and mother and sisters, +or perhaps take service in the Russian navy, should they ever launch any +fresh ships, and turn your sword against your countrymen, simply because +I refuse to let you go and make a fool of yourself by marrying this +little Russian girl? though my belief is that, even should I let you go, +as soon as her father finds out that you haven't a sixpence to bless +yourself with, he'll send you about your business with a flea in your +ear. Come, Tom, think the matter over; you used to have some brains in +your head, and I hope you have not left them all behind you in the Sea +of Azov." + +Still Tom was obstinate; he really had a midshipman-like amount of +attachment for Feodorowna, but though it was very disinterested and +sincere and romantic, it was not the less foolish. Nothing Jack could +say would induce him to promise to give up all thoughts of her, and to +write a kind note pointing out the impossibility of their marrying, and +bidding her farewell. + +"She mayn't see the impossibility of it," answered Tom; "her father is +the owner of thousands of acres, and country-houses, and serfs; and she +told me that all he wanted was to get gentlemanly, intelligent +sons-in-law, who could live in his houses and superintend the +cultivation of his estates." + +"Well, well," said Jack, "that doesn't sound so badly; but still, you +have no right at your age to go and marry without our father's and +mother's sanction; and until you have got it I'll be no party to your +giving up the service and settling down for life in an out-of-the-way +corner of Russia. With regard to Higson, the case is very different; he +is twice your age, has very little prospect of promotion, and no friends +that I know of to give up; besides which, I am pretty certain that +nothing would induce him to take service in the Russian navy, with the +chance of being employed against England." + +"I don't see that our cases are so very different," answered Tom; "and +you may put me in irons, and do what you like, but I'll not promise to +give up Feodorowna, nor write the cruel letter you propose, to bid her +farewell. There, you've got my answer, and I've in no way infringed the +articles of war by saying that, though you _are_ my commander." + +"I am not quite certain that you have not, by the tone in which you +speak," answered Jack; "however, I am very sorry for it, Tom, and warn +you that as you are obstinate, I must take measures accordingly." + +What those measures were, Jack did not tell his brother. Having +dismissed him, he sent for Dick Needham, and desired him to keep a +watchful eye on the youngster, lest he might take French leave and quit +the ship. + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Dick; "though they're not a bad sort of people +in the main, I shouldn't like Mr Tom to turn into a Russian--it won't +be my fault if he gives leg-bail." + +Satisfied on this point, Jack, ordering his gig, pulled on board the +_Gleam_, which ship was to sail the next day for England. The _Giaour_ +had gone home some time before, and Murray hoped to pay her off and to +be allowed to remain on shore with his beloved Stella. Jack explained +his anxieties about Tom to Adair, who at once agreed to take him home, +and not to lose sight of him till he had handed him over either to +Admiral Triton or Sir John and Lady Rogers. + +"Take him in the first instance to the admiral," said Jack, "he will +consider his opinion as less biassed than that of our father and mother, +and be more likely to yield submission to it." + +On his return to the _Tornado_, Jack ordered Tom's marine to pack up his +chest, and have it lowered into his gig alongside; he then summoned Tom, +and, allowing him to wish his messmates good-bye, told him to follow his +chest. Tom looked, as he felt, very unhappy; Dicky Duff and Billy +Blueblazes, especially, thought him a hardly-used individual--though his +older messmates were more inclined to laugh than to sympathise with him. +Adair received him on board in a very kind way, and Desmond acted the +part of a true friend by listening to all he had to say--though he +avoided giving him any encouragement, and when Tom declared his +intention of making his escape in the first caique which came alongside, +he warned him that he could not possibly succeed. + +Next morning the _Gleam_ steamed away down the Bosphorus. Tom had not +been many hours at sea before he recovered his spirits, and was able to +admire the beautiful scenery amid which the ship was steering her +course. + +Having now settled this matter to his satisfaction, Jack turned his +attention to the affair of his first lieutenant. Higson's interview +with the old tutor had confirmed him in his resolution to abandon the +service and marry Ivanowna; and Jack, though sorry to lose him, promised +to do his best to forward his views. Jack gave him leave of absence, +and Higson was engaged in packing up to accompany Herr Groben in a +steamer which was to start the next day for the Crimea, when the +commander of the _Tornado_ was sent for on board the flagship. Greatly +to his satisfaction, Jack found that he had to return to Balaclava on an +affair relating to the evacuation of the place, and afterwards to visit +other places to the eastward which had been captured by the allied +squadrons and restored to the Russians. + +"This is a most fortunate circumstance for you, Higson," he said, when +he returned on board; "you will have an opportunity of visiting your +friends, and if you take my advice, you will go home in the ship, and, +as I hope, obtain your promotion." + +Higson, thanking Jack, promised to be guided by circumstances. The +_Tornado_ had got her steam up, when the mail from England was +signalled, and Jack waited for its arrival. He received several +letters--one from his sister Mary, replete, as was usually the case in +her letters, with scraps of news. The most important, as far as he +himself was concerned, was that Julia Giffard was somewhat out of +health, and that her father had taken her to Malta, where they intended +to pass the winter. Sir John and Lady Rogers were as averse as ever to +Lucy's marriage with Adair, not from any objection to him, except on +account of his want of means; and they were annoyed at the encouragement +Admiral Triton and Miss Deborah appeared to have afforded the young +people. The admiral had actually written to Sir John on the subject, +but neither he nor Lady Rogers could understand his meaning, except that +he thought him unwise in objecting to a fine promising young officer, +who was certain if he remained in the service to become an admiral some +day. "Poor Lucy is sadly perplexed about it," said Mary; "she has given +her heart to Adair, and is certainly not a person likely to bestow it on +anyone else; so that her fate will be a hard one if she is not allowed +to marry." Sidney had returned home very much improved by his Crimean +campaign, having dropped all his Guardsman's airs, and become, Mary +observed, very like Jack himself. + +Jack would have been more deeply concerned about Julia, had he not +received a letter from her, assuring him that the voyage had done her a +great deal of good, and that she was looking forward to the happiness of +seeing him shortly on his arrival at Malta. Murray had reached England, +but, much to his disappointment, the _Giaour_ had not been paid off, and +he had been directed to hold himself in readiness to sail immediately. +He spoke of the admiral as very much broken, while Mrs Deborah was also +ailing. He could not sufficiently express his gratitude for the +kindness with which the old people had treated Stella and his two +children; she was still residing with them at Southsea--they insisted on +their remaining there till his return, to which he had consented, as he +hoped not to be long absent from home. "I shall then," he said, "not +seek for employment, and, as I have some hopes of my promotion, I may +become an admiral some day. I had expected to have been back at +Bercaldine and to have been able to receive you and Mrs Jack Rogers on +your wedding tour; perhaps even now I may be home in time, and, at all +events, my dear Jack, I look forward to the pleasure of seeing you and +Terence Adair there as one of the greatest in this sublunary world." + +Jack had read his letters, when Higson entered the cabin, with an +official-looking despatch in his hand. + +"Congratulate me!" he exclaimed. "I have received what I little +expected, my promotion; and, as there is small chance of my being +employed, I think you will agree that I should be wise in taking +advantage of the good fortune offered me." + +"I congratulate you heartily," said Jack, "and I won't say a word to +dissuade you." + +Higson, after considerable trouble, succeeded in obtaining a commander's +full-dress uniform, with which he expressed himself highly delighted. +He had just time to get on board when the _Tornado_ steamed away for +Balaclava, with the worthy tutor, to whom Jack had offered a passage on +board. The duties with which he had been charged at Balaclava having +been performed, Jack continued his course to the eastward, and the +_Tornado_ soon arrived off the fort with which he had had so gallant a +contest. Jos Green having undertaken to carry the _Tornado_ up the +river as far as the depth of water would allow, she entered its mouth, +keeping the lead going, and proceeded on at half speed till she came off +Colonel Paskiewich's house. Her approach had been perceived; gay flags, +that of England being the highest, were hoisted on the flagstaff near +the house, and numerous persons were seen collected at the +landing-place. + +Jack agreed to accompany Higson, who of course had put on his +commander's uniform, on shore; the two other boats followed with most of +the officers, all in full-dress. The colonel was the first person to +greet them. He welcomed them cordially, and invited the whole party up +to the house, where the ladies sat ready to receive them. The eyes of +the fair Ivanowna beamed with pleasure as they rested on the gallant +commander, though she cast them down modestly as he approached to take +her hand, which he lifted gallantly to his lips. + +The eyes of poor little Feodorowna wandered in vain among the group of +officers in the background in search of Tom, and her countenance fell on +discovering that he was not among them. Unable to restrain her anxiety, +she asked Herr Groben, who was compelled to inform her of the truth, on +hearing which she burst into tears. + +"How very, very cruel to send him away!" she exclaimed; "I don't see why +my sister's lover should have been allowed to come and mine been sent +off to England." + +Herr Groben tried to explain that the one was a commander, and the other +only a midshipman; and that while one might be allowed to act as he +thought fit, the other was still under the direction of his parents. +Nothing, however, would comfort her; it had, however, the effect of +making her look very interesting; and just at that moment any one of the +officers would have been perfectly ready to take Tom's place, especially +Dicky Duff and Billy Blueblazes; indeed, they both determined to make +her an offer in the course of the evening, and to toss up which should +first do so. Perhaps the attention she received somewhat consoled her, +for she soon dried her tears, and to all appearance became perfectly +happy. + +After a magnificent banquet, when the table literally groaned with +viands of all descriptions, a dance was got up, several young ladies +arriving from various houses in the neighbourhood, while for a couple of +hours after it had begun, others, to whom notice of the coming of the +English ship had been sent, arrived from greater distances. As a +natural consequence, all the unmarried and unengaged officers lost their +hearts to Russian young ladies, and it was said that Feodorowna received +certainly two if not three offers before the evening was over. Jack, +when he found the state of affairs, began to consider whether he had not +made a mistake in coming to the place. + +Not till morning dawned did they return on board. Honest Higson was, of +course, the hero of the evening, and it was very evident, from the +attention the colonel paid him, that he was well pleased with his +intended son-in-law. At breakfast the next morning, Higson begged Jack +to wait till his wedding, which he told him had been fixed for the next +day. + +"Rather sharp work," observed Jack. + +"Why, the fact is," answered Higson, "Madame Paskiewich is anxious to +give the marriage eclat by having the advantage of your presence, and +that of my late shipmates, and, as the young lady did not object, of +course I was delighted, and I hope you will be able to stay." + +Jack of course agreed, and the news, soon spreading round the ship, +afforded infinite satisfaction. It would take more space than can be +allowed to describe the magnificence of the fete. As many of the +officers as could be spared were invited on shore, while an abundance of +good viands were sent off to those who had to remain on board to take +care of the ship. The whole neighbourhood were assembled in their +gayest costumes. The upper classes were entertained either in the +house, or in a large marquee erected on the lawn, and tables were spread +in the neighbouring field for the peasantry and seamen, who, though they +could not exchange many ideas, became nevertheless on excellent terms. +Everyone, indeed, seemed to forget that a few months before their +respective nations had been engaged in a fierce and bloody struggle. + +The marriage ceremony was performed in a neighbouring church. Though +Jack, who acted as Higson's best man, did not admire the style of +service, and the pictures of saints, and bowings and singing, he came to +the conclusion that his friend was as firmly spliced as he would have +been in a quiet English country church; and that, after all, as he +remarked to him, was the chief point to be considered. + +The officers and crew of the _Tornado_ made all the preparations in +their power to do honour to their former first lieutenant's marriage; +the ship was decked with flags, and the boats' crews who had attended +the wedding requested the honour of escorting the young couple round the +ship. A barge having been got ready for their reception accordingly, +Higson, leading his bride down to the water, embarked, and was rowed +three times round the ship; while the crew manned yards, the band played +"Haste to the wedding," and the guns fired a salute. + +Jack and his officers had also arranged to give a ball on board, and +invitations had been sent out through Madame Paskiewich to all her +acquaintances. The ship for the purpose had been housed in, and by an +extensive use of bunting the deck had been converted into a perfect +ballroom, while a handsome supper was laid out in Jack's cabin and the +gun-room. The ship's boats, aided by a few from the shore, were +employed in bringing off the guests; and as they danced away merrily to +the music of the ship's band, few recollected that a few months before +the big guns on that deck had been busily engaged in firing on their +countrymen. It was one proof of many how slight an interest the nation +at large had felt in the war, which they had looked upon as an imperial +affair, with which they themselves had nothing to do beyond sending, as +in duty bound, their quota of friends and relatives to be slaughtered. +Altogether, the ball was pronounced a success, and the officers and +their guests parted mutually satisfied with each other. + +Feodorowna, who suspected that Jack had been the cause of Tom's being +spirited away, could not help at first exhibiting her displeasure, but +by degrees he calmed her anger, assuring her that Tom would have proved +a very unsatisfactory husband, as he was much too young for her, and +would in a few months have got heartily sick of an idle life on shore, +and have either taken to drinking, or run away; and that she would do +much more wisely to choose an older partner for life; on which she +naively inquired whether his second lieutenant was disengaged. + +Jack assured her that he was wedded to the muses, and that he doubted +much whether even for her sake he would be induced to break off his +engagement, but that he would ask him. On Mildmay's begging to be +excused, she begged Jack to select one of the officers; but he told her +that notwithstanding his wish to oblige her, such not being the duty of +a captain of a man-of-war, he must decline interfering in the matter. +The result was, that, having bade Higson and his bride farewell, and +wished them every happiness, Jack ordered the fires to be got up, and +steamed away down the river. + +Greatly to his satisfaction, on his return to Constantinople, he was +ordered off to Malta, where he found Julia Giffard and her father. Jack +thought Julia looking as blooming as ever; she acknowledged that the +voyage had done her so much good that she thought she should be ready to +go back again, should he be ordered to England. + +"Then your father will, I hope, take a passage on board my ship," said +Jack; "the admiral will not now object to your doing so; but had I the +happiness of calling you my wife, it would be against the rules of the +service, and I should very likely be compelled to let you come home by +some other vessel." + +Julia raised no objection to this proposal, and the colonel very kindly +said he wished to do whatever his daughter liked. Jack, therefore, +waited with some anxiety to hear the admiral's decision as to his future +proceedings. To assist in deciding the point, he directed the engineer +to make a report as to the state of the engines; while the carpenter +sent one in respecting the condition of the ship. Both were of opinion +that though her safety would not be endangered by the voyage home, she +was in a condition to require such a thorough repair as could only be +obtained in England. + +"In fact, Commander Rogers, you have no objection to go home and pay off +your ship, I presume?" observed the admiral; "you certainly have not had +much opportunity of allowing the weeds to grow on your keel since she +was commissioned, and I shall therefore send you home with despatches; +when the Admiralty will decide whether or not to pay the ship off." + +Jack, highly pleased, came back with the news to Julia, who the next day +took possession of the cabin Jack had fitted up for her accommodation. + +"This is indeed perfect," she exclaimed, as she admired the neat chintz +curtains and furniture, vases and flowers and pictures, which adorned +the bulkheads; "I had no idea that a cabin could be made so nice and +pretty." + +The colonel was equally well pleased with the accommodation provided for +him, and Jack felt a proud satisfaction at being able to carry home his +intended bride on board his own ship. We must leave them to make the +passage, forgetful of the possible storms, and the many other dangers to +which those who voyage upon the fickle ocean are exposed, and follow +Adair on board the _Gleam_. + +On touching at Gibraltar, Adair saw by the papers that the _Giaour_, +instead of being paid off, was ordered to proceed to the Cape; and, as +far as he could make out, Murray still commanded her. + +"Poor Alick!" he exclaimed; "I thought he would now be allowed to remain +on shore, and enjoy the society of his wife; there are plenty of other +fellows who are not so blessed, who would have been delighted to +supersede him." + +Adair was beginning to sympathise with his benedict friend, hoping as he +did, in spite of adverse circumstances, ere long to belong to that +fraternity. + +While in harbour, he had a strict eye kept on Tom, who, though by this +time he had regained his usual temper, might, he thought, if possible, +take it into his head to try and make his way back to the Crimea. + +After getting through the Straits, and when to the northward of the +latitude of Cadiz, the ship encountered unusually bad weather. Instead +of improving, it became worse and worse; two of her boats were washed +away, the wheel and the steering apparatus damaged, and numerous other +injuries were received. She would, indeed, have been compelled to put +in to Cadiz, had not the wind shifted to the southward; when, setting +her close-reefed topsails, she ran on before the gale. + +"Well, old fellow, our sweethearts and wives have got hold of the +tow-ropes, and are hauling us along at a famous rate," observed Desmond +to Tom. + +"Don't talk about that sort of thing to me," answered Tom gloomily; "I +have no sweetheart or wife in England to tow me along--I am only getting +farther and farther from all I hold dear." + +At hearing this, Gerald burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Tom at +first felt inclined to quarrel with him, but a poke in the ribs from his +messmate, and the word "humbug," made him instead join in Desmond's +cachinnations. Adair had invited his midshipmen to dine with him, and +had by his kind remarks succeeded in driving Tom's absurd notions out of +his head. Tom, who really felt grateful to him, talked cheerfully of +home, and of the pleasure he expected to enjoy on returning there. + +It was Tom's first watch. Shortly after sunset he and the second +lieutenant, who was officer of the watch, were seen standing on the +bridge; the weather had somewhat moderated during the evening, but it +had now come on to blow harder than ever, and the ship seemed suddenly +to have entered a wild region of tossing, tumbling waves. Adair had +left the deck for a few minutes to obtain some refreshment, for he saw +that the night was likely to prove a boisterous one, and he intended, as +every good commander will do under such circumstances, to remain on +deck. He hurried over his meal; indeed, there was no temptation to +spend any longer time over it, as even the puddings and fiddles could +scarcely keep the articles on the table. He had rung for his steward to +clear away, to avoid that operation being performed by the eccentric +movements of the billows, and was going towards the door of the cabin, +when the ship received a tremendous blow, which made her quiver from +stem to stern. At the same time loud cries reached his ears; he sprang +on deck, when, glancing towards the bridge, he saw his second lieutenant +alone standing there. + +"Man overboard!" shouted several voices. + +"Who is it?" he asked. + +"Mr Rogers, sir," was the answer; "he was on the bridge a moment ago, +and he isn't there now." + +"There he is, there he is," shouted someone; and a figure was seen +struggling on the foaming crest of a sea. Adair had made his way aft to +the lifebuoy, and, pulling both the lanyards, as it dropped into the +ocean, a bright light burst forth from its centre. For one moment he +gazed at it; he recollected that Tom was Lucy's brother,--he had been +committed to his charge,--without aid he would be unable to reach the +buoy. Can I allow him to perish without an attempt to save him? These +thoughts flashed through his mind far more rapidly than it has taken to +record them; and, without considering the fearful risk he was running, +shouting to his first lieutenant to lower a boat, he plunged overboard, +and was seen buffeting the tumbling seas and making his way towards the +midshipman; who, catching sight of him, cried out, "All right--I see the +lifebuoy, and shall soon be up to it." + +Adair, believing that he said this to prevent him from exhausting +himself by making efforts to assist him, contented himself by treading +water and throwing off his coat, that he might be able to swim to Tom's +assistance, should he prove after all unable to reach the lifebuoy. The +ship, meantime, was running on before the gale, and minutes which seemed +hours passed by before her canvas could be reduced and she could be +rounded to, to enable a boat to be lowered. Besides the regular boats' +crews who stood collected between two of the guns, ready for instant +service, numerous volunteers had come forward, as is always found to be +the case whenever there is work to be performed; the two lieutenants +stood together. + +"We shall sacrifice the boat's crew and boat if we make the attempt," +observed the first lieutenant; "still, I wish to obey the commander's +orders." + +The first lieutenant and master were both of opinion that a boat could +not live in such a sea; the discussion was brief, but it lost time, and +every moment was of consequence. + +"Surely, sir, you're going to lower a boat," cried Desmond, who observed +the hesitation of his superiors; "you can't be after letting my uncle +and Tom Rogers drown without an attempt to save them; it's myself would +go in her, even if I go alone;" and without further remark he sprang to +the lee side, where several of the crew were already collected. + +"I'll go also, at all risks," cried the boatswain. "Who'll go with me +and Mr Desmond?" + +The crew were standing ready with the falls in their hands; he selected +six of the best men; but, as they were on the point of leaping into the +boat, a sea struck her, and, lifting her bows, unhooked the forward +fall, and the next instant she was dashed to fragments against the side. + +"I should be throwing away your lives, my lads, to lower another boat," +cried the first lieutenant, as he saw the crew running to the +after-quarter boat. "Very sad, but it can't be helped; we must look +after the ship, or she'll be in a scrape presently." + +By this time the light from the lifebuoy was no longer visible, and even +had a boat been lowered, it would have been difficult, if not almost +impossible, to find it. The order was given to brace round the +headyards, the helm was put up, and the ship was kept on her course +running before the wind. Several seas struck her, carrying away two +more of her boats and committing further damage. Had not the hatches +been battened down, so tremendous was the quantity of water which +flooded her decks that she would in all probability have foundered. + +Still the men talked and grumbled, and asked whether all had been done +that was possible to save their commander and the midshipman. Poor +Desmond was in a fearful state of grief; he declared, perhaps unjustly, +that all had not been done, and that the ship ought not to have left the +spot without, at all events, searching for the lifebuoy, and +endeavouring, should the commander and Tom have been found clinging to +it, to get them on board. The night was unusually dark, so that had the +light not continued burning this would have been impossible. The +weather, contrary to expectation, again moderated; Desmond thought that +even now they ought to put back, and try to find the lifebuoy. He +expressed his opinion very strongly to the first lieutenant. + +"You are using very unwarrantable language, young gentleman," was the +answer; "I overlook it, as you naturally feel grieved at the loss of +your uncle and friend, but I am the person to judge what it is right to +do, and I should not have been warranted in risking the lives of the +crew, even to attempt saving that of the commander." + +Poor Desmond was silenced, and though quite indifferent to the +consequences, he felt that he had already gone further than he ought to +have ventured. He was unable to recover his spirits during the +remainder of the passage; he could scarcely say whether he was most +sorry to lose his uncle or Tom Rogers, who was to him more even than a +brother. From their earliest days, with slight intervals, they had been +shipmates and friends; then, again, he thought of the grief Tom's death +would cause at Halliburton; and he had a slight inkling of the +engagement between Lucy Rogers and his uncle, and having faith in the +tender nature of young ladies' hearts, he fully believed that hers would +be broken. He had read Falconer's _Shipwreck_, and remembered the +lines, "With terror pale unhappy Anna read," as she received the news of +Palaemon's loss. + +At length the ship reached Portsmouth, and was ordered at once to go +into harbour. Desmond, to whom the first lieutenant had been very civil +during the remainder of the voyage, asked leave to go on shore, that he +might communicate the sad news to Admiral Triton, should he be at +Southsea, and get him to break it to Tom's family. The first +lieutenant, who also knew of Adair's engagement to Miss Rogers, very +willingly gave him leave; for though he had acted according to the best +of his judgment in not making further efforts to pick up his commander, +he could not help reflecting that censorious remarks might be made on +his conduct, and he was anxious to avoid any bad construction being put +upon it. + +Gerald hurried on shore, and made his way as fast as he could to +Southsea; on reaching the admiral's house, he was at once admitted, and +ushered into the drawing-room, where he found Mrs Deborah and Mrs +Murray seated at the tea-table; and almost before he had time to open +his mouth, the admiral stumped into the room. + +"Who are you?" he asked, examining his features; "I know you--you need +not tell me; you are my old friend Paddy Adair's nephew. I remember him +when he was much younger than you are, and your jibs are cut much alike. +He sent you up with a message, I suppose--paying off his ship, and +couldn't come himself? We shall see him soon, however; he'd have come +fast enough had he supposed that a certain young lady was staying here." + +Not till now could Desmond get in a word. + +"I am sorry to say, sir, that I bring very sad news," answered Gerald; +and he briefly described what had occurred. The admiral, who had been +standing up, tottered back into a chair as he heard it. + +"I won't believe it!" he exclaimed at last; "your uncle and Tom can't be +lost--poor, poor Lucy! and my friend Sir John and Lady Rogers, they'll +be dreadfully cut up at the loss of that fine youngster, Tom. It mayn't +have been your fault, Desmond, but I wonder you didn't try and save +him." + +"I'd have risked my own life to do so, sir," answered Gerald; and he +explained more fully all that had taken place. + +"I must go on board and make inquiries about the affair!" exclaimed the +admiral. "Deb, help me on with my greatcoat." + +"Pray don't think of going, admiral; it is too late in the day, and you +are not fit for such a walk," said the old lady, without moving from her +chair. + +Desmond had remarked the wandering way in which the admiral had spoken, +as also that there was a great change in his appearance. He assured him +that there was no possible use in going on board, and persuaded him at +length to give up the idea. He grew more quiet and reasonable after he +had taken a cup of tea, and observed with a sigh that it was high time +he should slip his cable, since so many of his younger friends were +losing the number of their mess. + +"And now, youngster," he asked, "what are you going to do with yourself +when your ship is paid off, which I suppose she will be in a day or two? +Have you any friends to go to?" + +Desmond owned that without his uncle he should be very unwilling to +return to Ballymacree, and he thought that the best thing he could do, +would be to get afloat again as soon as possible. + +"You are right, youngster, depend on that," said the admiral; "but in +the meantime you must come and hang your hammock up here, and my sister +Deborah will take care of you." + +Desmond of course accepted the admiral's kind offer, and made himself +very useful by walking out with the old man, who was now unfit to go out +by himself, while he also made an excellent listener to his long yarns. + +The next day, Mrs Murray, who sympathised greatly with poor Lucy, and +Sir John and Lady Rogers, wrote to Mary that she might break the +intelligence to them, which they thus fortunately heard before they saw +it in the papers. Desmond found that Murray had sailed but a short time +before, but was expected back again shortly, when Mrs Murray hoped that +the ship would be paid off. + +Some time passed away; though Desmond frequently spoke of trying to get +a ship, the admiral always replied that there would be time enough by +and by, and that a spell on shore would do him no harm. They were one +day walking across Southsea Common, intending to go to some shops in the +High Street, when Desmond caught sight of three officers, whom he saw by +their uniforms were commanders, walking along at a rapid rate towards +them. A fourth, in a midshipman's uniform, at that moment came up from +behind them. The admiral had just before stopped to take a breath, +while he leant upon Desmond's arm. The astonishment Gerald felt made +him gasp almost as much as the admiral, when he recognised Commanders +Murray and Rogers and his Uncle Terence, with Tom Rogers, both of them +as alive and hearty as they had ever been. He could not restrain a +shout of joy as the fact burst on his mind, though the admiral's arm +prevented him from rushing forward as he was inclined to do. + +"I knew it, I was sure of it," cried the admiral, as he shook the hands +of the whole party. "Now let me hear all about it. We'll not go into +Portsmouth to-day, Desmond; come back with me; come back with me. +You'll make the ladies as happy as crickets, and restore my little +friend Lucy to life; by the last account she was in a sad way. Sir John +and Lady Rogers are very little better; grieving over you, you rascal, +Tom; poor Mary had enough to do in looking after them. Now I think of +it, Lucy was to be with us this very day; so you are in luck, Adair; +though we must break the news to her gently, or we shall be sending her +into hysterics, and doing all sorts of mischief. As you, Murray, I am +pretty sure, are eager to see your wife, we'll let you go on first, for, +as she expects you, it won't have the same effect on her." + +Murray gladly followed the admiral's advice, and hurried on to his +house, leaving the rest of the party to stroll slowly along. Adair then +narrated the wonderful way in which he and Tom had been preserved. Tom, +though a good swimmer, was almost exhausted when Adair made his way up +to him and assisted him to reach the lifebuoy, over which they both +managed to get their arms. To their dismay they saw the ship running +away from them till she disappeared in the darkness. At length, +however, they again caught sight of her as she rounded to a long way to +leeward. The light burned but dimly amid the mass of spray which +surrounded it, and they knew that their voices would be drowned in the +loud howling of the tempest, should they exert them ever so much. They +waited, therefore, still hoping against hope that the ship would make +her way up to them. Adair well knew the difficulty she would have in +finding them, and the fearful danger there would be in lowering a boat; +he even doubted whether he would have made the attempt himself. + +Still neither he nor Tom gave way to despair. They both hung on +securely to the lifebuoy, and felt little or no exhaustion. They kept +their eyes fixed on the ship, believing to the last that she would stand +down to them. At length she disappeared in the darkness, and Adair knew +that his first lieutenant, despairing of finding them, had borne up. + +"I did not blame him, for I knew he had done his best," he said; "my +only fear was that an attempt had been made to lower a boat, and that +some of my poor fellows might have lost their lives in trying to save +us. + +"Hour after hour went by. Tom kept up his spirits wonderfully; and I +did my best to keep up mine and to cheer him. I thought of a good many +things during that period; indeed it seemed to me that I was living my +life over again. + +"We were looking out anxiously for morning, in the hopes that we might +be seen by some passing ship, when Tom cried out that he saw a steamer +standing right for us. She came near; we shouted at the top of our +voices, which were still pretty strong. When not half a cable's length +from us, what was our joy to see her stop her way and alter her course +so as to avoid running us down. When just abreast of us a boat was +lowered, and, on being taken on board, great was our surprise to find +ourselves on the deck of the _Giaour_. It was only equalled by that of +Murray at seeing us. + +"We had no opportunity of sending home information of our merciful +preservation, and, as Murray had to sail again at once, we, as you see, +were the first to bring home intelligence of our safety." + +"And thankful I am, my boy, that you have escaped," exclaimed the +admiral, again wringing Adairs and Tom's hands. "Well, Commander Jack, +and what have you to say for yourself? I suppose you will be starting +immediately for Halliburton?" + +"That must depend upon the arrangements of Colonel Giffard and his +daughter, who took a passage home in my ship," answered Jack; "my belief +is that they will return home shortly, to make arrangements for an event +which is to come off early next month, which is no other than my +marriage with Julia Giffard. Adair has promised to be my best man; and +I know I may trust to your coming, admiral." + +"Not unless Sir John and Lady Rogers consent to allow Adair to take a +leading part in another event of the same description; and I will now +tell you, Adair, what I've done. I have left you half my property, +provided you marry Lucy Rogers within six months--that is to say, if she +wishes to have you; or, in case you should decline, I have left it to +her to console her for your ill-treatment." + +"You are indeed most kind and generous," exclaimed Adair, wringing the +admiral's hand. + +"As to that, I don't know that it is any great exertion of generosity," +answered the admiral; "considering that I can't take my money away with +me, and that I have no relative except Deborah to whom I am bound in any +way to leave it. She'll do what she thinks fit with the other half; +either will it away to a hospital for dogs and cats, or leave it to +those whom she thinks it may most benefit." + +The meeting of Adair and Lucy need not be described. Murray and Jack +paid off their ships; when the former, instead of returning immediately, +as he had intended, to Bercaldine, accepted an invitation to spend some +weeks at Halliburton. The double marriages took place, when, after the +pleasantest time they had ever spent together, the three commanders +separated, Murray going with his wife and family to his Highland home, +where shortly afterwards Jack and Terence, who were on their wedding +tours, paid them a visit. + +Ben Snatchblock, who had been appointed to the charge of the _Stella_, +had got her trim and taut as ever; and many a pleasant cruise did the +old shipmates take together on board her, sometimes accompanied by their +wives, and sometimes alone. Which proved the pleasantest trips of the +two we cannot venture to say, but undoubtedly on the latter occasions +there was more fun and frolic on board the craft; while many a yarn of +old days was spun, in which Ben took his part. They were all, indeed, +supremely happy, with no cares or responsibilities to trouble them; but +the pleasantest of times must come to an end, and again the old friends +parted, Jack and Terence going south with their brides, to finish their +promised round of visits, while Alick and Stella remained at Bercaldine, +very naturally hoping that nothing for a long time to come might compel +them to leave it. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +A HARD TRIAL FOR JACK AND TERENCE--THE DRAGON AND EOLUS SAIL FOR THE +PACIFIC--THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN, VALPARAISO, CALLAO--PERUVIAN +KIDNAPPERS--A STRANGE TALE--SAIL FOR TAHITI--FALL IN WITH A KIDNAPPER--A +FEARFUL ATROCITY--A CORAL ISLAND--TAHITI--ITS PRESENT STATE--SAMOA. + +"Those Lords of the Admiralty are the most horribly cruel, tyrannical, +hard-hearted set I ever heard of. Why could they not have appointed +another officer who is not just married? There are numbers of single +men who would have been delighted to take command of the _Dragon_; and +to think of their sending you, my dear, dear Jack, all the way out to +the Pacific, for I don't know how many years, among coral reefs and +cannibals, and all sorts of fearful dangers;" and Mrs Jack Rogers put +her handkerchief to her eyes and sobbed as if her heart would break. +Her husband, who held an official-looking letter, which he had just +read, in his hand, looked as he felt, much distressed; but at the same +time, it never occurred to him that he could possibly refuse the +appointment to the fine new screw-steamer which had just been offered +him, although her destination was the Pacific, and she might be kept out +there three or four years. It was the first trial of his married life-- +a very great one--and he had had no other as yet to break him in. He in +vain tried to comfort his young wife; it was very, very hard to them +both; and, indeed, it was very difficult to discover any sort of +comfort, and the more he said the more poor Julia wept. + +"Could you not say that, under your circumstances, you would rather be +appointed to the coastguard?" she exclaimed at length; "then you might +stay at home, and I should not be separated from you in the unnatural +way the Admiralty propose." + +"It would be equivalent to desiring to be shelved, and I aspire to +become a post-captain and to get my flag some day," answered Jack. "Our +case is not worse than that of many others. Some friends of mine have +been sent off to sea a few days only after they have been married." + +"It was a shame, then, and they had no business to go," answered Julia +indignantly. "I wonder how those horrid lords themselves would like +being separated from their wives, unless, as is possible, they are +incapable of feeling the slightest love for them." + +"I assure you, my dear Julia, that, though in the aggregate they are +somewhat inconsiderate of the feelings of naval officers, they are +individually as amiable gentlemen and affectionate husbands as any other +men," said Jack. "My friend, Tom Somers, one of the most lucky dogs in +the service, who was a post-captain at five-and-twenty, tells a capital +story on the subject. He is, I must confess, impudence personified. He +was one day at the Admiralty, complaining to one of the lords, much in +the way that you are now doing, of their want of consideration for the +feelings of junior officers. The lord heard him out, and then asked him +to come and dine with him, which Tom condescended to do; and a very good +dinner, with a number of excellent wines, he enjoyed. His host produced +one bottle after the other of different descriptions, and of the +choicest. `And you like my wines?' he asked. `Excellent, all of them, +sir,' answered Tom. `I shouldn't mind dining with you once a week while +I remain on shore.' `Very well,' answered the lord: `but as I am +leaving home, and cannot have the pleasure of seeing you, I'll send you +a bottle, and you shall tell me how you like it.' + +"The next day Tom received a bottle, tied significantly round with red +tape, for his host was somewhat of a wag. On tasting it, Tom poured out +a glass and drank it off, but the instant afterwards regretted his +precipitancy, for he declared that he had never tasted anything so +execrable. Just then his friend looked in upon him. `Well, Somers, how +did you like my wine?' he asked. `I can't say that I ever wish to take +another drop of it,' answered Tom. `Well, I sent you exactly the wines +you tasted at my house,' answered his visitor. `You, however, drank +them separately; I mixed them together, and you complain of the result. +Now if you take each of us lords by ourselves, you will find us as +well-disposed and amiable as most other men; but when we act together we +put aside all the gentle feelings of our nature, and form the stern, +unrelenting body you and others find us.' I believe, Julia, Tom gave a +very exact description of the Admiralty; and however much some of the +lords might be disposed to befriend me individually, I should ruin +myself in the service were I to plead that I have just married a wife, +and would rather not go to sea." + +"Then is there no chance of your getting some other appointment?" asked +Julia, in a faltering tone. + +"Not the slightest, I am afraid," answered Jack; "however, we must make +the best of a bad case. Some weeks may pass before the ship is ready +for sea, and perhaps before that time you will have got tired of me." + +Julia gave a melancholy smile, as she looked up in her husband's face. +"I am jealous of Lucy," she said after some time; "I suppose the +Admiralty will not also be appointing Commander Adair to a ship." + +"I am not so certain of that," said Jack; "I know that they talk of +sending out several to put a stop to the kidnapping system which has of +late prevailed in the Pacific, as also to keep some of the black and +brown island-chiefs in order, and they may fix on Adair as likely as on +anyone else." + +"Poor Lucy!" said Julia; "I am sure I don't really wish her to share my +fate." + +This conversation took place at Colonel Giffard's, where Jack and his +bride were staying. The very next day he got a letter from Adair, who +with Lucy was at Southsea, saying that he had been appointed to the +_Eolus_, to proceed forthwith to the Pacific station. + +"Lucy behaves capitally, like a sailor's wife, and says she knows I +ought to go--though it is a cruel affair to us both. However, Jack, I +know that you will compassionate us, and that your wife will do her best +to comfort her when I am away. I tell her that I have hopes of coming +back in a couple of years, as I will try at the end of that time to get +superseded, which, with the help of the admiral, I hope I may succeed in +doing." + +"Poor Lucy!" said Julia, "we must support each other; but when we +married, I little thought such would be our fate." + +Jack, of course, took his wife down to Southsea, as, fortunately for +him, the _Dragon_ was fitting out at Portsmouth, as was also the +_Eolus_. The young ladies, having got over their first sensations of +grief when they met, wisely determined to make the most of their +husbands during the time they remained with them. The _Eolus_ was +almost ready for sea, and sailed about a fortnight after Adair had +commissioned her. Curiously enough, Desmond had been previously +appointed to her; so he once more accompanied his uncle. + +The _Dragon_ was not ready till the week afterwards. Jack was glad to +get Jos Green as master, with Mr Mildmay as his first lieutenant. His +brother Tom, who had been taking a spell on shore, was appointed to her, +and, just before she sailed, Archie Gordon joined her. Dick Needham, +though eligible for a much higher rate, had joined as gunner, with Mr +Large, who had been with Jack in the _Gauntlet_, as boatswain. When it +was known that Jack was to command the _Dragon_, several old shipmates +volunteered, Jerry Bird and Tim Nolan among them. Tom was much pleased +to have his old messmate Billy Blueblazes. Dicky Duff had joined the +_Eolus_. Altogether Jack was well satisfied with his officers and +ship's company. + +We cannot venture to describe the parting, as it might be too touching +to the feelings of our fair readers. Lucy, having had to undergo the +same ordeal just before, was able to console her sister-in-law. Jack's +manly heart felt very full, but he tore himself away, and, hastening on +board, ordered the ship, which was at Spithead, to be got under weigh. +Round went the men at the capstan, the merry pipe sounding, and under +all sail the _Dragon_ stood down Channel. She was directed not to use +her coal except in case of necessity. Having touched at Madeira, where +she took in a cask of wine for the admiral, and oranges enough to keep +scurvy at bay for many a month, and having sighted the Cape de Verdes in +the distance, she stood across to Rio. That city had improved greatly +since Jack was last there, the enlightened Emperor being the advocate of +liberal institutions, which have done much to advance the social as well +as the material interests of the inhabitants. Mildmay, who still, +notwithstanding he was first lieutenant, indulged his poetical fancies, +wrote a sonnet on the benign rule of the Emperor, which, unfortunately, +having been blown overboard, cannot be given. + +Touching at the Falkland Islands for a supply of fresh beef and +vegetables, the _Dragon_ steered for the Straits of Magellan, which Jack +had determined to run through. She called off Sandy Point, near the +eastern entrance of the Straits, where the Chilian Government have +formed a settlement for the purpose of working a coal mine. Some +copper-coloured natives, with broad faces and high cheek-bones, and +dressed in guanaco robes and skin boots, came off to the ship, +principally to obtain some liquor, though they brought some ostrich, +fox, and guanaco skins to exchange for guns and gunpowder or spirits. +The passage of the Straits being broad and well known, the ship steamed +rapidly on till she reached Cape Pillar at the western end, beyond which +the Pacific Ocean burst on their view. Instead, however, of entering +it, she steered north into Smith's Channel, the southern end of a +passage which runs due north between the mainland and a chain of +islands, two hundred miles in length. Nothing could be grander than the +scenery which those on board the _Dragon_ beheld, as the ship threaded +her way through this intricate channel, with the islands on the left +hand, and lofty snow-capped mountains towering up on the right. As she +proceeded northward, their bases appeared covered with trees, reaching +almost to the water's edge, deep bays and gulfs running up far inland; +indeed, the whole scenery was grand and beautiful. It required careful +steering and a bright look-out ahead to avoid running on shore, a hot +tide being frequently met with which might quickly have whirled the ship +round on the rocks. + +At length, a heavy gale blowing outside, in order to avoid it she ran +through a narrow passage, and entered a small harbour known as Connor +Cove. The mountains, thickly covered with trees for some distance up, +rose around the harbour, their snowy summits towering to the sky. The +scene was grand and sombre, a few sea-birds only appearing, who, with +their loud, wild shrieks increased its melancholy character. Though +several of the officers landed, they could make no progress through the +dense forest, the whole ground being one mass of rotten timber, amid +which grew ferns and moss of various descriptions. Here, though the +gale raged overhead, she lay as securely as in a dock, moored by the +stern with a hawser to a large tree on shore. The gale having ceased, +steam was again got up, and about forty miles on she entered the open +sea, and passed several Chilian towns, the most northern being Lota and +Coronel, at both of which places extensive coal-mining operations were +carried on. At the latter, the _Dragon_ took in a fresh supply of coal, +which would carry her, if properly husbanded, across the Pacific. +Steaming northward, she entered the bay of Valparaiso, which Tom, as he +looked at the barren, red, and bare hills surrounding it, with scarce a +bush except the cactus to be seen, pronounced a very odd sort of +Paradise. The town stands partly on the shores of the bay, and chiefly +on a number of hills separated by valleys, with the mighty Cordilleras +rising beyond, giving the scenery, in spite of the barren aspect of the +foreground, a grand and picturesque character. The bay was full of +vessels, showing that a considerable amount of trade is carried on in +the place. Jack and his officers received numerous invitations both +from the English merchants and the native residents of rank; a ball +being given by them in honour of the _Dragon's_ officers, at which Tom +lost his heart, as did several of his companions theirs. + +"What, you don't mean to say you have forgotten the fair Feodorowna?" +said Archie, as Tom was expatiating on the beauty of the black-eyed +damsel who had attracted his admiration. + +"Well, as you know, she is in another hemisphere, and as I never expect +to see her again, and she has probably forgotten me, I don't think I +ought to wear the willow for her any longer," said Tom; "and Dona +Seraphina is, you'll allow, very beautiful." + +"Granted," answered Archie; "but as the ship sails tomorrow, and Dona +Seraphina will probably forget you in the course of a day or two, even +if she happens to distinguish you from the rest of us, you'll not, I +hope, break your heart about her." + +"Not if we happen to touch at another port soon, and a ball is given to +us there," said Tom, with a demure look; "provided I have the luck to +meet a partner with attractions equal to Dona Seraphina's." + +"You're all right, my lad," said Archie, clapping him on the back; "and +Mr Mildmay won't have to write your epitaph, `_Hic jacet_ Tom Rogers, +who died of a broken heart, etcetera, etcetera.'" + +About three weeks after this the _Dragon_ entered the bay of Callao, +passing round the barren island of San Lorenzo, long the burying-place +of Protestants, who were denied sepulture on the mainland. At the +farther end of the plain, between the lofty Cordilleras and the shore, +could be seen the spires and fanes of Pizarro's "City of a thousand +towers and a hundred gates," while on the island were basking numbers of +drowsy seals and sea-lions with sleek skins and shaggy manes. The ship +came to an anchor about a mile from the mole, outside the +merchant-vessels. Jack had been looking out for the _Eolus_, and was +somewhat disappointed at not hearing of her at any of the ports at which +he had touched. As they had been ordered to cruise in company, he +determined to wait here for her. This gave an opportunity to several of +the officers to visit Lima. Those who went there pronounced the city a +very fine one, and declared that it was more worthy to be called the +Vale of Paradise than the Chilian town to the southward. + +The ship had been there some days, when some time after sunset a +schooner was observed gliding into the harbour. She came to an anchor +among several other vessels which concealed her from sight. Jack, who +had been on deck enjoying the cool air of the evening, was about to turn +in, when the sentry hailed a small boat which was seen approaching. An +English voice answered, and asked leave to come on board; it was +granted, and a middle-aged seafaring man stepped up the side. + +"Who are you, and what do you want, my man?" asked Jack. + +"Please you, sir, I am an Englishman; my name is Ralph Hake, of +Plymouth; and I belonged till half an hour ago to a Peruvian schooner, +the _Saltador_, which now lies inside of us; but I've taken French leave +of her, and don't want to go back," answered the man. + +"A very clear statement of yours; but what brought you on board this +ship?" asked Jack. + +"Because I had nowhere else to go to, sir, and that's why. I'd like to +enter with you, sir; I'm sick of the craft I was serving aboard, and of +the work she was carrying on," answered the man. + +"What was that?" asked Jack. + +"Just kidnapping poor natives in the different islands away to the +westward whenever she could get hold of them, and bringing them here as +slaves, to labour in the mines, or at any other task their masters may +think fit to put them to," answered Hake. "You see, sir, I was left on +shore sick, from a whaler, which, as she never came back for me, was, I +suppose, lost, and as I was starving, not knowing how this craft was to +be employed, I shipped on board her, being promised high wages and +thinking I should like the trip; but when I came to see the sort of work +she was carrying on, I made up my mind to leave her on the first +opportunity, though I never found that till to-night, when, getting hold +of the dingy which was alongside, I slipped my bag into her, and pulled +away before anyone found me out. I can tell you, sir, I never saw more +cruel work than that craft carried on. When the skipper could, he +enticed the natives on board, and clapped them under hatches. Sometimes +he pretended to trade with them, and got them below under the pretence +of looking at his goods; at others, he asked them into the cabin to have +a bit of something to eat, and, making them drunk, slipped their hands +into handcuffs before they knew what was happening. At some places +where this did not answer he sent the boats' crews armed on shore, and +seized as many as he could fall in with, and not unfrequently took the +people out of fishing-canoes, which he sent to the bottom. I have known +him run down three or four canoes one after the other, to get hold of +some of the people in them, not minding what became of the rest. At one +place the people must have been Christians, for when we went on shore we +found a number of them in a large chapel, and a brown man preaching to +them. We got hold of nearly a score, and when their friends attempted +to rescue them, we shot or cut down all who interfered, and carried away +a dozen or more. When we got them on board, instead of complaining, +they sat together and sang psalms, and one of them, who I found knew a +little English, talked to me, and told me that two of their number were +elders of their church, and that he and all the rest were Christians. +When I told the skipper, he only laughed, and said that they were only +Protestants, and that when they got on shore the priests would make them +into real Christians. The native, when I told him this, sighed, and +said he hoped he and his friends would remain faithful. On another +occasion we enticed a whole fleet of canoes some distance off the shore; +when they, taking the alarm, were pulling back, he fired among them, and +when they took fright and were paddling away, we sunk the whole of them, +giving some the stem, throwing shot into others, and firing at the rest. +We picked up as many people as we could, but not a few were drowned, +and the remainder managed to swim on shore. At last, with a full cargo, +though some died on board, we came in here. I found that this was not +the first trip on this business the schooner had made, and that half a +dozen more craft were employed in the same way, so that many hundreds of +the poor natives must have been carried off from their homes to die up +among the snowy mountains of cold, starvation, and hard work, or else of +broken hearts." + +"This is important information, my man; you should at once have informed +the consul, who might have taken steps to get the natives liberated," +observed Jack. + +"If I had gone on shore, sir, I should have had a sharp knife stuck +under my ribs before I was many hours older," answered Hake. "By that +time, and long before the consul could have interfered, the whole cargo +would have been miles away up the country; even now there is not one +left in the schooner." + +Jack reflected on what the man had told him, and, believing the account, +gave him leave to remain on board during the night, resolving to look +into the matter the next morning. A hand was sent to secure his punt; +but it was found that when he stepped out of her he had given her a +shove, and sent her drifting away, and she was nowhere to be seen. + +The next morning Jack went on shore to communicate with the acting +consul, who acknowledged that he had had information on the subject; but +though aware that several vessels had been fitted out for the purpose +mentioned, he had been unable to take any steps for putting a stop to +their proceedings. + +"Then I must see what we can do!" exclaimed Jack indignantly. + +"If we can find out from what islands people have been taken, and the +inhabitants ask for our protection, we shall have the right to afford +them all the assistance in our power. You may be very certain, should +you seize any vessels engaged in carrying off the natives, no one will +interfere; for their Government, even should they be aware of their +proceedings, will not dare to acknowledge that they are so, or protect +them; and I am very sure that the French will be ready to assist in +capturing the villains who may have ventured to visit any of the islands +under their rule," observed the consul. + +"Then I will go to Tahiti, and ascertain what the French Government +knows about the matter," said Jack; "possibly on my way I may fall in +with some of the kidnappers, and it will be a satisfaction to release +the slaves they may have taken, and to put a stop to their proceedings." + +That evening the ship sailed for the westward. A look-out was kept for +any craft which might answer to Hake's description of the vessels +engaged in the traffic. The _Dragon_ had been nearly three weeks at sea +when a vessel was seen ahead steering to the eastward. As she drew +nearer, she was seen to be a brigantine, and Hake declared that she was +one of the vessels sent out to collect natives. Hopes were entertained +that she might have some on board, and that they should have the +pleasure of releasing them and taking them back to their homes, if such +could be found. As the _Dragon_ drew nearer, Jack made a signal for the +stranger to heave-to; and as she did not appear to understand it, he +fired a shot across her bows, which had the desired effect. A boat was +lowered, and Jos Green, with Tom and Archie, were sent to examine her, +and should natives be found, to bring her close up to the ship, so that +they might be transferred on board. + +Jos and his companions pulled away in high glee, fully hoping that they +should have the satisfaction of liberating some of their +fellow-creatures. + +"It is too bad," observed Green, "that we should be spending our +energies on the West and East Coasts of Africa, and all the time that +these degenerate descendants of Spaniards out here in the Pacific should +be endeavouring to drag our fellow-creatures into a far worse slavery +than the Africans have to endure. These poor islanders, accustomed to +the perfect freedom of the breezes of the ocean, must perish miserably +in the course of a few months if compelled to work in the mines, or even +in the fields on the mainland." + +"I think we should be right to hang up their captors at their own +yard-arms, and send their vessels to the bottom!" cried Tom indignantly. + +Archie, though he doubted the legality of the proceeding, perfectly +agreed with Tom that it would be a just punishment for the kidnappers. +Six ruffianly-looking fellows, one of whom appeared to be the master, +most of them having their heads or arms bandaged up as if they had been +wounded, received them on deck. The master pointed to the Peruvian +flag, and inquired why he was stopped on his voyage. + +"I'll tell you when we've examined your craft," answered Green. + +"You'd better not go into the forecastle, where we have five of our men +suffering from the smallpox," said the skipper. + +"And how many have you in the hold?" asked Green, who knew Spanish +sufficiently to carry on a conversation. + +"We have no one there, but you had better not go into it, for some have +died there of smallpox, and you may carry the disease on board your own +ship," answered the skipper. + +"We will run the risk," said Green; "take off the hatches, and I'll go +below." + +As no one seemed inclined to obey him, he ordered his own men to lift +off the hatches. He and Tom, with two of the men, went below, while +Archie, with the rest, remained on deck, keeping an eye upon the +Peruvian crew, who, as Tim Nolan observed, "looked as if they were after +mischief." The hold was empty, but it was evidently fitted for +passengers, or rather for slaves. + +"What are all those dark marks?" asked Tom. + +"Bloodstains," answered Green, examining them; "and see, here are +bullets sticking in the deck and timbers. The wood has been splintered +in all directions; depend on it there has been some desperate work going +on. I believe that the account of the smallpox was false, and was +merely given to try and prevent us from examining the craft." + +"You found no one, as I told you," said the skipper, when Green returned +on deck. + +"No, but we have found enough to convince us that you have murdered the +unhappy wretches you induced to come on board," answered Green. + +"You should rather say our passengers treacherously rose on us, and we +had to fight in self-defence," said the skipper, forgetting what he had +said about the smallpox. + +"And your men forward are suffering from the wounds they received?" said +Green. + +"Such is the case, but I was ashamed to acknowledge how nearly we were +defeated by the savages," said the master, with the greatest coolness. + +Green accordingly went forward, and found five men in their bunks, all +badly-wounded, two being nearly at the last gasp. + +"I will bring the surgeon to dress their hurts," said Green; "though, if +what I suspect is the case, you all deserve to be sent to the bottom; +and, depend on it, we shall endeavour to get at the truth of the story, +and you will hear more of the matter by and by." + +The master shrugged his shoulders; and Green, not thinking it prudent to +leave anyone on board with such villains, returned with the midshipmen +to the ship to make his report. Jack was doubting how to proceed with +the brigantine, when her sails were let fall, and, the breeze +freshening, she stood away to windward. As the _Dragon_ had not even +her fires lighted, there was but little chance of catching her, and Jack +did not think it worth while to go in chase, as he felt pretty sure that +she would not continue her kidnapping cruise. + +The next day the look-out announced that he saw a fleet of vessels +ahead. "A grove of palm trees, rather," observed Green, laughing. As +the ship rose and fell in the swell, the trees alternately disappeared +and came into sight; and, on getting nearer, a coral island hove in +view; it consisted of a ring a quarter of a mile or so in width, with a +lagoon in the centre. First was seen a line of surf, then a white sandy +beach, and beyond a belt of green ground, sparsely sprinkled with +cocoanut and pandanus trees, and here and there with a few bushes of low +growth. The ship stood along the shore at a respectful distance, a +look-out being kept for inhabitants, as Jack thought it possible that if +any of the people had escaped from the brigantine, they might have +managed to effect a landing, the natives of these islands being +generally first-rate swimmers. No one, however, was seen, and he feared +that the whole of the kidnapped people must have perished. As he was +unwilling to lose time by heaving-to to effect a landing, he stood on +towards Tahiti. + +All hands were somewhat disappointed with the appearance of that island +when they first came in sight of it--jagged peaks and rugged mountains +being alone visible; for the shady groves and waterfalls, the verdant +meadows and fields, were not to be seen till the ship got close to the +entrance of the harbour. Before them appeared a line of breakers +dashing in snow-white foam on the encircling reef of coral, with a +lagoon of calm blue water within, out of which rose the shore, covered +with the richest tropical vegetation; numberless vines and creeping +plants making their way up the hillsides, amid which sparkling cascades +came falling down from the rugged mountains above. + +"Well, after all, Tahiti does present a highly picturesque and beautiful +landscape," exclaimed Mildmay, taking out his notebook; "and I hope that +we shall find the inhabitants living in that Arcadian simplicity +appropriate to so lovely a region." + +Alas! they found but little Arcadian simplicity when they reached the +shore; guns frowned from the surrounding heights down on the harbour; +the French flag flew from the battlements of the forts; French soldiers +were everywhere seen. It was soon, evident that the once free Tahitians +were a conquered race. + +Jack lost no time in communicating with the French governor, who had +already heard that many of the natives of the outlying islands under +French protection had been carried off. He had already sent out two +men-of-war to try and catch the kidnappers, and he expressed his wish +heartily to co-operate with the English in putting a stop to so +abominable a system. Jack, being satisfied that the French would attend +to that part of the Pacific, determined to proceed to the westward, +where the appearance of an English man-of-war might effect some good. + +The fires were lighted, and preparations were being made for weighing, +when a column of smoke was seen in the distance, announcing the approach +of a steamer. A French officer on board said that she must be direct +from Europe, as none of their own cruisers were expected. Jack, hoping +to obtain some news, accordingly waited for her arrival. As she +approached, she made the number of the _Eolus_. Soon, coming to an +anchor, visits were exchanged between the two ships' companies. Adair +told Jack that he had arrived at Callao the day after the _Dragon_ had +left, and that as soon as he could obtain fresh provisions and water, he +had again sailed in search of him. The _Eolus_ had come round by the +Cape, and had not entered the Pacific till three weeks after the +_Dragon_. + +Jack agreed to wait till the _Eolus_ could take in provisions and water. +The feeling with which the unjustifiable capture of Tahiti by the +French had been regarded by the English had by this time subsided; and, +the officers of the two ships having been treated with all the civility +the French were able to show, they left the harbour with some regret, as +they were not likely to meet with any place so advanced in civilisation +before they reached Sydney. + +A voyage across the Pacific sounds very romantic; but there are often +long distances to be traversed when no land is in sight, and there is +nothing to break the monotony of the voyage. The midshipmen of the two +ships voted it very dull, and began to believe that they should meet +with none of the wonderful adventures which they had anticipated. Mr +Mildmay confessed that he had been dreadfully disappointed; he had +expected everywhere to see bevies of graceful nymphs, dressed in +gossamer robes, their glossy hair decked with wreaths of bright flowers, +and their necks and arms adorned with coral and precious stones; instead +of which, he declared that he had seen only a set of dowdy women with +brown skins and without a particle of beauty to boast of. + +"One thing, however, can be said of the inhabitants of these islands," +observed Jack; "whereas a few years ago they were in heathen darkness, +now, thanks to the exertions of the missionaries, heathenism has +disappeared from all the islands to the southward; and if the people are +not perfect Christians, they are at all events as much so as the great +mass of people in Christendom." + +Jack was right; indeed, they found missionaries established at all the +principal islands at which they touched, with large chapels, well-built +schoolhouses, and neat villages; the inhabitants being universally able +to read and write, and many of them being well informed on various +important subjects. After touching at several islands to the south and +west of Tahiti, where not a single heathen remains, the ships steered +for a harbour in one of the islands of the Samoan group. It was here +that a boat's crew of the French navigator, La Perouse, were massacred. +As they approached the islands, no sign of a harbour could be +perceived--lofty cliffs towering up before them to the sky without +apparently a break. Still the _Dragon_ stood on, followed by the +_Eolus_, two rocks appearing, one called the Tower Rock, and another on +the opposite side, the Devil's Point, so well defined that Jack had no +fears of mistaking the entrance. The sails were furled, and the steam +got up. At length the ships entered a passage between the cliffs, about +a third of a mile in width, till they reached a basin, completely +surrounded by lofty precipices, from 800 to 1000 feet in height. The +lower portion of the rocks was bare, but their summits were clothed with +the most luxuriant vegetation--magnificent tree-ferns and cocoanut-trees +growing high up in situations in which they are seldom seen in other +latitudes. + +No sooner had the ships dropped their anchors than they were surrounded +by canoes full of natives, who, though they appeared to be merry +fellows, were remarkably well behaved; all of them being also decently +clothed. Several chiefs and others came on board, some of whom spoke +English; and from them it was ascertained that the whole of the people +were Christians, having long been under missionary influence. One of +Jack's chief objects in entering the harbour was to ascertain whether +any of the natives had been carried off. A strange vessel had appeared +off the coast, and had attempted to entrap some lads fishing in a canoe, +but they had been too wary to be so caught; and when a boat put off in +chase of their canoe, they had made their way to the shore, though only +just in time to escape capture. + +Jack issued a notice which he desired might be sent among all the +islands of the group, warning the people against the various devices +practised by the kidnappers. After a short time the two ships again put +to sea. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +SANTA CRUZ--ITS UNATTRACTIVE INHABITANTS--A SCHOONER CHASED BY THE +BOATS--SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS--THE SCHOONER ALLOWED TO PROCEED--A GALE-- +RUN FOR SHELTER UNDER THE LEE OF AN ISLAND--A VOLCANO BURSTS FORTH-- +DRIVEN AWAY--BREAKERS AHEAD--AN OPENING IN THE REEF--PASS THROUGH--LAND +ON AN ISLAND--FOOD FOUND--NATIVES APPEAR--HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS-- +GREEN'S OLD SHIPMATE--PEACE ESTABLISHED--ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND. + +The _Dragon_ and _Eolus_ had been for some weeks at sea; the latter was +to touch at various islands of the New Hebrides group, after which she +was to proceed to the Loyalty Islands, to visit the Isle of Pines and +Norfolk Island, and thence to go on to Sydney. The _Dragon_, meantime, +was to continue her course to the north-west, visiting Santa Cruz, the +Solomon Islands, New Ireland, and New Britain; and she also was to visit +Sydney. Thence the two ships were to recross the Pacific, to touch at +the Sandwich Islands, and to go on to Vancouver's Island and British +Columbia; after which, all hands heartily hoped that they might be +ordered home. The projected cruise was being discussed in the +midshipmen's berth, with the chart on the table. + +"It doesn't look so very far," observed Billy Blueblazes; "though, +considering that we are to perform the distance under sail, it will take +us some time, I suppose." + +"I rather think so, laddie," observed Archie, who had a pair of +compasses in his hand, and was measuring off the distances; "we shall +have run over between sixty and seventy thousand miles of salt water +before we drop anchor in Portsmouth harbour,--not an inch less according +to my calculation,--it would be enough to wear the sheathing off the +ship's bottom if it was not pretty thick to begin with." + +Most of the islands the ship visited were lofty, the hills covered +thickly with trees to their summits. They were surrounded by coral +reefs, through which, in many instances, no passage was to be found; +others had openings affording secure harbours within them. After +visiting several small islands in the neighbourhood, the ship came to an +anchor in a sheltered harbour in the island of Santa Cruz. Canoes +quickly gathered round her, full of the ugliest-looking natives they had +yet met with. Their skin was nearly black, their heads covered with +thick woolly hair, their foreheads low and receding, their faces broad, +with high cheek-bones, their noses flat, and their mouths large. They +had adorned their bodies with various colours, and ornamented themselves +further with rings through their noses and ears, as also with armlets +and necklaces of human teeth; the rest of their dress consisting only of +a string round the waist, to which a small apron was secured. These +unattractive-looking personages were considerably under the ordinary +size, but appeared, notwithstanding the character bestowed on them of +being the most cruel and treacherous in the Pacific Ocean, to be a +good-tempered, merry race. They brought off large quantities of +cocoanuts, bows, arrows, and mats, which they were willing to exchange +for empty bottles, old-clothes, and tobacco. As yet, no missionaries +having ventured among them, they were in the same savage state in which +they had for centuries existed. + +In the evening, those who had been allowed to come on board were turned +out of the ship, and a bright look-out was kept against any treacherous +trick they might have attempted to play. The fires had been let out, as +Jack intended to remain during the day for the purpose of obtaining +water. Early the next morning, a schooner was seen passing close in +with the land. As the wind was light, Jack despatched two boats to +overhaul her; one was commanded by Green, who was accompanied by +Archie--the other by Tom, who had Billy Blueblazes as his companion. +They pulled away, hoping soon to overtake the stranger. When, however, +they were about half a mile from her, a breeze sprang up; but, as the +boats had their sails, the masts were stepped, and they stood on after +the chase. She took no notice of the musket which Green fired as a +signal for her to heave-to, but, instead of doing so, she set more sail +and stood on. This making him more suspicious than ever of her +character, he determined to persevere; Tom and his companion being +equally ready to continue the pursuit. + +"Perhaps she is a pirate," observed Billy, "and when she finds that she +cannot get off she will try to defend herself, and we shall have some +fighting--something to vary the monotony of the voyage." + +"As to that, I doubt whether such craft are to be found in these seas at +the present day," answered Tom; "and I rather think, if we can manage to +get up to her, that she will strike without firing a shot." + +The question was, however, whether the boats would come up with her; the +breeze was freshening, and she was walking away from them. Still Green +kept on, hoping that the wind might head her, or that it might fall +calm, when they would soon be alongside. She was steering towards a +lofty conical island, which rose sheer out of the sea, with a thick +cloud of smoke rising above its summit, which showed it to be an active +volcano. The day was drawing on, but the schooner did not gain +sufficiently on the boats to make Green abandon all hopes of overtaking +her. Her persevering efforts to escape convinced him that something was +wrong, and made him the more eager to overhaul her. At length, her +sails were seen to flap against her masts, and, though the boats still +had the breeze, it was very evident that she was becalmed. The sky had +for some time been wearing a threatening aspect, and had not Green been +so eager to overhaul the stranger, he would have endeavoured to make the +best of his way back to Santa Cruz. At length the wind dropped +altogether, and, the sails being lowered, the crews of the boats gave +way, with a certainty that they should at length get up with the chase. +Each boat had four muskets; the officers had stuck their pistols in +their belts, and the men had their cutlasses--weapons on which British +seamen always place more reliance than on firearms. They were now +within gunshot of the schooner, but she did not fire, nor were any signs +visible that she intended to offer resistance. Green steered for the +starboard quarter, and directed Tom to board on the port side. They +were soon up with her; Tom and Billy, with six men, scrambled up on +deck, which Green and his party gained at the same time; but, except the +man at the helm, and one other forward, none of the crew were visible. +The man at the helm looked very much astonished, and asked with cool +effrontery what they wanted. Green replied that he must know where the +schooner was from, whither she was bound, and what cargo she had on +board. + +"The master will tell you all about it, sir," answered the man, "but he +is at present below, sick with a bad leg." + +"Then I must pay him a visit, and get him to show his papers," said +Green; who, telling Tom and Billy to keep a watch on deck, went into the +master's cabin with Archie, and a couple of armed men. The master was +sitting up in his cot, with a black boy attending on him. + +"Well, gentlemen, what do you want?" he asked, as Green and Archie +entered. + +"Why did you run away from us," asked Green, "when you must have seen +that our boats were those of one of Her Majesty's ships-of-war?" + +"How could I tell what you were?" said the master; "you might be +pirates. At all events, I have no wish to be stopped in my voyage." + +"Well, at any rate, show me your papers, and inform me how many people +you have on board; for as yet I have only seen a couple of hands," said +Green. + +"We have upwards of eighty, including passengers," answered the master. +"I suppose the crew got out of the way lest you should fire at us, and +for the same reason the passengers thought it prudent to keep below. +Boy, take that tin case out of the the locker there, and give it to the +officer." + +Green examined the document brought him. It set forth that the schooner +_Expert_, Captain Toby, belonging to Brisbane, Queensland, had a licence +to trade for sandal-wood, and to carry a hundred passengers. + +"Well, your papers seem all very clear; and if your passengers came on +board with their own free will, I can have nothing to say to you, but +wish you a good voyage," he remarked; "but I should have been better +pleased had you hove-to when I made a signal to you to do so, as you +would have saved us a long pull." + +Captain Toby only grinned, as if he was well pleased at the trouble he +had caused the man-of-war's officers. As they were speaking, two other +men, who were apparently mates, came out of a side cabin, yawning and +stretching themselves in a way which somewhat tried Green's patience. + +"Well, I must beg your officers to show me your passengers, and the rest +of your crew, before I quit you," he said, addressing the master. + +"I suppose you've got legal authority for what you are doing?" said +Captain Toby. + +"Certainly; and as we are in a hurry to be off, I must beg you to be +smart about it," said Green; turning to the mates, "Come, my lads, I am +only performing my duty, and that duty I intend to carry out." + +The two mates, seeing that the officer was not to be trifled with, went +forward and summoned eight ruffianly-looking fellows who had been stowed +away in the forecastle. Three or four were apparently Englishmen, the +others black or brown men, one a Kanaka, the other a New Zealander. By +the mate's orders they lifted off the hatches, and went below. Archie +observed that they had the butts of pistols sticking out of the breasts +of their shirts, and that all of them wore long knives in sheaths by +their sides. There was some talking below, and one by one sixty +black-skinned natives made their appearance on deck, and were ranged on +either side. None of them had any other clothing besides a piece of +matting or sail-cloth round the waist. Unfortunately, Green had come +away without an interpreter; but he did his best to try and ascertain +from the natives if they were on board of their own free will. No one +uttered a complaint, but he observed that the mates kept their eyes +fixed on the blacks, who seemed to cower under their glances. He was +still not satisfied, but he was unable to find any sufficient reason for +detaining the vessel. On returning to the cabin he found another +individual, who had not before appeared, seated at the table, busily +employed in writing. + +"Our doctor, sir," said the master; "he has come with us for the sake of +science, to gain a knowledge of the wild inhabitants of this region. He +is a perfect slave to science; are you not, doctor?" + +"It is the sole object of my life," answered the person who had been +addressed, without rising from his seat. + +Though the man spoke with the accent of a gentleman, Green thought that +he had seldom seen a more ill-looking individual. + +"Well, I hope you are satisfied, Mr Officer," said the master at +length; "and, if so, that you will allow us to fill our sails and stand +on; for my mate tells me he doesn't like the look of the weather, and +I'd advise you to make the best of your way back to your ship." + +Green saw indeed that it was important to get back, and did not +therefore waste words with the master or his ill-mannered surgeon. On +returning on deck, he found that the mates had sent the blacks below +again, while the crew were shortening sail. The weather had become +rapidly worse; he could not help regretting that he had come so far from +the island, with the prospect of a pull back through a heavy sea. He +could not hoist the boats on board, or, under the circumstances, he +might have compelled the schooner to beat back to Santa Cruz. Had he +attempted to do so, and to tow the boats, they would, in all +probability, have been swamped. + +"We must make the best of it," he said to Tom, who had for the last few +minutes been feeling anything but comfortable about the matter. + +"A safe voyage to you, my friends," he said, as he leaped into his boat. + +The mates made no reply, but as he shoved off he fancied that he heard a +laugh, and at the same time he caught sight of the ill-favoured visage +of the scientific doctor looking over the quarter, while the schooner +stood away to the southward. Scarcely, however, were they a quarter of +a mile apart than the wind came down with greater force than before, and +he found that it was impossible to make any headway against it. The +nearest island was that of Tinakula; by running under its lee he might +get shelter for the night; but should an eruption occur, it would prove +a dangerous neighbourhood. There were other islands beyond, but they +were surrounded by reefs which might prevent the possibility of landing +upon them, while, from the savage character of the natives on the +inhabited ones, they could only expect a hostile reception. + +"We'll try it a little longer, Rogers," sang out Green; "perhaps the +weather will moderate; and if it grows worse, we must run under the lee +of that burning mountain; we can only hope that it will remain quiet for +a few hours." + +The weather did not moderate, and when the men had been pulling hard for +a couple of hours without gaining ground, the boats' heads were put +round, and with reefed sails they steered towards the eastern side of +the mountain, Green intending to haul round it, so as to be able to +anchor during the night under its lee. Night rapidly came down over the +stormy ocean; the wind increased, and the seas came roaring up astern, +threatening every instant to swamp them. Green led, Tom following in +his wake. + +"I wish we hadn't been sent after that abominable slaver!" exclaimed +Billy, who was feeling more uncomfortable than he had ever before been +in his life. "I wonder whether the ship will come to look after us?" + +"Not likely," answered Tom; "as well hunt for a needle in a bundle of +hay; she wouldn't know where to find us if she did. My brother trusts +Green, who always knows what he's about, and he will not be unhappy on +our account. We shall soon be under the lee of the island, and then we +shall be snug enough; though, for my part, I would rather have been +comfortably stowed away in my hammock." + +"You take things very coolly, Rogers!" cried Billy. "Oh, look at that +big sea! it will tumble aboard us in a moment." + +"If it does, you must stand by to bale it out," answered Tom; "hold on +though, in case it should wash you overboard." + +Tom, who was grasping the helm with a firm hand, received the sea on the +quarter; a portion of the crest broke over the boat; she, however, went +gliding forward, while the sea roared on till it caught Green's boat, +which appeared for a moment to be overwhelmed, but was seen directly +afterwards rising on the summit of another wave; while Billy and the +rest of Tom's crew baled away with might and main, knowing the +importance of freeing their boat before another sea broke into her. +Thus on they rushed amid the dark, foam-crested waves; several times +they were treated in the same manner, but as quickly as the water +entered it was hove out again. The darkness increased, and the dim +outline of the mountain alone could be seen, its lofty summit towering +to the clouds. Green was unwilling to keep farther off the island than +was necessary; but, at the same time, he thought it possible that a reef +might extend some distance from it, on which, should the boats strike, +they must inevitably be lost. A keen lookout was kept ahead, but +nothing could be seen besides the dark, tumbling, foam-crested seas. It +was a time to try the hearts of the stoutest. Gradually the island grew +more and more distinct. + +"Haul aft the sheet!" cried Green, and the boats sailed on with the sea +abeam. + +Now was the most dangerous time, for a sea striking the side might in an +instant, without allowing anyone a chance of escaping, have capsized the +boats, and sent them to the bottom. The seas seemed to rush forward +with greater fury even than before, as if eager to seize their prey +before it had escaped them. Happily it did not last long; on shooting +under the lee of a lofty precipice which rose sheer out of the water, +they were almost immediately becalmed, though still fearfully tumbled +about by the waves as they swirled round the base of the cliff. + +"Get out your oars, my lads, and give way," cried Green. + +The order was quickly obeyed, and after pulling for a few hundred yards, +the boats lay in comparatively calm water. The island mountain rose +like a dark spectre above their heads, without any beach that could be +discovered on which the boats could be hauled up, or any cove to afford +them shelter. Green had a lead-line on board; it was let fall over the +side, but no bottom was found. + +"Perhaps by pulling on a little farther we may find some place in which +we can bring up for the night; if not, we must keep the oars moving," +said Green. + +They pulled on accordingly. + +"Hilloa!" cried Tom; "what's that?" + +The moment he spoke a bright light appeared on the summit of the +mountain; it rapidly increased, and presently a vast stream of +incandescent lava came flowing down the side, now moving in a broad +sheet, now rushing down in a cataract of fire, again to unite at the +foot of a precipice, as it rushed down in a dozen different streams, +some close to where the boats lay, till reaching the water they suddenly +disappeared. + +"Very fortunate that we were not on shore, or we should have been all +burnt into cinders," said Tom; "we are even now nearer than is +altogether pleasant." + +"If we get farther off we shall be in the middle of a cross-sea which +will quickly swamp us," observed Green; "I see the crests of the waves +dancing about, not many cables' lengths away, with the light from the +mountain reflected on them. We will pull back a short distance to the +eastward and lie on our oars." + +The boats' heads were turned round, but the men had not pulled many +strokes when the lava again rushed out from the crater, rising far above +it in a fountain of fire; then down it came, covering over the whole +side of the mountain with a vast sheet of liquid flame, sending its +glare far over the ocean, and rendering the night as bright as the day. + +"Grand!" exclaimed Billy Blueblazes; "magnificent! superior to anything +I ever saw at Vauxhall!" + +"I should rather call it awful," said Tom; "how those huge black cliffs +stand out! Why, they positively look as if they were about to topple +down over us; it will give us an idea of what the world will be like +when it is on fire." + +The men gazed at the burning mountain, their countenances expressing +their feelings, though none of them spoke. The hardy seamen could +scarcely believe that they should escape destruction; the water hissed +and bubbled as the hot lava reached it, and sent wave after wave towards +the boats; which, as they rushed on board, were found to be perceptibly +warmed. Green, who had been watching the summit of the mountain, began +to doubt whether it was prudent to remain in the neighbourhood; at any +moment it might send up not only lava, but ashes and stones, and huge +rocks, which might in an instant overwhelm the boats. Now came a +fearful rumbling noise, louder than a thousand Woolwich infants roaring +together. Tom declared that the whole mountain seemed to shake, while +the summit appeared covered with a crown of ruddy flame. + +"This will never do," cried Green; "better be swamped at sea than be +buried under a shower of rocks. Pull round and give way, my lads; stand +by to hoist the sail the instant we feel the wind." + +The men dashed their oars into the water, and pulled away as fast as +they could stretch their arms, eager to get to a distance from the +fearful scene; but though they were really going at a rapid rate, it +seemed as if the mountain was still as near as ever. Even the most dull +and ignorant must have been conscious of their utter helplessness; at +any moment the fiery shower might descend on their heads; indeed, the +farther they got off, the more clearly they saw the fearful work going +forward on the summit of the mountain; the flames seemed to spout higher +and higher and higher, and amid them every now and then appeared huge +fragments of solid rock, which, cast up to a great height, again fell +down into the crater; while similar fragments came toppling over the +edge, and rolled crashing down the cliffs into the ocean. Though the +sea was rough, the wind, affected apparently by the outburst of fire, +seemed greatly to have abated, and it was not till they had got some +distance from the island that Green ordered the sails to be hoisted. He +was on the point of hauling up, intending to beat back to Santa Cruz, +when once more the gale was upon them. + +"We must stand on," he cried to Tom; "we shall never be able to pull +back against this wind, our best chance is to run before it." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" said Tom; "I'll follow you;" and the two boats flew on as +before, over the tumbling seas. They were well built, and well managed +too, or they would to a certainty have been swamped. + +They had, by this time, got to a considerable distance from the +mountain, but still it appeared almost as clear as at first, the dark +cliffs projecting far out from amid the sheets of fire which almost +enveloped its sides, while the summit appeared in a still more fearful +state of eruption than at first. Vast flames came spouting upwards, the +fiery masses which were thrown out spreading over on every side, while +overhead appeared a dark canopy of smoke, from which a shower of ashes +continued to fall without intermission; and Tom declared, as he looked +astern, that he saw huge pieces of rock descending into the sea. They +had indeed reason to congratulate themselves that they had not delayed +longer under the mountain, and even as it was they were conscious that +they were still not free from danger. Their anxiety had hitherto +prevented them from feeling hungry, or indeed from recollecting that +they had brought but a small supply of food. In each boat was, however, +a breaker of water, and Billy had slipped some biscuits into his pocket, +as had also several of the men, just before they shoved off. After some +time, when he believed that he had only the danger of the ocean with +which to contend, Billy pulled a biscuit out of his pocket and offered +part to Tom, who, beginning to feel very hungry, accepted it. The crew +were sharing their portions among each other; and then the breaker of +water was broached, for the biscuit had made the men feel very thirsty. + +In Green's boat the men were not so well off, Archie and one of the men +only having had sufficient forethought to bring a couple of biscuits +apiece. This afforded but a scanty meal to all hands; and they knew +that it might be very long before they could hope to get a further +supply of food. The gale had still further increased, and the sea was +rougher than ever. They thus ran on for some hours; Tom manfully sat at +the helm, assisted by Billy, his anxiety keeping him broad awake; for he +well knew that the slightest carelessness on his part might lead to his +own destruction and that of all with him. Unhappily, they had come away +without a compass in either boat, and as the sky was completely +overcast, Green had not even the stars to steer by. The wind, he felt +sure, had shifted several points while they lay under the island, and he +was thus uncertain in what direction he was running. He could only tell +by looking astern at the mountain, which, like a huge beacon, blazed +away all night. There were other islands, he knew, ahead, surrounded by +reefs; and, when morning approached, he judged that they could not be +very far from the nearest. The atmosphere, however, was too dense to +enable him to see the land at any distance. Still he could not venture +to heave-to; his only hope of keeping the boats afloat was to run on, +and he trusted that day light would return before they could reach the +neighbourhood of the reefs. It was too dark to see the hands of his +watch, even when held up so that the light from the mountain could fall +on it. + +"I think the sun will rise in about half an hour," he observed to +Archie; "and then I trust that we shall be able to look out for an +opening in the reefs, so that we may run in and take shelter till the +gale is over." + +The men in both the boats were all this time employed in baling, for the +crests of the seas came toppling over, now on the quarter, now running +up alongside over the gunwales, wetting the people through and through. +Tom, with his lips closely-pressed together, his hand firmly grasping +the helm, excited the admiration of the men, who knew well that their +lives depended on his coolness and judgment. + +"He's a regular chip of the old block; as like the commander as two +peas," observed the bow-man to the man sitting next to him. Tom, +indeed, had always been held in respect by the crew, but that night's +work raised him still higher in their estimation. + +They had been running on for some minutes, when a shout reached them +from the master's boat. "Breakers ahead, and land beyond them." Tom +steered straight on, waiting to see what Green would do, still following +in his wake. Green deviated slightly to port. + +"There is an opening," he shouted; "follow me." + +Tom peered through the mass of blackness surrounding them, and made out +a line of white foam, rising like a wall on the starboard bow, while +beyond he could just distinguish the outline of a still darker mass +which he knew must be land. His heart did not sink, nor did his hand +tremble. The crew turned their heads over their shoulders as the roar +of the breakers reached their ears, becoming louder and louder as the +boat rushed on. The seas came rushing up astern more furiously it +seemed than ever, catching them now on the port quarter; should the wind +fail them, or a rope give way, they must be lost. They all knew that, +and each man grasped his oar ready to throw it out and give way as a +chance for life. The breakers became more and more distinct, leaping +high above the tumbling ocean; but ahead was a blacker patch, though +even that was streaked with foam. There must, however, be depth for the +boats to pass over, though the passage was a fearfully narrow one; for +away on the port-bow the breakers were seen rising as high as on the +starboard side. Green stood on; he did not again hail, but he knew that +he could trust Tom, and that he was following. In another minute they +would be safe, or the boats dashed to pieces on the coral reef. Still +on they flew; a vast surge came rolling up, lifting the stern of the +boat, and Tom, for an instant, thought that she would broach to; but +with all his might putting the helm hard a-port, she went rushing on +before it. The foaming, roaring breakers were leaping up on either +hand. He had lost sight of Green's boat. Could she have met with the +fate he had expected to overtake his boat? No! there she was, safe +inside the reef, with her sail lowered. The next instant he was gliding +forward in comparatively smooth water. + +"Lower the sail," he shouted, "and get out the oars." + +He was soon alongside Green's boat. + +"We will lie on our oars, and wait till daylight to find a safe place +for landing," said the master. "Let us thank God that we have escaped +thus far. Should there be natives on the island, we must try and keep +on friendly terms with them, and we shall the better do that by not +landing till they invite us. In the meantime, we will look to our arms, +for they must have got wet, and are pretty sure to miss fire." + +The boats accordingly pulled along the lagoon till they reached a part +where, sheltered by a higher line of the reef, the water was perfectly +calm. Even there, as they looked in the direction from whence they had +come, they could see the burning mountain blazing away as furiously as +at first; the upper portion, which appeared above the horizon, +presenting the appearance of a vast shining cone, with a crown of fire +rising towards the sky. Far-off as it was, the light it cast had +enabled them to see the breakers much sooner than they otherwise would +have done, and had been the means thus of saving their lives. + +Daylight now appeared, and a glimpse was caught of the sun through an +opening in the cloud just above the horizon. His rays fell on a hilly +country, richly wooded, with streams flowing down at the bottom of the +valleys, one of which emptied itself directly opposite the break in the +reef by which they had entered. As yet no natives had appeared, nor +were any huts seen, but it could scarcely be supposed that so fine a +region was destitute of inhabitants. Green, therefore, pointed out to +his men the importance of acting cautiously. Their hunger and thirst, +however, must be satisfied; he therefore pulled in towards the mouth of +the stream, where, at all events, they could obtain water. As they +approached, Billy's sharp eyes detected some cocoanuts growing on +several tall trees a short distance from the beach; these would afford +them food till more substantial fare could be obtained. The difficulty, +however, was to reach the trees where the fruit grew. + +"I'll manage to do it," cried Billy, "in a way I have read of somewhere, +with a rope round my waist." + +Some rocks near the mouth of the stream afforded sufficient shelter to +the boats, and enabled the party to land without the necessity of +beaching them. The arms had all been made ready for use, and Green +ordered one half of the men to remain in the boats under Tom's command, +while he led the other, who carried the breakers to fill with water. +Billy, in the meantime, with Archie to assist him, prepared to climb up +a cocoanut tree. He had brought a long piece of rope, which he formed +into a large grummet, or hoop, round the tree. He made several +attempts, however, before he could succeed in getting up even a few +feet. Though Archie laughed at him, he was undaunted. + +"Practice makes perfect," he answered, again working his way upwards +till he got several feet higher. + +His plan was to hold tight with his knees while he jerked the grummet as +high as it would go, and then to swarm up again and rest. Higher and +higher he got, till at length he was able to catch hold of a branch by +which he held himself up, when, highly delighted, he quickly broke off +all the fruit on the tree, and threw them down to Archie. His success +encouraged the bow-man in Green's boat, who, being a light, active lad, +succeeded even better than he had done, and a supply of nuts for all +hands was thus obtained. By this time Green's party with the breakers +had returned, and the hungry crews eagerly commenced breakfast. + +"We must look out for more substantial fare than this though," observed +Tom; "if we can't get any animals on shore, we shall, at all events, be +able to find shell-fish in the water, and we can easily light a fire and +cook them." + +Till, however, the men had satisfied their hunger with the cocoanuts, no +one felt disposed to hunt for shell-fish, or for animals on shore. It +was, indeed, doubtful whether it would be prudent to allow any of the +men to go inland till they had ascertained what inhabitants were in the +neighbourhood, or whether they were likely to be friendly. From the +character of the natives on the surrounding islands Green very much +doubted whether this would be the case; and he wished, if possible, to +avoid bloodshed, even although his party might prove victorious. He had +also heard that they used poisoned arrows, even a slight wound from +which might prove fatal. As the gale still continued blowing outside, +it was absolutely necessary that more substantial food should be found. +As soon, therefore, as they had somewhat taken the edge off their +appetites, he allowed a small party under Tom to proceed along the beach +in search of shell-fish, while the boats pulled slowly along close in to +the shore, so as to be able to take them off immediately should any +natives appear. No officer could have acted more wisely and cautiously. +Tom and his party collected a good supply of shell-fish, his last find +being a bed of oysters. Two of the men, having stripped off their +clothes, waded up to their necks and dived for them. They were thus +employed when Green caught sight of a dark triangular fin, which rose +for an instant to the surface and disappeared. He shouted at the top of +his voice to the men, telling them of their danger, and ordering his own +crew to pull in, and to splash the water as much as possible with their +oars. The men sprang towards the shore, fully aware of the danger they +were in. They were not a moment too soon, for the monster, having +caught sight of their white legs, dashed forward and almost grounded +itself on the beach before, giving a whisk of its tail, it darted off +again, startled by their shouts and cries, and escaped. + +Tom now cried out that he had seen some birds, and that if he might use +small shot he was certain that he could kill several. Green, seeing no +signs of natives, thought there would be no risk, and gave him leave. +Tom was a good shot, and the birds, a species of pigeon, being +unaccustomed to firearms, were not frightened, so that he very quickly +made a heavy bag, without having had to go far for it. There appeared +to be now no reason why the party should not land to cook their +provisions, and, finding a clear stretch of beach, they pulled in and +hauled up the boats. Some of the men set to work to gather sticks, and +a blazing fire was soon lighted; while others plucked the pigeons and +prepared them for the spit. These were placed on forked sticks round +the fire, while the men sat down on the ground to enjoy themselves. A +few cried out for grog, but not a drop of spirits had been brought, so +they were obliged to go without it, but the smokers had their pipes and +tobacco, and Green had put his cigar-case into his pocket, so that they +were able to pass the time pleasantly enough while the birds were +cooking. + +"After all, we've no great cause to complain," observed Tom, as he +lighted one of Green's cigars. "I suppose when the gale abates the ship +will come and look for us, or if not we shall have no great difficulty +in getting back to Santa Cruz, while in the meantime we may make +ourselves happy where we are," he observed. + +Billy Blueblazes, of course, echoed the sentiment, but Archie was +somewhat doubtful whether they might not miss the ship, as it would take +them the best part of two days to pull back, and before that time she +probably would have come out to look for them. Green was rather +inclined to be of Archie's opinion, and was considering what under the +circumstances it was best to do. + +"Dinner ready, sir," said Jerry Bird, who had dished up the pigeons with +some large leaves. "We have broiled oysters and mussels, and cocoanut +for dessert, and as much milk and water as we like to drink; a feast fit +for a king." + +Green and the midshipmen preferred the pigeons, leaving the shell-fish +to be divided among the men, who had their share also of the birds. No +one had cause to complain of want of sufficient food. After dinner, +their spirits being raised, they amused themselves by playing rounders, +varied by a game of leap-frog on the beach, till Green reminded them +that they might have a couple of nights or more at sea before they could +get back to the ship, and that it was as well to take some rest while +they could obtain it. The difficulty was to find shade, as the sun was +beating down with intense heat on the sand, though while they were in +exercise they did not think of it. The palm trees afforded but a scant +shelter; however, by going a little way inland they obtained some +enormous fern-leaves, with which they quickly built several huts, +sufficient to shelter all the party, with the exception of two, who were +stationed on the top of the bank to keep watch; Green deeming it prudent +not to run any risk of being caught napping. It fell to the lot of +Archie and Tim Nolan, who belonged to Green's boat, to keep the first +watch. Green directed them to remain in the shade under the trees with +their muskets in their hands, and to keep a bright look-out inland, so +as to be able to arouse the party in good time should any natives +appear. + +There was an opening in the valley just where the party were encamped, +extending an eighth of a mile or so inland, leaving the trees on either +side some distance apart. Archie took one side, and directed Tim to get +into the shade on the other, so that they might thus, without having to +step far out into the sun, command the whole of the open ground. Archie +felt very tired and sleepy, and was longing for his watch to be over, +but nevertheless, obedient to orders, he kept a bright look-out, seeing +also that Tim did the same. They had been on the watch for nearly two +hours, when Archie, as he stepped out a few paces from where he had been +standing, caught sight of three or four black figures at the farther end +of the glade. They stopped as they saw him, regarding him with looks of +astonishment, each man seizing an arrow, and fixing it in his bow. +Archie shouted to Tim, and told him to awaken the sleepers, while he +himself advanced into the centre of the glade, and while he held up his +musket in one hand to show the blacks that he was armed, made signs with +the other to them to keep back. Green had heard his voice, and was on +his feet in an instant, calling out to the rest of the party to show +themselves. The blacks, seeing that the strangers were much superior to +them in numbers, did not advance. They were savage-looking fellows, +with their hair tied up in a huge bunch at the backs of their heads, and +destitute of any clothing with the exception of a short kilt of matting +tied round their waists. They appeared rather surprised than alarmed, +and after watching the strangers, apparently to see what they would do, +for some minutes, they darted off among the trees, and were hid from +sight. + +"We will get the boats into the water and be ready to shove off, in case +those fellows should come down in overwhelming numbers; for though we +might keep them at bay, I am anxious to avoid bloodshed," said Green. + +Tom agreed with him, and the men immediately began to launch the boats; +but the tide had fallen, and it was no easy matter, as they had to shove +them over the rough beach for some distance. While they were thus +engaged, loud shrieks and shouts reached their ears, proceeding out of +the forest, and in another minute a whole host of blacks armed with bows +and arrows, spears and clubs, poured into the open, and came rushing +down towards them. It seemed scarcely possible to get the boats afloat +before the savages would be upon them. Green waited till the last +moment, then, calling the men, drew them up on the beach, and ordered +them to present their muskets, but not to fire till he should give the +word. The blacks, who apparently were well acquainted with the power of +firearms, on seeing the force opposed to them, not only halted, but drew +back several paces, bending their bows, however, as if they were about +to shoot. Green, on seeing this, made signs to them to retire, pointing +at the same time to his men's muskets, to let the savages understand +that they only waited his command to fire. The blacks evidently +understood him, for they at once relaxed their bow-strings, turning +their heads over their shoulders as if about to beat a retreat. Just +then, however, a chief made his appearance and began to harangue them, +urging them, it seemed, to attack the strangers who had ventured to land +on their shore. The moment was a critical one. Green saw that he might +be compelled to order his men to fire, and should the savages have +sufficient courage to rush out and attack them before they had time to +reload, they must be clubbed or speared. He knew, too, that the blacks' +arrows were poisoned, and that every person wounded by them would die. +He would gladly have retreated to the boats and made another effort to +get them afloat, but should he show any sign of fear, it would to a +certainty encourage the blacks to come on. + +"Stand steady, my lads!" he cried; "I'll try once more to make the +savages understand that we don't wish to quarrel with them;" and, taking +up a bough which had formed part of one of the huts, he waved it slowly +backwards and forwards. + +The effect at first appeared to be satisfactory, but just then the voice +of the old chief, who had before incited them to attack the strangers, +was again heard, and the savages, encouraged by him, once more drew +their bows; while he, flourishing his club, came forward at their head, +leaping and bounding in the strangest fashion, his followers imitating +his example. + +"Tim Nolan," shouted Green, "as soon as I give the word, pick that +fellow off; if Tim misses, do you, Bird, give an account of him. Don't +throw a shot away, my lads, and we'll make them repent interfering with +us." + +Green wisely said nothing about the deadly effect of the poisoned +arrows, hoping that the men would not think about them. Just as Green +was about to sing out "Fire!" feeling that it was useless any longer to +entertain hopes of maintaining peace with the savages, a strange-looking +being leaped out from their midst, armed only with a club, which, +placing himself in front of the chief, he whirled round and round in his +face, shouting, at the same time, at the top of his voice. He was a +white man, though scarcely better clothed than the blacks, his body +being tattooed all over with strange devices, while his long carroty +hair hung down over his shoulders. No one attempted to interfere with +him; even the chief came to a standstill, while he bounded backwards and +forwards in front of the horde of savages, shouting and gesticulating in +the most vehement manner conceivable. Having thus succeeded in stopping +the advance of the blacks, he turned round and rushed forward towards +where Green was standing. + +"Arrah, shure, Masther Green, it's meself, Paddy Casey, is delighted to +see ye; though little was I after thinking, when I last set eyes on ye, +that the next time ye'd see me I'd be turned into a wild savage!" he +exclaimed. + +"What! Pat Casey, my man," cried Green; "of course, I remember you +right well; though I confess I shouldn't have expected to see you, one +of the smartest hands on board the _Tudor_, in your present style of +dress." + +Pat, looking at himself, gave a broad Irish grin. + +"Shure enough, yer honour; and bad luck to them who left me here, +thinking I'd be killed and cooked and eaten, about which I'll be after +telling yer honour when there's more time than at present. I've just +been informing these black friends of mine that they were fools to come +and attack you, seeing that you belong to a mighty big ship, which would +come and blow them and their island right out into the sea in a quarter +less than no time; and now I've got them to be peaceable, it will be as +well to take advantage of the opportunity to get the boats afloat, for, +by my faith, they're not the most dependable of people, and in another +moment they may again change their minds." + +"I am much obliged to you, old shipmate," answered Green; "and if you +can manage to keep the blacks quiet, we will have the boats in the water +in a few minutes. Tell them that we were driven by the storm on their +island; that we wish to be good friends with them, as with all the +people in these parts, and, provided they behave well to us, we will do +them no harm." + +"Shure, yer honour, I'll tell them all that, and just anything else that +may come into my head at the same time, and I'll answer for it that +they'll be decently behaved as long as you stay," said Pat. + +"Just keep them in play, then, while we get the boats afloat; and make +them understand that we go away because it is our good pleasure, and not +because we are afraid of them," said Green. + +"Shure, yer honour, I'll do that," answered the Irishman, with one of +his inimitable grins, which possibly had been the means of enabling him +to preserve his life. + +While he went back to his black friends, the two crews, uniting their +strength, got first one boat afloat and then the other. Green felt +greatly relieved, for, whatever turn events might take, he and his party +would be able to get away without having to fight for their lives. + +Casey now returned. + +"The savages say, sir, that if you like to stop and be friends, they'll +be friends with you; but I'm after thinking that the sooner you can get +away from this the better, for they're not altogether trustworthy +gentlemen. Not long ago a sandal-wood trader put in here and sent her +boat ashore, when they knocked every mother's son of the crew on the +head, and ate them afterwards. To be sure the Englishmen hadn't behaved +altogether properly, for once before when they had been here they +employed the natives to cut a cargo of sandal-wood for them; and when +they had got it on board, they refused to pay what they had promised, +saying that they would come back again, and that it would then be time +enough to talk about payment. When they saw you they thought that you +were people of the same sort, and so were going to treat you as they had +done the others." + +"I must confess," said Green, "that the Englishmen met their deserts. +But how did you manage to escape, my man; and what brought you to the +island?" + +"Arrah, yer honour, it's a long story; and about the escaping, it was a +narrow squeak I had for it. You see, when I was paid off from the +_Tudor_ at Portsmouth, I went up to London, when I entered on board an +emigrant ship bound out to Sydney. While I was on shore there one day, +and had been taking my grog pretty freely, a chap I had never set eyes +on before hailed me as an old chum, and telling me he was now skipper of +a fine schooner, axed me if I would join her, and promised that I should +fill my pockets with gold in a few months. As they were just then +turned clean inside out, and I had had my spree on shore, without more +ado I closed with him; and before I knew where I was going, I found +myself stowed away on board the schooner, which at daybreak next morning +sailed out of Sydney Harbour. The craft, I discovered, was engaged in +the sandal-wood trade, cruising among the islands, and getting it as +best she could, sometimes in one way, and sometimes in another, and very +curious ways they were. We made several trips, and each time came back +with a full cargo. At some places we got the natives to cut the wood +and bring it off, paying them with beads and trinkets when they were +content with such things; at others with rum, muskets, and powder and +shot. When no natives appeared, we went on shore ourselves to cut the +wood. + +"At last the skipper took a new dodge, for he was in no ways particular. +Having put in to a harbour where the natives were friendly, he enticed +above three dozen off, making them large promises if they would cut wood +for him, and undertaking to bring them home again as soon as they had +done the job. All seemed very fair and above board; we at once sailed +for one of the islands to the westward, which is inhabited by blacks of +a terribly fierce character, but where plenty of sandal-wood grows. +Having landed our passengers, we went on shore, well armed, to keep the +natives at bay, while they were employed in cutting the wood. They +worked well, and we quickly got a full cargo. Now, as the wind was from +the eastward, and it would have taken us a fortnight or more to beat +back to the island from which we had brought our labourers, while it was +fair for Sydney, the skipper had no fancy to lose so much time. What +did he do, therefore, but send the poor fellows back again, telling them +that they must remain and cut another cargo while he went to Sydney, and +that he would come back and take them off. Knowing the character of the +natives, they did not like this at all, and begged hard to be taken on +board, saying that they would go on to Sydney, or anywhere else, rather +than remain. In truth, it was a terribly cruel thing the skipper was +doing, and I and another man told him so, and declared that when we got +to Sydney we would make the matter known. He replied that we had better +not, but said nothing more. The long and the short of it is that the +poor brown men were left behind, and it's my belief that one and all of +them were killed and eaten, before many days were over, by the cannibal +blacks. + +"The night after we sailed it came on to blow hard, and the next morning +when I came on deck to keep my watch I was told that Ned Mole, the man I +spoke of, had been washed overboard. I had my thoughts about it, and +couldn't help saying that I was sure there had been foul play. I had +better have held my tongue. In a few hours it fell a dead calm, just as +we were off this here island. The skipper observing that he thought +there would be sandal-wood on it, had one of the boats lowered, telling +me to come in her. I, of course, went, without thinking that any harm +was intended me. As no natives were seen, we at once landed, when the +skipper ordered me to accompany him with an axe, saying that we would +have a look for sandal-wood. We had gone some distance when at length +we discovered some tree of the sort we were in search of. `Now, Casey,' +says the skipper, `do you cut as much as you think the boat's crew can +carry, and I'll go back and fetch them up. I should like to have a +sample of this wood, as it seems somewhat different to what we have got +on board.' `Ay, ay, sir,' I answered, and, taking off my jacket and +tucking up my sleeves, I began chopping away. I thought the skipper was +a long time in coming back, for I had cut even more than he was likely +to want. I waited and waited, but still saw nothing of my shipmates; at +last I began to have some uncomfortable feelings about the matter; +shouldering my axe, I made my way down to the beach. I need not tell +you, sir, how I felt when I could nowhere find the boat, and saw the +schooner standing away to the southward, for the breeze had again sprung +up. I shouted and shrieked, but she was too far off for those on board +either to see or hear me, and I then felt sure that the skipper had left +me behind on purpose, and had probably told his crew that I had been +knocked on the head by the savages, or had met with some other fate. I +was dancing about and shouting out, and tearing my hair with rage at +being so treated, when, turning round, I saw standing close to me a +dozen black fellows. They were all staring at me, wondering what I was +about. I was too full of rage to feel frightened, and so, forgetting +that they couldn't understand me, I began to tell them how I had been +treated. They jabbered away in return; and I shouted louder and louder, +thinking to make them understand what had happened; while, holding my +axe in my hand, which I flourished in the air, I leaped backwards and +forwards as if I was a madman--in truth I felt very like one. + +"At last one of the blacks, who seemed to be a chief by the big rings he +wore in his nose and ears, and the long feather stuck on the top of his +head, came forward, waving a green bough, and then, putting out his +hand, took mine, which he rubbed on his flat nose. It was a sign that +he wished to be friends; and by this time, as I had begun to get a +little cool, I saw that it would be wise to make the best of a bad +matter; so I took his hand and rubbed it on my nose, and behaved to all +the party in the same manner. From that time the blacks treated me with +great respect. Whether they had seen any other white man before that I +cannot tell; but at all events they saw that I was superior to +themselves; and maybe they took me for a prophet or a great +medicine-man, or something of that sort. The chief had fixed his eyes +on my axe, but I gave him to understand that I would not part with it; +however, wishing to please him, I took off my jacket, and made him put +it on, which pleased him amazingly, and bound him to me as a friend. It +is my belief, from what I saw of them afterwards, that if they had found +me sitting down and bemoaning my hard fate, they would have knocked me +on the head and cooked me before the day was over--so I had reason to +think myself in luck. + +"The natives, I found, lived on the other side of the island, and, for +some reason or other which I could never make out, seldom came over to +this side. They at once took me with them; and when we got to their +village, which consists of a number of small huts not much bigger than +beehives, the chief introduced me to his wives, who made me sit down on +the ground and brought me out some food, which I was very glad to get, +seeing that I was pretty hungry by this time. In return, having nothing +else to offer the chief lady, I took off my shirt and put it on her, +which pleased her as much as my jacket had her husband. It was not +pleasant to go without clothing, though I still held on to my trousers, +but it was better than being killed; and I thought that if I could make +the chief and his wife my friends, I might be able to live pretty +pleasantly among the people. I succeeded even better than I had +expected; and from that day became a sort of prime minister to the +chief, and general of his army. I found, however, that another of his +wives was jealous of the first who had got the shirt; so, thinking to +please her, I made myself this here petticoat, and presented her with my +trousers. As she didn't fancy putting them on the right way, she threw +them over her shoulders, and wears them in that fashion to this day." + +"Well, Pat, you have had indeed a narrow escape of your life," observed +Green. "Do you wish to live on with your friends?" + +"Arrah, no, yer honour, 'tisn't for a dacent man like me to desire +altogether to turn into a savinge," said Pat. "I'm mighty eager to get +back to the old country to see once more my brothers and sisters, and +the rest of the Casey family; so, if you will take me with you, and +supply me with a pair of trousers and a shirt, I'm ready to go off at +once--though I shouldn't just like to appear on board without some +dacent covering to my skin." + +"I shall be very glad to take you," said Green; "but will the chief be +willing to part with his prime minister? I'm afraid the whole country +will go to rack and ruin if you leave him." + +"I'm afeard, yer honour, that I must leave the country to look after +itself," answered Pat, with one of the broadest of his grins; "and as to +axing the chief about the matter, I'm after thinking it will be better +to take French leave, lest he may try to stop me. The weather, I see, +is moderating, and if yer honour will take my advice, you'll shove off +as soon as it is calm enough to put to sea." + +"We can't go without food, and it will take us some time to collect +enough to last till we find the ship," said Green. + +"Then I'll tell my friends that they must bring us some, for not a rap +of salary have I had since I became prime minister, and if they were to +load the boats up to the thwarts, I shouldn't be overpaid for the good I +have done the state," said Pat; and, flourishing his axe in the fashion +he had found so effective, he made his way back to where the blacks were +now seated on the ground, discussing apparently some important matter or +other. The chief listened to him for some time, and he and his people +then getting up disappeared among the trees in the distance. + +"I've done it, yer honour," said Pat, who quickly returned; "they'll +soon be back with as much we can require for some days to come." + +While the savages were away, a fire was lighted, and the remainder of +the shell-fish and the birds which Tom had shot were cooked. The boats +were also got ready, so that they might put to sea as soon as the +provisions arrived, or, in case the natives after all should prove +treacherous, shove off at a moment's notice. Green knew well the danger +of an encounter with savages armed with poisoned arrows; a shower of +such arrows might wound every one of the party, and he was aware that +even slight hurts might prove fatal. At length the blacks made their +appearance, carrying baskets containing taro, cocoanut, several other +roots and fruits, and some fish of various sizes. By Pat's directions +they were placed on the ground, when Green, not wishing to take them +without payment, collected some handkerchiefs and clasp-knives and a few +other articles, which he desired Pat to convey to the chief. This +unexpected gift afforded intense satisfaction to the savages, who would +have rushed forward and rubbed noses with the strangers, had not Pat +hinted to his friends that such a proceeding would not be appreciated by +the white men. The blacks, having set down their baskets, retired, and +they were forthwith conveyed to the boats. While the natives were +absent, Tom had wisely refilled the breakers. + +"Now's your time, yer honour," cried Casey, who feared that his friends +might suspect his intention of leaving them. The men, by Green's +directions, retired quietly to the boats, Pat trying to keep himself +concealed among them; and while they were embarking, he also jumped in +and stowed himself away in the sternsheets of Green's boat. + +"Shove off, yer honour," he shouted out, "or they'll be coming down to +stop me." + +Before the boats had got half a cable's length from the shore, the chief +discovered that his prime minister had disappeared, and, suspecting that +he had gone off with the white men, he and his tribe came rushing down +to the beach, shouting vociferously to him to come back. + +"That same is more than I intend doing," cried Pat, from the bottom of +the boat. + +The surf had by this time considerably gone down, and the sea was +sufficiently smooth to enable the boats to steer a direct course for +Santa Cruz; Green could, therefore, only hope that the ship might not +have left the harbour to look for them, as, in that case, they would in +all probability miss each other. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +JACK'S ANXIETY--SEARCH FOR THE BOATS--A WRECK DISCOVERED--THE MATE +BROUGHT OFF--MR LARGE ATTACKED BY SAVAGES--THE NATIVES PUNISHED--THE +BOATS RECOVERED--SYDNEY--THE SHIPS SAIL FOR THE SANDWICH ISLANDS--A +VISIT ON SHORE--VISIT HAWAII--SCENE OF COOK'S DEATH--TRIP TO THE CRATER +OF KILAUEA--MAGNIFICENT SCENE--TOM NEARLY LOST--RETURN ON BOARD--AGAIN +AT SEA--VANCOUVER'S ISLAND--DOINGS THERE--NEWS FROM HOME--JACK AND +TERENCE SUPERSEDED--REACH ENGLAND--FUTURE CAREER OF THE THREE +COMMANDERS--CONCLUSION. + +Jack's anxiety became very great when, after the boats had gone away in +chase of the schooner, he saw the threatening state of the weather. He +waited for some time, expecting them to return, and then ordered the +steam to be got up, intending to go in search of them; the gale, +however, increasing, and night coming on, he had but slight hopes of +success. At length the engineer reported that the steam was up, and in +spite of the risk he ran, he stood out of the harbour, steering in the +direction he supposed they had taken. Scarcely had he got outside than +the weather became worse than ever. All night long the ship continued +standing backwards and forwards over the ground where he expected to +find the boats, while, as they happened at the time to be under the lee +of the burning mountain, he of course could not see them. At daylight +he steamed back into the harbour, hoping against hope that they might +have returned, but his fear was that though the natives had behaved well +in the presence of a big ship, they might conduct themselves very +differently should a couple of boats only take shelter in their harbour. +His doubt, therefore, was whether he should remain to wait for their +arrival, or go in search of them. He did not, on his return, bring up, +but, after remaining for a short time under way, he again put to sea and +stood to the southward. A bright look-out was kept for the boats, as +also for the schooner they had chased, for it was thought possible that, +finding bad weather coming on, they might have remained on board. The +island where they actually were at the time was sighted, but no signal +being made from it, he stood on. He then visited several islands +farther to the south, on which he thought it possible they might have +landed. + +Towards evening the _Dragon_ came off a small island, the character of +the scenery being similar to that of those in the neighbourhood. As she +approached the coast, a vessel was sighted on shore with her masts gone, +and it was very evident that she was a complete wreck. + +"Should any of the people have escaped, we must do our best to help +them," observed Jack to Mildmay, as they stood looking at the wreck +through their glasses. + +"I am afraid there is very little chance of that," answered Mildmay; +"but if they should have reached the shore alive, the natives are nearly +sure to have clubbed them." + +"We shall soon ascertain the state of the case," said Jack; "in all +probability she was cast away during the gale last night, and we may +still be in time to rescue any who have remained on board." + +The _Dragon_ stood on, with the lead going, as close as it was prudent +to venture, when her head was put round, and a boat was sent away under +charge of Mr Large, who was directed to board the wreck if he could, +but on no account to venture on shore should any considerable number of +natives make their appearance. The boat pulled away, first making for +the wreck; the boatswain's proceedings were watched from the deck with +great interest. He first visited the wreck, and after he had been some +time on board, he was seen with the assistance of his men lowering a +person into the boat. He then pulled for the shore, but just as he +reached the beach, a number of savages rushed out from among the trees, +and sent a flight of arrows at their visitors. He immediately pulled +away, and came back at a rapid rate to the ship. + +"Two of the men are hit, sir, I am afraid," he said, as he came on deck; +"and an arrow has gone through the arm of the poor fellow we took out of +the wreck, who was before almost dead of hunger and wounds. There seems +now but little life in him of any sort All I can make out about the +vessel is, that she is the _Expert_, of Sydney; and from the look of her +hold, I should think that she had a number of slaves on board, though +what has become of them is more than I can tell." + +No time was lost by the surgeon in looking after the wounded men; his +great aim was to neutralise the effects of the poison. The man taken +from the wreck, notwithstanding Mr Large's report, recovered +considerably, and was able in a faint voice to answer the questions put +to him. He said he was mate of the vessel; that she was wrecked the +previous night, when the master and several of the hands had been washed +overboard; that the passengers had broken loose and made their way to +the shore, where, however, they had been attacked by the natives, who, +to the best of his belief, had killed or captured every one of them. + +"Then what became of the rest of the crew?" asked Jack. + +The mate said he thought it possible that they had got away in the boat +with the doctor and second mate, during the night when there happened to +be a lull, but of this he was uncertain. He confessed that the vessel +had been boarded by two man-of-war's boats, but the officer in command, +finding nothing to detain her, had allowed the schooner to proceed; +while they, he concluded, had returned from whence they came. Mr +Large, who was present at the examination of the mate, thought it just +possible that the boat might have left the wreck, and if so, that she +was in all probability driven on shore, when those in her must have +shared the fate of the so-called passengers. Mr Large, however, +volunteered to go on shore to try and ascertain what had really become +of the people. The ship was by this time about half a mile from the +beach, so that through a glass everything going forward on shore could +be seen. + +Soon after the boat had shoved off, a considerable body of natives +issued from among the trees, and stood gazing at her and at the ship. +They were all armed with clubs and spears and bows and arrows, but, as +they did not by their gestures show any hostile intentions, the boat +continued her course; the boatswain still hoping, apparently, to +establish friendly relations with them. As there was little or no surf, +the boat ran on to the beach; Mr Large stepped on shore, waving a white +flag in his hand, and holding out several articles which he had carried +with him as presents. On seeing this, two of the natives, placing their +weapons on the ground, advanced towards him, when he gave each of them a +present, and signed to others to come forward and receive the remainder. +As he was all the time covered by the muskets of the men in the boat, +he did not appear to consider that he was in any danger. As soon as the +natives had received their presents, they retreated to a little distance +and sat down, he imitating their example. He then, by signs, +endeavoured to make them understand that he wished to know what had +become of the people who had landed from the vessel on the rocks. They +seemed to understand him, and replied by signs that the people had gone +away into the interior. He, on this, tried to make them understand that +he wished them to be brought back. They made no reply, but talked +eagerly among themselves, and he could not tell whether they intended to +comply with his demands. Still they appeared to be as friendly as at +first. He was still sitting on the ground, waiting for their answer, +when their party was increased by several other persons, who advanced +from the larger body in the background. They were all young men, who, +though they had laid aside their bows and spears, still retained their +clubs. Having seated themselves, they made signs that they also wanted +presents; when they found that they were not forthcoming, they got up, +and, approaching the boatswain, who had also risen to his feet, one of +them tried to snatch his cap, while another seized a cutlass which he +had buckled round his waist. On this, with a blow of his fist, he +knocked the savage down, and was in the act of drawing his weapon to +defend himself, when another black, who had sprung behind him, dealt him +a blow on the head with a club, which felled him to the ground. + +So rapidly had this taken place that the boat's crew were not prepared +to fire till they saw him fall. They instantly poured in a volley, +which killed two of the savages, while the rest bounded off towards +their companions. The seamen, then reloading, sprang on shore, in the +hopes of bringing off the boatswain, whom they supposed to be killed. +All that had occurred was seen from the ship, and Jack immediately +ordered two shells to be thrown in the direction of the savages, which, +falling into their midst, just at the moment that they were drawing +their arrows to shoot at the seamen, drove them back into the forest. +The arrows thus flew wide of their mark, and the seamen were able to +convey Mr Large to the boat, and to shove off without molestation. +Several other shells were fired in the direction taken by the natives, +who immediately scampered off, leaving several dead behind them. + +On the return of the boat alongside, Mr Large was seen sitting up, when +with some assistance he managed to get on deck, notwithstanding an ugly +gash he had received at the back of his head. + +"I'll never trust those black rascals again!" he exclaimed; "they very +nearly did for me, just as I thought I was getting on so well with them. +I only hope our boats won't have landed on their shores, or they'll +receive an unpleasant welcome." + +"I trust not, Mr Large," said Jack, who, on having such evidence of the +savage disposition of the natives, was becoming more and more anxious +about Green and the midshipmen; "however, you did your best; and now you +must let the surgeon look after you, for that wound in your head is an +ugly one." + +The boat was, after this, again despatched to bring off any arms or +articles of value which could be found on board the schooner, and then, +as she was a perfect wreck, she was set on fire to prevent the savages +from benefiting by her loss. This done, the ship proceeded along the +coast, when a little farther on she opened a village which there was +every probability belonged to their late treacherous assailants. A +couple of rockets fired into it quickly set it in flames, and another +village in the neighbourhood was treated in the same manner. Jack +considered that this punishment was necessary to teach the natives that +they could not attack white men with impunity. + +Jack was by this time almost in despair of recovering the boats, but +would not yet abandon the attempt to find them. If they had escaped +foundering or being driven on a reef, they must have reached the shores +of one of the neighbouring islands; he resolved therefore to go back to +Santa Cruz, and then to steam round every island in succession, narrowly +examining their shores. The ship accordingly stood back to Santa Cruz, +though Jack scarcely expected to find the boats in the harbour. A +look-out was kept on every side, and at night blue lights were burned +frequently to attract their attention should they be in the +neighbourhood. + +In the morning watch, just before daybreak, as the ship was gliding +smoothly on with a light breeze, a hail was heard on the weather bow. +It was so faint, that had the screw been going at the time, it would not +have been noticed. Mr Mildmay, who was officer of the watch, ordered +the yards to be braced up, and kept the ship in the direction from +whence the hail came. Again it was heard louder. + +"There's no doubt about it," he exclaimed; "that must come from the +boats--call the commander." + +In a minute Jack was on deck. At length the two boats could be seen +under sail, running down towards the ship. She was immediately hove-to, +and in another minute they were alongside. Instead of the woebegone, +half-starved beings Jack expected to see, he was delighted to find them +all in good condition and excellent spirits. Green and Tom gave a rapid +account of their adventures; after leaving the island they had gone to +Santa Cruz, where, not liking the manners of the natives, after +obtaining a fresh supply of water, they immediately put to sea again in +search of the _Dragon_, which Green felt pretty sure would not be +far-off. No one was at all the worse for the adventure, and Green's old +shipmate, Pat Casey, from being able to speak the language of the +natives, proved of great assistance during the remainder of the cruise. +He, to be sure, did not always make himself understood, but that might +have been because the natives spoke a different dialect to the one he +had acquired. Numberless atrocities were brought to light, some +committed by the sandal-wood trader and kidnappers, who were generally +the aggressors; but others by the natives, who had treacherously cut off +several boats' crews and murdered numerous individuals, who had been +surprised much as was Mr Large. Where the crime could be brought home +to the natives, they were punished by the destruction of their villages +and canoes. In one or two instances in which the chiefs had been +implicated, they were carried off and left on other islands at a +distance, from whence they were not likely to be able to return. It was +a far more difficult matter to get the white men convicted and punished +for the foul deeds of which they had been guilty in these regions. + +At length the _Dragon's_ course was shaped for Sydney, where Jack had +the satisfaction of finding the _Eolus_, which had arrived a short time +before him. Adair had numerous adventures to recount, very similar to +those which the _Dragon_ had met with. The chief satisfaction they +experienced on their arrival was to receive letters from home. Their +wives were bearing their separation as well as could be expected, and +gave them very minute accounts of all their doings. Julia was living at +Halliburton, and Lucy had been paying a long visit to the admiral and +Mrs Deborah, both of whom were somewhat ailing. The admiral could +rarely do more than take a few turns on the esplanade, sitting down +between each on one of the benches facing the sea, to watch the vessels +as they ran in and out of the harbour. + +The officers of the two ships were received with much hospitality by the +inhabitants of Sydney. They were made honorary members of a club equal +to any in London, and balls, dinner-parties, and picnics were got up for +their entertainment. Indeed, after their long absence from civilised +life, they very naturally thought Sydney a magnificent city, as indeed +it is; rising as it does gradually from its superb harbour, and thus +exhibiting to advantage its fine public buildings and substantial +residences; in the suburbs were seen a number of beautiful villas, many +of considerable size, while cabs, omnibuses, and other public +conveyances, and handsome private equipages, abounded. Indeed, +carriages were kept by families who would not have dreamed of +maintaining them at home. + +Not a few of the officers made up their minds to return and settle in +the country. The midshipmen, for a wonder, did not lose their hearts-- +possibly on account of the small encouragement they received from the +young ladies, who literally and metaphorically looked down upon them, +being as a rule much taller than they were, and well able to distinguish +between the various ranks in the service. Indeed, some little +disappointment was felt when it was discovered that the two commanders +were married men. + +The ships, having filled up their coal bunks, shaped a course for the +Sandwich Islands. As it was important to husband their coal, the +greater portion of the passage was performed under sail. Numerous +islands were seen, several of them being regular coral islands, with +lagoons in the centre, not more than a couple of miles in circumference, +and some even much smaller, and rising within a few feet out of the +water. About six weeks after leaving Sydney, Oahu, in which Honolulu, +the capital of the Sandwich Islands, is situated, was sighted. The +ships ran on and came to an anchor in the outer roads, opposite the +city, which is very conspicuous from the sea, and has a somewhat +imposing appearance, with its numerous public and private edifices +spread out along the shore, and churches and tall spires in their midst. +The coast had a barren appearance, very unlike the beautiful region +everyone had expected to find it, far behind the town the land rising +into high ridges, divided by deep and narrow ravines, amid which but +little vegetation was visible; while the surf in a succession of long +rollers broke along the reefs on each side of the inner anchorage, +threatening any vessel with destruction which might have parted from her +anchors. + +The next day a portion of each ship's company got leave to go on shore. +Tom, Desmond, and Archie were once more together. As they pulled in, +they were highly delighted at seeing a party of the natives sporting in +the surf on their surf-boards; now they swam out through the breakers, +amid which it seemed impossible any human being could exist; then, +mounting to the summit of a huge roller, one of them would leap up on +his board in a standing posture, and glide down the side of the watery +hill, balancing himself in a wonderful manner. Another would perform +the same passage while sitting, or a third would throw himself full +length along his board. In the same manner they would return to the +shore, fearlessly approaching the surf, through which they made their +way to the beach. Some twenty or thirty young men and lads were thus +sporting together. + +On landing, the midshipmen were assailed by the owners of horses, much +in the same way that people landing in European cities are by porters or +drivers of vehicles. The Kanakas, as the natives are called, were +habited in every variety of costume, some fully clothed, others with +little more than pieces of native cloth round their waists; though the +women were all decently if not elegantly clad in long calico gowns, +reaching from the shoulders down to the feet, generally of gay colours. +Both men and women appeared good-natured, and ready to laugh and joke +with their visitors. There was no quarrelling about the horses; the +midshipmen were soon suited with steeds, on which they hoped to enjoy a +pleasant ride. Their party was increased by Green, who had taken charge +of another set of youngsters. All being mounted, away they galloped +across the plain at the back of the town. They had not gone far when +they overtook a cavalcade of fair damsels, seated on men's saddles, with +long skirts fastened round their waists, and their heads adorned with +wreaths of flowers. They answered the midshipmen's salutations with +shouts of laughter, and either supposing that they had had an invitation +to do so, or, which is not improbable, not thinking it necessary, they +joined company, and away midshipmen and maidens galloped with a speed +which would have tried less hardy steeds. Before long they overtook +other parties of girls; on they went till a hill was reached, over which +they scampered, descending at breakneck speed into a plain of still +larger dimensions, on the other side. Here the road compelled them to +keep closer together, as it passed between several sugar plantations. +Tom had fixed upon a pretty Kanaka as his companion, who could speak a +few words of English, as was the case with many of the others; indeed, +most of the young ladies, though not very rigid in their manners, were +fairly educated, and remarkably intelligent. Away they went for several +miles, till one of the elder damsels, looking at the sun, declared that +it was time to go back again; and, wheeling round their steeds, they +returned as fast as they had come. On nearing the town, they made signs +to the young officers to fall into the rear, while they advanced at a +more sedate pace, when they scattered in various directions to their +different homes. This was only one of their many excursions on shore. + +Honolulu is a capital city, though a small one; few cities of its size +contain more churches and schools; but, unhappily, they are not all of +one denomination, for Protestants, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics +have of late years entered the field with the Presbyterians or +Independents, by whose means the natives were converted to Christianity. +It now boasted of a cathedral and an English bishop, who, while the +ships were there, headed a grand procession, with banners, and bands +playing, terminated by a display of fireworks and healths drunk in +champagne opposite the king's palace; but whether it was of a religious +or merely social character, our midshipmen's friends were unable to +determine. + +A considerable amount of trade is carried on, the chief export being +sugar to the United States. There are merchants and inhabitants of all +nations, but by far the greater number are Americans, who hold also some +of the chief offices of State. There was a theatre, in which not only +plays but operas were performed, and there were various other places of +amusement. It was, indeed, difficult to believe that comparatively a +few years ago the country was sunk in heathen darkness; especially when +it was reported that few kingdoms are better governed, and no people, +taken as a whole, more orderly and contented. Happily for, itself, +having no harbours of sufficient size to afford shelter to men-of-war, +or which are capable of being defended, it is likely to remain as +heretofore independent, unless republican principles should prevail, and +the people involuntarily join themselves to the United States. The then +king was said to be an amiable and enlightened gentleman, as well +educated as most of the European sovereigns were but a few years ago; +and the young Dowager Queen Emma, who has English blood in her veins, +was pretty, sweet-tempered, sensible, and altogether a most excellent +and attractive person. Still, notwithstanding the attention the +officers received from the inhabitants, they agreed that Honolulu was +not a place at which they would wish to remain for any length of time. + +"Hurrah!" cried Tom, rushing into the berth one afternoon, "we are to be +off to-morrow morning for Hawaii; and if there's time, some of us will +have a chance of visiting the volcano of Kilauea, and the very spot +where Captain Cook was killed. The commander told me I might tell you. +And I advise you fellows who haven't got your clean linen off to send +for it without delay, or you may chance to have to wait for it till our +return, which I hope may be never." + +Several of Tom's messmates jumped up on hearing this to follow his +advice, as the Kanaka washerwomen were not likely to prove more honest +than those of other places, or to return "wash-clothes" before the time +agreed on. + +The next morning the two ships were steaming out of the roads. For a +few hours they brought up in the far-famed bay of Kealakeaku, on the +north side of which was a rock, protected from the swell by a point of +lava rocks, thus affording a convenient landing-place. Near it, at the +foot of a cocoanut tree, is the spot where the celebrated navigator +breathed his last; and on the still remaining stump of the tree was +nailed a sheet of copper, on which was inscribed an account of the +event. Most of the officers having visited the spot and inspected its +surroundings, with such copies of Cook's _Voyages_ in their hands as +were to be found on board, the ships steamed out again for Hilo Bay, on +the other side of the island. Round the shores appeared groves of tall +cocoanut and richly-tinted bread-fruit trees, with extensive plantations +of sugar-cane beyond; while amid them flowed numberless murmuring +streams. Above this lower level rose a succession of pasture lands, +surmounted by belts of trees, changing their character from the +vegetation of the tropics to that of the more northern regions of the +world. The country indeed sloped upwards twenty miles or more, forming +the side of an elevated tableland in the centre of the island, out of +which sprang towards the sky two mountains of prodigious height--that of +Mauna Loa, the nearest, in the form of a smooth dome; and Mauna Kea, +surmounted by nine snow-covered cones. Above the tableland appeared a +silvery cloud, showing the whereabouts of the fearful crater of Kilauea, +which it was the intention of the two commanders to visit on the +following morning. As night closed in, its position was rendered still +more visible by the glare of the ever-burning fires within the crater +reflected on the cloud. + +At early dawn, Jack and Adair, with a party of their ships' companies, +and as many of the officers as could be spared, and who wished to go, +started for the shore. Jack took Tom and Archie and Mr Mildmay, who +undertook to narrate the events of the expedition in verse. The second +lieutenant declared that he had no wish to toil up a steep mountain for +the sake of seeing a huge pit full of fire and smoke, so that he +willingly remained on board instead of the first lieutenant. Several +others, however, had more curiosity. Adair took Desmond, and three or +four of his gun-room officers and midshipmen. + +"Now, recollect that none of you must run the risk of being turned into +cinders by tumbling into the crater," observed Jack, as they were +setting off. + +"I rather think that gas would be the product of such an immersion," +observed the doctor; "there wouldn't be so much solid matter of you left +in five seconds as I could put into my snuff-box--so look out for +yourselves." + +Horses and guides were in readiness, for of late years the once +mysterious residence of the goddess Pele has become one of the lions of +the world. + +"Forward!" cried the commander, and the party trotted on, headed by +their guide. Eight miles on they passed a vast chasm, after which they +began to ascend more rapidly than before. In a short time they entered +a region of black lava with hollows in it full of water, into which the +natives on foot plunged to cool themselves. Trees, however, were still +seen which had sprung up amid the once burning mass, and bushes of +various sorts, among them strawberries, not here low plants, but vines +of large size bearing delicious fruit. Just below the edge of the +plateau was a forest, and, on rising above it, the vast dome of Mauna +Loa, of a bronze hue, rose before them, against the deep blue of a +tropical sky. They had barely time to reach the edge of the crater and +to pitch their tents, which had been sent on before, when the sun set, +and the surrounding darkness revealed two lakes of liquid fire down in +the depths of a vast basin, with perpendicular sides several miles in +circumference, and an apparently level bottom. For some time they gazed +at the scene; not a word was uttered--even the midshipmen failed to cut +a joke. No loud sounds were heard; no reports, as many of the party had +expected; but, instead, there came up from the bottom of the abyss a +low, bubbling murmur, like that emitted by a thick liquid when boiling-- +for to nothing else could it be likened. Guided by some of the natives, +Jack and Terence, with the three midshipmen, climbed down to the ledge +some hundred feet below the plateau, when they found themselves +apparently not much above the margin of the largest of the two lakes of +fire. + +"There are a good many things I would dare to do, but I shouldn't like +to jump into that," said Tom, as he watched the mighty volume of lava in +a furious state of ebullition, forming fiery waves which ran ceaselessly +across the lake towards a wide abyss to the southward. Sometimes the +whole seemed rising, and suddenly, at the distance of scarcely three +hundred yards, a vast column spouted up to the height of sixty or +seventy feet, almost as quickly subsiding; and the next instant another +rose still nearer to them, which made even Jack spring back, for so near +did it appear that he could not help fancying that it might fall upon +them. + +After watching this wonderful phenomenon for some time, the rest of the +party were very glad when Terence proposed that they should climb up +from whence they came; an operation which took them the best part of an +hour. The early part of the night was spent before they could manage to +go to sleep, and even then few of them could get the terrific scene they +had witnessed out their heads. They had not been long asleep when all +hands were aroused by a report like thunder, which came up from the vast +lake boiling beneath them. Everybody started up; Billy Blueblazes, +seizing hold of Desmond, alongside whom he was sleeping, exclaimed-- + +"Is the volcano going to burst out and smother us? Won't it be better +to run for it?" + +"Arrah, sure it will be running faster than we can," answered Desmond, +who wasn't quite comfortable, though he didn't wish to show it. + +On looking over the cliff, however, the lake was seen boiling away as +before, sending up here and there spouts of fire, which at the distance +they were below them looked like flashes from firearms at night, though +probably fifty or sixty feet in height. No one, however, felt inclined +to turn in again for some time, in spite of the cool air which circled +round them. As they looked over the crater, the shadows from its mighty +walls were cast upwards, reaching, it seemed, to the sky, and giving it +the appearance of being clothed in a dark cloud. + +"It is very fine," cried Terence at length; "but if we wish to enjoy our +ramble to-morrow, we shall be wise to get a little more sleep." + +His advice was followed. After breakfast next morning several of the +party started off to walk round the crater, while the more adventurous +ones, including the two commanders, Tom, and Desmond, with a couple of +Kanaka guides, again descended another part of the cliff to the ledge. +On looking at the spot where they had stood on the previous evening, a +thrilling sensation came over them as they observed that it had +disappeared in the burning lava below--the cause undoubtedly of the +noise which had startled them during the night. Still they were anxious +to get close down to the boiling lava, and obtain some of it in a state +of fusion. Their guide confessed that many had gone and come back safe, +but that he considered it an expedition of no slight danger. Probably +at that moment neither Jack nor Terence were thinking of their wives at +home. + +They had gone some way, when suddenly the whole mass surged upwards, and +the lava on which they were walking began to crack, while terrific +reports were heard. + +"Back! back!" cried the guide. They needed no second warning, but, +keeping apart, made for the upper ledge. All had gamed it, except Tom, +who, being at a distance from the rest, made for a part which when he +got up to it he found inaccessible. Close behind him at that moment the +crust was rent asunder by a terrific heave, and a vast jet of molten +lava, with a fearful noise, rose high into the air. Almost roasted by +the heat, he cried out for help; in another moment it would have been +too late, when the guide, hearing his voice amid the uproar, leant over, +and, just able to grasp his arm, though his own face was burnt in the +attempt, jerked him up with a strength few of Tom's companions could +have exerted, and placed him in comparative safety. Not a moment was to +be lost, for the seething mass was fast gaining on them. Up the cliffs +they climbed till they gained a place of safety. + +"We've had enough of the inside of the crater," said Jack, as he thought +how nearly Tom had been lost; and they made their way again to the upper +rim of the vast basin. The larger lake, they calculated, was 1190 yards +long and about 700 wide; the smaller nearly circular, and upwards of 300 +yards across. The lava continued rising till it overflowed a large +portion of the hitherto black surface, in some places appearing like a +vast sheet of liquid fire, in others running along in serpentine +courses. As their time was short, as soon as the party who had gone +round the crater arrived, the tents were packed up, and they commenced +their descent by the way they had come. + +The next day the ships weighed, and shaped their course for Vancouver's +Island, under sail. Jack and Terence were eager to reach their +destination, in the hopes of finding letters awaiting them there from +England. In about little more than three weeks they entered Fuca +Straits, up which they ran for about sixty miles, with magnificent +scenery on both sides, though desolate in the extreme, till they reached +Esquimault Harbour, in Vancouver's Island; about three miles from which +stands Victoria, the capital. + +Jack and Terence eagerly awaited the letter-bag, which, as soon as their +arrival was known, would be sent off to them. Jack was reading his +letters, when Adair came on board. + +"Jack," he said, "the kind old admiral and Mrs Deborah have both gone, +and have left Lucy and me the whole of their property." + +"Our good old friends dead!" exclaimed Jack, in a tone of grief; "I can +scarcely realise the fact. I can remember him from my earliest days; +always the same--kind and wise, and hearty and full of spirits. I saw a +great change in him before we left, but still hoped to be greeted by his +cheery voice on our return. How my father and mother will miss him!" + +"I especially must ever hold his memory in grateful remembrance," said +Adair, with feeling. "For Lucy's sake, I am most thankful that he and +his kind sister have left us their property, as indeed I am for my own. +I must be off for England as soon as I can get superseded, as it is +absolutely necessary to settle their affairs. I wish you had as good an +excuse as I have." + +"I heartily congratulate you, Terence," said Jack; "but I am not sure +that I shall not also have to go home before long, for Julia writes me +word that her father is very ill, and much wishes to see me. As we have +already served two years, I don't think that the Admiralty will object +to supersede us, as it will give them an opportunity of obliging some of +their friends." + +After the two young commanders had somewhat got over the sorrow they +naturally felt at hearing of the admiral's death, their spirits +recovered; and, when together, they could talk of little else than their +proposed return. They hoped to be sent down to Panama, where their +ships could wait till their successors arrived. They possibly, on this +account, took less interest in Vancouver's Island than they might +otherwise have done, though present at a naval regatta at Esquimault, +when the quiet harbour assumed a wonderfully gay appearance by the +arrival of numerous steamers and boats of various descriptions from +Victoria, and also at several cricket-matches played between the +settlers and the officers of the ships' companies, and at a ball at +Government House. The midshipmen voted the ball a decided failure as +far as they were concerned, in consequence of the small amount of +attention they received from the fairer portion of the guests; though +they considered the cricket-matches and regatta very good fun. + +At length the _Dragon_ and _Eolus_ were ordered to Panama. Soon after +their arrival, two officers, who had come across the isthmus by the +railway, made their appearance on board with the welcome information +that they were to supersede them. They were both old shipmates, in whom +they could place thorough confidence; they therefore left those who had +so long sailed with them with less regret than would have been the case +had they confided them to the charge of strangers. Notwithstanding the +distance they had to pull, their respective midshipmen begged leave to +man the boats which conveyed them on shore; and a few minutes after +landing they were seated in the railway-car, which rattled on through +the rich vegetation of the tropics, across the famed Isthmus to Colon, +the port on its eastern side. Thence proceeding by the mail steamer, +they safely reached Southampton, where Julia and Lucy were waiting to +receive them. + +The important affairs which had brought them home took some time to +settle, and, Colonel Giffard soon afterwards dying, Jack found himself +in possession of a comfortable income, which few people were better able +to enjoy. He frequently heard from Tom, who liked his new commander, +and gave an amusing account of the subsequent adventures he met with in +the Pacific. That young gentleman never alluded to the fair Feodorowna, +and in a letter Jack received from Higson, he learned that she had +married, not long after her sister, a Russian gentleman of good fortune; +though she never failed to inquire after her youthful admirer, hoping +that in ten years or so he would find an English wife to suit him. + +Dick Needham got charge of a ship in ordinary, and nothing gave him so +much delight as to receive a visit from his old shipmates, who never +failed to go and see him when they went to Portsmouth. + +Ben Snatchblock remained in charge of the _Stella_, and every summer +when Murray was at home she was to be seen trim and taut at her old +moorings off Bercaldine. The three commanders paid their wives the +compliment not to apply in a hurry for employment, though they all at +different times had commands offered them, which, however unwilling they +were to leave home, they felt it their duty to accept. They were in due +time posted, and all three are now admirals. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Three Commanders, by W.H.G. Kingston + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THREE COMMANDERS *** + +***** This file should be named 24678.txt or 24678.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/7/24678/ + +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. 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