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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Privateer's-Man, by Frederick Marryat
+
+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 Privateer's-Man
+       One hundred Years Ago
+
+Author: Frederick Marryat
+
+Release Date: June 7, 2008 [EBook #25719]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRIVATEER'S-MAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, Sam W. and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was
+produced from scanned images of public domain material
+from the Google Print project.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                          THE
+                    PRIVATEER'S-MAN
+
+                 ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
+
+
+                           BY
+
+                    CAPTAIN MARRYAT.
+
+
+ _SANCTIONED BY THE AUTHOR FOR CONTINENTAL CIRCULATION._
+
+
+
+
+LEIPZIG
+BERNH. TAUCHNITZ JUN.
+1846.
+
+
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE LOG OF A PRIVATEER'S-MAN.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+    We cruise off Hispaniola--Capture a French Ship--Continue
+    our Cruise--Make a Nocturnal Attack upon a Rich Planter's
+    Dwelling--Are repulsed with Loss.
+
+
+              _To Mistress ----._
+
+      RESPECTED MADAM,
+
+In compliance with your request I shall now transcribe from the
+journal of my younger days some portions of my adventurous life. When
+I wrote, I painted the feelings of my heart without reserve, and I
+shall not alter one word, as I know you wish to learn what my feelings
+were then, and not what my thoughts may be now. They say that in every
+man's life, however obscure his position may be, there would be a
+moral found, were it truly told. I think, Madam, when you have perused
+what I am about to write, you will agree with me, that, from my
+history, both old and young may gather profit, and, I trust, if ever
+it should be made public, that, by divine permission, such may be the
+result. Without further preface, I shall commence with a narrative of
+my cruise off Hispaniola, in the Revenge privateer.
+
+The Revenge mounted fourteen guns, and was commanded by Captain
+Weatherall, a very noted privateer's-man. One morning at daybreak we
+discovered a vessel from the masthead, and immediately made all sail
+in chase, crowding every stitch of canvas. As we neared, we made her
+out to be a large ship, deeply laden, and we imagined that she would
+be an easy prize, but as we saw her hull more out of the water she
+proved to be well armed, having a full tier of guns fore and aft. As
+it afterwards proved, she was a vessel of 600 tons burden, and mounted
+twenty-four guns, having sailed from St. Domingo, and being bound to
+France.
+
+She had been chartered by a French gentleman (and a most gallant
+fellow we found him), who had acquired a large fortune in the
+West-Indies, and was then going home, having embarked on board his
+whole property, as well as his wife and his only son, a youth of about
+seventeen. As soon as he discovered what we were, and the
+impossibility of escape from so fast a sailing vessel as the Revenge,
+he resolved to fight us to the last. Indeed, he had every thing to
+fight for; his whole property, his wife and his only child, his own
+liberty, and perhaps life, were all at stake, and he had every motive
+that could stimulate a man. As we subsequently learnt, he had great
+difficulty in inspiring the crew with an equal resolution, and it was
+not until he had engaged to pay them the value of half the cargo
+provided they succeeded in beating us off, and forcing their way in
+safety to France, that he could rouse them to their duty.
+
+Won by his example, for he told them that he did not desire any man to
+do more than he would do himself, and perhaps more induced by his
+generous offer, the French crew declared they would support him to the
+last, went cheerfully to their guns and prepared for action. When we
+were pretty near to him, he shortened sail ready for the combat,
+having tenderly forced his wife down below to await in agony the issue
+of a battle on which depended every thing so dear to her. The resolute
+bearing of the vessel, and the cool intrepidity with which they had
+hove to to await us, made us also prepare on our side for a combat
+which we knew would be severe. Although she was superior to us in
+guns, yet the Revenge being wholly fitted for war, we had many
+advantages, independent of our being very superior in men. Some few
+chase-guns were fired during our approach, when, having ranged up
+within a cable's length of her, we exchanged broadsides for half an
+hour, after which our captain determined upon boarding. We ran our
+vessel alongside, and attempted to throw our men on board, but met
+with a stout resistance. The French gentleman, who was at the head of
+his men, with his own hand killed two of our stoutest seamen, and
+mortally wounded a third, and, encouraged by his example, his people
+fought with such resolution, that after a severe struggle we were
+obliged to give it up, and retreat precipitately into our own vessel,
+leaving eight or ten of our shipmates weltering in their blood.
+
+Our captain, who had not boarded with us, was much enraged at our
+defeat, stigmatizing us as cowards for allowing ourselves to be driven
+from a deck upon which we had obtained a footing; he called upon us to
+renew the combat, and leading the way, he was the first on board of
+the vessel, and was engaged hand to hand with the brave French
+gentleman, who had already made such slaughter among our men. Brave
+and expert with his weapon as Captain Weatherall undoubtedly was, he
+for once found rather more than a match in his antagonist; he was
+slightly wounded, and would, I suspect, have had the worst of this
+hand-to-hand conflict, had not the whole of our crew, who had now
+gained the deck, and were rushing forward, separated him from his
+opponent. Out-numbered and over-matched, the French crew fought most
+resolutely, but notwithstanding their exertions, and the gallant
+conduct of their leader, we succeeded in driving them back to the
+quarter-deck of the vessel. Here the combat was renewed with the
+greatest obstinacy, they striving to maintain this their last hold,
+and we exerting ourselves to complete our conquest. The Frenchmen
+could retreat no further, and our foremost men were impelled against
+them by those behind them crowding on to share in the combat. Retreat
+being cut off, the French struggled with all the animosity and rage of
+mingled hate and despair; while we, infuriated at the obstinate
+resistance, were filled with vengeance and a thirst for blood. Wedged
+into one mass, we grappled together, for there was no room for fair
+fighting, seeking each other's hearts with shortened weapons,
+struggling and falling together on the deck, rolling among the dead
+and the dying, or trodden underfoot by the others who still
+maintained the combat with unabated fury.
+
+Numbers at last prevailed; we had gained a dear-bought victory--we
+were masters of the deck, we had struck the colours, and were
+recovering our lost breaths after this very severe contest, and
+thought ourselves in full possession of the ship; but it proved
+otherwise. The first lieutenant of the privateer and six of us, had
+dashed down the companion, and were entering the cabin in search of
+plunder, when we found opposed to our entrance, the gallant French
+gentleman, supported by his son, the captain of the vessel, and five
+of the French sailors; behind them was the French gentleman's wife, to
+whose protection they had devoted themselves. The lieutenant, who
+headed us, offered them quarter, but stung to madness at the prospect
+of the ruin and of the captivity which awaited him, the gentleman
+treated the offer with contempt, and rushing forward attacked our
+lieutenant, beating down his guard, and was just about to pierce him
+with the lunge which he made, when I fired my pistol at him to save
+the life of my officer. The ball entered his heart, and thus died one
+of the bravest men I ever encountered. His son at the same time was
+felled to the deck with a pole-axe, when the remainder threw
+themselves down on the deck, and cried for quarter. So enraged were
+our men at this renewal of the combat, that it required all the
+efforts and authority of the lieutenant to prevent them from
+completing the massacre by taking the lives of those who no longer
+resisted. But who could paint the condition of that unhappy lady who
+had stood a witness of the horrid scene--her eyes blasted with the
+sight of her husband slain before her face, her only son groaning on
+the deck and weltering in his blood; and she left alone, bereft of all
+that was dear to her; stripped of the wealth she was that morning
+mistress of, now a widow, perhaps childless, a prisoner, a beggar, and
+in the hands of lawless ruffians, whose hands were reeking with her
+husband's and offspring's blood, at their mercy, and exposed to every
+evil which must befal a beautiful and unprotected female from those
+who were devoid of all principle, all pity, and all fear! Well might
+the frantic creature rush, as she did, upon our weapons, and seek
+that death which would have been a mercy and a blessing. With
+difficulty we prevented her from injuring herself, and, after a
+violent struggle, nature yielded, and she sank down in a swoon on the
+body of her husband, dabbling her clothes and hair in the gore which
+floated on the cabin-deck. This scene of misery shocked even the
+actors in it. Our sailors, accustomed as they were to blood and
+rapine, remained silent and immoveable, resting upon their weapons,
+their eyes fixed upon the unconscious form of that unhappy lady.
+
+The rage of battle was now over, our passions had subsided, and we
+felt ashamed of a conquest purchased with such unutterable anguish.
+The noise of this renewed combat had brought down the captain; he
+ordered the lady to be taken away from this scene of horror, and to be
+carefully tended in his own cabin; the wound of the son, who was found
+still alive, was immediately dressed, and the prisoners were secured.
+I returned on deck, still oppressed with the scene I had witnessed,
+and when I looked round me, and beheld the deck strewed with the dead
+and dying--victors and vanquished indiscriminately mixed up
+together--the blood of both nations meeting on the deck and joining
+their streams--I could not help putting the question to myself, "Can
+this be right and lawful--all this carnage to obtain the property of
+others, and made legal by the quarrels of kings?" Reason, religion,
+and humanity, answered, "No."
+
+I remained uneasy and dissatisfied, and felt as if I were a murderer;
+and then I reflected how this property, thus wrested from its former
+possessor, who might, if he had retained it, have done much good with
+it, would now be squandered away in riot and dissipation, in
+purchasing crime and administering to debauchery. I was young then,
+and felt so disgusted and so angry with myself and everybody else,
+that if I had been in England, I probably should never again have put
+my foot on board of a privateer.
+
+But employment prevented my thinking; the decks had to be cleaned, the
+bodies thrown overboard, the blood washed from the white planks, the
+wounded to be removed, and their hurts dressed, the rigging and other
+damages to be repaired, and when all this had been done, we made sail
+for Jamaica with our prize. Our captain, who was as kind and gentle to
+the vanquished as he was brave and resolute in action, endeavoured by
+all the means he could think of to soften the captivity and sufferings
+of the lady. Her clothes, jewels, and every thing belonging to her,
+were preserved untouched; he would not even allow her trunks to be
+searched, and would have secured for her even all her husband's
+personal effects, but the crew had seized upon them as plunder, and
+refused to deliver them up. I am almost ashamed to say that the sword
+and watch of her husband fell to my lot, and whether from my wearing
+the sword, or from having seen me fire the pistol which had killed
+him, the lady always expressed her abhorrence of me whenever I entered
+her presence. Her son recovered slowly from his wound, and, on our
+arrival at Port Royal, was permitted by the admiral to be sent to the
+King's Hospital, and the lady, who was most tenderly attached to him,
+went on shore and remained at the Hospital to attend upon him. I was
+glad when she was gone, for I knew how much cause she had for her
+hatred of me, and I could not see her without remorse. As soon as we
+had completed our repairs, filled up our provisions and water, we
+sailed upon another cruise, which was not so successful, as you will
+presently perceive.
+
+For five or six weeks we cruised without success, and our people began
+to grumble, when one morning our boats in shore off Hispaniola
+surprised a small schooner. A negro who was among the prisoners
+offered to conduct us through the woods by night to the house of a
+very rich planter, which was situated about three miles from a small
+bay, and at some distance from the other plantations. He asserted that
+we might there get very valuable plunder, and, moreover, obtain a
+large ransom for the planter and his family, besides bringing away as
+many of the negro slaves as we pleased.
+
+Our captain, who was tired of his ill-success, and who hoped also to
+procure provisions, which we very much wanted, consented to the
+negro's proposal, and standing down abreast of the bay, which was in
+the Bight of Lugan, he ran in at dark, and anchoring close to the
+shore, we landed with forty men, and, guided by the negro, we
+proceeded through the woods to the house. The negro was tied fast to
+one of our stoutest and best men, for fear he should give us the slip.
+It was a bright moonlight; we soon arrived, and surrounding the house,
+forced our way in without opposition. Having secured the negroes in
+the out-houses, and placed guards over them, and videttes on the
+look-out to give timely notice of any surprise, we proceeded to our
+work of plunder. The family, consisting of the old planter and his
+wife, and his three daughters, two of them very beautiful, was secured
+in one room. No words can express their terror at thus finding
+themselves so suddenly in the power of a set of ruffians, from whose
+brutality they anticipated every evil. Indeed the horrid excesses
+committed by the privateers'-men, when they landed on the coast, fully
+justified their fears, for as this system of marauding is considered
+the basest of all modern warfare, no quarter is ever given to those
+who are taken in the attempt. In return, the privateers'-men hesitate
+at no barbarity when engaged in such enterprises.
+
+Dumb with astonishment and terror, the old couple sat in silent agony,
+while the poor girls, who had more evils than death to fear, drowned
+in their tears, fell at the captain's feet and embraced his knees,
+conjuring him to spare and protect them from his men.
+
+Captain Weatherall, who was, as I have before stated, a generous and
+humane man, raised them up, assuring them, on his word, that they
+should receive no insult, and as his presence was necessary to direct
+the motions of his people, he selected me, as younger and less brutal
+than most of his crew, as a guard over them, menacing me with death if
+I allowed any man to enter the room until he returned, and ordering me
+to defend them with my life from all insults. I was then young and
+full of enthusiasm; my heart was kind, and I was pure in comparison
+with the major portion of those with whom I was associated.
+
+I was delighted with the office confided to me, and my heart leaped at
+having so honourable an employment. I endeavoured by every means in my
+power to dissipate their terrors and soothe their anxious minds; but
+while I was thus employed, an Irish seaman, distinguished even
+amongst our crew for his atrocities, came to the door, and would have
+forced his entrance. I instantly opposed him, urging the captain's
+most positive commands; but, having obtained a sight of the young
+females, he swore with a vile oath that he would soon find out whether
+a boy like me was able to oppose him, and finding that I would not
+give way, he attacked me fiercely. Fortunately, I had the advantage of
+position, and supported by the justice of my cause, I repelled him
+with success. But he renewed the attack, while the poor young women
+awaited the issue of the combat with trembling anxiety--a combat on
+which depended, in all probability, their honour and their lives. At
+last I found myself very hard pushed, for I had received a wound on my
+sword arm, and I drew a pistol from my belt with my left-hand, and
+fired it, wounding him in the shoulder. Thus disabled, and fearing at
+the same time that the report would bring back the captain, whom he
+well knew would not be trifled with, he retired from the door vowing
+vengeance. I then turned to the young women, who had witnessed the
+conflict in breathless suspense, encircled in the arms of the poor old
+couple, who had rushed towards them at the commencement of the fray,
+offering them their useless shelter. Privateer's-man as I was, I could
+not refrain from tears at the scene. I again attempted to reassure
+them, pledged myself in the most solemn manner to forfeit my life if
+necessary for their protection, and they in some degree regained their
+confidence. They observed the blood trickling down my fingers from the
+wound which I had received, and the poor girls stained their
+handkerchiefs with it in the attempts to staunch the flow.
+
+But this scene was soon interrupted by an alarm. It appeared that a
+negro had contrived to escape and to rouse the country. They had
+collected together from the other plantations, and our party being, as
+is usually the case when plunder is going on, very negligent, the
+videttes were surprised, and had hardly time to escape and apprise us
+of our danger. There was not a moment to be lost; our safety depended
+upon an immediate retreat. The captain collected all hands, and while
+he was getting them together that the retreat might be made in good
+order, the old planter who, by the report of the fire-arms and the
+bustle and confusion without, guessed what had taken place, pressed me
+to remain with them, urging the certainty of our men being
+overpowered, and the merciless consequences which would ensue. He
+pledged himself with his fingers crossed in the form of the crucifix,
+that he would procure me safe quarter, and that I should ever enjoy
+his protection and friendship. I refused him kindly but firmly, and he
+sighed and said no more. The old lady put a ring on my finger, which
+she took from her own hand, and kissing my forehead, told me to look
+at that ring, and continue to do good and act nobly as I had just
+done.
+
+I waved my hand, for I had no time even to take the proffered hands of
+the young ones, and hastened to join my shipmates already on the
+retreat, and exchanging shots with our pursuers. We were harassed by a
+multitude, but they were a mixed company of planters, mulattoes, and
+slaves, and not half of them armed, and we easily repelled their
+attacks, whenever they came to close quarters. Their violent
+animosity, however, against us and our evil doings, induced them to
+follow close at our heels, keeping up a galling irregular fire, and
+endeavouring to detain us until we might be overpowered by their
+numbers, every minute increasing, for the whole country had been
+raised, and were flocking in. This our captain was well aware of, and
+therefore made all the haste that he could, without disturbing the
+regularity of his retreat, to where our boats were lying, as should
+they be surprised and cut off, our escape would have been impossible.
+Notwithstanding all his care, several of our men were separated from
+us by the intricacies of the wood, or from wounds which they had
+received, and which prevented them from keeping up with us. At last,
+after repelling many attacks, each time more formidable than the
+preceding, we gained our boats, and embarking with the greatest
+precipitation, we put off for the schooner. The enemy, emboldened by
+our flight, flocked down in great numbers to the water's edge, and we
+had the mortification to hear our stragglers, who had been captured,
+imploring for mercy; but groans and then silence too plainly informed
+us that mercy had been denied.
+
+Captain Weatherall was so enraged at the loss of his men that he
+ordered us to pull back and attack the enemy on the beach, but we
+continued to pull for the schooner, regardless of his threats and
+entreaties. A panic had seized us all, as well it might. We even
+dreaded the ill-aimed and irregular fire which they poured upon us,
+which under other circumstances would have occasioned only laughter.
+The schooner had been anchored only two hundred yards from the beach,
+and we were soon on board. They continued to fire from the shore, and
+the balls passed over us. We put a spring upon our cable, warped our
+broadside to the beach, and loading every gun with grape and
+cannister, we poured a whole broadside upon our assailants. From the
+shrieks and cries, the carnage must have been very great. The men
+would have reloaded and fired again, but the captain forbade them,
+saying, "We have done too much already." I thought so too. He then
+ordered the anchor to be weighed, and with a fresh land-breeze, we
+were soon far away from this unlucky spot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+    We are pursued by Two Schooner-Privateers, and failing to
+    escape them a terrible Contest ensues--Three Acts of a
+    Murderous Naval Drama--We are worsted--Captain Weatherall
+    is killed--I am plundered and wounded.
+
+
+About six weeks after the unlucky affair before described, we met with
+a still greater disaster. We had cruised off the Spanish Main and
+taken several prizes; shortly after we had manned the last and had
+parted company, the Revenge being then close in shore, a fresh gale
+sprung up, which compelled us to make all sail to clear the land. We
+beat off shore during the whole of the night, when the weather
+moderated, and at daybreak we found out that we had not gained much
+offing, in consequence of the current; but what was more important,
+the man who went to the look-out at the masthead, hailed the deck,
+saying there were two sail in the offing. The hands were turned up to
+make sail in chase, but we found that they were resolutely bearing
+down upon us; and as we neared each other fast, we soon made them out
+to be vessels of force. One we knew well--she was the Esperance, a
+French schooner-privateer of sixteen guns, and one hundred and
+twenty-men; the other proved to be a Spanish schooner-privateer,
+cruising in company with her, of eighteen guns, and full manned.
+
+Now our original complement of men had been something more than one
+hundred, but by deaths, severe wounds in action, and manning our
+prizes, our actual number on board was reduced to fifty-five effective
+men. Finding the force so very superior, we made every attempt with
+sails and sweeps to escape, but the land to leeward of us, and their
+position to windward, rendered it impossible. Making, therefore, a
+virtue of necessity, we put a good face upon it, and prepared to
+combat against such desperate odds.
+
+Captain Weatherall, who was the life and soul of his crew, was not
+found wanting on such an emergency. With the greatest coolness and
+intrepidity, he gave orders to take in all the small sails, and
+awaited the coming down of the enemy. When every thing was ready for
+the unequal conflict, he ordered all hands aft, and endeavoured to
+inspire us with the same ardour which animated himself. He reminded us
+that we had often fought and triumphed over vessels of much greater
+force than our own; that we had already beaten off the French
+privateer on a former occasion; that the Spaniard was not worth
+talking about except to swell the merits of the double victory, and
+that if once we came hand to hand our cutlasses would soon prove our
+superiority. He reminded us that our only safety depended upon our own
+manhood; for we had done such mischief on the coast, and our recent
+descent upon the plantation was considered in such a light, that we
+must not expect to receive quarter if we were overcome. Exhorting us
+to behave well, and to fight stoutly, he promised us the victory. The
+men had such confidence in the captain that we returned him three
+cheers, when, dismissing us to our quarters, he ordered St. George's
+ensign to be hoisted at the main-masthead, and hove to for the enemy.
+
+The French schooner was the first which ranged up alongside; the wind
+was light, and she came slowly down to us. The captain of her hailed,
+saying that his vessel was the Esperance, and our captain replied that
+he knew it, and that they also knew that his was the Revenge. The
+French captain, who had hove to, replied very courteously that he was
+well aware what vessel it was, and also of the valour and
+distinguished reputation of Captain Weatherall, upon which, Captain
+Weatherall, who stood on the gunnel, took off his hat in
+acknowledgment of the compliment.
+
+Now Captain Weatherall was well known, and it was also well known that
+the two vessels would meet with a severe resistance, which it would be
+as well to avoid, as even if they gained the victory, it would not be
+without great loss of men. The French captain therefore addressed
+Captain Weatherall again, and said he hoped, now that he was opposed
+to so very superior a force, he would not make a useless resistance,
+but as it would be no disgrace to him, and would save the lives of
+many of his brave men, his well known humanity would induce him to
+strike his colours.
+
+To this request our commander gave a gallant and positive refusal. The
+vessels lay now close to each other, so that a biscuit might have been
+thrown on board of either. A generous expostulation ensued, which
+continued till the Spanish vessel was a short distance astern of us.
+
+"You now see our force," said the French captain. "Do not fight
+against impossible odds, but spare your brave and devoted men."
+
+"In return for your kind feeling towards me," replied Captain
+Weatherall, "I offer you both quarter, and respect to private
+property, upon hauling down your colours."
+
+"You are mad, Captain Weatherall," said the French captain.
+
+"You allow that I have lived bravely," replied Captain Weatherall;
+"you shall find that I will conquer you, and if necessary I will also
+die bravely. We will now fight. In courtesy, I offer you the first
+broadside."
+
+"Impossible," said the French captain, taking off his hat.
+
+Our captain returned the salute, and then slipping down from the
+gunwale, ordered the sails to be filled, and, after a minute to give
+the Frenchman time to prepare, he fired off in the air the fusee,
+which he held in his hand, as a signal for the action to begin. We
+instantly commenced the work of death by pouring in a broadside. It
+was returned with equal spirit, and a furious cannonading ensued for
+several minutes, when the Spaniard ranged up on our lee quarter with
+his rigging full of men to board us. Clapping our helm a-weather and
+hauling our fore sheets to windward, we fell off athwart his hawse,
+and raked him with several broadsides fore and aft; our guns having
+been loaded with langridge and lead bullets, and his men being crowded
+together forward, ready to leap on board of us, her deck became a
+slaughter-house. The officers endeavoured in vain to animate their
+men, who, instead of gaining our decks, were so intimidated by the
+carnage that they forsook their own. The Frenchman perceiving the
+consternation and distress of his consort, to give her an opportunity
+of extricating herself from her perilous condition, now put his helm
+a-weather, ran us on board, and poured in his men; but we were well
+prepared, and soon cleared our decks of the intruders. In the meantime
+the Spaniard, by cutting away our rigging, in which his bowsprit was
+entangled, swung clear of us, and fell away to leeward. The Frenchman
+perceiving this, sheered off, and springing his luff, shot ahead clear
+of us. Such was the first act of this terrible drama. We had as yet
+sustained little damage, the enemy's want of skill and our own good
+fortune combined, having enabled us to take them at such a
+disadvantage.
+
+But although inspirited by such a prosperous beginning, our
+inferiority in men was so great that our captain considered it his
+duty to make all sail in hopes of being able to avoid such an unequal
+combat. This our enemies attempted to prevent by a most furious
+cannonade, which we received and returned without flinching, making a
+running fight of it, till at last our fore yard and foretop-mast being
+shot away, we had no longer command of the vessel. Finding that,
+although we were crippled and could not escape, our fire continued
+unabated, both the vessels again made preparations for boarding us,
+while we on our part prepared to give them a warm reception.
+
+As we knew that the Frenchman, who was our most serious opponent, must
+board us on our weather bow, we traversed over four of our guns loaded
+to the muzzle with musket balls to receive him, and being all ready
+with our pateraroes and hand grenades, we waited for the attack. As he
+bore down for our bows, with all his men clinging like bees, ready for
+the spring, our guns were discharged and the carnage was terrible. The
+men staggered back, falling down over those who had been killed or
+wounded, and it required all the bravery and example of the French
+captain, who was really a noble fellow, to rally the remainder of his
+men, which at last he succeeded in doing, and about forty of them
+gained our forecastle, from which they forced our weak crew, and
+retained possession, not following up the success, but apparently
+wailing till they were seconded by the Spaniard's boarding us on our
+lee quarter, which would have placed us between two fires, and
+compelled us to divide our small force.
+
+By this time the wind, which had been light, left us, and it was
+nearly a calm, with a swell on the sea, which separated the two
+vessels; the Spaniard, who was ranging up under our lee, having but
+little way and not luffing enough, could not fetch us, but fell off
+and drifted to leeward. The Frenchmen who had been thrown on board,
+and who retained possession of our forecastle, being thus left without
+support from their own vessel, which had been separated from us by the
+swell, or from the Spaniard, which had fallen to leeward, we gave
+three cheers, and throwing a number of hand-grenades in among them, we
+rushed forward with our half-pikes, and killed or drove every soul of
+them overboard, one only, and he wounded in the thigh, escaped by
+swimming back to his own vessel. Here, then, was a pause in the
+conflict, and thus ended, I may say, the second act.
+
+Hitherto the battle had been fought with generous resolution; but
+after this hand-to-hand conflict, and the massacre with which it
+ended, both sides appeared to have been roused to ferocity. A most
+infernal cannonade was now renewed by both our antagonists, and
+returned by us with equal fury; but it was now a dead calm, and the
+vessels rolled so much with the swell, that the shot were not so
+effective. By degrees we separated more and more from our enemies, and
+the firing was now reduced to single guns. During this partial
+cessation our antagonists had drawn near to each other, although at a
+considerable distance from us. We perceived that the Spaniard was
+sending two of his boats full of men to supply the heavy loss
+sustained by his comrade. Captain Weatherall ordered the sweeps out,
+and we swept our broadside to them, trying by single guns to sink the
+boats as they went from one vessel to the other. After two or three
+attempts, a gun was successful; the shot shattered the first of the
+boats, which instantly filled and went down. The second boat pulled up
+and endeavoured to save the men, but we now poured our broadside upon
+them, and, daunted by the shot flying about them, they sought their
+own safety by pulling back to the vessel, leaving their sinking
+companions to their fate. Failing in this attempt, both vessels
+recommenced their fire upon us, but the distance and the swell of the
+sea prevented any execution, and at last they ceased firing, waiting
+till a breeze should spring up which might enable them to renew the
+contest with better success.
+
+At this time it was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and the
+combat had lasted about five hours. We refreshed ourselves after the
+fatigue and exertion which we had undergone, and made every
+preparation for a renewal of the fight. During the engagement we were
+so excited, that we had no time to think; but now that we were cool
+again and unoccupied, we had time to reflect upon our position, and we
+began to feel dejected and apprehensive. Fatigued with exertion, we
+were weak and dispirited. We knew that our best men were slain or
+groaning under their severe wounds, that the enemy were still
+numerous, and as they persevered after so dreadful a slaughter, that
+they were of unquestionable bravery and resolution. Good fortune, and
+our captain's superior seamanship had, up to the present, enabled us
+to make a good fight, but fortune might desert us, and our numbers
+were so reduced, that if the enemy continued resolute, we must be
+overpowered. Our gallant captain perceived the despondency that
+prevailed, and endeavoured to remove it by his own example and by
+persuasion. After praising us for the resolution and courage we had
+already shown, he pointed out to us that whatever might be the
+gallantry of the officers, it was clear that the men on board of the
+opposing vessels were awed by their heavy loss and want of success,
+and that if they made one more attempt to take us by the board and
+failed, which he trusted they would do, no persuasion would ever
+induce them to try it again, and the captains of the vessels would
+give over such an unprofitable combat. He solemnly averred that the
+colours should never be struck while he survived, and demanded who
+amongst us were base enough to refuse to stand by them. Again we gave
+him three cheers, but our numbers were few, and the cheers were faint
+compared with the first which had been given, but still we were
+resolute, and determined to support our captain and the honour of our
+flag. Captain Weatherall took care that this feeling should not
+subside--he distributed the grog plentifully; at our desire he nailed
+the colours to the mast, and we waited for a renewal of the combat
+with impatience. At four o'clock in the afternoon a breeze sprang up,
+and both vessels trimmed their sails and neared us fast--not quite in
+such gallant trim as in the morning it is true--but they appeared now
+to have summoned up a determined resolution. Silently they came up,
+forcing their way slowly through the water; not a gun was fired, but
+the gaping mouths of the cannon, and their men motionless at their
+quarters, portended the severity of the struggle which was now to
+decide this hitherto well-contested trial for victory. When within
+half a cable's length, we saluted them with three cheers, they
+returned our defiance, and running up on each side of us, the combat
+was renewed with bitterness.
+
+The Frenchman would not this time lay us on board until he was certain
+that the Spaniard had boarded us to leeward--he continued luffing to
+windward and plying us with broadsides until we were grappled with the
+Spaniard, and then he bore down and laid his gunwale on our bow. The
+Spaniard had already boarded us on the quarter, and we were repelling
+this attack, when the Frenchman laid us on the bow. We fought with
+desperation, and our pikes gave us such an advantage over the swords
+and knives of the Spaniards, that they gave ground, and appalled by
+the desperate resistance they encountered, quitted our decks strewed
+with their dead and dying shipmates, and retreated in confusion to
+their own vessel. But before this repulse had been effected, the
+French had boarded us on the weather-bow, and driving before them the
+few men who had been sent forward to resist them, had gained our main
+deck, and forced their way to the rise of the quarter-deck, where all
+our remaining men were now collected. The combat was now desperate,
+but after a time our pikes, and the advantage of our position,
+appeared to prevail over numbers. We drove them before us--we had
+regained the main deck, when our brave commander, who was at our head,
+and who had infused spirit into us all, received a bullet through his
+right wrist; shifting his sword into his left hand, he still pressed
+forward encouraging us, when a ball entered his breast and he dropped
+dead. With his fall, fell the courage and fortitude of his crew so
+long sustained--and to complete the mischief, the lieutenant and two
+remaining officers also fell a few seconds after him. Astonished and
+terrified, the men stopped short in their career of success, and
+wildly looked round for a leader. The French, who had retreated to the
+forecastle, perceiving our confusion, renewed the attack, our few
+remaining men were seized with a panic, and throwing down our arms, we
+asked for quarter where a moment before victory was in our hands--such
+was the finale of our bloody drama.
+
+Out of fifty-five men twenty-two had been killed in this murderous
+conflict, and almost all the survivors desperately or severely
+wounded. Most of the remaining crew after we had cried for quarter
+jumped down the hatchway, to avoid the cutlasses of their enraged
+victors. I and about eight others, having been driven past the
+hatchway, threw down our arms and begged for quarter, which we had
+little reason to expect would be shown to us. At first no quarter was
+given by our savage enemies, who cut down several of our disarmed men
+and hacked them to pieces. Perceiving this, I got on the gunwale ready
+to jump overboard, in the hopes of being taken up after the slaughter
+had ceased, when a French lieutenant coming up protected us, and
+saved the poor remains of our crew from the fury of his men. Our
+lives, however, were all he counted upon preserving--we were instantly
+stripped and plundered without mercy. I lost every thing I possessed;
+the watch, ring, and sword I had taken from the gallant Frenchman were
+soon forced from me, and not stripping off my apparel fast enough to
+please a Mulatto sailor, I received a blow with the butt-end of a
+pistol under the left ear, which precipitated me down the hatchway,
+near which I was standing, and I fell senseless into the hold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+    We are sent in, on board the Revenge and treated with
+    great cruelty--Are afterwards recaptured by the Hero
+    privateer, and retaliate on the French--I am taken to
+    the hospital at Port Royal, where I meet the French
+    lady--Her savage exultation at my condition--She is
+    punished by one of my comrades.
+
+
+On coming to my senses, I found myself stripped naked, and suffering
+acute pain. I found that my right arm was broken, my shoulder severely
+injured by my fall; and as I had received three severe cutlass-wounds
+during the action, I had lost so much blood that I had not strength to
+rise or do any thing for myself. There I lay, groaning and naked, upon
+the ballast of the vessel, at times ruminating upon the events of the
+action, upon the death of our gallant commander, upon the loss of our
+vessel, of so many of our comrades, and of our liberty. After some
+time the surgeon, by the order of the French commander, came down to
+dress my wounds. He treated me with the greatest barbarity. As he
+twisted about my broken limb I could not help crying at the anguish
+which he caused me. He compelled me to silence by blows and
+maledictions, wishing I had broken my rascally neck rather than he
+should have been put to the trouble of coming down to dress me.
+However, dress me he did, out of fear of his captain, who, he knew
+well, would send round to see if he had executed his orders, and then
+he left me with a kick in the ribs by way of remembrance. Shortly
+afterwards the vessels separated. Fourteen of us, who were the most
+severely hurt, were left in the Revenge, which was manned by an
+officer and twenty Frenchmen, with orders to take her into
+Port-au-Paix. The rest of our men were put on board of the French
+privateer, who sailed away in search of a more profitable adventure.
+
+About an hour after they had made sail on the vessel, the officer who
+had charge of her, looking down the hatchway, and perceiving my naked
+and forlorn condition, threw me a pair of trousers, which had been
+rejected by the French seamen as not worth having, and a check shirt,
+in an equally ragged condition, I picked up in the hold; this, with a
+piece of old rope to tie round my neck as a sling for my broken arm,
+was my whole wardrobe. In the evening I gained the deck, that I might
+be refreshed by the breeze, which cooled my feverish body and somewhat
+restored me.
+
+We remained in this condition for several days, tortured with pain,
+but more tortured, perhaps, by the insolence and bragging of the
+Frenchmen, who set no bounds to their triumph and self-applause. Among
+those who had charge of the prize were two, one of whom had my watch
+and the other my ring; the first would hold it to me grinning, and
+asking if Monsieur would like to know what o'clock it was; and the
+other would display the ring, and tell me that his sweetheart would
+value it when she knew that it was taken from a conquered Englishman.
+This was their practice every day, and I was compelled to receive
+their gibes without venturing a retort.
+
+On the eleventh day after our capture, when close to Port-au-Paix, and
+expecting we should be at anchor before nightfall, we perceived a
+great hurry and confusion on deck; they were evidently making all the
+sail that they could upon the vessel; and then hearing them fire off
+their stern-chasers, we knew for certain that they were pursued.
+Overjoyed at the prospect of being released, we gave three cheers. The
+French from the deck threatened to fire down upon us, but we knew that
+they dared not, for the Revenge was so crippled in the fight, that
+they could not put sail upon her so as to escape, and their force on
+board was too small to enable them to resist if overtaken--we
+therefore continued our exulting clamours. At last we heard guns
+fired, and the shot whizzing over the vessel--a shot or two struck our
+hull, and soon afterwards a broadside being poured into us, the
+Frenchmen struck their colours, and we had the satisfaction of seeing
+all these Gasconaders driven down into the hold to take our places. It
+was now their turn to be dejected and downcast, and for us to be
+merry; and now also the tables had to be turned, and we took the
+liberty of regaining possession of our clothes and other property
+which they carried on their backs and in their pockets. I must say we
+showed them no mercy.
+
+"What o'clock is it, Monsieur?" said I to the fellow who had my watch.
+
+"At your service, Sir," he replied, humbly taking out my watch, and
+presenting it to me.
+
+"Thank you," said I, taking the watch, and saluting him with a kick in
+the stomach, which made him double up and turn round from me, upon
+which I gave him another kick in the rear to straighten him again.
+"That ring, Monsieur, that your sweetheart will prize."
+
+"Here it is," replied the fellow, abjectly.
+
+"Thank you, Sir," I replied, saluting him with the double kick which I
+had given to the former. "Tell your sweetheart I sent her those,"
+cried I, "that is, when you get back to her."
+
+"Hark ye, brother," cries one of our men, "I'll trouble you for that
+jacket which you borrowed of me the other day, and in return here are
+a pair of iron garters (holding out the shackles), which you must wear
+for my sake--I think they will fit you well."
+
+"Mounseer," cries another, "that wig of mine don't suit your complexion,
+I'll trouble you for it. It's a pity such a face as yours should be
+disfigured in those curls. And while you are about it, I'll thank you
+to strip altogether, as I think your clothes will fit me, and are much
+too gay for a prisoner."
+
+"I was left naked through your kindness the other day," said I to
+another, who was well and smartly dressed, "I'll thank you to strip to
+your skin, or you shall have no skin left." And I commenced with my
+knife cutting his ears as if I would skin them.
+
+It was a lucky hit of mine, for in his sash I found about twenty
+doubloons. He would have saved them, and held them tight, but after my
+knife had entered his side about half an inch, he surrendered the
+prize. After we had plundered and stripped them of every thing, we set
+to to kick them, and we did it for half an hour so effectually that
+they were all left groaning in a heap on the ballast, and we then
+found our way on deck.
+
+The privateer which had recaptured us proved to be the Hero, of New
+Providence; the Frenchmen were taken out, and some of her own men put
+in to take us to Port Royal; we being wounded, and not willing to join
+her, remained on board. On our arrival at Port Royal, we obtained
+permission to go to the King's Hospital to be cured. As I went up
+stairs to the ward allotted to me, I met the French lady whose husband
+had been killed, and who was still nursing her son at the hospital,
+his wounds not having been yet cured. Notwithstanding my altered
+appearance, she knew me again immediately, and seeing me pale and
+emaciated, with my arm in a sling, she dropped down on her knees and
+thanked God for returning upon our heads a portion of the miseries we
+had brought upon her. She was delighted when she heard how many of us
+had been slain in the murderous conflict, and even rejoiced at the
+death of poor Captain Weatherall, which, considering how very kind and
+considerate he had been to her, I thought to be very unchristian.
+
+It so happened that I was not only in the same ward, but in the cradle
+next to her son, and the excitement I had been under when we were
+recaptured, and my exertion in kicking the Frenchmen, had done me no
+good. A fever was the consequence, and I suffered dreadfully, and she
+would look at me, exulting in my agony, and mocking my groans, till at
+last the surgeon told her it was by extreme favour that her son had
+been admitted into the hospital instead of being sent to prison, and
+that if she did not behave herself in a proper manner, he would order
+her to be denied admittance altogether, and that if she dared to
+torment suffering men in that way, on the first complaint on my part,
+her son should go to the gaol and finish his cure there. This brought
+her to her senses, and she begged pardon, and promised to offend no
+more, but she did not keep her word for more than a day or two, but
+laughed out loud when the surgeon was dressing my arm, for a piece of
+bone had to be taken out, and I shrieked with anguish. This
+exasperated one of my messmates so much that, not choosing to strike
+her, and knowing how to wound her still worse, he drove his fist into
+the head of her son as he lay in his cradle, and by so doing re-opened
+the wound that had been nearly healed.
+
+"There's pain for you to laugh at, you French devil," he cried.
+
+And sure enough it cost the poor young man his life.
+
+The surgeon was very angry with the man, but told the French lady as
+she kneeled sobbing by the side of her son, that she had brought it
+upon herself and him by her own folly and cruelty. I know not whether
+she felt so, or whether she dreaded a repetition, but this is certain,
+she tormented me no more. On the contrary, I think she suffered very
+severely, as she perceived that I rapidly mended, and that her poor
+son got on but slowly. At last my hurts were all healed, and I left
+the hospital, hoping never to see her more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+    Sail for Liverpool in the Sally and Kitty--Fall in with
+    a Gale--Boy overboard--Nearly drowned in attempting to
+    save him--See the owners at Liverpool--Embark in the
+    Dalrymple for the Coast of Africa--Arrive off Senegal.
+
+
+A great deal of prize-money being due to us, I called upon the agent
+at Port Royal to obtain an advance. I found him in a puzzle. Owing to
+the death of Captain Weatherall and so many of the officers, he hardly
+knew whether those who applied to him were entitled to prize-money or
+not. Whether he thought I appeared more honest than the others, or
+from what cause I know not, he requested me, as I knew every thing
+that had passed, to remain with him for a short time; and finding that
+I could read and write well, he obtained from me correct lists of the
+privateer's crew, with those who were killed, and on what occasion.
+All this information I was able to give him, as well as the ratings of
+the parties; for on more than one occasion the privateers'-men had
+come to him representing themselves as petty officers, when they were
+only common seamen on board, and had in consequence received from him
+a larger advance than they were entitled to. As soon as his accounts
+were pretty well made up, he asked me whether I intended to go to
+England, as if so, he would send me home with all the papers and
+documents to the owner at Liverpool, who would require my assistance
+to arrange the accounts; and as I had had quite enough of privateering
+for a time, I consented to go. About two months after leaving the
+hospital, during which I had passed a very pleasant life, and quite
+recovered from my wounds and injuries, I sailed for Liverpool in the
+Sally and Kitty West-Indiaman, commanded by Captain Clarke, a very
+violent man.
+
+We had not sailed twelve hours before we fell in with a gale, which
+lasted several days, and we kept under close-reef-topsails and
+storm-staysails. The gale lasting a week, raised a mountainous swell,
+but it was very long and regular. On the seventh day the wind abated,
+but the swell continued, and at evening there was very little wind,
+when a circumstance occurred which had nearly cost me my life, as you
+will acknowledge, Madam, when I relate the story to you. During the
+dog-watch between six and eight, some hands being employed in the
+foretop, the other watch below at supper, and the captain and all the
+officers in the cabin, I being at the helm, heard a voice apparently
+rising out of the sea, calling me by name. Surprised, I ran to the
+side of the ship, and saw a youth named Richard Pallant in the water
+going astern. He had fallen out of the forechains, and knowing that I
+was at the helm, had shouted to me for help. I immediately called all
+hands, crying a man overboard. The captain hastened on deck with all
+the others, and ordered the helm a-lee. The ship went about, and then
+fell round off, driving fast before the swell, till at last we brought
+her to.
+
+The captain, although a resolute man, was much confused and perplexed
+at the boy's danger--for his friends were people of property at
+Ipswich, and had confided the boy to his particular care. He ran
+backwards and forwards, crying out that the boy must perish, as the
+swell was so high that he dared not send a boat, for the boat could
+not live in such a sea, and if the boat were lost with the crew, there
+would not be hands enow left on board to take the vessel home. As the
+youth was not a hundred yards from the vessel, I stated the
+possibility of swimming to him with the deep-sea line, which would be
+strong enough to haul both him and the man who swam to him on board.
+Captain Clarke, in a great rage, swore that it was impossible, and
+asked me who the devil would go. Piqued at his answer, and anxious to
+preserve the life of the youth, I offered to try it myself. I
+stripped, and making the line fast round my body, plunged from the
+ship's side into the sea. It was a new deep-sea line, and stiff in the
+coil, so that not drawing close round me, it slipped, and I swam
+through it, but catching it as it slipped over my feet, I made it
+secure by putting my head and one arm through the noose. I swam direct
+for the boy, and found that I swam with ease, owing to the strength
+and buoyant nature of the water in those latitudes. I had not swum
+more than half-way before the line got foul on the coil on board, and
+checking me suddenly, it pulled me backwards and under water. I
+recovered myself, and struck out again. During this time, to clear the
+line on board, they had cut some of the entangled parts, and in the
+confusion and hurry, severed the wrong part, so that the end went
+overboard, and I had half the coil of line hanging to me, and at the
+same time was adrift from the ship. They immediately hailed me to
+return, but from the booming of the waves I could not hear what they
+said, and thought that they were encouraging me to proceed. I shouted
+in return to show the confidence which I had in myself. I easily
+mounted the waves as they breasted me, but still I made my way very
+slowly against such a swell, and saw the boy only at intervals when I
+was on the top of the wave. He could swim very little, and did not
+make for the ship, but with his eyes fixed upon the sky, paddled like
+a dog to keep himself above water. I now began to feel the weight of
+the line upon me, and to fear that I should never hold out. I began to
+repent of my rashness, and thought I had only sacrificed myself
+without any chance of saving him. I persevered, nevertheless, and
+having, as I guessed, come to the spot where the boy was, I looked
+round, and not seeing him, was afraid that he had gone down, but on
+mounting the next wave, I saw him in the hollow, struggling hard to
+keep above water, and almost spent with his long exertion.
+
+I swam down to him, and hailing him, found he was still sensible, but
+utterly exhausted. I desired him to hold on by my hand but not to
+touch my body, as we should both sink. He promised to obey me, and I
+held out my right-hand to him, and made a signal for them to haul in
+on board, for I had no idea that the line had been cut. I was
+frightened when I perceived the distance that the ship was from me--at
+least a quarter of a mile. I knew that the deep-sea line was but a
+hundred fathoms in length, and therefore that I must be adrift, and my
+heart sunk within me. All the horrors of my situation came upon me,
+and I felt that I was lost; but although death appeared inevitable, I
+still struggled for life--but the rope now weighed me down more and
+more. While swimming forward it trailed behind, and although it
+impeded my way, I did not feel half its weight. Now, however, that I
+was stationary, it sank deep, and pulled me down with it. The waves,
+too, which, while I breasted them and saw them approach, I easily rose
+over, being now behind us, broke over our heads, burying us under
+them, or rolling us over by their force.
+
+I tried to disengage myself from the line, but the noose being jammed,
+and having the boy in one hand, I could not possibly effect it. But
+what gave me courage in my difficulties was, that I perceived that the
+people on board were getting out the boat; for although the captain
+would not run the risk for one person, now that two were overboard,
+and one of them risking his life for the other, the men insisted that
+the boat should be hoisted out. It was an anxious time to me, but at
+last I had the satisfaction of seeing her clear of the ship, and
+pulling round her bow. The danger was, however, considered so great,
+that when they came to man the boat, only three men could be found who
+would go in her, and in the confusion they came away with but two oars
+and no rudder. Under these disadvantages they of course pulled very
+slowly against a mountainous sea, as they were obliged to steer with
+the oars to meet it, that the boat might not be swamped. But the
+sight of the boat was sufficient to keep me up. My exertions were
+certainly incredible; but what will not a man do when in fear of
+death. As it approached--slowly and slowly did my powers decrease. I
+was now often under water with the boy, and rose again to fresh
+exertion, when at last a crested wave broke over us, and down we went
+several feet under the water. The force of the sea drove the boy
+against me, and he seized me by the loins with my head downwards. I
+struggled to disengage myself! It was impossible. I gave myself up for
+lost--and what a crowd of thoughts, and memories passed through my
+brain in a few moments, for it could not have been longer. At last,
+being head downwards, I dived deeper, although I was bursting from so
+long holding my breath under water.
+
+This had the desired effect. Finding me sinking instead of rising with
+him, the boy let go his hold that he might gain the surface. I turned
+and followed him, and drew breath once more. Another moment had sealed
+our fates. I no longer thought of saving the boy, but struck out for
+the boat which was now near me. Perceiving this, the boy cried out to
+me for pity's sake not to leave him. I felt myself so far recovered
+from my exhaustion, that I thought I could save him as well as myself,
+and compassion induced me to turn back. I again gave him my hand,
+charging him on his life not to attempt to grapple with me, and again
+resumed the arduous struggle of keeping him as well as myself above
+water. My strength was nearly gone, the boat approached but slowly,
+and we now sunk constantly under the water, rising every few seconds
+to draw breath. Merciful God! how slow appeared the approach of the
+boat. Struggle after struggle--fainter and fainter still--still I
+floated. At last my senses almost left me, I took in water in
+quantities. I felt I was in green fields, when I was seized by the men
+and thrown into the bottom of the boat, where I lay senseless
+alongside of the boy. There was great danger and difficulty in getting
+again to the ship. More than once the boat was half filled by the
+following seas, and when they gained the ship it was impossible to get
+us out, as, had they approached the side, the boat would have been
+dashed to atoms. They lowered the tackles from the yard-arms. The
+three men clambered up them, leaving us to take our chance of the
+boat being got in, or her being stove to pieces; in which latter case,
+we should have been lost. They did get us in, with great damage to the
+boat, but we were saved. The line was still round me, and it was found
+that I had been supporting the weight of seventy yards. So sore was I
+with such exertion, that I kept my hammock for many days, during which
+I reviewed my past life, and vowed amendment.
+
+We arrived at Liverpool without any further adventure worth recording,
+and I immediately called upon the owner with the papers intrusted to
+me. I gave him all the information he required, and he asked me
+whether I should like to return to privateering, or to go as mate of a
+vessel bound to the coast of Africa. I inquired what her destination
+was to be, and as I found that she was to go to Senegal for ivory,
+wax, gold dust, and other articles, in exchange for English prints and
+cutlery, I consented. I mention this, as, had she been employed in the
+slave-trade, as were most of the vessels from Liverpool to the Coast,
+I would not have joined her. A few days afterwards, I went on board of
+the Dalrymple, Captain Jones, as mate; we had a very quick passage to
+Senegal, and brought our vessel to an anchor off the bar.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+    In crossing the Bar at Senegal the boat is upset by a
+    Tornado--We escape being devoured by Sharks only to be
+    captured by the Natives--Are taken into the interior of
+    the country, and brought before the Negro King, from
+    whose wrath we are saved by the intercession of his
+    female attendants.
+
+
+A day or two after we had arrived, the master of another vessel that
+was at anchor near to us came on board and borrowed our long-boat and
+some hands that he might go in it to Senegal. The captain, who was an
+old friend of the party who made the request, agreed to lend it to
+him, and as accidents are very frequent with boats crossing the bar,
+on account of the heavy breakers, the best swimmers were selected for
+the purpose, and the charge of the boat was given to me. We set off,
+five men rowing and I at the helm. When we approached the bar, a
+tornado, which had been for some time threatening, came upon us. The
+impetuosity of these blasts is to be matched in no part of the world,
+and as it came at once in its full force, we endeavoured, by putting
+the boat before it, to escape its fury. This compelled us to run to
+the southward along the coast. We managed to keep the boat up for a
+long while, and hoped to have weathered it, when, being on the bar,
+and in broken water, a large wave curled over us, filled the boat, and
+it went down in an instant.
+
+Our only chance now was to reach the shore by swimming, but it was at
+a distance, with broken water the whole way; and our great terror was
+from the sharks, which abound on the coast and are extremely
+ravenous--nor were we without reason for our alarm. Scarcely had the
+boat gone down, and we were all stretching out for the shore, when one
+of our men shrieked, having been seized by the sharks, and instantly
+torn to pieces. His blood stained the water all around, and this
+attracting all the sharks proved the means of our escape. Never shall
+I forget the horrible sensation which I felt as I struggled through
+the broken water, expecting every minute a limb to be taken off by one
+of those voracious animals. If one foot touched the other, my heart
+sank, thinking it was the nose of a shark, and that its bite would
+immediately follow. Agonized with these terrors, we struggled on--now
+a large wave curling over us and burying us under water, or now forced
+by the waves towards the beach, rolling us over and over. So battered
+were we by the surf, that we dived under the waves to escape the blows
+which we received, and then rose and struck out again. At last, worn
+out with exertion, we gained the shore, but our toil was not over.
+
+The beach was of a sand so light that it crumbled beneath us, and at
+the return of the wave which threw us on shore we were dragged back
+again, and buried in sand and water. We rose to renew our endeavours,
+but several times without success, for we could not obtain a firm
+footing. At last the Negroes, who had witnessed our accident, and who
+now came down in great numbers on the beach, laid hold of us as the
+sea threw us up, and dragged us beyond the reach of the waves. Worn
+out with fatigue we lay on the sand, waiting to ascertain what the
+savages would do with us; they were not long in letting us know, for
+they soon began to strip us of every article of clothing on our backs.
+One of our men attempted to resist, upon which a Negro drove a spear
+through his thigh.
+
+Having divided our apparel, after some consultation, they tied our
+hands, and placing us in the midst of a large force, armed with
+spears, and bows and arrows, they went off with us for the inland part
+of the country. We set off with heavy hearts; taking, as we thought, a
+last farewell of the ocean, and going forwards in great apprehension
+of the fate that awaited us. The sand was very deep, and the heat of
+the sun excessive, for it was then about noon. Without any garments,
+we were soon scorched and blistered all over, and in intolerable
+anguish, as well as fatigued; but the Negroes compelled us to move on,
+goading us with their spears if we slackened our pace, and threatening
+to run us through if we made a halt. We longed for the night, as it
+would afford a temporary relief to our sufferings. It came at last,
+and the Negroes collected wood and lighted a fire to keep off the wild
+beasts, lying round it in a circle, and placing us in the midst of
+them. We hoped to have some rest after what we had gone through, but
+it was impossible--the night proved even worse than the day. The
+musquitoes came down upon us in such swarms, and their bites were so
+intolerable that we were almost frantic. Our hands being tied, we
+could not beat them off, and we rolled over and over to get rid of
+them. This made matters worse, for our whole bodies being covered with
+raised blisters from the rays of the sun, our roiling over and over
+broke the blisters, and the sand getting into the wounds, added to the
+bites of the musquitoes, made our sufferings intolerable. We had
+before prayed for night, we now prayed for day. Some prayed for death.
+
+When the sun rose, we set off again, our conductors utterly
+disregarding our anguish, and goading us on as before. In the forenoon
+we arrived at a village, where our guards refreshed themselves; a very
+small quantity of boiled corn was given to each of us, and we
+continued our journey, passing by several small towns, consisting, as
+they all do in that country, of huts built of reeds, round in form,
+and gathered to a point at top. This day was the same as the
+preceding. We were pricked with spears if we stumbled or lagged,
+threatened with death if we had not strength to go on. At last the
+evening arrived, and the fires were lighted. The fires were much
+larger than before, I presume because the wild beasts were more
+numerous, for we heard them howling in every direction round us, which
+we had not done on the night before. The musquitoes did not annoy us
+so much, and we obtained some intervals of broken rest. At daylight we
+resumed our journey, as near as we could judge by the sun, in a more
+easterly direction.
+
+During the first two days we were badly received by the inhabitants of
+the towns, whose people had been kidnapped so often for the
+slave-trade; they hated the sight of our white faces, for they
+presumed that we had come for that purpose; but as we advanced in the
+interior, we were better treated, and the natives looked upon us with
+surprise and wonder, considering us as a new race of beings. Some of
+the women seeing how utterly exhausted we were with fatigue and
+hunger, looked with compassion on us, and brought us plenty of boiled
+corn and goats' milk to drink. This refreshed us greatly, and we
+continued our journey in anxious expectation of the fate for which we
+were reserved.
+
+On crossing a small river, which appeared to be the boundary of two
+different states, a multitude of Negroes approached, and seemed
+disposed to take us from our present masters, but after a conference,
+they agreed among themselves, and a party of them joined with those
+who had previously conducted us. We soon came to the edge of a desert,
+and there we halted till the Negroes had filled several calabashes and
+gourds full of water, and collected a quantity of boiled corn. As soon
+as this was done, we set off again, and entered the desert. We were
+astonished and terrified when we looked around us, not a single
+vestige of herbage, not a blade of grass was to be seen--all was one
+wide waste of barren sand, so light as to rise in clouds at the least
+wind, and we sank so deep in walking through it that at last we could
+hardly drag one foot after the other. But we were repaid for our
+fatigue, for when we halted at night, no fires were lighted, and to
+our great delight we found that there were no musquitoes to annoy us.
+We fell into a sound sleep, which lasted till morning, and were much
+refreshed; indeed, so much so as to enable us to pursue our journey
+with alacrity.
+
+In our passage over the desert we saw numbers of elephants' teeth, but
+no animals. How the teeth came there, unless it were that the
+elephants were lost in attempting to cross the desert, I cannot
+pretend to say. Before we had crossed the desert, our water was
+expended, and we suffered dreadfully from thirst, walking as we did
+during the whole day under a vertical sun. The night was equally
+painful, as we were so tortured with the want of water; but on the
+following day, when our strength was nearly exhausted, and we were
+debating whether we should not lie down and allow the spears of our
+conductors to put an end to our miseries, we came to the banks of a
+river which the Negroes had evidently been anxiously looking for. Here
+we drank plentifully, and remained all the day to recruit ourselves,
+for the Negroes were almost as exhausted as we were. The next morning
+we crossed the river, and plunged into a deep wood: the ground being
+high, the musquitoes did not annoy us so much as they did down on the
+low marshy land near the sea-coast. During our traverse through the
+wood, we subsisted solely upon the birds and animals which the Negroes
+killed with their bows and arrows.
+
+When we had forced our way through the forest, we found the country,
+as before, interspersed with wicker villages or small hamlets at a few
+miles' distance from each other. Round each village there were small
+patches of Guinea corn, and we frequently came to clusters of huts
+which had been deserted. Between the sea-coast and the desert we had
+traversed we observed that many of the inhabitants had European
+fire-arms, but now the only weapons to be seen were spears and bows
+and arrows. As we advanced we were surrounded at every village by the
+natives, who looked upon us with surprise and astonishment, examining
+us, and evidently considering us a new species. One morning we arrived
+at a very large Negro town, and as we approached, our guards began to
+swell with pride and exultation, and drove us before them among the
+crowds of inhabitants, singing songs of triumph, and brandishing their
+weapons. Having been driven through a great part of the town, we
+arrived at a number of huts separated by a high palisade from the
+rest, and appropriated, as we afterwards found, to the use of the king
+of the country, his wives and attendants. Here we waited outside some
+time, while our guards went in and acquainted this royal personage
+with the present which they had brought for him.
+
+We had reason to think that our captors were not his subjects, but had
+been at variance with him, and had brought us as a present, that they
+might make peace with an enemy too strong for them. We were at last
+ordered to go inside the inclosure, and found ourselves in a large
+open building, constructed like the others, of reeds and boughs. In
+the centre was squatted a ferocious-looking old Negro, attended by
+four young Negro women. He was raw-boned and lean, and of a very large
+frame. A diabolical ferocity was imprinted on his grim countenance,
+and as he moved his arms and legs he showed that under his loose skin
+there was a muscle of extraordinary power. I never had before seen
+such a living type of brutal strength and barbarity. On a mat before
+him were provisions of different kinds. Behind him stood several grim
+savages who held his weapons, and on each side, at a greater distance,
+were rows of Negroes, with their heads bent down and their arms
+crossed, awaiting his orders. The chief or king, as well as the four
+women, had clothes of the blue cotton cloth of the country, that is,
+one piece wrapped round the loins and descending to the ankles, and
+another worn over their shoulders; but, with few exceptions, all the
+rest, as well as the inhabitants generally, were quite naked. So were
+we, as the reader may recollect. Round the necks of the women were
+rows of gold beads, longer by degrees, until the last of the rows hung
+lower than their bosoms, and both the king and they had large
+bracelets of gold round their arms, wrists, and legs. The women, who
+were young and well-looking, stared at us with eager astonishment,
+while the old king scowled upon us so as to freeze our blood. At last,
+rising from the ground, he took his sabre from the man who held it
+behind him, and walked up among us, who with our heads bowed, and
+breathless with fear, awaited our impending fate. I happened to be
+standing the foremost, and grasping my arm with a gripe which made my
+heart sink, with his hand which held the sword he bent down my head
+still lower than it was. I made sure that he was about to cut off my
+head, when the women, who had risen from the ground, ran crowding
+round him, and with mingled entreaties and caresses strove to induce
+him not to put his intentions, if such he really had, into execution.
+They prevailed at last; the youngest took away his sword, and then
+they led him back to his seat, after which the women came to us to
+gratify their curiosity. They felt our arms and breasts, putting
+innumerable questions to those who brought us thither. They appeared
+very much amazed at the length of my hair, for I had worn it tied in a
+long cue. Taking hold of it, they gave it two or three severe pulls,
+to ascertain if it really grew to my head, and finding that it did so,
+they expressed much wonder. When their curiosity was satisfied, they
+then appeared to consider our condition, and having obtained the old
+king's permission, they brought us a calabash full of cush-cush, that
+is Guinea corn boiled into a thick paste. Our hands being still tied;
+we could only by shaking our heads express our inability to profit by
+their kindness. Understanding what we meant, they immediately cut our
+thongs, and the youngest of the four perceiving that my arms were
+benumbed from having been confined so many days, and that I could not
+use them, showed the most lively commiseration for my sufferings. She
+gently chafed my wrists with her hands, and showed every sign of pity
+in her countenance, as indeed did all the other three. But I was by
+far the youngest of the whole party who had been captured, and seemed
+most to excite their pity and good-will. Shortly afterwards we were
+all taken into an adjoining tent or hut, and our bodies were rubbed
+all over with an oil, which after a few days' application left us
+perfectly healed, and as smooth as silk. So altered was our condition,
+that those very people who had guarded us with their spears and
+threatened us with death, were now ordered to wait upon us, and as
+the king's wives frequently came to see how we were treated, we were
+served with the utmost humility and attention.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+    I am given as a Slave to the old King's Favourite,
+    Whyna--Assist my young Mistress to make her Toilet--Hold
+    frequent Conversations with her, and become strongly
+    attached to her--My Hatred and Dread of the old King
+    increase--He shoots a Man with Bird-arrows.
+
+
+One morning, after we had been about three weeks in these comfortable
+quarters, I was summoned away from my companions into the presence of
+the king. When I came before him a small manacle was fixed round my
+left ankle, and another round my left wrist, with a light chain
+connecting the two. A circle of feathers was put round my head, and a
+loose cloth wrapped round my loins. I was then led forward to him with
+my arms crossed over my breast, and my head bowed. By his orders I was
+then placed behind the youngest of the four women, the one who had
+chafed my wrists, and I was given to understand that I was her slave,
+and was to attend upon her, to which, I must say, I gave a joyful
+assent in my heart, although I did not at that time show any signs of
+gladness. There I remained, with my arms folded, and bowed as before,
+until dinner was brought in, and a calabash full of cush-cush was put
+into my hands to place before the king and his wives. My first attempt
+at service was not very adroit, for, in my eagerness to do my duty, I
+tripped over the corner of the mat which served them for a table, and
+tumbling headlong forward, emptied the calabash of cush-cush which I
+held in my hand upon the legs of the old king, who sat opposite to
+where I was advancing. He jumped up roaring out with anger, while I in
+my fear sprung on my legs, and rushed to the side of the apartment,
+expecting immediate death. Fortunately the victuals in this country
+are always served up cool, and my new mistress easily obtained my
+pardon, laughing heartily at the scene, and at my apprehension.
+
+The repast being over, I was ordered to follow my mistress, who
+retired to another hut, according to their custom, to sleep during the
+heat of the day. I was placed before the door to prevent her being
+disturbed. My only duty now was to attend upon my young mistress. She
+was the king's favourite wife, and as she was uniformly kind and
+gentle, I should have almost ceased to lament my loss of liberty had
+it not been from the fear I had of the old monarch. I knew that my
+preservation depended entirely upon my mistress's favour, and I
+endeavoured all I could to conciliate her by the most sedulous
+attentions to please. Young and generous in disposition, she was
+easily satisfied by my ready obedience and careful service. I do not
+think that she was more than seventeen years of age; but they are
+women at fourteen in that country, and even earlier. She was a Negress
+as to colour, but not a real Negress; for her hair, although short and
+very wavy, was not woolly, and her nose was straight. Her mouth was
+small, and her teeth beautiful. Her figure was perfect, her limbs
+being very elegantly formed. When she first rose in the morning, I
+attended her to the brow of a hill just without the palisades, where
+with devout but mistaken piety she adored the rising sun--at least it
+appeared to me that she did so. She then went down to the river to
+bathe, and as soon as her hair was dry she had it dressed. This
+office, after a short time, devolved upon me, and I became very
+expert, having to rub her hair with a sweet oil, and then roll it up
+in its natural curls with a quill, so as to dispose them to the most
+fanciful advantage as to form.
+
+After her toilet was complete, she went to feed her poultry, and some
+antelopes and other beasts, and then she practised at a mark with her
+bow and arrows and javelin till about ten o'clock, when she went to
+the king's hut, and they all sat down to eat together. After the
+repast, which lasted some time, if she did not repose with the king,
+she retired to her own hut, where she usually refreshed herself till
+about four o'clock, when she returned to the king, or ranged the
+woods, or otherwise amused herself during the rest of the evening. I
+will say for the old savage that he did not confine his wives. Such
+was our general course of life, and wherever she went I attended her.
+The attachment I showed and really felt for her secured her
+confidence, and she always treated me in a kind and familiar manner.
+Their language consists of few words compared to our own, and in a
+short time, by help of signs, we understood each other tolerably well.
+She appeared to have a most ardent curiosity to know who we were, and
+from whence we came, and all the time that we passed alone was
+employed in putting questions, and my endeavouring to find out her
+meaning and answer them. This, although very difficult at first, I was
+eventually enabled to accomplish indifferently well. She was most
+zealous in her mistaken religion, and one morning when I was following
+her to her devotions on the hill, she asked me where my God was? I
+pointed upwards, upon which she told me with great joy and innocency,
+that hers was there too, and that, therefore, they must be the same
+God, or if not they must be friends. Convinced that she was right, she
+made me worship with her, bowing my head down to the sand, and going
+through the same forms, which of course I did not understand the
+meaning of; but I prayed to my God, and therefore made no objection,
+as it was pleasing to her. This apparent conformity in religion
+recommended me more strongly to her, and we became more intimate, and
+I was certainly attached to her by every tie of gratitude. I was quite
+happy in the friendship and kindness she showed towards me; the only
+drawback was my fear of the proud old king, and the recollection of
+him often made me check myself, and suddenly assume a more distant and
+respectful demeanour towards her. I soon found out that she dreaded
+the old savage as much as I did, and hated him even more. In his
+presence she treated me very sternly, and ordered me about in a very
+dictatorial manner; but when we were alone, and had no fear of being
+seen, she would then be very familiar, sometimes even locking her arm
+into mine, and laughing as she pointed out the contrast of the
+colours, and in the full gaiety of her young heart rejoicing that we
+were alone, and could converse freely together. As she was very
+intelligent, she soon perceived that I possessed much knowledge that
+she did not, and that she could not comprehend what I wanted to teach
+her. This induced her to look upon me with respect as well as
+kindness.
+
+One day I purposely left her bow behind in the hut where my
+companions resided; and on her asking me for it, I told her that I had
+done so, but that I would make my companions send it without my going
+back. I tore off a piece of the bark of a tree, and with the point of
+an arrow I wrote to one of them, desiring him to send it by bearer;
+and calling a young Negro boy, told him in her presence to give that
+piece of bark to the white man, and come back again to the queen.
+Whyna, for such was the name of my mistress queen, stood in suspense,
+waiting the result; in a few minutes the boy returned, bringing the
+bow. Astonished at this, she made me write again and again for her
+arrows, her lance, and many other things. Finding by these being
+immediately sent that we had a method of communicating with each other
+at a distance, she earnestly insisted upon being taught so surprising
+an art. Going at a distance from me, she ordered me to talk to her
+when out of hearing, and finding that I could not, or, as she seemed
+to suppose, that I would not, she became discontented and out of
+humour. I could by no means make her comprehend how it was performed,
+but I made her understand that as soon as I was fully acquainted with
+her language, I should be able to teach her. She was satisfied with
+this, but made me promise that I would teach nobody else.
+
+By the canoes in the river, I easily made her comprehend that I came
+in a vast boat from a distant land, over a great expanse of water, and
+also how it was that we fell into the Negroes' power. I then found out
+from her that the Negroes had pretended that we had invaded their land
+to procure slaves, and that they had vanquished us in battle; hence
+their songs of triumph on bringing us to the king. I pointed out the
+heavenly bodies to her in the evenings, trying to make her comprehend
+something of their nature and motions, but in vain. This had, however,
+one good effect; she looked up to me with more respect, hoping that
+some day, when I could fully explain myself, she might be herself
+taught all these wonders. With these feelings towards me, added to my
+sedulous endeavours to please her, and obey her slightest wishes, it
+is not surprising that she treated me as a companion, and not as a
+slave, and gave me every innocent proof of her attachment. More I
+never wished, and almost dreaded that our intimacy would be too
+great. Happy when alone with her, I ever returned with reluctance to
+the presence of the old king, whose sight and company I dreaded.
+
+The boundless cruelty of this monster was a continual check to all my
+happiness. Accustomed to blood from his childhood, he appeared wholly
+insensible to human feelings, and derided the agonies of the wretches
+who daily fell by his hands. One day he amused himself by shooting
+small bird-arrows at a man who was bound to a post before the tent,
+which was placed there for the punishment of those who were his
+victims. He continued for hours fixing the arrows in different parts
+of his body, mimicking and deriding his cries. At last, contrary to
+his intentions, one of the arrows hit the man in the throat, and his
+head drooped. As the old savage saw that the poor man was dying, he
+drew another arrow and sent it through his heart, very much annoyed at
+his disappointment in not prolonging the poor creature's sufferings. I
+was witness to this scene with silent horror, and many more of a
+similar nature. I hardly need say, that I felt what my punishment
+would be if I had by any means roused the jealousy of this monster;
+and I knew that, without giving him real cause, a moment of bare
+suspicion would be sufficient to sacrifice my mistress as well as me.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+    I attend the King on a hunting Expedition--Chase of
+    wild Animals--Whyna and I in great danger from a
+    Tiger--Barbarity of the King to my young Mistress--I
+    try to soothe her--I and my Companions are ransomed--Sad
+    parting with Whyna--After an Encounter with a hostile
+    People, we reach Senegal--Return to England.
+
+
+I had been about three months in captivity, when the old king with his
+four wives and a large party of Negroes, left the town, and went into
+the woods to hunt. My companions were left in the town, but I was
+ordered to attend my mistress, and I went with the hopes of being able
+by some means to make my escape, for my fear of the old monarch was
+much greater than my regard for my mistress. As I had not become a
+proficient with the bows and arrows, or in hurling the javelin, I was
+equipped with a strong spear. My mistress was skilful to admiration
+with the arrow and javelin; she never missed her aim that I knew, and
+she certainly never appeared to such advantage as she did at this
+hunting-party. Her activity, her symmetry of limb, and her courage,
+her skill with her weapons, all won the heart of the old king; and I
+believe that his strong attachment to her arose more from her
+possession of the above qualities than from any other cause. Certain
+it is, that the old savage doted on her--she was the only being who
+could bend his stubborn will. As his age prevented him from joining in
+the chase, he always appeared to part with her with regret, and to
+caution her not to run into useless danger; and when we returned at
+night, the old man's eyes sparkled with the rapture of dotage as he
+welcomed her return.
+
+The method of our chase was to beat the country, with a number of men,
+in a vast circle, until we had gathered all the game into one thicket;
+then the strongest warriors with their large spears went in and drove
+out the game, which was killed by the hunters who hovered about within
+the circle.
+
+The animals which we had to encounter were large fierce black pigs,
+leopards, jackals, tigers, mountain cats, and others which I have no
+name for--and in spite of the ferocity of many of these animals when
+they bounded out, they were met with such a shower of javelins, or
+transfixed by the strong stabbing-spears of the warriors, that few
+escaped, and they rarely did any mischief. One day, however, the
+beaters having just entered a thicket, Whyna, who was eager for the
+sport, and plied within the circle with the other hunters, hearing a
+rustling in the jungle, went to the verge of it, to be the first to
+strike the animal which came out. As usual, I was close to her, when a
+large tiger burst out, and she pierced him with her javelin, but not
+sufficient to wound the animal so severely as to disable him. The
+tiger turned, and I drove my spear into his throat. This checked him,
+as it remained in, but in a spring which he gave the handle broke
+short off, and although the iron went further in, our danger was
+imminent. Whyna ran, and so did I, to escape from the beast's fury;
+for, although after I had wounded it with my spear, we had both
+retreated, we were not so far, but that in two or three bounds he
+would have been upon us. My mistress was as fleet as the wind, and
+soon passed me, but as she passed me she caught me by the hand, and
+dragged me along at a pace that with difficulty I could keep my legs.
+The surrounding hunters alarmed at her danger, and knowing what they
+had to expect from the mercy of the old king if she was destroyed by
+the animal, closed in between us and the tiger, and after a fierce
+combat, in which some were killed and many wounded, they despatched
+him with their spears. The head of the animal, which was of unusual
+size, was cut off and carried home to the old king in triumph; and
+when he heard of the danger that Whyna had been in, he caressed her
+with tears, and I could not help saying that the old wretch had some
+heart after all. Whyna told the king that if I had not pierced the
+animal with my spear, and prevented his taking his first spring, she
+should have lost her life, and the monster grinned a ghastly smile at
+me, which I presume he meant for either approbation or gratitude.
+
+At other times the chase would be that of the multitude of birds which
+were to be found in the woods. The bow and arrow only were used, and
+all I had to do now was to pick up all my mistress had killed, and
+return her arrows--she would constantly kill on the wing with her
+arrow, which not many could do besides her. By degrees I imbibed a
+strong passion for the sport, attended as it was with considerable
+danger, and was never so happy as when engaged in it. We remained
+about two months in the woods, when the king was tired, and we
+returned to the town, where I continued for some time to pass the same
+kind of life as I had done before.
+
+I should have been quite happy in my slavery from my affection to my
+mistress, had not a fresh instance of the unbounded cruelty of the old
+monarch occurred a few days after our return from the chase, which
+filled us all with consternation and horror, for we discovered that
+not even my mistress, Whyna, could always prevail with the savage
+monster.
+
+One morning I perceived that one of the king's guards, who had always
+treated me with great kindness, and with whom I was very intimate, was
+tied up to the executioner's post before the hut. Aware of the fate
+which awaited him, I ran to the hut of Whyna, and so great was my
+distress that I could not speak; all I could do was to clasp her knees
+and repeat the man's name, pointing to the post to which he was tied.
+She understood me, and eager to save the man, or to oblige me, she ran
+to the large hut, and attempted to intercede with the old barbarian
+for the man's life; but he was in an agony of rage and passion; he
+refused her, lifting up his sabre to despatch the man; Whyna was rash
+enough to seize the king's arm, and prevent the blow, at this his rage
+redoubled, his eyes glowed like live coals, and turning to her with
+the look of a demon, he caught her by the hair, and dragging her
+across his feet, lifted up his scimitar in the act to strike off her
+head. I sickened with horror at the danger she was in, but I thought
+he would not strike. I had no weapon, but if he had done so, I would
+have revenged her death, even if I had lost my life. At last the old
+monster let go her hair, spurning her away with his foot, so that she
+rolled over on the sand, and then turning to the unhappy man, with an
+upward slanting blow of his sabre, he ripped him up from the flank to
+the chest, so that his bowels fell down at his feet; he then looked
+round at us all with an aspect which froze our blood, and turned away
+sulkily to his hut, leaving us to recover our spirits how we might.
+
+Poor Whyna, terrified and enraged at the same time, as soon as I had
+led her to her hut, and we were by ourselves, gave way to the storm of
+passion which swelled her bosom, execrating her husband with the
+utmost loathing and abhorrence, and lamenting in the most passionate
+manner her having ever been connected with him. Trembling alike at the
+danger to which I had exposed her, and moved by her condition, I could
+not help mingling my tears with hers, and endeavoured by caresses and
+condoling with her to reduce her excitement. Had the old king seen me,
+I know what both our fates would have been, but at that time I cared
+not. I was very young, very impetuous, and I was resolved that I would
+not permit either her or myself to die unavenged. At last she sobbed
+herself to sleep, and I took my usual station outside of the hut. It
+was well that I did so, for not five minutes afterwards the old
+wretch, having got over his temper, came out of his tent and bent his
+steps towards the hut, that he might make friends with her, for she
+was too necessary to his happiness. He soon treated her with his
+accustomed kindness, but I perceived that after the scene I have
+described, her aversion for him was doubled.
+
+There were some scores of women in the various huts within the
+palisade, all of whom I understood were wives to the old monarch, but
+none but the four we found with him when we were first brought into
+his presence were ever to be seen in his company. I had, by means of
+my kind mistress, the opportunity of constantly supplying my
+companions with fowls and venison, which was left from the king's
+table, and through her care, they always met with kind and gentle
+usage.
+
+For another two months did I thus remain happy in the company of
+Whyna, and miserable when in the presence of the king, whose eye it
+was impossible to meet without quailing; when one morning we were all
+ordered out, and were surrounded by a large party armed with spears,
+javelins, and bird-arrows--I say bird-arrows, as those that they use
+in war are much larger. We soon discovered that we were to be sent to
+some other place, but where or why, we could not find out. Shortly
+afterwards the crowd opened, and Whyna made her appearance. She took
+the feather circle off my head, and the manacles off my wrist and leg,
+and went and laid them at the king's feet. She then returned, and told
+me that I was free as well as my companions, but that I only, if I
+chose, had permission to remain with her.
+
+I did not at first reply. She then, in the most earnest manner, begged
+me to remain with her as her slave; and as she did not dare to say
+what she felt, or use caresses to prevail upon me, she stamped her
+little feet with eagerness and impatience. The struggle in my own
+heart was excessive. I presumed that we were about to be made a
+present to some other king, and I felt that I never could expect so
+easy and so pleasant a servitude as I then enjoyed. I was sincerely
+attached, and indeed latterly, I was more than attached, to Whyna; I
+felt that it was dangerous. Had the old king been dead, I would have
+been content to pass my life with her; and I was still hesitating,
+notwithstanding the remonstrances of my companions, when the crowd
+opened a little, and I beheld the old king looking at me, and I felt
+convinced that his jealousy was at last aroused, and that if I
+consented to remain, my life would not be worth a day's purchase.
+
+Whyna also turned, and met the look of the old king. Whether she read
+in his countenance what I did, I know not; but this is certain, she
+made no more attempts to persuade me, but waving her hand for us to
+set off on our journey, she slowly retired, and when arrived at the
+hut turned round towards us. We all prostrated ourselves before her,
+and then set off on our journey. She retired to the door of her own
+hut, and two or three times waved her hand to us, at which our guards
+made us every time again prostrate ourselves. She then walked out to
+the little hill where she always went up to pray, and for the last
+time waved her hand, and then I perceived her sink down on the ground,
+and turn her head in the direction which she always did when she
+prayed.
+
+We now proceeded on our journey in a north-west direction, our guards
+treating us with the greatest kindness. We rested every day from ten
+till four o'clock in the afternoon, and then walked till late at
+night. Corn was supplied us from the scattered hamlets as we passed
+along, and our escort procured us flesh and fowl with their bows and
+arrows; but we were in a state of great anxiety to know where we were
+going, and nobody appeared able or willing to tell us. I often thought
+of Whyna, and at times repented that I had not remained with her, as I
+feared falling into a worse slavery, but the recollection of the old
+king's diabolical parting look was sufficient to make me think that it
+was best as it was. Now that I had left my mistress, I thought of her
+kindness and amiable qualities, and her affection for me; and although
+it may appear strange that I should feel myself in love with a black
+woman, I will not deny but that I was so. I could not help being so,
+and that is all the excuse I can offer.
+
+Our guards now informed us that we were about to pass for a few miles
+through the territory of another king, and that they were not sure
+what our reception might be; but this was soon made evident, for we
+observed a party behind us, which moved as we moved, although they did
+not attack us; and soon afterwards a larger body in front were
+blocking up our passage, and we found that we were beset. The
+commander of our party, therefore, gave orders for battle, and he put
+into our hands strong spears, they being the only weapons we could
+use, and entreated us to fight. Our party was greatly outnumbered by
+the enemy, but ours were chosen warriors. As for us white men, we kept
+together, agreeing among ourselves, that we would defend ourselves if
+attacked, but would not offend either party by taking an unnecessary
+part in the fray, as it was immaterial to us to whom we belonged.
+
+The battle, or rather skirmish, soon began. They dispersed, and shot
+their arrows from behind the trees, and this warfare continued some
+time without damage to either party, till at last they attacked us
+closely; then, our commander killing that of the enemy, they gave way
+just as another party was coming forward to attack us white men; but
+finding us resolute in our defence, and our own warriors coming to our
+assistance, the rout was general. They could not, however, prevent
+some prisoners from being taken; most of them wounded with the
+bird-arrows, which, having their barbs twisted in the form of an S,
+gave great pain in their extraction. I observed that a particular herb
+chewed, and bound up with the bleeding wound, was their only remedy,
+and that when the bone was injured, they considered the wound mortal.
+
+We now turned to the eastward to get back into our own territory; we
+left the prisoners and wounded at a village, and receiving a
+reinforcement, we took a circuit to avoid this hostile people, and
+continued our route. On the eighth morning, just as we were stopping
+to repose, one of the warriors, who had mounted a hill before us,
+shouted and waved his hand. We ran up to him, and as soon as we gained
+the summit, were transported with the sight of the British flag flying
+on Senegal fort, on the other side of the river. We now understood
+that by some means or another we had been ransomed, and so it proved
+to be; for the governor hearing that we were prisoners up the country,
+had sent messengers offering the old king a handsome present for our
+liberation. I afterwards found out that the price paid in goods
+amounted to about fifty-six shillings a-head. The governor received us
+kindly, clothed us, and sent us down to the ship, which was with a
+full cargo in the road, and intending to sail the next day, and we
+were received and welcomed by our messmates as men risen from the
+dead.
+
+We sailed two days afterwards, and had a fortunate voyage home to
+Liverpool.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    The Liverpool Ladies are very civil to me--I am admitted
+    into good Society--Introduced to Captain Levee--Again
+    sail to Senegal--Overhear a Conspiracy to seize the Ship
+    by the Crew of a Slaver, but am enabled to defeat it--Am
+    thanked and rewarded by the Owner--Take a Trip to London
+    with Captain Levee--Stopped by Highwaymen on the
+    Road--Put up at a Tavern--Dissipated Town Life--Remove
+    to a genteel Boarding-House--Meet with a Government
+    Spy--Return to Liverpool.
+
+
+As the captain reported me to be a very attentive and good officer,
+although I was then but twenty-three years of age, and as I had been
+previously on good terms and useful to the owner, I was kindly
+received by him, and paid much more attention to, than my situation on
+board might warrant. My captivity among the Negroes, and the narrative
+I gave of my adventures, were also a source of much interest. I was at
+first questioned by the gentlemen of Liverpool, and afterwards one of
+the merchant's ladies, who had heard something of my adventures, and
+found out that I was a young and personable man, with better manners
+than are usually to be found before the mast, invited me one evening
+to a tea-party, that I might amuse her friends with my adventures.
+They were most curious about the Negro queen, Whyna, inquiring into
+every particular as to her personal appearance and dress, and trying
+to find out, as women always do, if there was any thing of an intrigue
+between us. They shook their little fingers at me, when I solemnly
+declared that there was not, and one or two of them cajoled me aside
+to obtain my acknowledgment of what they really believed to be the
+truth, although I would not confess it.
+
+When they had tired themselves with asking questions about the Negro
+queen, they then began to ask about myself, and how it happened I was
+not such a bear, and coarse in my manners and address, as the other
+seamen. To this I could give no other reply but that I had been
+educated when a child. They would fain know who were my father and
+mother, and in what station of life it had pleased God to place them;
+but I hardly need say, my dear Madam, to you who are so well
+acquainted with my birth and parentage, that I would not disgrace my
+family by acknowledging that one of their sons was in a situation so
+unworthy; not that I thought at that time, nor do I think now, that I
+was so much to blame in preferring independence in a humble position,
+to the life that induced me to take the step which I did; but as I
+could not state who my family were without also stating why I had
+quitted them, I preserved silence, as I did not think that I had any
+right to communicate family secrets to strangers. The consequences of
+my first introduction to genteel society were very agreeable; I
+received many more invitations from the company assembled,
+notwithstanding that my sailor's attire but ill corresponded with the
+powdered wigs and silk waistcoats of the gentlemen, or the hoops and
+furbelows of satin which set off the charms of the ladies.
+
+At first I did not care so much, but as I grew more at my ease, I felt
+ashamed of my dress, and the more so as the young foplings would put
+their glasses to their eyes, and look at me as if I were a monster.
+But supported as I was by the fair sex, I cared little for them. The
+ladies vowed that I was charming, and paid me much courtesy; indeed my
+vanity more than once made me suspect that I was something more than a
+mere favourite with one or two of them, one especially, a buxom young
+person, and very coquettish, who told me, as we were looking out of
+the bay window of the withdrawing-room, that since I could be so
+secret with respect to what took place between the Negress queen and
+myself, I must be sure to command the good-will and favour of the
+ladies, who always admired discretion in so young and so handsome a
+man. But I was not to be seduced by this flattery, for somehow or
+another I had ever before me the French lady, and her conduct to me;
+and I had almost a dislike, or I should rather say, I had imbibed an
+indifference for the sex.
+
+This admission into good society did, however, have one effect upon
+me; it made me more particular in my dress, and all my wages were
+employed in the decoration of my person. At that time you may
+recollect, Madam, there were but two styles of dress among the seamen;
+one was that worn by those who sailed in the northern seas, and the
+other by those who navigated in the tropical countries, both suitable
+to the climates. The first was the jacket, woollen frock, breeches,
+and petticoat of canvas over all, with worsted stockings, shoes, and
+buckles, and usually a cap of skin upon the head; the other a light
+short jacket, with hanging buttons, red sash, trowsers, and neat shoes
+and buckles, with a small embroidered cap with falling crown, or a hat
+and feather. It was this last which I had always worn, having been
+continually in warm climates, and my hair was dressed in its natural
+ringlets instead of a wig, which I was never partial to, although very
+common among seamen; my ears were pierced, and I wore long gold
+earrings, as well as gilt buckles in my shoes; and, by degrees, I not
+only improved my dress so as to make it very handsome in materials,
+but my manners were also very much altered for the better.
+
+I had been at Liverpool about two months, waiting for the ship to
+unload and take in cargo for another voyage, when a privateer
+belonging to the same owner, came into port with four prizes of
+considerable value; and the day afterwards I was invited by the owner
+to meet the captain who commanded the privateer.
+
+He was a very different looking person from Captain Weatherall, who
+was a stout, strong-limbed man, with a weather-beaten countenance. He,
+on the contrary, was a young man of about twenty-six, very slight in
+person, with a dark complexion, hair and eyes jet black. I should have
+called him a very handsome Jew--for he bore that cast of countenance,
+and I afterwards discovered that he was of that origin, although I
+cannot say that he ever followed the observances of that remarkable
+people. He was handsomely dressed, wearing his hair slightly powdered,
+a laced coat and waistcoat, blue sash and trowsers, with
+silver-mounted pistols and dagger in his belt, and a smart hanger by
+his side. He had several diamond rings on his finger, and carried a
+small clouded cane. Altogether, I had never fallen in with so smart
+and prepossessing a personage, and should have taken him for one of
+the gentlemen commending the king's ships, rather than the captain of
+a Liverpool privateer. He talked well and fluently, and with an air of
+command and decision, taking the lead in the company, although it
+might have been considered that he was not by any means the principal
+person in it. The owner, during the evening, informed me that he was a
+first-rate officer, of great personal courage, and that he had made a
+great deal of money, which he had squandered away almost as fast as he
+received it.
+
+With this person, whose name was Captain Levee (an alteration, I
+suspect, from Levi), I was much pleased; and as I found that he did
+not appear to despise my acquaintance, I took much pains to please
+him, and we were becoming very intimate, when my ship was ready to
+sail. I now found that I was promoted to the office of first mate,
+which gave me great satisfaction.
+
+We sailed with an assorted cargo, but very light, and nothing of
+consequence occurred during our passage out. We made good traffic on
+the coast as we ran down it, receiving ivory, gold-dust, and wax, in
+exchange for our printed cottons and hardware. After being six weeks
+on the coast, we put into Senegal to dispose of the remainder of our
+cargo; which we soon did to the governor, who gave us a fair exchange,
+although by no means so profitable a barter as what we had made on the
+coast; but that we did not expect for what might be called the refuse
+of our cargo. The captain was much pleased, as he knew the owner would
+be satisfied with him, and, moreover, he had himself a venture in the
+cargo; and we had just received the remainder of the ivory from the
+governor's stores, and had only to get on board a sufficiency of
+provisions and water for our homeward voyage, when a circumstance took
+place which I must now relate.
+
+Our crew consisted of the captain, and myself, as first mate, the
+second mate, and twelve seamen, four of which were those who had been
+taken prisoners with me, and had been released, as I have related, in
+our previous voyage. These four men were very much attached to me, I
+believe chiefly from my kindness to them when I was a slave to the
+queen Whyna, as I always procured for them every thing which I could,
+and, through the exertions of my mistress, had them plentifully
+supplied with provisions from the king's table. The second mate and
+other eight men we had shipped at Liverpool. They were fine, stout
+fellows, but appeared to be loose characters, but that we did not
+discover till after we had sailed. There was anchored with us at
+Senegal a low black brig, employed in the slave-trade, which had made
+the bay at the same time that we did; and to their great surprise--for
+she was considered a very fast sailer--she was beaten at all points by
+our ship, which was considered the fastest vessel out of Liverpool.
+The crew of the slaver were numerous, and as bloodthirsty a set of
+looking fellows as ever I fell in with. Their boat was continually
+alongside of our vessel, and I perceived that their visits were made
+to the eight men whom we had shipped at Liverpool, and that they did
+not appear inclined to be at all intimate with the rest of the crew.
+This roused my suspicions, although I said nothing; but I watched them
+very closely. One forenoon, as I was standing at the foot of the
+companion-ladder, concealed by the booby-hatch from the sight of those
+on deck, I heard our men talking over the side, and at last, as I
+remained concealed, that I might overhear the conversation, one of the
+slaver's men from the boat said, "To-night, at eight o'clock, we will
+come to arrange the whole business." The boat then shoved off, and
+pulled for the brig.
+
+Now, it was the custom of the captain to go onshore every evening to
+drink sangaree and smoke with the governor, and very often I went with
+him, leaving the ship in charge of the second mate. It had been my
+intention, and I had stated as much to the second mate, to go this
+evening, as it was the last but one that we should remain at Senegal;
+but from what I overheard I made up my mind that I would not go. About
+an hour before sunset, I complained of headache and sickness, and sat
+down under the awning over the after part of the quarter-deck. When
+the captain came up to go on shore, he asked me if I was ready, but I
+made no answer, only put my hand to my head.
+
+The captain, supposing that I was about to be attacked by the fever of
+the country, was much concerned, and desired the second mate to help
+him to take me down to the state-room, and then went on shore; the
+boat was, as usual, pulled by the four men who were prisoners with me,
+and whom the captain found he could trust on shore better than the
+others belonging to the crew, who would indulge in liquor whenever
+they had an opportunity. I remained in my bed-place till it was nearly
+eight o'clock, and then crept softly up the companion-hatch to
+ascertain who was on deck.
+
+The men were all below in the fore-peak at their suppers, and as I had
+before observed that their conferences were held on the forecastle, I
+went forward, and covered myself up with a part of the main-topsail,
+which the men had been repairing during the day. From this position I
+could hear all that passed, whether they went down into the fore-peak,
+or remained to converse on the forecastle. About ten minutes
+afterwards I heard the boat grate against the ship's side, and the men
+of the slaver mount on the deck.
+
+"All right?" inquired one of the slavers.
+
+"Yes," replied our second mate; "skipper and his men are on shore, and
+the first mate taken with the fever."
+
+"All the better," replied another; "one less to handle. And now, my
+lads, let's to business, and have every thing settled to-night, so
+that we may not be seen together any more till the work is done."
+
+They then commenced a consultation, by which I found it was arranged
+that our ship was to be boarded and taken possession of as soon as she
+was a few miles out of the bay, for they dared not attack us while we
+were at anchor close to the fort; but the second mate and eight men
+belonging to us were to pretend to make resistance until beaten down
+below, and when the vessel was in their power, the captain, I, and the
+other four men who were ashore in the boat, were to be silenced for
+ever. After which there came on a discussion as to what was to be done
+with the cargo, which was very valuable, and how the money was to be
+shared out when the cargo was sold. Then they settled who were to be
+officers on board of the ship, which there is no doubt they intended
+to make a pirate vessel. I also discovered that, if they succeeded, it
+was their intention to kill their own captain and such men of the
+slaver who would not join them, and scuttle their own vessel, which
+was a very old one.
+
+The consultation ended by a solemn and most villainous oath being
+administered to every man as to secrecy and fidelity, after which the
+men of the slaver went into their boat, and pulled to their own
+vessel. The second mate and our men remained on deck about a quarter
+of an hour, and then all descended by the ladder to the fore-peak, and
+turned into their hammocks.
+
+As soon as I thought I could do so with safety, I came out of my
+lurking-place, and retreated to the state-room. It was fortunate that
+I did, for a minute afterwards I heard a man on deck, and the second
+mate came down the companion-hatch, and inquired whether I wanted any
+thing. I told him no; that I was very ill, and only hoped to be able
+to go to sleep, and asked him if the captain had returned. He replied
+that he had not, and then went away. As soon as I was left to myself,
+I began to consider what would be best to be done. I knew the captain
+to be a very timorous man, and I was afraid to trust him with the
+secret, as I thought he would be certain to let the men know by his
+conduct that they were discovered, and their plans known. The four men
+who were prisoners with me I knew that I could confide in. This was
+the Tuesday night, and we proposed sailing on the Thursday. Now we had
+no means of defence on board, except one small gun, which was
+honeycombed and nearly useless. It did very well to make a signal
+with, but had it been loaded with ball, I believe it would have burst
+immediately. It is true that we had muskets and cutlasses, but what
+use would they have been against such a force as would be opposed, and
+two-thirds of our men mutineers. Of course we must have been
+immediately overpowered.
+
+That the slavers intended to take possession of their own vessel
+before they took ours, I had no doubt. It is true that we outsailed
+them when we had a breeze, but the bay was usually becalmed, and it
+was not till a vessel had got well into the offing that she obtained a
+breeze, and there was no doubt but that they would take the
+opportunity of boarding us when we were moving slowly through the
+water, and a boat might easily come up with us. The slaver had stated
+his intention of sailing immediately to procure her cargo elsewhere,
+and if she got under weigh at the same time that we did, no suspicion
+would be created. To apply for protection to the governor would be
+useless--he could not protect us after we were clear of the bay.
+Indeed, if it were known that we had so done, it would probably only
+precipitate the affair, and we should be taken possession of while at
+anchor, for the shot from the fort would hardly reach us. It was,
+therefore, only by stratagem that we could escape from the clutches of
+these miscreants. Again, allowing that we were to get clear of the
+slavers, we were still in an awkward position, for, supposing the
+captain to be of any use, we should still only be six men against
+nine, and we might be overpowered by our own crew, who were determined
+and powerful men.
+
+All night I lay on my bed reflecting upon what ought to be done, and
+at last I made up my mind.
+
+The next morning I went on deck, complaining very much, but stating
+that the fever had left me. The long-boat was sent on shore for more
+water, and I took care that the second mate and eight men should be
+those selected for the service. As soon as they had shoved off, I
+called the other four men on the forecastle, and told them what I had
+overheard. They were very much astonished, for they had had no idea
+that there was any thing of the kind going forward. I imparted to them
+all my plans, and they agreed to support me in every thing--indeed,
+they were all brave men, and would have, if I had acceded to it,
+attempted to master and overpower the second mate and the others, and
+make sail in the night; but this I would not permit, as there was a
+great risk. They perfectly agreed with me that it was no use
+acquainting the captain, and that all we had to do was to get rid of
+these men, and carry the vessel home how we could. How that was to be
+done was the point at issue. One thing was certain, that it was
+necessary to leave the bay that night, or it would be too late.
+Fortunately, there was always a light breeze during the night, and the
+nights were dark, for there was no moon till three o'clock in the
+morning, by which time we could have gained the offing, and then we
+might laugh at the slaver, as we were lighter in our heels. The boat
+came off with the water about noon, and the men went to dinner. The
+captain had agreed to dine with the governor, and I had been asked to
+accompany him. It was to be our farewell dinner, as we were to sail
+the next morning. I had been cogitating a long while to find out how
+to get rid of these fellows, when at last I determined that I would go
+on shore with the captain, and propose a plan to the governor. His
+knowledge of what was about to be attempted could do no harm, and I
+thought he would help us; so I went into the boat, and when we landed
+I told the men what I intended to do. As soon as I arrived at the
+governor's, I took an opportunity, while the captain was reading a
+book, to request a few moments' conversation, and I then informed the
+governor of the conspiracy which was afloat, and when I had so done, I
+pointed out to him the propriety of saying nothing to the captain
+until all was safe, and proposed my plan to him, which he immediately
+acceded to. When he returned to where the captain was still reading,
+he told him that he had a quantity of gold-dust and other valuables,
+which he wished to send to England by his ship; but that he did not
+wish to do it openly, as it was supposed that he did not traffic, and
+that if the captain would send his long-boat on shore after dark, he
+would send all the articles on board, with instructions to whom they
+were to be consigned on our arrival. The captain of course consented.
+We bade the governor farewell about half an hour before dark, and
+returned on board. After I had been a few minutes on deck, I sent for
+the second mate, and told him as a secret what the governor had
+proposed to do, and that he would be required to land after dark for
+the goods, telling him that there was a very large quantity of
+gold-dust, and that he must be very careful. I knew that this
+intelligence would please him, as it would add to their plunder when
+they seized the vessel; and I told him that as we sailed at daylight,
+he must lose no time, but be on board again as soon as he could, that
+we might hoist in the long-boat. About eight o'clock in the evening,
+the boat, with him and the eight men, went on shore. The governor had
+promised to detain them, and ply them with liquor, till we had time to
+get safe off. As soon as they were out of sight and hearing, we
+prepared every thing for getting under weigh. The captain had gone to
+his cabin, but was not in bed. I went down to him, and told him I
+should remain up till the boat returned, and see that all was right;
+and that in the mean time I would get every thing ready for weighing
+the next morning, and that he might just as well go to bed now, and I
+would call him to relieve me at daylight. To this arrangement he
+consented; and in half an hour I perceived that his candle was out,
+and that he had retired. Being now so dark that we could not perceive
+the slaver, which lay about three cables' length from us, it was
+fairly to be argued that she could not see us; I therefore went
+forward and slipped the cable without noise, and sent men up aloft to
+loose the sails. There was a light breeze, sufficient to carry us
+about two knots through the water, and we knew that it would rather
+increase than diminish. In half an hour, weak-handed as we were, we
+were under sail, every thing being done without a word being spoken,
+and with the utmost precaution. You may imagine how rejoiced we all
+were when we found that we had manoeuvred so well; notwithstanding, we
+kept a sharp look-out, to see if the slaver had perceived our motions,
+and had followed us; and the fear of such being the case kept us under
+alarm till near daylight, when the breeze blew strong, and we felt
+that we had nothing more to dread. As the day broke, we found that we
+were four or five leagues from the anchorage, and could not see the
+lower masts of the slaver, which still remained where we had left her.
+
+Satisfied that we were secure, I then went down to the captain, and,
+as he lay in bed, made him acquainted with all that had passed. He
+appeared as if awakened from a dream, rose without making any reply,
+and hastened on deck. When he found out that we were under weigh, and
+so far from the land, he exclaimed:
+
+"It must all be true; but how shall we be able to take the ship home
+with so few hands?"
+
+I replied, that I had no fears on that score, and that I would answer
+for bringing the vessel safe to Liverpool.
+
+"But," he said at last, "how is it that I was not informed of all
+this? I might have made some arrangements with the men."
+
+"Yes, Sir," I replied, "but if you had attempted to do so, the vessel
+would have been taken immediately."
+
+"But why was I not acquainted with it, I want to know?" he said again.
+
+I had by this time made up my mind to the answer I should give him; so
+I said: "Because it would have placed a serious responsibility on your
+shoulders if, as captain of this vessel, you had sailed to England
+with such a valuable cargo and so few hands. The governor and I,
+therefore, thought it better that you should not be placed in such an
+awkward position, and therefore we considered it right not to say a
+word to you about it. Now, if any thing goes wrong, it will be my
+fault, and not yours, and the owner cannot blame you." When I had said
+this, the captain was silent for a minute or two, and then said:
+
+"Well, I believe it is all for the best, and I thank you and the
+governor too."
+
+Having got over this little difficulty, I did not care. We made all
+sail, and steered homewards, and, after a rapid passage, during which
+we were on deck day and night, we arrived, very much fatigued, at
+Liverpool. Of course the captain communicated what had occurred to the
+owner, who immediately sent for me, and having heard my version of the
+story, expressed his acknowledgment for the preservation of the
+vessel; and to prove his sincerity, he presented me with fifty guineas
+for myself, and ten for each of the men. The cargo was soon landed,
+and I was again at liberty. I found Captain Levee in port; he had just
+returned from another cruise, and had taken a rich prize. He met me
+with the same cordiality as before; and having asked me for a recital
+of what had occurred at Senegal, of which he had heard something from
+the owner, as soon as I had finished, he said:
+
+"You are a lad after my own heart, and I wish we were sailing
+together. I want a first-lieutenant like you, and if you will go with
+me, say the word, and it will be hard but I will have you."
+
+I replied that I was not very anxious to be in a privateer again; and
+this brought on a discourse upon what occurred when I was in the
+Revenge with Captain Weatherall.
+
+"Well," he said at last, "all this makes me more anxious to have you.
+I like fair fighting, and hate buccaneering like yourself; however, we
+will talk of it another time. I am about to start for London. What do
+you say, will you join me, and we will have some sport? With plenty of
+money, you may do any thing in London."
+
+"Yes," I replied, "but I have not plenty of money."
+
+"That shall make no difference; money is of no use but to spend it,
+that I know of," replied Captain Levee. "I have plenty for both of us,
+and my purse is at your service; help yourself as you please, without
+counting, for I shall be your enemy if you offer to return it. That's
+settled; the horses are all ready, and we will start on Wednesday. How
+will you dress? I think it might be better to alter your costume, now
+you are going to London. You'll make a pretty fellow, dress how you
+will."
+
+"Before I give you an answer to all your kind proposals, I must speak
+to the owner, Captain Levee."
+
+"Of course, you must; shall we go there now?"
+
+"Willingly," I replied. And we accordingly set off.
+
+Captain Levee introduced the subject as soon as we arrived at the
+counting-house, stating that he wanted me to be first-lieutenant of
+the privateer, and that I was going to London with him, if he had no
+objection.
+
+"As for going to London with you for five or six weeks, Captain Levee,
+there can be no objection to that," replied the owner; "but as for
+being your first-lieutenant, that is another question. I have a vessel
+now fitting out, and intended to offer the command of it to Mr.
+Elrington. I do so now at once, and he must decide whether he prefers
+being under your orders to commanding a vessel of his own."
+
+"I will decide that for him," replied Captain Levee. "He must command
+his own vessel; it would be no friendship on my part to stand in the
+way of his advancement. I only hope, if she is a privateer, that we
+may cruise together."
+
+"I cannot reply to that latter question," replied the owner. "Her
+destination is uncertain; but the command of her is now offered to Mr.
+Elrington, if he will accept of it, before his trip to the
+metropolis."
+
+I replied that I should with pleasure, and returned the owner many
+thanks for his kindness; and, after a few minutes' more conversation,
+we look our leave.
+
+"Now I should advise you," said Captain Levee, as we walked towards
+his lodgings, "to dress as a captain of a vessel of war, much in the
+style that I do. You are a captain, and have a right so to do. Come
+with me, and let me fit you out."
+
+I agreed with Captain Levee that I could not do better; so we went and
+ordered my suits of clothes, and purchased the other articles which I
+required. Captain Levee would have paid for them, but I had money
+sufficient, and would not permit him; indeed with my pay and present
+of fifty guineas I had upwards of seventy guineas in my purse, and did
+not disburse more than fifty in my accoutrements, although my pistols
+and hanger were very handsome.
+
+We did not start until three days after the time proposed, when I
+found at daylight two stout well-bred horses at the door; one for
+Captain Levee, and the other for me. We were attended by two
+serving-men belonging to the crew of the privateer commanded by
+Captain Levee--powerful, fierce-looking, and determined men, armed to
+the teeth, and mounted upon strong jades. One carried the valise of
+Captain Levee, which was heavy with gold. The other had charge of
+mine, which was much lighter, as you may suppose. We travelled for
+three days without any interruption, making about thirty miles a-day,
+and stopping at the hostelries to sleep every night. On the fourth day
+we had a slight affair, for as we were mounting a hill towards the
+evening, we found our passage barred by five fellows with crape masks,
+who told us to stand and deliver.
+
+"We will," replied Captain Levee, firing his pistol, and reining up
+his horse at the same time. The ball struck the man, who fell back on
+the crupper, while the others rushed forward. My pistols were all
+ready, and I fired at the one who spurred his horse upon me, but the
+horse rearing up saved his master, the ball passing through the head
+of the animal, who fell dead, holding his rider a prisoner by the
+thigh, which was underneath his body. Our two men had come forward and
+ranged alongside of us at the first attack, but now that two had
+fallen, the others finding themselves in a minority, after exchanging
+shots, turned their horses' heads and galloped away. We would have
+pursued them, but Captain Levee said it was better not, as there might
+be more of the gang near, and by pursuing them we might separate and
+be cut off in detail.
+
+"What shall we do with these fellows?" asked our men of Captain Levee.
+
+"Leave them to get off how they can," replied Captain Levee. "I will
+not be stopped on my journey by such a matter as this. I dare say they
+don't deserve hanging more than half the people we meet. Let us push
+on and get into quarters for the night. After all, Mr. Elrington,"
+said Captain Levee to me, as we were setting off, "it's only a little
+land privateering, and we must not be too hard upon them."
+
+I confess, Madam, when I recalled all that I had witnessed on board of
+the Revenge, that I agreed with Captain Levee, that these highwaymen
+were not worse than ourselves.
+
+No other adventure occurred during our journey, and when we arrived in
+London we directed our horses' steps to a fashionable tavern in St.
+Paul's, and took possession of apartments, and as Captain Levee was
+well known, we were cordially greeted and well attended. The tavern
+was in great repute, and resorted to by all the wits and gay men of
+the day, and I soon found myself on intimate terms with a numerous set
+of dashing blades, full of life and jollity, and spending their money
+like princes; but it was a life of sad intemperance, and my head
+ached every morning from the excess of the night before, and in our
+excursions in the evenings we were continually in broils and
+disturbances, and many a broken head, nay, sometimes a severe wound,
+was given and received. After the first fortnight, I felt weary of
+this continual dissipation, and as I was dressing a sword-cut which
+Captain Levee had received in an affray, I one morning told him so.
+
+"I agree with you," he replied, "that it is all very foolish and
+discreditable, but if we live with the gay and pretty fellows, we must
+do as they do. Besides, how could I get rid of my money, which burns
+in my pocket, if I did not spend as much in one day as would suffice
+for three weeks?"
+
+"Still I would rather dress a wound gained in an honourable contest
+with the enemy than one received in a night brawl, and I would rather
+see you commanding your men in action than reeling with other
+drunkards in search of a quarrel in the streets."
+
+"I feel that it is beneath me, and I'm sure that it's beneath you. You
+are a Mentor without a beard," replied Captain Levee. "But still it
+requires no beard to discover that I have made an ass of myself. Now,
+what do you say, shall we take lodgings and live more reputably, for
+while in this tavern we never shall be able to do so?"
+
+"I should prefer it, to tell you the honest truth," I replied, "for I
+have no pleasure in our present life."
+
+"Be it so, then," he replied. "I will tell them that I take lodgings,
+that I may be near to a fair lady. That will be a good and sufficient
+excuse."
+
+The next day we secured lodgings to our satisfaction, and removed into
+them, leaving our horses and men at the tavern. We boarded with the
+family, and as there were others who did the same, we had a very
+pleasant society, especially as there were many of the other sex among
+the boarders. The first day that we sat down to dinner, I found myself
+by the side of a young man of pleasing manners, although with much of
+the coxcomb in his apparel. His dress was very gay and very expensive,
+and he wore a diamond-hilted sword and diamond buckles--at least so
+they appeared to me, as I was not sufficient connoisseur to
+distinguish the brilliant from the paste. He was very affable and
+talkative, and before dinner was over gave me the history of many of
+the people present.
+
+"Who is the dame in the blue stomacher?" I inquired.
+
+"You mean the prettiest of the two, I suppose," he replied, "that one
+with the patches under the eye? She is a widow, having just buried an
+old man of sixty, to whom she was sacrificed by her mother. But
+although the old fellow was as rich as a Jew, he found such fault with
+the lady's conduct that he left all his money away from her. This is
+not generally known, and she takes care to conceal it, for she is
+anxious to make another match, and she will succeed if her funds,
+which are not _very_ great, enable her to carry on the game a little
+longer. I was nearly taken in myself, but an intimacy with her cousin,
+who hates her, gave me a knowledge of the truth. She still keeps her
+carriage, and appears to be rolling in wealth, but she has sold her
+diamonds and wears paste. And that plain young person on the other
+side of her has money, and knows the value of it. She requires
+rent-roll for rent-roll, and instead of referring you to her father
+and mother, the little minx refers you to her lawyer and man of
+business. Ugly as she is, I would have sacrificed myself, but she
+treated me in that way, and upon my soul I was not very sorry for it,
+for she is dear at any price, and I have since rejoiced at my want of
+success."
+
+"Who is that elderly gentleman with such snow-white hair?" I inquired.
+
+"That," replied my companion, "nobody exactly knows, but I have my
+idea. I think," said he, lowering his voice to a whisper, "that he is
+a Catholic priest, or a Jesuit, perhaps, and a partisan of the house
+of Stuart. I have my reasons for supposing so, and this I am sure of,
+which is, that he is closely watched by the emissaries of government."
+
+You may remember, Madam, how at that time the country was disturbed by
+the landing of the Pretender in the summer of the year before, and the
+great successes which he had met with, and that the Duke of Cumberland
+had returned from the army in the Low Countries, and had marched to
+Scotland.
+
+"Has there been any intelligence from Scotland relative to the
+movements of the armies?" I inquired.
+
+"We have heard that the Pretender had abandoned the siege of Fort
+William, but nothing more; and how far the report is true, it is hard
+to say. You military men must naturally have a war one way or the
+other," said my companion, in a careless manner.
+
+"As to the fighting part of the question," I replied, "I should feel
+it a matter of great indifference which side I fought for, as the
+claim of both parties is a matter of mere opinion."
+
+"Indeed," he said; "and what may be your opinion?"
+
+"I have none. I think the claims of both parties equal. The house of
+Stuart lost the throne of England on account of its religion--that of
+Hanover has been called to the throne for the same cause. The
+adherents of both are numerous at the present moment; and it does not
+follow because the house of Hanover has the strongest party, that the
+house of Stuart should not uphold its cause while there is a chance of
+success."
+
+"That is true; but if you were to be obliged to take one side or the
+other, which would it be by preference?"
+
+"Certainly I would support the Protestant religion in preference to
+the Catholic. I am a Protestant, and that is reason enough."
+
+"I agree with you," replied my companion. "Is your brave friend of the
+same opinion?"
+
+"I really never put the question to him, but I think I may safely
+answer that he is."
+
+It was fortunate, Madam, that I replied as I did, for I afterwards
+discovered that this precious gossiping young man, with his rings and
+ribbons, was no other than a government spy, on the look-out for
+malcontents. Certainly his disguise was good, for I never should have
+imagined it from his foppish exterior and mincing manners.
+
+We passed our time much more to my satisfaction now than we did
+before, escorting the ladies to the theatre and to Ranelagh, and the
+freedom with which Captain Levee (and I may say I also) spent his
+money, soon gave us a passport to good society. About a fortnight
+afterwards, the news arrived of the battle of Culloden, and great
+rejoicings were made. My foppish friend remarked to me:--
+
+"Yes, now that the hopes of the Pretender are blasted, and the
+Hanoverian succession secured, there are plenty who pretend to
+rejoice, and be excessively loyal, who, if the truth were known, ought
+to be quartered as traitors."
+
+And I must observe, that the day before the news of the battle, the
+old gentleman with snow-white hair was arrested and sent to the Tower,
+and he afterwards suffered for high treason.
+
+But letters from the owner, saying that the presence of both of us was
+immediately required, broke off this pleasant London party. Indeed,
+the bag of gold was running very low, and this, combined with the
+owner's letter, occasioned our breaking up three days afterwards. We
+took leave of the company at the lodgings, and there was a tender
+parting with one or two buxom young women; after which we again
+mounted our steeds and set off for Liverpool, where we arrived without
+any adventure worthy of narration.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+    I am put in command of the Sparrow-Hawk--Am directed to
+    take four Jacobite Gentlemen secretly on board--Run with
+    them to Bordeaux--Land them in safety--Dine with the
+    Governor--Meet with the Widow of the French Gentleman I
+    had unfortunately killed--Am insulted by her second
+    Husband--Agree to fight with him--Sail down the River
+    and prepare for Action.
+
+
+On our arrival, Captain Levee and I, as soon as we had got rid of the
+dust of travel, called upon the owner, who informed us that all the
+alterations in Captain Levee's vessel, which was a large lugger of
+fourteen guns, and a hundred and twenty men, were complete, and that
+my vessel was also ready for me, and manned; but that I had better go
+on board and see if any thing else was required, or if there was any
+alteration that I would propose. Captain Levee and I immediately went
+down to the wharf, alongside of which my vessel lay, that we might
+examine her now that she was fitted out as a vessel of war.
+
+She had been a schooner in the Spanish trade, and had been captured
+by Captain Levee, who had taken her out from under a battery as she
+lay at anchor, having just made her port from a voyage from South
+America, being at that time laden with copper and cochineal--a most
+valuable prize she had proved--and as she was found to be a surprising
+fast sailer, the owner had resolved to fit her out as a privateer.
+
+She was not a large vessel, being of about a hundred and sixty tons,
+but she was very beautifully built. She was now armed with eight brass
+guns, of a calibre of six pounds each, four howitzers aft, and two
+cohorns on the taffrail.
+
+"You have a very sweet little craft here, Elrington," said Captain
+Levee, after he had walked all over her, and examined her below and
+aloft. "She will sail better than before, I should think, for she then
+had a very full cargo, and now her top hamper is a mere nothing. Did
+the owner say how many men you had?"
+
+"Fifty-four is, I believe, to be our full complement," I replied, "and
+I should think quite enough."
+
+"Yes, if they are good men and true. You may do a great deal with this
+vessel, for you see she draws so little water, that you may run in
+where I dare not venture. Come, we will now return to our lodgings,
+pack up, and each go on board of our vessels. We have had play enough,
+now to work again, and in good earnest."
+
+"I was about to propose it myself," I replied, "for with a new vessel,
+officers and men not known to me, the sooner I am on board and with
+them the better. It will take some time to get every thing and
+everybody in their places."
+
+"Spoken like a man who understands his business," replied Captain
+Levee. "I wonder whether we shall be sent out together?"
+
+"I can only say, that I hope so," I replied, "as I should profit much
+by your experience, and hope to prove to you that, if necessary, I
+shall not be a bad second."
+
+And as I made this reply, we arrived at the house where we had lodged.
+
+Captain Levee was a man, who, when once he had decided, was as rapid
+as lightning in execution. He sent for a dealer in horses, concluded a
+bargain with him in five minutes, paid his lodgings and all demands
+upon him, and before noon we were both on board of our respective
+vessels. But, previous to the seamen coming up for our boxes, I
+observed to him, "I should wish, Levee, that you would let me know, if
+it is only at a rough guess, what sum I may be indebted to you; as I
+may be fortunate, and if so, it will be but fair to repay you the
+money, although your kindness I cannot so easily return."
+
+"I'll tell you exactly," said Levee. "If I take no prizes this cruise,
+and you do make money, why then we will, on our return, have another
+frolic somewhere, and you shall stand treat. That will make us all
+square, if I am not fortunate; but if I am, I consider your pleasant
+company to have more than repaid me for any little expense I may have
+incurred."
+
+"You are very kind to say that," I replied; "but I hope you will be
+fortunate, and not have to depend upon me."
+
+"I hope so too," he replied, laughing. "If we come back safe and
+sound, we will take a trip to Bath--I am anxious to see the place."
+
+I mention this conversation, Madam, that I may make you acquainted
+with the character of Captain Levee, and prove to you how worthy a man
+I had as a companion.
+
+It required about ten days to complete my little schooner with every
+thing that I considered requisite, and the politeness of the owner was
+extremely gratifying. We were, however, but just complete, when the
+owner sent for me in a great hurry, and having taken me into a back
+room next to the counting-house, he locked the door, and said--
+
+"Captain Elrington, I have been offered a large sum to do a service to
+some unfortunate people; but it is an affair which, for our own sakes,
+will demand the utmost secrecy: indeed, you will risk more than I
+shall; but at the same time I trust you will not refuse to perform the
+service, as I shall lose a considerable advantage. If you will
+undertake it, I shall not be ungrateful."
+
+I replied that I was bound to him by many acts of kindness, and that
+he might confide in my gratitude.
+
+"Well, then," he replied, lowering his voice, "the fact is this; four
+of the Jacobite party, who are hotly pursued, and for whose heads a
+large reward is offered, have contrived to escape to this port, and
+are here concealed by their friends, who have applied to me to land
+them at some port in France."
+
+"I understand," I replied; "I will cheerfully execute the commission."
+
+"I thank you, Captain Elrington; I expected no other answer from you.
+I would not put them on board Captain Levee's vessel for many reasons;
+but, at the same time, he knows that he is to sail to-morrow, and he
+shall wait for you and keep company with you till you have landed
+them; after which you may concert your own measures with him, and
+decide whether you cruise together or separate."
+
+"Captain Levee will of course know that I have them on board?"
+
+"Certainly; but it is to conceal these people from others in his ship,
+and not from him, that they are put on board of your vessel. At the
+same time, I confess I have my private reasons as well, which I do not
+wish to make known. You can sail to-morrow?"
+
+"I can sail to-night, if you wish," I replied.
+
+"No; to-morrow night will be the time that I have fixed."
+
+"At what time will they come on board?"
+
+"I cannot reply to that till to-morrow. The fact is, that the
+government people are on a hot scent; and there is a vessel of war in
+the offing, I am told, ready to board any thing and every thing which
+comes out. Captain Levee will sail to-morrow morning, and will in all
+probability be examined by the government vessel, which is, I
+understand, a most rapid sailer."
+
+"Will he submit to it?"
+
+"Yes, he must; and I have given him positive orders not to make the
+least attempt to evade her or prevent a search. He will then run to
+Holyhead, and lay-to there for you to join him, and you will proceed
+together to the port which the people taken on board shall direct,
+for that is a part of the agreement they have made with me."
+
+"Then of course I am to evade the king's vessel?"
+
+"Certainly; and I have no doubt but that you will be able so to do.
+Your vessel is so fleet, that there will be little difficulty: at all
+events, you will do your best: but recollect, that although you must
+make every attempt to escape, you must not make any attempt at
+resistance--indeed, that would be useless against a vessel of such
+force. Should you be in a position which might enable them to board
+you, you must find some safe hiding-place for your passengers; for I
+hardly need say, that if taken with them on board, the vessel will be
+confiscated, and you will run some danger of your life. I have nothing
+more to say to you just now, except that you may give out that Captain
+Levee sails to-morrow, and that you are to follow him in ten days.
+Your powder is on board?"
+
+"Yes; I got it on board as soon as we hauled out in the stream."
+
+"Well, then, you will call here to-morrow morning about eleven
+o'clock, not before, and (I hardly need repeat it), but I again
+say--secrecy,--as you value your life."
+
+As soon as I had left the owner, I went down to the wharf, stepped
+into the boat, and went on board Captain Levee's vessel, which, I have
+omitted to state, was named the Arrow. I found him on board, and very
+busy getting ready for sea.
+
+"So you are off to-morrow, Levee?" said I, before all the people on
+the deck.
+
+"Yes," he replied.
+
+"I wish I was, too; but I am to remain ten days longer, I find."
+
+"I was in hopes we should have cruised together," replied Captain
+Levee; "but we must do as our owner wishes. What detains you?--I
+thought you were ready."
+
+"I thought so too," I replied; "but we find that the head of the
+mainmast is sprung, and we must have a new one. I have just come from
+the owner's, and must set to work at once, and get ready for shifting
+our mast. So, fare you well, if I do not see you before you sail."
+
+"I am to see the owner to-night," replied Levee. "Shall we not meet
+then, and take a parting glass?"
+
+"I fear not, but I will come if I can," I replied; "if not, success to
+the Arrow!"
+
+"And success to the Sparrow-Hawk!" replied Levee, "and God bless you,
+my good fellow."
+
+I shook hands with my kind friend, and went over the side of the
+lugger into my boat, and then pulled for my own vessel. As soon as I
+got on board, I sent for the officers and men, and said to them--
+
+"We are to shift our mainmast for one that is three feet longer, and
+must work hard, that we may be able to sail as soon as possible. I
+cannot allow any of you to go on shore till the work is finished; when
+it is done, you will have leave as before till we sail."
+
+That afternoon I sent down the topsail-yard and topmast, unbent the
+mainsail, main-topsail, and gaff--sent down the topmast and
+running-rigging on deck--cast loose the lanyards of the lower rigging,
+and quite dismantled the mainmast, so as to make it appear as if we
+were about to haul to the wharf and take it out. The men all remained
+on board, expecting that we should shift our berth the next day.
+
+On the following morning I laid out a warp to the wharf, as if
+intending to haul in; and at the time appointed, I went on shore to
+the owner, and told him what I had done.
+
+"But," he said, "I find that you will have to sail this night as soon
+as it is dark. How will you get ready?"
+
+I replied that at nightfall I would immediately replace every thing,
+and in an hour would be ready for sea.
+
+"If such be the case, you have done well, Mr. Elrington, and I thank
+you for your zeal on my behalf, which I shall not forget. Every thing
+has been arranged, and you must come up here with some of your seamen
+as soon as you are ready to sail. Your men, or rather four of them,
+must remain in the house. The four gentlemen who are to be embarked
+will be dressed, in seamen's attire, and will carry down their boxes
+and trunks as if they were your men taking your things on board. You
+will then remain a little distance from the wharf in the boat till
+your own men come down, and if there is no discovery you will take
+them on board with you; if, on the contrary, there is any suspicion,
+and the officers of the government are on the watch, and stop your
+men, you will then push off with the passengers, slip your cable if it
+is necessary, and make all sail for Holyhead, where you will fall in
+with the Arrow, which will be waiting there for you. Is the Arrow
+still in sight?"
+
+"No," I replied; "she was out of sight more than an hour ago, and from
+our masthead we could see the top-gallant sails of the vessel of war
+bearing N.N.W."
+
+"Keep a look-out upon her, and see how she bears at dark," replied the
+owner, "for you must not fall in with her if possible. I think you had
+better return on board now, that you may keep your people quiet."
+
+When I arrived on board the schooner, I told my officers that I did
+not think that we should shift the mast as proposed, and that every
+thing must be got ready for refitting. I did not choose to say more,
+but I added that I was to go on shore in the evening to smoke a pipe
+with the owner, and then I should know for certain. I employed the men
+during the whole of the day in doing every thing in preparation which
+could be done without exciting suspicion; and as soon as it was dark I
+called the men aft, and told them that I thought it was very likely,
+from the Arrow not having made her appearance, that we might be sent
+to join her immediately, and that I wished them to rig the mainmast,
+and make every thing ready for an immediate start, promising them to
+serve out some liquor if they worked well. This was sufficient, and in
+little more than an hour the mast was secured, the rigging all
+complete, and the sails ready for bending. I then ordered the boat to
+be manned, and telling the officers that they were to bend the sails,
+and have every thing ready for weighing on my return on board, which
+would be in an hour, or thereabouts, I pulled on shore, and went up to
+the owner's, taking four men with me, and leaving three men in the
+boat. I ordered these three men to remain till the others came down
+with my trunks and effects, and not to leave the boat on any
+consideration.
+
+When I arrived at the owner's, I told him what I had done, and he
+commended my arrangements. In the back room I found four gentlemen
+dressed in seamen's clothing, and as there was no time to be lost,
+they immediately shouldered the trunks and valises; desiring my own
+men to remain with the owner to bring down any thing that he might
+wish to send on board, I left them in the counting-house. The
+gentlemen followed me with their loads down to the boat, and when I
+got there the men told me that some people had come down and asked
+whose boat it was, and why they were lying there, and that they had
+told the people that the captain had taken four men with him to bring
+down his things, and that they were waiting for him; so it was lucky
+that I said to my men what I did.
+
+We hastened to put the trunks into the boat, and to get in ourselves
+after we had received this intelligence, and then I shoved off from
+the wharf, and laid about a stone's throw distant for my other men. At
+last we heard them coming down, and shortly afterwards we perceived
+that they were stopped by other people, and in altercation with them.
+I knew then that the officers were on the alert, and would discover
+the stratagem, and therefore desired my men and the gentlemen, who had
+each taken an oar in readiness, to give way and pull for the schooner.
+As we did so, the king's officers on search who had stopped my four
+men came down to the wharf and ordered us to come back, but we made no
+reply. As soon as we were alongside, we hoisted the things out of the
+boat, veered her astern by a tow-rope, slipped the cable, and made
+sail. Fortunately it was very dark, and we were very alert in our
+movements. We could perceive lights at the wharf as we sailed out of
+the river, and it was clear that we had had a narrow escape; but I
+felt no alarm on account of the owner, as I knew that although they
+might suspect, they could prove nothing. When about three miles out we
+hove to, hoisted in the boat, and shaped our course.
+
+All I had now to fear was the falling in with the ship of war in the
+offing, and I placed men to keep a sharp look-out in every direction,
+and told the officers that it was necessary that we should avoid her.
+When last seen, about an hour before dark, she was well to windward,
+and as the wind was from the northward, she would probably sail faster
+than we could, as a schooner does not sail so well free as on a wind.
+We had run out about four hours, and were steering our course for
+Holyhead, when suddenly we perceived the ship of war close to us, and
+to leeward. She had been lying with her mainsail to the mast, but she
+evidently had made us out, for she filled and set top-gallant sails.
+
+I immediately hauled my wind, and as soon as she had way, she tacked
+and followed in pursuit, being then right astern of us, about half a
+mile off. It was very dark, and I knew that as our sails were set, and
+we bore from her, it would be difficult for her to keep us in sight,
+as we only presented what we call the feather-edge of our sails to
+her. I therefore steered on under all sail, and finding that the
+schooner weathered on her, I kept her away a little, so as to retain
+the same bearings, and to leave her faster.
+
+In an hour we could not make out the ship, and were therefore certain
+that she could not see us; so, as I wanted to get clear of her, and be
+at Holyhead as soon as possible, I lowered down all the sails and put
+my helm up, so as to cross her and run to leeward under bare poles,
+while she continued her windward chase. This stratagem answered, and
+we saw no more of her; for, two hours afterwards, we fell in with the
+Arrow, and, hailing her, we both made sail down the Bristol Channel as
+fast as we could, and at daybreak there was no vessel in sight, and of
+course we had nothing more to fear from the Liverpool cruiser.
+
+As we now sailed rapidly along in company, with the wind on our
+quarter, it was high time for me to look to my passengers, who had
+remained on deck in perfect silence from the time that they had come
+on board. I therefore went up to them, and apologized for not having
+as yet paid them that attention that I should have wished to have done
+under other circumstances.
+
+"Captain," replied the oldest of them, with a courteous salute, "you
+have paid us every attention; you have been extremely active in saving
+our lives, and we return you our sincere thanks."
+
+"Yes, indeed," replied a young and handsome man who stood next him,
+"Mr. Elrington has saved us from the toils of our enemies; but now
+that we are in no fear from that quarter, I must tell him that we have
+hardly had a mouthful of food for twenty-four hours, and if he wishes
+to save our lives a second time, it will be by ordering a good
+breakfast to be prepared for us."
+
+"Campbell speaks the truth, my dear Sir," said the one who had first
+spoken. "We have lately gained the knowledge of what it is to hunger
+and thirst; and we all join in his request."
+
+"You shall not wait long," I replied; "I will be up again in a moment
+or two." I went down into the cabin, and ordering my servant to put on
+the table a large piece of pressed Hamburg beef, a cold pie of various
+flesh and fowl combined, some bread and cheese, and some bottles of
+brandy and usquebaugh, I then went up again, and requested them all to
+descend. Hungry they certainly were, and it was incredible the
+quantity that they devoured. I should have imagined that they had not
+been fed for a week; and I thought that if they were to consume at
+that rate, my stock would never last out, and the sooner they were
+landed the better. As soon as they left off eating, and had finished
+two bottles of usquebaugh, I said to them, "Gentlemen, my orders are
+to land you at any port of France that you should prefer. Have you
+made up your minds as to which it shall be, for it will be necessary
+that we shape a course according to your decision?"
+
+"Mr. Elrington, on that point we would wish to advise with you. I
+hardly need say that our object is to escape, and that falling in with
+and being captured by a ship of war, and there are many out in pursuit
+of us and other unfortunate adherents to the house of Stuart, would be
+extremely disagreeable, as our heads and our bodies would certainly
+part company, if we were taken. Now, which port do you think we should
+be most likely to reach with least chance of interruption?"
+
+"I think," I replied, "as you pay me the compliment to ask my opinion,
+that it would be better to run down the Bay of Biscay, and then put in
+the port of Bordeaux, or any other, where you could be landed in
+safety; and my reason is this: the Channel is full of cruisers looking
+after those of your party who are attempting to escape; and my vessel
+will be chased and searched. Now, although we might sail faster than
+any one vessel in the Channel, yet it is very possible that in running
+away from one, we may fall into the jaws of another. And besides, we
+are two privateers, and cruising off Bordeaux will excite no
+suspicion, as it is a favourite cruising-ground; so that, if we were
+boarded, there would be little danger of discovery; but, of course, as
+long as I can prevent that, by taking to my heels, I shall not be
+boarded by any one. The only objection to what I propose is, that you
+will be confined longer in a vessel than you may like, or than you
+would be if you were to gain a nearer port."
+
+"I agree with the captain of the vessel," said a grave-looking
+personage, who had not yet spoken, and whom I afterwards discovered to
+be a Catholic priest, "the stanchest adherent to the cause could not
+have given better advice, and I should recommend that it be followed."
+
+The others were of the same opinion; and, in consequence, I edged the
+schooner down to the Arrow, and hailed Captain Levee, stating that we
+were to run to Bordeaux. After that I prepared for them sleeping
+accommodations as well as I could, and on my making apologies, they
+laughed, and told me such stories of their hardships during their
+escape, that I was not surprised at their not being difficult. I found
+out their names by their addressing one another, to be Campbell,
+M'Intyre, Ferguson, and M'Donald; all of them very refined gentlemen,
+and of excellent discourse. They were very merry, and laughed at all
+that they had suffered; sang Jacobite songs, as they were termed, and
+certainly did not spare my locker of wine. The wind continued fair,
+and we met with no interruption, and on the fourth evening, at dusk,
+we made the mouth of the Garonne, and then hove to, with our heads off
+shore, for the night. Captain Levee then came on board, and I
+introduced him to my passengers. To my surprise, after some
+conversation, he said--
+
+"I have now escorted Captain Elrington, according to the orders I
+received, and shall return to Liverpool as soon as possible; if,
+therefore, gentlemen, you have any letters to send to your friends
+announcing your safety, I shall be most happy to present them in any
+way you may suggest as most advisable."
+
+That Captain Levee had some object in saying this, I was quite
+certain; and therefore I made no remark. The passengers thanked him
+for his proposal; and, being provided with writing materials, they all
+wrote to their friends, and put their letters into Captain Levee's
+hands, who then bade them farewell, and went on deck with me.
+
+"Of course, you were not serious in what you said, Captain Levee?" I
+inquired, as we walked forward.
+
+"No," he replied; "but I considered it prudent to make them believe
+so. Although Englishmen, they are enemies to our country, so far as
+they are enemies to our government, and, of course, wish no harm to
+the French, who have so warmly supported them. Now, if they knew that
+I remained here waiting for your coming out of the river, they would
+say so, and I might lose the chance of a good prize, as nothing would
+sail, if they knew that the coast was not clear. Now, I shall part
+company with you in an hour, and make all sail for England, as they
+may suppose, but without fail, to-morrow night I shall be off here
+again, about five leagues from the port, with my sails furled;
+therefore, stay in the river as long as they will let you, as, while
+you are in port with the flag of truce, vessels may sail out."
+
+"I understand you, and will do all I can to assist your views, Captain
+Levee. Now, we will go down again. I will give you a receipt for a
+coil of rope, which you will send your boat for, and write a letter to
+the owners, after which you will wish me good bye, and make sail."
+
+"Exactly," Captain Levee replied, who then ordered his boat to go for
+a coil of three inch, and bring it on board.
+
+We then descended to the cabin, and I wrote a letter to the owner, and
+also a receipt for the coil of rope, which I delivered to Captain
+Levee. The boat soon returned from the lugger, the rope was taken on
+board, and then Captain Levee wished me farewell, and made his polite
+adieus to the gentlemen who followed him on deck, and waited there
+till he had hoisted in his boat, and made all sail.
+
+"How long will she be before she arrives at Liverpool with this
+wind?" inquired Mr. Campbell.
+
+"She will carry her canvas night and day," I replied; "and, therefore,
+as she sails so fast, I should say in five or six days."
+
+"Well, I am grateful that we have such an early and safe opportunity
+of communicating with our friends in England, we might have waited two
+months otherwise."
+
+"Very true," replied the priest, "but Heaven has assisted our anxious
+wishes. Let us be grateful for all things."
+
+My passengers watched the lugger until she was nearly out of sight. I
+dare say that their thoughts were, that those on board of her were
+going to the country of their birth, from which they were exiles,
+probably for ever: they did not speak, but went down below, and
+retired to their beds. At daylight the next morning I ran the schooner
+in; and as soon as I was within three miles of the coast, I hoisted
+the white flag of truce, and stood for the mouth of the river Garonne.
+I perceived that the batteries were manned, but not a shot was fired,
+and we entered the river.
+
+When we were a mile up the river, we were boarded by the French
+authorities, and my passengers, who had dressed themselves in their
+proper costume, informed the officer in the boat who they were, upon
+which he was very polite, and calling a pilot out of the boat, the
+schooner was taken charge of by him, and we very soon afterwards,
+having wind and tide in our favour, were anchored alongside of two
+large merchant vessels and a French privateer of sixteen guns, which I
+instantly recognized as our old antagonist off Hispaniola, in the
+action in which the Revenge was captured, and Captain Weatherall lost
+his life. However, I kept my knowledge to myself, as the French
+officer and the Jacobite gentleman were present. As soon as we had
+anchored, the passengers were requested to go into the boat, and the
+French officer and I to accompany them, that I might report myself to
+the governor, and we pulled away to the town, one of my boats
+following with the passengers' luggage.
+
+On our landing, there was a great crowd assembled, and they looked
+very hard at me, as I was dressed in my lace coat and a cocked-up
+hat, also bound with broad gold lace. On our arrival in the presence
+of the governor, we were received with much urbanity; and as I had
+brought the Jacobite gentlemen in my schooner, it was presumed that I
+was favourable to the cause, and I was very politely treated. The
+governor invited us all to dine with him on that day. I made some
+excuse, saying, that I was anxious to return to Liverpool; that I
+might fit out for the coast of Africa, in which service I was to be
+employed by my owners; but the passengers insisted upon my staying a
+day or two, and the governor added to their solicitations, his own.
+
+I therefore accepted, not only because I was glad to have an
+opportunity to see so celebrated a town, but because it would meet the
+views of Captain Levee. We took leave of the governor, and went to an
+hotel, and I then sent my boat on board for necessaries, and hired a
+handsome apartment in the hotel. I had not been there half an hour,
+when the priest came to me and said, "Captain, you are not aware of
+the rank and consequence of the three gentlemen whom you have been so
+successful in escorting to a place of safety. I am requested by them
+to make you a handsome remuneration for your kindness and skilful
+conduct on this occasion."
+
+"Sir," I replied, "that must not be. I am most happy in having
+assisted in the escape of unfortunate gentlemen; and all the pleasure
+I feel at having so done would be destroyed if I were to accept of
+what you offer. It is useless to repeat it; and if you do, I shall
+consider it an insult, and immediately repair on board of my vessel.
+You will therefore tender my best thanks and my refusal, with ardent
+wishes for their future welfare."
+
+"After what you have said, Captain Elrington, I will, of course, not
+resume the offer. I will tell my fellow-passengers what you have said,
+and I am sure that they will, as I do, admire your high sense of
+honour."--The priest shook me by the hand, and then quitted my
+apartment. I did not see the other passengers till it was the hour to
+go to dine at the governor's, when they embraced me cordially, and the
+one calling himself Campbell said, "Should you ever be in distress or
+a prisoner in this country, recollect you have a friend who is ready
+to serve you. Here is an address to a lady, to whom you must write,
+and say that you wish the assistance of your passenger to
+Bordeaux--that will be sufficient--I trust you may never require it."
+
+We had a pleasant dinner at the governor's, and among the people
+invited to meet us, I perceived the French captain of the privateer. I
+knew him immediately, although he did not recognize me. We had some
+conversation together, and he spoke about his cruises in the West
+Indies, and asked me whether I knew Captain Weatherall. I said there
+was a Captain Weatherall who commanded the Revenge privateer, and who
+was killed when his vessel was taken.
+
+"Exactly," said the captain; "he was a brave man, and fought nobly,
+and so did all his people--they fought like devils."
+
+"Yes," I replied, "they fought as long as they could, but Captain
+Weatherall was very short-handed. He had but fifty-five men on board
+at the commencement of the action."
+
+"More than that, I'm sure," replied the French captain.
+
+"He had not, I assure you," I replied; "he had lost so many in an
+attack on shore, and had so many away in prizes."
+
+Our conversation had attracted general notice, and a French army
+officer observed, "Monsieur speaks so positively, that one would
+imagine that he was actually on board."
+
+"And so I was, Sir," replied I, "and have my wounds to show for it. I
+knew this officer immediately I saw him, for I was close to Captain
+Weatherall at the time that this officer expostulated with him before
+the action; and I crossed my sword with him during the combat."
+
+"You have convinced me that you were on board," replied the captain of
+the privateer, "by your mentioning the expostulations previous to the
+combat taking place. I am delighted to have met with so brave an
+enemy, for every man on board that vessel was a hero."
+
+The conversation was then general, and many particulars were asked;
+and I will do the French captain the justice to say, that he was very
+correct in all his statements, and neither vaunted his own success,
+nor did us less than justice.
+
+The party then broke up to go to the theatre, and afterwards we
+repaired to the hotel. I remained there two days more, and on the last
+of these two days I had promised to sup with the French captain of the
+privateer, who had called upon me, and behaved very politely. The
+following day, after noon, when the tide served, I was to sail.
+Accordingly, after the theatre was over, I went with the French
+captain to his house, in company with two or three more. Supper was on
+the table when we arrived there, and we went into the room, waiting
+for the presence of the captain's lady, who had not gone to the
+theatre, and to whom I had not been introduced. After a few minutes
+she made her appearance, and as she entered the room, I was struck
+with her extreme beauty, although she was past the meridian of life. I
+thought I had seen her face before, and as she came forward with her
+husband, it at once rushed into my mind that she was the widow of the
+French gentleman who had so gallantly fought his vessel, and who fell
+by my hand--the lady who was nursing her son at the King's Hospital at
+Jamaica, and who had been so inveterate against me. Our eyes met, and
+her cheeks flushed; she recognized me, and I coloured deeply as I
+bowed to her. She was taken with a faintness, and fell back.
+Fortunately her husband received her in his arms.
+
+"What is the matter, my love?" he said.
+
+"Nothing; but I am taken with a vertigo," replied she; "it will go off
+directly. Make my excuses to the company, while I retire for a few
+minutes."
+
+Her husband went out of the room, and after a minute or two came back,
+saying that Madam was not well enough to return to the room, and
+begged that they would admit her excuse, and sit down to supper
+without her. Whether his wife had informed him of who I was, I know
+not; but nothing could exceed the civility of the French captain
+towards me during the supper. We did not, however, remain very late,
+as the lady of the house was indisposed.
+
+I found out, as I walked home with another French officer, that the
+captain of the privateer had fallen in with the French lady on her
+return from Jamaica, where her son died in the hospital, and had
+married her; and that, moreover, unlike most French husbands, he was
+most ardently attached to her.
+
+I had breakfasted the next morning, and packed up my clothes
+preparatory to going on board, and had just returned from a visit of
+leave-taking with the governor, when who should walk up into my
+apartment but the French captain of the privateer, accompanied by
+three or four French officers of the army. I perceived by his looks
+when he entered that he was a little excited, but I met him cordially.
+He began a conversation about his action with Captain Weatherall, and
+instead of speaking handsomely as he had done before, he used
+expressions which I considered offensive, and I at once took him up by
+observing that being under a flag of truce, it was impossible for me
+to notice what he said.
+
+"No," he replied; "but I wish we were once more on the high seas
+together, for I have a little debt of gratitude to pay off."
+
+"Well," I replied, "you may have; and I should not be sorry to give
+you an opportunity, if it were possible."
+
+"May I inquire whether you intend to go home as a cartel, and carry
+your flag of truce to Liverpool?"
+
+"No, Sir," I replied; "I shall haul down my flag of truce as soon as I
+am out of gun-shot of your batteries. I understand what you mean, Sir.
+It is very true that your vessel carries nearly double the number of
+men and guns that mine does, but nevertheless I shall haul down my
+flag of truce, as I say I will."
+
+"Not if I follow you down the river, I presume?" he said with a sort
+of sneer.
+
+"Follow me, if you dare," I cried; "you will meet with your master,
+depend upon it."
+
+"Sacre!" replied he, in a passion, "I will blow you out of the water;
+and if I take you I will hang you for a pirate."
+
+"Not the last, certainly," I said coolly.
+
+"Look you, Sir," he cried, shutting his fist upon the palm of his
+other hand, "if I take you, I will hang you; and if you take me, you
+may serve me in the same way. Is it a bargain, or are you a coward?"
+
+"Gentlemen," I said to the officers present, "you must feel that your
+countryman is not behaving well. He has insulted me grossly. I will,
+however, consent to his terms on one condition, which is, that he will
+permit one of you, after he has sailed, to make known the conditions
+upon which we fight to his wife; and that one of you will pledge me
+his honour that he will impart these conditions as soon as we are
+gone."
+
+"Agree to do so--pledge yourself to do so, Xavier," cried the French
+captain to one of the officers present.
+
+"Since you wish it, certainly," he said.
+
+"You pledge yourself to make the conditions known to Madam, as soon as
+we have sailed?"
+
+"I do, upon the honour of an officer and a gentleman," replied he,
+"painful as it will be to me."
+
+"Then, captain," I replied, "I agree to your conditions, and one or
+the other of us shall hang."
+
+You may suppose, Madam, that I must have been in a state of great
+irritation to have consented to such terms. I was so, and could not
+brook such insult in the presence of the French officers. Moreover, as
+you will observe, in my conversation I did not commit myself in any
+way. There was nothing dishonourable. I told him that I should haul
+down my flag of truce, and I also told him that he would meet with his
+master, which was true enough, as he would meet with the Arrow,
+commanded by Captain Levee, as well as with my vessel; while he
+thought that he would have to fight with my inferior vessel alone,
+and, making sure of conquest, he purposely insulted me, to make me
+accept such conditions as would administer to the revenge of his wife,
+who had evidently worked him up to act in such a manner; and I
+accepted them, because I hoped the fate would be his if Captain Levee
+joined me, and if not, I was determined that I never would be taken
+alive.
+
+After I had agreed to his conditions, they all took a very ceremonious
+leave, and I bowed them out with great mock humility. I then bade
+farewell to my passengers, who lodged in the same hotel, and went down
+to my boat, and pulled on board. As soon as the tide served, the pilot
+came on board, and we got under weigh. I observed a great bustle, and
+a hurrying to and fro of boats on board of the French privateer, and
+we had not gone above two miles down the river, before I perceived the
+men were aloft and lowering her sails. I told my officers that I had
+received a challenge from the French privateer, and had accepted it,
+and that we must get every thing ready for action. They were much
+astonished at this, as the disparity of force was so great, but they
+went cheerfully to their duty, as did the men, among whom the news was
+soon spread.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+    Captain Levee and I engage with the French Privateer--We
+    come off victorious--My revenge against the French
+    Lady--We take our Prize to Liverpool.
+
+
+The wind was light, and we did not gain the mouth of the river till
+near sun-down, when the pilot left us; and as soon as we were three
+miles in the offing, I hauled down the flag of truce in the sight of
+the French privateer, who was following us close, and was not more
+than four miles from us. To avoid mistake, I had agreed with Captain
+Levee that should I be coming out after dark, I would carry a light at
+the peak, and this light I now hoisted. It enabled the French
+privateer to follow me, and appeared only as a mark of contempt
+towards him. I stood on in the direction where I was to find Captain
+Levee, and could make out the Frenchman following me, and gradually
+nearing me. As it became dark I made more sail to keep him further off
+till I had joined the Arrow, but the light at my peak pointed out to
+him where I was. All this seemed a mystery to my officers and men,
+until having run out about four leagues, I desired them to keep a
+sharp look-out for the Arrow.
+
+About half-past eight o'clock we perceived her lying-to; she had
+furled her sails after dark, as usual. The light I bore told her who I
+was, and I ran close to her, and, hailing Captain Levee, desired him
+to prepare for action, and that I would come on board to speak to him.
+This, of course, created a great bustle on board of the Arrow, and I
+hastened on board that they might not show any lights. I then informed
+Captain Levee of all that had passed, and that the Frenchman was not
+more than five miles from us. We agreed that I should still keep up
+the light, and bear away a little to draw the Frenchman to leeward of
+the port, and also to leeward of the Arrow;--that the Arrow should
+lower her sails again, so as not to be perceived until I had drawn the
+Frenchman past him, and that then I should commence the action under
+sail, and fight till the Arrow came up to my assistance. This being
+arranged, I hastened on board of my schooner, and keeping away four
+points, I waited for the coming up of my antagonist. In half an hour
+we could perceive him through the gloom, not more than a mile from us,
+under all sail, standing steadily for the light which we carried at
+our peak.
+
+As I had already discovered that my little schooner sailed faster than
+my opponent, I allowed her to come up within a quarter of a mile of
+me, when I rounded to; and desiring my men to aim at his rigging, so
+as to dismantle him, poured in my broadside of grape and langridge,
+and then shifted my helm and resumed my course, putting more sail on,
+so as to increase my distance to what it was before. This manoeuvre I
+executed three times with success, and I had the satisfaction of
+perceiving that his foretop-mast was shot away; but when I rounded-to
+the fourth time, he did the same, and we exchanged broadsides. The
+effect of his superior artillery was evident, for my rigging and sails
+were much damaged; happily nothing so serious as to impede our speed,
+and I again put before the breeze as before, and increased my distance
+previous to again rounding-to; for, as the water was very smooth, I
+knew that if I was crippled she would lay me by the board immediately,
+and I might be taken and hanged before the Arrow could come up to my
+assistance. I therefore continued a running fight at such a distance
+as rendered me less liable to suffer from his guns.
+
+It is true that this distance made my guns even more ineffective, but
+I was decoying my Frenchman off from the land, and placing the Arrow
+between him and his port, so that his return would be intercepted.
+This continued for about an hour, when I perceived that the Frenchman
+had got up a new foretop-mast, and had set the sail upon it. He now
+ran out his bow-chasers, and continued to fire upon me with them
+alone, not choosing to lose ground by rounding-to, to give me a
+broadside; and as his canvas was all out, and I was occasionally
+rounding-to to dismantle him, we retained much the same distance from
+one another. At last a shot from his bow-chaser struck off the head of
+my mainmast, and my gaff came down.
+
+This was serious. We hastened to reef the mainsail, and hoist it up
+again upon the remainder of the mast, but having no gaff-topsail, our
+speed was necessarily decreased, and the enemy appeared to be
+gradually closing with us. I looked out for the Arrow, but could
+perceive no signs of her; indeed it was too dark to see farther than
+half a mile. Finding that on the point of sailing we were on I had no
+chance, I determined to alter my course, and put my schooner right
+before the wind, so that I might set the square mainsail, which would
+give time for the Arrow to arrive; indeed at this time I was in a
+state of great anxiety. However, I had made up my mind not to be taken
+alive, and to sell my life as dearly as I could.
+
+When the enemy perceived that we had put before the wind, he did the
+same, and as we were about half a mile from each other, we continued
+to exchange broadsides as we ran, she gradually nearing us so as to
+make her heavy artillery more effective. This portion of the contest
+continued for an hour, during which my little schooner had received
+much injury, and we were constantly repairing damages. At last, much
+to my delight, the day began to dawn, and I then discovered the Arrow
+about a mile and a half from us, right astern, under a press of sail.
+
+I pointed her out to my officers and men, who were inspired with fresh
+courage at the sight. The enemy also perceived her, and appeared
+determined to bring the combat to an issue previous to her coming up,
+and I feared that, at all events, I might swing at the yard-arm, let
+the issue of the coming combat be what it might. She neared, steering
+a course so as to cut me off, and I continued to pour in my broadsides
+to cripple her if possible, as she did not now fire, but ran steadily
+for me, and my chances were bad.
+
+Anxious that the Arrow should close as soon as possible, I hauled
+down my square mainsail, that we might not run from her, and prepared
+for an obstinate resistance if boarded. At last the Frenchman was
+within a cable's length, and at this critical moment the Arrow was
+about a mile to windward. We poured in our last broadside, and
+hastened to seize our pikes and cutlasses to repel the boarders, when
+to my satisfaction I found that one of our shot had cut his gaff in
+two. I immediately rounded to the wind; and as my antagonist was
+within pistol-shot of me, with her men all ready for the leap on
+board, I put my helm down, went round in stays, and crossed her so
+near to windward that you might have thrown a biscuit on board.
+
+This manoeuvre prevented his boarding, and I may say saved my life,
+for his gaff being shot away, he could not heave in stays to follow
+me, but was obliged to wear round after me, which increased his
+distance at least a cable's length to leeward. A furious broadside,
+however, which he poured in, crippled me altogether. Every thing came
+running down upon the decks, and I was left a complete wreck; but I
+was to windward of him, and although he might sink me, he could not
+board or take possession until he had refitted his after-sail.
+
+But now his time was come. A fresh antagonist, with equal weight of
+metal, was close to him, and he had to decide whether he would fight
+or run. Whether he conceived that running was useless, which it
+certainly was, or was determined to take us both or die, I know not,
+certain it is that he did not put his vessel before the wind, but
+waited with determination the coming up of the Arrow. Captain Levee
+passed under the Frenchman's stern, raking him with a broadside that
+almost unrigged him, and then engaged him to leeward, so as to cut off
+all chance of his escape.
+
+The Frenchman returned the fire with spirit, and I took my men from my
+guns that we might set some sail upon the vessel, for after the Arrow
+commenced her fire no further notice was taken of me by the Frenchman.
+After a contest well maintained for half an hour, the mainmast of the
+Frenchman went by the board, and this almost settled the question, as
+he could not keep his vessel to the wind, and consequently she fell
+off, and received a raking fire from the Arrow. At last her bowsprit
+was between the main and fore rigging of the Arrow, and her decks
+were swept by the Arrow's raking fire. I had got some sail up forward,
+and was anxious to be at the close of the action. I perceived that the
+Frenchman was attempting to board the lugger, and was pouring all his
+people on the forecastle, and I therefore edged down to him that I
+might, with my people, board him on the quarter, which would place
+him, as we say, between two fires. The conflict was at its highest;
+the French attempting and the Arrow's crew repelling them, when I laid
+my schooner on her quarter, and leaped on board of her with my few
+remaining men. The Frenchmen turned to repel my attack, and thus
+weakened their party opposed to the Arrow's men; the consequence was,
+that they were first beaten back, and then boarded by Captain Levee
+and his crew.
+
+As soon as I had gained the deck of the Frenchman, I thought of
+nothing but to single out the French captain. At first I could not see
+him, but as his crew retreated from Captain Levee and his men, I
+perceived him, pale and exhausted, but still attempting to rally them.
+As my object was to take him alive, I rushed in advance at him,
+wrestled, and threw him on his back on the deck. There I held him,
+while the combatants fighting and retreating, tumbled over us one
+after another, and bruised us severely with their weight. At last the
+French were beaten below, and I had time to breathe; calling to two of
+my men, I desired them to take charge of the French captain, and as
+they valued their lives, not to let him escape, or destroy himself,
+but to take him into our vessel and guard him carefully in my cabin.
+Having done this, I went to Captain Levee, and we embraced.
+
+"You did not come a minute too soon," I said, wiping the blood from my
+face.
+
+"No, indeed; and but for your clever manoeuvre, you would have been
+beaten. Your vessel is a mere nutshell compared to this;--you did
+well, more than well, to maintain the combat so long. Have you lost
+many men?"
+
+"We had ten sent below before we boarded; what may have followed since
+I do not know. I have the French captain safe in my cabin."
+
+"I saw the men hand him over:--well, now to repair damages, and then
+I will tell you what you shall do. I must send on board and help you;
+the Arrow has not suffered much considering, and I can spare the men.
+As soon as we have cleared up the decks a little, we will breakfast
+together, and talk the matter over."
+
+It required two hours before we could clear the decks of our vessels,
+for we had separated, and the Arrow had taken charge of the prize.
+Before I took the boat to go on board the Arrow, I went down into my
+cabin, where the French captain lay bound and watched by two of the
+men.
+
+"You are prepared to pay the penalty agreed upon, Monsieur?" said I.
+
+"I am, Sir," he replied. "I now understand what you meant when you
+said that I should meet with my match. I have no one to blame but
+myself. I urged you to the conditions, expecting an easy and certain
+conquest with my superior vessel. I have fallen into my own net, and
+there's an end of the matter--except that when things go wrong, a
+woman is certain to be at the bottom of it."
+
+"I am aware, Sir," I replied, "that your wife instigated you to act as
+you did, or you would never have so behaved. In attempting to revenge
+the death of one husband, she has lost two."
+
+"_C'est vrai_," replied the Frenchman, composedly, and I then quitted
+the cabin, and went on board of the Arrow.
+
+"Well, Elrington," said Captain Levee, "what do you intend to do with
+the French captain? Is he to pay the forfeit, and swing at the
+yard-arm?"
+
+"I don't like hanging a man, especially a brave man, in cold blood," I
+replied. "It was all his wife's doing, and he has confessed as much."
+
+"He would certainly have hanged you," replied Levee.
+
+"Yes, that I believe; but it would have been that he might have a
+quiet life at home--not from any resentment against me. Now I have no
+feeling of that kind to actuate me."
+
+"What will you do, then?"
+
+"Not hang him, certainly; and yet I should like to punish her."
+
+"She deserves it," replied Captain Levee. "Now, Elrington, will you
+approve of my suggestion?"
+
+"Let me hear it."
+
+"It is this: they do not know that I have assisted in taking the
+privateer, as they have no idea that I am here. As soon as we have
+refitted her and your vessel, I will remain where I am. You shall run
+into the mouth of the Garonne, with your colours flying, and the
+English Jack over the French flag on board of the prize. This will
+lead them to suppose that you have taken the vessel without
+assistance. When just out of gun-shot, heave-to, fire a gun, and then
+swing an effigy to the yard-arm, and remain there, to make them
+suppose that you have hung the French captain. At nightfall you can
+make sail and rejoin me. That will punish her, and annoy them
+generally."
+
+"I will do so; it is an excellent device, and she will never know the
+truth for a long time to come."
+
+We remained all that day refitting; in the evening I made sail, in
+company with the French schooner, which was manned by Captain Levee,
+and stood in shore. At break of the following day I ran in, standing
+for the harbour, without my colours being hoisted, and then it
+occurred to me that I would make their disappointment greater, by
+allowing them first to imagine that the victory was theirs; so, when
+about six miles off, I hoisted French colours on the French schooner,
+and French colours over English on board of my own.
+
+I continued to stand on till within two miles and a half of the
+batteries, and could see crowds flocking down to witness the supposed
+triumphant arrival of their privateer into port; when of a sudden I
+hauled my wind, hove-to, brailed up my sails, and changed the colours,
+firing a gun in bravado. Allowing them half an hour to comment upon
+this disappointment, I then fired another gun, and hoisted up to the
+yard-arm the figure of a man, composed of clothes stuffed with hay,
+made to represent the French captain; and having so done, I remained
+during the whole forenoon, with my sails brailed up, that they might
+have a clear view of the hanging figure. At last we perceived a large
+boat, with a flag of truce coming out of the river. I remained where I
+was, and allowing it to come alongside, I perceived in it the French
+officer, who had pledged himself to give the conditions of the combat
+to the lady; and seated by him was the French captain's wife, with her
+head sunk down on her knees, and her face buried in her handkerchief.
+
+I saluted the officer as he came on the deck. He returned my bow, and
+then said, "Sir, the fortune of war has proved in your favour, and I
+perceive that the conditions of the issue of the combat have been
+adhered to on your side. Against that I have not a word to say, as my
+friend would have as rigidly adhered to them. But, Sir, we war not
+with the dead, and I have come off at the request of his miserable
+wife, to beg that you will, now that your revenge is satisfied,
+deliver up to her her husband's body, that it may receive the rites of
+the Church, and Christian burial. You surely, as a brave man, will not
+deny this small favour to a woman whom you have twice deprived of her
+husband?"
+
+"Sir," I replied, "on condition that his lady will step on board and
+make the request herself, I will comply with it, but on no other
+terms."
+
+"It will be most painful, and her feelings might well have been spared
+such a trial as to meet your face again, and make the request in
+person; but as you insist upon it, I will make known your terms."
+
+As he went into his boat I ran down into the cabin, and desired them
+to cast loose the French captain, saying to him, "Sir, your wife is
+here requesting your body, which she believes to be swinging at the
+yard-arm, for I have put that trick into execution to punish her. I
+never intended to take your life, and I shall now do more, I shall
+give you not only life, but liberty--such shall be my revenge."
+
+The French captain stared as if confounded, but made no reply. I then
+went on deck, where I found the lady had been lifted up the side. They
+led her to me, and she fell on her knees, but the effort was too much
+for her, and she fainted away. I ordered her to be taken down into the
+cabin, and, without any explanation, desired the French officer to
+accompany her, not wishing to be present at the unexpected meeting. I
+therefore remained on deck, and ordering the men to lower down the
+effigy, they did so, laughing at the French seamen in the boat, who
+for the first time perceived, for they had not looked up before, that
+it was only a sham captain. I looked over the side, and told them that
+the captain was alive and well, and would be in the boat very soon, at
+which they were greatly rejoiced. In the mean time the explanation
+took place in the cabin, and after a few minutes the French officer
+came up, and expressed his satisfaction at what I had done.
+
+"You have given a lesson, Sir, without being guilty of barbarity. Your
+conduct has been noble."
+
+He was soon followed by the French captain and his lady, who was now
+all gratitude, and would have kissed my hands, but I prevented her,
+and said, "Madam, at least now you have no occasion to hate me. If I
+was so unfortunate, in self-defence, as to slay your first husband, I
+have restored to you your second. Let us, then, part in amity."
+
+The French captain squeezed my hand, but said nothing. I begged they
+would take some refreshment, but they were too anxious to return and
+undeceive their friends, and requested permission to go into the boat.
+Of course I consented, and as the boat pulled away, the crew gave
+three huzzas, as a compliment to us. When they were a mile in shore, I
+hauled down the colours of both vessels, and made sail out to rejoin
+Captain Levee, which I did in the evening, and then related all that
+had passed.
+
+He was much pleased with the result of the affair, and we then, having
+consulted, considered it advisable to run back to Liverpool with the
+prize, for she required so many hands to man her as to render us by no
+means efficient vessels. Moreover, I have omitted to state that while
+I was in the Garonne, the Arrow had taken two good prizes, which she
+had manned and sent to Liverpool. We therefore made sail to the
+northward, and in a week were again in port, with our prize. We found
+that the other vessels had arrived safe, and the owner was much
+pleased with the results of this short and eventful cruise.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+    I cause myself to be dismissed from my Owner's
+    Service--Am arrested--Conveyed to London, and confined
+    in the Tower--Am visited by a Romish Priest, and through
+    his interference obtain my Liberation--Set off to
+    Liverpool, and find my Owner and Captain Levee--Their
+    surprise--Miss Trevannion.
+
+
+When I called upon our owner, which I did as soon as I had dropped my
+anchor and furled sails, he embraced me, and then led me into the back
+room next to his counting-house.
+
+"My dear Elrington," said he, "well as you managed to get off the
+Jacobite gentlemen, there is a strong suspicion on the part of the
+government, that they were on board of your vessel, and that I was a
+party to their escape. Whether they will take any measures now that
+you have returned, I know not; they may have gained some intelligence,
+or they may worm out something, by their emissaries, from those who
+compose your crew, and if so, we must expect their vengeance. Now tell
+me where you landed them, and all the events of your cruise, for I
+have heard but little from those who brought in the prizes taken by
+the Arrow. Captain Levee is too busy with his own vessel and the prize
+to come on shore for these two hours, and I wish to talk with you
+alone upon this affair."
+
+After I had narrated all that had passed, and the manner in which the
+French privateer had been captured, the owner said--
+
+"If the government spies, and there are plenty of them about, find out
+from your crew that you landed passengers at Bordeaux, depend upon it
+you will be arrested and examined, without you get out of the way till
+the affair has blown over. Now, the men will narrate in the taverns
+the curious history of this French privateer, and in so doing cannot
+fail to state that you were on shore in France. Now, Elrington, you
+have run the risk to oblige me, and I must keep you out of difficulty;
+and, if you feel inclined to hide yourself for a time, I will of
+course pay all your expenses."
+
+"No," I replied; "if they find out what has taken place, and wish to
+get hold of me in consequence, I think it will be better to brave it
+out. If I hide away, it will make them more anxious to have me, and
+will confirm their suspicions that I am what they are pleased to call
+a traitor; a reward will be offered for my apprehension, and at any
+time that I do appear, the reward will cause me to be taken up. If, on
+the contrary, I brave it out, and if I am asked, say at once that I
+did land passengers, at all events they will not make it high treason;
+so, with your leave, I will stay. I hardly need say that I shall take
+the whole responsibility on myself, and declare that I took them on
+board without your knowledge; that you may rest assured of."
+
+"On consideration, I think that your plan is the best," replied my
+owner. "I am grateful for your offer of screening me, which I would
+not permit, were it not that I shall be useful to you if any mischance
+takes place, and, if in prison, could be of no service."
+
+"Then, Sir," I replied, "the wisest course will be for you at once to
+dismiss me from the command of the privateer, in consequence of your
+having been informed that I carried passengers and landed them in
+France. That step will prove you a friend to the government, and will
+enable you, after a time, to get me out of my scrape more
+effectually."
+
+"You are sacrificing yourself, Elrington, and all for me."
+
+"Not so, Sir. I am only securing a friend in case of need."
+
+"That you certainly are," replied my owner, squeezing my hand. "Well,
+it will be the best plan even for you, and so let it be."
+
+"Then I will now return on board, and tell the officers that I am
+dismissed. There is no time to be lost; and here comes Captain Levee;
+so for the present, Sir, farewell."
+
+On my return on board, I called up the officers and men, and told them
+that I had offended the owner, and that he had dismissed me from the
+command of the privateer. One of the officers inquired what I had
+done; and I said, before the men, that it was for landing the
+passengers in France. They all condoled with me, and expressed their
+sorrow at my leaving them, and I believe that they were sincere. It
+was fortunate that I did as I had done, for I found that the
+government emissaries were on board at the time that I made the
+communication, and had already gained the information from some of my
+crew. I ordered my chest and bedding to be put into the boat, and as
+soon as they were ready, I gave up the command to the first officer,
+and bidding them all farewell, went down the side, and pulled on
+shore, repairing to my former lodgings.
+
+I had not been there two hours before I was arrested and taken to
+prison. I was, however, very comfortably lodged, because I was a state
+prisoner, and I presume that more respect is paid to a man when he is
+to be drawn and quartered, and his head set above the Tower gates,
+then a petty malefactor. The next day I was summoned before what was
+called the Commission, and asked whether I had not landed some people
+in France? I replied immediately that I had done so.
+
+"Who were they?" was the next inquiry.
+
+"They stated themselves to be Roman Catholic priests," replied I, "and
+such I believed them to be."
+
+"Why did I do so?"
+
+"Because, in the first place, they paid me one hundred guineas each;
+and, in the second, because I considered them mischievous, dangerous
+men, conspiring against the government, and that the sooner they were
+out of the country the better."
+
+"How did I know that they were traitors?"
+
+"All Roman priests were traitors in my opinion, and I hated them as
+bad as I did the French, but it is difficult to deal with a priest,
+and I thought that I was performing a good service in ridding the
+country of them."
+
+"Who else was privy to the affair?"
+
+"No one; I had made the arrangement with them myself, and not an
+officer or man on board knew any thing about it."
+
+"But my owner, Mr. Trevannion, was he a party to it?"
+
+"No, he was not; and on my return he dismissed me from the command of
+the privateer, as soon as he found out that I had landed the priests
+in France."
+
+A great many more questions were put to me, all of which I answered
+very cautiously, yet without apparent hesitation; and after an
+examination of four hours, the president of the Commission told me
+that I had been, by my own acknowledgment, aiding and abetting the
+escape of malignant traitors, and prevented them meeting their just
+fate on the scaffold. That, in so doing, I had been guilty of treason,
+and must abide the sentence of the supreme Commission in London,
+whither I should be sent the following day. I replied that I was a
+loyal subject; that I hated the French and Romish plotters, and that I
+had done what I considered was best; that if I had done wrong, it was
+only an error in judgment; and any one that said I was a traitor, lied
+in his throat.
+
+My reply was taken down, and I was sent back to prison.
+
+The following afternoon the gaoler came into my room accompanied by
+two persons, one of whom informed me that I was delivered over to
+their custody to be taken to London. I was led out, and at the door I
+found three horses, upon one of which I was desired to mount. As soon
+as I was in the saddle, a rope was passed from one leg to the other
+under the horse's belly, so as to prevent my escape; and my horse was
+led between the other two, upon which my keepers rode, each having a
+hand-rein made fast from my horse's bridle to his own. A crowd was
+assembled round the entrance of the gaol, and among the lookers-on I
+perceived Captain Levee and my owner; but of course I thought it
+imprudent to take any notice of them, and they did not make any
+recognition of me.
+
+I hardly need say, my dear Madam, how very revolting it was to my
+feelings to be thus led away like a felon; but at the same time I must
+acknowledge the courtesy of my conductors, who apologized for being
+compelled to take such measures of security, and on the way showed
+great kindness and good-feeling.
+
+Every thing being arranged, we proceeded on our journey; but it was
+late when we set off, owing to one of my conductors being sent for by
+the commissioner, and having to wait for letters for nearly three
+hours. As it may be supposed, we could not travel at speed, and we
+seldom went faster than a walk, which I was sorry for, as I was
+anxious that the journey should be over, and my fate decided as soon
+as possible.
+
+Almost an hour after dark, a party of men rushed from the side of the
+road, and some seizing the bridles of the horses, the others threw the
+two conductors off their saddles by taking them by the leg and heaving
+them over on the other side. This was done so quickly, that the two
+men, who were well armed, had not time to draw out a pistol or any
+other weapon of defence; and as soon as they were on the ground, they
+were immediately seized and overpowered. The faces of the men who had
+thus assailed the king's officers were blackened so as to disguise
+them, but from their voices I knew them to be the men and officers of
+the privateer. "Now then, Captain Elrington," said one of them, "be
+off with you as fast as possible, and we will take care of these
+fellows."
+
+I still remained in my saddle, and although somewhat flurried with the
+surprise of the attack, I had had time to recover myself, and had
+decided upon my mode of behaviour. I felt as I had said to the owner
+when we consulted together, that an escape now would be only putting
+off the evil day, and that it was better to meet the case boldly at
+once; so I rose in my stirrups, and said to the men in a loud voice,
+"My good fellows, I am much obliged to you for your exertions in my
+behalf, as it proves your good-will, but I cannot and will not take
+advantage of them. By some mistake I am accused of being a traitor,
+when I feel that I am a true and loyal subject, which I have no doubt
+will be fully established upon my arrival in London. I cannot,
+therefore, take advantage of this opportunity to escape. I respect the
+laws of my country, and I beg you to do the same. Oblige me by
+releasing the two gentlemen whom you have made your prisoners, and
+assist them to remount their horses, for I am resolved that I will go
+to London and be honourably acquitted. Once more, my lads, many thanks
+for your kind intentions; and now I wish you farewell, and if you
+would do me a great favour, you will disperse peaceably, and leave us
+to proceed on our journey."
+
+The men perceived that I was in earnest, and therefore did as I
+requested, and in another minute I was again alone with my two
+keepers.
+
+"You have behaved honourably, Sir, and perhaps wisely," observed one
+of my conductors, as he was about to remount his horse. "I will not
+ask you who those people were, although I have no doubt but you
+recognized them yourself."
+
+"No," I replied, "I did not. I guessed from whence they came, but I
+did not recognize any one individual."
+
+I gave this cautious answer, although I had recognized Captain Levee
+and one of my own officers.
+
+"Well, Captain Elrington, you have proved to us that you may be
+trusted, and therefore, on your pledging your word that you will not
+escape, we shall have a great pleasure in removing all unpleasant
+precautions."
+
+"I certainly have proved that I would not escape, and will readily
+give you my assurance that I will not alter my mind."
+
+"That is sufficient, Sir," replied the officer; and he then cut away
+the rope which bound my legs, and also look off the two leading reins
+attached to the other horses. "We shall now," he said, "proceed not
+only more pleasantly, but more rapidly."
+
+My conductors then mounted their horses, and we set off at a good
+trot, and in an hour arrived at the place where we were to put up for
+the night. We found supper prepared for us, and good beds. My
+conductors now left me free of all restraint, and we retired to our
+beds. The next day we continued our journey in the same manner. My
+companions were pleasant and gentlemen-like men, and we discoursed
+freely upon every topic; no one could have imagined that I was a state
+prisoner.
+
+We arrived at London on the fifth day, and I was then delivered over
+to the keeper of the Tower, according to the instructions that my
+conductors had received. They bade me farewell, and promised that they
+would not fail to represent my conduct to the authorities, and gave me
+hopes of a speedy release. I had the same idea, and took possession of
+the apartments prepared for me (which were airy and well ventilated)
+with almost cheerfulness.
+
+On the third day after my arrival a Commission was sent to the Tower
+to examine me, and I gave the same replies as before. They were very
+particular in obtaining the descriptions of the persons of those whom
+I had landed in France, and I answered without disguise. I afterwards
+found out that I had done a very foolish thing. Had I misrepresented
+their persons, it would have been supposed that they really were four
+Catholic priests, but from my exact description, they discovered that
+I had rescued the four traitors (as they termed them) that they were
+most anxious to secure and make an example of; and their annoyance at
+this discovery had so angered them against me, that my subsequent
+conduct could not create any feeling favourable towards me.
+
+Three weeks elapsed, and I was wearied of confinement. My gaoler told
+me that he feared my case was a bad one; and after another week had
+passed, he said that I was condemned as aiding and abetting treason. I
+must say that I little expected this result, and it quite overthrew
+me. I asked my gaoler what was his authority. He said that so many
+people had assisted and effected the escape of the rebels without one
+having been convicted of having so done except myself, on my own
+avowal, that they deemed it absolutely necessary that an example
+should be made, to deter others from aiding those who were still
+secreted in the country; and that in consequence it had been decided
+by the Privy Council that I should be made an example of. He told me
+much more which I need not repeat, except that it proved the malignant
+feeling that was indulged by the powers in authority against those who
+had assisted their defeated opponents, and I felt that I had no
+chance, and prepared my mind to meet my fate.
+
+Alas, my dear Madam, I was but ill-prepared to die,--not that I feared
+death, but I feared what must be my condition after death. I had lived
+a reckless, lawless life, without fear of God or man; all the
+religious feelings which had been instilled into me by my good tutor
+(you know my family history, and I need say no more) during my youth,
+had been gradually sapped away by the loose companionship which I had
+held since the time that I quitted my father's house; and when I heard
+that I was to die, my mind was in a state of great disquiet and
+uncomfortable feeling. I wished to review my life, and examine myself,
+but I hardly knew where to begin.
+
+All was chaos and confusion. I could remember many bad actions, but
+few good ones. I felt that I was like a vessel without a rudder, and
+without a pilot; and after hours and hours of deep thought, I would
+give up the task of examination in stern despair, saying to myself,
+"Well, if it must be so, it must." I felt an inclination to defy that
+Heaven which I felt would never be opened to me. This was the case for
+more than a week after I heard of my condemnation, until I began to
+reflect upon the nature of our creed, and the terms of salvation which
+were offered; and, as I thought over them, I felt a dawn of hope, and
+I requested the gaoler to furnish me with a Bible. I read it day and
+night, for I expected every morning to be summoned to execution. I
+felt almost agony at times, lest such should be the case; but time
+passed on, and another fortnight elapsed, during which I had profited
+by my reading, and felt some contrition for my many offences, and my
+life of guilt, and I also felt that I could be saved through the
+merits of Him who died for the whole world. Day after day my faith
+became more lively, and my mind more at ease. One morning the gaoler
+came to me, and said that there was a priest who wished to see me. As
+I understood he was a Roman, I was about to refuse; but on
+consideration, I thought otherwise, and he was admitted. He was a
+tall, spare man, with a dark Spanish countenance.
+
+"You are, I believe," said he, "Captain Elrington, who effected the
+escape of some of our poor friends, and who are now condemned for your
+kind act?"
+
+"I am, Sir," replied I.
+
+"I am aware," said he, "that your profession of faith is not mine, and
+do not, therefore, come to talk with you on serious points, without
+you should wish it yourself; my object is, being indebted as we are to
+you for saving our friends, to offer to be of any use that I can to
+you, in executing any wishes, or delivering any messages, which you
+may wish to give, should you suffer for your generous conduct, and you
+may trust any thing to me with safety, that I swear to you;" and he
+took a crucifix from the folds of his garment, and kissed it, as he
+said so.
+
+"I thank you for your kind offer, Sir," replied I, "but I have nothing
+to trouble you with. I have long quitted my family, who know not
+whether I am alive or dead, for reasons that I need not explain. I am
+under an assumed name, and it is my intention to suffer under that
+name, that my family may not be disgraced by my ignominious death, or
+be aware that I have perished on the scaffold."
+
+"Perhaps you are right," replied the priest; "but let us talk upon
+another point; have you no friends that could exert themselves in your
+favour so as to procure your pardon and release?"
+
+"None," replied I, "except those who, I am sure, are exerting
+themselves to the utmost of their power, and to whom no message from
+me is necessary."
+
+"Do you know nobody at court," said the priest, "no person of rank in
+the government--or I may say opposed to the government--for people
+now-a-days are not what they seem or pretend to be?"
+
+"I have no knowledge of any titled person," replied I; "when I parted
+with one of the gentlemen whom I landed at Bordeaux, he gave me the
+name of a lady of quality at Paris, desiring me, if in difficulty, to
+apply to him through her; but that was, if in difficulty in France; of
+course, she could do nothing for me in this country."
+
+"Have you the name of the lady?"
+
+"Yes," replied I; "it is on the first leaf of my pocket-book. Here it
+is."
+
+The priest read the name, and then said--
+
+"You must write immediately a few words, acquainting her with your
+position. I will see the letter safely delivered before the week is
+over."
+
+"What good can she possibly do me?" replied I.
+
+"I cannot say; but this I know, that if any thing is to be done, it
+will be. Write immediately."
+
+The priest called the gaoler, and requested writing materials, which
+were brought, and in a few minutes I had done as he requested.
+
+"There, Sir, I have written to please you; but I candidly state that I
+consider it a useless attempt."
+
+"Were I of your opinion, I should not have advised you to write,"
+replied he. "There are wheels within wheels that you have no
+conception of, in these troubled times. What I most fear is, that it
+may arrive too late."
+
+The priest took his leave of me, and I was left to my own thoughts.
+When I considered that the address of this lady had been given to me
+by the very man whom they were so anxious to secure as a traitor, I at
+once decided that no benefit could arrive from any interference on her
+part; and I therefore, after a quarter of an hour, dismissed the whole
+subject from my thoughts, and commenced my reading of the sacred
+writings. The following morning, when the gaoler came in, I could not
+help observing to him, that as I had been condemned so many days, I
+felt much surprise at the delay of my execution. His reply was, that
+he heard that others were in custody upon the same charge, and that
+they waited for their convictions that we might all suffer at the same
+time; for the order for my execution had come on the Friday last, but
+had been countermanded on the afternoon of the same day. Although this
+satisfied me that I had no hopes of escape, yet I was pleased that I
+had obtained more time for preparation, and I renewed my reading with
+ardour. Another week passed, when the gaoler, with a solemn face, and
+much apparent concern, came in, and informed me that the other parties
+arrested had been tried before the Commission, and had been condemned,
+and that it was expected that the execution would take place either on
+the morrow or the day after. The announcement did not affect me much.
+I had made up my mind that I should suffer, and had to a degree weaned
+myself from life. I considered how all hopes of my ever enjoying the
+delight of family and kindred ties had flown away, and I looked with
+disgust upon my career as a privateer's-man--a career of recklessness
+and blood, so denounced by the sacred writings which I had before me.
+I reflected that if I were to leave the prison, I should have no
+other means of sustenance, and should probably return to my former
+life, and load my soul with a still heavier weight of crime, and,
+although I felt an occasional bitter pang at the idea of leaving the
+world so young--a world which I could not hate--still I was, after a
+few hours' communing and reflection, resigned to my fate, and
+exclaimed with sincerity, "Thy will be done." I think, Madam, you may
+have observed that, sinful as I was, my whole career proved that I was
+not a hardened sinner. Good was not driven entirely out of me, but was
+latent, notwithstanding all my excesses, and the bad company which had
+influenced me.
+
+I now prayed, and prayed earnestly, and I thought that my prayers were
+heard. Such was my state of mind on the day before the one appointed
+for my execution, when the gaoler and one of the sheriff's officers
+came into my cell, accompanied by the Roman Catholic priest whom I
+have before mentioned. I perceived by the countenance of the gaoler,
+who was a humane man, that he had no unpleasant news. The sheriff's
+officer delivered to him an order for my liberation, and to my
+astonishment I was told by the gaoler that my pardon was signed, and
+that I was free. I was stupified with the intelligence, and I stood
+without making any reply. The priest waved his hand to them as a hint
+to leave the room, which they both did. As they left, my eyes followed
+them, and then I cast them down upon the Bible which lay before me on
+the table, and slipping down from the bench upon my knees, I covered
+up my face and prayed. My prayers were confused--I hardly knew what I
+said--but I knew that they were intended to be grateful to Heaven for
+my unexpected preservation from an ignominious death. After a time, I
+rose up, and perceived the priest, whose presence I had till then
+forgotten. He had been kneeling at the other side of the table praying
+with me, and I am sure for me--and he was rising up just after I had.
+
+"I trust, Captain Elrington," said he, after a pause, "that the peril
+you have been in will influence your future life; and that this severe
+trial will not be thrown away upon you."
+
+"I trust not, Sir," replied I. "I feel that it has been good for me
+to have been afflicted. I believe that I have been indebted to your
+exertions for my deliverance."
+
+"No further than having seen your letter duly and speedily delivered.
+I could do no more, for with all will, I have no power; and that was
+little to do for one who so generously assisted our friends in their
+distress."
+
+"Am I then to believe that I am indebted to the interest of a French
+lady, residing at the court of Versailles, for my deliverance?"
+
+"Even so--this may appear strange to you, Captain Elrington, but such
+is the case. Understand, that in these troubled times, the ruling
+monarch of this country cannot distinguish his friends from his
+enemies. He can only trust to professions, and they are not always
+sincere. There are many in the council at this time, who, if the
+Pretender, as he is called, had succeeded, would long before this have
+joined him, and who had wished him success, although they dared not
+venture to assist him. The interest of the lady in question with these
+people has prevailed over the true adherents of the Hanoverian king,
+and thus through this lady have you obtained your release. I state
+this to you in confidence; to publish what I have told you would be to
+betray your friends. Can I be of any further service to you? for you
+can leave your prison as soon as you please."
+
+"None, I thank you, good Sir," replied I; "I have money more than
+sufficient to reward my gaoler, and to defray my expenses to
+Liverpool."
+
+"You have my best thanks and sincere wishes for your happiness. Then I
+will not intrude upon you any more, except to give you my address in
+case of need. You have made warm friends by your conduct, and if you
+ever require their assistance, it will not be withheld."
+
+The priest gave his address upon a piece of paper, and then came to
+me.
+
+"Our creeds are not exactly the same, but you will not, my son, refuse
+my blessing?" said he, putting his hand upon my head.
+
+"Oh, no," said I, dropping on my knees, "I receive it all in
+thankfulness."
+
+"May God bless you, my son," said he, with emotion--and he then
+quitted the cell.
+
+What with the previous excitement when my liberation was announced,
+and the parting with the kind priest, my feelings were so powerful,
+that, as soon as I was alone, I gave vent to them in a flood of tears.
+As soon as I was more composed, I rose from the bench, put my
+necessaries into my valise, and summoned the gaoler, to whom I made a
+handsome present, thanking him for his kindness during my
+incarceration. I then shook hands with him, fee'd the turnkey who had
+attended upon me, and in a minute more I was clear of the Tower gates.
+How my heart heaved when I was once more in the open air.
+
+I looked around me, and perceived that many men were busy in erecting
+a scaffolding. My heart sank as I beheld them, as I felt certain what
+it was for; but to verify my opinion, I turned to an old woman who had
+a sort of stall from which she dispensed mead to the populace, and
+inquired of her for what the scaffold was being erected.
+
+"It's for the men who are to be executed to-morrow for aiding the
+Jacobites to escape," said she. "Won't your worship take a glass of
+mead this morning?"
+
+"I am not thirsty," I replied, as I walked hastily away with my valise
+upon my shoulders.
+
+A stranger to this part of London, I hardly knew where to direct my
+steps; I walked past the square before the Tower, until I came into a
+street called Catherine-street, where a tavern met my view, and into
+it I entered immediately, glad, as it were, to hide myself, for I felt
+as if all the world looked upon me as a person just discharged from
+prison. I obtained good entertainment there, and slept there that
+night. The next morning, the host having provided me two good horses,
+and a youngster to take them back, I set off for Liverpool, and after
+five days' travel without adventure, I arrived at the town, and
+proceeded direct to the house of Mr. Trevannion, my owner. I took my
+valise off the boy's horse, and having paid him for his attendance, I
+knocked at the door, for it was late in the evening, and dark, when I
+arrived. The door (for it was at his private house door, which was
+next to the counting-house door, that I knocked) was opened; and the
+woman who opened it shrieked, and let drop the candle, exclaiming,
+"Help, oh God--a ghost, a ghost!" for it appeared that the news had
+arrived at Liverpool from a messenger who had been sent express after
+I had been condemned, stating that there was no hope, and that I was
+to suffer on the Monday previous; and this was the Saturday evening on
+which I had arrived. Mr. Trevannion's clerk hearing a noise in the
+passage, came out with another candle, and seeing me, and the woman
+lying on the floor in a swoon, stared, staggered to the door of the
+room where his master was sitting, and the door being a-jar, he fell
+back with great force into the room, dropping under the table between
+Mr. Trevannion and Captain Levee, who was sitting with him, smoking,
+as was very often their wont. This brought out Captain Levee with one
+of the table-candlesticks, who, upon seeing me, ran to me, and
+embracing me warmly, cried out, as the clerk made his escape--
+
+"Here is Elrington alive and well, Sir!"
+
+At this announcement Mr. Trevannion came out, and threw himself into
+my arms, saying--
+
+"I thank God for all his mercies, but above all, that I have not been
+the cause of your death, my dear Elrington. Come in," he exclaimed, in
+a faultering voice; and as soon as he gained his seat, he laid his
+head down and sobbed with excitement and joy.
+
+I followed Captain Levee into the room, and was taking a chair, when I
+perceived there was another person present besides Captain Levee and
+Mr. Trevannion, which was the daughter of the latter; that is, I
+presumed as much, for I knew that he was a widower, and had one
+daughter living, out of a family of three children. She appeared to be
+about seventeen years of age, and had just come from a Protestant
+convent, as they called establishments where young women were educated
+at Chester. Mr. Trevannion was still with his face covered, and not
+yet recovered from his burst of feeling, when this young gentlewoman
+came up to me, and said--
+
+"Captain Elrington, you have behaved nobly to my father; accept my
+hand and my friendship."
+
+I was so dazzled from coming out of the dark, and so excited from what
+had just passed, that I was almost bewildered; but I accepted the
+offered hand, and bowed over it, although I declare that at the time I
+could not distinguish her features, although I perceived that her
+person was slight and elegant. As she retreated to her seat, Mr.
+Trevannion, who had recovered from his emotion, said--
+
+"I thought that, at this moment, your head was exhibited over the
+gates of Temple-bar. The idea, as Captain Levee will tell you, has
+haunted me; for I felt, and should always have felt, that I was the
+cause of your death. God bless you, my dear Sir, and may I have an
+opportunity of showing you my gratitude and regard for your noble
+conduct towards me, and the sacrifice which you would have made. You
+need not tell me, for I know too well, that you took all the onus and
+blame of the affair upon your own shoulders, and preferred death to
+impeaching me."
+
+"My dear Elrington," said Captain Levee, "I told our crew, and you
+have proved me a true prophet, that you never would peach, but die
+game. We were talking of you, supposing you dead, when you came in. I
+must tell you, that more than once Mr. Trevannion had made up his mind
+to deliver himself up, and acknowledge the truth, but I prevented him,
+as it would have been a useless sacrifice."
+
+"You did; but, nevertheless, it was so heavy on my conscience, that
+had it not been for your perseverance, and the thoughts of leaving my
+poor girl here an orphan in the world, I certainly should have so
+done, for I felt life to be a burden."
+
+"I am very glad that you did not, Sir," I replied; "my life is of
+little value; I have no one to support, no one to love, and no one to
+lament me if I fall. A shot from the enemy may soon send me out of the
+world, and there will only be a man the less in it, as far as people
+are interested about me."
+
+"That is not the case now, at all events," replied Mr. Trevannion;
+"but pray, tell us how it is that you have escaped."
+
+"I have not escaped," I replied; "here is my pardon, with the
+sign-manual."
+
+"And how was it obtained?" exclaimed Captain Levee; "all intercession
+made through some of the strongest friends of the government was in
+vain, that I can assert; for you must not suppose that we have been
+idle down here. We did not leave London till after you were condemned,
+and every entreaty to see you, or to communicate by letter, was denied
+to us."
+
+"I had better, then, begin at the beginning, and state all that
+occurred. I will first thank you, my dear Levee, for your kind
+assistance, which I would not avail myself of, as I calculated
+(wrongly I own) that it would be wiser to remain a prisoner; and I
+considered that my very refusal to escape would be admitted by the
+government as a proof of my innocence. I did not know that I had to
+deal with such malignant people."
+
+I then commenced my narrative, which occupied the remainder of the
+evening, and, having received their congratulations, we had a pipe or
+two, and, as I was fatigued, we retired to bed. I slept little on
+this, I may say, first night of rest and quiet, after my liberation. I
+was happy, and yet perplexed. During the time of my imprisonment, it
+had occurred to me that the life of a privateer's-man was not one
+which I could follow up with a good conscience; and I had, on my
+journey down to Liverpool, made up my mind that I would give it up. I
+knew this might annoy Mr. Trevannion, and that I should have to meet
+with the ridicule of Captain Levee, and I was thinking whether it were
+possible, in the first place, that I could give some well-grounded
+excuse; and, in the next, what other means of gaining my livelihood I
+could substitute in its stead. My restlessness induced me to get up
+earlier than usual, and I went out for an hour's walk upon the wharfs.
+I saw my little schooner riding on the stream, and, as she gently
+rose, and dipped to the swell which ran in with the tide, she looked
+so beautiful that my resolutions were already giving way. I would look
+at her no longer; so I turned from the river, and walked back to the
+owner's house. It was still early when I went into the eating-hall,
+where I found Miss Trevannion alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+    I state my newly-awakened scruples as to the lawfulness
+    of a Privateer's-man's Life to Mr. Trevannion, but
+    nevertheless undertake another Cruise--Save a Youth from
+    drowning, who he proves to be--Conflict with a French
+    Privateer--Take her and deliver a Prize--Return to
+    Liverpool--Resign the Command of the Sparrow-Hawk, and
+    agree to superintend Mr. Trevannion's Business.
+
+
+Miss Trevannion, my dear Madam, was taller than your sex usually are,
+her figure slight, and still unformed to a certain degree, but
+promising perfection. Her hair was very dark, her features regular and
+handsome, her complexion very pale, and her skin fair as the snow. As
+she stood in silence, she reminded you of a classical antique statue,
+and hardly appeared to breathe through her delicate lips, but when she
+was animated with conversation, it almost reminded you of the
+Promethean fire which poets state was stolen from Heaven to animate a
+piece of marble. Then the colour came in her cheeks, intelligence
+played on her countenance, and every thing which at first sight
+appeared wanting, was, like magic, found to light up her face. Her
+smiles were the sweetest I ever beheld, and one of those smiles she
+bestowed upon me as I entered the room and paid her my obeisance. The
+night before, I had not observed her much, I was too busy with her
+father and Captain Levee, and she sat remote from the table and
+distant from the light, and she never spoke but when she took my hand
+and thanked me, as I mentioned before. I thought then that her voice
+was like a silver bell, but made no other remark upon her. We had,
+however, exchanged but few words before her father came in,
+accompanied by Captain Levee, and we sat down to our morning's repast
+of chocolate.
+
+After we had broken our fast, Captain Levee hastened away on board of
+his vessel. My imprisonment had detained him from sailing, and Mr.
+Trevannion was anxious that he should be off as soon as possible to
+make up for lost time, as the expenses of the vessel were heavy.
+
+"Farewell, Elrington, for the present," said he; "I shall come to you
+on board of your schooner some time during the day." When Captain
+Levee was gone--for, to tell the truth, I was afraid of his
+ridicule--I thought it a good opportunity to give my thoughts to my
+owner, and as I had nothing to say, which his daughter might not hear,
+I began as follows:
+
+"Mr. Trevannion, I think it right to state to you that during my
+imprisonment a great change has come over my feelings upon certain
+points. I am not ashamed to acknowledge that it has been occasioned by
+the death which stared me in the face, and from my having seriously
+communed with myself, and examined, more than I perhaps have done
+during the whole of my former life, the sacred writings which are
+given us as our guide. The point to which I refer is, that I have come
+to a conviction that privateering is not a lawful or honourable
+profession, and with these feelings I should wish to resign the
+command of the schooner which you have had the kindness to give me."
+
+"Indeed, Elrington," replied Mr. Trevannion. "Well, I should not have
+thought to have heard this from you I confess. Much as I respect your
+scruples, you are too scrupulous. I can hardly imagine that you have
+turned to the sect of the Quakers, and think fighting is contrary to
+the Scriptures."
+
+"No, Sir, not so far as that. I consider war, as a profession, both
+necessary and honourable, and a nation is bound to be prepared for any
+foreign attack, and to act upon the defensive, or on the offensive, if
+it is necessary. It is not that. I do not consider the soldier who
+fights for his country is not doing his duty, nor the seamen who are
+employed by the state are not equally justified in their profession.
+What I refer to is privateering. That is, vessels fitted out for the
+purpose of aggression by private merchants, and merely for the sake of
+profit. They are not fitted out with any patriotic motives, but merely
+for gain. They are speculations in which the lives of people on both
+sides are sacrificed for the sake of lucre--and had you witnessed such
+scenes of bloodshed and cruelty as I have during my career, such
+dreadful passions let loose, and defying all restraint, you would
+agree with me, that he who leads such miscreants to their quarry has
+much to answer for. Were it possible to control the men on board of a
+privateer as the men are controlled in the king's service, it might be
+more excusable; but manned as privateers always will be, with the most
+reckless characters, when once they are roused by opposition,
+stimulated by the sight of plunder, or drunken with victory, no power
+on earth can restrain their barbarity and vengeance, and a captain of
+a privateer who attempted, would, in most cases, if he stood between
+them and their will, unless he were supported, fall a victim to his
+rashness. All this I have seen; and all I now express I have long
+felt, even when younger and more thoughtless. You know that I did give
+up privateering at one time, because I was shocked at the excesses to
+which I was a party. Since that, I have accepted the command of a
+vessel, for the idea of being captain was too flattering to my vanity
+to permit me to refuse; but reflection has again decided me not to
+engage in it further. I hope this communication will not displease
+you, Mr. Trevannion. If I am wrong in my opinion, at all events I am
+sincere, for I am giving up my only source of livelihood from a sense
+of duty."
+
+"I know that you are sincere, Elrington," replied Mr. Trevannion, "but
+at the same time I think that you are much too strait-laced in your
+opinions. When nations are at war, they mutually do all the mischief
+that they can to each other, and I cannot see what difference there is
+between my fitting out a privateer under the king's authority, or the
+king having vessels and men for the national service. The government
+fit out all the vessels that they can, and when their own funds are
+exhausted, they encourage individuals to employ their capital in
+adding to the means of distressing the enemy. If I had property on the
+high seas, would it be respected any more than other English property
+by the enemy? Certainly not; and, therefore, I am not bound to respect
+theirs. The end of war is to obtain an honourable peace; and the more
+the enemy is distressed, the sooner are you likely to obtain one. I do
+not, therefore, consider that privateering is worse than any other
+species of warfare, or that the privateer's-man is a whit more
+reckless or brutal than soldiers or men-of-war's men in the hour of
+victory in the king's service."
+
+"There is this difference, Sir," replied I; "first, in the officers
+commanding; although glad to obtain prize-money, they are stimulated
+by nobler feelings as well. They look to honour and distinction; they
+have the feeling that they are defending their king and country, to
+support them and throw a halo on their exertions; and they have such
+control over their men, that, although I admit they are equally
+inclined to excess as the privateer's-man, they are held in check by
+the authority which they dare not resist. Now, Mr. Trevannion,
+privateer's-men seek not honour, and are not stimulated by a desire to
+serve the country; all they look to is how to obtain the property of
+others under sanction; and could they without any risk do so, they
+would care little whether it was English property or not, provided
+that they put the money into their pockets. If I held this opinion as
+a seaman on board of a privateer, what must I feel now, when I am the
+leader of such people, and the responsibility of their acts is thrown
+upon my shoulders, for such I feel is the case?"
+
+"I think," replied Mr. Trevannion, "that we had better not discuss
+this question any further just now. Of course you must decide for
+yourself; but I have this favour to ask of you. Trusting to your
+resuming the command of the vessel, I have no one to replace you at
+present, and I hope you will not refuse to take the command of her for
+one more cruise: should you, on your return and on mature reflection,
+be of the same opinion as you are now, I certainly shall no longer
+press you to remain, and will do all I can to assist you in any other
+views you may have."
+
+"To that, Sir, I can have no objection," replied I; "it would be
+unfair of me to leave you without a captain to the vessel, and I am
+therefore ready to sail in her as soon as you please, upon the
+understanding that I may quit her, if I am of the same opinion as I am
+now, upon my return to port."
+
+"I thank you, my dear Sir," said Mr. Trevannion, rising, "that is all
+I request. I must now go to the counting-house."
+
+So saying, he left the room, but his countenance showed that he was
+far from pleased.
+
+Miss Trevannion, who had been a silent listener to the conversation,
+as soon as her father had closed the door after him, thus spoke:
+
+"Captain Elrington, the opinion of a young maiden like me can be of
+little value, but you know not how much pleasure you have given me by
+the sentiments you have expressed. Alas! that a man so good, so
+generous, and so feeling in every other respect, should be led away by
+the desire of gain, to be the owner of such a description of property.
+But in this town, wealth is every thing; the way by which it is
+obtained is not thought of. My father's father left him a large
+property in vessels employed wholly in the slave-trade, and it was
+through the persuasions of my poor mother, that my father was induced
+to give up that nefarious traffic. Since that, his capital has been
+chiefly employed in privateering, which, if not so brutal and
+disgraceful, is certainly nearly as demoralizing. I have been home but
+a short time, and I have already ventured to express my opinion,
+certainly not so forcibly and so well as you have, upon the subject;
+but I was laughed at as a tender-hearted girl, who could not be a fit
+judge of such matters. But now that you, a captain of one of his
+vessels, have expressed your dislike to the profession, I think some
+good may arise. If my father were a poor man, it would be more
+excusable, if excuse there can be, but such is not the case. He is
+wealthy, and to whom has he to leave his wealth but to me, his only
+child? Captain Elrington, you are right--be firm--my father's
+obligations to you are very great, and your opinion will have its
+influence. I am his daughter--his only daughter--his love for me is
+great, I know, and I also have my power over him. Supported as I have
+been by you, I will now exert it to the utmost to persuade him to
+retire from further employment of his means in such a speculation. I
+thanked you yesterday, when I first saw you, for your noble behaviour,
+I little thought that I should have again, in so short a time, to
+express my thanks."
+
+Miss Trevannion did not wait for any reply from me, but then quitted
+the room.
+
+I must say, that although so young a person, I was much pleased at
+Miss Trevannion's approval of my sentiments. She appeared, from the
+very short acquaintance I had had with her, to be a person of a firm
+and decided disposition, and very different from the insipid class of
+females generally met with. Her approval strengthened my resolution;
+still, as I had promised her father that I would go another cruise in
+the privateer, I left the house and went on board to resume the
+command. My return was joyfully hailed by the officers and men, which
+is not always the case. I found her, as may be supposed, ready for sea
+at a minute's warning, so that I had nothing to do but to embark my
+effects, which I did before the noon was passed, and then went on
+shore to Mr. Trevannion, to receive his orders. I found him with
+Captain Levee in the back room; and I told Mr. Trevannion that I had
+resumed the command, and was ready to sail as soon as he pleased.
+
+"We must make up for lost time, Elrington," replied he; "I have
+ordered Captain Levee to cruise to the northward of the Western Isles,
+occasionally working up as far as the Scilly Isles. Now, I think, you
+had better take your ground in the Channel, between Dunkirk and
+Calais. There is as much to be made by salvage in recapturing English
+vessels in that quarter, as there is in taking the enemy's vessels;
+and I am sure," added Mr. Trevannion, smiling, "you will think that
+legitimate warfare."
+
+At this Captain Levee laughed, and said, "I have been told what you
+said to Mr. Trevannion, Elrington. I said that it was the effects of
+being condemned for high treason, and would wear off in a
+three-months' cruise."
+
+"Good impressions do wear off very soon, I fear," replied I; "but I
+hope that it will not be the case in this instance."
+
+"We shall see, my good fellow," replied Captain Levee; "for my part I
+hope they will, for otherwise we shall lose the best privateer's-man I
+ever fell in with. However, it's no use bringing up the question now,
+let us wait till our cruises are over, and we meet again. Good-bye,
+Elrington, and may you be fortunate. My anchor is short stay apeak,
+and I shall be under sail in half an hour."
+
+Captain Levee sailed at the time that he mentioned; I remained at
+anchor till the next morning, and then once more was running down the
+Irish Channel before a stiff breeze. I forgot to mention that while
+at Mr. Trevannion's I had looked at the address of the Catholic priest
+who had announced to me my release from prison, and had left copies of
+it, as well as of that of the lady at Paris, in the care of Mr.
+Trevannion. It was now cold, autumnal weather, and the Channel was but
+rough sailing-ground. During the first fortnight we were fortunate
+enough to make two recaptures of considerable value, which arrived
+safely in the Thames, after which we had a succession of gales front
+the southward, it being the time of the equinox, which drove us close
+to the sands of Yarmouth, and we even had difficulty in clearing them
+and getting into sea-room by standing to the eastward. The weather
+still continued very bad, and we were lying-to under storm sails for
+several days, and at last found ourselves a degree and a half to the
+northward, off the coast of Norfolk, when the weather moderated, and
+the wind changed to the northward. It was a fine clear night, but with
+no moon, and we were running before the wind to regain our
+cruising-ground; but the wind again shifted and baffled us, and at
+last it fell light, and, being on a wind, we did not make more than
+four miles an hour, although there was very little sea. About one
+o'clock in the morning, I had gone on deck, and was walking to and fro
+with the first officer, Mr. James, when I thought that I heard a faint
+hallo from to windward.
+
+"Stop," said I; "silence there forward."
+
+I listened, and thought that I heard the cry again. "Mr. James," said
+I, "did you not hear some one shout?"
+
+"No, Sir," replied he.
+
+"Wait, then, and listen."
+
+We did so, but I could not hear it repeated.
+
+"I am certain that I heard a voice as if on the waters," said I.
+"Perhaps some one has fallen overboard. Turn the hands up to muster,
+and haul the fore-sheet to windward."
+
+The men were mustered, but no one was missing.
+
+"It was your fancy, Sir," observed the first officer.
+
+"It may have been," replied I; "but I am still in my own mind
+persuaded that such was the case. Perhaps I was mistaken."
+
+"Shall we let draw the fore-sheet, Sir?" said Mr. James.
+
+"Yes, we may as well; but the wind is lighter than it was. I think we
+shall have a calm."
+
+"It will be as much as she can do to stem the tide and hold her own,"
+observed Mr. James. "Let draw the fore-sheet, my lads."
+
+Somehow or another I had a feeling which I could not surmount, that I
+certainly had heard a faint shout, and although admitting such to be
+the case, there was little chance of being of service to any one, I
+felt a reluctance to leave the spot, and as I walked the deck silent
+and alone, this feeling became insurmountable.
+
+I remained on deck till the tide turned, and then, instead of taking
+advantage of it so as to gain to the southward, I put the schooner's
+head the other way, so as to keep as near as I could to the spot where
+I heard the voice, reducing her sail so as just to stem the tide. I
+cannot now account for my anxiety, which, under the circumstances, I
+most certainly never should have felt, unless it was that Providence
+was pleased to interpose on this occasion more directly than usual. I
+could not leave the deck; I waited for daylight with great impatience,
+and as the day dawned I had my telescope in my hand looking round the
+compass.
+
+At last, as the sun rose from the fog on the horizon, something
+attracted my eye, and I made it out to be the two masts of a vessel
+which had sunk in about six fathoms water. Still I could see nothing
+except the masts. However, to make sure, I made sail on the schooner,
+and stood towards them. A short tack enabled us to fetch, and in half
+an hour we passed the wreck about a half-musket-shot to windward, when
+we perceived an arm lifted up out of the water, and waved to us.
+
+"There is somebody there," said I, "and I was right. Quickly, my lads;
+fore-sheet to windward, and lower down the stern-boat."
+
+This was done in a minute, and in a short time the boat returned,
+bringing with them a lad about sixteen years old, whom they had found
+in the water, clinging to the masts of the vessel. He was too much
+exhausted to speak or move. He was put into bed, covered up with
+blankets, and some warm spirits and water poured down his throat. We
+then hoisted up the boat, and made sail upon the schooner, and I went
+down below to breakfast, rejoicing that I had acted upon the impulse
+which I had felt, and had thus been instrumental in saving the life of
+a fellow-creature. A few minutes after he was put into bed, the lad
+fell into a sound sleep, which continued during the whole of the day.
+The next morning he awoke greatly recovered, and very hungry, and as
+soon as he had eaten he rose and dressed himself.
+
+I then sent for him, as I was impatient to see him and learn his
+history. When he entered the cabin, it struck me I had seen his
+features before, but where I could not say. To my inquiries he stated
+that the brig was the Jane and Mary, of Hull, laden with coals; that
+they had started a wooden end during the gale, and that she had filled
+so rapidly that they got the boat from off the boom to save their
+lives, but from the heavy sea running, and the confusion, the boat had
+been bilged against the bulwarks, and went down as they were shoving
+off; that he had supported himself by one of the oars, and was soon
+separated from his companions who floated around him; that during this
+time the brig had sunk, and he, clinging to the oar, had been drawn
+towards her as she sank, and carried some feet under water. On his
+rising he perceived the top-gallant masts above water, and had made
+for them, and on looking round he could not see any of the rest of the
+crew, who must have all perished; that he had been two days on the
+mast, and was perished with cold. Finding that his feet, which hung
+down on the water, were much warmer than the other portions of his
+body exposed to the wind, he had sunk himself down in the water, and
+remained there, and had he not done so, he must have perished.
+
+I asked him how long he had been at sea, and he said he had only gone
+one voyage, and had been but three months on board. There was
+something in his manner so superior to the condition of apprentice
+(which he stated himself to be) on board of such a vessel; and I felt
+such an interest, which I could not account for, towards the lad, that
+I then asked who were his friends. He replied, stammering, that he
+had not a friend in the world except a brother older than himself by
+many years, and he did not know where he was.
+
+"But your father's name? Is he alive, and who is he? You must tell me
+that, or I shall not know where to send you."
+
+The youth was very confused, and would not give me any answer.
+
+"Come, my lad," I said, "I think as I have saved your life, I deserve
+a little confidence, and it shall not be misplaced. I perceive that
+you have not been brought up as a lad for the sea, and you must
+therefore trust me."
+
+"I will, Sir," he replied, "if you will not send me back to my father
+and--mother."
+
+"Certainly not against your will, my good lad," I replied, "although I
+shall probably persuade you all I can to return to them. I presume you
+ran away from your home?"
+
+"Yes, Sir, I did," replied he; "for I could not possibly stay there
+any longer, and my brother did so before me, for the same reason that
+I did."
+
+"Well, I promise you, if you will confide in me, that I will not force
+your inclinations, so now tell me who are your father and mother, and
+why you left home. You want a friend now, and without confidence you
+cannot expect friendship."
+
+"I will tell you all, Sir," he replied, "for I see by your face that
+you will not take advantage of me."
+
+He then commenced, and you may imagine my surprise, my dear Madam,
+when I found that it was my own brother Philip, whom I had left a
+child of ten years old, who was addressing me. He had, as he had
+asserted, left his home and thrown himself on the wide world for the
+same reason which I had; for his spirit, like mine, could not brook
+the treatment which he received. I allowed him to finish his
+narrative, and then made myself known to him.
+
+You may imagine the scene, and the delight of the poor fellow, who, as
+he encircled me in his arms, clinging to me with the tears of joy on
+his cheeks, told me that his great object had been to find me out, and
+that although he had no idea what had become of me, he thought it
+most likely that I had taken to a seafaring life.
+
+I now felt certain that Providence had specially interposed in this
+business, and had, for its own good reasons, created those unusual
+feelings of interest which I described to you, that I might be the
+saviour of my brother; and most grateful was I, I can assure you. I
+had now a companion and friend, one to love and to cherish. I was no
+longer alone in the world, and I do not know when I had felt so happy
+for a long while.
+
+I left my brother below in the cabin, and went on deck to acquaint the
+officers with this strange meeting. The intelligence soon ran through
+the vessel, and of course the poor shipwrecked boy became an object of
+unusual interest. That whole day I was interrogating and receiving
+intelligence from him relative to our family. I made him describe his
+sisters and every member of it, even the servants and our neighbours
+were not forgotten, and for the first time since I had quitted home, I
+knew what had occurred during the six years of my absence. From the
+accounts he gave me, I certainly had no inclination ever to return as
+long as certain parties were in existence; and my brother declared
+that nothing but force should ever induce him. The more I talked with
+him, the more I was pleased with him. He appeared of a frank, noble
+disposition, full of honour and high sentiments, winning in his
+manners, and mirthful to excess. Indeed his handsome countenance
+implied and expressed as much, and it did not deceive.
+
+I hardly need say that he took up his quarters in my cabin, and having
+procured for him more suitable apparel, he looked what he was, the
+perfect young gentleman. He was soon a general favourite on board, not
+only with the officers but with the men. One would have thought that
+the danger and distress we had found him in would have sickened him
+for the sea for ever; but it was quite the contrary. He delighted in
+his profession, and was certainly born to be a sailor. I asked him
+what he felt when he had remained so long clinging to the mast; if he
+had not given up all hopes of being saved? and he replied no, that he
+had not; that he did not know how long he might have had to remain
+there, but that he had never abandoned the idea of being taken off by
+some vessel or another, and that he thought that he might have
+continued there for twenty-four hours longer without being exhausted,
+as after he had sunk himself into the water he felt warm, and no
+exertion was necessary. It is of such buoyant spirits as these, Madam,
+that seamen should be made.
+
+You cannot have an idea of the pleasure which I experienced at this
+falling in with my brother Philip. It appeared to have given a new
+stimulus to my existence; even privateering did not appear so hateful
+to me, after I had heard him express his delight at being likely to be
+so employed, for such he stated had long been his ardent wish. Two
+days afterwards we had regained our cruising-ground, and perceived a
+French privateer steering for the port of Calais, in company with a
+large merchant vessel which she had captured. The wind was light, and
+we discovered her at daybreak, just as the fog cleared away, she being
+then about mid-channel, and not more than five miles distant. We made
+all sail, and soon were within gun-shot. The Frenchman appeared
+determined not to part with his prize without a trial of strength, but
+as the captured vessel was the nearest to us, I decided to retake her
+first, and then fight him if he wished. I therefore steered to lay the
+prize by the board. The Frenchman, a lugger of twelve guns, perceiving
+our intention, made also for the prize to defend her, he steering up
+for her close-hauled, we running down to her free, the prize lying
+between us, and sheltering each of us from the other's guns. It is
+difficult to say whether the Frenchman or we were the first to touch
+her sides with our respective vessels; I rather think that the
+Frenchman was a second or two before us. At all events they were
+quicker than we were, and were on the deck first, besides having the
+advantage of the assistance of their men already on board, so that we
+were taken at a great disadvantage. However, we did gain the deck by
+boarding at two points, forward and aft, and a fierce contest ensued.
+The French were more numerous than we were, but my men were better
+selected, being all very powerful, athletic fellows. Philip had
+boarded with the other party forward, which was led by my chief
+officer. My party, who were abaft, not being so numerous, were beaten
+back to the taffrail of the vessel, where we stood at bay, defending
+ourselves against the furious assaults of the Frenchmen. But if we
+lost, the other party gained, for the whole body of the Frenchmen were
+between us and them, and those who faced Philip's party were driven
+back to abaft the mainmast. It so happened that Philip was thrown down
+on the deck, and his men passed over him; and while in that position,
+and unable to rise from the pressure upon him, he heard a calling out
+from below: this told him that the English prisoners were in the hold;
+and as soon as he could rise he threw off the hatches, and they rushed
+up, to the number of twenty-three stout fellows, to our support,
+cheering most manfully, and by their cheers announcing to the French
+that we had received assistance. This gave fresh courage to my men,
+who were hard pressed and faint with their great exertion. We cheered,
+and rushed upon the enemy, who were already weakened by many of them
+having turned round to resist the increased impetus from forward. Our
+cheers were replied to by Philip's party and the prisoners, and the
+French were losing the day. They made another desperate rush upon
+Philip's men, and succeeded in driving them back to before the
+main-hatches; but what they gained forward, they lost abaft, as we
+pushed on with vigour. This was their last attempt. The main-hatch
+being open, several of them in the confusion fell into it, others
+followed them of their own accord, and at last every one of them was
+beaten down from the deck, and the hatches were put over them, with
+three cheers.
+
+"Now, for the privateer--she is our own," cried Philip; "follow me, my
+men," continued he, as he sprang upon the bulwarks of the prize, and
+from thence into the main rigging of the lugger alongside.
+
+Most of my men followed him; and as there were but few men left on
+board of the lugger, she was soon in our possession, and thus we had
+both the enemy and the prize without firing a cannon-shot. It was
+strange that this combat between two privateers should thus be decided
+upon the deck of another vessel, but such was the fact. We had several
+men badly wounded, but not one killed. The French were not quite so
+fortunate, as seven of their men lay dead upon the decks. The prize
+proved to be the Antelope West-Indiaman, laden with sugar and rum,
+and of considerable value. We gave her up to the captain and crew, who
+had afforded us such timely assistance, and they were not a little
+pleased at being thus rescued from a French prison. The privateer was
+named the Jean Bart, of twelve guns, and one hundred and fifteen men,
+some away in prizes. She was a new vessel, and this her first cruise.
+As it required many men to man her, and we had the prisoners to
+incumber us, I resolved that I would take her to Liverpool at once;
+and six days afterwards we arrived there without further adventure.
+Philip's gallant conduct had won him great favour with my officers and
+men, and I must say that I felt very proud of him.
+
+As soon as we had anchored both vessels, I went on shore with Philip
+to Mr. Trevannion's, to give him an account of what had occurred
+during the short cruise, and I hardly need say that he was satisfied
+with the results, as we had made three recaptures of value besides a
+privateer. I introduced Philip to him, acquainting him with his
+miraculous preservation, and Mr. Trevannion very kindly invited him
+for the present to remain in his house. We then took our leave,
+promising to be back by dinner-time, and I went with Philip to fit him
+out in a more creditable way; and having made my purchases and given
+my orders (it being then almost two o'clock _post meridiem_), we
+hastened to Mr. Trevannion's, that we might be in time for dinner. I
+was, I must confess, anxious to see Miss Trevannion, for she had often
+occupied my thoughts during the cruise. She met me with great
+friendliness and welcomed me back. Our dinner was very agreeable, and
+Philip's sallies were much approved of. He was, indeed, a mirthful,
+witty lad, full of jest and humour, and with a good presence withal.
+Mr. Trevannion being called out just as dinner was finished. Miss
+Trevannion observed--
+
+"I presume, Mr. Elrington, that your good fortune and the reputation
+you have acquired in so short a time, have put an end to all your
+misgivings as to a privateer's-man's life?"
+
+"I am not quite so light and inconstant, Miss Trevannion," replied I;
+"I rejoice that in this cruise I have really nothing to lament or
+blush for, and trust at the same time we have been serviceable to our
+country; but my opinion is the same, and I certainly wish that I had
+fought under the king's pennant instead of on board of a privateer."
+
+"You are, then, of the same mind, and intend to resign the command?"
+
+"I do, Miss Trevannion, although I admit that this lad's welfare makes
+it more important than ever that I should have some means of
+livelihood."
+
+"I rejoice to hear you speak thus, Mr. Elrington, and I think my
+father's obligations to you are such, that if he does not assist you,
+I should feel ashamed of him--but such I am certain will not be the
+case. He will forward your views, whatever they may be, to the utmost
+of his power--at the same time, I admit, from conversations I have had
+with him, that he will be mortified at your resigning the command."
+
+"And so shall I," said Philip, "for I do not agree with you or my
+brother: I see no more harm in privateering than in any other
+fighting. I suppose, Miss Trevannion, you have been the cause of my
+brother's scruples, and I tell you candidly to your face, that I do
+not thank you for it."
+
+Miss Trevannion coloured up at this remark, and then replied, "I do
+not think, Mr. Philip, that I have had the pleasure of seeing your
+brother more than three times in my life, and that within these last
+six weeks, and sure I am that we have not had a quarter of an hour's
+conversation altogether. It is, therefore, assuredly, too much to say
+that I am the cause, and your brother will tell you that he expressed
+these opinions before I ever had had any conversation with him."
+
+"That may be," replied Philip, "but you approved of his sentiments,
+and that concluded the business, I am sure, and I don't wonder at it.
+I only hope that you won't ask me to do any thing I do not wish to do;
+for I am sure that I could never refuse you any thing."
+
+"I am glad to hear you say so, Mr. Philip; for if I see you do that
+which I think wrong, I shall certainly try my influence over you,"
+replied Miss Trevannion, smiling. "I really was not aware that I had
+such power."
+
+Here Mr. Trevannion came in again, and the conversation was changed;
+and shortly afterwards Miss Trevannion left the room. Philip, who was
+tired of sitting while Mr. Trevannion and I took our pipes, and who
+was anxious to see the town, also left us; and I then stated to Mr.
+Trevannion that having now completed the cruise which I had agreed
+that I would, I wished to know whether he had provided himself with
+another captain.
+
+"As you appear so determined, my dear Elrington, I will only say that
+I am very sorry, and will not urge the matter any longer. My daughter
+told me since your absence that she was certain that you would adhere
+to your resolution; and, although I hoped the contrary, yet I have
+been considering in which way I can serve you. It is not only my
+pleasure, but my duty so to do; I have not forgotten, and never will
+forget, that you in all probability saved my life by your
+self-devotion in the affair of the Jacobites. When you first came to
+me, you were recommended as a good accountant, and, to a certain
+degree, a man of business; and, at all events, you proved yourself
+well acquainted and apt at figures. Do you think that a situation on
+shore would suit you?"
+
+"I should endeavour to give satisfaction, Sir," I replied; "but I fear
+that I should have much to learn."
+
+"Of course you would; but I reply that you would soon learn. Now,
+Elrington, what I have to say to you is this: I am getting old, and in
+a few years shall be past work; and I think I should like you as an
+assistant for the present, and a successor hereafter. If you would
+like to join me, you shall superintend the more active portion of the
+business; and I have no doubt but that in a year or two you will be
+master of the whole. As you know, I have privateers and I have
+merchant vessels, and I keep my storehouses. I have done well up to
+the present; not so well, perhaps, now, as I did when I had
+slave-vessels, which were most profitable; but my deceased wife
+persuaded me to give up that traffic, and I have not resumed it, in
+honour of her memory. These foolish women should never interfere in
+such matters; but let that pass. What I have to say is, that if you
+choose after a year to join me as a partner, I will give you an eighth
+of the business, and as we continue I will make over a further share
+in proportion to the profits; and I will make such arrangements as to
+enable you at my death to take the whole concern upon favourable
+terms."
+
+Mr. Trevannion knocked the ashes out of his pipe, and, as he
+concluded,--
+
+"I am," I replied, "as you may imagine, Sir, much gratified and
+honoured at your proposal, which I hardly need say that I willingly
+accept. I only hope you will make allowance for my ignorance at first
+setting off, and not ascribe to any other cause my imperfections. You
+may assure yourself that good-will shall never be wanting on my part,
+and I shall work day and night, if required, to prove my gratitude for
+so kind an offer."
+
+"Then, it is settled," said Mr. Trevannion; "but what are we to do
+with your brother Philip?"
+
+"He thinks for himself, Sir, and does not agree with me on the
+question in point. Of course, I have no right to insist that my
+scruples should be his; indeed, I fear that I should have little
+chance in persuading him, as he is so fond of a life of adventure. It
+is natural in one so young. Age will sober him."
+
+"Then you have no objection to his going on board of a privateer?"
+
+"I would rather that he was in any other service, Sir; but as I cannot
+control him, I must submit, if he insist upon following that
+profession. He is a gallant, clever boy, and as soon as I can, I will
+try to procure him a situation in a king's ship. At present he must go
+to sea in some way or the other, and it were, perhaps, better that he
+should be in good hands (such as Captain Levee's for instance) on
+board of a privateer, than mix up with those who might demoralize him
+more."
+
+"Well, then, he shall have his choice," replied Mr. Trevannion. "He is
+a smart lad, and will do you credit wherever he may be."
+
+"If I may take the liberty to advise, Sir," replied I, "I think you
+could not do better than to give the command of the Sparrow-Hawk to
+the chief officer, Mr. James; he is a good seaman and a brave man,
+and I have no doubt will acquit himself to your satisfaction."
+
+"I was thinking the same; and as you recommend him, he shall take your
+place. Now, as all this is settled, you may as well go on board and
+make known that you have resigned the command. Tell Mr. James that he
+is to take your place. Bring your clothes on shore, and you will find
+apartments ready for you on your return, for in future you will of
+course consider this house as your residence. I assure you that, now
+that you do not leave me, I am almost glad that the affair is arranged
+as it is. I wanted assistance, that is the fact, and I hold myself
+fortunate that you are the party who has been selected. We shall meet
+in the evening."
+
+Mr. Trevannion then went away in the direction of his daughter's room,
+instead of the counting-house as usual, and I quitted the house. I did
+not go immediately down to the wharf to embark. I wanted to have a
+short time for reflection, for I was much overpowered with Mr.
+Trevannion's kindness, and the happy prospects before me. I walked out
+in the country for some distance, deep in my own reflections, and I
+must say that Miss Trevannion was too often interfering with my train
+of thought.
+
+I had of course no fixed ideas, but I more than once was weighing in
+my mind whether I should not make known to them who I was, and how
+superior in birth to what they imagined. After an hour passed in
+building castles, I retraced my steps, passed through the town, and
+going down to the wharf, waved my handkerchief for a boat, and was
+soon on board. I then summoned the officers and men, told them that I
+had resigned the command of the vessel, and that in future they were
+to consider Mr. James as their captain. I packed up my clothes,
+leaving many articles for my successor which were no longer of any use
+to me, but which he would have been compelled to replace.
+
+Philip I found was down in the cabin, and with him I had a long
+conversation. He stated his wish to remain at sea, saying that he
+preferred a privateer to a merchant vessel, and a king's ship to a
+privateer. Not being old enough, or sufficient time at sea to be
+eligible for a king's ship, I agreed that he should sail with Captain
+Levee, as soon as he came back from his cruise. He had already sent in
+a good prize. As soon as my clothes and other articles were put into
+the boat, I wished them all farewell, and was cheered by the men as I
+pulled on shore.
+
+My effects were taken up to Mr. Trevannion's house by the seamen, to
+whom I gave a gratuity, and I was met by Mr. Trevannion, who showed me
+into a large and well-furnished bed-room, which he told me was in
+future to be considered as my own. I passed away the afternoon in
+arranging my clothes, and did not go down to the parlour till
+supper-time, where I found Miss Trevannion, who congratulated me upon
+my having changed my occupation to one more worthy of me. I made a
+suitable reply, and we sat down to supper. Having described this first
+great event in my life, I shall for the present conclude.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+    After staying a year with him, Mr. Trevannion proposes
+    to take me into Partnership, but I decline the offer
+    from conscientious motives--Miss Trevannion treats me
+    with unmerited coldness--This and her Father's anger
+    make me resolve to quit the House--What I overhear and
+    see before my departure--The Ring.
+
+
+You may now behold me in a very different position, my dear Madam;
+instead of the laced hat and hanger at my side, imagine me in a plain
+suit of gray with black buttons, and a pen behind my ear; instead of
+walking the deck and balancing to the motion of the vessel, I am now
+perched immoveably upon a high stool; instead of sweeping the horizon
+with my telescope, or watching the straining and bending of the spars
+aloft, I am now with my eyes incessantly fixed upon the ledger or
+day-book, absorbed in calculation. You may inquire how I liked the
+change. At first, I must confess, not over much, and, notwithstanding
+my dislike to the life of a privateer's-man, I often sighed heavily,
+and wished that I were an officer in the king's service. The change
+from a life of activity to one of sedentary habits was too sudden, and
+I often found myself, with my eyes still fixed upon the figures
+before me, absorbed in a sort of castle-building reverie, in which I
+was boarding or chasing the enemy, handling my cutlass, and sometimes
+so moved by my imagination as to brandish my arm over my head, when an
+exclamation of surprise from one of the clerks would remind me of my
+folly, and, angry with myself, I would once more resume my pen. But
+after a time I had more command over myself, and could sit steadily at
+my work. Mr. Trevannion had often observed how absent I was, and it
+was a source of amusement to him; when we met at dinner, his daughter
+would say: "So, I hear you had another sea-fight this morning, Mr.
+Elrington;" and her father would laugh heartily as he gave a
+description of my ridiculous conduct.
+
+I very soon, with the kind assistance of Mr. Trevannion, became master
+of my work, and gave him satisfaction. My chief employment consisted
+in writing the letters to correspondents. At first I only copied Mr.
+Trevannion's letters in his private letter-book; but as I became aware
+of the nature of the correspondence, and what was necessary to be
+detailed, I then made a rough copy of the letters, and submitted them
+to Mr. Trevannion for his approval. At first there were a few
+alterations made, afterwards I wrote them fairly out, and almost
+invariably they gave satisfaction, or if any thing was added, it was
+in a postscript. Mr. Trevannion's affairs, I found, were much more
+extensive than I had imagined. He had the two privateers, two vessels
+on the coast of Africa trading for ivory and gold-dust and other
+articles, two or three vessels employed in trading to Virginia for
+tobacco and other produce, and some smaller vessels engaged in the
+Newfoundland fisheries, which, when they had taken in their cargo, ran
+to the Mediterranean to dispose of it, and returned with Mediterranean
+produce to Liverpool. That he was a very wealthy man, independent of
+his large stakes upon the seas, was certain. He had lent much money to
+the guild of Liverpool, and had some tenanted properties in the
+county; but of them I knew nothing, except from the payment of the
+rents. What surprised me much was, that a man of Mr. Trevannion's
+wealth, having but one child to provide for, should not retire from
+business--and I once made the remark to his daughter. Her reply was:
+"I thought as you do once, but now I think differently. When I have
+been on a visit with my father, and he has stayed away for several
+weeks, you have no idea how restless and uneasy he has become from
+want of occupation. It has become his habit, and habit is second
+nature. It is not from a wish to accumulate that he continues at the
+counting-house, but because he cannot be happy without employment. I,
+therefore, do not any longer persuade him to leave off, as I am
+convinced that it would be persuading him to be unhappy. Until you
+came, I think the fatigue was too great for him; but you have, as he
+apprizes me, relieved him of the heaviest portion of the labour, and I
+hardly need say that I am rejoiced that you have so done."
+
+"It certainly is not that he requires to make money, Miss Trevannion;
+and, as he is so liberal in every thing, I must credit what you
+assert, that it is the dislike to having no employment which induces
+him to continue in business. It has not yet become such a habit in
+me," continued I, smiling; "I think I could leave it off with great
+pleasure."
+
+"But is not that because you have not yet recovered from your former
+habits, which were so at variance with a quiet and a sedentary life?"
+replied she.
+
+"I fear it is so," said I, "and, I believe, of all habits, those of a
+vagrant are the most difficult to overcome. You used to laugh at me
+the first few months that I was here. I presume that I am a little
+improved, as I have not been attacked lately?"
+
+"My father says so, and is much pleased with you, Mr. Elrington, if my
+telling you so gives you any satisfaction."
+
+"Certainly it does, because I wish to please him."
+
+"And me, too, I hope?"
+
+"Yes, most truly, Miss Trevannion; I only wish I had it in my power to
+show how much I study your good opinion."
+
+"Will you risk my father's displeasure for it?" replied she, looking
+at me fixedly.
+
+"Yes, I will, provided--"
+
+"Oh! there is a proviso already."
+
+"I grant that there should not have been any, as I am sure that you
+would not ask me to do any thing which is wrong. And my proviso was,
+that I did not undertake what my conscience did not approve."
+
+"Your proviso was good, Mr. Elrington, for when a woman would
+persuade, a man should be particularly guarded that he is not led into
+error by a rash promise. I think, however, that we are both agreed
+upon the point. I will therefore, come at once to what I wish you to
+do. It is the intention of my father, in the course of a few days,
+when you shall have accomplished your year of service, to offer to
+take you into partnership; and I am certain it will be on liberal
+terms. Now I wish you to refuse his offer unless he gives up
+privateering."
+
+"I will do so at all risks, and I am truly glad that I have your
+encouragement for taking such a bold step."
+
+"I tell you frankly that he will be very indignant. There is an
+excitement about the privateering which has become almost necessary to
+him, and he cares little about the remainder of his speculations. He
+is so blind to the immorality to which it leads, that he does not
+think it is an unlawful pursuit; if he did, I am sure that he would
+abandon it. All my persuasion has been useless."
+
+"And if a favourite and only daughter cannot prevail, what chance have
+I, Miss Trevannion?"
+
+"A better chance, Mr. Elrington; he is partial to me, but I am a
+woman, and he looks upon my observations as a woman's weakness. The
+objections raised by a man, a young man, and one who has so long been
+actively engaged in the service, will, therefore, carry more weight;
+besides, he has now become so accustomed to you, and has had so much
+trouble taken off his hands, and, at the same time, has such implicit
+confidence in you, that I do not think, if he finds that he has to
+choose between your leaving him and his leaving off privateering, he
+will hesitate in relinquishing the latter. You have, moreover, great
+weight with him, Mr. Elrington; my father is fully aware of the deep
+obligation he is under to your courage and self-devotion in the affair
+of the Jacobite refugees. You will, therefore, succeed, if you are
+firm; and, if you do succeed, you will have my gratitude, if that is
+of any importance to you; my friendship you know you have already."
+
+The entrance of Mr. Trevannion prevented my reply. We had been waiting
+for his return from a walk, and dinner had been ready some time. "I
+have just seen some of the men of the Arrow," said Mr. Trevannion,
+taking off his hat and spencer, "and that detained me."
+
+"Has Captain Levee arrived, then, Sir?" said I.
+
+"No; but he has sent in a prize--of no great value--laden with light
+wares. The men in charge tell me he has had a rough affair with a
+vessel armed _en flute_, and that he has lost some men. Your brother
+Philip, as usual, is wounded."
+
+I should here observe, that during the year which had passed away, the
+two privateers had been several times in port--they had met with
+moderate success, barely sufficient to pay their expenses; my brother
+Philip had always conducted himself very gallantly, and had been twice
+wounded in different engagements.
+
+"Well, Sir," replied I, "I do not think that the loss of a little
+blood will do any harm to such a hot-headed youth as Master Philip;
+but I hope in a short time to give him an opportunity of shedding it
+in the service of the king, instead of in the pursuit of money.
+Indeed," continued I, as I sat down to table, "the enemy are now so
+cautious, or have so few vessels on the high seas, that I fear your
+privateering account current will not be very favourable, when
+balanced, as it will be in a few days, notwithstanding this cargo of
+wares just arrived."
+
+"Then we must hope better for next year," replied Mr. Trevannion.
+"Amy, my dear, have you been out to-day?"
+
+"Yes, Sir; I was riding for two hours."
+
+"Have they altered your pillion yet?"
+
+"Yes, Sir; it came home last night, and it is now very comfortable."
+
+"I called at Mrs. Carleton's, who is much better. What a fop that Mr.
+Carleton is--I don't know what scented powder he uses, but it perfumed
+the whole room. Had not Mrs. Carleton been such an invalid, I should
+have opened the window."
+
+Mr. Trevannion then turned the conversation to some political
+intelligence which he had just received, and this engaged us till the
+dinner was over, and I returned to the counting-house, where I found
+the men who had brought in the prize, and who gave me a letter from
+Philip, stating that his wound was of no consequence.
+
+The communication of Mr. Trevannion took place, as his daughter had
+assured me it would, on the anniversary of my entering into Mr.
+Trevannion's counting-house. After dinner, as we, as usual, were
+smoking our pipes, Mr. Trevannion said: "Elrington, you have been with
+me now one year, and during that time you have made yourself fully
+master of your business; much to my surprise, I acknowledge, but still
+more to my satisfaction. That I have every reason to be satisfied with
+you, you may imagine, when I tell you that it is now my intention to
+take you into partnership, and I trust by my so doing that you will
+soon be an independent man. You know the capital in the business as
+well as I do. I did say an eighth, but I now propose to make over to
+you one-fourth, and to allow your profits of every year (deducting
+your necessary expenses) to be invested in the business, until you
+have acquired a right to one-half. Of future arrangements we will
+speak hereafter."
+
+"Mr. Trevannion," replied I, "that I am truly grateful for such
+unexpected liberality, I hardly need say, and you have my best thanks
+for your noble offer; but I have scruples which, I must confess, I
+cannot get over."
+
+"Scruples!" exclaimed Mr. Trevannion, laying down his pipe on the
+table. "Oh! I see now," continued he after a pause; "you think I am
+robbing my daughter. No, no, the labourer is worthy of his hire, and
+she will have more than sufficient. You carry your conscientiousness
+too far, my dear fellow; I have more than enough for Amy, out of the
+business altogether."
+
+"I am aware of that, Sir," added I, "and I did not, therefore, refer
+to your daughter when I said that I had scruples. I must be candid
+with you, Sir. How is it that I am now in your employ?"
+
+"Why, because you had a dislike to privateering, and I had a debt of
+gratitude to pay."
+
+"Exactly, Sir; but whether you had been pleased to employ me or not, I
+had made up my mind, as you well know, from conscientious motives, not
+to continue on board of a privateer."
+
+"Well, I grant that."
+
+"The same motives, Sir, will not allow me to be a sharer in the
+profits arising from such sources. I should consider myself equally
+wrong if I did so, as if I remained on board. Do not be angry with me,
+Sir," continued I; "if I, with many thanks, decline your offer of
+being your partner; I will faithfully serve you upon any salary which
+you may consider I may merit, and trust to your liberality in every
+thing."
+
+Mr. Trevannion made no reply; he had resumed his pipe, and continued
+to smoke it, with his eyes fixed upon the mantelpiece. As soon as his
+pipe was out, he rose, put on his hat, and walked out of the room,
+without making any further observation. I waited a few minutes, and
+then went back to the counting-house.
+
+That Mr. Trevannion was seriously offended, I was convinced; but I
+valued the good opinion of his daughter more than I did that of Mr.
+Trevannion; indeed, my feelings towards her had, during the year that
+I had been in the house, gradually become of that nature that they
+threatened much my peace of mind. I cannot say that I loved her in the
+usual acceptation of the term, adoration would better express what I
+felt. She was so pure, so perfect, such a model of female perfection,
+that I looked up to her with a reverence which almost quelled any
+feeling of love. I felt that she was above me, and that, with her
+wealth, it would be madness for one in my present position to aspire
+to her. Yet with this feeling I would have sacrificed all my hopes and
+present advantages to have obtained her approving smile. It is not,
+therefore, to be wondered at that I risked Mr. Trevannion's
+displeasure to gain her approbation; and when I resumed my seat at my
+desk, and thought of what had passed, I made up my mind to be once
+more an outcast in the world rather than swerve from the promise which
+I had made to her. I knew Mr. Trevannion to be a very decided man,
+and hasty when offended. That he was seriously offended with me there
+was no doubt. I found that he had quitted the house immediately after
+he had left the room. I had hoped that he had gone to his daughter's
+apartments, and that a conversation with her might have produced a
+good effect; but such was not the case.
+
+In about half an hour Mr. Trevannion returned, and as he walked into
+the back room adjoining the counting-house, he desired me to follow
+him; I did so: "Mr. Elrington," said he, sitting down, and leaving me
+standing at the table, "I fear, after what has passed that we shall
+not continue on good terms. You have reproached me, an old man, with
+carrying on an unlawful business; in short, in raising your own
+scruples and talking of your own conscience, you have implied that I
+am acting contrary to what conscience should dictate. In short, you
+have told me, by implication, that I am not an honest man. You have
+thrown back in my face my liberal offer. My wish to oblige you has
+been treated not only with indifference, but I may add with contumely;
+and that merely because you have formed some absurd notions of right
+and wrong in which you will find no one to agree with you, except,
+perhaps, priests and women. I wish you well, Mr. Elrington,
+nevertheless. I am truly sorry for your infatuation, and wished to
+have served you, but you will not be assisted by me."
+
+Here Mr. Trevannion paused, but I made no reply. After a time, wiping
+the perspiration from his forehead with his handkerchief, for he
+evidently was in a state of great excitement he continued:
+
+"As you do not choose to join me from conscientious scruples, I cannot
+but imagine that you do not like to serve me from similar motives, for
+I see little difference between the two (and here, Madam, there was
+some force in his observation, but it never occurred to me before); at
+all events, without weighing your scruples so exactly as to know how
+far they may or may not extend, I feel that we are not likely to go on
+pleasantly together. I shall always think that I am reproached by you
+when any thing is said connected with the privateers--and you may have
+twinges of conscience which may be disagreeable to you. Let us,
+therefore, part quietly. For your services up to the present, and to
+assist you in any other engagements you may enter on, take this--"
+
+Mr. Trevannion opened a lower drawer of the table, and put before me a
+bag containing, as I afterwards discovered, 250 gold jacobuses.
+
+"I wish you well, Mr. Elrington, but I sincerely wish that we had
+never met."
+
+Mr. Trevannion then rose abruptly, and, before I could make any reply,
+brushed past me, went out at the door, and again walked away at a
+rapid pace down the street. I remained where I stood; my eyes had
+followed him as he went away. I was completely surprised. I
+anticipated much anger, much altercation; but I never had an idea that
+he would be so unjust as to throw off in this way one who for his sake
+had gone through a heavy trial and come out with honour. My heart was
+full of bitterness. I felt that Mr. Trevannion had treated me with
+harshness and ingratitude.
+
+"Alas!" thought I, "such is the world, and such will ever be the case
+with such imperfect beings as we are. How vain to expect any thing
+like consistency, much less perfection, in our erring natures. Hurt
+but the self-love of a man, wound his vanity, and all obligations are
+forgotten."
+
+I turned away from the bag of money, which I was resolved not to
+accept, although I had not at the time twenty guineas at my own
+disposal. It was now within half an hour of dark; I collected all my
+books, put some in the iron safe, others as usual in my desk, and
+having arranged every thing as completely as I could, I locked the
+safe, and inclosed the keys in a parcel, which I sealed. Putting Mr.
+Trevannion's name on the outside, I laid the parcel on the table in
+the room where we had had our conference, by the side of the bag of
+money.
+
+It was now dark, or nearly so, and leaving the confidential porter, as
+usual, to shut up the house, I went up to the sitting-room with the
+expectation of seeing Miss Trevannion, and bidding her farewell. I was
+not disappointed; I found her at her netting, having just lighted the
+lamp which hung over the table.
+
+"Miss Trevannion," said I, advancing respectfully towards her, "I
+have fulfilled my promise, and I have received my reward"--she looked
+up at me--"which is, I am dismissed from this house and your presence
+for ever."
+
+"I trust," said she, after a pause, "that you have not exceeded my
+wishes. It appears to me so strange, that I must think that such is
+the case. My father never could have dismissed you in this way for
+merely expressing an opinion, Mr. Elrington. You must have gone too
+far."
+
+"Miss Trevannion, when you meet your father, you can then ascertain
+whether I have been guilty of intemperance or rudeness, or a proper
+want of respect in making the communication--which I did in exactly
+the manner you yourself proposed, and my reward has been such as I
+state."
+
+"You have a better reward, Mr. Elrington, if what you assert is really
+correct. You have the reward of having done your duty; but I cannot
+imagine that your dismissal has arisen from the mere expression of an
+opinion. You'll excuse me, Mr. Elrington, that as a daughter, I
+cannot, in justice to a much respected father, believe that such is
+the case."
+
+This was said in so cold a manner, that I was nettled to the highest
+degree. Miss Trevannion had promised me her gratitude, instead of
+which I felt that she was doubting my word, and, as it were, taking
+the side of her father against me. And this was the return from her. I
+could have upbraided her, and told her what I felt; namely, that she
+had taken advantage of my feelings towards her to make me a cat's-paw
+to obtain her end with her father; and that now, having failed, I was
+left to my fate, without even commiseration; but she looked so calm,
+so grave, and so beautiful, that I could not do it. I commanded my
+wounded feelings, and replied:
+
+"Since I have the misfortune to meet the displeasure of the daughter
+as well as of the father, Miss Trevannion, I have not another word to
+say, but farewell, and may you prosper."
+
+My voice faltered as I said the last words, and, bowing to her, I
+quitted the room. Miss Trevannion did not even say farewell to me, but
+I thought that her lips appeared to move, as quitting the room I took
+my last look upon her beautiful face. I shut the door after me, and,
+overpowered by my feelings, I sank upon a settee in the ante-room, in
+a state of giddy stupor. I know not how long I remained there, for my
+head turned and my senses reeled; but I was aroused from it by the
+heavy tread of Mr. Trevannion, who came along the corridor without a
+light, and not perceiving me, opened the door of the sitting-room
+where his daughter still remained. He threw the door too after he had
+entered, but it did not quite close, leaving a narrow stream of light
+through the ante-room.
+
+"Father," said Miss Trevannion in my hearing, "you look warm and
+excited."
+
+"I have reason so to be," replied Mr. Trevannion, abruptly.
+
+"I have heard from Mr. Elrington the cause of it," replied Miss
+Trevannion; "that is, I have heard his version of it. I am glad that
+you have come back, as I am most anxious to hear yours. What has Mr.
+Elrington said or done to cause such irritation and his dismissal?"
+
+"He has behaved with insolence and ingratitude," replied Mr.
+Trevannion; "I offered him partnership, and he refused, unless I would
+give up privateering."
+
+"So he stated; but in what manner was he insolent to you?"
+
+"Insolent!--told me that he acted from conscientious motives, which
+was as much as to say that I did not."
+
+"Was his language very offensive?"
+
+"No, not his language--that was respectful enough; but it was the very
+respect which made it insolent. So I told him that as he could not,
+from scruples of conscience, join me in privateering, of course his
+scruples of conscience could not allow him to keep the books, and I
+dismissed him."
+
+"Do you mean to say, my dear father, that he, in a respectful manner,
+declined entering into partnership from these scruples which you
+mention; that he gave you no other offence than expressing his
+opinion, and declining your offer?"
+
+"And what would you have more?" replied Mr. Trevannion.
+
+"I wish to know where was the insult, the ingratitude, on his part
+which you complain of?"
+
+"Simply in refusing the offer. He ought to have felt grateful, and he
+was not; and he had no right to give such reasons as he did; for the
+reasons were condemning my actions. But you women cannot understand
+these things."
+
+"I rather think, my dear father, that we cannot; for I cannot perceive
+either the insult or the ingratitude which you complain of, and such I
+think will be your own opinion when you have had time to reflect, and
+are more cool. Mr. Elrington expressed nothing more to-day, when he
+stated his dislike to privateering from conscientious motives than he
+did after his return from his confinement in the Tower, when he gave
+up the command of the privateer on those very grounds; and then, when
+still warm with gratitude to him for his self-devotion, you did not
+consider it an insult, but, on the contrary, took him still nearer to
+you into your own house. Why, then, should you consider it an insult
+now? Neither can I see any ingratitude. You made him an offer, the
+value of which, in a worldly point of view, he could not but
+appreciate, and he declined it from conscientious motives; declined
+it, as you acknowledge, respectfully; proving that he was ready to
+sacrifice his worldly interests to what he considered his duty as a
+Christian. When Mr. Elrington told me that you had dismissed him, I
+felt so certain that he must have been guilty of some unpardonable
+conduct towards you to have induced you to have resorted to such a
+step, that I did not credit him when he asserted the contrary. I could
+not believe, as a daughter, any thing so much to the prejudice of my
+own father, and so much at variance with his general conduct. I now
+feel that I have been most unjust to Mr. Elrington, and conducted
+myself towards him in a way which I bitterly regret, and hope by some
+means to be able to express my contrition for--"
+
+"Amy--Amy," said Mr. Trevannion, severely, "are you blinded by regard
+for this young man, that you side against your own father? Am I to
+understand that you have given your affections without my sanction or
+approval?"
+
+"No, Sir," replied Miss Trevannion; "that I do respect and regard Mr.
+Elrington is true, and I cannot do otherwise for his many good
+qualities and his devotion towards you; but if you would ask me if I
+love him, I reply that such a thought has not yet entered my head.
+Without a knowledge of who he is, or his family, and without your
+approval, I should never think of yielding up my affections in so
+hasty a manner; but I may say more: these affections have never been
+solicited by Mr. Elrington. He has always behaved towards me with that
+respect, which, as the daughter of his patron, I have had a right to
+expect; but in no instance has he ever signified to me that he had any
+preference in my favour. Having assured you of this, my dear father, I
+cannot but say that I consider that he has, in this instance, not only
+been treated with injustice by you, but also by me."
+
+"Say no more," replied Mr. Trevannion. As he said this, I heard
+footsteps in the passage, and was about to retreat to my own room; but
+as the party came without a light, I remained. It was the porter, who
+knocked at the sitting-room door, and was requested to come in by Mr.
+Trevannion.
+
+"If you please, Sir, Mr. Elrington is gone out, I believe, and I found
+this packet directed to you on the table of the inner room, and also
+this bag of money, which I suppose you forgot to put away before you
+left."
+
+"Very well, Humphrey, leave them on the table."
+
+The man did so, and quitted the room, not perceiving me in the dark as
+he passed through the ante-room.
+
+"He has not taken the money," observed Mr. Trevannion. "He might have
+done so, as he ought to be paid for his services."
+
+"I presume, my dear father, that his feelings were too much hurt by
+what passed," said Miss Trevannion. "There are obligations which
+cannot be repaid with gold."
+
+"These, I perceive, are the keys of the safe; I did not think that he
+would have gone away this night."
+
+I now considered it high time to quit the ante-room, where I had been
+irresistibly detained by the conversation which took place. I hastened
+to my own chamber, determined that I would leave the house the next
+morning before any one was stirring. I gained it in the dark, but
+having the means of striking a light, I did so, and packed up all my
+clothes ready for my departure. I had just fastened down my valise,
+when I perceived a light on the further end of the long corridor which
+led to my apartment. Thinking it might be Mr. Trevannion, and not
+wishing to see him, I blew out my own light and retreated to a small
+dressing-room, within my chamber, communicating by a glass door. The
+light evidently approached, and at last I perceived the party was
+entering my room, the door of which was wide open. It was Miss
+Trevannion who entered, and turning round with her chamber-light in
+her hand, appeared to survey the apartment with a mournful air. She
+perceived my valise, and her eyes were fixed upon it for some time; at
+last she walked up to the dressing-table, and, sitting on the stool
+before it, leant down her head upon her hands and wept.
+
+"Alas!" thought I, "if those tears were but for me; but it is not
+so--she has been excited, and her tears have come to her relief."
+
+After a time she raised her head from the table, and said, "How unjust
+have I been--and I shall see him no more!--if I could but beg his
+pardon, I should be more happy. Poor fellow!--what must he have felt
+at my harsh bearing. Oh! my father, I could not have believed it. And
+what did I say?--that I had no feeling for--well, I thought so at the
+time, but now--I am not quite sure that I was correct, though
+he--well, it's better that he's gone--but I cannot bear that he should
+have gone as he has done. How his opinion of me must have changed!
+That is what vexes me--" and again she bent her head down on the table
+and wept.
+
+In a moment she again rose, and took her candle in her hand.
+Perceiving on the dressing-table a small gold ring which I had taken
+off my finger the day before, and had forgotten, she took it up and
+examined it. After a little while she laid her light down on the
+table, and put the ring upon her finger.
+
+"I will keep it till I see him again," murmured she; and then taking
+her light, she walked slowly out of the room.
+
+The knowledge I had gained by this unintentional eavesdropping on my
+part, was the source of much reflection--and as I lay on the bed
+without taking off my clothes, it occupied my thoughts till the day
+began to break. That I still retained the good opinion of Miss
+Trevannion was certain, and the mortification I had endured at our
+final interview was now wholly removed. It was her duty to suppose her
+parent not in fault till the contrary was proved. She had known her
+father for years--me she had only known for a short time, and never
+before had she known him guilty of injustice. But her expressions and
+her behaviour in my room--was it possible that she was partial to me,
+more partial than she had asserted to her father when she was
+questioned!--and her taking away the ring!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+    A Conspiracy, which ends satisfactorily to all
+    Parties--Privateering is abandoned, and Captain
+    Levee and Philip serve the King.
+
+
+The night passed away in attempts at analyzing the real feelings of
+Miss Trevannion, and also my own towards her; and now that I was to be
+separated from her, I discovered what I really had not before
+imagined, that my future happiness was seriously endangered by my
+sentiments towards her: in short, dear Madam, that I was most
+seriously in love.
+
+"And now," thought I, "of what avail is it to have made this discovery
+now, except it were to convince me, as Miss Trevannion had said, that
+it were better that I were gone."
+
+I did not fail to call to mind her observation about my unknown
+parentage and family, and this I reflected upon with pleasure, as it
+was the chief objection raised by her, and, at the same time, one that
+I could proudly remove, from my birth being really more distinguished
+than her own. Should I make it known? How could I?--we should,
+probably, never meet again. All this, and much more, was canvassed in
+my mind during the night, and also another question of more real
+importance, which was, what I was to do, and where I was to go? On
+this last point I could not make up my mind, but I determined that I
+would not leave Liverpool for a day or two, but would take up my
+quarters at my old lodgings, where I had lived with Captain Levee.
+
+As the day dawned, I rose from the bed, and, taking my valise on my
+shoulder, I went softly down-stairs, opened the street door, and
+shutting it again carefully, I hastened down the street as fast as I
+could. I met nobody; for it was still early, and arrived at the
+lodging-house, where I had some trouble to obtain admittance; the old
+lady at last opening the door in great dishabille.
+
+"Captain Elrington! is it possible," exclaimed she, "why, what's the
+matter?"
+
+"Nothing, Madam," replied I, "but that I have come to take possession
+of your lodgings for a few days."
+
+"And welcome, Sir," replied she; "will you walk up-stairs while I make
+myself more fit to be seen. I was in bed and fast asleep when you
+knocked; I do believe I was dreaming of my good friend, Captain
+Levee."
+
+I went up-stairs and threw myself on the old settee which was so
+familiar to me, and somehow or another, in a few minute's I was in a
+sound sleep. How long I might have slept on I cannot tell, but in less
+than an hour I was waked up by loud talking and laughter, and a few
+seconds afterwards found myself embraced by my brother Philip and
+Captain Levee. The Arrow had anchored at break of day, and they had
+just come on shore. I was delighted to see them, as every one is when
+he meets with friends when he is in distress. I briefly stated how it
+was that they found me there, and when breakfast was on the table, I
+entered into full details of what had passed, with the exception of
+Miss Trevannion having entered my room--that I considered too sacred
+to repeat to any one.
+
+"You know, my dear Elrington," said Captain Levee, "that I have not
+the scruples which you have relative to privateering, but still I
+respect the conscientious scruples of others. There is no excuse for
+Mr. Trevannion's conduct, and I cannot think but there is something
+else at the bottom of all this. You haven't been making love to his
+daughter, or, what would amount to the same thing, she has not been
+making advances to you?"
+
+"I have not dared the first, Levee, and you do not know her, to
+suppose her capable of the latter."
+
+"Well, if she had done so, there would have been no harm done,"
+replied he; "but I will say no more as you look so grave. Philip and I
+will now call upon Mr. Trevannion, and while I engage the old
+gentleman, Philip shall run alongside of the young maiden, and between
+the two we shall get our bearings and distance, and know how the land
+lies--and I will tell you more, Elrington, although I have no
+objection to be captain of a privateer, I certainly consider the
+command of a king's ship more reputable; and if I could manage to get
+the Arrow hired into the king's service (I still remaining in command
+of her), I should prefer it being so. At all events, I'll side with
+you, and that will drive the old gentleman on a dead lee-shore. Come
+along, Philip--we shall be with you in two hours, Elrington." With
+these words Captain Levee left the room, followed by my brother.
+
+It was nearly three hours before they returned, and then I received
+the following narratives: Captain Levee, as he sat down, said, "Now,
+Philip, we'll hear your account first."
+
+"Well, mine is soon told," replied Philip; "I had made up my mind how
+to act, and did not tell Captain Levee what I intended to do. When Mr.
+Trevannion met us in the room behind the counting-house, he appeared
+very much flurried: he shook hands with Captain Levee, and offered me
+his hand, which I refused, saying, 'Mr. Trevannion, I have just seen
+my brother, and I hardly need say that nothing will induce me to
+remain in your employ. I will, therefore, thank you for my wages at
+your convenience.'
+
+"'Hey-day, young man,' cried he, 'you give yourself strange airs.
+Well, Sir, you shall have your discharge; I can do without such
+snip-jacks as you are.'
+
+"'Snip-jacks! Mr. Trevannion,' replied I; 'if I must say it, we are
+better born and better bred than you or any of your connections, and
+you were honoured by our service.'"
+
+"You said that, Philip?--then you were wrong."
+
+"I told the truth."
+
+"Still, you should not have said it; we took his service, and
+therefore--"
+
+"We are not snip-jacks," interrupted Philip, "and his calling names
+brought on the reply."
+
+"You must admit the provocation, Elrington," said Captain Levee.
+
+"Well, go on, Philip."
+
+"'Indeed,' said Mr. Trevannion, in a great passion; 'well, then, I
+will soon rid myself of the obligation. Call this afternoon, Master
+Philip, and you shall receive your wages. You may now quit the room.'
+
+"I did so, and put my hat a-cock to annoy him."
+
+"So far his narrative is quite correct," said Captain Levee;--"now go
+on."
+
+"Well," said Philip, "instead of turning out of the house, I turned
+into it, and went to the young lady's sitting-room. I opened the door
+softly, and found her with her hand up to her head, looking very
+sedate and sorrowful. 'Master Philip,' said she, 'you startled me; I
+am glad to see you--when did you arrive?'
+
+"'This morning, Miss Trevannion.'
+
+"'Well, sit down, and bear me company for a time. Have you seen your
+brother?'
+
+"'I have, Miss Trevannion,' replied I, still remaining on my feet,
+'and I have just seen your father. I come now to bid you farewell. I
+have left the privateer, and shall never join her again; perhaps I may
+never see you again either, which, believe me, I am truly sorry for.'
+
+"She covered her eyes with her hand, as she leant on the table, and I
+saw a tear fall as she said--
+
+"'It is a sad business altogether, and has distressed me very much. I
+hope your brother does not think that I blame him; tell him that I do
+not in the least, and that he must forget my behaviour to him when we
+parted. I did him injustice, and I beg his pardon. Tell him so,
+Philip.'"
+
+"Did she say those words, Philip?"
+
+"Yes, word for word, and looked like an angel when she said so. I
+replied that I would certainly deliver her message, but that I must
+not remain, for fear of Mr. Trevannion finding me with her, as he
+ordered me to quit the house.
+
+"'Indeed,' said she; 'what can be the matter with my poor father?'
+
+"'Why, Miss Trevannion,' said I, 'he was very angry, and he had
+reason, for I was very saucy, and that's the truth.'
+
+"'Why, Philip, what did you say to him?'
+
+"'Oh, I hardly know,' replied I, 'but I know that I said more than I
+ought; for I was very angry at my brother's dismissal. Good-bye, Miss
+Trevannion.'
+
+"Miss Trevannion was taking a ring off her finger as I said good-bye,
+and I thought she was going to give it me as a keep-sake; but, after a
+little hesitation, she put it on again, and then held out her hand,
+saying, 'Good-bye, Master Philip, let us not part in anger, at all
+events.' I took her hand, bowed, and turned away to quit the room;
+when I was at the door I looked round, and she was sitting with her
+face in her hands, and I think she was weeping. I went out into the
+street, and waited for Captain Levee, and there's an end of my story."
+
+"Well, now I'll give you my portion, Elrington:--As soon as Philip
+went out of the room, Mr. Trevannion said, 'That's a most impudent
+boy, and I am glad that he is gone. You are of course aware that his
+brother has left me, and the cause of our disagreement.'
+
+"'Yes, Sir,' replied I, drily, 'I have heard the whole particulars.'
+
+"'Did you ever hear of such ridiculous scruples?' said he.
+
+"'Yes, Sir, I heard them before, and so did you, when he gave up the
+command of the privateer, and I respected them, because I knew that
+Mr. Elrington was sincere. Indeed, his observations on that head are
+undeniably true, and have had great weight with me; so much so, that I
+intend to enter into the king's service as soon as I possibly can.'
+
+"I wish you had seen the look of Mr. Trevannion when I said this--he
+was stupified. That I, Captain Levee, who had commanded his vessels so
+long--I, the very _beau ideal_ of a privateer's-man, a reckless,
+extravagant dare-devil, should also presume to have scruples, was too
+much for him. 'Et tu, Brute,' he might have exclaimed, but he did not;
+but he stared at me without speaking for some time; at last he said,
+'Is the golden age arrived, or is this a conspiracy?'
+
+"'Neither one nor the other, Sir,' I replied; 'I follow privateering,
+because I can do no better; but as soon as I can do better, I shall
+leave it off.'
+
+"'Perhaps,' said Mr. Trevannion, 'you would wish to resign the command
+at once. If so, I beg you will not make any ceremony.'
+
+"'I have not wished to put you to any inconvenience, Mr. Trevannion,'
+replied I, 'but as you kindly beg me to use no ceremony, I will take
+advantage of your offer, and resign the command of the Arrow this
+day.'"
+
+"Surely, Levee, you have not done so?"
+
+"Yes, I have," replied Captain Levee, "and I have done so, in the
+first place, out of friendship to you, and, in the second, because I
+wish to be employed in the king's service, and my only chance of
+obtaining that wish is doing what I have done."
+
+"How will that effect your purpose?"
+
+"Because the men have sailed so long with me, that they will not sail
+under any other person, if I tell them not. Mr. Trevannion will find
+himself in an awkward position, and I think we can force him to hire
+his vessel to government, who will gladly accept such a one as the
+Arrow."
+
+"That I believe, if from her reputation alone," replied I. "Well,
+Levee, I thank you very much for this proof of sincere friendship. The
+plot thickens, and a few days will decide the question."
+
+"Very true, and now let me finish my story. 'I am afraid,' said Mr.
+Trevannion, in a very sarcastic tone, 'that I shall not be able to
+find any one to replace you in this moral age, Captain Levee; but I
+will try.'
+
+"'Sir,' I replied, 'I will now answer your sarcasm. There is some
+excuse for ignorant seamen before the mast, who enter on board of
+privateers: they are indifferent to blood and carnage, and their
+feelings are blunted--there is some excuse even for decayed gentlemen
+like me, Mr. Trevannion (for I am a gentleman born), who, to obtain a
+maintenance without labour, risk their lives and shed their blood; but
+there is no excuse for those who, having already as much wealth and
+more than they can require, still furnish the means and equip vessels
+of this description to commit the destruction which they do, for the
+sake of gain. There is a sermon, Sir, for you from a captain of a
+privateer, and I now wish you good morning.' I then got up, and,
+making a profound bow, I quitted the room before Mr. Trevannion made
+any reply, and here I am. Now all we have to do is to wait quietly,
+and see what takes place; but first, I shall go on board the Arrow,
+and let them know that I have quarrelled with the owner. The men are
+not very well pleased as it is with their want of success these two
+last voyages, and it will require but little to blow up the discontent
+into a mutiny. Come, Philip, I shall want you to assist me. We shall
+be back to dinner, Elrington."
+
+When I was again alone, I had time to consider what had passed. What I
+chiefly dwelt upon was the interview between Philip and Miss
+Trevannion--her message to me--her hesitation--and keeping the ring. I
+could not help surmising that our feelings towards each other were
+reciprocal, and this idea gave me infinite delight, and repaid me for
+all that had passed. Then my brother's hasty declaration to her
+father, that we were better born and bred than he was, would certainly
+be repeated by him to his daughter, and must make an impression. And
+what would Mr. Trevannion do? Would he give way to the unanimous
+opinion against him? I feared not, at least without another struggle.
+All these questions occupied my thoughts till the return of Captain
+Levee and Philip from the privateer. They had well managed their
+business. The crew of the Arrow had come to an unanimous resolution
+that they would not sail with any other captain but Captain Levee; and
+that if he did resign the command of the vessel, as soon as their
+wages were paid, and they received their share of prize-money, they
+would leave, and enter into the king's service.
+
+That afternoon Mr. Trevannion sent for the officer next in command, to
+give him the command of the vessel; but as he went over the side, the
+men expecting that he was sent for, for that purpose, told him that
+they would serve under no one but Captain Levee, and that he might
+acquaint the owner with their determination. This put the finishing
+blow to Mr. Trevannion. As soon as this was communicated to him, he
+was wild with rage in being thus thwarted in every way. As I
+afterwards was informed, he went even to his daughter, acquainted her
+with all that had passed, and gave vent to his indignation, accusing
+her of being a party in the conspiracy. But this was to be his last
+effort: the excitement had been too great, and after dinner he felt so
+unwell that he went to bed. The next morning he was in a raging fever,
+and at times delirious. The fever was so violent that the doctors had
+much to do to reduce it, and for ten days Mr. Trevannion was in great
+danger. At last it was got under, leaving him in a state of great
+weakness and exhaustion, and his recovery was any thing but rapid.
+Humphrey, the porter, had brought us this intelligence; as now there
+was no one to transact the business of the house, and the poor fellow
+did not know what to do, I desired him to apply to Miss Trevannion for
+directions, and told him that, although I would not enter the house, I
+would, if she wished it, see to the more important concerns which
+could not be neglected. She was then attending her father, and sent me
+a message, requesting, as a favour to her, that I would assist all I
+could in the dilemma. I consequently sent for the books, and gave
+orders, and made the necessary arrangements as I had done before I had
+been dismissed by Mr. Trevannion.
+
+It was nearly five weeks before Mr. Trevannion had sufficiently
+recovered to mention any thing about business to him, and then it was
+that he learnt from his daughter that I had carried it on for him
+during his illness, and that every thing had gone on as well as if he
+had acted for himself. Although Miss Trevannion had not expressed a
+wish that I should call, she had sent Humphrey for my brother Philip,
+to let us know the dangerous state in which her father was, and after
+that Philip called every day, and was the bearer of messages to me. As
+her father recovered, she told Philip that he had expressed himself
+very strongly as to his conduct towards me, and had acknowledged that
+I was right in my scruples, and that he was astonished that he had not
+viewed privateering in the same light that I did. That he felt very
+grateful for my considerate and kind conduct in conducting the
+business during his illness, and that as soon as he was well enough he
+would call upon me, to beg my pardon for his conduct towards me. Miss
+Trevannion also told him that her father had said that he considered
+his illness a judgment upon him, and a warning to open his eyes to his
+sacrifice of principle to the desire of gain, and that he received it
+accordingly with humility and thankfulness; that it was his intention
+to offer the privateer vessels to government, and if they did not hire
+them, he should dispose of them in some other way. This was very
+agreeable intelligence, and was the source of much conversation
+between Captain Levee and me.
+
+About a fortnight afterwards, Mr. Trevannion, who was still weak, sent
+me a billet, in which he said that he was afraid that his anxiety to
+see me and his being still confined to his room, rather retarded his
+recovery, and begged as a favour that I would accept his
+acknowledgment in writing, and come to see him. That I consented to
+do, and repaired to his house accordingly. I found him in his room,
+sitting in his dressing-gown, and he had evidently suffered much.
+
+"Mr. Elrington," said he, "I trust to your excellent nature to accept
+my apologies for the very unjust treatment you have received at my
+hands. I am ashamed of myself, and I can say no more."
+
+"I beg, Mr. Trevannion, that you will say no more; I accept the return
+of your friendship with pleasure," replied I; "I am sorry that you
+have been so ill."
+
+"I am not," replied he; "it is good for us to be chastised at times.
+My sickness has opened my eyes, and made me, I trust, a better man.
+May I ask a favour of you?"
+
+"Most certainly, Sir," replied I.
+
+"It is that you will execute a commission for me, which is to go to
+London on my account, see the government people who control the naval
+affairs, and offer the Arrow as a hired vessel. You know all her
+qualities so well, and have kept her accounts so long, that you will
+be able to furnish them with all necessary information. I should wish
+Captain Levee to go with you, and, if you possibly can, make it a
+condition that he is taken into the king's service, and appointed the
+captain of her."
+
+"I will do so with pleasure," replied I.
+
+"One more favour I have to beg, Mr. Elrington. When I so foolishly
+quarrelled with you, you left a bag of money, to which you were fully
+entitled from your good services, upon the table in the inner room. I
+trust now that you will not mortify me by refusing it, or I shall
+think that you have not really forgiven me."
+
+I bowed assent.
+
+"I thank you, Mr. Elrington--thank you very much. Now I shall soon get
+well. To-morrow, perhaps, you will have the kindness to come and see
+me again. I feel rather overcome at present. Remember me kindly to
+Philip. Good-bye for to-day," said Mr. Trevannion, holding out his
+emaciated hand. "God bless you."
+
+I took his hand and quitted the room, shutting the door softly. Mr.
+Trevannion was quite alone when I was with him. Humphrey, the porter,
+had shown me up-stairs to the room.
+
+Anxious as I was to see Miss Trevannion, I did not venture into the
+sitting-room, but passed the door and went down-stairs; when I was
+going out of the street door, Humphrey followed me, and said Miss
+Trevannion wished to see me. I went back again with a beating heart, a
+sensation I had not felt before, when about to go into her presence.
+She was standing by the table.
+
+"Mr. Elrington," said she, as I bowed upon entering, "I did not think
+that you could carry your resentment against me so far as to leave the
+house without asking to see me; but if you do not wish to see me, 'tis
+a duty I owe to myself to wish to see you, if only for a moment, that
+I may beg your pardon for my conduct towards you when we last parted.
+I have suffered much since that, Mr. Elrington; do not make me suffer
+more by continuing your resentment. Recollect I am but a weak woman,
+and must not be judged so severely as one of your own sex."
+
+"I have nothing to pardon that I am aware of, Miss Trevannion,"
+replied I; "I did not intrude upon you just now, because being no
+longer an inmate of the house, and not having parted with you in
+complete amity, I thought it would be presumptuous in me so to do."
+
+"You are very generous, Mr. Elrington," replied she; "now take my
+hand, and I promise never to be so hasty again."
+
+I took the proffered hand, and raised it respectfully to my lips. I
+had never done so before; but Miss Trevannion showed no signs of
+displeasure, or attempt to withdraw it.
+
+"Do you think my father looks very ill, Mr. Elrington?" said she.
+
+"From his appearance, I think that he must have suffered much."
+
+"I am most thankful that you have come to see him, Mr. Elrington. You
+have no idea how his mind was troubled, and how he longed to be
+reconciled to you. I trust he has made his peace."
+
+"I have always had too much respect for your father, and gratitude for
+his kindness to me, to have made that a work of difficulty."
+
+"You rejoice me much--make me very happy, Mr. Elrington," replied Miss
+Trevannion, as the tears dropped fast from her eyes. "You must excuse
+me," said she; "I have become very weak and nervous during my father's
+illness--and sitting up with him so much,--but it is over now."
+
+"You have had much anxiety, I see, Miss Trevannion; you are pale and
+thin to what you were."
+
+"Did my father--? but I have no right to ask such questions."
+
+"You would inquire, Miss Trevannion, whether any thing was said as to
+future arrangements?"
+
+Miss Trevannion made a sign of assent.
+
+"I have promised to execute a commission for him, and am going to
+London, accompanied by Captain Levee."
+
+"To get rid of those wretched privateers, is it not?"
+
+"Yes, it is, and I am to come to-morrow to arrange further; but I
+think you want to return to your father's room, so I will now take my
+leave."
+
+"You are considerate, Mr. Elrington; I did want to go up-stairs; but
+before I go I have some property of yours to place in your hands."
+
+I bowed, thinking that she referred to the ring, which I perceived on
+her finger, and was annoyed that she was in such haste to return it.
+But, on the contrary, she went to the buffet and brought out the bag
+of gold jacobuses, which she laid on the table.
+
+"You are very proud, Mr. Elrington, not to take what was fairly your
+due," said Miss Trevannion, smiling.
+
+"It is much more than I have ever earned," replied I; "but your father
+made me promise not to refuse it a second time, and of course I shall
+now take it."
+
+My heart was much lightened when I found that it was the gold, and not
+the ring.
+
+"Then good-bye, Mr. Elrington; to-morrow I shall see you, of course."
+
+Miss Trevannion then left the room and hastened up-stairs to her
+father, and I went home to my lodgings. I narrated the substance of
+what had passed between Mr. Trevannion and me to Captain Levee and
+Philip, and also that I had been kindly received by Miss Trevannion.
+
+"Well, I like the reconciliation and arrangement very much," said
+Captain Levee; "and as you have such a bag of gold, and I have not
+fifty guineas in the world, you shall stand treat in London,
+Elrington."
+
+"That I will, with pleasure; it will only be discharging an old debt,
+Levee. Philip shall go with us."
+
+"But," said Captain Levee, "do you not think they will recognize their
+state prisoner, and be cautious of a Jacobite?"
+
+"They may remember the name," said I, "but my person was seen but by
+few. I do, however, think it would be advisable, as I shall have to
+sign papers, to take another."
+
+"I think so, too," replied Captain Levee; "what shall we call you?"
+
+"Let me see; I'll have a good name. I had a relative of the name of
+Musgrave; I think I will borrow his name. What say you, Philip. Will
+you be for the future Philip Musgrave?"
+
+"Yes, brother, with all my heart. The name appears to fit me better
+than that of Elrington."
+
+Thus, Madam, did I resume my real name without any suspicion on the
+part of Captain Levee; but I could not well sign government papers
+with an assumed one.
+
+On the following day I called upon Mr. Trevannion, who received me
+with great affection, and it was arranged that I should set off in
+three days, which time would be required for preparation, and to make
+the necessary purchases. To supply funds for the journey, Mr.
+Trevannion gave me another bag of jacobuses, of the same amount as the
+former, saying that he wished us to appear bravely when we arrived in
+London, and that he should require no account of the expenditure, only
+that if the contents of the bag were not sufficient, he would supply
+more. This was nothing more but an excuse on his part to be generous;
+for one quarter of the money would have been sufficient for all
+needful expenses. I told him that I had taken the name of Musgrave, as
+that of Elrington might be remembered to the injury of the proposal,
+and he said that it was well thought of by me. Miss Trevannion had
+entered the room when I mentioned that to her father, and afterwards
+had quitted it. After I had taken leave of Mr. Trevannion, I went down
+to the sitting-room, where I found his daughter waiting for me. We had
+much friendly discourse, and at one time she said, "I heard you say
+that you had taken the name of Musgrave for your intended journey. Do
+you intend to retain that name when you return?"
+
+"Why should I?" replied I.
+
+"Because," replied she, "perhaps it is your real name. Excuse a lady's
+curiosity, but is not that the fact?"
+
+"Miss Trevannion," replied I, "my real name must at present remain a
+secret."
+
+"That is to say, it will no longer be a secret if intrusted to me? I
+thank you, Sir, for the compliment."
+
+"I do not intend to imply that, Miss Trevannion; I fully believe that
+you can keep a secret."
+
+"If you fully believe so, you might, then, reply to my question; the
+more so, as I now pledge myself to keep your secret most faithfully."
+
+"Then, Miss Trevannion, my real name is Musgrave," replied I.
+
+"I thank you for your confidence, Mr. Musgrave, which shall not be
+misplaced. I might now follow up my inquiries as to why you changed
+your name, with many other queries; but I am too discreet for
+that--the time may come when I shall know all; but I am content with
+your proof of confidence, and thank you for it."
+
+Miss Trevannion never was so lively and communicative with me before,
+as she was this morning; there was a friendliness without any of her
+usual reserve, and I left her more full of admiration and devotion
+than ever.
+
+In three days more our preparations were made, and taking leave of
+Miss Trevannion and her father, who was recovering, and had admitted
+company to his room, we set off on horseback, as we had done before,
+and attended by the same two men of Captain Levee's who had served us
+on a former journey to London. We had no adventure whatever on this
+journey which could be worth narrating, and I shall therefore say that
+we arrived in good health and spirits, and took up our abode at once
+at our former lodging-house, instead of going to the inn. We were
+welcomed by the hostess, who had her house almost empty. The following
+day I made inquiries, and, in consequence, went to the Navy Office,
+and requesting to see one of the head clerks, informed him of the
+occasion of my coming up to London. He was very civil, and replied
+that the government were in want of vessels, and he had no doubt but
+they would have the Arrow, as she was well known as a strong
+privateer. I then inquired whether they thought it likely that Captain
+Levee might be taken into the service, stating what an excellent crew
+the Arrow had, and that they would not remain in her, unless they were
+commanded, by him, in whom they had great confidence.
+
+The clerk replied that it might be done certainly,--"but," added
+he--"Sir, you cannot expect people to do such kind offices without
+they are rewarded."
+
+I perfectly understood him, and replied, that, of course, I did not
+expect it; but I was so ignorant as to what ought to be done, that I
+begged that he would give me his advice, for which I should be most
+grateful.
+
+"Well, well, you understand me, Mr. Musgrave, and that is sufficient.
+I will be plain with you. It will cost 100 guineas to obtain what you
+want for Captain Levee, and of that money I shall not receive a doit."
+
+"I shall be most happy to give that sum and half as much more, to
+obtain my wish, Sir, and shall feel much obliged to you in the
+bargain; and while I am negotiating, I may as well state that I have a
+brother who sails with Captain Levee, who is most anxious to be with
+him, and sail as his lieutenant."
+
+"That will cost another fifty guineas, Mr. Musgrave."
+
+"I am most willing," replied I.
+
+"Well, we must first get the vessel hired into the service. You have
+your tonnage and equipment all on paper?"
+
+"Every thing that is requisite; and, moreover, every cruise she has
+made, the actions she has fought, and the prizes she has taken under
+the command of Captain Levee, and with the crew now on board."
+
+"Furnish all these documents, Mr. Musgrave, and leave it to me. I am
+to understand that you perfectly agree to the terms I have proposed?"
+
+"Perfectly, Sir; and, if you please, I will sign a memorandum to that
+effect."
+
+"No, no," replied he, "we never put such things down on paper. It is
+an affair of honour and good faith. You say your money is all ready."
+
+"At a minute's warning."
+
+"That is sufficient, Mr. Musgrave. I will now wish you good morning.
+Send me the documents."
+
+"I have them in my pocket, Sir."
+
+"Better still; then the affair may be arranged this afternoon, and you
+may call to-morrow at about two in the afternoon; and you may as well
+bring the money with you, as you can but take it away again if every
+thing is not to your satisfaction."
+
+I returned to the lodgings quite delighted with the prospect of such a
+fortunate issue to my mission, and was in good time for dinner. I did
+not tell Captain Levee or Philip of what had passed, but merely that I
+considered that there was a good chance of success, and that I was to
+call on the following day. That night we went to the theatre, and saw
+a play performed written by Shakspeare, in the time of Queen
+Elizabeth, and called the "Merry Wives of Windsor." We were much
+pleased with the character _Falstaff_, a fat knight, full of humour.
+The next day, at the time appointed, I called upon the head clerk, who
+told me that every thing was arranged according to my wishes; that the
+hiring of the vessel was according to her tonnage; and he considered
+that the price offered by the government was fair and liberal; so did
+I, and immediately accepted it. He then drew from his desk the
+articles of agreement between the government and the owner of the
+vessel, and at the same time, the warrants for Captain Levee and
+Philip, to act as commander and lieutenant.
+
+"Now, Mr. Musgrave, all you have to do is to sign the first paper, and
+fulfil the other portion of our agreement."
+
+I immediately pulled out the bag of money which I had brought with me,
+and after counting it over, the clerk gave me his pen to sign the
+document, and handed to me the warrants for Philip and Captain Levee.
+
+"You have behaved liberally in this affair, Mr. Musgrave," said the
+gentleman, as he locked up the bag of money in his desk; "if at any
+time I can be of use to you, you may command me."
+
+"I thank you, Sir," replied I, "I may by-and-by have to ask you to
+exert your influence in behalf of my brother, that he may obtain the
+command of one of the king's ships, and if you can help me, I shall be
+most grateful."
+
+"Depend upon it I will," replied he, "and I beg you will use no
+ceremony on making the application."
+
+He then shook hands with me, and I went home. Dinner was over when I
+came back, but the hostess had put away some victuals for me, and
+while I was eating them, I gave them an account of my success, handing
+their warrants to Captain Levee and Philip. They could hardly credit
+me, even when the documents were in their hands, but pledging them to
+secrecy, I told them by what means I had been so successful. Whereupon
+they thanked me, and we then went out to procure the uniforms suitable
+to their respective ranks, and this occupied us till the evening, when
+we agreed to go to the cockpit and see the fights between the various
+animals, with which Philip particularly was much delighted. As we had
+nothing to detain us in London, and it was necessary that the Arrow
+should immediately run round to the Nore, we determined, as the
+uniforms were to be ready on the following day, that the day after
+that we would return to Liverpool.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+    We return to Liverpool--I have an interview with Miss
+    Trevannion--Plutus interferes with Cupid, and I sail
+    again for the coast of Africa.
+
+
+We set off and arrived at Liverpool, without accident, late on the
+sixth night, when we repaired to our usual lodgings. The next day I
+called to tell Mr. Trevannion that I had returned, and was informed by
+Humphrey that he was quite strong again, and very anxious to see me,
+although he had no idea that I should return so soon. Humphrey went up
+to announce my arrival, and Mr. Trevannion admitted me immediately,
+although he was not yet out of bed.
+
+"I fear that you have not been successful," said he, as he took my
+hand.
+
+"On the contrary, Sir, I have succeeded in every thing," and I then
+gave him an account of what had happened.
+
+"Well," replied he, "I am very glad of it, and recollect I must be at
+the expense, as, without you had incurred it, the schooner would not,
+in all probability, have been hired. And now I want to consult with
+you about something else. Here is a letter from Captain Irving, of the
+Amy, brought home by the Chester Lass."
+
+These were two vessels employed on the Gold Coast, which belonged to
+Mr. Trevannion.
+
+"Read it," said Mr. Trevannion, "and give me your opinion."
+
+I did so: Captain Irving stated that he had pushed the two vessels up
+a small river on the coast, which he had not known of before, and had
+fallen in with a black ruler, who had never yet treated with the
+English; but only with the Spaniards, for slaves. That his English
+commodities were quite new to the natives, and that, in consequence,
+he had made a most fortunate traffic with them, and had loaded a
+vessel with ivory, wax, and gold-dust to the amount of 1,000 pounds,
+and that he had sent the Chester Lass, remaining himself, to continue
+the barter before it was known to the other ships on the coast, which
+it would soon be. He continued, that he had not sufficient of the
+articles which were most valued by the natives, and requested that Mr.
+Trevannion would immediately despatch another vessel with various
+goods enumerated, and that then he should be able to fill his own
+vessel as well as the one that he had despatched home; that the river
+was in such a latitude, and the mouth difficult to discover; that he
+sent a little sketch of the coast, which would facilitate the
+discovery--but that no time was to be lost, as the sickly season was
+coming on, and it was very unhealthy at that time.
+
+As I folded up the letter, Mr. Trevannion said,
+
+"Now, here is an invoice of the whole cargo sent home by the Chester
+Lass. I reckon it worth about 7,000_l._"
+
+I looked over the invoice, and agreed with Mr. Trevannion, that it was
+well worth that, if not more.
+
+"This is most important, you will acknowledge, Musgrave," said Mr.
+Trevannion; "but before I go any further, I trust that, now the only
+difficulty is got over, you will not refuse to be my partner; the only
+difference I intend to make is, that I now offer you one-fourth
+instead of one-eighth. Silence gives consent," continued Mr.
+Trevannion, as I did not immediately reply.
+
+"I was so astonished at your munificent offer, Sir, that I could not
+well speak."
+
+"Then it's agreed; so say no more about it," said Mr. Trevannion,
+taking me by the hand, and pressing it warmly--"and now to business.
+My idea is, to sent out the Sparrow-Hawk, being so fast a sailer. Of
+course, as a privateer, she has done her work; and as the government
+wish the complement of the Arrow to be increased, I think we cannot do
+better than to fill her up with some of the Sparrow-Hawk's men,
+leaving about twenty-five on board of her, and sending her out as soon
+as possible to the coast, with the articles which Captain Irving
+requests."
+
+"I agree with you, Sir, that it will be the best plan."
+
+"But whom to send is the difficulty," said Mr. Trevannion. "Captain
+Paul, of the Chester Lass, is very ill, and not likely to be out of
+bed for some time; and even if he were well, I have no opinion of him
+in an affair of this moment. If, as Captain Irving says, he can fill
+the Amy, her cargo will be worth three times that of the Chester Lass;
+but, of course, the destination of the Sparrow-Hawk must be a secret,
+and I do not know whom to intrust her to. We require some one in whom
+we can put confidence."
+
+"I agree with you, Sir," replied I; "and, if you have no objection, I
+think that the best plan will be for me to go myself; I shall be back
+again in ten weeks at the furthest."
+
+"Well, as you will now have a strong interest in it, I really think so
+too. In fact, I don't know whom else we can trust."
+
+"I agree with you, Sir, and I will go myself, and I think the sooner
+the better; but I do not know whether we can obtain all the goods
+requisite immediately."
+
+"We can have them in five or six days," replied Mr. Trevannion; "I
+sent Humphrey out to make inquiry."
+
+"At all events, I must look to them myself; and there are many other
+things to manage, so I had better wish you a good morning now, Mr.
+Trevannion, and in the evening I will call again, and let you know
+what I have done."
+
+"Do so," said he, and I then took my leave.
+
+I certainly was very much astonished as well as much pleased at Mr.
+Trevannion's liberality relative to the partnership, and I could now
+look forward to competency in a few years at the furthest. Certainly,
+if Mr. Trevannion had been hasty in his conduct towards me, he had
+made most noble reparation. I first returned to the lodgings and told
+Captain Levee and Philip what had passed; they immediately proposed
+that we should all go together on board the Sparrow-Hawk, that I might
+make my arrangements, and that they might persuade some of the men to
+join the Arrow. I first picked out the men I wished to sail with me;
+and then they talked over the rest, who that evening went on shore for
+their wages, and the next morning joined the Arrow, as Captain Levee
+was anxious to get round to the Nore. The day after the men joined,
+the Arrow sailed, which I was not sorry for, as it left me more at
+leisure to expedite my own affairs. Philip promised to be my
+correspondent, and I bade them both farewell with regret. I called in
+the evening, as I had promised, upon Mr. Trevannion, and he then gave
+me the deed of partnership, signed and dated the day when he first
+made the offer, and we had quarrelled; but I did not see Miss
+Trevannion; much to my regret, her father said that she was ailing.
+The business I had to transact, and fitting out the Sparrow-Hawk, so
+completely occupied me, that it was now three days that I had been at
+Liverpool without having seen her, and I was much annoyed at it, as I
+had called every day. My feelings towards her were now stronger than
+before. She was never out of my thoughts, and I hardly know how it was
+that I transacted business as I did. This evening I was determined, if
+possible, that I would see her, and find out why she avoided me, as it
+appeared to me that she did. When I called, therefore, I did not ask
+to see her father, but told Humphrey to find out where Miss Trevannion
+was, and say that I requested to speak with her. Humphrey returned,
+and said that she was in the sitting-room, to which I instantly
+repaired.
+
+"I am fearful, that I have given you some unintentional cause of
+displeasure, Miss Trevannion," said I, as I entered, "for you have
+appeared to avoid me since my return."
+
+"Indeed, Mr. Musgrave, I have not," replied she; "I was most anxious
+to see you, and have thought it very unpolite, I may add, unkind, on
+your part not to have come to me."
+
+"I have been in the house every day, and sometimes twice a-day, with
+your father, Miss Trevannion, and have never met you. Once I inquired
+for you, and your father told me you were unwell, whereas Humphrey had
+but five minutes before told me that you were well and in good
+spirits."
+
+"Humphrey told the truth, and so did my father. I was in good health
+and spirits, and in five minutes afterwards I was ill and unhappy."
+
+"I trust I was no party to it, Miss Trevannion."
+
+"You were a party to it, but not the great offender, who was my
+father. He had told me that upon your return he had installed you as
+his partner, and had done you the justice you had deserved; and then
+he told me that you were going out to the coast of Africa in the
+Sparrow-Hawk."
+
+"It is very true, Miss Trevannion; but where is the offence?"
+
+"The offence is this: my father no sooner does you justice than he
+wants more ivory and gold-dust, having more than enough already; but I
+told him it was as bad as privateering, for in either case he sends
+people out to sacrifice their lives, that he may gain more money. I
+have no patience with this foolish pursuit of wealth."
+
+"After all your father's kindness to me, Miss Trevannion, I could do
+no less than accept the offer."
+
+"You would have been more wise and more just to yourself to have
+refused it, Mr. Musgrave. I read the letters to my father when they
+arrived, and you know what Captain Irving says about the unhealthiness
+of the climate. You have been my father's best friend, and he should
+not have treated you thus."
+
+"I never did value life, Miss Trevannion; but really the kind interest
+you have expressed on this occasion makes me feel as if my poor life
+was of some value. To one who has been such a football of fortune as I
+have been, and who has hardly, known a kind feeling towards him ever
+expressed, it is a gratification that I really appreciate, and coming
+from one whom I respect and esteem more than any other person in the
+world, it quite overpowers me. Indeed, Miss Trevannion, I am truly
+grateful."
+
+I was correct when I said that it overpowered me, for it did
+completely, and I was so oppressed by my feelings, that I reeled to a
+chair, and covered up my face with my hands. What would I have given
+to have dared to state what I felt!
+
+"You are ill, Mr. Musgrave," said Miss Trevannion, coming to me. "Can
+I offer you any thing?"
+
+I made no reply; I could not speak.
+
+"Mr. Musgrave," said Miss Trevannion, taking my hand, "you frighten
+me. What is the matter? Shall I call Humphrey?"
+
+I felt her hand tremble in mine, and, uncertain what to think, I came
+to the resolution to make the avowal.
+
+"Miss Trevannion," said I, after a pause, and rising from my chair, "I
+feel that this internal conflict is too great for me, and if it lasts
+it must kill me. I give you my honour that I have for months tried
+every thing in my power to curb my desires and to persuade myself of
+my folly and rash ambition, but I cannot do so any longer. It were
+better that I knew my fate at once, even if my sentence should be my
+death. You will ridicule my folly, be surprised at my presumption,
+and, in all probability, spurn me for the avowal, but make it I must.
+Miss Trevannion, I have dared--to love you; I have but one excuse to
+offer, which is, that I have been more than a year in your company,
+and it is impossible for any one not to love one so pure, so
+beautiful, and so good. I would have postponed this avowal till I was
+able to resume my position in society, by the means which industry
+might have afforded me; but my departure upon this business, and the
+kind of presentiment which I have, that I may not see you again, has
+forced it from me. In a few days I leave you--be gentle with me for my
+involuntary offence--pity me while you condemn, and I will return no
+more."
+
+Miss Trevannion did not reply; she breathed quick, and stood
+motionless. I gathered courage; I looked in her face, there was no
+displeasure--I approached her, she was half-fainting, and put her hand
+upon my shoulder to steady herself. I put my arm round her waist; and
+led her to the sofa, and knelt at her feet, watching every change in
+her beautiful countenance. I took her hand and pressed it to my lips;
+by degrees I became more bold, and got by her side, and pressed her to
+my heart. She burst into tears, and wept with her head on my bosom.
+
+"Do not be angry with me," said I, after a time.
+
+"Do I appear as if I was angry with you?" replied she, raising her
+head.
+
+"Oh, no; but I cannot believe my happiness to be real. It must be a
+dream."
+
+"What is life but a dream?" replied she mournfully. "Oh, the coast of
+Africa! How I dread it!"
+
+And so I confess did I from that moment; I had a presentiment, as I
+had told her, that something would go wrong, and I could not get over
+the feeling.
+
+I shall no longer dwell upon what took place on that delightful
+evening, Madam; suffice to say, that Miss Trevannion and I were
+mutually pledged, and, after an exchange of thought and feeling, we
+parted, and when we did part I pressed those dear lips to mine. I went
+home reeling with excitement, and hastened to bed, that I might have
+unrestrained freedom of thought. I enacted the scene of the evening
+over and over again; recalled each motion, each look, every word which
+had passed, and, defying fever and presentiment of evil, imagined also
+our happy meeting to part no more. It was long before I could compose
+myself to sleep, and when I did, I need not say who it was who
+occupied my dreams. I called as soon as I could venture so to do on
+the following day, and had a long interview with my dear Amy. Before I
+went up to her father, I tried to soothe her anxiety upon my
+approaching voyage, and to persuade her that there was little or no
+danger to be apprehended in so short a stay. Willingly would I have
+given it up, but Mr. Trevannion had so set his mind upon it, and I
+had, by my consent, rendered it so impossible for him to find a
+substitute in time, that I could not do so, and I persuaded Miss
+Trevannion that I was right in acting to my promise. One question that
+came forward was, whether we should make known our engagement to her
+father at once, and this was decided in the negative. Much as he
+liked me, he was not yet prepared to receive me so suddenly as a
+son-in-law, and Amy was of opinion that the communication had better
+be postponed. To this, of course, I gave a willing assent. I was
+satisfied with the knowledge of her affection, which I felt would
+never change. As I was talking with her father, after my interview
+with Amy, he said:
+
+"Really, Elrington, or Musgrave, I hardly know which to call you."
+
+"Musgrave is my real name, Sir," replied I.
+
+"Musgrave--Musgrave--where did I know a Musgrave?"
+
+"We are from the north," replied I.
+
+"Well," said he, "I was going to say, that I really wish I could find
+some one else to take your place in this voyage, for I do not much
+like your going."
+
+"Do, my dear father," said Miss Trevannion, who was standing by him.
+
+"Hey! Miss Amy, what have you to do with it, I should like to know,
+and how can it concern you whether Mr. Musgrave goes or not?"
+
+"I said so, Sir, because I know how you will feel his loss for so long
+a period. You know how you did feel his loss before, and I do not wish
+to see you working so hard, as you will have to do it without his
+assistance."
+
+"Well, that's kindly thought, Amy, at all events; but still I fear
+that Mr. Musgrave must go, and I must work by myself till he comes
+back; so it's no use saying any more about it."
+
+Amy sighed and made no reply. On the third day after this interview,
+every thing was ready, and on the following morning I was to sail. Mr.
+Trevannion had so many directions to give, and kept me so wholly with
+him, that I could hardly find time to speak to his daughter. However,
+it was agreed that as I was to sail at daylight, that she would see me
+after her father had gone to bed. Our meeting took place--need I say
+that it was a tender one. We renewed our vows over and over again, and
+it was not till past midnight that I tore myself away. Old Humphrey
+looked very knowingly at me when he let me out of the street-door. I
+slipped a guinea in his hand and wished him good-bye. I hastened on
+board of the Sparrow-Hawk, and desiring to be called before daylight,
+went down into the cabin. There I remained sitting at the table, and
+thinking of Amy so long, that when the mate came down to wake me, he
+found that I was still sitting there, having never been to bed during
+the whole of the night.
+
+I started from my reverie and hastened on deck to get the schooner
+under weigh. It was soon done, although we were, comparatively
+speaking, short-handed. There was a fine breeze, and lightened as she
+now was, the little vessel flew through the water. Liverpool was soon
+out of sight, and we were dashing down the Irish Channel.
+
+"She sails well, now," said I to the second mate, a very clever man,
+and much better educated than most seamen, for he could navigate, as
+well as being a first-rate seaman.
+
+"Yes, Sir," replied Olivarez, "she walks fast. She is not too deep
+now," replied he; "what a slaver she would make."
+
+This man was not an Englishman, but a Brazilian Portuguese by birth,
+although he had long been out of his country. Having set her course, I
+went down below, that I might indulge in my castle-building more at my
+ease. The wind increased to a gale, but as it was from the northward,
+and bore us to our destination, it was welcomed. We soon crossed the
+Bay of Biscay, and were in more genial latitudes; and, after a rapid
+run of about four weeks, I found myself nearly in the latitude given
+to us of the river where the Amy was at anchor. I then hauled in for
+the shore, which was very low, and required being approached with
+caution. We saw some towering palmtrees at sunset, and then we hove
+to; the next day we again stood in, and having ascertained our exact
+latitude at noon, we found ourselves about four miles to the northward
+of the river's mouth. We shaped a course, and in two hours I made out
+the marks given for our guidance in the rough sketch of Captain
+Irving, and thus satisfied that I was right, ran directly for the
+mouth of the river. Captain Irving was correct in saying it was
+difficult, for it was not until we were within a mile that we could
+find any opening; but at last we did, and at the same time perceived
+the mast of two vessels at some distance up the river. We stood in,
+and found that there was no bar at the river mouth, which was a very
+unusual circumstance on this coast. The soundings were gradual, and in
+an hour afterwards we anchored between the Amy and a fine schooner
+under British colours. Captain Irving recognized the Sparrow-Hawk, and
+immediately came on board. After the usual salutations, he told me
+that his vessel was half-laden, but that he waited for the articles he
+had sent for to enable him to complete his cargo. I told him that I
+had them on board, and he should have them as soon as he sent his
+boats. He stated that no vessels, except those engaged in the
+slave-trade, had ever come into this river, and that they only brought
+the cloth and other articles usual in the trade; but that his assorted
+cargo had astonished the people, and they were wild to possess things
+which they had never before seen. They had offered slaves in
+quantities, but finding that he would not take them in exchange, they
+had now brought down ivory and gold-dust. He told me how glad he was
+that I had come, as the river was very sickly, and was becoming more
+and more so every day; that out of twelve men he had already four down
+with fever.
+
+I inquired of him what that vessel was on the other side of us. He
+replied it was a Liverpool slave-trader, and that the captain appeared
+to be a very good sort of man; that he never indulged in liquor, nor
+was given to profane language.
+
+A few minutes afterwards the captain of the slaver came on board to
+pay his respects, and I asked him down in the cabin, and gave him beer
+and cheese, the two greatest luxuries in those climes. He appeared, as
+Captain Irving stated, a very quiet, well-behaved, serious person,
+which I was rather surprised at. When we repaired on deck, I observed,
+as the vessel was close to us, that there were two very large dogs on
+board, who, at the sight of the captain, bayed furiously. He told me
+that they were Cuba bloodhounds, and that he never went on shore
+without them, as they were the most faithful and courageous animals,
+and he considered that he was safer with them than with half a dozen
+armed men. Shortly afterwards Captain Irving and he both took leave.
+As there were still some hours of daylight, Captain Irving sent his
+boats for the goods, and after that, as the evening fell, I went down
+below, as Captain Irving requested I would do, and by no means remain
+on deck after sun-down, as it was extremely unhealthy.
+
+On the following day Captain Irving went on shore with his goods and
+trafficked most favourably. Indeed, as we afterwards found out, he had
+procured in exchange more ivory than his vessel would hold, besides
+much gold-dust. The day after I went on shore with Captain Irving to
+call upon the king, as he called himself. He was seated in front of a
+hut made of palmetto leaves, with a lace coat on, but no other garment
+whatever, so that he made a curious appearance. After a little
+conversation, I went away, and hearing that the slaver was taking her
+cargo on board, about a hundred yards further up, I walked in that
+direction. The slaves were brought down in about twenty at a time, all
+of them fastened by the neck to a long bamboo pole, which confined
+them all together. One string of them had been sent down and put in
+the boat, and another was standing ready for embarkation; when as I
+cast my eyes over them and commiserated their misery, I observed a
+female whom I thought I had seen before. I looked again, and behold!
+is was Whyna, the princess who had been so kind to me in my captivity.
+I went up to her and touched her on the shoulder. She turned round, as
+well as the lashing to the pole would permit her, and on seeing me
+gave a faint scream. Without ceremony I took out my knife and released
+her, and led her away. She fell down at my feet and kissed them. The
+black man who had charge of the delivery of the slaves was very angry,
+and ran up to me, brandishing his long stick; but the captain of the
+schooner, who was on shore, and who had witnessed what I had done,
+saluted him with a kick in the stomach, which made him quiet enough.
+In few words I told the captain of the slaver that I was once in
+captivity, and this woman had befriended me, requesting him to name
+his price and I would willingly pay it.
+
+"It's not worth mentioning, Sir," replied he; "women are as cheap as
+dirt; take her and welcome."
+
+"Not so," replied I; "I must pay her ransom."
+
+"Well then, Sir," said he, "I am in great want of a telescope; you
+have one on board, will you let me have it?"
+
+"Most certainly," replied I, "and many thanks into the bargain."
+
+I lifted up the poor creature, who was sadly emaciated and weak, and
+led her to the boat of the Amy and put her in. Captain Irving came
+down, and we returned on board. It was with great difficulty that,
+after I had given the poor creature some refreshment, which she was
+really in need of, I could recollect sufficient of her language to
+make myself understood by her; but by degrees words came to my memory,
+and as she spoke I recovered more. As well as I could make her out,
+the warriors had risen against the king on account of his barbarity,
+and had cut him to pieces; and that all his wives and servants had
+been sold as slaves. I promised her that she should not be a slave,
+but should come to my country and be taken care of.
+
+She kissed my hands, and as she smiled her thanks, she reminded me of
+the Whyna of former times. I did not, however, think it advisable that
+she should come on board of the schooner, and I requested Captain
+Irving to take charge of her, and let her want for nothing, telling
+him that I intended that she should go home in his vessel. He
+willingly consented, and I hailed the schooner for a boat and went on
+deck. Whyna followed, but I told her I was obliged to go on board of
+the schooner, and that she had better go and lie down. As she probably
+thought that the Amy was my vessel, and that I was going away on a
+visit, she complied with my request, and went down with Captain
+Irving, who led her into a state-room which was not occupied.
+
+As soon as I arrived on board the schooner, I sent the telescope which
+the captain of the slaver had begged for. Whyna had said to me, "I
+shall be your slave now," evidently expecting that she was to remain
+with me, but that I could not consent to. Miss Trevannion had heard
+from me my adventures when in captivity, and I would not on that
+account allow Whyna to be in the same vessel with me. The next day
+Captain Irving came on board to tell me that he had two more men down
+with the fever, and that he wished I could give them some assistance
+in getting his cargo on board, which I did, and before night the Amy
+was loaded up to the hatchways, and there still remained a considerate
+number of elephants' teeth on shore in the hut where he received them.
+I therefore determined, as his crew were evidently sickening fast,
+that he should sail immediately, and that I would take the remainder
+of the ivory on board of the schooner and follow him, giving him a
+rendezvous to wait at until I joined him, that we might proceed home
+in company. That night three of my men were ill.
+
+I was on board of the Amy, and had been talking with Whyna, who wanted
+to know why I did not sleep on board of the vessel. I told her that I
+could not, but that we were to go to England directly, and that I was
+living on board of the schooner. Captain Irving weighed at daybreak,
+and in an hour was out of the river, and as I was as anxious to be
+clear of such an unhealthy spot, I manned my boats and went on shore
+for the ivory that was left. I found that it would take the whole of
+the day to embark it, as we had to go two miles further up the river
+than the depth of water would permit the vessel to do; for the ivory
+was in a hut close to the king's house. I had sent off four
+boat-loads, and it being then noon, I went off with the fifth myself,
+that I might get my dinner, leaving the second mate to attend on
+shore, and taking with me the first mate who messed in the cabin. As
+we were in the middle of the stream, the boat struck against a stump
+of a tree, as we supposed, and knocked so large a hole in the bow that
+she began to fill. I immediately ordered the men to pull for the
+nearest point, which was on the opposite side of the river, that we
+might ground the boat to prevent her sinking.
+
+The first mate, who was a very active man, finding that the elephants'
+teeth prevented his reaching the bow of the boat, and stuffing into it
+some oakum which he had found in the stern sheets, sounded with the
+boat-hook, and finding that there was not more than three feet of
+water where we were pulling, jumped over the bows to push the oakum
+into the hole; but the poor fellow had not been a few seconds in the
+water, when he gave a shriek, and we perceived that a large shark had
+snapped him in two. This was a sad mishap, and the men, terrified,
+pulled as hard as they could, while two of them baled out the boat, to
+gain the shore, for we knew what fate awaited us if we sunk in the
+river. With great exertion we succeeded, running her up among the
+canes, with grew on that side of the river so thick that it was
+difficult to force your way through them.
+
+We landed up to our knees in mud, and, throwing out the ivory, we
+found that a whole plank was rent out, and that it was impossible to
+repair our boat; and we were hidden by the canes from those who could
+have assisted us, had they known that we required their assistance,
+and we had no possible means of communication. At last I thought that
+if I could force my way through the canes to the point down the river,
+I could hail and make signals for assistance; and, desiring the men to
+remain by the boat, I set off upon my expedition. At first I got on
+pretty well, as there were little paths through the canes, made, as I
+imagined, by the natives; and, although I was often up to my knees in
+thick black mud, I continued to get on pretty fast; but at last the
+canes grew so thick that I could hardly force my way through them, and
+it was a work of excessive labour. Still I persevered, expecting each
+second that I should arrive at the banks of the river, and be rewarded
+for my fatigue; but the more I laboured the worse it appeared to be,
+and at last I became worn out with fatigue, and quite bewildered. I
+then tried to find my way back, and was equally unsuccessful, and I
+sat down with any thing but pleasant thoughts in my mind. I calculated
+that I had been two hours in making this attempt, and was now quite
+puzzled how to proceed. I bitterly lamented my rashness, now that it
+was too late.
+
+Having reposed a little, I resumed my toil, and was again, after an
+hour's exertion, compelled, from fatigue, to sit down in the deep
+black mud. Another respite from toil, and another hour or more of
+exertion, and I gave myself up for lost. The day was evidently fast
+closing in--the light overhead was not near so bright as it had been;
+and I knew that a night passed in the miasma of the cane was death. At
+last it became darker and darker. There could not be an hour of
+daylight remaining. I determined upon one more struggle, and, reeking
+as I was with perspiration and faint with fatigue, I rose again, and
+was forcing my way through the thickest of the canes, when I heard a
+deep growl, and perceived a large panther not twenty yards from me. It
+was on the move as well as I was, attempting to force his way through
+the canes, so as to come to me. I retreated from him as fast as I
+could, but he gained slowly on me, and my strength was fast
+exhausting. I thought I heard sounds at a distance, and they became
+more and more distinct, but what they were, my fear and my struggles
+probably prevented me from making out. My eyes were fixed upon the
+fierce animal which was in pursuit of me, and I now thanked God that
+the canes were so thick and impassable; still the animal evidently
+gained ground--until it was not more than five yards from me, dashing
+and springing at the canes, and tearing them aside with his teeth.
+
+The sounds were now nearer, and I made them out to be the howling of
+other animals. A moment's pause, and I thought it was the baying of
+dogs; and I then thought that I must have arrived close to where the
+schooner was, and that I heard the baying of the bloodhounds. At last
+I could do no more, and I dropped, exhausted and almost senseless, in
+the mud. I recollect hearing the crashing of the canes, and then a
+savage roar, and then yells, and growls, and struggles, and fierce
+contention--but I had fainted.
+
+I must now inform the reader that about an hour after I had left the
+boat the captain of the slaver was pulling up the river, and was
+hailed by our men in our long-boat. Perceiving them on shore on that
+side of the river, and that they were in distress, he pulled towards
+them, and they told him what had happened, and that an hour previous I
+had left the boat to force my way through the cane-brakes, and they
+had heard nothing of me since.
+
+"Madness!" cried he. "He is a lost man. Stay till I come back from the
+schooner."
+
+He went back to the schooner, and taking two of his crew, who were
+negroes, and his two bloodhounds, into the boat, he returned
+immediately, and as soon as he landed he put the bloodhounds on my
+track, and sent the negroes on with them. They had followed me in all
+my windings, for it appeared that I had travelled in every direction,
+and had come up with me just as I had sunk with exhaustion, and the
+panther was so close upon me. The bloodhounds had attacked the
+panther, and this was the noise which sounded in my ears, as I lay
+stupified and at the mercy of the wild beast. The panther was not
+easily, although eventually, overcome, and the black men coming up,
+had found me and borne me in a state of insensibility on board of the
+Sparrow-Hawk. The fever had come on me, and it was not till three
+weeks afterwards that I recovered my senses, when I learnt what I have
+now told the reader, and much more, with which I am about to make him
+acquainted.
+
+When I recovered my senses, I found myself in the cabin of the
+Sparrow-Hawk. For some hours I was confused and wandering, but I
+rallied from time to time, till I could at last recognize the beams
+and carlines over my head. I was too weak to move, and I continued to
+lie on my back till I again fell asleep; how long I do not know, but
+it must have been for many hours, and then when I awoke I found myself
+much stronger.
+
+I could now turn on my bed, and doing so I perceived a young man of
+the name of Ingram by my side in a doze, with his eyes shut. I called
+him in a faint voice, and he started up.
+
+"I have been very ill," said I, "have I not?"
+
+"Yes, Sir, indeed you have."
+
+"I have been trying to recollect all about it, but I cannot as yet."
+
+"It's not worth remembering, Sir," replied he. "Do you wish any thing
+to drink?"
+
+"No," replied I.
+
+"Then you had better go to sleep again."
+
+"I cannot do that. I feel as if I should like to get up. Where is Mr.
+Thompson? I must see him."
+
+"Mr. Thompson, Sir," replied he; "don't you recollect?"
+
+"What?"
+
+"Why, Sir, he was bitten in two by a shark."
+
+"Shark!" this was the key-note required, and my memory returned.
+"Yes, yes, I recollect now all, all. I recollect the panther and the
+cane-brakes. How was I preserved?"
+
+"The bloodhounds killed the panther, and you were brought on board
+insensible, and have been in a raging fever ever since."
+
+"It must be so," replied I, collecting my senses after a few moments
+of thought. "It must be so. How long have I been ill?"
+
+"This is the twenty-first day."
+
+"The twenty-first day!" cried I. "Is it possible? Are none of the men
+ill?"
+
+"No, Sir, they are all well."
+
+"But I hear the water against the bends. Are we not still at anchor?"
+
+"No, Sir, the second mate got the schooner under weigh as he found you
+were so ill."
+
+"And I have been ill twenty-one days. Why we must be near home?"
+
+"We expect to make the land in a few days, Sir," replied Ingram.
+
+"Thank Heaven for all its mercies," said I. "I never expected to see
+old England again. But what a bad smell there is. What can it be?"
+
+"I suppose it is the bilge-water, Sir," replied Ingram. "People who
+are ill and weak always are annoyed by it; but I think, Sir, if you
+would take a little gruel, and then go to sleep again, it would be
+better."
+
+"Well, I fear I am not very strong, and talking so much has done me no
+good. I think I could take a little gruel."
+
+"Then, Sir, I'll go and get some made, and be back very soon."
+
+"Do, Ingram, and tell Mr. Olivarez, the second mate, that I would
+speak to him."
+
+"Yes, I will," replied the man, and he left the state-room.
+
+I waited some time listening for the arrival of the second mate, and
+then I thought that I heard odd noises in the hold before the
+bulk-head of the state-room in which I was lying, but I was still very
+weak, and my head swam. After a time Ingram came down with the gruel,
+into which he put some sugar and a spoonful of rum, to flavour it, as
+he said. He offered it to me, and I drank it all, for I had an
+appetite; but whether it was that I was very weak, or the rum he put
+in was more than he said, it is certain that I had hardly given him
+back the basin than I felt so drowsy that I turned away from him, and
+was soon again in forgetfulness.
+
+This Ingram was a young man who had been apprenticed to an apothecary,
+and had taken to the sea. He was well educated, and a very merry
+fellow, and I had chosen him as one who could attend upon me in the
+cabin, and at the same time be otherwise useful if required, as he was
+a very good seaman, and very active. When I awoke again I felt
+convinced that I must have slept through the night, as it was broad
+daylight, as before, but Ingram was not by my bed-side. There was no
+bell in the state-room, and I was obliged to await his coming. I felt
+much stronger than the day before, and now proposed getting out of bed
+as soon as Ingram should come down into the cabin. I now remembered
+that the second mate had not come down to me, and heard noises and
+murmurings in the hold as I had the day previous, which surprised me,
+and I became more anxious for the return of Ingram. At last he came,
+and I told him that I had been awake more than an hour.
+
+"How do you feel yourself, Sir?" said he.
+
+"Quite strong. I should like to get up and dress. Perhaps I may be
+able to get on deck for a quarter of an hour."
+
+"I think," replied he, "that you had better wait, and hear what I have
+to tell you, Sir. I would not tell you yesterday, because I thought it
+would be too much for you; but as I see you are really better to-day,
+I must say that I have strange things to tell you."
+
+"Indeed!" cried I, with surprise. "Strange things. By the bye, why did
+not Olivarez come to me yesterday?"
+
+"I will explain all to you, Sir, if you will lie down and listen to
+what I have to say, and take the news quietly."
+
+"Very well, Ingram, I will do so. Now pray go on."
+
+"You were brought on board in a state of fever and insensibility by
+the captain of the slaver. He said, as he lifted you over the side,
+that you were a dead man. We all thought the same, and you were taken
+down into the cabin with that persuasion on the part of the whole
+crew. Your delirium and fever increased, and every hour it was
+expected that you would give up the ghost. Now, Sir, two days
+afterwards the slaver sailed with his cargo, and we were left alone in
+the river. Olivarez, who of course commanded, talked to the men. He
+said that you were as good as dead already, and that he thought that
+this was a fair opportunity for their making money. He proposed that
+the ivory still on shore should be changed for slaves, which he said
+the negroes would gladly do, and that we should run with our cargo to
+the Brazils. He said that it was useless our remaining in the river,
+as we should all lose our lives in the same way that you had done, and
+that he thought, as commanding the schooner, he knew what would best
+please the owner, who had long employed vessels in the slave-trade,
+and would not be sorry to find that we had run a cargo, and would
+reward them all liberally. That this would be an excuse to leave the
+river immediately, whereas otherwise they would have to wait till you
+recovered or died, and by that time they might half of them be dead
+themselves. Do you understand me, Sir?"
+
+"Yes, perfectly. Go on, Ingram."
+
+"Well, Sir, the men did not perceive what he was about, and replied
+that so long as they left the river they did not care how soon, and
+that it was better that we should take a cargo of slaves at all
+events, for Olivarez was in command now, and they should do as he
+ordered them. I made no reply, indeed Olivarez never put the question
+to me. Well, Sir, the ivory was soon exchanged for slaves, who are now
+on board, and it is the slaves whom you have smelt and complained of.
+We received on board 140, and provisions sufficient with what we had,
+and having taken in all the water we could below and on deck, we made
+sail out of the river, and have since steered for the Brazils."
+
+"But Olivarez has taken a most unwarrantable responsibility," said I;
+"and one that he shall answer for."
+
+"Stop, Sir," replied Ingram, "you have only heard the first part of
+the story. When we had been three days at sea, Olivarez, who had been
+talking to the men, one by one and apart, called them together, and
+said, it was an opportunity not to be lost, that they had possession
+of the vessel, and the owner would never have a clue to where she had
+gone, and that now was the time to take possession of her for
+themselves, and employ her in the slave-trade on their own account.
+That, sailing so fast, nothing could overhaul her or board her, and,
+therefore, they were free from danger. He then proposed that he should
+command and navigate, and receive one-half of the profits, and that
+the other half should be divided among the crew--the expense of the
+provisions, &c. being paid out of it previous to their sharing and
+making a calculation, he showed them that every voyage would be worth
+about 100_l._ a-man after all expenses were paid. The crew consented
+at once to the terms--all but me; and when he asked me, my answer was,
+that I would consent to nothing while you were yet alive. I said that,
+because I was afraid that they would murder me, or throw me
+overboard."
+
+"Go on, Ingram; go on, and let me hear it all at once."
+
+"'Then you will soon be freed from your difficulty,' said Olivarez.
+
+"'I do not know that, Sir,' I replied, 'for I think Mr. Musgrave may
+get over it.'
+
+"'Indeed,' he returned, 'well, then, so much the worse for him.'
+
+"As he, Olivarez, said this, the whole of the crew, to do them
+justice, cried out, that there should be no murder, for if there was,
+they not only would have nothing to do with the affair, but would make
+it known at the first port to which they came. That you had always
+been a kind, good officer, and were too brave a man to die in that
+way.
+
+"'Well, my men,' said Olivarez, 'I never had an idea of the kind, and
+I promise you, if he lives through it, there shall be no murder; I
+will put him on shore at the first port we arrive at, but in such a
+way as to secure our safety--that we must look to.'
+
+"The men said, that that was all right, and then they all agreed to
+join him.
+
+"'And you, Ingram,' said Olivarez, 'what do you say?'
+
+"'What I said before,' I replied; 'that as long as Mr. Musgrave lives
+I will come to no agreement whatever.'
+
+"'Well,' said Olivarez, 'it is but postponing your decision; I know
+that you will join us. So now, my lads, as we're all agreed, we may as
+well go to dinner.'"
+
+"The scoundrel shall pay for this," cried I.
+
+"Hush, Sir, hush, I pray; say nothing, but wait patiently and see what
+turns up. We are not yet at Rio, and when we are, we may be able to do
+something, but every thing depends upon keeping quiet, for if the men
+become alarmed, they may be persuaded to kill you to save themselves."
+
+"That is very true, Ingram," replied I. "Leave me now for half an
+hour, I wish to be alone."
+
+You may imagine, my dear Madam, my agitation at hearing this
+intelligence. I who had thought that I was within a few days' sail of
+Liverpool, to be there received by my cherished Amy, to find myself in
+the hands of pirates, and close to the Brazils with a cargo of slaves;
+which they, or rather Olivarez, had taken in the vessel to Rio that he
+might not be discovered, for he might have found a better mart for his
+live cargo. And then what would be the anxiety of Amy and her father
+when I was not heard of? It would be supposed that the schooner was
+upset in a squall, and all hands had perished. Excited and angry as I
+was, I felt the truth of what Ingram said, and that it was necessary
+to be quiet. Perhaps I might by that means not only preserve my life,
+but again find myself in my own country. When Ingram returned, I asked
+him if Olivarez knew that I was better, and had recovered my reason.
+He replied that he did, but that he had told him I was so weak that I
+could hardly recover.
+
+"That is well," said I; "keep him in that belief as long as you can."
+
+He now offered me more gruel, which I took, and I believe that he put
+an opiate in it, for shortly after I had taken it, I again felt
+drowsy, and was soon fast asleep. I awoke sooner than before, for it
+was night, and I heard the voice of Olivarez on deck; from what I
+gathered, land was in sight, and I heard him order the schooner to be
+hove to. In the morning Ingram came down in the cabin, bringing me
+some breakfast, which I ate heartily, for I was recovering fast, and
+had become quite ravenous.
+
+"Land is in sight," said I.
+
+"Yes, Sir, it is; but we are many miles to the northward of Rio, I
+understand, for Olivarez knows the coast well. We shall not be in
+to-day, if we are to-morrow."
+
+"I feel quite strong now," replied I, "and I want to get up."
+
+"Do so, Sir," said he; "but if you hear any one coming down the
+ladder, get into bed again."
+
+With Ingram's assistance I dressed myself, and went into the cabin. I
+reeled as I walked, but as soon as I felt the cool breeze from the
+stern-ports, I was revived, and in an hour I could walk quite strong.
+
+"Have you heard any more?" inquired I of Ingram.
+
+"Olivarez asked me this morning how you were. I replied that you were
+recovering fast.
+
+"'Very well,' said he, 'you will share his fate, whatever it may be,
+since you have been so careful of him, and have put us in such a
+dilemma; but I'll contrive to dispose of you both.'
+
+"I made no reply, Sir, as I knew that would only irritate him."
+
+"You did right, Ingram; a few days will decide our fate. I do not
+think that he dares to murder us."
+
+"Nor do I think he wishes it, if he can be clear of us with safety to
+himself," replied Ingram.
+
+Two days more passed away, and then Ingram told me that we were a few
+miles from the town, and should soon be at anchor.
+
+"Go softly," replied I, "and tell me what is going on."
+
+He went up the ladder, but soon came down again, saying, "We are
+locked in, Sir."
+
+I was very much annoyed at this, but it could not be helped--our only
+remedy was patience; but I must confess that I was in a state of
+great anxiety. We heard the anchor let go, and boats came on board,
+after which all was silent for the night. The next morning we heard
+them open the hatches, and the slaves were ordered upon deck. The day
+was passed in landing them. I was ravenously hungry, and asked Ingram
+whether they intended to starve us. He went up the ladder to call for
+victuals, when he found on the upper step of the ladder a large vessel
+full of water and some cooked provisions, which had probably been put
+there during the night. There was enough to last two or three days.
+The next day passed and no one came near us, and I had some thoughts
+of dropping out of the stern-ports and attempting to swim on shore;
+but Ingram, who had put his head out of them as far as he could, told
+me that we must be at some distance from the shore, and there were
+several sharks playing round the stern, as is always the case with
+vessels laden with slaves.
+
+The next morning, however, put an end to our suspense, for the
+companion was unlocked, and Olivarez, accompanied by four Portuguese,
+came down into the cabin. He spoke to them in Portuguese, and they
+advanced, and seizing Ingram and me by the collar, led us up the
+ladder. I would have expostulated, but of course could not make myself
+understood. Olivarez, however, said,
+
+"Resistance is useless, Mr. Musgrave; all you have to do is to go
+quietly with these men. As soon as the schooner has sailed, you will
+be released."
+
+"Well," replied I, "it maybe so, Olivarez; but mark my words, you will
+repent this, and I shall see you on a gibbet."
+
+"I trust the wood is not yet out of the ground," replied he; "but I
+cannot waste any more words with you."
+
+He then spoke to the Portuguese, who appeared to be government
+officers of some kind, and they led us to the gangway; we went into
+the boat, and they pulled us to the shore.
+
+"Where can they be taking us, Ingram?" said I.
+
+"Heaven knows, Sir, but we shall find out."
+
+I attempted to speak to the officers, but they cried "_Silentio_,"
+which word I fully understood to mean "silence," and finding that I
+could not induce them to hear me, I said no more. We landed at a
+jetty, and were then led through the streets to a large square. On one
+side of it was a heavy building, to which they directed their steps.
+The door was opened for us, and we were led in. A paper was produced
+by our conductors, and was apparently copied into a book, after which
+they went away, leaving us with the people who had received us, and
+who, by their appearance, I knew to be gaolers.
+
+"Of what crime am I accused?" inquired I.
+
+No reply was given, but two of the subordinates took us away, unlocked
+a massive door, and thrust us into a large court-yard, full of men of
+every colour.
+
+"Well," said I, as the door closed upon us, "we are in gaol at all
+events; but the question now is, shall we be released as Olivarez had
+stated?"
+
+"It is hard to say," replied Ingram. "The question is, what gaol is
+this? Could we find any one who could speak English, we might
+discover."
+
+Several of those around us had come towards us to examine us, and then
+left us, when, as we were conversing, a negro came up, and hearing
+what we said, addressed us in English.
+
+"Massa want one to speak English--I speak English--some long while on
+board English vessel."
+
+"Well, then, my good fellow," said I, "can you tell us what this gaol
+is, and what prisoners are confined here for?"
+
+"Yes, massa, every body know that, suppose he live at Rio. This gaol
+for people that go dig diamonds."
+
+"How do you mean?"
+
+"Mean! massa--people sent here to work in diamond-mines all life long
+till they die. Keep 'em here till hab plenty to send up all at one
+time. Then guard take them up the country, and they go dig and wash
+for diamond. Suppose you find very big diamond, you go free. Suppose
+not, den you die there."
+
+"Merciful Heavens!" cried I to Ingram, "then we are condemned as
+slaves to the mines."
+
+"Yes," replied Ingram with a sigh. "Well, it's better than working in
+the quicksilver-mines. At all events, we shall have fresh air."
+
+"Fresh air without liberty," cried I, clasping my hands.
+
+"Come, Sir, courage, we do not yet know our fate. Perhaps we may, as
+Olivarez said, be allowed to go free after the schooner sails."
+
+I shook my head, for I was convinced otherwise.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+    The Diamond-Mines, and what occurred there--I lose my
+    friend Ingram, and another acquaintance, but they both
+    leave me valuable Legacies.
+
+
+After remaining in the court about two hours, it being then near to
+nightfall, the gaolers came out into the yard, and we were all driven
+into a large apartment, the walls of which were of such solid
+materials, and the floor of large flag-stones, as to prevent any
+possibility of escape. I was never in such a scene of filth and
+wretchedness. There was not a spot where one could be driven without
+being defiled in some way or another; and so many human beings--one
+half of whom were negroes--being crowded into so small a space, with
+only one barred window, so high up as only to serve as a ventilator,
+created an atmosphere worse than any slave-vessel's hold. I leaned
+with my back against the wall, and, I must say, never was so miserable
+in my life. I thought of Amy, and my sanguine hopes and anticipations
+of happiness, now all wrecked. I thought of Captain Levee and my
+brother Philip careering over the seas, free as the wind. I thought of
+poor Whyna, and the distress she must feel at finding I did not rejoin
+her. I planned a hundred schemes to make known my situation, but every
+scheme, as soon as I weighed it, I found was hopeless. Still weak from
+previous disease, I felt as if I should be suffocated if I remained
+long in this pestiferous abode, and I wept like a child. Daylight came
+at last, and soon afterwards the door was opened; we were admitted
+into the yard, and all hastened to the large tub of water, which was
+soon emptied. The fighting and scrambling to obtain first possession
+was really revolting. An hour afterwards some coarse provisions were
+served out, and then we learnt, to our great delight, that we were
+immediately to set out for the mines. It would be thought that this
+could be no great cause for exaltation; we were about to go to pass
+the rest of our lives in bondage; but all misery is comparative, and
+sooner than have remained another night in that dreadful hole, I would
+have welcomed any change. About an hour afterwards a guard of
+dirty-looking soldiers came in; we were all handcuffed to a long
+chain, at about two feet apart, one on each side, so that we walked in
+pairs, and as soon as the first chain was full--and I was handcuffed
+to it--we were ordered out into the square to wait for the others. My
+superior dress and appearance as an Englishman excited much curiosity;
+people pointed to me and made remarks, but I had no opportunity of
+communicating with any of the authorities, nor would it have been of
+any use if I had had. We remained there more than an hour, as the
+other chains of prisoners came out one by one; we were five chains in
+all, about forty on a chain. We were then ordered to move on, walking
+between a guard of about twenty or thirty soldiers, who marched, on
+each side of us, with their muskets and bayonets fixed, about three
+yards from each other. In another hour we were clear of the town, and
+threading our way through a lane bounded on each side by prickly pears
+and other shrubs. There was no want of merriment among the party; they
+talked and laughed with one another, and the soldiers who guarded
+them, and appeared to care little for their fate. As for me, I was
+broken-hearted with the disgrace and the villainous manner in which I
+had been thus sacrificed. My heart was full of bitterness, and I could
+gladly have lain down and died, had I not been still buoyed up with
+some faint hope that I should have an opportunity of making my
+position known, and obtain my release. I will pass over the journey,
+as one day was but the forerunner of the other. We halted at noon, and
+were supplied with fruit and maize, but we were never unchained, day
+or night. In a short time I was like all the rest--covered with
+vermin, and disgusting to myself. It was, I think, between four and
+five weeks before we arrived at our destination, which was in the
+district of Tejuco, and the locality of the diamond-mines was called
+the Sierra de Espinhaço. This sierra, or mountain, was a ridge of
+inaccessible precipices on each side of a narrow valley, traversed by
+a small river called the Tequetinhonha, and in this valley, and in the
+bed of the river, were the diamonds found, for which we were condemned
+to toil for the remainder of our days. As we entered the ravine, I
+perceived how impossible it would be to escape; even if a person could
+find his way back, after having succeeded in his escape. For many
+miles the road was a narrow path cut on the side of the mountain,
+yawning precipice below and inaccessible rocks above, and this narrow
+way was at every two miles blocked up by a guard-house built upon it,
+and through the portcullis of which it would be necessary to force a
+way. And here we were, thousands of miles away from civilized life, in
+the heart of a country uninhabited except by occasional bands of
+Indians. At last we filed through the last of the guard-houses, and
+found ourselves in a wider part of the ravine, which was crowded with
+buildings of various descriptions. We were led up to the director's
+house, and our names, persons, and descriptions were taken down by a
+clerk. When my turn came, and I was asked in Portuguese who I was, I
+shook my head, and replied "Ingles." An interpreter was called, and I
+then stated my name, and begged the director would hear what I had to
+say. He shook his head, and, after they had taken my description,
+desired me to go away.
+
+"Why did you not explain for me?" said I to the interpreter.
+
+"Because he won't hear what you have to say; if he would, every man on
+the chain would attempt to prove that he was sent here by mistake. You
+may, by-and-by, find an opportunity to speak to him, that is, after
+you have learnt Portuguese, and have been here a year or two; but it
+will do no good."
+
+During the whole of the journey, I had been separated from Ingram, and
+now, for the first time since we left prison, I had an opportunity of
+shaking him by the hand. I need not say how glad I was to meet again
+my companion in misfortune, and our only fear was now, that we should
+be again separated; but such was not the case. There were regular
+lodgings or barracks for the slaves, which were certainly not bad; but
+as all escape was considered impossible, any one who chose to raise a
+little hut for himself out of the bushes which grew on the rocks was
+permitted so to do. The hours of work were regular; we were allotted
+out in gangs, which took up a certain square of the river, or river's
+side; we worked from daylight till near dusk, with only an hour
+allowed for repose in the heat of the day. There was a superintendent
+over each gang of twenty, who watched them and made them work. These
+superintendents were controlled by inspectors, who had the charge of
+four or five gangs, and who brought unto the director the produce of
+the day's toil. The work was simple. The sand and alluvial soil were
+thrown into troughs with small sieve bottoms, out of which escaped all
+the smaller matter, when it was washed with the water from the river.
+The stones and larger particles were then carefully examined, and any
+diamonds found were taken out and delivered to the superintendents,
+who then made them over to the inspectors, when they came round. The
+inspectors carried them to their houses (for they had houses from
+government), and in the evening delivered every diamond found to the
+director. After a short time, I found that the office of
+superintendent, and also of inspector, was open to any of the slaves
+who conducted themselves well; and that the whole of those now
+employed in the offices were slaves for life, as well as ourselves.
+What puzzled me was, how so many people, for in all we amounted to
+seven hundred or more, were to be found in food; but I afterwards
+discovered that the government had farms and herds of cattle at a few
+miles' distance, cultivated by slaves and Indians expressly for the
+purpose. Our rations were scanty, but we were permitted to cultivate
+as well as we could any spot we could find on the arid side of the
+mountain as a garden; and some of them, who had been there for many
+years, had, in course of time, produced a good soil, and reared plenty
+of vegetables. To my surprise, I found at least twenty Englishmen
+among the whole mass of slaves; and one or two of them were
+inspectors, and several of them superintendents--saying much in favour
+of my countrymen. Their conversation and their advice tended much to
+soothe the hardships of my captivity, but I found from them that any
+hopes of ever leaving the mines were useless, and that our bones must
+all be laid by the side of the mountain. Of course, Ingram and I were
+inseparable; we worked in the same gang, and we very soon built a hut
+for ourselves; and Ingram, who was a light-hearted young man, set to
+work to make a garden. He moved heavy stones on the sides of the
+mountain, and scraped up all the mould he could find; sometimes he
+would get his handkerchief full, but not often, but, as he said, every
+little helped. He killed lizards for manure, and with them and leaves
+he made a little dung-heap, which he watered, to assist putrefaction.
+Every thing that would assist, he carefully collected; and by degrees
+he had sufficient for a patch of four or five yards square. This he
+planted; and with the refuse made more manure; and in the course of a
+few months, by incessant activity and assisted by me, he had a very
+tolerable patch of ground covered with this manure and the alluvial
+soil washed out by the diamond-seeking, mixed up together. We then
+obtained seeds, and grew vegetables like the rest, and this proved a
+great increase to our comforts--that is our bodily wants; but my mind
+was far away. Amy Trevannion was never out of my thoughts, and I fell
+into a deep melancholy. I worked hard at my vocation, and was
+fortunate enough to find some good diamonds, long before I had been a
+year at the mines. Having acquired the Portuguese language, I was soon
+after raised to the office of superintendent. I now no longer worked,
+but overlooked others, with a cane in my hand to administer punishment
+to those who neglected their business. I cannot say that I liked the
+change, I was not so miserable when I was employed, but I did my duty
+with diligence. Ingram was in my gang, and another Englishman, an old
+man,--I should think not less than seventy years old. He told me that
+he belonged to a merchant vessel, and in a drunken brawl a Portuguese
+had been killed; he and two others had been condemned to the mines,
+but the others were dead long ago. About a month after my elevation,
+this old man, who was very feeble, and whom I treated with great
+kindness on account of his age--exacting no more than I thought he
+could well perform--fell sick. I reported him as being really ill, and
+Ingram, who was by no means a bad doctor, told me that he would die.
+A few hours before his death he sent for me to his hut, and after
+thanking me for my kindness to him, he said that he knew he was dying,
+and that he wished to leave me all his property (which the slaves are
+permitted to do), that is, he left me his garden, which was the best
+on the Sierra, his hut, which also was a very good one, and then
+putting his hand under the leaves which formed his bed, he pulled out
+a tattered, thumbed book, which he told me was a Bible.
+
+"At first I read," said he, "to pass away time, in this melancholy
+place, but of late I have read it I hope to a better purpose."
+
+I thanked the poor man for his present, and wished him good-bye. A few
+hours afterwards he was dead, and Ingram and I buried him by the side
+of the mountain. Shortly afterwards our inspector died, and, to my
+astonishment, I was put into his place. I could not imagine why I was
+thus so fortunate in being promoted, but I afterwards found out that,
+although I had never but casually seen her, I was indebted for my good
+fortune to a fancy which the director's eldest daughter (for he had
+his family with him) had taken for me.
+
+This was singular, for I had never spoken to her, and what is more
+strange, I never did speak to her, nor did she ever attempt to speak
+to me, so that it was wholly disinterested on her part. I had now
+still less to do, and was in constant communication with the director,
+and one day stated to him how it was that I had been brought there. He
+told me that he believed me, but could not help me, and after that,
+the subject was never again mentioned between us. Having little to do,
+I now took up the Bible given me by the old Englishman, as I had time
+to read it, which I had not before, when I was employed the whole day;
+but now I had a convenient cottage, as I may call it, of my own, and
+plenty of leisure and retirement.
+
+I studied the Bible carefully, and found much comfort in it. Not that
+I was content with my lot--that I never could be while I was separated
+from Amy--but still I found much consolation, and I became, to a
+certain degree, resigned. I thought of my former life with disgust,
+and this second reading of the Bible, for the reader may recollect
+that the first took place when I was first confined in the Tower, was
+certainly of great advantage to me. I had more time to dwell upon
+it--more time for reflection and self-examination--and every day I
+reaped more advantage and became more worthy of the name of Christian.
+I now prayed fervently, and I think my prayers were heard, as you, my
+dear Madam, will also think as I continue my narrative. About three
+months after I had been appointed an inspector, Ingram was taken ill.
+At first he complained of disordered bowels, but in a few days
+inflammation came on, which ended in mortification. He was in great
+agony until the mortification took place, when he obtained comparative
+relief.
+
+"My dear Mr. Musgrave," he said, as I was at his bed-side, "in a few
+hours I shall have escaped from the mines, and be no more in bondage.
+I shall follow the poor old Englishman, who left you his executor. I
+am about to do the same. I shall now make my will verbally, as we have
+no writing-materials here, and leave you all I possess."
+
+"Why are you not more serious, Ingram," I said, "at such a moment as
+this?"
+
+"I am most serious," he replied. "I know that in a few hours I shall
+be no more, and I trust in the mercy of Him who died for kings and for
+slaves; but, Musgrave, I have a secret to tell you. Do you recollect
+the story in the fairy tales of the little white cat whose head was
+obliged to be cut off, and who then turned into the most beautiful
+princess in the world? Well, my secret is something like hers."
+
+I thought, by his continuing in this strain, that his head was
+wandering. I was about to speak to him, when he continued:
+
+"Do you know what has occasioned my death? I will tell you the secret.
+I was washing for diamonds, when I found one of a size which
+astonished me. I knew it was of great value, and I did not choose that
+the King of Portugal should receive such a benefit from my hands. I
+put it into my mouth to secrete it, hardly knowing what I should do
+afterwards, but I was thinking how I should act, when one of the
+superintendents passing (that crabbed old Portuguese belonging to the
+next gang), and seeing me idle and in deep thought, he struck me with
+his cane such a smart rap on the shoulders, that he not only made me
+jump out of my reverie, but the diamond went down my throat. I'm sure
+if I had tried to swallow it I could not have done so, but the shock
+forced it down. Well, this has occasioned my death, for it has
+remained in my stomach and occasioned the stoppage, which has ended in
+inflammation and mortification. I feel it here even now; give me your
+finger, don't you feel it? Well, now you understand why I talked of
+the little white cat. Don't cut off my head, but when I am dead, just
+put your knife down there and take out the diamond and bury it, for I
+tell you--and they say dying men see clearer than others--but that I
+am certain you will be released from these mines, and then the diamond
+will be a fortune to you, and you will find that being my executor was
+of some value to you. Now, pray--no scruple--I entreat it as a last
+favour, promise me that you will do as I wish--pray promise me, or I
+shall die unhappy."
+
+I could not help promising him to execute his wishes, he appeared so
+earnest and asked it as a last favour, but I felt very repugnant at
+the idea. In another hour poor Ingram breathed his last, and I was
+most melancholy at the loss of so worthy a friend, who had by serving
+me been subjected to the same slavery as myself. I left the hut and
+went to my own house, thinking over the strange communication that had
+been made to me. And why, thought I, should I obtain this diamond? I
+have no chance of leaving this; yet, who knows, Ingram prophesied in
+his dying moments that I should--well, at all events, I will keep my
+promise to the poor fellow. I reported his death to the director, and,
+about an hour afterwards, went to the hut where he lay. His
+countenance was placid, and I looked at him for a long while, and
+queried whether he was not happier than I was or ever could be. But,
+to comply with his request--I could not bear the idea. I did not want
+the diamond, and I, who in my early career had thought nothing of
+cutting and maiming the living man, now shuddered at the idea of
+making an incision in a dead body. But there was no time to be lost,
+the burials always took place at sunset, and it was near the hour. I
+bent a piece of bamboo cane double, like a pair of sugar-tongs, and
+then putting my finger to the part of his stomach which he had pointed
+out, I felt that there was a hard substance, and I made an incision
+with my knife--probing with the blade. I touched the diamond, and then
+using the piece of cane as a pair of pincers, I contrived, after one
+or two attempts, to extract it. I threw the diamond without
+examination into a pan of water which stood by the bed, and covering
+up the body, I made a hole in the floor of the hut and buried the
+knife, which I felt I never could use again.
+
+I looked out of the hut and perceived two of the slaves, who performed
+that office, coming towards me to take away the body. I desired them
+to carry it leaving the clothes on, followed them, and saw it
+deposited in the earth; after which I read prayers over the grave and
+could not refrain from shedding many tears to the memory of my
+faithful associate. I then returned to the hut, and taking the pan of
+water in my hand went to my own abode. I could not bear to touch the
+diamond, but I dared not leave it where it was; so I poured all the
+water out of the pan, and then rolled the diamond out on the floor,
+which was of hardened clay. I saw at once that it was one of great
+value, weighing, I should think, thirteen or fourteen _grammes_, and
+of a very pure water. It was in the form of an obtuse octohædron, and
+on one side was quite smooth and transparent. Having made this
+examination, I picked up some of the clay with a piece of iron, and
+rolling the diamond into the hole, I jammed the clay down over it.
+"There," said I, "you may remain till doomsday, or till some one finds
+you; you will be of no use to me;" and I thought of the cock in the
+fable. My tattered Bible caught my eye, and I said to it, "You are of
+more value than all the diamonds in the world;" and I only uttered
+what I felt.
+
+For a long time I mourned for Ingram, and thought nothing of the
+diamond. Three months more passed away, and I had been eighteen months
+in the mines, when some visitors made their appearance--no less than
+one of the principals of the Jesuit order, who had been sent by the
+king of Portugal out to the Brazils, on a tour of inspection, as it
+was called, but in fact to examine into the state of affairs, and the
+way in which the government revenue was collected. There had lately
+been so much peculation on the part of the various officers, that it
+was considered necessary to make minute inquiry. A Portuguese nobleman
+had been sent out the year before, but had died shortly after his
+arrival, and there was every reason to suppose that he had been
+poisoned, that the inquiry might be got rid of. Now this Jesuit priest
+had been sent out, probably because a Portuguese, who thought little
+of poisoning and stabbing a layman, would not dare to attempt the life
+of so sacred a character. Having full and extraordinary powers, he had
+made a short inquiry into the different departments of government, and
+had now come to the mines to ascertain how far the delivery of the
+diamonds at the treasury agreed with the collection at the mines; for
+these mines had usually produced from a million to a million and a
+half of revenue. The director was in a great fuss when he heard of
+this arrival at the further barrier; although immediately announced to
+him, he had scarcely an hour to prepare before the superior of the
+Jesuits arrived with his suite, consisting of about twenty people, and
+fifty or sixty sumpter mules and riding-horses. We were all called out
+to receive him, that is, all the inspectors. I went to attend the
+parade, and awaited with much indifference; but my feelings were soon
+changed, when in this superior of the Jesuits I beheld the Catholic
+priest who had visited me in the Tower and obtained my release. The
+superior bowed to the director and to all around him, and as he then
+looked at us all, he recognized me immediately.
+
+"You here, my son?" said he.
+
+"Yes, holy father," replied I, "and I thank Heaven that your arrival
+will enable me to prove my innocence."
+
+"Pray how is this?" said he.
+
+In a few words I narrated my story.
+
+"And you were thrown into prison without being permitted to defend
+yourself?"
+
+"Even so, good father, and sent to the mines to slave for life."
+
+"Did you not make known your case to the director of the mines?"
+
+"I did, Sir, but he stated that he pitied me, but could not help me."
+
+"Is this the case, Mr. Director?" said the Jesuit, severely.
+
+"It is, Sir," replied the director; "I have more than once reported
+cases of what appeared to me great hardship, if what those condemned
+have said was true, and have been told that I was too officious, and
+that there could be no reversal of sentence. I can prove to you, Sir,
+by my journals and letter-books how many cases I did formerly attempt
+to bring before the government; but I at last received such replies,
+which I can show you, as will prove that there has been no fault of
+mine."
+
+"Allow me to add, holy father," said I, "that the kindness and
+consideration of the director have been very great to all those under
+his charge, and I think it very fortunate that such a person has been
+appointed to this situation, as he has done every thing that has been
+in his power to alleviate the miseries of bondage."
+
+"I am glad to hear you say so, Mr. Elrington; Mr. Director, this
+gentleman is a dear friend of mine, let him instantly be released. My
+orders are not to be disputed by the viceroy himself."
+
+The superior then embraced me cordially, and told me that I was free,
+and should return with him to Rio. Imagine, my dear Madam, my joy and
+gratitude. I fell on my knees before him, and kissed his hands. He
+gave me his blessing, and raised me up.
+
+"Where is your companion in misfortune?" said he.
+
+"Alas! Sir, he is dead," replied I.
+
+The superior shook his head and turned away, saying, "I will search
+into this affair to the bottom, depend upon it, when I get back to
+Rio."
+
+He then desired the director to bring out his books, and his own
+secretary to follow him, leaving his servants in the court-yard with
+me and the other inspectors. I received the congratulations of all
+parties present, and as soon as possible I escaped from them, and
+returned to my own room, where I knelt and fervently thanked God for
+my unexpected deliverance; and having paid my duty to the Most High, I
+sat down, and fell into a most delightful reverie of anticipations.
+In the evening, after the superior had dismissed him, the director
+sent for me, and said,
+
+"Allow me to return you many thanks for your kindness in speaking so
+favourably of me as you have done. You have, indeed, been of service
+to me, and I am most grateful."
+
+"I only did you justice, director," replied I.
+
+"Yes, but how few have justice done them in this world," replied he.
+"The superior desired me to tell you, that you are to live with the
+gentlemen of his suite. Of course, you know, it is not etiquette for
+him to admit any body to his table. At all events you must allow me
+one pleasure, which is to supply you with clothes proper to your
+appearance, which I can easily do without inconvenience to myself."
+
+The director then led me into his room, and opened a wardrobe full of
+rich suits, selected two of the handsomest, with linen and every other
+article requisite, a handsome sword and hat, all of which he begged me
+to accept. Calling one of his servants, he ordered him to put them
+into a valise, and take them to my apartment.
+
+"Is there any thing else that I can do?--speak freely."
+
+"No, director," replied I, "I will accept these things from you, as I
+cannot procure them here, but when at Rio, I have means to obtain
+every thing that I require. I return you many thanks."
+
+"I will send my servant to arrange your hair," said he; "and I pray
+you to consider him at your disposal during the few days which the
+superior may remain here."
+
+"Do you think it will take him so long?"
+
+"Yes," replied the director, "I will tell you in confidence, that he
+has brought with him the produce of the mines accounted for to the
+government at home, and on his first inspection has found such
+defalcation from that which has been transmitted by me to Rio, that I
+expect there will be serious business. They never imagined at Rio that
+he would have undertaken such a tedious journey as he has done, and
+they are in much alarm about it; but I will leave you now, that you
+may go home and make your toilet. Allow me to congratulate you, with
+all my heart, at the fortunate termination to your unjust bondage."
+
+Having again thanked him for his kindness, I went to my lodging, where
+I found his servant waiting for me; and having had my hair arranged in
+a very tolerable manner, and a little powder thrown in, I put on one
+of the suits, which fitted me pretty well, requiring but a slight
+alteration, from being rather full, which the servant soon managed.
+Thus did I once more appear as a gentleman--contrary to all my
+expectations--and I then went and joined the suite of the superior,
+who, when they perceived the difference which dress made in my
+appearance, congratulated me, and warmly welcomed me to join the meal
+which had just been prepared for them. On the following day, the
+superior sent for me, and ordering me to sit down, requested that I
+would enter into full detail of what had happened to me since we last
+parted. I did so, and my narrative occupied the whole afternoon.
+
+"Your life has been full of vicissitude," replied he; "I trust,
+however, that your adventures are now over, and that you will be
+restored to your friends: the service you performed for our cause will
+never be forgotten."
+
+I ventured to ask him how it was that he was now in the employ of the
+King of Portugal? He replied,
+
+"I am an Irishman by birth, and educated at St. Omers. I was first
+sent to Spain by the order when I was young, and have since been
+employed all over the world in the advancement of our holy church.
+Country with our order is of no consequence. We all serve the holy
+church, and go wherever our services are required. I would you were a
+Catholic, I could advance you beyond all your hopes; but you are
+engaged to be married, and that puts an end to the question."
+
+As I thought the holy father must be tired with our long conference, I
+rose and took my leave.
+
+Three days afterwards I was informed by him that he intended to set
+off on his return to Rio, and now I thought of the diamond, which I
+resolved to carry with me. I had no fear of being searched while under
+this excellent superior's protection, and therefore I went to my
+lodging, dug up the diamond, and having washed it, for the first time
+gave it the examination which it deserved. It certainly was a stone of
+great value, but of what value I could not exactly say. From what I
+had learnt from the director, who usually put his idea of the value
+upon any diamond of size which was brought to him, I considered that
+20,000_l._ was the least which could be put upon the stone. I took the
+precaution not to carry it loose in my pocket, but to sew it within
+the lining of my clothes. Glad I was, indeed, when the orders to start
+the next morning were given out. I found that a horse was appointed
+for me, and having made up my valise, not forgetting my tattered
+Bible, I went to my bed, thanking God that this was to be the last
+night that I was to pass in the accursed Sierra de Espinhaço.
+
+At daylight the superior took his leave, mounted his mule, and we set
+forth, passing the guard-house in the narrow road, which I never
+expected to pass again. Before noon we were clear of the Sierra, and
+once more in the open country. The attendants, with a portion of the
+sumpter mules, went in advance, to prepare for the superior's arrival
+at the spot where we were to halt.
+
+The weather was excessively sultry, and the glare of the sun was very
+distressing. At noon we stopped to take our dinner, and the usual
+siesta after it. The attendants in advance had raised a sort of
+palanquin for the superior, and every thing was ready. The superior
+alighted, and sat down under the palanquin, which protected him from
+the rays of the sun; we all sat round at a respectful distance. The
+heat was so intense, that to relieve himself, the superior had, when
+he sat down, thrown off his long black robe, such as is worn by the
+priests of his order. Dinner was served up, and we had a merry party,
+notwithstanding the great heat. After our meal, we all shaded
+ourselves as well as we could, and took our siesta for about two
+hours, when the superior rose up, and gave the signal for resuming our
+journey. The horses were soon ready, and the superior's mule being
+brought up to the palanquin, he rose up, and one of his attendants was
+lifting up his robe for the superior to resume it, when my eye
+detected the head of a snake just showing itself out of the
+side-pocket of the robe in which he carried his breviary and his
+handkerchief. I knew the snake well, for we often found them in the
+Sierra de Espinhaço, and some two or three of the slaves had lost
+their lives by their bite, which was so fatal, that they died in less
+than five minutes afterwards. The superior had his handkerchief in his
+hand, and would have undoubtedly put it in his pocket before he
+mounted his mule, and if so, would certainly have been bitten, and
+lost his life. As the superior was fastening his robe at the throat, I
+darted forward, seized it, threw it on the ground, and commenced
+stamping upon it with all my force, much to the surprise of the whole
+party. Some of them thought me mad, and others, who were horrified at
+such treatment of the holy garment, called out, "Heretico maldetto!"
+which, Madam, you must know, means, accursed heretic. Having felt the
+snake (which is very short, but very thick in the body, with a head
+like a toad) several times moving under my feet, and then moving no
+more, I then stepped off the garment, and turning it over, I lifted it
+up by the skirt, so that the dead snake rolled out of the pocket.
+
+"I thank the God whom we all worship, and the Son of God, who died for
+us all, whether Catholic or Heretic," cried I, "that I have been the
+means of preserving our holy father."
+
+I had knelt down as I thus prayed, and the superior, perceiving the
+danger that he had been in, did the same, and silently returned his
+thanks; at his example all the rest went down on their knees.
+
+"Yes," said the superior; "would to God that instead of reviling each
+other, all denominations of Christians would join in thus bruising the
+head of the serpent which seeks our spiritual death."
+
+He then rose and said,
+
+"My son, I thank thee for the kind service thou hast performed."
+
+I then explained to the superior the deadly nature of the animal, and
+my fear that he would have put his handkerchief in the pocket of his
+robe before I had time to prevent him, and begged him to excuse my
+seeming abruptness.
+
+"There needs no apology for saving a man's life," replied he,
+smiling.--"Come, let us go forward."
+
+I hardly need say that we were not quite so long in returning to Rio
+as we were in going to the mines. We accomplished our journey, without
+using extreme haste, in about half of the time. On our arrival, we
+took up our quarters at a magnificent palace, which had been
+appropriated to the superior during his residence at Rio, and I found
+myself sumptuously lodged. For some days, during which the superior
+had frequent interviews with the viceroy, I did not see him, but one
+day I was summoned to his pretence.
+
+"My son," said he, "I have lost no time in investigating your affair,
+and I find that all you have said is quite correct. To the disgrace of
+the government here, and the manner in which justice is administered,
+it appears that this man, Olivarez, on his arrival, went to the
+secretary of the judge of that court in which such offences are tried,
+and stated that he had two English mutineers on board, who had
+attempted to take the vessel, and wounded several of his men
+dangerously; that he wished, of course, to deliver them up to justice,
+but that the immediate departure of his vessel would be prevented by
+so doing, as his crew would be required as evidence; that the delay
+would be very disadvantageous; and he inquired whether it could not be
+managed that these men might be punished without the appearance of
+himself and his men, as he would pay a good sum rather than be
+detained. The secretary perfectly understood the trick, and upon the
+receipt of five hundred cruzados, he accepted the deposition of
+Olivarez, sworn to by him, as sufficient evidence, and you were
+consigned to the mines upon this deposition by a warrant from the
+judge. We have had some trouble to obtain all the facts, but the
+question has been severely applied, and has elicited them. Now, first,
+as to the judge and his secretary, they have gone to the gaol, and
+will take your place in the mines for life. Next as to Olivarez. It
+appears that, on his arrival, he sold his cargo of slaves very
+advantageously; that having received the money, he gave a small
+portion to each of his men, and that they went on shore, and, like all
+English seamen, were soon in a state of intoxication; that Olivarez
+took such steps with the police, as to have them all thrown into
+prison when in that state; and, on the following morning, he went to
+them, persuaded them that they had committed themselves during their
+intoxication, and that it required a large sum to free them. This he
+pretended to have paid for them, and having purchased a cargo for his
+voyage, he got them all on board, and again ran for the coast of
+Africa. In three months he returned with another cargo, which he sold.
+He had found out his mother, and now he expended the money he had made
+in purchasing a good property about seven miles from Rio, where he
+placed his mother and some slaves to take care of it, and cultivate
+it. He contrived to defraud his crew as much as he could, and before
+he went to the coast again, he married an amiable young person, the
+daughter of a neighbour. He made a third and a fourth voyage with
+equal success, but on the third voyage he contrived to get rid of a
+portion of his English crew, who were now becoming troublesome, by
+taking some Portuguese sailors out with him, and leaving the English
+on the coast, as if by mistake. Previous to the fourth voyage, it
+appears that he satisfied the remainder of the English crew by
+producing accounts, and sharing out to them several hundred dollars
+previous to their departure for the coast. He made a slight addition
+to his Portuguese sailors, not putting too many on board, to avoid
+suspicion, and when on the coast of Africa, a portion of the English
+crew died; whether by poison or not is not known, and the others he
+put on shore, seizing all their property, and the dollars with which
+he had satisfied them. On his return from his fourth voyage, having
+now nothing to fear from the partners in his atrocious deed, having
+realized a large sum, he determined to remain on shore altogether, and
+live on his property with his mother and wife. He did so, and sent out
+the schooner under a Portuguese captain and crew, to be employed for
+him as owner in the slave traffic, and she has made two voyages since,
+and is expected back again every day. Now, my son, retribution has
+fallen heavily upon this bad man. Had he been discovered and punished
+when he first did the deed, it would have been as nothing compared to
+what it has been now; he then had no property--no ties--in fact,
+nothing or little to regret; but now, with a wife and child, with a
+valuable property, living in independence, and increasing that wealth
+daily--now, when he is at the very summit of his ambition, restored to
+his own country, respected and considered as being a man of wealth, he
+has been seized, thrown into a dungeon, put to the question, and now
+lies in a state of misery, awaiting the sentence of death which has
+been pronounced against him. Neither has he the consolation of knowing
+that he leaves those whom he loves in a state of affluence, for all
+his property, having been gained by making use of your property,
+necessarily is your property, and not his, and it has been confiscated
+accordingly for your use and benefit. As soon as every thing is
+collected, it will be paid into your hands. Thus, my son, I have at
+last attained justice for you."
+
+I was, as you may imagine, my dear Madam, profuse in my
+acknowledgments, but he stopped me, saying,
+
+"I was sent here to see that justice was done to every body, if I
+possibly could--no easy task, when all are amassing money, not caring
+how they obtain it; but, surely, if any one has peculiar claims upon
+me, it is you."
+
+The superior then asked me many questions relative to my parentage,
+and I did not conceal any thing from him. I told who I was, and why,
+at an early age, I had left my father's house. He asked me many
+questions, and, after about two hours' conversation, he dismissed me,
+saying,
+
+"You may always depend upon my protection and gratitude."
+
+Before he dismissed me, he told me that he was about to send a
+despatch-boat to Lisbon, and as I might wish to inform my friends of
+my safety, if I would write letters, he would insure their being
+safely delivered to my friends in England. I gladly availed myself of
+this offer, and indeed would have begged a passage for myself, if it
+had not been that I considered Olivarez's money to be the property of
+Mr. Trevannion, and was determined to remit it to him before I left
+Rio. This detained me about six weeks longer, during which interval
+Olivarez had suffered the penalty due to his crimes, having been
+strangled in the market-place.
+
+The money received was 28,000 cruzados, and not knowing how to dispose
+of it, I applied to the superior, who gave me orders for it in
+duplicates upon the treasury at Lisbon, one of which I had very soon
+an opportunity of sending home to Mr. Trevannion, with a duplicate of
+my first letter, and a second to him and Amy, stating my intention of
+returning as soon as possible. But this was by a Portuguese frigate,
+which made a very circuitous route home, and I did not choose to go by
+that conveyance, as her detention at the different ports was so
+uncertain. At last I became very impatient for my departure, and
+anxiously awaited the sailing of some vessel to any port of Europe.
+
+I had reserved 1,000 cruzados for my own expenses, which I considered
+as quite sufficient, but they were gradually wasting away, for I was
+everywhere received, and in the best company of Rio. At last one day
+the superior sent for me, and told me that he was about to send an
+advice-boat to Lisbon, and I might take a passage if I wished; that it
+was a very small one, but a very fast sailer. I thanked him heartily,
+accepted the proposal, and went to my room to pack up my clothes. In
+the afternoon the captain of the xebeque called upon me, and told me
+that he would start on the following morning if I would be ready. I
+replied that I should be, put some dollars into his hands, requesting
+that he would procure for me any thing that he considered would be
+necessary and agreeable, and if the sum I had given him was not
+enough, I would repay him the remainder as soon as we were out of
+harbour. I took my leave of the superior, who parted with me with many
+protestations of regard on his side, and tears of gratitude on mine,
+and early the next morning I was on board of the xebeque. In light
+winds she was extremely fast, but she certainly was too small to cross
+the Atlantic Ocean; nevertheless, as the captain said, she had crossed
+it several times, and he hoped that she often would again.
+
+The passage, however, that he usually made, was to run up to the
+northward of the Antilles, and then cross over, making the Bahama
+Isles, and from thence taking a fresh departure for Lisbon. Our crew
+consisted of only eight men, besides the captain; but as the vessel
+was not more than thirty tons, they were sufficient. We made a good
+run, until we were in about twenty-four degrees of north latitude,
+when, as we stretched to the eastward to cross the Atlantic, we met
+with a most violent gale, which lasted several days, and I fully
+expected every hour that the vessel would go down, buried as she was
+by the heavy sea. At last we had no chance but to scud before the
+wind, which we did for two days before a raging and following sea,
+that appeared determined upon our destruction. On the second night, as
+I was on deck, watching the breaking and tossing of the billows, and
+the swift career of the little bark, which enabled her to avoid them,
+the water suddenly appeared of one white foam, and as we rose upon the
+next sea, we were hurled along on its crest, reeling on the foam until
+it had passed us, and then we struck heavily upon a rock. Fortunately,
+it was a soft coral rock, or we had all perished. The next wave lifted
+us up again, and threw us further on, and, on its receding, the little
+xebeque laid high and dry, and careened over on her bilge.
+
+The waters rose and fell, and roared and foamed about us, but they
+lifted us no more, neither did they wash us off the decks as we clung
+to the rigging; for the stout short mast, upon which the lateen sail
+was hoisted, had not been carried away. We remained where we were till
+morning, every one holding on, and not communicating with each other.
+As the night wore away, so did the gale decrease and the sea subside.
+The waters now gradually left us; at intervals, when the waves
+receded, we could walk on shore; but we remained on the vessel till
+noon, by which time we found our vessel high and dry, having been
+carried over a coral reef, which appeared to extend one or two miles
+into the offing.
+
+The men, who had been much buffeted by the waves, and who were
+exhausted by clinging so long to the rigging, now that they found
+themselves safe, and were warmed by the heat of the sun, rallied, and
+began to move about. We had a long consultation as to how we should
+act. There was no chance of getting the vessel off again, and we did
+not exactly know where we were; but the captain and I agreed that it
+must be upon one of the small islands of the Bahama group that we had
+been cast away, and our conjecture was right. After some consultation,
+the captain and I called the men together, and told them that it was
+very probable that we might be some time before we could find the
+means of getting off the island, and that, therefore, we must all do
+our best; that we would land and erect a tent with the sails, and
+obtain provisions; after that we would consider the vessel and her
+stores as public property, but that every man's private property
+should be secured to him as if we were still on board of the xebeque;
+that the captain should retain the command as before, and his orders
+should be obeyed by every body, as long as they were reasonable and
+just.
+
+The men, who were well-behaved, quiet fellows--and not, like English
+seamen, given to liquor--readily agreed, and it was arranged that the
+following morning we should commence our labours. This was a sad blow
+to me, who was anticipating a speedy meeting with Amy. I knew how
+doubtful was the chance of our being seen by any vessel, and that I
+must remain here for months, if not longer--but I had been schooled,
+and could now say with fervency, "Thy will, oh Lord, and not mine, be
+done."
+
+We remained on board of the vessel that night, and the next morning
+the gale had ceased, and the waters, to our astonishment, had receded,
+so as to leave us at least sixty yards from the sea, which was now
+almost calm. We first took a survey of the island, to ascertain if
+there was any water, and, as the island was not more than two miles in
+circumference, this did not take us long. Fortunately, in the centre
+we found a deep hole sunk in the soft coral rock by some other people
+who had been wrecked here, and in the hole the water was, although a
+little brackish, somewhat palatable. It evidently was the sea-water
+filtered through the soft rock.
+
+The whole of the island was surrounded with coral reefs, with lanes of
+deep water running between them, and the fish were sporting in
+thousands after the storm, but there was not a tree or vestige of
+vegetation upon the whole island. We soon, however, discovered that
+it was frequented by turtle, for we found some eggs, fresh-buried, in
+the sand. Having made this survey, we then went back to the vessel,
+and with spars and sails rigged a tent upon the highest point of the
+island, which might be ten or fifteen feet above the level of the sea.
+The tent was large enough to hold fifty men, if required, so we
+brought our bedding and chests and all our cooking apparatus on shore,
+made a fire-place outside the tent with the little cabouse we had on
+board of the vessel, sent a man to obtain water from the hole, and put
+on some meat to boil for our dinners. In the evening we all went out
+to turn turtle, and succeeded in turning three, when we decided that
+we would not capture any more until we had made a turtle-pond to put
+them in, for we had not more than two months' provisions on board of
+the vessel, and did not know how long we might be detained. The men
+behaved very well, and indeed seemed determined to make themselves as
+comfortable as they could under existing circumstances. The next day
+we put out some lines in deep water, and caught several large fish,
+and then we went to find a proper spot for a turtle-pond. We selected
+a hole in the reef which we thought would answer, as we had only one
+end of it to fill up, and we commenced breaking away the rock with
+crowbars, and worked hard the whole of the day, some breaking and
+others carrying the masses broken off. By degrees they rose to the
+surface of the water, and in two days more we calculated that the pond
+would be ready to receive the turtle. We had killed one turtle in the
+morning, and we now lived upon it altogether, as we wished to save our
+salt provisions. The captain and I had many consultations as to what
+we should do, and what attempts we should make to get off from this
+spot. Build a boat we could not, as we had not a carpenter among us,
+or the means of making the iron-work necessary. We had some tools,
+such as are usually used on board of vessels, and several pounds of
+large nails, but none fit for boat-building. I proposed that we should
+examine the bottom of the xebeque, and see what damage was done to it.
+We did so, and found that the garboard streak was broken and two of
+her timbers, but they were easy to repair; in every other respect she
+was sound. I then proposed that we should cut down the xebeque to a
+large boat, which we could easily do by ripping off her planks and
+decks, and sawing down her timbers to the height we required. It would
+be a heavy boat, it was true, but we should be able to launch her with
+rollers, and the draught of water would be so small that we could get
+her over the reefs, which we could not possibly do the xebeque. The
+captain approved of the idea, and we agreed that as soon as the
+turtle-pond was finished we would make the attempt. In two days more
+we had finished the pond, and had turned thirty turtle, which we put
+into it. The men, now that they found that they had plenty to eat,
+began to show signs of laziness, and did not very readily commence the
+work upon the xebeque. They ate and slept, ate and slept again, on the
+mattresses spread in the tent. At times they would fish, but it was
+with difficulty that the captain and I could persuade them to work,
+and if they did work half an hour, they then threw down their axes and
+crowbars, and went back to the tent. They had plenty of tobacco, and
+they smoked half the day, ate turtle, and then slept again.
+Nevertheless, as the captain and I worked hard, the work progressed;
+in about ten days after we began the work, we had ripped off her decks
+and her side-planks as low as we thought right, and we were now sawing
+through the timbers, when the quiet of our party was disturbed by what
+may be considered a very strange quarrel. One of the men asserted in
+conversation that St. Antony was born in Padua; one or two of the
+other seamen denied it, and this difference of opinion, which at first
+was a mere nothing, from sullenness, I presume, and something being
+required to excite them, in the course of a day or two ended in a
+serious feud; the Paduans terming the anti-Paduans heretics and Jews.
+The epithet of Jew was what irritated so much, and the parties being
+exactly even, four on each side, on the third day, after an angry
+altercation, they all rushed out of the tent to decide the affair with
+their knives. The conflict was very fierce, and took place when the
+captain and I were at the xebeque, and before we could separate them,
+four of them had fallen; two were killed, and the other two badly
+wounded. It may appear ridiculous that people should take each other's
+lives for such a trifle; but, after all, nations declare war against
+each other, and thousands are killed on both sides for causes almost
+as slight. With great difficulty we separated the remaining
+combatants, and such was their rage and excitement, that every now and
+then they would attempt to break from us and attack each other again;
+but at last we disarmed them.
+
+This was a sad business; and it was melancholy to think that
+companions in misfortune should take each other's lives, instead of
+feeling grateful to the Almighty for their preservation.
+
+We buried the two men who had fallen, and dressed the wounds of the
+hurt; but after this quarrel the four others came to their work, and
+continued steady at it. We had now removed the upper portion of the
+xebeque, and commenced fixing beams and carlines on the lower part, so
+as to make a decked boat of it, and in another week we had decked her
+over. But we had a great deal more to do: we had to reduce the mast
+and yard to a proper size, to alter the sail and rigging, to make a
+small rudder, and rollers to launch her upon. All this, with our
+reduced force, occupied us another month; for the two wounded men,
+although recovering, could but just crawl about. We turned many more
+turtle at night, that we might have a sufficient supply. We now looked
+out for a channel of deep water through the reef, to get our boat out,
+and made one out to a certain extent, but could not survey further
+without getting off the reef, and the sharks were so numerous that we
+dared not venture. However, we took it for granted, as we had found
+deep water in shore, that we should be sure to do so in the offing;
+and we now got our boat upon the rollers which we had made, by digging
+away the sand from beneath her, and a trench to the water's edge. We
+had been two months on the island when all was ready for launching.
+
+Anxious as I was to return to England, I cannot say that I was unhappy
+when on this island: there was always a fine sea-breeze, which cooled
+the air, and enabled us to work without exhaustion. With the exception
+of the unfortunate quarrel I have referred to, every thing went on
+quietly. After work was over, I resorted as usual to my Bible, and
+read for hours; and this calmed and allayed any impatient feelings
+which might at times arise. I felt that I had great cause to be
+grateful to the Almighty for preserving me as he had done, and that it
+would be folly and wickedness on my part to repine because I could not
+obtain all that I wished. I waited, therefore, for His own good time,
+without murmuring, and in full confidence that all was for the best.
+
+At last we contrived to get our boat into the water, and she floated
+much lighter than we thought she would have done, considering the
+weight of wood that was in her. As soon as she was anchored about ten
+feet from the beach, we made a gangway to her with planks, and
+commenced getting all our salt provisions, water, and stores, which we
+had selected as most necessary, on board of her. The stowage of these
+occupied us two days; we then got the yard up and bent the sail, and
+having fitted oars, we determined that the next day we would embark.
+As she still swam light, we got on board of her as many turtle as we
+could conveniently carry, and then, for the last time, went onshore to
+sleep.
+
+As there was no room for our chests, it was agreed that we each should
+have a bundle on board, selecting those things which we most required
+and most valued. This proposal, which was made by the captain, put me
+in mind of the diamond, which had scarcely once entered my thoughts
+since I had been on the island. When I took it out of my chest, I
+thought that I might as well make it more convenient to carry, as
+there was no saying what might be the result of our new expedition;
+so, when the other men were all busy about their own effects, or
+asleep, I first took the precaution to roll it up in a covering of
+pitch, so that, if taken from me or lost, it might not be known to be
+a diamond, and then I sewed it up in a piece of leather, which I cut
+from an old glove, putting a strong leather lanyard to it, so that I
+might wear it round my neck. Having done this without any one taking
+notice, and having nothing else to do, I took some fine twine, and
+worked it over, like the mousing of a stay, in a way peculiar to
+sailors, so that, when finished, it was very much in the shape of a
+miniature buoy to an anchor, and reminded me of a _fend-off_, or
+fender, such as they use to prevent any injury to the sides of a
+vessel when coming in contact with another. Having finished my work,
+I put the leather lanyard round my neck, inside of my shirt, so that
+my diamond was concealed from sight; I then put up my remaining
+pieces-of-eight--which were nearly 500, the best of my clothes (for
+during my stay at Rio I had very much increased my stock), and I
+hardly need say that the old Bible was not left behind.
+
+It was a beautiful, calm morning when we embarked, and, lifting the
+anchor, took to our oars, and pulled out through the deep channel, the
+captain standing at the bow and conning us through, while I took the
+helm. The boat pulled well and steered well; we had yet to see what
+she could do under canvas. After a pull of two hours we were clear of
+the reef, and out in the open sea. We then laid in the oars, and
+commenced our preparations for hoisting the sail to a breeze, which
+then blew from the southward. When all was ready, the men hoisted the
+sail, but in so doing, a rope being foul, as I was attempting to clear
+it, I was tripped up, and fell with my right knee on a spike, which
+entered deep, putting me to excruciating pain, and laming me
+completely. I was obliged to sit down abaft, for I nearly fainted
+away. In the mean time the sail was set, and the boat stood well up to
+it. She proved to be very stiff under canvas, which was a source of
+great congratulation. My knee became so painful and stiff that I could
+not move it; I took one of my shirts out of my bundle, tore it up into
+bandages, and put them on. We had resolved to attempt to make New
+Providence, the largest of the Bahama group, where we knew that there
+was a town called Nassau, and from whence we hoped to obtain some
+conveyance to Europe; but we knew nothing of the port, or the
+inhabitants, or what trade was carried on with them.
+
+For several hours our little bark went gaily over the water, but
+towards nightfall the wind shifted, and the weather looked
+threatening. We hardly knew how to steer, as we did not know the
+position of the island which we had left, and now the wind heading us,
+we hauled up on the larboard tack, with our head to the northward and
+eastward. As the sun went down, the wind increased, and the sea ran
+fast. Our boat behaved well, till it began to blow very hard, and
+then it took in so much water, that we were forced to bale.
+
+We had reefed our sail, and made every thing as snug as we could, but
+the sea rising fast, and the boat taking in more water, we considered
+it prudent to lighten her, which we did by throwing overboard all the
+turtle. This we did without regret, as we were tired of eating them
+for so long a while. The day broke, and there appeared every sign of
+bad weather, and the waves now tossed and foamed too much for such a
+small craft as we were in. About noon we saw a vessel on a wind to
+leeward of us, which was a source of great delight to us all, and we
+bore down to her. We soon made her out to be an hermaphrodite brig,
+under her close-reefed topsails and trysails. We ran under her counter
+and hailed. We perceived several men standing abaft, and apparently
+they suspected us for a rover, for they had muskets and other weapons
+in their hands. We told them that we had been shipwrecked, and the
+boat was sinking in the gale, and then we rounded to under her lee.
+
+There we remained for four or five hours, during which the wind and
+the sea went down very fast, and the boat no longer took in water; but
+we had been all too much alarmed with the danger in which we had been,
+to like to continue our voyage in her, and as we thought that we could
+now go alongside with safety, we hailed again, and asked permission.
+After some parleying, they threw us a rope, which we made fast to the
+boat, and lowered our sail, keeping off on a broad sheer, as there
+still was a great deal of sea. They then entered into conversation
+with us. I told them all that had happened, and inquired where the
+brig was bound to.
+
+They replied, to James Town, Virginia. I asked them if they could give
+us a passage there, as we were afraid to proceed in our boat; or if
+not, would they see us safe into New Providence.
+
+The captain then came forward. He was a very dark man, dark as a
+mulatto, with keen small eyes, and a hooked nose. I never beheld a
+more deformed and repulsive countenance.
+
+He said, that he could not go to New Providence, as it was out of his
+way, and that we might easily get there ourselves if we thought
+proper.
+
+I replied, that the boat was not sufficiently large and seaworthy, and
+that we had already nearly gone down, and if another gale should come
+on, we certainly should founder, and again requested that he would
+take us on board.
+
+"Have you any money to pay for your passage?" inquired he.
+
+"Why," said I, "common charity and the feelings of a seaman towards
+sailors in distress should be sufficient to induce you to take us on
+board, and not leave us to perish; but if you require money," I
+replied, "we have more than sufficient to satisfy you."
+
+"How much?" screamed out a lad of about fourteen, who was the very
+image of the captain in miniature.
+
+I did not reply to this question, and the captain then said, "What do
+you propose to do with the boat?"
+
+"Let her go adrift, to be sure," replied I.
+
+"What have you got on board of her?" said he.
+
+I enumerated, as well as I could recollect, the provisions and stores
+that we had.
+
+"Well," replied he, "I will wait till it is a little smoother, and
+then we will clear the boat and take you on board."
+
+He then left the gangway, where he had been standing, and we continued
+to be towed by the brig.
+
+"I do not like that fellow," said I to the Portuguese captain; "he
+appears, or pretends, to take us for pirates, but he is more like a
+pirate himself."
+
+"He looks like the devil himself," replied the captain, "and to ask
+people in our condition to pay for their passage! He is a monster!
+However, we all have a few doubloons, thank Heaven."
+
+About an hour afterwards, it being much more moderate, the captain of
+the brig told us to sheer alongside, and that four of us might come
+out and the others remain in the boat till she was cleared.
+
+"I think you had better go," said I to the captain, "for with so much
+motion I never shall be able to get up the side with my bad knee."
+
+We then sheered the boat alongside, and the captain and three of our
+men got on board, but not without difficulty. I saw them go aft and
+down below with the captain of the brig, but I never saw them on deck
+again, much to my surprise, although we were more than half an hour
+before they again hailed us, and told us to come alongside again.
+During this half-hour my mind misgave me sadly that all was not right,
+from not seeing the Portuguese captain, or either of the three men,
+and I took it into my head that the vessel was a pirate; and I knew if
+such was the case, we should instantly be rifled, if not murdered. I
+took the precaution of taking off the bandage from my knee, and having
+removed the diamond from my neck, I put it under my ham in the cavity,
+which held it with ease, and then put the bandage on again over it, as
+I thought they would hardly take a bandage off a bad knee to see if
+there was any thing concealed beneath it. It was with difficulty that
+I contrived to get on board the brig, and as soon as I had gained the
+deck, I was ordered to go down into the cabin; as I went aft, I looked
+round for the Portuguese captain and the men, but could not see them.
+I contrived, with difficulty, to get down into the cabin, and as soon
+as I was there I was seized by the arms and held fast by two of the
+men, while others bound me with seizings.
+
+As the captain was looking on, I inquired into the cause of this
+outrage. He replied, that we were a parcel of rascally pirates, who
+would have taken his vessel if he had not been too deep for us; I told
+him it was false, and that I could easily prove it, as we still had
+the despatches on board with which we had been charged, and that I
+could show full proof that I was the same person that I stated myself
+to be; that I very much feared that we had fallen into the hands of
+pirates ourselves, but that I would have justice done as soon as we
+arrived at James Town, without he intended to murder us all before we
+arrived. His answer was, that he was too old a bird to be caught with
+such chaff, and that he would secure us and deliver us up to the
+authorities as soon as he arrived. I replied, in great anger, that he
+would then be convinced of his error, if it was an error, on his part;
+that his conduct was infamous, and he looked like a scoundrel, and I
+believed him to be one.
+
+"You call me a scoundrel, do you," said he, levelling a pistol at my
+head.
+
+"You call us scoundrels, do you," cried the boy I have made mention
+of, and who was evidently the son of the captain, taking up another
+pistol in his hand. "Shall I shoot him, father?"
+
+"No, Peleg; not yet; we will pay them all when we get in. Take him
+away, and put him in irons with the rest," said the captain; and I was
+immediately dragged forward between decks through a door in the
+bulk-heads, where I found the Portuguese captain and three seamen
+already in irons.
+
+"This is pretty treatment," said he to me.
+
+"Yes, it is, indeed," replied I; "but I will make him smart for it
+when we arrive."
+
+"Shall we ever arrive?" said the Portuguese captain, looking at me and
+compressing his lips.
+
+"I say, my man," said I to the seaman who stood over us with a pistol
+and a cutlass, "who are you; and what are you? Tell us the truth: are
+you pirates?"
+
+"I never was yet," replied he, "nor do I mean to be; but our skipper
+says that you are, and that he knew you as soon as you came alongside.
+That's all I can say about it."
+
+"Why, if we are pirates, as he says, and he recognizes us, he must
+have been in pirates' company, that is clear."
+
+"Well; he may have been, for all I know," replied the man. "I don't
+consider him any very great things; but he is our captain, and we must
+obey orders."
+
+The man now brought forward the other three men who had been left in
+the boat. They told us that the boat had been cleared; all the
+provisions, stores, sails, &c. had been taken out of her;--a proof
+that she had been gutted and then cut adrift;--that all our bundles
+were down in the captain's cabin, and that the ill-looking urchin, his
+son, had overhauled them, one after another, and handed to his father
+all the money that he had found; that they had been searched very
+carefully; and that they had heard the captain say that we were all to
+be sent up, one by one, and searched in the same manner;--and so it
+proved. I was first taken aft to have my pockets rummaged by the
+little villain, and as soon as I had been led forward and again put
+into irons, the Portuguese captain and three other seamen were sent
+for and treated in the same way. We inquired of the men what money
+they had in their bundles and about their persons. They had each man
+four doubloons at Rio for wages, and the captain had about forty
+doubloons. I had five hundred pieces-of-eight: so that, altogether, we
+had been robbed to the tune of about four hundred pounds sterling,
+independent of our clothes, which were of some value to us; that is,
+mine were, at all events.
+
+The seamen who guarded us, and who relieved each other every watch,
+were not at all surly or ill-natured. I asked one of them during the
+night watch whether he thought the captain would take our lives.
+
+"No;" said he, "we will not allow that. You may be pirates, as he
+says, although we do not think you are; but if pirates, you shall have
+fair play; that we have all made up our minds to. No hanging first,
+and trying afterwards."
+
+I had a long conversation with this man, who appeared very much
+inclined to be sociable. He told me that the vessel was named the
+_Transcendant_; that she sailed from Virginia to the West Indies, and
+that sometimes she went to England; that the captain of her was also
+the owner, but where he came from, or what he was, they did not know,
+except that he was a Virginian,--they believed so, for that he had a
+tobacco estate there, which was carried on by his eldest son. He
+called the captain a stingy, miserly fellow, who would sacrifice any
+man's life to save a shilling, and that there were odd stories about
+him at James Town.
+
+I was well satisfied with my conversation with this man, as it assured
+me that our lives would not be taken, and I had no fear of the result
+upon my arrival at James Town, for, as I have mentioned before, Mr.
+Trevannion had vessels which sailed to that port, and I well
+recollected the names of the parties to whom the vessel and cargo were
+consigned.
+
+On the following day the captain of the brig, followed by his
+ill-favoured son, came forward and looked at us as we sat in irons,
+upon which I addressed him,
+
+"You have put me in irons, Sir, when I threw myself upon your
+protection. You have robbed us of our money to the amount of nearly
+400_l._, and you detain our other property. I now again desire that I
+may be released. I offered to convince you that I was a person of
+property, but you refused to listen to me. Now, Sir, I will tell you
+that I am a partner in the house of Trevannion, at Liverpool, and that
+we have vessels that trade between James Town and that port. Our
+vessels are consigned to Messrs. Fairbrother and Wilcocks, of James
+Town, and on my arrival I will soon prove that to you; and also not
+only make you surrender the property you have robbed us of, but I will
+make you smart pretty handsomely for your treatment of us, that you
+may depend upon."
+
+"Fairbrother and Wilcocks," muttered he; "confound the fellow. Oh,"
+said he, turning to me, "you got the name of that firm from some ship
+you have plundered and sunk, I suppose. No, no, that won't do, old
+birds are not to be caught with chaff."
+
+"I believe you to have been a pirate yourself, if you are not one
+now," replied I; "at all events you are a thief and a paltry
+villain--but our time will come."
+
+"Yes, it will," said the captain of the xebeque, "and remember, you
+scoundrel, if you can escape and buy off justice, you shall not escape
+seven Portuguese knives, mind you that."
+
+"No, no," cried the Portuguese sailors; "stop till we are on shore,
+and then come on shore if you dare."
+
+"I say, father," said young Hopeful, "this looks like mischief; better
+hang them, I reckon, than to be stuck like pigs. They look as if
+they'd do it, don't they?"
+
+I shall never forget the diabolical expression of the captain of the
+brig after the Portuguese sailors had done speaking. He had a pistol
+at his belt, which he drew out.
+
+"That's right, shoot 'em, father; dead men tell no tales, as you have
+always said."
+
+"No, no," said the seaman who was on guard, motioning them back with
+his cutlass, "there will be no shooting nor hanging either; we are all
+sworn to that. If so be they be pirates, there's the law of the
+country to condemn them; and if they be not pirates, why then that's
+another story."
+
+The captain looked at the seaman as if he could have shot him if he
+dared. Then turned round hastily and went back to the cabin, followed
+by his worthy offspring.
+
+For seven days we remained in irons, when we heard land announced by
+the sailors on deck, and the brig's head was put towards it. At night
+she was hove to, and the next morning again stood in, and we perceived
+that we were in smooth water. Towards night the anchor was let go, and
+we asked the guard if we had arrived at James Town.
+
+He replied, "No, but we were in a river on the coast, but he did not
+know what river it was nor did any of the crew, nor could they tell
+why the captain had anchored there. But they had seen several canoes
+with Indians cross the river, but that there appeared to be no white
+settlement that they could discover." The mystery was, however,
+cleared up on the following morning. A small boat, which could barely
+hold eight people, was lowered from the stern, and hauled up
+alongside. We were taken up, one by one, the scoundrel of a captain
+having first stripped each of us to our trowsers, not even allowing us
+a shirt. We were ordered to get into the boat. As soon as we were all
+in, and our weight brought the boat down to her gunnel, two oars were
+handed to us, and then the captain of the brig said,
+
+"Now, you rascally pirates, I might have hanged you all, and I would
+have done so, for I know you well. I recollect your faces when you
+plundered the 'Eliza,' when I was off Porto Rico; but if I put you in
+prison at James Town, I shall have to wait two or three months until
+the court sits, and I cannot be detained for such scoundrels as you;
+so now you may pull on shore, and get on how you can. Shove off,
+directly, or I'll put a bullet through your brains."
+
+"Hold fast," cried I, "and let him fire if he dares. You men belonging
+to the _Transcendant_, I call you to witness this treatment. Your
+captain has robbed us of a large sum of money, and now turns us
+adrift, so as to compel us to land among savages, who may kill us
+immediately. I appeal to you, will you permit this cruelty and
+injustice? If you are English, I conceive you will not."
+
+There was some talk and expostulation with the captain of the brig, in
+consequence of what I said; but while it was going on, the captain's
+son leaned over the side, and, with his knife, cut the painter, or
+rope which held the boat, and as the tide was running on very strong,
+in less than half a minute we were a long way astern of the brig, and
+drifting fast up the river.
+
+We got out our oars, and attempted to pull for the brig, for we knew
+that the seamen were taking our parts; but it was in vain; the tide
+ran several miles an hour, and in another minute or two, with all our
+exertions, we were nearly a quarter of a mile astern of her, and the
+boat was so loaded that we hardly dared move lest we should upset it.
+We had, therefore, no option but to go on shore and take our chance;
+but when the men were pulling round for the shore, on reflection I
+thought that we had better not land so soon, as the sailors had told
+us that they had seen the Indians in their canoes. I therefore
+recommended that we should allow the boat to drift up the river with
+the tide, and then drift down again when the tide turned, remaining in
+the middle of the stream till it was dark, when we would land and make
+our way into the woods. My advice was followed; we sat still in the
+boat, just keeping her head to the stream with the oars, and, being
+without our shirts, the sun scorching and blistering our backs, till
+past noon, during which time we must have drifted nearly twenty miles
+up the river, which was as broad as the arm of a sea at the entrance;
+then the tide turned, and we drifted back again till it was dusk, when
+it was again slack water. All this while we kept a sharp look-out to
+see if we could perceive any Indians, but not one was to be seen. I
+now proposed that we should take our oars and pull out of the river,
+as if we had only gone up on a survey, for the brig had got under
+weigh, and had anchored, for want of wind, about four miles off, and
+the Indians, if there were any, would suppose that we were returning
+to the ship. We did so, and pulled till it was dark, and were within
+two miles of the brig, where the flood-tide again made strong, when we
+turned the boat's head up the river, and pulled with the oars to get
+up as far as we could before we landed. This we did, suffering much
+from hunger and thirst, as well as being confined so long in one
+position. As my knee was quite well, I now took off the bandage, and
+hung my diamond round my neck as before. I could not help feeling a
+satisfaction, when I thought that the thief of a captain little
+imagined what a mine of wealth he was losing when he turned me adrift.
+It was about midnight when the tide ceased to flow, and we then agreed
+to land, and the question then was, whether we should separate or keep
+together. After some discussion, we agreed to separate in twos, and
+the Portuguese captain and I agreed to keep each other company. We
+first pushed the boat into the stream, that she might drift away, and
+then, shaking each other by the hand and bidding adieu, we all started
+in different directions. For some time the captain and I threaded the
+woods in silence, when we were stopped by a stream of deep water, with
+such high banks, that in the dark we did not know how to cross it. We
+walked by the side of it for some time to discover a passage, and in
+so doing, we at last found ourselves again on the banks of the river,
+and our boat lying close to us, having grounded not far from where we
+had shoved her off. We tasted the water in the creek, and found it
+quite fresh: we had several times tried it on the river, and found it
+quite salt from the tide running in. We drank plentifully, and sat
+down to recover ourselves, for although we had not walked more than
+half an hour, the pushing through the brushwood was very fatiguing.
+
+"I think," said I, "that this boat will certainly betray us, and would
+it not be better to take possession of it again? It will hold two
+comfortably, and I think we shall get on as well, if not better, in a
+boat than in the woods without compass and without guide."
+
+"I agree with you," said the captain; "but what shall we do?"
+
+"Let us retrace our steps; let us pull again, with the ebb-tide, for
+the mouth of the river, and then coast it along shore; we may arrive
+at some settlement, if we do not starve by the way."
+
+"I agree with you," he said, "it will be the best plan; we must
+conceal ourselves in the day, and coast along at night."
+
+We waded into the river, got into the boat, and again pulled out. The
+boat being light, now pulled well, and we made good speed; and at
+daylight we were clear of the river, and close to a small island near
+the mouth of it. Upon this, we agreed to land, to try if we could
+procure food, for we were much exhausted, and also to conceal
+ourselves from the natives. We ran our little boat on shore, and
+concealed her among some bushes which grew down at the water's edge.
+We looked well round, but could see nothing, and we then walked out in
+search of food; we found some wild plums, which we eagerly devoured;
+and going down again to the beach, where there were some rocks, we
+found shell-fish, of which we broke the shells between two stones, and
+made a meal of. After our hunger was satisfied, we lay down under the
+shelter of the boat, and fell fast asleep. We were so tired that we
+did not wake up till it was nearly dark, when we agreed to start
+again, and pull along the coast to the northward. We were just
+launching our boat, when we perceived a canoe about three miles off,
+steering for the mouth of the river to the island. This stopped us,
+and we remained in our hiding-place. The canoe approached, steering
+directly for the spot where we lay concealed, and we imagined that
+they had discovered us. Such, however, proved not to be the case, for
+they ran on shore about fifty yards from us, and hauling up the canoe,
+they got out and walked away on land. There were four men, but it was
+now too dark to distinguish any more. We remained quiet for a quarter
+of an hour, when I proposed that we should embark.
+
+"Have you ever managed a canoe?" said the Portuguese captain to me.
+
+"I have been in one in Africa very often," I said, "but they are
+dug-outs, as we call them."
+
+"So have I, and I do not think there is so much difference between
+them and these canoes. Can you paddle?"
+
+"Yes," I replied.
+
+"So can I," he said. "Now observe, the best thing we can do is to take
+possession of that canoe; and then we shall get on better, for our
+boat will always attract notice, whereas a canoe will not; besides, it
+will prevent these Indians, if they are come to look for us, which I
+suspect they have, from following us."
+
+"I think you are right," I said; "but how shall we manage?"
+
+"In this way. You shall shove off our boat and walk by its side,
+dragging it up to where the canoe lies; I will go to the canoe, launch
+it, and then we will make off with both till we are too far out to be
+taken; then, when we have got into the canoe, we will turn our boat
+adrift."
+
+I agreed to the proposals. We launched our boat very quietly, and I
+walked in the water up to my knees, drawing it after me till I arrived
+opposite to the canoe. The Portuguese crept on his hands and knees
+till he had gained the canoe, pushed her off, and joined me. We made
+her fast to the tow-rope of our own boat, then got into the boat, and
+pulled away from the island.
+
+We had not gained more than a hundred yards, when the whiz of an arrow
+met our ears. The Indians had discovered us, it was evident. Two or
+three more arrows came flying by us, but we had now got well out, and
+they fell harmless. We continued to pull till we were half a mile from
+the island, and then we laid on our oars. The stars shone bright;
+there was a young moon, so as to enable us to see pretty well. We
+found the paddles of the canoe lying on the cross-pieces. We had
+nothing to take from the boat but our tow-rope and the two small oars;
+these we put into the canoe, and then getting in ourselves, we let the
+boat go adrift. We put her head to the northward, between the island
+and the main, and paddled away as fast as we could.
+
+The captain was a much better hand than I was, and he therefore took
+the office of steersman. The water was as smooth as glass, and we made
+rapid progress, and did not discontinue our exertions, except now and
+then resting for a few moments, till the morning dawned, when we could
+hardly distinguish the island we had left, and found ourselves about
+five miles from the mainland. We had now time to examine the contents
+of the canoe, and had much reason to be gratified with our
+acquisition. It had three bear-skins at the bottom, several pounds of
+yams, cooked and uncooked, two calabashes full of water, bows and
+arrows, three spears, a tomahawk, three fishing-lines and hooks, and
+some little gourds full of black, white, and red paint; and what we
+prized more than all, some flints and a large rusty nail, with rotten
+wood to serve as tinder.
+
+"We are fortunate," said the captain; "now, before we pull in for the
+shore we must paint ourselves like Indians; at all events, you must
+black yourself, as you have no shirt, and I must do the same, although
+I do not require it so much as you do."
+
+"Let us have something to eat and drink first," replied I, "and we
+will proceed to our toilet afterwards."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+    My adventures with the Indians, with what happened to
+    the Portuguese Captain, my companion.
+
+
+Having eaten some venison, and drunk out of the calabash, the captain
+painted me black, with here and there a line of red and white on the
+face and shoulders. I performed the same duty towards him, and we then
+resumed our paddles, and pushed in a slanting direction for the shore.
+The tide now ran down against us, and we could hardly stem it, and
+finding ourselves opposite a beach clear of trees for a quarter of a
+mile, we agreed to run on shore to look for a large stone. We soon
+found one which answered our purpose, and paddling off again to three
+or four hundred yards, we made the stone fast to the bow-rope of our
+boat, and anchored the canoe with it. Having succeeded in this, we got
+out the fishing-lines, and with a piece of raw meat as a bait, we soon
+had several fish in the canoe; after which we put on no more baits,
+but pretended to fish till the tide slacked, when we lifted our anchor
+and recommenced our paddling to the northward.
+
+At night we landed on a rock, close to the beach, having well
+reconnoitred before it was dark to see if there were any canoes or
+Indians to be seen on the shore; and thus we continued for five days,
+during which we passed the mouths of one or two rivers, and had
+gained, as we supposed, more than 150 miles along the coast, but how
+much to the northward we could not tell, as we followed the windings
+of the shore. We were twice obliged to land to obtain water, but we
+always did so in the daytime, having taken the precaution to black the
+whole of our bodies and take off our trowsers before we landed. Our
+deer's flesh was all gone, and we continued to live on fish, cooking
+as much as we could at one time. The collecting firewood was the great
+risk which we ran; for we were then obliged to land where there was
+wood. It was on the sixth day that we were first in danger. As we
+rounded a point, we fell in with another canoe with six or seven
+people in it. They were not more than 300 yards off when we first saw
+them. The Indians stood up in the canoe, looked at us very earnestly,
+and then perceiving that we were not of their tribe, I presume, pulled
+towards us. We immediately turned and pulled away. They had been
+fishing, and two of them were pulling up the lines, while the others
+paddled, which gave us a little advantage; but they had three paddles
+and we had only two. They shouted and paddled with all their might,
+but they gained little, as they were seven in the canoe, five men and
+two women, and deep in consequence. As they gained slowly upon us,
+notwithstanding all our exertions, the Portuguese said to me, "They
+have no weapons in the boat, I should think; if they had, they would
+use them, for we are within bow-shot. Can you use a bow and arrow?"
+
+"I could once," replied I, "use it very fairly," for when I was
+captive with Whyna, she would often practise the bow and arrow with
+me, and I became somewhat expert before I left her.
+
+"Well, then," said he, "let me paddle on, and do you put an arrow in
+the bow and threaten them, at all events."
+
+I did so, and stood up, taking aim as if about to shoot, at which they
+ceased paddling, and after talking a little they turned the head of
+their canoe round, and made for the shore. We proceeded, as may be
+imagined, with all diligence. I laid down my bow and arrows and
+resumed my paddle, and in an hour we could no longer see our late
+pursuers. We continued our voyage, and for three days met with no
+further adventures, when about noon, on the fourth day, the sky became
+overcast, and there was every prospect of rough weather. Before night
+the wind and sea rose, and it was no longer possible for us to keep
+along the coast, which already was covered with breakers.
+
+We had, therefore, no remedy but to make for the shore and haul up the
+canoe, for we could not perceive any inlet which might shelter us. It
+was quite dark when we dashed the canoe through the breakers and
+landed. We hauled her up some distance, as there was every appearance
+of worse weather, and sheltered ourselves under the lee of a high
+rock. The wind now blew fiercely, and rain descended in torrents. We
+tried to light a fire to warm ourselves, but could not succeed, so we
+lay down on one bear-skin, and covered ourselves with the others,
+waiting impatiently for daylight. When the day dawned, the weather was
+worse than ever. We now looked out for a better place of concealment
+for ourselves and our canoe, and found one at about fifty yards'
+distance: between two high rocks there was a narrow cleft or passage,
+which was large enough for us and for the canoe, and this hid us both
+from the storm and from the sea. Into this cleft we hauled our canoe
+and withdrew ourselves, making a meal off some fish we roasted on the
+embers. We remained there for two days, when the weather moderated,
+but the sea was still too rough for us to launch the canoe; so we
+decided upon remaining one day more, although our provisions were all
+gone and our calabashes quite empty. On the third day, to our great
+surprise and alarm, we heard the report of a musket not far from us.
+From this we knew that we could not be very far from the English
+settlements, for it was only the Indians near to the settlements who
+had obtained muskets. But whether it was an Indian or a white man who
+fired we could not, of course, tell. I recollected that, in the last
+advices we had had from James Town, our factors had stated that there
+was a cruel war carried on between the Indians and the settlers, and
+that the Indians had ravaged the plantations; but that was two years
+ago, and how it might be now it was impossible to tell. A second
+report of a musket still nearer induced me to creep along by the side
+of the rock, and look out to see if any one was near. To my great
+alarm, I perceived five Indians with muskets not a hundred yards off.
+I drew back, as I hoped, unperceived, but the eye of an Indian was too
+keen. They had discovered me; and whilst I was relating to the
+Portuguese captain what I had seen, they were suddenly upon us. We had
+no time to make resistance, even if we were inclined so to do, we
+therefore sat still. They came up and looked at us. The wet had washed
+off a great portion of the paint upon my back and shoulders. One of
+the Indians touched me on the shoulder, and said, "Ugh!--white man
+paint like Indian." They then examined the canoe and its contents, and
+having spoken a few words to each other, apparently relating to the
+canoe, they put a thong of leather round each of our arms, and, making
+a motion for us to follow them, they led us away.
+
+"We've done our best, and could do no more," said the Portuguese; "I
+feel that it's all over with me now, and I shall soon sleep in the
+bosom of Jesus."
+
+My heart was too full to make any reply. The Indians led on, and I
+followed in silence.
+
+We passed through the woods, which appeared to be interminable, till
+the night closed in, and then the Indians halted, and while one
+remained as guard over us, the others collected wood for a fire. They
+had some provisions, but offered none to us. After an hour they lay
+down to sleep round the fire, placing me and the Portuguese captain
+next to the fire, and lying outside of us. They were soon fast asleep,
+or appeared to be, when I said to the captain, "Have you your knife?
+for if they remain asleep, let us wait an hour or so, and if you can
+cut the leather thong which the Indian holds in his hand, and then
+watch your opportunity, I will do the same, and we may escape."
+
+"I have my knife, but my Indian is not asleep," replied he; "I will
+wait till he is."
+
+"What signal shall we make if we succeed?" said I.
+
+"When you are ready, lift your arm up, I shall understand, and if I am
+ready, I will do the same. Agreed; and now let us be quiet, for depend
+upon it our conversation has roused them all."
+
+We then composed ourselves, as if to sleep, and remained in that way
+for more than an hour, by which time we were convinced that our
+captors were slumbering. I then drew out my knife, for the Indians had
+not attempted to rifle us, and cut the thong which was round my arm,
+without awaking the Indian who had the other end in his hand. I
+remained quiet for a quarter of an hour, when the Portuguese lifted up
+his arm as a signal that he was free. I listened attentively, and
+being certain that the Indians were asleep, I lifted up my arm also.
+
+The Portuguese then rose up carefully, and without noise, stepping
+past the bodies of the Indians, till he was clear of the circle. I did
+the same, and pointed to the muskets, which lay on the grass by the
+Indians. He took one up and I another, and we retreated to a short
+distance.
+
+"We must have the other muskets," said I; "stay where you are."
+
+I advanced cautiously and took up the other three muskets, and was
+retreating with them, when one of the Indians turned round as if
+awaking. I ran past the Portuguese, and making a sign for him to
+follow me, we retreated a few yards into the wood, where we could
+watch the Indians without being seen ourselves. The Portuguese
+motioned to be off, but I detained him, and I was right. The Indian
+roused up and sat upon his haunches; perceiving that we had escaped,
+he waked up the others. They started on their feet, and looking round,
+found that the muskets were all gone; and then they held a
+consultation. At last they appeared to have made up their minds to
+follow, and, if possible, recapture us, for they went back in the
+direction of the sea.
+
+"Now, then, we must hide three of the muskets," said I, in a whisper,
+"and keep the others to defend ourselves."
+
+We examined and found that they were all loaded, and the Portuguese
+then said to me, "There are five of them. If they meet with us, and we
+discharge two muskets and we do not kill, we shall be at their mercy.
+If we do kill, still there will be three against two; we had better
+carry all the muskets. Do you take two, and I will take three."
+
+As I thought he was right, I consented, and we now went the same path
+towards the sea which the Indians had done before us in pursuit of us.
+We walked fast, as we knew the Indians would do the same, and they had
+the start of us, so that we were not likely to come up with them. It
+was severe work, but we did not slacken our pace, and before dawn the
+sea was quite visible through the branches of the trees, for we had
+arrived at the outskirts of the wood.
+
+As soon as we had gained the beach, which was 500 yards wide, we
+looked round to see if we could perceive the Indians, but we could
+observe nobody.
+
+"Let us, while it is yet dark, go round so as to get on the opposite
+side of the rocks where we were concealed," said the Portuguese. "If
+they are there, we shall take them by surprise."
+
+Keeping just within the wood, we walked half a mile to the southward,
+and then emerged just as the day was breaking, and made for the rocks.
+As soon as we arrived, we examined very cautiously before we entered
+the cleft, but there was nobody there, and the canoe was safe.
+
+"They are not here," said I; "where can they be?"
+
+"They cannot be far off," said the Portuguese; "I suspect they are
+hidden somewhere, and intend to surprise us while we are launching our
+canoe, and when our muskets will be out of our hands."
+
+"I agree with you; let us now wait at some little distance from the
+rocks till broad daylight, we shall then be secure from surprise."
+
+We did so, and when the sun rose we looked well round, but could see
+nobody. We entered the cleft, and were about to lay down the muskets,
+and lay hold of the canoe, when I perceived a small piece of rock to
+drop down. This caused me immediately to suspect the truth, and I
+cried to the Portuguese to come back with me. He did so, and I told
+him that I was certain that the Indians had climbed the rock, and were
+lying down on the top of it, ready to pounce upon us.
+
+"Depend upon it, they must be there," said he, when I mentioned the
+falling piece of rock; "let us walk round and see if we can discover
+them."
+
+We did so, but they were too well concealed.
+
+"But what must be done now?" said he. "It is useless our attempting to
+clamber to the top of the rock, for no one could do it with a musket
+in his hand."
+
+"No," replied I, "that is certain; and if we attempt to bring the
+canoe out of the cleft, they may drop down upon us."
+
+"I think," said he, "that if we were to go in and take the tow-rope in
+our hands, which is several yards long, we might haul out the canoe by
+it, and when once it is clear of the cleft they cannot move without
+our seeing them."
+
+"We will try, at all events," replied I. "Do you stay on the watch
+while I get hold of the tow-rope and bring it out."
+
+The Indians did not expect this manoeuvre, it was clear. Still keeping
+the muskets in our possession, the butts on the sand, and the muzzles
+resting on our shoulders, we laid hold of the tow-rope, and by great
+exertion hauled the canoe several yards away from between the two
+rocks. We then paused for breath after a minute or two, with our eyes
+fixed upon the top of the rock to see if they moved, and then we
+hauled it at least a hundred yards further off, when for the first
+time I perceived that the bow and arrows were not in the canoe, and
+that they must have been taken by the Indians.
+
+"Then we must haul again," said the Portuguese, when I stated this to
+him, "till we are out of bow-shot. Let us put the muskets into the
+canoe, and drag it as fast as we can."
+
+We did so, and gained another hundred yards before we stopped, when an
+arrow was discharged from the summit of the rock, and buried itself in
+the sand close to my feet.
+
+"Haul again," said the Portuguese, "we are not out of shot yet."
+
+Again we exerted ourselves, and gained another hundred yards, during
+which two more arrows were discharged, and one of them went through
+the left arm of my comrade; but as it was through the fleshy part, and
+did not touch the bone, it did not disable him. A third arrow was
+sent after us, but did not reach us, and we knew that we were out of
+distance.
+
+"Cut the shaft of the arrow, and draw it through the arm," said the
+Portuguese.
+
+"Not now," said I; "they will perceive me doing so, and will think
+that you are disabled. That may induce them to rush upon us, thinking
+they have only one man to deal with."
+
+"Well, it's no great matter," replied he; "we must now drag our canoe
+down to the water and launch her, if they will let us. We have
+outwitted them so far."
+
+We now turned the head of the canoe towards the sea, and slowly
+dragged her down; our eyes, as may be supposed, constantly kept upon
+the rock, to see if the Indians would move, but they did not. They
+perhaps felt that they had no chance with us, having all the fire-arms
+and an open beach in our favour. We launched our canoe without further
+interruption on their part, and in a few minutes, taking care to be
+out of arrow distance, we passed the rock with our head to the
+northward. When about two miles off, we perceived the Indians to
+descend from the rock and walk away into the woods.
+
+"Let us praise God for this miraculous escape," said I to the
+Portuguese.
+
+"I do; and the holy patron saint who has preserved me," replied the
+Portuguese captain; "but I am still heavy at heart. I feel that we have
+escaped only to come into more strange and fresh calamity. I shall
+never get back to Lisbon, that I feel convinced of."
+
+I tried all I could to encourage him, but it was of no avail. He told
+me that the presentiment was too strong, and could not be overcome by
+any argument. Indeed he appeared to have allowed the idea so to have
+taken possession of his mind, that his reason became enervated; and
+having heard how the Indians burnt their prisoners, he talked about
+martyrdom at the stake, and rising up to Heaven in great glory, there
+to be received by the whole body of saints and legions of angels.
+
+"What is the use of our thus labouring at the paddle?" said he; "why
+not at once let us go ashore and receive the crown of martyrdom? I am
+ready; for I long for the hour, and shall rejoice."
+
+I said all I could to keep him quiet, but it was useless, and such was
+his insanity, that he gradually neared the shore by steering against
+me with his paddle, so that I could not prevent it. I had drawn the
+shaft of the arrow through his arm, and he appeared to feel no pain. I
+expostulated with him at his keeping the canoe so near to the shore,
+but he smiled and gave no reply.
+
+We had the stream against us, and made but little way, and it vexed me
+very much to hear him talk so loud as he did, as the Indians must have
+heard him, and I thought would follow us along the coast; but he
+ransacked the whole book of martyrs, telling me how one had his body
+sawn in two, another was pinched to death; this one burnt, that
+tortured; every variety of death he entered upon during the whole of
+that day without ceasing.
+
+I ascribed much of this to the pain arising from the wounded arm,
+notwithstanding which he paddled with as much vigour as ever. As the
+night came on, I entreated him to hold his tongue, but it was in vain,
+and I felt assured that his reason was quite gone. He continued to
+talk loud and rave without intermission, and I now considered our fate
+as sealed. We had no water in the boat or provisions of any kind, and
+I proposed that we should heave-to and catch some fish, telling him
+that if he talked we should scare them away.
+
+This made him quiet for a time, but as soon as we had hooked four or
+five fish, he again commenced his history of the glorious martyrs. I
+prayed him to be silent, for a short time at least, and he was so for
+about four or five minutes, when he would break out into some
+ejaculation, which I immediately stopped. At last he could talk no
+more for want of water; his lips were glued together, and so were
+mine. Nevertheless, I continued paddling for two hours more, when I
+found by the canoe grounding that he had steered her on the beach.
+There was no help for it. We landed and went in search of water, which
+we found about half of a mile from where our canoe was beached.
+
+We drank heartily, filled the calabash, and were returning to the
+canoe, when he again commenced talking as loud as ever. I was in great
+anger, but I put my hand before his mouth, beseeching him in a whisper
+to be quiet. As we were doing this, we were suddenly sprung upon and
+seized by several Indians, and in a minute were bound hands and feet.
+
+"I knew it," cried the Portuguese; "I knew it would be so. Well, I am
+prepared; are not you, my good friend?"
+
+I made no reply. I felt that in his madness he had sacrificed his own
+life and mine also; but it was the will of Heaven. The Indians left
+two to guard us, and went down to the canoe, returning with their
+muskets. I soon perceived that they were the same whom we had escaped
+from the night before, and the one who had spoken a little English
+when we were first captured now came to me and said, "White man paint
+like Indian, steal gun--ugh."
+
+When the Indians had returned from the canoe, our feet were unbound,
+and we were again led away by the leather thong which was fast to our
+arms. The Portuguese now began to find his tongue again, and talked
+incessantly, the Indians not checking him; from which, it was evident
+that they were on their own domains. After four hours' walking they
+kindled a fire, and went to repose as before; but this time they took
+our knives from us, and bound our legs so tight that they gave us much
+pain. I did not expostulate, as I knew it was useless. My companion,
+as the thong entered into his flesh, seemed pleased, saying, "Now my
+martyrdom is commencing."
+
+Alas! poor man; but I will not anticipate. We travelled three days,
+during which we were supplied with a small portion of parched Indian
+corn every day, just sufficient for our sustenance, and no more. On
+the fourth morning the Indians, after an hour's travelling, set up
+some shrill and barbarous cries, which I afterwards discovered was
+their warhoop. These cries were replied to by others at a distance,
+and in about a quarter of an hour afterwards we found ourselves close
+to a number of wigwams, as they are termed (the Indian houses), and
+soon surrounded by a large party of men, women, and children, who
+greeted us with taunts and menaces.
+
+We were led into a larger wigwam than the others, where we found
+several Indians of grave aspect assembled, and a man who could speak
+English was ordered in as interpreter. He asked us where we came from
+in the canoe. I replied, that we came from the south, but we had been
+wrecked in a big ship, and had taken the canoe, which we found on the
+beach. They asked no more questions. We were led out, and in about an
+hour afterwards the Indian who had spoken English to us when we were
+captured, came up with two others and painted us black, saying, "The
+white man like paint. Black paint good."
+
+I did not know till afterwards that this painting black was a sign
+that we were condemned to death, but so it was. They took off our
+trowsers, the only garments we had on, and left us naked. To my
+surprise, they did not take the diamond which was sewed up in leather
+from off my neck; but as I learnt subsequently, the Indians are much
+given to conjurors and charms, wearing many round their own necks and
+about their persons, and they respect the charms that their enemies
+wear, indeed are afraid of them, lest they should be harmed by having
+them in their possession. We remained in a wigwam during that day,
+with guards over us. The following day we were led out and cast loose,
+and we found all the Indians, women and children, ranged in two lines,
+each holding in their hands a club or stick, or rod of some
+description or another.
+
+We were led to the end of the row, and looked about us in amazement.
+They made signs to us which we did not understand, and while we were
+remaining in doubt as to what was to be our fate, an old woman, who
+had been menacing and grinning at me for some time, and who was the
+most hideous animal that I ever beheld in the shape of a woman, thrust
+a straw into my eye, giving me most excruciating agony. I was so
+carried away by rage and pain, that I saluted her with a kick in the
+stomach, which laid her doubled up on the ground, expecting to be
+scalped for so doing the next moment. On the contrary, the Indians
+laughed, while some of the other women dragged her away.
+
+At last the interpreter came, and from him we learnt that we had to
+run the gauntlet, and that, as soon as we gained the large lodge
+where we had been examined by the old Indians on the day previous, we
+were safe, and that we must run for that as fast as we could. The
+Portuguese, who was still as mad as ever, was then pushed on; he would
+not run, but walked, glorying in the blows, which showered down upon
+him like hail; and, moreover, he prevented me from running for some
+time, till I got past him. I had been cruelly punished, and was mad
+with pain, when I perceived a tall, gaunt Indian waiting for me with a
+heavy club. Careless of life or consequences, I rushed past him, and
+as I passed I threw out my fist with such impetus, that, hitting him
+under the right ear, he fell senseless, and it appears that he never
+rose again, for the blow killed him; after which I at last gained the
+council-house, and was soon afterwards followed by my companion, who
+was streaming with blood. We were then led away, and tied by our necks
+to two stakes about twenty yards apart, and there we remained for the
+night.
+
+The Portuguese passed the night in singing; I passed it in silence and
+prayer. I felt convinced that we were to die, and I feared that it
+would be by fire or torture, for I had heard something of the manners
+and customs of these Indians. I made my peace with God as well as a
+poor sinner could, prayed for mercy through Jesus Christ, sighed my
+adieu to Amy, and made up my mind to die.
+
+Early the next morning the Indians brought firewood, and placed it in
+bundles round the stakes, at a distance of about fourteen yards from
+the centre. They then went to the Portuguese, tied his hands behind
+him, and exchanged the rope by which he had been fastened for a much
+stronger one, one end of which they fastened to his wrists behind him,
+and the other to the stake. As they left me as I was before, it was
+plain that the Portuguese was to suffer first. They then set fire to
+the piles of wood which were round the stake, which were too far from
+him to burn him, and I could not imagine what they intended to do, but
+you may conceive that I was in a state of awful suspense and anxiety,
+as I was well convinced that his fate, whatever it might be, would be
+my own.
+
+During these appalling preparations, the Portuguese appeared as if he
+really enjoyed the scene.
+
+"Now, my good friend," said he to me, "you shall see how I can suffer
+for the true faith. Even a heretic like you shall be converted by my
+example, and I shall ascend to Heaven with you in my arms. Come on, ye
+fiends; come on, ye heathens, and see how a Christian can suffer."
+
+Much as I felt for him and for myself, I could not lament that his
+reason had left him, as I thought his sufferings would be less; but
+his exclamations were soon drowned by a loud yell from the Indians,
+who all rushed upon my unfortunate companion.
+
+For a moment or two they were crowded so thick round him that I could
+not perceive what they were doing, but after that they separated, and
+I beheld him bleeding profusely, his ears and nose having been cut
+off, and a broken iron ramrod passed through both cheeks. And now a
+scene took place, at the remembrance of which, even now, my blood
+curdles. Some caught up the burning sticks and applied them to his
+flesh, others stuck him full of small splints, the ends of which they
+lighted. The Indian warriors shot at him with muskets loaded with
+powder only, so as to burn him terribly on every part of the body. The
+women took up handfuls of lighted ashes and showered them down on him,
+so that the ground he trod upon was a mass of burning embers, and he
+walked upon fire.
+
+Red-hot irons were now brought forward, and his body seared in all
+parts, his tormentors seeking out where they could give him the most
+pain. At last one applied the hot iron to his eyes, and burnt them
+out. Imagine my feelings at this horrid scene--imagine the knowledge
+that this was to be also my fate in a short time; but, what is more
+strange to tell, imagine, Madam, my companion not only deriding his
+torturers, but not flinching from the torture; on the contrary,
+praising God for his goodness in thus allowing him to be a martyr for
+the true faith, offering his body to their inflictions, and shouting
+manfully; but such was the behaviour of my insane friend, and this
+behaviour appeared to give great satisfaction to the Indians.
+
+For nearly two hours did this torture continue, his body was black
+and bloody all over, and the smell of the burning flesh was horrible;
+but by this time it appeared as if he was much exhausted, and, indeed,
+appeared to be almost insensible to pain. He walked round the stake as
+before upon the burning coals, but appeared not to know when further
+torture was applied to him or not. He now sang hymns in Portuguese in
+a low voice, for he was much exhausted. Soon afterwards he staggered
+and fell down with his face upon the burning embers; but even the
+flesh of his face grilling, as it were, appeared to have no effect
+upon him. An Indian then went up to him, and with his knife cut a
+circle round his head, and tore off the whole scalp, flesh and hair
+together, and when he had done this the old woman whom I had saluted
+with a kick before I ran the gauntlet, and who had his ears hanging on
+her neck to a string, lifted up a handful of burning coals, and put
+them upon his bleeding head.
+
+This seemed to rouse him. He lifted up his head, but his features were
+no longer to be distinguished, as his face was burnt to a black coal,
+and he said, "Take me, ye holy saints. Angels, receive me," and, to my
+great astonishment, he again rose on his legs, and tottered round and
+round for a few minutes. At last he sank down, with his back against
+the stake, and one of the Indians cleaved his brain with his tomahawk;
+and thus ended the life and the misery of my unfortunate
+companion--and it was now my turn.
+
+"Well," thought I, "it is but two hours of suffering, and then I shall
+be beyond their malice. May God have mercy upon my soul."
+
+The same preparations were now made for me. I was fastened with the
+stout rope, and my arms tied behind me, the wood was fired, and one of
+the chiefs was haranguing the Indians. He finished, the low yell was
+given, when the old woman whom I had before mentioned ran up to me,
+and saying something which I could not understand, put her hand upon
+me.
+
+When she did this the other Indians, who were about to rush on me,
+drew back with signs of disappointment on many of their wild
+countenances. The chiefs then went into the council-house, leaving me
+tied where I was, and the wood burning around me, the mass of Indians
+standing about as if waiting the decision of the chiefs. After a time
+three Indians, one of whom was the interpreter, came up to me, and,
+kicking aside the burning poles, cast me loose.
+
+I asked the interpreter what he was about to do. He replied, "You kill
+Indian here (pointing to his own ear), you kill him dead. Squaw lose
+husband--want another--take you--stead of him."
+
+They led me to the council-house before the chiefs. The old woman whom
+I had kicked was there. It was her husband that I had killed by the
+blow behind the ear, and she had claimed me in his stead, and,
+according to the custom of the country, her claim was allowed, and I
+was made over to her, and received into the tribe. Strange custom for
+a woman to marry the murderer of her husband, but still such it was,
+and thus did I find myself freed from the stake when I least expected
+it. The principal chief made me a speech, which was interpreted, in
+which he told me that I was now the husband of Manou, and was one of
+their own tribe; that I must be strong in war, and must hunt and
+procure venison for my family.
+
+They then washed off the black paint, and after a few more speeches
+and ceremonies, I was handed over to the hideous old hag, whose neck
+was still decorated with the two ears of my companion. To say that I
+would have preferred the torture would be saying too much, but that I
+loathed the creature to excess was certain. However, I said nothing,
+but allowed her to take me by the hand and lead me to her wigwam. As
+soon as we were in she brought me some venison, which I ate greedily,
+for I had had nothing for thirty-six hours. She then offered me the
+leggings, as they call them, which the Indians wear, and the other
+portions of the Indian dress, which probably belonged to her late
+husband. I put them on, as I was glad to cover my nakedness, and, worn
+out with walking and exertion, I first thanked God for my miraculous
+preservation, and then lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
+
+It was not until the next day that I awoke, and I then perceived the
+old woman rubbing oil upon the deep cuts made in my wrists and
+shoulders by the leather thongs. She again set meat before me, and I
+ate heartily, but I looked upon her with abhorrence, and when she
+attempted to fondle me, I turned away and spit with disgust, at which
+she retired, grumbling. I now had leisure to reflect. I passed over
+with a shudder the scenes that had passed, and again returned thanks
+to God for my deliverance. I called to mind how often I had been
+preserved and delivered. From my bondage in Africa, from my
+imprisonment in the Tower, from my hopeless slavery in the mines, from
+our wreck on the island, and now, after passing through such dangers,
+from an almost certain cruel death by torture. Truly did I feel how
+grateful I ought to be for that Providence which had so often
+preserved me, and that my only reliance in future must be in its
+gracious protection.
+
+But here I was, married to a woman I detested, and living with
+barbarians; and I said to myself, "That kind Heaven which has already
+done so much for me will, in its own good time, also release me from
+this thraldom. In the meanwhile let me not murmur, but be thankful."
+My squaw, as they call their wives among the Indians, now came up to
+me and offered to paint me, and I thought it advisable that she
+should, as I felt that the sooner I conformed myself to their customs
+the more chance I had of making my escape, which I was resolved to do
+the first opportunity.
+
+As soon as she had completed my toilet I walked out of the wigwam,
+that I might look about me and be seen. The Indians, who were
+sauntering about, met me with a friendly "Ugh," which appeared a
+favourite monosyllable with them. At last I met with the interpreter,
+and began to converse with him. I asked what nation I was now
+belonging to, and he said the Massowomicks. I asked how large their
+country was, and he told me much which I could not understand, except
+that it appeared to me a very powerful nation.
+
+I was very careful of mentioning the English, or any thing about their
+settlement, although I was anxious to know where it was; but I asked
+him whether they were at war with any other nation. He said "No, they
+had been at war with other tribes, but that they had all made peace
+that they might join against the white man, who had taken their land."
+
+"I am an Indian now," said I.
+
+"Yes, and you will forget the white man," said he. "You have now red
+blood in your veins. You marry Indian wife, you all the same as one
+Indian."
+
+I said, "War Indian beat his wife, suppose she talk too much?"
+
+"Plenty talk, plenty beat," said he.
+
+"Suppose my wife talk too much and I beat her, what Indian people
+say?"
+
+"Say good. Suppose wife too old, you take two wife, one more young."
+
+I was very much pleased with this conversation; not that I had the
+slightest idea of profiting by his information by taking another wife,
+but I felt such a disgust at my present one, and had already seen what
+a fury she could be, that I was resolved, if necessary, to show her
+that I was master, for I felt certain that if I did not, she would
+soon attempt to master me, and so it turned out.
+
+On the third day she took down a bow and arrows and made a sign to me
+to go out, and, I presumed, bring back food; and as there was nothing
+in the house, I thought the request reasonable. I therefore went out
+of the wigwam and found that many of the young men were going out on a
+hunting-party, and that I was to join them. We set off and travelled
+for six hours before we came to the hunting-ground, and as the deer
+passed me I thought of Whyna and my hunting excursions with her. I
+was, however, fortunate, and killed two deer, much to the surprise of
+the Indians, who thought a white man could not use a bow and arrows,
+and I rose very much in their estimation in consequence. The deer was
+cut up, and we hung upon branches what we could not carry.
+
+We did not go home that night, but feasted over a large fire. The next
+morning we all carried home our loads, and mine was as large as any of
+the others, if not larger; neither did I flag on the way, for I was
+naturally very strong and active, and had lately been inured to
+fatigue. When we arrived, the squaws and men among the others were
+despatched for the remainder of the venison. I now went out every day
+by myself and practised with my bow, till I had become more expert,
+for I wanted practice. I had no musket, but I had a tomahawk and a
+long knife. I began to pick up a few words of the language, and by
+means of the interpreter I gained them very fast. Before I had been
+three months with the Indians I had acquired their confidence and
+respect. They found that I was expert, and able to gain my own
+livelihood, and I may add that before I had been three months I had
+also mastered my wife. When she found that I would not submit to her
+caresses, she was very indignant and very violent, but I immediately
+knocked her down, and beat her unmercifully. This brought her to her
+senses, and after that I treated her as my slave with great rigour,
+and as she was a notorious scold, the Indians liked me all the better
+for it.
+
+You may think that this was not fair treatment towards a woman who had
+saved my life; but she only saved it for her own purposes, and would
+have worn my ears, as well as my companion's, if I had not killed her
+husband. The fact is, I had no alternative; I must have either treated
+her kindly and submitted to her nauseous endearments, or have kept her
+at a respectful distance by severity, and I hardly need say that I
+preferred the latter. So far as her choice of a husband was concerned,
+she made a bad one, for she received nothing but blows and bad usage.
+I had one day driven my wife out of the wigwam in consequence of her
+presuming to "talk too much," as the Indian said, when the interpreter
+told me that one of the chiefs was willing that I should marry his
+daughter, polygamy being one of their customs.
+
+I was very much annoyed at this, for I knew the young girl very well:
+she was very graceful and very pretty; and I felt that my fidelity to
+Amy would be in great danger if the marriage was to take place; and if
+proposed, I dared not refuse so great a distinction.
+
+I replied that I was fortunate, but that I feared my present wife
+would make her very unhappy, as she wanted to be the chief woman of
+the wigwam, and when I was away I could not tell what the old woman
+might do to her, and the conversation was dropped.
+
+This little Indian had, before this, shown me as much favour as an
+Indian girl ever ventures to show, sufficient, at all events, to
+satisfy me that I was not disagreeable to her, and what the
+interpreter had said made me very uncomfortable. However, I consoled
+myself with the recollection that if I were compelled to marry this
+girl, it would be an involuntary infidelity on my part, and on that
+account might well be excused; for the hope of again rejoining Amy
+never left me at any time.
+
+One day I went out in search of deer, and was led away from my
+companions after a buck which I had wounded and attempted to overtake.
+They saw me in chase of my quarry, and left me in pursuit. I followed
+for several hours, continually coming up with it and as continually
+losing it again. At last, I heard the report of a musket close to
+where the deer was last seen by me, and I thought that some Indian had
+shot it. I walked forward, however, very cautiously, and perceived a
+white man standing by the animal, which lay at his feet. I started
+back, for I did not know whether I had fallen in with a friend or a
+foe; but as I knew that he had not had time to reload his musket, I
+hallooed to him, concealing myself at the same time behind a tree.
+
+"Is that you, Evans?" said the man in reply.
+
+"No," said I, "it is an Englishman."
+
+"Well, show yourself, then," said he.
+
+"I am dressed as an Indian," replied I; "I was taken by the Indians."
+
+"Well, come along," said the man, who was attired as a seafaring man.
+
+I came from behind the tree, and when he saw me he snatched up his
+musket.
+
+"Don't be afraid," said I.
+
+"Afraid!" said he; "I should like to see what I am afraid of; but I'll
+be on my guard."
+
+"That's right," I replied.
+
+I then told him that I had been taken by the Indians, and they saved
+my life because one of their women chose me as her husband, and that I
+was anxious to escape from them.
+
+"Well," said he, "I am on board of a schooner at anchor down below in
+the river. There are a few of us come on shore to get some venison,
+and I have lost my comrades; but I had no idea that the Indians were
+down here so close to the English settlements."
+
+"How close are we, then?" said I; "for I know not where I am. This is
+certainly not our usual hunting-ground, for I have been led many miles
+from it, in pursuit of the animal you have just shot."
+
+"Well, I thought so; for I have been on shore here more than once, and
+I have never met with an Indian. You ask how far you are from the
+settlement; that I can hardly tell you, because the settlers have
+spread out so far; but you are about forty or fifty miles from James
+Town."
+
+"And what river, then, is your schooner at anchor in?"
+
+"I don't know the name," replied the man; "I'm not sure that it has a
+name. We come here for wood and water, because it is quiet, not
+inhabited, and no questions asked."
+
+"What are you, then?" inquired I.
+
+"Why, to tell you the truth, we are what are called 'Jolly Rovers;'
+and if you have a mind to come on board, we can find a berth for you,
+I dare say."
+
+"Many thanks," replied I; "but I am not sufficiently fond of the sea,
+and I should be of no use" (for, by his term of Jolly Rover, I knew
+that they were pirates).
+
+"That's as you please," replied he; "no harm's done."
+
+"No," replied I; "and I thank you for your kind offer, but I cannot
+live long on board of a vessel. Will you now tell me which is the
+right track to the English plantations?"
+
+"Why," said he, "they bear right out in that direction; and I dare
+say, if you travel five or six leagues, you will fall aboard of some
+plantation or another--right in that quarter; follow your nose, old
+fellow, and you can't go wrong."
+
+"Many thanks," I replied; "am I likely to meet your companions?--they
+may take me for an Indian."
+
+"Not in that direction," replied he; "they were astern of me a long
+way."
+
+"Farewell, then, and many thanks," I replied.
+
+"Good-bye, old fellow; and the sooner you rub off that paint, the
+sooner you'll look like a Christian," said the careless rover, as I
+walked away.
+
+"No bad advice," I thought: for I was now determined to make for the
+English settlements as fast as I could, "and I will do so when I once
+see an English habitation, but not before; I may fall in with Indians
+yet."
+
+I then set off as fast as I could, and being now inured to running for
+a long time without stopping, I left the rover a long way behind me in
+a very short time. I continued my speed till it was dark, when I heard
+the barking of a dog, which I knew was English, for the Indian dogs do
+not bark. I then proceeded cautiously and in the direction where I
+heard the dog bark, and arrived in a quarter of an hour to a cleared
+ground, with a rail fence round it.
+
+"Thank God!" I cried, "that I am at last among my own countrymen."
+
+I considered, however, that it would not be prudent to show myself,
+especially in my Indian paint, at such a time of night, and I
+therefore sat down under the lee-side of a large tree, and remained
+there till morning. I then looked about for water, and having found a
+running stream, I washed off my paint, and appeared what I really was,
+a white man in an Indian dress. I then went up again to the clearing,
+and looked for the habitation, which I discovered on the top of a
+hill, about four hundred yards off. The trees were cleared away for
+about three hundred yards all round it. It was built of heavy logs,
+let into one another, with one window only, and that very small. The
+door was still shut. I walked up to it, and tapped at the door.
+
+"Who's there?" replied a hoarse voice.
+
+"An Englishman, and a stranger," I replied. "I have just escaped from
+the Indians."
+
+"Well, we'll see what you are in a very short time," replied the
+voice. "James, get me my gun."
+
+In a minute the door opened, and I beheld a woman more than six feet
+high, of gaunt appearance and large dimensions: I thought that I had
+never seen such a masculine creature before. It was her voice which I
+had heard. Two men were seated by the fire-place.
+
+"Who are you?" said she, with the musket ready for the present.
+
+I told her in a few words.
+
+"Show me the palm of your hand--turn it up at once."
+
+I did so, without the least idea of the reason for the demand; but I
+afterwards discovered that it was to ascertain whether I was one of
+those who had been transported to the settlement, as they all had the
+letter R branded on them.
+
+"Oh, you're not a gaol-bird, then, I see: you may come in; but you'll
+give me that bow and arrows, if you please."
+
+"Certainly," replied I, "if you wish it."
+
+"Why, there's nothing like making sure in this world; and although you
+look a very peaceable, good-looking sort of personage, notwithstanding
+your Indian set-out, still I've known just as amiable people as you,
+in appearance, very mischievous at times. Now come in, and let us hear
+what you have to say for yourself. Jeykell, get some more wood."
+
+One man went out to obey her orders; the other sat by the fire with
+his musket between his knees. I sat down by the fire, at the request
+of the woman, who had seated herself by the side of the man, and then,
+on her repeating her question, I gave her a narrative of my
+adventures, from the time that I left Rio.
+
+"Well," says she, "we seldom hear stories like them; it's all the
+world like a book; and pray what's that thing (pointing to the diamond
+in its case) you have hanging to your neck there? you have left that
+out in your history."
+
+"That's a charm given me by my Indian wife, to preserve me from
+disasters from wild animals; no panther, wolf, or bear will ever
+attack me."
+
+"Well," said she, "if so be it has that power, all I can say is, it's
+not a bad charm to wear in these parts, for there are animals enough
+in the woods in summer, and round the house all night in winter; but I
+don't believe a bit in the charm, and that's the truth; however, if it
+does no good, it can't do no harm, so you may keep it on, and
+welcome."
+
+"May I ask how far it is to James Town?" said I.
+
+"What, going to James Town already? I suppose you expect to be there
+to-night?"
+
+"Not exactly, my good woman," replied I. "I must trespass upon your
+kindness to give me something to eat, for I am hungry."
+
+"Good woman! bah! and pray how dare you call me good woman? Call me
+mistress, if you want any thing."
+
+"I beg your pardon," said I. "Well, then, mistress, will you give me
+something to eat?"
+
+"Yes, I will. James, fetch the meal-cake and a bit of salt pork, and
+give him to eat, while I call the cows from the bush."
+
+The mistress, as I shall in future call her, then put down her musket
+and left the cabin. During her absence I entered into conversation
+with the man called James, for the other had gone out. To my inquiry
+how far it was to James Town, he replied that he really did not know;
+that he was sent out a convict, and sold for ten years to the husband
+of the mistress, who had died two years ago; that this man had a small
+vessel, in which he went to James Town by water, and that he had
+returned with him in his vessel; that the distance by water, he
+considered about one hundred and fifty miles, but by land it was not
+half that distance; that he did not know the way, nor did he believe
+that there was any road as yet made to James Town, as this plantation
+was quite by itself, and a long way from any other. He understood that
+the nearest plantation was twenty miles off, and he knew there was no
+road to it, as no one ever went or came except by water.
+
+"But," said I, "are not the settlers at war with the Indian tribes
+that surround them?"
+
+"Yes; and have been now for three or four years; and the Indians have
+done great mischief to the plantations, and killed a great many
+people; but the settlers have punished them severely."
+
+"Then how is it that this plantation, which is so solitary, has not
+been attacked?"
+
+"Because the mistress's husband was a great friend of the Indians, and
+it is said used to bring them cargoes of muskets and ammunition from
+James Town, contrary to all law and regulation. But if he was friendly
+with them, the mistress is not; for she has quarrelled with the
+principal chief, and I should not be surprised if we were attacked
+some day, and all scalped."
+
+"And what does the mistress say to that?"
+
+"Oh, she don't care; she'd fight a hundred Indians, or white men
+either. I never saw such a creature--she's afraid of nothing."
+
+"Who is the other man I saw here?"
+
+"Oh, he's another like myself. There were three of us, but one was
+drowned by falling overboard from the sloop."
+
+"Well, but my good fellow, how shall I get to James Town?"
+
+"I'm sure I can't tell; but my idea is that you will never get there
+unless mistress chooses."
+
+"Why, surely she won't detain me by force?"
+
+"Won't she?--you don't know her. Why, she'd stop an army," replied the
+man. "I don't think that she will let you go--I don't know; but that's
+my opinion. She wants another hand."
+
+"What, do you mean to say that she'll make me work?"
+
+"I mean to say that, according to the laws of the settlement, she has
+a right to detain you. Any person found roving here, who cannot give a
+satisfactory account of himself, may be detained till something is
+heard about him; for he may be a runaway convict, or a runaway
+apprentice, which is much the same, after all. Now, she may say that
+your account of yourself is not satisfactory, and therefore she
+detained you; and if you won't work, she won't give you to eat; so
+there you are."
+
+"Well, we will see if she is able."
+
+"Able! if you mean strong enough, why she'd take you up with one hand;
+and she is as resolute and severe as she is strong. I had rather have
+to deal with three men, and that's the truth."
+
+"What's the truth, James?" cried the mistress, coming in at the door.
+"Let's hear the truth from your lips, it will be something new."
+
+"I said that I was sent here for finding a pocket-book, mistress;
+that's all."
+
+"Yes; but you did not tell him where you found it--at the bottom of a
+gentleman's coat-pocket, you know. You can only tell the truth by
+halves yet, I see."
+
+Wishing to ascertain how far the man's suspicions were correct, I said
+to her,
+
+"I have good friends in James Town: if I were once there I could
+procure money and any thing else to any amount that I required."
+
+"Well," says she, "you may have; but I'm afraid that the post don't go
+out to-day. One would think, after all your wanderings and
+difficulties, that you'd be glad to be quiet a little, and remain
+here; so we'll talk about James Town some time about next spring."
+
+"Indeed, mistress, I hope you will not detain me here. I can pay you
+handsomely, on my arrival at James Town, for your kind treatment and
+any trouble you may take for me."
+
+"Pay me! what do I want with money?--there's no shops here with
+ribbons, and calicoes, and muslins; and if there were, I'm not a fine
+madam. Money! why I've no child to leave what I have to--no husband to
+spend it for me. I have bags and bags of dollars, young man, which my
+husband heaped up, and they are of as much use to me as they are now
+to him."
+
+"I am glad that you are so rich, mistress, and more glad that your
+money is so little cared for and so little wanted; but if you do not
+want money, I do very much want to get back to my friends, who think I
+am dead, and mourn for me."
+
+"Well, if they have mourned, their sorrow is over by this time, and
+therefore your staying here will not distress them more. I may as well
+tell you at once that you shall not go; so make up your mind to be
+contented, and you'll fare none the worse for it."
+
+This was said in so decided a tone, that, bearing in mind what I had
+heard from the convict servant, I thought it advisable to push the
+question no further for the present, making up my mind that I would
+wait a short time, and then make my escape, if she still persisted in
+detaining me by force; but this I could not venture upon until I was
+in possession of fire-arms, and I could not obtain them while she had
+any suspicion. I therefore replied--
+
+"Well, since you are determined I shall not go, I have nothing more to
+say, except that I will wait your pleasure, and, in the mean time, let
+me make myself as useful as I can, for I don't want to eat the bread
+of idleness."
+
+"You're a very sensible young man," replied she; "and now you shall
+have a shirt to put on, which will improve your appearance a great
+deal."
+
+She then went into the inner room, which I presumed was her bed-room,
+as there were but two rooms in the cabin. As she went out, I could not
+help wondering at her. On examination, I felt assured that she was
+more than six feet high, and her shoulders as broad and her arms as
+nervous as a man's of that stature. Her chest was very expanded, but
+bosom she had none. In fact, she was a man in woman's clothing, and I
+began to doubt her sex. Her features were not bad, had they been of
+smaller dimensions, but her nose was too large, although it was
+straight; her eyes were grand, but they were surmounted with such
+coarse eyebrows; her mouth was well shaped, and her teeth were good
+and regular, but it was the mouth of an ogress; her walk was
+commanding and firm; every action denoted energy and muscle; and
+certainly, from the conversation I have already made known, her mind
+was quite as masculine as her body--she was a splendid monster. In a
+minute she returned, bringing me a good check shirt and a pair of
+duck trowsers, which I thankfully accepted.
+
+"I've plenty more for those who please me," said she, carelessly;
+"when you've put them on, come out to me, and I'll show you the
+plantation."
+
+In a minute or two I joined her, and she led me round the
+tobacco-fields, then to the maize or Indian corn grounds, pointing out
+and explaining every thing. She also showed me the cows, store pigs,
+and poultry. Wishing to please her, I asked many questions, and
+pretended to take an interest in all I saw. This pleased her much, and
+once or twice she smiled--but such a smile! After an hour's ramble we
+returned, and found the two servants very busy, one husking maize, and
+the other in the shed where the tobacco was dried. I asked some
+questions of her about the tobacco--how many casks or bales she made a
+year? She replied that she made it in bales, and sold it by weight.
+
+"It must be heavy carriage from here to James Town?" said I.
+
+"Yes, indeed, if it went that way it never would arrive, I imagine,"
+replied she; "but I have a sloop in the river below, which carries it
+round."
+
+"When is the time it is harvested and fit to be carried round?"
+inquired I.
+
+"It is now turning fast," said she; "all that you see hanging in the
+drying-sheds has been already drawn; in three or four weeks it will
+all be housed, and then we begin to pack: in about two months from
+this the sloop will take it round."
+
+"But is it not very expensive keeping a sloop on purpose, with men to
+have her in charge?" inquired I, to hear what she would say.
+
+"The sloop lies at anchor, without a soul on board," said she. "No one
+ever comes up this river. I believe Captain Smith, who made the
+settlement, did do so once. There is another river, about twenty miles
+farther down, which is occasionally frequented by buccaneers, I am
+told--indeed, I know it, for my husband had more to do with them than
+perhaps was good for his soul, but this little river is never
+visited."
+
+"Then your servants take her round?"
+
+"Yes; I leave one in charge, and take two with me."
+
+"But you have but two."
+
+"Not till you came--one died; but now I have three," and she smiled at
+me again.
+
+If I had not been so afraid of affronting her, I certainly would have
+said to her, "Do any thing, I beg, but smile."
+
+I said no more on that point. She called Jeykell, who was in the
+tobacco-shed, and desired him to kill a couple of chickens, and bring
+them in. We then entered the cabin, and she observed--
+
+"I don't doubt but you are tired with so much fatigue; you look so; go
+and sleep on one of their beds; you shall have one for yourself by
+night."
+
+I was not sorry to do as she proposed, for I was tired out. I lay
+down, and did not wake till she called me and told me that dinner was
+ready. I was quite ready for that also, and I sat down with her, but
+the two convict servants did not. She ate in proportion to her size,
+and that is saying enough. After dinner she left me, and went with her
+two men on her farming avocations, and I was for a long while
+cogitating on what had passed. I perceived that I was completely in
+her power, and that it was only by obtaining her good-will that I had
+any chance of getting away, and I made up my mind to act accordingly.
+I found a comfortable bed, of the husks of Indian corn, prepared for
+me at night, in an ante-room where the two servant-men slept. It was a
+luxury that I had not enjoyed for a long while. For several days I
+remained very quiet, and apparently very contented. My mistress gave
+me no hard work, chiefly sending me on messages or taking me out with
+her. She made the distinction between me and the convicts that I
+always took my meals with her and they did not. In short, I was
+treated as a friend and visitor more than any thing else, and had I
+not been so anxious about going to England, I certainly had no reason
+to complain except of my detention, and this, it was evident, it was
+not in her power to prevent, as, until the sloop went away with the
+tobacco, she had no means of sending me away. One day, however, as I
+was walking past the tobacco-shed, I heard my name mentioned by the
+two convicts, and stopping, I heard James say,
+
+"Depend upon it, that's what she's after, Jeykell; and he is to be our
+master, whether he likes it or not."
+
+"Well, I shouldn't wonder," replied the other; "she does make pure
+love to him, that's certain."
+
+"Very true; every thing's fierce with her--even love--and so he'll
+find it if he don't fancy her."
+
+"Yes, indeed:--well, I'd rather serve another ten years than she
+should fall in love with me."
+
+"And if I had my choice, whether to be her husband or to swing, I
+should take the cord in preference."
+
+"Well, I pity him from my heart; for he is a good youth, and a
+fair-spoken and a handsome, too; and I'm sure that he has no idea of
+his unfortunate situation."
+
+"No idea, indeed," said I to myself, as I walked away. "Merciful
+Heaven! is it possible!" And when I thought over her conduct, and what
+had passed between us, I perceived not only that the convicts were
+right in their supposition, but that I had, by wishing to make myself
+agreeable to her, even assisted in bringing affairs to this crisis.
+
+That very day she had said to me: "I was very young when I married,
+only fourteen, and I lived with my husband nine years. He is dead more
+than a year now."
+
+When she said that, which she did at dinner, while she was clawing the
+flesh off the bone of a wild turkey, there was something so ridiculous
+in that feminine confession, coming from such a masculine mouth, that
+I felt very much inclined to laugh, but I replied,
+
+"You are a young widow, and ought to think of another husband."
+
+Again, when she said, "If ever I marry again, it shall not be a man
+who has been burnt on the hand. No, no, my husband shall be able to
+open both hands and show them."
+
+I replied, "You are right there. I would never disgrace myself by
+marrying a convict."
+
+When I thought of these and many other conversations which had passed
+between us, I had no doubt, in my own mind, but that the convicts were
+correct in their suppositions, and I was disgusted at my own
+blindness.
+
+"At all events," said I to myself, after a long cogitation, "if she
+wants to marry me, she must go to James Town for a parson, and if I
+once get there, I will contrive, as soon as extra constables are sworn
+in, to break off the match." But, seriously, I was in an awkward
+plight. There was something in that woman that was awful, and I could
+imagine her revenge to be most deadly. I thought the old Indian squaw
+to be bad enough, but this new mistress was a thousand times worse.
+What a hard fate, I thought, was mine, that I should be thus forced to
+marry against my will, and be separated from her whom I adored. I was
+a long while turning over the matter in my mind, and at last I
+resolved that I would make no alteration in my behaviour, but behave
+to her as before, and that if the affair was precipitated by my
+mistress, that I would be off to the woods, and take my chance of wild
+beasts and wild Indians, rather than consent to her wishes. I then
+went into the cabin, where I found her alone.
+
+"Alexander," said she (she would know my Christian name, and called me
+by it), "they say widows court the men, and that they are privileged
+to do so" (I turned pale, for I little thought that there was to be an
+explanation so soon); "at all events, whether they are or not, I know
+that a woman in my position cannot well expect a young man in yours to
+venture without encouragement. Now, Alexander, I have long perceived
+your feelings and your wishes, and I have only to say that mine are
+such as yours" (oh, I wish they were, thought I), "and therefore you
+have but to ask and to have."
+
+I was mute with fear and despair, and could not find a reply to make
+to her.
+
+"Why do you not answer, Alexander? Do you think me too forward?"
+
+"No," stammered I; "you are very kind, but this is so unexpected--so
+unlooked for--so unhoped for--I am so overcome."
+
+Observe, Madam, how strangely the sexes were changed. I was the woman
+in this instance.
+
+"I should like to consult my friends."
+
+"Consult your fiddlesticks," replied she, quickly. "Who have you got
+to consult? I hope, Alexander," said she, setting her broad teeth
+together, "that you are not trifling with me?"
+
+"Indeed, I never should think of trifling with you, mistress," replied
+I. "I feel much obliged to you for showing such a preference for me."
+
+"I think, Alexander, that you ought; so now then, if you please, give
+me your answer," replied she.
+
+"Had I been prepared for your kindness, I would have done so at once,
+but I have many serious questions to put to myself, and if you please,
+we will renew the subject to-morrow morning. I will then tell you
+candidly how I am situated; and if after that you do not withdraw your
+proposal, I shall be most happy to be yours as soon as we can go to
+James Town to be married."
+
+"If," replied she, "you mean to insinuate, Alexander, that you have a
+wife in England, that is of no consequence in this settlement; for
+those who live here are free from all English marriages; and as for
+going to James Town, that is quite unnecessary. If the people in the
+settlement were to wait for a parson when they married, they would
+never be married at all. All that is necessary is, that we shall draw
+up an agreement of marriage, on paper, sign it, and have it witnessed.
+However, as I perceive that you are flurried, I will wait till
+to-morrow morning for your decision."
+
+My mistress then rose from her stool, and went into her chamber,
+shutting to the door with more emphasis than was at all agreeable to
+my nerves. I walked out into the open air to recover myself, and to
+reflect upon what course I should take in this awkward and dangerous
+dilemma. Marrying was out of the question--but how to avoid it? It was
+almost like being stopped by a highwayman. He says, "Your money or
+your life." My mistress's demand was, "Marriage or your life." There
+was but one hope, which was to escape that very night, and take my
+chance in the woods, and so I resolved to do.
+
+I did not go in till dark; my mistress was in her own room; the two
+convicts were sitting by the fire. I took my seat by them, but did not
+speak, except in a whisper, telling them that their mistress was not
+well, and that we had better go to bed, and not talk. They stared at
+me at the idea of the mistress being ill; they had never known her to
+complain of any thing since they resided with her; but the hint was
+sufficient. They went to bed, and so did I with my clothes on,
+watching the crevices of the door of her room to see if her lamp was
+out. In about half an hour the little thin beams through the chinks of
+her door disappeared, and then I knew that she had gone to bed. I
+watched two hours more before I ventured to stir. The convicts were
+both snoring loud, and effectually drowned any slight noise I might
+make in moving about. I went to the locker, secured all the cold meat
+for provision, took down one of the muskets and ammunition-belts, and
+having put the latter over my shoulders, I then took the musket in my
+hand and crept softly to the door of the cabin. Here was the only
+difficulty; once out, but five yards off, and I was clear. I removed
+the heavy wooden bar, without noise, and had now only to draw the
+bolt. I put my finger to it, and was sliding it gently and
+successfully back, when my throat was seized, and I was hurled back on
+the floor of the cabin. I was so stunned by the violence of the fall,
+that for a short time I was insensible. When I recovered, I felt a
+great weight upon my chest, and opening my eyes, found my mistress
+sitting upon me, and giving orders to the convicts, one of whom had
+already lighted the lamp.
+
+"For mercy's sake, get off my chest," said I, in a faint voice.
+
+"Yes, I will, but not yet," replied my mistress. "Now, James, hand
+them to me."
+
+James handed some chains to his mistress, who, turning round as she
+sat on my body, made the manacle at the end of the chain fast round my
+ankle. This went with a snap-spring, which could not be opened
+without a key belonging to it. At last she rose off my body, and I
+could breathe free. She then called to the convicts, saying,
+
+"Go both of you into the tobacco-shed, and wait there till I call you
+out. If I find you one foot nearer to us, I'll flay you alive."
+
+The servants ran off as fast at they could. When they were gone, my
+mistress said,
+
+"So you were about to escape, were you? You would avoid the chances of
+matrimony, and now you have other chances which you little dreamt of."
+
+"I thought it was the wisest thing that I could do," replied I. "Since
+I must be plain, I am sacredly betrothed to another person, and I
+could not even for you break my faith. I meant to have told you so
+to-morrow morning, but I was afraid it would annoy you, and therefore
+I wished to go away without giving you any answer."
+
+"Well, Sir, I offered to be your wife, which would have made you my
+lord and master. You refuse it, and now I make you my slave. I give
+you your option; you shall either consent to be my husband, or you
+shall remain as you are, and toil hard; but any time that you think
+better of it, and are willing to embrace my offer, you will be free,
+and I will be as a wife in subjection."
+
+"So you say," replied I; "but suppose I was to make you angry after I
+married you, you would do to me as you have done now. I may, perhaps,
+one day get free from this chain, but, once married to you, I am a
+slave for ever."
+
+"You may think otherwise before long," replied she; "in the mean time,
+you may walk out and cool yourself."
+
+She then returned to her room, and I rose, having determined to walk
+out and cool myself, as she proposed; but when I was on my legs, I
+found that to the other end of the chain, which was very heavy, and
+about two yards long, was, riveted an iron ball of about thirty pounds
+weight, so that I could not walk without carrying this heavy weight in
+my hands, for it could not be dragged. I lifted up the iron ball, and
+went out of the house. I was no longer afraid of her. I was in too
+great a rage to fear any thing. As I calmed, I considered my case, and
+found it to be hopeless; as I thought of Amy, and the many months of
+hope deferred, I wept bitterly; and I had no consolation, for the
+reader may recollect that I lost my Bible when I was sent on shore,
+naked almost, by the rascally captain of the Transcendant.
+
+I had now been twenty months away from Liverpool, and I felt as if my
+chance of seeing her that I loved was indeed hopeless. I might remain
+chained in such a solitude for years, or I might expire under her
+barbarous treatment, for I fully knew what I had to expect. However, I
+was resolved. I prayed fervently for support and succour in my time of
+trouble, and became more composed. I remained out the whole of the
+night, and watched the rising sun. The two convicts came out to their
+work, and shrugged their shoulders as they passed me, but they dared
+not speak to me.
+
+My mistress at last came out. She commenced with abuse, but I gave no
+answer. She tried soothing, but I was mute. At last she became frantic
+in her passion, hurled me away from her, and after being dreadfully
+beaten, I fell to the ground. She put her foot upon my neck, and she
+stood there, looking like a fury. She loaded me with epithets, and
+then of a sudden went down on her knees by me, and begged my pardon,
+calling me her dear Alexander--her life--entreating me to accede to
+her wishes. Never was there such a tigress in love before, I really
+believe.
+
+"Hear me," replied I; "as long as I am chained, I never will give any
+answer upon the present subject, that I swear."
+
+She rose from my side, and walked away.
+
+It is impossible, my dear Madam, for me to describe what I suffered
+from this woman for more than six weeks, during which she kept me
+chained in this way--at one time entreating me, the next moment
+kicking me, and throwing me down. I had no peace--my life became a
+burden to me, and I often entreated her, in mercy, to put an end to my
+sufferings. I also had my paroxysms of rage, and would then spurn her,
+spit at her, and do every thing I could, and say all that I could
+imagine, to show my hatred and contempt. At other times I was sullen,
+and that always annoyed her. She would bear my reproaches
+patiently--bear any thing, so long as I would talk; but if I remained
+obstinately silent, then, in a short time, her fury would break forth.
+I pitied her, notwithstanding her ill-treatment, for the woman did
+love me (after her own fashion) most intensely.
+
+It was on the seventh week of my confinement on the chain, that one
+morning very early, as I was lying in the tobacco-shed, for she had
+turned me out of the cabin, I perceived among the trees, which were
+about three hundred yards from the cabin, two Indians, in what is
+called their war-paint, which is a sign that they were on a hostile
+excursion. I remained perfectly quiet, and well concealed, that I
+might watch them. The convicts had more than once told me that the
+Indians would attack us, in consequence of an insult which my mistress
+had offered to their chief, with whom her husband had been so
+friendly; and when they stated what had passed, I agreed with them
+that they would not fail to resent the insult as soon as they could. I
+had therefore always been on the look-out, but had never seen any
+Indians before. My mistress, to whom I had, in our days of sweet
+converse, spoken about them, always laughed at the idea of their
+attacking her, and said that they might come if they liked. She had
+made every preparation for them, as she had loop-holes stuffed up with
+moss just below the roof of the cabin, from which you could fire down
+upon them till they were within four yards of the cabin, and other
+loop-holes, from which you might shoot them when close to; the window
+and door were impregnable, and provided that we were once in the
+cabin, there was no doubt but that a serious, if not effectual,
+resistance might be made. That the Indians were reconnoitring the
+cabin was evident, and that they did not do so for nothing was equally
+certain. After a while, during which I made out six of them, they fell
+back in the wood, and disappeared. The dog at that moment came out to
+me, and it was probably the sight of the dog which made them retreat,
+as they feared that he would have given notice of their being so close
+to us. I waited till the convicts came out, and then I went into the
+cabin, and said,
+
+"You drove me out of the house last night, and I come to return good
+for evil. As I lay in the tobacco-shed, I saw six Indians in the wood,
+to the east of the cabin, reconnoitring, and I have no doubt but that
+you will be attacked this night, so I give you notice."
+
+"And you hope that, by this fear of their attack, you will be set
+free, is it not?"
+
+"It is perfectly indifferent to me whether I am or not. I have often
+asked you to put an end to my misery, and as you have not done it, I
+shall bless those Indians for the friendly act; a blow of a tomahawk
+will release me, if you will not."
+
+"Well, then, let them come with their tomahawks," replied she, "and I
+will protect you from them, for no one shall release you but myself."
+
+"As you please," replied I; "I have done my duty in telling you what I
+have seen, and you may take precautions or not; for myself I care
+nothing."
+
+So saying, I lifted up my ball of iron and went away out of the door.
+I remained out of doors the whole of the day, and therefore did not
+know whether my mistress took any precautions or not, but I told the
+two convicts what I had seen, and advised them not to go far from the
+cabin, as they would run great danger.
+
+They inquired of me where I had seen the Indians, and I pointed out
+the spot in the wood, after which they went away. I was certain that
+the attack would be on this night, as there was no moon till three
+hours before daybreak; and as it was very dark, it would probably take
+place in the early part of the night. I had made up my mind what I
+would do, which was not in any way to defend the cabin while chained,
+but, when I was freed, I would fight to the last, so that I might be
+killed where I stood, and not be taken alive and tortured.
+
+I did not go out from home all that day, and, to my surprise, I was
+not molested by my mistress. At dark she called the convicts, but they
+did not answer; she came out to look for them, and asked me whether I
+had seen them.
+
+I told her that I had not seen them for two hours, and I had thought
+that they were in the house.
+
+"Did you tell them about the Indians?"
+
+"Yes, I did," I replied, "and stated my opinion that they would attack
+us this night, and I advised them not to go far from the cabin, or
+they might be cut off."
+
+"Then the cowardly sneaks have run off to the woods, and left us to
+defend ourselves how we can."
+
+"I shall not defend myself," replied I. "I shall stay here where I am.
+I wait for death, and will not avoid it."
+
+"Come into the house," said she, abruptly.
+
+"No," replied I, "I will not."
+
+"You will not," said she, and catching up the chain and ball in one
+hand, with her other arm she caught me round the waist, and carried me
+into the house.
+
+"Well," replied I, "it is only deferring it a little longer; they will
+force their way in it at last, and I will die here."
+
+"Wait until they arrive," replied my mistress. "But do you mean to say
+that you will not help to defend the house?"
+
+"Certainly not, as long as I am chained as a slave," replied I.
+
+My mistress made no reply, but busied herself with barring the door
+and window. She then placed the table and stools so that she might
+stand upon them and fire out of the upper loop-holes; pulled the moss
+out of the loop-holes; took down the muskets--of which there were
+six--from their rests, examined the priming of those which were
+loaded, and loaded those which were not. She then got out a supply of
+powder and ball, which she put ready on the table, brought the axes
+out, that they might be at hand, examined the water-jars to ascertain
+whether the convicts had filled them as she had ordered, and then,
+when all was prepared for defence, she removed the lamp into the inner
+room, leaving the one we were in so dark, that the Indians could not,
+by looking through the chinks or loop-holes, discover where the
+occupants of the cabin might be. All these arrangements she made with
+the greatest coolness, and I could not help admiring her courage and
+self-possession.
+
+"Is there any more to be done, Alexander?" said she, in a mild voice.
+
+"Where is the dog?" replied I.
+
+"Tied up in the tobacco-shed," said she.
+
+"Then there is no more to be done," replied I; "the dog will give you
+notice of their coming, as they will first occupy the tobacco-shed as
+an advanced post."
+
+"Alexander, will you promise not to escape if I set you free?"
+
+"Certainly not," replied I. "You set me free for your own purposes,
+because you wish me to help to defend your property; and then,
+forsooth, when the Indians are beat off, you will chain me again."
+
+"No, no; that was not my feeling, as I sit here alive," replied she;
+"but I was thinking that, if forced to retreat from the cabin, you
+would never be able to escape, and I never could save you; but they
+should hack me to pieces first."
+
+"Answer me one question," said I. "In a time of peril like this, would
+you, as a conscientious person, think that you were justified in
+retaining in such fetters even a convict who had robbed you? And if
+you feel that you would not, on what grounds do you act in this way to
+a man whom you profess to love?--I leave it to your conscience."
+
+She remained silent for some time: when the dog barked, and she
+started up.
+
+"I believe I am mad, or a fool," said she, sweeping back her hair from
+her forehead.
+
+She then took the key of the manacle out of her dress, and released
+me.
+
+"Alexander"--
+
+"Silence!" said I, putting my hand to her mouth, "this is no time to
+be heard speaking. Silence!" repeated I, in a whisper, "I hear them,
+they are round the house."
+
+I stood upon one of the stools and looked through a loop-hole. It was
+very dark, but as the Indians stood on the hill, there was clear sky
+behind them as low down as their waists, and I could perceive their
+motions, as they appeared to be receiving orders from their chief; and
+they advanced to the door of the cabin with axes and tomahawks. My
+mistress had mounted on the table at the same time that I had got on
+the stool. We now got down again without speaking, and each taking a
+musket, we kneeled down at the lower loop-holes which I have
+described. On second thoughts, I mounted the stool, whispering to her,
+"Don't fire till I do."
+
+The Indians came to the door and tapped, one asking in English to be
+let in. No reply was given, and they commenced their attack upon the
+door with their axes. As soon as this aggression took place, I took
+good aim at their chief, as I presumed him to be, who was now standing
+alone on the hill. I fired. He fell immediately.
+
+As I leaped from the stool my mistress discharged her musket, and we
+both caught up others and returned to the loop-holes below. By this
+time the blows of the axes were incessant, and made the cabin-door
+tremble, and the dust to fly down in showers from the roof; but the
+door was of double oak with iron braces, and not easily to be cut
+through; and the bars which held it were of great size and strength.
+
+It was some time before we could get another shot at an Indian, but at
+last I succeeded, and as his comrades were taking the body away my
+mistress shot another. After this the blows of the axes ceased, and
+they evidently had retreated. I then went into the inner room and
+extinguished the lamp, that they might not be able to see us--for the
+lamp gave a faint light. We returned to the table, and loaded the
+muskets in the dark.
+
+As I put my musket on the table, my mistress said, "Will they come
+again?"
+
+"Yes;" replied I, "I think they will; but if you wish to talk, we had
+better retreat to the fire-place: there we shall be safe from any
+shot."
+
+We retreated to the fire-place, and sat down on the ashes; it just
+held us both, and my mistress took this opportunity of embracing me,
+saying--
+
+"Dear Alexander, if I had a thousand lives, I would sacrifice them for
+you."
+
+"We have but one," replied I, "and that one I will devote for your
+defence; I can do no more."
+
+"Who did you fire at?" said she.
+
+"The chief, as I believe, who was on the hill giving orders. He fell;
+and I think that he fell dead."
+
+"Then depend upon it they will retreat," said she.
+
+"I think not; they will be revenged, if they possibly can; and we must
+expect a hard fight for it."
+
+"Why, what can they do? They never can break through the door, and
+when daylight comes we can shoot them by dozens."
+
+"Depend upon it," said I, "they will try to burn us out. The wind is
+high, which is all in their favour, and I suspect they are now gone to
+collect firewood."
+
+"And if they do fire the cabin, what shall we do? I never thought of
+that."
+
+"We must remain in it as long as we can, and then sally out and fight
+to the last; but every thing depends on circumstances. Be guided by
+me, and I will save you if I can."
+
+"Be guided by you!"
+
+"Yes! Recollect I am not in chains now, and that although you have all
+the courage of a man, still you have not been so accustomed to warfare
+as I have been. I have long been accustomed to command, to plan, and
+to execute, in times of peril like this."
+
+"You have great strength and courage; I little thought what a lion I
+had chained up," replied she. "Well, I love you all the better for it,
+and I will be guided by you, for I perceive already that you have the
+best head of the two. Hark! What is that?"
+
+"It is what I said," replied I; "they are laying firewood against the
+logs of the cabin on the windward side--(this was on the side
+opposite to the door). Now we must try if we cannot pick off some more
+of them," said I, rising and taking a musket. "Bring the stools over
+to this side, for we must fire from the upper loop-holes."
+
+We remained at our posts for some time without seeing an Indian. They
+had gone back to the wood for more combustibles. At last we perceived
+them coming back with the wood. I should imagine there were at least
+twenty of them.
+
+"Now, take good aim," said I.
+
+We both fired almost at the same moment, and three Indians fell.
+
+"Get down, and give me another musket," said I to my mistress.
+
+She handed me one, and, taking another for herself, resumed her
+station. We fired several times; sometimes with and sometimes without
+success; for the Indians went away twice for firewood before they had
+collected what they considered sufficient. By this time it was piled
+up to the eaves of the cabin, and our loop-holes were shut up; we
+therefore went over to the other side, where the door was, to see if
+there were any Indians there, but could not see one. We had been on
+the look-out for about five minutes, when the crackling of the wood,
+and the smoke forcing itself through the crevices between the logs,
+told us that the fire had been applied, and the wind soon fanned it up
+so that the flame poured through every chink and loop-hole, and
+lighted up the cabin.
+
+"We must retreat to the fire-place," said I. "Come quickly, or we
+shall be shot."
+
+"Why so?" said she, as she did as I requested.
+
+"They will peep through the loop-holes on the side of the cabin where
+the door is and see us plainly, until the cabin is filled with smoke,
+which it soon will be."
+
+"But tell me what we are to do now, for I feel if this smoke increases
+we shall not be able to speak to one another."
+
+This she said about five minutes after we had remained standing in the
+fire-place, with our heads up the chimney.
+
+"Perhaps it will be as well," replied I, "that I do speak so. This
+fierce wind drives the smoke to leeward in volumes, but the great
+burst of smoke will be when the roof is well on fire. It is now
+burning fiercely on the windward side, but we must wait till the
+lee-side has caught, and then the volume of smoke will be greater. The
+great point is to hit the precise time of opening the door, and
+escaping shrouded in a volume of smoke. If too soon, they will
+perceive us, and we shall be shot down; if too late, the roof will
+fall upon us, and we shall be smothered or burnt. We had better now, I
+think, leave this, and be all ready. Our best weapon, if we have to
+fight our way, will be an axe. Let us each take one, and, by now going
+near to the door, and putting our mouths to one of the loop-holes, we
+shall breathe freer, and unbar the door at the right time. Do you
+agree with me?"
+
+"You are right," said she; "you are a _man_, and I am a _woman_."
+
+We left the fire-place, and having felt for and found the axes, we
+went near the door, and put our mouths to the loop-holes below; and
+the smoke passing above them enabled us to breathe freer. I looked out
+and perceived that, with the exception of about six yards to leeward
+of the cabin, there was a dense volume of smoke rolling along the
+ground for a long distance, and that if we could only once gain it
+without being perceived, we should probably be saved. I therefore
+unbarred the door, drew the bolt, and held it in my hand, all ready
+for a start. The cabin was now in flames in every part as well as the
+roof. I touched my mistress, and then took her hand in mine, watching
+at the loop-hole. At last, when the heat was almost unbearable, an
+eddy of the wind drove back the smoke close to the lee-side of the
+cabin, and all was dark. I jumped up, opened the door, and dragged my
+mistress after me; we walked out into the black mass completely hid
+from our enemies, and then running hand-in-hand as fast as we could to
+leeward in the centre of the smoke, we found ourselves at least one
+hundred yards from the cabin without the Indians having any idea that
+we were not still inside. As we retreated, the density of the smoke
+became less, and I then told her to run for her life, as the Indians
+would discover that the door of the cabin was open and that we had
+escaped--and so it proved. We were still a hundred yards from the wood
+when a yell was given which proved that they had discovered our
+escape, and were in pursuit. We gained the wood; I turned round a
+moment to look behind me, and perceived at least forty or fifty
+Indians in full pursuit of us--the foremost about two hundred yards
+distant.
+
+"Now we must run for it, mistress," said I, "and we must no longer
+take hands. We shall have to thread the wood. Away! We have no time to
+lose."
+
+So saying, I snatched my hand from her and sprang forward; she
+following me as fast as she could, more fearful, evidently, of my
+making my escape from her than of her own escape from the Indians. As
+soon as I was a hundred yards in the wood, I turned short to the
+right, and fled with all my speed in that direction, because I hoped
+by this means to deceive the Indians, and it was easier to run where
+the wood was not so thick. My mistress followed me close: she would
+have hallooed to me, but she had not breath after the first half-mile.
+I found out that I was more fleet than she was. Whether encumbered
+with her clothes, or perhaps not so much used to exercise, I heard her
+panting after me. I could easily have left her, but my fear was that
+she would have called to me, and if she had, the Indians would have
+heard her, and have known the direction I had taken, and, when once on
+my trail, they would, as soon as daylight came, have followed me by it
+to any distance; I therefore slackened my speed so as just to enable
+my mistress to keep up with me at about ten yards' distance; when we
+had run about three miles I felt certain that she could not proceed
+much further: speak she could not, and as I ran without once looking
+behind me, she could make no sign. I continued at a less rapid pace
+for about a mile further. I did this to enable her to keep up with me,
+and to recover my own breath as much as possible previous to a start.
+The voices of the Indians had long been out of hearing, and it was
+clear that they had not discovered the direction which we had taken. I
+knew, therefore, that they could not hear her now, if she did cry out
+as loud as she could, and I gradually increased my speed, till I
+could no longer hear her panting behind me; I then went off at my full
+speed, and after a few minutes I heard her voice at some distance
+faintly calling out my name. "Yes," thought I, "but I have not
+forgotten the ball and chain; and if you thought that you had let
+loose a lion while we were in the cabin, you shall find that you have
+loosed a deer in the woods." I then stopped for a few moments to
+recover my breath; I did not, however, wait long; I was afraid that my
+mistress might recover her breath as well as myself, and I again set
+off as fast as I could. The idea of torture from the Indians, or again
+being kept confined by my mistress, gave me endurance which I thought
+myself incapable of. Before morning I calculated that I had run at
+least twenty miles, if not more.
+
+With the perspiration running down me in streams, and hardly able to
+drag one leg before the other, I at last, just about daybreak, gave it
+up, when I threw myself on the ground, and dropped out of my hand my
+axe, which I had carried the whole way. I lay there for more than half
+an hour, tormented with thirst, but quite unable to move. At last I
+recovered; and, as I well knew that the Indians would divide in
+parties of three or four, and hunt every part of the woods, and by
+daylight probably discover my track, I rose and prepared to resume my
+toil, when, looking round me, I perceived that I was exactly on the
+spot where I had followed the deer, and had fallen in with the Jolly
+Rover, as he termed himself, who had pointed out the way to the
+plantations. I turned and saw the river below, and as he had told me
+that the Indians never came there, I resolved to go to the river,
+where, at least, I should find shell-fish and water. I did so; and in
+half an hour arrived at the skirts of the wood, and found that the
+river was about four hundred yards from me and clear of trees at the
+mouth for some distance. I went down to the river, which ran swiftly
+out, and I drank till I was ready to burst. I then rose on my feet,
+and walked along its banks towards the mouth, thinking what I should
+do. To get to James Town appeared to me to be an impossibility, unless
+by water, and I was not likely to meet with any other vessel here but
+a pirate. Should I then go aboard of a pirate? It appeared to me to
+be my only resource, and that I should be happy if I could find one.
+
+By this time I had arrived at the mouth of the river, and, looking out
+to seaward, I saw a schooner at anchor. She was about three miles off.
+That she was a pirate vessel, I presumed. Should I go on board of her
+or not? and if so, how was I to get on board? All her boats were up:
+and I surmised that she had just left the river with the intention of
+sailing as soon as there was any wind, for now it was calm. The river
+ran out swiftly, and I thought I should be able to swim the distance
+with the assistance I should obtain from the current, which swept down
+right for her, and she was riding to its strength.
+
+I was demurring. I had been perhaps two hours on the beach, waiting to
+see if she might send a boat on shore, when, as I stood at the
+river-side, still hesitating, I happened to turn round and perceived
+three Indians coming down upon me as fast as they could. I hesitated
+no longer, but plunged into the stream, and was swept out two hundred
+yards before they arrived at the beach. I made for the schooner; and
+the current ran out so fast, that in half an hour I was close to her.
+I swam for her cable, which I clung to, and then shouted loudly. This
+induced some of the crew to look over the bows, and they handed me a
+bowling knot, into which I fixed myself, and was hauled on board.
+
+I was dragged aft to give an account of myself, and I stated in few
+words that I had been pursued by the Indians, and swam off to save my
+life.
+
+"Hav'n't we met before?" said a rough voice.
+
+I looked, and saw the Jolly Rover, whom I had fallen in with on shore.
+I said, "Yes; I was escaping from the Indians when I met you, and you
+showed me the direction of the plantations."
+
+"All's right," said he. "It's a true bill; and were those Indians
+after you that we saw on the beach just now?"
+
+"Yes," I replied; and then I stated how it was that they had attacked
+our cabin, and how we had escaped.
+
+"That was well done, and so you swam off three miles. Fire and water
+won't hurt you; that's clear. You're just the man for us. What
+thing-um-bob is this that you have hung round your neck?" said he,
+taking up the leathern bag with the diamond in it.
+
+"That," replied I--a sudden thought having struck me--"is my caul; I
+was born with a caul, and I have always worn it, as it saves a man
+from drowning."
+
+"No wonder that you swam three miles, then," replied the man.
+
+You must know, Madam, that some people are born with a membrane over
+the face, which is termed a caul, and there has been a vulgar error
+that such people can never be drowned, especially if they wear this
+caul about their person in after-life. Sailors are superstitious in
+many things, but particularly in this, and my caul was therefore as
+much respected by them as it hung round my neck, as it was by the
+Indians when they thought it was what they call "magic" or "medicine."
+
+"Well," said the Jolly Rover, "as you had so much fire, so much water,
+and so much running, I think you won't be sorry to have a biscuit and
+glass of grog, and then turn in; to-morrow we will talk to you."
+
+I went down below, very glad to accept the offer, and as I was
+regaling myself, who should come up to me but two of the Portuguese
+who had been wrecked in the xebeque, and put on shore with me in the
+little boat by the captain of the Transcendant. I was very glad to see
+them. They told me that, after great hardship and suffering, they had
+arrived famished at the banks of this river, and had been taken on
+board by the pirates, and had remained with them ever since; that they
+were very anxious to get away, but never had an opportunity. I begged
+them not to say who I was, but merely that I was once a shipmate of
+theirs. They promised, and being very tired, I then lay down and fell
+asleep. I was so worn out, that I did not wake till the next morning,
+when I found that we were under all sail running down to the
+southward. I saw the Jolly Rover, as I had termed him, on deck (his
+real or assumed name, I don't know which, I found out to be Toplift),
+sitting on a gun abaft. He called me to him. I said,
+
+"Are you the captain?"
+
+"Yes," he replied, "for want of a better. I told you months ago what
+we were, so it's no use repeating it. Do you intend to join us?"
+
+"Then," replied I, "I will be very candid with you. I have been driven
+as it were on board of your vessel, but certainly without knowing
+exactly what she was. Now, captain, I have to ask you one
+question:--Would you, if you could go on shore in England, with plenty
+of money at your command, and plenty of good friends,--would you be
+here?"
+
+"No; certainly not," replied he.
+
+"Well; I am in that position. If once in England, I have money enough
+to live upon, and plenty of friends; I therefore naturally want to get
+back to England, and not to run the risk of my neck on board of this
+vessel."
+
+"That's very true," replied he, "but there are other considerations;
+my men won't have a man on board who will not swear fidelity, and if
+you will not, I cannot protect you,--they will throw you overboard. We
+don't carry passengers."
+
+"That's very true, also; and I will swear fidelity so far as this,
+that you never shall be betrayed by me, and I never will appear as a
+witness against one of you; it were most ungrateful if I did. While I
+am on board, I will do any duty you please to put me to, for I cannot
+expect to eat my bread for nothing."
+
+"And suppose we come to action?"
+
+"There's the difficulty," replied I; "against an English ship I never
+will fight."
+
+"But if we are opposed to any other nation, and there is a chance of
+our being overpowered?"
+
+"Why, then, if you are overpowered, as I shall be hung along with the
+rest, I think I must do all I can to save my own life; but,
+overpowered or not, I will not fire a shot or draw a cutlass against
+my own countrymen."
+
+"Well, I cannot deny but that's all very fair."
+
+"I think," replied I, "it is as much as you can expect; especially as
+I never will share any prize-money."
+
+"Well; I will talk to the men, and hear what they say; but, now,
+answer me one question--Are you not a seaman?"
+
+"I will answer the truth to every thing; I am a seaman, and I have
+commanded a privateer. I have served many years in privateers, and
+have seen a great deal of hard fighting."
+
+"So I thought," replied he; "and now answer me another question,--Was
+it not you that played that trick to that French privateer captain at
+Bordeaux?"
+
+"Yes it was," replied I; "but how came you to know that?"
+
+"Because I was the mate of a merchant vessel that had been captured,
+and I saw you three or four times as you passed the vessel I was on
+board of; for, being put in quarantine, we were not sent to prison
+till the pratique was given. I thought that I knew you again."
+
+"Well; I have no concealment to make."
+
+"No: but I will tell you candidly, my men, if they knew all this,
+would not allow you to leave the vessel. Indeed, you might be captain
+if you pleased, for I do not suit them. Our captain--for I was his
+officer--was killed about six months ago; and I really am not fit for
+the office--I am too tender-hearted."
+
+"Well; you don't look so," replied I, laughing.
+
+"Can't judge of outsides," replied he; "but it's a fact. They say that
+they will be all condemned if taken, from my not destroying the crews
+of the vessels we take; that they will be so many witnesses against
+them; and I cannot make up my mind to cold-blooded murder. I am bad
+enough; I rob on the high seas; I kill on the high seas--for we must
+kill when we fight; but I cannot commit deliberate murder either at
+sea or on shore, and so I tell them. If any one else could navigate
+the vessel, I should be superseded immediately."
+
+"I am glad to hear you say what you have, captain, it makes me less
+dissatisfied at finding myself here. Well; I have said all I can, and
+I must trust to you to manage with your ship's company."
+
+"It will be a difficult job," said he, musing.
+
+"Tell them," replied I, "that I was once a captain of a vessel like
+this (after all, there is not so much difference between a pirate and
+privateer as you may think)--and that I will not be under the command
+of any one."
+
+"If they hear that, they will give you the command of this vessel."
+
+"I will refuse to take it; and give my reasons."
+
+"Well; I'll tell them that: I leave you to settle with them how you
+can; but," added he, in a low tone; "there are some desperate villains
+among them."
+
+"That I take for granted," replied I; "so now I leave you to speak to
+them."
+
+Toplift did so. He told them that I was a pirate captain, who had lost
+his vessel and been thrown on shore, but I refused to join any ship
+except as captain of her; that I would not serve as first officer, and
+would obey no one. He told them that he knew me before, and he
+narrated the business at Bordeaux when I commanded a privateer,
+extolling me, as I afterwards found, beyond all measure.
+
+The crew, having heard what he had to say, went forward, and, after
+consultation, came to Toplift and said that I must take the oath.
+
+Toplift replied that he had desired me so to do, and that I had
+answered that I would not. "But," said he, "you had better speak to
+him yourselves. Call all hands aft and hear what he has to say."
+
+This was done, and I was sent for.
+
+"I have told them what you said, Sir. I don't know your name."
+
+"I have no name," replied I, proudly, "except 'Captain'--that's my
+name."
+
+The fact is, Madam, I was determined to carry it out bravely; knowing
+that it is the best way to deal with such people as I now had in hand.
+
+"Well, then, Captain, I have told the men that you will not take the
+oath."
+
+"Take the oath," replied I, with scorn; "no; I administer the oath to
+others. I make them take it. I make them swear fidelity to me. Such
+has been my conduct, and I shall not depart from it."
+
+"Well, but, Captain Toplift, you don't mean to say that he is to
+remain on board with us and not take the oath," said a surly-looking
+ruffian. "In spite of you, he shall take the oath, Captain Toplift."
+
+"Captain Toplift," said I, calmly, "do you allow one of your crew to
+use such language as this. Had I been captain of this ship, I would
+have blown his brains out as he stood. You don't know to deal with
+these rascals. I do."
+
+Captain Toplift, who appeared much pleased at being supported in this
+way by me--(strange that a single individual, whom they might have
+thrown overboard in a minute, should have gained such an ascendency,
+but so it was)--and who perceived that the men fell back, as if taken
+by surprise, then said, "Captain, you have taught me a good lesson,
+which I will take advantage of. Seize that fellow and put him in
+irons."
+
+"Hah!" cried the man, seeing that no one touched him: "who is to bell
+the cat! hah!" and he drew his cutlass.
+
+"I will, then," said I to Captain Toplift, "if you desire it;" and,
+stepping forward, I went up to the man, saying, "Come, come, my good
+fellow, this won't do here; I'm used to deal with such chaps as you,
+and I can manage worse than you, a good deal."
+
+I advanced till I was within the stroke of his cutlass before he was
+aware of it, and, seizing him by the waist, I threw him flat on his
+back and put my foot on his neck.
+
+"Now," cried I, in an authoritative voice, "put this man in irons
+immediately--refuse who dares. Here, you Sirs, lay hold of this
+fellow," continued I, looking to the Portuguese; who accordingly came
+forward and led him away, assisted by others, who now joined them.
+
+"Are there any more mutineers here?" inquired I; "if so, let them step
+forward."
+
+No one stirred.
+
+"My lads," said I, "it is very true that I have refused to take the
+oath, for the oath is not given to those who command, but to those who
+obey; but at the same time I am not one to betray you. You know who I
+am; and is it likely?"
+
+"No, no," replied the men.
+
+"Sir," asked one of them, who had been most forward and insolent,
+"will you be our captain?--say but the word,--you are the sort of man
+we want."
+
+"You have a captain already," replied I, "and in a few weeks I shall
+command a vessel of my own; I cannot, therefore, accept your offer;
+but while I am on board I will do all in my power to assist Captain
+Toplift in any way, and you can desire no more. And now, my men, as an
+old hand, I have but this advice to give you, which is--to return to
+your duty; for every thing in a vessel of this description depends
+upon obedience; and to you, Captain Toplift, I have also advice to
+give, which is--to shoot the first man who behaves as that scoundrel
+did who is now in irons. Boatswain! pipe down."
+
+I hardly knew whether this latter order would be obeyed by the
+boatswain, or, if obeyed by the boatswain, whether it would be obeyed
+by the men; but, to my great satisfaction, it was; and the men retired
+peaceably.
+
+"Well, Captain Toplift," said I, "I have done you no harm, and myself
+some good."
+
+"You have indeed," replied he; "come down into the cabin." When we
+were in the cabin he said, "You have unarmed and subdued the most
+mutinous rascal in the vessel, and you have strengthened my authority.
+They fully believe you are what you assert from your behaviour, and I
+feel, with you at my side, I shall get on better with these fellows
+than I have done. But now, to keep up the idea, you must, of course,
+mess in the cabin with me, and I can offer you clothes, not my own,
+but those of the former captain, which will suit your shape and make."
+
+I readily agreed with him; and having equipped myself in the clothes
+he offered me, which were handsome, I soon afterwards went on deck
+with him, and received the greatest respect from the men as I passed
+them. A cot was slung for me in the cabin, and I lived altogether with
+Captain Toplift, who was a good-hearted, rough sort of a man,
+certainly wholly unfit for the command of a vessel manned by such a
+set of miscreants, and employed on such a service. He told me that he
+had been taken three years before by a pirate vessel, and finding that
+he could navigate, they had detained him by force, and that at last he
+had become accustomed to his position.
+
+"We all must live," said he, "and I had no other means of livelihood
+left me; but it's sorely against my conscience, and that's the truth.
+However, I am used to it now, and that reconciles you to any thing,
+except murder in cold blood, and that I never will consent to."
+
+On my inquiring where they were about to cruise, he said on the
+Spanish Main.
+
+"But," said I, "it is peace with the Spaniards just now."
+
+"I hardly knew," said he, "it was peace. Not that peace makes any
+difference to us, for we take every thing; but you refer to myself, I
+know, and I tell you frankly that I have preferred this cruise merely
+that we may not fall in with English vessels, which we are not likely
+to do there. I wish I was out of her with all my heart and soul."
+
+"No doubt of it, Captain Toplift; I think you are sincere. Suppose you
+put into one of the inlets of Jamaica, they won't know where we are;
+let us take a boat on shore and leave her. I will provide for you, and
+you shall gain your living in an honest way."
+
+"God bless you, Sir," said he; "I will try what I can do. We must talk
+the matter over, for they may suspect something, and then it would be
+all over with us."
+
+We continued to run down till we were in the latitude of the Virgin
+Isles, and then we altered her course for Jamaica. The first and
+second mates generally received information of Captain Toplift as to
+his movements and intentions, which they communicated to the crew. If
+the crew disapproved of them, they said so, and they were considered
+to have some voice in the matter.
+
+Now, although no navigators, these men knew enough of a chart and a
+course to find that there must be some reason for its being altered as
+it was, instead of running down by the Spanish Main, and they inquired
+why the cruise was altered.
+
+Captain Toplift replied that he had taken my advice, and that I had
+assured him that at the back of the island of Jamaica we should
+certainly fall in with some rich Spanish vessels, if we lay there
+quiet in some nook or another for a short time, as this was their time
+for coming up from the south to the Havannah, where they rendezvoused
+for a convoy.
+
+This reply appeared very satisfactory to the crew, for they were all
+cheerful and obedient, and we ran down to Jamaica, and when we were
+close in shore, we shortened sail and hove to. We remained three or
+four days in the offing, that we might not cause any suspicion by our
+leaving too soon. Captain Toplift then told the mates that I proposed
+anchoring in some secret bay or inlet, as we were certain to see the
+Spanish ships if we could send any one ashore on the hills to look out
+for them. This was agreed to, and we made sail and ran along the
+coast, looking out for some convenient anchorage.
+
+As we were so doing, a vessel hove in sight, and we immediately made
+all sail in chase. As she did not attempt to avoid us, we hauled off
+as she came near, to see what she might be. She then hoisted a yellow
+flag at her peak (for she was an hermaphrodite brig); this puzzled us
+not a little, and we edged down towards her, for she was very
+rakish-looking, except in her sails.
+
+As we neared, finding I suppose that we did not answer her signals,
+and we were not the vessel she expected us to be, she suddenly
+altered her course before the wind, setting all the sail that she
+possibly could. We immediately crowded canvas in chase, and came up
+with her fast. As we ran, the mate and I looked at her through the
+glass, and I made her out to be the Transcendant, the captain of which
+had treated us so cruelly when we were in the boat, and who had robbed
+us of our money and clothes. I called the Portuguese and desired them
+to look at the vessel through the glass, and give me their opinion.
+They directly said that it was the vessel I supposed.
+
+"Let us only catch the rascal," said I, "and we will pay him in his
+own coin;" and I immediately gave directions for the better trimming
+of the sails, so anxious was I to come up with him.
+
+The men of the schooner were much pleased at the anxiety I displayed
+to come up with the chase, and by the alacrity with which they obeyed
+me, I saw how anxious they were that I should be their captain. In two
+hours we were within gun-shot, and sent one of our bow-chasers after
+him. Perceiving that it was useless to run, the fellow hove to, and as
+we came alongside, he was all ready with his boat to come on board. He
+did so, and at first I kept out of sight to hear what he would say. He
+was followed up the side by his amiable son. Captain Toplift received
+him on deck, and he looked around him, saying, "I believe I am right.
+I was afraid I had made more mistakes than one. I believe you are in
+the free trade?"
+
+"Yes," replied Toplift, "we are."
+
+"Yes, I thought so, captain, but I expected to meet another schooner
+which is very like to yours, and is also in the trade. I made my
+signal to her, as, when she has any thing to get rid of, why I take it
+off her hands. Perhaps you may have something of the kind which is not
+exactly safe to show,--church-plate and the like. I pay ready
+money--that's my plan."
+
+As it afterwards appeared, Madam, this scoundrel had been in the free
+trade, or pirating, himself for many years, but he had taken an
+opportunity of walking off with a large sum of money belonging to the
+pirate crew, and with this money he had purchased his property in
+Virginia and the brig which he now commanded. Although he did not
+follow up the free trade any more, he had made arrangements with a
+pirate captain whom he met at Port Royal to meet them at the back of
+the island and receive such articles as the pirate might want to turn
+into cash, by which he, of course, took care to secure large profits.
+
+This he had done several times, and as he sold his cargo at Port Royal
+for dollars, he had always cash to pay for what the pirate wished to
+get rid of. But he had now run into the lion's jaws, for not only were
+I and the Portuguese on board to denounce him as a robber, but, what
+was still more unfortunate for him, three of the pirate's crew, whom
+he had swindled out of their property, were also on board of us, and
+recognized him immediately.
+
+As Captain Toplift knew how I had been treated by him, he thought it
+was time he should be confronted with me, and to his question as to
+whether there was any thing to dispose of, he replied to him, "You
+must put that question to the captain. There he is."
+
+The fellow turned to me; he looked at me, stared, and was mute, when
+his cub of a boy cried out, "As sure as a gun it's he, father, and no
+mistake."
+
+"Oh, you imp of Satan, you know me, do you?" replied I. "Yes, it is
+he. Send all the men aft."
+
+The men came fast enough. They were only waiting till I had spoken to
+them to come and give information against him.
+
+"Now, my lads," said I, "this is a scoundrel who fell in with some of
+us when we were in distress, after we had lost our vessel. Instead of
+behaving as one seaman does to another, he robbed us of all we had,
+and turned us adrift naked to be killed by the Indians. Of all, I and
+the two Portuguese you took on board about four months back are the
+only three left: the others perished. The one who was with me was
+burnt to death by the Indians, and I narrowly escaped. I leave you to
+decide what this scoundrel merits."
+
+"But there is more against him, captain," said the men, and then four
+of them stepped out and declared that he had run away with the money
+belonging to the crew of which they were a part, and that the sum he
+had stolen amounted to 25,000 dollars.
+
+"What have you to say for yourself?" said I to him.
+
+"That I have been a cursed fool to be caught as I have been."
+
+"What will they do, father?"
+
+"Hang us, I suppose," replied he.
+
+"Captain Toplift," said I, "I do not command this vessel, and I shall
+therefore leave you to decide upon the fate of this miscreant;" and
+having said that, I was going below to the cabin, when the captain of
+the Transcendant's son ran to me, and said, "I want to speak to you,
+Sir, when you are alone."
+
+"What are you after, Peleg?" cried his father.
+
+"I'm going to save your life, father, if I can," replied he.
+
+"You'll be clever if you do that, boy," said the man, sneeringly.
+
+I allowed the boy to follow me down into the cabin, and then asked him
+what he had to say.
+
+"I have that to tell you which is of more value than the lives of a
+hundred boys like me."
+
+"Boys like you? Why I thought it was to save your father's life that
+you came down, Sir?"
+
+"Pooh!" said he, "let him hang; he was born for a halter. I am come to
+save my own life. I only said that to gammon him."
+
+"You're a hopeful youth," said I; "and pray what is that you can tell
+me that will save your own neck from the halter?"
+
+"That which will save your own, most likely," replied the boy, "and
+tit-for-tat's all fair."
+
+"Well, let's hear it, then," replied I.
+
+"No, not unless you promise. I can swing, if need be, as well as
+father, but I'd rather not, 'cause I know where all his money is
+hidden."
+
+"I can't make any promise," replied I.
+
+"Then I can't tell," replied he, "so I may e'en go on deck and tell
+father that I cannot manage it;" and as he said the latter part of
+this speech, the undaunted little villain actually laughed at the idea
+of gammoning his father, as he termed it.
+
+Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from
+it, is mostly true; but it is more certain that if you train a child
+up in the way that he should not go, he will be a more true disciple.
+Could there be a more decided proof of the above than the behaviour of
+this young villain? but his father had made him so, and thus was he
+rewarded.
+
+"Stop," said I, for I had reflected whether, after all, there were any
+grounds for hanging the boy, and come to a conclusion that a jury
+would have probably acquitted him. "Stop," said I; "you say that what
+you can tell is of the greatest consequence."
+
+"And becomes of more consequence every minute that passes," replied
+he. "I will tell you every thing, and let you into father's secrets. I
+peach upon father altogether."
+
+"Well, then," replied I, "if what you have to disclose proves
+important, I will do all I can to save your life, and I have no doubt
+that I shall be able so to do."
+
+"No more have I," replied he, "or I would not have come to you. Now
+then, father came to the back of the island to do a little business
+with a pirate schooner, as he said just now; and he has very often
+done it before, as he said just now; but father did not tell you all.
+When we were in Port Royal, father went to the captain of a king's
+vessel who is there, having been sent to put down the pirates if
+possible, and he offered this captain of the king's ship, for a
+certain sum, to put our friends that we exchange with into his hands."
+
+"What, betray his friend the pirate?"
+
+"Yes, father agreed that he would come round as he has done this day,
+and would contrive to chaffer and bargain with him and keep him so
+late in the bay that the king's ship should come upon him all of a
+sudden and take him, and this was father's intention, only you have
+pinned him. The king's ship will be round that point in two hours or
+thereabouts, so if you are found here you will be taken and hanged as
+sure as I ain't hanged yet. Now ain't this important news, and worth
+all I asked for it?"
+
+"It certainly is, if it is true, boy."
+
+"Oh, I'll prove it, for I always goes with father, and he trusts me
+with every thing. I saw the paper signed. The king's ship is called
+the Vestal, and the captain who signed the paper, signed it Philip
+Musgrave."
+
+"Indeed," said I, turning away, for I did not wish the boy to perceive
+my emotion at this announcement. I recovered myself as soon as I
+could, and said to him, "Boy, I will keep my promise. Do you stay
+below, and I will go on deck and plead for your life."
+
+"Mayn't I go on deck for a bit?" said he.
+
+"What, to wish your father good-bye? No, no, you had better spare
+yourself and him that painful meeting."
+
+"No, I don't want to wish him good-bye; I'll wait till it's over, only
+I never did see a man hanged, and I have a curiosity to have just a
+peep."
+
+"Out, you little monster," cried I, running up on deck, for the
+information I had received was too important not to be immediately
+taken advantage of.
+
+"Well, captain, has the boy saved his father's life?"
+
+"No," replied I, in a loud voice.
+
+"Then, up he goes," said the men, for the halter had been round his
+neck and run out to the yard-arm for some time, and the men had manned
+the rope, only awaiting my return on deck. In a second, the captain of
+the Transcendant was swinging in the air, and certainly if ever a
+scoundrel merited his fate, it was that man. Shortly afterwards I
+turned round, and there was the young hopeful looking at his father's
+body swinging to and fro with the motion of the vessel.
+
+I looked in vain for a tear in his eye; there was not a symptom of
+emotion. Seeing me look sternly at him, he hastened down below again.
+
+"My lads," said I to the men, who were all on deck, "I have received
+intelligence of that importance that I recommend that we should cut
+that vessel adrift, and make sail without a moment's loss of time."
+
+"What, not plunder?" cried the men, looking at the Transcendant.
+
+"No, not think of it, if you are wise."
+
+At this reply all of the men exclaimed that "that would not do"--"that
+plunder they would"--that "I was not the captain of the vessel," and
+many more expressions showing how soon a man may lose popularity on
+board of a pirate vessel.
+
+"I gave my opinion, my men, and if you will hear why I said so--"
+
+"No, no, out boats," cried they all, and simultaneously ran to lower
+down the boats, for it was now calm, that they might tow the schooner
+alongside of the Transcendant.
+
+"You might as well talk to the wind as talk to them when there is
+plunder to be obtained," said Toplift to me in a low tone.
+
+"Come down with me," said I, "and I will tell you what I have heard."
+
+"Ain't they going to plunder the brig?" said Master Peleg, when we
+came down; "I know where father's dollars are," and up he ran on deck.
+
+I made a short remark upon the depravity of the boy, and then informed
+Captain Toplift of what he had told me.
+
+"If you had told them, they would not have paid attention to you. The
+boat's crew who came with the captain have told them that there is
+money on board, and all authority is now at an end."
+
+"Well," replied I, "I believe that the boy has told the truth."
+
+"And what do you mean to do?"
+
+"Remain below quietly, if I am allowed," replied I.
+
+"But I cannot," said he; "they would throw me overboard."
+
+"Make as bad a fight of it as you can," replied I.
+
+"That I will," said Captain Toplift, "and with so superior a force
+opposed, we cannot stand long. But I must tell you where you must be."
+
+"Where?" replied I.
+
+"At the entrance of the magazine, for as sure as we stand here they
+will blow up the vessel rather than be taken. Not all of them, but two
+or three I know are determined so to do, and resolute enough to do it.
+My pistols are there. You have only to open this door, and you are in
+the magazine passage. See," said he, opening the door, "there is the
+scuttle where they hand the powder up."
+
+"I will be on the watch, depend upon it; and, Captain Toplift, if the
+schooner is taken, and I am alive, you may have no fear for yourself."
+
+"Now let us go on deck again."
+
+"I will follow you," replied I.
+
+"I am alone at last, thank Heaven!" said I to myself. "What a position
+am I in, and how much will be in suspense before twenty-four hours are
+over. My own brother here, not ten miles perhaps from me, commanding
+the vessel which will attack this on which I am on board. That they
+will take us I have no doubt; but what risk do I run--of death by
+shot, or by their blowing up the vessel in spite of me, or of no
+quarter being given. Well, I wish it were decided. At all events, I am
+long supposed dead, and I shall not be recognized among the heaps of
+bodies."
+
+I then went to the locker and took out my duck frock and trowsers,
+determining that I would, if I were killed, be killed in those
+clothes, and be thrown overboard as a common seaman. I then went on
+deck, for I had heard the grating of the sides of the two vessels and
+knew that they were in contact.
+
+All was uproar and confusion on board of the Transcendant, but there
+was nobody on board the schooner except Toplift and myself. I cannot
+say that I never saw such a scene, for I had seen quite as bad on
+board of a privateer. The common seamen, as well as the soldiers, when
+let loose to plunder, are like maniacs. In half an hour they had
+broken open every thing, cut the crew to pieces, found out the hoard
+of dollars, which was shown them by young Peleg, who tried for his
+share, but for so doing received a chop with a cutlass, which cut off
+his right ear, and wounded him severely on the shoulder; but his right
+arm was not disabled, and while the man that cut him down was bending
+over a heap of dollars, which took both hands to lift them, the boy
+ran his knife deep into the man's side, who fell mortally wounded. The
+rush for the dollars thus at the mercy of the rest was so great, that
+Peleg was not minded, and he crept away and came on board the
+schooner. We saw that he was bleeding profusely, but we asked no
+questions, and he went down the ladder forward.
+
+"What has that young villain been after?" said Toplift.
+
+"I presume he has been quarrelling for plunder, and considered that he
+had a greater right to his father's money than anybody else."
+
+Among other plunder the people had not forgotten to look for liquor,
+and an hour had not passed before three-fourths of the men were more
+or less intoxicated. They had found plenty of good clothes, and were
+strutting about with gold-laced waistcoats and embroidered coats over
+their dirty frocks. The uproar increased every minute, when Toplift,
+who had been looking out with the glass, exclaimed, "There she is, by
+all that's sacred!"
+
+I caught the glass out of his hand, and found it was the king's ship.
+She was a large flush vessel, apparently of eighteen or twenty guns,
+just opening from the point, and not seven miles from us. We were
+still becalmed, and she was bringing the wind down with her, so that
+to escape appeared impossible.
+
+"Now, what shall we do?" said Captain Toplift; "shall we allow her to
+come down upon us and say nothing to the men, or shall we point out
+the danger, and persuade them to come on board and prepare?"
+
+"You must do as you please," replied I, "I am indifferent which. It
+will be dark in another hour, and she will not be down by that time. I
+would rather avoid fighting, and get away from the schooner quietly if
+I could, but that I fear is impossible now."
+
+"Well, I must go on board of the brig and let them know, for if they
+find it out themselves, they will throw us overboard."
+
+Captain Toplift then went on board of the brig, and calling to the men
+who were still sober, told them that there was a king's ship coming
+down upon them not seven miles off. This had the effect of putting an
+end to the confusion and noise of a great portion of the men, who
+hastened on board of the schooner, but others, who were intoxicated,
+were with difficulty persuaded to return.
+
+At last they were all got on board, and the schooner, clear from the
+brig, was made ready for action; but Toplift was obliged to make some
+alteration in the stationing of the men, as those who were to hand up
+the powder were all of them tipsy. By the time that the schooner was
+ready, and the breeze had come down to her, the corvette was not more
+than three miles from us; but it was quite dark, for there is no
+twilight in those parts. We consulted what course we should take to
+avoid her, if possible, and agreed that we would stand in shore and
+pass her if we possibly could. We knew that, if seen, we were then
+certain to be obliged to fight; but if not seen, we might escape.
+
+We then shifted the helm and bore up across her bows, but we had not
+steered in this direction more than a quarter of an hour, when the
+Transcendant was perceived to be on fire, having been fired by the
+drunken men before they left her, and soon afterwards she burst out
+into flames that threw a strong light to a great distance, discovering
+the corvette to us at two miles' distance, and of course exposing us
+to the corvette, who immediately altered her course for us. We had
+therefore only to fight, and the crew, being most of them in liquor,
+declared that they would fight till the schooner sunk under them. In a
+quarter of an hour, the corvette being close to us, and standing stem
+on, we opened our fire, raking her masts and yards, and then I went
+down below. I had changed my clothes for the duck trowsers and shirt
+which I had swum on board in, and I now remained quietly in the cabin.
+A few minutes afterwards the corvette opened her fire, and the shot
+did great execution. The cries of the wounded and the shouts of the
+tipsy men were mingled together, but the crew of the schooner tired
+with great rapidity, and sustained the unequal conflict most
+gallantly.
+
+After a time some men darted down into the cabin. I was then at the
+door which led to the magazine passage, and busied myself handing up
+the powder, as it secured me from observation, and it was supposed
+that I was one of the crew sent down for that duty.
+
+The men roared out, "Where is the captain? We want him to fight the
+ship. Toplift is an old fool, and don't know what he is about."
+
+I made no reply, but with my back towards them continued to hand up
+the powder, and, having changed my dress, they did not recognize me,
+so they rushed upon deck again.
+
+The corvette was now alongside of the schooner, pouring in her
+broadsides with fatal execution, the shot passing in every direction
+through her, so that there was as much danger below as on deck, and it
+was evident that the schooner could not oppose them much longer. Still
+they continued to fire with great resolution, being now sobered into
+more steadiness than at first. But by this time more than half the men
+were killed and wounded, and our guns were encumbered with the wreck
+and bodies. I heard them, at the very time that a crashing broadside
+was poured in by the corvette, cry out, "Avast firing for a moment and
+clear the decks."
+
+They did so, and having thrown the bodies overboard and cut away the
+spars and rigging which had fallen, so as to enable them to work their
+guns, during which time three broadsides were poured in, they remanned
+their guns, and fought with as much spirit as before. I could not help
+admiring the courage of the scoundrels, for nothing could exceed it;
+but resistance was useless, further than they preferred dying at their
+guns to being hanged on the gibbet.
+
+But the shouts of the pirates and the reports of the guns gradually
+decreased. The men were swept away by the enemy's fire, and the guns
+were one by one disabled. The schooner's sides were torn out, and the
+water poured in below so fast that it was rising to the magazine. I
+heard a cry of boarders, and the striking of the two vessels together,
+and then there was a rush down below, when a man came aft to the
+magazine passage. It was the fellow whom I had struck down on the
+quarter-deck and had put into irons.
+
+"Come along," said he, to the others; "we'll send the corvette and
+ourselves all to the devil together. Out of the way there."
+
+"Stand back," said I.
+
+"Stand back," replied he, pointing his pistol down to the magazine.
+
+I threw up his arm, and the pistol went off, striking the beams above.
+
+"Blast you," cried he, "whoever you are; but I've another," and he
+attempted to draw it out of his belt, but before he could effect it I
+blew out his brains with the pistol which I had ready cocked in my
+hand.
+
+His companions started back, and I pointed my second pistol at them,
+saying, "The man who comes forward this way dies."
+
+As I said this the crew of the corvette, who had cleared the decks,
+charged down below, and the pirates ran away and secreted themselves.
+Perceiving them coming forward, I said to them, "Put a guard over the
+magazine; they have attempted to blow up the vessel already."
+
+"Who are you?" said an officer.
+
+"A prisoner," replied I.
+
+"Well, then, lead him on deck, and stay here, two of you; shut down
+the magazine scuttle and keep guard."
+
+"Thank Heaven," thought I, "that this affair is over," as a seaman
+led me by the collar on deck, and handed me to others, who took me on
+board of the corvette.
+
+We were all put down below that remained out of the schooner's crew,
+about eighteen or nineteen, not more, and I was glad to find Captain
+Toplift, although badly wounded with a splinter, was among the number.
+We remained there huddled together with a guard of ten men over us for
+more than an hour, when we heard, from the conversation on deck, that
+the schooner had sunk. After that the guns of the corvette were
+secured, and the men had an allowance of liquor served out to them,
+the watch was called, and all was quiet during the remainder of that
+night. For some time I was in a state of excitement from the events of
+the last twenty-four hours crowding so rapidly, but by degrees I
+became calm. I asked one of the guard who was the captain of the
+corvette.
+
+"What's that to you, you gallows-bird?" replied he.
+
+"A civil question might receive a civil reply," answered I.
+
+"So it might with any one else; but if you don't want the hilt of my
+cutlass down your throat, you will hold your tongue."
+
+But I did not require to repeat the question, as I heard one of the
+officers on deck say, "It's Captain Musgrave's orders."
+
+This satisfied me, and I lay down with the rest of the prisoners,
+waiting for daybreak, when I trusted my troubles would soon be over.
+They were all sound asleep. Strange that men who knew that they would
+be hanged In a few days, if not the next morning, should sleep so
+sound--but so it was--while I, who had every reason to believe that my
+sufferings were over, could not sleep one wink. I was, however, fully
+satisfied with my own castle-buildings during the night, and more
+satisfied when it was again broad daylight. After the men had had
+their breakfast, an order came down for all the prisoners to be
+brought on deck. We were led up under guard, and made to stand all in
+a row. I looked round for my brother, but he was not on deck. It was
+the first lieutenant who was there, with several other officers, and
+the clerk, with pen and ink, to take down the names of the prisoners.
+
+"Who was the captain of this vessel?" said the first lieutenant.
+
+"I was, Sir," replied Toplift; "but much against my will."
+
+"Oh, of course; every man was on board of her against his will. What
+is your name? Put him down, Mr. Pearson. Any other officers alive?"
+
+"No, Sir," replied Toplift.
+
+The name of every man was then asked and put down, and it so happened
+that I was the last; for, anxious to see my brother, I had walked up
+the foremost, and they had commenced their interrogation at the other
+end of the line.
+
+"What is your name?"
+
+"I do not belong to the schooner," replied I.
+
+"Of course not; you dropped on board her from the clouds."
+
+"No, Sir, I did not; I swam on board of her to save my life."
+
+"Then you went out of the frying-pan into the fire, I reckon, my good
+fellow, for your life is forfeited now."
+
+"I rather think not, Sir," replied I. "On the contrary, I feel it is
+quite safe."
+
+"Give us none of your jaw, my good fellow, but give us your name."
+
+"Certainly, Sir, if you require it. My name is Alexander Musgrave,
+Sir," replied I; "I am the elder brother of your captain, Philip
+Musgrave, and I will thank you to go into his cabin and inform him
+that I am here."
+
+The first lieutenant and officers started back in astonishment, and so
+did Captain Toplift and the pirates. The first lieutenant hardly knew
+whether to consider it as a pretence on my part or not, and was
+undecided how to act, when Captain Toplift said, "I do not know
+whether the gentleman is as he says, but this is certain, and all the
+men can prove it as well as myself, that he did swim on board, as he
+said, to escape from the Indians, and that he has never joined the
+crew. They offered to make him captain in my stead, and he positively
+refused it."
+
+"Yes," said all the pirates; "that's true enough."
+
+"Well, Sir," replied the first lieutenant, "I will certainly carry
+your message."
+
+"To make all certain," replied I, "I will write my name on a slip of
+paper for you to take in to the captain. He knows my signature."
+
+I did so, and the first lieutenant took the paper, and went into the
+cabin. In a minute he returned, and requested me to follow him. I did
+so, and in another minute I was in the arms of my brother. For some
+time we neither of us could speak. At last Philip said, "That you are
+alive and well, let me thank Heaven. I have considered you as dead,
+and so have others; and to find you on board of a pirate--on board of
+a vessel which I have been riddling with shot, any one of which might
+have caused your death. Thank God I was ignorant that you were on
+board, or I never could have done my duty. I will not ask how you came
+on board of this vessel, for that must be the end of your narrative,
+which I must have from the time that you first left Rio, and
+afterwards in detail the whole from the time that you left the Coast."
+
+"Then they received my letters from Rio?"
+
+"Yes, after imagining you were dead, they were rejoiced by those
+letters; but I will not anticipate my story, nor will I now ask for
+yours; it is sufficient at present that you are alive, my dear
+Alexander, and once more in my arms."
+
+"Let me ask one question," replied I.
+
+"I know what it will be. She was in good health, but suffering much in
+mind from having no account of you. Her father and others have
+reasoned with her, and painted the impossibility of your being in
+existence, as the xebeque you sailed in had never been heard of. She
+still adheres in the opinion that you are alive, and will not abandon
+the hope of seeing you again; but hope deferred has paled her cheek
+even more pale than it usually is, and she evidently suffers much, for
+her life is wrapped in yours. Now having told you this, you must come
+into my state-room, and allow me to enable you to appear as my brother
+ought to do. I do not think that there is any difference in our size
+now, although there was when we last parted."
+
+"Many thanks, Philip, but before I adonize my outward man I should
+wish to satisfy my inward cravings; and, to tell you the truth, I'm so
+hungry from not having broken my fast for nearly twenty-four hours,
+that if you could order something to eat while you are looking out the
+clothes, I should feel in no small degree grateful."
+
+Philip rang the bell and ordered the steward in bring something to eat
+and drink, and after eating I occupied a quarter of an hour more in
+getting rid of the pirate smoke and dirt, and putting on one of his
+uniforms, for he had no other clothes on board, when I came out,
+looking not at all like a pirate.
+
+"Now, then," said Philip, "before we have our _tête-à-tête_, come out
+with me, and let me introduce you to the officers as my brother."
+
+I went out with him, and was formally introduced. The first lieutenant
+apologized for his rough speech, but I told him that there was no
+occasion for any apology, as I had no doubt that I looked very much
+like a pirate at the time.
+
+"More than you do now. Sir, at all events," replied he.
+
+"By the bye, brother," said I, "there is one man among the prisoners
+who, although compelled to act as captain by the men, is no pirate.
+His conduct I will explain to you. May I request him to be kindly
+treated? His name is Toplift--and also two Portuguese, my former
+companions."
+
+"Certainly," replied Philip, "your word is sufficient. Let those
+persons be released and taken care of," said he to the first
+lieutenant. "We will wait for the particulars by-and-by."
+
+I remained on deck about ten minutes, and then returned to the cabin
+with my brother.
+
+"What is this which you have left on my dressing-table?" said Philip,
+surveying the leather bag which contained the diamond.
+
+"That, Philip," said I, "is a portion of my narrative, and eventually
+may prove a very important one. I don't think that I can afford to
+make you a present of it, but I shall see."
+
+"It does not look very valuable," replied he.
+
+"At all events, do me the favour to lock it up carefully," replied I.
+
+"Well, if you are in earnest I will," he said, and having put it in a
+drawer and locked it up, he said, "Now, Alexander, let me have your
+history."
+
+I commenced, and told him all that the reader is now acquainted with.
+Dinner broke off my narrative, and as soon as it was over I resumed
+it. When I had finished, he expressed his astonishment, and asked many
+questions. Among others he said, "And that little wretch Peleg, the
+captain of the Transcendant's son, is he on board?"
+
+"I have not seen him," replied I, "and therefore presume that he was
+not able to move, and went down in the schooner." Which was the case.
+
+"You have indeed told me a strange tale," said Philip, "and you have
+had some extraordinary escapes. You must have a charmed life, and you
+appear to have been preserved to prove that Amy's persuasion of your
+being still alive was just and well-founded; and now it is my turn to
+talk, and yours to listen. When I left you as lieutenant of Captain
+Levee's schooner, we very shortly afterwards had an action with a
+Spanish vessel of very superior force, for she mounted thirty guns.
+Having no chance with her, from her superior weight of metal, we threw
+ourselves on her bow and boarded. The Spaniards did not relish this
+kind of close fighting, and gave us immediate possession of their
+deck. Captain Levee, when he brought in his prize, was appointed to a
+frigate of thirty-six guns, and I followed him as his first
+lieutenant. We had another combat with a vessel of equal force, in
+which we were the victors, and I was sent in the prize. Captain Levee
+wrote very kindly in my behalf, and I was made a captain, and given
+the command of a small brig. But let me first finish with Captain
+Levee. He captured a galleon, which gave him a large fortune, and he
+then gave up the command of his ship, and went on shore, telling me in
+a letter that he had hitherto squandered away all his money, but now
+that he had got so much, he intended to keep it. He has done so, for
+he has purchased a large landed property, is married, and I believe,
+is very happy."
+
+"He deserves it," replied I; "and long may he be so."
+
+"Well, to continue. I was sent out on this station, and having
+information that the vessel which you are now on board of was at
+anchor in a bay close to the Havannah, I ran in and reconnoitred. She
+hoisted Spanish colours, and I did the same. It fell calm, and I lay
+about four miles outside. I was mistaken for another Spanish vessel,
+and the captain of this vessel, or, to speak correctly, the Spanish
+captain of the Spanish brig, came out to see me, and did not discover
+his mistake till he was on board. I detained him and his boat's crew.
+It continued calm till the evening, when the breeze sprung up, and I
+put the head of the brig right for the bay, as if I were going in to
+anchor. The breeze being light, it was dark before I got in and
+alongside this vessel. They were completely surprised, for they
+imagined that their captain was dining with his old friend, and having
+no idea that we were any thing but Spanish, had not the least
+preparation for resistance. We had possession of her decks before they
+could seize their arms, and I brought her out without any one knowing
+that she had been captured. On my arrival, the admiral gave me the
+command of her, which I have held for nine months; but she is very
+defective, and I was ordered home, and should have sailed, had it not
+been that that scoundrel, the captain of the Transcendant, gave me the
+information which induced me to come round to the back of the island.
+Little did I think what happiness awaited me. So much for myself. Do
+not think me an egotist for speaking of myself, I am only clearing
+away the less important information to arrive at that which most
+interests you. The Amy arrived safe with her valuable cargo. The
+captain reported that he had remained at the rendezvous until blown
+off by a sort of hurricane, and that finding himself a long way off,
+he considered, when the gale had ceased, that he was not justified in
+remaining with so valuable a cargo, but was bound to make the best of
+his way to Liverpool. He was right, and his conduct was approved of by
+Mr. Trevannion, who looked for your arrival every hour. At last a week
+passed away and you did not make your appearance, and great alarm was
+entertained for your safety. The weeks grew into months, and it was
+supposed that you had been upset in the same hurricane which had
+driven the Amy so far off from her rendezvous. The poor girl, Whyna,
+was, as you may suppose, kindly received by Mr. Trevannion and his
+daughter, and soon gained their affection; but she pined for your
+return, and when she was told that you were dead she never recovered
+it. The climate certainly did not agree with her, and she contracted a
+very bad cough during the winter, but I believe from my heart that it
+was your loss which affected her the most severely. After she had been
+about eighteen months in England, she fell into a consumption and
+died."
+
+"Poor Whyna!" said I, with a sigh.
+
+"Alexander," said Philip, "perhaps it was all for the best, for that
+poor girl loved you sincerely, and supposing that she was now still
+alive and living with Miss Trevannion, and on your return your
+marriage should (which of course, unless Heaven decrees otherwise, it
+will) take place, that poor creature would have been very unhappy; and
+although the idea of her being a rival to Miss Trevannion is something
+which may appear absurd to us, yet she had the same feelings, and must
+have endured the same pangs as any other woman, let her colour be what
+it may. I think, therefore, that her removal was a blessing and a
+happy dispensation. I saw Mr. Trevannion and his daughter but once
+previous to their receiving your letters from Rio acquainting them
+with your misfortunes and happy deliverance from slavery. They were
+both very dejected, and Mr. Trevannion talked of retiring from
+business, and living upon his property near Liverpool. As I
+corresponded regularly with Amy, I learnt that he had done so, and had
+just wound up his affairs when your letters arrived from Rio with an
+order on the Portuguese Exchequer for a considerable sum. I hardly
+need say that the joy occasioned by this intelligence was great. Amy
+recovered her good looks, and her father bitterly lamented his having
+retired from business, as he had wished to have made the whole over to
+you. The money you remitted from Rio he considered as your own, and he
+also set apart your share of the business from the time that you were
+admitted as a partner. He was not aware that you could carry a diamond
+of such immense value about your person, exposed to the view of every
+one; among Indians, settlers, and pirates. That my delight was equal
+to theirs you will, I am sure, give me credit to believe; and although
+I was obliged to sail for the West Indies, every day I anticipated
+receiving a letter informing me of your arrival in England. Judge then
+my distress at first receiving letters stating that you had not been
+heard of for three months after your leaving Rio, and expressions of
+fear that some accident had happened, and then month after month many
+more and more desponding letters, in which Mr. Trevannion plainly
+stated that the xebeque must have foundered; and only Amy clinging to
+the hope that you were still alive. I acknowledge that I considered
+you dead, and you may therefore imagine my surprise and delight when
+your signature on the slip of paper proved that you were not only in
+existence, but on board of the same vessel with me."
+
+Such was the narrative of my brother Philip in return for mine, and it
+was late at night when we parted. Oh! how sincerely did I pray that
+night, thanking Heaven for all its mercies, and entreating that the
+cup might not be again dashed from my lips. When I arose the next
+morning I found that Philip was on deck, and I followed him.
+
+"We shall soon be in Port Royal with this wind," said he, "and I hope
+to find the admiral still there."
+
+I had some conversation with the officers, and then went below to see
+Toplift. He was in his hammock, for he had much fever and suffered
+from his wound, but the surgeon said that he would do well.
+
+"Toplift," said I, "you must keep your mind at ease, for my brother
+has promised me that you shall not be tried with the others, and has
+no doubt that when he explains the whole to the admiral you will be
+thanked for your service."
+
+"Thanked!" said Toplift, "if I am not hanged, I shall be fortunate
+enough."
+
+"No fear of that," replied I, "so keep your mind easy and get well as
+fast as you can."
+
+"Well then, Sir, you have saved my life, at all events, for had you
+not come on board, no one would have ever spoken for me, or believed
+that I was not a pirate in heart like all the others, except the two
+Portuguese."
+
+"If necessary, they will be evidence in your favour, but I do not
+think any evidence will be required except mine, and that will be
+sufficient with the admiral. I promised you that you should never want
+the means of getting your livelihood, and I repeat that promise now."
+
+"Thank you, Sir," replied he, and I then left him and went up to the
+cabin to breakfast.
+
+The following day we were at anchor at Port Royal; my brother reported
+what had occurred, and the admiral sent for all the pirate prisoners
+except Toplift, whose case was so fully represented by me and my
+brother, that he was permitted to go at large, and to take a passage
+home to England free of expense if he wished it. It is hardly
+necessary to say that Toplift accepted this offer, and remained in the
+vessel with me. The two Portuguese were also liberated. Three days
+after our arrival we sailed for England, and after a quick run of
+between five and six weeks, we anchored at Spithead. My brother could
+not leave his ship, and I therefore requested him to write to
+Liverpool stating that he had intelligence of me, and that I was
+alive; that I had been wrecked and had fallen into the hands of the
+Indians near the English settlements in Virginia, and that I had
+escaped and was, he believed, at James Town.
+
+I considered it wise to make a communication like this at first, as
+too sudden an announcement might be dangerous to one in so weak a
+state of health as Philip stated my Amy to be from the letter he had
+received from her father. I remained with him at Portsmouth until the
+reply came. Mr. Trevannion wrote and told Philip that his
+communication had, as it were, raised his daughter from the grave--as
+she had fallen into a state of profound melancholy, which nothing
+could remove--that he had very cautiously introduced the subject, and
+by degrees told her what was reported, and eventually when he found
+that she was more composed, that he had put Philip's letter into her
+hand.
+
+He concluded that he trusted that I would arrive, and soon, for if any
+accident was now to happen to me it would be the death of his
+daughter, who had not strength enough left to bear another reverse. At
+my request Philip then wrote that he had received a letter from a
+brother officer stating that I was well and safe on board, and that
+they would be in England a few days after the receipt of the letter.
+
+Leaving directions to Philip how to proceed, I now went off to London,
+and having fitted myself out with every requisite of dress and toilet,
+I called upon a celebrated Jew diamond merchant and showed him my
+diamond, requesting that he would weigh it and then estimate its
+value. He was much astonished at the sight of such a stone, as well he
+might be, and after weighing it and examining it, he pronounced it
+worth £47,000, provided a purchaser could be found for an article of
+such value.
+
+I told him that I was not a merchant, and could not be travelling
+about to show the diamond to crowned heads, but if he would give me a
+liberal price for it, I would abate a great deal, that he might
+dispose of it to his own advantage. He requested that he might call
+upon me with two of his friends, that they might see the diamond and
+consult with him; and then he would give me an answer. We fixed the
+time for twelve o'clock on the following day, and I took my leave.
+
+The next day he called at the time appointed, accompanied by two
+gentlemen of his own persuasion. They weighed the stone again very
+carefully, examined it by the light of a powerful lamp to ascertain
+its water, and to see if there were any flaws in it, calculated the
+reduction of weight which would take place in cutting it, and, after a
+consultation, I was offered £38,000. I considered this an offer that I
+ought not to refuse, and I closed with them. The next day the affair
+was settled. I received money and bills on government to the amount,
+and wrote to Philip telling him what had taken place. Strange that
+from two slaves in the mines I should have received such valuable
+legacies; from poor Ingram a diamond worth so much money, and from the
+other Englishman a tattered Bible which made me a sincere Christian--a
+legacy in comparison of which the diamond was as dross.
+
+Philip replied to my letter congratulating me on the sale of the
+diamond, and informing me that to his letter he had received a reply
+containing so satisfactory an account of Amy's restored health, that
+he had written to tell them that I had arrived safe in England, and
+would be very soon with them. He recommended my going immediately, as
+the anxiety and suspense would be very injurious to Amy's health. I
+therefore made every arrangement for my departure, purchased horses,
+and procured four stout serving men, well armed, to accompany me, and
+wrote a letter, which I sent by an express courier, stating the exact
+day which I expected to arrive at Mr. Trevannion's country seat.
+
+I waited in London two days to wind up all my affairs, and to give
+time for the express to arrive before me, as I intended to travel very
+fast. My stay in London was the occasion of an important discovery. I
+was at the coffee-house at St. Paul's, and was talking with one of
+Captain Levee's officers, with whom I had picked up an acquaintance,
+when on his calling me by the name of Musgrave, a pinched-up sort of
+looking personage, in a black suit, who was standing at the
+bay-window, turned round, and coming up to me said, "Sir, as a
+stranger I must apologize, but hearing your friend call you by the
+name of Musgrave, may I venture to ask if you are any relative to Sir
+Richard Musgrave, Baronet, who lived in Cumberland?"
+
+"Lived, did you say, Sir? Is he then dead?"
+
+"Yes, Sir; he has been dead these last seven months, and we are
+looking out for his heir and cannot find him."
+
+"I knew the family very well," replied I, "for I am connected with it.
+His eldest son, Richard, of course, must be his heir, as all the
+estates are entailed."
+
+"His eldest son, Richard, Sir, is dead. We have authenticated
+documents to prove that; and, moreover, his second son, Charles, is
+also dead. He came home very ill and died, not at his father's house,
+but at the house of one of his tenants on the estate. It is his third
+son, Alexander Musgrave, whom we seek, and seek in vain. He is now the
+heir to the baronetcy and estates, but we have lost all clue to him.
+We understand that a Captain Philip Musgrave is just arrived from the
+West Indies. He is, we presume, the fourth son. But until we can find
+out what has become of Alexander Musgrave, and whether he is dead or
+alive, we cannot act. I have written this day to Captain Musgrave,
+requesting any information he can give, but have received no answer. I
+presume, Sir, it is useless to inquire of you?"
+
+"Not exactly, Sir, for I am the Alexander Musgrave you seek."
+
+"Indeed, Sir, but what proof have you of your identity to offer to
+us."
+
+"The evidence of my brother, Captain Philip Musgrave, in whose ship I
+have just arrived from the West Indies; that his answer to your letter
+will be satisfactory enough, I have no doubt. Here is a letter from
+him to me, in which you see he addresses me 'my dear Alexander,' and
+concludes with 'your affectionate brother, Philip Musgrave.'"
+
+"This is indeed, satisfactory, Sir," replied the gentleman, "and I
+have only to receive an answer from your brother to make all right and
+clear. Allow me, Sir, to congratulate you upon your accession to the
+title and property. I presume you will have no objection, as soon as
+the necessary proofs are obtained, to accompany me down to Cumberland,
+where I doubt not you will be recognized by many."
+
+"Of that, Sir, I have not the slightest doubt," replied I, "but I
+cannot go down with you to Cumberland at present. I leave London for
+Liverpool the day after to-morrow on important business, and cannot
+disappoint the parties."
+
+"Well, Sir, it must indeed be an important business which will prevent
+you from taking possession of a title and £4,000 per annum," replied
+he; "but here is my address, and I hope I shall hear from you as soon
+as possible, as I shall remain in town till I can bring the heir down
+with me."
+
+The man now looked as if he doubted me. He could not imagine that I
+could neglect the taking possession of the estate for any other
+business, and it did appear singular, so I said to him, "Sir, I have
+been long out of England, and am affianced to a young lady who lives
+near Liverpool. She has been waiting to hear from me for some time,
+and I have sent an express to say that I will be with her on such a
+day. I cannot disappoint her, and, I tell you more, that, without I
+possess her, the possession of the title and estates will give me very
+little pleasure."
+
+"Sir," replied he, making a bow, "I honour your sentiments, and she
+must be a worthy lady who can inspire such feelings. I only hope that
+you will not remain too long at Liverpool, as London is expensive, and
+I am anxious to return to Cumberland."
+
+I then wished the gentleman farewell, and went home to my lodgings. I
+had given him my address in case he wanted to see me before my
+departure.
+
+The next day I received a letter from Philip inclosing the one written
+to him by this gentleman, whose name was Campbell, and who was a
+lawyer. Philip told me what reply he had made to him, and
+congratulated me on my accession to the title and estates. Almost an
+hour afterwards Mr. Campbell called upon me with Philip's letter,
+which he declared to be highly satisfactory, and sufficient in any
+court of justice.
+
+"But," said he, "I would wish to ask you a few particulars."
+
+"And I also would wish to make a few inquiries, Mr. Campbell. I have
+heard your name in my youth, although I cannot recollect ever having
+seen you."
+
+"I was the confidential adviser of your father at one time, Sir,"
+replied he, "but latterly all intercourse had ceased; it was not until
+he was on his death-bed, and fully repented the foolish step which he
+had taken, and the injustice he had been guilty of, that he sent for
+me, much to the annoyance of Lady Musgrave, who would have prevented
+me from coming into the house even when I arrived, had it not been for
+the servants, who disobeyed her."
+
+"And my sisters, Sir, Janet and Mabel?"
+
+"Are both well, and have grown up very fine girls. Your father
+destroyed the deed by which Lady Musgrave was to have had a large
+jointure upon the estate, and she is now entirely dependent upon you
+for what she may receive. When do you expect to be able to come up
+from Liverpool?"
+
+"I can hardly say, but of course as soon as I can."
+
+"Well, Sir, my own affairs will require my presence in the metropolis
+for a month. In the meantime, although I should have preferred to have
+gone down with you to Faristone Hall, and have at once put you in
+possession, yet affairs may remain as they are (for every thing is
+under seal, and Lady Musgrave has been compelled to remove), till it
+suits your convenience. I shall, however, write to let them know that
+you have been found, and will soon come down and take possession."
+
+Mr. Campbell then asked me a few questions, to which I replied
+satisfactorily, and then for the first time he saluted me with my
+title, saying, "Sir Alexander, I will now take my leave."
+
+The next morning I set off on my journey, and travelled with as much
+speed as the horses would permit. I arrived on the fifth day at Mr.
+Trevannion's seat, about nine miles from Liverpool. As I rode up the
+avenue of chestnut trees, I perceived a female form looking out from
+an upper window, which soon afterwards made a precipitate retreat. I
+alighted, and was received at the door in the embrace of Mr.
+Trevannion, who welcomed me with tears, and taking me by the hand he
+led me into an apartment where I found my adored Amy, who threw
+herself into my arms and wept as if her heart would break; but her
+sobs were the sobs of joy, and when she did raise her head and look at
+me, it was with eyes beaming with pleasure, and with smiles upon her
+beautiful lips. I clasped her to my bosom, and felt that I was more
+than repaid for all I had suffered, and my heart was throbbing with
+gratitude and love.
+
+It was some time before we could sufficiently compose ourselves to
+enter into lengthened conversation, and then Amy inquired what had
+occurred to me to occasion such a lengthened absence. We sat down on a
+sofa, and with Amy on one side of me and her father on the other, I
+entered into my narrative.
+
+"And so you have been married since we last heard from you?" said Amy,
+smiling, when I had finished my history.
+
+"Yes," replied I, "I have been; but I hope I shall treat my second
+wife a little better than I did my first."
+
+"I hope so too," replied Amy; "but I have great fear that your
+Virginian mistress may come over and claim you."
+
+"I do not think that likely. From the Indians having followed me to
+the beach, they must have fallen in with her."
+
+"And what do you think became of her?"
+
+"Of course I cannot exactly say; but I presume she died gallantly, and
+fought with her axe to the last."
+
+That evening I had a long conversation with Mr. Trevannion. He told me
+what he had done with the money, which he considered as mine, and I
+put into his care the sum I had received for the diamond. I then spoke
+to him about our marriage, and requested that it might not be
+postponed.
+
+"My dear Musgrave," said he, "my daughter's happiness so depends upon
+her union with you, that I can only say I am willing that it should
+take place to-morrow. For yourself you know that I have the highest
+esteem, and that you must be convinced of when I have consented to
+the match without even making inquiry as to your family and
+connections. Now, however, is the time that I should wish to have some
+information about them."
+
+"My dear Sir, if you will only make inquiries, you will find that the
+family of Musgrave is one of the most highly connected in the north,
+and that the head of it is a or was Sir Richard Musgrave, Baronet, of
+Faristone Hall, in Cumberland. I am a near relative of his, as I can
+satisfactorily prove."
+
+"That is sufficient," replied Mr. Trevannion. "I shall leave you to
+plead your cause with Amy to-morrow; so now, good night."
+
+The following day I told Amy that, since my arrival in England, I had
+heard of the death of my father, and that it was necessary that I
+should go to the north, as family affairs required my presence.
+
+"Are you serious?" replied she.
+
+"Never more so in my life. My presence is absolutely necessary, and I
+made arrangements with the legal adviser of our family that I would be
+there in less than a month."
+
+"It is a long journey," said Mr. Trevannion, "and how long to you
+stay?"
+
+"That I cannot possibly say," replied I; "but not longer than I can
+help."
+
+"I do not think that I shall let you go," said Amy; "you are not to be
+trusted out of sight. You are so born for adventure that you will not
+be heard of again for another two years."
+
+"Such is my misfortune, I grant," replied I; "but, Amy, you look pale
+and thin; change of air would do you much service. Suppose you and
+your father were to come with me. Indeed, Mr. Trevannion, I am in
+earnest. At this delightful time of the year nothing would prove so
+beneficial to her health; and, Amy, then, you know, that I shall not
+be out of your sight."
+
+"I should like the tour very much," replied she, "but--"
+
+"I know what you would say. You do not like the idea of travelling
+with me as Amy Trevannion. You are right. Then let me propose that you
+travel with me as Amy Musgrave."
+
+"I second that proposal," said Mr. Trevannion.
+
+"Consent, Amy, let our marriage be quite private. I know you will
+prefer that it should be so, and so will your father. You will then
+travel with me as my wife, and we never shall part again."
+
+Amy did not reply till her father said, "Amy, it is my wish that it
+should be so. Recollect it will be the last time that you have to obey
+your father, so do not annoy me by a refusal."
+
+"I will not, my dear father," replied Amy, kissing him. "Your last
+command I obey with pleasure. And oh! if I have sometimes been a
+wilful girl, forgive me every thing at this moment."
+
+"My dear child, I have nothing to forgive. May God bless you; and, Mr.
+Musgrave," said he, putting her hand in mine, "if she proves as good a
+wife as she has been a daughter, you now receive a treasure," and I
+felt that the old man stated what was true.
+
+It was arranged that the marriage should take place on that day week,
+and that it should be quite private. There was no parade of bridal
+clothes; in fact, no one was invited, and it was at my request quite a
+secret marriage. A clergyman had been engaged to perform the ceremony,
+and, on the day appointed, I received the hand of my Amy in the
+drawing-room, and in the presence only of Humphrey and two other
+confidential servants.
+
+After the ceremony was over, the clergyman requested me to come with
+him into the adjoining room, and said, it was necessary that he should
+give a certificate of the marriage, which must be inserted in the
+parish register. He had called me aside for that purpose, that I might
+give him my exact name, profession, &c.
+
+"My name is Alexander Musgrave, as you have heard when you married
+us."
+
+"Yes, I know that, but I must be particular. Have you no other name?
+Is that the name that you have been and will be in future known by?"
+
+"Not exactly," replied I; "I have been known by that name, but in
+future shall not be."
+
+"Then what am I to say?"
+
+"You must say, Sir Alexander Musgrave, Baronet, of Faristone Hall,
+Cumberland."
+
+"Good," said he, "that is what I required; and the lady your wife, has
+she any other name but Amy?"
+
+"None, I believe."
+
+The clergyman then wrote out the marriage certificate, and signed it,
+taking a copy for registry, and we returned into the drawing-room.
+
+"Here is the certificate of marriage, Madam," said he; "it ought to be
+in the care of the lady, and therefore, my lady, I hand it over to
+you."
+
+"My lady is much obliged to you for your kindness," replied Amy, for
+she thought that the clergyman was only facetious.
+
+She held the certificate in her hand folded as it had been given her
+for some time. At last curiosity, or, perhaps, having nothing else to
+do, induced her to open it and read it. I was at this time talking
+with the clergyman, and presenting him with a handsome douceur for his
+trouble; but perceiving her to open the certificate, I watched her
+countenance. She read and started. I turned away as if not observing
+her. She then went up to her father and desired him to read it.
+
+The old gentleman took out his glasses, and it was amusing to see the
+way in which he looked at his daughter with his spectacles falling off
+his nose. He then came up, and pointing to the certificate said, "Pray
+how am I in future to address my daughter?"
+
+"As Amy, I trust, Sir, unless you wish to scold her, and then you must
+call her Lady Musgrave. I am, my dear Sir, as the certificate states,
+Sir Alexander Musgrave, of Faristone, with a handsome property
+descended to me. I did not know it till I arrived in London, and if I
+concealed it from you till now, it was only that my Amy should have
+the satisfaction of proving to me that she wedded me in pure
+disinterestedness of affection."
+
+"It was very, very kind of you, Alexander, to do as you have done, and
+I thank you sincerely for it."
+
+"And now, my dear Amy, you understand why I wished you to come with me
+to Cumberland, that you may take possession of your future abode, and
+assume that position in society which you will so much grace. I trust,
+Sir," continued I, "that you will not part from us, and that one roof
+will always cover us, as long as Heaven thinks fit to spare our
+lives."
+
+"May God bless you both," replied Mr. Trevannion, "I cannot part with
+you, and must follow."
+
+About half an hour after this, I requested Amy and Mr. Trevannion to
+sit by me, as I had now another narrative to give them, which was an
+explanation why and how it was that they found me in the position that
+they had done; in short, what were the causes that induced me, and
+afterwards my brother Philip, to quit our parental roof, and to come
+to the resolution of fighting our own way in the world. It was as
+follows:
+
+"Sir Richard Musgrave, my father, married a young lady of high
+connection, a Miss Arabella Johnson, and with her lived, I have every
+reason to believe, a very happy life for nearly twenty-five years,
+when it pleased God to summon her away. I have a good recollection of
+my mother; for although I lived with my brother at a private tutor's,
+about six miles off, I was continually at home, and she did not die
+till I was nearly sixteen; and I can only say, that a more elegant,
+amiable, and truly virtuous woman, as I believe, never existed. By
+this marriage my father had four sons and two daughters; Richard, the
+eldest; Charles, the second; myself, the third; and Philip, the
+fourth; and my sisters, who came last, were named Janet and Mabel. At
+the time of my mother's death, my eldest brother was serving with the
+army, which he had entered from a love of the profession, although,
+as heir to the baronetcy and estates, which are a clear 4,000_l._ per
+annum, he of course had no occasion for a profession. My second
+brother, Charles, being of an adventurous turn, had gone out to the
+East Indies in a high position, as servant to the Company. I was still
+at home, as well as Philip, who is four years my junior, and my
+sisters were of course at home. I pass over my regrets at my mother's
+death, and will now speak more of my father. He was a good-tempered,
+weak man, easily led, and although, during my mother's lifetime, he
+was so well led that it was of little consequence, the case proved
+very different at her death. For a year my father remained quiet in
+the house, content with superintending his improvements on his
+property, and he had lately become infirm, and had given up the hounds
+and rural sports in general. The dairy was one of his principal
+hobbies; and it so happened that a young girl, the daughter of a
+labourer, was one of the females employed in that part of the
+establishment. She was certainly remarkably good-looking; her features
+were very small, and she did not show that robust frame which people
+in her class of life generally do. She was about seventeen years old,
+slight in figure, and certainly a person that you would not pass
+without making some commendatory remark upon her good looks and modest
+appearance. She was not, however, what she appeared; she was beyond
+measure cunning and astute, and, as it proved, inordinately ambitious.
+My father, who was naturally of an amorous disposition, was attracted
+by her, and very soon was constantly in the dairy, and his attentions
+were so marked, that the other servants used to call her 'my lady.' A
+few months after my father had shown a preference for this girl, he
+was seized with his first attack of gout. It did not last him long,
+and in six weeks he was about again, and resumed his attentions to
+her. Philip and I, who were at our tutor's, when we came home, heard
+from others what was going on, and very foolishly played the girl many
+tricks, and annoyed her as much as we could. After we returned, my
+father had another fit of the gout, and when he was confined to his
+room, he desired this girl to be sent for to attend upon him. I cannot
+say what took place, but this is certain, that my father's
+unfortunate passion became so great, and I presume the girl's ambition
+rose in proportion, that about six months afterwards, this daughter of
+a menial was raised to the dignity of Lady Musgrave--she being at that
+time about eighteen, and my father verging on seventy.
+
+"When this ill-assorted and disgraceful connection was known, the
+gentry and aristocracy of the county refused any longer to visit my
+father, and all communication was broken off. In a short time the
+ascendency which this artful girl gained over the old man was most
+wonderful. He lived but in her sight, and knew no will but hers. Her
+father and family were removed to a good house in the neighbourhood,
+and gave themselves all the airs of gentlepeople. The good old steward
+was dismissed, and her father established in his room, although the
+man could not read or write, and was wholly unfit for the office. The
+expense which she launched out into, by his permission, was excessive.
+New liveries, new coaches, diamonds, and dresses fit for the
+court--indeed, every kind of luxury that could be conceived, and much
+greater than my father could afford. She now showed herself in her
+true colours; vindictive and tyrannical to excess, she dismissed all
+the old servants, and oppressed all those to whom she owed a grudge;
+yet my poor father could see nothing but perfection in her. It was not
+till four months after the marriage that Philip and I came home, and
+our new step-mother had not forgotten our treatment of her. She
+treated us with great harshness, refused our taking meals at my
+father's table, and ordered us the coarsest fare; and when we
+complained to my father, denied every thing that we said. As we found
+that we could not induce our father to listen to us or to believe us,
+we tried all we could, and retaliated and annoyed her as much, if not
+more, than she annoyed us, by talking of her mean origin and her
+former occupation; we defied her, and, in so doing, we ruined
+ourselves; for, after a useless struggle on my father's part, he gave
+way to her imperious commands, and sending for me, told me that I had
+become such a reprobate that I was no longer a son of his. He threw me
+a purse, telling me that it was all I might expect from him, and that
+I was instantly to leave the house, and never show my face in it any
+more. I replied, with more spirit than respect, that it was high time
+that the son of a gentleman and lady should leave the house, when such
+lowborn creatures were installed in it as the mistress. My father, in
+a rage, flung his crutch at my head, and I left the room.
+
+"As I went out I met her in the passage; she had evidently been
+listening to what had passed, and she was full of exultation.
+
+"'It is your turn now, you she-devil,' said I, in my rage; 'but wait
+till my father dies. You shall go a-milking again.'
+
+"I do not mean to defend my conduct, but I was then no seventeen, and
+that must be my excuse. I little thought, when I said so, that it
+would be from my hands that she would have to receive bounty, but so
+it is, as Mr. Campbell informs me that my father destroyed, previous
+to his death, the papers which he had signed to secure her a large
+jointure on the estate. I set off with my wardrobe and the purse of
+twenty guineas, which my father had given me, and having a desire to
+see the world, I went on board of a merchant vessel. Six months
+afterwards, when we were at Liverpool, I went on board of a privateer.
+The remainder of my history you are already acquainted with.
+
+"As soon as she had wreaked her vengeance upon me, my brother Philip
+was the next; but he was too young at that time to be turned adrift,
+so she put it off till the time should come, irritating and weaning my
+father from him by every means in her power. Three years afterwards
+she succeeded in having him dismissed, also, and you know how I found
+him out. All these circumstances were very well known in the
+neighbourhood and to our own relations; and one only, my aunt, called
+upon my father, and, after a long conversation, my father consented
+that my sisters should go away, and remain under her charge. My
+step-mother's violent temper, her exactions, her imperious conduct,
+which was now shown even towards him, with what my aunt had advanced,
+had to a certain extent opened my father's eyes. He perceived that she
+had no other view but her own aggrandisement, and that she cared
+little for him. Her repeated attempts, however, to make him sign in
+her favour, in case of his death, were successful, and it was not
+till after her conduct had alienated him from her, and he deplored the
+loss of his children, that he committed the deed to the flames. About
+three years after I had quitted the house, my eldest brother, who had
+information of all that had passed, and who remained in the army
+because he declared that he never would go home till after his
+father's death, was killed by a cannon-ball; and my second brother
+died of a fever about a year ago, when resident at the court of a
+native prince. I had heard nothing of these deaths, or of my father's,
+until my arrival in London; of course, I was most anxious to go down
+to Cumberland, if it were only to undo the wickedness which this woman
+had done, and to make amends to those whom she had so cruelly treated.
+I do not feel any spirit of revenge, but I feel that justice demands
+it of me."
+
+"And I shall go with you with pleasure, to help you in your good
+work," said Amy, "and also because I want to see how she will now
+behave to one whom she has so persecuted, and who has become the
+arbiter of her fate."
+
+"Well, Amy, I will not trust myself on this question. You shall be the
+arbitress of her fate, and what you decide shall be irrevocable."
+
+"I fully appreciate the compliment you pay me," said she, "but I
+prefer that it should be decided in council, and we will call in my
+father to our assistance."
+
+A fortnight after our marriage, we set off for London, in a coach with
+six handsome black horses, and eight armed servants in liveries on
+horseback. We arrived safely on the seventh day, and there we reposed
+for a time previous to setting out for Cumberland. My aunt was in
+London and attending the court, which I was not aware of, and with her
+were my two sisters, Janet and Mabel, whom I had not seen for years,
+and who warmly embraced me, promising that they would soon come down
+and take up their abode at the hall. They expressed their admiration
+of Amy, but, in so doing, they only followed the general opinion, for
+it was impossible to see and not admire her elegance and beauty. My
+aunt showed us every attention, and we were presented to his Majesty,
+who was pleased to compliment Lady Musgrave in very flattering terms.
+We were joined in London by my brother Philip, who had paid off his
+ship, and the day after he joined us I said,
+
+"Philip, there are only you and I left. Do you recollect when you
+inquired about the diamond, the day we met on board of your ship, what
+reply I made to you?"
+
+"Yes; you said that you were afraid that you could not afford to make
+me a present of it."
+
+"At that time I did not think so, Philip, but now I know that I can,
+and I have desired Mr. Trevannion to put out to good security the
+£38,000 that the diamond was sold for, in your name, and for your use.
+You'll not hesitate to accept it, Philip, for you know that I can
+afford it."
+
+"I do not hesitate, my dear Alexander, because I would do the same to
+you, and you would not refuse me. At the same time, that is no reason
+that I should not thank you kindly for your generous behaviour."
+
+Philip accompanied us on our journey to Cumberland. It was tedious,
+for the roads were any thing but good, but the beauty of the scenery
+compensated for the ruggedness of the way. In six days we arrived at
+the Hall, where Mr. Campbell, who had called upon me on my arrival in
+London, had preceded me to make preparations for our reception, which
+was enthusiastic to the highest degree. We were called upon and
+congratulated by all the county, who were delighted to find that such
+a personage as Amy was to be the future mistress.
+
+As soon as all this bustle and excitement were over, I sat down with
+Mr. Campbell to look over the state of affairs, and to set things to
+rights.
+
+After having done justice to many claimants, engaged again the old
+servants that had been discharged, promised farms to the tenants who
+had been unfairly turned out, &c., we then proceeded to decide upon
+what was to be done to the Dowager Lady Musgrave. It appears that at
+my father's death, when she found that the deed had been destroyed by
+his own hands in presence of others, she became frantic with rage,
+and immediately hastened to secure the family jewels, and every
+article of value that she could lay her hands upon, but Mr. Campbell,
+having due notice of what she was about, came in time to prevent her
+taking them away, and, putting seals upon every thing and leaving
+careful guards in the Hall, my lady had gone to her father's house,
+where she still remained. She had, on my arrival, sent me a message,
+imploring my mercy, and reminding me that whatever might be her
+errors, she was still the lawful wife of my father, and she trusted
+that respect to his memory would induce me to allow her sufficient to
+maintain her as Lady Musgrave should be. We had the consultation that
+Amy proposed, and called in Mr. Campbell as a fourth, and it was at
+last decided, that, on consideration that she removed with her family
+to a distance of fifty miles from Faristone, she should have an income
+of £300 per annum, as long as she conducted herself with propriety and
+did not marry again. The last clause was the only one which she
+complained of. Mr. Campbell had, at the request of my father,
+discharged Lady Musgrave's parent from the office of steward and
+called in the old steward to resume his situation, and before
+dismissal, he had to refund certain sums of money not accounted for.
+
+I have now told my eventful tale; I have only to add, that after all
+that I have passed through, I have been rewarded by many years of
+unalloyed happiness. My two sisters are well married, and my three
+children are all that a father could wish. Such, my dear Madam, have
+been the vicissitudes of a "Privateer's-man," and I now subscribe
+myself,
+
+    Your most obedient,
+
+        ALEXANDER MUSGRAVE.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+PRINTED BY BERNH. TAUCHNITZ JUN.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note
+
+This book uses some archaic and alternative spelling--for example,
+befal, stupified, faultering--which has been preserved as printed.
+
+Both _l._ and £ have been used to indicate currency; this has been
+preserved as printed.
+
+Punctuation errors have been repaired, and hyphenation has been made
+consistent, without note.
+
+The following typographic errors have been repaired:
+
+    Page 34--ancle to ankle--"... a small manacle was fixed
+    round my left ankle, ..."
+
+    Page 51--villanous to villainous--"The consultation
+    ended by a solemn and most villainous oath ..."
+
+    Page 55--mahing to making--"... rose without making any
+    reply, and hastened on deck."
+
+    Page 75--in to it--"... I shall consider it an insult,
+    and immediately repair ..."
+
+    Page 89--except to expect--"... and if so, we must
+    expect their vengeance."
+
+    Page 104--lite to little--"I slept little on this, I may
+    say, first night ..."
+
+    Page 122--prefered to preferred--"... saying that he
+    preferred a privateer to a merchant vessel, ..."
+
+    Page 151--me to we--"Well, we must first get the vessel
+    hired into the service."
+
+    Page 155--asid to said--"... said Mr. Trevannion, taking
+    me by the hand, ..."
+
+    Page 201--laynyard to lanyard--"... putting a strong
+    leather lanyard to it, ..."
+
+    Page 202--laynyard to lanyard--"... I put the leather
+    lanyard round my neck, ..."
+
+    Page 207--althogether to altogether--"... that,
+    altogether, we had been robbed to the tune of ..."
+
+    Page 236--ke to he--"... and he knew there was no road
+    to it, ..."
+
+    Page 301--Travannion to Trevannion--"... and I have
+    desired Mr. Trevannion to put out to good security ..."
+
+The oe ligatures in manoeuvre(d) have not been retained in this
+version of the e-text.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Privateer's-Man, by Frederick Marryat
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+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Privateer's-Man; One hundred years ago, by Captain Marryat.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+/*<![CDATA[  XML blockout */
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+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Privateer's-Man, by Frederick Marryat
+
+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 Privateer's-Man
+       One hundred Years Ago
+
+Author: Frederick Marryat
+
+Release Date: June 7, 2008 [EBook #25719]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRIVATEER'S-MAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, Sam W. and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was
+produced from scanned images of public domain material
+from the Google Print project.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h1><span style="font-size: small;">THE</span><br />
+<br />
+PRIVATEER&rsquo;S-MAN<br />
+<br />
+<small>ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.</small></h1>
+
+
+<p class="center" style="padding-top: 3em;"><b>BY</b></p>
+
+<h2>CAPTAIN MARRYAT.</h2>
+
+
+<p class="center" style="padding-top: 3em; padding-bottom: 3em;"><i>SANCTIONED BY THE AUTHOR FOR CONTINENTAL
+CIRCULATION.</i></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 10%;" />
+
+<p class="center"><span style="font-size: large">LEIPZIG</span><br />
+BERNH. TAUCHNITZ JUN.<br />
+1846.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+
+<p class="center">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI.</b></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII.</b></a><br />
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg&nbsp;1]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 style="padding-top: 5em;">EXTRACTS<br />
+<br />
+<span style="font-size: small">FROM</span><br />
+<br />
+THE LOG OF A PRIVATEER&rsquo;S-MAN.</h2>
+
+
+
+<h2 style="padding-top: 3em;"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>We cruise off Hispaniola&mdash;Capture a French Ship&mdash;Continue our
+Cruise&mdash;Make a Nocturnal Attack upon a Rich Planter&rsquo;s Dwelling&mdash;Are
+repulsed with Loss.</p></div>
+
+
+<p class="center"><i>To Mistress&nbsp;&mdash;&mdash;.</i></p>
+
+<p class="greeting">Respected Madam,</p>
+
+<p>In compliance with your request I shall now transcribe from
+the journal of my younger days some portions of my adventurous
+life. When I wrote, I painted the feelings of my heart without
+reserve, and I shall not alter one word, as I know you wish to
+learn what my feelings were then, and not what my thoughts may
+be now. They say that in every man&rsquo;s life, however obscure his
+position may be, there would be a moral found, were it truly
+told. I think, Madam, when you have perused what I am about
+to write, you will agree with me, that, from my history, both
+old and young may gather profit, and, I trust, if ever it should
+be made public, that, by divine permission, such may be the
+result. Without further preface, I shall commence with a narrative
+of my cruise off Hispaniola, in the Revenge privateer.</p>
+
+<p>The Revenge mounted fourteen guns, and was commanded
+by Captain Weatherall, a very noted privateer&rsquo;s-man. One
+morning at daybreak we discovered a vessel from the masthead,
+and immediately made all sail in chase, crowding every stitch of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg&nbsp;2]</a></span>
+canvas. As we neared, we made her out to be a large ship,
+deeply laden, and we imagined that she would be an easy prize,
+but as we saw her hull more out of the water she proved to be well
+armed, having a full tier of guns fore and aft. As it afterwards
+proved, she was a vessel of 600 tons burden, and mounted
+twenty-four guns, having sailed from St. Domingo, and being
+bound to France.</p>
+
+<p>She had been chartered by a French gentleman (and a most
+gallant fellow we found him), who had acquired a large fortune
+in the West-Indies, and was then going home, having embarked
+on board his whole property, as well as his wife and his only son,
+a youth of about seventeen. As soon as he discovered what we
+were, and the impossibility of escape from so fast a sailing vessel
+as the Revenge, he resolved to fight us to the last. Indeed, he
+had every thing to fight for; his whole property, his wife and his
+only child, his own liberty, and perhaps life, were all at stake,
+and he had every motive that could stimulate a man. As we
+subsequently learnt, he had great difficulty in inspiring the crew
+with an equal resolution, and it was not until he had engaged to
+pay them the value of half the cargo provided they succeeded in
+beating us off, and forcing their way in safety to France, that he
+could rouse them to their duty.</p>
+
+<p>Won by his example, for he told them that he did not desire
+any man to do more than he would do himself, and perhaps more
+induced by his generous offer, the French crew declared they
+would support him to the last, went cheerfully to their guns and
+prepared for action. When we were pretty near to him, he
+shortened sail ready for the combat, having tenderly forced his
+wife down below to await in agony the issue of a battle on which
+depended every thing so dear to her. The resolute bearing of the
+vessel, and the cool intrepidity with which they had hove to to
+await us, made us also prepare on our side for a combat which
+we knew would be severe. Although she was superior to us in
+guns, yet the Revenge being wholly fitted for war, we had many
+advantages, independent of our being very superior in men.
+Some few chase-guns were fired during our approach, when,
+having ranged up within a cable&rsquo;s length of her, we exchanged
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg&nbsp;3]</a></span>
+broadsides for half an hour, after which our captain determined
+upon boarding. We ran our vessel alongside, and attempted to
+throw our men on board, but met with a stout resistance. The
+French gentleman, who was at the head of his men, with his own
+hand killed two of our stoutest seamen, and mortally wounded a
+third, and, encouraged by his example, his people fought with
+such resolution, that after a severe struggle we were obliged to
+give it up, and retreat precipitately into our own vessel, leaving
+eight or ten of our shipmates weltering in their blood.</p>
+
+<p>Our captain, who had not boarded with us, was much
+enraged at our defeat, stigmatizing us as cowards for allowing
+ourselves to be driven from a deck upon which we had obtained
+a footing; he called upon us to renew the combat, and leading
+the way, he was the first on board of the vessel, and was engaged
+hand to hand with the brave French gentleman, who had already
+made such slaughter among our men. Brave and expert with his
+weapon as Captain Weatherall undoubtedly was, he for once
+found rather more than a match in his antagonist; he was slightly
+wounded, and would, I suspect, have had the worst of this
+hand-to-hand conflict, had not the whole of our crew, who had
+now gained the deck, and were rushing forward, separated him
+from his opponent. Out-numbered and over-matched, the
+French crew fought most resolutely, but notwithstanding their
+exertions, and the gallant conduct of their leader, we succeeded
+in driving them back to the quarter-deck of the vessel. Here the
+combat was renewed with the greatest obstinacy, they striving to
+maintain this their last hold, and we exerting ourselves to complete
+our conquest. The Frenchmen could retreat no further,
+and our foremost men were impelled against them by those behind
+them crowding on to share in the combat. Retreat being
+cut off, the French struggled with all the animosity and rage of
+mingled hate and despair; while we, infuriated at the obstinate
+resistance, were filled with vengeance and a thirst for blood.
+Wedged into one mass, we grappled together, for there was
+no room for fair fighting, seeking each other&rsquo;s hearts with
+shortened weapons, struggling and falling together on the
+deck, rolling among the dead and the dying, or trodden
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg&nbsp;4]</a></span>
+underfoot by the others who still maintained the combat with unabated
+fury.</p>
+
+<p>Numbers at last prevailed; we had gained a dear-bought
+victory&mdash;we were masters of the deck, we had struck the colours,
+and were recovering our lost breaths after this very severe
+contest, and thought ourselves in full possession of the ship;
+but it proved otherwise. The first lieutenant of the privateer and
+six of us, had dashed down the companion, and were entering
+the cabin in search of plunder, when we found opposed to our
+entrance, the gallant French gentleman, supported by his son,
+the captain of the vessel, and five of the French sailors; behind
+them was the French gentleman&rsquo;s wife, to whose protection they
+had devoted themselves. The lieutenant, who headed us, offered
+them quarter, but stung to madness at the prospect of the ruin
+and of the captivity which awaited him, the gentleman treated the
+offer with contempt, and rushing forward attacked our lieutenant,
+beating down his guard, and was just about to pierce him
+with the lunge which he made, when I fired my pistol at him to
+save the life of my officer. The ball entered his heart, and thus
+died one of the bravest men I ever encountered. His son at the
+same time was felled to the deck with a pole-axe, when the remainder
+threw themselves down on the deck, and cried for
+quarter. So enraged were our men at this renewal of the combat,
+that it required all the efforts and authority of the lieutenant
+to prevent them from completing the massacre by taking the lives
+of those who no longer resisted. But who could paint the condition
+of that unhappy lady who had stood a witness of the horrid
+scene&mdash;her eyes blasted with the sight of her husband slain before
+her face, her only son groaning on the deck and weltering in
+his blood; and she left alone, bereft of all that was dear to her;
+stripped of the wealth she was that morning mistress of, now a
+widow, perhaps childless, a prisoner, a beggar, and in the
+hands of lawless ruffians, whose hands were reeking with her
+husband&rsquo;s and offspring&rsquo;s blood, at their mercy, and exposed
+to every evil which must befal a beautiful and unprotected female
+from those who were devoid of all principle, all pity, and all
+fear! Well might the frantic creature rush, as she did, upon
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg&nbsp;5]</a></span>
+our weapons, and seek that death which would have been a mercy
+and a blessing. With difficulty we prevented her from injuring
+herself, and, after a violent struggle, nature yielded, and she
+sank down in a swoon on the body of her husband, dabbling her
+clothes and hair in the gore which floated on the cabin-deck.
+This scene of misery shocked even the actors in it. Our sailors,
+accustomed as they were to blood and rapine, remained silent
+and immoveable, resting upon their weapons, their eyes fixed
+upon the unconscious form of that unhappy lady.</p>
+
+<p>The rage of battle was now over, our passions had subsided,
+and we felt ashamed of a conquest purchased with such unutterable
+anguish. The noise of this renewed combat had brought
+down the captain; he ordered the lady to be taken away from this
+scene of horror, and to be carefully tended in his own cabin;
+the wound of the son, who was found still alive, was immediately
+dressed, and the prisoners were secured. I returned on deck,
+still oppressed with the scene I had witnessed, and when I looked
+round me, and beheld the deck strewed with the dead and dying&mdash;victors
+and vanquished indiscriminately mixed up together&mdash;the
+blood of both nations meeting on the deck and joining their
+streams&mdash;I could not help putting the question to myself, &ldquo;Can
+this be right and lawful&mdash;all this carnage to obtain the property
+of others, and made legal by the quarrels of kings?&rdquo; Reason,
+religion, and humanity, answered, &ldquo;No.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I remained uneasy and dissatisfied, and felt as if I were a
+murderer; and then I reflected how this property, thus wrested
+from its former possessor, who might, if he had retained it,
+have done much good with it, would now be squandered away in
+riot and dissipation, in purchasing crime and administering to
+debauchery. I was young then, and felt so disgusted and so
+angry with myself and everybody else, that if I had been in
+England, I probably should never again have put my foot on
+board of a privateer.</p>
+
+<p>But employment prevented my thinking; the decks had to be
+cleaned, the bodies thrown overboard, the blood washed from
+the white planks, the wounded to be removed, and their hurts
+dressed, the rigging and other damages to be repaired, and when
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg&nbsp;6]</a></span>
+all this had been done, we made sail for Jamaica with our prize.
+Our captain, who was as kind and gentle to the vanquished as he
+was brave and resolute in action, endeavoured by all the means
+he could think of to soften the captivity and sufferings of the lady.
+Her clothes, jewels, and every thing belonging to her, were preserved
+untouched; he would not even allow her trunks to be
+searched, and would have secured for her even all her husband&rsquo;s
+personal effects, but the crew had seized upon them as plunder,
+and refused to deliver them up. I am almost ashamed to say that
+the sword and watch of her husband fell to my lot, and whether
+from my wearing the sword, or from having seen me fire the
+pistol which had killed him, the lady always expressed her abhorrence
+of me whenever I entered her presence. Her son recovered
+slowly from his wound, and, on our arrival at Port Royal,
+was permitted by the admiral to be sent to the King&rsquo;s Hospital,
+and the lady, who was most tenderly attached to him, went on
+shore and remained at the Hospital to attend upon him. I was
+glad when she was gone, for I knew how much cause she had for
+her hatred of me, and I could not see her without remorse. As
+soon as we had completed our repairs, filled up our provisions
+and water, we sailed upon another cruise, which was not so successful,
+as you will presently perceive.</p>
+
+<p>For five or six weeks we cruised without success, and our
+people began to grumble, when one morning our boats in shore
+off Hispaniola surprised a small schooner. A negro who was
+among the prisoners offered to conduct us through the woods by
+night to the house of a very rich planter, which was situated
+about three miles from a small bay, and at some distance from
+the other plantations. He asserted that we might there get very
+valuable plunder, and, moreover, obtain a large ransom for the
+planter and his family, besides bringing away as many of the
+negro slaves as we pleased.</p>
+
+<p>Our captain, who was tired of his ill-success, and who hoped
+also to procure provisions, which we very much wanted, consented
+to the negro&rsquo;s proposal, and standing down abreast of the
+bay, which was in the Bight of Lugan, he ran in at dark, and
+anchoring close to the shore, we landed with forty men, and,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg&nbsp;7]</a></span>
+guided by the negro, we proceeded through the woods to the
+house. The negro was tied fast to one of our stoutest and best
+men, for fear he should give us the slip. It was a bright moonlight;
+we soon arrived, and surrounding the house, forced our
+way in without opposition. Having secured the negroes in the
+out-houses, and placed guards over them, and videttes on the
+look-out to give timely notice of any surprise, we proceeded to
+our work of plunder. The family, consisting of the old planter
+and his wife, and his three daughters, two of them very beautiful,
+was secured in one room. No words can express their terror
+at thus finding themselves so suddenly in the power of a set of
+ruffians, from whose brutality they anticipated every evil. Indeed
+the horrid excesses committed by the privateers&rsquo;-men, when
+they landed on the coast, fully justified their fears, for as this
+system of marauding is considered the basest of all modern warfare,
+no quarter is ever given to those who are taken in the attempt.
+In return, the privateers&rsquo;-men hesitate at no barbarity
+when engaged in such enterprises.</p>
+
+<p>Dumb with astonishment and terror, the old couple sat in silent
+agony, while the poor girls, who had more evils than death
+to fear, drowned in their tears, fell at the captain&rsquo;s feet and embraced
+his knees, conjuring him to spare and protect them from
+his men.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Weatherall, who was, as I have before stated, a generous
+and humane man, raised them up, assuring them, on
+his word, that they should receive no insult, and as his presence
+was necessary to direct the motions of his people, he selected me,
+as younger and less brutal than most of his crew, as a guard over
+them, menacing me with death if I allowed any man to enter the
+room until he returned, and ordering me to defend them with my
+life from all insults. I was then young and full of enthusiasm;
+my heart was kind, and I was pure in comparison with the major
+portion of those with whom I was associated.</p>
+
+<p>I was delighted with the office confided to me, and my heart
+leaped at having so honourable an employment. I endeavoured
+by every means in my power to dissipate their terrors and soothe
+their anxious minds; but while I was thus employed, an Irish
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg&nbsp;8]</a></span>
+seaman, distinguished even amongst our crew for his atrocities,
+came to the door, and would have forced his entrance. I instantly
+opposed him, urging the captain&rsquo;s most positive commands;
+but, having obtained a sight of the young females, he
+swore with a vile oath that he would soon find out whether a boy
+like me was able to oppose him, and finding that I would not give
+way, he attacked me fiercely. Fortunately, I had the advantage
+of position, and supported by the justice of my cause, I repelled
+him with success. But he renewed the attack, while the poor
+young women awaited the issue of the combat with trembling
+anxiety&mdash;a combat on which depended, in all probability, their
+honour and their lives. At last I found myself very hard pushed,
+for I had received a wound on my sword arm, and I drew a pistol
+from my belt with my left-hand, and fired it, wounding him in
+the shoulder. Thus disabled, and fearing at the same time that
+the report would bring back the captain, whom he well knew
+would not be trifled with, he retired from the door vowing
+vengeance. I then turned to the young women, who had witnessed
+the conflict in breathless suspense, encircled in the arms
+of the poor old couple, who had rushed towards them at the commencement
+of the fray, offering them their useless shelter. Privateer&rsquo;s-man
+as I was, I could not refrain from tears at the scene.
+I again attempted to reassure them, pledged myself in the most
+solemn manner to forfeit my life if necessary for their protection,
+and they in some degree regained their confidence. They observed
+the blood trickling down my fingers from the wound
+which I had received, and the poor girls stained their handkerchiefs
+with it in the attempts to staunch the flow.</p>
+
+<p>But this scene was soon interrupted by an alarm. It appeared
+that a negro had contrived to escape and to rouse the country.
+They had collected together from the other plantations, and our
+party being, as is usually the case when plunder is going on,
+very negligent, the videttes were surprised, and had hardly time
+to escape and apprise us of our danger. There was not a moment
+to be lost; our safety depended upon an immediate retreat.
+The captain collected all hands, and while he was getting them
+together that the retreat might be made in good order, the old
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg&nbsp;9]</a></span>
+planter who, by the report of the fire-arms and the bustle and
+confusion without, guessed what had taken place, pressed me to
+remain with them, urging the certainty of our men being overpowered,
+and the merciless consequences which would ensue.
+He pledged himself with his fingers crossed in the form of the
+crucifix, that he would procure me safe quarter, and that I should
+ever enjoy his protection and friendship. I refused him kindly
+but firmly, and he sighed and said no more. The old lady put a
+ring on my finger, which she took from her own hand, and kissing
+my forehead, told me to look at that ring, and continue to do
+good and act nobly as I had just done.</p>
+
+<p>I waved my hand, for I had no time even to take the proffered
+hands of the young ones, and hastened to join my shipmates already
+on the retreat, and exchanging shots with our pursuers.
+We were harassed by a multitude, but they were a mixed company
+of planters, mulattoes, and slaves, and not half of them
+armed, and we easily repelled their attacks, whenever they came
+to close quarters. Their violent animosity, however, against us
+and our evil doings, induced them to follow close at our heels,
+keeping up a galling irregular fire, and endeavouring to detain
+us until we might be overpowered by their numbers, every minute
+increasing, for the whole country had been raised, and were
+flocking in. This our captain was well aware of, and therefore
+made all the haste that he could, without disturbing the regularity
+of his retreat, to where our boats were lying, as should
+they be surprised and cut off, our escape would have been impossible.
+Notwithstanding all his care, several of our men were
+separated from us by the intricacies of the wood, or from wounds
+which they had received, and which prevented them from keeping
+up with us. At last, after repelling many attacks, each time
+more formidable than the preceding, we gained our boats, and
+embarking with the greatest precipitation, we put off for the
+schooner. The enemy, emboldened by our flight, flocked down
+in great numbers to the water&rsquo;s edge, and we had the mortification
+to hear our stragglers, who had been captured, imploring
+for mercy; but groans and then silence too plainly informed us
+that mercy had been denied.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg&nbsp;10]</a></span>
+Captain Weatherall was so enraged at the loss of his men
+that he ordered us to pull back and attack the enemy on the
+beach, but we continued to pull for the schooner, regardless of
+his threats and entreaties. A panic had seized us all, as well it
+might. We even dreaded the ill-aimed and irregular fire which
+they poured upon us, which under other circumstances would
+have occasioned only laughter. The schooner had been anchored
+only two hundred yards from the beach, and we were soon on
+board. They continued to fire from the shore, and the balls
+passed over us. We put a spring upon our cable, warped our
+broadside to the beach, and loading every gun with grape and
+cannister, we poured a whole broadside upon our assailants.
+From the shrieks and cries, the carnage must have been very
+great. The men would have reloaded and fired again, but the
+captain forbade them, saying, &ldquo;We have done too much already.&rdquo;
+I thought so too. He then ordered the anchor to be
+weighed, and with a fresh land-breeze, we were soon far away
+from this unlucky spot.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>We are pursued by Two Schooner-Privateers, and failing to escape
+them a terrible Contest ensues&mdash;Three Acts of a Murderous Naval
+Drama&mdash;We are worsted&mdash;Captain Weatherall is killed&mdash;I am
+plundered and wounded.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>About six weeks after the unlucky affair before described, we
+met with a still greater disaster. We had cruised off the Spanish
+Main and taken several prizes; shortly after we had manned the
+last and had parted company, the Revenge being then close in
+shore, a fresh gale sprung up, which compelled us to make all
+sail to clear the land. We beat off shore during the whole of the
+night, when the weather moderated, and at daybreak we found
+out that we had not gained much offing, in consequence of the
+current; but what was more important, the man who went to the
+look-out at the masthead, hailed the deck, saying there were
+two sail in the offing. The hands were turned up to make sail in
+chase, but we found that they were resolutely bearing down upon
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg&nbsp;11]</a></span>
+us; and as we neared each other fast, we soon made them out to
+be vessels of force. One we knew well&mdash;she was the Esperance,
+a French schooner-privateer of sixteen guns, and one
+hundred and twenty-men; the other proved to be a Spanish
+schooner-privateer, cruising in company with her, of eighteen
+guns, and full manned.</p>
+
+<p>Now our original complement of men had been something
+more than one hundred, but by deaths, severe wounds in action,
+and manning our prizes, our actual number on board was reduced
+to fifty-five effective men. Finding the force so very superior,
+we made every attempt with sails and sweeps to escape, but
+the land to leeward of us, and their position to windward,
+rendered it impossible. Making, therefore, a virtue of necessity,
+we put a good face upon it, and prepared to combat against
+such desperate odds.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Weatherall, who was the life and soul of his crew,
+was not found wanting on such an emergency. With the
+greatest coolness and intrepidity, he gave orders to take in all
+the small sails, and awaited the coming down of the enemy.
+When every thing was ready for the unequal conflict, he ordered
+all hands aft, and endeavoured to inspire us with the same
+ardour which animated himself. He reminded us that we had
+often fought and triumphed over vessels of much greater force
+than our own; that we had already beaten off the French privateer
+on a former occasion; that the Spaniard was not worth talking
+about except to swell the merits of the double victory, and that
+if once we came hand to hand our cutlasses would soon prove our
+superiority. He reminded us that our only safety depended
+upon our own manhood; for we had done such mischief on the
+coast, and our recent descent upon the plantation was considered
+in such a light, that we must not expect to receive quarter if we
+were overcome. Exhorting us to behave well, and to fight
+stoutly, he promised us the victory. The men had such confidence
+in the captain that we returned him three cheers, when, dismissing
+us to our quarters, he ordered St. George&rsquo;s ensign to be
+hoisted at the main-masthead, and hove to for the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The French schooner was the first which ranged up alongside;
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg&nbsp;12]</a></span>
+the wind was light, and she came slowly down to us. The captain
+of her hailed, saying that his vessel was the Esperance, and
+our captain replied that he knew it, and that they also knew that
+his was the Revenge. The French captain, who had hove to,
+replied very courteously that he was well aware what vessel it
+was, and also of the valour and distinguished reputation of Captain
+Weatherall, upon which, Captain Weatherall, who stood
+on the gunnel, took off his hat in acknowledgment of the compliment.</p>
+
+<p>Now Captain Weatherall was well known, and it was also well
+known that the two vessels would meet with a severe resistance,
+which it would be as well to avoid, as even if they gained the
+victory, it would not be without great loss of men. The French
+captain therefore addressed Captain Weatherall again, and said
+he hoped, now that he was opposed to so very superior a force,
+he would not make a useless resistance, but as it would be no
+disgrace to him, and would save the lives of many of his brave
+men, his well known humanity would induce him to strike his
+colours.</p>
+
+<p>To this request our commander gave a gallant and positive refusal.
+The vessels lay now close to each other, so that a biscuit
+might have been thrown on board of either. A generous expostulation
+ensued, which continued till the Spanish vessel was a short
+distance astern of us.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You now see our force,&rdquo; said the French captain. &ldquo;Do not
+fight against impossible odds, but spare your brave and devoted
+men.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;In return for your kind feeling towards me,&rdquo; replied Captain
+Weatherall, &ldquo;I offer you both quarter, and respect to private
+property, upon hauling down your colours.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are mad, Captain Weatherall,&rdquo; said the French captain.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You allow that I have lived bravely,&rdquo; replied Captain
+Weatherall; &ldquo;you shall find that I will conquer you, and if necessary
+I will also die bravely. We will now fight. In courtesy, I
+offer you the first broadside.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Impossible,&rdquo; said the French captain, taking off his hat.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg&nbsp;13]</a></span>
+Our captain returned the salute, and then slipping down from
+the gunwale, ordered the sails to be filled, and, after a minute to
+give the Frenchman time to prepare, he fired off in the air the
+fusee, which he held in his hand, as a signal for the action to
+begin. We instantly commenced the work of death by pouring in
+a broadside. It was returned with equal spirit, and a furious
+cannonading ensued for several minutes, when the Spaniard
+ranged up on our lee quarter with his rigging full of men to board
+us. Clapping our helm a-weather and hauling our fore sheets to
+windward, we fell off athwart his hawse, and raked him with
+several broadsides fore and aft; our guns having been loaded
+with langridge and lead bullets, and his men being crowded
+together forward, ready to leap on board of us, her deck became a
+slaughter-house. The officers endeavoured in vain to animate
+their men, who, instead of gaining our decks, were so intimidated
+by the carnage that they forsook their own. The Frenchman
+perceiving the consternation and distress of his consort, to give
+her an opportunity of extricating herself from her perilous condition,
+now put his helm a-weather, ran us on board, and poured
+in his men; but we were well prepared, and soon cleared our
+decks of the intruders. In the meantime the Spaniard, by cutting
+away our rigging, in which his bowsprit was entangled, swung
+clear of us, and fell away to leeward. The Frenchman perceiving
+this, sheered off, and springing his luff, shot ahead clear of us.
+Such was the first act of this terrible drama. We had as yet sustained
+little damage, the enemy&rsquo;s want of skill and our own good
+fortune combined, having enabled us to take them at such a
+disadvantage.</p>
+
+<p>But although inspirited by such a prosperous beginning, our
+inferiority in men was so great that our captain considered it his
+duty to make all sail in hopes of being able to avoid such an
+unequal combat. This our enemies attempted to prevent by a
+most furious cannonade, which we received and returned without
+flinching, making a running fight of it, till at last our fore yard
+and foretop-mast being shot away, we had no longer command
+of the vessel. Finding that, although we were crippled and could
+not escape, our fire continued unabated, both the vessels again
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg&nbsp;14]</a></span>
+made preparations for boarding us, while we on our part prepared
+to give them a warm reception.</p>
+
+<p>As we knew that the Frenchman, who was our most serious
+opponent, must board us on our weather bow, we traversed over
+four of our guns loaded to the muzzle with musket balls to receive
+him, and being all ready with our pateraroes and hand grenades,
+we waited for the attack. As he bore down for our bows, with
+all his men clinging like bees, ready for the spring, our guns
+were discharged and the carnage was terrible. The men staggered
+back, falling down over those who had been killed or wounded,
+and it required all the bravery and example of the French captain,
+who was really a noble fellow, to rally the remainder of his men,
+which at last he succeeded in doing, and about forty of them
+gained our forecastle, from which they forced our weak crew, and
+retained possession, not following up the success, but apparently
+wailing till they were seconded by the Spaniard&rsquo;s boarding us on
+our lee quarter, which would have placed us between two fires,
+and compelled us to divide our small force.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the wind, which had been light, left us, and it
+was nearly a calm, with a swell on the sea, which separated the
+two vessels; the Spaniard, who was ranging up under our lee,
+having but little way and not luffing enough, could not fetch us,
+but fell off and drifted to leeward. The Frenchmen who had been
+thrown on board, and who retained possession of our forecastle,
+being thus left without support from their own vessel, which had
+been separated from us by the swell, or from the Spaniard, which
+had fallen to leeward, we gave three cheers, and throwing a
+number of hand-grenades in among them, we rushed forward
+with our half-pikes, and killed or drove every soul of them overboard,
+one only, and he wounded in the thigh, escaped by
+swimming back to his own vessel. Here, then, was a pause in
+the conflict, and thus ended, I may say, the second act.</p>
+
+<p>Hitherto the battle had been fought with generous resolution;
+but after this hand-to-hand conflict, and the massacre with which
+it ended, both sides appeared to have been roused to ferocity. A
+most infernal cannonade was now renewed by both our antagonists,
+and returned by us with equal fury; but it was now a
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg&nbsp;15]</a></span>
+dead calm, and the vessels rolled so much with the swell, that
+the shot were not so effective. By degrees we separated more and
+more from our enemies, and the firing was now reduced to single
+guns. During this partial cessation our antagonists had drawn
+near to each other, although at a considerable distance from us.
+We perceived that the Spaniard was sending two of his boats full
+of men to supply the heavy loss sustained by his comrade. Captain
+Weatherall ordered the sweeps out, and we swept our broadside
+to them, trying by single guns to sink the boats as they went
+from one vessel to the other. After two or three attempts, a
+gun was successful; the shot shattered the first of the boats,
+which instantly filled and went down. The second boat pulled
+up and endeavoured to save the men, but we now poured our
+broadside upon them, and, daunted by the shot flying about
+them, they sought their own safety by pulling back to the vessel,
+leaving their sinking companions to their fate. Failing in this
+attempt, both vessels recommenced their fire upon us, but the
+distance and the swell of the sea prevented any execution, and
+at last they ceased firing, waiting till a breeze should spring
+up which might enable them to renew the contest with better
+success.</p>
+
+<p>At this time it was about eleven o&rsquo;clock in the forenoon, and
+the combat had lasted about five hours. We refreshed ourselves
+after the fatigue and exertion which we had undergone, and made
+every preparation for a renewal of the fight. During the engagement
+we were so excited, that we had no time to think; but
+now that we were cool again and unoccupied, we had time to
+reflect upon our position, and we began to feel dejected and apprehensive.
+Fatigued with exertion, we were weak and dispirited.
+We knew that our best men were slain or groaning under their
+severe wounds, that the enemy were still numerous, and as they
+persevered after so dreadful a slaughter, that they were of unquestionable
+bravery and resolution. Good fortune, and our
+captain&rsquo;s superior seamanship had, up to the present, enabled
+us to make a good fight, but fortune might desert us, and our
+numbers were so reduced, that if the enemy continued resolute,
+we must be overpowered. Our gallant captain perceived the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg&nbsp;16]</a></span>
+despondency that prevailed, and endeavoured to remove it by his
+own example and by persuasion. After praising us for the resolution
+and courage we had already shown, he pointed out to us
+that whatever might be the gallantry of the officers, it was clear
+that the men on board of the opposing vessels were awed by their
+heavy loss and want of success, and that if they made one more
+attempt to take us by the board and failed, which he trusted they
+would do, no persuasion would ever induce them to try it again,
+and the captains of the vessels would give over such an unprofitable
+combat. He solemnly averred that the colours should
+never be struck while he survived, and demanded who amongst
+us were base enough to refuse to stand by them. Again we gave
+him three cheers, but our numbers were few, and the cheers
+were faint compared with the first which had been given, but still
+we were resolute, and determined to support our captain and the
+honour of our flag. Captain Weatherall took care that this feeling
+should not subside&mdash;he distributed the grog plentifully; at our
+desire he nailed the colours to the mast, and we waited for a
+renewal of the combat with impatience. At four o&rsquo;clock in the
+afternoon a breeze sprang up, and both vessels trimmed their
+sails and neared us fast&mdash;not quite in such gallant trim as in the
+morning it is true&mdash;but they appeared now to have summoned
+up a determined resolution. Silently they came up, forcing their
+way slowly through the water; not a gun was fired, but the gaping
+mouths of the cannon, and their men motionless at their quarters,
+portended the severity of the struggle which was now to
+decide this hitherto well-contested trial for victory. When within
+half a cable&rsquo;s length, we saluted them with three cheers, they
+returned our defiance, and running up on each side of us, the
+combat was renewed with bitterness.</p>
+
+<p>The Frenchman would not this time lay us on board until he
+was certain that the Spaniard had boarded us to leeward&mdash;he
+continued luffing to windward and plying us with broadsides until
+we were grappled with the Spaniard, and then he bore down and
+laid his gunwale on our bow. The Spaniard had already boarded
+us on the quarter, and we were repelling this attack, when the
+Frenchman laid us on the bow. We fought with desperation,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg&nbsp;17]</a></span>
+and our pikes gave us such an advantage over the swords and
+knives of the Spaniards, that they gave ground, and appalled by
+the desperate resistance they encountered, quitted our decks
+strewed with their dead and dying shipmates, and retreated in
+confusion to their own vessel. But before this repulse had been
+effected, the French had boarded us on the weather-bow, and
+driving before them the few men who had been sent forward
+to resist them, had gained our main deck, and forced their way
+to the rise of the quarter-deck, where all our remaining men
+were now collected. The combat was now desperate, but after a
+time our pikes, and the advantage of our position, appeared to
+prevail over numbers. We drove them before us&mdash;we had regained
+the main deck, when our brave commander, who was at
+our head, and who had infused spirit into us all, received a
+bullet through his right wrist; shifting his sword into his left
+hand, he still pressed forward encouraging us, when a ball entered
+his breast and he dropped dead. With his fall, fell the
+courage and fortitude of his crew so long sustained&mdash;and to
+complete the mischief, the lieutenant and two remaining officers
+also fell a few seconds after him. Astonished and terrified, the
+men stopped short in their career of success, and wildly looked
+round for a leader. The French, who had retreated to the forecastle,
+perceiving our confusion, renewed the attack, our few
+remaining men were seized with a panic, and throwing down our
+arms, we asked for quarter where a moment before victory was
+in our hands&mdash;such was the finale of our bloody drama.</p>
+
+<p>Out of fifty-five men twenty-two had been killed in this murderous
+conflict, and almost all the survivors desperately or severely
+wounded. Most of the remaining crew after we had cried
+for quarter jumped down the hatchway, to avoid the cutlasses of
+their enraged victors. I and about eight others, having been driven
+past the hatchway, threw down our arms and begged for quarter,
+which we had little reason to expect would be shown to us. At
+first no quarter was given by our savage enemies, who cut down
+several of our disarmed men and hacked them to pieces. Perceiving
+this, I got on the gunwale ready to jump overboard, in
+the hopes of being taken up after the slaughter had ceased, when
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg&nbsp;18]</a></span>
+a French lieutenant coming up protected us, and saved the poor
+remains of our crew from the fury of his men. Our lives, however,
+were all he counted upon preserving&mdash;we were instantly stripped
+and plundered without mercy. I lost every thing I possessed;
+the watch, ring, and sword I had taken from the gallant Frenchman
+were soon forced from me, and not stripping off my apparel
+fast enough to please a Mulatto sailor, I received a blow with the
+butt-end of a pistol under the left ear, which precipitated me down
+the hatchway, near which I was standing, and I fell senseless
+into the hold.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>We are sent in, on board the Revenge and treated with great cruelty&mdash;Are
+afterwards recaptured by the Hero privateer, and retaliate on the
+French&mdash;I am taken to the hospital at Port Royal, where I meet the
+French lady&mdash;Her savage exultation at my condition&mdash;She is punished
+by one of my comrades.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>On coming to my senses, I found myself stripped naked, and
+suffering acute pain. I found that my right arm was broken, my
+shoulder severely injured by my fall; and as I had received
+three severe cutlass-wounds during the action, I had lost so
+much blood that I had not strength to rise or do any thing for
+myself. There I lay, groaning and naked, upon the ballast
+of the vessel, at times ruminating upon the events of the action,
+upon the death of our gallant commander, upon the loss
+of our vessel, of so many of our comrades, and of our liberty.
+After some time the surgeon, by the order of the French commander,
+came down to dress my wounds. He treated me with the
+greatest barbarity. As he twisted about my broken limb I could
+not help crying at the anguish which he caused me. He compelled
+me to silence by blows and maledictions, wishing I had broken
+my rascally neck rather than he should have been put to the
+trouble of coming down to dress me. However, dress me he did,
+out of fear of his captain, who, he knew well, would send round
+to see if he had executed his orders, and then he left me with a
+kick in the ribs by way of remembrance. Shortly afterwards the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg&nbsp;19]</a></span>
+vessels separated. Fourteen of us, who were the most severely
+hurt, were left in the Revenge, which was manned by an officer
+and twenty Frenchmen, with orders to take her into Port-au-Paix.
+The rest of our men were put on board of the French privateer,
+who sailed away in search of a more profitable adventure.</p>
+
+<p>About an hour after they had made sail on the vessel, the officer
+who had charge of her, looking down the hatchway, and perceiving
+my naked and forlorn condition, threw me a pair of
+trousers, which had been rejected by the French seamen as not
+worth having, and a check shirt, in an equally ragged condition,
+I picked up in the hold; this, with a piece of old rope to tie round
+my neck as a sling for my broken arm, was my whole wardrobe.
+In the evening I gained the deck, that I might be refreshed by
+the breeze, which cooled my feverish body and somewhat
+restored me.</p>
+
+<p>We remained in this condition for several days, tortured
+with pain, but more tortured, perhaps, by the insolence and
+bragging of the Frenchmen, who set no bounds to their triumph
+and self-applause. Among those who had charge of the prize
+were two, one of whom had my watch and the other my ring;
+the first would hold it to me grinning, and asking if Monsieur
+would like to know what o&rsquo;clock it was; and the other would display
+the ring, and tell me that his sweetheart would value it
+when she knew that it was taken from a conquered Englishman.
+This was their practice every day, and I was compelled to receive
+their gibes without venturing a retort.</p>
+
+<p>On the eleventh day after our capture, when close to Port-au-Paix,
+and expecting we should be at anchor before nightfall,
+we perceived a great hurry and confusion on deck; they were
+evidently making all the sail that they could upon the vessel; and
+then hearing them fire off their stern-chasers, we knew for
+certain that they were pursued. Overjoyed at the prospect of
+being released, we gave three cheers. The French from the deck
+threatened to fire down upon us, but we knew that they dared not,
+for the Revenge was so crippled in the fight, that they could not
+put sail upon her so as to escape, and their force on board was
+too small to enable them to resist if overtaken&mdash;we therefore
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg&nbsp;20]</a></span>
+continued our exulting clamours. At last we heard guns fired,
+and the shot whizzing over the vessel&mdash;a shot or two struck our
+hull, and soon afterwards a broadside being poured into us, the
+Frenchmen struck their colours, and we had the satisfaction of
+seeing all these Gasconaders driven down into the hold to take
+our places. It was now their turn to be dejected and downcast,
+and for us to be merry; and now also the tables had to be turned,
+and we took the liberty of regaining possession of our clothes and
+other property which they carried on their backs and in their
+pockets. I must say we showed them no mercy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What o&rsquo;clock is it, Monsieur?&rdquo; said I to the fellow who
+had my watch.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At your service, Sir,&rdquo; he replied, humbly taking out my
+watch, and presenting it to me.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; said I, taking the watch, and saluting him
+with a kick in the stomach, which made him double up and turn
+round from me, upon which I gave him another kick in the rear
+to straighten him again. &ldquo;That ring, Monsieur, that your
+sweetheart will prize.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here it is,&rdquo; replied the fellow, abjectly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you, Sir,&rdquo; I replied, saluting him with the double
+kick which I had given to the former. &ldquo;Tell your sweetheart I
+sent her those,&rdquo; cried I, &ldquo;that is, when you get back to her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hark ye, brother,&rdquo; cries one of our men, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll trouble
+you for that jacket which you borrowed of me the other day, and
+in return here are a pair of iron garters (holding out the shackles),
+which you must wear for my sake&mdash;I think they will fit you
+well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mounseer,&rdquo; cries another, &ldquo;that wig of mine don&rsquo;t suit
+your complexion, I&rsquo;ll trouble you for it. It&rsquo;s a pity such a face
+as yours should be disfigured in those curls. And while you are
+about it, I&rsquo;ll thank you to strip altogether, as I think your
+clothes will fit me, and are much too gay for a prisoner.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was left naked through your kindness the other day,&rdquo; said
+I to another, who was well and smartly dressed, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll thank you
+to strip to your skin, or you shall have no skin left.&rdquo; And I commenced
+with my knife cutting his ears as if I would skin them.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg&nbsp;21]</a></span>
+It was a lucky hit of mine, for in his sash I found about
+twenty doubloons. He would have saved them, and held them tight,
+but after my knife had entered his side about half an inch, he
+surrendered the prize. After we had plundered and stripped
+them of every thing, we set to to kick them, and we did it for half
+an hour so effectually that they were all left groaning in a heap on
+the ballast, and we then found our way on deck.</p>
+
+<p>The privateer which had recaptured us proved to be the Hero,
+of New Providence; the Frenchmen were taken out, and some of
+her own men put in to take us to Port Royal; we being wounded,
+and not willing to join her, remained on board. On our arrival at
+Port Royal, we obtained permission to go to the King&rsquo;s Hospital to
+be cured. As I went up stairs to the ward allotted to me, I met
+the French lady whose husband had been killed, and who was
+still nursing her son at the hospital, his wounds not having been
+yet cured. Notwithstanding my altered appearance, she knew
+me again immediately, and seeing me pale and emaciated, with
+my arm in a sling, she dropped down on her knees and thanked
+God for returning upon our heads a portion of the miseries we
+had brought upon her. She was delighted when she heard how
+many of us had been slain in the murderous conflict, and even
+rejoiced at the death of poor Captain Weatherall, which, considering
+how very kind and considerate he had been to her, I thought
+to be very unchristian.</p>
+
+<p>It so happened that I was not only in the same ward, but in
+the cradle next to her son, and the excitement I had been under
+when we were recaptured, and my exertion in kicking the Frenchmen,
+had done me no good. A fever was the consequence, and I suffered
+dreadfully, and she would look at me, exulting in my agony,
+and mocking my groans, till at last the surgeon told her it was by
+extreme favour that her son had been admitted into the hospital instead
+of being sent to prison, and that if she did not behave herself
+in a proper manner, he would order her to be denied admittance
+altogether, and that if she dared to torment suffering men in that
+way, on the first complaint on my part, her son should go to the
+gaol and finish his cure there. This brought her to her senses,
+and she begged pardon, and promised to offend no more, but she
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg&nbsp;22]</a></span>
+did not keep her word for more than a day or two, but laughed
+out loud when the surgeon was dressing my arm, for a piece of
+bone had to be taken out, and I shrieked with anguish. This
+exasperated one of my messmates so much that, not choosing to
+strike her, and knowing how to wound her still worse, he drove
+his fist into the head of her son as he lay in his cradle, and by so
+doing re-opened the wound that had been nearly healed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s pain for you to laugh at, you French devil,&rdquo; he cried.</p>
+
+<p>And sure enough it cost the poor young man his life.</p>
+
+<p>The surgeon was very angry with the man, but told the French
+lady as she kneeled sobbing by the side of her son, that she had
+brought it upon herself and him by her own folly and cruelty.
+I know not whether she felt so, or whether she dreaded a repetition,
+but this is certain, she tormented me no more. On the
+contrary, I think she suffered very severely, as she perceived that I
+rapidly mended, and that her poor son got on but slowly. At
+last my hurts were all healed, and I left the hospital, hoping never
+to see her more.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>Sail for Liverpool in the Sally and Kitty&mdash;Fall in with a Gale&mdash;Boy
+overboard&mdash;Nearly drowned in attempting to save him&mdash;See the
+owners at Liverpool&mdash;Embark in the Dalrymple for the Coast of
+Africa&mdash;Arrive off Senegal.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>A great deal of prize-money being due to us, I called upon
+the agent at Port Royal to obtain an advance. I found him in a
+puzzle. Owing to the death of Captain Weatherall and so many
+of the officers, he hardly knew whether those who applied
+to him were entitled to prize-money or not. Whether he
+thought I appeared more honest than the others, or from what
+cause I know not, he requested me, as I knew every thing
+that had passed, to remain with him for a short time; and finding
+that I could read and write well, he obtained from me correct lists
+of the privateer&rsquo;s crew, with those who were killed, and on what
+occasion. All this information I was able to give him, as well
+as the ratings of the parties; for on more than one occasion the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg&nbsp;23]</a></span>
+privateers&rsquo;-men had come to him representing themselves as
+petty officers, when they were only common seamen on board,
+and had in consequence received from him a larger advance than
+they were entitled to. As soon as his accounts were pretty well
+made up, he asked me whether I intended to go to England, as
+if so, he would send me home with all the papers and documents
+to the owner at Liverpool, who would require my assistance to
+arrange the accounts; and as I had had quite enough of privateering
+for a time, I consented to go. About two months after
+leaving the hospital, during which I had passed a very pleasant
+life, and quite recovered from my wounds and injuries, I sailed
+for Liverpool in the Sally and Kitty West-Indiaman, commanded
+by Captain Clarke, a very violent man.</p>
+
+<p>We had not sailed twelve hours before we fell in with a gale,
+which lasted several days, and we kept under close-reef-topsails
+and storm-staysails. The gale lasting a week, raised a mountainous
+swell, but it was very long and regular. On the seventh
+day the wind abated, but the swell continued, and at evening
+there was very little wind, when a circumstance occurred which
+had nearly cost me my life, as you will acknowledge, Madam,
+when I relate the story to you. During the dog-watch between
+six and eight, some hands being employed in the foretop, the
+other watch below at supper, and the captain and all the officers
+in the cabin, I being at the helm, heard a voice apparently rising
+out of the sea, calling me by name. Surprised, I ran to the side
+of the ship, and saw a youth named Richard Pallant in the water
+going astern. He had fallen out of the forechains, and knowing
+that I was at the helm, had shouted to me for help. I immediately
+called all hands, crying a man overboard. The captain
+hastened on deck with all the others, and ordered the helm a-lee.
+The ship went about, and then fell round off, driving fast before
+the swell, till at last we brought her to.</p>
+
+<p>The captain, although a resolute man, was much confused
+and perplexed at the boy&rsquo;s danger&mdash;for his friends were people
+of property at Ipswich, and had confided the boy to his particular
+care. He ran backwards and forwards, crying out that the boy
+must perish, as the swell was so high that he dared not send a
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg&nbsp;24]</a></span>
+boat, for the boat could not live in such a sea, and if the boat
+were lost with the crew, there would not be hands enow left on
+board to take the vessel home. As the youth was not a hundred
+yards from the vessel, I stated the possibility of swimming to
+him with the deep-sea line, which would be strong enough to haul
+both him and the man who swam to him on board. Captain
+Clarke, in a great rage, swore that it was impossible, and asked
+me who the devil would go. Piqued at his answer, and anxious
+to preserve the life of the youth, I offered to try it myself. I stripped,
+and making the line fast round my body, plunged from the
+ship&rsquo;s side into the sea. It was a new deep-sea line, and stiff in
+the coil, so that not drawing close round me, it slipped, and I
+swam through it, but catching it as it slipped over my feet, I made
+it secure by putting my head and one arm through the noose. I
+swam direct for the boy, and found that I swam with ease, owing
+to the strength and buoyant nature of the water in those latitudes.
+I had not swum more than half-way before the line got foul on
+the coil on board, and checking me suddenly, it pulled me backwards
+and under water. I recovered myself, and struck out
+again. During this time, to clear the line on board, they had cut
+some of the entangled parts, and in the confusion and hurry,
+severed the wrong part, so that the end went overboard, and I had
+half the coil of line hanging to me, and at the same time was
+adrift from the ship. They immediately hailed me to return, but
+from the booming of the waves I could not hear what they said,
+and thought that they were encouraging me to proceed. I shouted
+in return to show the confidence which I had in myself. I easily
+mounted the waves as they breasted me, but still I made my way
+very slowly against such a swell, and saw the boy only at intervals
+when I was on the top of the wave. He could swim very little,
+and did not make for the ship, but with his eyes fixed upon the
+sky, paddled like a dog to keep himself above water. I now
+began to feel the weight of the line upon me, and to fear that I
+should never hold out. I began to repent of my rashness, and
+thought I had only sacrificed myself without any chance of saving
+him. I persevered, nevertheless, and having, as I guessed, come
+to the spot where the boy was, I looked round, and not seeing
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg&nbsp;25]</a></span>
+him, was afraid that he had gone down, but on mounting the next
+wave, I saw him in the hollow, struggling hard to keep above
+water, and almost spent with his long exertion.</p>
+
+<p>I swam down to him, and hailing him, found he was still
+sensible, but utterly exhausted. I desired him to hold on by my
+hand but not to touch my body, as we should both sink. He promised
+to obey me, and I held out my right-hand to him, and made
+a signal for them to haul in on board, for I had no idea that the
+line had been cut. I was frightened when I perceived the
+distance that the ship was from me&mdash;at least a quarter of a mile.
+I knew that the deep-sea line was but a hundred fathoms in
+length, and therefore that I must be adrift, and my heart sunk
+within me. All the horrors of my situation came upon me, and
+I felt that I was lost; but although death appeared inevitable, I
+still struggled for life&mdash;but the rope now weighed me down more
+and more. While swimming forward it trailed behind, and
+although it impeded my way, I did not feel half its weight. Now,
+however, that I was stationary, it sank deep, and pulled me down
+with it. The waves, too, which, while I breasted them and saw
+them approach, I easily rose over, being now behind us, broke
+over our heads, burying us under them, or rolling us over by
+their force.</p>
+
+<p>I tried to disengage myself from the line, but the noose being
+jammed, and having the boy in one hand, I could not possibly
+effect it. But what gave me courage in my difficulties was, that I
+perceived that the people on board were getting out the boat; for
+although the captain would not run the risk for one person, now
+that two were overboard, and one of them risking his life for the
+other, the men insisted that the boat should be hoisted out. It
+was an anxious time to me, but at last I had the satisfaction of
+seeing her clear of the ship, and pulling round her bow. The
+danger was, however, considered so great, that when they came
+to man the boat, only three men could be found who would go in
+her, and in the confusion they came away with but two oars and
+no rudder. Under these disadvantages they of course pulled very
+slowly against a mountainous sea, as they were obliged to steer
+with the oars to meet it, that the boat might not be swamped.
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg&nbsp;26]</a></span>
+But the sight of the boat was sufficient to keep me up. My
+exertions were certainly incredible; but what will not a man do
+when in fear of death. As it approached&mdash;slowly and slowly did
+my powers decrease. I was now often under water with the boy,
+and rose again to fresh exertion, when at last a crested wave broke
+over us, and down we went several feet under the water. The
+force of the sea drove the boy against me, and he seized me by
+the loins with my head downwards. I struggled to disengage
+myself! It was impossible. I gave myself up for lost&mdash;and
+what a crowd of thoughts, and memories passed through my
+brain in a few moments, for it could not have been longer. At
+last, being head downwards, I dived deeper, although I was
+bursting from so long holding my breath under water.</p>
+
+<p>This had the desired effect. Finding me sinking instead of
+rising with him, the boy let go his hold that he might gain the
+surface. I turned and followed him, and drew breath once more.
+Another moment had sealed our fates. I no longer thought of
+saving the boy, but struck out for the boat which was now near
+me. Perceiving this, the boy cried out to me for pity&rsquo;s sake not
+to leave him. I felt myself so far recovered from my exhaustion,
+that I thought I could save him as well as myself, and compassion
+induced me to turn back. I again gave him my hand, charging
+him on his life not to attempt to grapple with me, and again
+resumed the arduous struggle of keeping him as well as myself
+above water. My strength was nearly gone, the boat approached
+but slowly, and we now sunk constantly under the water, rising
+every few seconds to draw breath. Merciful God! how slow appeared
+the approach of the boat. Struggle after struggle&mdash;fainter
+and fainter still&mdash;still I floated. At last my senses almost left
+me, I took in water in quantities. I felt I was in green fields,
+when I was seized by the men and thrown into the bottom of the
+boat, where I lay senseless alongside of the boy. There was great
+danger and difficulty in getting again to the ship. More than
+once the boat was half filled by the following seas, and when they
+gained the ship it was impossible to get us out, as, had they approached
+the side, the boat would have been dashed to atoms.
+They lowered the tackles from the yard-arms. The three men
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg&nbsp;27]</a></span>
+clambered up them, leaving us to take our chance of the boat
+being got in, or her being stove to pieces; in which latter case,
+we should have been lost. They did get us in, with great damage
+to the boat, but we were saved. The line was still round me,
+and it was found that I had been supporting the weight of seventy
+yards. So sore was I with such exertion, that I kept my hammock
+for many days, during which I reviewed my past life, and
+vowed amendment.</p>
+
+<p>We arrived at Liverpool without any further adventure worth
+recording, and I immediately called upon the owner with the
+papers intrusted to me. I gave him all the information he required,
+and he asked me whether I should like to return to privateering,
+or to go as mate of a vessel bound to the coast of
+Africa. I inquired what her destination was to be, and as I
+found that she was to go to Senegal for ivory, wax, gold dust, and
+other articles, in exchange for English prints and cutlery, I consented.
+I mention this, as, had she been employed in the slave-trade,
+as were most of the vessels from Liverpool to the Coast, I
+would not have joined her. A few days afterwards, I went on
+board of the Dalrymple, Captain Jones, as mate; we had a very
+quick passage to Senegal, and brought our vessel to an anchor off
+the bar.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>In crossing the Bar at Senegal the boat is upset by a Tornado&mdash;We
+escape being devoured by Sharks only to be captured by the Natives&mdash;Are
+taken into the interior of the country, and brought before the
+Negro King, from whose wrath we are saved by the intercession of his
+female attendants.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>A day or two after we had arrived, the master of another
+vessel that was at anchor near to us came on board and borrowed
+our long-boat and some hands that he might go in it to Senegal.
+The captain, who was an old friend of the party who made the
+request, agreed to lend it to him, and as accidents are very frequent
+with boats crossing the bar, on account of the heavy breakers,
+the best swimmers were selected for the purpose, and the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg&nbsp;28]</a></span>
+charge of the boat was given to me. We set off, five men rowing
+and I at the helm. When we approached the bar, a tornado,
+which had been for some time threatening, came upon us. The
+impetuosity of these blasts is to be matched in no part of the
+world, and as it came at once in its full force, we endeavoured,
+by putting the boat before it, to escape its fury. This compelled
+us to run to the southward along the coast. We managed to keep
+the boat up for a long while, and hoped to have weathered it,
+when, being on the bar, and in broken water, a large wave curled
+over us, filled the boat, and it went down in an instant.</p>
+
+<p>Our only chance now was to reach the shore by swimming,
+but it was at a distance, with broken water the whole way; and
+our great terror was from the sharks, which abound on the coast
+and are extremely ravenous&mdash;nor were we without reason for
+our alarm. Scarcely had the boat gone down, and we were all
+stretching out for the shore, when one of our men shrieked,
+having been seized by the sharks, and instantly torn to pieces.
+His blood stained the water all around, and this attracting all the
+sharks proved the means of our escape. Never shall I forget the
+horrible sensation which I felt as I struggled through the broken
+water, expecting every minute a limb to be taken off by one of
+those voracious animals. If one foot touched the other, my heart
+sank, thinking it was the nose of a shark, and that its bite would
+immediately follow. Agonized with these terrors, we struggled
+on&mdash;now a large wave curling over us and burying us under
+water, or now forced by the waves towards the beach, rolling us
+over and over. So battered were we by the surf, that we dived
+under the waves to escape the blows which we received, and then
+rose and struck out again. At last, worn out with exertion, we
+gained the shore, but our toil was not over.</p>
+
+<p>The beach was of a sand so light that it crumbled beneath us,
+and at the return of the wave which threw us on shore we were
+dragged back again, and buried in sand and water. We rose to
+renew our endeavours, but several times without success, for
+we could not obtain a firm footing. At last the Negroes, who had
+witnessed our accident, and who now came down in great numbers
+on the beach, laid hold of us as the sea threw us up, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg&nbsp;29]</a></span>
+dragged us beyond the reach of the waves. Worn out with fatigue
+we lay on the sand, waiting to ascertain what the savages would
+do with us; they were not long in letting us know, for they soon
+began to strip us of every article of clothing on our backs. One of
+our men attempted to resist, upon which a Negro drove a spear
+through his thigh.</p>
+
+<p>Having divided our apparel, after some consultation, they
+tied our hands, and placing us in the midst of a large force,
+armed with spears, and bows and arrows, they went off with us
+for the inland part of the country. We set off with heavy hearts;
+taking, as we thought, a last farewell of the ocean, and going
+forwards in great apprehension of the fate that awaited us. The
+sand was very deep, and the heat of the sun excessive, for it was
+then about noon. Without any garments, we were soon scorched
+and blistered all over, and in intolerable anguish, as well as
+fatigued; but the Negroes compelled us to move on, goading us
+with their spears if we slackened our pace, and threatening to run
+us through if we made a halt. We longed for the night, as it
+would afford a temporary relief to our sufferings. It came at last,
+and the Negroes collected wood and lighted a fire to keep off the
+wild beasts, lying round it in a circle, and placing us in the
+midst of them. We hoped to have some rest after what we had
+gone through, but it was impossible&mdash;the night proved even
+worse than the day. The musquitoes came down upon us in such
+swarms, and their bites were so intolerable that we were almost
+frantic. Our hands being tied, we could not beat them off, and
+we rolled over and over to get rid of them. This made matters
+worse, for our whole bodies being covered with raised blisters
+from the rays of the sun, our roiling over and over broke the
+blisters, and the sand getting into the wounds, added to the bites
+of the musquitoes, made our sufferings intolerable. We had
+before prayed for night, we now prayed for day. Some prayed
+for death.</p>
+
+<p>When the sun rose, we set off again, our conductors utterly
+disregarding our anguish, and goading us on as before. In the
+forenoon we arrived at a village, where our guards refreshed
+themselves; a very small quantity of boiled corn was given to
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg&nbsp;30]</a></span>
+each of us, and we continued our journey, passing by several
+small towns, consisting, as they all do in that country, of huts
+built of reeds, round in form, and gathered to a point at top.
+This day was the same as the preceding. We were pricked with
+spears if we stumbled or lagged, threatened with death if we had
+not strength to go on. At last the evening arrived, and the fires
+were lighted. The fires were much larger than before, I presume
+because the wild beasts were more numerous, for we heard them
+howling in every direction round us, which we had not done on
+the night before. The musquitoes did not annoy us so much,
+and we obtained some intervals of broken rest. At daylight we
+resumed our journey, as near as we could judge by the sun, in a
+more easterly direction.</p>
+
+<p>During the first two days we were badly received by the inhabitants
+of the towns, whose people had been kidnapped so
+often for the slave-trade; they hated the sight of our white faces,
+for they presumed that we had come for that purpose; but as we
+advanced in the interior, we were better treated, and the natives
+looked upon us with surprise and wonder, considering us as a
+new race of beings. Some of the women seeing how utterly exhausted
+we were with fatigue and hunger, looked with compassion
+on us, and brought us plenty of boiled corn and goats&rsquo; milk to
+drink. This refreshed us greatly, and we continued our journey
+in anxious expectation of the fate for which we were reserved.</p>
+
+<p>On crossing a small river, which appeared to be the boundary
+of two different states, a multitude of Negroes approached, and
+seemed disposed to take us from our present masters, but after
+a conference, they agreed among themselves, and a party of them
+joined with those who had previously conducted us. We soon
+came to the edge of a desert, and there we halted till the Negroes
+had filled several calabashes and gourds full of water, and collected
+a quantity of boiled corn. As soon as this was done, we
+set off again, and entered the desert. We were astonished and
+terrified when we looked around us, not a single vestige of herbage,
+not a blade of grass was to be seen&mdash;all was one wide waste
+of barren sand, so light as to rise in clouds at the least wind, and
+we sank so deep in walking through it that at last we could hardly
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg&nbsp;31]</a></span>
+drag one foot after the other. But we were repaid for our fatigue,
+for when we halted at night, no fires were lighted, and to our
+great delight we found that there were no musquitoes to annoy us.
+We fell into a sound sleep, which lasted till morning, and were
+much refreshed; indeed, so much so as to enable us to pursue
+our journey with alacrity.</p>
+
+<p>In our passage over the desert we saw numbers of elephants&rsquo;
+teeth, but no animals. How the teeth came there, unless it were
+that the elephants were lost in attempting to cross the desert, I
+cannot pretend to say. Before we had crossed the desert, our water
+was expended, and we suffered dreadfully from thirst, walking
+as we did during the whole day under a vertical sun. The night
+was equally painful, as we were so tortured with the want of
+water; but on the following day, when our strength was nearly
+exhausted, and we were debating whether we should not lie down
+and allow the spears of our conductors to put an end to our miseries,
+we came to the banks of a river which the Negroes had evidently
+been anxiously looking for. Here we drank plentifully, and
+remained all the day to recruit ourselves, for the Negroes were
+almost as exhausted as we were. The next morning we crossed
+the river, and plunged into a deep wood: the ground being high,
+the musquitoes did not annoy us so much as they did down on the
+low marshy land near the sea-coast. During our traverse through
+the wood, we subsisted solely upon the birds and animals which
+the Negroes killed with their bows and arrows.</p>
+
+<p>When we had forced our way through the forest, we found
+the country, as before, interspersed with wicker villages or
+small hamlets at a few miles&rsquo; distance from each other. Round
+each village there were small patches of Guinea corn, and we
+frequently came to clusters of huts which had been deserted.
+Between the sea-coast and the desert we had traversed we observed
+that many of the inhabitants had European fire-arms, but
+now the only weapons to be seen were spears and bows and
+arrows. As we advanced we were surrounded at every village by
+the natives, who looked upon us with surprise and astonishment,
+examining us, and evidently considering us a new species. One
+morning we arrived at a very large Negro town, and as we
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg&nbsp;32]</a></span>
+approached, our guards began to swell with pride and exultation,
+and drove us before them among the crowds of inhabitants, singing
+songs of triumph, and brandishing their weapons. Having been
+driven through a great part of the town, we arrived at a number
+of huts separated by a high palisade from the rest, and appropriated,
+as we afterwards found, to the use of the king of the
+country, his wives and attendants. Here we waited outside some
+time, while our guards went in and acquainted this royal personage
+with the present which they had brought for him.</p>
+
+<p>We had reason to think that our captors were not his subjects,
+but had been at variance with him, and had brought us as a present,
+that they might make peace with an enemy too strong for
+them. We were at last ordered to go inside the inclosure, and
+found ourselves in a large open building, constructed like the
+others, of reeds and boughs. In the centre was squatted a
+ferocious-looking old Negro, attended by four young Negro
+women. He was raw-boned and lean, and of a very large frame.
+A diabolical ferocity was imprinted on his grim countenance, and
+as he moved his arms and legs he showed that under his loose
+skin there was a muscle of extraordinary power. I never had
+before seen such a living type of brutal strength and barbarity.
+On a mat before him were provisions of different kinds. Behind
+him stood several grim savages who held his weapons, and on
+each side, at a greater distance, were rows of Negroes, with
+their heads bent down and their arms crossed, awaiting his
+orders. The chief or king, as well as the four women, had
+clothes of the blue cotton cloth of the country, that is, one piece
+wrapped round the loins and descending to the ankles, and
+another worn over their shoulders; but, with few exceptions, all
+the rest, as well as the inhabitants generally, were quite naked.
+So were we, as the reader may recollect. Round the necks of
+the women were rows of gold beads, longer by degrees, until
+the last of the rows hung lower than their bosoms, and both the
+king and they had large bracelets of gold round their arms,
+wrists, and legs. The women, who were young and well-looking,
+stared at us with eager astonishment, while the old
+king scowled upon us so as to freeze our blood. At last, rising
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg&nbsp;33]</a></span>
+from the ground, he took his sabre from the man who held it
+behind him, and walked up among us, who with our heads
+bowed, and breathless with fear, awaited our impending fate. I
+happened to be standing the foremost, and grasping my arm with
+a gripe which made my heart sink, with his hand which held the
+sword he bent down my head still lower than it was. I made sure
+that he was about to cut off my head, when the women, who had
+risen from the ground, ran crowding round him, and with
+mingled entreaties and caresses strove to induce him not to put
+his intentions, if such he really had, into execution. They prevailed
+at last; the youngest took away his sword, and then they
+led him back to his seat, after which the women came to us to
+gratify their curiosity. They felt our arms and breasts, putting
+innumerable questions to those who brought us thither. They
+appeared very much amazed at the length of my hair, for I had
+worn it tied in a long cue. Taking hold of it, they gave it two or
+three severe pulls, to ascertain if it really grew to my head, and
+finding that it did so, they expressed much wonder. When
+their curiosity was satisfied, they then appeared to consider our
+condition, and having obtained the old king&rsquo;s permission, they
+brought us a calabash full of cush-cush, that is Guinea corn
+boiled into a thick paste. Our hands being still tied; we could
+only by shaking our heads express our inability to profit by their
+kindness. Understanding what we meant, they immediately cut
+our thongs, and the youngest of the four perceiving that my arms
+were benumbed from having been confined so many days, and
+that I could not use them, showed the most lively commiseration
+for my sufferings. She gently chafed my wrists with her hands,
+and showed every sign of pity in her countenance, as indeed did
+all the other three. But I was by far the youngest of the whole
+party who had been captured, and seemed most to excite their
+pity and good-will. Shortly afterwards we were all taken into an
+adjoining tent or hut, and our bodies were rubbed all over with
+an oil, which after a few days&rsquo; application left us perfectly
+healed, and as smooth as silk. So altered was our condition,
+that those very people who had guarded us with their spears and
+threatened us with death, were now ordered to wait upon us, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg&nbsp;34]</a></span>
+as the king&rsquo;s wives frequently came to see how we were treated,
+we were served with the utmost humility and attention.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>I am given as a Slave to the old King&rsquo;s Favourite, Whyna&mdash;Assist my
+young Mistress to make her Toilet&mdash;Hold frequent Conversations
+with her, and become strongly attached to her&mdash;My Hatred and
+Dread of the old King increase&mdash;He shoots a Man with Bird-arrows.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>One morning, after we had been about three weeks in these
+comfortable quarters, I was summoned away from my companions
+into the presence of the king. When I came before him a
+small manacle was fixed round my left ankle, and another round
+my left wrist, with a light chain connecting the two. A circle of
+feathers was put round my head, and a loose cloth wrapped round
+my loins. I was then led forward to him with my arms crossed
+over my breast, and my head bowed. By his orders I was then
+placed behind the youngest of the four women, the one who had
+chafed my wrists, and I was given to understand that I was her
+slave, and was to attend upon her, to which, I must say, I gave
+a joyful assent in my heart, although I did not at that time show
+any signs of gladness. There I remained, with my arms folded,
+and bowed as before, until dinner was brought in, and a calabash
+full of cush-cush was put into my hands to place before the
+king and his wives. My first attempt at service was not very
+adroit, for, in my eagerness to do my duty, I tripped over the
+corner of the mat which served them for a table, and tumbling
+headlong forward, emptied the calabash of cush-cush which I
+held in my hand upon the legs of the old king, who sat opposite
+to where I was advancing. He jumped up roaring out with anger,
+while I in my fear sprung on my legs, and rushed to the side of
+the apartment, expecting immediate death. Fortunately the
+victuals in this country are always served up cool, and my new
+mistress easily obtained my pardon, laughing heartily at the
+scene, and at my apprehension.</p>
+
+<p>The repast being over, I was ordered to follow my mistress,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg&nbsp;35]</a></span>
+who retired to another hut, according to their custom, to sleep
+during the heat of the day. I was placed before the door to prevent
+her being disturbed. My only duty now was to attend upon
+my young mistress. She was the king&rsquo;s favourite wife, and as
+she was uniformly kind and gentle, I should have almost ceased
+to lament my loss of liberty had it not been from the fear I had of
+the old monarch. I knew that my preservation depended entirely
+upon my mistress&rsquo;s favour, and I endeavoured all I could to conciliate
+her by the most sedulous attentions to please. Young and
+generous in disposition, she was easily satisfied by my ready
+obedience and careful service. I do not think that she was more
+than seventeen years of age; but they are women at fourteen in
+that country, and even earlier. She was a Negress as to colour,
+but not a real Negress; for her hair, although short and very
+wavy, was not woolly, and her nose was straight. Her mouth
+was small, and her teeth beautiful. Her figure was perfect, her
+limbs being very elegantly formed. When she first rose in the
+morning, I attended her to the brow of a hill just without the
+palisades, where with devout but mistaken piety she adored the
+rising sun&mdash;at least it appeared to me that she did so. She then
+went down to the river to bathe, and as soon as her hair was dry
+she had it dressed. This office, after a short time, devolved
+upon me, and I became very expert, having to rub her hair with
+a sweet oil, and then roll it up in its natural curls with a quill,
+so as to dispose them to the most fanciful advantage as to form.</p>
+
+<p>After her toilet was complete, she went to feed her poultry,
+and some antelopes and other beasts, and then she practised at
+a mark with her bow and arrows and javelin till about ten o&rsquo;clock,
+when she went to the king&rsquo;s hut, and they all sat down to eat
+together. After the repast, which lasted some time, if she did
+not repose with the king, she retired to her own hut, where she
+usually refreshed herself till about four o&rsquo;clock, when she returned
+to the king, or ranged the woods, or otherwise amused
+herself during the rest of the evening. I will say for the old savage
+that he did not confine his wives. Such was our general
+course of life, and wherever she went I attended her. The attachment
+I showed and really felt for her secured her confidence,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg&nbsp;36]</a></span>
+and she always treated me in a kind and familiar manner. Their
+language consists of few words compared to our own, and in a
+short time, by help of signs, we understood each other tolerably
+well. She appeared to have a most ardent curiosity to know who
+we were, and from whence we came, and all the time that we
+passed alone was employed in putting questions, and my endeavouring
+to find out her meaning and answer them. This, although
+very difficult at first, I was eventually enabled to accomplish indifferently
+well. She was most zealous in her mistaken religion,
+and one morning when I was following her to her devotions on
+the hill, she asked me where my God was? I pointed upwards,
+upon which she told me with great joy and innocency, that hers
+was there too, and that, therefore, they must be the same God,
+or if not they must be friends. Convinced that she was right, she
+made me worship with her, bowing my head down to the sand,
+and going through the same forms, which of course I did not
+understand the meaning of; but I prayed to my God, and therefore
+made no objection, as it was pleasing to her. This apparent
+conformity in religion recommended me more strongly to her,
+and we became more intimate, and I was certainly attached to
+her by every tie of gratitude. I was quite happy in the friendship
+and kindness she showed towards me; the only drawback was
+my fear of the proud old king, and the recollection of him often
+made me check myself, and suddenly assume a more distant and
+respectful demeanour towards her. I soon found out that she
+dreaded the old savage as much as I did, and hated him even
+more. In his presence she treated me very sternly, and ordered
+me about in a very dictatorial manner; but when we were alone,
+and had no fear of being seen, she would then be very familiar,
+sometimes even locking her arm into mine, and laughing as she
+pointed out the contrast of the colours, and in the full gaiety of
+her young heart rejoicing that we were alone, and could converse
+freely together. As she was very intelligent, she soon perceived
+that I possessed much knowledge that she did not, and that she
+could not comprehend what I wanted to teach her. This induced
+her to look upon me with respect as well as kindness.</p>
+
+<p>One day I purposely left her bow behind in the hut where my
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg&nbsp;37]</a></span>
+companions resided; and on her asking me for it, I told her that
+I had done so, but that I would make my companions send it
+without my going back. I tore off a piece of the bark of a tree,
+and with the point of an arrow I wrote to one of them, desiring
+him to send it by bearer; and calling a young Negro boy, told him
+in her presence to give that piece of bark to the white man, and
+come back again to the queen. Whyna, for such was the name
+of my mistress queen, stood in suspense, waiting the result; in
+a few minutes the boy returned, bringing the bow. Astonished
+at this, she made me write again and again for her arrows, her
+lance, and many other things. Finding by these being immediately
+sent that we had a method of communicating with each
+other at a distance, she earnestly insisted upon being taught so
+surprising an art. Going at a distance from me, she ordered me
+to talk to her when out of hearing, and finding that I could not,
+or, as she seemed to suppose, that I would not, she became discontented
+and out of humour. I could by no means make her
+comprehend how it was performed, but I made her understand
+that as soon as I was fully acquainted with her language, I should
+be able to teach her. She was satisfied with this, but made me
+promise that I would teach nobody else.</p>
+
+<p>By the canoes in the river, I easily made her comprehend that
+I came in a vast boat from a distant land, over a great expanse of
+water, and also how it was that we fell into the Negroes&rsquo; power.
+I then found out from her that the Negroes had pretended that we
+had invaded their land to procure slaves, and that they had vanquished
+us in battle; hence their songs of triumph on bringing
+us to the king. I pointed out the heavenly bodies to her in the
+evenings, trying to make her comprehend something of their nature
+and motions, but in vain. This had, however, one good
+effect; she looked up to me with more respect, hoping that some
+day, when I could fully explain myself, she might be herself taught
+all these wonders. With these feelings towards me, added to my
+sedulous endeavours to please her, and obey her slightest wishes,
+it is not surprising that she treated me as a companion, and not
+as a slave, and gave me every innocent proof of her attachment.
+More I never wished, and almost dreaded that our intimacy
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg&nbsp;38]</a></span>
+would be too great. Happy when alone with her, I ever returned
+with reluctance to the presence of the old king, whose sight and
+company I dreaded.</p>
+
+<p>The boundless cruelty of this monster was a continual check
+to all my happiness. Accustomed to blood from his childhood,
+he appeared wholly insensible to human feelings, and derided the
+agonies of the wretches who daily fell by his hands. One day he
+amused himself by shooting small bird-arrows at a man who was
+bound to a post before the tent, which was placed there for the
+punishment of those who were his victims. He continued for
+hours fixing the arrows in different parts of his body, mimicking
+and deriding his cries. At last, contrary to his intentions, one
+of the arrows hit the man in the throat, and his head drooped. As
+the old savage saw that the poor man was dying, he drew another
+arrow and sent it through his heart, very much annoyed at his
+disappointment in not prolonging the poor creature&rsquo;s sufferings.
+I was witness to this scene with silent horror, and many more of
+a similar nature. I hardly need say, that I felt what my punishment
+would be if I had by any means roused the jealousy of this
+monster; and I knew that, without giving him real cause, a moment
+of bare suspicion would be sufficient to sacrifice my mistress
+as well as me.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>I attend the King on a hunting Expedition&mdash;Chase of wild Animals&mdash;Whyna
+and I in great danger from a Tiger&mdash;Barbarity of the King
+to my young Mistress&mdash;I try to soothe her&mdash;I and my Companions
+are ransomed&mdash;Sad parting with Whyna&mdash;After an Encounter with a
+hostile People, we reach Senegal&mdash;Return to England.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>I had been about three months in captivity, when the old
+king with his four wives and a large party of Negroes, left the
+town, and went into the woods to hunt. My companions were
+left in the town, but I was ordered to attend my mistress, and I
+went with the hopes of being able by some means to make my
+escape, for my fear of the old monarch was much greater than my
+regard for my mistress. As I had not become a proficient with the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg&nbsp;39]</a></span>
+bows and arrows, or in hurling the javelin, I was equipped with
+a strong spear. My mistress was skilful to admiration with the
+arrow and javelin; she never missed her aim that I knew, and she
+certainly never appeared to such advantage as she did at this
+hunting-party. Her activity, her symmetry of limb, and her
+courage, her skill with her weapons, all won the heart of the old
+king; and I believe that his strong attachment to her arose more
+from her possession of the above qualities than from any other
+cause. Certain it is, that the old savage doted on her&mdash;she was
+the only being who could bend his stubborn will. As his age
+prevented him from joining in the chase, he always appeared to
+part with her with regret, and to caution her not to run into useless
+danger; and when we returned at night, the old man&rsquo;s
+eyes sparkled with the rapture of dotage as he welcomed her
+return.</p>
+
+<p>The method of our chase was to beat the country, with a
+number of men, in a vast circle, until we had gathered all the
+game into one thicket; then the strongest warriors with their
+large spears went in and drove out the game, which was killed by
+the hunters who hovered about within the circle.</p>
+
+<p>The animals which we had to encounter were large fierce
+black pigs, leopards, jackals, tigers, mountain cats, and others
+which I have no name for&mdash;and in spite of the ferocity of many
+of these animals when they bounded out, they were met with such
+a shower of javelins, or transfixed by the strong stabbing-spears
+of the warriors, that few escaped, and they rarely did any mischief.
+One day, however, the beaters having just entered a
+thicket, Whyna, who was eager for the sport, and plied within
+the circle with the other hunters, hearing a rustling in the jungle,
+went to the verge of it, to be the first to strike the animal which
+came out. As usual, I was close to her, when a large tiger
+burst out, and she pierced him with her javelin, but not sufficient
+to wound the animal so severely as to disable him. The tiger
+turned, and I drove my spear into his throat. This checked him,
+as it remained in, but in a spring which he gave the handle broke
+short off, and although the iron went further in, our danger was
+imminent. Whyna ran, and so did I, to escape from the beast&rsquo;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg&nbsp;40]</a></span>
+fury; for, although after I had wounded it with my spear, we
+had both retreated, we were not so far, but that in two or three
+bounds he would have been upon us. My mistress was as fleet
+as the wind, and soon passed me, but as she passed me she
+caught me by the hand, and dragged me along at a pace that with
+difficulty I could keep my legs. The surrounding hunters
+alarmed at her danger, and knowing what they had to expect from
+the mercy of the old king if she was destroyed by the animal,
+closed in between us and the tiger, and after a fierce combat, in
+which some were killed and many wounded, they despatched
+him with their spears. The head of the animal, which was of
+unusual size, was cut off and carried home to the old king in
+triumph; and when he heard of the danger that Whyna had been
+in, he caressed her with tears, and I could not help saying that
+the old wretch had some heart after all. Whyna told the king
+that if I had not pierced the animal with my spear, and prevented
+his taking his first spring, she should have lost her life, and the
+monster grinned a ghastly smile at me, which I presume he
+meant for either approbation or gratitude.</p>
+
+<p>At other times the chase would be that of the multitude of
+birds which were to be found in the woods. The bow and arrow
+only were used, and all I had to do now was to pick up all my
+mistress had killed, and return her arrows&mdash;she would constantly
+kill on the wing with her arrow, which not many could do besides
+her. By degrees I imbibed a strong passion for the sport, attended
+as it was with considerable danger, and was never so
+happy as when engaged in it. We remained about two months
+in the woods, when the king was tired, and we returned to the
+town, where I continued for some time to pass the same kind of
+life as I had done before.</p>
+
+<p>I should have been quite happy in my slavery from my affection
+to my mistress, had not a fresh instance of the unbounded
+cruelty of the old monarch occurred a few days after our return
+from the chase, which filled us all with consternation and horror,
+for we discovered that not even my mistress, Whyna, could always
+prevail with the savage monster.</p>
+
+<p>One morning I perceived that one of the king&rsquo;s guards, who
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg&nbsp;41]</a></span>
+had always treated me with great kindness, and with whom I was
+very intimate, was tied up to the executioner&rsquo;s post before the
+hut. Aware of the fate which awaited him, I ran to the hut of
+Whyna, and so great was my distress that I could not speak; all
+I could do was to clasp her knees and repeat the man&rsquo;s name,
+pointing to the post to which he was tied. She understood me,
+and eager to save the man, or to oblige me, she ran to the large
+hut, and attempted to intercede with the old barbarian for the
+man&rsquo;s life; but he was in an agony of rage and passion; he refused
+her, lifting up his sabre to despatch the man; Whyna was
+rash enough to seize the king&rsquo;s arm, and prevent the blow, at
+this his rage redoubled, his eyes glowed like live coals, and
+turning to her with the look of a demon, he caught her by the
+hair, and dragging her across his feet, lifted up his scimitar in
+the act to strike off her head. I sickened with horror at the danger
+she was in, but I thought he would not strike. I had no weapon,
+but if he had done so, I would have revenged her death, even if
+I had lost my life. At last the old monster let go her hair, spurning
+her away with his foot, so that she rolled over on the sand,
+and then turning to the unhappy man, with an upward slanting
+blow of his sabre, he ripped him up from the flank to the chest,
+so that his bowels fell down at his feet; he then looked round
+at us all with an aspect which froze our blood, and turned
+away sulkily to his hut, leaving us to recover our spirits how we
+might.</p>
+
+<p>Poor Whyna, terrified and enraged at the same time, as soon
+as I had led her to her hut, and we were by ourselves, gave way
+to the storm of passion which swelled her bosom, execrating her
+husband with the utmost loathing and abhorrence, and lamenting
+in the most passionate manner her having ever been connected
+with him. Trembling alike at the danger to which I had exposed
+her, and moved by her condition, I could not help mingling my
+tears with hers, and endeavoured by caresses and condoling with
+her to reduce her excitement. Had the old king seen me, I know
+what both our fates would have been, but at that time I cared not.
+I was very young, very impetuous, and I was resolved that I
+would not permit either her or myself to die unavenged. At last
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg&nbsp;42]</a></span>
+she sobbed herself to sleep, and I took my usual station outside
+of the hut. It was well that I did so, for not five minutes afterwards
+the old wretch, having got over his temper, came out of
+his tent and bent his steps towards the hut, that he might make
+friends with her, for she was too necessary to his happiness.
+He soon treated her with his accustomed kindness, but I perceived
+that after the scene I have described, her aversion for him
+was doubled.</p>
+
+<p>There were some scores of women in the various huts within
+the palisade, all of whom I understood were wives to the old
+monarch, but none but the four we found with him when we were
+first brought into his presence were ever to be seen in his company.
+I had, by means of my kind mistress, the opportunity of
+constantly supplying my companions with fowls and venison,
+which was left from the king&rsquo;s table, and through her care, they
+always met with kind and gentle usage.</p>
+
+<p>For another two months did I thus remain happy in the company
+of Whyna, and miserable when in the presence of the king,
+whose eye it was impossible to meet without quailing; when one
+morning we were all ordered out, and were surrounded by a large
+party armed with spears, javelins, and bird-arrows&mdash;I say
+bird-arrows, as those that they use in war are much larger. We soon
+discovered that we were to be sent to some other place, but where
+or why, we could not find out. Shortly afterwards the crowd
+opened, and Whyna made her appearance. She took the feather
+circle off my head, and the manacles off my wrist and leg, and
+went and laid them at the king&rsquo;s feet. She then returned, and
+told me that I was free as well as my companions, but that I only,
+if I chose, had permission to remain with her.</p>
+
+<p>I did not at first reply. She then, in the most earnest manner,
+begged me to remain with her as her slave; and as she did
+not dare to say what she felt, or use caresses to prevail upon me,
+she stamped her little feet with eagerness and impatience. The
+struggle in my own heart was excessive. I presumed that we were
+about to be made a present to some other king, and I felt that I
+never could expect so easy and so pleasant a servitude as I then
+enjoyed. I was sincerely attached, and indeed latterly, I was
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg&nbsp;43]</a></span>
+more than attached, to Whyna; I felt that it was dangerous.
+Had the old king been dead, I would have been content to pass
+my life with her; and I was still hesitating, notwithstanding the
+remonstrances of my companions, when the crowd opened a little,
+and I beheld the old king looking at me, and I felt convinced that
+his jealousy was at last aroused, and that if I consented to remain,
+my life would not be worth a day&rsquo;s purchase.</p>
+
+<p>Whyna also turned, and met the look of the old king. Whether
+she read in his countenance what I did, I know not; but this
+is certain, she made no more attempts to persuade me, but
+waving her hand for us to set off on our journey, she slowly retired,
+and when arrived at the hut turned round towards us. We
+all prostrated ourselves before her, and then set off on our
+journey. She retired to the door of her own hut, and two or three
+times waved her hand to us, at which our guards made us every
+time again prostrate ourselves. She then walked out to the little
+hill where she always went up to pray, and for the last time waved
+her hand, and then I perceived her sink down on the ground,
+and turn her head in the direction which she always did when she
+prayed.</p>
+
+<p>We now proceeded on our journey in a north-west direction,
+our guards treating us with the greatest kindness. We rested
+every day from ten till four o&rsquo;clock in the afternoon, and then
+walked till late at night. Corn was supplied us from the scattered
+hamlets as we passed along, and our escort procured us flesh and
+fowl with their bows and arrows; but we were in a state of great
+anxiety to know where we were going, and nobody appeared able
+or willing to tell us. I often thought of Whyna, and at times
+repented that I had not remained with her, as I feared falling into
+a worse slavery, but the recollection of the old king&rsquo;s diabolical
+parting look was sufficient to make me think that it was best as it
+was. Now that I had left my mistress, I thought of her kindness
+and amiable qualities, and her affection for me; and although it
+may appear strange that I should feel myself in love with a black
+woman, I will not deny but that I was so. I could not help being
+so, and that is all the excuse I can offer.</p>
+
+<p>Our guards now informed us that we were about to pass for a
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg&nbsp;44]</a></span>
+few miles through the territory of another king, and that they
+were not sure what our reception might be; but this was soon
+made evident, for we observed a party behind us, which moved
+as we moved, although they did not attack us; and soon afterwards
+a larger body in front were blocking up our passage, and
+we found that we were beset. The commander of our party,
+therefore, gave orders for battle, and he put into our hands strong
+spears, they being the only weapons we could use, and entreated
+us to fight. Our party was greatly outnumbered by the enemy,
+but ours were chosen warriors. As for us white men, we kept
+together, agreeing among ourselves, that we would defend ourselves
+if attacked, but would not offend either party by taking an
+unnecessary part in the fray, as it was immaterial to us to whom
+we belonged.</p>
+
+<p>The battle, or rather skirmish, soon began. They dispersed,
+and shot their arrows from behind the trees, and this warfare
+continued some time without damage to either party, till at last
+they attacked us closely; then, our commander killing that of
+the enemy, they gave way just as another party was coming
+forward to attack us white men; but finding us resolute in our
+defence, and our own warriors coming to our assistance, the
+rout was general. They could not, however, prevent some prisoners
+from being taken; most of them wounded with the bird-arrows,
+which, having their barbs twisted in the form of an S,
+gave great pain in their extraction. I observed that a particular
+herb chewed, and bound up with the bleeding wound, was their
+only remedy, and that when the bone was injured, they considered
+the wound mortal.</p>
+
+<p>We now turned to the eastward to get back into our own territory;
+we left the prisoners and wounded at a village, and receiving
+a reinforcement, we took a circuit to avoid this hostile
+people, and continued our route. On the eighth morning, just
+as we were stopping to repose, one of the warriors, who had
+mounted a hill before us, shouted and waved his hand. We ran
+up to him, and as soon as we gained the summit, were transported
+with the sight of the British flag flying on Senegal fort,
+on the other side of the river. We now understood that by some
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg&nbsp;45]</a></span>
+means or another we had been ransomed, and so it proved to be;
+for the governor hearing that we were prisoners up the country,
+had sent messengers offering the old king a handsome present for
+our liberation. I afterwards found out that the price paid in
+goods amounted to about fifty-six shillings a-head. The governor
+received us kindly, clothed us, and sent us down to the ship,
+which was with a full cargo in the road, and intending to sail the
+next day, and we were received and welcomed by our messmates
+as men risen from the dead.</p>
+
+<p>We sailed two days afterwards, and had a fortunate voyage
+home to Liverpool.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>The Liverpool Ladies are very civil to me&mdash;I am admitted into good
+Society&mdash;Introduced to Captain Levee&mdash;Again sail to Senegal&mdash;Overhear
+a Conspiracy to seize the Ship by the Crew of a Slaver, but
+am enabled to defeat it&mdash;Am thanked and rewarded by the Owner&mdash;Take
+a Trip to London with Captain Levee&mdash;Stopped by Highwaymen
+on the Road&mdash;Put up at a Tavern&mdash;Dissipated Town Life&mdash;Remove
+to a genteel Boarding-House&mdash;Meet with a Government Spy&mdash;Return
+to Liverpool.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>As the captain reported me to be a very attentive and good
+officer, although I was then but twenty-three years of age, and
+as I had been previously on good terms and useful to the owner,
+I was kindly received by him, and paid much more attention to,
+than my situation on board might warrant. My captivity among
+the Negroes, and the narrative I gave of my adventures, were
+also a source of much interest. I was at first questioned by the
+gentlemen of Liverpool, and afterwards one of the merchant&rsquo;s
+ladies, who had heard something of my adventures, and found
+out that I was a young and personable man, with better manners
+than are usually to be found before the mast, invited me one
+evening to a tea-party, that I might amuse her friends with my
+adventures. They were most curious about the Negro queen,
+Whyna, inquiring into every particular as to her personal appearance
+and dress, and trying to find out, as women always do,
+if there was any thing of an intrigue between us. They shook
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg&nbsp;46]</a></span>
+their little fingers at me, when I solemnly declared that there was
+not, and one or two of them cajoled me aside to obtain my acknowledgment
+of what they really believed to be the truth, although
+I would not confess it.</p>
+
+<p>When they had tired themselves with asking questions about
+the Negro queen, they then began to ask about myself, and how
+it happened I was not such a bear, and coarse in my manners and
+address, as the other seamen. To this I could give no other
+reply but that I had been educated when a child. They would
+fain know who were my father and mother, and in what station of
+life it had pleased God to place them; but I hardly need say, my
+dear Madam, to you who are so well acquainted with my birth
+and parentage, that I would not disgrace my family by acknowledging
+that one of their sons was in a situation so unworthy; not
+that I thought at that time, nor do I think now, that I was so
+much to blame in preferring independence in a humble position,
+to the life that induced me to take the step which I did; but as I
+could not state who my family were without also stating why I had
+quitted them, I preserved silence, as I did not think that I had
+any right to communicate family secrets to strangers. The consequences
+of my first introduction to genteel society were very
+agreeable; I received many more invitations from the company
+assembled, notwithstanding that my sailor&rsquo;s attire but ill corresponded
+with the powdered wigs and silk waistcoats of the gentlemen,
+or the hoops and furbelows of satin which set off the
+charms of the ladies.</p>
+
+<p>At first I did not care so much, but as I grew more at my ease,
+I felt ashamed of my dress, and the more so as the young foplings
+would put their glasses to their eyes, and look at me as if I were
+a monster. But supported as I was by the fair sex, I cared little
+for them. The ladies vowed that I was charming, and paid me
+much courtesy; indeed my vanity more than once made me suspect
+that I was something more than a mere favourite with one
+or two of them, one especially, a buxom young person, and very
+coquettish, who told me, as we were looking out of the bay window
+of the withdrawing-room, that since I could be so secret
+with respect to what took place between the Negress queen and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg&nbsp;47]</a></span>
+myself, I must be sure to command the good-will and favour of
+the ladies, who always admired discretion in so young and so
+handsome a man. But I was not to be seduced by this flattery,
+for somehow or another I had ever before me the French lady,
+and her conduct to me; and I had almost a dislike, or I should
+rather say, I had imbibed an indifference for the sex.</p>
+
+<p>This admission into good society did, however, have one
+effect upon me; it made me more particular in my dress, and all
+my wages were employed in the decoration of my person. At that
+time you may recollect, Madam, there were but two styles of
+dress among the seamen; one was that worn by those who sailed
+in the northern seas, and the other by those who navigated in
+the tropical countries, both suitable to the climates. The first
+was the jacket, woollen frock, breeches, and petticoat of canvas
+over all, with worsted stockings, shoes, and buckles, and
+usually a cap of skin upon the head; the other a light short
+jacket, with hanging buttons, red sash, trowsers, and neat
+shoes and buckles, with a small embroidered cap with falling
+crown, or a hat and feather. It was this last which I had always
+worn, having been continually in warm climates, and my hair
+was dressed in its natural ringlets instead of a wig, which I was
+never partial to, although very common among seamen; my ears
+were pierced, and I wore long gold earrings, as well as gilt
+buckles in my shoes; and, by degrees, I not only improved
+my dress so as to make it very handsome in materials, but my
+manners were also very much altered for the better.</p>
+
+<p>I had been at Liverpool about two months, waiting for the
+ship to unload and take in cargo for another voyage, when a
+privateer belonging to the same owner, came into port with four
+prizes of considerable value; and the day afterwards I was invited
+by the owner to meet the captain who commanded the privateer.</p>
+
+<p>He was a very different looking person from Captain Weatherall,
+who was a stout, strong-limbed man, with a weather-beaten
+countenance. He, on the contrary, was a young man of
+about twenty-six, very slight in person, with a dark complexion,
+hair and eyes jet black. I should have called him a very handsome
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg&nbsp;48]</a></span>
+Jew&mdash;for he bore that cast of countenance, and I afterwards
+discovered that he was of that origin, although I cannot
+say that he ever followed the observances of that remarkable
+people. He was handsomely dressed, wearing his hair slightly
+powdered, a laced coat and waistcoat, blue sash and trowsers,
+with silver-mounted pistols and dagger in his belt, and a smart
+hanger by his side. He had several diamond rings on his finger,
+and carried a small clouded cane. Altogether, I had never fallen
+in with so smart and prepossessing a personage, and should have
+taken him for one of the gentlemen commending the king&rsquo;s ships,
+rather than the captain of a Liverpool privateer. He talked well
+and fluently, and with an air of command and decision, taking
+the lead in the company, although it might have been considered
+that he was not by any means the principal person in it. The
+owner, during the evening, informed me that he was a first-rate
+officer, of great personal courage, and that he had made a great
+deal of money, which he had squandered away almost as fast as
+he received it.</p>
+
+<p>With this person, whose name was Captain Levee (an alteration,
+I suspect, from Levi), I was much pleased; and as I
+found that he did not appear to despise my acquaintance, I took
+much pains to please him, and we were becoming very intimate,
+when my ship was ready to sail. I now found that I was promoted
+to the office of first mate, which gave me great satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>We sailed with an assorted cargo, but very light, and nothing
+of consequence occurred during our passage out. We made good
+traffic on the coast as we ran down it, receiving ivory, gold-dust,
+and wax, in exchange for our printed cottons and hardware. After
+being six weeks on the coast, we put into Senegal to dispose
+of the remainder of our cargo; which we soon did to the
+governor, who gave us a fair exchange, although by no means so
+profitable a barter as what we had made on the coast; but that we
+did not expect for what might be called the refuse of our cargo.
+The captain was much pleased, as he knew the owner would be
+satisfied with him, and, moreover, he had himself a venture in
+the cargo; and we had just received the remainder of the ivory
+from the governor&rsquo;s stores, and had only to get on board a
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg&nbsp;49]</a></span>
+sufficiency of provisions and water for our homeward voyage, when a
+circumstance took place which I must now relate.</p>
+
+<p>Our crew consisted of the captain, and myself, as first mate,
+the second mate, and twelve seamen, four of which were those
+who had been taken prisoners with me, and had been released,
+as I have related, in our previous voyage. These four men were
+very much attached to me, I believe chiefly from my kindness to
+them when I was a slave to the queen Whyna, as I always procured
+for them every thing which I could, and, through the exertions
+of my mistress, had them plentifully supplied with provisions
+from the king&rsquo;s table. The second mate and other eight
+men we had shipped at Liverpool. They were fine, stout fellows,
+but appeared to be loose characters, but that we did not discover
+till after we had sailed. There was anchored with us at Senegal a
+low black brig, employed in the slave-trade, which had made
+the bay at the same time that we did; and to their great surprise&mdash;for
+she was considered a very fast sailer&mdash;she was
+beaten at all points by our ship, which was considered the fastest
+vessel out of Liverpool. The crew of the slaver were numerous,
+and as bloodthirsty a set of looking fellows as ever I fell in with.
+Their boat was continually alongside of our vessel, and I perceived
+that their visits were made to the eight men whom we had
+shipped at Liverpool, and that they did not appear inclined to be
+at all intimate with the rest of the crew. This roused my suspicions,
+although I said nothing; but I watched them very closely.
+One forenoon, as I was standing at the foot of the companion-ladder,
+concealed by the booby-hatch from the sight of those on
+deck, I heard our men talking over the side, and at last, as I remained
+concealed, that I might overhear the conversation, one of
+the slaver&rsquo;s men from the boat said, &ldquo;To-night, at eight o&rsquo;clock,
+we will come to arrange the whole business.&rdquo; The boat then
+shoved off, and pulled for the brig.</p>
+
+<p>Now, it was the custom of the captain to go onshore every
+evening to drink sangaree and smoke with the governor, and very
+often I went with him, leaving the ship in charge of the second
+mate. It had been my intention, and I had stated as much to the
+second mate, to go this evening, as it was the last but one that
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg&nbsp;50]</a></span>
+we should remain at Senegal; but from what I overheard I made
+up my mind that I would not go. About an hour before sunset, I
+complained of headache and sickness, and sat down under the
+awning over the after part of the quarter-deck. When the captain
+came up to go on shore, he asked me if I was ready, but I made
+no answer, only put my hand to my head.</p>
+
+<p>The captain, supposing that I was about to be attacked by the
+fever of the country, was much concerned, and desired the second
+mate to help him to take me down to the state-room, and
+then went on shore; the boat was, as usual, pulled by the four
+men who were prisoners with me, and whom the captain found
+he could trust on shore better than the others belonging to the
+crew, who would indulge in liquor whenever they had an opportunity.
+I remained in my bed-place till it was nearly eight o&rsquo;clock,
+and then crept softly up the companion-hatch to ascertain who
+was on deck.</p>
+
+<p>The men were all below in the fore-peak at their suppers, and
+as I had before observed that their conferences were held on the
+forecastle, I went forward, and covered myself up with a part of
+the main-topsail, which the men had been repairing during the
+day. From this position I could hear all that passed, whether
+they went down into the fore-peak, or remained to converse on the
+forecastle. About ten minutes afterwards I heard the boat grate
+against the ship&rsquo;s side, and the men of the slaver mount on
+the deck.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right?&rdquo; inquired one of the slavers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; replied our second mate; &ldquo;skipper and his men are
+on shore, and the first mate taken with the fever.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All the better,&rdquo; replied another; &ldquo;one less to handle.
+And now, my lads, let&rsquo;s to business, and have every thing settled
+to-night, so that we may not be seen together any more till
+the work is done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They then commenced a consultation, by which I found it was
+arranged that our ship was to be boarded and taken possession of
+as soon as she was a few miles out of the bay, for they dared not
+attack us while we were at anchor close to the fort; but the second
+mate and eight men belonging to us were to pretend to make
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg&nbsp;51]</a></span>
+resistance until beaten down below, and when the vessel was in
+their power, the captain, I, and the other four men who were
+ashore in the boat, were to be silenced for ever. After which
+there came on a discussion as to what was to be done with the
+cargo, which was very valuable, and how the money was to be
+shared out when the cargo was sold. Then they settled who were
+to be officers on board of the ship, which there is no doubt they
+intended to make a pirate vessel. I also discovered that, if they
+succeeded, it was their intention to kill their own captain and
+such men of the slaver who would not join them, and scuttle their
+own vessel, which was a very old one.</p>
+
+<p>The consultation ended by a solemn and most villainous oath
+being administered to every man as to secrecy and fidelity, after
+which the men of the slaver went into their boat, and pulled to
+their own vessel. The second mate and our men remained on
+deck about a quarter of an hour, and then all descended by the
+ladder to the fore-peak, and turned into their hammocks.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I thought I could do so with safety, I came out of
+my lurking-place, and retreated to the state-room. It was fortunate
+that I did, for a minute afterwards I heard a man on deck,
+and the second mate came down the companion-hatch, and inquired
+whether I wanted any thing. I told him no; that I was
+very ill, and only hoped to be able to go to sleep, and asked him
+if the captain had returned. He replied that he had not, and
+then went away. As soon as I was left to myself, I began to consider
+what would be best to be done. I knew the captain to be a
+very timorous man, and I was afraid to trust him with the secret,
+as I thought he would be certain to let the men know by his conduct
+that they were discovered, and their plans known. The four
+men who were prisoners with me I knew that I could confide in.
+This was the Tuesday night, and we proposed sailing on the
+Thursday. Now we had no means of defence on board, except
+one small gun, which was honeycombed and nearly useless. It
+did very well to make a signal with, but had it been loaded with
+ball, I believe it would have burst immediately. It is true that
+we had muskets and cutlasses, but what use would they have
+been against such a force as would be opposed, and two-thirds
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg&nbsp;52]</a></span>
+of our men mutineers. Of course we must have been immediately
+overpowered.</p>
+
+<p>That the slavers intended to take possession of their own
+vessel before they took ours, I had no doubt. It is true that we
+outsailed them when we had a breeze, but the bay was usually
+becalmed, and it was not till a vessel had got well into the offing
+that she obtained a breeze, and there was no doubt but that they
+would take the opportunity of boarding us when we were moving
+slowly through the water, and a boat might easily come up with
+us. The slaver had stated his intention of sailing immediately
+to procure her cargo elsewhere, and if she got under weigh at the
+same time that we did, no suspicion would be created. To apply
+for protection to the governor would be useless&mdash;he could not
+protect us after we were clear of the bay. Indeed, if it were
+known that we had so done, it would probably only precipitate
+the affair, and we should be taken possession of while at anchor,
+for the shot from the fort would hardly reach us. It was, therefore,
+only by stratagem that we could escape from the clutches of
+these miscreants. Again, allowing that we were to get clear of
+the slavers, we were still in an awkward position, for, supposing
+the captain to be of any use, we should still only be six men
+against nine, and we might be overpowered by our own crew,
+who were determined and powerful men.</p>
+
+<p>All night I lay on my bed reflecting upon what ought to be
+done, and at last I made up my mind.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I went on deck, complaining very much,
+but stating that the fever had left me. The long-boat was sent
+on shore for more water, and I took care that the second mate and
+eight men should be those selected for the service. As soon as
+they had shoved off, I called the other four men on the forecastle,
+and told them what I had overheard. They were very much
+astonished, for they had had no idea that there was any thing of
+the kind going forward. I imparted to them all my plans, and
+they agreed to support me in every thing&mdash;indeed, they were all
+brave men, and would have, if I had acceded to it, attempted to
+master and overpower the second mate and the others, and make
+sail in the night; but this I would not permit, as there was a
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg&nbsp;53]</a></span>
+great risk. They perfectly agreed with me that it was no use
+acquainting the captain, and that all we had to do was to get rid
+of these men, and carry the vessel home how we could. How
+that was to be done was the point at issue. One thing was certain,
+that it was necessary to leave the bay that night, or it would
+be too late. Fortunately, there was always a light breeze during
+the night, and the nights were dark, for there was no moon till
+three o&rsquo;clock in the morning, by which time we could have gained
+the offing, and then we might laugh at the slaver, as we were
+lighter in our heels. The boat came off with the water about
+noon, and the men went to dinner. The captain had agreed to
+dine with the governor, and I had been asked to accompany him.
+It was to be our farewell dinner, as we were to sail the next
+morning. I had been cogitating a long while to find out how to
+get rid of these fellows, when at last I determined that I would
+go on shore with the captain, and propose a plan to the governor.
+His knowledge of what was about to be attempted could do no
+harm, and I thought he would help us; so I went into the boat,
+and when we landed I told the men what I intended to do. As
+soon as I arrived at the governor&rsquo;s, I took an opportunity, while
+the captain was reading a book, to request a few moments&rsquo; conversation,
+and I then informed the governor of the conspiracy
+which was afloat, and when I had so done, I pointed out to him
+the propriety of saying nothing to the captain until all was safe,
+and proposed my plan to him, which he immediately acceded to.
+When he returned to where the captain was still reading, he told
+him that he had a quantity of gold-dust and other valuables,
+which he wished to send to England by his ship; but that he did
+not wish to do it openly, as it was supposed that he did not traffic,
+and that if the captain would send his long-boat on shore after
+dark, he would send all the articles on board, with instructions
+to whom they were to be consigned on our arrival. The captain
+of course consented. We bade the governor farewell about half
+an hour before dark, and returned on board. After I had been
+a few minutes on deck, I sent for the second mate, and told him
+as a secret what the governor had proposed to do, and that he
+would be required to land after dark for the goods, telling him
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg&nbsp;54]</a></span>
+that there was a very large quantity of gold-dust, and that he must
+be very careful. I knew that this intelligence would please him,
+as it would add to their plunder when they seized the vessel; and
+I told him that as we sailed at daylight, he must lose no time, but
+be on board again as soon as he could, that we might hoist in the
+long-boat. About eight o&rsquo;clock in the evening, the boat, with
+him and the eight men, went on shore. The governor had promised
+to detain them, and ply them with liquor, till we had time
+to get safe off. As soon as they were out of sight and hearing,
+we prepared every thing for getting under weigh. The captain
+had gone to his cabin, but was not in bed. I went down to him,
+and told him I should remain up till the boat returned, and see
+that all was right; and that in the mean time I would get every
+thing ready for weighing the next morning, and that he might just
+as well go to bed now, and I would call him to relieve me at daylight.
+To this arrangement he consented; and in half an hour
+I perceived that his candle was out, and that he had retired.
+Being now so dark that we could not perceive the slaver, which
+lay about three cables&rsquo; length from us, it was fairly to be argued
+that she could not see us; I therefore went forward and slipped
+the cable without noise, and sent men up aloft to loose the sails.
+There was a light breeze, sufficient to carry us about two knots
+through the water, and we knew that it would rather increase
+than diminish. In half an hour, weak-handed as we were, we
+were under sail, every thing being done without a word being
+spoken, and with the utmost precaution. You may imagine how
+rejoiced we all were when we found that we had man&oelig;uvred so
+well; notwithstanding, we kept a sharp look-out, to see if the
+slaver had perceived our motions, and had followed us; and the
+fear of such being the case kept us under alarm till near daylight,
+when the breeze blew strong, and we felt that we had nothing
+more to dread. As the day broke, we found that we were
+four or five leagues from the anchorage, and could not see the
+lower masts of the slaver, which still remained where we had
+left her.</p>
+
+<p>Satisfied that we were secure, I then went down to the captain,
+and, as he lay in bed, made him acquainted with all that had
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg&nbsp;55]</a></span>
+passed. He appeared as if awakened from a dream, rose without
+making any reply, and hastened on deck. When he found out
+that we were under weigh, and so far from the land, he exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It must all be true; but how shall we be able to take the
+ship home with so few hands?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I replied, that I had no fears on that score, and that I would
+answer for bringing the vessel safe to Liverpool.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But,&rdquo; he said at last, &ldquo;how is it that I was not informed of
+all this? I might have made some arrangements with the men.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sir,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;but if you had attempted to do so,
+the vessel would have been taken immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why was I not acquainted with it, I want to know?&rdquo; he
+said again.</p>
+
+<p>I had by this time made up my mind to the answer I should
+give him; so I said: &ldquo;Because it would have placed a serious
+responsibility on your shoulders if, as captain of this vessel, you
+had sailed to England with such a valuable cargo and so few
+hands. The governor and I, therefore, thought it better that
+you should not be placed in such an awkward position, and therefore
+we considered it right not to say a word to you about it. Now,
+if any thing goes wrong, it will be my fault, and not yours, and
+the owner cannot blame you.&rdquo; When I had said this, the captain
+was silent for a minute or two, and then said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I believe it is all for the best, and I thank you and
+the governor too.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Having got over this little difficulty, I did not care. We
+made all sail, and steered homewards, and, after a rapid passage,
+during which we were on deck day and night, we arrived,
+very much fatigued, at Liverpool. Of course the captain communicated
+what had occurred to the owner, who immediately sent
+for me, and having heard my version of the story, expressed his
+acknowledgment for the preservation of the vessel; and to prove
+his sincerity, he presented me with fifty guineas for myself, and
+ten for each of the men. The cargo was soon landed, and I was
+again at liberty. I found Captain Levee in port; he had just
+returned from another cruise, and had taken a rich prize. He
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg&nbsp;56]</a></span>
+met me with the same cordiality as before; and having asked me
+for a recital of what had occurred at Senegal, of which he had
+heard something from the owner, as soon as I had finished, he
+said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a lad after my own heart, and I wish we were sailing
+together. I want a first-lieutenant like you, and if you will go
+with me, say the word, and it will be hard but I will have you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I replied that I was not very anxious to be in a privateer again;
+and this brought on a discourse upon what occurred when I was in
+the Revenge with Captain Weatherall.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; he said at last, &ldquo;all this makes me more anxious to
+have you. I like fair fighting, and hate buccaneering like yourself;
+however, we will talk of it another time. I am about to
+start for London. What do you say, will you join me, and we
+will have some sport? With plenty of money, you may do any
+thing in London.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;but I have not plenty of money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That shall make no difference; money is of no use but to
+spend it, that I know of,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee. &ldquo;I have plenty
+for both of us, and my purse is at your service; help yourself as
+you please, without counting, for I shall be your enemy if you
+offer to return it. That&rsquo;s settled; the horses are all ready, and
+we will start on Wednesday. How will you dress? I think it
+might be better to alter your costume, now you are going to London.
+You&rsquo;ll make a pretty fellow, dress how you will.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Before I give you an answer to all your kind proposals, I
+must speak to the owner, Captain Levee.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course, you must; shall we go there now?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Willingly,&rdquo; I replied. And we accordingly set off.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Levee introduced the subject as soon as we arrived at
+the counting-house, stating that he wanted me to be first-lieutenant
+of the privateer, and that I was going to London with him,
+if he had no objection.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As for going to London with you for five or six weeks, Captain
+Levee, there can be no objection to that,&rdquo; replied the owner;
+&ldquo;but as for being your first-lieutenant, that is another question.
+I have a vessel now fitting out, and intended to offer the command
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg&nbsp;57]</a></span>
+of it to Mr. Elrington. I do so now at once, and he must decide
+whether he prefers being under your orders to commanding a
+vessel of his own.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will decide that for him,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee. &ldquo;He
+must command his own vessel; it would be no friendship on my
+part to stand in the way of his advancement. I only hope, if she
+is a privateer, that we may cruise together.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot reply to that latter question,&rdquo; replied the owner.
+&ldquo;Her destination is uncertain; but the command of her is now
+offered to Mr. Elrington, if he will accept of it, before his trip to
+the metropolis.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I replied that I should with pleasure, and returned the owner
+many thanks for his kindness; and, after a few minutes&rsquo; more
+conversation, we look our leave.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now I should advise you,&rdquo; said Captain Levee, as we
+walked towards his lodgings, &ldquo;to dress as a captain of a vessel
+of war, much in the style that I do. You are a captain, and
+have a right so to do. Come with me, and let me fit you out.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I agreed with Captain Levee that I could not do better; so we
+went and ordered my suits of clothes, and purchased the other
+articles which I required. Captain Levee would have paid for
+them, but I had money sufficient, and would not permit him;
+indeed with my pay and present of fifty guineas I had upwards of
+seventy guineas in my purse, and did not disburse more than fifty
+in my accoutrements, although my pistols and hanger were very
+handsome.</p>
+
+<p>We did not start until three days after the time proposed,
+when I found at daylight two stout well-bred horses at the door;
+one for Captain Levee, and the other for me. We were attended
+by two serving-men belonging to the crew of the privateer commanded
+by Captain Levee&mdash;powerful, fierce-looking, and determined
+men, armed to the teeth, and mounted upon strong
+jades. One carried the valise of Captain Levee, which was heavy
+with gold. The other had charge of mine, which was much
+lighter, as you may suppose. We travelled for three days without
+any interruption, making about thirty miles a-day, and stopping
+at the hostelries to sleep every night. On the fourth day we
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg&nbsp;58]</a></span>
+had a slight affair, for as we were mounting a hill towards the
+evening, we found our passage barred by five fellows with crape
+masks, who told us to stand and deliver.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee, firing his pistol, and
+reining up his horse at the same time. The ball struck the man,
+who fell back on the crupper, while the others rushed forward.
+My pistols were all ready, and I fired at the one who spurred his
+horse upon me, but the horse rearing up saved his master, the
+ball passing through the head of the animal, who fell dead,
+holding his rider a prisoner by the thigh, which was underneath
+his body. Our two men had come forward and ranged alongside
+of us at the first attack, but now that two had fallen, the others
+finding themselves in a minority, after exchanging shots, turned
+their horses&rsquo; heads and galloped away. We would have pursued
+them, but Captain Levee said it was better not, as there might
+be more of the gang near, and by pursuing them we might separate
+and be cut off in detail.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What shall we do with these fellows?&rdquo; asked our men of
+Captain Levee.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Leave them to get off how they can,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee.
+&ldquo;I will not be stopped on my journey by such a matter as this. I
+dare say they don&rsquo;t deserve hanging more than half the people we
+meet. Let us push on and get into quarters for the night. After
+all, Mr. Elrington,&rdquo; said Captain Levee to me, as we were setting
+off, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s only a little land privateering, and we must not
+be too hard upon them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I confess, Madam, when I recalled all that I had witnessed
+on board of the Revenge, that I agreed with Captain Levee, that
+these highwaymen were not worse than ourselves.</p>
+
+<p>No other adventure occurred during our journey, and when
+we arrived in London we directed our horses&rsquo; steps to a fashionable
+tavern in St. Paul&rsquo;s, and took possession of apartments,
+and as Captain Levee was well known, we were cordially greeted
+and well attended. The tavern was in great repute, and resorted
+to by all the wits and gay men of the day, and I soon found myself
+on intimate terms with a numerous set of dashing blades, full of
+life and jollity, and spending their money like princes; but it
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg&nbsp;59]</a></span>
+was a life of sad intemperance, and my head ached every morning
+from the excess of the night before, and in our excursions in
+the evenings we were continually in broils and disturbances, and
+many a broken head, nay, sometimes a severe wound, was given
+and received. After the first fortnight, I felt weary of this continual
+dissipation, and as I was dressing a sword-cut which Captain
+Levee had received in an affray, I one morning told him so.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I agree with you,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;that it is all very foolish
+and discreditable, but if we live with the gay and pretty fellows,
+we must do as they do. Besides, how could I get rid of my
+money, which burns in my pocket, if I did not spend as much
+in one day as would suffice for three weeks?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Still I would rather dress a wound gained in an honourable
+contest with the enemy than one received in a night brawl, and I
+would rather see you commanding your men in action than reeling
+with other drunkards in search of a quarrel in the streets.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I feel that it is beneath me, and I&rsquo;m sure that it&rsquo;s beneath
+you. You are a Mentor without a beard,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee.
+&ldquo;But still it requires no beard to discover that I have made an ass
+of myself. Now, what do you say, shall we take lodgings and
+live more reputably, for while in this tavern we never shall be
+able to do so?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should prefer it, to tell you the honest truth,&rdquo; I replied,
+&ldquo;for I have no pleasure in our present life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Be it so, then,&rdquo; he replied. &ldquo;I will tell them that I take
+lodgings, that I may be near to a fair lady. That will be a good
+and sufficient excuse.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The next day we secured lodgings to our satisfaction, and removed
+into them, leaving our horses and men at the tavern.
+We boarded with the family, and as there were others who did
+the same, we had a very pleasant society, especially as there
+were many of the other sex among the boarders. The first day
+that we sat down to dinner, I found myself by the side of a young
+man of pleasing manners, although with much of the coxcomb in
+his apparel. His dress was very gay and very expensive, and he
+wore a diamond-hilted sword and diamond buckles&mdash;at least so
+they appeared to me, as I was not sufficient connoisseur to
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg&nbsp;60]</a></span>
+distinguish the brilliant from the paste. He was very affable and
+talkative, and before dinner was over gave me the history of
+many of the people present.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who is the dame in the blue stomacher?&rdquo; I inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You mean the prettiest of the two, I suppose,&rdquo; he replied,
+&ldquo;that one with the patches under the eye? She is a widow, having
+just buried an old man of sixty, to whom she was sacrificed by
+her mother. But although the old fellow was as rich as a Jew,
+he found such fault with the lady&rsquo;s conduct that he left all his
+money away from her. This is not generally known, and she
+takes care to conceal it, for she is anxious to make another match,
+and she will succeed if her funds, which are not <em>very</em> great,
+enable her to carry on the game a little longer. I was nearly taken
+in myself, but an intimacy with her cousin, who hates her, gave
+me a knowledge of the truth. She still keeps her carriage, and
+appears to be rolling in wealth, but she has sold her diamonds
+and wears paste. And that plain young person on the other side
+of her has money, and knows the value of it. She requires rent-roll
+for rent-roll, and instead of referring you to her father and
+mother, the little minx refers you to her lawyer and man of business.
+Ugly as she is, I would have sacrificed myself, but she treated
+me in that way, and upon my soul I was not very sorry for it, for
+she is dear at any price, and I have since rejoiced at my want of
+success.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who is that elderly gentleman with such snow-white hair?&rdquo;
+I inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That,&rdquo; replied my companion, &ldquo;nobody exactly knows,
+but I have my idea. I think,&rdquo; said he, lowering his voice to a
+whisper, &ldquo;that he is a Catholic priest, or a Jesuit, perhaps,
+and a partisan of the house of Stuart. I have my reasons for supposing
+so, and this I am sure of, which is, that he is closely
+watched by the emissaries of government.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>You may remember, Madam, how at that time the country
+was disturbed by the landing of the Pretender in the summer of
+the year before, and the great successes which he had met with,
+and that the Duke of Cumberland had returned from the army in
+the Low Countries, and had marched to Scotland.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg&nbsp;61]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Has there been any intelligence from Scotland relative to
+the movements of the armies?&rdquo; I inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We have heard that the Pretender had abandoned the siege
+of Fort William, but nothing more; and how far the report is
+true, it is hard to say. You military men must naturally have a
+war one way or the other,&rdquo; said my companion, in a careless
+manner.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As to the fighting part of the question,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;I
+should feel it a matter of great indifference which side I fought
+for, as the claim of both parties is a matter of mere opinion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;and what may be your opinion?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have none. I think the claims of both parties equal. The
+house of Stuart lost the throne of England on account of its religion&mdash;that
+of Hanover has been called to the throne for the same
+cause. The adherents of both are numerous at the present moment;
+and it does not follow because the house of Hanover has
+the strongest party, that the house of Stuart should not uphold
+its cause while there is a chance of success.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is true; but if you were to be obliged to take one side
+or the other, which would it be by preference?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly I would support the Protestant religion in preference
+to the Catholic. I am a Protestant, and that is reason
+enough.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I agree with you,&rdquo; replied my companion. &ldquo;Is your brave
+friend of the same opinion?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I really never put the question to him, but I think I may
+safely answer that he is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It was fortunate, Madam, that I replied as I did, for I afterwards
+discovered that this precious gossiping young man, with
+his rings and ribbons, was no other than a government spy, on
+the look-out for malcontents. Certainly his disguise was good,
+for I never should have imagined it from his foppish exterior and
+mincing manners.</p>
+
+<p>We passed our time much more to my satisfaction now than
+we did before, escorting the ladies to the theatre and to Ranelagh,
+and the freedom with which Captain Levee (and I may say
+I also) spent his money, soon gave us a passport to good society.
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg&nbsp;62]</a></span>
+About a fortnight afterwards, the news arrived of the battle of
+Culloden, and great rejoicings were made. My foppish friend
+remarked to me:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, now that the hopes of the Pretender are blasted, and
+the Hanoverian succession secured, there are plenty who pretend
+to rejoice, and be excessively loyal, who, if the truth were
+known, ought to be quartered as traitors.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>And I must observe, that the day before the news of the
+battle, the old gentleman with snow-white hair was arrested and
+sent to the Tower, and he afterwards suffered for high treason.</p>
+
+<p>But letters from the owner, saying that the presence of both
+of us was immediately required, broke off this pleasant London
+party. Indeed, the bag of gold was running very low, and this,
+combined with the owner&rsquo;s letter, occasioned our breaking up
+three days afterwards. We took leave of the company at the
+lodgings, and there was a tender parting with one or two buxom
+young women; after which we again mounted our steeds and set
+off for Liverpool, where we arrived without any adventure worthy
+of narration.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>I am put in command of the Sparrow-Hawk&mdash;Am directed to take four
+Jacobite Gentlemen secretly on board&mdash;Run with them to Bordeaux&mdash;Land
+them in safety&mdash;Dine with the Governor&mdash;Meet with the Widow
+of the French Gentleman I had unfortunately killed&mdash;Am insulted by
+her second Husband&mdash;Agree to fight with him&mdash;Sail down the River
+and prepare for Action.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>On our arrival, Captain Levee and I, as soon as we had got
+rid of the dust of travel, called upon the owner, who informed
+us that all the alterations in Captain Levee&rsquo;s vessel, which was a
+large lugger of fourteen guns, and a hundred and twenty men,
+were complete, and that my vessel was also ready for me, and
+manned; but that I had better go on board and see if any thing
+else was required, or if there was any alteration that I would
+propose. Captain Levee and I immediately went down to the
+wharf, alongside of which my vessel lay, that we might examine
+her now that she was fitted out as a vessel of war.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg&nbsp;63]</a></span>
+She had been a schooner in the Spanish trade, and had been
+captured by Captain Levee, who had taken her out from under a
+battery as she lay at anchor, having just made her port from a
+voyage from South America, being at that time laden with copper
+and cochineal&mdash;a most valuable prize she had proved&mdash;and as
+she was found to be a surprising fast sailer, the owner had
+resolved to fit her out as a privateer.</p>
+
+<p>She was not a large vessel, being of about a hundred and
+sixty tons, but she was very beautifully built. She was now
+armed with eight brass guns, of a calibre of six pounds each,
+four howitzers aft, and two cohorns on the taffrail.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have a very sweet little craft here, Elrington,&rdquo; said
+Captain Levee, after he had walked all over her, and examined
+her below and aloft. &ldquo;She will sail better than before, I should
+think, for she then had a very full cargo, and now her top hamper
+is a mere nothing. Did the owner say how many men you
+had?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Fifty-four is, I believe, to be our full complement,&rdquo; I
+replied, &ldquo;and I should think quite enough.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, if they are good men and true. You may do a great
+deal with this vessel, for you see she draws so little water, that
+you may run in where I dare not venture. Come, we will now
+return to our lodgings, pack up, and each go on board of our
+vessels. We have had play enough, now to work again, and in
+good earnest.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was about to propose it myself,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;for with a
+new vessel, officers and men not known to me, the sooner I am
+on board and with them the better. It will take some time to get
+every thing and everybody in their places.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Spoken like a man who understands his business,&rdquo; replied
+Captain Levee. &ldquo;I wonder whether we shall be sent out together?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can only say, that I hope so,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;as I should
+profit much by your experience, and hope to prove to you that, if
+necessary, I shall not be a bad second.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>And as I made this reply, we arrived at the house where we
+had lodged.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg&nbsp;64]</a></span>
+Captain Levee was a man, who, when once he had decided,
+was as rapid as lightning in execution. He sent for a dealer in
+horses, concluded a bargain with him in five minutes, paid his
+lodgings and all demands upon him, and before noon we were
+both on board of our respective vessels. But, previous to the
+seamen coming up for our boxes, I observed to him, &ldquo;I should
+wish, Levee, that you would let me know, if it is only at a rough
+guess, what sum I may be indebted to you; as I may be fortunate,
+and if so, it will be but fair to repay you the money,
+although your kindness I cannot so easily return.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you exactly,&rdquo; said Levee. &ldquo;If I take no prizes this
+cruise, and you do make money, why then we will, on our return,
+have another frolic somewhere, and you shall stand treat. That
+will make us all square, if I am not fortunate; but if I am, I
+consider your pleasant company to have more than repaid me for
+any little expense I may have incurred.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are very kind to say that,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;but I hope you
+will be fortunate, and not have to depend upon me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope so too,&rdquo; he replied, laughing. &ldquo;If we come back
+safe and sound, we will take a trip to Bath&mdash;I am anxious to see
+the place.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I mention this conversation, Madam, that I may make you
+acquainted with the character of Captain Levee, and prove to you
+how worthy a man I had as a companion.</p>
+
+<p>It required about ten days to complete my little schooner with
+every thing that I considered requisite, and the politeness of the
+owner was extremely gratifying. We were, however, but just
+complete, when the owner sent for me in a great hurry, and
+having taken me into a back room next to the counting-house, he
+locked the door, and said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Captain Elrington, I have been offered a large sum to do a
+service to some unfortunate people; but it is an affair which, for
+our own sakes, will demand the utmost secrecy: indeed, you
+will risk more than I shall; but at the same time I trust you will
+not refuse to perform the service, as I shall lose a considerable
+advantage. If you will undertake it, I shall not be ungrateful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg&nbsp;65]</a></span>
+I replied that I was bound to him by many acts of kindness,
+and that he might confide in my gratitude.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; he replied, lowering his voice, &ldquo;the fact is
+this; four of the Jacobite party, who are hotly pursued, and for
+whose heads a large reward is offered, have contrived to escape
+to this port, and are here concealed by their friends, who have
+applied to me to land them at some port in France.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I understand,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;I will cheerfully execute the
+commission.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thank you, Captain Elrington; I expected no other answer
+from you. I would not put them on board Captain Levee&rsquo;s vessel
+for many reasons; but, at the same time, he knows that he is to
+sail to-morrow, and he shall wait for you and keep company with
+you till you have landed them; after which you may concert your
+own measures with him, and decide whether you cruise together
+or separate.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Captain Levee will of course know that I have them on
+board?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly; but it is to conceal these people from others in
+his ship, and not from him, that they are put on board of your
+vessel. At the same time, I confess I have my private reasons
+as well, which I do not wish to make known. You can sail to-morrow?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can sail to-night, if you wish,&rdquo; I replied.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; to-morrow night will be the time that I have fixed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At what time will they come on board?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot reply to that till to-morrow. The fact is, that the
+government people are on a hot scent; and there is a vessel of
+war in the offing, I am told, ready to board any thing and every
+thing which comes out. Captain Levee will sail to-morrow morning,
+and will in all probability be examined by the government
+vessel, which is, I understand, a most rapid sailer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will he submit to it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, he must; and I have given him positive orders not to
+make the least attempt to evade her or prevent a search. He will
+then run to Holyhead, and lay-to there for you to join him, and
+you will proceed together to the port which the people taken on
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg&nbsp;66]</a></span>
+board shall direct, for that is a part of the agreement they have
+made with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then of course I am to evade the king&rsquo;s vessel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly; and I have no doubt but that you will be able so
+to do. Your vessel is so fleet, that there will be little difficulty:
+at all events, you will do your best: but recollect, that although
+you must make every attempt to escape, you must not make any
+attempt at resistance&mdash;indeed, that would be useless against a
+vessel of such force. Should you be in a position which might
+enable them to board you, you must find some safe hiding-place
+for your passengers; for I hardly need say, that if taken with
+them on board, the vessel will be confiscated, and you will run
+some danger of your life. I have nothing more to say to you just
+now, except that you may give out that Captain Levee sails to-morrow,
+and that you are to follow him in ten days. Your powder
+is on board?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; I got it on board as soon as we hauled out in the
+stream.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then, you will call here to-morrow morning about
+eleven o&rsquo;clock, not before, and (I hardly need repeat it), but I
+again say&mdash;secrecy,&mdash;as you value your life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I had left the owner, I went down to the wharf,
+stepped into the boat, and went on board Captain Levee&rsquo;s vessel,
+which, I have omitted to state, was named the Arrow. I found
+him on board, and very busy getting ready for sea.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So you are off to-morrow, Levee?&rdquo; said I, before all the
+people on the deck.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; he replied.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish I was, too; but I am to remain ten days longer, I
+find.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was in hopes we should have cruised together,&rdquo; replied
+Captain Levee; &ldquo;but we must do as our owner wishes. What
+detains you?&mdash;I thought you were ready.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought so too,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;but we find that the head of
+the mainmast is sprung, and we must have a new one. I have
+just come from the owner&rsquo;s, and must set to work at once, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg&nbsp;67]</a></span>
+get ready for shifting our mast. So, fare you well, if I do not
+see you before you sail.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am to see the owner to-night,&rdquo; replied Levee. &ldquo;Shall
+we not meet then, and take a parting glass?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear not, but I will come if I can,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;if not,
+success to the Arrow!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And success to the Sparrow-Hawk!&rdquo; replied Levee, &ldquo;and
+God bless you, my good fellow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I shook hands with my kind friend, and went over the side of
+the lugger into my boat, and then pulled for my own vessel. As
+soon as I got on board, I sent for the officers and men, and said
+to them&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are to shift our mainmast for one that is three feet
+longer, and must work hard, that we may be able to sail as soon
+as possible. I cannot allow any of you to go on shore till the
+work is finished; when it is done, you will have leave as before
+till we sail.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon I sent down the topsail-yard and topmast,
+unbent the mainsail, main-topsail, and gaff&mdash;sent down the
+topmast and running-rigging on deck&mdash;cast loose the lanyards
+of the lower rigging, and quite dismantled the mainmast, so as
+to make it appear as if we were about to haul to the wharf and take
+it out. The men all remained on board, expecting that we should
+shift our berth the next day.</p>
+
+<p>On the following morning I laid out a warp to the wharf, as if
+intending to haul in; and at the time appointed, I went on shore
+to the owner, and told him what I had done.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I find that you will have to sail this night
+as soon as it is dark. How will you get ready?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I replied that at nightfall I would immediately replace every
+thing, and in an hour would be ready for sea.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If such be the case, you have done well, Mr. Elrington,
+and I thank you for your zeal on my behalf, which I shall not
+forget. Every thing has been arranged, and you must come up
+here with some of your seamen as soon as you are ready to sail.
+Your men, or rather four of them, must remain in the house.
+The four gentlemen who are to be embarked will be dressed, in
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg&nbsp;68]</a></span>
+seamen&rsquo;s attire, and will carry down their boxes and trunks as if
+they were your men taking your things on board. You will then
+remain a little distance from the wharf in the boat till your own
+men come down, and if there is no discovery you will take them
+on board with you; if, on the contrary, there is any suspicion,
+and the officers of the government are on the watch, and stop
+your men, you will then push off with the passengers, slip your
+cable if it is necessary, and make all sail for Holyhead, where
+you will fall in with the Arrow, which will be waiting there for
+you. Is the Arrow still in sight?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;she was out of sight more than an hour
+ago, and from our masthead we could see the top-gallant sails of
+the vessel of war bearing N.N.W.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Keep a look-out upon her, and see how she bears at dark,&rdquo;
+replied the owner, &ldquo;for you must not fall in with her if possible.
+I think you had better return on board now, that you may keep
+your people quiet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When I arrived on board the schooner, I told my officers that
+I did not think that we should shift the mast as proposed, and
+that every thing must be got ready for refitting. I did not choose
+to say more, but I added that I was to go on shore in the evening
+to smoke a pipe with the owner, and then I should know for
+certain. I employed the men during the whole of the day in doing
+every thing in preparation which could be done without exciting
+suspicion; and as soon as it was dark I called the men aft, and
+told them that I thought it was very likely, from the Arrow not
+having made her appearance, that we might be sent to join her
+immediately, and that I wished them to rig the mainmast, and
+make every thing ready for an immediate start, promising them
+to serve out some liquor if they worked well. This was sufficient,
+and in little more than an hour the mast was secured, the rigging
+all complete, and the sails ready for bending. I then ordered
+the boat to be manned, and telling the officers that they were to
+bend the sails, and have every thing ready for weighing on my
+return on board, which would be in an hour, or thereabouts, I
+pulled on shore, and went up to the owner&rsquo;s, taking four men
+with me, and leaving three men in the boat. I ordered these
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg&nbsp;69]</a></span>
+three men to remain till the others came down with my trunks and
+effects, and not to leave the boat on any consideration.</p>
+
+<p>When I arrived at the owner&rsquo;s, I told him what I had done,
+and he commended my arrangements. In the back room I found
+four gentlemen dressed in seamen&rsquo;s clothing, and as there was
+no time to be lost, they immediately shouldered the trunks and
+valises; desiring my own men to remain with the owner to bring
+down any thing that he might wish to send on board, I left them
+in the counting-house. The gentlemen followed me with their
+loads down to the boat, and when I got there the men told me
+that some people had come down and asked whose boat it was,
+and why they were lying there, and that they had told the people
+that the captain had taken four men with him to bring down his
+things, and that they were waiting for him; so it was lucky that
+I said to my men what I did.</p>
+
+<p>We hastened to put the trunks into the boat, and to get in
+ourselves after we had received this intelligence, and then I
+shoved off from the wharf, and laid about a stone&rsquo;s throw distant
+for my other men. At last we heard them coming down, and
+shortly afterwards we perceived that they were stopped by other
+people, and in altercation with them. I knew then that the officers
+were on the alert, and would discover the stratagem, and
+therefore desired my men and the gentlemen, who had each taken
+an oar in readiness, to give way and pull for the schooner. As
+we did so, the king&rsquo;s officers on search who had stopped my four
+men came down to the wharf and ordered us to come back, but
+we made no reply. As soon as we were alongside, we hoisted the
+things out of the boat, veered her astern by a tow-rope, slipped
+the cable, and made sail. Fortunately it was very dark, and we
+were very alert in our movements. We could perceive lights at
+the wharf as we sailed out of the river, and it was clear that we
+had had a narrow escape; but I felt no alarm on account of the
+owner, as I knew that although they might suspect, they could
+prove nothing. When about three miles out we hove to, hoisted
+in the boat, and shaped our course.</p>
+
+<p>All I had now to fear was the falling in with the ship of war in
+the offing, and I placed men to keep a sharp look-out in every
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg&nbsp;70]</a></span>
+direction, and told the officers that it was necessary that we should
+avoid her. When last seen, about an hour before dark, she was
+well to windward, and as the wind was from the northward, she
+would probably sail faster than we could, as a schooner does not
+sail so well free as on a wind. We had run out about four hours,
+and were steering our course for Holyhead, when suddenly we
+perceived the ship of war close to us, and to leeward. She had
+been lying with her mainsail to the mast, but she evidently had
+made us out, for she filled and set top-gallant sails.</p>
+
+<p>I immediately hauled my wind, and as soon as she had way,
+she tacked and followed in pursuit, being then right astern of us,
+about half a mile off. It was very dark, and I knew that as our
+sails were set, and we bore from her, it would be difficult for her
+to keep us in sight, as we only presented what we call the feather-edge
+of our sails to her. I therefore steered on under all sail, and
+finding that the schooner weathered on her, I kept her away a
+little, so as to retain the same bearings, and to leave her faster.</p>
+
+<p>In an hour we could not make out the ship, and were therefore
+certain that she could not see us; so, as I wanted to get clear
+of her, and be at Holyhead as soon as possible, I lowered down
+all the sails and put my helm up, so as to cross her and run to
+leeward under bare poles, while she continued her windward
+chase. This stratagem answered, and we saw no more of her;
+for, two hours afterwards, we fell in with the Arrow, and, hailing
+her, we both made sail down the Bristol Channel as fast as we
+could, and at daybreak there was no vessel in sight, and of course
+we had nothing more to fear from the Liverpool cruiser.</p>
+
+<p>As we now sailed rapidly along in company, with the wind on
+our quarter, it was high time for me to look to my passengers,
+who had remained on deck in perfect silence from the time that
+they had come on board. I therefore went up to them, and apologized
+for not having as yet paid them that attention that I should
+have wished to have done under other circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Captain,&rdquo; replied the oldest of them, with a courteous salute,
+&ldquo;you have paid us every attention; you have been extremely
+active in saving our lives, and we return you our sincere thanks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, indeed,&rdquo; replied a young and handsome man who
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg&nbsp;71]</a></span>
+stood next him, &ldquo;Mr. Elrington has saved us from the toils of
+our enemies; but now that we are in no fear from that quarter, I
+must tell him that we have hardly had a mouthful of food for
+twenty-four hours, and if he wishes to save our lives a second
+time, it will be by ordering a good breakfast to be prepared
+for us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Campbell speaks the truth, my dear Sir,&rdquo; said the one who
+had first spoken. &ldquo;We have lately gained the knowledge of what
+it is to hunger and thirst; and we all join in his request.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall not wait long,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;I will be up again in
+a moment or two.&rdquo; I went down into the cabin, and ordering my
+servant to put on the table a large piece of pressed Hamburg beef,
+a cold pie of various flesh and fowl combined, some bread and
+cheese, and some bottles of brandy and usquebaugh, I then went
+up again, and requested them all to descend. Hungry they certainly
+were, and it was incredible the quantity that they devoured.
+I should have imagined that they had not been fed for a week;
+and I thought that if they were to consume at that rate, my stock
+would never last out, and the sooner they were landed the better.
+As soon as they left off eating, and had finished two bottles of
+usquebaugh, I said to them, &ldquo;Gentlemen, my orders are to land
+you at any port of France that you should prefer. Have you made
+up your minds as to which it shall be, for it will be necessary that
+we shape a course according to your decision?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Elrington, on that point we would wish to advise with
+you. I hardly need say that our object is to escape, and that
+falling in with and being captured by a ship of war, and there are
+many out in pursuit of us and other unfortunate adherents to the
+house of Stuart, would be extremely disagreeable, as our heads
+and our bodies would certainly part company, if we were taken.
+Now, which port do you think we should be most likely to reach
+with least chance of interruption?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;as you pay me the compliment to ask
+my opinion, that it would be better to run down the Bay of Biscay,
+and then put in the port of Bordeaux, or any other, where you
+could be landed in safety; and my reason is this: the Channel is
+full of cruisers looking after those of your party who are
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg&nbsp;72]</a></span>
+attempting to escape; and my vessel will be chased and searched.
+Now, although we might sail faster than any one vessel in the
+Channel, yet it is very possible that in running away from one,
+we may fall into the jaws of another. And besides, we are two
+privateers, and cruising off Bordeaux will excite no suspicion, as
+it is a favourite cruising-ground; so that, if we were boarded,
+there would be little danger of discovery; but, of course, as long
+as I can prevent that, by taking to my heels, I shall not be boarded
+by any one. The only objection to what I propose is, that you
+will be confined longer in a vessel than you may like, or than you
+would be if you were to gain a nearer port.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I agree with the captain of the vessel,&rdquo; said a grave-looking
+personage, who had not yet spoken, and whom I afterwards discovered
+to be a Catholic priest, &ldquo;the stanchest adherent to the
+cause could not have given better advice, and I should recommend
+that it be followed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The others were of the same opinion; and, in consequence,
+I edged the schooner down to the Arrow, and hailed Captain
+Levee, stating that we were to run to Bordeaux. After that I prepared
+for them sleeping accommodations as well as I could, and
+on my making apologies, they laughed, and told me such stories
+of their hardships during their escape, that I was not surprised at
+their not being difficult. I found out their names by their addressing
+one another, to be Campbell, M&lsquo;Intyre, Ferguson, and
+M&lsquo;Donald; all of them very refined gentlemen, and of excellent
+discourse. They were very merry, and laughed at all that they
+had suffered; sang Jacobite songs, as they were termed, and certainly
+did not spare my locker of wine. The wind continued fair,
+and we met with no interruption, and on the fourth evening, at
+dusk, we made the mouth of the Garonne, and then hove to, with
+our heads off shore, for the night. Captain Levee then came on
+board, and I introduced him to my passengers. To my surprise,
+after some conversation, he said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have now escorted Captain Elrington, according to the
+orders I received, and shall return to Liverpool as soon as possible;
+if, therefore, gentlemen, you have any letters to send to
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg&nbsp;73]</a></span>
+your friends announcing your safety, I shall be most happy to
+present them in any way you may suggest as most advisable.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>That Captain Levee had some object in saying this, I was
+quite certain; and therefore I made no remark. The passengers
+thanked him for his proposal; and, being provided with writing
+materials, they all wrote to their friends, and put their letters into
+Captain Levee&rsquo;s hands, who then bade them farewell, and went
+on deck with me.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course, you were not serious in what you said, Captain
+Levee?&rdquo; I inquired, as we walked forward.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he replied; &ldquo;but I considered it prudent to make them
+believe so. Although Englishmen, they are enemies to our
+country, so far as they are enemies to our government, and, of
+course, wish no harm to the French, who have so warmly supported
+them. Now, if they knew that I remained here waiting for
+your coming out of the river, they would say so, and I might lose
+the chance of a good prize, as nothing would sail, if they knew
+that the coast was not clear. Now, I shall part company with you
+in an hour, and make all sail for England, as they may suppose,
+but without fail, to-morrow night I shall be off here again, about
+five leagues from the port, with my sails furled; therefore, stay
+in the river as long as they will let you, as, while you are in port
+with the flag of truce, vessels may sail out.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I understand you, and will do all I can to assist your views,
+Captain Levee. Now, we will go down again. I will give you a
+receipt for a coil of rope, which you will send your boat for, and
+write a letter to the owners, after which you will wish me good
+bye, and make sail.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Exactly,&rdquo; Captain Levee replied, who then ordered his boat
+to go for a coil of three inch, and bring it on board.</p>
+
+<p>We then descended to the cabin, and I wrote a letter to the
+owner, and also a receipt for the coil of rope, which I delivered to
+Captain Levee. The boat soon returned from the lugger, the
+rope was taken on board, and then Captain Levee wished me
+farewell, and made his polite adieus to the gentlemen who followed
+him on deck, and waited there till he had hoisted in his
+boat, and made all sail.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg&nbsp;74]</a></span>
+&ldquo;How long will she be before she arrives at Liverpool with
+this wind?&rdquo; inquired Mr. Campbell.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She will carry her canvas night and day,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;and,
+therefore, as she sails so fast, I should say in five or six days.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I am grateful that we have such an early and safe opportunity
+of communicating with our friends in England, we
+might have waited two months otherwise.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very true,&rdquo; replied the priest, &ldquo;but Heaven has assisted
+our anxious wishes. Let us be grateful for all things.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>My passengers watched the lugger until she was nearly out of
+sight. I dare say that their thoughts were, that those on board
+of her were going to the country of their birth, from which they
+were exiles, probably for ever: they did not speak, but went
+down below, and retired to their beds. At daylight the next
+morning I ran the schooner in; and as soon as I was within three
+miles of the coast, I hoisted the white flag of truce, and stood
+for the mouth of the river Garonne. I perceived that the batteries
+were manned, but not a shot was fired, and we entered the
+river.</p>
+
+<p>When we were a mile up the river, we were boarded by the
+French authorities, and my passengers, who had dressed themselves
+in their proper costume, informed the officer in the boat
+who they were, upon which he was very polite, and calling a
+pilot out of the boat, the schooner was taken charge of by him,
+and we very soon afterwards, having wind and tide in our favour,
+were anchored alongside of two large merchant vessels and a
+French privateer of sixteen guns, which I instantly recognized as
+our old antagonist off Hispaniola, in the action in which the Revenge
+was captured, and Captain Weatherall lost his life. However,
+I kept my knowledge to myself, as the French officer and
+the Jacobite gentleman were present. As soon as we had anchored,
+the passengers were requested to go into the boat, and
+the French officer and I to accompany them, that I might report
+myself to the governor, and we pulled away to the town, one of
+my boats following with the passengers&rsquo; luggage.</p>
+
+<p>On our landing, there was a great crowd assembled, and
+they looked very hard at me, as I was dressed in my lace coat
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg&nbsp;75]</a></span>
+and a cocked-up hat, also bound with broad gold lace. On our
+arrival in the presence of the governor, we were received with
+much urbanity; and as I had brought the Jacobite gentlemen in
+my schooner, it was presumed that I was favourable to the cause,
+and I was very politely treated. The governor invited us all to
+dine with him on that day. I made some excuse, saying, that I
+was anxious to return to Liverpool; that I might fit out for the
+coast of Africa, in which service I was to be employed by my
+owners; but the passengers insisted upon my staying a day or
+two, and the governor added to their solicitations, his own.</p>
+
+<p>I therefore accepted, not only because I was glad to have an
+opportunity to see so celebrated a town, but because it would
+meet the views of Captain Levee. We took leave of the governor,
+and went to an hotel, and I then sent my boat on board for necessaries,
+and hired a handsome apartment in the hotel. I had
+not been there half an hour, when the priest came to me and said,
+&ldquo;Captain, you are not aware of the rank and consequence of the
+three gentlemen whom you have been so successful in escorting
+to a place of safety. I am requested by them to make you a handsome
+remuneration for your kindness and skilful conduct on this
+occasion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;that must not be. I am most happy in
+having assisted in the escape of unfortunate gentlemen; and all
+the pleasure I feel at having so done would be destroyed if I were
+to accept of what you offer. It is useless to repeat it; and if you
+do, I shall consider it an insult, and immediately repair on
+board of my vessel. You will therefore tender my best thanks
+and my refusal, with ardent wishes for their future welfare.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;After what you have said, Captain Elrington, I will, of
+course, not resume the offer. I will tell my fellow-passengers
+what you have said, and I am sure that they will, as I do, admire
+your high sense of honour.&rdquo;&mdash;The priest shook me by the
+hand, and then quitted my apartment. I did not see the other
+passengers till it was the hour to go to dine at the governor&rsquo;s,
+when they embraced me cordially, and the one calling himself
+Campbell said, &ldquo;Should you ever be in distress or a prisoner in
+this country, recollect you have a friend who is ready to serve
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg&nbsp;76]</a></span>
+you. Here is an address to a lady, to whom you must write, and
+say that you wish the assistance of your passenger to Bordeaux&mdash;that
+will be sufficient&mdash;I trust you may never require it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We had a pleasant dinner at the governor&rsquo;s, and among the
+people invited to meet us, I perceived the French captain of the
+privateer. I knew him immediately, although he did not recognize
+me. We had some conversation together, and he spoke
+about his cruises in the West Indies, and asked me whether I
+knew Captain Weatherall. I said there was a Captain Weatherall
+who commanded the Revenge privateer, and who was killed when
+his vessel was taken.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Exactly,&rdquo; said the captain; &ldquo;he was a brave man, and
+fought nobly, and so did all his people&mdash;they fought like
+devils.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;they fought as long as they could, but
+Captain Weatherall was very short-handed. He had but fifty-five
+men on board at the commencement of the action.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;More than that, I&rsquo;m sure,&rdquo; replied the French captain.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He had not, I assure you,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;he had lost so
+many in an attack on shore, and had so many away in prizes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Our conversation had attracted general notice, and a French
+army officer observed, &ldquo;Monsieur speaks so positively, that one
+would imagine that he was actually on board.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so I was, Sir,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;and have my wounds to
+show for it. I knew this officer immediately I saw him, for I was
+close to Captain Weatherall at the time that this officer expostulated
+with him before the action; and I crossed my sword with
+him during the combat.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have convinced me that you were on board,&rdquo; replied
+the captain of the privateer, &ldquo;by your mentioning the expostulations
+previous to the combat taking place. I am delighted to have
+met with so brave an enemy, for every man on board that vessel
+was a hero.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The conversation was then general, and many particulars
+were asked; and I will do the French captain the justice to say,
+that he was very correct in all his statements, and neither vaunted
+his own success, nor did us less than justice.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg&nbsp;77]</a></span>
+The party then broke up to go to the theatre, and afterwards
+we repaired to the hotel. I remained there two days more, and
+on the last of these two days I had promised to sup with the
+French captain of the privateer, who had called upon me, and
+behaved very politely. The following day, after noon, when the
+tide served, I was to sail. Accordingly, after the theatre was
+over, I went with the French captain to his house, in company
+with two or three more. Supper was on the table when we arrived
+there, and we went into the room, waiting for the presence of the
+captain&rsquo;s lady, who had not gone to the theatre, and to whom I
+had not been introduced. After a few minutes she made her appearance,
+and as she entered the room, I was struck with her
+extreme beauty, although she was past the meridian of life. I
+thought I had seen her face before, and as she came forward with
+her husband, it at once rushed into my mind that she was the
+widow of the French gentleman who had so gallantly fought his
+vessel, and who fell by my hand&mdash;the lady who was nursing her
+son at the King&rsquo;s Hospital at Jamaica, and who had been so inveterate
+against me. Our eyes met, and her cheeks flushed;
+she recognized me, and I coloured deeply as I bowed to her. She
+was taken with a faintness, and fell back. Fortunately her husband
+received her in his arms.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is the matter, my love?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing; but I am taken with a vertigo,&rdquo; replied she; &ldquo;it
+will go off directly. Make my excuses to the company, while I
+retire for a few minutes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Her husband went out of the room, and after a minute or two
+came back, saying that Madam was not well enough to return to
+the room, and begged that they would admit her excuse, and sit
+down to supper without her. Whether his wife had informed
+him of who I was, I know not; but nothing could exceed the civility
+of the French captain towards me during the supper. We
+did not, however, remain very late, as the lady of the house was
+indisposed.</p>
+
+<p>I found out, as I walked home with another French officer,
+that the captain of the privateer had fallen in with the French lady
+on her return from Jamaica, where her son died in the hospital,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg&nbsp;78]</a></span>
+and had married her; and that, moreover, unlike most French
+husbands, he was most ardently attached to her.</p>
+
+<p>I had breakfasted the next morning, and packed up my clothes
+preparatory to going on board, and had just returned from a visit
+of leave-taking with the governor, when who should walk up into
+my apartment but the French captain of the privateer, accompanied
+by three or four French officers of the army. I perceived by
+his looks when he entered that he was a little excited, but I met
+him cordially. He began a conversation about his action with
+Captain Weatherall, and instead of speaking handsomely as he
+had done before, he used expressions which I considered offensive,
+and I at once took him up by observing that being under a
+flag of truce, it was impossible for me to notice what he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he replied; &ldquo;but I wish we were once more on the
+high seas together, for I have a little debt of gratitude to pay
+off.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;you may have; and I should not be
+sorry to give you an opportunity, if it were possible.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I inquire whether you intend to go home as a cartel,
+and carry your flag of truce to Liverpool?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sir,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;I shall haul down my flag of truce as
+soon as I am out of gun-shot of your batteries. I understand what
+you mean, Sir. It is very true that your vessel carries nearly
+double the number of men and guns that mine does, but nevertheless
+I shall haul down my flag of truce, as I say I will.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not if I follow you down the river, I presume?&rdquo; he said with
+a sort of sneer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Follow me, if you dare,&rdquo; I cried; &ldquo;you will meet with your
+master, depend upon it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sacre!&rdquo; replied he, in a passion, &ldquo;I will blow you out of
+the water; and if I take you I will hang you for a pirate.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not the last, certainly,&rdquo; I said coolly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Look you, Sir,&rdquo; he cried, shutting his fist upon the palm
+of his other hand, &ldquo;if I take you, I will hang you; and if you
+take me, you may serve me in the same way. Is it a bargain, or
+are you a coward?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Gentlemen,&rdquo; I said to the officers present, &ldquo;you must feel
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg&nbsp;79]</a></span>
+that your countryman is not behaving well. He has insulted me
+grossly. I will, however, consent to his terms on one condition,
+which is, that he will permit one of you, after he has sailed, to
+make known the conditions upon which we fight to his wife; and
+that one of you will pledge me his honour that he will impart
+these conditions as soon as we are gone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Agree to do so&mdash;pledge yourself to do so, Xavier,&rdquo; cried
+the French captain to one of the officers present.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Since you wish it, certainly,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You pledge yourself to make the conditions known to Madam,
+as soon as we have sailed?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do, upon the honour of an officer and a gentleman,&rdquo; replied
+he, &ldquo;painful as it will be to me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then, captain,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;I agree to your conditions,
+and one or the other of us shall hang.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>You may suppose, Madam, that I must have been in a state
+of great irritation to have consented to such terms. I was so,
+and could not brook such insult in the presence of the French
+officers. Moreover, as you will observe, in my conversation I
+did not commit myself in any way. There was nothing dishonourable.
+I told him that I should haul down my flag of truce,
+and I also told him that he would meet with his master, which
+was true enough, as he would meet with the Arrow, commanded
+by Captain Levee, as well as with my vessel; while he thought
+that he would have to fight with my inferior vessel alone, and,
+making sure of conquest, he purposely insulted me, to make me
+accept such conditions as would administer to the revenge of his
+wife, who had evidently worked him up to act in such a manner;
+and I accepted them, because I hoped the fate would be his if
+Captain Levee joined me, and if not, I was determined that I
+never would be taken alive.</p>
+
+<p>After I had agreed to his conditions, they all took a very ceremonious
+leave, and I bowed them out with great mock humility.
+I then bade farewell to my passengers, who lodged in the same
+hotel, and went down to my boat, and pulled on board. As soon
+as the tide served, the pilot came on board, and we got under
+weigh. I observed a great bustle, and a hurrying to and fro of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg&nbsp;80]</a></span>
+boats on board of the French privateer, and we had not gone above
+two miles down the river, before I perceived the men were aloft
+and lowering her sails. I told my officers that I had received a
+challenge from the French privateer, and had accepted it, and
+that we must get every thing ready for action. They were much
+astonished at this, as the disparity of force was so great, but they
+went cheerfully to their duty, as did the men, among whom
+the news was soon spread.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>Captain Levee and I engage with the French Privateer&mdash;We come off
+victorious&mdash;My revenge against the French Lady&mdash;We take our Prize
+to Liverpool.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>The wind was light, and we did not gain the mouth of the
+river till near sun-down, when the pilot left us; and as soon as
+we were three miles in the offing, I hauled down the flag of truce
+in the sight of the French privateer, who was following us close,
+and was not more than four miles from us. To avoid mistake, I
+had agreed with Captain Levee that should I be coming out after
+dark, I would carry a light at the peak, and this light I now
+hoisted. It enabled the French privateer to follow me, and
+appeared only as a mark of contempt towards him. I stood on in
+the direction where I was to find Captain Levee, and could make
+out the Frenchman following me, and gradually nearing me. As
+it became dark I made more sail to keep him further off till I had
+joined the Arrow, but the light at my peak pointed out to him
+where I was. All this seemed a mystery to my officers and men,
+until having run out about four leagues, I desired them to keep a
+sharp look-out for the Arrow.</p>
+
+<p>About half-past eight o&rsquo;clock we perceived her lying-to; she
+had furled her sails after dark, as usual. The light I bore told
+her who I was, and I ran close to her, and, hailing Captain Levee,
+desired him to prepare for action, and that I would come on
+board to speak to him. This, of course, created a great bustle
+on board of the Arrow, and I hastened on board that they might
+not show any lights. I then informed Captain Levee of all that
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg&nbsp;81]</a></span>
+had passed, and that the Frenchman was not more than five
+miles from us. We agreed that I should still keep up the light,
+and bear away a little to draw the Frenchman to leeward of the
+port, and also to leeward of the Arrow;&mdash;that the Arrow should
+lower her sails again, so as not to be perceived until I had drawn
+the Frenchman past him, and that then I should commence the
+action under sail, and fight till the Arrow came up to my assistance.
+This being arranged, I hastened on board of my
+schooner, and keeping away four points, I waited for the coming
+up of my antagonist. In half an hour we could perceive him
+through the gloom, not more than a mile from us, under all sail,
+standing steadily for the light which we carried at our peak.</p>
+
+<p>As I had already discovered that my little schooner sailed
+faster than my opponent, I allowed her to come up within a quarter
+of a mile of me, when I rounded to; and desiring my men to
+aim at his rigging, so as to dismantle him, poured in my broadside
+of grape and langridge, and then shifted my helm and resumed
+my course, putting more sail on, so as to increase my
+distance to what it was before. This man&oelig;uvre I executed three
+times with success, and I had the satisfaction of perceiving that
+his foretop-mast was shot away; but when I rounded-to the
+fourth time, he did the same, and we exchanged broadsides.
+The effect of his superior artillery was evident, for my rigging
+and sails were much damaged; happily nothing so serious as to
+impede our speed, and I again put before the breeze as before,
+and increased my distance previous to again rounding-to; for,
+as the water was very smooth, I knew that if I was crippled she
+would lay me by the board immediately, and I might be taken
+and hanged before the Arrow could come up to my assistance. I
+therefore continued a running fight at such a distance as rendered
+me less liable to suffer from his guns.</p>
+
+<p>It is true that this distance made my guns even more ineffective,
+but I was decoying my Frenchman off from the land, and
+placing the Arrow between him and his port, so that his return
+would be intercepted. This continued for about an hour, when
+I perceived that the Frenchman had got up a new foretop-mast,
+and had set the sail upon it. He now ran out his bow-chasers,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg&nbsp;82]</a></span>
+and continued to fire upon me with them alone, not choosing to
+lose ground by rounding-to, to give me a broadside; and as his
+canvas was all out, and I was occasionally rounding-to to dismantle
+him, we retained much the same distance from one
+another. At last a shot from his bow-chaser struck off the head
+of my mainmast, and my gaff came down.</p>
+
+<p>This was serious. We hastened to reef the mainsail, and
+hoist it up again upon the remainder of the mast, but having no
+gaff-topsail, our speed was necessarily decreased, and the enemy
+appeared to be gradually closing with us. I looked out for the
+Arrow, but could perceive no signs of her; indeed it was too
+dark to see farther than half a mile. Finding that on the point of
+sailing we were on I had no chance, I determined to alter my
+course, and put my schooner right before the wind, so that I
+might set the square mainsail, which would give time for the
+Arrow to arrive; indeed at this time I was in a state of great
+anxiety. However, I had made up my mind not to be taken alive,
+and to sell my life as dearly as I could.</p>
+
+<p>When the enemy perceived that we had put before the wind,
+he did the same, and as we were about half a mile from each
+other, we continued to exchange broadsides as we ran, she gradually
+nearing us so as to make her heavy artillery more effective.
+This portion of the contest continued for an hour, during which
+my little schooner had received much injury, and we were constantly
+repairing damages. At last, much to my delight, the
+day began to dawn, and I then discovered the Arrow about a mile
+and a half from us, right astern, under a press of sail.</p>
+
+<p>I pointed her out to my officers and men, who were inspired
+with fresh courage at the sight. The enemy also perceived her,
+and appeared determined to bring the combat to an issue previous
+to her coming up, and I feared that, at all events, I might
+swing at the yard-arm, let the issue of the coming combat be
+what it might. She neared, steering a course so as to cut me off,
+and I continued to pour in my broadsides to cripple her if possible,
+as she did not now fire, but ran steadily for me, and my
+chances were bad.</p>
+
+<p>Anxious that the Arrow should close as soon as possible, I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg&nbsp;83]</a></span>
+hauled down my square mainsail, that we might not run from
+her, and prepared for an obstinate resistance if boarded. At
+last the Frenchman was within a cable&rsquo;s length, and at this critical
+moment the Arrow was about a mile to windward. We poured
+in our last broadside, and hastened to seize our pikes and cutlasses
+to repel the boarders, when to my satisfaction I found that
+one of our shot had cut his gaff in two. I immediately rounded
+to the wind; and as my antagonist was within pistol-shot of me,
+with her men all ready for the leap on board, I put my helm down,
+went round in stays, and crossed her so near to windward that
+you might have thrown a biscuit on board.</p>
+
+<p>This man&oelig;uvre prevented his boarding, and I may say saved
+my life, for his gaff being shot away, he could not heave in stays
+to follow me, but was obliged to wear round after me, which increased
+his distance at least a cable&rsquo;s length to leeward. A furious
+broadside, however, which he poured in, crippled me
+altogether. Every thing came running down upon the decks,
+and I was left a complete wreck; but I was to windward of him,
+and although he might sink me, he could not board or take possession
+until he had refitted his after-sail.</p>
+
+<p>But now his time was come. A fresh antagonist, with equal
+weight of metal, was close to him, and he had to decide whether
+he would fight or run. Whether he conceived that running was
+useless, which it certainly was, or was determined to take us
+both or die, I know not, certain it is that he did not put his vessel
+before the wind, but waited with determination the coming up of
+the Arrow. Captain Levee passed under the Frenchman&rsquo;s stern,
+raking him with a broadside that almost unrigged him, and then
+engaged him to leeward, so as to cut off all chance of his escape.</p>
+
+<p>The Frenchman returned the fire with spirit, and I took my
+men from my guns that we might set some sail upon the vessel,
+for after the Arrow commenced her fire no further notice was
+taken of me by the Frenchman. After a contest well maintained
+for half an hour, the mainmast of the Frenchman went by the
+board, and this almost settled the question, as he could not
+keep his vessel to the wind, and consequently she fell off, and
+received a raking fire from the Arrow. At last her bowsprit was
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg&nbsp;84]</a></span>
+between the main and fore rigging of the Arrow, and her decks
+were swept by the Arrow&rsquo;s raking fire. I had got some sail up
+forward, and was anxious to be at the close of the action. I perceived
+that the Frenchman was attempting to board the lugger,
+and was pouring all his people on the forecastle, and I therefore
+edged down to him that I might, with my people, board him on
+the quarter, which would place him, as we say, between two
+fires. The conflict was at its highest; the French attempting and
+the Arrow&rsquo;s crew repelling them, when I laid my schooner on her
+quarter, and leaped on board of her with my few remaining men.
+The Frenchmen turned to repel my attack, and thus weakened
+their party opposed to the Arrow&rsquo;s men; the consequence was,
+that they were first beaten back, and then boarded by Captain
+Levee and his crew.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I had gained the deck of the Frenchman, I thought
+of nothing but to single out the French captain. At first I could
+not see him, but as his crew retreated from Captain Levee and
+his men, I perceived him, pale and exhausted, but still attempting
+to rally them. As my object was to take him alive, I rushed
+in advance at him, wrestled, and threw him on his back on the
+deck. There I held him, while the combatants fighting and retreating,
+tumbled over us one after another, and bruised us
+severely with their weight. At last the French were beaten below,
+and I had time to breathe; calling to two of my men, I desired
+them to take charge of the French captain, and as they valued
+their lives, not to let him escape, or destroy himself, but to
+take him into our vessel and guard him carefully in my cabin.
+Having done this, I went to Captain Levee, and we embraced.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You did not come a minute too soon,&rdquo; I said, wiping the
+blood from my face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, indeed; and but for your clever man&oelig;uvre, you would
+have been beaten. Your vessel is a mere nutshell compared to
+this;&mdash;you did well, more than well, to maintain the combat so
+long. Have you lost many men?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We had ten sent below before we boarded; what may have
+followed since I do not know. I have the French captain safe in
+my cabin.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg&nbsp;85]</a></span>
+&ldquo;I saw the men hand him over:&mdash;well, now to repair damages,
+and then I will tell you what you shall do. I must send
+on board and help you; the Arrow has not suffered much considering,
+and I can spare the men. As soon as we have cleared
+up the decks a little, we will breakfast together, and talk the
+matter over.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It required two hours before we could clear the decks of our
+vessels, for we had separated, and the Arrow had taken charge
+of the prize. Before I took the boat to go on board the Arrow, I
+went down into my cabin, where the French captain lay bound
+and watched by two of the men.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are prepared to pay the penalty agreed upon, Monsieur?&rdquo;
+said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am, Sir,&rdquo; he replied. &ldquo;I now understand what you
+meant when you said that I should meet with my match. I have
+no one to blame but myself. I urged you to the conditions, expecting
+an easy and certain conquest with my superior vessel. I
+have fallen into my own net, and there&rsquo;s an end of the matter&mdash;except
+that when things go wrong, a woman is certain to be at the
+bottom of it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am aware, Sir,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;that your wife instigated
+you to act as you did, or you would never have so behaved. In
+attempting to revenge the death of one husband, she has lost
+two.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;<i>C&rsquo;est vrai</i>,&rdquo; replied the Frenchman, composedly, and I
+then quitted the cabin, and went on board of the Arrow.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Elrington,&rdquo; said Captain Levee, &ldquo;what do you intend
+to do with the French captain? Is he to pay the forfeit, and
+swing at the yard-arm?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like hanging a man, especially a brave man, in cold
+blood,&rdquo; I replied. &ldquo;It was all his wife&rsquo;s doing, and he has confessed
+as much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He would certainly have hanged you,&rdquo; replied Levee.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, that I believe; but it would have been that he might
+have a quiet life at home&mdash;not from any resentment against me.
+Now I have no feeling of that kind to actuate me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg&nbsp;86]</a></span>
+&ldquo;What will you do, then?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not hang him, certainly; and yet I should like to punish
+her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She deserves it,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee. &ldquo;Now, Elrington,
+will you approve of my suggestion?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me hear it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is this: they do not know that I have assisted in taking
+the privateer, as they have no idea that I am here. As soon as
+we have refitted her and your vessel, I will remain where I am.
+You shall run into the mouth of the Garonne, with your colours
+flying, and the English Jack over the French flag on board of the
+prize. This will lead them to suppose that you have taken the
+vessel without assistance. When just out of gun-shot, heave-to,
+fire a gun, and then swing an effigy to the yard-arm, and remain
+there, to make them suppose that you have hung the French
+captain. At nightfall you can make sail and rejoin me. That
+will punish her, and annoy them generally.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will do so; it is an excellent device, and she will never
+know the truth for a long time to come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We remained all that day refitting; in the evening I made
+sail, in company with the French schooner, which was manned
+by Captain Levee, and stood in shore. At break of the following
+day I ran in, standing for the harbour, without my colours being
+hoisted, and then it occurred to me that I would make their
+disappointment greater, by allowing them first to imagine that
+the victory was theirs; so, when about six miles off, I hoisted
+French colours on the French schooner, and French colours over
+English on board of my own.</p>
+
+<p>I continued to stand on till within two miles and a half of the
+batteries, and could see crowds flocking down to witness the
+supposed triumphant arrival of their privateer into port; when of
+a sudden I hauled my wind, hove-to, brailed up my sails, and
+changed the colours, firing a gun in bravado. Allowing them
+half an hour to comment upon this disappointment, I then fired
+another gun, and hoisted up to the yard-arm the figure of a man,
+composed of clothes stuffed with hay, made to represent the
+French captain; and having so done, I remained during the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg&nbsp;87]</a></span>
+whole forenoon, with my sails brailed up, that they might have
+a clear view of the hanging figure. At last we perceived a large
+boat, with a flag of truce coming out of the river. I remained
+where I was, and allowing it to come alongside, I perceived in it
+the French officer, who had pledged himself to give the conditions
+of the combat to the lady; and seated by him was the French
+captain&rsquo;s wife, with her head sunk down on her knees, and her
+face buried in her handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>I saluted the officer as he came on the deck. He returned my
+bow, and then said, &ldquo;Sir, the fortune of war has proved in your
+favour, and I perceive that the conditions of the issue of the
+combat have been adhered to on your side. Against that I have
+not a word to say, as my friend would have as rigidly adhered to
+them. But, Sir, we war not with the dead, and I have come off
+at the request of his miserable wife, to beg that you will, now
+that your revenge is satisfied, deliver up to her her husband&rsquo;s
+body, that it may receive the rites of the Church, and Christian
+burial. You surely, as a brave man, will not deny this small
+favour to a woman whom you have twice deprived of her husband?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;on condition that his lady will step on
+board and make the request herself, I will comply with it, but
+on no other terms.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It will be most painful, and her feelings might well have
+been spared such a trial as to meet your face again, and make
+the request in person; but as you insist upon it, I will make
+known your terms.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As he went into his boat I ran down into the cabin, and desired
+them to cast loose the French captain, saying to him, &ldquo;Sir,
+your wife is here requesting your body, which she believes to be
+swinging at the yard-arm, for I have put that trick into execution
+to punish her. I never intended to take your life, and I shall
+now do more, I shall give you not only life, but liberty&mdash;such
+shall be my revenge.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The French captain stared as if confounded, but made no
+reply. I then went on deck, where I found the lady had been
+lifted up the side. They led her to me, and she fell on her
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg&nbsp;88]</a></span>
+knees, but the effort was too much for her, and she fainted away.
+I ordered her to be taken down into the cabin, and, without any
+explanation, desired the French officer to accompany her, not
+wishing to be present at the unexpected meeting. I therefore
+remained on deck, and ordering the men to lower down the
+effigy, they did so, laughing at the French seamen in the boat,
+who for the first time perceived, for they had not looked up
+before, that it was only a sham captain. I looked over the side,
+and told them that the captain was alive and well, and would be
+in the boat very soon, at which they were greatly rejoiced. In the
+mean time the explanation took place in the cabin, and after a
+few minutes the French officer came up, and expressed his satisfaction
+at what I had done.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have given a lesson, Sir, without being guilty of barbarity.
+Your conduct has been noble.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He was soon followed by the French captain and his lady, who
+was now all gratitude, and would have kissed my hands, but I
+prevented her, and said, &ldquo;Madam, at least now you have no
+occasion to hate me. If I was so unfortunate, in self-defence,
+as to slay your first husband, I have restored to you your second.
+Let us, then, part in amity.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The French captain squeezed my hand, but said nothing.
+I begged they would take some refreshment, but they were too
+anxious to return and undeceive their friends, and requested
+permission to go into the boat. Of course I consented, and as
+the boat pulled away, the crew gave three huzzas, as a compliment
+to us. When they were a mile in shore, I hauled down the
+colours of both vessels, and made sail out to rejoin Captain
+Levee, which I did in the evening, and then related all that had
+passed.</p>
+
+<p>He was much pleased with the result of the affair, and we then,
+having consulted, considered it advisable to run back to Liverpool
+with the prize, for she required so many hands to man her
+as to render us by no means efficient vessels. Moreover, I have
+omitted to state that while I was in the Garonne, the Arrow had
+taken two good prizes, which she had manned and sent to Liverpool.
+We therefore made sail to the northward, and in a week
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg&nbsp;89]</a></span>
+were again in port, with our prize. We found that the other
+vessels had arrived safe, and the owner was much pleased with
+the results of this short and eventful cruise.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>I cause myself to be dismissed from my Owner&rsquo;s Service&mdash;Am arrested&mdash;Conveyed
+to London, and confined in the Tower&mdash;Am visited by a
+Romish Priest, and through his interference obtain my Liberation&mdash;Set
+off to Liverpool, and find my Owner and Captain Levee&mdash;Their
+surprise&mdash;Miss Trevannion.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>When I called upon our owner, which I did as soon as I had
+dropped my anchor and furled sails, he embraced me, and then
+led me into the back room next to his counting-house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Elrington,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;well as you managed to get
+off the Jacobite gentlemen, there is a strong suspicion on the part
+of the government, that they were on board of your vessel, and
+that I was a party to their escape. Whether they will take any
+measures now that you have returned, I know not; they may have
+gained some intelligence, or they may worm out something, by
+their emissaries, from those who compose your crew, and if so,
+we must expect their vengeance. Now tell me where you landed
+them, and all the events of your cruise, for I have heard but little
+from those who brought in the prizes taken by the Arrow. Captain
+Levee is too busy with his own vessel and the prize to come on
+shore for these two hours, and I wish to talk with you alone upon
+this affair.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>After I had narrated all that had passed, and the manner in
+which the French privateer had been captured, the owner said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If the government spies, and there are plenty of them about,
+find out from your crew that you landed passengers at Bordeaux,
+depend upon it you will be arrested and examined, without you
+get out of the way till the affair has blown over. Now, the men
+will narrate in the taverns the curious history of this French
+privateer, and in so doing cannot fail to state that you were on
+shore in France. Now, Elrington, you have run the risk to
+oblige me, and I must keep you out of difficulty; and, if you
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg&nbsp;90]</a></span>
+feel inclined to hide yourself for a time, I will of course pay all
+your expenses.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;if they find out what has taken place, and
+wish to get hold of me in consequence, I think it will be better to
+brave it out. If I hide away, it will make them more anxious to
+have me, and will confirm their suspicions that I am what they
+are pleased to call a traitor; a reward will be offered for my apprehension,
+and at any time that I do appear, the reward will
+cause me to be taken up. If, on the contrary, I brave it out,
+and if I am asked, say at once that I did land passengers, at all
+events they will not make it high treason; so, with your leave, I
+will stay. I hardly need say that I shall take the whole responsibility
+on myself, and declare that I took them on board without
+your knowledge; that you may rest assured of.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;On consideration, I think that your plan is the best,&rdquo; replied
+my owner. &ldquo;I am grateful for your offer of screening me, which
+I would not permit, were it not that I shall be useful to you if
+any mischance takes place, and, if in prison, could be of no
+service.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then, Sir,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;the wisest course will be for you
+at once to dismiss me from the command of the privateer, in
+consequence of your having been informed that I carried passengers
+and landed them in France. That step will prove you a
+friend to the government, and will enable you, after a time, to
+get me out of my scrape more effectually.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are sacrificing yourself, Elrington, and all for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not so, Sir. I am only securing a friend in case of need.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That you certainly are,&rdquo; replied my owner, squeezing my
+hand. &ldquo;Well, it will be the best plan even for you, and so let
+it be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I will now return on board, and tell the officers that I
+am dismissed. There is no time to be lost; and here comes Captain
+Levee; so for the present, Sir, farewell.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>On my return on board, I called up the officers and men, and
+told them that I had offended the owner, and that he had dismissed
+me from the command of the privateer. One of the officers
+inquired what I had done; and I said, before the men, that
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg&nbsp;91]</a></span>
+it was for landing the passengers in France. They all condoled
+with me, and expressed their sorrow at my leaving them, and I
+believe that they were sincere. It was fortunate that I did as I had
+done, for I found that the government emissaries were on board
+at the time that I made the communication, and had already
+gained the information from some of my crew. I ordered my
+chest and bedding to be put into the boat, and as soon as they
+were ready, I gave up the command to the first officer, and bidding
+them all farewell, went down the side, and pulled on shore,
+repairing to my former lodgings.</p>
+
+<p>I had not been there two hours before I was arrested and
+taken to prison. I was, however, very comfortably lodged, because
+I was a state prisoner, and I presume that more respect is
+paid to a man when he is to be drawn and quartered, and his head
+set above the Tower gates, then a petty malefactor. The next day
+I was summoned before what was called the Commission, and
+asked whether I had not landed some people in France? I replied
+immediately that I had done so.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who were they?&rdquo; was the next inquiry.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They stated themselves to be Roman Catholic priests,&rdquo; replied
+I, &ldquo;and such I believed them to be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did I do so?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because, in the first place, they paid me one hundred guineas
+each; and, in the second, because I considered them mischievous,
+dangerous men, conspiring against the government,
+and that the sooner they were out of the country the better.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How did I know that they were traitors?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All Roman priests were traitors in my opinion, and I hated
+them as bad as I did the French, but it is difficult to deal with a
+priest, and I thought that I was performing a good service in ridding
+the country of them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who else was privy to the affair?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No one; I had made the arrangement with them myself, and
+not an officer or man on board knew any thing about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But my owner, Mr. Trevannion, was he a party to it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, he was not; and on my return he dismissed me from
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg&nbsp;92]</a></span>
+the command of the privateer, as soon as he found out that I had
+landed the priests in France.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A great many more questions were put to me, all of which I
+answered very cautiously, yet without apparent hesitation; and
+after an examination of four hours, the president of the Commission
+told me that I had been, by my own acknowledgment, aiding
+and abetting the escape of malignant traitors, and prevented them
+meeting their just fate on the scaffold. That, in so doing, I had
+been guilty of treason, and must abide the sentence of the supreme
+Commission in London, whither I should be sent the following
+day. I replied that I was a loyal subject; that I hated the
+French and Romish plotters, and that I had done what I considered
+was best; that if I had done wrong, it was only an error in
+judgment; and any one that said I was a traitor, lied in his
+throat.</p>
+
+<p>My reply was taken down, and I was sent back to prison.</p>
+
+<p>The following afternoon the gaoler came into my room accompanied
+by two persons, one of whom informed me that I was delivered
+over to their custody to be taken to London. I was led
+out, and at the door I found three horses, upon one of which I
+was desired to mount. As soon as I was in the saddle, a rope
+was passed from one leg to the other under the horse&rsquo;s belly,
+so as to prevent my escape; and my horse was led between the
+other two, upon which my keepers rode, each having a hand-rein
+made fast from my horse&rsquo;s bridle to his own. A crowd was
+assembled round the entrance of the gaol, and among the
+lookers-on I perceived Captain Levee and my owner; but of
+course I thought it imprudent to take any notice of them, and
+they did not make any recognition of me.</p>
+
+<p>I hardly need say, my dear Madam, how very revolting it was
+to my feelings to be thus led away like a felon; but at the same
+time I must acknowledge the courtesy of my conductors, who
+apologized for being compelled to take such measures of security,
+and on the way showed great kindness and good-feeling.</p>
+
+<p>Every thing being arranged, we proceeded on our journey;
+but it was late when we set off, owing to one of my conductors
+being sent for by the commissioner, and having to wait for
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg&nbsp;93]</a></span>
+letters for nearly three hours. As it may be supposed, we could
+not travel at speed, and we seldom went faster than a walk, which
+I was sorry for, as I was anxious that the journey should be over,
+and my fate decided as soon as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Almost an hour after dark, a party of men rushed from the
+side of the road, and some seizing the bridles of the horses, the
+others threw the two conductors off their saddles by taking them
+by the leg and heaving them over on the other side. This was
+done so quickly, that the two men, who were well armed, had
+not time to draw out a pistol or any other weapon of defence; and
+as soon as they were on the ground, they were immediately seized
+and overpowered. The faces of the men who had thus assailed
+the king&rsquo;s officers were blackened so as to disguise them, but
+from their voices I knew them to be the men and officers of the
+privateer. &ldquo;Now then, Captain Elrington,&rdquo; said one of them,
+&ldquo;be off with you as fast as possible, and we will take care of these
+fellows.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I still remained in my saddle, and although somewhat flurried
+with the surprise of the attack, I had had time to recover myself,
+and had decided upon my mode of behaviour. I felt as I had said
+to the owner when we consulted together, that an escape now
+would be only putting off the evil day, and that it was better to
+meet the case boldly at once; so I rose in my stirrups, and said
+to the men in a loud voice, &ldquo;My good fellows, I am much obliged
+to you for your exertions in my behalf, as it proves your good-will,
+but I cannot and will not take advantage of them. By some
+mistake I am accused of being a traitor, when I feel that I am a
+true and loyal subject, which I have no doubt will be fully established
+upon my arrival in London. I cannot, therefore, take advantage
+of this opportunity to escape. I respect the laws of my
+country, and I beg you to do the same. Oblige me by releasing
+the two gentlemen whom you have made your prisoners, and
+assist them to remount their horses, for I am resolved that I will
+go to London and be honourably acquitted. Once more, my lads,
+many thanks for your kind intentions; and now I wish you farewell,
+and if you would do me a great favour, you will disperse
+peaceably, and leave us to proceed on our journey.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg&nbsp;94]</a></span>
+The men perceived that I was in earnest, and therefore did as
+I requested, and in another minute I was again alone with my two
+keepers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have behaved honourably, Sir, and perhaps wisely,&rdquo;
+observed one of my conductors, as he was about to remount his
+horse. &ldquo;I will not ask you who those people were, although I
+have no doubt but you recognized them yourself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;I did not. I guessed from whence they
+came, but I did not recognize any one individual.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I gave this cautious answer, although I had recognized Captain
+Levee and one of my own officers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Captain Elrington, you have proved to us that you
+may be trusted, and therefore, on your pledging your word that
+you will not escape, we shall have a great pleasure in removing
+all unpleasant precautions.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I certainly have proved that I would not escape, and
+will readily give you my assurance that I will not alter my
+mind.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is sufficient, Sir,&rdquo; replied the officer; and he then cut
+away the rope which bound my legs, and also look off the two
+leading reins attached to the other horses. &ldquo;We shall now,&rdquo;
+he said, &ldquo;proceed not only more pleasantly, but more rapidly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>My conductors then mounted their horses, and we set off at a
+good trot, and in an hour arrived at the place where we were to
+put up for the night. We found supper prepared for us, and good
+beds. My conductors now left me free of all restraint, and we
+retired to our beds. The next day we continued our journey in
+the same manner. My companions were pleasant and gentlemen-like
+men, and we discoursed freely upon every topic; no one
+could have imagined that I was a state prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>We arrived at London on the fifth day, and I was then delivered
+over to the keeper of the Tower, according to the instructions
+that my conductors had received. They bade me farewell,
+and promised that they would not fail to represent my conduct to
+the authorities, and gave me hopes of a speedy release. I had
+the same idea, and took possession of the apartments
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg&nbsp;95]</a></span>
+prepared for me (which were airy and well ventilated) with almost
+cheerfulness.</p>
+
+<p>On the third day after my arrival a Commission was sent to
+the Tower to examine me, and I gave the same replies as before.
+They were very particular in obtaining the descriptions of the
+persons of those whom I had landed in France, and I answered
+without disguise. I afterwards found out that I had done a very
+foolish thing. Had I misrepresented their persons, it would have
+been supposed that they really were four Catholic priests, but
+from my exact description, they discovered that I had rescued the
+four traitors (as they termed them) that they were most anxious
+to secure and make an example of; and their annoyance at
+this discovery had so angered them against me, that my
+subsequent conduct could not create any feeling favourable
+towards me.</p>
+
+<p>Three weeks elapsed, and I was wearied of confinement. My
+gaoler told me that he feared my case was a bad one; and after
+another week had passed, he said that I was condemned as aiding
+and abetting treason. I must say that I little expected this result,
+and it quite overthrew me. I asked my gaoler what was his authority.
+He said that so many people had assisted and effected
+the escape of the rebels without one having been convicted of
+having so done except myself, on my own avowal, that they
+deemed it absolutely necessary that an example should be made,
+to deter others from aiding those who were still secreted in the
+country; and that in consequence it had been decided by the Privy
+Council that I should be made an example of. He told me much
+more which I need not repeat, except that it proved the malignant
+feeling that was indulged by the powers in authority against those
+who had assisted their defeated opponents, and I felt that I had
+no chance, and prepared my mind to meet my fate.</p>
+
+<p>Alas, my dear Madam, I was but ill-prepared to die,&mdash;not
+that I feared death, but I feared what must be my condition after
+death. I had lived a reckless, lawless life, without fear of God
+or man; all the religious feelings which had been instilled into
+me by my good tutor (you know my family history, and I need
+say no more) during my youth, had been gradually sapped away
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg&nbsp;96]</a></span>
+by the loose companionship which I had held since the time that
+I quitted my father&rsquo;s house; and when I heard that I was to die,
+my mind was in a state of great disquiet and uncomfortable
+feeling. I wished to review my life, and examine myself, but I
+hardly knew where to begin.</p>
+
+<p>All was chaos and confusion. I could remember many bad
+actions, but few good ones. I felt that I was like a vessel without
+a rudder, and without a pilot; and after hours and hours of deep
+thought, I would give up the task of examination in stern despair,
+saying to myself, &ldquo;Well, if it must be so, it must.&rdquo; I felt an
+inclination to defy that Heaven which I felt would never be
+opened to me. This was the case for more than a week after I
+heard of my condemnation, until I began to reflect upon the nature
+of our creed, and the terms of salvation which were offered;
+and, as I thought over them, I felt a dawn of hope, and I requested
+the gaoler to furnish me with a Bible. I read it day and
+night, for I expected every morning to be summoned to execution.
+I felt almost agony at times, lest such should be the case;
+but time passed on, and another fortnight elapsed, during which
+I had profited by my reading, and felt some contrition for my
+many offences, and my life of guilt, and I also felt that I could
+be saved through the merits of Him who died for the whole world.
+Day after day my faith became more lively, and my mind more at
+ease. One morning the gaoler came to me, and said that there
+was a priest who wished to see me. As I understood he was a
+Roman, I was about to refuse; but on consideration, I thought
+otherwise, and he was admitted. He was a tall, spare man,
+with a dark Spanish countenance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are, I believe,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Captain Elrington, who
+effected the escape of some of our poor friends, and who are now
+condemned for your kind act?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am, Sir,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am aware,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that your profession of faith is not
+mine, and do not, therefore, come to talk with you on serious
+points, without you should wish it yourself; my object is, being
+indebted as we are to you for saving our friends, to offer to be of
+any use that I can to you, in executing any wishes, or delivering
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg&nbsp;97]</a></span>
+any messages, which you may wish to give, should you suffer
+for your generous conduct, and you may trust any thing to me
+with safety, that I swear to you;&rdquo; and he took a crucifix from
+the folds of his garment, and kissed it, as he said so.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thank you for your kind offer, Sir,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;but I
+have nothing to trouble you with. I have long quitted my family,
+who know not whether I am alive or dead, for reasons that I need
+not explain. I am under an assumed name, and it is my intention
+to suffer under that name, that my family may not be disgraced
+by my ignominious death, or be aware that I have perished
+on the scaffold.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps you are right,&rdquo; replied the priest; &ldquo;but let us talk
+upon another point; have you no friends that could exert themselves
+in your favour so as to procure your pardon and release?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;None,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;except those who, I am sure, are
+exerting themselves to the utmost of their power, and to whom
+no message from me is necessary.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you know nobody at court,&rdquo; said the priest, &ldquo;no person
+of rank in the government&mdash;or I may say opposed to the
+government&mdash;for people now-a-days are not what they seem or
+pretend to be?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have no knowledge of any titled person,&rdquo; replied I;
+&ldquo;when I parted with one of the gentlemen whom I landed at Bordeaux,
+he gave me the name of a lady of quality at Paris, desiring
+me, if in difficulty, to apply to him through her; but that
+was, if in difficulty in France; of course, she could do nothing
+for me in this country.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you the name of the lady?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;it is on the first leaf of my pocket-book.
+Here it is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The priest read the name, and then said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must write immediately a few words, acquainting her
+with your position. I will see the letter safely delivered before
+the week is over.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What good can she possibly do me?&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot say; but this I know, that if any thing is to be
+done, it will be. Write immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg&nbsp;98]</a></span>
+The priest called the gaoler, and requested writing materials,
+which were brought, and in a few minutes I had done as he requested.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There, Sir, I have written to please you; but I candidly
+state that I consider it a useless attempt.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Were I of your opinion, I should not have advised you to
+write,&rdquo; replied he. &ldquo;There are wheels within wheels that you
+have no conception of, in these troubled times. What I most
+fear is, that it may arrive too late.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The priest took his leave of me, and I was left to my own
+thoughts. When I considered that the address of this lady had
+been given to me by the very man whom they were so anxious to
+secure as a traitor, I at once decided that no benefit could arrive
+from any interference on her part; and I therefore, after a quarter
+of an hour, dismissed the whole subject from my thoughts, and
+commenced my reading of the sacred writings. The following
+morning, when the gaoler came in, I could not help observing
+to him, that as I had been condemned so many days, I felt much
+surprise at the delay of my execution. His reply was, that he
+heard that others were in custody upon the same charge, and that
+they waited for their convictions that we might all suffer at the
+same time; for the order for my execution had come on the Friday
+last, but had been countermanded on the afternoon of the same
+day. Although this satisfied me that I had no hopes of escape, yet
+I was pleased that I had obtained more time for preparation, and
+I renewed my reading with ardour. Another week passed, when
+the gaoler, with a solemn face, and much apparent concern, came
+in, and informed me that the other parties arrested had been tried
+before the Commission, and had been condemned, and that it
+was expected that the execution would take place either on the
+morrow or the day after. The announcement did not affect me
+much. I had made up my mind that I should suffer, and had to
+a degree weaned myself from life. I considered how all hopes of
+my ever enjoying the delight of family and kindred ties had flown
+away, and I looked with disgust upon my career as a privateer&rsquo;s-man&mdash;a
+career of recklessness and blood, so denounced by the
+sacred writings which I had before me. I reflected that if I were
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg&nbsp;99]</a></span>
+to leave the prison, I should have no other means of sustenance,
+and should probably return to my former life, and load my soul
+with a still heavier weight of crime, and, although I felt an occasional
+bitter pang at the idea of leaving the world so young&mdash;a
+world which I could not hate&mdash;still I was, after a few hours&rsquo;
+communing and reflection, resigned to my fate, and exclaimed
+with sincerity, &ldquo;Thy will be done.&rdquo; I think, Madam, you may
+have observed that, sinful as I was, my whole career proved that I
+was not a hardened sinner. Good was not driven entirely out of
+me, but was latent, notwithstanding all my excesses, and the bad
+company which had influenced me.</p>
+
+<p>I now prayed, and prayed earnestly, and I thought that my
+prayers were heard. Such was my state of mind on the day before
+the one appointed for my execution, when the gaoler and one of
+the sheriff&rsquo;s officers came into my cell, accompanied by the Roman
+Catholic priest whom I have before mentioned. I perceived by
+the countenance of the gaoler, who was a humane man, that he
+had no unpleasant news. The sheriff&rsquo;s officer delivered to him an
+order for my liberation, and to my astonishment I was told by the
+gaoler that my pardon was signed, and that I was free. I was
+stupified with the intelligence, and I stood without making any
+reply. The priest waved his hand to them as a hint to leave the
+room, which they both did. As they left, my eyes followed them,
+and then I cast them down upon the Bible which lay before me on
+the table, and slipping down from the bench upon my knees, I
+covered up my face and prayed. My prayers were confused&mdash;I
+hardly knew what I said&mdash;but I knew that they were intended to
+be grateful to Heaven for my unexpected preservation from an
+ignominious death. After a time, I rose up, and perceived the
+priest, whose presence I had till then forgotten. He had been
+kneeling at the other side of the table praying with me, and I am
+sure for me&mdash;and he was rising up just after I had.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I trust, Captain Elrington,&rdquo; said he, after a pause, &ldquo;that
+the peril you have been in will influence your future life; and that
+this severe trial will not be thrown away upon you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I trust not, Sir,&rdquo; replied I. &ldquo;I feel that it has been good for
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg&nbsp;100]</a></span>
+me to have been afflicted. I believe that I have been indebted to
+your exertions for my deliverance.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No further than having seen your letter duly and speedily
+delivered. I could do no more, for with all will, I have no power;
+and that was little to do for one who so generously assisted our
+friends in their distress.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Am I then to believe that I am indebted to the interest of
+a French lady, residing at the court of Versailles, for my deliverance?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Even so&mdash;this may appear strange to you, Captain Elrington,
+but such is the case. Understand, that in these troubled times,
+the ruling monarch of this country cannot distinguish his friends
+from his enemies. He can only trust to professions, and they are
+not always sincere. There are many in the council at this time,
+who, if the Pretender, as he is called, had succeeded, would long
+before this have joined him, and who had wished him success,
+although they dared not venture to assist him. The interest of
+the lady in question with these people has prevailed over the true
+adherents of the Hanoverian king, and thus through this lady
+have you obtained your release. I state this to you in confidence;
+to publish what I have told you would be to betray your friends.
+Can I be of any further service to you? for you can leave your
+prison as soon as you please.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;None, I thank you, good Sir,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;I have money
+more than sufficient to reward my gaoler, and to defray my expenses
+to Liverpool.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have my best thanks and sincere wishes for your happiness.
+Then I will not intrude upon you any more, except to
+give you my address in case of need. You have made warm
+friends by your conduct, and if you ever require their assistance,
+it will not be withheld.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The priest gave his address upon a piece of paper, and then
+came to me.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Our creeds are not exactly the same, but you will not, my
+son, refuse my blessing?&rdquo; said he, putting his hand upon my
+head.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg&nbsp;101]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; said I, dropping on my knees, &ldquo;I receive it all
+in thankfulness.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May God bless you, my son,&rdquo; said he, with emotion&mdash;and
+he then quitted the cell.</p>
+
+<p>What with the previous excitement when my liberation was
+announced, and the parting with the kind priest, my feelings
+were so powerful, that, as soon as I was alone, I gave vent to
+them in a flood of tears. As soon as I was more composed, I
+rose from the bench, put my necessaries into my valise, and
+summoned the gaoler, to whom I made a handsome present,
+thanking him for his kindness during my incarceration. I then
+shook hands with him, fee&rsquo;d the turnkey who had attended upon
+me, and in a minute more I was clear of the Tower gates. How
+my heart heaved when I was once more in the open air.</p>
+
+<p>I looked around me, and perceived that many men were busy
+in erecting a scaffolding. My heart sank as I beheld them, as I
+felt certain what it was for; but to verify my opinion, I turned to
+an old woman who had a sort of stall from which she dispensed
+mead to the populace, and inquired of her for what the scaffold
+was being erected.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s for the men who are to be executed to-morrow for
+aiding the Jacobites to escape,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;Won&rsquo;t your worship
+take a glass of mead this morning?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am not thirsty,&rdquo; I replied, as I walked hastily away with
+my valise upon my shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>A stranger to this part of London, I hardly knew where to
+direct my steps; I walked past the square before the Tower, until
+I came into a street called Catherine-street, where a tavern met
+my view, and into it I entered immediately, glad, as it were, to
+hide myself, for I felt as if all the world looked upon me as a
+person just discharged from prison. I obtained good entertainment
+there, and slept there that night. The next morning,
+the host having provided me two good horses, and a youngster to
+take them back, I set off for Liverpool, and after five days&rsquo; travel
+without adventure, I arrived at the town, and proceeded direct
+to the house of Mr. Trevannion, my owner. I took my valise off
+the boy&rsquo;s horse, and having paid him for his attendance, I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg&nbsp;102]</a></span>
+knocked at the door, for it was late in the evening, and dark,
+when I arrived. The door (for it was at his private house door,
+which was next to the counting-house door, that I knocked) was
+opened; and the woman who opened it shrieked, and let drop
+the candle, exclaiming, &ldquo;Help, oh God&mdash;a ghost, a ghost!&rdquo;
+for it appeared that the news had arrived at Liverpool from a messenger
+who had been sent express after I had been condemned,
+stating that there was no hope, and that I was to suffer on the
+Monday previous; and this was the Saturday evening on which I
+had arrived. Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s clerk hearing a noise in the
+passage, came out with another candle, and seeing me, and the
+woman lying on the floor in a swoon, stared, staggered to the
+door of the room where his master was sitting, and the door
+being a-jar, he fell back with great force into the room, dropping
+under the table between Mr. Trevannion and Captain Levee,
+who was sitting with him, smoking, as was very often their wont.
+This brought out Captain Levee with one of the table-candlesticks,
+who, upon seeing me, ran to me, and embracing me
+warmly, cried out, as the clerk made his escape&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here is Elrington alive and well, Sir!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>At this announcement Mr. Trevannion came out, and threw
+himself into my arms, saying&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thank God for all his mercies, but above all, that I have
+not been the cause of your death, my dear Elrington. Come in,&rdquo;
+he exclaimed, in a faultering voice; and as soon as he gained his
+seat, he laid his head down and sobbed with excitement and joy.</p>
+
+<p>I followed Captain Levee into the room, and was taking a
+chair, when I perceived there was another person present besides
+Captain Levee and Mr. Trevannion, which was the daughter
+of the latter; that is, I presumed as much, for I knew that he
+was a widower, and had one daughter living, out of a family of
+three children. She appeared to be about seventeen years of age,
+and had just come from a Protestant convent, as they called
+establishments where young women were educated at Chester.
+Mr. Trevannion was still with his face covered, and not yet recovered
+from his burst of feeling, when this young gentlewoman
+came up to me, and said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg&nbsp;103]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Captain Elrington, you have behaved nobly to my father;
+accept my hand and my friendship.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I was so dazzled from coming out of the dark, and so excited
+from what had just passed, that I was almost bewildered; but I
+accepted the offered hand, and bowed over it, although I declare
+that at the time I could not distinguish her features, although I
+perceived that her person was slight and elegant. As she retreated
+to her seat, Mr. Trevannion, who had recovered from his
+emotion, said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought that, at this moment, your head was exhibited
+over the gates of Temple-bar. The idea, as Captain Levee will
+tell you, has haunted me; for I felt, and should always have
+felt, that I was the cause of your death. God bless you, my dear
+Sir, and may I have an opportunity of showing you my gratitude
+and regard for your noble conduct towards me, and the sacrifice
+which you would have made. You need not tell me, for I know
+too well, that you took all the onus and blame of the affair upon
+your own shoulders, and preferred death to impeaching me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Elrington,&rdquo; said Captain Levee, &ldquo;I told our crew,
+and you have proved me a true prophet, that you never would
+peach, but die game. We were talking of you, supposing you
+dead, when you came in. I must tell you, that more than once
+Mr. Trevannion had made up his mind to deliver himself up,
+and acknowledge the truth, but I prevented him, as it would have
+been a useless sacrifice.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You did; but, nevertheless, it was so heavy on my conscience,
+that had it not been for your perseverance, and the
+thoughts of leaving my poor girl here an orphan in the world, I
+certainly should have so done, for I felt life to be a burden.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am very glad that you did not, Sir,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;my life
+is of little value; I have no one to support, no one to love, and
+no one to lament me if I fall. A shot from the enemy may soon
+send me out of the world, and there will only be a man the less
+in it, as far as people are interested about me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is not the case now, at all events,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion;
+&ldquo;but pray, tell us how it is that you have escaped.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg&nbsp;104]</a></span>
+&ldquo;I have not escaped,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;here is my pardon, with
+the sign-manual.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And how was it obtained?&rdquo; exclaimed Captain Levee; &ldquo;all
+intercession made through some of the strongest friends of the
+government was in vain, that I can assert; for you must not
+suppose that we have been idle down here. We did not leave
+London till after you were condemned, and every entreaty to see
+you, or to communicate by letter, was denied to us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had better, then, begin at the beginning, and state all
+that occurred. I will first thank you, my dear Levee, for your
+kind assistance, which I would not avail myself of, as I calculated
+(wrongly I own) that it would be wiser to remain a prisoner;
+and I considered that my very refusal to escape would be
+admitted by the government as a proof of my innocence. I did
+not know that I had to deal with such malignant people.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I then commenced my narrative, which occupied the remainder
+of the evening, and, having received their congratulations,
+we had a pipe or two, and, as I was fatigued, we retired
+to bed. I slept little on this, I may say, first night of rest and
+quiet, after my liberation. I was happy, and yet perplexed.
+During the time of my imprisonment, it had occurred to me that
+the life of a privateer&rsquo;s-man was not one which I could follow up
+with a good conscience; and I had, on my journey down to
+Liverpool, made up my mind that I would give it up. I knew
+this might annoy Mr. Trevannion, and that I should have to meet
+with the ridicule of Captain Levee, and I was thinking whether it
+were possible, in the first place, that I could give some well-grounded
+excuse; and, in the next, what other means of gaining
+my livelihood I could substitute in its stead. My restlessness
+induced me to get up earlier than usual, and I went out for an
+hour&rsquo;s walk upon the wharfs. I saw my little schooner riding on
+the stream, and, as she gently rose, and dipped to the swell
+which ran in with the tide, she looked so beautiful that my resolutions
+were already giving way. I would look at her no longer;
+so I turned from the river, and walked back to the owner&rsquo;s house.
+It was still early when I went into the eating-hall, where I found
+Miss Trevannion alone.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg&nbsp;105]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>I state my newly-awakened scruples as to the lawfulness of a Privateer&rsquo;s-man&rsquo;s
+Life to Mr. Trevannion, but nevertheless undertake another
+Cruise&mdash;Save a Youth from drowning, who he proves to be&mdash;Conflict
+with a French Privateer&mdash;Take her and deliver a Prize&mdash;Return
+to Liverpool&mdash;Resign the Command of the Sparrow-Hawk, and agree
+to superintend Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s Business.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>Miss Trevannion, my dear Madam, was taller than your sex
+usually are, her figure slight, and still unformed to a certain
+degree, but promising perfection. Her hair was very dark, her
+features regular and handsome, her complexion very pale, and
+her skin fair as the snow. As she stood in silence, she reminded
+you of a classical antique statue, and hardly appeared
+to breathe through her delicate lips, but when she was animated
+with conversation, it almost reminded you of the Promethean
+fire which poets state was stolen from Heaven to animate
+a piece of marble. Then the colour came in her cheeks, intelligence
+played on her countenance, and every thing which at
+first sight appeared wanting, was, like magic, found to light up
+her face. Her smiles were the sweetest I ever beheld, and one
+of those smiles she bestowed upon me as I entered the room and
+paid her my obeisance. The night before, I had not observed
+her much, I was too busy with her father and Captain Levee, and
+she sat remote from the table and distant from the light, and she
+never spoke but when she took my hand and thanked me, as I
+mentioned before. I thought then that her voice was like a silver
+bell, but made no other remark upon her. We had, however,
+exchanged but few words before her father came in, accompanied
+by Captain Levee, and we sat down to our morning&rsquo;s repast
+of chocolate.</p>
+
+<p>After we had broken our fast, Captain Levee hastened away
+on board of his vessel. My imprisonment had detained him from
+sailing, and Mr. Trevannion was anxious that he should be off as
+soon as possible to make up for lost time, as the expenses of the
+vessel were heavy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Farewell, Elrington, for the present,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;I shall
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg&nbsp;106]</a></span>
+come to you on board of your schooner some time during the
+day.&rdquo; When Captain Levee was gone&mdash;for, to tell the truth, I
+was afraid of his ridicule&mdash;I thought it a good opportunity to
+give my thoughts to my owner, and as I had nothing to say, which
+his daughter might not hear, I began as follows:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Trevannion, I think it right to state to you that during
+my imprisonment a great change has come over my feelings upon
+certain points. I am not ashamed to acknowledge that it has been
+occasioned by the death which stared me in the face, and from
+my having seriously communed with myself, and examined,
+more than I perhaps have done during the whole of my former
+life, the sacred writings which are given us as our guide. The
+point to which I refer is, that I have come to a conviction that
+privateering is not a lawful or honourable profession, and with
+these feelings I should wish to resign the command of the schooner
+which you have had the kindness to give me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed, Elrington,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion. &ldquo;Well, I
+should not have thought to have heard this from you I confess.
+Much as I respect your scruples, you are too scrupulous. I can
+hardly imagine that you have turned to the sect of the Quakers,
+and think fighting is contrary to the Scriptures.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sir, not so far as that. I consider war, as a profession,
+both necessary and honourable, and a nation is bound to be prepared
+for any foreign attack, and to act upon the defensive, or
+on the offensive, if it is necessary. It is not that. I do not consider
+the soldier who fights for his country is not doing his duty,
+nor the seamen who are employed by the state are not equally justified
+in their profession. What I refer to is privateering. That is,
+vessels fitted out for the purpose of aggression by private merchants,
+and merely for the sake of profit. They are not fitted out
+with any patriotic motives, but merely for gain. They are speculations
+in which the lives of people on both sides are sacrificed
+for the sake of lucre&mdash;and had you witnessed such scenes of
+bloodshed and cruelty as I have during my career, such dreadful
+passions let loose, and defying all restraint, you would agree
+with me, that he who leads such miscreants to their quarry has
+much to answer for. Were it possible to control the men on
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg&nbsp;107]</a></span>
+board of a privateer as the men are controlled in the king&rsquo;s service,
+it might be more excusable; but manned as privateers always
+will be, with the most reckless characters, when once they
+are roused by opposition, stimulated by the sight of plunder, or
+drunken with victory, no power on earth can restrain their barbarity
+and vengeance, and a captain of a privateer who attempted,
+would, in most cases, if he stood between them and their will,
+unless he were supported, fall a victim to his rashness. All this
+I have seen; and all I now express I have long felt, even when
+younger and more thoughtless. You know that I did give up privateering
+at one time, because I was shocked at the excesses to
+which I was a party. Since that, I have accepted the command
+of a vessel, for the idea of being captain was too flattering to my
+vanity to permit me to refuse; but reflection has again decided
+me not to engage in it further. I hope this communication will
+not displease you, Mr. Trevannion. If I am wrong in my opinion,
+at all events I am sincere, for I am giving up my only
+source of livelihood from a sense of duty.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know that you are sincere, Elrington,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion,
+&ldquo;but at the same time I think that you are much too
+strait-laced in your opinions. When nations are at war, they
+mutually do all the mischief that they can to each other, and I
+cannot see what difference there is between my fitting out a privateer
+under the king&rsquo;s authority, or the king having vessels and
+men for the national service. The government fit out all the vessels
+that they can, and when their own funds are exhausted, they
+encourage individuals to employ their capital in adding to the
+means of distressing the enemy. If I had property on the high
+seas, would it be respected any more than other English property
+by the enemy? Certainly not; and, therefore, I am not bound
+to respect theirs. The end of war is to obtain an honourable
+peace; and the more the enemy is distressed, the sooner are you
+likely to obtain one. I do not, therefore, consider that privateering
+is worse than any other species of warfare, or that the
+privateer&rsquo;s-man is a whit more reckless or brutal than soldiers or
+men-of-war&rsquo;s men in the hour of victory in the king&rsquo;s service.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is this difference, Sir,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;first, in the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg&nbsp;108]</a></span>
+officers commanding; although glad to obtain prize-money, they
+are stimulated by nobler feelings as well. They look to honour
+and distinction; they have the feeling that they are defending
+their king and country, to support them and throw a halo on their
+exertions; and they have such control over their men, that,
+although I admit they are equally inclined to excess as the
+privateer&rsquo;s-man, they are held in check by the authority which
+they dare not resist. Now, Mr. Trevannion, privateer&rsquo;s-men
+seek not honour, and are not stimulated by a desire to serve
+the country; all they look to is how to obtain the property of
+others under sanction; and could they without any risk do so,
+they would care little whether it was English property or not,
+provided that they put the money into their pockets. If I held
+this opinion as a seaman on board of a privateer, what must I
+feel now, when I am the leader of such people, and the responsibility
+of their acts is thrown upon my shoulders, for such I feel
+is the case?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion, &ldquo;that we had better not
+discuss this question any further just now. Of course you must
+decide for yourself; but I have this favour to ask of you. Trusting
+to your resuming the command of the vessel, I have no one to replace
+you at present, and I hope you will not refuse to take the
+command of her for one more cruise: should you, on your return
+and on mature reflection, be of the same opinion as you are now,
+I certainly shall no longer press you to remain, and will do all I
+can to assist you in any other views you may have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To that, Sir, I can have no objection,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;it
+would be unfair of me to leave you without a captain to the vessel,
+and I am therefore ready to sail in her as soon as you please, upon
+the understanding that I may quit her, if I am of the same opinion
+as I am now, upon my return to port.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thank you, my dear Sir,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion, rising,
+&ldquo;that is all I request. I must now go to the counting-house.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So saying, he left the room, but his countenance showed
+that he was far from pleased.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Trevannion, who had been a silent listener to the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg&nbsp;109]</a></span>
+conversation, as soon as her father had closed the door after him,
+thus spoke:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Captain Elrington, the opinion of a young maiden like me
+can be of little value, but you know not how much pleasure you
+have given me by the sentiments you have expressed. Alas! that
+a man so good, so generous, and so feeling in every other respect,
+should be led away by the desire of gain, to be the owner
+of such a description of property. But in this town, wealth is
+every thing; the way by which it is obtained is not thought of.
+My father&rsquo;s father left him a large property in vessels employed
+wholly in the slave-trade, and it was through the persuasions of
+my poor mother, that my father was induced to give up that nefarious
+traffic. Since that, his capital has been chiefly employed
+in privateering, which, if not so brutal and disgraceful, is certainly
+nearly as demoralizing. I have been home but a short
+time, and I have already ventured to express my opinion, certainly
+not so forcibly and so well as you have, upon the subject;
+but I was laughed at as a tender-hearted girl, who could not be a
+fit judge of such matters. But now that you, a captain of one of
+his vessels, have expressed your dislike to the profession, I think
+some good may arise. If my father were a poor man, it would be
+more excusable, if excuse there can be, but such is not the case.
+He is wealthy, and to whom has he to leave his wealth but to me,
+his only child? Captain Elrington, you are right&mdash;be firm&mdash;my
+father&rsquo;s obligations to you are very great, and your opinion will
+have its influence. I am his daughter&mdash;his only daughter&mdash;his
+love for me is great, I know, and I also have my power over him.
+Supported as I have been by you, I will now exert it to the utmost
+to persuade him to retire from further employment of his means
+in such a speculation. I thanked you yesterday, when I first
+saw you, for your noble behaviour, I little thought that I should
+have again, in so short a time, to express my thanks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Trevannion did not wait for any reply from me, but then
+quitted the room.</p>
+
+<p>I must say, that although so young a person, I was much
+pleased at Miss Trevannion&rsquo;s approval of my sentiments. She
+appeared, from the very short acquaintance I had had with her,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg&nbsp;110]</a></span>
+to be a person of a firm and decided disposition, and very different
+from the insipid class of females generally met with. Her
+approval strengthened my resolution; still, as I had promised
+her father that I would go another cruise in the privateer, I left
+the house and went on board to resume the command. My return
+was joyfully hailed by the officers and men, which is not always
+the case. I found her, as may be supposed, ready for sea
+at a minute&rsquo;s warning, so that I had nothing to do but to embark
+my effects, which I did before the noon was passed, and then
+went on shore to Mr. Trevannion, to receive his orders. I found
+him with Captain Levee in the back room; and I told Mr. Trevannion
+that I had resumed the command, and was ready to sail
+as soon as he pleased.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must make up for lost time, Elrington,&rdquo; replied he;
+&ldquo;I have ordered Captain Levee to cruise to the northward of the
+Western Isles, occasionally working up as far as the Scilly Isles.
+Now, I think, you had better take your ground in the Channel,
+between Dunkirk and Calais. There is as much to be made by
+salvage in recapturing English vessels in that quarter, as there is
+in taking the enemy&rsquo;s vessels; and I am sure,&rdquo; added Mr. Trevannion,
+smiling, &ldquo;you will think that legitimate warfare.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>At this Captain Levee laughed, and said, &ldquo;I have been told
+what you said to Mr. Trevannion, Elrington. I said that it was
+the effects of being condemned for high treason, and would wear
+off in a three-months&rsquo; cruise.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good impressions do wear off very soon, I fear,&rdquo; replied I;
+&ldquo;but I hope that it will not be the case in this instance.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We shall see, my good fellow,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee;
+&ldquo;for my part I hope they will, for otherwise we shall lose the best
+privateer&rsquo;s-man I ever fell in with. However, it&rsquo;s no use bringing
+up the question now, let us wait till our cruises are over, and we
+meet again. Good-bye, Elrington, and may you be fortunate.
+My anchor is short stay apeak, and I shall be under sail in half
+an hour.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Captain Levee sailed at the time that he mentioned; I remained
+at anchor till the next morning, and then once more was
+running down the Irish Channel before a stiff breeze. I forgot to
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg&nbsp;111]</a></span>
+mention that while at Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s I had looked at the address
+of the Catholic priest who had announced to me my release
+from prison, and had left copies of it, as well as of that of the
+lady at Paris, in the care of Mr. Trevannion. It was now cold,
+autumnal weather, and the Channel was but rough sailing-ground.
+During the first fortnight we were fortunate enough to
+make two recaptures of considerable value, which arrived safely
+in the Thames, after which we had a succession of gales front the
+southward, it being the time of the equinox, which drove us close
+to the sands of Yarmouth, and we even had difficulty in clearing
+them and getting into sea-room by standing to the eastward. The
+weather still continued very bad, and we were lying-to under storm
+sails for several days, and at last found ourselves a degree and a
+half to the northward, off the coast of Norfolk, when the weather
+moderated, and the wind changed to the northward. It was a
+fine clear night, but with no moon, and we were running before
+the wind to regain our cruising-ground; but the wind again
+shifted and baffled us, and at last it fell light, and, being on a
+wind, we did not make more than four miles an hour, although
+there was very little sea. About one o&rsquo;clock in the morning, I
+had gone on deck, and was walking to and fro with the first officer,
+Mr. James, when I thought that I heard a faint hallo from
+to windward.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stop,&rdquo; said I; &ldquo;silence there forward.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I listened, and thought that I heard the cry again. &ldquo;Mr.
+James,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;did you not hear some one shout?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sir,&rdquo; replied he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Wait, then, and listen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We did so, but I could not hear it repeated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am certain that I heard a voice as if on the waters,&rdquo; said I.
+&ldquo;Perhaps some one has fallen overboard. Turn the hands up to
+muster, and haul the fore-sheet to windward.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The men were mustered, but no one was missing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was your fancy, Sir,&rdquo; observed the first officer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It may have been,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;but I am still in my own
+mind persuaded that such was the case. Perhaps I was mistaken.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg&nbsp;112]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Shall we let draw the fore-sheet, Sir?&rdquo; said Mr. James.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, we may as well; but the wind is lighter than it was.
+I think we shall have a calm.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It will be as much as she can do to stem the tide and hold
+her own,&rdquo; observed Mr. James. &ldquo;Let draw the fore-sheet,
+my lads.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Somehow or another I had a feeling which I could not surmount,
+that I certainly had heard a faint shout, and although
+admitting such to be the case, there was little chance of being of
+service to any one, I felt a reluctance to leave the spot, and as I
+walked the deck silent and alone, this feeling became insurmountable.</p>
+
+<p>I remained on deck till the tide turned, and then, instead of
+taking advantage of it so as to gain to the southward, I put the
+schooner&rsquo;s head the other way, so as to keep as near as I could
+to the spot where I heard the voice, reducing her sail so as just to
+stem the tide. I cannot now account for my anxiety, which, under
+the circumstances, I most certainly never should have felt,
+unless it was that Providence was pleased to interpose on this
+occasion more directly than usual. I could not leave the deck;
+I waited for daylight with great impatience, and as the day
+dawned I had my telescope in my hand looking round the
+compass.</p>
+
+<p>At last, as the sun rose from the fog on the horizon, something
+attracted my eye, and I made it out to be the two masts of a
+vessel which had sunk in about six fathoms water. Still I could
+see nothing except the masts. However, to make sure, I made
+sail on the schooner, and stood towards them. A short tack
+enabled us to fetch, and in half an hour we passed the wreck
+about a half-musket-shot to windward, when we perceived an arm
+lifted up out of the water, and waved to us.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is somebody there,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;and I was right.
+Quickly, my lads; fore-sheet to windward, and lower down the
+stern-boat.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This was done in a minute, and in a short time the boat
+returned, bringing with them a lad about sixteen years old, whom
+they had found in the water, clinging to the masts of the vessel.
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg&nbsp;113]</a></span>
+He was too much exhausted to speak or move. He was put into
+bed, covered up with blankets, and some warm spirits and water
+poured down his throat. We then hoisted up the boat, and made
+sail upon the schooner, and I went down below to breakfast,
+rejoicing that I had acted upon the impulse which I had felt, and
+had thus been instrumental in saving the life of a fellow-creature.
+A few minutes after he was put into bed, the lad fell into a sound
+sleep, which continued during the whole of the day. The next
+morning he awoke greatly recovered, and very hungry, and as
+soon as he had eaten he rose and dressed himself.</p>
+
+<p>I then sent for him, as I was impatient to see him and learn
+his history. When he entered the cabin, it struck me I had seen
+his features before, but where I could not say. To my inquiries
+he stated that the brig was the Jane and Mary, of Hull, laden
+with coals; that they had started a wooden end during the gale,
+and that she had filled so rapidly that they got the boat from off
+the boom to save their lives, but from the heavy sea running, and
+the confusion, the boat had been bilged against the bulwarks,
+and went down as they were shoving off; that he had supported
+himself by one of the oars, and was soon separated from his companions
+who floated around him; that during this time the brig
+had sunk, and he, clinging to the oar, had been drawn towards
+her as she sank, and carried some feet under water. On his
+rising he perceived the top-gallant masts above water, and had
+made for them, and on looking round he could not see any of the
+rest of the crew, who must have all perished; that he had been
+two days on the mast, and was perished with cold. Finding that
+his feet, which hung down on the water, were much warmer than
+the other portions of his body exposed to the wind, he had sunk
+himself down in the water, and remained there, and had he not
+done so, he must have perished.</p>
+
+<p>I asked him how long he had been at sea, and he said he had
+only gone one voyage, and had been but three months on board.
+There was something in his manner so superior to the condition
+of apprentice (which he stated himself to be) on board of such a
+vessel; and I felt such an interest, which I could not account
+for, towards the lad, that I then asked who were his friends. He
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg&nbsp;114]</a></span>
+replied, stammering, that he had not a friend in the world except
+a brother older than himself by many years, and he did not know
+where he was.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But your father&rsquo;s name? Is he alive, and who is he? You
+must tell me that, or I shall not know where to send you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The youth was very confused, and would not give me any
+answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, my lad,&rdquo; I said, &ldquo;I think as I have saved your life,
+I deserve a little confidence, and it shall not be misplaced. I
+perceive that you have not been brought up as a lad for the sea,
+and you must therefore trust me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will, Sir,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;if you will not send me back to
+my father and&mdash;mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly not against your will, my good lad,&rdquo; I replied,
+&ldquo;although I shall probably persuade you all I can to return to
+them. I presume you ran away from your home?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sir, I did,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;for I could not possibly
+stay there any longer, and my brother did so before me, for the
+same reason that I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I promise you, if you will confide in me, that I will
+not force your inclinations, so now tell me who are your father
+and mother, and why you left home. You want a friend now,
+and without confidence you cannot expect friendship.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will tell you all, Sir,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;for I see by your face
+that you will not take advantage of me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He then commenced, and you may imagine my surprise, my
+dear Madam, when I found that it was my own brother Philip,
+whom I had left a child of ten years old, who was addressing me.
+He had, as he had asserted, left his home and thrown himself on
+the wide world for the same reason which I had; for his spirit,
+like mine, could not brook the treatment which he received. I
+allowed him to finish his narrative, and then made myself known
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>You may imagine the scene, and the delight of the poor fellow,
+who, as he encircled me in his arms, clinging to me with the
+tears of joy on his cheeks, told me that his great object had been
+to find me out, and that although he had no idea what had become
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg&nbsp;115]</a></span>
+of me, he thought it most likely that I had taken to a seafaring
+life.</p>
+
+<p>I now felt certain that Providence had specially interposed in
+this business, and had, for its own good reasons, created those
+unusual feelings of interest which I described to you, that I
+might be the saviour of my brother; and most grateful was I, I
+can assure you. I had now a companion and friend, one to love
+and to cherish. I was no longer alone in the world, and I do not
+know when I had felt so happy for a long while.</p>
+
+<p>I left my brother below in the cabin, and went on deck to
+acquaint the officers with this strange meeting. The intelligence
+soon ran through the vessel, and of course the poor shipwrecked
+boy became an object of unusual interest. That whole day I was
+interrogating and receiving intelligence from him relative to our
+family. I made him describe his sisters and every member of it,
+even the servants and our neighbours were not forgotten, and for
+the first time since I had quitted home, I knew what had occurred
+during the six years of my absence. From the accounts he gave
+me, I certainly had no inclination ever to return as long as certain
+parties were in existence; and my brother declared that nothing
+but force should ever induce him. The more I talked with him,
+the more I was pleased with him. He appeared of a frank, noble
+disposition, full of honour and high sentiments, winning in his
+manners, and mirthful to excess. Indeed his handsome countenance
+implied and expressed as much, and it did not deceive.</p>
+
+<p>I hardly need say that he took up his quarters in my cabin,
+and having procured for him more suitable apparel, he looked
+what he was, the perfect young gentleman. He was soon a general
+favourite on board, not only with the officers but with the
+men. One would have thought that the danger and distress we
+had found him in would have sickened him for the sea for ever;
+but it was quite the contrary. He delighted in his profession,
+and was certainly born to be a sailor. I asked him what he felt
+when he had remained so long clinging to the mast; if he had not
+given up all hopes of being saved? and he replied no, that he had
+not; that he did not know how long he might have had to remain
+there, but that he had never abandoned the idea of being taken
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg&nbsp;116]</a></span>
+off by some vessel or another, and that he thought that he might
+have continued there for twenty-four hours longer without being
+exhausted, as after he had sunk himself into the water he felt
+warm, and no exertion was necessary. It is of such buoyant
+spirits as these, Madam, that seamen should be made.</p>
+
+<p>You cannot have an idea of the pleasure which I experienced
+at this falling in with my brother Philip. It appeared to have
+given a new stimulus to my existence; even privateering did not
+appear so hateful to me, after I had heard him express his delight
+at being likely to be so employed, for such he stated had long
+been his ardent wish. Two days afterwards we had regained
+our cruising-ground, and perceived a French privateer steering
+for the port of Calais, in company with a large merchant vessel
+which she had captured. The wind was light, and we discovered
+her at daybreak, just as the fog cleared away, she being then
+about mid-channel, and not more than five miles distant. We
+made all sail, and soon were within gun-shot. The Frenchman
+appeared determined not to part with his prize without a trial of
+strength, but as the captured vessel was the nearest to us, I decided
+to retake her first, and then fight him if he wished. I therefore
+steered to lay the prize by the board. The Frenchman, a
+lugger of twelve guns, perceiving our intention, made also for
+the prize to defend her, he steering up for her close-hauled, we
+running down to her free, the prize lying between us, and sheltering
+each of us from the other&rsquo;s guns. It is difficult to say
+whether the Frenchman or we were the first to touch her sides
+with our respective vessels; I rather think that the Frenchman
+was a second or two before us. At all events they were quicker
+than we were, and were on the deck first, besides having the advantage
+of the assistance of their men already on board, so that
+we were taken at a great disadvantage. However, we did gain
+the deck by boarding at two points, forward and aft, and a fierce
+contest ensued. The French were more numerous than we were,
+but my men were better selected, being all very powerful, athletic
+fellows. Philip had boarded with the other party forward, which
+was led by my chief officer. My party, who were abaft, not being
+so numerous, were beaten back to the taffrail of the vessel, where
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg&nbsp;117]</a></span>
+we stood at bay, defending ourselves against the furious assaults
+of the Frenchmen. But if we lost, the other party gained, for
+the whole body of the Frenchmen were between us and them, and
+those who faced Philip&rsquo;s party were driven back to abaft the
+mainmast. It so happened that Philip was thrown down on the
+deck, and his men passed over him; and while in that position,
+and unable to rise from the pressure upon him, he heard a calling
+out from below: this told him that the English prisoners were in
+the hold; and as soon as he could rise he threw off the hatches,
+and they rushed up, to the number of twenty-three stout fellows,
+to our support, cheering most manfully, and by their cheers announcing
+to the French that we had received assistance. This
+gave fresh courage to my men, who were hard pressed and faint
+with their great exertion. We cheered, and rushed upon the
+enemy, who were already weakened by many of them having
+turned round to resist the increased impetus from forward. Our
+cheers were replied to by Philip&rsquo;s party and the prisoners, and
+the French were losing the day. They made another desperate
+rush upon Philip&rsquo;s men, and succeeded in driving them back to
+before the main-hatches; but what they gained forward, they lost
+abaft, as we pushed on with vigour. This was their last attempt.
+The main-hatch being open, several of them in the confusion fell
+into it, others followed them of their own accord, and at last
+every one of them was beaten down from the deck, and the
+hatches were put over them, with three cheers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, for the privateer&mdash;she is our own,&rdquo; cried Philip;
+&ldquo;follow me, my men,&rdquo; continued he, as he sprang upon the bulwarks
+of the prize, and from thence into the main rigging of the
+lugger alongside.</p>
+
+<p>Most of my men followed him; and as there were but few men
+left on board of the lugger, she was soon in our possession, and
+thus we had both the enemy and the prize without firing a cannon-shot.
+It was strange that this combat between two privateers
+should thus be decided upon the deck of another vessel, but such
+was the fact. We had several men badly wounded, but not one
+killed. The French were not quite so fortunate, as seven of their
+men lay dead upon the decks. The prize proved to be the Antelope
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg&nbsp;118]</a></span>
+West-Indiaman, laden with sugar and rum, and of considerable
+value. We gave her up to the captain and crew, who
+had afforded us such timely assistance, and they were not a little
+pleased at being thus rescued from a French prison. The privateer
+was named the Jean Bart, of twelve guns, and one hundred
+and fifteen men, some away in prizes. She was a new vessel,
+and this her first cruise. As it required many men to man her,
+and we had the prisoners to incumber us, I resolved that I would
+take her to Liverpool at once; and six days afterwards we arrived
+there without further adventure. Philip&rsquo;s gallant conduct had
+won him great favour with my officers and men, and I must say
+that I felt very proud of him.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we had anchored both vessels, I went on shore
+with Philip to Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s, to give him an account of what
+had occurred during the short cruise, and I hardly need say that
+he was satisfied with the results, as we had made three recaptures
+of value besides a privateer. I introduced Philip to him, acquainting
+him with his miraculous preservation, and Mr. Trevannion
+very kindly invited him for the present to remain in his
+house. We then took our leave, promising to be back by dinner-time,
+and I went with Philip to fit him out in a more creditable
+way; and having made my purchases and given my orders (it
+being then almost two o&rsquo;clock <i>post meridiem</i>), we hastened to
+Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s, that we might be in time for dinner. I was,
+I must confess, anxious to see Miss Trevannion, for she had
+often occupied my thoughts during the cruise. She met me with
+great friendliness and welcomed me back. Our dinner was very
+agreeable, and Philip&rsquo;s sallies were much approved of. He was,
+indeed, a mirthful, witty lad, full of jest and humour, and with
+a good presence withal. Mr. Trevannion being called out just as
+dinner was finished. Miss Trevannion observed&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I presume, Mr. Elrington, that your good fortune and the
+reputation you have acquired in so short a time, have put an end
+to all your misgivings as to a privateer&rsquo;s-man&rsquo;s life?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am not quite so light and inconstant, Miss Trevannion,&rdquo;
+replied I; &ldquo;I rejoice that in this cruise I have really nothing to
+lament or blush for, and trust at the same time we have been
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg&nbsp;119]</a></span>
+serviceable to our country; but my opinion is the same, and I
+certainly wish that I had fought under the king&rsquo;s pennant instead
+of on board of a privateer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are, then, of the same mind, and intend to resign the
+command?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do, Miss Trevannion, although I admit that this lad&rsquo;s
+welfare makes it more important than ever that I should have
+some means of livelihood.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I rejoice to hear you speak thus, Mr. Elrington, and I think
+my father&rsquo;s obligations to you are such, that if he does not assist
+you, I should feel ashamed of him&mdash;but such I am certain will
+not be the case. He will forward your views, whatever they may
+be, to the utmost of his power&mdash;at the same time, I admit,
+from conversations I have had with him, that he will be mortified
+at your resigning the command.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so shall I,&rdquo; said Philip, &ldquo;for I do not agree with you
+or my brother: I see no more harm in privateering than in any
+other fighting. I suppose, Miss Trevannion, you have been the
+cause of my brother&rsquo;s scruples, and I tell you candidly to your
+face, that I do not thank you for it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Trevannion coloured up at this remark, and then replied,
+&ldquo;I do not think, Mr. Philip, that I have had the pleasure
+of seeing your brother more than three times in my life, and that
+within these last six weeks, and sure I am that we have not had a
+quarter of an hour&rsquo;s conversation altogether. It is, therefore,
+assuredly, too much to say that I am the cause, and your brother
+will tell you that he expressed these opinions before I ever had
+had any conversation with him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That may be,&rdquo; replied Philip, &ldquo;but you approved of his
+sentiments, and that concluded the business, I am sure, and I
+don&rsquo;t wonder at it. I only hope that you won&rsquo;t ask me to do any
+thing I do not wish to do; for I am sure that I could never refuse
+you any thing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad to hear you say so, Mr. Philip; for if I see you do
+that which I think wrong, I shall certainly try my influence over
+you,&rdquo; replied Miss Trevannion, smiling. &ldquo;I really was not
+aware that I had such power.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg&nbsp;120]</a></span>
+Here Mr. Trevannion came in again, and the conversation
+was changed; and shortly afterwards Miss Trevannion left the
+room. Philip, who was tired of sitting while Mr. Trevannion
+and I took our pipes, and who was anxious to see the town, also
+left us; and I then stated to Mr. Trevannion that having now
+completed the cruise which I had agreed that I would, I wished
+to know whether he had provided himself with another captain.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As you appear so determined, my dear Elrington, I will
+only say that I am very sorry, and will not urge the matter any
+longer. My daughter told me since your absence that she was
+certain that you would adhere to your resolution; and, although
+I hoped the contrary, yet I have been considering in which way I
+can serve you. It is not only my pleasure, but my duty so to do;
+I have not forgotten, and never will forget, that you in all probability
+saved my life by your self-devotion in the affair of the Jacobites.
+When you first came to me, you were recommended as a
+good accountant, and, to a certain degree, a man of business;
+and, at all events, you proved yourself well acquainted and apt
+at figures. Do you think that a situation on shore would suit
+you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should endeavour to give satisfaction, Sir,&rdquo; I replied;
+&ldquo;but I fear that I should have much to learn.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course you would; but I reply that you would soon learn.
+Now, Elrington, what I have to say to you is this: I am getting
+old, and in a few years shall be past work; and I think I should
+like you as an assistant for the present, and a successor hereafter.
+If you would like to join me, you shall superintend the
+more active portion of the business; and I have no doubt but that
+in a year or two you will be master of the whole. As you know,
+I have privateers and I have merchant vessels, and I keep my
+storehouses. I have done well up to the present; not so well,
+perhaps, now, as I did when I had slave-vessels, which were
+most profitable; but my deceased wife persuaded me to give up
+that traffic, and I have not resumed it, in honour of her memory.
+These foolish women should never interfere in such matters; but
+let that pass. What I have to say is, that if you choose after a
+year to join me as a partner, I will give you an eighth of the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg&nbsp;121]</a></span>
+business, and as we continue I will make over a further share in
+proportion to the profits; and I will make such arrangements as
+to enable you at my death to take the whole concern upon favourable
+terms.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Trevannion knocked the ashes out of his pipe, and, as
+he concluded,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;as you may imagine, Sir, much gratified
+and honoured at your proposal, which I hardly need say that
+I willingly accept. I only hope you will make allowance for my
+ignorance at first setting off, and not ascribe to any other cause
+my imperfections. You may assure yourself that good-will shall
+never be wanting on my part, and I shall work day and night, if
+required, to prove my gratitude for so kind an offer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then, it is settled,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion; &ldquo;but what are
+we to do with your brother Philip?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He thinks for himself, Sir, and does not agree with me on
+the question in point. Of course, I have no right to insist that
+my scruples should be his; indeed, I fear that I should have
+little chance in persuading him, as he is so fond of a life
+of adventure. It is natural in one so young. Age will sober
+him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you have no objection to his going on board of a privateer?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would rather that he was in any other service, Sir; but as
+I cannot control him, I must submit, if he insist upon following
+that profession. He is a gallant, clever boy, and as soon as I
+can, I will try to procure him a situation in a king&rsquo;s ship. At
+present he must go to sea in some way or the other, and it were,
+perhaps, better that he should be in good hands (such as Captain
+Levee&rsquo;s for instance) on board of a privateer, than mix up with
+those who might demoralize him more.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then, he shall have his choice,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion.
+&ldquo;He is a smart lad, and will do you credit wherever he
+may be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I may take the liberty to advise, Sir,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I think
+you could not do better than to give the command of the Sparrow-Hawk
+to the chief officer, Mr. James; he is a good seaman and a
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg&nbsp;122]</a></span>
+brave man, and I have no doubt will acquit himself to your satisfaction.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was thinking the same; and as you recommend him, he
+shall take your place. Now, as all this is settled, you may as
+well go on board and make known that you have resigned the
+command. Tell Mr. James that he is to take your place. Bring
+your clothes on shore, and you will find apartments ready for
+you on your return, for in future you will of course consider this
+house as your residence. I assure you that, now that you do
+not leave me, I am almost glad that the affair is arranged as it is.
+I wanted assistance, that is the fact, and I hold myself fortunate
+that you are the party who has been selected. We shall meet in
+the evening.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Trevannion then went away in the direction of his
+daughter&rsquo;s room, instead of the counting-house as usual, and I
+quitted the house. I did not go immediately down to the wharf
+to embark. I wanted to have a short time for reflection, for
+I was much overpowered with Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s kindness, and
+the happy prospects before me. I walked out in the country for
+some distance, deep in my own reflections, and I must say that
+Miss Trevannion was too often interfering with my train of
+thought.</p>
+
+<p>I had of course no fixed ideas, but I more than once was
+weighing in my mind whether I should not make known to them
+who I was, and how superior in birth to what they imagined.
+After an hour passed in building castles, I retraced my steps,
+passed through the town, and going down to the wharf, waved
+my handkerchief for a boat, and was soon on board. I then
+summoned the officers and men, told them that I had resigned
+the command of the vessel, and that in future they were to consider
+Mr. James as their captain. I packed up my clothes,
+leaving many articles for my successor which were no longer
+of any use to me, but which he would have been compelled to replace.</p>
+
+<p>Philip I found was down in the cabin, and with him I had a
+long conversation. He stated his wish to remain at sea, saying
+that he preferred a privateer to a merchant vessel, and a king&rsquo;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg&nbsp;123]</a></span>
+ship to a privateer. Not being old enough, or sufficient time at
+sea to be eligible for a king&rsquo;s ship, I agreed that he should sail
+with Captain Levee, as soon as he came back from his cruise. He
+had already sent in a good prize. As soon as my clothes and
+other articles were put into the boat, I wished them all farewell,
+and was cheered by the men as I pulled on shore.</p>
+
+<p>My effects were taken up to Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s house by the
+seamen, to whom I gave a gratuity, and I was met by Mr. Trevannion,
+who showed me into a large and well-furnished bed-room,
+which he told me was in future to be considered as my own. I
+passed away the afternoon in arranging my clothes, and did not
+go down to the parlour till supper-time, where I found Miss Trevannion,
+who congratulated me upon my having changed my
+occupation to one more worthy of me. I made a suitable reply,
+and we sat down to supper. Having described this first great
+event in my life, I shall for the present conclude.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>After staying a year with him, Mr. Trevannion proposes to take me into
+Partnership, but I decline the offer from conscientious motives&mdash;Miss
+Trevannion treats me with unmerited coldness&mdash;This and her
+Father&rsquo;s anger make me resolve to quit the House&mdash;What I overhear
+and see before my departure&mdash;The Ring.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>You may now behold me in a very different position, my dear
+Madam; instead of the laced hat and hanger at my side, imagine
+me in a plain suit of gray with black buttons, and a pen behind
+my ear; instead of walking the deck and balancing to the motion
+of the vessel, I am now perched immoveably upon a high stool;
+instead of sweeping the horizon with my telescope, or watching
+the straining and bending of the spars aloft, I am now with my
+eyes incessantly fixed upon the ledger or day-book, absorbed in
+calculation. You may inquire how I liked the change. At first,
+I must confess, not over much, and, notwithstanding my dislike
+to the life of a privateer&rsquo;s-man, I often sighed heavily, and wished
+that I were an officer in the king&rsquo;s service. The change from a
+life of activity to one of sedentary habits was too sudden, and I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg&nbsp;124]</a></span>
+often found myself, with my eyes still fixed upon the figures before
+me, absorbed in a sort of castle-building reverie, in which I
+was boarding or chasing the enemy, handling my cutlass, and
+sometimes so moved by my imagination as to brandish my arm
+over my head, when an exclamation of surprise from one of the
+clerks would remind me of my folly, and, angry with myself, I
+would once more resume my pen. But after a time I had more
+command over myself, and could sit steadily at my work. Mr.
+Trevannion had often observed how absent I was, and it was a
+source of amusement to him; when we met at dinner, his
+daughter would say: &ldquo;So, I hear you had another sea-fight this
+morning, Mr. Elrington;&rdquo; and her father would laugh heartily as
+he gave a description of my ridiculous conduct.</p>
+
+<p>I very soon, with the kind assistance of Mr. Trevannion, became
+master of my work, and gave him satisfaction. My chief
+employment consisted in writing the letters to correspondents.
+At first I only copied Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s letters in his private letter-book;
+but as I became aware of the nature of the correspondence,
+and what was necessary to be detailed, I then made a rough copy
+of the letters, and submitted them to Mr. Trevannion for his approval.
+At first there were a few alterations made, afterwards I
+wrote them fairly out, and almost invariably they gave satisfaction,
+or if any thing was added, it was in a postscript. Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s
+affairs, I found, were much more extensive than I had
+imagined. He had the two privateers, two vessels on the coast of
+Africa trading for ivory and gold-dust and other articles, two or
+three vessels employed in trading to Virginia for tobacco and
+other produce, and some smaller vessels engaged in the Newfoundland
+fisheries, which, when they had taken in their cargo,
+ran to the Mediterranean to dispose of it, and returned with Mediterranean
+produce to Liverpool. That he was a very wealthy
+man, independent of his large stakes upon the seas, was certain.
+He had lent much money to the guild of Liverpool, and had some
+tenanted properties in the county; but of them I knew nothing,
+except from the payment of the rents. What surprised me much
+was, that a man of Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s wealth, having but one child
+to provide for, should not retire from business&mdash;and I once made
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg&nbsp;125]</a></span>
+the remark to his daughter. Her reply was: &ldquo;I thought as you
+do once, but now I think differently. When I have been on a visit
+with my father, and he has stayed away for several weeks, you
+have no idea how restless and uneasy he has become from want of
+occupation. It has become his habit, and habit is second nature.
+It is not from a wish to accumulate that he continues at the
+counting-house, but because he cannot be happy without employment.
+I, therefore, do not any longer persuade him to leave
+off, as I am convinced that it would be persuading him to be unhappy.
+Until you came, I think the fatigue was too great for him;
+but you have, as he apprizes me, relieved him of the heaviest
+portion of the labour, and I hardly need say that I am rejoiced
+that you have so done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It certainly is not that he requires to make money, Miss
+Trevannion; and, as he is so liberal in every thing, I must credit
+what you assert, that it is the dislike to having no employment
+which induces him to continue in business. It has not yet become
+such a habit in me,&rdquo; continued I, smiling; &ldquo;I think I could leave
+it off with great pleasure.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But is not that because you have not yet recovered from your
+former habits, which were so at variance with a quiet and a sedentary
+life?&rdquo; replied she.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear it is so,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;and, I believe, of all habits, those
+of a vagrant are the most difficult to overcome. You used to laugh
+at me the first few months that I was here. I presume that I am
+a little improved, as I have not been attacked lately?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My father says so, and is much pleased with you, Mr. Elrington,
+if my telling you so gives you any satisfaction.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly it does, because I wish to please him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And me, too, I hope?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, most truly, Miss Trevannion; I only wish I had it in
+my power to show how much I study your good opinion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will you risk my father&rsquo;s displeasure for it?&rdquo; replied she,
+looking at me fixedly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I will, provided&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh! there is a proviso already.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I grant that there should not have been any, as I am sure
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg&nbsp;126]</a></span>
+that you would not ask me to do any thing which is wrong. And
+my proviso was, that I did not undertake what my conscience did
+not approve.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your proviso was good, Mr. Elrington, for when a woman
+would persuade, a man should be particularly guarded that he is
+not led into error by a rash promise. I think, however, that we
+are both agreed upon the point. I will therefore, come at once
+to what I wish you to do. It is the intention of my father, in the
+course of a few days, when you shall have accomplished your year
+of service, to offer to take you into partnership; and I am certain
+it will be on liberal terms. Now I wish you to refuse his offer
+unless he gives up privateering.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will do so at all risks, and I am truly glad that I have your
+encouragement for taking such a bold step.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I tell you frankly that he will be very indignant. There is
+an excitement about the privateering which has become almost
+necessary to him, and he cares little about the remainder of his
+speculations. He is so blind to the immorality to which it leads,
+that he does not think it is an unlawful pursuit; if he did,
+I am sure that he would abandon it. All my persuasion has been
+useless.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And if a favourite and only daughter cannot prevail, what
+chance have I, Miss Trevannion?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A better chance, Mr. Elrington; he is partial to me, but I
+am a woman, and he looks upon my observations as a woman&rsquo;s
+weakness. The objections raised by a man, a young man, and
+one who has so long been actively engaged in the service, will,
+therefore, carry more weight; besides, he has now become so
+accustomed to you, and has had so much trouble taken off his
+hands, and, at the same time, has such implicit confidence in
+you, that I do not think, if he finds that he has to choose between
+your leaving him and his leaving off privateering, he will hesitate
+in relinquishing the latter. You have, moreover, great weight
+with him, Mr. Elrington; my father is fully aware of the deep
+obligation he is under to your courage and self-devotion in the
+affair of the Jacobite refugees. You will, therefore, succeed, if
+you are firm; and, if you do succeed, you will have my gratitude,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg&nbsp;127]</a></span>
+if that is of any importance to you; my friendship you know you
+have already.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The entrance of Mr. Trevannion prevented my reply. We had
+been waiting for his return from a walk, and dinner had been
+ready some time. &ldquo;I have just seen some of the men of the
+Arrow,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion, taking off his hat and spencer,
+&ldquo;and that detained me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Has Captain Levee arrived, then, Sir?&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; but he has sent in a prize&mdash;of no great value&mdash;laden
+with light wares. The men in charge tell me he has had a rough
+affair with a vessel armed <i>en flute</i>, and that he has lost some men.
+Your brother Philip, as usual, is wounded.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I should here observe, that during the year which had passed
+away, the two privateers had been several times in port&mdash;they
+had met with moderate success, barely sufficient to pay their
+expenses; my brother Philip had always conducted himself
+very gallantly, and had been twice wounded in different engagements.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Sir,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I do not think that the loss of a
+little blood will do any harm to such a hot-headed youth as Master
+Philip; but I hope in a short time to give him an opportunity of
+shedding it in the service of the king, instead of in the pursuit of
+money. Indeed,&rdquo; continued I, as I sat down to table, &ldquo;the
+enemy are now so cautious, or have so few vessels on the high
+seas, that I fear your privateering account current will not be very
+favourable, when balanced, as it will be in a few days, notwithstanding
+this cargo of wares just arrived.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then we must hope better for next year,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion.
+&ldquo;Amy, my dear, have you been out to-day?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sir; I was riding for two hours.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have they altered your pillion yet?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sir; it came home last night, and it is now very comfortable.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I called at Mrs. Carleton&rsquo;s, who is much better. What a
+fop that Mr. Carleton is&mdash;I don&rsquo;t know what scented powder he
+uses, but it perfumed the whole room. Had not Mrs. Carleton
+been such an invalid, I should have opened the window.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg&nbsp;128]</a></span>
+Mr. Trevannion then turned the conversation to some political
+intelligence which he had just received, and this engaged
+us till the dinner was over, and I returned to the counting-house,
+where I found the men who had brought in the prize, and who
+gave me a letter from Philip, stating that his wound was of no
+consequence.</p>
+
+<p>The communication of Mr. Trevannion took place, as his
+daughter had assured me it would, on the anniversary of my entering
+into Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s counting-house. After dinner, as
+we, as usual, were smoking our pipes, Mr. Trevannion said:
+&ldquo;Elrington, you have been with me now one year, and during
+that time you have made yourself fully master of your business;
+much to my surprise, I acknowledge, but still more to my satisfaction.
+That I have every reason to be satisfied with you, you
+may imagine, when I tell you that it is now my intention to take
+you into partnership, and I trust by my so doing that you will
+soon be an independent man. You know the capital in the business
+as well as I do. I did say an eighth, but I now propose to
+make over to you one-fourth, and to allow your profits of every
+year (deducting your necessary expenses) to be invested in the
+business, until you have acquired a right to one-half. Of future
+arrangements we will speak hereafter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Trevannion,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;that I am truly grateful
+for such unexpected liberality, I hardly need say, and you have
+my best thanks for your noble offer; but I have scruples which,
+I must confess, I cannot get over.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Scruples!&rdquo; exclaimed Mr. Trevannion, laying down his
+pipe on the table. &ldquo;Oh! I see now,&rdquo; continued he after a
+pause; &ldquo;you think I am robbing my daughter. No, no, the
+labourer is worthy of his hire, and she will have more than sufficient.
+You carry your conscientiousness too far, my dear fellow;
+I have more than enough for Amy, out of the business
+altogether.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am aware of that, Sir,&rdquo; added I, &ldquo;and I did not, therefore,
+refer to your daughter when I said that I had scruples. I must
+be candid with you, Sir. How is it that I am now in your
+employ?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg&nbsp;129]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Why, because you had a dislike to privateering, and I had
+a debt of gratitude to pay.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Exactly, Sir; but whether you had been pleased to employ
+me or not, I had made up my mind, as you well know, from
+conscientious motives, not to continue on board of a privateer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I grant that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The same motives, Sir, will not allow me to be a sharer in
+the profits arising from such sources. I should consider myself
+equally wrong if I did so, as if I remained on board. Do not be
+angry with me, Sir,&rdquo; continued I; &ldquo;if I, with many thanks,
+decline your offer of being your partner; I will faithfully serve
+you upon any salary which you may consider I may merit, and
+trust to your liberality in every thing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Trevannion made no reply; he had resumed his pipe,
+and continued to smoke it, with his eyes fixed upon the mantelpiece.
+As soon as his pipe was out, he rose, put on his hat,
+and walked out of the room, without making any further observation.
+I waited a few minutes, and then went back to the counting-house.</p>
+
+<p>That Mr. Trevannion was seriously offended, I was convinced;
+but I valued the good opinion of his daughter more than I did
+that of Mr. Trevannion; indeed, my feelings towards her had,
+during the year that I had been in the house, gradually become
+of that nature that they threatened much my peace of mind. I
+cannot say that I loved her in the usual acceptation of the term,
+adoration would better express what I felt. She was so pure,
+so perfect, such a model of female perfection, that I looked up
+to her with a reverence which almost quelled any feeling of love.
+I felt that she was above me, and that, with her wealth, it would
+be madness for one in my present position to aspire to her.
+Yet with this feeling I would have sacrificed all my hopes and
+present advantages to have obtained her approving smile. It is
+not, therefore, to be wondered at that I risked Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s
+displeasure to gain her approbation; and when I resumed my
+seat at my desk, and thought of what had passed, I made up my
+mind to be once more an outcast in the world rather than swerve
+from the promise which I had made to her. I knew Mr. Trevannion
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg&nbsp;130]</a></span>
+to be a very decided man, and hasty when offended. That
+he was seriously offended with me there was no doubt. I found
+that he had quitted the house immediately after he had left the
+room. I had hoped that he had gone to his daughter&rsquo;s apartments,
+and that a conversation with her might have produced a
+good effect; but such was not the case.</p>
+
+<p>In about half an hour Mr. Trevannion returned, and as he
+walked into the back room adjoining the counting-house, he
+desired me to follow him; I did so: &ldquo;Mr. Elrington,&rdquo; said he,
+sitting down, and leaving me standing at the table, &ldquo;I fear, after
+what has passed that we shall not continue on good terms. You
+have reproached me, an old man, with carrying on an unlawful
+business; in short, in raising your own scruples and
+talking of your own conscience, you have implied that I am
+acting contrary to what conscience should dictate. In short, you
+have told me, by implication, that I am not an honest man.
+You have thrown back in my face my liberal offer. My wish to
+oblige you has been treated not only with indifference, but I may
+add with contumely; and that merely because you have formed
+some absurd notions of right and wrong in which you will find no
+one to agree with you, except, perhaps, priests and women. I
+wish you well, Mr. Elrington, nevertheless. I am truly sorry for
+your infatuation, and wished to have served you, but you will not
+be assisted by me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Here Mr. Trevannion paused, but I made no reply. After a
+time, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with his handkerchief,
+for he evidently was in a state of great excitement he continued:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As you do not choose to join me from conscientious
+scruples, I cannot but imagine that you do not like to serve me
+from similar motives, for I see little difference between the two
+(and here, Madam, there was some force in his observation, but
+it never occurred to me before); at all events, without weighing
+your scruples so exactly as to know how far they may or may not
+extend, I feel that we are not likely to go on pleasantly together.
+I shall always think that I am reproached by you when any thing
+is said connected with the privateers&mdash;and you may have twinges
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg&nbsp;131]</a></span>
+of conscience which may be disagreeable to you. Let us, therefore,
+part quietly. For your services up to the present, and to
+assist you in any other engagements you may enter on, take this&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Trevannion opened a lower drawer of the table, and put
+before me a bag containing, as I afterwards discovered, 250 gold
+jacobuses.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish you well, Mr. Elrington, but I sincerely wish that
+we had never met.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Trevannion then rose abruptly, and, before I could make
+any reply, brushed past me, went out at the door, and again
+walked away at a rapid pace down the street. I remained where
+I stood; my eyes had followed him as he went away. I was completely
+surprised. I anticipated much anger, much altercation;
+but I never had an idea that he would be so unjust as to throw off
+in this way one who for his sake had gone through a heavy trial
+and come out with honour. My heart was full of bitterness. I
+felt that Mr. Trevannion had treated me with harshness and ingratitude.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Alas!&rdquo; thought I, &ldquo;such is the world, and such will ever
+be the case with such imperfect beings as we are. How vain to
+expect any thing like consistency, much less perfection, in our
+erring natures. Hurt but the self-love of a man, wound his
+vanity, and all obligations are forgotten.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I turned away from the bag of money, which I was resolved
+not to accept, although I had not at the time twenty guineas at my
+own disposal. It was now within half an hour of dark; I collected
+all my books, put some in the iron safe, others as usual
+in my desk, and having arranged every thing as completely as I
+could, I locked the safe, and inclosed the keys in a parcel, which
+I sealed. Putting Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s name on the outside, I laid
+the parcel on the table in the room where we had had our conference,
+by the side of the bag of money.</p>
+
+<p>It was now dark, or nearly so, and leaving the confidential
+porter, as usual, to shut up the house, I went up to the sitting-room
+with the expectation of seeing Miss Trevannion, and bidding
+her farewell. I was not disappointed; I found her at her netting,
+having just lighted the lamp which hung over the table.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg&nbsp;132]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Miss Trevannion,&rdquo; said I, advancing respectfully towards
+her, &ldquo;I have fulfilled my promise, and I have received my
+reward&rdquo;&mdash;she looked up at me&mdash;&ldquo;which is, I am dismissed
+from this house and your presence for ever.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I trust,&rdquo; said she, after a pause, &ldquo;that you have not exceeded
+my wishes. It appears to me so strange, that I must
+think that such is the case. My father never could have dismissed
+you in this way for merely expressing an opinion, Mr.
+Elrington. You must have gone too far.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Trevannion, when you meet your father, you can then
+ascertain whether I have been guilty of intemperance or rudeness,
+or a proper want of respect in making the communication&mdash;which
+I did in exactly the manner you yourself proposed, and my
+reward has been such as I state.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have a better reward, Mr. Elrington, if what you assert
+is really correct. You have the reward of having done your duty;
+but I cannot imagine that your dismissal has arisen from the mere
+expression of an opinion. You&rsquo;ll excuse me, Mr. Elrington,
+that as a daughter, I cannot, in justice to a much respected
+father, believe that such is the case.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This was said in so cold a manner, that I was nettled to the
+highest degree. Miss Trevannion had promised me her gratitude,
+instead of which I felt that she was doubting my word, and, as it
+were, taking the side of her father against me. And this was
+the return from her. I could have upbraided her, and told her
+what I felt; namely, that she had taken advantage of my feelings
+towards her to make me a cat&rsquo;s-paw to obtain her end with her
+father; and that now, having failed, I was left to my fate, without
+even commiseration; but she looked so calm, so grave, and so
+beautiful, that I could not do it. I commanded my wounded
+feelings, and replied:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Since I have the misfortune to meet the displeasure of the
+daughter as well as of the father, Miss Trevannion, I have not
+another word to say, but farewell, and may you prosper.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>My voice faltered as I said the last words, and, bowing to her,
+I quitted the room. Miss Trevannion did not even say farewell
+to me, but I thought that her lips appeared to move, as quitting
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg&nbsp;133]</a></span>
+the room I took my last look upon her beautiful face. I shut the
+door after me, and, overpowered by my feelings, I sank upon
+a settee in the ante-room, in a state of giddy stupor. I know not
+how long I remained there, for my head turned and my senses
+reeled; but I was aroused from it by the heavy tread of Mr. Trevannion,
+who came along the corridor without a light, and not
+perceiving me, opened the door of the sitting-room where his
+daughter still remained. He threw the door too after he had
+entered, but it did not quite close, leaving a narrow stream of
+light through the ante-room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father,&rdquo; said Miss Trevannion in my hearing, &ldquo;you look
+warm and excited.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have reason so to be,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion, abruptly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have heard from Mr. Elrington the cause of it,&rdquo; replied
+Miss Trevannion; &ldquo;that is, I have heard his version of it. I am
+glad that you have come back, as I am most anxious to hear
+yours. What has Mr. Elrington said or done to cause such irritation
+and his dismissal?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He has behaved with insolence and ingratitude,&rdquo; replied
+Mr. Trevannion; &ldquo;I offered him partnership, and he refused,
+unless I would give up privateering.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So he stated; but in what manner was he insolent to you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Insolent!&mdash;told me that he acted from conscientious
+motives, which was as much as to say that I did not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Was his language very offensive?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, not his language&mdash;that was respectful enough; but it
+was the very respect which made it insolent. So I told him that
+as he could not, from scruples of conscience, join me in privateering,
+of course his scruples of conscience could not allow
+him to keep the books, and I dismissed him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you mean to say, my dear father, that he, in a respectful
+manner, declined entering into partnership from these
+scruples which you mention; that he gave you no other offence
+than expressing his opinion, and declining your offer?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what would you have more?&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish to know where was the insult, the ingratitude, on
+his part which you complain of?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg&nbsp;134]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Simply in refusing the offer. He ought to have felt grateful,
+and he was not; and he had no right to give such reasons as he
+did; for the reasons were condemning my actions. But you
+women cannot understand these things.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I rather think, my dear father, that we cannot; for I cannot
+perceive either the insult or the ingratitude which you complain
+of, and such I think will be your own opinion when you have had
+time to reflect, and are more cool. Mr. Elrington expressed
+nothing more to-day, when he stated his dislike to privateering
+from conscientious motives than he did after his return from his
+confinement in the Tower, when he gave up the command of the
+privateer on those very grounds; and then, when still warm with
+gratitude to him for his self-devotion, you did not consider it an
+insult, but, on the contrary, took him still nearer to you into
+your own house. Why, then, should you consider it an insult
+now? Neither can I see any ingratitude. You made him an offer,
+the value of which, in a worldly point of view, he could not but
+appreciate, and he declined it from conscientious motives;
+declined it, as you acknowledge, respectfully; proving that he
+was ready to sacrifice his worldly interests to what he considered
+his duty as a Christian. When Mr. Elrington told me that you
+had dismissed him, I felt so certain that he must have been guilty
+of some unpardonable conduct towards you to have induced you
+to have resorted to such a step, that I did not credit him when he
+asserted the contrary. I could not believe, as a daughter, any
+thing so much to the prejudice of my own father, and so much at
+variance with his general conduct. I now feel that I have been
+most unjust to Mr. Elrington, and conducted myself towards him
+in a way which I bitterly regret, and hope by some means to be
+able to express my contrition for&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Amy&mdash;Amy,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion, severely, &ldquo;are you
+blinded by regard for this young man, that you side against your
+own father? Am I to understand that you have given your
+affections without my sanction or approval?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sir,&rdquo; replied Miss Trevannion; &ldquo;that I do respect and
+regard Mr. Elrington is true, and I cannot do otherwise for his
+many good qualities and his devotion towards you; but if you
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg&nbsp;135]</a></span>
+would ask me if I love him, I reply that such a thought has not
+yet entered my head. Without a knowledge of who he is, or his
+family, and without your approval, I should never think of
+yielding up my affections in so hasty a manner; but I may say
+more: these affections have never been solicited by Mr. Elrington.
+He has always behaved towards me with that respect,
+which, as the daughter of his patron, I have had a right to expect;
+but in no instance has he ever signified to me that he had
+any preference in my favour. Having assured you of this, my
+dear father, I cannot but say that I consider that he has, in this
+instance, not only been treated with injustice by you, but also
+by me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Say no more,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion. As he said this,
+I heard footsteps in the passage, and was about to retreat to my
+own room; but as the party came without a light, I remained.
+It was the porter, who knocked at the sitting-room door, and
+was requested to come in by Mr. Trevannion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you please, Sir, Mr. Elrington is gone out, I believe,
+and I found this packet directed to you on the table of the inner
+room, and also this bag of money, which I suppose you forgot
+to put away before you left.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well, Humphrey, leave them on the table.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man did so, and quitted the room, not perceiving me in
+the dark as he passed through the ante-room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He has not taken the money,&rdquo; observed Mr. Trevannion.
+&ldquo;He might have done so, as he ought to be paid for his services.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I presume, my dear father, that his feelings were too much
+hurt by what passed,&rdquo; said Miss Trevannion. &ldquo;There are
+obligations which cannot be repaid with gold.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;These, I perceive, are the keys of the safe; I did not think
+that he would have gone away this night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I now considered it high time to quit the ante-room, where I
+had been irresistibly detained by the conversation which took
+place. I hastened to my own chamber, determined that I would
+leave the house the next morning before any one was stirring. I
+gained it in the dark, but having the means of striking a light, I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg&nbsp;136]</a></span>
+did so, and packed up all my clothes ready for my departure. I
+had just fastened down my valise, when I perceived a light on the
+further end of the long corridor which led to my apartment. Thinking
+it might be Mr. Trevannion, and not wishing to see him, I
+blew out my own light and retreated to a small dressing-room,
+within my chamber, communicating by a glass door. The light
+evidently approached, and at last I perceived the party was entering
+my room, the door of which was wide open. It was Miss
+Trevannion who entered, and turning round with her chamber-light
+in her hand, appeared to survey the apartment with a
+mournful air. She perceived my valise, and her eyes were fixed
+upon it for some time; at last she walked up to the dressing-table,
+and, sitting on the stool before it, leant down her head
+upon her hands and wept.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Alas!&rdquo; thought I, &ldquo;if those tears were but for me; but it
+is not so&mdash;she has been excited, and her tears have come to her
+relief.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>After a time she raised her head from the table, and said,
+&ldquo;How unjust have I been&mdash;and I shall see him no more!&mdash;if I
+could but beg his pardon, I should be more happy. Poor fellow!&mdash;what
+must he have felt at my harsh bearing. Oh! my father,
+I could not have believed it. And what did I say?&mdash;that I had
+no feeling for&mdash;well, I thought so at the time, but now&mdash;I am
+not quite sure that I was correct, though he&mdash;well, it&rsquo;s better
+that he&rsquo;s gone&mdash;but I cannot bear that he should have gone as
+he has done. How his opinion of me must have changed! That
+is what vexes me&mdash;&rdquo; and again she bent her head down on the
+table and wept.</p>
+
+<p>In a moment she again rose, and took her candle in her hand.
+Perceiving on the dressing-table a small gold ring which I had
+taken off my finger the day before, and had forgotten, she took
+it up and examined it. After a little while she laid her light
+down on the table, and put the ring upon her finger.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will keep it till I see him again,&rdquo; murmured she; and
+then taking her light, she walked slowly out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>The knowledge I had gained by this unintentional eavesdropping
+on my part, was the source of much reflection&mdash;and as
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg&nbsp;137]</a></span>
+I lay on the bed without taking off my clothes, it occupied my
+thoughts till the day began to break. That I still retained the
+good opinion of Miss Trevannion was certain, and the mortification
+I had endured at our final interview was now wholly removed.
+It was her duty to suppose her parent not in fault till the
+contrary was proved. She had known her father for years&mdash;me
+she had only known for a short time, and never before had she
+known him guilty of injustice. But her expressions and her behaviour
+in my room&mdash;was it possible that she was partial to me,
+more partial than she had asserted to her father when she was
+questioned!&mdash;and her taking away the ring!</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>A Conspiracy, which ends satisfactorily to all Parties&mdash;Privateering is
+abandoned, and Captain Levee and Philip serve the King.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>The night passed away in attempts at analyzing the real feelings
+of Miss Trevannion, and also my own towards her; and
+now that I was to be separated from her, I discovered what I
+really had not before imagined, that my future happiness was seriously
+endangered by my sentiments towards her: in short, dear
+Madam, that I was most seriously in love.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And now,&rdquo; thought I, &ldquo;of what avail is it to have made this
+discovery now, except it were to convince me, as Miss Trevannion
+had said, that it were better that I were gone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I did not fail to call to mind her observation about my unknown
+parentage and family, and this I reflected upon with
+pleasure, as it was the chief objection raised by her, and, at the
+same time, one that I could proudly remove, from my birth
+being really more distinguished than her own. Should I make
+it known? How could I?&mdash;we should, probably, never meet
+again. All this, and much more, was canvassed in my mind
+during the night, and also another question of more real importance,
+which was, what I was to do, and where I was to go? On
+this last point I could not make up my mind, but I determined
+that I would not leave Liverpool for a day or two, but would take
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg&nbsp;138]</a></span>
+up my quarters at my old lodgings, where I had lived with Captain
+Levee.</p>
+
+<p>As the day dawned, I rose from the bed, and, taking my
+valise on my shoulder, I went softly down-stairs, opened the
+street door, and shutting it again carefully, I hastened down the
+street as fast as I could. I met nobody; for it was still early,
+and arrived at the lodging-house, where I had some trouble to
+obtain admittance; the old lady at last opening the door in great
+dishabille.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Captain Elrington! is it possible,&rdquo; exclaimed she, &ldquo;why,
+what&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing, Madam,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;but that I have come to
+take possession of your lodgings for a few days.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And welcome, Sir,&rdquo; replied she; &ldquo;will you walk up-stairs
+while I make myself more fit to be seen. I was in bed and fast
+asleep when you knocked; I do believe I was dreaming of my
+good friend, Captain Levee.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I went up-stairs and threw myself on the old settee which was
+so familiar to me, and somehow or another, in a few minute&rsquo;s I
+was in a sound sleep. How long I might have slept on I cannot
+tell, but in less than an hour I was waked up by loud talking and
+laughter, and a few seconds afterwards found myself embraced
+by my brother Philip and Captain Levee. The Arrow had anchored
+at break of day, and they had just come on shore. I was
+delighted to see them, as every one is when he meets with friends
+when he is in distress. I briefly stated how it was that they found
+me there, and when breakfast was on the table, I entered into
+full details of what had passed, with the exception of Miss Trevannion
+having entered my room&mdash;that I considered too sacred
+to repeat to any one.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know, my dear Elrington,&rdquo; said Captain Levee, &ldquo;that
+I have not the scruples which you have relative to privateering,
+but still I respect the conscientious scruples of others. There is
+no excuse for Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s conduct, and I cannot think but
+there is something else at the bottom of all this. You haven&rsquo;t
+been making love to his daughter, or, what would amount to
+the same thing, she has not been making advances to you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg&nbsp;139]</a></span>
+&ldquo;I have not dared the first, Levee, and you do not know her,
+to suppose her capable of the latter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, if she had done so, there would have been no harm
+done,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;but I will say no more as you look so grave.
+Philip and I will now call upon Mr. Trevannion, and while I
+engage the old gentleman, Philip shall run alongside of the young
+maiden, and between the two we shall get our bearings and
+distance, and know how the land lies&mdash;and I will tell you more,
+Elrington, although I have no objection to be captain of a privateer,
+I certainly consider the command of a king&rsquo;s ship more reputable;
+and if I could manage to get the Arrow hired into the
+king&rsquo;s service (I still remaining in command of her), I should
+prefer it being so. At all events, I&rsquo;ll side with you, and that
+will drive the old gentleman on a dead lee-shore. Come along,
+Philip&mdash;we shall be with you in two hours, Elrington.&rdquo; With
+these words Captain Levee left the room, followed by my
+brother.</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly three hours before they returned, and then I
+received the following narratives: Captain Levee, as he sat down,
+said, &ldquo;Now, Philip, we&rsquo;ll hear your account first.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, mine is soon told,&rdquo; replied Philip; &ldquo;I had made
+up my mind how to act, and did not tell Captain Levee what I
+intended to do. When Mr. Trevannion met us in the room behind
+the counting-house, he appeared very much flurried: he shook
+hands with Captain Levee, and offered me his hand, which I refused,
+saying, &lsquo;Mr. Trevannion, I have just seen my brother,
+and I hardly need say that nothing will induce me to remain in
+your employ. I will, therefore, thank you for my wages at your
+convenience.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Hey-day, young man,&rsquo; cried he, &lsquo;you give yourself
+strange airs. Well, Sir, you shall have your discharge; I can
+do without such snip-jacks as you are.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Snip-jacks! Mr. Trevannion,&rsquo; replied I; &lsquo;if I must say
+it, we are better born and better bred than you or any of your
+connections, and you were honoured by our service.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You said that, Philip?&mdash;then you were wrong.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I told the truth.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg&nbsp;140]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Still, you should not have said it; we took his service, and
+therefore&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are not snip-jacks,&rdquo; interrupted Philip, &ldquo;and his
+calling names brought on the reply.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must admit the provocation, Elrington,&rdquo; said Captain
+Levee.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, go on, Philip.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Indeed,&rsquo; said Mr. Trevannion, in a great passion; &lsquo;well,
+then, I will soon rid myself of the obligation. Call this afternoon,
+Master Philip, and you shall receive your wages. You
+may now quit the room.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did so, and put my hat a-cock to annoy him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So far his narrative is quite correct,&rdquo; said Captain Levee;&mdash;&ldquo;now
+go on.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Philip, &ldquo;instead of turning out of the house,
+I turned into it, and went to the young lady&rsquo;s sitting-room. I
+opened the door softly, and found her with her hand up to her
+head, looking very sedate and sorrowful. &lsquo;Master Philip,&rsquo; said
+she, &lsquo;you startled me; I am glad to see you&mdash;when did you
+arrive?&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;This morning, Miss Trevannion.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Well, sit down, and bear me company for a time. Have
+you seen your brother?&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;I have, Miss Trevannion,&rsquo; replied I, still remaining on
+my feet, &lsquo;and I have just seen your father. I come now to bid
+you farewell. I have left the privateer, and shall never join her
+again; perhaps I may never see you again either, which, believe
+me, I am truly sorry for.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She covered her eyes with her hand, as she leant on the
+table, and I saw a tear fall as she said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;It is a sad business altogether, and has distressed me very
+much. I hope your brother does not think that I blame him;
+tell him that I do not in the least, and that he must forget my
+behaviour to him when we parted. I did him injustice, and I
+beg his pardon. Tell him so, Philip.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did she say those words, Philip?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, word for word, and looked like an angel when she said
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg&nbsp;141]</a></span>
+so. I replied that I would certainly deliver her message, but
+that I must not remain, for fear of Mr. Trevannion finding me
+with her, as he ordered me to quit the house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Indeed,&rsquo; said she; &lsquo;what can be the matter with my poor
+father?&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Why, Miss Trevannion,&rsquo; said I, &lsquo;he was very angry,
+and he had reason, for I was very saucy, and that&rsquo;s the
+truth.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Why, Philip, what did you say to him?&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Oh, I hardly know,&rsquo; replied I, &lsquo;but I know that I said
+more than I ought; for I was very angry at my brother&rsquo;s dismissal.
+Good-bye, Miss Trevannion.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Trevannion was taking a ring off her finger as I said
+good-bye, and I thought she was going to give it me as a keep-sake;
+but, after a little hesitation, she put it on again, and then
+held out her hand, saying, &lsquo;Good-bye, Master Philip, let us
+not part in anger, at all events.&rsquo; I took her hand, bowed, and
+turned away to quit the room; when I was at the door I looked
+round, and she was sitting with her face in her hands, and I
+think she was weeping. I went out into the street, and waited
+for Captain Levee, and there&rsquo;s an end of my story.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, now I&rsquo;ll give you my portion, Elrington:&mdash;As soon
+as Philip went out of the room, Mr. Trevannion said, &lsquo;That&rsquo;s
+a most impudent boy, and I am glad that he is gone. You are of
+course aware that his brother has left me, and the cause of our
+disagreement.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Yes, Sir,&rsquo; replied I, drily, &lsquo;I have heard the whole particulars.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Did you ever hear of such ridiculous scruples?&rsquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Yes, Sir, I heard them before, and so did you, when he
+gave up the command of the privateer, and I respected them, because
+I knew that Mr. Elrington was sincere. Indeed, his observations
+on that head are undeniably true, and have had great
+weight with me; so much so, that I intend to enter into the king&rsquo;s
+service as soon as I possibly can.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish you had seen the look of Mr. Trevannion when I said
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg&nbsp;142]</a></span>
+this&mdash;he was stupified. That I, Captain Levee, who had commanded
+his vessels so long&mdash;I, the very <i>beau ideal</i> of a privateer&rsquo;s-man,
+a reckless, extravagant dare-devil, should also presume
+to have scruples, was too much for him. &lsquo;Et tu, Brute,&rsquo;
+he might have exclaimed, but he did not; but he stared at me
+without speaking for some time; at last he said, &lsquo;Is the golden
+age arrived, or is this a conspiracy?&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Neither one nor the other, Sir,&rsquo; I replied; &lsquo;I follow privateering,
+because I can do no better; but as soon as I can do
+better, I shall leave it off.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Perhaps,&rsquo; said Mr. Trevannion, &lsquo;you would wish to resign
+the command at once. If so, I beg you will not make any ceremony.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;I have not wished to put you to any inconvenience, Mr.
+Trevannion,&rsquo; replied I, &lsquo;but as you kindly beg me to use no ceremony,
+I will take advantage of your offer, and resign the command
+of the Arrow this day.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Surely, Levee, you have not done so?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I have,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee, &ldquo;and I have done so,
+in the first place, out of friendship to you, and, in the second,
+because I wish to be employed in the king&rsquo;s service, and my only
+chance of obtaining that wish is doing what I have done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How will that effect your purpose?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because the men have sailed so long with me, that they will
+not sail under any other person, if I tell them not. Mr. Trevannion
+will find himself in an awkward position, and I think we can
+force him to hire his vessel to government, who will gladly accept
+such a one as the Arrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I believe, if from her reputation alone,&rdquo; replied I.
+&ldquo;Well, Levee, I thank you very much for this proof of sincere
+friendship. The plot thickens, and a few days will decide the
+question.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very true, and now let me finish my story. &lsquo;I am afraid,&rsquo;
+said Mr. Trevannion, in a very sarcastic tone, &lsquo;that I shall not
+be able to find any one to replace you in this moral age, Captain
+Levee; but I will try.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Sir,&rsquo; I replied, &lsquo;I will now answer your sarcasm. There
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg&nbsp;143]</a></span>
+is some excuse for ignorant seamen before the mast, who enter
+on board of privateers: they are indifferent to blood and carnage,
+and their feelings are blunted&mdash;there is some excuse even for
+decayed gentlemen like me, Mr. Trevannion (for I am a gentleman
+born), who, to obtain a maintenance without labour, risk
+their lives and shed their blood; but there is no excuse for those
+who, having already as much wealth and more than they can require,
+still furnish the means and equip vessels of this description
+to commit the destruction which they do, for the sake of gain.
+There is a sermon, Sir, for you from a captain of a privateer, and
+I now wish you good morning.&rsquo; I then got up, and, making a
+profound bow, I quitted the room before Mr. Trevannion made
+any reply, and here I am. Now all we have to do is to wait
+quietly, and see what takes place; but first, I shall go on board
+the Arrow, and let them know that I have quarrelled with the
+owner. The men are not very well pleased as it is with their want
+of success these two last voyages, and it will require but little to
+blow up the discontent into a mutiny. Come, Philip, I shall
+want you to assist me. We shall be back to dinner, Elrington.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When I was again alone, I had time to consider what had
+passed. What I chiefly dwelt upon was the interview between
+Philip and Miss Trevannion&mdash;her message to me&mdash;her hesitation&mdash;and
+keeping the ring. I could not help surmising that our
+feelings towards each other were reciprocal, and this idea gave
+me infinite delight, and repaid me for all that had passed. Then
+my brother&rsquo;s hasty declaration to her father, that we were better
+born and bred than he was, would certainly be repeated by him
+to his daughter, and must make an impression. And what would
+Mr. Trevannion do? Would he give way to the unanimous opinion
+against him? I feared not, at least without another struggle.
+All these questions occupied my thoughts till the return of Captain
+Levee and Philip from the privateer. They had well managed
+their business. The crew of the Arrow had come to an unanimous
+resolution that they would not sail with any other captain
+but Captain Levee; and that if he did resign the command of the
+vessel, as soon as their wages were paid, and they received their
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg&nbsp;144]</a></span>
+share of prize-money, they would leave, and enter into the king&rsquo;s
+service.</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon Mr. Trevannion sent for the officer next in
+command, to give him the command of the vessel; but as he
+went over the side, the men expecting that he was sent for, for
+that purpose, told him that they would serve under no one but
+Captain Levee, and that he might acquaint the owner with their
+determination. This put the finishing blow to Mr. Trevannion.
+As soon as this was communicated to him, he was wild with rage
+in being thus thwarted in every way. As I afterwards was informed,
+he went even to his daughter, acquainted her with all
+that had passed, and gave vent to his indignation, accusing her
+of being a party in the conspiracy. But this was to be his last effort:
+the excitement had been too great, and after dinner he felt
+so unwell that he went to bed. The next morning he was in a
+raging fever, and at times delirious. The fever was so violent
+that the doctors had much to do to reduce it, and for ten days Mr.
+Trevannion was in great danger. At last it was got under, leaving
+him in a state of great weakness and exhaustion, and his recovery
+was any thing but rapid. Humphrey, the porter, had brought us
+this intelligence; as now there was no one to transact the business
+of the house, and the poor fellow did not know what to do, I
+desired him to apply to Miss Trevannion for directions, and told
+him that, although I would not enter the house, I would, if she
+wished it, see to the more important concerns which could not be
+neglected. She was then attending her father, and sent me a
+message, requesting, as a favour to her, that I would assist all
+I could in the dilemma. I consequently sent for the books, and
+gave orders, and made the necessary arrangements as I had done
+before I had been dismissed by Mr. Trevannion.</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly five weeks before Mr. Trevannion had sufficiently
+recovered to mention any thing about business to him,
+and then it was that he learnt from his daughter that I had carried
+it on for him during his illness, and that every thing had gone on
+as well as if he had acted for himself. Although Miss Trevannion
+had not expressed a wish that I should call, she had sent Humphrey
+for my brother Philip, to let us know the dangerous state
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg&nbsp;145]</a></span>
+in which her father was, and after that Philip called every day,
+and was the bearer of messages to me. As her father recovered,
+she told Philip that he had expressed himself very strongly as to
+his conduct towards me, and had acknowledged that I was right
+in my scruples, and that he was astonished that he had not
+viewed privateering in the same light that I did. That he felt very
+grateful for my considerate and kind conduct in conducting the
+business during his illness, and that as soon as he was well
+enough he would call upon me, to beg my pardon for his conduct
+towards me. Miss Trevannion also told him that her father had
+said that he considered his illness a judgment upon him, and a
+warning to open his eyes to his sacrifice of principle to the desire
+of gain, and that he received it accordingly with humility and
+thankfulness; that it was his intention to offer the privateer vessels
+to government, and if they did not hire them, he should
+dispose of them in some other way. This was very agreeable intelligence,
+and was the source of much conversation between
+Captain Levee and me.</p>
+
+<p>About a fortnight afterwards, Mr. Trevannion, who was still
+weak, sent me a billet, in which he said that he was afraid that
+his anxiety to see me and his being still confined to his room,
+rather retarded his recovery, and begged as a favour that I would
+accept his acknowledgment in writing, and come to see him.
+That I consented to do, and repaired to his house accordingly.
+I found him in his room, sitting in his dressing-gown, and he
+had evidently suffered much.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Elrington,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I trust to your excellent nature
+to accept my apologies for the very unjust treatment you have
+received at my hands. I am ashamed of myself, and I can say
+no more.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I beg, Mr. Trevannion, that you will say no more; I accept
+the return of your friendship with pleasure,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;I am
+sorry that you have been so ill.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am not,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;it is good for us to be chastised at
+times. My sickness has opened my eyes, and made me, I trust,
+a better man. May I ask a favour of you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Most certainly, Sir,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg&nbsp;146]</a></span>
+&ldquo;It is that you will execute a commission for me, which is to
+go to London on my account, see the government people who
+control the naval affairs, and offer the Arrow as a hired vessel.
+You know all her qualities so well, and have kept her accounts
+so long, that you will be able to furnish them with all necessary
+information. I should wish Captain Levee to go with you, and,
+if you possibly can, make it a condition that he is taken into the
+king&rsquo;s service, and appointed the captain of her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will do so with pleasure,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One more favour I have to beg, Mr. Elrington. When I so
+foolishly quarrelled with you, you left a bag of money, to which
+you were fully entitled from your good services, upon the table
+in the inner room. I trust now that you will not mortify me
+by refusing it, or I shall think that you have not really forgiven
+me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I bowed assent.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thank you, Mr. Elrington&mdash;thank you very much. Now
+I shall soon get well. To-morrow, perhaps, you will have the
+kindness to come and see me again. I feel rather overcome at
+present. Remember me kindly to Philip. Good-bye for to-day,&rdquo;
+said Mr. Trevannion, holding out his emaciated hand. &ldquo;God
+bless you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I took his hand and quitted the room, shutting the door softly.
+Mr. Trevannion was quite alone when I was with him. Humphrey,
+the porter, had shown me up-stairs to the room.</p>
+
+<p>Anxious as I was to see Miss Trevannion, I did not venture
+into the sitting-room, but passed the door and went down-stairs;
+when I was going out of the street door, Humphrey followed
+me, and said Miss Trevannion wished to see me. I went back
+again with a beating heart, a sensation I had not felt before,
+when about to go into her presence. She was standing by the
+table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Elrington,&rdquo; said she, as I bowed upon entering, &ldquo;I
+did not think that you could carry your resentment against me so
+far as to leave the house without asking to see me; but if you do
+not wish to see me, &rsquo;tis a duty I owe to myself to wish to see you,
+if only for a moment, that I may beg your pardon for my conduct
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg&nbsp;147]</a></span>
+towards you when we last parted. I have suffered much since
+that, Mr. Elrington; do not make me suffer more by continuing
+your resentment. Recollect I am but a weak woman, and must
+not be judged so severely as one of your own sex.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have nothing to pardon that I am aware of, Miss Trevannion,&rdquo;
+replied I; &ldquo;I did not intrude upon you just now, because
+being no longer an inmate of the house, and not having parted
+with you in complete amity, I thought it would be presumptuous
+in me so to do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are very generous, Mr. Elrington,&rdquo; replied she;
+&ldquo;now take my hand, and I promise never to be so hasty
+again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I took the proffered hand, and raised it respectfully to my
+lips. I had never done so before; but Miss Trevannion showed
+no signs of displeasure, or attempt to withdraw it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you think my father looks very ill, Mr. Elrington?&rdquo;
+said she.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;From his appearance, I think that he must have suffered
+much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am most thankful that you have come to see him, Mr. Elrington.
+You have no idea how his mind was troubled, and how
+he longed to be reconciled to you. I trust he has made his
+peace.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have always had too much respect for your father, and
+gratitude for his kindness to me, to have made that a work of
+difficulty.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You rejoice me much&mdash;make me very happy, Mr. Elrington,&rdquo;
+replied Miss Trevannion, as the tears dropped fast from her
+eyes. &ldquo;You must excuse me,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;I have become very
+weak and nervous during my father&rsquo;s illness&mdash;and sitting up with
+him so much,&mdash;but it is over now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have had much anxiety, I see, Miss Trevannion; you
+are pale and thin to what you were.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did my father&mdash;? but I have no right to ask such
+questions.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would inquire, Miss Trevannion, whether any thing
+was said as to future arrangements?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg&nbsp;148]</a></span>
+Miss Trevannion made a sign of assent.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have promised to execute a commission for him, and am
+going to London, accompanied by Captain Levee.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To get rid of those wretched privateers, is it not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, it is, and I am to come to-morrow to arrange further;
+but I think you want to return to your father&rsquo;s room, so I will now
+take my leave.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are considerate, Mr. Elrington; I did want to go up-stairs;
+but before I go I have some property of yours to place in
+your hands.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I bowed, thinking that she referred to the ring, which I perceived
+on her finger, and was annoyed that she was in such haste
+to return it. But, on the contrary, she went to the buffet and
+brought out the bag of gold jacobuses, which she laid on the
+table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are very proud, Mr. Elrington, not to take what was
+fairly your due,&rdquo; said Miss Trevannion, smiling.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is much more than I have ever earned,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;but
+your father made me promise not to refuse it a second time, and
+of course I shall now take it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>My heart was much lightened when I found that it was the
+gold, and not the ring.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then good-bye, Mr. Elrington; to-morrow I shall see you,
+of course.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Trevannion then left the room and hastened up-stairs to
+her father, and I went home to my lodgings. I narrated the substance
+of what had passed between Mr. Trevannion and me to
+Captain Levee and Philip, and also that I had been kindly received
+by Miss Trevannion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I like the reconciliation and arrangement very much,&rdquo;
+said Captain Levee; &ldquo;and as you have such a bag of gold, and I
+have not fifty guineas in the world, you shall stand treat in London,
+Elrington.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I will, with pleasure; it will only be discharging an old
+debt, Levee. Philip shall go with us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But,&rdquo; said Captain Levee, &ldquo;do you not think they will
+recognize their state prisoner, and be cautious of a Jacobite?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg&nbsp;149]</a></span>
+&ldquo;They may remember the name,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;but my person
+was seen but by few. I do, however, think it would be advisable,
+as I shall have to sign papers, to take another.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think so, too,&rdquo; replied Captain Levee; &ldquo;what shall we
+call you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me see; I&rsquo;ll have a good name. I had a relative of the
+name of Musgrave; I think I will borrow his name. What say
+you, Philip. Will you be for the future Philip Musgrave?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, brother, with all my heart. The name appears to fit me
+better than that of Elrington.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Thus, Madam, did I resume my real name without any suspicion
+on the part of Captain Levee; but I could not well sign
+government papers with an assumed one.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day I called upon Mr. Trevannion, who
+received me with great affection, and it was arranged that I should
+set off in three days, which time would be required for preparation,
+and to make the necessary purchases. To supply funds
+for the journey, Mr. Trevannion gave me another bag of jacobuses,
+of the same amount as the former, saying that he wished
+us to appear bravely when we arrived in London, and that he
+should require no account of the expenditure, only that if the
+contents of the bag were not sufficient, he would supply more.
+This was nothing more but an excuse on his part to be generous;
+for one quarter of the money would have been sufficient for all
+needful expenses. I told him that I had taken the name of Musgrave,
+as that of Elrington might be remembered to the injury of
+the proposal, and he said that it was well thought of by me. Miss
+Trevannion had entered the room when I mentioned that to her
+father, and afterwards had quitted it. After I had taken leave of
+Mr. Trevannion, I went down to the sitting-room, where I found
+his daughter waiting for me. We had much friendly discourse,
+and at one time she said, &ldquo;I heard you say that you had taken the
+name of Musgrave for your intended journey. Do you intend to
+retain that name when you return?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why should I?&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because,&rdquo; replied she, &ldquo;perhaps it is your real name. Excuse
+a lady&rsquo;s curiosity, but is not that the fact?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg&nbsp;150]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Miss Trevannion,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;my real name must at present
+remain a secret.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is to say, it will no longer be a secret if intrusted to
+me? I thank you, Sir, for the compliment.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not intend to imply that, Miss Trevannion; I fully
+believe that you can keep a secret.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you fully believe so, you might, then, reply to my
+question; the more so, as I now pledge myself to keep your
+secret most faithfully.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then, Miss Trevannion, my real name is Musgrave,&rdquo; replied
+I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thank you for your confidence, Mr. Musgrave, which shall
+not be misplaced. I might now follow up my inquiries as to why
+you changed your name, with many other queries; but I am too
+discreet for that&mdash;the time may come when I shall know all; but
+I am content with your proof of confidence, and thank you for it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Trevannion never was so lively and communicative with
+me before, as she was this morning; there was a friendliness
+without any of her usual reserve, and I left her more full of admiration
+and devotion than ever.</p>
+
+<p>In three days more our preparations were made, and taking
+leave of Miss Trevannion and her father, who was recovering,
+and had admitted company to his room, we set off on horseback,
+as we had done before, and attended by the same two men of
+Captain Levee&rsquo;s who had served us on a former journey to London.
+We had no adventure whatever on this journey which could
+be worth narrating, and I shall therefore say that we arrived in
+good health and spirits, and took up our abode at once at our
+former lodging-house, instead of going to the inn. We were
+welcomed by the hostess, who had her house almost empty. The
+following day I made inquiries, and, in consequence, went to
+the Navy Office, and requesting to see one of the head clerks,
+informed him of the occasion of my coming up to London. He
+was very civil, and replied that the government were in want of
+vessels, and he had no doubt but they would have the Arrow, as
+she was well known as a strong privateer. I then inquired whether
+they thought it likely that Captain Levee might be taken into
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg&nbsp;151]</a></span>
+the service, stating what an excellent crew the Arrow had, and
+that they would not remain in her, unless they were commanded,
+by him, in whom they had great confidence.</p>
+
+<p>The clerk replied that it might be done certainly,&mdash;&ldquo;but,&rdquo;
+added he&mdash;&ldquo;Sir, you cannot expect people to do such kind
+offices without they are rewarded.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I perfectly understood him, and replied, that, of course, I
+did not expect it; but I was so ignorant as to what ought to be
+done, that I begged that he would give me his advice, for which
+I should be most grateful.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, well, you understand me, Mr. Musgrave, and that
+is sufficient. I will be plain with you. It will cost 100 guineas
+to obtain what you want for Captain Levee, and of that money I
+shall not receive a doit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall be most happy to give that sum and half as much
+more, to obtain my wish, Sir, and shall feel much obliged to
+you in the bargain; and while I am negotiating, I may as well
+state that I have a brother who sails with Captain Levee, who is
+most anxious to be with him, and sail as his lieutenant.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That will cost another fifty guineas, Mr. Musgrave.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am most willing,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, we must first get the vessel hired into the service.
+You have your tonnage and equipment all on paper?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Every thing that is requisite; and, moreover, every cruise
+she has made, the actions she has fought, and the prizes she has
+taken under the command of Captain Levee, and with the crew
+now on board.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Furnish all these documents, Mr. Musgrave, and leave it
+to me. I am to understand that you perfectly agree to the terms
+I have proposed?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perfectly, Sir; and, if you please, I will sign a memorandum
+to that effect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;we never put such things down on
+paper. It is an affair of honour and good faith. You say your
+money is all ready.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At a minute&rsquo;s warning.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg&nbsp;152]</a></span>
+&ldquo;That is sufficient, Mr. Musgrave. I will now wish you good
+morning. Send me the documents.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have them in my pocket, Sir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Better still; then the affair may be arranged this afternoon,
+and you may call to-morrow at about two in the afternoon; and
+you may as well bring the money with you, as you can but take it
+away again if every thing is not to your satisfaction.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I returned to the lodgings quite delighted with the prospect of
+such a fortunate issue to my mission, and was in good time for
+dinner. I did not tell Captain Levee or Philip of what had passed,
+but merely that I considered that there was a good chance of success,
+and that I was to call on the following day. That night we
+went to the theatre, and saw a play performed written by Shakspeare,
+in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and called the &ldquo;Merry
+Wives of Windsor.&rdquo; We were much pleased with the character
+<i>Falstaff</i>, a fat knight, full of humour. The next day, at the
+time appointed, I called upon the head clerk, who told me that
+every thing was arranged according to my wishes; that the hiring
+of the vessel was according to her tonnage; and he considered
+that the price offered by the government was fair and liberal; so
+did I, and immediately accepted it. He then drew from his desk
+the articles of agreement between the government and the owner
+of the vessel, and at the same time, the warrants for Captain
+Levee and Philip, to act as commander and lieutenant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, Mr. Musgrave, all you have to do is to sign the first
+paper, and fulfil the other portion of our agreement.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I immediately pulled out the bag of money which I had brought
+with me, and after counting it over, the clerk gave me his pen
+to sign the document, and handed to me the warrants for Philip
+and Captain Levee.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have behaved liberally in this affair, Mr. Musgrave,&rdquo;
+said the gentleman, as he locked up the bag of money in his desk;
+&ldquo;if at any time I can be of use to you, you may command me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thank you, Sir,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I may by-and-by have to ask
+you to exert your influence in behalf of my brother, that he may
+obtain the command of one of the king&rsquo;s ships, and if you can
+help me, I shall be most grateful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg&nbsp;153]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Depend upon it I will,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;and I beg you will
+use no ceremony on making the application.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He then shook hands with me, and I went home. Dinner was
+over when I came back, but the hostess had put away some victuals
+for me, and while I was eating them, I gave them an account
+of my success, handing their warrants to Captain Levee
+and Philip. They could hardly credit me, even when the documents
+were in their hands, but pledging them to secrecy, I told
+them by what means I had been so successful. Whereupon they
+thanked me, and we then went out to procure the uniforms suitable
+to their respective ranks, and this occupied us till the
+evening, when we agreed to go to the cockpit and see the fights
+between the various animals, with which Philip particularly was
+much delighted. As we had nothing to detain us in London, and
+it was necessary that the Arrow should immediately run round to
+the Nore, we determined, as the uniforms were to be ready on
+the following day, that the day after that we would return to
+Liverpool.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>We return to Liverpool&mdash;I have an interview with Miss Trevannion&mdash;Plutus
+interferes with Cupid, and I sail again for the coast of Africa.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>We set off and arrived at Liverpool, without accident, late
+on the sixth night, when we repaired to our usual lodgings. The
+next day I called to tell Mr. Trevannion that I had returned, and
+was informed by Humphrey that he was quite strong again, and
+very anxious to see me, although he had no idea that I should return
+so soon. Humphrey went up to announce my arrival, and
+Mr. Trevannion admitted me immediately, although he was not
+yet out of bed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear that you have not been successful,&rdquo; said he, as he
+took my hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;On the contrary, Sir, I have succeeded in every thing,&rdquo;
+and I then gave him an account of what had happened.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;I am very glad of it, and recollect I
+must be at the expense, as, without you had incurred it, the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg&nbsp;154]</a></span>
+schooner would not, in all probability, have been hired. And
+now I want to consult with you about something else. Here is a
+letter from Captain Irving, of the Amy, brought home by the
+Chester Lass.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>These were two vessels employed on the Gold Coast, which
+belonged to Mr. Trevannion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Read it,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion, &ldquo;and give me your
+opinion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I did so: Captain Irving stated that he had pushed the two
+vessels up a small river on the coast, which he had not known of
+before, and had fallen in with a black ruler, who had never yet
+treated with the English; but only with the Spaniards, for slaves.
+That his English commodities were quite new to the natives, and
+that, in consequence, he had made a most fortunate traffic with
+them, and had loaded a vessel with ivory, wax, and gold-dust to
+the amount of 1,000 pounds, and that he had sent the Chester
+Lass, remaining himself, to continue the barter before it was
+known to the other ships on the coast, which it would soon be.
+He continued, that he had not sufficient of the articles which
+were most valued by the natives, and requested that Mr. Trevannion
+would immediately despatch another vessel with various
+goods enumerated, and that then he should be able to fill his
+own vessel as well as the one that he had despatched home; that
+the river was in such a latitude, and the mouth difficult to discover;
+that he sent a little sketch of the coast, which would facilitate
+the discovery&mdash;but that no time was to be lost, as the
+sickly season was coming on, and it was very unhealthy at
+that time.</p>
+
+<p>As I folded up the letter, Mr. Trevannion said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, here is an invoice of the whole cargo sent home by
+the Chester Lass. I reckon it worth about 7,000<i>l.</i>&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I looked over the invoice, and agreed with Mr. Trevannion,
+that it was well worth that, if not more.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is most important, you will acknowledge, Musgrave,&rdquo;
+said Mr. Trevannion; &ldquo;but before I go any further, I trust that,
+now the only difficulty is got over, you will not refuse to be my
+partner; the only difference I intend to make is, that I now offer
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg&nbsp;155]</a></span>
+you one-fourth instead of one-eighth. Silence gives consent,&rdquo;
+continued Mr. Trevannion, as I did not immediately reply.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was so astonished at your munificent offer, Sir, that I
+could not well speak.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then it&rsquo;s agreed; so say no more about it,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion,
+taking me by the hand, and pressing it warmly&mdash;&ldquo;and
+now to business. My idea is, to sent out the Sparrow-Hawk,
+being so fast a sailer. Of course, as a privateer, she has done
+her work; and as the government wish the complement of the
+Arrow to be increased, I think we cannot do better than to fill her
+up with some of the Sparrow-Hawk&rsquo;s men, leaving about twenty-five
+on board of her, and sending her out as soon as possible to
+the coast, with the articles which Captain Irving requests.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I agree with you, Sir, that it will be the best plan.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But whom to send is the difficulty,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion.
+&ldquo;Captain Paul, of the Chester Lass, is very ill, and not likely
+to be out of bed for some time; and even if he were well, I have
+no opinion of him in an affair of this moment. If, as Captain
+Irving says, he can fill the Amy, her cargo will be worth three
+times that of the Chester Lass; but, of course, the destination
+of the Sparrow-Hawk must be a secret, and I do not know whom
+to intrust her to. We require some one in whom we can put confidence.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I agree with you, Sir,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;and, if you have no
+objection, I think that the best plan will be for me to go myself;
+I shall be back again in ten weeks at the furthest.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, as you will now have a strong interest in it, I really
+think so too. In fact, I don&rsquo;t know whom else we can trust.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I agree with you, Sir, and I will go myself, and I think
+the sooner the better; but I do not know whether we can obtain
+all the goods requisite immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We can have them in five or six days,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion;
+&ldquo;I sent Humphrey out to make inquiry.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At all events, I must look to them myself; and there are
+many other things to manage, so I had better wish you a good
+morning now, Mr. Trevannion, and in the evening I will call
+again, and let you know what I have done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg&nbsp;156]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Do so,&rdquo; said he, and I then took my leave.</p>
+
+<p>I certainly was very much astonished as well as much pleased
+at Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s liberality relative to the partnership, and I
+could now look forward to competency in a few years at the
+furthest. Certainly, if Mr. Trevannion had been hasty in his
+conduct towards me, he had made most noble reparation. I first
+returned to the lodgings and told Captain Levee and Philip what
+had passed; they immediately proposed that we should all go
+together on board the Sparrow-Hawk, that I might make my arrangements,
+and that they might persuade some of the men to
+join the Arrow. I first picked out the men I wished to sail with
+me; and then they talked over the rest, who that evening went on
+shore for their wages, and the next morning joined the Arrow, as
+Captain Levee was anxious to get round to the Nore. The day
+after the men joined, the Arrow sailed, which I was not sorry for,
+as it left me more at leisure to expedite my own affairs. Philip
+promised to be my correspondent, and I bade them both farewell
+with regret. I called in the evening, as I had promised, upon
+Mr. Trevannion, and he then gave me the deed of partnership,
+signed and dated the day when he first made the offer, and we
+had quarrelled; but I did not see Miss Trevannion; much to my
+regret, her father said that she was ailing. The business I had
+to transact, and fitting out the Sparrow-Hawk, so completely
+occupied me, that it was now three days that I had been at Liverpool
+without having seen her, and I was much annoyed at it, as I
+had called every day. My feelings towards her were now stronger
+than before. She was never out of my thoughts, and I hardly
+know how it was that I transacted business as I did. This
+evening I was determined, if possible, that I would see her, and
+find out why she avoided me, as it appeared to me that she did.
+When I called, therefore, I did not ask to see her father, but told
+Humphrey to find out where Miss Trevannion was, and say that
+I requested to speak with her. Humphrey returned, and said
+that she was in the sitting-room, to which I instantly repaired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am fearful, that I have given you some unintentional cause
+of displeasure, Miss Trevannion,&rdquo; said I, as I entered, &ldquo;for you
+have appeared to avoid me since my return.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg&nbsp;157]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Indeed, Mr. Musgrave, I have not,&rdquo; replied she; &ldquo;I was
+most anxious to see you, and have thought it very unpolite, I may
+add, unkind, on your part not to have come to me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have been in the house every day, and sometimes twice a-day,
+with your father, Miss Trevannion, and have never met you.
+Once I inquired for you, and your father told me you were unwell,
+whereas Humphrey had but five minutes before told me
+that you were well and in good spirits.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Humphrey told the truth, and so did my father. I was in
+good health and spirits, and in five minutes afterwards I was ill
+and unhappy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I trust I was no party to it, Miss Trevannion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You were a party to it, but not the great offender, who was
+my father. He had told me that upon your return he had installed
+you as his partner, and had done you the justice you had
+deserved; and then he told me that you were going out to the
+coast of Africa in the Sparrow-Hawk.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is very true, Miss Trevannion; but where is the offence?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The offence is this: my father no sooner does you justice
+than he wants more ivory and gold-dust, having more than
+enough already; but I told him it was as bad as privateering, for
+in either case he sends people out to sacrifice their lives, that he
+may gain more money. I have no patience with this foolish
+pursuit of wealth.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;After all your father&rsquo;s kindness to me, Miss Trevannion, I
+could do no less than accept the offer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would have been more wise and more just to yourself
+to have refused it, Mr. Musgrave. I read the letters to my father
+when they arrived, and you know what Captain Irving says about
+the unhealthiness of the climate. You have been my father&rsquo;s
+best friend, and he should not have treated you thus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I never did value life, Miss Trevannion; but really the kind
+interest you have expressed on this occasion makes me feel as if
+my poor life was of some value. To one who has been such a
+football of fortune as I have been, and who has hardly, known a
+kind feeling towards him ever expressed, it is a gratification that
+I really appreciate, and coming from one whom I respect and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg&nbsp;158]</a></span>
+esteem more than any other person in the world, it quite overpowers
+me. Indeed, Miss Trevannion, I am truly grateful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I was correct when I said that it overpowered me, for it did
+completely, and I was so oppressed by my feelings, that I reeled
+to a chair, and covered up my face with my hands. What would
+I have given to have dared to state what I felt!</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are ill, Mr. Musgrave,&rdquo; said Miss Trevannion, coming
+to me. &ldquo;Can I offer you any thing?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I made no reply; I could not speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Musgrave,&rdquo; said Miss Trevannion, taking my hand,
+&ldquo;you frighten me. What is the matter? Shall I call Humphrey?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I felt her hand tremble in mine, and, uncertain what to think,
+I came to the resolution to make the avowal.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Trevannion,&rdquo; said I, after a pause, and rising from
+my chair, &ldquo;I feel that this internal conflict is too great for me,
+and if it lasts it must kill me. I give you my honour that I have
+for months tried every thing in my power to curb my desires and
+to persuade myself of my folly and rash ambition, but I cannot
+do so any longer. It were better that I knew my fate at once, even
+if my sentence should be my death. You will ridicule my folly,
+be surprised at my presumption, and, in all probability, spurn
+me for the avowal, but make it I must. Miss Trevannion, I have
+dared&mdash;to love you; I have but one excuse to offer, which is,
+that I have been more than a year in your company, and it is impossible
+for any one not to love one so pure, so beautiful, and
+so good. I would have postponed this avowal till I was able to
+resume my position in society, by the means which industry
+might have afforded me; but my departure upon this business,
+and the kind of presentiment which I have, that I may not see you
+again, has forced it from me. In a few days I leave you&mdash;be
+gentle with me for my involuntary offence&mdash;pity me while you
+condemn, and I will return no more.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Trevannion did not reply; she breathed quick, and
+stood motionless. I gathered courage; I looked in her face, there
+was no displeasure&mdash;I approached her, she was half-fainting,
+and put her hand upon my shoulder to steady herself. I put my
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg&nbsp;159]</a></span>
+arm round her waist; and led her to the sofa, and knelt at her
+feet, watching every change in her beautiful countenance. I took
+her hand and pressed it to my lips; by degrees I became more
+bold, and got by her side, and pressed her to my heart. She
+burst into tears, and wept with her head on my bosom.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do not be angry with me,&rdquo; said I, after a time.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do I appear as if I was angry with you?&rdquo; replied she, raising
+her head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, no; but I cannot believe my happiness to be real. It
+must be a dream.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is life but a dream?&rdquo; replied she mournfully. &ldquo;Oh,
+the coast of Africa! How I dread it!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>And so I confess did I from that moment; I had a presentiment,
+as I had told her, that something would go wrong, and I
+could not get over the feeling.</p>
+
+<p>I shall no longer dwell upon what took place on that delightful
+evening, Madam; suffice to say, that Miss Trevannion and I
+were mutually pledged, and, after an exchange of thought and
+feeling, we parted, and when we did part I pressed those dear
+lips to mine. I went home reeling with excitement, and hastened
+to bed, that I might have unrestrained freedom of thought. I
+enacted the scene of the evening over and over again; recalled
+each motion, each look, every word which had passed, and,
+defying fever and presentiment of evil, imagined also our happy
+meeting to part no more. It was long before I could compose
+myself to sleep, and when I did, I need not say who it was who
+occupied my dreams. I called as soon as I could venture so to
+do on the following day, and had a long interview with my dear
+Amy. Before I went up to her father, I tried to soothe her anxiety
+upon my approaching voyage, and to persuade her that there was
+little or no danger to be apprehended in so short a stay. Willingly
+would I have given it up, but Mr. Trevannion had so set his
+mind upon it, and I had, by my consent, rendered it so impossible
+for him to find a substitute in time, that I could not do
+so, and I persuaded Miss Trevannion that I was right in acting to
+my promise. One question that came forward was, whether we
+should make known our engagement to her father at once, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg&nbsp;160]</a></span>
+this was decided in the negative. Much as he liked me, he was
+not yet prepared to receive me so suddenly as a son-in-law, and
+Amy was of opinion that the communication had better be postponed.
+To this, of course, I gave a willing assent. I was
+satisfied with the knowledge of her affection, which I felt would
+never change. As I was talking with her father, after my interview
+with Amy, he said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really, Elrington, or Musgrave, I hardly know which to
+call you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Musgrave is my real name, Sir,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Musgrave&mdash;Musgrave&mdash;where did I know a Musgrave?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are from the north,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I was going to say, that I really wish I
+could find some one else to take your place in this voyage, for I
+do not much like your going.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do, my dear father,&rdquo; said Miss Trevannion, who was
+standing by him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hey! Miss Amy, what have you to do with it, I should like
+to know, and how can it concern you whether Mr. Musgrave goes
+or not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I said so, Sir, because I know how you will feel his loss
+for so long a period. You know how you did feel his loss before,
+and I do not wish to see you working so hard, as you will have to
+do it without his assistance.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, that&rsquo;s kindly thought, Amy, at all events; but still
+I fear that Mr. Musgrave must go, and I must work by myself till
+he comes back; so it&rsquo;s no use saying any more about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Amy sighed and made no reply. On the third day after this
+interview, every thing was ready, and on the following morning
+I was to sail. Mr. Trevannion had so many directions to give,
+and kept me so wholly with him, that I could hardly find time to
+speak to his daughter. However, it was agreed that as I was to
+sail at daylight, that she would see me after her father had gone
+to bed. Our meeting took place&mdash;need I say that it was a tender
+one. We renewed our vows over and over again, and it was not
+till past midnight that I tore myself away. Old Humphrey looked
+very knowingly at me when he let me out of the street-door. I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg&nbsp;161]</a></span>
+slipped a guinea in his hand and wished him good-bye. I hastened
+on board of the Sparrow-Hawk, and desiring to be called
+before daylight, went down into the cabin. There I remained
+sitting at the table, and thinking of Amy so long, that when the
+mate came down to wake me, he found that I was still sitting
+there, having never been to bed during the whole of the night.</p>
+
+<p>I started from my reverie and hastened on deck to get the
+schooner under weigh. It was soon done, although we were,
+comparatively speaking, short-handed. There was a fine breeze,
+and lightened as she now was, the little vessel flew through the
+water. Liverpool was soon out of sight, and we were dashing
+down the Irish Channel.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She sails well, now,&rdquo; said I to the second mate, a very
+clever man, and much better educated than most seamen, for he
+could navigate, as well as being a first-rate seaman.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sir,&rdquo; replied Olivarez, &ldquo;she walks fast. She is not
+too deep now,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;what a slaver she would make.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This man was not an Englishman, but a Brazilian Portuguese
+by birth, although he had long been out of his country. Having
+set her course, I went down below, that I might indulge in my
+castle-building more at my ease. The wind increased to a gale,
+but as it was from the northward, and bore us to our destination,
+it was welcomed. We soon crossed the Bay of Biscay, and were
+in more genial latitudes; and, after a rapid run of about four
+weeks, I found myself nearly in the latitude given to us of the
+river where the Amy was at anchor. I then hauled in for the
+shore, which was very low, and required being approached with
+caution. We saw some towering palmtrees at sunset, and then
+we hove to; the next day we again stood in, and having ascertained
+our exact latitude at noon, we found ourselves about four
+miles to the northward of the river&rsquo;s mouth. We shaped a course,
+and in two hours I made out the marks given for our guidance in
+the rough sketch of Captain Irving, and thus satisfied that I was
+right, ran directly for the mouth of the river. Captain Irving was
+correct in saying it was difficult, for it was not until we were
+within a mile that we could find any opening; but at last we did,
+and at the same time perceived the mast of two vessels at some
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg&nbsp;162]</a></span>
+distance up the river. We stood in, and found that there was no
+bar at the river mouth, which was a very unusual circumstance
+on this coast. The soundings were gradual, and in an hour
+afterwards we anchored between the Amy and a fine schooner
+under British colours. Captain Irving recognized the Sparrow-Hawk,
+and immediately came on board. After the usual salutations,
+he told me that his vessel was half-laden, but that he
+waited for the articles he had sent for to enable him to complete
+his cargo. I told him that I had them on board, and he should
+have them as soon as he sent his boats. He stated that no vessels,
+except those engaged in the slave-trade, had ever come into this
+river, and that they only brought the cloth and other articles usual
+in the trade; but that his assorted cargo had astonished the
+people, and they were wild to possess things which they had never
+before seen. They had offered slaves in quantities, but finding
+that he would not take them in exchange, they had now brought
+down ivory and gold-dust. He told me how glad he was that I
+had come, as the river was very sickly, and was becoming more
+and more so every day; that out of twelve men he had already
+four down with fever.</p>
+
+<p>I inquired of him what that vessel was on the other side of us.
+He replied it was a Liverpool slave-trader, and that the captain
+appeared to be a very good sort of man; that he never indulged in
+liquor, nor was given to profane language.</p>
+
+<p>A few minutes afterwards the captain of the slaver came on
+board to pay his respects, and I asked him down in the cabin,
+and gave him beer and cheese, the two greatest luxuries in those
+climes. He appeared, as Captain Irving stated, a very quiet,
+well-behaved, serious person, which I was rather surprised at.
+When we repaired on deck, I observed, as the vessel was close
+to us, that there were two very large dogs on board, who, at the
+sight of the captain, bayed furiously. He told me that they were
+Cuba bloodhounds, and that he never went on shore without
+them, as they were the most faithful and courageous animals,
+and he considered that he was safer with them than with half a
+dozen armed men. Shortly afterwards Captain Irving and he
+both took leave. As there were still some hours of daylight,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg&nbsp;163]</a></span>
+Captain Irving sent his boats for the goods, and after that, as
+the evening fell, I went down below, as Captain Irving requested
+I would do, and by no means remain on deck after sun-down,
+as it was extremely unhealthy.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day Captain Irving went on shore with his
+goods and trafficked most favourably. Indeed, as we afterwards
+found out, he had procured in exchange more ivory than his vessel
+would hold, besides much gold-dust. The day after I went
+on shore with Captain Irving to call upon the king, as he called
+himself. He was seated in front of a hut made of palmetto
+leaves, with a lace coat on, but no other garment whatever, so
+that he made a curious appearance. After a little conversation,
+I went away, and hearing that the slaver was taking her cargo
+on board, about a hundred yards further up, I walked in that
+direction. The slaves were brought down in about twenty at a
+time, all of them fastened by the neck to a long bamboo pole,
+which confined them all together. One string of them had been
+sent down and put in the boat, and another was standing ready
+for embarkation; when as I cast my eyes over them and commiserated
+their misery, I observed a female whom I thought I had
+seen before. I looked again, and behold! is was Whyna, the
+princess who had been so kind to me in my captivity. I went up to
+her and touched her on the shoulder. She turned round, as well
+as the lashing to the pole would permit her, and on seeing me gave
+a faint scream. Without ceremony I took out my knife and released
+her, and led her away. She fell down at my feet and
+kissed them. The black man who had charge of the delivery of
+the slaves was very angry, and ran up to me, brandishing his
+long stick; but the captain of the schooner, who was on shore,
+and who had witnessed what I had done, saluted him with a kick
+in the stomach, which made him quiet enough. In few words I
+told the captain of the slaver that I was once in captivity, and this
+woman had befriended me, requesting him to name his price and
+I would willingly pay it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not worth mentioning, Sir,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;women are
+as cheap as dirt; take her and welcome.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;I must pay her ransom.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg&nbsp;164]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Well then, Sir,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I am in great want of a telescope;
+you have one on board, will you let me have it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Most certainly,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;and many thanks into the
+bargain.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I lifted up the poor creature, who was sadly emaciated and
+weak, and led her to the boat of the Amy and put her in. Captain
+Irving came down, and we returned on board. It was with
+great difficulty that, after I had given the poor creature some refreshment,
+which she was really in need of, I could recollect
+sufficient of her language to make myself understood by her; but
+by degrees words came to my memory, and as she spoke I recovered
+more. As well as I could make her out, the warriors
+had risen against the king on account of his barbarity, and had
+cut him to pieces; and that all his wives and servants had been
+sold as slaves. I promised her that she should not be a slave,
+but should come to my country and be taken care of.</p>
+
+<p>She kissed my hands, and as she smiled her thanks, she reminded
+me of the Whyna of former times. I did not, however,
+think it advisable that she should come on board of the schooner,
+and I requested Captain Irving to take charge of her, and let her
+want for nothing, telling him that I intended that she should go
+home in his vessel. He willingly consented, and I hailed the
+schooner for a boat and went on deck. Whyna followed, but I
+told her I was obliged to go on board of the schooner, and that
+she had better go and lie down. As she probably thought that
+the Amy was my vessel, and that I was going away on a visit, she
+complied with my request, and went down with Captain Irving,
+who led her into a state-room which was not occupied.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I arrived on board the schooner, I sent the telescope
+which the captain of the slaver had begged for. Whyna had
+said to me, &ldquo;I shall be your slave now,&rdquo; evidently expecting that
+she was to remain with me, but that I could not consent to. Miss
+Trevannion had heard from me my adventures when in captivity,
+and I would not on that account allow Whyna to be in the same
+vessel with me. The next day Captain Irving came on board to
+tell me that he had two more men down with the fever, and that
+he wished I could give them some assistance in getting his cargo
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg&nbsp;165]</a></span>
+on board, which I did, and before night the Amy was loaded up
+to the hatchways, and there still remained a considerate number
+of elephants&rsquo; teeth on shore in the hut where he received them. I
+therefore determined, as his crew were evidently sickening fast,
+that he should sail immediately, and that I would take the
+remainder of the ivory on board of the schooner and follow him,
+giving him a rendezvous to wait at until I joined him, that
+we might proceed home in company. That night three of my men
+were ill.</p>
+
+<p>I was on board of the Amy, and had been talking with
+Whyna, who wanted to know why I did not sleep on board of the
+vessel. I told her that I could not, but that we were to go
+to England directly, and that I was living on board of the
+schooner. Captain Irving weighed at daybreak, and in an hour
+was out of the river, and as I was as anxious to be clear of such
+an unhealthy spot, I manned my boats and went on shore for the
+ivory that was left. I found that it would take the whole of the
+day to embark it, as we had to go two miles further up the river
+than the depth of water would permit the vessel to do; for the
+ivory was in a hut close to the king&rsquo;s house. I had sent off four
+boat-loads, and it being then noon, I went off with the fifth myself,
+that I might get my dinner, leaving the second mate to
+attend on shore, and taking with me the first mate who messed in
+the cabin. As we were in the middle of the stream, the boat
+struck against a stump of a tree, as we supposed, and knocked
+so large a hole in the bow that she began to fill. I immediately
+ordered the men to pull for the nearest point, which was on the
+opposite side of the river, that we might ground the boat to prevent
+her sinking.</p>
+
+<p>The first mate, who was a very active man, finding that the
+elephants&rsquo; teeth prevented his reaching the bow of the boat, and
+stuffing into it some oakum which he had found in the stern
+sheets, sounded with the boat-hook, and finding that there was
+not more than three feet of water where we were pulling, jumped
+over the bows to push the oakum into the hole; but the poor fellow
+had not been a few seconds in the water, when he gave a shriek,
+and we perceived that a large shark had snapped him in two.
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg&nbsp;166]</a></span>
+This was a sad mishap, and the men, terrified, pulled as hard
+as they could, while two of them baled out the boat, to gain the
+shore, for we knew what fate awaited us if we sunk in the river.
+With great exertion we succeeded, running her up among the
+canes, with grew on that side of the river so thick that it was difficult
+to force your way through them.</p>
+
+<p>We landed up to our knees in mud, and, throwing out the
+ivory, we found that a whole plank was rent out, and that it was
+impossible to repair our boat; and we were hidden by the canes
+from those who could have assisted us, had they known that we
+required their assistance, and we had no possible means of communication.
+At last I thought that if I could force my way through
+the canes to the point down the river, I could hail and make
+signals for assistance; and, desiring the men to remain by the
+boat, I set off upon my expedition. At first I got on pretty well,
+as there were little paths through the canes, made, as I imagined,
+by the natives; and, although I was often up to my knees in thick
+black mud, I continued to get on pretty fast; but at last the canes
+grew so thick that I could hardly force my way through them, and
+it was a work of excessive labour. Still I persevered, expecting
+each second that I should arrive at the banks of the river, and be
+rewarded for my fatigue; but the more I laboured the worse it
+appeared to be, and at last I became worn out with fatigue, and
+quite bewildered. I then tried to find my way back, and was
+equally unsuccessful, and I sat down with any thing but pleasant
+thoughts in my mind. I calculated that I had been two hours
+in making this attempt, and was now quite puzzled how to
+proceed. I bitterly lamented my rashness, now that it was
+too late.</p>
+
+<p>Having reposed a little, I resumed my toil, and was again,
+after an hour&rsquo;s exertion, compelled, from fatigue, to sit down in
+the deep black mud. Another respite from toil, and another hour
+or more of exertion, and I gave myself up for lost. The day was
+evidently fast closing in&mdash;the light overhead was not near so
+bright as it had been; and I knew that a night passed in the
+miasma of the cane was death. At last it became darker and
+darker. There could not be an hour of daylight remaining. I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg&nbsp;167]</a></span>
+determined upon one more struggle, and, reeking as I was with
+perspiration and faint with fatigue, I rose again, and was forcing
+my way through the thickest of the canes, when I heard a deep
+growl, and perceived a large panther not twenty yards from me.
+It was on the move as well as I was, attempting to force his way
+through the canes, so as to come to me. I retreated from him
+as fast as I could, but he gained slowly on me, and my strength
+was fast exhausting. I thought I heard sounds at a distance, and
+they became more and more distinct, but what they were, my
+fear and my struggles probably prevented me from making out.
+My eyes were fixed upon the fierce animal which was in pursuit of
+me, and I now thanked God that the canes were so thick and impassable;
+still the animal evidently gained ground&mdash;until it was
+not more than five yards from me, dashing and springing at the
+canes, and tearing them aside with his teeth.</p>
+
+<p>The sounds were now nearer, and I made them out to be the
+howling of other animals. A moment&rsquo;s pause, and I thought it
+was the baying of dogs; and I then thought that I must have arrived
+close to where the schooner was, and that I heard the
+baying of the bloodhounds. At last I could do no more, and I
+dropped, exhausted and almost senseless, in the mud. I recollect
+hearing the crashing of the canes, and then a savage roar, and
+then yells, and growls, and struggles, and fierce contention&mdash;but
+I had fainted.</p>
+
+<p>I must now inform the reader that about an hour after I had
+left the boat the captain of the slaver was pulling up the river, and
+was hailed by our men in our long-boat. Perceiving them on
+shore on that side of the river, and that they were in distress, he
+pulled towards them, and they told him what had happened,
+and that an hour previous I had left the boat to force my
+way through the cane-brakes, and they had heard nothing of me
+since.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Madness!&rdquo; cried he. &ldquo;He is a lost man. Stay till I come
+back from the schooner.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He went back to the schooner, and taking two of his crew,
+who were negroes, and his two bloodhounds, into the boat, he
+returned immediately, and as soon as he landed he put the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg&nbsp;168]</a></span>
+bloodhounds on my track, and sent the negroes on with them. They
+had followed me in all my windings, for it appeared that I had
+travelled in every direction, and had come up with me just as I
+had sunk with exhaustion, and the panther was so close upon me.
+The bloodhounds had attacked the panther, and this was the
+noise which sounded in my ears, as I lay stupified and at the
+mercy of the wild beast. The panther was not easily, although
+eventually, overcome, and the black men coming up, had found
+me and borne me in a state of insensibility on board of the
+Sparrow-Hawk. The fever had come on me, and it was not till
+three weeks afterwards that I recovered my senses, when I learnt
+what I have now told the reader, and much more, with which I
+am about to make him acquainted.</p>
+
+<p>When I recovered my senses, I found myself in the cabin of
+the Sparrow-Hawk. For some hours I was confused and wandering,
+but I rallied from time to time, till I could at last
+recognize the beams and carlines over my head. I was too weak
+to move, and I continued to lie on my back till I again fell asleep;
+how long I do not know, but it must have been for many hours,
+and then when I awoke I found myself much stronger.</p>
+
+<p>I could now turn on my bed, and doing so I perceived a young
+man of the name of Ingram by my side in a doze, with his eyes
+shut. I called him in a faint voice, and he started up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have been very ill,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;have I not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sir, indeed you have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have been trying to recollect all about it, but I cannot
+as yet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not worth remembering, Sir,&rdquo; replied he. &ldquo;Do you
+wish any thing to drink?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you had better go to sleep again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot do that. I feel as if I should like to get up. Where
+is Mr. Thompson? I must see him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Thompson, Sir,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;don&rsquo;t you recollect?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, Sir, he was bitten in two by a shark.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Shark!&rdquo; this was the key-note required, and my memory
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg&nbsp;169]</a></span>
+returned. &ldquo;Yes, yes, I recollect now all, all. I recollect the
+panther and the cane-brakes. How was I preserved?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The bloodhounds killed the panther, and you were brought
+on board insensible, and have been in a raging fever ever since.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It must be so,&rdquo; replied I, collecting my senses after a few
+moments of thought. &ldquo;It must be so. How long have I been
+ill?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is the twenty-first day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The twenty-first day!&rdquo; cried I. &ldquo;Is it possible? Are none
+of the men ill?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sir, they are all well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I hear the water against the bends. Are we not still at
+anchor?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sir, the second mate got the schooner under weigh as
+he found you were so ill.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I have been ill twenty-one days. Why we must be near
+home?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We expect to make the land in a few days, Sir,&rdquo; replied
+Ingram.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank Heaven for all its mercies,&rdquo; said I. &ldquo;I never expected
+to see old England again. But what a bad smell there is.
+What can it be?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I suppose it is the bilge-water, Sir,&rdquo; replied Ingram.
+&ldquo;People who are ill and weak always are annoyed by it; but I
+think, Sir, if you would take a little gruel, and then go to sleep
+again, it would be better.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I fear I am not very strong, and talking so much has
+done me no good. I think I could take a little gruel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then, Sir, I&rsquo;ll go and get some made, and be back very
+soon.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do, Ingram, and tell Mr. Olivarez, the second mate, that
+I would speak to him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I will,&rdquo; replied the man, and he left the state-room.</p>
+
+<p>I waited some time listening for the arrival of the second mate,
+and then I thought that I heard odd noises in the hold before the
+bulk-head of the state-room in which I was lying, but I was still
+very weak, and my head swam. After a time Ingram came down
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg&nbsp;170]</a></span>
+with the gruel, into which he put some sugar and a spoonful of
+rum, to flavour it, as he said. He offered it to me, and I drank
+it all, for I had an appetite; but whether it was that I was very
+weak, or the rum he put in was more than he said, it is certain
+that I had hardly given him back the basin than I felt so drowsy
+that I turned away from him, and was soon again in forgetfulness.</p>
+
+<p>This Ingram was a young man who had been apprenticed to an
+apothecary, and had taken to the sea. He was well educated,
+and a very merry fellow, and I had chosen him as one who could
+attend upon me in the cabin, and at the same time be otherwise
+useful if required, as he was a very good seaman, and very active.
+When I awoke again I felt convinced that I must have slept
+through the night, as it was broad daylight, as before, but Ingram
+was not by my bed-side. There was no bell in the state-room,
+and I was obliged to await his coming. I felt much stronger
+than the day before, and now proposed getting out of bed as
+soon as Ingram should come down into the cabin. I now remembered
+that the second mate had not come down to me, and
+heard noises and murmurings in the hold as I had the day
+previous, which surprised me, and I became more anxious for
+the return of Ingram. At last he came, and I told him that I had
+been awake more than an hour.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How do you feel yourself, Sir?&rdquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quite strong. I should like to get up and dress. Perhaps
+I may be able to get on deck for a quarter of an hour.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;that you had better wait, and hear
+what I have to tell you, Sir. I would not tell you yesterday,
+because I thought it would be too much for you; but as I see you
+are really better to-day, I must say that I have strange things to
+tell you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo; cried I, with surprise. &ldquo;Strange things. By
+the bye, why did not Olivarez come to me yesterday?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will explain all to you, Sir, if you will lie down and listen
+to what I have to say, and take the news quietly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well, Ingram, I will do so. Now pray go on.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You were brought on board in a state of fever and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg&nbsp;171]</a></span>
+insensibility by the captain of the slaver. He said, as he lifted you
+over the side, that you were a dead man. We all thought the
+same, and you were taken down into the cabin with that persuasion
+on the part of the whole crew. Your delirium and fever
+increased, and every hour it was expected that you would give up
+the ghost. Now, Sir, two days afterwards the slaver sailed with
+his cargo, and we were left alone in the river. Olivarez, who of
+course commanded, talked to the men. He said that you were
+as good as dead already, and that he thought that this was a fair
+opportunity for their making money. He proposed that the ivory
+still on shore should be changed for slaves, which he said the
+negroes would gladly do, and that we should run with our cargo
+to the Brazils. He said that it was useless our remaining in the
+river, as we should all lose our lives in the same way that you
+had done, and that he thought, as commanding the schooner,
+he knew what would best please the owner, who had long
+employed vessels in the slave-trade, and would not be sorry to
+find that we had run a cargo, and would reward them all liberally.
+That this would be an excuse to leave the river immediately,
+whereas otherwise they would have to wait till you recovered or
+died, and by that time they might half of them be dead themselves.
+Do you understand me, Sir?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, perfectly. Go on, Ingram.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Sir, the men did not perceive what he was about,
+and replied that so long as they left the river they did not care
+how soon, and that it was better that we should take a cargo of
+slaves at all events, for Olivarez was in command now, and they
+should do as he ordered them. I made no reply, indeed Olivarez
+never put the question to me. Well, Sir, the ivory was soon
+exchanged for slaves, who are now on board, and it is the slaves
+whom you have smelt and complained of. We received on board
+140, and provisions sufficient with what we had, and having
+taken in all the water we could below and on deck, we made sail
+out of the river, and have since steered for the Brazils.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But Olivarez has taken a most unwarrantable responsibility,&rdquo;
+said I; &ldquo;and one that he shall answer for.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stop, Sir,&rdquo; replied Ingram, &ldquo;you have only heard the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg&nbsp;172]</a></span>
+first part of the story. When we had been three days at sea, Olivarez,
+who had been talking to the men, one by one and apart,
+called them together, and said, it was an opportunity not to be
+lost, that they had possession of the vessel, and the owner would
+never have a clue to where she had gone, and that now was the
+time to take possession of her for themselves, and employ her in
+the slave-trade on their own account. That, sailing so fast,
+nothing could overhaul her or board her, and, therefore, they
+were free from danger. He then proposed that he should command
+and navigate, and receive one-half of the profits, and that
+the other half should be divided among the crew&mdash;the expense of
+the provisions, &amp;c. being paid out of it previous to their sharing
+and making a calculation, he showed them that every voyage
+would be worth about 100<i>l.</i> a-man after all expenses were paid.
+The crew consented at once to the terms&mdash;all but me; and when
+he asked me, my answer was, that I would consent to nothing
+while you were yet alive. I said that, because I was afraid that
+they would murder me, or throw me overboard.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go on, Ingram; go on, and let me hear it all at once.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Then you will soon be freed from your difficulty,&rsquo; said
+Olivarez.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;I do not know that, Sir,&rsquo; I replied, &lsquo;for I think Mr.
+Musgrave may get over it.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Indeed,&rsquo; he returned, &lsquo;well, then, so much the worse
+for him.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As he, Olivarez, said this, the whole of the crew, to do
+them justice, cried out, that there should be no murder, for if
+there was, they not only would have nothing to do with the affair,
+but would make it known at the first port to which they came.
+That you had always been a kind, good officer, and were too
+brave a man to die in that way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Well, my men,&rsquo; said Olivarez, &lsquo;I never had an idea of
+the kind, and I promise you, if he lives through it, there shall
+be no murder; I will put him on shore at the first port we arrive
+at, but in such a way as to secure our safety&mdash;that we must
+look to.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg&nbsp;173]</a></span>
+&ldquo;The men said, that that was all right, and then they all
+agreed to join him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;And you, Ingram,&rsquo; said Olivarez, &lsquo;what do you say?&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;What I said before,&rsquo; I replied; &lsquo;that as long as Mr. Musgrave
+lives I will come to no agreement whatever.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said Olivarez, &lsquo;it is but postponing your decision;
+I know that you will join us. So now, my lads, as we&rsquo;re
+all agreed, we may as well go to dinner.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The scoundrel shall pay for this,&rdquo; cried I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush, Sir, hush, I pray; say nothing, but wait patiently
+and see what turns up. We are not yet at Rio, and when we are,
+we may be able to do something, but every thing depends upon
+keeping quiet, for if the men become alarmed, they may be persuaded
+to kill you to save themselves.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is very true, Ingram,&rdquo; replied I. &ldquo;Leave me now for
+half an hour, I wish to be alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>You may imagine, my dear Madam, my agitation at hearing
+this intelligence. I who had thought that I was within a few days&rsquo;
+sail of Liverpool, to be there received by my cherished Amy, to
+find myself in the hands of pirates, and close to the Brazils with
+a cargo of slaves; which they, or rather Olivarez, had taken in
+the vessel to Rio that he might not be discovered, for he might
+have found a better mart for his live cargo. And then what would
+be the anxiety of Amy and her father when I was not heard of? It
+would be supposed that the schooner was upset in a squall, and
+all hands had perished. Excited and angry as I was, I felt the
+truth of what Ingram said, and that it was necessary to be
+quiet. Perhaps I might by that means not only preserve my life,
+but again find myself in my own country. When Ingram returned,
+I asked him if Olivarez knew that I was better, and had recovered
+my reason. He replied that he did, but that he had told
+him I was so weak that I could hardly recover.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is well,&rdquo; said I; &ldquo;keep him in that belief as long as
+you can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He now offered me more gruel, which I took, and I believe
+that he put an opiate in it, for shortly after I had taken it, I again
+felt drowsy, and was soon fast asleep. I awoke sooner than
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg&nbsp;174]</a></span>
+before, for it was night, and I heard the voice of Olivarez on deck;
+from what I gathered, land was in sight, and I heard him order
+the schooner to be hove to. In the morning Ingram came down
+in the cabin, bringing me some breakfast, which I ate heartily,
+for I was recovering fast, and had become quite ravenous.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Land is in sight,&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sir, it is; but we are many miles to the northward of
+Rio, I understand, for Olivarez knows the coast well. We shall
+not be in to-day, if we are to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I feel quite strong now,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;and I want to
+get up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do so, Sir,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;but if you hear any one coming
+down the ladder, get into bed again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>With Ingram&rsquo;s assistance I dressed myself, and went into
+the cabin. I reeled as I walked, but as soon as I felt the cool
+breeze from the stern-ports, I was revived, and in an hour I
+could walk quite strong.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you heard any more?&rdquo; inquired I of Ingram.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Olivarez asked me this morning how you were. I replied that
+you were recovering fast.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Very well,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;you will share his fate, whatever it
+may be, since you have been so careful of him, and have put us
+in such a dilemma; but I&rsquo;ll contrive to dispose of you both.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I made no reply, Sir, as I knew that would only irritate
+him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You did right, Ingram; a few days will decide our fate.
+I do not think that he dares to murder us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nor do I think he wishes it, if he can be clear of us with
+safety to himself,&rdquo; replied Ingram.</p>
+
+<p>Two days more passed away, and then Ingram told me that
+we were a few miles from the town, and should soon be at
+anchor.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go softly,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;and tell me what is going on.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He went up the ladder, but soon came down again, saying,
+&ldquo;We are locked in, Sir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I was very much annoyed at this, but it could not be helped&mdash;our
+only remedy was patience; but I must confess that I was in
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg&nbsp;175]</a></span>
+a state of great anxiety. We heard the anchor let go, and boats
+came on board, after which all was silent for the night. The
+next morning we heard them open the hatches, and the slaves
+were ordered upon deck. The day was passed in landing them.
+I was ravenously hungry, and asked Ingram whether they intended
+to starve us. He went up the ladder to call for victuals,
+when he found on the upper step of the ladder a large vessel full
+of water and some cooked provisions, which had probably been
+put there during the night. There was enough to last two or three
+days. The next day passed and no one came near us, and I had
+some thoughts of dropping out of the stern-ports and attempting
+to swim on shore; but Ingram, who had put his head out of them
+as far as he could, told me that we must be at some distance
+from the shore, and there were several sharks playing round the
+stern, as is always the case with vessels laden with slaves.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, however, put an end to our suspense,
+for the companion was unlocked, and Olivarez, accompanied by
+four Portuguese, came down into the cabin. He spoke to them
+in Portuguese, and they advanced, and seizing Ingram and me
+by the collar, led us up the ladder. I would have expostulated,
+but of course could not make myself understood. Olivarez, however,
+said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Resistance is useless, Mr. Musgrave; all you have to do
+is to go quietly with these men. As soon as the schooner has
+sailed, you will be released.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;it maybe so, Olivarez; but mark my
+words, you will repent this, and I shall see you on a gibbet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I trust the wood is not yet out of the ground,&rdquo; replied he;
+&ldquo;but I cannot waste any more words with you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He then spoke to the Portuguese, who appeared to be government
+officers of some kind, and they led us to the gangway; we
+went into the boat, and they pulled us to the shore.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where can they be taking us, Ingram?&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Heaven knows, Sir, but we shall find out.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I attempted to speak to the officers, but they cried &ldquo;<i>Silentio</i>,&rdquo;
+which word I fully understood to mean &ldquo;silence,&rdquo; and finding
+that I could not induce them to hear me, I said no more. We
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg&nbsp;176]</a></span>
+landed at a jetty, and were then led through the streets to a large
+square. On one side of it was a heavy building, to which they
+directed their steps. The door was opened for us, and we were
+led in. A paper was produced by our conductors, and was
+apparently copied into a book, after which they went away,
+leaving us with the people who had received us, and who, by their
+appearance, I knew to be gaolers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of what crime am I accused?&rdquo; inquired I.</p>
+
+<p>No reply was given, but two of the subordinates took us away,
+unlocked a massive door, and thrust us into a large court-yard,
+full of men of every colour.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said I, as the door closed upon us, &ldquo;we are in
+gaol at all events; but the question now is, shall we be released
+as Olivarez had stated?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is hard to say,&rdquo; replied Ingram. &ldquo;The question is,
+what gaol is this? Could we find any one who could speak English,
+we might discover.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Several of those around us had come towards us to examine
+us, and then left us, when, as we were conversing, a negro
+came up, and hearing what we said, addressed us in English.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Massa want one to speak English&mdash;I speak English&mdash;some
+long while on board English vessel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then, my good fellow,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;can you tell us
+what this gaol is, and what prisoners are confined here for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, massa, every body know that, suppose he live at
+Rio. This gaol for people that go dig diamonds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mean! massa&mdash;people sent here to work in diamond-mines
+all life long till they die. Keep &rsquo;em here till hab plenty to
+send up all at one time. Then guard take them up the country,
+and they go dig and wash for diamond. Suppose you find
+very big diamond, you go free. Suppose not, den you die
+there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Merciful Heavens!&rdquo; cried I to Ingram, &ldquo;then we are condemned
+as slaves to the mines.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; replied Ingram with a sigh. &ldquo;Well, it&rsquo;s better than
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg&nbsp;177]</a></span>
+working in the quicksilver-mines. At all events, we shall have
+fresh air.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Fresh air without liberty,&rdquo; cried I, clasping my hands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, Sir, courage, we do not yet know our fate. Perhaps
+we may, as Olivarez said, be allowed to go free after the
+schooner sails.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I shook my head, for I was convinced otherwise.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>The Diamond-Mines, and what occurred there&mdash;I lose my friend Ingram,
+and another acquaintance, but they both leave me valuable
+Legacies.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>After remaining in the court about two hours, it being then
+near to nightfall, the gaolers came out into the yard, and we
+were all driven into a large apartment, the walls of which were of
+such solid materials, and the floor of large flag-stones, as to
+prevent any possibility of escape. I was never in such a scene of
+filth and wretchedness. There was not a spot where one could
+be driven without being defiled in some way or another; and so
+many human beings&mdash;one half of whom were negroes&mdash;being
+crowded into so small a space, with only one barred window, so
+high up as only to serve as a ventilator, created an atmosphere
+worse than any slave-vessel&rsquo;s hold. I leaned with my back
+against the wall, and, I must say, never was so miserable in my
+life. I thought of Amy, and my sanguine hopes and anticipations
+of happiness, now all wrecked. I thought of Captain Levee and
+my brother Philip careering over the seas, free as the wind. I
+thought of poor Whyna, and the distress she must feel at finding
+I did not rejoin her. I planned a hundred schemes to make known
+my situation, but every scheme, as soon as I weighed it, I found
+was hopeless. Still weak from previous disease, I felt as if I should
+be suffocated if I remained long in this pestiferous abode, and I
+wept like a child. Daylight came at last, and soon afterwards the
+door was opened; we were admitted into the yard, and all hastened
+to the large tub of water, which was soon emptied. The fighting
+and scrambling to obtain first possession was really revolting. An
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg&nbsp;178]</a></span>
+hour afterwards some coarse provisions were served out, and then
+we learnt, to our great delight, that we were immediately to set out
+for the mines. It would be thought that this could be no great
+cause for exaltation; we were about to go to pass the rest of our
+lives in bondage; but all misery is comparative, and sooner than
+have remained another night in that dreadful hole, I would have
+welcomed any change. About an hour afterwards a guard of
+dirty-looking soldiers came in; we were all handcuffed to a long
+chain, at about two feet apart, one on each side, so that we
+walked in pairs, and as soon as the first chain was full&mdash;and I
+was handcuffed to it&mdash;we were ordered out into the square to
+wait for the others. My superior dress and appearance as an
+Englishman excited much curiosity; people pointed to me and
+made remarks, but I had no opportunity of communicating with
+any of the authorities, nor would it have been of any use if I had
+had. We remained there more than an hour, as the other chains
+of prisoners came out one by one; we were five chains in all,
+about forty on a chain. We were then ordered to move on, walking
+between a guard of about twenty or thirty soldiers, who
+marched, on each side of us, with their muskets and bayonets
+fixed, about three yards from each other. In another hour we
+were clear of the town, and threading our way through a lane
+bounded on each side by prickly pears and other shrubs. There
+was no want of merriment among the party; they talked and
+laughed with one another, and the soldiers who guarded them,
+and appeared to care little for their fate. As for me, I was
+broken-hearted with the disgrace and the villainous manner in
+which I had been thus sacrificed. My heart was full of bitterness,
+and I could gladly have lain down and died, had I not been still
+buoyed up with some faint hope that I should have an opportunity
+of making my position known, and obtain my release. I will pass
+over the journey, as one day was but the forerunner of the other.
+We halted at noon, and were supplied with fruit and maize, but
+we were never unchained, day or night. In a short time I was like
+all the rest&mdash;covered with vermin, and disgusting to myself. It
+was, I think, between four and five weeks before we arrived at our
+destination, which was in the district of Tejuco, and the locality
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg&nbsp;179]</a></span>
+of the diamond-mines was called the Sierra de Espinha&ccedil;o. This
+sierra, or mountain, was a ridge of inaccessible precipices on each
+side of a narrow valley, traversed by a small river called the Tequetinhonha,
+and in this valley, and in the bed of the river, were
+the diamonds found, for which we were condemned to toil for the
+remainder of our days. As we entered the ravine, I perceived
+how impossible it would be to escape; even if a person could find
+his way back, after having succeeded in his escape. For many
+miles the road was a narrow path cut on the side of the mountain,
+yawning precipice below and inaccessible rocks above, and this
+narrow way was at every two miles blocked up by a guard-house
+built upon it, and through the portcullis of which it would be necessary
+to force a way. And here we were, thousands of miles
+away from civilized life, in the heart of a country uninhabited except
+by occasional bands of Indians. At last we filed through the
+last of the guard-houses, and found ourselves in a wider part of
+the ravine, which was crowded with buildings of various descriptions.
+We were led up to the director&rsquo;s house, and our names,
+persons, and descriptions were taken down by a clerk. When
+my turn came, and I was asked in Portuguese who I was, I shook
+my head, and replied &ldquo;Ingles.&rdquo; An interpreter was called, and
+I then stated my name, and begged the director would hear what
+I had to say. He shook his head, and, after they had taken my
+description, desired me to go away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did you not explain for me?&rdquo; said I to the interpreter.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because he won&rsquo;t hear what you have to say; if he would,
+every man on the chain would attempt to prove that he was sent
+here by mistake. You may, by-and-by, find an opportunity to
+speak to him, that is, after you have learnt Portuguese, and have
+been here a year or two; but it will do no good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>During the whole of the journey, I had been separated from
+Ingram, and now, for the first time since we left prison, I had
+an opportunity of shaking him by the hand. I need not say how
+glad I was to meet again my companion in misfortune, and our
+only fear was now, that we should be again separated; but such
+was not the case. There were regular lodgings or barracks for
+the slaves, which were certainly not bad; but as all escape was
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg&nbsp;180]</a></span>
+considered impossible, any one who chose to raise a little hut for
+himself out of the bushes which grew on the rocks was permitted
+so to do. The hours of work were regular; we were allotted out
+in gangs, which took up a certain square of the river, or river&rsquo;s
+side; we worked from daylight till near dusk, with only an hour
+allowed for repose in the heat of the day. There was a superintendent
+over each gang of twenty, who watched them and made
+them work. These superintendents were controlled by inspectors,
+who had the charge of four or five gangs, and who brought
+unto the director the produce of the day&rsquo;s toil. The work was
+simple. The sand and alluvial soil were thrown into troughs with
+small sieve bottoms, out of which escaped all the smaller matter,
+when it was washed with the water from the river. The stones
+and larger particles were then carefully examined, and any diamonds
+found were taken out and delivered to the superintendents,
+who then made them over to the inspectors, when they
+came round. The inspectors carried them to their houses (for
+they had houses from government), and in the evening delivered
+every diamond found to the director. After a short time, I found
+that the office of superintendent, and also of inspector, was open
+to any of the slaves who conducted themselves well; and that the
+whole of those now employed in the offices were slaves for life,
+as well as ourselves. What puzzled me was, how so many people,
+for in all we amounted to seven hundred or more, were to be
+found in food; but I afterwards discovered that the government
+had farms and herds of cattle at a few miles&rsquo; distance, cultivated
+by slaves and Indians expressly for the purpose. Our rations
+were scanty, but we were permitted to cultivate as well as we
+could any spot we could find on the arid side of the mountain as a
+garden; and some of them, who had been there for many years,
+had, in course of time, produced a good soil, and reared plenty
+of vegetables. To my surprise, I found at least twenty Englishmen
+among the whole mass of slaves; and one or two of them
+were inspectors, and several of them superintendents&mdash;saying
+much in favour of my countrymen. Their conversation and their
+advice tended much to soothe the hardships of my captivity, but
+I found from them that any hopes of ever leaving the mines were
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg&nbsp;181]</a></span>
+useless, and that our bones must all be laid by the side of the
+mountain. Of course, Ingram and I were inseparable; we worked
+in the same gang, and we very soon built a hut for ourselves;
+and Ingram, who was a light-hearted young man, set to work to
+make a garden. He moved heavy stones on the sides of the mountain,
+and scraped up all the mould he could find; sometimes he
+would get his handkerchief full, but not often, but, as he said,
+every little helped. He killed lizards for manure, and with them
+and leaves he made a little dung-heap, which he watered, to assist
+putrefaction. Every thing that would assist, he carefully
+collected; and by degrees he had sufficient for a patch of four or
+five yards square. This he planted; and with the refuse made
+more manure; and in the course of a few months, by incessant
+activity and assisted by me, he had a very tolerable patch of
+ground covered with this manure and the alluvial soil washed out
+by the diamond-seeking, mixed up together. We then obtained
+seeds, and grew vegetables like the rest, and this proved a great
+increase to our comforts&mdash;that is our bodily wants; but my mind
+was far away. Amy Trevannion was never out of my thoughts,
+and I fell into a deep melancholy. I worked hard at my vocation,
+and was fortunate enough to find some good diamonds, long before
+I had been a year at the mines. Having acquired the Portuguese
+language, I was soon after raised to the office of superintendent.
+I now no longer worked, but overlooked others, with
+a cane in my hand to administer punishment to those who neglected
+their business. I cannot say that I liked the change, I
+was not so miserable when I was employed, but I did my duty
+with diligence. Ingram was in my gang, and another Englishman,
+an old man,&mdash;I should think not less than seventy years
+old. He told me that he belonged to a merchant vessel, and in a
+drunken brawl a Portuguese had been killed; he and two others
+had been condemned to the mines, but the others were dead long
+ago. About a month after my elevation, this old man, who was
+very feeble, and whom I treated with great kindness on account
+of his age&mdash;exacting no more than I thought he could well perform&mdash;fell
+sick. I reported him as being really ill, and Ingram,
+who was by no means a bad doctor, told me that he would die.
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg&nbsp;182]</a></span>
+A few hours before his death he sent for me to his hut, and after
+thanking me for my kindness to him, he said that he knew he was
+dying, and that he wished to leave me all his property (which the
+slaves are permitted to do), that is, he left me his garden, which
+was the best on the Sierra, his hut, which also was a very good
+one, and then putting his hand under the leaves which formed his
+bed, he pulled out a tattered, thumbed book, which he told me
+was a Bible.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At first I read,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to pass away time, in this melancholy
+place, but of late I have read it I hope to a better purpose.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I thanked the poor man for his present, and wished him good-bye.
+A few hours afterwards he was dead, and Ingram and I
+buried him by the side of the mountain. Shortly afterwards our
+inspector died, and, to my astonishment, I was put into his
+place. I could not imagine why I was thus so fortunate in being
+promoted, but I afterwards found out that, although I had never
+but casually seen her, I was indebted for my good fortune to a
+fancy which the director&rsquo;s eldest daughter (for he had his family
+with him) had taken for me.</p>
+
+<p>This was singular, for I had never spoken to her, and what
+is more strange, I never did speak to her, nor did she ever attempt
+to speak to me, so that it was wholly disinterested on her part. I
+had now still less to do, and was in constant communication with
+the director, and one day stated to him how it was that I had been
+brought there. He told me that he believed me, but could not
+help me, and after that, the subject was never again mentioned
+between us. Having little to do, I now took up the Bible given
+me by the old Englishman, as I had time to read it, which I had
+not before, when I was employed the whole day; but now I had
+a convenient cottage, as I may call it, of my own, and plenty of
+leisure and retirement.</p>
+
+<p>I studied the Bible carefully, and found much comfort in it.
+Not that I was content with my lot&mdash;that I never could be while
+I was separated from Amy&mdash;but still I found much consolation,
+and I became, to a certain degree, resigned. I thought of my
+former life with disgust, and this second reading of the Bible,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg&nbsp;183]</a></span>
+for the reader may recollect that the first took place when I was
+first confined in the Tower, was certainly of great advantage to
+me. I had more time to dwell upon it&mdash;more time for reflection
+and self-examination&mdash;and every day I reaped more advantage
+and became more worthy of the name of Christian. I now prayed
+fervently, and I think my prayers were heard, as you, my dear
+Madam, will also think as I continue my narrative. About three
+months after I had been appointed an inspector, Ingram was
+taken ill. At first he complained of disordered bowels, but in a
+few days inflammation came on, which ended in mortification.
+He was in great agony until the mortification took place, when he
+obtained comparative relief.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Mr. Musgrave,&rdquo; he said, as I was at his bed-side,
+&ldquo;in a few hours I shall have escaped from the mines, and be no
+more in bondage. I shall follow the poor old Englishman, who
+left you his executor. I am about to do the same. I shall now
+make my will verbally, as we have no writing-materials here, and
+leave you all I possess.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why are you not more serious, Ingram,&rdquo; I said, &ldquo;at such
+a moment as this?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am most serious,&rdquo; he replied. &ldquo;I know that in a few
+hours I shall be no more, and I trust in the mercy of Him who
+died for kings and for slaves; but, Musgrave, I have a secret to
+tell you. Do you recollect the story in the fairy tales of the little
+white cat whose head was obliged to be cut off, and who then
+turned into the most beautiful princess in the world? Well, my
+secret is something like hers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I thought, by his continuing in this strain, that his head was
+wandering. I was about to speak to him, when he continued:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you know what has occasioned my death? I will tell you
+the secret. I was washing for diamonds, when I found one of a
+size which astonished me. I knew it was of great value, and I
+did not choose that the King of Portugal should receive such a
+benefit from my hands. I put it into my mouth to secrete it,
+hardly knowing what I should do afterwards, but I was thinking
+how I should act, when one of the superintendents passing (that
+crabbed old Portuguese belonging to the next gang), and seeing
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg&nbsp;184]</a></span>
+me idle and in deep thought, he struck me with his cane such a
+smart rap on the shoulders, that he not only made me jump out
+of my reverie, but the diamond went down my throat. I&rsquo;m sure
+if I had tried to swallow it I could not have done so, but the shock
+forced it down. Well, this has occasioned my death, for it has
+remained in my stomach and occasioned the stoppage, which has
+ended in inflammation and mortification. I feel it here even now;
+give me your finger, don&rsquo;t you feel it? Well, now you understand
+why I talked of the little white cat. Don&rsquo;t cut off my head, but
+when I am dead, just put your knife down there and take out the
+diamond and bury it, for I tell you&mdash;and they say dying men see
+clearer than others&mdash;but that I am certain you will be released
+from these mines, and then the diamond will be a fortune to you,
+and you will find that being my executor was of some value to
+you. Now, pray&mdash;no scruple&mdash;I entreat it as a last favour,
+promise me that you will do as I wish&mdash;pray promise me, or I
+shall die unhappy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I could not help promising him to execute his wishes, he appeared
+so earnest and asked it as a last favour, but I felt very
+repugnant at the idea. In another hour poor Ingram breathed
+his last, and I was most melancholy at the loss of so worthy a
+friend, who had by serving me been subjected to the same slavery
+as myself. I left the hut and went to my own house, thinking
+over the strange communication that had been made to me. And
+why, thought I, should I obtain this diamond? I have no chance
+of leaving this; yet, who knows, Ingram prophesied in his dying
+moments that I should&mdash;well, at all events, I will keep my promise
+to the poor fellow. I reported his death to the director, and,
+about an hour afterwards, went to the hut where he lay. His
+countenance was placid, and I looked at him for a long while,
+and queried whether he was not happier than I was or ever could
+be. But, to comply with his request&mdash;I could not bear the idea.
+I did not want the diamond, and I, who in my early career had
+thought nothing of cutting and maiming the living man, now
+shuddered at the idea of making an incision in a dead body. But
+there was no time to be lost, the burials always took place at
+sunset, and it was near the hour. I bent a piece of bamboo cane
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg&nbsp;185]</a></span>
+double, like a pair of sugar-tongs, and then putting my finger to
+the part of his stomach which he had pointed out, I felt that there
+was a hard substance, and I made an incision with my knife&mdash;probing
+with the blade. I touched the diamond, and then using
+the piece of cane as a pair of pincers, I contrived, after one or
+two attempts, to extract it. I threw the diamond without examination
+into a pan of water which stood by the bed, and covering up
+the body, I made a hole in the floor of the hut and buried the
+knife, which I felt I never could use again.</p>
+
+<p>I looked out of the hut and perceived two of the slaves, who
+performed that office, coming towards me to take away the body.
+I desired them to carry it leaving the clothes on, followed them,
+and saw it deposited in the earth; after which I read prayers over
+the grave and could not refrain from shedding many tears to the
+memory of my faithful associate. I then returned to the hut, and
+taking the pan of water in my hand went to my own abode. I
+could not bear to touch the diamond, but I dared not leave it
+where it was; so I poured all the water out of the pan, and then
+rolled the diamond out on the floor, which was of hardened clay.
+I saw at once that it was one of great value, weighing, I should
+think, thirteen or fourteen <em>grammes</em>, and of a very pure water.
+It was in the form of an obtuse octoh&aelig;dron, and on one side was
+quite smooth and transparent. Having made this examination,
+I picked up some of the clay with a piece of iron, and rolling the
+diamond into the hole, I jammed the clay down over it. &ldquo;There,&rdquo;
+said I, &ldquo;you may remain till doomsday, or till some one finds
+you; you will be of no use to me;&rdquo; and I thought of the cock in
+the fable. My tattered Bible caught my eye, and I said to it,
+&ldquo;You are of more value than all the diamonds in the world;&rdquo; and
+I only uttered what I felt.</p>
+
+<p>For a long time I mourned for Ingram, and thought nothing
+of the diamond. Three months more passed away, and I had
+been eighteen months in the mines, when some visitors made
+their appearance&mdash;no less than one of the principals of the Jesuit
+order, who had been sent by the king of Portugal out to the
+Brazils, on a tour of inspection, as it was called, but in fact to
+examine into the state of affairs, and the way in which the government
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg&nbsp;186]</a></span>
+revenue was collected. There had lately been so much
+peculation on the part of the various officers, that it was considered
+necessary to make minute inquiry. A Portuguese nobleman
+had been sent out the year before, but had died shortly after
+his arrival, and there was every reason to suppose that he had
+been poisoned, that the inquiry might be got rid of. Now this
+Jesuit priest had been sent out, probably because a Portuguese,
+who thought little of poisoning and stabbing a layman, would not
+dare to attempt the life of so sacred a character. Having full and
+extraordinary powers, he had made a short inquiry into the
+different departments of government, and had now come to the
+mines to ascertain how far the delivery of the diamonds at the
+treasury agreed with the collection at the mines; for these mines
+had usually produced from a million to a million and a half of
+revenue. The director was in a great fuss when he heard of this
+arrival at the further barrier; although immediately announced to
+him, he had scarcely an hour to prepare before the superior of
+the Jesuits arrived with his suite, consisting of about twenty
+people, and fifty or sixty sumpter mules and riding-horses. We
+were all called out to receive him, that is, all the inspectors. I
+went to attend the parade, and awaited with much indifference;
+but my feelings were soon changed, when in this superior of the
+Jesuits I beheld the Catholic priest who had visited me in the
+Tower and obtained my release. The superior bowed to the
+director and to all around him, and as he then looked at us all,
+he recognized me immediately.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You here, my son?&rdquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, holy father,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;and I thank Heaven that
+your arrival will enable me to prove my innocence.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pray how is this?&rdquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>In a few words I narrated my story.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you were thrown into prison without being permitted to
+defend yourself?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Even so, good father, and sent to the mines to slave for
+life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did you not make known your case to the director of the
+mines?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg&nbsp;187]</a></span>
+&ldquo;I did, Sir, but he stated that he pitied me, but could not
+help me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is this the case, Mr. Director?&rdquo; said the Jesuit, severely.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is, Sir,&rdquo; replied the director; &ldquo;I have more than once
+reported cases of what appeared to me great hardship, if what
+those condemned have said was true, and have been told that I
+was too officious, and that there could be no reversal of sentence.
+I can prove to you, Sir, by my journals and letter-books how
+many cases I did formerly attempt to bring before the government;
+but I at last received such replies, which I can show you,
+as will prove that there has been no fault of mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Allow me to add, holy father,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;that the kindness
+and consideration of the director have been very great to all those
+under his charge, and I think it very fortunate that such a person
+has been appointed to this situation, as he has done every thing
+that has been in his power to alleviate the miseries of bondage.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad to hear you say so, Mr. Elrington; Mr. Director,
+this gentleman is a dear friend of mine, let him instantly be
+released. My orders are not to be disputed by the viceroy himself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The superior then embraced me cordially, and told me that I
+was free, and should return with him to Rio. Imagine, my dear
+Madam, my joy and gratitude. I fell on my knees before him,
+and kissed his hands. He gave me his blessing, and raised
+me up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where is your companion in misfortune?&rdquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Alas! Sir, he is dead,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>The superior shook his head and turned away, saying, &ldquo;I will
+search into this affair to the bottom, depend upon it, when I get
+back to Rio.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He then desired the director to bring out his books, and his
+own secretary to follow him, leaving his servants in the court-yard
+with me and the other inspectors. I received the congratulations
+of all parties present, and as soon as possible I escaped
+from them, and returned to my own room, where I knelt and
+fervently thanked God for my unexpected deliverance; and having
+paid my duty to the Most High, I sat down, and fell into a most
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg&nbsp;188]</a></span>
+delightful reverie of anticipations. In the evening, after the
+superior had dismissed him, the director sent for me, and
+said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Allow me to return you many thanks for your kindness in
+speaking so favourably of me as you have done. You have, indeed,
+been of service to me, and I am most grateful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I only did you justice, director,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, but how few have justice done them in this world,&rdquo;
+replied he. &ldquo;The superior desired me to tell you, that you are
+to live with the gentlemen of his suite. Of course, you know, it
+is not etiquette for him to admit any body to his table. At all
+events you must allow me one pleasure, which is to supply you
+with clothes proper to your appearance, which I can easily do
+without inconvenience to myself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The director then led me into his room, and opened a wardrobe
+full of rich suits, selected two of the handsomest, with linen
+and every other article requisite, a handsome sword and hat, all
+of which he begged me to accept. Calling one of his servants,
+he ordered him to put them into a valise, and take them to my
+apartment.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is there any thing else that I can do?&mdash;speak freely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, director,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I will accept these things from
+you, as I cannot procure them here, but when at Rio, I have
+means to obtain every thing that I require. I return you many
+thanks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will send my servant to arrange your hair,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;and
+I pray you to consider him at your disposal during the few days
+which the superior may remain here.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you think it will take him so long?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; replied the director, &ldquo;I will tell you in confidence,
+that he has brought with him the produce of the mines accounted
+for to the government at home, and on his first inspection has
+found such defalcation from that which has been transmitted by
+me to Rio, that I expect there will be serious business. They
+never imagined at Rio that he would have undertaken such a
+tedious journey as he has done, and they are in much alarm about
+it; but I will leave you now, that you may go home and make
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg&nbsp;189]</a></span>
+your toilet. Allow me to congratulate you, with all my heart, at
+the fortunate termination to your unjust bondage.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Having again thanked him for his kindness, I went to my
+lodging, where I found his servant waiting for me; and having
+had my hair arranged in a very tolerable manner, and a little
+powder thrown in, I put on one of the suits, which fitted me
+pretty well, requiring but a slight alteration, from being rather
+full, which the servant soon managed. Thus did I once more
+appear as a gentleman&mdash;contrary to all my expectations&mdash;and I
+then went and joined the suite of the superior, who, when they
+perceived the difference which dress made in my appearance,
+congratulated me, and warmly welcomed me to join the meal
+which had just been prepared for them. On the following day,
+the superior sent for me, and ordering me to sit down, requested
+that I would enter into full detail of what had happened to me
+since we last parted. I did so, and my narrative occupied the
+whole afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your life has been full of vicissitude,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;I trust,
+however, that your adventures are now over, and that you will
+be restored to your friends: the service you performed for our
+cause will never be forgotten.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I ventured to ask him how it was that he was now in the employ
+of the King of Portugal? He replied,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am an Irishman by birth, and educated at St. Omers. I
+was first sent to Spain by the order when I was young, and have
+since been employed all over the world in the advancement of our
+holy church. Country with our order is of no consequence. We
+all serve the holy church, and go wherever our services are required.
+I would you were a Catholic, I could advance you beyond
+all your hopes; but you are engaged to be married, and that puts
+an end to the question.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As I thought the holy father must be tired with our long conference,
+I rose and took my leave.</p>
+
+<p>Three days afterwards I was informed by him that he intended
+to set off on his return to Rio, and now I thought of the diamond,
+which I resolved to carry with me. I had no fear of being searched
+while under this excellent superior&rsquo;s protection, and therefore I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg&nbsp;190]</a></span>
+went to my lodging, dug up the diamond, and having washed it,
+for the first time gave it the examination which it deserved. It
+certainly was a stone of great value, but of what value I could not
+exactly say. From what I had learnt from the director, who
+usually put his idea of the value upon any diamond of size which
+was brought to him, I considered that 20,000<i>l.</i> was the least
+which could be put upon the stone. I took the precaution not to
+carry it loose in my pocket, but to sew it within the lining of my
+clothes. Glad I was, indeed, when the orders to start the next
+morning were given out. I found that a horse was appointed for
+me, and having made up my valise, not forgetting my tattered
+Bible, I went to my bed, thanking God that this was to be the
+last night that I was to pass in the accursed Sierra de Espinha&ccedil;o.</p>
+
+<p>At daylight the superior took his leave, mounted his mule,
+and we set forth, passing the guard-house in the narrow road,
+which I never expected to pass again. Before noon we were clear
+of the Sierra, and once more in the open country. The attendants,
+with a portion of the sumpter mules, went in advance, to
+prepare for the superior&rsquo;s arrival at the spot where we were to
+halt.</p>
+
+<p>The weather was excessively sultry, and the glare of the sun
+was very distressing. At noon we stopped to take our dinner,
+and the usual siesta after it. The attendants in advance had
+raised a sort of palanquin for the superior, and every thing was
+ready. The superior alighted, and sat down under the palanquin,
+which protected him from the rays of the sun; we all sat
+round at a respectful distance. The heat was so intense, that to
+relieve himself, the superior had, when he sat down, thrown off
+his long black robe, such as is worn by the priests of his order.
+Dinner was served up, and we had a merry party, notwithstanding
+the great heat. After our meal, we all shaded ourselves as
+well as we could, and took our siesta for about two hours, when
+the superior rose up, and gave the signal for resuming our journey.
+The horses were soon ready, and the superior&rsquo;s mule being
+brought up to the palanquin, he rose up, and one of his attendants
+was lifting up his robe for the superior to resume it, when
+my eye detected the head of a snake just showing itself out of the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg&nbsp;191]</a></span>
+side-pocket of the robe in which he carried his breviary and his
+handkerchief. I knew the snake well, for we often found them
+in the Sierra de Espinha&ccedil;o, and some two or three of the slaves
+had lost their lives by their bite, which was so fatal, that they
+died in less than five minutes afterwards. The superior had his
+handkerchief in his hand, and would have undoubtedly put it in
+his pocket before he mounted his mule, and if so, would certainly
+have been bitten, and lost his life. As the superior was
+fastening his robe at the throat, I darted forward, seized it,
+threw it on the ground, and commenced stamping upon it with
+all my force, much to the surprise of the whole party. Some of
+them thought me mad, and others, who were horrified at such
+treatment of the holy garment, called out, &ldquo;Heretico maldetto!&rdquo;
+which, Madam, you must know, means, accursed heretic.
+Having felt the snake (which is very short, but very thick in the
+body, with a head like a toad) several times moving under my
+feet, and then moving no more, I then stepped off the garment,
+and turning it over, I lifted it up by the skirt, so that the dead
+snake rolled out of the pocket.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thank the God whom we all worship, and the Son of God,
+who died for us all, whether Catholic or Heretic,&rdquo; cried I, &ldquo;that
+I have been the means of preserving our holy father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I had knelt down as I thus prayed, and the superior, perceiving
+the danger that he had been in, did the same, and silently
+returned his thanks; at his example all the rest went down on
+their knees.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said the superior; &ldquo;would to God that instead of
+reviling each other, all denominations of Christians would join
+in thus bruising the head of the serpent which seeks our spiritual
+death.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He then rose and said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My son, I thank thee for the kind service thou hast performed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I then explained to the superior the deadly nature of the animal,
+and my fear that he would have put his handkerchief in the
+pocket of his robe before I had time to prevent him, and begged
+him to excuse my seeming abruptness.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg&nbsp;192]</a></span>
+&ldquo;There needs no apology for saving a man&rsquo;s life,&rdquo; replied he,
+smiling.&mdash;&ldquo;Come, let us go forward.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I hardly need say that we were not quite so long in returning
+to Rio as we were in going to the mines. We accomplished our
+journey, without using extreme haste, in about half of the time.
+On our arrival, we took up our quarters at a magnificent palace,
+which had been appropriated to the superior during his residence
+at Rio, and I found myself sumptuously lodged. For some days,
+during which the superior had frequent interviews with the viceroy,
+I did not see him, but one day I was summoned to his pretence.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My son,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I have lost no time in investigating
+your affair, and I find that all you have said is quite correct. To
+the disgrace of the government here, and the manner in which
+justice is administered, it appears that this man, Olivarez, on
+his arrival, went to the secretary of the judge of that court in
+which such offences are tried, and stated that he had two English
+mutineers on board, who had attempted to take the vessel, and
+wounded several of his men dangerously; that he wished, of
+course, to deliver them up to justice, but that the immediate
+departure of his vessel would be prevented by so doing, as his
+crew would be required as evidence; that the delay would be very
+disadvantageous; and he inquired whether it could not be managed
+that these men might be punished without the appearance
+of himself and his men, as he would pay a good sum rather than
+be detained. The secretary perfectly understood the trick, and
+upon the receipt of five hundred cruzados, he accepted the deposition
+of Olivarez, sworn to by him, as sufficient evidence, and
+you were consigned to the mines upon this deposition by a warrant
+from the judge. We have had some trouble to obtain all the
+facts, but the question has been severely applied, and has
+elicited them. Now, first, as to the judge and his secretary, they
+have gone to the gaol, and will take your place in the mines for
+life. Next as to Olivarez. It appears that, on his arrival, he
+sold his cargo of slaves very advantageously; that having received
+the money, he gave a small portion to each of his men, and that
+they went on shore, and, like all English seamen, were soon in
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg&nbsp;193]</a></span>
+a state of intoxication; that Olivarez took such steps with the
+police, as to have them all thrown into prison when in that state;
+and, on the following morning, he went to them, persuaded
+them that they had committed themselves during their intoxication,
+and that it required a large sum to free them. This he pretended
+to have paid for them, and having purchased a cargo for
+his voyage, he got them all on board, and again ran for the
+coast of Africa. In three months he returned with another cargo,
+which he sold. He had found out his mother, and now he expended
+the money he had made in purchasing a good property
+about seven miles from Rio, where he placed his mother and
+some slaves to take care of it, and cultivate it. He contrived to
+defraud his crew as much as he could, and before he went to the
+coast again, he married an amiable young person, the daughter
+of a neighbour. He made a third and a fourth voyage with equal
+success, but on the third voyage he contrived to get rid of a portion
+of his English crew, who were now becoming troublesome,
+by taking some Portuguese sailors out with him, and leaving the
+English on the coast, as if by mistake. Previous to the fourth
+voyage, it appears that he satisfied the remainder of the English
+crew by producing accounts, and sharing out to them several
+hundred dollars previous to their departure for the coast. He
+made a slight addition to his Portuguese sailors, not putting too
+many on board, to avoid suspicion, and when on the coast of
+Africa, a portion of the English crew died; whether by poison or
+not is not known, and the others he put on shore, seizing all
+their property, and the dollars with which he had satisfied them.
+On his return from his fourth voyage, having now nothing to fear
+from the partners in his atrocious deed, having realized a large
+sum, he determined to remain on shore altogether, and live on
+his property with his mother and wife. He did so, and sent out
+the schooner under a Portuguese captain and crew, to be employed
+for him as owner in the slave traffic, and she has made
+two voyages since, and is expected back again every day. Now,
+my son, retribution has fallen heavily upon this bad man. Had
+he been discovered and punished when he first did the deed, it
+would have been as nothing compared to what it has been now;
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg&nbsp;194]</a></span>
+he then had no property&mdash;no ties&mdash;in fact, nothing or little to
+regret; but now, with a wife and child, with a valuable property,
+living in independence, and increasing that wealth daily&mdash;now,
+when he is at the very summit of his ambition, restored to his
+own country, respected and considered as being a man of wealth,
+he has been seized, thrown into a dungeon, put to the question,
+and now lies in a state of misery, awaiting the sentence of death
+which has been pronounced against him. Neither has he the
+consolation of knowing that he leaves those whom he loves in a
+state of affluence, for all his property, having been gained by
+making use of your property, necessarily is your property, and
+not his, and it has been confiscated accordingly for your use and
+benefit. As soon as every thing is collected, it will be paid into
+your hands. Thus, my son, I have at last attained justice for
+you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I was, as you may imagine, my dear Madam, profuse in my
+acknowledgments, but he stopped me, saying,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was sent here to see that justice was done to every body,
+if I possibly could&mdash;no easy task, when all are amassing money,
+not caring how they obtain it; but, surely, if any one has peculiar
+claims upon me, it is you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The superior then asked me many questions relative to my
+parentage, and I did not conceal any thing from him. I told
+who I was, and why, at an early age, I had left my father&rsquo;s
+house. He asked me many questions, and, after about two
+hours&rsquo; conversation, he dismissed me, saying,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You may always depend upon my protection and gratitude.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Before he dismissed me, he told me that he was about to send
+a despatch-boat to Lisbon, and as I might wish to inform my
+friends of my safety, if I would write letters, he would insure
+their being safely delivered to my friends in England. I gladly
+availed myself of this offer, and indeed would have begged a
+passage for myself, if it had not been that I considered Olivarez&rsquo;s
+money to be the property of Mr. Trevannion, and was determined
+to remit it to him before I left Rio. This detained me about six
+weeks longer, during which interval Olivarez had suffered the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg&nbsp;195]</a></span>
+penalty due to his crimes, having been strangled in the market-place.</p>
+
+<p>The money received was 28,000 cruzados, and not knowing
+how to dispose of it, I applied to the superior, who gave me
+orders for it in duplicates upon the treasury at Lisbon, one of
+which I had very soon an opportunity of sending home to Mr.
+Trevannion, with a duplicate of my first letter, and a second to
+him and Amy, stating my intention of returning as soon as possible.
+But this was by a Portuguese frigate, which made a very
+circuitous route home, and I did not choose to go by that conveyance,
+as her detention at the different ports was so uncertain.
+At last I became very impatient for my departure, and anxiously
+awaited the sailing of some vessel to any port of Europe.</p>
+
+<p>I had reserved 1,000 cruzados for my own expenses, which
+I considered as quite sufficient, but they were gradually wasting
+away, for I was everywhere received, and in the best company
+of Rio. At last one day the superior sent for me, and told me
+that he was about to send an advice-boat to Lisbon, and I might
+take a passage if I wished; that it was a very small one, but a
+very fast sailer. I thanked him heartily, accepted the proposal,
+and went to my room to pack up my clothes. In the afternoon
+the captain of the xebeque called upon me, and told me that he
+would start on the following morning if I would be ready. I replied
+that I should be, put some dollars into his hands, requesting
+that he would procure for me any thing that he considered
+would be necessary and agreeable, and if the sum I had
+given him was not enough, I would repay him the remainder as
+soon as we were out of harbour. I took my leave of the superior,
+who parted with me with many protestations of regard on his side,
+and tears of gratitude on mine, and early the next morning I was
+on board of the xebeque. In light winds she was extremely fast,
+but she certainly was too small to cross the Atlantic Ocean;
+nevertheless, as the captain said, she had crossed it several
+times, and he hoped that she often would again.</p>
+
+<p>The passage, however, that he usually made, was to run up
+to the northward of the Antilles, and then cross over, making
+the Bahama Isles, and from thence taking a fresh departure for
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg&nbsp;196]</a></span>
+Lisbon. Our crew consisted of only eight men, besides the
+captain; but as the vessel was not more than thirty tons, they
+were sufficient. We made a good run, until we were in about
+twenty-four degrees of north latitude, when, as we stretched to
+the eastward to cross the Atlantic, we met with a most violent
+gale, which lasted several days, and I fully expected every hour
+that the vessel would go down, buried as she was by the heavy
+sea. At last we had no chance but to scud before the wind,
+which we did for two days before a raging and following sea, that
+appeared determined upon our destruction. On the second night,
+as I was on deck, watching the breaking and tossing of the
+billows, and the swift career of the little bark, which enabled
+her to avoid them, the water suddenly appeared of one white
+foam, and as we rose upon the next sea, we were hurled along
+on its crest, reeling on the foam until it had passed us, and
+then we struck heavily upon a rock. Fortunately, it was a soft
+coral rock, or we had all perished. The next wave lifted us up
+again, and threw us further on, and, on its receding, the little
+xebeque laid high and dry, and careened over on her bilge.</p>
+
+<p>The waters rose and fell, and roared and foamed about us,
+but they lifted us no more, neither did they wash us off the decks
+as we clung to the rigging; for the stout short mast, upon which
+the lateen sail was hoisted, had not been carried away. We remained
+where we were till morning, every one holding on, and
+not communicating with each other. As the night wore away, so
+did the gale decrease and the sea subside. The waters now gradually
+left us; at intervals, when the waves receded, we could
+walk on shore; but we remained on the vessel till noon, by
+which time we found our vessel high and dry, having been
+carried over a coral reef, which appeared to extend one or two
+miles into the offing.</p>
+
+<p>The men, who had been much buffeted by the waves, and
+who were exhausted by clinging so long to the rigging, now that
+they found themselves safe, and were warmed by the heat of the
+sun, rallied, and began to move about. We had a long consultation
+as to how we should act. There was no chance of getting
+the vessel off again, and we did not exactly know where we were;
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg&nbsp;197]</a></span>
+but the captain and I agreed that it must be upon one of the small
+islands of the Bahama group that we had been cast away, and
+our conjecture was right. After some consultation, the captain
+and I called the men together, and told them that it was very probable
+that we might be some time before we could find the means
+of getting off the island, and that, therefore, we must all do
+our best; that we would land and erect a tent with the sails, and
+obtain provisions; after that we would consider the vessel and
+her stores as public property, but that every man&rsquo;s private property
+should be secured to him as if we were still on board of the
+xebeque; that the captain should retain the command as before,
+and his orders should be obeyed by every body, as long as they
+were reasonable and just.</p>
+
+<p>The men, who were well-behaved, quiet fellows&mdash;and not,
+like English seamen, given to liquor&mdash;readily agreed, and it
+was arranged that the following morning we should commence
+our labours. This was a sad blow to me, who was anticipating
+a speedy meeting with Amy. I knew how doubtful was the
+chance of our being seen by any vessel, and that I must remain
+here for months, if not longer&mdash;but I had been schooled, and
+could now say with fervency, &ldquo;Thy will, oh Lord, and not mine,
+be done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We remained on board of the vessel that night, and the next
+morning the gale had ceased, and the waters, to our astonishment,
+had receded, so as to leave us at least sixty yards from the
+sea, which was now almost calm. We first took a survey of the
+island, to ascertain if there was any water, and, as the island was
+not more than two miles in circumference, this did not take us
+long. Fortunately, in the centre we found a deep hole sunk in
+the soft coral rock by some other people who had been wrecked
+here, and in the hole the water was, although a little brackish,
+somewhat palatable. It evidently was the sea-water filtered
+through the soft rock.</p>
+
+<p>The whole of the island was surrounded with coral reefs,
+with lanes of deep water running between them, and the fish were
+sporting in thousands after the storm, but there was not a tree or
+vestige of vegetation upon the whole island. We soon, however,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg&nbsp;198]</a></span>
+discovered that it was frequented by turtle, for we found some
+eggs, fresh-buried, in the sand. Having made this survey, we
+then went back to the vessel, and with spars and sails rigged a
+tent upon the highest point of the island, which might be ten or
+fifteen feet above the level of the sea. The tent was large enough
+to hold fifty men, if required, so we brought our bedding and
+chests and all our cooking apparatus on shore, made a fire-place
+outside the tent with the little cabouse we had on board of the
+vessel, sent a man to obtain water from the hole, and put on some
+meat to boil for our dinners. In the evening we all went out to
+turn turtle, and succeeded in turning three, when we decided
+that we would not capture any more until we had made a turtle-pond
+to put them in, for we had not more than two months&rsquo; provisions
+on board of the vessel, and did not know how long we
+might be detained. The men behaved very well, and indeed
+seemed determined to make themselves as comfortable as they
+could under existing circumstances. The next day we put out
+some lines in deep water, and caught several large fish, and then
+we went to find a proper spot for a turtle-pond. We selected a
+hole in the reef which we thought would answer, as we had only
+one end of it to fill up, and we commenced breaking away the
+rock with crowbars, and worked hard the whole of the day, some
+breaking and others carrying the masses broken off. By degrees
+they rose to the surface of the water, and in two days more we
+calculated that the pond would be ready to receive the turtle.
+We had killed one turtle in the morning, and we now lived upon
+it altogether, as we wished to save our salt provisions. The captain
+and I had many consultations as to what we should do, and
+what attempts we should make to get off from this spot. Build
+a boat we could not, as we had not a carpenter among us, or the
+means of making the iron-work necessary. We had some tools,
+such as are usually used on board of vessels, and several pounds
+of large nails, but none fit for boat-building. I proposed that
+we should examine the bottom of the xebeque, and see what damage
+was done to it. We did so, and found that the garboard
+streak was broken and two of her timbers, but they were easy to
+repair; in every other respect she was sound. I then proposed
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg&nbsp;199]</a></span>
+that we should cut down the xebeque to a large boat, which we
+could easily do by ripping off her planks and decks, and sawing
+down her timbers to the height we required. It would be a heavy
+boat, it was true, but we should be able to launch her with rollers,
+and the draught of water would be so small that we could get
+her over the reefs, which we could not possibly do the xebeque.
+The captain approved of the idea, and we agreed that as soon as
+the turtle-pond was finished we would make the attempt. In
+two days more we had finished the pond, and had turned thirty
+turtle, which we put into it. The men, now that they found that
+they had plenty to eat, began to show signs of laziness, and did
+not very readily commence the work upon the xebeque. They
+ate and slept, ate and slept again, on the mattresses spread in the
+tent. At times they would fish, but it was with difficulty that the
+captain and I could persuade them to work, and if they did work
+half an hour, they then threw down their axes and crowbars, and
+went back to the tent. They had plenty of tobacco, and they
+smoked half the day, ate turtle, and then slept again. Nevertheless,
+as the captain and I worked hard, the work progressed; in
+about ten days after we began the work, we had ripped off her
+decks and her side-planks as low as we thought right, and we
+were now sawing through the timbers, when the quiet of our
+party was disturbed by what may be considered a very strange
+quarrel. One of the men asserted in conversation that St. Antony
+was born in Padua; one or two of the other seamen denied
+it, and this difference of opinion, which at first was a mere nothing,
+from sullenness, I presume, and something being required
+to excite them, in the course of a day or two ended in a
+serious feud; the Paduans terming the anti-Paduans heretics and
+Jews. The epithet of Jew was what irritated so much, and the
+parties being exactly even, four on each side, on the third day,
+after an angry altercation, they all rushed out of the tent to decide
+the affair with their knives. The conflict was very fierce, and
+took place when the captain and I were at the xebeque, and before
+we could separate them, four of them had fallen; two were killed,
+and the other two badly wounded. It may appear ridiculous that
+people should take each other&rsquo;s lives for such a trifle; but, after
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg&nbsp;200]</a></span>
+all, nations declare war against each other, and thousands are
+killed on both sides for causes almost as slight. With great difficulty
+we separated the remaining combatants, and such was
+their rage and excitement, that every now and then they would
+attempt to break from us and attack each other again; but at last
+we disarmed them.</p>
+
+<p>This was a sad business; and it was melancholy to think that
+companions in misfortune should take each other&rsquo;s lives, instead
+of feeling grateful to the Almighty for their preservation.</p>
+
+<p>We buried the two men who had fallen, and dressed the
+wounds of the hurt; but after this quarrel the four others came
+to their work, and continued steady at it. We had now removed
+the upper portion of the xebeque, and commenced fixing beams
+and carlines on the lower part, so as to make a decked boat of it,
+and in another week we had decked her over. But we had a great
+deal more to do: we had to reduce the mast and yard to a proper
+size, to alter the sail and rigging, to make a small rudder, and
+rollers to launch her upon. All this, with our reduced force,
+occupied us another month; for the two wounded men, although
+recovering, could but just crawl about. We turned many more
+turtle at night, that we might have a sufficient supply. We now
+looked out for a channel of deep water through the reef, to get
+our boat out, and made one out to a certain extent, but could
+not survey further without getting off the reef, and the sharks
+were so numerous that we dared not venture. However, we took
+it for granted, as we had found deep water in shore, that we
+should be sure to do so in the offing; and we now got our boat
+upon the rollers which we had made, by digging away the sand
+from beneath her, and a trench to the water&rsquo;s edge. We had
+been two months on the island when all was ready for launching.</p>
+
+<p>Anxious as I was to return to England, I cannot say that I was
+unhappy when on this island: there was always a fine sea-breeze,
+which cooled the air, and enabled us to work without exhaustion.
+With the exception of the unfortunate quarrel I have referred to,
+every thing went on quietly. After work was over, I resorted as
+usual to my Bible, and read for hours; and this calmed and
+allayed any impatient feelings which might at times arise. I felt
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg&nbsp;201]</a></span>
+that I had great cause to be grateful to the Almighty for preserving
+me as he had done, and that it would be folly and wickedness
+on my part to repine because I could not obtain all that I
+wished. I waited, therefore, for His own good time, without
+murmuring, and in full confidence that all was for the best.</p>
+
+<p>At last we contrived to get our boat into the water, and she
+floated much lighter than we thought she would have done, considering
+the weight of wood that was in her. As soon as she was
+anchored about ten feet from the beach, we made a gangway to
+her with planks, and commenced getting all our salt provisions,
+water, and stores, which we had selected as most necessary, on
+board of her. The stowage of these occupied us two days; we
+then got the yard up and bent the sail, and having fitted oars, we
+determined that the next day we would embark. As she still
+swam light, we got on board of her as many turtle as we could
+conveniently carry, and then, for the last time, went onshore
+to sleep.</p>
+
+<p>As there was no room for our chests, it was agreed that we
+each should have a bundle on board, selecting those things which
+we most required and most valued. This proposal, which was
+made by the captain, put me in mind of the diamond, which had
+scarcely once entered my thoughts since I had been on the island.
+When I took it out of my chest, I thought that I might as well
+make it more convenient to carry, as there was no saying what
+might be the result of our new expedition; so, when the other
+men were all busy about their own effects, or asleep, I first took
+the precaution to roll it up in a covering of pitch, so that, if taken
+from me or lost, it might not be known to be a diamond, and
+then I sewed it up in a piece of leather, which I cut from an old
+glove, putting a strong leather lanyard to it, so that I might
+wear it round my neck. Having done this without any one taking
+notice, and having nothing else to do, I took some fine twine,
+and worked it over, like the mousing of a stay, in a way peculiar
+to sailors, so that, when finished, it was very much in the shape
+of a miniature buoy to an anchor, and reminded me of a <em>fend-off</em>,
+or fender, such as they use to prevent any injury to the sides of a
+vessel when coming in contact with another. Having finished
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg&nbsp;202]</a></span>
+my work, I put the leather lanyard round my neck, inside of
+my shirt, so that my diamond was concealed from sight; I then
+put up my remaining pieces-of-eight&mdash;which were nearly 500,
+the best of my clothes (for during my stay at Rio I had very much
+increased my stock), and I hardly need say that the old Bible
+was not left behind.</p>
+
+<p>It was a beautiful, calm morning when we embarked, and,
+lifting the anchor, took to our oars, and pulled out through the
+deep channel, the captain standing at the bow and conning us
+through, while I took the helm. The boat pulled well and steered
+well; we had yet to see what she could do under canvas. After
+a pull of two hours we were clear of the reef, and out in the open
+sea. We then laid in the oars, and commenced our preparations
+for hoisting the sail to a breeze, which then blew from the southward.
+When all was ready, the men hoisted the sail, but in so
+doing, a rope being foul, as I was attempting to clear it, I was
+tripped up, and fell with my right knee on a spike, which entered
+deep, putting me to excruciating pain, and laming me completely.
+I was obliged to sit down abaft, for I nearly fainted
+away. In the mean time the sail was set, and the boat stood well
+up to it. She proved to be very stiff under canvas, which was a
+source of great congratulation. My knee became so painful and
+stiff that I could not move it; I took one of my shirts out of my
+bundle, tore it up into bandages, and put them on. We had resolved
+to attempt to make New Providence, the largest of the
+Bahama group, where we knew that there was a town called Nassau,
+and from whence we hoped to obtain some conveyance to
+Europe; but we knew nothing of the port, or the inhabitants, or
+what trade was carried on with them.</p>
+
+<p>For several hours our little bark went gaily over the water, but
+towards nightfall the wind shifted, and the weather looked
+threatening. We hardly knew how to steer, as we did not know
+the position of the island which we had left, and now the wind
+heading us, we hauled up on the larboard tack, with our head to
+the northward and eastward. As the sun went down, the wind
+increased, and the sea ran fast. Our boat behaved well, till it
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg&nbsp;203]</a></span>
+began to blow very hard, and then it took in so much water, that
+we were forced to bale.</p>
+
+<p>We had reefed our sail, and made every thing as snug as we
+could, but the sea rising fast, and the boat taking in more water,
+we considered it prudent to lighten her, which we did by throwing
+overboard all the turtle. This we did without regret, as we
+were tired of eating them for so long a while. The day broke, and
+there appeared every sign of bad weather, and the waves now
+tossed and foamed too much for such a small craft as we were in.
+About noon we saw a vessel on a wind to leeward of us, which
+was a source of great delight to us all, and we bore down to her.
+We soon made her out to be an hermaphrodite brig, under her
+close-reefed topsails and trysails. We ran under her counter and
+hailed. We perceived several men standing abaft, and apparently
+they suspected us for a rover, for they had muskets and
+other weapons in their hands. We told them that we had been
+shipwrecked, and the boat was sinking in the gale, and then we
+rounded to under her lee.</p>
+
+<p>There we remained for four or five hours, during which the
+wind and the sea went down very fast, and the boat no longer
+took in water; but we had been all too much alarmed with the
+danger in which we had been, to like to continue our voyage in
+her, and as we thought that we could now go alongside with
+safety, we hailed again, and asked permission. After some
+parleying, they threw us a rope, which we made fast to the boat,
+and lowered our sail, keeping off on a broad sheer, as there still
+was a great deal of sea. They then entered into conversation with
+us. I told them all that had happened, and inquired where the
+brig was bound to.</p>
+
+<p>They replied, to James Town, Virginia. I asked them if
+they could give us a passage there, as we were afraid to proceed
+in our boat; or if not, would they see us safe into New Providence.</p>
+
+<p>The captain then came forward. He was a very dark man,
+dark as a mulatto, with keen small eyes, and a hooked nose. I
+never beheld a more deformed and repulsive countenance.</p>
+
+<p>He said, that he could not go to New Providence, as it was
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg&nbsp;204]</a></span>
+out of his way, and that we might easily get there ourselves if we
+thought proper.</p>
+
+<p>I replied, that the boat was not sufficiently large and seaworthy,
+and that we had already nearly gone down, and if another
+gale should come on, we certainly should founder, and
+again requested that he would take us on board.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you any money to pay for your passage?&rdquo; inquired he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;common charity and the feelings of a seaman
+towards sailors in distress should be sufficient to induce you
+to take us on board, and not leave us to perish; but if you require
+money,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;we have more than sufficient to satisfy you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How much?&rdquo; screamed out a lad of about fourteen, who
+was the very image of the captain in miniature.</p>
+
+<p>I did not reply to this question, and the captain then said,
+&ldquo;What do you propose to do with the boat?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let her go adrift, to be sure,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What have you got on board of her?&rdquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>I enumerated, as well as I could recollect, the provisions and
+stores that we had.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;I will wait till it is a little smoother,
+and then we will clear the boat and take you on board.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He then left the gangway, where he had been standing, and
+we continued to be towed by the brig.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not like that fellow,&rdquo; said I to the Portuguese captain;
+&ldquo;he appears, or pretends, to take us for pirates, but he is more
+like a pirate himself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He looks like the devil himself,&rdquo; replied the captain, &ldquo;and
+to ask people in our condition to pay for their passage! He is a
+monster! However, we all have a few doubloons, thank Heaven.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>About an hour afterwards, it being much more moderate, the
+captain of the brig told us to sheer alongside, and that four of us
+might come out and the others remain in the boat till she was
+cleared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think you had better go,&rdquo; said I to the captain, &ldquo;for with
+so much motion I never shall be able to get up the side with my
+bad knee.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We then sheered the boat alongside, and the captain and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg&nbsp;205]</a></span>
+three of our men got on board, but not without difficulty. I saw
+them go aft and down below with the captain of the brig, but I
+never saw them on deck again, much to my surprise, although
+we were more than half an hour before they again hailed us, and
+told us to come alongside again. During this half-hour my mind
+misgave me sadly that all was not right, from not seeing the Portuguese
+captain, or either of the three men, and I took it into my
+head that the vessel was a pirate; and I knew if such was the
+case, we should instantly be rifled, if not murdered. I took the
+precaution of taking off the bandage from my knee, and having
+removed the diamond from my neck, I put it under my ham in the
+cavity, which held it with ease, and then put the bandage on
+again over it, as I thought they would hardly take a bandage off a
+bad knee to see if there was any thing concealed beneath it. It
+was with difficulty that I contrived to get on board the brig, and
+as soon as I had gained the deck, I was ordered to go down into
+the cabin; as I went aft, I looked round for the Portuguese captain
+and the men, but could not see them. I contrived, with
+difficulty, to get down into the cabin, and as soon as I was there
+I was seized by the arms and held fast by two of the men, while
+others bound me with seizings.</p>
+
+<p>As the captain was looking on, I inquired into the cause of
+this outrage. He replied, that we were a parcel of rascally pirates,
+who would have taken his vessel if he had not been too deep for
+us; I told him it was false, and that I could easily prove it, as
+we still had the despatches on board with which we had been
+charged, and that I could show full proof that I was the same
+person that I stated myself to be; that I very much feared that we
+had fallen into the hands of pirates ourselves, but that I would
+have justice done as soon as we arrived at James Town, without
+he intended to murder us all before we arrived. His answer was,
+that he was too old a bird to be caught with such chaff, and that
+he would secure us and deliver us up to the authorities as soon as
+he arrived. I replied, in great anger, that he would then be
+convinced of his error, if it was an error, on his part; that his
+conduct was infamous, and he looked like a scoundrel, and I
+believed him to be one.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg&nbsp;206]</a></span>
+&ldquo;You call me a scoundrel, do you,&rdquo; said he, levelling a
+pistol at my head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You call us scoundrels, do you,&rdquo; cried the boy I have made
+mention of, and who was evidently the son of the captain, taking
+up another pistol in his hand. &ldquo;Shall I shoot him, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Peleg; not yet; we will pay them all when we get in.
+Take him away, and put him in irons with the rest,&rdquo; said the
+captain; and I was immediately dragged forward between decks
+through a door in the bulk-heads, where I found the Portuguese
+captain and three seamen already in irons.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is pretty treatment,&rdquo; said he to me.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, it is, indeed,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;but I will make him
+smart for it when we arrive.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Shall we ever arrive?&rdquo; said the Portuguese captain, looking
+at me and compressing his lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I say, my man,&rdquo; said I to the seaman who stood over us
+with a pistol and a cutlass, &ldquo;who are you; and what are you?
+Tell us the truth: are you pirates?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I never was yet,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;nor do I mean to be; but
+our skipper says that you are, and that he knew you as soon as
+you came alongside. That&rsquo;s all I can say about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, if we are pirates, as he says, and he recognizes us,
+he must have been in pirates&rsquo; company, that is clear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well; he may have been, for all I know,&rdquo; replied the man.
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t consider him any very great things; but he is our captain,
+and we must obey orders.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man now brought forward the other three men who had
+been left in the boat. They told us that the boat had been cleared;
+all the provisions, stores, sails, &amp;c. had been taken out of her;&mdash;a
+proof that she had been gutted and then cut adrift;&mdash;that all
+our bundles were down in the captain&rsquo;s cabin, and that the ill-looking
+urchin, his son, had overhauled them, one after another,
+and handed to his father all the money that he had found; that
+they had been searched very carefully; and that they had heard
+the captain say that we were all to be sent up, one by one, and
+searched in the same manner;&mdash;and so it proved. I was first
+taken aft to have my pockets rummaged by the little villain, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg&nbsp;207]</a></span>
+as soon as I had been led forward and again put into irons, the
+Portuguese captain and three other seamen were sent for and
+treated in the same way. We inquired of the men what money
+they had in their bundles and about their persons. They had
+each man four doubloons at Rio for wages, and the captain had
+about forty doubloons. I had five hundred pieces-of-eight: so
+that, altogether, we had been robbed to the tune of about four
+hundred pounds sterling, independent of our clothes, which
+were of some value to us; that is, mine were, at all events.</p>
+
+<p>The seamen who guarded us, and who relieved each other
+every watch, were not at all surly or ill-natured. I asked one
+of them during the night watch whether he thought the captain
+would take our lives.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No;&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;we will not allow that. You may be pirates,
+as he says, although we do not think you are; but if pirates, you
+shall have fair play; that we have all made up our minds to. No hanging
+first, and trying afterwards.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I had a long conversation with this man, who appeared very
+much inclined to be sociable. He told me that the vessel was
+named the <i>Transcendant</i>; that she sailed from Virginia to the
+West Indies, and that sometimes she went to England; that the
+captain of her was also the owner, but where he came from, or
+what he was, they did not know, except that he was a Virginian,&mdash;they
+believed so, for that he had a tobacco estate there, which
+was carried on by his eldest son. He called the captain a stingy,
+miserly fellow, who would sacrifice any man&rsquo;s life to save a
+shilling, and that there were odd stories about him at James
+Town.</p>
+
+<p>I was well satisfied with my conversation with this man, as it
+assured me that our lives would not be taken, and I had no fear
+of the result upon my arrival at James Town, for, as I have
+mentioned before, Mr. Trevannion had vessels which sailed to
+that port, and I well recollected the names of the parties to
+whom the vessel and cargo were consigned.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day the captain of the brig, followed by his
+ill-favoured son, came forward and looked at us as we sat in
+irons, upon which I addressed him,</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg&nbsp;208]</a></span>
+&ldquo;You have put me in irons, Sir, when I threw myself upon
+your protection. You have robbed us of our money to the amount
+of nearly 400<i>l.</i>, and you detain our other property. I now again
+desire that I may be released. I offered to convince you that I
+was a person of property, but you refused to listen to me. Now,
+Sir, I will tell you that I am a partner in the house of Trevannion,
+at Liverpool, and that we have vessels that trade between James
+Town and that port. Our vessels are consigned to Messrs. Fairbrother
+and Wilcocks, of James Town, and on my arrival I will
+soon prove that to you; and also not only make you surrender the
+property you have robbed us of, but I will make you smart pretty
+handsomely for your treatment of us, that you may depend
+upon.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Fairbrother and Wilcocks,&rdquo; muttered he; &ldquo;confound the
+fellow. Oh,&rdquo; said he, turning to me, &ldquo;you got the name of
+that firm from some ship you have plundered and sunk, I suppose.
+No, no, that won&rsquo;t do, old birds are not to be caught
+with chaff.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe you to have been a pirate yourself, if you are not
+one now,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;at all events you are a thief and a paltry
+villain&mdash;but our time will come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, it will,&rdquo; said the captain of the xebeque, &ldquo;and remember,
+you scoundrel, if you can escape and buy off justice,
+you shall not escape seven Portuguese knives, mind you that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no,&rdquo; cried the Portuguese sailors; &ldquo;stop till we are
+on shore, and then come on shore if you dare.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I say, father,&rdquo; said young Hopeful, &ldquo;this looks like mischief;
+better hang them, I reckon, than to be stuck like pigs.
+They look as if they&rsquo;d do it, don&rsquo;t they?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I shall never forget the diabolical expression of the captain
+of the brig after the Portuguese sailors had done speaking. He
+had a pistol at his belt, which he drew out.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s right, shoot &rsquo;em, father; dead men tell no tales,
+as you have always said.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no,&rdquo; said the seaman who was on guard, motioning
+them back with his cutlass, &ldquo;there will be no shooting nor
+hanging either; we are all sworn to that. If so be they be pirates,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg&nbsp;209]</a></span>
+there&rsquo;s the law of the country to condemn them; and if they be
+not pirates, why then that&rsquo;s another story.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The captain looked at the seaman as if he could have shot him
+if he dared. Then turned round hastily and went back to the
+cabin, followed by his worthy offspring.</p>
+
+<p>For seven days we remained in irons, when we heard land
+announced by the sailors on deck, and the brig&rsquo;s head was put
+towards it. At night she was hove to, and the next morning
+again stood in, and we perceived that we were in smooth water.
+Towards night the anchor was let go, and we asked the guard if
+we had arrived at James Town.</p>
+
+<p>He replied, &ldquo;No, but we were in a river on the coast, but
+he did not know what river it was nor did any of the crew, nor
+could they tell why the captain had anchored there. But they
+had seen several canoes with Indians cross the river, but that
+there appeared to be no white settlement that they could discover.&rdquo;
+The mystery was, however, cleared up on the following
+morning. A small boat, which could barely hold eight people,
+was lowered from the stern, and hauled up alongside. We were
+taken up, one by one, the scoundrel of a captain having first
+stripped each of us to our trowsers, not even allowing us a shirt.
+We were ordered to get into the boat. As soon as we were all in,
+and our weight brought the boat down to her gunnel, two oars
+were handed to us, and then the captain of the brig said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, you rascally pirates, I might have hanged you all,
+and I would have done so, for I know you well. I recollect your
+faces when you plundered the &lsquo;Eliza,&rsquo; when I was off Porto
+Rico; but if I put you in prison at James Town, I shall have to
+wait two or three months until the court sits, and I cannot be
+detained for such scoundrels as you; so now you may pull on
+shore, and get on how you can. Shove off, directly, or I&rsquo;ll
+put a bullet through your brains.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hold fast,&rdquo; cried I, &ldquo;and let him fire if he dares. You
+men belonging to the <i>Transcendant</i>, I call you to witness this
+treatment. Your captain has robbed us of a large sum of money,
+and now turns us adrift, so as to compel us to land among
+savages, who may kill us immediately. I appeal to you, will
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg&nbsp;210]</a></span>
+you permit this cruelty and injustice? If you are English, I
+conceive you will not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>There was some talk and expostulation with the captain of the
+brig, in consequence of what I said; but while it was going on,
+the captain&rsquo;s son leaned over the side, and, with his knife, cut
+the painter, or rope which held the boat, and as the tide was
+running on very strong, in less than half a minute we were a long
+way astern of the brig, and drifting fast up the river.</p>
+
+<p>We got out our oars, and attempted to pull for the brig, for
+we knew that the seamen were taking our parts; but it was in
+vain; the tide ran several miles an hour, and in another minute
+or two, with all our exertions, we were nearly a quarter of a mile
+astern of her, and the boat was so loaded that we hardly dared
+move lest we should upset it. We had, therefore, no option
+but to go on shore and take our chance; but when the men were
+pulling round for the shore, on reflection I thought that we had
+better not land so soon, as the sailors had told us that they had
+seen the Indians in their canoes. I therefore recommended that
+we should allow the boat to drift up the river with the tide, and
+then drift down again when the tide turned, remaining in the
+middle of the stream till it was dark, when we would land and make
+our way into the woods. My advice was followed; we sat still in
+the boat, just keeping her head to the stream with the oars, and,
+being without our shirts, the sun scorching and blistering our
+backs, till past noon, during which time we must have drifted
+nearly twenty miles up the river, which was as broad as the arm
+of a sea at the entrance; then the tide turned, and we drifted
+back again till it was dusk, when it was again slack water. All
+this while we kept a sharp look-out to see if we could perceive
+any Indians, but not one was to be seen. I now proposed that
+we should take our oars and pull out of the river, as if we had
+only gone up on a survey, for the brig had got under weigh, and
+had anchored, for want of wind, about four miles off, and the
+Indians, if there were any, would suppose that we were returning
+to the ship. We did so, and pulled till it was dark, and
+were within two miles of the brig, where the flood-tide again
+made strong, when we turned the boat&rsquo;s head up the river, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg&nbsp;211]</a></span>
+pulled with the oars to get up as far as we could before we landed.
+This we did, suffering much from hunger and thirst, as well as
+being confined so long in one position. As my knee was quite
+well, I now took off the bandage, and hung my diamond round
+my neck as before. I could not help feeling a satisfaction, when
+I thought that the thief of a captain little imagined what a mine of
+wealth he was losing when he turned me adrift. It was about
+midnight when the tide ceased to flow, and we then agreed to
+land, and the question then was, whether we should separate or
+keep together. After some discussion, we agreed to separate in
+twos, and the Portuguese captain and I agreed to keep each other
+company. We first pushed the boat into the stream, that she
+might drift away, and then, shaking each other by the hand and
+bidding adieu, we all started in different directions. For some
+time the captain and I threaded the woods in silence, when we
+were stopped by a stream of deep water, with such high banks,
+that in the dark we did not know how to cross it. We walked by
+the side of it for some time to discover a passage, and in so doing,
+we at last found ourselves again on the banks of the river, and
+our boat lying close to us, having grounded not far from where
+we had shoved her off. We tasted the water in the creek, and
+found it quite fresh: we had several times tried it on the river,
+and found it quite salt from the tide running in. We drank
+plentifully, and sat down to recover ourselves, for although we
+had not walked more than half an hour, the pushing through the
+brushwood was very fatiguing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;that this boat will certainly betray us,
+and would it not be better to take possession of it again? It will
+hold two comfortably, and I think we shall get on as well, if not
+better, in a boat than in the woods without compass and without
+guide.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I agree with you,&rdquo; said the captain; &ldquo;but what shall we
+do?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us retrace our steps; let us pull again, with the ebb-tide,
+for the mouth of the river, and then coast it along shore; we
+may arrive at some settlement, if we do not starve by the way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg&nbsp;212]</a></span>
+&ldquo;I agree with you,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;it will be the best plan; we
+must conceal ourselves in the day, and coast along at night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We waded into the river, got into the boat, and again pulled
+out. The boat being light, now pulled well, and we made good
+speed; and at daylight we were clear of the river, and close to a
+small island near the mouth of it. Upon this, we agreed to land,
+to try if we could procure food, for we were much exhausted, and
+also to conceal ourselves from the natives. We ran our little
+boat on shore, and concealed her among some bushes which
+grew down at the water&rsquo;s edge. We looked well round, but
+could see nothing, and we then walked out in search of food; we
+found some wild plums, which we eagerly devoured; and going
+down again to the beach, where there were some rocks, we found
+shell-fish, of which we broke the shells between two stones, and
+made a meal of. After our hunger was satisfied, we lay down
+under the shelter of the boat, and fell fast asleep. We were so
+tired that we did not wake up till it was nearly dark, when we
+agreed to start again, and pull along the coast to the northward.
+We were just launching our boat, when we perceived a canoe
+about three miles off, steering for the mouth of the river to the
+island. This stopped us, and we remained in our hiding-place.
+The canoe approached, steering directly for the spot where we
+lay concealed, and we imagined that they had discovered us.
+Such, however, proved not to be the case, for they ran on shore
+about fifty yards from us, and hauling up the canoe, they got out
+and walked away on land. There were four men, but it was now
+too dark to distinguish any more. We remained quiet for a
+quarter of an hour, when I proposed that we should embark.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you ever managed a canoe?&rdquo; said the Portuguese captain
+to me.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have been in one in Africa very often,&rdquo; I said, &ldquo;but they
+are dug-outs, as we call them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So have I, and I do not think there is so much difference
+between them and these canoes. Can you paddle?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; I replied.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So can I,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Now observe, the best thing we can
+do is to take possession of that canoe; and then we shall get on
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg&nbsp;213]</a></span>
+better, for our boat will always attract notice, whereas a canoe
+will not; besides, it will prevent these Indians, if they are come
+to look for us, which I suspect they have, from following us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think you are right,&rdquo; I said; &ldquo;but how shall we manage?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;In this way. You shall shove off our boat and walk by its
+side, dragging it up to where the canoe lies; I will go to the
+canoe, launch it, and then we will make off with both till we are
+too far out to be taken; then, when we have got into the canoe,
+we will turn our boat adrift.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I agreed to the proposals. We launched our boat very quietly,
+and I walked in the water up to my knees, drawing it after me
+till I arrived opposite to the canoe. The Portuguese crept on his
+hands and knees till he had gained the canoe, pushed her off, and
+joined me. We made her fast to the tow-rope of our own boat,
+then got into the boat, and pulled away from the island.</p>
+
+<p>We had not gained more than a hundred yards, when the
+whiz of an arrow met our ears. The Indians had discovered us,
+it was evident. Two or three more arrows came flying by us, but
+we had now got well out, and they fell harmless. We continued
+to pull till we were half a mile from the island, and then we laid
+on our oars. The stars shone bright; there was a young moon,
+so as to enable us to see pretty well. We found the paddles of
+the canoe lying on the cross-pieces. We had nothing to take
+from the boat but our tow-rope and the two small oars; these we
+put into the canoe, and then getting in ourselves, we let the boat
+go adrift. We put her head to the northward, between the island
+and the main, and paddled away as fast as we could.</p>
+
+<p>The captain was a much better hand than I was, and he therefore
+took the office of steersman. The water was as smooth as
+glass, and we made rapid progress, and did not discontinue our
+exertions, except now and then resting for a few moments, till
+the morning dawned, when we could hardly distinguish the island
+we had left, and found ourselves about five miles from the
+mainland. We had now time to examine the contents of the
+canoe, and had much reason to be gratified with our acquisition.
+It had three bear-skins at the bottom, several pounds of yams,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg&nbsp;214]</a></span>
+cooked and uncooked, two calabashes full of water, bows and
+arrows, three spears, a tomahawk, three fishing-lines and hooks,
+and some little gourds full of black, white, and red paint; and
+what we prized more than all, some flints and a large rusty nail,
+with rotten wood to serve as tinder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are fortunate,&rdquo; said the captain; &ldquo;now, before we pull
+in for the shore we must paint ourselves like Indians; at all
+events, you must black yourself, as you have no shirt, and I
+must do the same, although I do not require it so much as you
+do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us have something to eat and drink first,&rdquo; replied I,
+&ldquo;and we will proceed to our toilet afterwards.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="chaphead"><p>My adventures with the Indians, with what happened to the Portuguese
+Captain, my companion.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>Having eaten some venison, and drunk out of the calabash,
+the captain painted me black, with here and there a line of red
+and white on the face and shoulders. I performed the same duty
+towards him, and we then resumed our paddles, and pushed in
+a slanting direction for the shore. The tide now ran down against
+us, and we could hardly stem it, and finding ourselves opposite a
+beach clear of trees for a quarter of a mile, we agreed to run on
+shore to look for a large stone. We soon found one which
+answered our purpose, and paddling off again to three or four
+hundred yards, we made the stone fast to the bow-rope of our
+boat, and anchored the canoe with it. Having succeeded in this,
+we got out the fishing-lines, and with a piece of raw meat as a
+bait, we soon had several fish in the canoe; after which we put
+on no more baits, but pretended to fish till the tide slacked, when
+we lifted our anchor and recommenced our paddling to the northward.</p>
+
+<p>At night we landed on a rock, close to the beach, having well
+reconnoitred before it was dark to see if there were any canoes or
+Indians to be seen on the shore; and thus we continued for five
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg&nbsp;215]</a></span>
+days, during which we passed the mouths of one or two rivers,
+and had gained, as we supposed, more than 150 miles along the
+coast, but how much to the northward we could not tell, as we
+followed the windings of the shore. We were twice obliged to
+land to obtain water, but we always did so in the daytime, having
+taken the precaution to black the whole of our bodies and take off
+our trowsers before we landed. Our deer&rsquo;s flesh was all gone,
+and we continued to live on fish, cooking as much as we could at
+one time. The collecting firewood was the great risk which we
+ran; for we were then obliged to land where there was wood. It
+was on the sixth day that we were first in danger. As we rounded
+a point, we fell in with another canoe with six or seven people in
+it. They were not more than 300 yards off when we first saw
+them. The Indians stood up in the canoe, looked at us very
+earnestly, and then perceiving that we were not of their tribe, I
+presume, pulled towards us. We immediately turned and pulled
+away. They had been fishing, and two of them were pulling up
+the lines, while the others paddled, which gave us a little advantage;
+but they had three paddles and we had only two. They
+shouted and paddled with all their might, but they gained little,
+as they were seven in the canoe, five men and two women, and
+deep in consequence. As they gained slowly upon us, notwithstanding
+all our exertions, the Portuguese said to me, &ldquo;They
+have no weapons in the boat, I should think; if they had, they
+would use them, for we are within bow-shot. Can you use a bow
+and arrow?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could once,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;use it very fairly,&rdquo; for when I
+was captive with Whyna, she would often practise the bow and
+arrow with me, and I became somewhat expert before I left her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;let me paddle on, and do you put
+an arrow in the bow and threaten them, at all events.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I did so, and stood up, taking aim as if about to shoot, at
+which they ceased paddling, and after talking a little they turned
+the head of their canoe round, and made for the shore. We
+proceeded, as may be imagined, with all diligence. I laid down
+my bow and arrows and resumed my paddle, and in an hour we
+could no longer see our late pursuers. We continued our voyage,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg&nbsp;216]</a></span>
+and for three days met with no further adventures, when about
+noon, on the fourth day, the sky became overcast, and there was
+every prospect of rough weather. Before night the wind and sea
+rose, and it was no longer possible for us to keep along the coast,
+which already was covered with breakers.</p>
+
+<p>We had, therefore, no remedy but to make for the shore and
+haul up the canoe, for we could not perceive any inlet which
+might shelter us. It was quite dark when we dashed the canoe
+through the breakers and landed. We hauled her up some
+distance, as there was every appearance of worse weather, and
+sheltered ourselves under the lee of a high rock. The wind now
+blew fiercely, and rain descended in torrents. We tried to light
+a fire to warm ourselves, but could not succeed, so we lay down
+on one bear-skin, and covered ourselves with the others,
+waiting impatiently for daylight. When the day dawned, the
+weather was worse than ever. We now looked out for a better
+place of concealment for ourselves and our canoe, and found one
+at about fifty yards&rsquo; distance: between two high rocks there was a
+narrow cleft or passage, which was large enough for us and for
+the canoe, and this hid us both from the storm and from the sea.
+Into this cleft we hauled our canoe and withdrew ourselves,
+making a meal off some fish we roasted on the embers. We
+remained there for two days, when the weather moderated, but
+the sea was still too rough for us to launch the canoe; so we
+decided upon remaining one day more, although our provisions
+were all gone and our calabashes quite empty. On the third day,
+to our great surprise and alarm, we heard the report of a musket
+not far from us. From this we knew that we could not be very
+far from the English settlements, for it was only the Indians near
+to the settlements who had obtained muskets. But whether it
+was an Indian or a white man who fired we could not, of course,
+tell. I recollected that, in the last advices we had had from
+James Town, our factors had stated that there was a cruel war
+carried on between the Indians and the settlers, and that the Indians
+had ravaged the plantations; but that was two years ago, and
+how it might be now it was impossible to tell. A second report
+of a musket still nearer induced me to creep along by the side of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg&nbsp;217]</a></span>
+the rock, and look out to see if any one was near. To my great
+alarm, I perceived five Indians with muskets not a hundred yards
+off. I drew back, as I hoped, unperceived, but the eye of an
+Indian was too keen. They had discovered me; and whilst I was
+relating to the Portuguese captain what I had seen, they were
+suddenly upon us. We had no time to make resistance, even if
+we were inclined so to do, we therefore sat still. They came up
+and looked at us. The wet had washed off a great portion of the
+paint upon my back and shoulders. One of the Indians touched
+me on the shoulder, and said, &ldquo;Ugh!&mdash;white man paint like
+Indian.&rdquo; They then examined the canoe and its contents, and
+having spoken a few words to each other, apparently relating to
+the canoe, they put a thong of leather round each of our arms,
+and, making a motion for us to follow them, they led us away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve done our best, and could do no more,&rdquo; said the
+Portuguese; &ldquo;I feel that it&rsquo;s all over with me now, and I shall
+soon sleep in the bosom of Jesus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>My heart was too full to make any reply. The Indians led on,
+and I followed in silence.</p>
+
+<p>We passed through the woods, which appeared to be interminable,
+till the night closed in, and then the Indians halted,
+and while one remained as guard over us, the others collected
+wood for a fire. They had some provisions, but offered none to
+us. After an hour they lay down to sleep round the fire, placing
+me and the Portuguese captain next to the fire, and lying outside
+of us. They were soon fast asleep, or appeared to be, when I
+said to the captain, &ldquo;Have you your knife? for if they remain
+asleep, let us wait an hour or so, and if you can cut the leather
+thong which the Indian holds in his hand, and then watch your
+opportunity, I will do the same, and we may escape.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have my knife, but my Indian is not asleep,&rdquo; replied he;
+&ldquo;I will wait till he is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What signal shall we make if we succeed?&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When you are ready, lift your arm up, I shall understand,
+and if I am ready, I will do the same. Agreed; and now let
+us be quiet, for depend upon it our conversation has roused
+them all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg&nbsp;218]</a></span>
+We then composed ourselves, as if to sleep, and remained
+in that way for more than an hour, by which time we were convinced
+that our captors were slumbering. I then drew out my
+knife, for the Indians had not attempted to rifle us, and cut the
+thong which was round my arm, without awaking the Indian who
+had the other end in his hand. I remained quiet for a quarter of
+an hour, when the Portuguese lifted up his arm as a signal that
+he was free. I listened attentively, and being certain that the
+Indians were asleep, I lifted up my arm also.</p>
+
+<p>The Portuguese then rose up carefully, and without noise,
+stepping past the bodies of the Indians, till he was clear of the
+circle. I did the same, and pointed to the muskets, which lay
+on the grass by the Indians. He took one up and I another, and
+we retreated to a short distance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must have the other muskets,&rdquo; said I; &ldquo;stay where
+you are.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I advanced cautiously and took up the other three muskets,
+and was retreating with them, when one of the Indians turned
+round as if awaking. I ran past the Portuguese, and making a
+sign for him to follow me, we retreated a few yards into the wood,
+where we could watch the Indians without being seen ourselves.
+The Portuguese motioned to be off, but I detained him, and I
+was right. The Indian roused up and sat upon his haunches;
+perceiving that we had escaped, he waked up the others. They
+started on their feet, and looking round, found that the muskets
+were all gone; and then they held a consultation. At last they
+appeared to have made up their minds to follow, and, if possible,
+recapture us, for they went back in the direction of the sea.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, then, we must hide three of the muskets,&rdquo; said I,
+in a whisper, &ldquo;and keep the others to defend ourselves.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We examined and found that they were all loaded, and the
+Portuguese then said to me, &ldquo;There are five of them. If they
+meet with us, and we discharge two muskets and we do not kill,
+we shall be at their mercy. If we do kill, still there will be three
+against two; we had better carry all the muskets. Do you take
+two, and I will take three.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As I thought he was right, I consented, and we now went the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg&nbsp;219]</a></span>
+same path towards the sea which the Indians had done before us
+in pursuit of us. We walked fast, as we knew the Indians would
+do the same, and they had the start of us, so that we were not
+likely to come up with them. It was severe work, but we did not
+slacken our pace, and before dawn the sea was quite visible
+through the branches of the trees, for we had arrived at the outskirts
+of the wood.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we had gained the beach, which was 500 yards
+wide, we looked round to see if we could perceive the Indians,
+but we could observe nobody.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us, while it is yet dark, go round so as to get on the
+opposite side of the rocks where we were concealed,&rdquo; said the
+Portuguese. &ldquo;If they are there, we shall take them by surprise.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Keeping just within the wood, we walked half a mile to the
+southward, and then emerged just as the day was breaking, and
+made for the rocks. As soon as we arrived, we examined very
+cautiously before we entered the cleft, but there was nobody
+there, and the canoe was safe.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They are not here,&rdquo; said I; &ldquo;where can they be?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They cannot be far off,&rdquo; said the Portuguese; &ldquo;I suspect
+they are hidden somewhere, and intend to surprise us while we
+are launching our canoe, and when our muskets will be out of
+our hands.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I agree with you; let us now wait at some little distance
+from the rocks till broad daylight, we shall then be secure from
+surprise.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We did so, and when the sun rose we looked well round, but
+could see nobody. We entered the cleft, and were about to lay
+down the muskets, and lay hold of the canoe, when I perceived
+a small piece of rock to drop down. This caused me immediately
+to suspect the truth, and I cried to the Portuguese to come back
+with me. He did so, and I told him that I was certain that the
+Indians had climbed the rock, and were lying down on the top of
+it, ready to pounce upon us.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Depend upon it, they must be there,&rdquo; said he, when I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg&nbsp;220]</a></span>
+mentioned the falling piece of rock; &ldquo;let us walk round and see
+if we can discover them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We did so, but they were too well concealed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But what must be done now?&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;It is useless our
+attempting to clamber to the top of the rock, for no one could do
+it with a musket in his hand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;that is certain; and if we attempt to bring
+the canoe out of the cleft, they may drop down upon us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that if we were to go in and take the
+tow-rope in our hands, which is several yards long, we might
+haul out the canoe by it, and when once it is clear of the cleft
+they cannot move without our seeing them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will try, at all events,&rdquo; replied I. &ldquo;Do you stay on
+the watch while I get hold of the tow-rope and bring it out.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The Indians did not expect this man&oelig;uvre, it was clear. Still
+keeping the muskets in our possession, the butts on the sand,
+and the muzzles resting on our shoulders, we laid hold of the
+tow-rope, and by great exertion hauled the canoe several yards
+away from between the two rocks. We then paused for breath
+after a minute or two, with our eyes fixed upon the top of the rock
+to see if they moved, and then we hauled it at least a hundred
+yards further off, when for the first time I perceived that the bow
+and arrows were not in the canoe, and that they must have been
+taken by the Indians.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then we must haul again,&rdquo; said the Portuguese, when I
+stated this to him, &ldquo;till we are out of bow-shot. Let us put the
+muskets into the canoe, and drag it as fast as we can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We did so, and gained another hundred yards before we
+stopped, when an arrow was discharged from the summit of the
+rock, and buried itself in the sand close to my feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Haul again,&rdquo; said the Portuguese, &ldquo;we are not out of shot
+yet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Again we exerted ourselves, and gained another hundred
+yards, during which two more arrows were discharged, and one
+of them went through the left arm of my comrade; but as it was
+through the fleshy part, and did not touch the bone, it did not
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg&nbsp;221]</a></span>
+disable him. A third arrow was sent after us, but did not reach
+us, and we knew that we were out of distance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Cut the shaft of the arrow, and draw it through the arm,&rdquo;
+said the Portuguese.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not now,&rdquo; said I; &ldquo;they will perceive me doing so, and
+will think that you are disabled. That may induce them to rush
+upon us, thinking they have only one man to deal with.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, it&rsquo;s no great matter,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;we must now
+drag our canoe down to the water and launch her, if they will let
+us. We have outwitted them so far.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We now turned the head of the canoe towards the sea, and
+slowly dragged her down; our eyes, as may be supposed, constantly
+kept upon the rock, to see if the Indians would move, but
+they did not. They perhaps felt that they had no chance with us,
+having all the fire-arms and an open beach in our favour. We
+launched our canoe without further interruption on their part,
+and in a few minutes, taking care to be out of arrow distance, we
+passed the rock with our head to the northward. When about
+two miles off, we perceived the Indians to descend from the rock
+and walk away into the woods.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us praise God for this miraculous escape,&rdquo; said I to the
+Portuguese.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do; and the holy patron saint who has preserved me,&rdquo;
+replied the Portuguese captain; &ldquo;but I am still heavy at heart.
+I feel that we have escaped only to come into more strange and
+fresh calamity. I shall never get back to Lisbon, that I feel convinced
+of.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I tried all I could to encourage him, but it was of no avail.
+He told me that the presentiment was too strong, and could not
+be overcome by any argument. Indeed he appeared to have
+allowed the idea so to have taken possession of his mind, that his
+reason became enervated; and having heard how the Indians
+burnt their prisoners, he talked about martyrdom at the stake,
+and rising up to Heaven in great glory, there to be received by the
+whole body of saints and legions of angels.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is the use of our thus labouring at the paddle?&rdquo; said
+he; &ldquo;why not at once let us go ashore and receive the crown of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg&nbsp;222]</a></span>
+martyrdom? I am ready; for I long for the hour, and shall rejoice.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I said all I could to keep him quiet, but it was useless, and
+such was his insanity, that he gradually neared the shore by
+steering against me with his paddle, so that I could not prevent
+it. I had drawn the shaft of the arrow through his arm, and he
+appeared to feel no pain. I expostulated with him at his keeping
+the canoe so near to the shore, but he smiled and gave no reply.</p>
+
+<p>We had the stream against us, and made but little way, and
+it vexed me very much to hear him talk so loud as he did, as the
+Indians must have heard him, and I thought would follow us
+along the coast; but he ransacked the whole book of martyrs,
+telling me how one had his body sawn in two, another was
+pinched to death; this one burnt, that tortured; every variety of
+death he entered upon during the whole of that day without
+ceasing.</p>
+
+<p>I ascribed much of this to the pain arising from the wounded
+arm, notwithstanding which he paddled with as much vigour as
+ever. As the night came on, I entreated him to hold his tongue,
+but it was in vain, and I felt assured that his reason was quite
+gone. He continued to talk loud and rave without intermission,
+and I now considered our fate as sealed. We had no water in the
+boat or provisions of any kind, and I proposed that we should
+heave-to and catch some fish, telling him that if he talked we
+should scare them away.</p>
+
+<p>This made him quiet for a time, but as soon as we had hooked
+four or five fish, he again commenced his history of the glorious
+martyrs. I prayed him to be silent, for a short time at least,
+and he was so for about four or five minutes, when he would
+break out into some ejaculation, which I immediately stopped.
+At last he could talk no more for want of water; his lips were
+glued together, and so were mine. Nevertheless, I continued
+paddling for two hours more, when I found by the canoe grounding
+that he had steered her on the beach. There was no help for
+it. We landed and went in search of water, which we found
+about half of a mile from where our canoe was beached.</p>
+
+<p>We drank heartily, filled the calabash, and were returning
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg&nbsp;223]</a></span>
+to the canoe, when he again commenced talking as loud as ever.
+I was in great anger, but I put my hand before his mouth, beseeching
+him in a whisper to be quiet. As we were doing this,
+we were suddenly sprung upon and seized by several Indians,
+and in a minute were bound hands and feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I knew it,&rdquo; cried the Portuguese; &ldquo;I knew it would be so.
+Well, I am prepared; are not you, my good friend?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I made no reply. I felt that in his madness he had sacrificed
+his own life and mine also; but it was the will of Heaven. The
+Indians left two to guard us, and went down to the canoe, returning
+with their muskets. I soon perceived that they were the
+same whom we had escaped from the night before, and the one
+who had spoken a little English when we were first captured now
+came to me and said, &ldquo;White man paint like Indian, steal
+gun&mdash;ugh.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When the Indians had returned from the canoe, our feet were
+unbound, and we were again led away by the leather thong which
+was fast to our arms. The Portuguese now began to find his
+tongue again, and talked incessantly, the Indians not checking
+him; from which, it was evident that they were on their own
+domains. After four hours&rsquo; walking they kindled a fire, and
+went to repose as before; but this time they took our knives from
+us, and bound our legs so tight that they gave us much pain.
+I did not expostulate, as I knew it was useless. My companion,
+as the thong entered into his flesh, seemed pleased, saying,
+&ldquo;Now my martyrdom is commencing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Alas! poor man; but I will not anticipate. We travelled
+three days, during which we were supplied with a small portion
+of parched Indian corn every day, just sufficient for our sustenance,
+and no more. On the fourth morning the Indians, after
+an hour&rsquo;s travelling, set up some shrill and barbarous cries,
+which I afterwards discovered was their warhoop. These cries
+were replied to by others at a distance, and in about a quarter of
+an hour afterwards we found ourselves close to a number of
+wigwams, as they are termed (the Indian houses), and soon surrounded
+by a large party of men, women, and children, who
+greeted us with taunts and menaces.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg&nbsp;224]</a></span>
+We were led into a larger wigwam than the others, where we
+found several Indians of grave aspect assembled, and a man who
+could speak English was ordered in as interpreter. He asked us
+where we came from in the canoe. I replied, that we came from
+the south, but we had been wrecked in a big ship, and had taken
+the canoe, which we found on the beach. They asked no more
+questions. We were led out, and in about an hour afterwards
+the Indian who had spoken English to us when we were captured,
+came up with two others and painted us black, saying, &ldquo;The
+white man like paint. Black paint good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I did not know till afterwards that this painting black was a
+sign that we were condemned to death, but so it was. They took
+off our trowsers, the only garments we had on, and left us naked.
+To my surprise, they did not take the diamond which was sewed
+up in leather from off my neck; but as I learnt subsequently, the
+Indians are much given to conjurors and charms, wearing many
+round their own necks and about their persons, and they respect
+the charms that their enemies wear, indeed are afraid of them,
+lest they should be harmed by having them in their possession.
+We remained in a wigwam during that day, with guards over us.
+The following day we were led out and cast loose, and we found
+all the Indians, women and children, ranged in two lines, each
+holding in their hands a club or stick, or rod of some description
+or another.</p>
+
+<p>We were led to the end of the row, and looked about us in
+amazement. They made signs to us which we did not understand,
+and while we were remaining in doubt as to what was to be our
+fate, an old woman, who had been menacing and grinning at me
+for some time, and who was the most hideous animal that I ever
+beheld in the shape of a woman, thrust a straw into my eye,
+giving me most excruciating agony. I was so carried away by
+rage and pain, that I saluted her with a kick in the stomach,
+which laid her doubled up on the ground, expecting to be scalped
+for so doing the next moment. On the contrary, the Indians
+laughed, while some of the other women dragged her away.</p>
+
+<p>At last the interpreter came, and from him we learnt that we
+had to run the gauntlet, and that, as soon as we gained the large
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg&nbsp;225]</a></span>
+lodge where we had been examined by the old Indians on the day
+previous, we were safe, and that we must run for that as fast as
+we could. The Portuguese, who was still as mad as ever, was
+then pushed on; he would not run, but walked, glorying in the
+blows, which showered down upon him like hail; and, moreover,
+he prevented me from running for some time, till I got past
+him. I had been cruelly punished, and was mad with pain,
+when I perceived a tall, gaunt Indian waiting for me with a heavy
+club. Careless of life or consequences, I rushed past him, and
+as I passed I threw out my fist with such impetus, that, hitting
+him under the right ear, he fell senseless, and it appears that he
+never rose again, for the blow killed him; after which I at last
+gained the council-house, and was soon afterwards followed by
+my companion, who was streaming with blood. We were then
+led away, and tied by our necks to two stakes about twenty yards
+apart, and there we remained for the night.</p>
+
+<p>The Portuguese passed the night in singing; I passed it in
+silence and prayer. I felt convinced that we were to die, and I
+feared that it would be by fire or torture, for I had heard something
+of the manners and customs of these Indians. I made my
+peace with God as well as a poor sinner could, prayed for mercy
+through Jesus Christ, sighed my adieu to Amy, and made up my
+mind to die.</p>
+
+<p>Early the next morning the Indians brought firewood, and
+placed it in bundles round the stakes, at a distance of about
+fourteen yards from the centre. They then went to the Portuguese,
+tied his hands behind him, and exchanged the rope by
+which he had been fastened for a much stronger one, one end of
+which they fastened to his wrists behind him, and the other to
+the stake. As they left me as I was before, it was plain that the
+Portuguese was to suffer first. They then set fire to the piles of
+wood which were round the stake, which were too far from him
+to burn him, and I could not imagine what they intended to do,
+but you may conceive that I was in a state of awful suspense and
+anxiety, as I was well convinced that his fate, whatever it might
+be, would be my own.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg&nbsp;226]</a></span>
+During these appalling preparations, the Portuguese appeared
+as if he really enjoyed the scene.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my good friend,&rdquo; said he to me, &ldquo;you shall see how
+I can suffer for the true faith. Even a heretic like you shall be
+converted by my example, and I shall ascend to Heaven with you
+in my arms. Come on, ye fiends; come on, ye heathens, and
+see how a Christian can suffer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Much as I felt for him and for myself, I could not lament that
+his reason had left him, as I thought his sufferings would be
+less; but his exclamations were soon drowned by a loud yell from
+the Indians, who all rushed upon my unfortunate companion.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment or two they were crowded so thick round him
+that I could not perceive what they were doing, but after that they
+separated, and I beheld him bleeding profusely, his ears and
+nose having been cut off, and a broken iron ramrod passed
+through both cheeks. And now a scene took place, at the remembrance
+of which, even now, my blood curdles. Some caught
+up the burning sticks and applied them to his flesh, others stuck
+him full of small splints, the ends of which they lighted. The
+Indian warriors shot at him with muskets loaded with powder
+only, so as to burn him terribly on every part of the body. The
+women took up handfuls of lighted ashes and showered them
+down on him, so that the ground he trod upon was a mass of
+burning embers, and he walked upon fire.</p>
+
+<p>Red-hot irons were now brought forward, and his body seared
+in all parts, his tormentors seeking out where they could give
+him the most pain. At last one applied the hot iron to his eyes,
+and burnt them out. Imagine my feelings at this horrid scene&mdash;imagine
+the knowledge that this was to be also my fate in a short
+time; but, what is more strange to tell, imagine, Madam, my
+companion not only deriding his torturers, but not flinching from
+the torture; on the contrary, praising God for his goodness in
+thus allowing him to be a martyr for the true faith, offering his
+body to their inflictions, and shouting manfully; but such was
+the behaviour of my insane friend, and this behaviour appeared
+to give great satisfaction to the Indians.</p>
+
+<p>For nearly two hours did this torture continue, his body was
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg&nbsp;227]</a></span>
+black and bloody all over, and the smell of the burning flesh was
+horrible; but by this time it appeared as if he was much exhausted,
+and, indeed, appeared to be almost insensible to pain.
+He walked round the stake as before upon the burning coals, but
+appeared not to know when further torture was applied to him or
+not. He now sang hymns in Portuguese in a low voice, for he
+was much exhausted. Soon afterwards he staggered and fell
+down with his face upon the burning embers; but even the flesh
+of his face grilling, as it were, appeared to have no effect upon
+him. An Indian then went up to him, and with his knife cut a
+circle round his head, and tore off the whole scalp, flesh and
+hair together, and when he had done this the old woman whom I
+had saluted with a kick before I ran the gauntlet, and who had
+his ears hanging on her neck to a string, lifted up a handful of
+burning coals, and put them upon his bleeding head.</p>
+
+<p>This seemed to rouse him. He lifted up his head, but his
+features were no longer to be distinguished, as his face was burnt
+to a black coal, and he said, &ldquo;Take me, ye holy saints. Angels,
+receive me,&rdquo; and, to my great astonishment, he again rose on
+his legs, and tottered round and round for a few minutes. At
+last he sank down, with his back against the stake, and one of
+the Indians cleaved his brain with his tomahawk; and thus ended
+the life and the misery of my unfortunate companion&mdash;and it was
+now my turn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; thought I, &ldquo;it is but two hours of suffering, and
+then I shall be beyond their malice. May God have mercy upon
+my soul.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The same preparations were now made for me. I was fastened
+with the stout rope, and my arms tied behind me, the wood was
+fired, and one of the chiefs was haranguing the Indians. He
+finished, the low yell was given, when the old woman whom I had
+before mentioned ran up to me, and saying something which I
+could not understand, put her hand upon me.</p>
+
+<p>When she did this the other Indians, who were about to rush
+on me, drew back with signs of disappointment on many of their
+wild countenances. The chiefs then went into the council-house,
+leaving me tied where I was, and the wood burning around me,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg&nbsp;228]</a></span>
+the mass of Indians standing about as if waiting the decision of
+the chiefs. After a time three Indians, one of whom was the
+interpreter, came up to me, and, kicking aside the burning
+poles, cast me loose.</p>
+
+<p>I asked the interpreter what he was about to do. He replied,
+&ldquo;You kill Indian here (pointing to his own ear), you kill
+him dead. Squaw lose husband&mdash;want another&mdash;take you&mdash;stead
+of him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They led me to the council-house before the chiefs. The old
+woman whom I had kicked was there. It was her husband that
+I had killed by the blow behind the ear, and she had claimed me
+in his stead, and, according to the custom of the country, her
+claim was allowed, and I was made over to her, and received into
+the tribe. Strange custom for a woman to marry the murderer of
+her husband, but still such it was, and thus did I find myself
+freed from the stake when I least expected it. The principal chief
+made me a speech, which was interpreted, in which he told me
+that I was now the husband of Manou, and was one of their own
+tribe; that I must be strong in war, and must hunt and procure
+venison for my family.</p>
+
+<p>They then washed off the black paint, and after a few more
+speeches and ceremonies, I was handed over to the hideous old
+hag, whose neck was still decorated with the two ears of my companion.
+To say that I would have preferred the torture would be
+saying too much, but that I loathed the creature to excess was
+certain. However, I said nothing, but allowed her to take me
+by the hand and lead me to her wigwam. As soon as we were in
+she brought me some venison, which I ate greedily, for I had
+had nothing for thirty-six hours. She then offered me the leggings,
+as they call them, which the Indians wear, and the other
+portions of the Indian dress, which probably belonged to her late
+husband. I put them on, as I was glad to cover my nakedness,
+and, worn out with walking and exertion, I first thanked God for
+my miraculous preservation, and then lay down and fell into a
+deep sleep.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until the next day that I awoke, and I then perceived
+the old woman rubbing oil upon the deep cuts made in my wrists
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg&nbsp;229]</a></span>
+and shoulders by the leather thongs. She again set meat before
+me, and I ate heartily, but I looked upon her with abhorrence,
+and when she attempted to fondle me, I turned away and spit with
+disgust, at which she retired, grumbling. I now had leisure to
+reflect. I passed over with a shudder the scenes that had passed,
+and again returned thanks to God for my deliverance. I called to
+mind how often I had been preserved and delivered. From my
+bondage in Africa, from my imprisonment in the Tower, from
+my hopeless slavery in the mines, from our wreck on the island,
+and now, after passing through such dangers, from an almost
+certain cruel death by torture. Truly did I feel how grateful I
+ought to be for that Providence which had so often preserved me,
+and that my only reliance in future must be in its gracious protection.</p>
+
+<p>But here I was, married to a woman I detested, and living
+with barbarians; and I said to myself, &ldquo;That kind Heaven which
+has already done so much for me will, in its own good time, also
+release me from this thraldom. In the meanwhile let me not
+murmur, but be thankful.&rdquo; My squaw, as they call their wives
+among the Indians, now came up to me and offered to paint me,
+and I thought it advisable that she should, as I felt that the sooner
+I conformed myself to their customs the more chance I had
+of making my escape, which I was resolved to do the first opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as she had completed my toilet I walked out of the
+wigwam, that I might look about me and be seen. The Indians,
+who were sauntering about, met me with a friendly &ldquo;Ugh,&rdquo;
+which appeared a favourite monosyllable with them. At last I
+met with the interpreter, and began to converse with him. I
+asked what nation I was now belonging to, and he said the Massowomicks.
+I asked how large their country was, and he told
+me much which I could not understand, except that it appeared
+to me a very powerful nation.</p>
+
+<p>I was very careful of mentioning the English, or any thing
+about their settlement, although I was anxious to know where it
+was; but I asked him whether they were at war with any other
+nation. He said &ldquo;No, they had been at war with other tribes,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg&nbsp;230]</a></span>
+but that they had all made peace that they might join against the
+white man, who had taken their land.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am an Indian now,&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, and you will forget the white man,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;You
+have now red blood in your veins. You marry Indian wife, you
+all the same as one Indian.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I said, &ldquo;War Indian beat his wife, suppose she talk too
+much?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Plenty talk, plenty beat,&rdquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Suppose my wife talk too much and I beat her, what Indian
+people say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Say good. Suppose wife too old, you take two wife, one
+more young.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I was very much pleased with this conversation; not that I had
+the slightest idea of profiting by his information by taking another
+wife, but I felt such a disgust at my present one, and had
+already seen what a fury she could be, that I was resolved, if
+necessary, to show her that I was master, for I felt certain that
+if I did not, she would soon attempt to master me, and so it
+turned out.</p>
+
+<p>On the third day she took down a bow and arrows and made a
+sign to me to go out, and, I presumed, bring back food; and as
+there was nothing in the house, I thought the request reasonable.
+I therefore went out of the wigwam and found that many of the
+young men were going out on a hunting-party, and that I was to
+join them. We set off and travelled for six hours before we came
+to the hunting-ground, and as the deer passed me I thought of
+Whyna and my hunting excursions with her. I was, however,
+fortunate, and killed two deer, much to the surprise of the Indians,
+who thought a white man could not use a bow and arrows,
+and I rose very much in their estimation in consequence. The
+deer was cut up, and we hung upon branches what we could not
+carry.</p>
+
+<p>We did not go home that night, but feasted over a large fire.
+The next morning we all carried home our loads, and mine was
+as large as any of the others, if not larger; neither did I flag on
+the way, for I was naturally very strong and active, and had lately
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg&nbsp;231]</a></span>
+been inured to fatigue. When we arrived, the squaws and men
+among the others were despatched for the remainder of the venison.
+I now went out every day by myself and practised with my
+bow, till I had become more expert, for I wanted practice. I
+had no musket, but I had a tomahawk and a long knife. I began
+to pick up a few words of the language, and by means of the interpreter
+I gained them very fast. Before I had been three months
+with the Indians I had acquired their confidence and respect.
+They found that I was expert, and able to gain my own livelihood,
+and I may add that before I had been three months I had also
+mastered my wife. When she found that I would not submit to
+her caresses, she was very indignant and very violent, but I immediately
+knocked her down, and beat her unmercifully. This
+brought her to her senses, and after that I treated her as my slave
+with great rigour, and as she was a notorious scold, the Indians
+liked me all the better for it.</p>
+
+<p>You may think that this was not fair treatment towards a
+woman who had saved my life; but she only saved it for her own
+purposes, and would have worn my ears, as well as my companion&rsquo;s,
+if I had not killed her husband. The fact is, I had no
+alternative; I must have either treated her kindly and submitted
+to her nauseous endearments, or have kept her at a respectful
+distance by severity, and I hardly need say that I preferred the
+latter. So far as her choice of a husband was concerned, she
+made a bad one, for she received nothing but blows and bad
+usage. I had one day driven my wife out of the wigwam in consequence
+of her presuming to &ldquo;talk too much,&rdquo; as the Indian said,
+when the interpreter told me that one of the chiefs was willing
+that I should marry his daughter, polygamy being one of their
+customs.</p>
+
+<p>I was very much annoyed at this, for I knew the young girl
+very well: she was very graceful and very pretty; and I felt that
+my fidelity to Amy would be in great danger if the marriage was
+to take place; and if proposed, I dared not refuse so great a distinction.</p>
+
+<p>I replied that I was fortunate, but that I feared my present
+wife would make her very unhappy, as she wanted to be the chief
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg&nbsp;232]</a></span>
+woman of the wigwam, and when I was away I could not tell
+what the old woman might do to her, and the conversation was
+dropped.</p>
+
+<p>This little Indian had, before this, shown me as much favour
+as an Indian girl ever ventures to show, sufficient, at all events,
+to satisfy me that I was not disagreeable to her, and what the interpreter
+had said made me very uncomfortable. However, I
+consoled myself with the recollection that if I were compelled to
+marry this girl, it would be an involuntary infidelity on my part,
+and on that account might well be excused; for the hope of again
+rejoining Amy never left me at any time.</p>
+
+<p>One day I went out in search of deer, and was led away from
+my companions after a buck which I had wounded and attempted
+to overtake. They saw me in chase of my quarry, and left me in
+pursuit. I followed for several hours, continually coming up
+with it and as continually losing it again. At last, I heard the
+report of a musket close to where the deer was last seen by me,
+and I thought that some Indian had shot it. I walked forward,
+however, very cautiously, and perceived a white man standing
+by the animal, which lay at his feet. I started back, for I did
+not know whether I had fallen in with a friend or a foe; but as I
+knew that he had not had time to reload his musket, I hallooed
+to him, concealing myself at the same time behind a tree.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is that you, Evans?&rdquo; said the man in reply.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;it is an Englishman.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, show yourself, then,&rdquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am dressed as an Indian,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;I was taken by the
+Indians.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, come along,&rdquo; said the man, who was attired as a
+seafaring man.</p>
+
+<p>I came from behind the tree, and when he saw me he
+snatched up his musket.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be afraid,&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Afraid!&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;I should like to see what I am afraid
+of; but I&rsquo;ll be on my guard.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s right,&rdquo; I replied.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg&nbsp;233]</a></span>
+I then told him that I had been taken by the Indians, and they
+saved my life because one of their women chose me as her husband,
+and that I was anxious to escape from them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I am on board of a schooner at anchor
+down below in the river. There are a few of us come on shore to
+get some venison, and I have lost my comrades; but I had no
+idea that the Indians were down here so close to the English
+settlements.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How close are we, then?&rdquo; said I; &ldquo;for I know not where I
+am. This is certainly not our usual hunting-ground, for I have
+been led many miles from it, in pursuit of the animal you have
+just shot.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I thought so; for I have been on shore here more
+than once, and I have never met with an Indian. You ask how
+far you are from the settlement; that I can hardly tell you, because
+the settlers have spread out so far; but you are about forty
+or fifty miles from James Town.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what river, then, is your schooner at anchor in?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know the name,&rdquo; replied the man; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure
+that it has a name. We come here for wood and water, because
+it is quiet, not inhabited, and no questions asked.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you, then?&rdquo; inquired I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, to tell you the truth, we are what are called &lsquo;Jolly
+Rovers;&rsquo; and if you have a mind to come on board, we can find a
+berth for you, I dare say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Many thanks,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;but I am not sufficiently fond
+of the sea, and I should be of no use&rdquo; (for, by his term of Jolly
+Rover, I knew that they were pirates).</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s as you please,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;no harm&rsquo;s done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;and I thank you for your kind offer, but
+I cannot live long on board of a vessel. Will you now tell me
+which is the right track to the English plantations?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;they bear right out in that direction; and
+I dare say, if you travel five or six leagues, you will fall aboard
+of some plantation or another&mdash;right in that quarter; follow
+your nose, old fellow, and you can&rsquo;t go wrong.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg&nbsp;234]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Many thanks,&rdquo; I replied; &ldquo;am I likely to meet your companions?&mdash;they
+may take me for an Indian.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not in that direction,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;they were astern of me
+a long way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Farewell, then, and many thanks,&rdquo; I replied.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-bye, old fellow; and the sooner you rub off that
+paint, the sooner you&rsquo;ll look like a Christian,&rdquo; said the careless
+rover, as I walked away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No bad advice,&rdquo; I thought: for I was now determined to
+make for the English settlements as fast as I could, &ldquo;and I will
+do so when I once see an English habitation, but not before; I
+may fall in with Indians yet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I then set off as fast as I could, and being now inured to
+running for a long time without stopping, I left the rover a long
+way behind me in a very short time. I continued my speed till it
+was dark, when I heard the barking of a dog, which I knew was
+English, for the Indian dogs do not bark. I then proceeded
+cautiously and in the direction where I heard the dog bark, and
+arrived in a quarter of an hour to a cleared ground, with a rail
+fence round it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank God!&rdquo; I cried, &ldquo;that I am at last among my own
+countrymen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I considered, however, that it would not be prudent to show
+myself, especially in my Indian paint, at such a time of night,
+and I therefore sat down under the lee-side of a large tree, and
+remained there till morning. I then looked about for water, and
+having found a running stream, I washed off my paint, and appeared
+what I really was, a white man in an Indian dress. I
+then went up again to the clearing, and looked for the habitation,
+which I discovered on the top of a hill, about four hundred yards
+off. The trees were cleared away for about three hundred yards
+all round it. It was built of heavy logs, let into one another,
+with one window only, and that very small. The door was still
+shut. I walked up to it, and tapped at the door.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s there?&rdquo; replied a hoarse voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;An Englishman, and a stranger,&rdquo; I replied. &ldquo;I have just
+escaped from the Indians.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg&nbsp;235]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Well, we&rsquo;ll see what you are in a very short time,&rdquo; replied
+the voice. &ldquo;James, get me my gun.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In a minute the door opened, and I beheld a woman more
+than six feet high, of gaunt appearance and large dimensions: I
+thought that I had never seen such a masculine creature before.
+It was her voice which I had heard. Two men were seated by
+the fire-place.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who are you?&rdquo; said she, with the musket ready for the
+present.</p>
+
+<p>I told her in a few words.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Show me the palm of your hand&mdash;turn it up at once.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I did so, without the least idea of the reason for the demand;
+but I afterwards discovered that it was to ascertain whether I was
+one of those who had been transported to the settlement, as they
+all had the letter R branded on them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you&rsquo;re not a gaol-bird, then, I see: you may come
+in; but you&rsquo;ll give me that bow and arrows, if you please.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;if you wish it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, there&rsquo;s nothing like making sure in this world; and
+although you look a very peaceable, good-looking sort of personage,
+notwithstanding your Indian set-out, still I&rsquo;ve known
+just as amiable people as you, in appearance, very mischievous
+at times. Now come in, and let us hear what you have to say for
+yourself. Jeykell, get some more wood.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>One man went out to obey her orders; the other sat by the fire
+with his musket between his knees. I sat down by the fire, at the
+request of the woman, who had seated herself by the side of the
+man, and then, on her repeating her question, I gave her a narrative
+of my adventures, from the time that I left Rio.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; says she, &ldquo;we seldom hear stories like them; it&rsquo;s
+all the world like a book; and pray what&rsquo;s that thing (pointing to
+the diamond in its case) you have hanging to your neck there?
+you have left that out in your history.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a charm given me by my Indian wife, to preserve me
+from disasters from wild animals; no panther, wolf, or bear will
+ever attack me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg&nbsp;236]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;if so be it has that power, all I can say
+is, it&rsquo;s not a bad charm to wear in these parts, for there are animals
+enough in the woods in summer, and round the house all
+night in winter; but I don&rsquo;t believe a bit in the charm, and that&rsquo;s
+the truth; however, if it does no good, it can&rsquo;t do no harm, so
+you may keep it on, and welcome.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I ask how far it is to James Town?&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, going to James Town already? I suppose you expect
+to be there to-night?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not exactly, my good woman,&rdquo; replied I. &ldquo;I must trespass
+upon your kindness to give me something to eat, for I am
+hungry.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good woman! bah! and pray how dare you call me good
+woman? Call me mistress, if you want any thing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I beg your pardon,&rdquo; said I. &ldquo;Well, then, mistress, will
+you give me something to eat?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I will. James, fetch the meal-cake and a bit of salt
+pork, and give him to eat, while I call the cows from the
+bush.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The mistress, as I shall in future call her, then put down her
+musket and left the cabin. During her absence I entered into
+conversation with the man called James, for the other had gone
+out. To my inquiry how far it was to James Town, he replied
+that he really did not know; that he was sent out a convict, and
+sold for ten years to the husband of the mistress, who had died
+two years ago; that this man had a small vessel, in which he
+went to James Town by water, and that he had returned with him
+in his vessel; that the distance by water, he considered about
+one hundred and fifty miles, but by land it was not half that distance;
+that he did not know the way, nor did he believe that there
+was any road as yet made to James Town, as this plantation was
+quite by itself, and a long way from any other. He understood
+that the nearest plantation was twenty miles off, and he knew
+there was no road to it, as no one ever went or came except by
+water.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;are not the settlers at war with the Indian
+tribes that surround them?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg&nbsp;237]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Yes; and have been now for three or four years; and the
+Indians have done great mischief to the plantations, and killed a
+great many people; but the settlers have punished them severely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then how is it that this plantation, which is so solitary, has
+not been attacked?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because the mistress&rsquo;s husband was a great friend of the
+Indians, and it is said used to bring them cargoes of muskets
+and ammunition from James Town, contrary to all law and regulation.
+But if he was friendly with them, the mistress is not;
+for she has quarrelled with the principal chief, and I should not
+be surprised if we were attacked some day, and all scalped.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what does the mistress say to that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, she don&rsquo;t care; she&rsquo;d fight a hundred Indians, or white
+men either. I never saw such a creature&mdash;she&rsquo;s afraid of nothing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who is the other man I saw here?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, he&rsquo;s another like myself. There were three of us, but
+one was drowned by falling overboard from the sloop.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, but my good fellow, how shall I get to James
+Town?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure I can&rsquo;t tell; but my idea is that you will never get
+there unless mistress chooses.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, surely she won&rsquo;t detain me by force?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t she?&mdash;you don&rsquo;t know her. Why, she&rsquo;d stop an
+army,&rdquo; replied the man. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think that she will let you go&mdash;I
+don&rsquo;t know; but that&rsquo;s my opinion. She wants another
+hand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, do you mean to say that she&rsquo;ll make me work?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I mean to say that, according to the laws of the settlement,
+she has a right to detain you. Any person found roving here,
+who cannot give a satisfactory account of himself, may be detained
+till something is heard about him; for he may be a runaway
+convict, or a runaway apprentice, which is much the same,
+after all. Now, she may say that your account of yourself is not
+satisfactory, and therefore she detained you; and if you won&rsquo;t
+work, she won&rsquo;t give you to eat; so there you are.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg&nbsp;238]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Well, we will see if she is able.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Able! if you mean strong enough, why she&rsquo;d take you
+up with one hand; and she is as resolute and severe as she is
+strong. I had rather have to deal with three men, and that&rsquo;s
+the truth.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s the truth, James?&rdquo; cried the mistress, coming
+in at the door. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s hear the truth from your lips, it will be
+something new.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I said that I was sent here for finding a pocket-book,
+mistress; that&rsquo;s all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; but you did not tell him where you found it&mdash;at the
+bottom of a gentleman&rsquo;s coat-pocket, you know. You can only tell
+the truth by halves yet, I see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Wishing to ascertain how far the man&rsquo;s suspicions were correct,
+I said to her,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have good friends in James Town: if I were once there I
+could procure money and any thing else to any amount that I required.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; says she, &ldquo;you may have; but I&rsquo;m afraid that the
+post don&rsquo;t go out to-day. One would think, after all your wanderings
+and difficulties, that you&rsquo;d be glad to be quiet a little,
+and remain here; so we&rsquo;ll talk about James Town some time
+about next spring.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed, mistress, I hope you will not detain me here. I
+can pay you handsomely, on my arrival at James Town, for your
+kind treatment and any trouble you may take for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pay me! what do I want with money?&mdash;there&rsquo;s no shops
+here with ribbons, and calicoes, and muslins; and if there
+were, I&rsquo;m not a fine madam. Money! why I&rsquo;ve no child to
+leave what I have to&mdash;no husband to spend it for me. I have
+bags and bags of dollars, young man, which my husband
+heaped up, and they are of as much use to me as they are
+now to him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad that you are so rich, mistress, and more glad
+that your money is so little cared for and so little wanted; but if
+you do not want money, I do very much want to get back to my
+friends, who think I am dead, and mourn for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg&nbsp;239]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Well, if they have mourned, their sorrow is over by this
+time, and therefore your staying here will not distress them
+more. I may as well tell you at once that you shall not go; so
+make up your mind to be contented, and you&rsquo;ll fare none the
+worse for it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This was said in so decided a tone, that, bearing in mind
+what I had heard from the convict servant, I thought it advisable
+to push the question no further for the present, making up my
+mind that I would wait a short time, and then make my escape,
+if she still persisted in detaining me by force; but this I could
+not venture upon until I was in possession of fire-arms, and I
+could not obtain them while she had any suspicion. I therefore
+replied&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, since you are determined I shall not go, I have nothing
+more to say, except that I will wait your pleasure, and, in
+the mean time, let me make myself as useful as I can, for I
+don&rsquo;t want to eat the bread of idleness.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re a very sensible young man,&rdquo; replied she; &ldquo;and
+now you shall have a shirt to put on, which will improve your appearance
+a great deal.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She then went into the inner room, which I presumed was
+her bed-room, as there were but two rooms in the cabin. As she
+went out, I could not help wondering at her. On examination, I
+felt assured that she was more than six feet high, and her
+shoulders as broad and her arms as nervous as a man&rsquo;s of
+that stature. Her chest was very expanded, but bosom she
+had none. In fact, she was a man in woman&rsquo;s clothing, and I
+began to doubt her sex. Her features were not bad, had they
+been of smaller dimensions, but her nose was too large, although
+it was straight; her eyes were grand, but they were surmounted
+with such coarse eyebrows; her mouth was well shaped, and her
+teeth were good and regular, but it was the mouth of an ogress;
+her walk was commanding and firm; every action denoted energy
+and muscle; and certainly, from the conversation I have already
+made known, her mind was quite as masculine as her body&mdash;she
+was a splendid monster. In a minute she returned, bringing
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg&nbsp;240]</a></span>
+me a good check shirt and a pair of duck trowsers, which I thankfully
+accepted.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve plenty more for those who please me,&rdquo; said she, carelessly;
+&ldquo;when you&rsquo;ve put them on, come out to me, and I&rsquo;ll
+show you the plantation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In a minute or two I joined her, and she led me round the tobacco-fields,
+then to the maize or Indian corn grounds, pointing
+out and explaining every thing. She also showed me the cows,
+store pigs, and poultry. Wishing to please her, I asked many
+questions, and pretended to take an interest in all I saw. This
+pleased her much, and once or twice she smiled&mdash;but such a
+smile! After an hour&rsquo;s ramble we returned, and found the two
+servants very busy, one husking maize, and the other in the
+shed where the tobacco was dried. I asked some questions of
+her about the tobacco&mdash;how many casks or bales she made a
+year? She replied that she made it in bales, and sold it by
+weight.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It must be heavy carriage from here to James Town?&rdquo;
+said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, indeed, if it went that way it never would arrive, I
+imagine,&rdquo; replied she; &ldquo;but I have a sloop in the river below,
+which carries it round.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When is the time it is harvested and fit to be carried
+round?&rdquo; inquired I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is now turning fast,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;all that you see hanging
+in the drying-sheds has been already drawn; in three or four
+weeks it will all be housed, and then we begin to pack: in about
+two months from this the sloop will take it round.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But is it not very expensive keeping a sloop on purpose,
+with men to have her in charge?&rdquo; inquired I, to hear what she
+would say.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The sloop lies at anchor, without a soul on board,&rdquo; said
+she. &ldquo;No one ever comes up this river. I believe Captain Smith,
+who made the settlement, did do so once. There is another river,
+about twenty miles farther down, which is occasionally frequented
+by buccaneers, I am told&mdash;indeed, I know it, for my
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg&nbsp;241]</a></span>
+husband had more to do with them than perhaps was good for his
+soul, but this little river is never visited.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then your servants take her round?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; I leave one in charge, and take two with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you have but two.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not till you came&mdash;one died; but now I have three,&rdquo; and
+she smiled at me again.</p>
+
+<p>If I had not been so afraid of affronting her, I certainly would
+have said to her, &ldquo;Do any thing, I beg, but smile.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I said no more on that point. She called Jeykell, who was in
+the tobacco-shed, and desired him to kill a couple of chickens,
+and bring them in. We then entered the cabin, and she observed&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t doubt but you are tired with so much fatigue; you
+look so; go and sleep on one of their beds; you shall have one
+for yourself by night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I was not sorry to do as she proposed, for I was tired out.
+I lay down, and did not wake till she called me and told me that
+dinner was ready. I was quite ready for that also, and I sat down
+with her, but the two convict servants did not. She ate in proportion
+to her size, and that is saying enough. After dinner she
+left me, and went with her two men on her farming avocations,
+and I was for a long while cogitating on what had passed. I perceived
+that I was completely in her power, and that it was only by
+obtaining her good-will that I had any chance of getting away,
+and I made up my mind to act accordingly. I found a comfortable
+bed, of the husks of Indian corn, prepared for me at night, in
+an ante-room where the two servant-men slept. It was a luxury
+that I had not enjoyed for a long while. For several days I remained
+very quiet, and apparently very contented. My mistress
+gave me no hard work, chiefly sending me on messages or taking
+me out with her. She made the distinction between me and the
+convicts that I always took my meals with her and they did not.
+In short, I was treated as a friend and visitor more than any thing
+else, and had I not been so anxious about going to England,
+I certainly had no reason to complain except of my detention, and
+this, it was evident, it was not in her power to prevent, as, until
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg&nbsp;242]</a></span>
+the sloop went away with the tobacco, she had no means of sending
+me away. One day, however, as I was walking past the
+tobacco-shed, I heard my name mentioned by the two convicts,
+and stopping, I heard James say,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Depend upon it, that&rsquo;s what she&rsquo;s after, Jeykell; and he
+is to be our master, whether he likes it or not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I shouldn&rsquo;t wonder,&rdquo; replied the other; &ldquo;she does
+make pure love to him, that&rsquo;s certain.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very true; every thing&rsquo;s fierce with her&mdash;even love&mdash;and
+so he&rsquo;ll find it if he don&rsquo;t fancy her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, indeed:&mdash;well, I&rsquo;d rather serve another ten years
+than she should fall in love with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And if I had my choice, whether to be her husband or to
+swing, I should take the cord in preference.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I pity him from my heart; for he is a good youth,
+and a fair-spoken and a handsome, too; and I&rsquo;m sure that he
+has no idea of his unfortunate situation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No idea, indeed,&rdquo; said I to myself, as I walked away.
+&ldquo;Merciful Heaven! is it possible!&rdquo; And when I thought over her
+conduct, and what had passed between us, I perceived not only
+that the convicts were right in their supposition, but that I had,
+by wishing to make myself agreeable to her, even assisted in
+bringing affairs to this crisis.</p>
+
+<p>That very day she had said to me: &ldquo;I was very young when I
+married, only fourteen, and I lived with my husband nine years.
+He is dead more than a year now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When she said that, which she did at dinner, while she was
+clawing the flesh off the bone of a wild turkey, there was something
+so ridiculous in that feminine confession, coming from
+such a masculine mouth, that I felt very much inclined to laugh,
+but I replied,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a young widow, and ought to think of another husband.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Again, when she said, &ldquo;If ever I marry again, it shall not
+be a man who has been burnt on the hand. No, no, my husband
+shall be able to open both hands and show them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg&nbsp;243]</a></span>
+I replied, &ldquo;You are right there. I would never disgrace myself
+by marrying a convict.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When I thought of these and many other conversations which
+had passed between us, I had no doubt, in my own mind, but
+that the convicts were correct in their suppositions, and I was
+disgusted at my own blindness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At all events,&rdquo; said I to myself, after a long cogitation, &ldquo;if
+she wants to marry me, she must go to James Town for a parson,
+and if I once get there, I will contrive, as soon as extra constables
+are sworn in, to break off the match.&rdquo; But, seriously,
+I was in an awkward plight. There was something in that woman
+that was awful, and I could imagine her revenge to be most
+deadly. I thought the old Indian squaw to be bad enough, but
+this new mistress was a thousand times worse. What a hard fate,
+I thought, was mine, that I should be thus forced to marry
+against my will, and be separated from her whom I adored. I
+was a long while turning over the matter in my mind, and at last
+I resolved that I would make no alteration in my behaviour, but
+behave to her as before, and that if the affair was precipitated by
+my mistress, that I would be off to the woods, and take my
+chance of wild beasts and wild Indians, rather than consent to
+her wishes. I then went into the cabin, where I found her alone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Alexander,&rdquo; said she (she would know my Christian name,
+and called me by it), &ldquo;they say widows court the men, and that
+they are privileged to do so&rdquo; (I turned pale, for I little thought
+that there was to be an explanation so soon); &ldquo;at all events,
+whether they are or not, I know that a woman in my position
+cannot well expect a young man in yours to venture without encouragement.
+Now, Alexander, I have long perceived your
+feelings and your wishes, and I have only to say that mine are
+such as yours&rdquo; (oh, I wish they were, thought I), &ldquo;and therefore
+you have but to ask and to have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I was mute with fear and despair, and could not find a reply
+to make to her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you not answer, Alexander? Do you think me too
+forward?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg&nbsp;244]</a></span>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; stammered I; &ldquo;you are very kind, but this is so
+unexpected&mdash;so unlooked for&mdash;so unhoped for&mdash;I am so
+overcome.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Observe, Madam, how strangely the sexes were changed. I
+was the woman in this instance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should like to consult my friends.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Consult your fiddlesticks,&rdquo; replied she, quickly. &ldquo;Who
+have you got to consult? I hope, Alexander,&rdquo; said she, setting
+her broad teeth together, &ldquo;that you are not trifling with me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed, I never should think of trifling with you, mistress,&rdquo;
+replied I. &ldquo;I feel much obliged to you for showing such a preference
+for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think, Alexander, that you ought; so now then, if you
+please, give me your answer,&rdquo; replied she.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Had I been prepared for your kindness, I would have done
+so at once, but I have many serious questions to put to myself,
+and if you please, we will renew the subject to-morrow morning.
+I will then tell you candidly how I am situated; and if after that
+you do not withdraw your proposal, I shall be most happy to be
+yours as soon as we can go to James Town to be married.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If,&rdquo; replied she, &ldquo;you mean to insinuate, Alexander, that
+you have a wife in England, that is of no consequence in this
+settlement; for those who live here are free from all English
+marriages; and as for going to James Town, that is quite unnecessary.
+If the people in the settlement were to wait for a parson
+when they married, they would never be married at all. All
+that is necessary is, that we shall draw up an agreement of marriage,
+on paper, sign it, and have it witnessed. However, as I
+perceive that you are flurried, I will wait till to-morrow morning
+for your decision.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>My mistress then rose from her stool, and went into her
+chamber, shutting to the door with more emphasis than was at
+all agreeable to my nerves. I walked out into the open air to recover
+myself, and to reflect upon what course I should take in
+this awkward and dangerous dilemma. Marrying was out of the
+question&mdash;but how to avoid it? It was almost like being stopped
+by a highwayman. He says, &ldquo;Your money or your life.&rdquo;
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg&nbsp;245]</a></span>
+My mistress&rsquo;s demand was, &ldquo;Marriage or your life.&rdquo; There was
+but one hope, which was to escape that very night, and take my
+chance in the woods, and so I resolved to do.</p>
+
+<p>I did not go in till dark; my mistress was in her own room;
+the two convicts were sitting by the fire. I took my seat by them,
+but did not speak, except in a whisper, telling them that their
+mistress was not well, and that we had better go to bed, and not
+talk. They stared at me at the idea of the mistress being ill;
+they had never known her to complain of any thing since they resided
+with her; but the hint was sufficient. They went to bed,
+and so did I with my clothes on, watching the crevices of the
+door of her room to see if her lamp was out. In about half an
+hour the little thin beams through the chinks of her door disappeared,
+and then I knew that she had gone to bed. I watched
+two hours more before I ventured to stir. The convicts were both
+snoring loud, and effectually drowned any slight noise I might
+make in moving about. I went to the locker, secured all the cold
+meat for provision, took down one of the muskets and ammunition-belts,
+and having put the latter over my shoulders, I then
+took the musket in my hand and crept softly to the door of the
+cabin. Here was the only difficulty; once out, but five yards
+off, and I was clear. I removed the heavy wooden bar, without
+noise, and had now only to draw the bolt. I put my finger to it,
+and was sliding it gently and successfully back, when my throat
+was seized, and I was hurled back on the floor of the cabin. I
+was so stunned by the violence of the fall, that for a short time I
+was insensible. When I recovered, I felt a great weight upon
+my chest, and opening my eyes, found my mistress sitting upon
+me, and giving orders to the convicts, one of whom had already
+lighted the lamp.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For mercy&rsquo;s sake, get off my chest,&rdquo; said I, in a faint
+voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I will, but not yet,&rdquo; replied my mistress. &ldquo;Now,
+James, hand them to me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>James handed some chains to his mistress, who, turning
+round as she sat on my body, made the manacle at the end of the
+chain fast round my ankle. This went with a snap-spring, which
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg&nbsp;246]</a></span>
+could not be opened without a key belonging to it. At last she
+rose off my body, and I could breathe free. She then called to
+the convicts, saying,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go both of you into the tobacco-shed, and wait there till I
+call you out. If I find you one foot nearer to us, I&rsquo;ll flay you
+alive.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The servants ran off as fast at they could. When they were
+gone, my mistress said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So you were about to escape, were you? You would avoid
+the chances of matrimony, and now you have other chances which
+you little dreamt of.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought it was the wisest thing that I could do,&rdquo; replied I.
+&ldquo;Since I must be plain, I am sacredly betrothed to another
+person, and I could not even for you break my faith. I meant to
+have told you so to-morrow morning, but I was afraid it would
+annoy you, and therefore I wished to go away without giving you
+any answer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Sir, I offered to be your wife, which would have
+made you my lord and master. You refuse it, and now I make
+you my slave. I give you your option; you shall either consent
+to be my husband, or you shall remain as you are, and toil hard;
+but any time that you think better of it, and are willing to embrace
+my offer, you will be free, and I will be as a wife in subjection.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So you say,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;but suppose I was to make you
+angry after I married you, you would do to me as you have done
+now. I may, perhaps, one day get free from this chain, but,
+once married to you, I am a slave for ever.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You may think otherwise before long,&rdquo; replied she; &ldquo;in the
+mean time, you may walk out and cool yourself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She then returned to her room, and I rose, having determined
+to walk out and cool myself, as she proposed; but when I was on
+my legs, I found that to the other end of the chain, which was
+very heavy, and about two yards long, was, riveted an iron ball
+of about thirty pounds weight, so that I could not walk without
+carrying this heavy weight in my hands, for it could not be
+dragged. I lifted up the iron ball, and went out of the house. I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg&nbsp;247]</a></span>
+was no longer afraid of her. I was in too great a rage to fear any
+thing. As I calmed, I considered my case, and found it to be
+hopeless; as I thought of Amy, and the many months of hope
+deferred, I wept bitterly; and I had no consolation, for the reader
+may recollect that I lost my Bible when I was sent on shore,
+naked almost, by the rascally captain of the Transcendant.</p>
+
+<p>I had now been twenty months away from Liverpool, and I
+felt as if my chance of seeing her that I loved was indeed hopeless.
+I might remain chained in such a solitude for years, or I might
+expire under her barbarous treatment, for I fully knew what I had
+to expect. However, I was resolved. I prayed fervently for
+support and succour in my time of trouble, and became more
+composed. I remained out the whole of the night, and watched
+the rising sun. The two convicts came out to their work, and
+shrugged their shoulders as they passed me, but they dared not
+speak to me.</p>
+
+<p>My mistress at last came out. She commenced with abuse,
+but I gave no answer. She tried soothing, but I was mute. At
+last she became frantic in her passion, hurled me away from her,
+and after being dreadfully beaten, I fell to the ground. She put
+her foot upon my neck, and she stood there, looking like a fury.
+She loaded me with epithets, and then of a sudden went down on
+her knees by me, and begged my pardon, calling me her dear
+Alexander&mdash;her life&mdash;entreating me to accede to her wishes.
+Never was there such a tigress in love before, I really believe.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hear me,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;as long as I am chained, I never
+will give any answer upon the present subject, that I swear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She rose from my side, and walked away.</p>
+
+<p>It is impossible, my dear Madam, for me to describe what I
+suffered from this woman for more than six weeks, during which
+she kept me chained in this way&mdash;at one time entreating me, the
+next moment kicking me, and throwing me down. I had no
+peace&mdash;my life became a burden to me, and I often entreated
+her, in mercy, to put an end to my sufferings. I also had my
+paroxysms of rage, and would then spurn her, spit at her, and
+do every thing I could, and say all that I could imagine, to show
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg&nbsp;248]</a></span>
+my hatred and contempt. At other times I was sullen, and that
+always annoyed her. She would bear my reproaches patiently&mdash;bear
+any thing, so long as I would talk; but if I remained
+obstinately silent, then, in a short time, her fury would break
+forth. I pitied her, notwithstanding her ill-treatment, for the
+woman did love me (after her own fashion) most intensely.</p>
+
+<p>It was on the seventh week of my confinement on the chain,
+that one morning very early, as I was lying in the tobacco-shed,
+for she had turned me out of the cabin, I perceived among the
+trees, which were about three hundred yards from the cabin,
+two Indians, in what is called their war-paint, which is a sign
+that they were on a hostile excursion. I remained perfectly quiet,
+and well concealed, that I might watch them. The convicts had
+more than once told me that the Indians would attack us, in consequence
+of an insult which my mistress had offered to their
+chief, with whom her husband had been so friendly; and when
+they stated what had passed, I agreed with them that they would
+not fail to resent the insult as soon as they could. I had therefore
+always been on the look-out, but had never seen any Indians
+before. My mistress, to whom I had, in our days of sweet
+converse, spoken about them, always laughed at the idea of their
+attacking her, and said that they might come if they liked. She
+had made every preparation for them, as she had loop-holes
+stuffed up with moss just below the roof of the cabin, from which
+you could fire down upon them till they were within four yards of
+the cabin, and other loop-holes, from which you might shoot
+them when close to; the window and door were impregnable, and
+provided that we were once in the cabin, there was no doubt but
+that a serious, if not effectual, resistance might be made. That
+the Indians were reconnoitring the cabin was evident, and that
+they did not do so for nothing was equally certain. After a while,
+during which I made out six of them, they fell back in the wood,
+and disappeared. The dog at that moment came out to me, and
+it was probably the sight of the dog which made them retreat, as
+they feared that he would have given notice of their being so close
+to us. I waited till the convicts came out, and then I went into
+the cabin, and said,</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg&nbsp;249]</a></span>
+&ldquo;You drove me out of the house last night, and I come to
+return good for evil. As I lay in the tobacco-shed, I saw six
+Indians in the wood, to the east of the cabin, reconnoitring, and
+I have no doubt but that you will be attacked this night, so I give
+you notice.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you hope that, by this fear of their attack, you will be
+set free, is it not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is perfectly indifferent to me whether I am or not. I have
+often asked you to put an end to my misery, and as you have not
+done it, I shall bless those Indians for the friendly act; a blow
+of a tomahawk will release me, if you will not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then, let them come with their tomahawks,&rdquo; replied
+she, &ldquo;and I will protect you from them, for no one shall release
+you but myself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As you please,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;I have done my duty in telling
+you what I have seen, and you may take precautions or not; for
+myself I care nothing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So saying, I lifted up my ball of iron and went away out of
+the door. I remained out of doors the whole of the day, and
+therefore did not know whether my mistress took any precautions
+or not, but I told the two convicts what I had seen, and advised
+them not to go far from the cabin, as they would run great
+danger.</p>
+
+<p>They inquired of me where I had seen the Indians, and I
+pointed out the spot in the wood, after which they went away. I
+was certain that the attack would be on this night, as there was
+no moon till three hours before daybreak; and as it was very
+dark, it would probably take place in the early part of the night.
+I had made up my mind what I would do, which was not in any
+way to defend the cabin while chained, but, when I was freed,
+I would fight to the last, so that I might be killed where I stood,
+and not be taken alive and tortured.</p>
+
+<p>I did not go out from home all that day, and, to my surprise,
+I was not molested by my mistress. At dark she called the convicts,
+but they did not answer; she came out to look for them,
+and asked me whether I had seen them.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg&nbsp;250]</a></span>
+I told her that I had not seen them for two hours, and I had
+thought that they were in the house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did you tell them about the Indians?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I did,&rdquo; I replied, &ldquo;and stated my opinion that they
+would attack us this night, and I advised them not to go far from
+the cabin, or they might be cut off.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then the cowardly sneaks have run off to the woods, and
+left us to defend ourselves how we can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall not defend myself,&rdquo; replied I. &ldquo;I shall stay here
+where I am. I wait for death, and will not avoid it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come into the house,&rdquo; said she, abruptly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I will not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will not,&rdquo; said she, and catching up the chain and
+ball in one hand, with her other arm she caught me round the
+waist, and carried me into the house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;it is only deferring it a little longer;
+they will force their way in it at last, and I will die here.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Wait until they arrive,&rdquo; replied my mistress. &ldquo;But do you
+mean to say that you will not help to defend the house?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly not, as long as I am chained as a slave,&rdquo; replied
+I.</p>
+
+<p>My mistress made no reply, but busied herself with barring
+the door and window. She then placed the table and stools so
+that she might stand upon them and fire out of the upper loop-holes;
+pulled the moss out of the loop-holes; took down the
+muskets&mdash;of which there were six&mdash;from their rests, examined
+the priming of those which were loaded, and loaded those which
+were not. She then got out a supply of powder and ball, which
+she put ready on the table, brought the axes out, that they might
+be at hand, examined the water-jars to ascertain whether the
+convicts had filled them as she had ordered, and then, when all
+was prepared for defence, she removed the lamp into the inner
+room, leaving the one we were in so dark, that the Indians could
+not, by looking through the chinks or loop-holes, discover
+where the occupants of the cabin might be. All these arrangements
+she made with the greatest coolness, and I could not help
+admiring her courage and self-possession.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg&nbsp;251]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Is there any more to be done, Alexander?&rdquo; said she, in a
+mild voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where is the dog?&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tied up in the tobacco-shed,&rdquo; said she.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then there is no more to be done,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;the dog
+will give you notice of their coming, as they will first occupy the
+tobacco-shed as an advanced post.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Alexander, will you promise not to escape if I set you
+free?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly not,&rdquo; replied I. &ldquo;You set me free for your own
+purposes, because you wish me to help to defend your property;
+and then, forsooth, when the Indians are beat off, you will chain
+me again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no; that was not my feeling, as I sit here alive,&rdquo; replied she;
+&ldquo;but I was thinking that, if forced to retreat from the
+cabin, you would never be able to escape, and I never could save
+you; but they should hack me to pieces first.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Answer me one question,&rdquo; said I. &ldquo;In a time of peril like
+this, would you, as a conscientious person, think that you were
+justified in retaining in such fetters even a convict who had
+robbed you? And if you feel that you would not, on what
+grounds do you act in this way to a man whom you profess to
+love?&mdash;I leave it to your conscience.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She remained silent for some time: when the dog barked, and
+she started up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe I am mad, or a fool,&rdquo; said she, sweeping back
+her hair from her forehead.</p>
+
+<p>She then took the key of the manacle out of her dress, and
+released me.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Alexander&rdquo;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Silence!&rdquo; said I, putting my hand to her mouth, &ldquo;this is
+no time to be heard speaking. Silence!&rdquo; repeated I, in a
+whisper, &ldquo;I hear them, they are round the house.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I stood upon one of the stools and looked through a loop-hole.
+It was very dark, but as the Indians stood on the hill, there was
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg&nbsp;252]</a></span>
+clear sky behind them as low down as their waists, and I could
+perceive their motions, as they appeared to be receiving orders
+from their chief; and they advanced to the door of the cabin with
+axes and tomahawks. My mistress had mounted on the table at
+the same time that I had got on the stool. We now got down
+again without speaking, and each taking a musket, we kneeled
+down at the lower loop-holes which I have described. On second
+thoughts, I mounted the stool, whispering to her, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t
+fire till I do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The Indians came to the door and tapped, one asking in
+English to be let in. No reply was given, and they commenced
+their attack upon the door with their axes. As soon as this aggression
+took place, I took good aim at their chief, as I presumed
+him to be, who was now standing alone on the hill. I fired. He
+fell immediately.</p>
+
+<p>As I leaped from the stool my mistress discharged her
+musket, and we both caught up others and returned to the loop-holes
+below. By this time the blows of the axes were incessant,
+and made the cabin-door tremble, and the dust to fly down in
+showers from the roof; but the door was of double oak with iron
+braces, and not easily to be cut through; and the bars which held
+it were of great size and strength.</p>
+
+<p>It was some time before we could get another shot at an Indian,
+but at last I succeeded, and as his comrades were taking
+the body away my mistress shot another. After this the blows
+of the axes ceased, and they evidently had retreated. I then
+went into the inner room and extinguished the lamp, that they
+might not be able to see us&mdash;for the lamp gave a faint light.
+We returned to the table, and loaded the muskets in the
+dark.</p>
+
+<p>As I put my musket on the table, my mistress said, &ldquo;Will
+they come again?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes;&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I think they will; but if you wish to talk,
+we had better retreat to the fire-place: there we shall be safe
+from any shot.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We retreated to the fire-place, and sat down on the ashes; it
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg&nbsp;253]</a></span>
+just held us both, and my mistress took this opportunity of embracing
+me, saying&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Dear Alexander, if I had a thousand lives, I would sacrifice
+them for you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We have but one,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;and that one I will devote
+for your defence; I can do no more.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who did you fire at?&rdquo; said she.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The chief, as I believe, who was on the hill giving orders.
+He fell; and I think that he fell dead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then depend upon it they will retreat,&rdquo; said she.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think not; they will be revenged, if they possibly can;
+and we must expect a hard fight for it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, what can they do? They never can break through the
+door, and when daylight comes we can shoot them by dozens.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Depend upon it,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;they will try to burn us out.
+The wind is high, which is all in their favour, and I suspect
+they are now gone to collect firewood.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And if they do fire the cabin, what shall we do? I never
+thought of that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must remain in it as long as we can, and then sally out
+and fight to the last; but every thing depends on circumstances.
+Be guided by me, and I will save you if I can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Be guided by you!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes! Recollect I am not in chains now, and that although
+you have all the courage of a man, still you have not been so
+accustomed to warfare as I have been. I have long been accustomed
+to command, to plan, and to execute, in times of peril
+like this.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have great strength and courage; I little thought what
+a lion I had chained up,&rdquo; replied she. &ldquo;Well, I love you all
+the better for it, and I will be guided by you, for I perceive already
+that you have the best head of the two. Hark! What is
+that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is what I said,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;they are laying firewood
+against the logs of the cabin on the windward side&mdash;(this was on
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg&nbsp;254]</a></span>
+the side opposite to the door). Now we must try if we cannot
+pick off some more of them,&rdquo; said I, rising and taking a musket.
+&ldquo;Bring the stools over to this side, for we must fire from the
+upper loop-holes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We remained at our posts for some time without seeing an
+Indian. They had gone back to the wood for more combustibles.
+At last we perceived them coming back with the wood. I should
+imagine there were at least twenty of them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, take good aim,&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>We both fired almost at the same moment, and three Indians
+fell.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Get down, and give me another musket,&rdquo; said I to my
+mistress.</p>
+
+<p>She handed me one, and, taking another for herself, resumed
+her station. We fired several times; sometimes with and
+sometimes without success; for the Indians went away twice for
+firewood before they had collected what they considered sufficient.
+By this time it was piled up to the eaves of the cabin, and our
+loop-holes were shut up; we therefore went over to the other
+side, where the door was, to see if there were any Indians there,
+but could not see one. We had been on the look-out for about
+five minutes, when the crackling of the wood, and the smoke
+forcing itself through the crevices between the logs, told us that
+the fire had been applied, and the wind soon fanned it up so that
+the flame poured through every chink and loop-hole, and lighted
+up the cabin.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must retreat to the fire-place,&rdquo; said I. &ldquo;Come quickly,
+or we shall be shot.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why so?&rdquo; said she, as she did as I requested.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They will peep through the loop-holes on the side of the
+cabin where the door is and see us plainly, until the cabin is
+filled with smoke, which it soon will be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But tell me what we are to do now, for I feel if this smoke
+increases we shall not be able to speak to one another.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This she said about five minutes after we had remained
+standing in the fire-place, with our heads up the chimney.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg&nbsp;255]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Perhaps it will be as well,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;that I do speak so.
+This fierce wind drives the smoke to leeward in volumes, but the
+great burst of smoke will be when the roof is well on fire. It is
+now burning fiercely on the windward side, but we must wait till
+the lee-side has caught, and then the volume of smoke will be
+greater. The great point is to hit the precise time of opening the
+door, and escaping shrouded in a volume of smoke. If too soon,
+they will perceive us, and we shall be shot down; if too late, the
+roof will fall upon us, and we shall be smothered or burnt. We
+had better now, I think, leave this, and be all ready. Our best
+weapon, if we have to fight our way, will be an axe. Let us each
+take one, and, by now going near to the door, and putting our
+mouths to one of the loop-holes, we shall breathe freer, and
+unbar the door at the right time. Do you agree with me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are right,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;you are a <em>man</em>, and I am a
+<em>woman</em>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>We left the fire-place, and having felt for and found the axes,
+we went near the door, and put our mouths to the loop-holes below;
+and the smoke passing above them enabled us to breathe
+freer. I looked out and perceived that, with the exception of
+about six yards to leeward of the cabin, there was a dense volume
+of smoke rolling along the ground for a long distance, and that if
+we could only once gain it without being perceived, we should
+probably be saved. I therefore unbarred the door, drew the
+bolt, and held it in my hand, all ready for a start. The cabin was
+now in flames in every part as well as the roof. I touched my
+mistress, and then took her hand in mine, watching at the loop-hole.
+At last, when the heat was almost unbearable, an eddy
+of the wind drove back the smoke close to the lee-side of the
+cabin, and all was dark. I jumped up, opened the door, and
+dragged my mistress after me; we walked out into the black
+mass completely hid from our enemies, and then running hand-in-hand
+as fast as we could to leeward in the centre of the smoke,
+we found ourselves at least one hundred yards from the cabin
+without the Indians having any idea that we were not still inside.
+As we retreated, the density of the smoke became less, and I
+then told her to run for her life, as the Indians would discover
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg&nbsp;256]</a></span>
+that the door of the cabin was open and that we had escaped&mdash;and
+so it proved. We were still a hundred yards from the wood
+when a yell was given which proved that they had discovered our
+escape, and were in pursuit. We gained the wood; I turned
+round a moment to look behind me, and perceived at least forty
+or fifty Indians in full pursuit of us&mdash;the foremost about two
+hundred yards distant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now we must run for it, mistress,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;and we must
+no longer take hands. We shall have to thread the wood. Away!
+We have no time to lose.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So saying, I snatched my hand from her and sprang forward;
+she following me as fast as she could, more fearful, evidently,
+of my making my escape from her than of her own escape from
+the Indians. As soon as I was a hundred yards in the wood, I
+turned short to the right, and fled with all my speed in that direction,
+because I hoped by this means to deceive the Indians, and
+it was easier to run where the wood was not so thick. My mistress
+followed me close: she would have hallooed to me, but she had
+not breath after the first half-mile. I found out that I was more
+fleet than she was. Whether encumbered with her clothes, or
+perhaps not so much used to exercise, I heard her panting after
+me. I could easily have left her, but my fear was that she would
+have called to me, and if she had, the Indians would have heard
+her, and have known the direction I had taken, and, when once
+on my trail, they would, as soon as daylight came, have followed
+me by it to any distance; I therefore slackened my speed so as
+just to enable my mistress to keep up with me at about ten yards&rsquo;
+distance; when we had run about three miles I felt certain that
+she could not proceed much further: speak she could not, and
+as I ran without once looking behind me, she could make no
+sign. I continued at a less rapid pace for about a mile further.
+I did this to enable her to keep up with me, and to recover my
+own breath as much as possible previous to a start. The voices
+of the Indians had long been out of hearing, and it was clear that
+they had not discovered the direction which we had taken. I knew,
+therefore, that they could not hear her now, if she did cry out as
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg&nbsp;257]</a></span>
+loud as she could, and I gradually increased my speed, till I
+could no longer hear her panting behind me; I then went off at
+my full speed, and after a few minutes I heard her voice at some
+distance faintly calling out my name. &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; thought I, &ldquo;but
+I have not forgotten the ball and chain; and if you thought that
+you had let loose a lion while we were in the cabin, you shall find
+that you have loosed a deer in the woods.&rdquo; I then stopped for a
+few moments to recover my breath; I did not, however, wait
+long; I was afraid that my mistress might recover her breath as
+well as myself, and I again set off as fast as I could. The idea
+of torture from the Indians, or again being kept confined by my
+mistress, gave me endurance which I thought myself incapable
+of. Before morning I calculated that I had run at least twenty
+miles, if not more.</p>
+
+<p>With the perspiration running down me in streams, and
+hardly able to drag one leg before the other, I at last, just about
+daybreak, gave it up, when I threw myself on the ground, and
+dropped out of my hand my axe, which I had carried the whole
+way. I lay there for more than half an hour, tormented with
+thirst, but quite unable to move. At last I recovered; and, as
+I well knew that the Indians would divide in parties of three or
+four, and hunt every part of the woods, and by daylight probably
+discover my track, I rose and prepared to resume my toil, when,
+looking round me, I perceived that I was exactly on the spot where
+I had followed the deer, and had fallen in with the Jolly Rover,
+as he termed himself, who had pointed out the way to the plantations.
+I turned and saw the river below, and as he had told me
+that the Indians never came there, I resolved to go to the river,
+where, at least, I should find shell-fish and water. I did so;
+and in half an hour arrived at the skirts of the wood, and found
+that the river was about four hundred yards from me and clear of
+trees at the mouth for some distance. I went down to the river,
+which ran swiftly out, and I drank till I was ready to burst. I
+then rose on my feet, and walked along its banks towards the
+mouth, thinking what I should do. To get to James Town appeared
+to me to be an impossibility, unless by water, and I was
+not likely to meet with any other vessel here but a pirate. Should
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg&nbsp;258]</a></span>
+I then go aboard of a pirate? It appeared to me to be my only
+resource, and that I should be happy if I could find one.</p>
+
+<p>By this time I had arrived at the mouth of the river, and, looking
+out to seaward, I saw a schooner at anchor. She was about
+three miles off. That she was a pirate vessel, I presumed.
+Should I go on board of her or not? and if so, how was I to get
+on board? All her boats were up: and I surmised that she had
+just left the river with the intention of sailing as soon as there was
+any wind, for now it was calm. The river ran out swiftly, and I
+thought I should be able to swim the distance with the assistance
+I should obtain from the current, which swept down right for her,
+and she was riding to its strength.</p>
+
+<p>I was demurring. I had been perhaps two hours on the beach,
+waiting to see if she might send a boat on shore, when, as I stood
+at the river-side, still hesitating, I happened to turn round and
+perceived three Indians coming down upon me as fast as they
+could. I hesitated no longer, but plunged into the stream, and
+was swept out two hundred yards before they arrived at the beach.
+I made for the schooner; and the current ran out so fast, that in
+half an hour I was close to her. I swam for her cable, which I
+clung to, and then shouted loudly. This induced some of the
+crew to look over the bows, and they handed me a bowling knot,
+into which I fixed myself, and was hauled on board.</p>
+
+<p>I was dragged aft to give an account of myself, and I stated in
+few words that I had been pursued by the Indians, and swam off
+to save my life.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hav&rsquo;n&rsquo;t we met before?&rdquo; said a rough voice.</p>
+
+<p>I looked, and saw the Jolly Rover, whom I had fallen in with
+on shore. I said, &ldquo;Yes; I was escaping from the Indians
+when I met you, and you showed me the direction of the plantations.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All&rsquo;s right,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a true bill; and were those
+Indians after you that we saw on the beach just now?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; I replied; and then I stated how it was that they had
+attacked our cabin, and how we had escaped.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That was well done, and so you swam off three miles. Fire
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg&nbsp;259]</a></span>
+and water won&rsquo;t hurt you; that&rsquo;s clear. You&rsquo;re just the man for
+us. What thing-um-bob is this that you have hung round your
+neck?&rdquo; said he, taking up the leathern bag with the diamond
+in it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That,&rdquo; replied I&mdash;a sudden thought having struck me&mdash;&ldquo;is
+my caul; I was born with a caul, and I have always worn it,
+as it saves a man from drowning.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No wonder that you swam three miles, then,&rdquo; replied the
+man.</p>
+
+<p>You must know, Madam, that some people are born with a
+membrane over the face, which is termed a caul, and there has
+been a vulgar error that such people can never be drowned, especially
+if they wear this caul about their person in after-life. Sailors
+are superstitious in many things, but particularly in this,
+and my caul was therefore as much respected by them as it hung
+round my neck, as it was by the Indians when they thought it was
+what they call &ldquo;magic&rdquo; or &ldquo;medicine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the Jolly Rover, &ldquo;as you had so much fire,
+so much water, and so much running, I think you won&rsquo;t be sorry
+to have a biscuit and glass of grog, and then turn in; to-morrow
+we will talk to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I went down below, very glad to accept the offer, and as I
+was regaling myself, who should come up to me but two of the
+Portuguese who had been wrecked in the xebeque, and put on
+shore with me in the little boat by the captain of the Transcendant.
+I was very glad to see them. They told me that, after
+great hardship and suffering, they had arrived famished at the
+banks of this river, and had been taken on board by the pirates,
+and had remained with them ever since; that they were very
+anxious to get away, but never had an opportunity. I begged
+them not to say who I was, but merely that I was once a shipmate
+of theirs. They promised, and being very tired, I then lay down
+and fell asleep. I was so worn out, that I did not wake till the
+next morning, when I found that we were under all sail running
+down to the southward. I saw the Jolly Rover, as I had termed
+him, on deck (his real or assumed name, I don&rsquo;t know which, I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg&nbsp;260]</a></span>
+found out to be Toplift), sitting on a gun abaft. He called me to
+him. I said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you the captain?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;for want of a better. I told you months
+ago what we were, so it&rsquo;s no use repeating it. Do you intend to
+join us?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I will be very candid with you. I have
+been driven as it were on board of your vessel, but certainly
+without knowing exactly what she was. Now, captain, I have to
+ask you one question:&mdash;Would you, if you could go on shore in
+England, with plenty of money at your command, and plenty of
+good friends,&mdash;would you be here?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; certainly not,&rdquo; replied he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well; I am in that position. If once in England, I have
+money enough to live upon, and plenty of friends; I therefore
+naturally want to get back to England, and not to run the risk of
+my neck on board of this vessel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s very true,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;but there are other considerations;
+my men won&rsquo;t have a man on board who will not
+swear fidelity, and if you will not, I cannot protect you,&mdash;they
+will throw you overboard. We don&rsquo;t carry passengers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s very true, also; and I will swear fidelity so far as
+this, that you never shall be betrayed by me, and I never will
+appear as a witness against one of you; it were most ungrateful
+if I did. While I am on board, I will do any duty you please to
+put me to, for I cannot expect to eat my bread for nothing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And suppose we come to action?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s the difficulty,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;against an English ship
+I never will fight.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But if we are opposed to any other nation, and there is a
+chance of our being overpowered?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, then, if you are overpowered, as I shall be hung
+along with the rest, I think I must do all I can to save my own
+life; but, overpowered or not, I will not fire a shot or draw a cutlass
+against my own countrymen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I cannot deny but that&rsquo;s all very fair.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg&nbsp;261]</a></span>
+&ldquo;I think,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;it is as much as you can expect;
+especially as I never will share any prize-money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well; I will talk to the men, and hear what they say; but,
+now, answer me one question&mdash;Are you not a seaman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will answer the truth to every thing; I am a seaman, and
+I have commanded a privateer. I have served many years in
+privateers, and have seen a great deal of hard fighting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So I thought,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;and now answer me another
+question,&mdash;Was it not you that played that trick to that French
+privateer captain at Bordeaux?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes it was,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;but how came you to know
+that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because I was the mate of a merchant vessel that had been
+captured, and I saw you three or four times as you passed the
+vessel I was on board of; for, being put in quarantine, we were
+not sent to prison till the pratique was given. I thought that I
+knew you again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well; I have no concealment to make.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No: but I will tell you candidly, my men, if they knew
+all this, would not allow you to leave the vessel. Indeed, you
+might be captain if you pleased, for I do not suit them. Our
+captain&mdash;for I was his officer&mdash;was killed about six months
+ago; and I really am not fit for the office&mdash;I am too tender-hearted.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well; you don&rsquo;t look so,&rdquo; replied I, laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Can&rsquo;t judge of outsides,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;but it&rsquo;s a fact.
+They say that they will be all condemned if taken, from my not
+destroying the crews of the vessels we take; that they will be so
+many witnesses against them; and I cannot make up my mind to
+cold-blooded murder. I am bad enough; I rob on the high seas;
+I kill on the high seas&mdash;for we must kill when we fight; but I
+cannot commit deliberate murder either at sea or on shore, and
+so I tell them. If any one else could navigate the vessel, I should
+be superseded immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad to hear you say what you have, captain, it makes
+me less dissatisfied at finding myself here. Well; I have said
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg&nbsp;262]</a></span>
+all I can, and I must trust to you to manage with your ship&rsquo;s
+company.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It will be a difficult job,&rdquo; said he, musing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tell them,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;that I was once a captain of a vessel
+like this (after all, there is not so much difference between a
+pirate and privateer as you may think)&mdash;and that I will not be
+under the command of any one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If they hear that, they will give you the command of this
+vessel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will refuse to take it; and give my reasons.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well; I&rsquo;ll tell them that: I leave you to settle with them
+how you can; but,&rdquo; added he, in a low tone; &ldquo;there are some
+desperate villains among them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I take for granted,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;so now I leave you to
+speak to them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Toplift did so. He told them that I was a pirate captain, who
+had lost his vessel and been thrown on shore, but I refused to
+join any ship except as captain of her; that I would not serve as
+first officer, and would obey no one. He told them that he knew
+me before, and he narrated the business at Bordeaux when I
+commanded a privateer, extolling me, as I afterwards found,
+beyond all measure.</p>
+
+<p>The crew, having heard what he had to say, went forward,
+and, after consultation, came to Toplift and said that I must
+take the oath.</p>
+
+<p>Toplift replied that he had desired me so to do, and that I had
+answered that I would not. &ldquo;But,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;you had better
+speak to him yourselves. Call all hands aft and hear what he has
+to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This was done, and I was sent for.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have told them what you said, Sir. I don&rsquo;t know your
+name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have no name,&rdquo; replied I, proudly, &ldquo;except &lsquo;Captain&rsquo;&mdash;that&rsquo;s
+my name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The fact is, Madam, I was determined to carry it out bravely;
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg&nbsp;263]</a></span>
+knowing that it is the best way to deal with such people as I now
+had in hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then, Captain, I have told the men that you will not
+take the oath.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Take the oath,&rdquo; replied I, with scorn; &ldquo;no; I administer
+the oath to others. I make them take it. I make them swear
+fidelity to me. Such has been my conduct, and I shall not depart
+from it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, but, Captain Toplift, you don&rsquo;t mean to say that he
+is to remain on board with us and not take the oath,&rdquo; said a surly-looking
+ruffian. &ldquo;In spite of you, he shall take the oath, Captain
+Toplift.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Captain Toplift,&rdquo; said I, calmly, &ldquo;do you allow one of
+your crew to use such language as this. Had I been captain of
+this ship, I would have blown his brains out as he stood. You
+don&rsquo;t know to deal with these rascals. I do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Captain Toplift, who appeared much pleased at being supported
+in this way by me&mdash;(strange that a single individual,
+whom they might have thrown overboard in a minute, should
+have gained such an ascendency, but so it was)&mdash;and who perceived
+that the men fell back, as if taken by surprise, then said,
+&ldquo;Captain, you have taught me a good lesson, which I will take
+advantage of. Seize that fellow and put him in irons.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hah!&rdquo; cried the man, seeing that no one touched him:
+&ldquo;who is to bell the cat! hah!&rdquo; and he drew his cutlass.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will, then,&rdquo; said I to Captain Toplift, &ldquo;if you desire it;&rdquo;
+and, stepping forward, I went up to the man, saying, &ldquo;Come,
+come, my good fellow, this won&rsquo;t do here; I&rsquo;m used to deal
+with such chaps as you, and I can manage worse than you, a good
+deal.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I advanced till I was within the stroke of his cutlass before he
+was aware of it, and, seizing him by the waist, I threw him flat
+on his back and put my foot on his neck.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now,&rdquo; cried I, in an authoritative voice, &ldquo;put this man in
+irons immediately&mdash;refuse who dares. Here, you Sirs, lay hold
+of this fellow,&rdquo; continued I, looking to the Portuguese; who
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg&nbsp;264]</a></span>
+accordingly came forward and led him away, assisted by others,
+who now joined them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are there any more mutineers here?&rdquo; inquired I; &ldquo;if so,
+let them step forward.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>No one stirred.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My lads,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;it is very true that I have refused to take
+the oath, for the oath is not given to those who command, but to
+those who obey; but at the same time I am not one to betray you.
+You know who I am; and is it likely?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no,&rdquo; replied the men.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; asked one of them, who had been most forward and
+insolent, &ldquo;will you be our captain?&mdash;say but the word,&mdash;you
+are the sort of man we want.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have a captain already,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;and in a few weeks
+I shall command a vessel of my own; I cannot, therefore, accept
+your offer; but while I am on board I will do all in my power to
+assist Captain Toplift in any way, and you can desire no more.
+And now, my men, as an old hand, I have but this advice to give
+you, which is&mdash;to return to your duty; for every thing in a vessel
+of this description depends upon obedience; and to you, Captain
+Toplift, I have also advice to give, which is&mdash;to shoot the first
+man who behaves as that scoundrel did who is now in irons.
+Boatswain! pipe down.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I hardly knew whether this latter order would be obeyed by
+the boatswain, or, if obeyed by the boatswain, whether it would
+be obeyed by the men; but, to my great satisfaction, it was; and
+the men retired peaceably.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Captain Toplift,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;I have done you no harm,
+and myself some good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have indeed,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;come down into the cabin.&rdquo;
+When we were in the cabin he said, &ldquo;You have unarmed and
+subdued the most mutinous rascal in the vessel, and you have
+strengthened my authority. They fully believe you are what you
+assert from your behaviour, and I feel, with you at my side, I
+shall get on better with these fellows than I have done. But now,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg&nbsp;265]</a></span>
+to keep up the idea, you must, of course, mess in the cabin with
+me, and I can offer you clothes, not my own, but those of the
+former captain, which will suit your shape and make.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I readily agreed with him; and having equipped myself in the
+clothes he offered me, which were handsome, I soon afterwards
+went on deck with him, and received the greatest respect from the
+men as I passed them. A cot was slung for me in the cabin, and
+I lived altogether with Captain Toplift, who was a good-hearted,
+rough sort of a man, certainly wholly unfit for the command of a
+vessel manned by such a set of miscreants, and employed on
+such a service. He told me that he had been taken three years
+before by a pirate vessel, and finding that he could navigate, they
+had detained him by force, and that at last he had become accustomed
+to his position.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We all must live,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and I had no other means of
+livelihood left me; but it&rsquo;s sorely against my conscience, and
+that&rsquo;s the truth. However, I am used to it now, and that reconciles
+you to any thing, except murder in cold blood, and that I
+never will consent to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>On my inquiring where they were about to cruise, he said on
+the Spanish Main.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;it is peace with the Spaniards just now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hardly knew,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it was peace. Not that peace
+makes any difference to us, for we take every thing; but you refer
+to myself, I know, and I tell you frankly that I have preferred this
+cruise merely that we may not fall in with English vessels, which
+we are not likely to do there. I wish I was out of her with all my
+heart and soul.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No doubt of it, Captain Toplift; I think you are sincere.
+Suppose you put into one of the inlets of Jamaica, they won&rsquo;t
+know where we are; let us take a boat on shore and leave her.
+I will provide for you, and you shall gain your living in an honest
+way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;God bless you, Sir,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;I will try what I can do. We
+must talk the matter over, for they may suspect something, and
+then it would be all over with us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg&nbsp;266]</a></span>
+We continued to run down till we were in the latitude of the
+Virgin Isles, and then we altered her course for Jamaica. The
+first and second mates generally received information of Captain
+Toplift as to his movements and intentions, which they communicated
+to the crew. If the crew disapproved of them, they
+said so, and they were considered to have some voice in the
+matter.</p>
+
+<p>Now, although no navigators, these men knew enough of a
+chart and a course to find that there must be some reason for its
+being altered as it was, instead of running down by the Spanish
+Main, and they inquired why the cruise was altered.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Toplift replied that he had taken my advice, and that
+I had assured him that at the back of the island of Jamaica we
+should certainly fall in with some rich Spanish vessels, if we lay
+there quiet in some nook or another for a short time, as this was
+their time for coming up from the south to the Havannah, where
+they rendezvoused for a convoy.</p>
+
+<p>This reply appeared very satisfactory to the crew, for they
+were all cheerful and obedient, and we ran down to Jamaica,
+and when we were close in shore, we shortened sail and hove to.
+We remained three or four days in the offing, that we might not
+cause any suspicion by our leaving too soon. Captain Toplift
+then told the mates that I proposed anchoring in some secret bay
+or inlet, as we were certain to see the Spanish ships if we could
+send any one ashore on the hills to look out for them. This was
+agreed to, and we made sail and ran along the coast, looking
+out for some convenient anchorage.</p>
+
+<p>As we were so doing, a vessel hove in sight, and we immediately
+made all sail in chase. As she did not attempt to avoid
+us, we hauled off as she came near, to see what she might be.
+She then hoisted a yellow flag at her peak (for she was an
+hermaphrodite brig); this puzzled us not a little, and we edged
+down towards her, for she was very rakish-looking, except in
+her sails.</p>
+
+<p>As we neared, finding I suppose that we did not answer her
+signals, and we were not the vessel she expected us to be, she
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg&nbsp;267]</a></span>
+suddenly altered her course before the wind, setting all the sail
+that she possibly could. We immediately crowded canvas in
+chase, and came up with her fast. As we ran, the mate and I
+looked at her through the glass, and I made her out to be the
+Transcendant, the captain of which had treated us so cruelly
+when we were in the boat, and who had robbed us of our money
+and clothes. I called the Portuguese and desired them to look
+at the vessel through the glass, and give me their opinion. They
+directly said that it was the vessel I supposed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us only catch the rascal,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;and we will pay him
+in his own coin;&rdquo; and I immediately gave directions for the
+better trimming of the sails, so anxious was I to come up with
+him.</p>
+
+<p>The men of the schooner were much pleased at the anxiety I
+displayed to come up with the chase, and by the alacrity with
+which they obeyed me, I saw how anxious they were that I should
+be their captain. In two hours we were within gun-shot, and
+sent one of our bow-chasers after him. Perceiving that it was
+useless to run, the fellow hove to, and as we came alongside,
+he was all ready with his boat to come on board. He did so, and
+at first I kept out of sight to hear what he would say. He was
+followed up the side by his amiable son. Captain Toplift received
+him on deck, and he looked around him, saying, &ldquo;I believe
+I am right. I was afraid I had made more mistakes than
+one. I believe you are in the free trade?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; replied Toplift, &ldquo;we are.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I thought so, captain, but I expected to meet another
+schooner which is very like to yours, and is also in the trade.
+I made my signal to her, as, when she has any thing to get rid
+of, why I take it off her hands. Perhaps you may have something
+of the kind which is not exactly safe to show,&mdash;church-plate and
+the like. I pay ready money&mdash;that&rsquo;s my plan.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As it afterwards appeared, Madam, this scoundrel had been
+in the free trade, or pirating, himself for many years, but he
+had taken an opportunity of walking off with a large sum of money
+belonging to the pirate crew, and with this money he had
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg&nbsp;268]</a></span>
+purchased his property in Virginia and the brig which he now commanded.
+Although he did not follow up the free trade any more,
+he had made arrangements with a pirate captain whom he met at
+Port Royal to meet them at the back of the island and receive
+such articles as the pirate might want to turn into cash, by which
+he, of course, took care to secure large profits.</p>
+
+<p>This he had done several times, and as he sold his cargo at
+Port Royal for dollars, he had always cash to pay for what the
+pirate wished to get rid of. But he had now run into the lion&rsquo;s
+jaws, for not only were I and the Portuguese on board to denounce
+him as a robber, but, what was still more unfortunate for him,
+three of the pirate&rsquo;s crew, whom he had swindled out of their
+property, were also on board of us, and recognized him immediately.</p>
+
+<p>As Captain Toplift knew how I had been treated by him, he
+thought it was time he should be confronted with me, and to his
+question as to whether there was any thing to dispose of, he replied
+to him, &ldquo;You must put that question to the captain.
+There he is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The fellow turned to me; he looked at me, stared, and was
+mute, when his cub of a boy cried out, &ldquo;As sure as a gun it&rsquo;s
+he, father, and no mistake.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you imp of Satan, you know me, do you?&rdquo; replied I.
+&ldquo;Yes, it is he. Send all the men aft.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The men came fast enough. They were only waiting till
+I had spoken to them to come and give information against
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my lads,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;this is a scoundrel who fell in
+with some of us when we were in distress, after we had lost our
+vessel. Instead of behaving as one seaman does to another, he
+robbed us of all we had, and turned us adrift naked to be killed
+by the Indians. Of all, I and the two Portuguese you took on
+board about four months back are the only three left: the others
+perished. The one who was with me was burnt to death by the
+Indians, and I narrowly escaped. I leave you to decide what this
+scoundrel merits.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg&nbsp;269]</a></span>
+&ldquo;But there is more against him, captain,&rdquo; said the men,
+and then four of them stepped out and declared that he had
+run away with the money belonging to the crew of which they
+were a part, and that the sum he had stolen amounted to 25,000
+dollars.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What have you to say for yourself?&rdquo; said I to him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I have been a cursed fool to be caught as I have been.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What will they do, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hang us, I suppose,&rdquo; replied he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Captain Toplift,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;I do not command this vessel,
+and I shall therefore leave you to decide upon the fate of this
+miscreant;&rdquo; and having said that, I was going below to the cabin,
+when the captain of the Transcendant&rsquo;s son ran to me, and said,
+&ldquo;I want to speak to you, Sir, when you are alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you after, Peleg?&rdquo; cried his father.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to save your life, father, if I can,&rdquo; replied he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll be clever if you do that, boy,&rdquo; said the man, sneeringly.</p>
+
+<p>I allowed the boy to follow me down into the cabin, and then
+asked him what he had to say.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have that to tell you which is of more value than the lives
+of a hundred boys like me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Boys like you? Why I thought it was to save your father&rsquo;s
+life that you came down, Sir?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pooh!&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;let him hang; he was born for a halter.
+I am come to save my own life. I only said that to gammon
+him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re a hopeful youth,&rdquo; said I; &ldquo;and pray what is that
+you can tell me that will save your own neck from the halter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That which will save your own, most likely,&rdquo; replied the
+boy, &ldquo;and tit-for-tat&rsquo;s all fair.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, let&rsquo;s hear it, then,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, not unless you promise. I can swing, if need be, as
+well as father, but I&rsquo;d rather not, &rsquo;cause I know where all his
+money is hidden.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg&nbsp;270]</a></span>
+&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t make any promise,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I can&rsquo;t tell,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;so I may e&rsquo;en go on deck
+and tell father that I cannot manage it;&rdquo; and as he said the latter
+part of this speech, the undaunted little villain actually laughed
+at the idea of gammoning his father, as he termed it.</p>
+
+<p>Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart
+from it, is mostly true; but it is more certain that if you
+train a child up in the way that he should not go, he will be a more
+true disciple. Could there be a more decided proof of the above
+than the behaviour of this young villain? but his father had made
+him so, and thus was he rewarded.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stop,&rdquo; said I, for I had reflected whether, after all, there
+were any grounds for hanging the boy, and come to a conclusion
+that a jury would have probably acquitted him. &ldquo;Stop,&rdquo;
+said I; &ldquo;you say that what you can tell is of the greatest consequence.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And becomes of more consequence every minute that
+passes,&rdquo; replied he. &ldquo;I will tell you every thing, and let you
+into father&rsquo;s secrets. I peach upon father altogether.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;if what you have to disclose
+proves important, I will do all I can to save your life, and I have
+no doubt that I shall be able so to do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No more have I,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;or I would not have come
+to you. Now then, father came to the back of the island to do a
+little business with a pirate schooner, as he said just now; and
+he has very often done it before, as he said just now; but father
+did not tell you all. When we were in Port Royal, father went
+to the captain of a king&rsquo;s vessel who is there, having been sent to
+put down the pirates if possible, and he offered this captain of
+the king&rsquo;s ship, for a certain sum, to put our friends that we exchange
+with into his hands.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, betray his friend the pirate?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, father agreed that he would come round as he has done
+this day, and would contrive to chaffer and bargain with him and
+keep him so late in the bay that the king&rsquo;s ship should come upon
+him all of a sudden and take him, and this was father&rsquo;s intention,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg&nbsp;271]</a></span>
+only you have pinned him. The king&rsquo;s ship will be round that
+point in two hours or thereabouts, so if you are found here you
+will be taken and hanged as sure as I ain&rsquo;t hanged yet. Now ain&rsquo;t
+this important news, and worth all I asked for it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It certainly is, if it is true, boy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;ll prove it, for I always goes with father, and he
+trusts me with every thing. I saw the paper signed. The king&rsquo;s
+ship is called the Vestal, and the captain who signed the paper,
+signed it Philip Musgrave.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed,&rdquo; said I, turning away, for I did not wish the boy
+to perceive my emotion at this announcement. I recovered myself
+as soon as I could, and said to him, &ldquo;Boy, I will keep my
+promise. Do you stay below, and I will go on deck and plead for
+your life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mayn&rsquo;t I go on deck for a bit?&rdquo; said he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, to wish your father good-bye? No, no, you had better
+spare yourself and him that painful meeting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t want to wish him good-bye; I&rsquo;ll wait till it&rsquo;s
+over, only I never did see a man hanged, and I have a curiosity
+to have just a peep.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Out, you little monster,&rdquo; cried I, running up on deck, for
+the information I had received was too important not to be immediately
+taken advantage of.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, captain, has the boy saved his father&rsquo;s life?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied I, in a loud voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then, up he goes,&rdquo; said the men, for the halter had been
+round his neck and run out to the yard-arm for some time, and
+the men had manned the rope, only awaiting my return on deck.
+In a second, the captain of the Transcendant was swinging in the
+air, and certainly if ever a scoundrel merited his fate, it was that
+man. Shortly afterwards I turned round, and there was the
+young hopeful looking at his father&rsquo;s body swinging to and fro
+with the motion of the vessel.</p>
+
+<p>I looked in vain for a tear in his eye; there was not a symptom
+of emotion. Seeing me look sternly at him, he hastened
+down below again.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg&nbsp;272]</a></span>
+&ldquo;My lads,&rdquo; said I to the men, who were all on deck, &ldquo;I have
+received intelligence of that importance that I recommend that we
+should cut that vessel adrift, and make sail without a moment&rsquo;s
+loss of time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, not plunder?&rdquo; cried the men, looking at the Transcendant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, not think of it, if you are wise.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>At this reply all of the men exclaimed that &ldquo;that would not
+do&rdquo;&mdash;&ldquo;that plunder they would&rdquo;&mdash;that &ldquo;I was not the captain
+of the vessel,&rdquo; and many more expressions showing how soon a
+man may lose popularity on board of a pirate vessel.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I gave my opinion, my men, and if you will hear why I said
+so&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no, out boats,&rdquo; cried they all, and simultaneously ran
+to lower down the boats, for it was now calm, that they might tow
+the schooner alongside of the Transcendant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You might as well talk to the wind as talk to them when
+there is plunder to be obtained,&rdquo; said Toplift to me in a low
+tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come down with me,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;and I will tell you what I
+have heard.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ain&rsquo;t they going to plunder the brig?&rdquo; said Master Peleg,
+when we came down; &ldquo;I know where father&rsquo;s dollars are,&rdquo; and
+up he ran on deck.</p>
+
+<p>I made a short remark upon the depravity of the boy, and then
+informed Captain Toplift of what he had told me.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you had told them, they would not have paid attention to
+you. The boat&rsquo;s crew who came with the captain have told them
+that there is money on board, and all authority is now at an
+end.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I believe that the boy has told the
+truth.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what do you mean to do?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Remain below quietly, if I am allowed,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg&nbsp;273]</a></span>
+&ldquo;But I cannot,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;they would throw me overboard.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Make as bad a fight of it as you can,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I will,&rdquo; said Captain Toplift, &ldquo;and with so superior
+a force opposed, we cannot stand long. But I must tell you where
+you must be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where?&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At the entrance of the magazine, for as sure as we stand
+here they will blow up the vessel rather than be taken. Not all of
+them, but two or three I know are determined so to do, and resolute
+enough to do it. My pistols are there. You have only to
+open this door, and you are in the magazine passage. See,&rdquo; said
+he, opening the door, &ldquo;there is the scuttle where they hand the
+powder up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will be on the watch, depend upon it; and, Captain Toplift,
+if the schooner is taken, and I am alive, you may have no
+fear for yourself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now let us go on deck again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will follow you,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am alone at last, thank Heaven!&rdquo; said I to myself. &ldquo;What
+a position am I in, and how much will be in suspense before
+twenty-four hours are over. My own brother here, not ten miles
+perhaps from me, commanding the vessel which will attack this
+on which I am on board. That they will take us I have no doubt;
+but what risk do I run&mdash;of death by shot, or by their blowing up
+the vessel in spite of me, or of no quarter being given. Well, I
+wish it were decided. At all events, I am long supposed dead,
+and I shall not be recognized among the heaps of bodies.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I then went to the locker and took out my duck frock and
+trowsers, determining that I would, if I were killed, be killed in
+those clothes, and be thrown overboard as a common seaman. I
+then went on deck, for I had heard the grating of the sides of the
+two vessels and knew that they were in contact.</p>
+
+<p>All was uproar and confusion on board of the Transcendant,
+but there was nobody on board the schooner except Toplift and
+myself. I cannot say that I never saw such a scene, for I had
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg&nbsp;274]</a></span>
+seen quite as bad on board of a privateer. The common seamen,
+as well as the soldiers, when let loose to plunder, are like
+maniacs. In half an hour they had broken open every thing, cut
+the crew to pieces, found out the hoard of dollars, which was
+shown them by young Peleg, who tried for his share, but for so
+doing received a chop with a cutlass, which cut off his right ear,
+and wounded him severely on the shoulder; but his right arm
+was not disabled, and while the man that cut him down was
+bending over a heap of dollars, which took both hands to lift
+them, the boy ran his knife deep into the man&rsquo;s side, who fell
+mortally wounded. The rush for the dollars thus at the mercy of
+the rest was so great, that Peleg was not minded, and he crept
+away and came on board the schooner. We saw that he was
+bleeding profusely, but we asked no questions, and he went
+down the ladder forward.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What has that young villain been after?&rdquo; said Toplift.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I presume he has been quarrelling for plunder, and considered
+that he had a greater right to his father&rsquo;s money than anybody
+else.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Among other plunder the people had not forgotten to look for
+liquor, and an hour had not passed before three-fourths of the
+men were more or less intoxicated. They had found plenty of
+good clothes, and were strutting about with gold-laced waistcoats
+and embroidered coats over their dirty frocks. The uproar
+increased every minute, when Toplift, who had been looking
+out with the glass, exclaimed, &ldquo;There she is, by all that&rsquo;s
+sacred!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I caught the glass out of his hand, and found it was the king&rsquo;s
+ship. She was a large flush vessel, apparently of eighteen or
+twenty guns, just opening from the point, and not seven miles
+from us. We were still becalmed, and she was bringing the
+wind down with her, so that to escape appeared impossible.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, what shall we do?&rdquo; said Captain Toplift; &ldquo;shall we
+allow her to come down upon us and say nothing to the men, or
+shall we point out the danger, and persuade them to come on
+board and prepare?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg&nbsp;275]</a></span>
+&ldquo;You must do as you please,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I am indifferent
+which. It will be dark in another hour, and she will not be
+down by that time. I would rather avoid fighting, and get away
+from the schooner quietly if I could, but that I fear is impossible
+now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I must go on board of the brig and let them know,
+for if they find it out themselves, they will throw us overboard.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Captain Toplift then went on board of the brig, and calling to
+the men who were still sober, told them that there was a king&rsquo;s
+ship coming down upon them not seven miles off. This had the
+effect of putting an end to the confusion and noise of a great portion
+of the men, who hastened on board of the schooner, but
+others, who were intoxicated, were with difficulty persuaded to
+return.</p>
+
+<p>At last they were all got on board, and the schooner, clear
+from the brig, was made ready for action; but Toplift was
+obliged to make some alteration in the stationing of the men, as
+those who were to hand up the powder were all of them tipsy. By
+the time that the schooner was ready, and the breeze had come
+down to her, the corvette was not more than three miles from us;
+but it was quite dark, for there is no twilight in those parts. We
+consulted what course we should take to avoid her, if possible,
+and agreed that we would stand in shore and pass her if we possibly
+could. We knew that, if seen, we were then certain to be
+obliged to fight; but if not seen, we might escape.</p>
+
+<p>We then shifted the helm and bore up across her bows, but
+we had not steered in this direction more than a quarter of an
+hour, when the Transcendant was perceived to be on fire, having
+been fired by the drunken men before they left her, and soon
+afterwards she burst out into flames that threw a strong light to a
+great distance, discovering the corvette to us at two miles&rsquo;
+distance, and of course exposing us to the corvette, who immediately
+altered her course for us. We had therefore only to
+fight, and the crew, being most of them in liquor, declared that
+they would fight till the schooner sunk under them. In a quarter
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg&nbsp;276]</a></span>
+of an hour, the corvette being close to us, and standing stem on,
+we opened our fire, raking her masts and yards, and then I went
+down below. I had changed my clothes for the duck trowsers
+and shirt which I had swum on board in, and I now remained
+quietly in the cabin. A few minutes afterwards the corvette
+opened her fire, and the shot did great execution. The cries of
+the wounded and the shouts of the tipsy men were mingled together,
+but the crew of the schooner tired with great rapidity, and
+sustained the unequal conflict most gallantly.</p>
+
+<p>After a time some men darted down into the cabin. I was
+then at the door which led to the magazine passage, and busied
+myself handing up the powder, as it secured me from observation,
+and it was supposed that I was one of the crew sent down for
+that duty.</p>
+
+<p>The men roared out, &ldquo;Where is the captain? We want him
+to fight the ship. Toplift is an old fool, and don&rsquo;t know what he
+is about.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I made no reply, but with my back towards them continued
+to hand up the powder, and, having changed my dress, they did
+not recognize me, so they rushed upon deck again.</p>
+
+<p>The corvette was now alongside of the schooner, pouring in
+her broadsides with fatal execution, the shot passing in every
+direction through her, so that there was as much danger below
+as on deck, and it was evident that the schooner could not oppose
+them much longer. Still they continued to fire with great resolution,
+being now sobered into more steadiness than at first. But
+by this time more than half the men were killed and wounded,
+and our guns were encumbered with the wreck and bodies. I
+heard them, at the very time that a crashing broadside was poured
+in by the corvette, cry out, &ldquo;Avast firing for a moment and clear
+the decks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They did so, and having thrown the bodies overboard and
+cut away the spars and rigging which had fallen, so as to enable
+them to work their guns, during which time three broadsides
+were poured in, they remanned their guns, and fought with as
+much spirit as before. I could not help admiring the courage of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg&nbsp;277]</a></span>
+the scoundrels, for nothing could exceed it; but resistance was
+useless, further than they preferred dying at their guns to being
+hanged on the gibbet.</p>
+
+<p>But the shouts of the pirates and the reports of the guns gradually
+decreased. The men were swept away by the enemy&rsquo;s
+fire, and the guns were one by one disabled. The schooner&rsquo;s
+sides were torn out, and the water poured in below so fast that
+it was rising to the magazine. I heard a cry of boarders, and
+the striking of the two vessels together, and then there was a rush
+down below, when a man came aft to the magazine passage. It
+was the fellow whom I had struck down on the quarter-deck and
+had put into irons.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come along,&rdquo; said he, to the others; &ldquo;we&rsquo;ll send the corvette
+and ourselves all to the devil together. Out of the way
+there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stand back,&rdquo; said I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stand back,&rdquo; replied he, pointing his pistol down to the
+magazine.</p>
+
+<p>I threw up his arm, and the pistol went off, striking the
+beams above.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Blast you,&rdquo; cried he, &ldquo;whoever you are; but I&rsquo;ve another,&rdquo;
+and he attempted to draw it out of his belt, but before he could
+effect it I blew out his brains with the pistol which I had ready
+cocked in my hand.</p>
+
+<p>His companions started back, and I pointed my second pistol
+at them, saying, &ldquo;The man who comes forward this way
+dies.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As I said this the crew of the corvette, who had cleared the
+decks, charged down below, and the pirates ran away and secreted
+themselves. Perceiving them coming forward, I said to
+them, &ldquo;Put a guard over the magazine; they have attempted to
+blow up the vessel already.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who are you?&rdquo; said an officer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A prisoner,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, then, lead him on deck, and stay here, two of you;
+shut down the magazine scuttle and keep guard.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg&nbsp;278]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Thank Heaven,&rdquo; thought I, &ldquo;that this affair is over,&rdquo; as a
+seaman led me by the collar on deck, and handed me to others,
+who took me on board of the corvette.</p>
+
+<p>We were all put down below that remained out of the schooner&rsquo;s
+crew, about eighteen or nineteen, not more, and I was
+glad to find Captain Toplift, although badly wounded with a
+splinter, was among the number. We remained there huddled
+together with a guard of ten men over us for more than an hour,
+when we heard, from the conversation on deck, that the schooner
+had sunk. After that the guns of the corvette were secured,
+and the men had an allowance of liquor served out to them, the
+watch was called, and all was quiet during the remainder of that
+night. For some time I was in a state of excitement from the
+events of the last twenty-four hours crowding so rapidly, but by
+degrees I became calm. I asked one of the guard who was the
+captain of the corvette.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that to you, you gallows-bird?&rdquo; replied he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A civil question might receive a civil reply,&rdquo; answered I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So it might with any one else; but if you don&rsquo;t want
+the hilt of my cutlass down your throat, you will hold your
+tongue.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But I did not require to repeat the question, as I heard
+one of the officers on deck say, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s Captain Musgrave&rsquo;s
+orders.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This satisfied me, and I lay down with the rest of the prisoners,
+waiting for daybreak, when I trusted my troubles would
+soon be over. They were all sound asleep. Strange that men
+who knew that they would be hanged In a few days, if not the
+next morning, should sleep so sound&mdash;but so it was&mdash;while I,
+who had every reason to believe that my sufferings were over,
+could not sleep one wink. I was, however, fully satisfied with
+my own castle-buildings during the night, and more satisfied
+when it was again broad daylight. After the men had had their
+breakfast, an order came down for all the prisoners to be brought
+on deck. We were led up under guard, and made to stand all
+in a row. I looked round for my brother, but he was not on
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg&nbsp;279]</a></span>
+deck. It was the first lieutenant who was there, with several
+other officers, and the clerk, with pen and ink, to take down
+the names of the prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who was the captain of this vessel?&rdquo; said the first lieutenant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was, Sir,&rdquo; replied Toplift; &ldquo;but much against my
+will.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, of course; every man was on board of her against his
+will. What is your name? Put him down, Mr. Pearson. Any
+other officers alive?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sir,&rdquo; replied Toplift.</p>
+
+<p>The name of every man was then asked and put down, and it
+so happened that I was the last; for, anxious to see my brother,
+I had walked up the foremost, and they had commenced their interrogation
+at the other end of the line.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is your name?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not belong to the schooner,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course not; you dropped on board her from the
+clouds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sir, I did not; I swam on board of her to save my
+life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you went out of the frying-pan into the fire, I reckon,
+my good fellow, for your life is forfeited now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I rather think not, Sir,&rdquo; replied I. &ldquo;On the contrary, I
+feel it is quite safe.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Give us none of your jaw, my good fellow, but give us your
+name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly, Sir, if you require it. My name is Alexander
+Musgrave, Sir,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;I am the elder brother of your
+captain, Philip Musgrave, and I will thank you to go into his
+cabin and inform him that I am here.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The first lieutenant and officers started back in astonishment,
+and so did Captain Toplift and the pirates. The first lieutenant
+hardly knew whether to consider it as a pretence on my part or
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg&nbsp;280]</a></span>
+not, and was undecided how to act, when Captain Toplift said,
+&ldquo;I do not know whether the gentleman is as he says, but this is
+certain, and all the men can prove it as well as myself, that he
+did swim on board, as he said, to escape from the Indians, and
+that he has never joined the crew. They offered to make him
+captain in my stead, and he positively refused it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said all the pirates; &ldquo;that&rsquo;s true enough.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Sir,&rdquo; replied the first lieutenant, &ldquo;I will certainly
+carry your message.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To make all certain,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I will write my name on
+a slip of paper for you to take in to the captain. He knows my
+signature.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I did so, and the first lieutenant took the paper, and went
+into the cabin. In a minute he returned, and requested me to
+follow him. I did so, and in another minute I was in the arms
+of my brother. For some time we neither of us could speak. At
+last Philip said, &ldquo;That you are alive and well, let me thank
+Heaven. I have considered you as dead, and so have others;
+and to find you on board of a pirate&mdash;on board of a vessel which
+I have been riddling with shot, any one of which might have
+caused your death. Thank God I was ignorant that you were on
+board, or I never could have done my duty. I will not ask how
+you came on board of this vessel, for that must be the end of your
+narrative, which I must have from the time that you first left Rio,
+and afterwards in detail the whole from the time that you left the
+Coast.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then they received my letters from Rio?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, after imagining you were dead, they were rejoiced by
+those letters; but I will not anticipate my story, nor will I now
+ask for yours; it is sufficient at present that you are alive, my
+dear Alexander, and once more in my arms.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me ask one question,&rdquo; replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know what it will be. She was in good health, but
+suffering much in mind from having no account of you. Her
+father and others have reasoned with her, and painted the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg&nbsp;281]</a></span>
+impossibility of your being in existence, as the xebeque you sailed
+in had never been heard of. She still adheres in the opinion that
+you are alive, and will not abandon the hope of seeing you again;
+but hope deferred has paled her cheek even more pale than it
+usually is, and she evidently suffers much, for her life is wrapped
+in yours. Now having told you this, you must come into my
+state-room, and allow me to enable you to appear as my brother
+ought to do. I do not think that there is any difference in our size
+now, although there was when we last parted.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Many thanks, Philip, but before I adonize my outward man
+I should wish to satisfy my inward cravings; and, to tell you the
+truth, I&rsquo;m so hungry from not having broken my fast for nearly
+twenty-four hours, that if you could order something to eat while
+you are looking out the clothes, I should feel in no small degree
+grateful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Philip rang the bell and ordered the steward in bring something
+to eat and drink, and after eating I occupied a quarter of an
+hour more in getting rid of the pirate smoke and dirt, and putting
+on one of his uniforms, for he had no other clothes on board,
+when I came out, looking not at all like a pirate.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, then,&rdquo; said Philip, &ldquo;before we have our <i>t&ecirc;te-&agrave;-t&ecirc;te</i>,
+come out with me, and let me introduce you to the officers as my
+brother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I went out with him, and was formally introduced. The first
+lieutenant apologized for his rough speech, but I told him that
+there was no occasion for any apology, as I had no doubt that I
+looked very much like a pirate at the time.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;More than you do now. Sir, at all events,&rdquo; replied he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;By the bye, brother,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;there is one man among the
+prisoners who, although compelled to act as captain by the men,
+is no pirate. His conduct I will explain to you. May I request
+him to be kindly treated? His name is Toplift&mdash;and also two
+Portuguese, my former companions.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; replied Philip, &ldquo;your word is sufficient. Let
+those persons be released and taken care of,&rdquo; said he to the
+first lieutenant. &ldquo;We will wait for the particulars by-and-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg&nbsp;282]</a></span>
+I remained on deck about ten minutes, and then returned to
+the cabin with my brother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is this which you have left on my dressing-table?&rdquo;
+said Philip, surveying the leather bag which contained the diamond.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That, Philip,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;is a portion of my narrative, and
+eventually may prove a very important one. I don&rsquo;t think that I
+can afford to make you a present of it, but I shall see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It does not look very valuable,&rdquo; replied he.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At all events, do me the favour to lock it up carefully,&rdquo;
+replied I.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, if you are in earnest I will,&rdquo; he said, and having
+put it in a drawer and locked it up, he said, &ldquo;Now, Alexander,
+let me have your history.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I commenced, and told him all that the reader is now acquainted
+with. Dinner broke off my narrative, and as soon as it
+was over I resumed it. When I had finished, he expressed his
+astonishment, and asked many questions. Among others he
+said, &ldquo;And that little wretch Peleg, the captain of the Transcendant&rsquo;s
+son, is he on board?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have not seen him,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;and therefore presume
+that he was not able to move, and went down in the schooner.&rdquo;
+Which was the case.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have indeed told me a strange tale,&rdquo; said Philip, &ldquo;and
+you have had some extraordinary escapes. You must have a
+charmed life, and you appear to have been preserved to prove
+that Amy&rsquo;s persuasion of your being still alive was just and well-founded;
+and now it is my turn to talk, and yours to listen.
+When I left you as lieutenant of Captain Levee&rsquo;s schooner, we
+very shortly afterwards had an action with a Spanish vessel of
+very superior force, for she mounted thirty guns. Having no
+chance with her, from her superior weight of metal, we threw
+ourselves on her bow and boarded. The Spaniards did not relish
+this kind of close fighting, and gave us immediate possession of
+their deck. Captain Levee, when he brought in his prize, was
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg&nbsp;283]</a></span>
+appointed to a frigate of thirty-six guns, and I followed him as
+his first lieutenant. We had another combat with a vessel of
+equal force, in which we were the victors, and I was sent in the
+prize. Captain Levee wrote very kindly in my behalf, and I was
+made a captain, and given the command of a small brig. But let
+me first finish with Captain Levee. He captured a galleon, which
+gave him a large fortune, and he then gave up the command of
+his ship, and went on shore, telling me in a letter that he had
+hitherto squandered away all his money, but now that he had got
+so much, he intended to keep it. He has done so, for he has
+purchased a large landed property, is married, and I believe, is
+very happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He deserves it,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;and long may he be so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, to continue. I was sent out on this station, and
+having information that the vessel which you are now on board of
+was at anchor in a bay close to the Havannah, I ran in and reconnoitred.
+She hoisted Spanish colours, and I did the same.
+It fell calm, and I lay about four miles outside. I was mistaken
+for another Spanish vessel, and the captain of this vessel, or, to
+speak correctly, the Spanish captain of the Spanish brig, came
+out to see me, and did not discover his mistake till he was on
+board. I detained him and his boat&rsquo;s crew. It continued calm
+till the evening, when the breeze sprung up, and I put the head
+of the brig right for the bay, as if I were going in to anchor. The
+breeze being light, it was dark before I got in and alongside this
+vessel. They were completely surprised, for they imagined that
+their captain was dining with his old friend, and having no idea
+that we were any thing but Spanish, had not the least preparation
+for resistance. We had possession of her decks before they
+could seize their arms, and I brought her out without any one
+knowing that she had been captured. On my arrival, the admiral
+gave me the command of her, which I have held for nine months;
+but she is very defective, and I was ordered home, and should
+have sailed, had it not been that that scoundrel, the captain of the
+Transcendant, gave me the information which induced me to
+come round to the back of the island. Little did I think what
+happiness awaited me. So much for myself. Do not think me
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg&nbsp;284]</a></span>
+an egotist for speaking of myself, I am only clearing away the less
+important information to arrive at that which most interests you.
+The Amy arrived safe with her valuable cargo. The captain reported
+that he had remained at the rendezvous until blown off by
+a sort of hurricane, and that finding himself a long way off, he
+considered, when the gale had ceased, that he was not justified
+in remaining with so valuable a cargo, but was bound to make
+the best of his way to Liverpool. He was right, and his conduct
+was approved of by Mr. Trevannion, who looked for your arrival
+every hour. At last a week passed away and you did not make
+your appearance, and great alarm was entertained for your
+safety. The weeks grew into months, and it was supposed that
+you had been upset in the same hurricane which had driven the
+Amy so far off from her rendezvous. The poor girl, Whyna, was,
+as you may suppose, kindly received by Mr. Trevannion and his
+daughter, and soon gained their affection; but she pined for your
+return, and when she was told that you were dead she never recovered
+it. The climate certainly did not agree with her, and
+she contracted a very bad cough during the winter, but I believe
+from my heart that it was your loss which affected her the most
+severely. After she had been about eighteen months in England,
+she fell into a consumption and died.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Poor Whyna!&rdquo; said I, with a sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Alexander,&rdquo; said Philip, &ldquo;perhaps it was all for the best,
+for that poor girl loved you sincerely, and supposing that she
+was now still alive and living with Miss Trevannion, and on your
+return your marriage should (which of course, unless Heaven
+decrees otherwise, it will) take place, that poor creature would
+have been very unhappy; and although the idea of her being a
+rival to Miss Trevannion is something which may appear absurd
+to us, yet she had the same feelings, and must have endured the
+same pangs as any other woman, let her colour be what it may.
+I think, therefore, that her removal was a blessing and a happy
+dispensation. I saw Mr. Trevannion and his daughter but once
+previous to their receiving your letters from Rio acquainting
+them with your misfortunes and happy deliverance from slavery.
+They were both very dejected, and Mr. Trevannion talked of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg&nbsp;285]</a></span>
+retiring from business, and living upon his property near Liverpool.
+As I corresponded regularly with Amy, I learnt that he
+had done so, and had just wound up his affairs when your letters
+arrived from Rio with an order on the Portuguese Exchequer for a
+considerable sum. I hardly need say that the joy occasioned by
+this intelligence was great. Amy recovered her good looks, and
+her father bitterly lamented his having retired from business, as
+he had wished to have made the whole over to you. The money
+you remitted from Rio he considered as your own, and he also
+set apart your share of the business from the time that you were
+admitted as a partner. He was not aware that you could carry a
+diamond of such immense value about your person, exposed to
+the view of every one; among Indians, settlers, and pirates.
+That my delight was equal to theirs you will, I am sure, give me
+credit to believe; and although I was obliged to sail for the West
+Indies, every day I anticipated receiving a letter informing me of
+your arrival in England. Judge then my distress at first receiving
+letters stating that you had not been heard of for three months
+after your leaving Rio, and expressions of fear that some accident
+had happened, and then month after month many more and
+more desponding letters, in which Mr. Trevannion plainly stated
+that the xebeque must have foundered; and only Amy clinging to
+the hope that you were still alive. I acknowledge that I considered
+you dead, and you may therefore imagine my surprise and
+delight when your signature on the slip of paper proved that you
+were not only in existence, but on board of the same vessel
+with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Such was the narrative of my brother Philip in return for
+mine, and it was late at night when we parted. Oh! how sincerely
+did I pray that night, thanking Heaven for all its mercies,
+and entreating that the cup might not be again dashed from my
+lips. When I arose the next morning I found that Philip was on
+deck, and I followed him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We shall soon be in Port Royal with this wind,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and I hope to find the admiral still there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I had some conversation with the officers, and then went below
+to see Toplift. He was in his hammock, for he had much
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg&nbsp;286]</a></span>
+fever and suffered from his wound, but the surgeon said that he
+would do well.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Toplift,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;you must keep your mind at ease, for
+my brother has promised me that you shall not be tried with the
+others, and has no doubt that when he explains the whole to the
+admiral you will be thanked for your service.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thanked!&rdquo; said Toplift, &ldquo;if I am not hanged, I shall be
+fortunate enough.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No fear of that,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;so keep your mind easy and
+get well as fast as you can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well then, Sir, you have saved my life, at all events, for
+had you not come on board, no one would have ever spoken for
+me, or believed that I was not a pirate in heart like all the others,
+except the two Portuguese.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If necessary, they will be evidence in your favour, but I do
+not think any evidence will be required except mine, and that will
+be sufficient with the admiral. I promised you that you should
+never want the means of getting your livelihood, and I repeat that
+promise now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you, Sir,&rdquo; replied he, and I then left him and went
+up to the cabin to breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>The following day we were at anchor at Port Royal; my
+brother reported what had occurred, and the admiral sent for all
+the pirate prisoners except Toplift, whose case was so fully represented
+by me and my brother, that he was permitted to go at
+large, and to take a passage home to England free of expense if
+he wished it. It is hardly necessary to say that Toplift accepted
+this offer, and remained in the vessel with me. The two Portuguese
+were also liberated. Three days after our arrival we
+sailed for England, and after a quick run of between five and six
+weeks, we anchored at Spithead. My brother could not leave
+his ship, and I therefore requested him to write to Liverpool
+stating that he had intelligence of me, and that I was alive; that
+I had been wrecked and had fallen into the hands of the Indians
+near the English settlements in Virginia, and that I had escaped
+and was, he believed, at James Town.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg&nbsp;287]</a></span>
+I considered it wise to make a communication like this at
+first, as too sudden an announcement might be dangerous to one
+in so weak a state of health as Philip stated my Amy to be from
+the letter he had received from her father. I remained with him
+at Portsmouth until the reply came. Mr. Trevannion wrote and
+told Philip that his communication had, as it were, raised his
+daughter from the grave&mdash;as she had fallen into a state of profound
+melancholy, which nothing could remove&mdash;that he had
+very cautiously introduced the subject, and by degrees told her
+what was reported, and eventually when he found that she was
+more composed, that he had put Philip&rsquo;s letter into her hand.</p>
+
+<p>He concluded that he trusted that I would arrive, and soon,
+for if any accident was now to happen to me it would be the death
+of his daughter, who had not strength enough left to bear another
+reverse. At my request Philip then wrote that he had received a
+letter from a brother officer stating that I was well and safe on
+board, and that they would be in England a few days after the
+receipt of the letter.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving directions to Philip how to proceed, I now went off
+to London, and having fitted myself out with every requisite of
+dress and toilet, I called upon a celebrated Jew diamond merchant
+and showed him my diamond, requesting that he would
+weigh it and then estimate its value. He was much astonished at
+the sight of such a stone, as well he might be, and after weighing
+it and examining it, he pronounced it worth &pound;47,000, provided
+a purchaser could be found for an article of such value.</p>
+
+<p>I told him that I was not a merchant, and could not be travelling
+about to show the diamond to crowned heads, but if he
+would give me a liberal price for it, I would abate a great deal,
+that he might dispose of it to his own advantage. He requested
+that he might call upon me with two of his friends, that they
+might see the diamond and consult with him; and then he would
+give me an answer. We fixed the time for twelve o&rsquo;clock on the
+following day, and I took my leave.</p>
+
+<p>The next day he called at the time appointed, accompanied
+by two gentlemen of his own persuasion. They weighed the stone
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg&nbsp;288]</a></span>
+again very carefully, examined it by the light of a powerful lamp
+to ascertain its water, and to see if there were any flaws in it,
+calculated the reduction of weight which would take place in
+cutting it, and, after a consultation, I was offered &pound;38,000.
+I considered this an offer that I ought not to refuse, and I closed
+with them. The next day the affair was settled. I received money
+and bills on government to the amount, and wrote to Philip telling
+him what had taken place. Strange that from two slaves in the
+mines I should have received such valuable legacies; from poor
+Ingram a diamond worth so much money, and from the other
+Englishman a tattered Bible which made me a sincere Christian&mdash;a
+legacy in comparison of which the diamond was as
+dross.</p>
+
+<p>Philip replied to my letter congratulating me on the sale of the
+diamond, and informing me that to his letter he had received a
+reply containing so satisfactory an account of Amy&rsquo;s restored
+health, that he had written to tell them that I had arrived safe in
+England, and would be very soon with them. He recommended
+my going immediately, as the anxiety and suspense would be
+very injurious to Amy&rsquo;s health. I therefore made every arrangement
+for my departure, purchased horses, and procured four
+stout serving men, well armed, to accompany me, and wrote a
+letter, which I sent by an express courier, stating the exact day
+which I expected to arrive at Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s country seat.</p>
+
+<p>I waited in London two days to wind up all my affairs, and to
+give time for the express to arrive before me, as I intended to
+travel very fast. My stay in London was the occasion of an important
+discovery. I was at the coffee-house at St. Paul&rsquo;s, and
+was talking with one of Captain Levee&rsquo;s officers, with whom I had
+picked up an acquaintance, when on his calling me by the name
+of Musgrave, a pinched-up sort of looking personage, in a black
+suit, who was standing at the bay-window, turned round, and
+coming up to me said, &ldquo;Sir, as a stranger I must apologize, but
+hearing your friend call you by the name of Musgrave, may I
+venture to ask if you are any relative to Sir Richard Musgrave,
+Baronet, who lived in Cumberland?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg&nbsp;289]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Lived, did you say, Sir? Is he then dead?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sir; he has been dead these last seven months, and
+we are looking out for his heir and cannot find him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I knew the family very well,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;for I am connected
+with it. His eldest son, Richard, of course, must be his
+heir, as all the estates are entailed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;His eldest son, Richard, Sir, is dead. We have authenticated
+documents to prove that; and, moreover, his second son,
+Charles, is also dead. He came home very ill and died, not at
+his father&rsquo;s house, but at the house of one of his tenants on the
+estate. It is his third son, Alexander Musgrave, whom we seek,
+and seek in vain. He is now the heir to the baronetcy and estates,
+but we have lost all clue to him. We understand that a Captain
+Philip Musgrave is just arrived from the West Indies. He is, we
+presume, the fourth son. But until we can find out what has
+become of Alexander Musgrave, and whether he is dead or alive,
+we cannot act. I have written this day to Captain Musgrave, requesting
+any information he can give, but have received no answer.
+I presume, Sir, it is useless to inquire of you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not exactly, Sir, for I am the Alexander Musgrave you
+seek.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed, Sir, but what proof have you of your identity to offer
+to us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The evidence of my brother, Captain Philip Musgrave, in
+whose ship I have just arrived from the West Indies; that his
+answer to your letter will be satisfactory enough, I have no doubt.
+Here is a letter from him to me, in which you see he addresses
+me &lsquo;my dear Alexander,&rsquo; and concludes with &lsquo;your affectionate
+brother, Philip Musgrave.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is indeed, satisfactory, Sir,&rdquo; replied the gentleman,
+&ldquo;and I have only to receive an answer from your brother to make
+all right and clear. Allow me, Sir, to congratulate you upon
+your accession to the title and property. I presume you will have
+no objection, as soon as the necessary proofs are obtained, to
+accompany me down to Cumberland, where I doubt not you will
+be recognized by many.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg&nbsp;290]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Of that, Sir, I have not the slightest doubt,&rdquo; replied I,
+&ldquo;but I cannot go down with you to Cumberland at present. I
+leave London for Liverpool the day after to-morrow on important
+business, and cannot disappoint the parties.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Sir, it must indeed be an important business which
+will prevent you from taking possession of a title and &pound;4,000 per
+annum,&rdquo; replied he; &ldquo;but here is my address, and I hope I
+shall hear from you as soon as possible, as I shall remain in town
+till I can bring the heir down with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man now looked as if he doubted me. He could not
+imagine that I could neglect the taking possession of the estate
+for any other business, and it did appear singular, so I said to
+him, &ldquo;Sir, I have been long out of England, and am affianced
+to a young lady who lives near Liverpool. She has been waiting
+to hear from me for some time, and I have sent an express to say
+that I will be with her on such a day. I cannot disappoint her,
+and, I tell you more, that, without I possess her, the possession
+of the title and estates will give me very little pleasure.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; replied he, making a bow, &ldquo;I honour your sentiments,
+and she must be a worthy lady who can inspire such
+feelings. I only hope that you will not remain too long at Liverpool,
+as London is expensive, and I am anxious to return to
+Cumberland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I then wished the gentleman farewell, and went home to my
+lodgings. I had given him my address in case he wanted to see
+me before my departure.</p>
+
+<p>The next day I received a letter from Philip inclosing the one
+written to him by this gentleman, whose name was Campbell,
+and who was a lawyer. Philip told me what reply he had made to
+him, and congratulated me on my accession to the title and estates.
+Almost an hour afterwards Mr. Campbell called upon me
+with Philip&rsquo;s letter, which he declared to be highly satisfactory,
+and sufficient in any court of justice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I would wish to ask you a few particulars.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg&nbsp;291]</a></span>
+&ldquo;And I also would wish to make a few inquiries, Mr. Campbell.
+I have heard your name in my youth, although I cannot
+recollect ever having seen you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was the confidential adviser of your father at one time,
+Sir,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;but latterly all intercourse had ceased; it
+was not until he was on his death-bed, and fully repented the
+foolish step which he had taken, and the injustice he had been
+guilty of, that he sent for me, much to the annoyance of Lady
+Musgrave, who would have prevented me from coming into the
+house even when I arrived, had it not been for the servants, who
+disobeyed her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And my sisters, Sir, Janet and Mabel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are both well, and have grown up very fine girls. Your father
+destroyed the deed by which Lady Musgrave was to have had
+a large jointure upon the estate, and she is now entirely dependent
+upon you for what she may receive. When do you expect to
+be able to come up from Liverpool?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can hardly say, but of course as soon as I can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Sir, my own affairs will require my presence in the
+metropolis for a month. In the meantime, although I should
+have preferred to have gone down with you to Faristone Hall, and
+have at once put you in possession, yet affairs may remain as
+they are (for every thing is under seal, and Lady Musgrave has
+been compelled to remove), till it suits your convenience. I
+shall, however, write to let them know that you have been found,
+and will soon come down and take possession.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Campbell then asked me a few questions, to which I
+replied satisfactorily, and then for the first time he saluted
+me with my title, saying, &ldquo;Sir Alexander, I will now take my
+leave.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I set off on my journey, and travelled with
+as much speed as the horses would permit. I arrived on the fifth
+day at Mr. Trevannion&rsquo;s seat, about nine miles from Liverpool.
+As I rode up the avenue of chestnut trees, I perceived a female
+form looking out from an upper window, which soon afterwards
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg&nbsp;292]</a></span>
+made a precipitate retreat. I alighted, and was received at the
+door in the embrace of Mr. Trevannion, who welcomed me with
+tears, and taking me by the hand he led me into an apartment
+where I found my adored Amy, who threw herself into my arms
+and wept as if her heart would break; but her sobs were the sobs
+of joy, and when she did raise her head and look at me, it was
+with eyes beaming with pleasure, and with smiles upon her
+beautiful lips. I clasped her to my bosom, and felt that I was
+more than repaid for all I had suffered, and my heart was throbbing
+with gratitude and love.</p>
+
+<p>It was some time before we could sufficiently compose ourselves
+to enter into lengthened conversation, and then Amy inquired
+what had occurred to me to occasion such a lengthened
+absence. We sat down on a sofa, and with Amy on one side of
+me and her father on the other, I entered into my narrative.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so you have been married since we last heard from
+you?&rdquo; said Amy, smiling, when I had finished my history.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; replied I, &ldquo;I have been; but I hope I shall treat my
+second wife a little better than I did my first.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope so too,&rdquo; replied Amy; &ldquo;but I have great fear that
+your Virginian mistress may come over and claim you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not think that likely. From the Indians having followed
+me to the beach, they must have fallen in with her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what do you think became of her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I cannot exactly say; but I presume she died
+gallantly, and fought with her axe to the last.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>That evening I had a long conversation with Mr. Trevannion.
+He told me what he had done with the money, which he considered
+as mine, and I put into his care the sum I had received for
+the diamond. I then spoke to him about our marriage, and requested
+that it might not be postponed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Musgrave,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;my daughter&rsquo;s happiness
+so depends upon her union with you, that I can only say I am
+willing that it should take place to-morrow. For yourself you
+know that I have the highest esteem, and that you must be
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg&nbsp;293]</a></span>
+convinced of when I have consented to the match without even
+making inquiry as to your family and connections. Now, however,
+is the time that I should wish to have some information
+about them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Sir, if you will only make inquiries, you will find
+that the family of Musgrave is one of the most highly connected in
+the north, and that the head of it is a or was Sir Richard Musgrave,
+Baronet, of Faristone Hall, in Cumberland. I am a near
+relative of his, as I can satisfactorily prove.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is sufficient,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion. &ldquo;I shall leave
+you to plead your cause with Amy to-morrow; so now, good
+night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The following day I told Amy that, since my arrival in England,
+I had heard of the death of my father, and that it was necessary
+that I should go to the north, as family affairs required
+my presence.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you serious?&rdquo; replied she.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never more so in my life. My presence is absolutely necessary,
+and I made arrangements with the legal adviser of our
+family that I would be there in less than a month.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is a long journey,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion, &ldquo;and how long
+to you stay?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I cannot possibly say,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;but not longer
+than I can help.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not think that I shall let you go,&rdquo; said Amy; &ldquo;you are
+not to be trusted out of sight. You are so born for adventure
+that you will not be heard of again for another two years.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Such is my misfortune, I grant,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;but, Amy,
+you look pale and thin; change of air would do you much service.
+Suppose you and your father were to come with me.
+Indeed, Mr. Trevannion, I am in earnest. At this delightful
+time of the year nothing would prove so beneficial to her health;
+and, Amy, then, you know, that I shall not be out of your
+sight.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should like the tour very much,&rdquo; replied she, &ldquo;but&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg&nbsp;294]</a></span>
+&ldquo;I know what you would say. You do not like the idea of
+travelling with me as Amy Trevannion. You are right. Then
+let me propose that you travel with me as Amy Musgrave.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I second that proposal,&rdquo; said Mr. Trevannion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Consent, Amy, let our marriage be quite private. I know
+you will prefer that it should be so, and so will your father. You
+will then travel with me as my wife, and we never shall part
+again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Amy did not reply till her father said, &ldquo;Amy, it is my wish
+that it should be so. Recollect it will be the last time that you
+have to obey your father, so do not annoy me by a refusal.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will not, my dear father,&rdquo; replied Amy, kissing him.
+&ldquo;Your last command I obey with pleasure. And oh! if I have
+sometimes been a wilful girl, forgive me every thing at this moment.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear child, I have nothing to forgive. May God bless
+you; and, Mr. Musgrave,&rdquo; said he, putting her hand in mine,
+&ldquo;if she proves as good a wife as she has been a daughter, you now
+receive a treasure,&rdquo; and I felt that the old man stated what was
+true.</p>
+
+<p>It was arranged that the marriage should take place on that
+day week, and that it should be quite private. There was no
+parade of bridal clothes; in fact, no one was invited, and it was
+at my request quite a secret marriage. A clergyman had been
+engaged to perform the ceremony, and, on the day appointed,
+I received the hand of my Amy in the drawing-room, and in the
+presence only of Humphrey and two other confidential servants.</p>
+
+<p>After the ceremony was over, the clergyman requested me to
+come with him into the adjoining room, and said, it was
+necessary that he should give a certificate of the marriage, which
+must be inserted in the parish register. He had called me aside
+for that purpose, that I might give him my exact name, profession,
+&amp;c.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My name is Alexander Musgrave, as you have heard when
+you married us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg&nbsp;295]</a></span>
+&ldquo;Yes, I know that, but I must be particular. Have you no
+other name? Is that the name that you have been and will be in
+future known by?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not exactly,&rdquo; replied I; &ldquo;I have been known by that name,
+but in future shall not be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then what am I to say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must say, Sir Alexander Musgrave, Baronet, of
+Faristone Hall, Cumberland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that is what I required; and the lady
+your wife, has she any other name but Amy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;None, I believe.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The clergyman then wrote out the marriage certificate, and
+signed it, taking a copy for registry, and we returned into the
+drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here is the certificate of marriage, Madam,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;it
+ought to be in the care of the lady, and therefore, my lady, I
+hand it over to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My lady is much obliged to you for your kindness,&rdquo; replied
+Amy, for she thought that the clergyman was only facetious.</p>
+
+<p>She held the certificate in her hand folded as it had been given
+her for some time. At last curiosity, or, perhaps, having nothing
+else to do, induced her to open it and read it. I was at
+this time talking with the clergyman, and presenting him with a
+handsome douceur for his trouble; but perceiving her to open the
+certificate, I watched her countenance. She read and started.
+I turned away as if not observing her. She then went up to her
+father and desired him to read it.</p>
+
+<p>The old gentleman took out his glasses, and it was amusing
+to see the way in which he looked at his daughter with his spectacles
+falling off his nose. He then came up, and pointing to
+the certificate said, &ldquo;Pray how am I in future to address my
+daughter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As Amy, I trust, Sir, unless you wish to scold her, and
+then you must call her Lady Musgrave. I am, my dear Sir, as
+the certificate states, Sir Alexander Musgrave, of Faristone,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg&nbsp;296]</a></span>
+with a handsome property descended to me. I did not know it
+till I arrived in London, and if I concealed it from you till now,
+it was only that my Amy should have the satisfaction of proving
+to me that she wedded me in pure disinterestedness of
+affection.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was very, very kind of you, Alexander, to do as you
+have done, and I thank you sincerely for it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And now, my dear Amy, you understand why I wished you
+to come with me to Cumberland, that you may take possession of
+your future abode, and assume that position in society which you
+will so much grace. I trust, Sir,&rdquo; continued I, &ldquo;that you will
+not part from us, and that one roof will always cover us, as long
+as Heaven thinks fit to spare our lives.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May God bless you both,&rdquo; replied Mr. Trevannion, &ldquo;I cannot
+part with you, and must follow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>About half an hour after this, I requested Amy and Mr. Trevannion
+to sit by me, as I had now another narrative to give them,
+which was an explanation why and how it was that they found me
+in the position that they had done; in short, what were the causes
+that induced me, and afterwards my brother Philip, to quit our
+parental roof, and to come to the resolution of fighting our own
+way in the world. It was as follows:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sir Richard Musgrave, my father, married a young lady of
+high connection, a Miss Arabella Johnson, and with her lived,
+I have every reason to believe, a very happy life for nearly twenty-five
+years, when it pleased God to summon her away. I have a
+good recollection of my mother; for although I lived with my
+brother at a private tutor&rsquo;s, about six miles off, I was continually
+at home, and she did not die till I was nearly sixteen; and I can
+only say, that a more elegant, amiable, and truly virtuous woman,
+as I believe, never existed. By this marriage my father
+had four sons and two daughters; Richard, the eldest; Charles,
+the second; myself, the third; and Philip, the fourth; and my
+sisters, who came last, were named Janet and Mabel. At the
+time of my mother&rsquo;s death, my eldest brother was serving with
+the army, which he had entered from a love of the profession,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg&nbsp;297]</a></span>
+although, as heir to the baronetcy and estates, which are a clear
+4,000<i>l.</i> per annum, he of course had no occasion for a profession.
+My second brother, Charles, being of an adventurous turn, had
+gone out to the East Indies in a high position, as servant to the
+Company. I was still at home, as well as Philip, who is four
+years my junior, and my sisters were of course at home. I pass
+over my regrets at my mother&rsquo;s death, and will now speak more
+of my father. He was a good-tempered, weak man, easily led,
+and although, during my mother&rsquo;s lifetime, he was so well led
+that it was of little consequence, the case proved very different at
+her death. For a year my father remained quiet in the house,
+content with superintending his improvements on his property,
+and he had lately become infirm, and had given up the hounds
+and rural sports in general. The dairy was one of his principal
+hobbies; and it so happened that a young girl, the daughter of
+a labourer, was one of the females employed in that part of the
+establishment. She was certainly remarkably good-looking; her
+features were very small, and she did not show that robust frame
+which people in her class of life generally do. She was about
+seventeen years old, slight in figure, and certainly a person that
+you would not pass without making some commendatory remark
+upon her good looks and modest appearance. She was not, however,
+what she appeared; she was beyond measure cunning and
+astute, and, as it proved, inordinately ambitious. My father,
+who was naturally of an amorous disposition, was attracted by
+her, and very soon was constantly in the dairy, and his attentions
+were so marked, that the other servants used to call her
+&lsquo;my lady.&rsquo; A few months after my father had shown a preference
+for this girl, he was seized with his first attack of
+gout. It did not last him long, and in six weeks he was about
+again, and resumed his attentions to her. Philip and I, who
+were at our tutor&rsquo;s, when we came home, heard from others
+what was going on, and very foolishly played the girl many
+tricks, and annoyed her as much as we could. After we returned,
+my father had another fit of the gout, and when he was confined
+to his room, he desired this girl to be sent for to attend upon him.
+I cannot say what took place, but this is certain, that my father&rsquo;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg&nbsp;298]</a></span>
+unfortunate passion became so great, and I presume the girl&rsquo;s
+ambition rose in proportion, that about six months afterwards,
+this daughter of a menial was raised to the dignity of Lady
+Musgrave&mdash;she being at that time about eighteen, and my father
+verging on seventy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When this ill-assorted and disgraceful connection was
+known, the gentry and aristocracy of the county refused any
+longer to visit my father, and all communication was broken off.
+In a short time the ascendency which this artful girl gained over
+the old man was most wonderful. He lived but in her sight, and
+knew no will but hers. Her father and family were removed to a
+good house in the neighbourhood, and gave themselves all the
+airs of gentlepeople. The good old steward was dismissed, and
+her father established in his room, although the man could not
+read or write, and was wholly unfit for the office. The expense
+which she launched out into, by his permission, was excessive.
+New liveries, new coaches, diamonds, and dresses fit for the
+court&mdash;indeed, every kind of luxury that could be conceived,
+and much greater than my father could afford. She now showed
+herself in her true colours; vindictive and tyrannical to excess,
+she dismissed all the old servants, and oppressed all those to
+whom she owed a grudge; yet my poor father could see nothing
+but perfection in her. It was not till four months after the marriage
+that Philip and I came home, and our new step-mother had
+not forgotten our treatment of her. She treated us with great
+harshness, refused our taking meals at my father&rsquo;s table, and
+ordered us the coarsest fare; and when we complained to my
+father, denied every thing that we said. As we found that we
+could not induce our father to listen to us or to believe us, we
+tried all we could, and retaliated and annoyed her as much, if
+not more, than she annoyed us, by talking of her mean origin
+and her former occupation; we defied her, and, in so doing, we
+ruined ourselves; for, after a useless struggle on my father&rsquo;s
+part, he gave way to her imperious commands, and sending for
+me, told me that I had become such a reprobate that I was no
+longer a son of his. He threw me a purse, telling me that it was
+all I might expect from him, and that I was instantly to leave the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg&nbsp;299]</a></span>
+house, and never show my face in it any more. I replied,
+with more spirit than respect, that it was high time that the son of
+a gentleman and lady should leave the house, when such lowborn
+creatures were installed in it as the mistress. My father,
+in a rage, flung his crutch at my head, and I left the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As I went out I met her in the passage; she had evidently
+been listening to what had passed, and she was full of exultation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;It is your turn now, you she-devil,&rsquo; said I, in my rage;
+&lsquo;but wait till my father dies. You shall go a-milking again.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not mean to defend my conduct, but I was then no
+seventeen, and that must be my excuse. I little thought, when
+I said so, that it would be from my hands that she would have to
+receive bounty, but so it is, as Mr. Campbell informs me that my
+father destroyed, previous to his death, the papers which he had
+signed to secure her a large jointure on the estate. I set off with
+my wardrobe and the purse of twenty guineas, which my father
+had given me, and having a desire to see the world, I went on
+board of a merchant vessel. Six months afterwards, when we
+were at Liverpool, I went on board of a privateer. The remainder
+of my history you are already acquainted with.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As soon as she had wreaked her vengeance upon me, my
+brother Philip was the next; but he was too young at that time to
+be turned adrift, so she put it off till the time should come, irritating
+and weaning my father from him by every means in her
+power. Three years afterwards she succeeded in having him dismissed,
+also, and you know how I found him out. All these circumstances
+were very well known in the neighbourhood and to
+our own relations; and one only, my aunt, called upon my father,
+and, after a long conversation, my father consented that my
+sisters should go away, and remain under her charge. My step-mother&rsquo;s
+violent temper, her exactions, her imperious conduct,
+which was now shown even towards him, with what my aunt had
+advanced, had to a certain extent opened my father&rsquo;s eyes. He
+perceived that she had no other view but her own aggrandisement,
+and that she cared little for him. Her repeated attempts,
+however, to make him sign in her favour, in case of his death,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg&nbsp;300]</a></span>
+were successful, and it was not till after her conduct had alienated
+him from her, and he deplored the loss of his children, that
+he committed the deed to the flames. About three years after I
+had quitted the house, my eldest brother, who had information
+of all that had passed, and who remained in the army because he
+declared that he never would go home till after his father&rsquo;s death,
+was killed by a cannon-ball; and my second brother died of a
+fever about a year ago, when resident at the court of a native
+prince. I had heard nothing of these deaths, or of my father&rsquo;s,
+until my arrival in London; of course, I was most anxious to go
+down to Cumberland, if it were only to undo the wickedness
+which this woman had done, and to make amends to those whom
+she had so cruelly treated. I do not feel any spirit of revenge,
+but I feel that justice demands it of me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I shall go with you with pleasure, to help you in your
+good work,&rdquo; said Amy, &ldquo;and also because I want to see how she
+will now behave to one whom she has so persecuted, and who has
+become the arbiter of her fate.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Amy, I will not trust myself on this question. You
+shall be the arbitress of her fate, and what you decide shall be
+irrevocable.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fully appreciate the compliment you pay me,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;but I prefer that it should be decided in council, and we will
+call in my father to our assistance.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A fortnight after our marriage, we set off for London, in a
+coach with six handsome black horses, and eight armed servants
+in liveries on horseback. We arrived safely on the seventh day,
+and there we reposed for a time previous to setting out for Cumberland.
+My aunt was in London and attending the court, which
+I was not aware of, and with her were my two sisters, Janet and
+Mabel, whom I had not seen for years, and who warmly embraced
+me, promising that they would soon come down and take
+up their abode at the hall. They expressed their admiration of
+Amy, but, in so doing, they only followed the general opinion,
+for it was impossible to see and not admire her elegance and
+beauty. My aunt showed us every attention, and we were
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg&nbsp;301]</a></span>
+presented to his Majesty, who was pleased to compliment Lady
+Musgrave in very flattering terms. We were joined in London by
+my brother Philip, who had paid off his ship, and the day after
+he joined us I said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip, there are only you and I left. Do you recollect when
+you inquired about the diamond, the day we met on board of
+your ship, what reply I made to you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; you said that you were afraid that you could not afford
+to make me a present of it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At that time I did not think so, Philip, but now I know that
+I can, and I have desired Mr. Trevannion to put out to good security
+the &pound;38,000 that the diamond was sold for, in your name,
+and for your use. You&rsquo;ll not hesitate to accept it, Philip, for
+you know that I can afford it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not hesitate, my dear Alexander, because I would do
+the same to you, and you would not refuse me. At the same
+time, that is no reason that I should not thank you kindly for your
+generous behaviour.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Philip accompanied us on our journey to Cumberland. It was
+tedious, for the roads were any thing but good, but the beauty of
+the scenery compensated for the ruggedness of the way. In six
+days we arrived at the Hall, where Mr. Campbell, who had called
+upon me on my arrival in London, had preceded me to make preparations
+for our reception, which was enthusiastic to the highest
+degree. We were called upon and congratulated by all the
+county, who were delighted to find that such a personage as Amy
+was to be the future mistress.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as all this bustle and excitement were over, I sat
+down with Mr. Campbell to look over the state of affairs, and to
+set things to rights.</p>
+
+<p>After having done justice to many claimants, engaged again
+the old servants that had been discharged, promised farms to the
+tenants who had been unfairly turned out, &amp;c., we then proceeded
+to decide upon what was to be done to the Dowager Lady
+Musgrave. It appears that at my father&rsquo;s death, when she found
+that the deed had been destroyed by his own hands in presence of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg&nbsp;302]</a></span>
+others, she became frantic with rage, and immediately hastened
+to secure the family jewels, and every article of value that she
+could lay her hands upon, but Mr. Campbell, having due notice
+of what she was about, came in time to prevent her taking them
+away, and, putting seals upon every thing and leaving careful
+guards in the Hall, my lady had gone to her father&rsquo;s house, where
+she still remained. She had, on my arrival, sent me a message,
+imploring my mercy, and reminding me that whatever might be
+her errors, she was still the lawful wife of my father, and she
+trusted that respect to his memory would induce me to allow her
+sufficient to maintain her as Lady Musgrave should be. We had
+the consultation that Amy proposed, and called in Mr. Campbell
+as a fourth, and it was at last decided, that, on consideration
+that she removed with her family to a distance of fifty miles from
+Faristone, she should have an income of &pound;300 per annum, as
+long as she conducted herself with propriety and did not marry
+again. The last clause was the only one which she complained of.
+Mr. Campbell had, at the request of my father, discharged Lady
+Musgrave&rsquo;s parent from the office of steward and called in the old
+steward to resume his situation, and before dismissal, he had
+to refund certain sums of money not accounted for.</p>
+
+<p>I have now told my eventful tale; I have only to add, that after
+all that I have passed through, I have been rewarded by many
+years of unalloyed happiness. My two sisters are well married,
+and my three children are all that a father could wish. Such, my
+dear Madam, have been the vicissitudes of a &ldquo;Privateer&rsquo;s-man,&rdquo;
+and I now subscribe myself,</p>
+
+<p class="center">Your most obedient,</p>
+
+<p class="sig">Alexander Musgrave.</p>
+
+<p class="center" style="padding-top: 3em;">THE END.</p>
+
+
+<p class="center" style="padding-top: 3em; padding-bottom: 3em;">PRINTED BY BERNH. TAUCHNITZ JUN.</p>
+
+
+
+<div class="bbox">
+<p><b>Transcriber's Note</b></p>
+
+<p>This book uses some archaic and alternative spelling&mdash;for example, befal,
+stupified, faultering&mdash;which has been preserved as printed.</p>
+
+<p>Both <i>l.</i> and &pound; have been used to indicate currency; this has been
+preserved as printed.</p>
+
+<p>Punctuation errors have been repaired, and hyphenation has been made consistent,
+without note.</p>
+
+<p>The following typographic errors have been repaired:</p>
+
+<div class="amends">
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_34">34</a>&mdash;ancle to ankle&mdash;"... a small manacle was fixed round my left ankle, ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_51">51</a>&mdash;villanous to villainous&mdash;"The consultation ended by a solemn and most villainous oath ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_55">55</a>&mdash;mahing to making&mdash;"... rose without making any reply, and hastened on deck."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_75">75</a>&mdash;in to it&mdash;"... I shall consider it an insult, and immediately repair ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_89">89</a>&mdash;except to expect&mdash;"... and if so, we must expect their vengeance."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_104">104</a>&mdash;lite to little&mdash;"I slept little on this, I may say, first night ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_122">122</a>&mdash;prefered to preferred&mdash;"... saying that he preferred a privateer to a merchant vessel, ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_151">151</a>&mdash;me to we&mdash;"Well, we must first get the vessel hired into the service."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_155">155</a>&mdash;asid to said&mdash;"... said Mr. Trevannion, taking me by the hand, ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_201">201</a>&mdash;laynyard to lanyard&mdash;"... putting a strong leather lanyard to it, ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_202">202</a>&mdash;laynyard to lanyard&mdash;"... I put the leather lanyard round my neck, ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_207">207</a>&mdash;althogether to altogether&mdash;"... that, altogether, we had been robbed to the tune of ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_236">236</a>&mdash;ke to he&mdash;"... and he knew there was no road to it, ..."</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_301">301</a>&mdash;Travannion to Trevannion&mdash;"... and I have desired Mr. Trevannion to put out to good security ..."</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>A brief table of contents has been added for ease of navigation.</p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Privateer's-Man, by Frederick Marryat
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Privateer's-Man, by Frederick Marryat
+
+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 Privateer's-Man
+       One hundred Years Ago
+
+Author: Frederick Marryat
+
+Release Date: June 7, 2008 [EBook #25719]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRIVATEER'S-MAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, Sam W. and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was
+produced from scanned images of public domain material
+from the Google Print project.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                          THE
+                    PRIVATEER'S-MAN
+
+                 ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
+
+
+                           BY
+
+                    CAPTAIN MARRYAT.
+
+
+ _SANCTIONED BY THE AUTHOR FOR CONTINENTAL CIRCULATION._
+
+
+
+
+LEIPZIG
+BERNH. TAUCHNITZ JUN.
+1846.
+
+
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE LOG OF A PRIVATEER'S-MAN.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+    We cruise off Hispaniola--Capture a French Ship--Continue
+    our Cruise--Make a Nocturnal Attack upon a Rich Planter's
+    Dwelling--Are repulsed with Loss.
+
+
+              _To Mistress ----._
+
+      RESPECTED MADAM,
+
+In compliance with your request I shall now transcribe from the
+journal of my younger days some portions of my adventurous life. When
+I wrote, I painted the feelings of my heart without reserve, and I
+shall not alter one word, as I know you wish to learn what my feelings
+were then, and not what my thoughts may be now. They say that in every
+man's life, however obscure his position may be, there would be a
+moral found, were it truly told. I think, Madam, when you have perused
+what I am about to write, you will agree with me, that, from my
+history, both old and young may gather profit, and, I trust, if ever
+it should be made public, that, by divine permission, such may be the
+result. Without further preface, I shall commence with a narrative of
+my cruise off Hispaniola, in the Revenge privateer.
+
+The Revenge mounted fourteen guns, and was commanded by Captain
+Weatherall, a very noted privateer's-man. One morning at daybreak we
+discovered a vessel from the masthead, and immediately made all sail
+in chase, crowding every stitch of canvas. As we neared, we made her
+out to be a large ship, deeply laden, and we imagined that she would
+be an easy prize, but as we saw her hull more out of the water she
+proved to be well armed, having a full tier of guns fore and aft. As
+it afterwards proved, she was a vessel of 600 tons burden, and mounted
+twenty-four guns, having sailed from St. Domingo, and being bound to
+France.
+
+She had been chartered by a French gentleman (and a most gallant
+fellow we found him), who had acquired a large fortune in the
+West-Indies, and was then going home, having embarked on board his
+whole property, as well as his wife and his only son, a youth of about
+seventeen. As soon as he discovered what we were, and the
+impossibility of escape from so fast a sailing vessel as the Revenge,
+he resolved to fight us to the last. Indeed, he had every thing to
+fight for; his whole property, his wife and his only child, his own
+liberty, and perhaps life, were all at stake, and he had every motive
+that could stimulate a man. As we subsequently learnt, he had great
+difficulty in inspiring the crew with an equal resolution, and it was
+not until he had engaged to pay them the value of half the cargo
+provided they succeeded in beating us off, and forcing their way in
+safety to France, that he could rouse them to their duty.
+
+Won by his example, for he told them that he did not desire any man to
+do more than he would do himself, and perhaps more induced by his
+generous offer, the French crew declared they would support him to the
+last, went cheerfully to their guns and prepared for action. When we
+were pretty near to him, he shortened sail ready for the combat,
+having tenderly forced his wife down below to await in agony the issue
+of a battle on which depended every thing so dear to her. The resolute
+bearing of the vessel, and the cool intrepidity with which they had
+hove to to await us, made us also prepare on our side for a combat
+which we knew would be severe. Although she was superior to us in
+guns, yet the Revenge being wholly fitted for war, we had many
+advantages, independent of our being very superior in men. Some few
+chase-guns were fired during our approach, when, having ranged up
+within a cable's length of her, we exchanged broadsides for half an
+hour, after which our captain determined upon boarding. We ran our
+vessel alongside, and attempted to throw our men on board, but met
+with a stout resistance. The French gentleman, who was at the head of
+his men, with his own hand killed two of our stoutest seamen, and
+mortally wounded a third, and, encouraged by his example, his people
+fought with such resolution, that after a severe struggle we were
+obliged to give it up, and retreat precipitately into our own vessel,
+leaving eight or ten of our shipmates weltering in their blood.
+
+Our captain, who had not boarded with us, was much enraged at our
+defeat, stigmatizing us as cowards for allowing ourselves to be driven
+from a deck upon which we had obtained a footing; he called upon us to
+renew the combat, and leading the way, he was the first on board of
+the vessel, and was engaged hand to hand with the brave French
+gentleman, who had already made such slaughter among our men. Brave
+and expert with his weapon as Captain Weatherall undoubtedly was, he
+for once found rather more than a match in his antagonist; he was
+slightly wounded, and would, I suspect, have had the worst of this
+hand-to-hand conflict, had not the whole of our crew, who had now
+gained the deck, and were rushing forward, separated him from his
+opponent. Out-numbered and over-matched, the French crew fought most
+resolutely, but notwithstanding their exertions, and the gallant
+conduct of their leader, we succeeded in driving them back to the
+quarter-deck of the vessel. Here the combat was renewed with the
+greatest obstinacy, they striving to maintain this their last hold,
+and we exerting ourselves to complete our conquest. The Frenchmen
+could retreat no further, and our foremost men were impelled against
+them by those behind them crowding on to share in the combat. Retreat
+being cut off, the French struggled with all the animosity and rage of
+mingled hate and despair; while we, infuriated at the obstinate
+resistance, were filled with vengeance and a thirst for blood. Wedged
+into one mass, we grappled together, for there was no room for fair
+fighting, seeking each other's hearts with shortened weapons,
+struggling and falling together on the deck, rolling among the dead
+and the dying, or trodden underfoot by the others who still
+maintained the combat with unabated fury.
+
+Numbers at last prevailed; we had gained a dear-bought victory--we
+were masters of the deck, we had struck the colours, and were
+recovering our lost breaths after this very severe contest, and
+thought ourselves in full possession of the ship; but it proved
+otherwise. The first lieutenant of the privateer and six of us, had
+dashed down the companion, and were entering the cabin in search of
+plunder, when we found opposed to our entrance, the gallant French
+gentleman, supported by his son, the captain of the vessel, and five
+of the French sailors; behind them was the French gentleman's wife, to
+whose protection they had devoted themselves. The lieutenant, who
+headed us, offered them quarter, but stung to madness at the prospect
+of the ruin and of the captivity which awaited him, the gentleman
+treated the offer with contempt, and rushing forward attacked our
+lieutenant, beating down his guard, and was just about to pierce him
+with the lunge which he made, when I fired my pistol at him to save
+the life of my officer. The ball entered his heart, and thus died one
+of the bravest men I ever encountered. His son at the same time was
+felled to the deck with a pole-axe, when the remainder threw
+themselves down on the deck, and cried for quarter. So enraged were
+our men at this renewal of the combat, that it required all the
+efforts and authority of the lieutenant to prevent them from
+completing the massacre by taking the lives of those who no longer
+resisted. But who could paint the condition of that unhappy lady who
+had stood a witness of the horrid scene--her eyes blasted with the
+sight of her husband slain before her face, her only son groaning on
+the deck and weltering in his blood; and she left alone, bereft of all
+that was dear to her; stripped of the wealth she was that morning
+mistress of, now a widow, perhaps childless, a prisoner, a beggar, and
+in the hands of lawless ruffians, whose hands were reeking with her
+husband's and offspring's blood, at their mercy, and exposed to every
+evil which must befal a beautiful and unprotected female from those
+who were devoid of all principle, all pity, and all fear! Well might
+the frantic creature rush, as she did, upon our weapons, and seek
+that death which would have been a mercy and a blessing. With
+difficulty we prevented her from injuring herself, and, after a
+violent struggle, nature yielded, and she sank down in a swoon on the
+body of her husband, dabbling her clothes and hair in the gore which
+floated on the cabin-deck. This scene of misery shocked even the
+actors in it. Our sailors, accustomed as they were to blood and
+rapine, remained silent and immoveable, resting upon their weapons,
+their eyes fixed upon the unconscious form of that unhappy lady.
+
+The rage of battle was now over, our passions had subsided, and we
+felt ashamed of a conquest purchased with such unutterable anguish.
+The noise of this renewed combat had brought down the captain; he
+ordered the lady to be taken away from this scene of horror, and to be
+carefully tended in his own cabin; the wound of the son, who was found
+still alive, was immediately dressed, and the prisoners were secured.
+I returned on deck, still oppressed with the scene I had witnessed,
+and when I looked round me, and beheld the deck strewed with the dead
+and dying--victors and vanquished indiscriminately mixed up
+together--the blood of both nations meeting on the deck and joining
+their streams--I could not help putting the question to myself, "Can
+this be right and lawful--all this carnage to obtain the property of
+others, and made legal by the quarrels of kings?" Reason, religion,
+and humanity, answered, "No."
+
+I remained uneasy and dissatisfied, and felt as if I were a murderer;
+and then I reflected how this property, thus wrested from its former
+possessor, who might, if he had retained it, have done much good with
+it, would now be squandered away in riot and dissipation, in
+purchasing crime and administering to debauchery. I was young then,
+and felt so disgusted and so angry with myself and everybody else,
+that if I had been in England, I probably should never again have put
+my foot on board of a privateer.
+
+But employment prevented my thinking; the decks had to be cleaned, the
+bodies thrown overboard, the blood washed from the white planks, the
+wounded to be removed, and their hurts dressed, the rigging and other
+damages to be repaired, and when all this had been done, we made sail
+for Jamaica with our prize. Our captain, who was as kind and gentle to
+the vanquished as he was brave and resolute in action, endeavoured by
+all the means he could think of to soften the captivity and sufferings
+of the lady. Her clothes, jewels, and every thing belonging to her,
+were preserved untouched; he would not even allow her trunks to be
+searched, and would have secured for her even all her husband's
+personal effects, but the crew had seized upon them as plunder, and
+refused to deliver them up. I am almost ashamed to say that the sword
+and watch of her husband fell to my lot, and whether from my wearing
+the sword, or from having seen me fire the pistol which had killed
+him, the lady always expressed her abhorrence of me whenever I entered
+her presence. Her son recovered slowly from his wound, and, on our
+arrival at Port Royal, was permitted by the admiral to be sent to the
+King's Hospital, and the lady, who was most tenderly attached to him,
+went on shore and remained at the Hospital to attend upon him. I was
+glad when she was gone, for I knew how much cause she had for her
+hatred of me, and I could not see her without remorse. As soon as we
+had completed our repairs, filled up our provisions and water, we
+sailed upon another cruise, which was not so successful, as you will
+presently perceive.
+
+For five or six weeks we cruised without success, and our people began
+to grumble, when one morning our boats in shore off Hispaniola
+surprised a small schooner. A negro who was among the prisoners
+offered to conduct us through the woods by night to the house of a
+very rich planter, which was situated about three miles from a small
+bay, and at some distance from the other plantations. He asserted that
+we might there get very valuable plunder, and, moreover, obtain a
+large ransom for the planter and his family, besides bringing away as
+many of the negro slaves as we pleased.
+
+Our captain, who was tired of his ill-success, and who hoped also to
+procure provisions, which we very much wanted, consented to the
+negro's proposal, and standing down abreast of the bay, which was in
+the Bight of Lugan, he ran in at dark, and anchoring close to the
+shore, we landed with forty men, and, guided by the negro, we
+proceeded through the woods to the house. The negro was tied fast to
+one of our stoutest and best men, for fear he should give us the slip.
+It was a bright moonlight; we soon arrived, and surrounding the house,
+forced our way in without opposition. Having secured the negroes in
+the out-houses, and placed guards over them, and videttes on the
+look-out to give timely notice of any surprise, we proceeded to our
+work of plunder. The family, consisting of the old planter and his
+wife, and his three daughters, two of them very beautiful, was secured
+in one room. No words can express their terror at thus finding
+themselves so suddenly in the power of a set of ruffians, from whose
+brutality they anticipated every evil. Indeed the horrid excesses
+committed by the privateers'-men, when they landed on the coast, fully
+justified their fears, for as this system of marauding is considered
+the basest of all modern warfare, no quarter is ever given to those
+who are taken in the attempt. In return, the privateers'-men hesitate
+at no barbarity when engaged in such enterprises.
+
+Dumb with astonishment and terror, the old couple sat in silent agony,
+while the poor girls, who had more evils than death to fear, drowned
+in their tears, fell at the captain's feet and embraced his knees,
+conjuring him to spare and protect them from his men.
+
+Captain Weatherall, who was, as I have before stated, a generous and
+humane man, raised them up, assuring them, on his word, that they
+should receive no insult, and as his presence was necessary to direct
+the motions of his people, he selected me, as younger and less brutal
+than most of his crew, as a guard over them, menacing me with death if
+I allowed any man to enter the room until he returned, and ordering me
+to defend them with my life from all insults. I was then young and
+full of enthusiasm; my heart was kind, and I was pure in comparison
+with the major portion of those with whom I was associated.
+
+I was delighted with the office confided to me, and my heart leaped at
+having so honourable an employment. I endeavoured by every means in my
+power to dissipate their terrors and soothe their anxious minds; but
+while I was thus employed, an Irish seaman, distinguished even
+amongst our crew for his atrocities, came to the door, and would have
+forced his entrance. I instantly opposed him, urging the captain's
+most positive commands; but, having obtained a sight of the young
+females, he swore with a vile oath that he would soon find out whether
+a boy like me was able to oppose him, and finding that I would not
+give way, he attacked me fiercely. Fortunately, I had the advantage of
+position, and supported by the justice of my cause, I repelled him
+with success. But he renewed the attack, while the poor young women
+awaited the issue of the combat with trembling anxiety--a combat on
+which depended, in all probability, their honour and their lives. At
+last I found myself very hard pushed, for I had received a wound on my
+sword arm, and I drew a pistol from my belt with my left-hand, and
+fired it, wounding him in the shoulder. Thus disabled, and fearing at
+the same time that the report would bring back the captain, whom he
+well knew would not be trifled with, he retired from the door vowing
+vengeance. I then turned to the young women, who had witnessed the
+conflict in breathless suspense, encircled in the arms of the poor old
+couple, who had rushed towards them at the commencement of the fray,
+offering them their useless shelter. Privateer's-man as I was, I could
+not refrain from tears at the scene. I again attempted to reassure
+them, pledged myself in the most solemn manner to forfeit my life if
+necessary for their protection, and they in some degree regained their
+confidence. They observed the blood trickling down my fingers from the
+wound which I had received, and the poor girls stained their
+handkerchiefs with it in the attempts to staunch the flow.
+
+But this scene was soon interrupted by an alarm. It appeared that a
+negro had contrived to escape and to rouse the country. They had
+collected together from the other plantations, and our party being, as
+is usually the case when plunder is going on, very negligent, the
+videttes were surprised, and had hardly time to escape and apprise us
+of our danger. There was not a moment to be lost; our safety depended
+upon an immediate retreat. The captain collected all hands, and while
+he was getting them together that the retreat might be made in good
+order, the old planter who, by the report of the fire-arms and the
+bustle and confusion without, guessed what had taken place, pressed me
+to remain with them, urging the certainty of our men being
+overpowered, and the merciless consequences which would ensue. He
+pledged himself with his fingers crossed in the form of the crucifix,
+that he would procure me safe quarter, and that I should ever enjoy
+his protection and friendship. I refused him kindly but firmly, and he
+sighed and said no more. The old lady put a ring on my finger, which
+she took from her own hand, and kissing my forehead, told me to look
+at that ring, and continue to do good and act nobly as I had just
+done.
+
+I waved my hand, for I had no time even to take the proffered hands of
+the young ones, and hastened to join my shipmates already on the
+retreat, and exchanging shots with our pursuers. We were harassed by a
+multitude, but they were a mixed company of planters, mulattoes, and
+slaves, and not half of them armed, and we easily repelled their
+attacks, whenever they came to close quarters. Their violent
+animosity, however, against us and our evil doings, induced them to
+follow close at our heels, keeping up a galling irregular fire, and
+endeavouring to detain us until we might be overpowered by their
+numbers, every minute increasing, for the whole country had been
+raised, and were flocking in. This our captain was well aware of, and
+therefore made all the haste that he could, without disturbing the
+regularity of his retreat, to where our boats were lying, as should
+they be surprised and cut off, our escape would have been impossible.
+Notwithstanding all his care, several of our men were separated from
+us by the intricacies of the wood, or from wounds which they had
+received, and which prevented them from keeping up with us. At last,
+after repelling many attacks, each time more formidable than the
+preceding, we gained our boats, and embarking with the greatest
+precipitation, we put off for the schooner. The enemy, emboldened by
+our flight, flocked down in great numbers to the water's edge, and we
+had the mortification to hear our stragglers, who had been captured,
+imploring for mercy; but groans and then silence too plainly informed
+us that mercy had been denied.
+
+Captain Weatherall was so enraged at the loss of his men that he
+ordered us to pull back and attack the enemy on the beach, but we
+continued to pull for the schooner, regardless of his threats and
+entreaties. A panic had seized us all, as well it might. We even
+dreaded the ill-aimed and irregular fire which they poured upon us,
+which under other circumstances would have occasioned only laughter.
+The schooner had been anchored only two hundred yards from the beach,
+and we were soon on board. They continued to fire from the shore, and
+the balls passed over us. We put a spring upon our cable, warped our
+broadside to the beach, and loading every gun with grape and
+cannister, we poured a whole broadside upon our assailants. From the
+shrieks and cries, the carnage must have been very great. The men
+would have reloaded and fired again, but the captain forbade them,
+saying, "We have done too much already." I thought so too. He then
+ordered the anchor to be weighed, and with a fresh land-breeze, we
+were soon far away from this unlucky spot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+    We are pursued by Two Schooner-Privateers, and failing to
+    escape them a terrible Contest ensues--Three Acts of a
+    Murderous Naval Drama--We are worsted--Captain Weatherall
+    is killed--I am plundered and wounded.
+
+
+About six weeks after the unlucky affair before described, we met with
+a still greater disaster. We had cruised off the Spanish Main and
+taken several prizes; shortly after we had manned the last and had
+parted company, the Revenge being then close in shore, a fresh gale
+sprung up, which compelled us to make all sail to clear the land. We
+beat off shore during the whole of the night, when the weather
+moderated, and at daybreak we found out that we had not gained much
+offing, in consequence of the current; but what was more important,
+the man who went to the look-out at the masthead, hailed the deck,
+saying there were two sail in the offing. The hands were turned up to
+make sail in chase, but we found that they were resolutely bearing
+down upon us; and as we neared each other fast, we soon made them out
+to be vessels of force. One we knew well--she was the Esperance, a
+French schooner-privateer of sixteen guns, and one hundred and
+twenty-men; the other proved to be a Spanish schooner-privateer,
+cruising in company with her, of eighteen guns, and full manned.
+
+Now our original complement of men had been something more than one
+hundred, but by deaths, severe wounds in action, and manning our
+prizes, our actual number on board was reduced to fifty-five effective
+men. Finding the force so very superior, we made every attempt with
+sails and sweeps to escape, but the land to leeward of us, and their
+position to windward, rendered it impossible. Making, therefore, a
+virtue of necessity, we put a good face upon it, and prepared to
+combat against such desperate odds.
+
+Captain Weatherall, who was the life and soul of his crew, was not
+found wanting on such an emergency. With the greatest coolness and
+intrepidity, he gave orders to take in all the small sails, and
+awaited the coming down of the enemy. When every thing was ready for
+the unequal conflict, he ordered all hands aft, and endeavoured to
+inspire us with the same ardour which animated himself. He reminded us
+that we had often fought and triumphed over vessels of much greater
+force than our own; that we had already beaten off the French
+privateer on a former occasion; that the Spaniard was not worth
+talking about except to swell the merits of the double victory, and
+that if once we came hand to hand our cutlasses would soon prove our
+superiority. He reminded us that our only safety depended upon our own
+manhood; for we had done such mischief on the coast, and our recent
+descent upon the plantation was considered in such a light, that we
+must not expect to receive quarter if we were overcome. Exhorting us
+to behave well, and to fight stoutly, he promised us the victory. The
+men had such confidence in the captain that we returned him three
+cheers, when, dismissing us to our quarters, he ordered St. George's
+ensign to be hoisted at the main-masthead, and hove to for the enemy.
+
+The French schooner was the first which ranged up alongside; the wind
+was light, and she came slowly down to us. The captain of her hailed,
+saying that his vessel was the Esperance, and our captain replied that
+he knew it, and that they also knew that his was the Revenge. The
+French captain, who had hove to, replied very courteously that he was
+well aware what vessel it was, and also of the valour and
+distinguished reputation of Captain Weatherall, upon which, Captain
+Weatherall, who stood on the gunnel, took off his hat in
+acknowledgment of the compliment.
+
+Now Captain Weatherall was well known, and it was also well known that
+the two vessels would meet with a severe resistance, which it would be
+as well to avoid, as even if they gained the victory, it would not be
+without great loss of men. The French captain therefore addressed
+Captain Weatherall again, and said he hoped, now that he was opposed
+to so very superior a force, he would not make a useless resistance,
+but as it would be no disgrace to him, and would save the lives of
+many of his brave men, his well known humanity would induce him to
+strike his colours.
+
+To this request our commander gave a gallant and positive refusal. The
+vessels lay now close to each other, so that a biscuit might have been
+thrown on board of either. A generous expostulation ensued, which
+continued till the Spanish vessel was a short distance astern of us.
+
+"You now see our force," said the French captain. "Do not fight
+against impossible odds, but spare your brave and devoted men."
+
+"In return for your kind feeling towards me," replied Captain
+Weatherall, "I offer you both quarter, and respect to private
+property, upon hauling down your colours."
+
+"You are mad, Captain Weatherall," said the French captain.
+
+"You allow that I have lived bravely," replied Captain Weatherall;
+"you shall find that I will conquer you, and if necessary I will also
+die bravely. We will now fight. In courtesy, I offer you the first
+broadside."
+
+"Impossible," said the French captain, taking off his hat.
+
+Our captain returned the salute, and then slipping down from the
+gunwale, ordered the sails to be filled, and, after a minute to give
+the Frenchman time to prepare, he fired off in the air the fusee,
+which he held in his hand, as a signal for the action to begin. We
+instantly commenced the work of death by pouring in a broadside. It
+was returned with equal spirit, and a furious cannonading ensued for
+several minutes, when the Spaniard ranged up on our lee quarter with
+his rigging full of men to board us. Clapping our helm a-weather and
+hauling our fore sheets to windward, we fell off athwart his hawse,
+and raked him with several broadsides fore and aft; our guns having
+been loaded with langridge and lead bullets, and his men being crowded
+together forward, ready to leap on board of us, her deck became a
+slaughter-house. The officers endeavoured in vain to animate their
+men, who, instead of gaining our decks, were so intimidated by the
+carnage that they forsook their own. The Frenchman perceiving the
+consternation and distress of his consort, to give her an opportunity
+of extricating herself from her perilous condition, now put his helm
+a-weather, ran us on board, and poured in his men; but we were well
+prepared, and soon cleared our decks of the intruders. In the meantime
+the Spaniard, by cutting away our rigging, in which his bowsprit was
+entangled, swung clear of us, and fell away to leeward. The Frenchman
+perceiving this, sheered off, and springing his luff, shot ahead clear
+of us. Such was the first act of this terrible drama. We had as yet
+sustained little damage, the enemy's want of skill and our own good
+fortune combined, having enabled us to take them at such a
+disadvantage.
+
+But although inspirited by such a prosperous beginning, our
+inferiority in men was so great that our captain considered it his
+duty to make all sail in hopes of being able to avoid such an unequal
+combat. This our enemies attempted to prevent by a most furious
+cannonade, which we received and returned without flinching, making a
+running fight of it, till at last our fore yard and foretop-mast being
+shot away, we had no longer command of the vessel. Finding that,
+although we were crippled and could not escape, our fire continued
+unabated, both the vessels again made preparations for boarding us,
+while we on our part prepared to give them a warm reception.
+
+As we knew that the Frenchman, who was our most serious opponent, must
+board us on our weather bow, we traversed over four of our guns loaded
+to the muzzle with musket balls to receive him, and being all ready
+with our pateraroes and hand grenades, we waited for the attack. As he
+bore down for our bows, with all his men clinging like bees, ready for
+the spring, our guns were discharged and the carnage was terrible. The
+men staggered back, falling down over those who had been killed or
+wounded, and it required all the bravery and example of the French
+captain, who was really a noble fellow, to rally the remainder of his
+men, which at last he succeeded in doing, and about forty of them
+gained our forecastle, from which they forced our weak crew, and
+retained possession, not following up the success, but apparently
+wailing till they were seconded by the Spaniard's boarding us on our
+lee quarter, which would have placed us between two fires, and
+compelled us to divide our small force.
+
+By this time the wind, which had been light, left us, and it was
+nearly a calm, with a swell on the sea, which separated the two
+vessels; the Spaniard, who was ranging up under our lee, having but
+little way and not luffing enough, could not fetch us, but fell off
+and drifted to leeward. The Frenchmen who had been thrown on board,
+and who retained possession of our forecastle, being thus left without
+support from their own vessel, which had been separated from us by the
+swell, or from the Spaniard, which had fallen to leeward, we gave
+three cheers, and throwing a number of hand-grenades in among them, we
+rushed forward with our half-pikes, and killed or drove every soul of
+them overboard, one only, and he wounded in the thigh, escaped by
+swimming back to his own vessel. Here, then, was a pause in the
+conflict, and thus ended, I may say, the second act.
+
+Hitherto the battle had been fought with generous resolution; but
+after this hand-to-hand conflict, and the massacre with which it
+ended, both sides appeared to have been roused to ferocity. A most
+infernal cannonade was now renewed by both our antagonists, and
+returned by us with equal fury; but it was now a dead calm, and the
+vessels rolled so much with the swell, that the shot were not so
+effective. By degrees we separated more and more from our enemies, and
+the firing was now reduced to single guns. During this partial
+cessation our antagonists had drawn near to each other, although at a
+considerable distance from us. We perceived that the Spaniard was
+sending two of his boats full of men to supply the heavy loss
+sustained by his comrade. Captain Weatherall ordered the sweeps out,
+and we swept our broadside to them, trying by single guns to sink the
+boats as they went from one vessel to the other. After two or three
+attempts, a gun was successful; the shot shattered the first of the
+boats, which instantly filled and went down. The second boat pulled up
+and endeavoured to save the men, but we now poured our broadside upon
+them, and, daunted by the shot flying about them, they sought their
+own safety by pulling back to the vessel, leaving their sinking
+companions to their fate. Failing in this attempt, both vessels
+recommenced their fire upon us, but the distance and the swell of the
+sea prevented any execution, and at last they ceased firing, waiting
+till a breeze should spring up which might enable them to renew the
+contest with better success.
+
+At this time it was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and the
+combat had lasted about five hours. We refreshed ourselves after the
+fatigue and exertion which we had undergone, and made every
+preparation for a renewal of the fight. During the engagement we were
+so excited, that we had no time to think; but now that we were cool
+again and unoccupied, we had time to reflect upon our position, and we
+began to feel dejected and apprehensive. Fatigued with exertion, we
+were weak and dispirited. We knew that our best men were slain or
+groaning under their severe wounds, that the enemy were still
+numerous, and as they persevered after so dreadful a slaughter, that
+they were of unquestionable bravery and resolution. Good fortune, and
+our captain's superior seamanship had, up to the present, enabled us
+to make a good fight, but fortune might desert us, and our numbers
+were so reduced, that if the enemy continued resolute, we must be
+overpowered. Our gallant captain perceived the despondency that
+prevailed, and endeavoured to remove it by his own example and by
+persuasion. After praising us for the resolution and courage we had
+already shown, he pointed out to us that whatever might be the
+gallantry of the officers, it was clear that the men on board of the
+opposing vessels were awed by their heavy loss and want of success,
+and that if they made one more attempt to take us by the board and
+failed, which he trusted they would do, no persuasion would ever
+induce them to try it again, and the captains of the vessels would
+give over such an unprofitable combat. He solemnly averred that the
+colours should never be struck while he survived, and demanded who
+amongst us were base enough to refuse to stand by them. Again we gave
+him three cheers, but our numbers were few, and the cheers were faint
+compared with the first which had been given, but still we were
+resolute, and determined to support our captain and the honour of our
+flag. Captain Weatherall took care that this feeling should not
+subside--he distributed the grog plentifully; at our desire he nailed
+the colours to the mast, and we waited for a renewal of the combat
+with impatience. At four o'clock in the afternoon a breeze sprang up,
+and both vessels trimmed their sails and neared us fast--not quite in
+such gallant trim as in the morning it is true--but they appeared now
+to have summoned up a determined resolution. Silently they came up,
+forcing their way slowly through the water; not a gun was fired, but
+the gaping mouths of the cannon, and their men motionless at their
+quarters, portended the severity of the struggle which was now to
+decide this hitherto well-contested trial for victory. When within
+half a cable's length, we saluted them with three cheers, they
+returned our defiance, and running up on each side of us, the combat
+was renewed with bitterness.
+
+The Frenchman would not this time lay us on board until he was certain
+that the Spaniard had boarded us to leeward--he continued luffing to
+windward and plying us with broadsides until we were grappled with the
+Spaniard, and then he bore down and laid his gunwale on our bow. The
+Spaniard had already boarded us on the quarter, and we were repelling
+this attack, when the Frenchman laid us on the bow. We fought with
+desperation, and our pikes gave us such an advantage over the swords
+and knives of the Spaniards, that they gave ground, and appalled by
+the desperate resistance they encountered, quitted our decks strewed
+with their dead and dying shipmates, and retreated in confusion to
+their own vessel. But before this repulse had been effected, the
+French had boarded us on the weather-bow, and driving before them the
+few men who had been sent forward to resist them, had gained our main
+deck, and forced their way to the rise of the quarter-deck, where all
+our remaining men were now collected. The combat was now desperate,
+but after a time our pikes, and the advantage of our position,
+appeared to prevail over numbers. We drove them before us--we had
+regained the main deck, when our brave commander, who was at our head,
+and who had infused spirit into us all, received a bullet through his
+right wrist; shifting his sword into his left hand, he still pressed
+forward encouraging us, when a ball entered his breast and he dropped
+dead. With his fall, fell the courage and fortitude of his crew so
+long sustained--and to complete the mischief, the lieutenant and two
+remaining officers also fell a few seconds after him. Astonished and
+terrified, the men stopped short in their career of success, and
+wildly looked round for a leader. The French, who had retreated to the
+forecastle, perceiving our confusion, renewed the attack, our few
+remaining men were seized with a panic, and throwing down our arms, we
+asked for quarter where a moment before victory was in our hands--such
+was the finale of our bloody drama.
+
+Out of fifty-five men twenty-two had been killed in this murderous
+conflict, and almost all the survivors desperately or severely
+wounded. Most of the remaining crew after we had cried for quarter
+jumped down the hatchway, to avoid the cutlasses of their enraged
+victors. I and about eight others, having been driven past the
+hatchway, threw down our arms and begged for quarter, which we had
+little reason to expect would be shown to us. At first no quarter was
+given by our savage enemies, who cut down several of our disarmed men
+and hacked them to pieces. Perceiving this, I got on the gunwale ready
+to jump overboard, in the hopes of being taken up after the slaughter
+had ceased, when a French lieutenant coming up protected us, and
+saved the poor remains of our crew from the fury of his men. Our
+lives, however, were all he counted upon preserving--we were instantly
+stripped and plundered without mercy. I lost every thing I possessed;
+the watch, ring, and sword I had taken from the gallant Frenchman were
+soon forced from me, and not stripping off my apparel fast enough to
+please a Mulatto sailor, I received a blow with the butt-end of a
+pistol under the left ear, which precipitated me down the hatchway,
+near which I was standing, and I fell senseless into the hold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+    We are sent in, on board the Revenge and treated with
+    great cruelty--Are afterwards recaptured by the Hero
+    privateer, and retaliate on the French--I am taken to
+    the hospital at Port Royal, where I meet the French
+    lady--Her savage exultation at my condition--She is
+    punished by one of my comrades.
+
+
+On coming to my senses, I found myself stripped naked, and suffering
+acute pain. I found that my right arm was broken, my shoulder severely
+injured by my fall; and as I had received three severe cutlass-wounds
+during the action, I had lost so much blood that I had not strength to
+rise or do any thing for myself. There I lay, groaning and naked, upon
+the ballast of the vessel, at times ruminating upon the events of the
+action, upon the death of our gallant commander, upon the loss of our
+vessel, of so many of our comrades, and of our liberty. After some
+time the surgeon, by the order of the French commander, came down to
+dress my wounds. He treated me with the greatest barbarity. As he
+twisted about my broken limb I could not help crying at the anguish
+which he caused me. He compelled me to silence by blows and
+maledictions, wishing I had broken my rascally neck rather than he
+should have been put to the trouble of coming down to dress me.
+However, dress me he did, out of fear of his captain, who, he knew
+well, would send round to see if he had executed his orders, and then
+he left me with a kick in the ribs by way of remembrance. Shortly
+afterwards the vessels separated. Fourteen of us, who were the most
+severely hurt, were left in the Revenge, which was manned by an
+officer and twenty Frenchmen, with orders to take her into
+Port-au-Paix. The rest of our men were put on board of the French
+privateer, who sailed away in search of a more profitable adventure.
+
+About an hour after they had made sail on the vessel, the officer who
+had charge of her, looking down the hatchway, and perceiving my naked
+and forlorn condition, threw me a pair of trousers, which had been
+rejected by the French seamen as not worth having, and a check shirt,
+in an equally ragged condition, I picked up in the hold; this, with a
+piece of old rope to tie round my neck as a sling for my broken arm,
+was my whole wardrobe. In the evening I gained the deck, that I might
+be refreshed by the breeze, which cooled my feverish body and somewhat
+restored me.
+
+We remained in this condition for several days, tortured with pain,
+but more tortured, perhaps, by the insolence and bragging of the
+Frenchmen, who set no bounds to their triumph and self-applause. Among
+those who had charge of the prize were two, one of whom had my watch
+and the other my ring; the first would hold it to me grinning, and
+asking if Monsieur would like to know what o'clock it was; and the
+other would display the ring, and tell me that his sweetheart would
+value it when she knew that it was taken from a conquered Englishman.
+This was their practice every day, and I was compelled to receive
+their gibes without venturing a retort.
+
+On the eleventh day after our capture, when close to Port-au-Paix, and
+expecting we should be at anchor before nightfall, we perceived a
+great hurry and confusion on deck; they were evidently making all the
+sail that they could upon the vessel; and then hearing them fire off
+their stern-chasers, we knew for certain that they were pursued.
+Overjoyed at the prospect of being released, we gave three cheers. The
+French from the deck threatened to fire down upon us, but we knew that
+they dared not, for the Revenge was so crippled in the fight, that
+they could not put sail upon her so as to escape, and their force on
+board was too small to enable them to resist if overtaken--we
+therefore continued our exulting clamours. At last we heard guns
+fired, and the shot whizzing over the vessel--a shot or two struck our
+hull, and soon afterwards a broadside being poured into us, the
+Frenchmen struck their colours, and we had the satisfaction of seeing
+all these Gasconaders driven down into the hold to take our places. It
+was now their turn to be dejected and downcast, and for us to be
+merry; and now also the tables had to be turned, and we took the
+liberty of regaining possession of our clothes and other property
+which they carried on their backs and in their pockets. I must say we
+showed them no mercy.
+
+"What o'clock is it, Monsieur?" said I to the fellow who had my watch.
+
+"At your service, Sir," he replied, humbly taking out my watch, and
+presenting it to me.
+
+"Thank you," said I, taking the watch, and saluting him with a kick in
+the stomach, which made him double up and turn round from me, upon
+which I gave him another kick in the rear to straighten him again.
+"That ring, Monsieur, that your sweetheart will prize."
+
+"Here it is," replied the fellow, abjectly.
+
+"Thank you, Sir," I replied, saluting him with the double kick which I
+had given to the former. "Tell your sweetheart I sent her those,"
+cried I, "that is, when you get back to her."
+
+"Hark ye, brother," cries one of our men, "I'll trouble you for that
+jacket which you borrowed of me the other day, and in return here are
+a pair of iron garters (holding out the shackles), which you must wear
+for my sake--I think they will fit you well."
+
+"Mounseer," cries another, "that wig of mine don't suit your complexion,
+I'll trouble you for it. It's a pity such a face as yours should be
+disfigured in those curls. And while you are about it, I'll thank you
+to strip altogether, as I think your clothes will fit me, and are much
+too gay for a prisoner."
+
+"I was left naked through your kindness the other day," said I to
+another, who was well and smartly dressed, "I'll thank you to strip to
+your skin, or you shall have no skin left." And I commenced with my
+knife cutting his ears as if I would skin them.
+
+It was a lucky hit of mine, for in his sash I found about twenty
+doubloons. He would have saved them, and held them tight, but after my
+knife had entered his side about half an inch, he surrendered the
+prize. After we had plundered and stripped them of every thing, we set
+to to kick them, and we did it for half an hour so effectually that
+they were all left groaning in a heap on the ballast, and we then
+found our way on deck.
+
+The privateer which had recaptured us proved to be the Hero, of New
+Providence; the Frenchmen were taken out, and some of her own men put
+in to take us to Port Royal; we being wounded, and not willing to join
+her, remained on board. On our arrival at Port Royal, we obtained
+permission to go to the King's Hospital to be cured. As I went up
+stairs to the ward allotted to me, I met the French lady whose husband
+had been killed, and who was still nursing her son at the hospital,
+his wounds not having been yet cured. Notwithstanding my altered
+appearance, she knew me again immediately, and seeing me pale and
+emaciated, with my arm in a sling, she dropped down on her knees and
+thanked God for returning upon our heads a portion of the miseries we
+had brought upon her. She was delighted when she heard how many of us
+had been slain in the murderous conflict, and even rejoiced at the
+death of poor Captain Weatherall, which, considering how very kind and
+considerate he had been to her, I thought to be very unchristian.
+
+It so happened that I was not only in the same ward, but in the cradle
+next to her son, and the excitement I had been under when we were
+recaptured, and my exertion in kicking the Frenchmen, had done me no
+good. A fever was the consequence, and I suffered dreadfully, and she
+would look at me, exulting in my agony, and mocking my groans, till at
+last the surgeon told her it was by extreme favour that her son had
+been admitted into the hospital instead of being sent to prison, and
+that if she did not behave herself in a proper manner, he would order
+her to be denied admittance altogether, and that if she dared to
+torment suffering men in that way, on the first complaint on my part,
+her son should go to the gaol and finish his cure there. This brought
+her to her senses, and she begged pardon, and promised to offend no
+more, but she did not keep her word for more than a day or two, but
+laughed out loud when the surgeon was dressing my arm, for a piece of
+bone had to be taken out, and I shrieked with anguish. This
+exasperated one of my messmates so much that, not choosing to strike
+her, and knowing how to wound her still worse, he drove his fist into
+the head of her son as he lay in his cradle, and by so doing re-opened
+the wound that had been nearly healed.
+
+"There's pain for you to laugh at, you French devil," he cried.
+
+And sure enough it cost the poor young man his life.
+
+The surgeon was very angry with the man, but told the French lady as
+she kneeled sobbing by the side of her son, that she had brought it
+upon herself and him by her own folly and cruelty. I know not whether
+she felt so, or whether she dreaded a repetition, but this is certain,
+she tormented me no more. On the contrary, I think she suffered very
+severely, as she perceived that I rapidly mended, and that her poor
+son got on but slowly. At last my hurts were all healed, and I left
+the hospital, hoping never to see her more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+    Sail for Liverpool in the Sally and Kitty--Fall in with
+    a Gale--Boy overboard--Nearly drowned in attempting to
+    save him--See the owners at Liverpool--Embark in the
+    Dalrymple for the Coast of Africa--Arrive off Senegal.
+
+
+A great deal of prize-money being due to us, I called upon the agent
+at Port Royal to obtain an advance. I found him in a puzzle. Owing to
+the death of Captain Weatherall and so many of the officers, he hardly
+knew whether those who applied to him were entitled to prize-money or
+not. Whether he thought I appeared more honest than the others, or
+from what cause I know not, he requested me, as I knew every thing
+that had passed, to remain with him for a short time; and finding that
+I could read and write well, he obtained from me correct lists of the
+privateer's crew, with those who were killed, and on what occasion.
+All this information I was able to give him, as well as the ratings of
+the parties; for on more than one occasion the privateers'-men had
+come to him representing themselves as petty officers, when they were
+only common seamen on board, and had in consequence received from him
+a larger advance than they were entitled to. As soon as his accounts
+were pretty well made up, he asked me whether I intended to go to
+England, as if so, he would send me home with all the papers and
+documents to the owner at Liverpool, who would require my assistance
+to arrange the accounts; and as I had had quite enough of privateering
+for a time, I consented to go. About two months after leaving the
+hospital, during which I had passed a very pleasant life, and quite
+recovered from my wounds and injuries, I sailed for Liverpool in the
+Sally and Kitty West-Indiaman, commanded by Captain Clarke, a very
+violent man.
+
+We had not sailed twelve hours before we fell in with a gale, which
+lasted several days, and we kept under close-reef-topsails and
+storm-staysails. The gale lasting a week, raised a mountainous swell,
+but it was very long and regular. On the seventh day the wind abated,
+but the swell continued, and at evening there was very little wind,
+when a circumstance occurred which had nearly cost me my life, as you
+will acknowledge, Madam, when I relate the story to you. During the
+dog-watch between six and eight, some hands being employed in the
+foretop, the other watch below at supper, and the captain and all the
+officers in the cabin, I being at the helm, heard a voice apparently
+rising out of the sea, calling me by name. Surprised, I ran to the
+side of the ship, and saw a youth named Richard Pallant in the water
+going astern. He had fallen out of the forechains, and knowing that I
+was at the helm, had shouted to me for help. I immediately called all
+hands, crying a man overboard. The captain hastened on deck with all
+the others, and ordered the helm a-lee. The ship went about, and then
+fell round off, driving fast before the swell, till at last we brought
+her to.
+
+The captain, although a resolute man, was much confused and perplexed
+at the boy's danger--for his friends were people of property at
+Ipswich, and had confided the boy to his particular care. He ran
+backwards and forwards, crying out that the boy must perish, as the
+swell was so high that he dared not send a boat, for the boat could
+not live in such a sea, and if the boat were lost with the crew, there
+would not be hands enow left on board to take the vessel home. As the
+youth was not a hundred yards from the vessel, I stated the
+possibility of swimming to him with the deep-sea line, which would be
+strong enough to haul both him and the man who swam to him on board.
+Captain Clarke, in a great rage, swore that it was impossible, and
+asked me who the devil would go. Piqued at his answer, and anxious to
+preserve the life of the youth, I offered to try it myself. I
+stripped, and making the line fast round my body, plunged from the
+ship's side into the sea. It was a new deep-sea line, and stiff in the
+coil, so that not drawing close round me, it slipped, and I swam
+through it, but catching it as it slipped over my feet, I made it
+secure by putting my head and one arm through the noose. I swam direct
+for the boy, and found that I swam with ease, owing to the strength
+and buoyant nature of the water in those latitudes. I had not swum
+more than half-way before the line got foul on the coil on board, and
+checking me suddenly, it pulled me backwards and under water. I
+recovered myself, and struck out again. During this time, to clear the
+line on board, they had cut some of the entangled parts, and in the
+confusion and hurry, severed the wrong part, so that the end went
+overboard, and I had half the coil of line hanging to me, and at the
+same time was adrift from the ship. They immediately hailed me to
+return, but from the booming of the waves I could not hear what they
+said, and thought that they were encouraging me to proceed. I shouted
+in return to show the confidence which I had in myself. I easily
+mounted the waves as they breasted me, but still I made my way very
+slowly against such a swell, and saw the boy only at intervals when I
+was on the top of the wave. He could swim very little, and did not
+make for the ship, but with his eyes fixed upon the sky, paddled like
+a dog to keep himself above water. I now began to feel the weight of
+the line upon me, and to fear that I should never hold out. I began to
+repent of my rashness, and thought I had only sacrificed myself
+without any chance of saving him. I persevered, nevertheless, and
+having, as I guessed, come to the spot where the boy was, I looked
+round, and not seeing him, was afraid that he had gone down, but on
+mounting the next wave, I saw him in the hollow, struggling hard to
+keep above water, and almost spent with his long exertion.
+
+I swam down to him, and hailing him, found he was still sensible, but
+utterly exhausted. I desired him to hold on by my hand but not to
+touch my body, as we should both sink. He promised to obey me, and I
+held out my right-hand to him, and made a signal for them to haul in
+on board, for I had no idea that the line had been cut. I was
+frightened when I perceived the distance that the ship was from me--at
+least a quarter of a mile. I knew that the deep-sea line was but a
+hundred fathoms in length, and therefore that I must be adrift, and my
+heart sunk within me. All the horrors of my situation came upon me,
+and I felt that I was lost; but although death appeared inevitable, I
+still struggled for life--but the rope now weighed me down more and
+more. While swimming forward it trailed behind, and although it
+impeded my way, I did not feel half its weight. Now, however, that I
+was stationary, it sank deep, and pulled me down with it. The waves,
+too, which, while I breasted them and saw them approach, I easily rose
+over, being now behind us, broke over our heads, burying us under
+them, or rolling us over by their force.
+
+I tried to disengage myself from the line, but the noose being jammed,
+and having the boy in one hand, I could not possibly effect it. But
+what gave me courage in my difficulties was, that I perceived that the
+people on board were getting out the boat; for although the captain
+would not run the risk for one person, now that two were overboard,
+and one of them risking his life for the other, the men insisted that
+the boat should be hoisted out. It was an anxious time to me, but at
+last I had the satisfaction of seeing her clear of the ship, and
+pulling round her bow. The danger was, however, considered so great,
+that when they came to man the boat, only three men could be found who
+would go in her, and in the confusion they came away with but two oars
+and no rudder. Under these disadvantages they of course pulled very
+slowly against a mountainous sea, as they were obliged to steer with
+the oars to meet it, that the boat might not be swamped. But the
+sight of the boat was sufficient to keep me up. My exertions were
+certainly incredible; but what will not a man do when in fear of
+death. As it approached--slowly and slowly did my powers decrease. I
+was now often under water with the boy, and rose again to fresh
+exertion, when at last a crested wave broke over us, and down we went
+several feet under the water. The force of the sea drove the boy
+against me, and he seized me by the loins with my head downwards. I
+struggled to disengage myself! It was impossible. I gave myself up for
+lost--and what a crowd of thoughts, and memories passed through my
+brain in a few moments, for it could not have been longer. At last,
+being head downwards, I dived deeper, although I was bursting from so
+long holding my breath under water.
+
+This had the desired effect. Finding me sinking instead of rising with
+him, the boy let go his hold that he might gain the surface. I turned
+and followed him, and drew breath once more. Another moment had sealed
+our fates. I no longer thought of saving the boy, but struck out for
+the boat which was now near me. Perceiving this, the boy cried out to
+me for pity's sake not to leave him. I felt myself so far recovered
+from my exhaustion, that I thought I could save him as well as myself,
+and compassion induced me to turn back. I again gave him my hand,
+charging him on his life not to attempt to grapple with me, and again
+resumed the arduous struggle of keeping him as well as myself above
+water. My strength was nearly gone, the boat approached but slowly,
+and we now sunk constantly under the water, rising every few seconds
+to draw breath. Merciful God! how slow appeared the approach of the
+boat. Struggle after struggle--fainter and fainter still--still I
+floated. At last my senses almost left me, I took in water in
+quantities. I felt I was in green fields, when I was seized by the men
+and thrown into the bottom of the boat, where I lay senseless
+alongside of the boy. There was great danger and difficulty in getting
+again to the ship. More than once the boat was half filled by the
+following seas, and when they gained the ship it was impossible to get
+us out, as, had they approached the side, the boat would have been
+dashed to atoms. They lowered the tackles from the yard-arms. The
+three men clambered up them, leaving us to take our chance of the
+boat being got in, or her being stove to pieces; in which latter case,
+we should have been lost. They did get us in, with great damage to the
+boat, but we were saved. The line was still round me, and it was found
+that I had been supporting the weight of seventy yards. So sore was I
+with such exertion, that I kept my hammock for many days, during which
+I reviewed my past life, and vowed amendment.
+
+We arrived at Liverpool without any further adventure worth recording,
+and I immediately called upon the owner with the papers intrusted to
+me. I gave him all the information he required, and he asked me
+whether I should like to return to privateering, or to go as mate of a
+vessel bound to the coast of Africa. I inquired what her destination
+was to be, and as I found that she was to go to Senegal for ivory,
+wax, gold dust, and other articles, in exchange for English prints and
+cutlery, I consented. I mention this, as, had she been employed in the
+slave-trade, as were most of the vessels from Liverpool to the Coast,
+I would not have joined her. A few days afterwards, I went on board of
+the Dalrymple, Captain Jones, as mate; we had a very quick passage to
+Senegal, and brought our vessel to an anchor off the bar.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+    In crossing the Bar at Senegal the boat is upset by a
+    Tornado--We escape being devoured by Sharks only to be
+    captured by the Natives--Are taken into the interior of
+    the country, and brought before the Negro King, from
+    whose wrath we are saved by the intercession of his
+    female attendants.
+
+
+A day or two after we had arrived, the master of another vessel that
+was at anchor near to us came on board and borrowed our long-boat and
+some hands that he might go in it to Senegal. The captain, who was an
+old friend of the party who made the request, agreed to lend it to
+him, and as accidents are very frequent with boats crossing the bar,
+on account of the heavy breakers, the best swimmers were selected for
+the purpose, and the charge of the boat was given to me. We set off,
+five men rowing and I at the helm. When we approached the bar, a
+tornado, which had been for some time threatening, came upon us. The
+impetuosity of these blasts is to be matched in no part of the world,
+and as it came at once in its full force, we endeavoured, by putting
+the boat before it, to escape its fury. This compelled us to run to
+the southward along the coast. We managed to keep the boat up for a
+long while, and hoped to have weathered it, when, being on the bar,
+and in broken water, a large wave curled over us, filled the boat, and
+it went down in an instant.
+
+Our only chance now was to reach the shore by swimming, but it was at
+a distance, with broken water the whole way; and our great terror was
+from the sharks, which abound on the coast and are extremely
+ravenous--nor were we without reason for our alarm. Scarcely had the
+boat gone down, and we were all stretching out for the shore, when one
+of our men shrieked, having been seized by the sharks, and instantly
+torn to pieces. His blood stained the water all around, and this
+attracting all the sharks proved the means of our escape. Never shall
+I forget the horrible sensation which I felt as I struggled through
+the broken water, expecting every minute a limb to be taken off by one
+of those voracious animals. If one foot touched the other, my heart
+sank, thinking it was the nose of a shark, and that its bite would
+immediately follow. Agonized with these terrors, we struggled on--now
+a large wave curling over us and burying us under water, or now forced
+by the waves towards the beach, rolling us over and over. So battered
+were we by the surf, that we dived under the waves to escape the blows
+which we received, and then rose and struck out again. At last, worn
+out with exertion, we gained the shore, but our toil was not over.
+
+The beach was of a sand so light that it crumbled beneath us, and at
+the return of the wave which threw us on shore we were dragged back
+again, and buried in sand and water. We rose to renew our endeavours,
+but several times without success, for we could not obtain a firm
+footing. At last the Negroes, who had witnessed our accident, and who
+now came down in great numbers on the beach, laid hold of us as the
+sea threw us up, and dragged us beyond the reach of the waves. Worn
+out with fatigue we lay on the sand, waiting to ascertain what the
+savages would do with us; they were not long in letting us know, for
+they soon began to strip us of every article of clothing on our backs.
+One of our men attempted to resist, upon which a Negro drove a spear
+through his thigh.
+
+Having divided our apparel, after some consultation, they tied our
+hands, and placing us in the midst of a large force, armed with
+spears, and bows and arrows, they went off with us for the inland part
+of the country. We set off with heavy hearts; taking, as we thought, a
+last farewell of the ocean, and going forwards in great apprehension
+of the fate that awaited us. The sand was very deep, and the heat of
+the sun excessive, for it was then about noon. Without any garments,
+we were soon scorched and blistered all over, and in intolerable
+anguish, as well as fatigued; but the Negroes compelled us to move on,
+goading us with their spears if we slackened our pace, and threatening
+to run us through if we made a halt. We longed for the night, as it
+would afford a temporary relief to our sufferings. It came at last,
+and the Negroes collected wood and lighted a fire to keep off the wild
+beasts, lying round it in a circle, and placing us in the midst of
+them. We hoped to have some rest after what we had gone through, but
+it was impossible--the night proved even worse than the day. The
+musquitoes came down upon us in such swarms, and their bites were so
+intolerable that we were almost frantic. Our hands being tied, we
+could not beat them off, and we rolled over and over to get rid of
+them. This made matters worse, for our whole bodies being covered with
+raised blisters from the rays of the sun, our roiling over and over
+broke the blisters, and the sand getting into the wounds, added to the
+bites of the musquitoes, made our sufferings intolerable. We had
+before prayed for night, we now prayed for day. Some prayed for death.
+
+When the sun rose, we set off again, our conductors utterly
+disregarding our anguish, and goading us on as before. In the forenoon
+we arrived at a village, where our guards refreshed themselves; a very
+small quantity of boiled corn was given to each of us, and we
+continued our journey, passing by several small towns, consisting, as
+they all do in that country, of huts built of reeds, round in form,
+and gathered to a point at top. This day was the same as the
+preceding. We were pricked with spears if we stumbled or lagged,
+threatened with death if we had not strength to go on. At last the
+evening arrived, and the fires were lighted. The fires were much
+larger than before, I presume because the wild beasts were more
+numerous, for we heard them howling in every direction round us, which
+we had not done on the night before. The musquitoes did not annoy us
+so much, and we obtained some intervals of broken rest. At daylight we
+resumed our journey, as near as we could judge by the sun, in a more
+easterly direction.
+
+During the first two days we were badly received by the inhabitants of
+the towns, whose people had been kidnapped so often for the
+slave-trade; they hated the sight of our white faces, for they
+presumed that we had come for that purpose; but as we advanced in the
+interior, we were better treated, and the natives looked upon us with
+surprise and wonder, considering us as a new race of beings. Some of
+the women seeing how utterly exhausted we were with fatigue and
+hunger, looked with compassion on us, and brought us plenty of boiled
+corn and goats' milk to drink. This refreshed us greatly, and we
+continued our journey in anxious expectation of the fate for which we
+were reserved.
+
+On crossing a small river, which appeared to be the boundary of two
+different states, a multitude of Negroes approached, and seemed
+disposed to take us from our present masters, but after a conference,
+they agreed among themselves, and a party of them joined with those
+who had previously conducted us. We soon came to the edge of a desert,
+and there we halted till the Negroes had filled several calabashes and
+gourds full of water, and collected a quantity of boiled corn. As soon
+as this was done, we set off again, and entered the desert. We were
+astonished and terrified when we looked around us, not a single
+vestige of herbage, not a blade of grass was to be seen--all was one
+wide waste of barren sand, so light as to rise in clouds at the least
+wind, and we sank so deep in walking through it that at last we could
+hardly drag one foot after the other. But we were repaid for our
+fatigue, for when we halted at night, no fires were lighted, and to
+our great delight we found that there were no musquitoes to annoy us.
+We fell into a sound sleep, which lasted till morning, and were much
+refreshed; indeed, so much so as to enable us to pursue our journey
+with alacrity.
+
+In our passage over the desert we saw numbers of elephants' teeth, but
+no animals. How the teeth came there, unless it were that the
+elephants were lost in attempting to cross the desert, I cannot
+pretend to say. Before we had crossed the desert, our water was
+expended, and we suffered dreadfully from thirst, walking as we did
+during the whole day under a vertical sun. The night was equally
+painful, as we were so tortured with the want of water; but on the
+following day, when our strength was nearly exhausted, and we were
+debating whether we should not lie down and allow the spears of our
+conductors to put an end to our miseries, we came to the banks of a
+river which the Negroes had evidently been anxiously looking for. Here
+we drank plentifully, and remained all the day to recruit ourselves,
+for the Negroes were almost as exhausted as we were. The next morning
+we crossed the river, and plunged into a deep wood: the ground being
+high, the musquitoes did not annoy us so much as they did down on the
+low marshy land near the sea-coast. During our traverse through the
+wood, we subsisted solely upon the birds and animals which the Negroes
+killed with their bows and arrows.
+
+When we had forced our way through the forest, we found the country,
+as before, interspersed with wicker villages or small hamlets at a few
+miles' distance from each other. Round each village there were small
+patches of Guinea corn, and we frequently came to clusters of huts
+which had been deserted. Between the sea-coast and the desert we had
+traversed we observed that many of the inhabitants had European
+fire-arms, but now the only weapons to be seen were spears and bows
+and arrows. As we advanced we were surrounded at every village by the
+natives, who looked upon us with surprise and astonishment, examining
+us, and evidently considering us a new species. One morning we arrived
+at a very large Negro town, and as we approached, our guards began to
+swell with pride and exultation, and drove us before them among the
+crowds of inhabitants, singing songs of triumph, and brandishing their
+weapons. Having been driven through a great part of the town, we
+arrived at a number of huts separated by a high palisade from the
+rest, and appropriated, as we afterwards found, to the use of the king
+of the country, his wives and attendants. Here we waited outside some
+time, while our guards went in and acquainted this royal personage
+with the present which they had brought for him.
+
+We had reason to think that our captors were not his subjects, but had
+been at variance with him, and had brought us as a present, that they
+might make peace with an enemy too strong for them. We were at last
+ordered to go inside the inclosure, and found ourselves in a large
+open building, constructed like the others, of reeds and boughs. In
+the centre was squatted a ferocious-looking old Negro, attended by
+four young Negro women. He was raw-boned and lean, and of a very large
+frame. A diabolical ferocity was imprinted on his grim countenance,
+and as he moved his arms and legs he showed that under his loose skin
+there was a muscle of extraordinary power. I never had before seen
+such a living type of brutal strength and barbarity. On a mat before
+him were provisions of different kinds. Behind him stood several grim
+savages who held his weapons, and on each side, at a greater distance,
+were rows of Negroes, with their heads bent down and their arms
+crossed, awaiting his orders. The chief or king, as well as the four
+women, had clothes of the blue cotton cloth of the country, that is,
+one piece wrapped round the loins and descending to the ankles, and
+another worn over their shoulders; but, with few exceptions, all the
+rest, as well as the inhabitants generally, were quite naked. So were
+we, as the reader may recollect. Round the necks of the women were
+rows of gold beads, longer by degrees, until the last of the rows hung
+lower than their bosoms, and both the king and they had large
+bracelets of gold round their arms, wrists, and legs. The women, who
+were young and well-looking, stared at us with eager astonishment,
+while the old king scowled upon us so as to freeze our blood. At last,
+rising from the ground, he took his sabre from the man who held it
+behind him, and walked up among us, who with our heads bowed, and
+breathless with fear, awaited our impending fate. I happened to be
+standing the foremost, and grasping my arm with a gripe which made my
+heart sink, with his hand which held the sword he bent down my head
+still lower than it was. I made sure that he was about to cut off my
+head, when the women, who had risen from the ground, ran crowding
+round him, and with mingled entreaties and caresses strove to induce
+him not to put his intentions, if such he really had, into execution.
+They prevailed at last; the youngest took away his sword, and then
+they led him back to his seat, after which the women came to us to
+gratify their curiosity. They felt our arms and breasts, putting
+innumerable questions to those who brought us thither. They appeared
+very much amazed at the length of my hair, for I had worn it tied in a
+long cue. Taking hold of it, they gave it two or three severe pulls,
+to ascertain if it really grew to my head, and finding that it did so,
+they expressed much wonder. When their curiosity was satisfied, they
+then appeared to consider our condition, and having obtained the old
+king's permission, they brought us a calabash full of cush-cush, that
+is Guinea corn boiled into a thick paste. Our hands being still tied;
+we could only by shaking our heads express our inability to profit by
+their kindness. Understanding what we meant, they immediately cut our
+thongs, and the youngest of the four perceiving that my arms were
+benumbed from having been confined so many days, and that I could not
+use them, showed the most lively commiseration for my sufferings. She
+gently chafed my wrists with her hands, and showed every sign of pity
+in her countenance, as indeed did all the other three. But I was by
+far the youngest of the whole party who had been captured, and seemed
+most to excite their pity and good-will. Shortly afterwards we were
+all taken into an adjoining tent or hut, and our bodies were rubbed
+all over with an oil, which after a few days' application left us
+perfectly healed, and as smooth as silk. So altered was our condition,
+that those very people who had guarded us with their spears and
+threatened us with death, were now ordered to wait upon us, and as
+the king's wives frequently came to see how we were treated, we were
+served with the utmost humility and attention.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+    I am given as a Slave to the old King's Favourite,
+    Whyna--Assist my young Mistress to make her Toilet--Hold
+    frequent Conversations with her, and become strongly
+    attached to her--My Hatred and Dread of the old King
+    increase--He shoots a Man with Bird-arrows.
+
+
+One morning, after we had been about three weeks in these comfortable
+quarters, I was summoned away from my companions into the presence of
+the king. When I came before him a small manacle was fixed round my
+left ankle, and another round my left wrist, with a light chain
+connecting the two. A circle of feathers was put round my head, and a
+loose cloth wrapped round my loins. I was then led forward to him with
+my arms crossed over my breast, and my head bowed. By his orders I was
+then placed behind the youngest of the four women, the one who had
+chafed my wrists, and I was given to understand that I was her slave,
+and was to attend upon her, to which, I must say, I gave a joyful
+assent in my heart, although I did not at that time show any signs of
+gladness. There I remained, with my arms folded, and bowed as before,
+until dinner was brought in, and a calabash full of cush-cush was put
+into my hands to place before the king and his wives. My first attempt
+at service was not very adroit, for, in my eagerness to do my duty, I
+tripped over the corner of the mat which served them for a table, and
+tumbling headlong forward, emptied the calabash of cush-cush which I
+held in my hand upon the legs of the old king, who sat opposite to
+where I was advancing. He jumped up roaring out with anger, while I in
+my fear sprung on my legs, and rushed to the side of the apartment,
+expecting immediate death. Fortunately the victuals in this country
+are always served up cool, and my new mistress easily obtained my
+pardon, laughing heartily at the scene, and at my apprehension.
+
+The repast being over, I was ordered to follow my mistress, who
+retired to another hut, according to their custom, to sleep during the
+heat of the day. I was placed before the door to prevent her being
+disturbed. My only duty now was to attend upon my young mistress. She
+was the king's favourite wife, and as she was uniformly kind and
+gentle, I should have almost ceased to lament my loss of liberty had
+it not been from the fear I had of the old monarch. I knew that my
+preservation depended entirely upon my mistress's favour, and I
+endeavoured all I could to conciliate her by the most sedulous
+attentions to please. Young and generous in disposition, she was
+easily satisfied by my ready obedience and careful service. I do not
+think that she was more than seventeen years of age; but they are
+women at fourteen in that country, and even earlier. She was a Negress
+as to colour, but not a real Negress; for her hair, although short and
+very wavy, was not woolly, and her nose was straight. Her mouth was
+small, and her teeth beautiful. Her figure was perfect, her limbs
+being very elegantly formed. When she first rose in the morning, I
+attended her to the brow of a hill just without the palisades, where
+with devout but mistaken piety she adored the rising sun--at least it
+appeared to me that she did so. She then went down to the river to
+bathe, and as soon as her hair was dry she had it dressed. This
+office, after a short time, devolved upon me, and I became very
+expert, having to rub her hair with a sweet oil, and then roll it up
+in its natural curls with a quill, so as to dispose them to the most
+fanciful advantage as to form.
+
+After her toilet was complete, she went to feed her poultry, and some
+antelopes and other beasts, and then she practised at a mark with her
+bow and arrows and javelin till about ten o'clock, when she went to
+the king's hut, and they all sat down to eat together. After the
+repast, which lasted some time, if she did not repose with the king,
+she retired to her own hut, where she usually refreshed herself till
+about four o'clock, when she returned to the king, or ranged the
+woods, or otherwise amused herself during the rest of the evening. I
+will say for the old savage that he did not confine his wives. Such
+was our general course of life, and wherever she went I attended her.
+The attachment I showed and really felt for her secured her
+confidence, and she always treated me in a kind and familiar manner.
+Their language consists of few words compared to our own, and in a
+short time, by help of signs, we understood each other tolerably well.
+She appeared to have a most ardent curiosity to know who we were, and
+from whence we came, and all the time that we passed alone was
+employed in putting questions, and my endeavouring to find out her
+meaning and answer them. This, although very difficult at first, I was
+eventually enabled to accomplish indifferently well. She was most
+zealous in her mistaken religion, and one morning when I was following
+her to her devotions on the hill, she asked me where my God was? I
+pointed upwards, upon which she told me with great joy and innocency,
+that hers was there too, and that, therefore, they must be the same
+God, or if not they must be friends. Convinced that she was right, she
+made me worship with her, bowing my head down to the sand, and going
+through the same forms, which of course I did not understand the
+meaning of; but I prayed to my God, and therefore made no objection,
+as it was pleasing to her. This apparent conformity in religion
+recommended me more strongly to her, and we became more intimate, and
+I was certainly attached to her by every tie of gratitude. I was quite
+happy in the friendship and kindness she showed towards me; the only
+drawback was my fear of the proud old king, and the recollection of
+him often made me check myself, and suddenly assume a more distant and
+respectful demeanour towards her. I soon found out that she dreaded
+the old savage as much as I did, and hated him even more. In his
+presence she treated me very sternly, and ordered me about in a very
+dictatorial manner; but when we were alone, and had no fear of being
+seen, she would then be very familiar, sometimes even locking her arm
+into mine, and laughing as she pointed out the contrast of the
+colours, and in the full gaiety of her young heart rejoicing that we
+were alone, and could converse freely together. As she was very
+intelligent, she soon perceived that I possessed much knowledge that
+she did not, and that she could not comprehend what I wanted to teach
+her. This induced her to look upon me with respect as well as
+kindness.
+
+One day I purposely left her bow behind in the hut where my
+companions resided; and on her asking me for it, I told her that I had
+done so, but that I would make my companions send it without my going
+back. I tore off a piece of the bark of a tree, and with the point of
+an arrow I wrote to one of them, desiring him to send it by bearer;
+and calling a young Negro boy, told him in her presence to give that
+piece of bark to the white man, and come back again to the queen.
+Whyna, for such was the name of my mistress queen, stood in suspense,
+waiting the result; in a few minutes the boy returned, bringing the
+bow. Astonished at this, she made me write again and again for her
+arrows, her lance, and many other things. Finding by these being
+immediately sent that we had a method of communicating with each other
+at a distance, she earnestly insisted upon being taught so surprising
+an art. Going at a distance from me, she ordered me to talk to her
+when out of hearing, and finding that I could not, or, as she seemed
+to suppose, that I would not, she became discontented and out of
+humour. I could by no means make her comprehend how it was performed,
+but I made her understand that as soon as I was fully acquainted with
+her language, I should be able to teach her. She was satisfied with
+this, but made me promise that I would teach nobody else.
+
+By the canoes in the river, I easily made her comprehend that I came
+in a vast boat from a distant land, over a great expanse of water, and
+also how it was that we fell into the Negroes' power. I then found out
+from her that the Negroes had pretended that we had invaded their land
+to procure slaves, and that they had vanquished us in battle; hence
+their songs of triumph on bringing us to the king. I pointed out the
+heavenly bodies to her in the evenings, trying to make her comprehend
+something of their nature and motions, but in vain. This had, however,
+one good effect; she looked up to me with more respect, hoping that
+some day, when I could fully explain myself, she might be herself
+taught all these wonders. With these feelings towards me, added to my
+sedulous endeavours to please her, and obey her slightest wishes, it
+is not surprising that she treated me as a companion, and not as a
+slave, and gave me every innocent proof of her attachment. More I
+never wished, and almost dreaded that our intimacy would be too
+great. Happy when alone with her, I ever returned with reluctance to
+the presence of the old king, whose sight and company I dreaded.
+
+The boundless cruelty of this monster was a continual check to all my
+happiness. Accustomed to blood from his childhood, he appeared wholly
+insensible to human feelings, and derided the agonies of the wretches
+who daily fell by his hands. One day he amused himself by shooting
+small bird-arrows at a man who was bound to a post before the tent,
+which was placed there for the punishment of those who were his
+victims. He continued for hours fixing the arrows in different parts
+of his body, mimicking and deriding his cries. At last, contrary to
+his intentions, one of the arrows hit the man in the throat, and his
+head drooped. As the old savage saw that the poor man was dying, he
+drew another arrow and sent it through his heart, very much annoyed at
+his disappointment in not prolonging the poor creature's sufferings. I
+was witness to this scene with silent horror, and many more of a
+similar nature. I hardly need say, that I felt what my punishment
+would be if I had by any means roused the jealousy of this monster;
+and I knew that, without giving him real cause, a moment of bare
+suspicion would be sufficient to sacrifice my mistress as well as me.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+    I attend the King on a hunting Expedition--Chase of
+    wild Animals--Whyna and I in great danger from a
+    Tiger--Barbarity of the King to my young Mistress--I
+    try to soothe her--I and my Companions are ransomed--Sad
+    parting with Whyna--After an Encounter with a hostile
+    People, we reach Senegal--Return to England.
+
+
+I had been about three months in captivity, when the old king with his
+four wives and a large party of Negroes, left the town, and went into
+the woods to hunt. My companions were left in the town, but I was
+ordered to attend my mistress, and I went with the hopes of being able
+by some means to make my escape, for my fear of the old monarch was
+much greater than my regard for my mistress. As I had not become a
+proficient with the bows and arrows, or in hurling the javelin, I was
+equipped with a strong spear. My mistress was skilful to admiration
+with the arrow and javelin; she never missed her aim that I knew, and
+she certainly never appeared to such advantage as she did at this
+hunting-party. Her activity, her symmetry of limb, and her courage,
+her skill with her weapons, all won the heart of the old king; and I
+believe that his strong attachment to her arose more from her
+possession of the above qualities than from any other cause. Certain
+it is, that the old savage doted on her--she was the only being who
+could bend his stubborn will. As his age prevented him from joining in
+the chase, he always appeared to part with her with regret, and to
+caution her not to run into useless danger; and when we returned at
+night, the old man's eyes sparkled with the rapture of dotage as he
+welcomed her return.
+
+The method of our chase was to beat the country, with a number of men,
+in a vast circle, until we had gathered all the game into one thicket;
+then the strongest warriors with their large spears went in and drove
+out the game, which was killed by the hunters who hovered about within
+the circle.
+
+The animals which we had to encounter were large fierce black pigs,
+leopards, jackals, tigers, mountain cats, and others which I have no
+name for--and in spite of the ferocity of many of these animals when
+they bounded out, they were met with such a shower of javelins, or
+transfixed by the strong stabbing-spears of the warriors, that few
+escaped, and they rarely did any mischief. One day, however, the
+beaters having just entered a thicket, Whyna, who was eager for the
+sport, and plied within the circle with the other hunters, hearing a
+rustling in the jungle, went to the verge of it, to be the first to
+strike the animal which came out. As usual, I was close to her, when a
+large tiger burst out, and she pierced him with her javelin, but not
+sufficient to wound the animal so severely as to disable him. The
+tiger turned, and I drove my spear into his throat. This checked him,
+as it remained in, but in a spring which he gave the handle broke
+short off, and although the iron went further in, our danger was
+imminent. Whyna ran, and so did I, to escape from the beast's fury;
+for, although after I had wounded it with my spear, we had both
+retreated, we were not so far, but that in two or three bounds he
+would have been upon us. My mistress was as fleet as the wind, and
+soon passed me, but as she passed me she caught me by the hand, and
+dragged me along at a pace that with difficulty I could keep my legs.
+The surrounding hunters alarmed at her danger, and knowing what they
+had to expect from the mercy of the old king if she was destroyed by
+the animal, closed in between us and the tiger, and after a fierce
+combat, in which some were killed and many wounded, they despatched
+him with their spears. The head of the animal, which was of unusual
+size, was cut off and carried home to the old king in triumph; and
+when he heard of the danger that Whyna had been in, he caressed her
+with tears, and I could not help saying that the old wretch had some
+heart after all. Whyna told the king that if I had not pierced the
+animal with my spear, and prevented his taking his first spring, she
+should have lost her life, and the monster grinned a ghastly smile at
+me, which I presume he meant for either approbation or gratitude.
+
+At other times the chase would be that of the multitude of birds which
+were to be found in the woods. The bow and arrow only were used, and
+all I had to do now was to pick up all my mistress had killed, and
+return her arrows--she would constantly kill on the wing with her
+arrow, which not many could do besides her. By degrees I imbibed a
+strong passion for the sport, attended as it was with considerable
+danger, and was never so happy as when engaged in it. We remained
+about two months in the woods, when the king was tired, and we
+returned to the town, where I continued for some time to pass the same
+kind of life as I had done before.
+
+I should have been quite happy in my slavery from my affection to my
+mistress, had not a fresh instance of the unbounded cruelty of the old
+monarch occurred a few days after our return from the chase, which
+filled us all with consternation and horror, for we discovered that
+not even my mistress, Whyna, could always prevail with the savage
+monster.
+
+One morning I perceived that one of the king's guards, who had always
+treated me with great kindness, and with whom I was very intimate, was
+tied up to the executioner's post before the hut. Aware of the fate
+which awaited him, I ran to the hut of Whyna, and so great was my
+distress that I could not speak; all I could do was to clasp her knees
+and repeat the man's name, pointing to the post to which he was tied.
+She understood me, and eager to save the man, or to oblige me, she ran
+to the large hut, and attempted to intercede with the old barbarian
+for the man's life; but he was in an agony of rage and passion; he
+refused her, lifting up his sabre to despatch the man; Whyna was rash
+enough to seize the king's arm, and prevent the blow, at this his rage
+redoubled, his eyes glowed like live coals, and turning to her with
+the look of a demon, he caught her by the hair, and dragging her
+across his feet, lifted up his scimitar in the act to strike off her
+head. I sickened with horror at the danger she was in, but I thought
+he would not strike. I had no weapon, but if he had done so, I would
+have revenged her death, even if I had lost my life. At last the old
+monster let go her hair, spurning her away with his foot, so that she
+rolled over on the sand, and then turning to the unhappy man, with an
+upward slanting blow of his sabre, he ripped him up from the flank to
+the chest, so that his bowels fell down at his feet; he then looked
+round at us all with an aspect which froze our blood, and turned away
+sulkily to his hut, leaving us to recover our spirits how we might.
+
+Poor Whyna, terrified and enraged at the same time, as soon as I had
+led her to her hut, and we were by ourselves, gave way to the storm of
+passion which swelled her bosom, execrating her husband with the
+utmost loathing and abhorrence, and lamenting in the most passionate
+manner her having ever been connected with him. Trembling alike at the
+danger to which I had exposed her, and moved by her condition, I could
+not help mingling my tears with hers, and endeavoured by caresses and
+condoling with her to reduce her excitement. Had the old king seen me,
+I know what both our fates would have been, but at that time I cared
+not. I was very young, very impetuous, and I was resolved that I would
+not permit either her or myself to die unavenged. At last she sobbed
+herself to sleep, and I took my usual station outside of the hut. It
+was well that I did so, for not five minutes afterwards the old
+wretch, having got over his temper, came out of his tent and bent his
+steps towards the hut, that he might make friends with her, for she
+was too necessary to his happiness. He soon treated her with his
+accustomed kindness, but I perceived that after the scene I have
+described, her aversion for him was doubled.
+
+There were some scores of women in the various huts within the
+palisade, all of whom I understood were wives to the old monarch, but
+none but the four we found with him when we were first brought into
+his presence were ever to be seen in his company. I had, by means of
+my kind mistress, the opportunity of constantly supplying my
+companions with fowls and venison, which was left from the king's
+table, and through her care, they always met with kind and gentle
+usage.
+
+For another two months did I thus remain happy in the company of
+Whyna, and miserable when in the presence of the king, whose eye it
+was impossible to meet without quailing; when one morning we were all
+ordered out, and were surrounded by a large party armed with spears,
+javelins, and bird-arrows--I say bird-arrows, as those that they use
+in war are much larger. We soon discovered that we were to be sent to
+some other place, but where or why, we could not find out. Shortly
+afterwards the crowd opened, and Whyna made her appearance. She took
+the feather circle off my head, and the manacles off my wrist and leg,
+and went and laid them at the king's feet. She then returned, and told
+me that I was free as well as my companions, but that I only, if I
+chose, had permission to remain with her.
+
+I did not at first reply. She then, in the most earnest manner, begged
+me to remain with her as her slave; and as she did not dare to say
+what she felt, or use caresses to prevail upon me, she stamped her
+little feet with eagerness and impatience. The struggle in my own
+heart was excessive. I presumed that we were about to be made a
+present to some other king, and I felt that I never could expect so
+easy and so pleasant a servitude as I then enjoyed. I was sincerely
+attached, and indeed latterly, I was more than attached, to Whyna; I
+felt that it was dangerous. Had the old king been dead, I would have
+been content to pass my life with her; and I was still hesitating,
+notwithstanding the remonstrances of my companions, when the crowd
+opened a little, and I beheld the old king looking at me, and I felt
+convinced that his jealousy was at last aroused, and that if I
+consented to remain, my life would not be worth a day's purchase.
+
+Whyna also turned, and met the look of the old king. Whether she read
+in his countenance what I did, I know not; but this is certain, she
+made no more attempts to persuade me, but waving her hand for us to
+set off on our journey, she slowly retired, and when arrived at the
+hut turned round towards us. We all prostrated ourselves before her,
+and then set off on our journey. She retired to the door of her own
+hut, and two or three times waved her hand to us, at which our guards
+made us every time again prostrate ourselves. She then walked out to
+the little hill where she always went up to pray, and for the last
+time waved her hand, and then I perceived her sink down on the ground,
+and turn her head in the direction which she always did when she
+prayed.
+
+We now proceeded on our journey in a north-west direction, our guards
+treating us with the greatest kindness. We rested every day from ten
+till four o'clock in the afternoon, and then walked till late at
+night. Corn was supplied us from the scattered hamlets as we passed
+along, and our escort procured us flesh and fowl with their bows and
+arrows; but we were in a state of great anxiety to know where we were
+going, and nobody appeared able or willing to tell us. I often thought
+of Whyna, and at times repented that I had not remained with her, as I
+feared falling into a worse slavery, but the recollection of the old
+king's diabolical parting look was sufficient to make me think that it
+was best as it was. Now that I had left my mistress, I thought of her
+kindness and amiable qualities, and her affection for me; and although
+it may appear strange that I should feel myself in love with a black
+woman, I will not deny but that I was so. I could not help being so,
+and that is all the excuse I can offer.
+
+Our guards now informed us that we were about to pass for a few miles
+through the territory of another king, and that they were not sure
+what our reception might be; but this was soon made evident, for we
+observed a party behind us, which moved as we moved, although they did
+not attack us; and soon afterwards a larger body in front were
+blocking up our passage, and we found that we were beset. The
+commander of our party, therefore, gave orders for battle, and he put
+into our hands strong spears, they being the only weapons we could
+use, and entreated us to fight. Our party was greatly outnumbered by
+the enemy, but ours were chosen warriors. As for us white men, we kept
+together, agreeing among ourselves, that we would defend ourselves if
+attacked, but would not offend either party by taking an unnecessary
+part in the fray, as it was immaterial to us to whom we belonged.
+
+The battle, or rather skirmish, soon began. They dispersed, and shot
+their arrows from behind the trees, and this warfare continued some
+time without damage to either party, till at last they attacked us
+closely; then, our commander killing that of the enemy, they gave way
+just as another party was coming forward to attack us white men; but
+finding us resolute in our defence, and our own warriors coming to our
+assistance, the rout was general. They could not, however, prevent
+some prisoners from being taken; most of them wounded with the
+bird-arrows, which, having their barbs twisted in the form of an S,
+gave great pain in their extraction. I observed that a particular herb
+chewed, and bound up with the bleeding wound, was their only remedy,
+and that when the bone was injured, they considered the wound mortal.
+
+We now turned to the eastward to get back into our own territory; we
+left the prisoners and wounded at a village, and receiving a
+reinforcement, we took a circuit to avoid this hostile people, and
+continued our route. On the eighth morning, just as we were stopping
+to repose, one of the warriors, who had mounted a hill before us,
+shouted and waved his hand. We ran up to him, and as soon as we gained
+the summit, were transported with the sight of the British flag flying
+on Senegal fort, on the other side of the river. We now understood
+that by some means or another we had been ransomed, and so it proved
+to be; for the governor hearing that we were prisoners up the country,
+had sent messengers offering the old king a handsome present for our
+liberation. I afterwards found out that the price paid in goods
+amounted to about fifty-six shillings a-head. The governor received us
+kindly, clothed us, and sent us down to the ship, which was with a
+full cargo in the road, and intending to sail the next day, and we
+were received and welcomed by our messmates as men risen from the
+dead.
+
+We sailed two days afterwards, and had a fortunate voyage home to
+Liverpool.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    The Liverpool Ladies are very civil to me--I am admitted
+    into good Society--Introduced to Captain Levee--Again
+    sail to Senegal--Overhear a Conspiracy to seize the Ship
+    by the Crew of a Slaver, but am enabled to defeat it--Am
+    thanked and rewarded by the Owner--Take a Trip to London
+    with Captain Levee--Stopped by Highwaymen on the
+    Road--Put up at a Tavern--Dissipated Town Life--Remove
+    to a genteel Boarding-House--Meet with a Government
+    Spy--Return to Liverpool.
+
+
+As the captain reported me to be a very attentive and good officer,
+although I was then but twenty-three years of age, and as I had been
+previously on good terms and useful to the owner, I was kindly
+received by him, and paid much more attention to, than my situation on
+board might warrant. My captivity among the Negroes, and the narrative
+I gave of my adventures, were also a source of much interest. I was at
+first questioned by the gentlemen of Liverpool, and afterwards one of
+the merchant's ladies, who had heard something of my adventures, and
+found out that I was a young and personable man, with better manners
+than are usually to be found before the mast, invited me one evening
+to a tea-party, that I might amuse her friends with my adventures.
+They were most curious about the Negro queen, Whyna, inquiring into
+every particular as to her personal appearance and dress, and trying
+to find out, as women always do, if there was any thing of an intrigue
+between us. They shook their little fingers at me, when I solemnly
+declared that there was not, and one or two of them cajoled me aside
+to obtain my acknowledgment of what they really believed to be the
+truth, although I would not confess it.
+
+When they had tired themselves with asking questions about the Negro
+queen, they then began to ask about myself, and how it happened I was
+not such a bear, and coarse in my manners and address, as the other
+seamen. To this I could give no other reply but that I had been
+educated when a child. They would fain know who were my father and
+mother, and in what station of life it had pleased God to place them;
+but I hardly need say, my dear Madam, to you who are so well
+acquainted with my birth and parentage, that I would not disgrace my
+family by acknowledging that one of their sons was in a situation so
+unworthy; not that I thought at that time, nor do I think now, that I
+was so much to blame in preferring independence in a humble position,
+to the life that induced me to take the step which I did; but as I
+could not state who my family were without also stating why I had
+quitted them, I preserved silence, as I did not think that I had any
+right to communicate family secrets to strangers. The consequences of
+my first introduction to genteel society were very agreeable; I
+received many more invitations from the company assembled,
+notwithstanding that my sailor's attire but ill corresponded with the
+powdered wigs and silk waistcoats of the gentlemen, or the hoops and
+furbelows of satin which set off the charms of the ladies.
+
+At first I did not care so much, but as I grew more at my ease, I felt
+ashamed of my dress, and the more so as the young foplings would put
+their glasses to their eyes, and look at me as if I were a monster.
+But supported as I was by the fair sex, I cared little for them. The
+ladies vowed that I was charming, and paid me much courtesy; indeed my
+vanity more than once made me suspect that I was something more than a
+mere favourite with one or two of them, one especially, a buxom young
+person, and very coquettish, who told me, as we were looking out of
+the bay window of the withdrawing-room, that since I could be so
+secret with respect to what took place between the Negress queen and
+myself, I must be sure to command the good-will and favour of the
+ladies, who always admired discretion in so young and so handsome a
+man. But I was not to be seduced by this flattery, for somehow or
+another I had ever before me the French lady, and her conduct to me;
+and I had almost a dislike, or I should rather say, I had imbibed an
+indifference for the sex.
+
+This admission into good society did, however, have one effect upon
+me; it made me more particular in my dress, and all my wages were
+employed in the decoration of my person. At that time you may
+recollect, Madam, there were but two styles of dress among the seamen;
+one was that worn by those who sailed in the northern seas, and the
+other by those who navigated in the tropical countries, both suitable
+to the climates. The first was the jacket, woollen frock, breeches,
+and petticoat of canvas over all, with worsted stockings, shoes, and
+buckles, and usually a cap of skin upon the head; the other a light
+short jacket, with hanging buttons, red sash, trowsers, and neat shoes
+and buckles, with a small embroidered cap with falling crown, or a hat
+and feather. It was this last which I had always worn, having been
+continually in warm climates, and my hair was dressed in its natural
+ringlets instead of a wig, which I was never partial to, although very
+common among seamen; my ears were pierced, and I wore long gold
+earrings, as well as gilt buckles in my shoes; and, by degrees, I not
+only improved my dress so as to make it very handsome in materials,
+but my manners were also very much altered for the better.
+
+I had been at Liverpool about two months, waiting for the ship to
+unload and take in cargo for another voyage, when a privateer
+belonging to the same owner, came into port with four prizes of
+considerable value; and the day afterwards I was invited by the owner
+to meet the captain who commanded the privateer.
+
+He was a very different looking person from Captain Weatherall, who
+was a stout, strong-limbed man, with a weather-beaten countenance. He,
+on the contrary, was a young man of about twenty-six, very slight in
+person, with a dark complexion, hair and eyes jet black. I should have
+called him a very handsome Jew--for he bore that cast of countenance,
+and I afterwards discovered that he was of that origin, although I
+cannot say that he ever followed the observances of that remarkable
+people. He was handsomely dressed, wearing his hair slightly powdered,
+a laced coat and waistcoat, blue sash and trowsers, with
+silver-mounted pistols and dagger in his belt, and a smart hanger by
+his side. He had several diamond rings on his finger, and carried a
+small clouded cane. Altogether, I had never fallen in with so smart
+and prepossessing a personage, and should have taken him for one of
+the gentlemen commending the king's ships, rather than the captain of
+a Liverpool privateer. He talked well and fluently, and with an air of
+command and decision, taking the lead in the company, although it
+might have been considered that he was not by any means the principal
+person in it. The owner, during the evening, informed me that he was a
+first-rate officer, of great personal courage, and that he had made a
+great deal of money, which he had squandered away almost as fast as he
+received it.
+
+With this person, whose name was Captain Levee (an alteration, I
+suspect, from Levi), I was much pleased; and as I found that he did
+not appear to despise my acquaintance, I took much pains to please
+him, and we were becoming very intimate, when my ship was ready to
+sail. I now found that I was promoted to the office of first mate,
+which gave me great satisfaction.
+
+We sailed with an assorted cargo, but very light, and nothing of
+consequence occurred during our passage out. We made good traffic on
+the coast as we ran down it, receiving ivory, gold-dust, and wax, in
+exchange for our printed cottons and hardware. After being six weeks
+on the coast, we put into Senegal to dispose of the remainder of our
+cargo; which we soon did to the governor, who gave us a fair exchange,
+although by no means so profitable a barter as what we had made on the
+coast; but that we did not expect for what might be called the refuse
+of our cargo. The captain was much pleased, as he knew the owner would
+be satisfied with him, and, moreover, he had himself a venture in the
+cargo; and we had just received the remainder of the ivory from the
+governor's stores, and had only to get on board a sufficiency of
+provisions and water for our homeward voyage, when a circumstance took
+place which I must now relate.
+
+Our crew consisted of the captain, and myself, as first mate, the
+second mate, and twelve seamen, four of which were those who had been
+taken prisoners with me, and had been released, as I have related, in
+our previous voyage. These four men were very much attached to me, I
+believe chiefly from my kindness to them when I was a slave to the
+queen Whyna, as I always procured for them every thing which I could,
+and, through the exertions of my mistress, had them plentifully
+supplied with provisions from the king's table. The second mate and
+other eight men we had shipped at Liverpool. They were fine, stout
+fellows, but appeared to be loose characters, but that we did not
+discover till after we had sailed. There was anchored with us at
+Senegal a low black brig, employed in the slave-trade, which had made
+the bay at the same time that we did; and to their great surprise--for
+she was considered a very fast sailer--she was beaten at all points by
+our ship, which was considered the fastest vessel out of Liverpool.
+The crew of the slaver were numerous, and as bloodthirsty a set of
+looking fellows as ever I fell in with. Their boat was continually
+alongside of our vessel, and I perceived that their visits were made
+to the eight men whom we had shipped at Liverpool, and that they did
+not appear inclined to be at all intimate with the rest of the crew.
+This roused my suspicions, although I said nothing; but I watched them
+very closely. One forenoon, as I was standing at the foot of the
+companion-ladder, concealed by the booby-hatch from the sight of those
+on deck, I heard our men talking over the side, and at last, as I
+remained concealed, that I might overhear the conversation, one of the
+slaver's men from the boat said, "To-night, at eight o'clock, we will
+come to arrange the whole business." The boat then shoved off, and
+pulled for the brig.
+
+Now, it was the custom of the captain to go onshore every evening to
+drink sangaree and smoke with the governor, and very often I went with
+him, leaving the ship in charge of the second mate. It had been my
+intention, and I had stated as much to the second mate, to go this
+evening, as it was the last but one that we should remain at Senegal;
+but from what I overheard I made up my mind that I would not go. About
+an hour before sunset, I complained of headache and sickness, and sat
+down under the awning over the after part of the quarter-deck. When
+the captain came up to go on shore, he asked me if I was ready, but I
+made no answer, only put my hand to my head.
+
+The captain, supposing that I was about to be attacked by the fever of
+the country, was much concerned, and desired the second mate to help
+him to take me down to the state-room, and then went on shore; the
+boat was, as usual, pulled by the four men who were prisoners with me,
+and whom the captain found he could trust on shore better than the
+others belonging to the crew, who would indulge in liquor whenever
+they had an opportunity. I remained in my bed-place till it was nearly
+eight o'clock, and then crept softly up the companion-hatch to
+ascertain who was on deck.
+
+The men were all below in the fore-peak at their suppers, and as I had
+before observed that their conferences were held on the forecastle, I
+went forward, and covered myself up with a part of the main-topsail,
+which the men had been repairing during the day. From this position I
+could hear all that passed, whether they went down into the fore-peak,
+or remained to converse on the forecastle. About ten minutes
+afterwards I heard the boat grate against the ship's side, and the men
+of the slaver mount on the deck.
+
+"All right?" inquired one of the slavers.
+
+"Yes," replied our second mate; "skipper and his men are on shore, and
+the first mate taken with the fever."
+
+"All the better," replied another; "one less to handle. And now, my
+lads, let's to business, and have every thing settled to-night, so
+that we may not be seen together any more till the work is done."
+
+They then commenced a consultation, by which I found it was arranged
+that our ship was to be boarded and taken possession of as soon as she
+was a few miles out of the bay, for they dared not attack us while we
+were at anchor close to the fort; but the second mate and eight men
+belonging to us were to pretend to make resistance until beaten down
+below, and when the vessel was in their power, the captain, I, and the
+other four men who were ashore in the boat, were to be silenced for
+ever. After which there came on a discussion as to what was to be done
+with the cargo, which was very valuable, and how the money was to be
+shared out when the cargo was sold. Then they settled who were to be
+officers on board of the ship, which there is no doubt they intended
+to make a pirate vessel. I also discovered that, if they succeeded, it
+was their intention to kill their own captain and such men of the
+slaver who would not join them, and scuttle their own vessel, which
+was a very old one.
+
+The consultation ended by a solemn and most villainous oath being
+administered to every man as to secrecy and fidelity, after which the
+men of the slaver went into their boat, and pulled to their own
+vessel. The second mate and our men remained on deck about a quarter
+of an hour, and then all descended by the ladder to the fore-peak, and
+turned into their hammocks.
+
+As soon as I thought I could do so with safety, I came out of my
+lurking-place, and retreated to the state-room. It was fortunate that
+I did, for a minute afterwards I heard a man on deck, and the second
+mate came down the companion-hatch, and inquired whether I wanted any
+thing. I told him no; that I was very ill, and only hoped to be able
+to go to sleep, and asked him if the captain had returned. He replied
+that he had not, and then went away. As soon as I was left to myself,
+I began to consider what would be best to be done. I knew the captain
+to be a very timorous man, and I was afraid to trust him with the
+secret, as I thought he would be certain to let the men know by his
+conduct that they were discovered, and their plans known. The four men
+who were prisoners with me I knew that I could confide in. This was
+the Tuesday night, and we proposed sailing on the Thursday. Now we had
+no means of defence on board, except one small gun, which was
+honeycombed and nearly useless. It did very well to make a signal
+with, but had it been loaded with ball, I believe it would have burst
+immediately. It is true that we had muskets and cutlasses, but what
+use would they have been against such a force as would be opposed, and
+two-thirds of our men mutineers. Of course we must have been
+immediately overpowered.
+
+That the slavers intended to take possession of their own vessel
+before they took ours, I had no doubt. It is true that we outsailed
+them when we had a breeze, but the bay was usually becalmed, and it
+was not till a vessel had got well into the offing that she obtained a
+breeze, and there was no doubt but that they would take the
+opportunity of boarding us when we were moving slowly through the
+water, and a boat might easily come up with us. The slaver had stated
+his intention of sailing immediately to procure her cargo elsewhere,
+and if she got under weigh at the same time that we did, no suspicion
+would be created. To apply for protection to the governor would be
+useless--he could not protect us after we were clear of the bay.
+Indeed, if it were known that we had so done, it would probably only
+precipitate the affair, and we should be taken possession of while at
+anchor, for the shot from the fort would hardly reach us. It was,
+therefore, only by stratagem that we could escape from the clutches of
+these miscreants. Again, allowing that we were to get clear of the
+slavers, we were still in an awkward position, for, supposing the
+captain to be of any use, we should still only be six men against
+nine, and we might be overpowered by our own crew, who were determined
+and powerful men.
+
+All night I lay on my bed reflecting upon what ought to be done, and
+at last I made up my mind.
+
+The next morning I went on deck, complaining very much, but stating
+that the fever had left me. The long-boat was sent on shore for more
+water, and I took care that the second mate and eight men should be
+those selected for the service. As soon as they had shoved off, I
+called the other four men on the forecastle, and told them what I had
+overheard. They were very much astonished, for they had had no idea
+that there was any thing of the kind going forward. I imparted to them
+all my plans, and they agreed to support me in every thing--indeed,
+they were all brave men, and would have, if I had acceded to it,
+attempted to master and overpower the second mate and the others, and
+make sail in the night; but this I would not permit, as there was a
+great risk. They perfectly agreed with me that it was no use
+acquainting the captain, and that all we had to do was to get rid of
+these men, and carry the vessel home how we could. How that was to be
+done was the point at issue. One thing was certain, that it was
+necessary to leave the bay that night, or it would be too late.
+Fortunately, there was always a light breeze during the night, and the
+nights were dark, for there was no moon till three o'clock in the
+morning, by which time we could have gained the offing, and then we
+might laugh at the slaver, as we were lighter in our heels. The boat
+came off with the water about noon, and the men went to dinner. The
+captain had agreed to dine with the governor, and I had been asked to
+accompany him. It was to be our farewell dinner, as we were to sail
+the next morning. I had been cogitating a long while to find out how
+to get rid of these fellows, when at last I determined that I would go
+on shore with the captain, and propose a plan to the governor. His
+knowledge of what was about to be attempted could do no harm, and I
+thought he would help us; so I went into the boat, and when we landed
+I told the men what I intended to do. As soon as I arrived at the
+governor's, I took an opportunity, while the captain was reading a
+book, to request a few moments' conversation, and I then informed the
+governor of the conspiracy which was afloat, and when I had so done, I
+pointed out to him the propriety of saying nothing to the captain
+until all was safe, and proposed my plan to him, which he immediately
+acceded to. When he returned to where the captain was still reading,
+he told him that he had a quantity of gold-dust and other valuables,
+which he wished to send to England by his ship; but that he did not
+wish to do it openly, as it was supposed that he did not traffic, and
+that if the captain would send his long-boat on shore after dark, he
+would send all the articles on board, with instructions to whom they
+were to be consigned on our arrival. The captain of course consented.
+We bade the governor farewell about half an hour before dark, and
+returned on board. After I had been a few minutes on deck, I sent for
+the second mate, and told him as a secret what the governor had
+proposed to do, and that he would be required to land after dark for
+the goods, telling him that there was a very large quantity of
+gold-dust, and that he must be very careful. I knew that this
+intelligence would please him, as it would add to their plunder when
+they seized the vessel; and I told him that as we sailed at daylight,
+he must lose no time, but be on board again as soon as he could, that
+we might hoist in the long-boat. About eight o'clock in the evening,
+the boat, with him and the eight men, went on shore. The governor had
+promised to detain them, and ply them with liquor, till we had time to
+get safe off. As soon as they were out of sight and hearing, we
+prepared every thing for getting under weigh. The captain had gone to
+his cabin, but was not in bed. I went down to him, and told him I
+should remain up till the boat returned, and see that all was right;
+and that in the mean time I would get every thing ready for weighing
+the next morning, and that he might just as well go to bed now, and I
+would call him to relieve me at daylight. To this arrangement he
+consented; and in half an hour I perceived that his candle was out,
+and that he had retired. Being now so dark that we could not perceive
+the slaver, which lay about three cables' length from us, it was
+fairly to be argued that she could not see us; I therefore went
+forward and slipped the cable without noise, and sent men up aloft to
+loose the sails. There was a light breeze, sufficient to carry us
+about two knots through the water, and we knew that it would rather
+increase than diminish. In half an hour, weak-handed as we were, we
+were under sail, every thing being done without a word being spoken,
+and with the utmost precaution. You may imagine how rejoiced we all
+were when we found that we had manoeuvred so well; notwithstanding, we
+kept a sharp look-out, to see if the slaver had perceived our motions,
+and had followed us; and the fear of such being the case kept us under
+alarm till near daylight, when the breeze blew strong, and we felt
+that we had nothing more to dread. As the day broke, we found that we
+were four or five leagues from the anchorage, and could not see the
+lower masts of the slaver, which still remained where we had left her.
+
+Satisfied that we were secure, I then went down to the captain, and,
+as he lay in bed, made him acquainted with all that had passed. He
+appeared as if awakened from a dream, rose without making any reply,
+and hastened on deck. When he found out that we were under weigh, and
+so far from the land, he exclaimed:
+
+"It must all be true; but how shall we be able to take the ship home
+with so few hands?"
+
+I replied, that I had no fears on that score, and that I would answer
+for bringing the vessel safe to Liverpool.
+
+"But," he said at last, "how is it that I was not informed of all
+this? I might have made some arrangements with the men."
+
+"Yes, Sir," I replied, "but if you had attempted to do so, the vessel
+would have been taken immediately."
+
+"But why was I not acquainted with it, I want to know?" he said again.
+
+I had by this time made up my mind to the answer I should give him; so
+I said: "Because it would have placed a serious responsibility on your
+shoulders if, as captain of this vessel, you had sailed to England
+with such a valuable cargo and so few hands. The governor and I,
+therefore, thought it better that you should not be placed in such an
+awkward position, and therefore we considered it right not to say a
+word to you about it. Now, if any thing goes wrong, it will be my
+fault, and not yours, and the owner cannot blame you." When I had said
+this, the captain was silent for a minute or two, and then said:
+
+"Well, I believe it is all for the best, and I thank you and the
+governor too."
+
+Having got over this little difficulty, I did not care. We made all
+sail, and steered homewards, and, after a rapid passage, during which
+we were on deck day and night, we arrived, very much fatigued, at
+Liverpool. Of course the captain communicated what had occurred to the
+owner, who immediately sent for me, and having heard my version of the
+story, expressed his acknowledgment for the preservation of the
+vessel; and to prove his sincerity, he presented me with fifty guineas
+for myself, and ten for each of the men. The cargo was soon landed,
+and I was again at liberty. I found Captain Levee in port; he had just
+returned from another cruise, and had taken a rich prize. He met me
+with the same cordiality as before; and having asked me for a recital
+of what had occurred at Senegal, of which he had heard something from
+the owner, as soon as I had finished, he said:
+
+"You are a lad after my own heart, and I wish we were sailing
+together. I want a first-lieutenant like you, and if you will go with
+me, say the word, and it will be hard but I will have you."
+
+I replied that I was not very anxious to be in a privateer again; and
+this brought on a discourse upon what occurred when I was in the
+Revenge with Captain Weatherall.
+
+"Well," he said at last, "all this makes me more anxious to have you.
+I like fair fighting, and hate buccaneering like yourself; however, we
+will talk of it another time. I am about to start for London. What do
+you say, will you join me, and we will have some sport? With plenty of
+money, you may do any thing in London."
+
+"Yes," I replied, "but I have not plenty of money."
+
+"That shall make no difference; money is of no use but to spend it,
+that I know of," replied Captain Levee. "I have plenty for both of us,
+and my purse is at your service; help yourself as you please, without
+counting, for I shall be your enemy if you offer to return it. That's
+settled; the horses are all ready, and we will start on Wednesday. How
+will you dress? I think it might be better to alter your costume, now
+you are going to London. You'll make a pretty fellow, dress how you
+will."
+
+"Before I give you an answer to all your kind proposals, I must speak
+to the owner, Captain Levee."
+
+"Of course, you must; shall we go there now?"
+
+"Willingly," I replied. And we accordingly set off.
+
+Captain Levee introduced the subject as soon as we arrived at the
+counting-house, stating that he wanted me to be first-lieutenant of
+the privateer, and that I was going to London with him, if he had no
+objection.
+
+"As for going to London with you for five or six weeks, Captain Levee,
+there can be no objection to that," replied the owner; "but as for
+being your first-lieutenant, that is another question. I have a vessel
+now fitting out, and intended to offer the command of it to Mr.
+Elrington. I do so now at once, and he must decide whether he prefers
+being under your orders to commanding a vessel of his own."
+
+"I will decide that for him," replied Captain Levee. "He must command
+his own vessel; it would be no friendship on my part to stand in the
+way of his advancement. I only hope, if she is a privateer, that we
+may cruise together."
+
+"I cannot reply to that latter question," replied the owner. "Her
+destination is uncertain; but the command of her is now offered to Mr.
+Elrington, if he will accept of it, before his trip to the
+metropolis."
+
+I replied that I should with pleasure, and returned the owner many
+thanks for his kindness; and, after a few minutes' more conversation,
+we look our leave.
+
+"Now I should advise you," said Captain Levee, as we walked towards
+his lodgings, "to dress as a captain of a vessel of war, much in the
+style that I do. You are a captain, and have a right so to do. Come
+with me, and let me fit you out."
+
+I agreed with Captain Levee that I could not do better; so we went and
+ordered my suits of clothes, and purchased the other articles which I
+required. Captain Levee would have paid for them, but I had money
+sufficient, and would not permit him; indeed with my pay and present
+of fifty guineas I had upwards of seventy guineas in my purse, and did
+not disburse more than fifty in my accoutrements, although my pistols
+and hanger were very handsome.
+
+We did not start until three days after the time proposed, when I
+found at daylight two stout well-bred horses at the door; one for
+Captain Levee, and the other for me. We were attended by two
+serving-men belonging to the crew of the privateer commanded by
+Captain Levee--powerful, fierce-looking, and determined men, armed to
+the teeth, and mounted upon strong jades. One carried the valise of
+Captain Levee, which was heavy with gold. The other had charge of
+mine, which was much lighter, as you may suppose. We travelled for
+three days without any interruption, making about thirty miles a-day,
+and stopping at the hostelries to sleep every night. On the fourth day
+we had a slight affair, for as we were mounting a hill towards the
+evening, we found our passage barred by five fellows with crape masks,
+who told us to stand and deliver.
+
+"We will," replied Captain Levee, firing his pistol, and reining up
+his horse at the same time. The ball struck the man, who fell back on
+the crupper, while the others rushed forward. My pistols were all
+ready, and I fired at the one who spurred his horse upon me, but the
+horse rearing up saved his master, the ball passing through the head
+of the animal, who fell dead, holding his rider a prisoner by the
+thigh, which was underneath his body. Our two men had come forward and
+ranged alongside of us at the first attack, but now that two had
+fallen, the others finding themselves in a minority, after exchanging
+shots, turned their horses' heads and galloped away. We would have
+pursued them, but Captain Levee said it was better not, as there might
+be more of the gang near, and by pursuing them we might separate and
+be cut off in detail.
+
+"What shall we do with these fellows?" asked our men of Captain Levee.
+
+"Leave them to get off how they can," replied Captain Levee. "I will
+not be stopped on my journey by such a matter as this. I dare say they
+don't deserve hanging more than half the people we meet. Let us push
+on and get into quarters for the night. After all, Mr. Elrington,"
+said Captain Levee to me, as we were setting off, "it's only a little
+land privateering, and we must not be too hard upon them."
+
+I confess, Madam, when I recalled all that I had witnessed on board of
+the Revenge, that I agreed with Captain Levee, that these highwaymen
+were not worse than ourselves.
+
+No other adventure occurred during our journey, and when we arrived in
+London we directed our horses' steps to a fashionable tavern in St.
+Paul's, and took possession of apartments, and as Captain Levee was
+well known, we were cordially greeted and well attended. The tavern
+was in great repute, and resorted to by all the wits and gay men of
+the day, and I soon found myself on intimate terms with a numerous set
+of dashing blades, full of life and jollity, and spending their money
+like princes; but it was a life of sad intemperance, and my head
+ached every morning from the excess of the night before, and in our
+excursions in the evenings we were continually in broils and
+disturbances, and many a broken head, nay, sometimes a severe wound,
+was given and received. After the first fortnight, I felt weary of
+this continual dissipation, and as I was dressing a sword-cut which
+Captain Levee had received in an affray, I one morning told him so.
+
+"I agree with you," he replied, "that it is all very foolish and
+discreditable, but if we live with the gay and pretty fellows, we must
+do as they do. Besides, how could I get rid of my money, which burns
+in my pocket, if I did not spend as much in one day as would suffice
+for three weeks?"
+
+"Still I would rather dress a wound gained in an honourable contest
+with the enemy than one received in a night brawl, and I would rather
+see you commanding your men in action than reeling with other
+drunkards in search of a quarrel in the streets."
+
+"I feel that it is beneath me, and I'm sure that it's beneath you. You
+are a Mentor without a beard," replied Captain Levee. "But still it
+requires no beard to discover that I have made an ass of myself. Now,
+what do you say, shall we take lodgings and live more reputably, for
+while in this tavern we never shall be able to do so?"
+
+"I should prefer it, to tell you the honest truth," I replied, "for I
+have no pleasure in our present life."
+
+"Be it so, then," he replied. "I will tell them that I take lodgings,
+that I may be near to a fair lady. That will be a good and sufficient
+excuse."
+
+The next day we secured lodgings to our satisfaction, and removed into
+them, leaving our horses and men at the tavern. We boarded with the
+family, and as there were others who did the same, we had a very
+pleasant society, especially as there were many of the other sex among
+the boarders. The first day that we sat down to dinner, I found myself
+by the side of a young man of pleasing manners, although with much of
+the coxcomb in his apparel. His dress was very gay and very expensive,
+and he wore a diamond-hilted sword and diamond buckles--at least so
+they appeared to me, as I was not sufficient connoisseur to
+distinguish the brilliant from the paste. He was very affable and
+talkative, and before dinner was over gave me the history of many of
+the people present.
+
+"Who is the dame in the blue stomacher?" I inquired.
+
+"You mean the prettiest of the two, I suppose," he replied, "that one
+with the patches under the eye? She is a widow, having just buried an
+old man of sixty, to whom she was sacrificed by her mother. But
+although the old fellow was as rich as a Jew, he found such fault with
+the lady's conduct that he left all his money away from her. This is
+not generally known, and she takes care to conceal it, for she is
+anxious to make another match, and she will succeed if her funds,
+which are not _very_ great, enable her to carry on the game a little
+longer. I was nearly taken in myself, but an intimacy with her cousin,
+who hates her, gave me a knowledge of the truth. She still keeps her
+carriage, and appears to be rolling in wealth, but she has sold her
+diamonds and wears paste. And that plain young person on the other
+side of her has money, and knows the value of it. She requires
+rent-roll for rent-roll, and instead of referring you to her father
+and mother, the little minx refers you to her lawyer and man of
+business. Ugly as she is, I would have sacrificed myself, but she
+treated me in that way, and upon my soul I was not very sorry for it,
+for she is dear at any price, and I have since rejoiced at my want of
+success."
+
+"Who is that elderly gentleman with such snow-white hair?" I inquired.
+
+"That," replied my companion, "nobody exactly knows, but I have my
+idea. I think," said he, lowering his voice to a whisper, "that he is
+a Catholic priest, or a Jesuit, perhaps, and a partisan of the house
+of Stuart. I have my reasons for supposing so, and this I am sure of,
+which is, that he is closely watched by the emissaries of government."
+
+You may remember, Madam, how at that time the country was disturbed by
+the landing of the Pretender in the summer of the year before, and the
+great successes which he had met with, and that the Duke of Cumberland
+had returned from the army in the Low Countries, and had marched to
+Scotland.
+
+"Has there been any intelligence from Scotland relative to the
+movements of the armies?" I inquired.
+
+"We have heard that the Pretender had abandoned the siege of Fort
+William, but nothing more; and how far the report is true, it is hard
+to say. You military men must naturally have a war one way or the
+other," said my companion, in a careless manner.
+
+"As to the fighting part of the question," I replied, "I should feel
+it a matter of great indifference which side I fought for, as the
+claim of both parties is a matter of mere opinion."
+
+"Indeed," he said; "and what may be your opinion?"
+
+"I have none. I think the claims of both parties equal. The house of
+Stuart lost the throne of England on account of its religion--that of
+Hanover has been called to the throne for the same cause. The
+adherents of both are numerous at the present moment; and it does not
+follow because the house of Hanover has the strongest party, that the
+house of Stuart should not uphold its cause while there is a chance of
+success."
+
+"That is true; but if you were to be obliged to take one side or the
+other, which would it be by preference?"
+
+"Certainly I would support the Protestant religion in preference to
+the Catholic. I am a Protestant, and that is reason enough."
+
+"I agree with you," replied my companion. "Is your brave friend of the
+same opinion?"
+
+"I really never put the question to him, but I think I may safely
+answer that he is."
+
+It was fortunate, Madam, that I replied as I did, for I afterwards
+discovered that this precious gossiping young man, with his rings and
+ribbons, was no other than a government spy, on the look-out for
+malcontents. Certainly his disguise was good, for I never should have
+imagined it from his foppish exterior and mincing manners.
+
+We passed our time much more to my satisfaction now than we did
+before, escorting the ladies to the theatre and to Ranelagh, and the
+freedom with which Captain Levee (and I may say I also) spent his
+money, soon gave us a passport to good society. About a fortnight
+afterwards, the news arrived of the battle of Culloden, and great
+rejoicings were made. My foppish friend remarked to me:--
+
+"Yes, now that the hopes of the Pretender are blasted, and the
+Hanoverian succession secured, there are plenty who pretend to
+rejoice, and be excessively loyal, who, if the truth were known, ought
+to be quartered as traitors."
+
+And I must observe, that the day before the news of the battle, the
+old gentleman with snow-white hair was arrested and sent to the Tower,
+and he afterwards suffered for high treason.
+
+But letters from the owner, saying that the presence of both of us was
+immediately required, broke off this pleasant London party. Indeed,
+the bag of gold was running very low, and this, combined with the
+owner's letter, occasioned our breaking up three days afterwards. We
+took leave of the company at the lodgings, and there was a tender
+parting with one or two buxom young women; after which we again
+mounted our steeds and set off for Liverpool, where we arrived without
+any adventure worthy of narration.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+    I am put in command of the Sparrow-Hawk--Am directed to
+    take four Jacobite Gentlemen secretly on board--Run with
+    them to Bordeaux--Land them in safety--Dine with the
+    Governor--Meet with the Widow of the French Gentleman I
+    had unfortunately killed--Am insulted by her second
+    Husband--Agree to fight with him--Sail down the River
+    and prepare for Action.
+
+
+On our arrival, Captain Levee and I, as soon as we had got rid of the
+dust of travel, called upon the owner, who informed us that all the
+alterations in Captain Levee's vessel, which was a large lugger of
+fourteen guns, and a hundred and twenty men, were complete, and that
+my vessel was also ready for me, and manned; but that I had better go
+on board and see if any thing else was required, or if there was any
+alteration that I would propose. Captain Levee and I immediately went
+down to the wharf, alongside of which my vessel lay, that we might
+examine her now that she was fitted out as a vessel of war.
+
+She had been a schooner in the Spanish trade, and had been captured
+by Captain Levee, who had taken her out from under a battery as she
+lay at anchor, having just made her port from a voyage from South
+America, being at that time laden with copper and cochineal--a most
+valuable prize she had proved--and as she was found to be a surprising
+fast sailer, the owner had resolved to fit her out as a privateer.
+
+She was not a large vessel, being of about a hundred and sixty tons,
+but she was very beautifully built. She was now armed with eight brass
+guns, of a calibre of six pounds each, four howitzers aft, and two
+cohorns on the taffrail.
+
+"You have a very sweet little craft here, Elrington," said Captain
+Levee, after he had walked all over her, and examined her below and
+aloft. "She will sail better than before, I should think, for she then
+had a very full cargo, and now her top hamper is a mere nothing. Did
+the owner say how many men you had?"
+
+"Fifty-four is, I believe, to be our full complement," I replied, "and
+I should think quite enough."
+
+"Yes, if they are good men and true. You may do a great deal with this
+vessel, for you see she draws so little water, that you may run in
+where I dare not venture. Come, we will now return to our lodgings,
+pack up, and each go on board of our vessels. We have had play enough,
+now to work again, and in good earnest."
+
+"I was about to propose it myself," I replied, "for with a new vessel,
+officers and men not known to me, the sooner I am on board and with
+them the better. It will take some time to get every thing and
+everybody in their places."
+
+"Spoken like a man who understands his business," replied Captain
+Levee. "I wonder whether we shall be sent out together?"
+
+"I can only say, that I hope so," I replied, "as I should profit much
+by your experience, and hope to prove to you that, if necessary, I
+shall not be a bad second."
+
+And as I made this reply, we arrived at the house where we had lodged.
+
+Captain Levee was a man, who, when once he had decided, was as rapid
+as lightning in execution. He sent for a dealer in horses, concluded a
+bargain with him in five minutes, paid his lodgings and all demands
+upon him, and before noon we were both on board of our respective
+vessels. But, previous to the seamen coming up for our boxes, I
+observed to him, "I should wish, Levee, that you would let me know, if
+it is only at a rough guess, what sum I may be indebted to you; as I
+may be fortunate, and if so, it will be but fair to repay you the
+money, although your kindness I cannot so easily return."
+
+"I'll tell you exactly," said Levee. "If I take no prizes this cruise,
+and you do make money, why then we will, on our return, have another
+frolic somewhere, and you shall stand treat. That will make us all
+square, if I am not fortunate; but if I am, I consider your pleasant
+company to have more than repaid me for any little expense I may have
+incurred."
+
+"You are very kind to say that," I replied; "but I hope you will be
+fortunate, and not have to depend upon me."
+
+"I hope so too," he replied, laughing. "If we come back safe and
+sound, we will take a trip to Bath--I am anxious to see the place."
+
+I mention this conversation, Madam, that I may make you acquainted
+with the character of Captain Levee, and prove to you how worthy a man
+I had as a companion.
+
+It required about ten days to complete my little schooner with every
+thing that I considered requisite, and the politeness of the owner was
+extremely gratifying. We were, however, but just complete, when the
+owner sent for me in a great hurry, and having taken me into a back
+room next to the counting-house, he locked the door, and said--
+
+"Captain Elrington, I have been offered a large sum to do a service to
+some unfortunate people; but it is an affair which, for our own sakes,
+will demand the utmost secrecy: indeed, you will risk more than I
+shall; but at the same time I trust you will not refuse to perform the
+service, as I shall lose a considerable advantage. If you will
+undertake it, I shall not be ungrateful."
+
+I replied that I was bound to him by many acts of kindness, and that
+he might confide in my gratitude.
+
+"Well, then," he replied, lowering his voice, "the fact is this; four
+of the Jacobite party, who are hotly pursued, and for whose heads a
+large reward is offered, have contrived to escape to this port, and
+are here concealed by their friends, who have applied to me to land
+them at some port in France."
+
+"I understand," I replied; "I will cheerfully execute the commission."
+
+"I thank you, Captain Elrington; I expected no other answer from you.
+I would not put them on board Captain Levee's vessel for many reasons;
+but, at the same time, he knows that he is to sail to-morrow, and he
+shall wait for you and keep company with you till you have landed
+them; after which you may concert your own measures with him, and
+decide whether you cruise together or separate."
+
+"Captain Levee will of course know that I have them on board?"
+
+"Certainly; but it is to conceal these people from others in his ship,
+and not from him, that they are put on board of your vessel. At the
+same time, I confess I have my private reasons as well, which I do not
+wish to make known. You can sail to-morrow?"
+
+"I can sail to-night, if you wish," I replied.
+
+"No; to-morrow night will be the time that I have fixed."
+
+"At what time will they come on board?"
+
+"I cannot reply to that till to-morrow. The fact is, that the
+government people are on a hot scent; and there is a vessel of war in
+the offing, I am told, ready to board any thing and every thing which
+comes out. Captain Levee will sail to-morrow morning, and will in all
+probability be examined by the government vessel, which is, I
+understand, a most rapid sailer."
+
+"Will he submit to it?"
+
+"Yes, he must; and I have given him positive orders not to make the
+least attempt to evade her or prevent a search. He will then run to
+Holyhead, and lay-to there for you to join him, and you will proceed
+together to the port which the people taken on board shall direct,
+for that is a part of the agreement they have made with me."
+
+"Then of course I am to evade the king's vessel?"
+
+"Certainly; and I have no doubt but that you will be able so to do.
+Your vessel is so fleet, that there will be little difficulty: at all
+events, you will do your best: but recollect, that although you must
+make every attempt to escape, you must not make any attempt at
+resistance--indeed, that would be useless against a vessel of such
+force. Should you be in a position which might enable them to board
+you, you must find some safe hiding-place for your passengers; for I
+hardly need say, that if taken with them on board, the vessel will be
+confiscated, and you will run some danger of your life. I have nothing
+more to say to you just now, except that you may give out that Captain
+Levee sails to-morrow, and that you are to follow him in ten days.
+Your powder is on board?"
+
+"Yes; I got it on board as soon as we hauled out in the stream."
+
+"Well, then, you will call here to-morrow morning about eleven
+o'clock, not before, and (I hardly need repeat it), but I again
+say--secrecy,--as you value your life."
+
+As soon as I had left the owner, I went down to the wharf, stepped
+into the boat, and went on board Captain Levee's vessel, which, I have
+omitted to state, was named the Arrow. I found him on board, and very
+busy getting ready for sea.
+
+"So you are off to-morrow, Levee?" said I, before all the people on
+the deck.
+
+"Yes," he replied.
+
+"I wish I was, too; but I am to remain ten days longer, I find."
+
+"I was in hopes we should have cruised together," replied Captain
+Levee; "but we must do as our owner wishes. What detains you?--I
+thought you were ready."
+
+"I thought so too," I replied; "but we find that the head of the
+mainmast is sprung, and we must have a new one. I have just come from
+the owner's, and must set to work at once, and get ready for shifting
+our mast. So, fare you well, if I do not see you before you sail."
+
+"I am to see the owner to-night," replied Levee. "Shall we not meet
+then, and take a parting glass?"
+
+"I fear not, but I will come if I can," I replied; "if not, success to
+the Arrow!"
+
+"And success to the Sparrow-Hawk!" replied Levee, "and God bless you,
+my good fellow."
+
+I shook hands with my kind friend, and went over the side of the
+lugger into my boat, and then pulled for my own vessel. As soon as I
+got on board, I sent for the officers and men, and said to them--
+
+"We are to shift our mainmast for one that is three feet longer, and
+must work hard, that we may be able to sail as soon as possible. I
+cannot allow any of you to go on shore till the work is finished; when
+it is done, you will have leave as before till we sail."
+
+That afternoon I sent down the topsail-yard and topmast, unbent the
+mainsail, main-topsail, and gaff--sent down the topmast and
+running-rigging on deck--cast loose the lanyards of the lower rigging,
+and quite dismantled the mainmast, so as to make it appear as if we
+were about to haul to the wharf and take it out. The men all remained
+on board, expecting that we should shift our berth the next day.
+
+On the following morning I laid out a warp to the wharf, as if
+intending to haul in; and at the time appointed, I went on shore to
+the owner, and told him what I had done.
+
+"But," he said, "I find that you will have to sail this night as soon
+as it is dark. How will you get ready?"
+
+I replied that at nightfall I would immediately replace every thing,
+and in an hour would be ready for sea.
+
+"If such be the case, you have done well, Mr. Elrington, and I thank
+you for your zeal on my behalf, which I shall not forget. Every thing
+has been arranged, and you must come up here with some of your seamen
+as soon as you are ready to sail. Your men, or rather four of them,
+must remain in the house. The four gentlemen who are to be embarked
+will be dressed, in seamen's attire, and will carry down their boxes
+and trunks as if they were your men taking your things on board. You
+will then remain a little distance from the wharf in the boat till
+your own men come down, and if there is no discovery you will take
+them on board with you; if, on the contrary, there is any suspicion,
+and the officers of the government are on the watch, and stop your
+men, you will then push off with the passengers, slip your cable if it
+is necessary, and make all sail for Holyhead, where you will fall in
+with the Arrow, which will be waiting there for you. Is the Arrow
+still in sight?"
+
+"No," I replied; "she was out of sight more than an hour ago, and from
+our masthead we could see the top-gallant sails of the vessel of war
+bearing N.N.W."
+
+"Keep a look-out upon her, and see how she bears at dark," replied the
+owner, "for you must not fall in with her if possible. I think you had
+better return on board now, that you may keep your people quiet."
+
+When I arrived on board the schooner, I told my officers that I did
+not think that we should shift the mast as proposed, and that every
+thing must be got ready for refitting. I did not choose to say more,
+but I added that I was to go on shore in the evening to smoke a pipe
+with the owner, and then I should know for certain. I employed the men
+during the whole of the day in doing every thing in preparation which
+could be done without exciting suspicion; and as soon as it was dark I
+called the men aft, and told them that I thought it was very likely,
+from the Arrow not having made her appearance, that we might be sent
+to join her immediately, and that I wished them to rig the mainmast,
+and make every thing ready for an immediate start, promising them to
+serve out some liquor if they worked well. This was sufficient, and in
+little more than an hour the mast was secured, the rigging all
+complete, and the sails ready for bending. I then ordered the boat to
+be manned, and telling the officers that they were to bend the sails,
+and have every thing ready for weighing on my return on board, which
+would be in an hour, or thereabouts, I pulled on shore, and went up to
+the owner's, taking four men with me, and leaving three men in the
+boat. I ordered these three men to remain till the others came down
+with my trunks and effects, and not to leave the boat on any
+consideration.
+
+When I arrived at the owner's, I told him what I had done, and he
+commended my arrangements. In the back room I found four gentlemen
+dressed in seamen's clothing, and as there was no time to be lost,
+they immediately shouldered the trunks and valises; desiring my own
+men to remain with the owner to bring down any thing that he might
+wish to send on board, I left them in the counting-house. The
+gentlemen followed me with their loads down to the boat, and when I
+got there the men told me that some people had come down and asked
+whose boat it was, and why they were lying there, and that they had
+told the people that the captain had taken four men with him to bring
+down his things, and that they were waiting for him; so it was lucky
+that I said to my men what I did.
+
+We hastened to put the trunks into the boat, and to get in ourselves
+after we had received this intelligence, and then I shoved off from
+the wharf, and laid about a stone's throw distant for my other men. At
+last we heard them coming down, and shortly afterwards we perceived
+that they were stopped by other people, and in altercation with them.
+I knew then that the officers were on the alert, and would discover
+the stratagem, and therefore desired my men and the gentlemen, who had
+each taken an oar in readiness, to give way and pull for the schooner.
+As we did so, the king's officers on search who had stopped my four
+men came down to the wharf and ordered us to come back, but we made no
+reply. As soon as we were alongside, we hoisted the things out of the
+boat, veered her astern by a tow-rope, slipped the cable, and made
+sail. Fortunately it was very dark, and we were very alert in our
+movements. We could perceive lights at the wharf as we sailed out of
+the river, and it was clear that we had had a narrow escape; but I
+felt no alarm on account of the owner, as I knew that although they
+might suspect, they could prove nothing. When about three miles out we
+hove to, hoisted in the boat, and shaped our course.
+
+All I had now to fear was the falling in with the ship of war in the
+offing, and I placed men to keep a sharp look-out in every direction,
+and told the officers that it was necessary that we should avoid her.
+When last seen, about an hour before dark, she was well to windward,
+and as the wind was from the northward, she would probably sail faster
+than we could, as a schooner does not sail so well free as on a wind.
+We had run out about four hours, and were steering our course for
+Holyhead, when suddenly we perceived the ship of war close to us, and
+to leeward. She had been lying with her mainsail to the mast, but she
+evidently had made us out, for she filled and set top-gallant sails.
+
+I immediately hauled my wind, and as soon as she had way, she tacked
+and followed in pursuit, being then right astern of us, about half a
+mile off. It was very dark, and I knew that as our sails were set, and
+we bore from her, it would be difficult for her to keep us in sight,
+as we only presented what we call the feather-edge of our sails to
+her. I therefore steered on under all sail, and finding that the
+schooner weathered on her, I kept her away a little, so as to retain
+the same bearings, and to leave her faster.
+
+In an hour we could not make out the ship, and were therefore certain
+that she could not see us; so, as I wanted to get clear of her, and be
+at Holyhead as soon as possible, I lowered down all the sails and put
+my helm up, so as to cross her and run to leeward under bare poles,
+while she continued her windward chase. This stratagem answered, and
+we saw no more of her; for, two hours afterwards, we fell in with the
+Arrow, and, hailing her, we both made sail down the Bristol Channel as
+fast as we could, and at daybreak there was no vessel in sight, and of
+course we had nothing more to fear from the Liverpool cruiser.
+
+As we now sailed rapidly along in company, with the wind on our
+quarter, it was high time for me to look to my passengers, who had
+remained on deck in perfect silence from the time that they had come
+on board. I therefore went up to them, and apologized for not having
+as yet paid them that attention that I should have wished to have done
+under other circumstances.
+
+"Captain," replied the oldest of them, with a courteous salute, "you
+have paid us every attention; you have been extremely active in saving
+our lives, and we return you our sincere thanks."
+
+"Yes, indeed," replied a young and handsome man who stood next him,
+"Mr. Elrington has saved us from the toils of our enemies; but now
+that we are in no fear from that quarter, I must tell him that we have
+hardly had a mouthful of food for twenty-four hours, and if he wishes
+to save our lives a second time, it will be by ordering a good
+breakfast to be prepared for us."
+
+"Campbell speaks the truth, my dear Sir," said the one who had first
+spoken. "We have lately gained the knowledge of what it is to hunger
+and thirst; and we all join in his request."
+
+"You shall not wait long," I replied; "I will be up again in a moment
+or two." I went down into the cabin, and ordering my servant to put on
+the table a large piece of pressed Hamburg beef, a cold pie of various
+flesh and fowl combined, some bread and cheese, and some bottles of
+brandy and usquebaugh, I then went up again, and requested them all to
+descend. Hungry they certainly were, and it was incredible the
+quantity that they devoured. I should have imagined that they had not
+been fed for a week; and I thought that if they were to consume at
+that rate, my stock would never last out, and the sooner they were
+landed the better. As soon as they left off eating, and had finished
+two bottles of usquebaugh, I said to them, "Gentlemen, my orders are
+to land you at any port of France that you should prefer. Have you
+made up your minds as to which it shall be, for it will be necessary
+that we shape a course according to your decision?"
+
+"Mr. Elrington, on that point we would wish to advise with you. I
+hardly need say that our object is to escape, and that falling in with
+and being captured by a ship of war, and there are many out in pursuit
+of us and other unfortunate adherents to the house of Stuart, would be
+extremely disagreeable, as our heads and our bodies would certainly
+part company, if we were taken. Now, which port do you think we should
+be most likely to reach with least chance of interruption?"
+
+"I think," I replied, "as you pay me the compliment to ask my opinion,
+that it would be better to run down the Bay of Biscay, and then put in
+the port of Bordeaux, or any other, where you could be landed in
+safety; and my reason is this: the Channel is full of cruisers looking
+after those of your party who are attempting to escape; and my vessel
+will be chased and searched. Now, although we might sail faster than
+any one vessel in the Channel, yet it is very possible that in running
+away from one, we may fall into the jaws of another. And besides, we
+are two privateers, and cruising off Bordeaux will excite no
+suspicion, as it is a favourite cruising-ground; so that, if we were
+boarded, there would be little danger of discovery; but, of course, as
+long as I can prevent that, by taking to my heels, I shall not be
+boarded by any one. The only objection to what I propose is, that you
+will be confined longer in a vessel than you may like, or than you
+would be if you were to gain a nearer port."
+
+"I agree with the captain of the vessel," said a grave-looking
+personage, who had not yet spoken, and whom I afterwards discovered to
+be a Catholic priest, "the stanchest adherent to the cause could not
+have given better advice, and I should recommend that it be followed."
+
+The others were of the same opinion; and, in consequence, I edged the
+schooner down to the Arrow, and hailed Captain Levee, stating that we
+were to run to Bordeaux. After that I prepared for them sleeping
+accommodations as well as I could, and on my making apologies, they
+laughed, and told me such stories of their hardships during their
+escape, that I was not surprised at their not being difficult. I found
+out their names by their addressing one another, to be Campbell,
+M'Intyre, Ferguson, and M'Donald; all of them very refined gentlemen,
+and of excellent discourse. They were very merry, and laughed at all
+that they had suffered; sang Jacobite songs, as they were termed, and
+certainly did not spare my locker of wine. The wind continued fair,
+and we met with no interruption, and on the fourth evening, at dusk,
+we made the mouth of the Garonne, and then hove to, with our heads off
+shore, for the night. Captain Levee then came on board, and I
+introduced him to my passengers. To my surprise, after some
+conversation, he said--
+
+"I have now escorted Captain Elrington, according to the orders I
+received, and shall return to Liverpool as soon as possible; if,
+therefore, gentlemen, you have any letters to send to your friends
+announcing your safety, I shall be most happy to present them in any
+way you may suggest as most advisable."
+
+That Captain Levee had some object in saying this, I was quite
+certain; and therefore I made no remark. The passengers thanked him
+for his proposal; and, being provided with writing materials, they all
+wrote to their friends, and put their letters into Captain Levee's
+hands, who then bade them farewell, and went on deck with me.
+
+"Of course, you were not serious in what you said, Captain Levee?" I
+inquired, as we walked forward.
+
+"No," he replied; "but I considered it prudent to make them believe
+so. Although Englishmen, they are enemies to our country, so far as
+they are enemies to our government, and, of course, wish no harm to
+the French, who have so warmly supported them. Now, if they knew that
+I remained here waiting for your coming out of the river, they would
+say so, and I might lose the chance of a good prize, as nothing would
+sail, if they knew that the coast was not clear. Now, I shall part
+company with you in an hour, and make all sail for England, as they
+may suppose, but without fail, to-morrow night I shall be off here
+again, about five leagues from the port, with my sails furled;
+therefore, stay in the river as long as they will let you, as, while
+you are in port with the flag of truce, vessels may sail out."
+
+"I understand you, and will do all I can to assist your views, Captain
+Levee. Now, we will go down again. I will give you a receipt for a
+coil of rope, which you will send your boat for, and write a letter to
+the owners, after which you will wish me good bye, and make sail."
+
+"Exactly," Captain Levee replied, who then ordered his boat to go for
+a coil of three inch, and bring it on board.
+
+We then descended to the cabin, and I wrote a letter to the owner, and
+also a receipt for the coil of rope, which I delivered to Captain
+Levee. The boat soon returned from the lugger, the rope was taken on
+board, and then Captain Levee wished me farewell, and made his polite
+adieus to the gentlemen who followed him on deck, and waited there
+till he had hoisted in his boat, and made all sail.
+
+"How long will she be before she arrives at Liverpool with this
+wind?" inquired Mr. Campbell.
+
+"She will carry her canvas night and day," I replied; "and, therefore,
+as she sails so fast, I should say in five or six days."
+
+"Well, I am grateful that we have such an early and safe opportunity
+of communicating with our friends in England, we might have waited two
+months otherwise."
+
+"Very true," replied the priest, "but Heaven has assisted our anxious
+wishes. Let us be grateful for all things."
+
+My passengers watched the lugger until she was nearly out of sight. I
+dare say that their thoughts were, that those on board of her were
+going to the country of their birth, from which they were exiles,
+probably for ever: they did not speak, but went down below, and
+retired to their beds. At daylight the next morning I ran the schooner
+in; and as soon as I was within three miles of the coast, I hoisted
+the white flag of truce, and stood for the mouth of the river Garonne.
+I perceived that the batteries were manned, but not a shot was fired,
+and we entered the river.
+
+When we were a mile up the river, we were boarded by the French
+authorities, and my passengers, who had dressed themselves in their
+proper costume, informed the officer in the boat who they were, upon
+which he was very polite, and calling a pilot out of the boat, the
+schooner was taken charge of by him, and we very soon afterwards,
+having wind and tide in our favour, were anchored alongside of two
+large merchant vessels and a French privateer of sixteen guns, which I
+instantly recognized as our old antagonist off Hispaniola, in the
+action in which the Revenge was captured, and Captain Weatherall lost
+his life. However, I kept my knowledge to myself, as the French
+officer and the Jacobite gentleman were present. As soon as we had
+anchored, the passengers were requested to go into the boat, and the
+French officer and I to accompany them, that I might report myself to
+the governor, and we pulled away to the town, one of my boats
+following with the passengers' luggage.
+
+On our landing, there was a great crowd assembled, and they looked
+very hard at me, as I was dressed in my lace coat and a cocked-up
+hat, also bound with broad gold lace. On our arrival in the presence
+of the governor, we were received with much urbanity; and as I had
+brought the Jacobite gentlemen in my schooner, it was presumed that I
+was favourable to the cause, and I was very politely treated. The
+governor invited us all to dine with him on that day. I made some
+excuse, saying, that I was anxious to return to Liverpool; that I
+might fit out for the coast of Africa, in which service I was to be
+employed by my owners; but the passengers insisted upon my staying a
+day or two, and the governor added to their solicitations, his own.
+
+I therefore accepted, not only because I was glad to have an
+opportunity to see so celebrated a town, but because it would meet the
+views of Captain Levee. We took leave of the governor, and went to an
+hotel, and I then sent my boat on board for necessaries, and hired a
+handsome apartment in the hotel. I had not been there half an hour,
+when the priest came to me and said, "Captain, you are not aware of
+the rank and consequence of the three gentlemen whom you have been so
+successful in escorting to a place of safety. I am requested by them
+to make you a handsome remuneration for your kindness and skilful
+conduct on this occasion."
+
+"Sir," I replied, "that must not be. I am most happy in having
+assisted in the escape of unfortunate gentlemen; and all the pleasure
+I feel at having so done would be destroyed if I were to accept of
+what you offer. It is useless to repeat it; and if you do, I shall
+consider it an insult, and immediately repair on board of my vessel.
+You will therefore tender my best thanks and my refusal, with ardent
+wishes for their future welfare."
+
+"After what you have said, Captain Elrington, I will, of course, not
+resume the offer. I will tell my fellow-passengers what you have said,
+and I am sure that they will, as I do, admire your high sense of
+honour."--The priest shook me by the hand, and then quitted my
+apartment. I did not see the other passengers till it was the hour to
+go to dine at the governor's, when they embraced me cordially, and the
+one calling himself Campbell said, "Should you ever be in distress or
+a prisoner in this country, recollect you have a friend who is ready
+to serve you. Here is an address to a lady, to whom you must write,
+and say that you wish the assistance of your passenger to
+Bordeaux--that will be sufficient--I trust you may never require it."
+
+We had a pleasant dinner at the governor's, and among the people
+invited to meet us, I perceived the French captain of the privateer. I
+knew him immediately, although he did not recognize me. We had some
+conversation together, and he spoke about his cruises in the West
+Indies, and asked me whether I knew Captain Weatherall. I said there
+was a Captain Weatherall who commanded the Revenge privateer, and who
+was killed when his vessel was taken.
+
+"Exactly," said the captain; "he was a brave man, and fought nobly,
+and so did all his people--they fought like devils."
+
+"Yes," I replied, "they fought as long as they could, but Captain
+Weatherall was very short-handed. He had but fifty-five men on board
+at the commencement of the action."
+
+"More than that, I'm sure," replied the French captain.
+
+"He had not, I assure you," I replied; "he had lost so many in an
+attack on shore, and had so many away in prizes."
+
+Our conversation had attracted general notice, and a French army
+officer observed, "Monsieur speaks so positively, that one would
+imagine that he was actually on board."
+
+"And so I was, Sir," replied I, "and have my wounds to show for it. I
+knew this officer immediately I saw him, for I was close to Captain
+Weatherall at the time that this officer expostulated with him before
+the action; and I crossed my sword with him during the combat."
+
+"You have convinced me that you were on board," replied the captain of
+the privateer, "by your mentioning the expostulations previous to the
+combat taking place. I am delighted to have met with so brave an
+enemy, for every man on board that vessel was a hero."
+
+The conversation was then general, and many particulars were asked;
+and I will do the French captain the justice to say, that he was very
+correct in all his statements, and neither vaunted his own success,
+nor did us less than justice.
+
+The party then broke up to go to the theatre, and afterwards we
+repaired to the hotel. I remained there two days more, and on the last
+of these two days I had promised to sup with the French captain of the
+privateer, who had called upon me, and behaved very politely. The
+following day, after noon, when the tide served, I was to sail.
+Accordingly, after the theatre was over, I went with the French
+captain to his house, in company with two or three more. Supper was on
+the table when we arrived there, and we went into the room, waiting
+for the presence of the captain's lady, who had not gone to the
+theatre, and to whom I had not been introduced. After a few minutes
+she made her appearance, and as she entered the room, I was struck
+with her extreme beauty, although she was past the meridian of life. I
+thought I had seen her face before, and as she came forward with her
+husband, it at once rushed into my mind that she was the widow of the
+French gentleman who had so gallantly fought his vessel, and who fell
+by my hand--the lady who was nursing her son at the King's Hospital at
+Jamaica, and who had been so inveterate against me. Our eyes met, and
+her cheeks flushed; she recognized me, and I coloured deeply as I
+bowed to her. She was taken with a faintness, and fell back.
+Fortunately her husband received her in his arms.
+
+"What is the matter, my love?" he said.
+
+"Nothing; but I am taken with a vertigo," replied she; "it will go off
+directly. Make my excuses to the company, while I retire for a few
+minutes."
+
+Her husband went out of the room, and after a minute or two came back,
+saying that Madam was not well enough to return to the room, and
+begged that they would admit her excuse, and sit down to supper
+without her. Whether his wife had informed him of who I was, I know
+not; but nothing could exceed the civility of the French captain
+towards me during the supper. We did not, however, remain very late,
+as the lady of the house was indisposed.
+
+I found out, as I walked home with another French officer, that the
+captain of the privateer had fallen in with the French lady on her
+return from Jamaica, where her son died in the hospital, and had
+married her; and that, moreover, unlike most French husbands, he was
+most ardently attached to her.
+
+I had breakfasted the next morning, and packed up my clothes
+preparatory to going on board, and had just returned from a visit of
+leave-taking with the governor, when who should walk up into my
+apartment but the French captain of the privateer, accompanied by
+three or four French officers of the army. I perceived by his looks
+when he entered that he was a little excited, but I met him cordially.
+He began a conversation about his action with Captain Weatherall, and
+instead of speaking handsomely as he had done before, he used
+expressions which I considered offensive, and I at once took him up by
+observing that being under a flag of truce, it was impossible for me
+to notice what he said.
+
+"No," he replied; "but I wish we were once more on the high seas
+together, for I have a little debt of gratitude to pay off."
+
+"Well," I replied, "you may have; and I should not be sorry to give
+you an opportunity, if it were possible."
+
+"May I inquire whether you intend to go home as a cartel, and carry
+your flag of truce to Liverpool?"
+
+"No, Sir," I replied; "I shall haul down my flag of truce as soon as I
+am out of gun-shot of your batteries. I understand what you mean, Sir.
+It is very true that your vessel carries nearly double the number of
+men and guns that mine does, but nevertheless I shall haul down my
+flag of truce, as I say I will."
+
+"Not if I follow you down the river, I presume?" he said with a sort
+of sneer.
+
+"Follow me, if you dare," I cried; "you will meet with your master,
+depend upon it."
+
+"Sacre!" replied he, in a passion, "I will blow you out of the water;
+and if I take you I will hang you for a pirate."
+
+"Not the last, certainly," I said coolly.
+
+"Look you, Sir," he cried, shutting his fist upon the palm of his
+other hand, "if I take you, I will hang you; and if you take me, you
+may serve me in the same way. Is it a bargain, or are you a coward?"
+
+"Gentlemen," I said to the officers present, "you must feel that your
+countryman is not behaving well. He has insulted me grossly. I will,
+however, consent to his terms on one condition, which is, that he will
+permit one of you, after he has sailed, to make known the conditions
+upon which we fight to his wife; and that one of you will pledge me
+his honour that he will impart these conditions as soon as we are
+gone."
+
+"Agree to do so--pledge yourself to do so, Xavier," cried the French
+captain to one of the officers present.
+
+"Since you wish it, certainly," he said.
+
+"You pledge yourself to make the conditions known to Madam, as soon as
+we have sailed?"
+
+"I do, upon the honour of an officer and a gentleman," replied he,
+"painful as it will be to me."
+
+"Then, captain," I replied, "I agree to your conditions, and one or
+the other of us shall hang."
+
+You may suppose, Madam, that I must have been in a state of great
+irritation to have consented to such terms. I was so, and could not
+brook such insult in the presence of the French officers. Moreover, as
+you will observe, in my conversation I did not commit myself in any
+way. There was nothing dishonourable. I told him that I should haul
+down my flag of truce, and I also told him that he would meet with his
+master, which was true enough, as he would meet with the Arrow,
+commanded by Captain Levee, as well as with my vessel; while he
+thought that he would have to fight with my inferior vessel alone,
+and, making sure of conquest, he purposely insulted me, to make me
+accept such conditions as would administer to the revenge of his wife,
+who had evidently worked him up to act in such a manner; and I
+accepted them, because I hoped the fate would be his if Captain Levee
+joined me, and if not, I was determined that I never would be taken
+alive.
+
+After I had agreed to his conditions, they all took a very ceremonious
+leave, and I bowed them out with great mock humility. I then bade
+farewell to my passengers, who lodged in the same hotel, and went down
+to my boat, and pulled on board. As soon as the tide served, the pilot
+came on board, and we got under weigh. I observed a great bustle, and
+a hurrying to and fro of boats on board of the French privateer, and
+we had not gone above two miles down the river, before I perceived the
+men were aloft and lowering her sails. I told my officers that I had
+received a challenge from the French privateer, and had accepted it,
+and that we must get every thing ready for action. They were much
+astonished at this, as the disparity of force was so great, but they
+went cheerfully to their duty, as did the men, among whom the news was
+soon spread.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+    Captain Levee and I engage with the French Privateer--We
+    come off victorious--My revenge against the French
+    Lady--We take our Prize to Liverpool.
+
+
+The wind was light, and we did not gain the mouth of the river till
+near sun-down, when the pilot left us; and as soon as we were three
+miles in the offing, I hauled down the flag of truce in the sight of
+the French privateer, who was following us close, and was not more
+than four miles from us. To avoid mistake, I had agreed with Captain
+Levee that should I be coming out after dark, I would carry a light at
+the peak, and this light I now hoisted. It enabled the French
+privateer to follow me, and appeared only as a mark of contempt
+towards him. I stood on in the direction where I was to find Captain
+Levee, and could make out the Frenchman following me, and gradually
+nearing me. As it became dark I made more sail to keep him further off
+till I had joined the Arrow, but the light at my peak pointed out to
+him where I was. All this seemed a mystery to my officers and men,
+until having run out about four leagues, I desired them to keep a
+sharp look-out for the Arrow.
+
+About half-past eight o'clock we perceived her lying-to; she had
+furled her sails after dark, as usual. The light I bore told her who I
+was, and I ran close to her, and, hailing Captain Levee, desired him
+to prepare for action, and that I would come on board to speak to him.
+This, of course, created a great bustle on board of the Arrow, and I
+hastened on board that they might not show any lights. I then informed
+Captain Levee of all that had passed, and that the Frenchman was not
+more than five miles from us. We agreed that I should still keep up
+the light, and bear away a little to draw the Frenchman to leeward of
+the port, and also to leeward of the Arrow;--that the Arrow should
+lower her sails again, so as not to be perceived until I had drawn the
+Frenchman past him, and that then I should commence the action under
+sail, and fight till the Arrow came up to my assistance. This being
+arranged, I hastened on board of my schooner, and keeping away four
+points, I waited for the coming up of my antagonist. In half an hour
+we could perceive him through the gloom, not more than a mile from us,
+under all sail, standing steadily for the light which we carried at
+our peak.
+
+As I had already discovered that my little schooner sailed faster than
+my opponent, I allowed her to come up within a quarter of a mile of
+me, when I rounded to; and desiring my men to aim at his rigging, so
+as to dismantle him, poured in my broadside of grape and langridge,
+and then shifted my helm and resumed my course, putting more sail on,
+so as to increase my distance to what it was before. This manoeuvre I
+executed three times with success, and I had the satisfaction of
+perceiving that his foretop-mast was shot away; but when I rounded-to
+the fourth time, he did the same, and we exchanged broadsides. The
+effect of his superior artillery was evident, for my rigging and sails
+were much damaged; happily nothing so serious as to impede our speed,
+and I again put before the breeze as before, and increased my distance
+previous to again rounding-to; for, as the water was very smooth, I
+knew that if I was crippled she would lay me by the board immediately,
+and I might be taken and hanged before the Arrow could come up to my
+assistance. I therefore continued a running fight at such a distance
+as rendered me less liable to suffer from his guns.
+
+It is true that this distance made my guns even more ineffective, but
+I was decoying my Frenchman off from the land, and placing the Arrow
+between him and his port, so that his return would be intercepted.
+This continued for about an hour, when I perceived that the Frenchman
+had got up a new foretop-mast, and had set the sail upon it. He now
+ran out his bow-chasers, and continued to fire upon me with them
+alone, not choosing to lose ground by rounding-to, to give me a
+broadside; and as his canvas was all out, and I was occasionally
+rounding-to to dismantle him, we retained much the same distance from
+one another. At last a shot from his bow-chaser struck off the head of
+my mainmast, and my gaff came down.
+
+This was serious. We hastened to reef the mainsail, and hoist it up
+again upon the remainder of the mast, but having no gaff-topsail, our
+speed was necessarily decreased, and the enemy appeared to be
+gradually closing with us. I looked out for the Arrow, but could
+perceive no signs of her; indeed it was too dark to see farther than
+half a mile. Finding that on the point of sailing we were on I had no
+chance, I determined to alter my course, and put my schooner right
+before the wind, so that I might set the square mainsail, which would
+give time for the Arrow to arrive; indeed at this time I was in a
+state of great anxiety. However, I had made up my mind not to be taken
+alive, and to sell my life as dearly as I could.
+
+When the enemy perceived that we had put before the wind, he did the
+same, and as we were about half a mile from each other, we continued
+to exchange broadsides as we ran, she gradually nearing us so as to
+make her heavy artillery more effective. This portion of the contest
+continued for an hour, during which my little schooner had received
+much injury, and we were constantly repairing damages. At last, much
+to my delight, the day began to dawn, and I then discovered the Arrow
+about a mile and a half from us, right astern, under a press of sail.
+
+I pointed her out to my officers and men, who were inspired with fresh
+courage at the sight. The enemy also perceived her, and appeared
+determined to bring the combat to an issue previous to her coming up,
+and I feared that, at all events, I might swing at the yard-arm, let
+the issue of the coming combat be what it might. She neared, steering
+a course so as to cut me off, and I continued to pour in my broadsides
+to cripple her if possible, as she did not now fire, but ran steadily
+for me, and my chances were bad.
+
+Anxious that the Arrow should close as soon as possible, I hauled
+down my square mainsail, that we might not run from her, and prepared
+for an obstinate resistance if boarded. At last the Frenchman was
+within a cable's length, and at this critical moment the Arrow was
+about a mile to windward. We poured in our last broadside, and
+hastened to seize our pikes and cutlasses to repel the boarders, when
+to my satisfaction I found that one of our shot had cut his gaff in
+two. I immediately rounded to the wind; and as my antagonist was
+within pistol-shot of me, with her men all ready for the leap on
+board, I put my helm down, went round in stays, and crossed her so
+near to windward that you might have thrown a biscuit on board.
+
+This manoeuvre prevented his boarding, and I may say saved my life,
+for his gaff being shot away, he could not heave in stays to follow
+me, but was obliged to wear round after me, which increased his
+distance at least a cable's length to leeward. A furious broadside,
+however, which he poured in, crippled me altogether. Every thing came
+running down upon the decks, and I was left a complete wreck; but I
+was to windward of him, and although he might sink me, he could not
+board or take possession until he had refitted his after-sail.
+
+But now his time was come. A fresh antagonist, with equal weight of
+metal, was close to him, and he had to decide whether he would fight
+or run. Whether he conceived that running was useless, which it
+certainly was, or was determined to take us both or die, I know not,
+certain it is that he did not put his vessel before the wind, but
+waited with determination the coming up of the Arrow. Captain Levee
+passed under the Frenchman's stern, raking him with a broadside that
+almost unrigged him, and then engaged him to leeward, so as to cut off
+all chance of his escape.
+
+The Frenchman returned the fire with spirit, and I took my men from my
+guns that we might set some sail upon the vessel, for after the Arrow
+commenced her fire no further notice was taken of me by the Frenchman.
+After a contest well maintained for half an hour, the mainmast of the
+Frenchman went by the board, and this almost settled the question, as
+he could not keep his vessel to the wind, and consequently she fell
+off, and received a raking fire from the Arrow. At last her bowsprit
+was between the main and fore rigging of the Arrow, and her decks
+were swept by the Arrow's raking fire. I had got some sail up forward,
+and was anxious to be at the close of the action. I perceived that the
+Frenchman was attempting to board the lugger, and was pouring all his
+people on the forecastle, and I therefore edged down to him that I
+might, with my people, board him on the quarter, which would place
+him, as we say, between two fires. The conflict was at its highest;
+the French attempting and the Arrow's crew repelling them, when I laid
+my schooner on her quarter, and leaped on board of her with my few
+remaining men. The Frenchmen turned to repel my attack, and thus
+weakened their party opposed to the Arrow's men; the consequence was,
+that they were first beaten back, and then boarded by Captain Levee
+and his crew.
+
+As soon as I had gained the deck of the Frenchman, I thought of
+nothing but to single out the French captain. At first I could not see
+him, but as his crew retreated from Captain Levee and his men, I
+perceived him, pale and exhausted, but still attempting to rally them.
+As my object was to take him alive, I rushed in advance at him,
+wrestled, and threw him on his back on the deck. There I held him,
+while the combatants fighting and retreating, tumbled over us one
+after another, and bruised us severely with their weight. At last the
+French were beaten below, and I had time to breathe; calling to two of
+my men, I desired them to take charge of the French captain, and as
+they valued their lives, not to let him escape, or destroy himself,
+but to take him into our vessel and guard him carefully in my cabin.
+Having done this, I went to Captain Levee, and we embraced.
+
+"You did not come a minute too soon," I said, wiping the blood from my
+face.
+
+"No, indeed; and but for your clever manoeuvre, you would have been
+beaten. Your vessel is a mere nutshell compared to this;--you did
+well, more than well, to maintain the combat so long. Have you lost
+many men?"
+
+"We had ten sent below before we boarded; what may have followed since
+I do not know. I have the French captain safe in my cabin."
+
+"I saw the men hand him over:--well, now to repair damages, and then
+I will tell you what you shall do. I must send on board and help you;
+the Arrow has not suffered much considering, and I can spare the men.
+As soon as we have cleared up the decks a little, we will breakfast
+together, and talk the matter over."
+
+It required two hours before we could clear the decks of our vessels,
+for we had separated, and the Arrow had taken charge of the prize.
+Before I took the boat to go on board the Arrow, I went down into my
+cabin, where the French captain lay bound and watched by two of the
+men.
+
+"You are prepared to pay the penalty agreed upon, Monsieur?" said I.
+
+"I am, Sir," he replied. "I now understand what you meant when you
+said that I should meet with my match. I have no one to blame but
+myself. I urged you to the conditions, expecting an easy and certain
+conquest with my superior vessel. I have fallen into my own net, and
+there's an end of the matter--except that when things go wrong, a
+woman is certain to be at the bottom of it."
+
+"I am aware, Sir," I replied, "that your wife instigated you to act as
+you did, or you would never have so behaved. In attempting to revenge
+the death of one husband, she has lost two."
+
+"_C'est vrai_," replied the Frenchman, composedly, and I then quitted
+the cabin, and went on board of the Arrow.
+
+"Well, Elrington," said Captain Levee, "what do you intend to do with
+the French captain? Is he to pay the forfeit, and swing at the
+yard-arm?"
+
+"I don't like hanging a man, especially a brave man, in cold blood," I
+replied. "It was all his wife's doing, and he has confessed as much."
+
+"He would certainly have hanged you," replied Levee.
+
+"Yes, that I believe; but it would have been that he might have a
+quiet life at home--not from any resentment against me. Now I have no
+feeling of that kind to actuate me."
+
+"What will you do, then?"
+
+"Not hang him, certainly; and yet I should like to punish her."
+
+"She deserves it," replied Captain Levee. "Now, Elrington, will you
+approve of my suggestion?"
+
+"Let me hear it."
+
+"It is this: they do not know that I have assisted in taking the
+privateer, as they have no idea that I am here. As soon as we have
+refitted her and your vessel, I will remain where I am. You shall run
+into the mouth of the Garonne, with your colours flying, and the
+English Jack over the French flag on board of the prize. This will
+lead them to suppose that you have taken the vessel without
+assistance. When just out of gun-shot, heave-to, fire a gun, and then
+swing an effigy to the yard-arm, and remain there, to make them
+suppose that you have hung the French captain. At nightfall you can
+make sail and rejoin me. That will punish her, and annoy them
+generally."
+
+"I will do so; it is an excellent device, and she will never know the
+truth for a long time to come."
+
+We remained all that day refitting; in the evening I made sail, in
+company with the French schooner, which was manned by Captain Levee,
+and stood in shore. At break of the following day I ran in, standing
+for the harbour, without my colours being hoisted, and then it
+occurred to me that I would make their disappointment greater, by
+allowing them first to imagine that the victory was theirs; so, when
+about six miles off, I hoisted French colours on the French schooner,
+and French colours over English on board of my own.
+
+I continued to stand on till within two miles and a half of the
+batteries, and could see crowds flocking down to witness the supposed
+triumphant arrival of their privateer into port; when of a sudden I
+hauled my wind, hove-to, brailed up my sails, and changed the colours,
+firing a gun in bravado. Allowing them half an hour to comment upon
+this disappointment, I then fired another gun, and hoisted up to the
+yard-arm the figure of a man, composed of clothes stuffed with hay,
+made to represent the French captain; and having so done, I remained
+during the whole forenoon, with my sails brailed up, that they might
+have a clear view of the hanging figure. At last we perceived a large
+boat, with a flag of truce coming out of the river. I remained where I
+was, and allowing it to come alongside, I perceived in it the French
+officer, who had pledged himself to give the conditions of the combat
+to the lady; and seated by him was the French captain's wife, with her
+head sunk down on her knees, and her face buried in her handkerchief.
+
+I saluted the officer as he came on the deck. He returned my bow, and
+then said, "Sir, the fortune of war has proved in your favour, and I
+perceive that the conditions of the issue of the combat have been
+adhered to on your side. Against that I have not a word to say, as my
+friend would have as rigidly adhered to them. But, Sir, we war not
+with the dead, and I have come off at the request of his miserable
+wife, to beg that you will, now that your revenge is satisfied,
+deliver up to her her husband's body, that it may receive the rites of
+the Church, and Christian burial. You surely, as a brave man, will not
+deny this small favour to a woman whom you have twice deprived of her
+husband?"
+
+"Sir," I replied, "on condition that his lady will step on board and
+make the request herself, I will comply with it, but on no other
+terms."
+
+"It will be most painful, and her feelings might well have been spared
+such a trial as to meet your face again, and make the request in
+person; but as you insist upon it, I will make known your terms."
+
+As he went into his boat I ran down into the cabin, and desired them
+to cast loose the French captain, saying to him, "Sir, your wife is
+here requesting your body, which she believes to be swinging at the
+yard-arm, for I have put that trick into execution to punish her. I
+never intended to take your life, and I shall now do more, I shall
+give you not only life, but liberty--such shall be my revenge."
+
+The French captain stared as if confounded, but made no reply. I then
+went on deck, where I found the lady had been lifted up the side. They
+led her to me, and she fell on her knees, but the effort was too much
+for her, and she fainted away. I ordered her to be taken down into the
+cabin, and, without any explanation, desired the French officer to
+accompany her, not wishing to be present at the unexpected meeting. I
+therefore remained on deck, and ordering the men to lower down the
+effigy, they did so, laughing at the French seamen in the boat, who
+for the first time perceived, for they had not looked up before, that
+it was only a sham captain. I looked over the side, and told them that
+the captain was alive and well, and would be in the boat very soon, at
+which they were greatly rejoiced. In the mean time the explanation
+took place in the cabin, and after a few minutes the French officer
+came up, and expressed his satisfaction at what I had done.
+
+"You have given a lesson, Sir, without being guilty of barbarity. Your
+conduct has been noble."
+
+He was soon followed by the French captain and his lady, who was now
+all gratitude, and would have kissed my hands, but I prevented her,
+and said, "Madam, at least now you have no occasion to hate me. If I
+was so unfortunate, in self-defence, as to slay your first husband, I
+have restored to you your second. Let us, then, part in amity."
+
+The French captain squeezed my hand, but said nothing. I begged they
+would take some refreshment, but they were too anxious to return and
+undeceive their friends, and requested permission to go into the boat.
+Of course I consented, and as the boat pulled away, the crew gave
+three huzzas, as a compliment to us. When they were a mile in shore, I
+hauled down the colours of both vessels, and made sail out to rejoin
+Captain Levee, which I did in the evening, and then related all that
+had passed.
+
+He was much pleased with the result of the affair, and we then, having
+consulted, considered it advisable to run back to Liverpool with the
+prize, for she required so many hands to man her as to render us by no
+means efficient vessels. Moreover, I have omitted to state that while
+I was in the Garonne, the Arrow had taken two good prizes, which she
+had manned and sent to Liverpool. We therefore made sail to the
+northward, and in a week were again in port, with our prize. We found
+that the other vessels had arrived safe, and the owner was much
+pleased with the results of this short and eventful cruise.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+    I cause myself to be dismissed from my Owner's
+    Service--Am arrested--Conveyed to London, and confined
+    in the Tower--Am visited by a Romish Priest, and through
+    his interference obtain my Liberation--Set off to
+    Liverpool, and find my Owner and Captain Levee--Their
+    surprise--Miss Trevannion.
+
+
+When I called upon our owner, which I did as soon as I had dropped my
+anchor and furled sails, he embraced me, and then led me into the back
+room next to his counting-house.
+
+"My dear Elrington," said he, "well as you managed to get off the
+Jacobite gentlemen, there is a strong suspicion on the part of the
+government, that they were on board of your vessel, and that I was a
+party to their escape. Whether they will take any measures now that
+you have returned, I know not; they may have gained some intelligence,
+or they may worm out something, by their emissaries, from those who
+compose your crew, and if so, we must expect their vengeance. Now tell
+me where you landed them, and all the events of your cruise, for I
+have heard but little from those who brought in the prizes taken by
+the Arrow. Captain Levee is too busy with his own vessel and the prize
+to come on shore for these two hours, and I wish to talk with you
+alone upon this affair."
+
+After I had narrated all that had passed, and the manner in which the
+French privateer had been captured, the owner said--
+
+"If the government spies, and there are plenty of them about, find out
+from your crew that you landed passengers at Bordeaux, depend upon it
+you will be arrested and examined, without you get out of the way till
+the affair has blown over. Now, the men will narrate in the taverns
+the curious history of this French privateer, and in so doing cannot
+fail to state that you were on shore in France. Now, Elrington, you
+have run the risk to oblige me, and I must keep you out of difficulty;
+and, if you feel inclined to hide yourself for a time, I will of
+course pay all your expenses."
+
+"No," I replied; "if they find out what has taken place, and wish to
+get hold of me in consequence, I think it will be better to brave it
+out. If I hide away, it will make them more anxious to have me, and
+will confirm their suspicions that I am what they are pleased to call
+a traitor; a reward will be offered for my apprehension, and at any
+time that I do appear, the reward will cause me to be taken up. If, on
+the contrary, I brave it out, and if I am asked, say at once that I
+did land passengers, at all events they will not make it high treason;
+so, with your leave, I will stay. I hardly need say that I shall take
+the whole responsibility on myself, and declare that I took them on
+board without your knowledge; that you may rest assured of."
+
+"On consideration, I think that your plan is the best," replied my
+owner. "I am grateful for your offer of screening me, which I would
+not permit, were it not that I shall be useful to you if any mischance
+takes place, and, if in prison, could be of no service."
+
+"Then, Sir," I replied, "the wisest course will be for you at once to
+dismiss me from the command of the privateer, in consequence of your
+having been informed that I carried passengers and landed them in
+France. That step will prove you a friend to the government, and will
+enable you, after a time, to get me out of my scrape more
+effectually."
+
+"You are sacrificing yourself, Elrington, and all for me."
+
+"Not so, Sir. I am only securing a friend in case of need."
+
+"That you certainly are," replied my owner, squeezing my hand. "Well,
+it will be the best plan even for you, and so let it be."
+
+"Then I will now return on board, and tell the officers that I am
+dismissed. There is no time to be lost; and here comes Captain Levee;
+so for the present, Sir, farewell."
+
+On my return on board, I called up the officers and men, and told them
+that I had offended the owner, and that he had dismissed me from the
+command of the privateer. One of the officers inquired what I had
+done; and I said, before the men, that it was for landing the
+passengers in France. They all condoled with me, and expressed their
+sorrow at my leaving them, and I believe that they were sincere. It
+was fortunate that I did as I had done, for I found that the
+government emissaries were on board at the time that I made the
+communication, and had already gained the information from some of my
+crew. I ordered my chest and bedding to be put into the boat, and as
+soon as they were ready, I gave up the command to the first officer,
+and bidding them all farewell, went down the side, and pulled on
+shore, repairing to my former lodgings.
+
+I had not been there two hours before I was arrested and taken to
+prison. I was, however, very comfortably lodged, because I was a state
+prisoner, and I presume that more respect is paid to a man when he is
+to be drawn and quartered, and his head set above the Tower gates,
+then a petty malefactor. The next day I was summoned before what was
+called the Commission, and asked whether I had not landed some people
+in France? I replied immediately that I had done so.
+
+"Who were they?" was the next inquiry.
+
+"They stated themselves to be Roman Catholic priests," replied I, "and
+such I believed them to be."
+
+"Why did I do so?"
+
+"Because, in the first place, they paid me one hundred guineas each;
+and, in the second, because I considered them mischievous, dangerous
+men, conspiring against the government, and that the sooner they were
+out of the country the better."
+
+"How did I know that they were traitors?"
+
+"All Roman priests were traitors in my opinion, and I hated them as
+bad as I did the French, but it is difficult to deal with a priest,
+and I thought that I was performing a good service in ridding the
+country of them."
+
+"Who else was privy to the affair?"
+
+"No one; I had made the arrangement with them myself, and not an
+officer or man on board knew any thing about it."
+
+"But my owner, Mr. Trevannion, was he a party to it?"
+
+"No, he was not; and on my return he dismissed me from the command of
+the privateer, as soon as he found out that I had landed the priests
+in France."
+
+A great many more questions were put to me, all of which I answered
+very cautiously, yet without apparent hesitation; and after an
+examination of four hours, the president of the Commission told me
+that I had been, by my own acknowledgment, aiding and abetting the
+escape of malignant traitors, and prevented them meeting their just
+fate on the scaffold. That, in so doing, I had been guilty of treason,
+and must abide the sentence of the supreme Commission in London,
+whither I should be sent the following day. I replied that I was a
+loyal subject; that I hated the French and Romish plotters, and that I
+had done what I considered was best; that if I had done wrong, it was
+only an error in judgment; and any one that said I was a traitor, lied
+in his throat.
+
+My reply was taken down, and I was sent back to prison.
+
+The following afternoon the gaoler came into my room accompanied by
+two persons, one of whom informed me that I was delivered over to
+their custody to be taken to London. I was led out, and at the door I
+found three horses, upon one of which I was desired to mount. As soon
+as I was in the saddle, a rope was passed from one leg to the other
+under the horse's belly, so as to prevent my escape; and my horse was
+led between the other two, upon which my keepers rode, each having a
+hand-rein made fast from my horse's bridle to his own. A crowd was
+assembled round the entrance of the gaol, and among the lookers-on I
+perceived Captain Levee and my owner; but of course I thought it
+imprudent to take any notice of them, and they did not make any
+recognition of me.
+
+I hardly need say, my dear Madam, how very revolting it was to my
+feelings to be thus led away like a felon; but at the same time I must
+acknowledge the courtesy of my conductors, who apologized for being
+compelled to take such measures of security, and on the way showed
+great kindness and good-feeling.
+
+Every thing being arranged, we proceeded on our journey; but it was
+late when we set off, owing to one of my conductors being sent for by
+the commissioner, and having to wait for letters for nearly three
+hours. As it may be supposed, we could not travel at speed, and we
+seldom went faster than a walk, which I was sorry for, as I was
+anxious that the journey should be over, and my fate decided as soon
+as possible.
+
+Almost an hour after dark, a party of men rushed from the side of the
+road, and some seizing the bridles of the horses, the others threw the
+two conductors off their saddles by taking them by the leg and heaving
+them over on the other side. This was done so quickly, that the two
+men, who were well armed, had not time to draw out a pistol or any
+other weapon of defence; and as soon as they were on the ground, they
+were immediately seized and overpowered. The faces of the men who had
+thus assailed the king's officers were blackened so as to disguise
+them, but from their voices I knew them to be the men and officers of
+the privateer. "Now then, Captain Elrington," said one of them, "be
+off with you as fast as possible, and we will take care of these
+fellows."
+
+I still remained in my saddle, and although somewhat flurried with the
+surprise of the attack, I had had time to recover myself, and had
+decided upon my mode of behaviour. I felt as I had said to the owner
+when we consulted together, that an escape now would be only putting
+off the evil day, and that it was better to meet the case boldly at
+once; so I rose in my stirrups, and said to the men in a loud voice,
+"My good fellows, I am much obliged to you for your exertions in my
+behalf, as it proves your good-will, but I cannot and will not take
+advantage of them. By some mistake I am accused of being a traitor,
+when I feel that I am a true and loyal subject, which I have no doubt
+will be fully established upon my arrival in London. I cannot,
+therefore, take advantage of this opportunity to escape. I respect the
+laws of my country, and I beg you to do the same. Oblige me by
+releasing the two gentlemen whom you have made your prisoners, and
+assist them to remount their horses, for I am resolved that I will go
+to London and be honourably acquitted. Once more, my lads, many thanks
+for your kind intentions; and now I wish you farewell, and if you
+would do me a great favour, you will disperse peaceably, and leave us
+to proceed on our journey."
+
+The men perceived that I was in earnest, and therefore did as I
+requested, and in another minute I was again alone with my two
+keepers.
+
+"You have behaved honourably, Sir, and perhaps wisely," observed one
+of my conductors, as he was about to remount his horse. "I will not
+ask you who those people were, although I have no doubt but you
+recognized them yourself."
+
+"No," I replied, "I did not. I guessed from whence they came, but I
+did not recognize any one individual."
+
+I gave this cautious answer, although I had recognized Captain Levee
+and one of my own officers.
+
+"Well, Captain Elrington, you have proved to us that you may be
+trusted, and therefore, on your pledging your word that you will not
+escape, we shall have a great pleasure in removing all unpleasant
+precautions."
+
+"I certainly have proved that I would not escape, and will readily
+give you my assurance that I will not alter my mind."
+
+"That is sufficient, Sir," replied the officer; and he then cut away
+the rope which bound my legs, and also look off the two leading reins
+attached to the other horses. "We shall now," he said, "proceed not
+only more pleasantly, but more rapidly."
+
+My conductors then mounted their horses, and we set off at a good
+trot, and in an hour arrived at the place where we were to put up for
+the night. We found supper prepared for us, and good beds. My
+conductors now left me free of all restraint, and we retired to our
+beds. The next day we continued our journey in the same manner. My
+companions were pleasant and gentlemen-like men, and we discoursed
+freely upon every topic; no one could have imagined that I was a state
+prisoner.
+
+We arrived at London on the fifth day, and I was then delivered over
+to the keeper of the Tower, according to the instructions that my
+conductors had received. They bade me farewell, and promised that they
+would not fail to represent my conduct to the authorities, and gave me
+hopes of a speedy release. I had the same idea, and took possession of
+the apartments prepared for me (which were airy and well ventilated)
+with almost cheerfulness.
+
+On the third day after my arrival a Commission was sent to the Tower
+to examine me, and I gave the same replies as before. They were very
+particular in obtaining the descriptions of the persons of those whom
+I had landed in France, and I answered without disguise. I afterwards
+found out that I had done a very foolish thing. Had I misrepresented
+their persons, it would have been supposed that they really were four
+Catholic priests, but from my exact description, they discovered that
+I had rescued the four traitors (as they termed them) that they were
+most anxious to secure and make an example of; and their annoyance at
+this discovery had so angered them against me, that my subsequent
+conduct could not create any feeling favourable towards me.
+
+Three weeks elapsed, and I was wearied of confinement. My gaoler told
+me that he feared my case was a bad one; and after another week had
+passed, he said that I was condemned as aiding and abetting treason. I
+must say that I little expected this result, and it quite overthrew
+me. I asked my gaoler what was his authority. He said that so many
+people had assisted and effected the escape of the rebels without one
+having been convicted of having so done except myself, on my own
+avowal, that they deemed it absolutely necessary that an example
+should be made, to deter others from aiding those who were still
+secreted in the country; and that in consequence it had been decided
+by the Privy Council that I should be made an example of. He told me
+much more which I need not repeat, except that it proved the malignant
+feeling that was indulged by the powers in authority against those who
+had assisted their defeated opponents, and I felt that I had no
+chance, and prepared my mind to meet my fate.
+
+Alas, my dear Madam, I was but ill-prepared to die,--not that I feared
+death, but I feared what must be my condition after death. I had lived
+a reckless, lawless life, without fear of God or man; all the
+religious feelings which had been instilled into me by my good tutor
+(you know my family history, and I need say no more) during my youth,
+had been gradually sapped away by the loose companionship which I had
+held since the time that I quitted my father's house; and when I heard
+that I was to die, my mind was in a state of great disquiet and
+uncomfortable feeling. I wished to review my life, and examine myself,
+but I hardly knew where to begin.
+
+All was chaos and confusion. I could remember many bad actions, but
+few good ones. I felt that I was like a vessel without a rudder, and
+without a pilot; and after hours and hours of deep thought, I would
+give up the task of examination in stern despair, saying to myself,
+"Well, if it must be so, it must." I felt an inclination to defy that
+Heaven which I felt would never be opened to me. This was the case for
+more than a week after I heard of my condemnation, until I began to
+reflect upon the nature of our creed, and the terms of salvation which
+were offered; and, as I thought over them, I felt a dawn of hope, and
+I requested the gaoler to furnish me with a Bible. I read it day and
+night, for I expected every morning to be summoned to execution. I
+felt almost agony at times, lest such should be the case; but time
+passed on, and another fortnight elapsed, during which I had profited
+by my reading, and felt some contrition for my many offences, and my
+life of guilt, and I also felt that I could be saved through the
+merits of Him who died for the whole world. Day after day my faith
+became more lively, and my mind more at ease. One morning the gaoler
+came to me, and said that there was a priest who wished to see me. As
+I understood he was a Roman, I was about to refuse; but on
+consideration, I thought otherwise, and he was admitted. He was a
+tall, spare man, with a dark Spanish countenance.
+
+"You are, I believe," said he, "Captain Elrington, who effected the
+escape of some of our poor friends, and who are now condemned for your
+kind act?"
+
+"I am, Sir," replied I.
+
+"I am aware," said he, "that your profession of faith is not mine, and
+do not, therefore, come to talk with you on serious points, without
+you should wish it yourself; my object is, being indebted as we are to
+you for saving our friends, to offer to be of any use that I can to
+you, in executing any wishes, or delivering any messages, which you
+may wish to give, should you suffer for your generous conduct, and you
+may trust any thing to me with safety, that I swear to you;" and he
+took a crucifix from the folds of his garment, and kissed it, as he
+said so.
+
+"I thank you for your kind offer, Sir," replied I, "but I have nothing
+to trouble you with. I have long quitted my family, who know not
+whether I am alive or dead, for reasons that I need not explain. I am
+under an assumed name, and it is my intention to suffer under that
+name, that my family may not be disgraced by my ignominious death, or
+be aware that I have perished on the scaffold."
+
+"Perhaps you are right," replied the priest; "but let us talk upon
+another point; have you no friends that could exert themselves in your
+favour so as to procure your pardon and release?"
+
+"None," replied I, "except those who, I am sure, are exerting
+themselves to the utmost of their power, and to whom no message from
+me is necessary."
+
+"Do you know nobody at court," said the priest, "no person of rank in
+the government--or I may say opposed to the government--for people
+now-a-days are not what they seem or pretend to be?"
+
+"I have no knowledge of any titled person," replied I; "when I parted
+with one of the gentlemen whom I landed at Bordeaux, he gave me the
+name of a lady of quality at Paris, desiring me, if in difficulty, to
+apply to him through her; but that was, if in difficulty in France; of
+course, she could do nothing for me in this country."
+
+"Have you the name of the lady?"
+
+"Yes," replied I; "it is on the first leaf of my pocket-book. Here it
+is."
+
+The priest read the name, and then said--
+
+"You must write immediately a few words, acquainting her with your
+position. I will see the letter safely delivered before the week is
+over."
+
+"What good can she possibly do me?" replied I.
+
+"I cannot say; but this I know, that if any thing is to be done, it
+will be. Write immediately."
+
+The priest called the gaoler, and requested writing materials, which
+were brought, and in a few minutes I had done as he requested.
+
+"There, Sir, I have written to please you; but I candidly state that I
+consider it a useless attempt."
+
+"Were I of your opinion, I should not have advised you to write,"
+replied he. "There are wheels within wheels that you have no
+conception of, in these troubled times. What I most fear is, that it
+may arrive too late."
+
+The priest took his leave of me, and I was left to my own thoughts.
+When I considered that the address of this lady had been given to me
+by the very man whom they were so anxious to secure as a traitor, I at
+once decided that no benefit could arrive from any interference on her
+part; and I therefore, after a quarter of an hour, dismissed the whole
+subject from my thoughts, and commenced my reading of the sacred
+writings. The following morning, when the gaoler came in, I could not
+help observing to him, that as I had been condemned so many days, I
+felt much surprise at the delay of my execution. His reply was, that
+he heard that others were in custody upon the same charge, and that
+they waited for their convictions that we might all suffer at the same
+time; for the order for my execution had come on the Friday last, but
+had been countermanded on the afternoon of the same day. Although this
+satisfied me that I had no hopes of escape, yet I was pleased that I
+had obtained more time for preparation, and I renewed my reading with
+ardour. Another week passed, when the gaoler, with a solemn face, and
+much apparent concern, came in, and informed me that the other parties
+arrested had been tried before the Commission, and had been condemned,
+and that it was expected that the execution would take place either on
+the morrow or the day after. The announcement did not affect me much.
+I had made up my mind that I should suffer, and had to a degree weaned
+myself from life. I considered how all hopes of my ever enjoying the
+delight of family and kindred ties had flown away, and I looked with
+disgust upon my career as a privateer's-man--a career of recklessness
+and blood, so denounced by the sacred writings which I had before me.
+I reflected that if I were to leave the prison, I should have no
+other means of sustenance, and should probably return to my former
+life, and load my soul with a still heavier weight of crime, and,
+although I felt an occasional bitter pang at the idea of leaving the
+world so young--a world which I could not hate--still I was, after a
+few hours' communing and reflection, resigned to my fate, and
+exclaimed with sincerity, "Thy will be done." I think, Madam, you may
+have observed that, sinful as I was, my whole career proved that I was
+not a hardened sinner. Good was not driven entirely out of me, but was
+latent, notwithstanding all my excesses, and the bad company which had
+influenced me.
+
+I now prayed, and prayed earnestly, and I thought that my prayers were
+heard. Such was my state of mind on the day before the one appointed
+for my execution, when the gaoler and one of the sheriff's officers
+came into my cell, accompanied by the Roman Catholic priest whom I
+have before mentioned. I perceived by the countenance of the gaoler,
+who was a humane man, that he had no unpleasant news. The sheriff's
+officer delivered to him an order for my liberation, and to my
+astonishment I was told by the gaoler that my pardon was signed, and
+that I was free. I was stupified with the intelligence, and I stood
+without making any reply. The priest waved his hand to them as a hint
+to leave the room, which they both did. As they left, my eyes followed
+them, and then I cast them down upon the Bible which lay before me on
+the table, and slipping down from the bench upon my knees, I covered
+up my face and prayed. My prayers were confused--I hardly knew what I
+said--but I knew that they were intended to be grateful to Heaven for
+my unexpected preservation from an ignominious death. After a time, I
+rose up, and perceived the priest, whose presence I had till then
+forgotten. He had been kneeling at the other side of the table praying
+with me, and I am sure for me--and he was rising up just after I had.
+
+"I trust, Captain Elrington," said he, after a pause, "that the peril
+you have been in will influence your future life; and that this severe
+trial will not be thrown away upon you."
+
+"I trust not, Sir," replied I. "I feel that it has been good for me
+to have been afflicted. I believe that I have been indebted to your
+exertions for my deliverance."
+
+"No further than having seen your letter duly and speedily delivered.
+I could do no more, for with all will, I have no power; and that was
+little to do for one who so generously assisted our friends in their
+distress."
+
+"Am I then to believe that I am indebted to the interest of a French
+lady, residing at the court of Versailles, for my deliverance?"
+
+"Even so--this may appear strange to you, Captain Elrington, but such
+is the case. Understand, that in these troubled times, the ruling
+monarch of this country cannot distinguish his friends from his
+enemies. He can only trust to professions, and they are not always
+sincere. There are many in the council at this time, who, if the
+Pretender, as he is called, had succeeded, would long before this have
+joined him, and who had wished him success, although they dared not
+venture to assist him. The interest of the lady in question with these
+people has prevailed over the true adherents of the Hanoverian king,
+and thus through this lady have you obtained your release. I state
+this to you in confidence; to publish what I have told you would be to
+betray your friends. Can I be of any further service to you? for you
+can leave your prison as soon as you please."
+
+"None, I thank you, good Sir," replied I; "I have money more than
+sufficient to reward my gaoler, and to defray my expenses to
+Liverpool."
+
+"You have my best thanks and sincere wishes for your happiness. Then I
+will not intrude upon you any more, except to give you my address in
+case of need. You have made warm friends by your conduct, and if you
+ever require their assistance, it will not be withheld."
+
+The priest gave his address upon a piece of paper, and then came to
+me.
+
+"Our creeds are not exactly the same, but you will not, my son, refuse
+my blessing?" said he, putting his hand upon my head.
+
+"Oh, no," said I, dropping on my knees, "I receive it all in
+thankfulness."
+
+"May God bless you, my son," said he, with emotion--and he then
+quitted the cell.
+
+What with the previous excitement when my liberation was announced,
+and the parting with the kind priest, my feelings were so powerful,
+that, as soon as I was alone, I gave vent to them in a flood of tears.
+As soon as I was more composed, I rose from the bench, put my
+necessaries into my valise, and summoned the gaoler, to whom I made a
+handsome present, thanking him for his kindness during my
+incarceration. I then shook hands with him, fee'd the turnkey who had
+attended upon me, and in a minute more I was clear of the Tower gates.
+How my heart heaved when I was once more in the open air.
+
+I looked around me, and perceived that many men were busy in erecting
+a scaffolding. My heart sank as I beheld them, as I felt certain what
+it was for; but to verify my opinion, I turned to an old woman who had
+a sort of stall from which she dispensed mead to the populace, and
+inquired of her for what the scaffold was being erected.
+
+"It's for the men who are to be executed to-morrow for aiding the
+Jacobites to escape," said she. "Won't your worship take a glass of
+mead this morning?"
+
+"I am not thirsty," I replied, as I walked hastily away with my valise
+upon my shoulders.
+
+A stranger to this part of London, I hardly knew where to direct my
+steps; I walked past the square before the Tower, until I came into a
+street called Catherine-street, where a tavern met my view, and into
+it I entered immediately, glad, as it were, to hide myself, for I felt
+as if all the world looked upon me as a person just discharged from
+prison. I obtained good entertainment there, and slept there that
+night. The next morning, the host having provided me two good horses,
+and a youngster to take them back, I set off for Liverpool, and after
+five days' travel without adventure, I arrived at the town, and
+proceeded direct to the house of Mr. Trevannion, my owner. I took my
+valise off the boy's horse, and having paid him for his attendance, I
+knocked at the door, for it was late in the evening, and dark, when I
+arrived. The door (for it was at his private house door, which was
+next to the counting-house door, that I knocked) was opened; and the
+woman who opened it shrieked, and let drop the candle, exclaiming,
+"Help, oh God--a ghost, a ghost!" for it appeared that the news had
+arrived at Liverpool from a messenger who had been sent express after
+I had been condemned, stating that there was no hope, and that I was
+to suffer on the Monday previous; and this was the Saturday evening on
+which I had arrived. Mr. Trevannion's clerk hearing a noise in the
+passage, came out with another candle, and seeing me, and the woman
+lying on the floor in a swoon, stared, staggered to the door of the
+room where his master was sitting, and the door being a-jar, he fell
+back with great force into the room, dropping under the table between
+Mr. Trevannion and Captain Levee, who was sitting with him, smoking,
+as was very often their wont. This brought out Captain Levee with one
+of the table-candlesticks, who, upon seeing me, ran to me, and
+embracing me warmly, cried out, as the clerk made his escape--
+
+"Here is Elrington alive and well, Sir!"
+
+At this announcement Mr. Trevannion came out, and threw himself into
+my arms, saying--
+
+"I thank God for all his mercies, but above all, that I have not been
+the cause of your death, my dear Elrington. Come in," he exclaimed, in
+a faultering voice; and as soon as he gained his seat, he laid his
+head down and sobbed with excitement and joy.
+
+I followed Captain Levee into the room, and was taking a chair, when I
+perceived there was another person present besides Captain Levee and
+Mr. Trevannion, which was the daughter of the latter; that is, I
+presumed as much, for I knew that he was a widower, and had one
+daughter living, out of a family of three children. She appeared to be
+about seventeen years of age, and had just come from a Protestant
+convent, as they called establishments where young women were educated
+at Chester. Mr. Trevannion was still with his face covered, and not
+yet recovered from his burst of feeling, when this young gentlewoman
+came up to me, and said--
+
+"Captain Elrington, you have behaved nobly to my father; accept my
+hand and my friendship."
+
+I was so dazzled from coming out of the dark, and so excited from what
+had just passed, that I was almost bewildered; but I accepted the
+offered hand, and bowed over it, although I declare that at the time I
+could not distinguish her features, although I perceived that her
+person was slight and elegant. As she retreated to her seat, Mr.
+Trevannion, who had recovered from his emotion, said--
+
+"I thought that, at this moment, your head was exhibited over the
+gates of Temple-bar. The idea, as Captain Levee will tell you, has
+haunted me; for I felt, and should always have felt, that I was the
+cause of your death. God bless you, my dear Sir, and may I have an
+opportunity of showing you my gratitude and regard for your noble
+conduct towards me, and the sacrifice which you would have made. You
+need not tell me, for I know too well, that you took all the onus and
+blame of the affair upon your own shoulders, and preferred death to
+impeaching me."
+
+"My dear Elrington," said Captain Levee, "I told our crew, and you
+have proved me a true prophet, that you never would peach, but die
+game. We were talking of you, supposing you dead, when you came in. I
+must tell you, that more than once Mr. Trevannion had made up his mind
+to deliver himself up, and acknowledge the truth, but I prevented him,
+as it would have been a useless sacrifice."
+
+"You did; but, nevertheless, it was so heavy on my conscience, that
+had it not been for your perseverance, and the thoughts of leaving my
+poor girl here an orphan in the world, I certainly should have so
+done, for I felt life to be a burden."
+
+"I am very glad that you did not, Sir," I replied; "my life is of
+little value; I have no one to support, no one to love, and no one to
+lament me if I fall. A shot from the enemy may soon send me out of the
+world, and there will only be a man the less in it, as far as people
+are interested about me."
+
+"That is not the case now, at all events," replied Mr. Trevannion;
+"but pray, tell us how it is that you have escaped."
+
+"I have not escaped," I replied; "here is my pardon, with the
+sign-manual."
+
+"And how was it obtained?" exclaimed Captain Levee; "all intercession
+made through some of the strongest friends of the government was in
+vain, that I can assert; for you must not suppose that we have been
+idle down here. We did not leave London till after you were condemned,
+and every entreaty to see you, or to communicate by letter, was denied
+to us."
+
+"I had better, then, begin at the beginning, and state all that
+occurred. I will first thank you, my dear Levee, for your kind
+assistance, which I would not avail myself of, as I calculated
+(wrongly I own) that it would be wiser to remain a prisoner; and I
+considered that my very refusal to escape would be admitted by the
+government as a proof of my innocence. I did not know that I had to
+deal with such malignant people."
+
+I then commenced my narrative, which occupied the remainder of the
+evening, and, having received their congratulations, we had a pipe or
+two, and, as I was fatigued, we retired to bed. I slept little on
+this, I may say, first night of rest and quiet, after my liberation. I
+was happy, and yet perplexed. During the time of my imprisonment, it
+had occurred to me that the life of a privateer's-man was not one
+which I could follow up with a good conscience; and I had, on my
+journey down to Liverpool, made up my mind that I would give it up. I
+knew this might annoy Mr. Trevannion, and that I should have to meet
+with the ridicule of Captain Levee, and I was thinking whether it were
+possible, in the first place, that I could give some well-grounded
+excuse; and, in the next, what other means of gaining my livelihood I
+could substitute in its stead. My restlessness induced me to get up
+earlier than usual, and I went out for an hour's walk upon the wharfs.
+I saw my little schooner riding on the stream, and, as she gently
+rose, and dipped to the swell which ran in with the tide, she looked
+so beautiful that my resolutions were already giving way. I would look
+at her no longer; so I turned from the river, and walked back to the
+owner's house. It was still early when I went into the eating-hall,
+where I found Miss Trevannion alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+    I state my newly-awakened scruples as to the lawfulness
+    of a Privateer's-man's Life to Mr. Trevannion, but
+    nevertheless undertake another Cruise--Save a Youth from
+    drowning, who he proves to be--Conflict with a French
+    Privateer--Take her and deliver a Prize--Return to
+    Liverpool--Resign the Command of the Sparrow-Hawk, and
+    agree to superintend Mr. Trevannion's Business.
+
+
+Miss Trevannion, my dear Madam, was taller than your sex usually are,
+her figure slight, and still unformed to a certain degree, but
+promising perfection. Her hair was very dark, her features regular and
+handsome, her complexion very pale, and her skin fair as the snow. As
+she stood in silence, she reminded you of a classical antique statue,
+and hardly appeared to breathe through her delicate lips, but when she
+was animated with conversation, it almost reminded you of the
+Promethean fire which poets state was stolen from Heaven to animate a
+piece of marble. Then the colour came in her cheeks, intelligence
+played on her countenance, and every thing which at first sight
+appeared wanting, was, like magic, found to light up her face. Her
+smiles were the sweetest I ever beheld, and one of those smiles she
+bestowed upon me as I entered the room and paid her my obeisance. The
+night before, I had not observed her much, I was too busy with her
+father and Captain Levee, and she sat remote from the table and
+distant from the light, and she never spoke but when she took my hand
+and thanked me, as I mentioned before. I thought then that her voice
+was like a silver bell, but made no other remark upon her. We had,
+however, exchanged but few words before her father came in,
+accompanied by Captain Levee, and we sat down to our morning's repast
+of chocolate.
+
+After we had broken our fast, Captain Levee hastened away on board of
+his vessel. My imprisonment had detained him from sailing, and Mr.
+Trevannion was anxious that he should be off as soon as possible to
+make up for lost time, as the expenses of the vessel were heavy.
+
+"Farewell, Elrington, for the present," said he; "I shall come to you
+on board of your schooner some time during the day." When Captain
+Levee was gone--for, to tell the truth, I was afraid of his
+ridicule--I thought it a good opportunity to give my thoughts to my
+owner, and as I had nothing to say, which his daughter might not hear,
+I began as follows:
+
+"Mr. Trevannion, I think it right to state to you that during my
+imprisonment a great change has come over my feelings upon certain
+points. I am not ashamed to acknowledge that it has been occasioned by
+the death which stared me in the face, and from my having seriously
+communed with myself, and examined, more than I perhaps have done
+during the whole of my former life, the sacred writings which are
+given us as our guide. The point to which I refer is, that I have come
+to a conviction that privateering is not a lawful or honourable
+profession, and with these feelings I should wish to resign the
+command of the schooner which you have had the kindness to give me."
+
+"Indeed, Elrington," replied Mr. Trevannion. "Well, I should not have
+thought to have heard this from you I confess. Much as I respect your
+scruples, you are too scrupulous. I can hardly imagine that you have
+turned to the sect of the Quakers, and think fighting is contrary to
+the Scriptures."
+
+"No, Sir, not so far as that. I consider war, as a profession, both
+necessary and honourable, and a nation is bound to be prepared for any
+foreign attack, and to act upon the defensive, or on the offensive, if
+it is necessary. It is not that. I do not consider the soldier who
+fights for his country is not doing his duty, nor the seamen who are
+employed by the state are not equally justified in their profession.
+What I refer to is privateering. That is, vessels fitted out for the
+purpose of aggression by private merchants, and merely for the sake of
+profit. They are not fitted out with any patriotic motives, but merely
+for gain. They are speculations in which the lives of people on both
+sides are sacrificed for the sake of lucre--and had you witnessed such
+scenes of bloodshed and cruelty as I have during my career, such
+dreadful passions let loose, and defying all restraint, you would
+agree with me, that he who leads such miscreants to their quarry has
+much to answer for. Were it possible to control the men on board of a
+privateer as the men are controlled in the king's service, it might be
+more excusable; but manned as privateers always will be, with the most
+reckless characters, when once they are roused by opposition,
+stimulated by the sight of plunder, or drunken with victory, no power
+on earth can restrain their barbarity and vengeance, and a captain of
+a privateer who attempted, would, in most cases, if he stood between
+them and their will, unless he were supported, fall a victim to his
+rashness. All this I have seen; and all I now express I have long
+felt, even when younger and more thoughtless. You know that I did give
+up privateering at one time, because I was shocked at the excesses to
+which I was a party. Since that, I have accepted the command of a
+vessel, for the idea of being captain was too flattering to my vanity
+to permit me to refuse; but reflection has again decided me not to
+engage in it further. I hope this communication will not displease
+you, Mr. Trevannion. If I am wrong in my opinion, at all events I am
+sincere, for I am giving up my only source of livelihood from a sense
+of duty."
+
+"I know that you are sincere, Elrington," replied Mr. Trevannion, "but
+at the same time I think that you are much too strait-laced in your
+opinions. When nations are at war, they mutually do all the mischief
+that they can to each other, and I cannot see what difference there is
+between my fitting out a privateer under the king's authority, or the
+king having vessels and men for the national service. The government
+fit out all the vessels that they can, and when their own funds are
+exhausted, they encourage individuals to employ their capital in
+adding to the means of distressing the enemy. If I had property on the
+high seas, would it be respected any more than other English property
+by the enemy? Certainly not; and, therefore, I am not bound to respect
+theirs. The end of war is to obtain an honourable peace; and the more
+the enemy is distressed, the sooner are you likely to obtain one. I do
+not, therefore, consider that privateering is worse than any other
+species of warfare, or that the privateer's-man is a whit more
+reckless or brutal than soldiers or men-of-war's men in the hour of
+victory in the king's service."
+
+"There is this difference, Sir," replied I; "first, in the officers
+commanding; although glad to obtain prize-money, they are stimulated
+by nobler feelings as well. They look to honour and distinction; they
+have the feeling that they are defending their king and country, to
+support them and throw a halo on their exertions; and they have such
+control over their men, that, although I admit they are equally
+inclined to excess as the privateer's-man, they are held in check by
+the authority which they dare not resist. Now, Mr. Trevannion,
+privateer's-men seek not honour, and are not stimulated by a desire to
+serve the country; all they look to is how to obtain the property of
+others under sanction; and could they without any risk do so, they
+would care little whether it was English property or not, provided
+that they put the money into their pockets. If I held this opinion as
+a seaman on board of a privateer, what must I feel now, when I am the
+leader of such people, and the responsibility of their acts is thrown
+upon my shoulders, for such I feel is the case?"
+
+"I think," replied Mr. Trevannion, "that we had better not discuss
+this question any further just now. Of course you must decide for
+yourself; but I have this favour to ask of you. Trusting to your
+resuming the command of the vessel, I have no one to replace you at
+present, and I hope you will not refuse to take the command of her for
+one more cruise: should you, on your return and on mature reflection,
+be of the same opinion as you are now, I certainly shall no longer
+press you to remain, and will do all I can to assist you in any other
+views you may have."
+
+"To that, Sir, I can have no objection," replied I; "it would be
+unfair of me to leave you without a captain to the vessel, and I am
+therefore ready to sail in her as soon as you please, upon the
+understanding that I may quit her, if I am of the same opinion as I am
+now, upon my return to port."
+
+"I thank you, my dear Sir," said Mr. Trevannion, rising, "that is all
+I request. I must now go to the counting-house."
+
+So saying, he left the room, but his countenance showed that he was
+far from pleased.
+
+Miss Trevannion, who had been a silent listener to the conversation,
+as soon as her father had closed the door after him, thus spoke:
+
+"Captain Elrington, the opinion of a young maiden like me can be of
+little value, but you know not how much pleasure you have given me by
+the sentiments you have expressed. Alas! that a man so good, so
+generous, and so feeling in every other respect, should be led away by
+the desire of gain, to be the owner of such a description of property.
+But in this town, wealth is every thing; the way by which it is
+obtained is not thought of. My father's father left him a large
+property in vessels employed wholly in the slave-trade, and it was
+through the persuasions of my poor mother, that my father was induced
+to give up that nefarious traffic. Since that, his capital has been
+chiefly employed in privateering, which, if not so brutal and
+disgraceful, is certainly nearly as demoralizing. I have been home but
+a short time, and I have already ventured to express my opinion,
+certainly not so forcibly and so well as you have, upon the subject;
+but I was laughed at as a tender-hearted girl, who could not be a fit
+judge of such matters. But now that you, a captain of one of his
+vessels, have expressed your dislike to the profession, I think some
+good may arise. If my father were a poor man, it would be more
+excusable, if excuse there can be, but such is not the case. He is
+wealthy, and to whom has he to leave his wealth but to me, his only
+child? Captain Elrington, you are right--be firm--my father's
+obligations to you are very great, and your opinion will have its
+influence. I am his daughter--his only daughter--his love for me is
+great, I know, and I also have my power over him. Supported as I have
+been by you, I will now exert it to the utmost to persuade him to
+retire from further employment of his means in such a speculation. I
+thanked you yesterday, when I first saw you, for your noble behaviour,
+I little thought that I should have again, in so short a time, to
+express my thanks."
+
+Miss Trevannion did not wait for any reply from me, but then quitted
+the room.
+
+I must say, that although so young a person, I was much pleased at
+Miss Trevannion's approval of my sentiments. She appeared, from the
+very short acquaintance I had had with her, to be a person of a firm
+and decided disposition, and very different from the insipid class of
+females generally met with. Her approval strengthened my resolution;
+still, as I had promised her father that I would go another cruise in
+the privateer, I left the house and went on board to resume the
+command. My return was joyfully hailed by the officers and men, which
+is not always the case. I found her, as may be supposed, ready for sea
+at a minute's warning, so that I had nothing to do but to embark my
+effects, which I did before the noon was passed, and then went on
+shore to Mr. Trevannion, to receive his orders. I found him with
+Captain Levee in the back room; and I told Mr. Trevannion that I had
+resumed the command, and was ready to sail as soon as he pleased.
+
+"We must make up for lost time, Elrington," replied he; "I have
+ordered Captain Levee to cruise to the northward of the Western Isles,
+occasionally working up as far as the Scilly Isles. Now, I think, you
+had better take your ground in the Channel, between Dunkirk and
+Calais. There is as much to be made by salvage in recapturing English
+vessels in that quarter, as there is in taking the enemy's vessels;
+and I am sure," added Mr. Trevannion, smiling, "you will think that
+legitimate warfare."
+
+At this Captain Levee laughed, and said, "I have been told what you
+said to Mr. Trevannion, Elrington. I said that it was the effects of
+being condemned for high treason, and would wear off in a
+three-months' cruise."
+
+"Good impressions do wear off very soon, I fear," replied I; "but I
+hope that it will not be the case in this instance."
+
+"We shall see, my good fellow," replied Captain Levee; "for my part I
+hope they will, for otherwise we shall lose the best privateer's-man I
+ever fell in with. However, it's no use bringing up the question now,
+let us wait till our cruises are over, and we meet again. Good-bye,
+Elrington, and may you be fortunate. My anchor is short stay apeak,
+and I shall be under sail in half an hour."
+
+Captain Levee sailed at the time that he mentioned; I remained at
+anchor till the next morning, and then once more was running down the
+Irish Channel before a stiff breeze. I forgot to mention that while
+at Mr. Trevannion's I had looked at the address of the Catholic priest
+who had announced to me my release from prison, and had left copies of
+it, as well as of that of the lady at Paris, in the care of Mr.
+Trevannion. It was now cold, autumnal weather, and the Channel was but
+rough sailing-ground. During the first fortnight we were fortunate
+enough to make two recaptures of considerable value, which arrived
+safely in the Thames, after which we had a succession of gales front
+the southward, it being the time of the equinox, which drove us close
+to the sands of Yarmouth, and we even had difficulty in clearing them
+and getting into sea-room by standing to the eastward. The weather
+still continued very bad, and we were lying-to under storm sails for
+several days, and at last found ourselves a degree and a half to the
+northward, off the coast of Norfolk, when the weather moderated, and
+the wind changed to the northward. It was a fine clear night, but with
+no moon, and we were running before the wind to regain our
+cruising-ground; but the wind again shifted and baffled us, and at
+last it fell light, and, being on a wind, we did not make more than
+four miles an hour, although there was very little sea. About one
+o'clock in the morning, I had gone on deck, and was walking to and fro
+with the first officer, Mr. James, when I thought that I heard a faint
+hallo from to windward.
+
+"Stop," said I; "silence there forward."
+
+I listened, and thought that I heard the cry again. "Mr. James," said
+I, "did you not hear some one shout?"
+
+"No, Sir," replied he.
+
+"Wait, then, and listen."
+
+We did so, but I could not hear it repeated.
+
+"I am certain that I heard a voice as if on the waters," said I.
+"Perhaps some one has fallen overboard. Turn the hands up to muster,
+and haul the fore-sheet to windward."
+
+The men were mustered, but no one was missing.
+
+"It was your fancy, Sir," observed the first officer.
+
+"It may have been," replied I; "but I am still in my own mind
+persuaded that such was the case. Perhaps I was mistaken."
+
+"Shall we let draw the fore-sheet, Sir?" said Mr. James.
+
+"Yes, we may as well; but the wind is lighter than it was. I think we
+shall have a calm."
+
+"It will be as much as she can do to stem the tide and hold her own,"
+observed Mr. James. "Let draw the fore-sheet, my lads."
+
+Somehow or another I had a feeling which I could not surmount, that I
+certainly had heard a faint shout, and although admitting such to be
+the case, there was little chance of being of service to any one, I
+felt a reluctance to leave the spot, and as I walked the deck silent
+and alone, this feeling became insurmountable.
+
+I remained on deck till the tide turned, and then, instead of taking
+advantage of it so as to gain to the southward, I put the schooner's
+head the other way, so as to keep as near as I could to the spot where
+I heard the voice, reducing her sail so as just to stem the tide. I
+cannot now account for my anxiety, which, under the circumstances, I
+most certainly never should have felt, unless it was that Providence
+was pleased to interpose on this occasion more directly than usual. I
+could not leave the deck; I waited for daylight with great impatience,
+and as the day dawned I had my telescope in my hand looking round the
+compass.
+
+At last, as the sun rose from the fog on the horizon, something
+attracted my eye, and I made it out to be the two masts of a vessel
+which had sunk in about six fathoms water. Still I could see nothing
+except the masts. However, to make sure, I made sail on the schooner,
+and stood towards them. A short tack enabled us to fetch, and in half
+an hour we passed the wreck about a half-musket-shot to windward, when
+we perceived an arm lifted up out of the water, and waved to us.
+
+"There is somebody there," said I, "and I was right. Quickly, my lads;
+fore-sheet to windward, and lower down the stern-boat."
+
+This was done in a minute, and in a short time the boat returned,
+bringing with them a lad about sixteen years old, whom they had found
+in the water, clinging to the masts of the vessel. He was too much
+exhausted to speak or move. He was put into bed, covered up with
+blankets, and some warm spirits and water poured down his throat. We
+then hoisted up the boat, and made sail upon the schooner, and I went
+down below to breakfast, rejoicing that I had acted upon the impulse
+which I had felt, and had thus been instrumental in saving the life of
+a fellow-creature. A few minutes after he was put into bed, the lad
+fell into a sound sleep, which continued during the whole of the day.
+The next morning he awoke greatly recovered, and very hungry, and as
+soon as he had eaten he rose and dressed himself.
+
+I then sent for him, as I was impatient to see him and learn his
+history. When he entered the cabin, it struck me I had seen his
+features before, but where I could not say. To my inquiries he stated
+that the brig was the Jane and Mary, of Hull, laden with coals; that
+they had started a wooden end during the gale, and that she had filled
+so rapidly that they got the boat from off the boom to save their
+lives, but from the heavy sea running, and the confusion, the boat had
+been bilged against the bulwarks, and went down as they were shoving
+off; that he had supported himself by one of the oars, and was soon
+separated from his companions who floated around him; that during this
+time the brig had sunk, and he, clinging to the oar, had been drawn
+towards her as she sank, and carried some feet under water. On his
+rising he perceived the top-gallant masts above water, and had made
+for them, and on looking round he could not see any of the rest of the
+crew, who must have all perished; that he had been two days on the
+mast, and was perished with cold. Finding that his feet, which hung
+down on the water, were much warmer than the other portions of his
+body exposed to the wind, he had sunk himself down in the water, and
+remained there, and had he not done so, he must have perished.
+
+I asked him how long he had been at sea, and he said he had only gone
+one voyage, and had been but three months on board. There was
+something in his manner so superior to the condition of apprentice
+(which he stated himself to be) on board of such a vessel; and I felt
+such an interest, which I could not account for, towards the lad, that
+I then asked who were his friends. He replied, stammering, that he
+had not a friend in the world except a brother older than himself by
+many years, and he did not know where he was.
+
+"But your father's name? Is he alive, and who is he? You must tell me
+that, or I shall not know where to send you."
+
+The youth was very confused, and would not give me any answer.
+
+"Come, my lad," I said, "I think as I have saved your life, I deserve
+a little confidence, and it shall not be misplaced. I perceive that
+you have not been brought up as a lad for the sea, and you must
+therefore trust me."
+
+"I will, Sir," he replied, "if you will not send me back to my father
+and--mother."
+
+"Certainly not against your will, my good lad," I replied, "although I
+shall probably persuade you all I can to return to them. I presume you
+ran away from your home?"
+
+"Yes, Sir, I did," replied he; "for I could not possibly stay there
+any longer, and my brother did so before me, for the same reason that
+I did."
+
+"Well, I promise you, if you will confide in me, that I will not force
+your inclinations, so now tell me who are your father and mother, and
+why you left home. You want a friend now, and without confidence you
+cannot expect friendship."
+
+"I will tell you all, Sir," he replied, "for I see by your face that
+you will not take advantage of me."
+
+He then commenced, and you may imagine my surprise, my dear Madam,
+when I found that it was my own brother Philip, whom I had left a
+child of ten years old, who was addressing me. He had, as he had
+asserted, left his home and thrown himself on the wide world for the
+same reason which I had; for his spirit, like mine, could not brook
+the treatment which he received. I allowed him to finish his
+narrative, and then made myself known to him.
+
+You may imagine the scene, and the delight of the poor fellow, who, as
+he encircled me in his arms, clinging to me with the tears of joy on
+his cheeks, told me that his great object had been to find me out, and
+that although he had no idea what had become of me, he thought it
+most likely that I had taken to a seafaring life.
+
+I now felt certain that Providence had specially interposed in this
+business, and had, for its own good reasons, created those unusual
+feelings of interest which I described to you, that I might be the
+saviour of my brother; and most grateful was I, I can assure you. I
+had now a companion and friend, one to love and to cherish. I was no
+longer alone in the world, and I do not know when I had felt so happy
+for a long while.
+
+I left my brother below in the cabin, and went on deck to acquaint the
+officers with this strange meeting. The intelligence soon ran through
+the vessel, and of course the poor shipwrecked boy became an object of
+unusual interest. That whole day I was interrogating and receiving
+intelligence from him relative to our family. I made him describe his
+sisters and every member of it, even the servants and our neighbours
+were not forgotten, and for the first time since I had quitted home, I
+knew what had occurred during the six years of my absence. From the
+accounts he gave me, I certainly had no inclination ever to return as
+long as certain parties were in existence; and my brother declared
+that nothing but force should ever induce him. The more I talked with
+him, the more I was pleased with him. He appeared of a frank, noble
+disposition, full of honour and high sentiments, winning in his
+manners, and mirthful to excess. Indeed his handsome countenance
+implied and expressed as much, and it did not deceive.
+
+I hardly need say that he took up his quarters in my cabin, and having
+procured for him more suitable apparel, he looked what he was, the
+perfect young gentleman. He was soon a general favourite on board, not
+only with the officers but with the men. One would have thought that
+the danger and distress we had found him in would have sickened him
+for the sea for ever; but it was quite the contrary. He delighted in
+his profession, and was certainly born to be a sailor. I asked him
+what he felt when he had remained so long clinging to the mast; if he
+had not given up all hopes of being saved? and he replied no, that he
+had not; that he did not know how long he might have had to remain
+there, but that he had never abandoned the idea of being taken off by
+some vessel or another, and that he thought that he might have
+continued there for twenty-four hours longer without being exhausted,
+as after he had sunk himself into the water he felt warm, and no
+exertion was necessary. It is of such buoyant spirits as these, Madam,
+that seamen should be made.
+
+You cannot have an idea of the pleasure which I experienced at this
+falling in with my brother Philip. It appeared to have given a new
+stimulus to my existence; even privateering did not appear so hateful
+to me, after I had heard him express his delight at being likely to be
+so employed, for such he stated had long been his ardent wish. Two
+days afterwards we had regained our cruising-ground, and perceived a
+French privateer steering for the port of Calais, in company with a
+large merchant vessel which she had captured. The wind was light, and
+we discovered her at daybreak, just as the fog cleared away, she being
+then about mid-channel, and not more than five miles distant. We made
+all sail, and soon were within gun-shot. The Frenchman appeared
+determined not to part with his prize without a trial of strength, but
+as the captured vessel was the nearest to us, I decided to retake her
+first, and then fight him if he wished. I therefore steered to lay the
+prize by the board. The Frenchman, a lugger of twelve guns, perceiving
+our intention, made also for the prize to defend her, he steering up
+for her close-hauled, we running down to her free, the prize lying
+between us, and sheltering each of us from the other's guns. It is
+difficult to say whether the Frenchman or we were the first to touch
+her sides with our respective vessels; I rather think that the
+Frenchman was a second or two before us. At all events they were
+quicker than we were, and were on the deck first, besides having the
+advantage of the assistance of their men already on board, so that we
+were taken at a great disadvantage. However, we did gain the deck by
+boarding at two points, forward and aft, and a fierce contest ensued.
+The French were more numerous than we were, but my men were better
+selected, being all very powerful, athletic fellows. Philip had
+boarded with the other party forward, which was led by my chief
+officer. My party, who were abaft, not being so numerous, were beaten
+back to the taffrail of the vessel, where we stood at bay, defending
+ourselves against the furious assaults of the Frenchmen. But if we
+lost, the other party gained, for the whole body of the Frenchmen were
+between us and them, and those who faced Philip's party were driven
+back to abaft the mainmast. It so happened that Philip was thrown down
+on the deck, and his men passed over him; and while in that position,
+and unable to rise from the pressure upon him, he heard a calling out
+from below: this told him that the English prisoners were in the hold;
+and as soon as he could rise he threw off the hatches, and they rushed
+up, to the number of twenty-three stout fellows, to our support,
+cheering most manfully, and by their cheers announcing to the French
+that we had received assistance. This gave fresh courage to my men,
+who were hard pressed and faint with their great exertion. We cheered,
+and rushed upon the enemy, who were already weakened by many of them
+having turned round to resist the increased impetus from forward. Our
+cheers were replied to by Philip's party and the prisoners, and the
+French were losing the day. They made another desperate rush upon
+Philip's men, and succeeded in driving them back to before the
+main-hatches; but what they gained forward, they lost abaft, as we
+pushed on with vigour. This was their last attempt. The main-hatch
+being open, several of them in the confusion fell into it, others
+followed them of their own accord, and at last every one of them was
+beaten down from the deck, and the hatches were put over them, with
+three cheers.
+
+"Now, for the privateer--she is our own," cried Philip; "follow me, my
+men," continued he, as he sprang upon the bulwarks of the prize, and
+from thence into the main rigging of the lugger alongside.
+
+Most of my men followed him; and as there were but few men left on
+board of the lugger, she was soon in our possession, and thus we had
+both the enemy and the prize without firing a cannon-shot. It was
+strange that this combat between two privateers should thus be decided
+upon the deck of another vessel, but such was the fact. We had several
+men badly wounded, but not one killed. The French were not quite so
+fortunate, as seven of their men lay dead upon the decks. The prize
+proved to be the Antelope West-Indiaman, laden with sugar and rum,
+and of considerable value. We gave her up to the captain and crew, who
+had afforded us such timely assistance, and they were not a little
+pleased at being thus rescued from a French prison. The privateer was
+named the Jean Bart, of twelve guns, and one hundred and fifteen men,
+some away in prizes. She was a new vessel, and this her first cruise.
+As it required many men to man her, and we had the prisoners to
+incumber us, I resolved that I would take her to Liverpool at once;
+and six days afterwards we arrived there without further adventure.
+Philip's gallant conduct had won him great favour with my officers and
+men, and I must say that I felt very proud of him.
+
+As soon as we had anchored both vessels, I went on shore with Philip
+to Mr. Trevannion's, to give him an account of what had occurred
+during the short cruise, and I hardly need say that he was satisfied
+with the results, as we had made three recaptures of value besides a
+privateer. I introduced Philip to him, acquainting him with his
+miraculous preservation, and Mr. Trevannion very kindly invited him
+for the present to remain in his house. We then took our leave,
+promising to be back by dinner-time, and I went with Philip to fit him
+out in a more creditable way; and having made my purchases and given
+my orders (it being then almost two o'clock _post meridiem_), we
+hastened to Mr. Trevannion's, that we might be in time for dinner. I
+was, I must confess, anxious to see Miss Trevannion, for she had often
+occupied my thoughts during the cruise. She met me with great
+friendliness and welcomed me back. Our dinner was very agreeable, and
+Philip's sallies were much approved of. He was, indeed, a mirthful,
+witty lad, full of jest and humour, and with a good presence withal.
+Mr. Trevannion being called out just as dinner was finished. Miss
+Trevannion observed--
+
+"I presume, Mr. Elrington, that your good fortune and the reputation
+you have acquired in so short a time, have put an end to all your
+misgivings as to a privateer's-man's life?"
+
+"I am not quite so light and inconstant, Miss Trevannion," replied I;
+"I rejoice that in this cruise I have really nothing to lament or
+blush for, and trust at the same time we have been serviceable to our
+country; but my opinion is the same, and I certainly wish that I had
+fought under the king's pennant instead of on board of a privateer."
+
+"You are, then, of the same mind, and intend to resign the command?"
+
+"I do, Miss Trevannion, although I admit that this lad's welfare makes
+it more important than ever that I should have some means of
+livelihood."
+
+"I rejoice to hear you speak thus, Mr. Elrington, and I think my
+father's obligations to you are such, that if he does not assist you,
+I should feel ashamed of him--but such I am certain will not be the
+case. He will forward your views, whatever they may be, to the utmost
+of his power--at the same time, I admit, from conversations I have had
+with him, that he will be mortified at your resigning the command."
+
+"And so shall I," said Philip, "for I do not agree with you or my
+brother: I see no more harm in privateering than in any other
+fighting. I suppose, Miss Trevannion, you have been the cause of my
+brother's scruples, and I tell you candidly to your face, that I do
+not thank you for it."
+
+Miss Trevannion coloured up at this remark, and then replied, "I do
+not think, Mr. Philip, that I have had the pleasure of seeing your
+brother more than three times in my life, and that within these last
+six weeks, and sure I am that we have not had a quarter of an hour's
+conversation altogether. It is, therefore, assuredly, too much to say
+that I am the cause, and your brother will tell you that he expressed
+these opinions before I ever had had any conversation with him."
+
+"That may be," replied Philip, "but you approved of his sentiments,
+and that concluded the business, I am sure, and I don't wonder at it.
+I only hope that you won't ask me to do any thing I do not wish to do;
+for I am sure that I could never refuse you any thing."
+
+"I am glad to hear you say so, Mr. Philip; for if I see you do that
+which I think wrong, I shall certainly try my influence over you,"
+replied Miss Trevannion, smiling. "I really was not aware that I had
+such power."
+
+Here Mr. Trevannion came in again, and the conversation was changed;
+and shortly afterwards Miss Trevannion left the room. Philip, who was
+tired of sitting while Mr. Trevannion and I took our pipes, and who
+was anxious to see the town, also left us; and I then stated to Mr.
+Trevannion that having now completed the cruise which I had agreed
+that I would, I wished to know whether he had provided himself with
+another captain.
+
+"As you appear so determined, my dear Elrington, I will only say that
+I am very sorry, and will not urge the matter any longer. My daughter
+told me since your absence that she was certain that you would adhere
+to your resolution; and, although I hoped the contrary, yet I have
+been considering in which way I can serve you. It is not only my
+pleasure, but my duty so to do; I have not forgotten, and never will
+forget, that you in all probability saved my life by your
+self-devotion in the affair of the Jacobites. When you first came to
+me, you were recommended as a good accountant, and, to a certain
+degree, a man of business; and, at all events, you proved yourself
+well acquainted and apt at figures. Do you think that a situation on
+shore would suit you?"
+
+"I should endeavour to give satisfaction, Sir," I replied; "but I fear
+that I should have much to learn."
+
+"Of course you would; but I reply that you would soon learn. Now,
+Elrington, what I have to say to you is this: I am getting old, and in
+a few years shall be past work; and I think I should like you as an
+assistant for the present, and a successor hereafter. If you would
+like to join me, you shall superintend the more active portion of the
+business; and I have no doubt but that in a year or two you will be
+master of the whole. As you know, I have privateers and I have
+merchant vessels, and I keep my storehouses. I have done well up to
+the present; not so well, perhaps, now, as I did when I had
+slave-vessels, which were most profitable; but my deceased wife
+persuaded me to give up that traffic, and I have not resumed it, in
+honour of her memory. These foolish women should never interfere in
+such matters; but let that pass. What I have to say is, that if you
+choose after a year to join me as a partner, I will give you an eighth
+of the business, and as we continue I will make over a further share
+in proportion to the profits; and I will make such arrangements as to
+enable you at my death to take the whole concern upon favourable
+terms."
+
+Mr. Trevannion knocked the ashes out of his pipe, and, as he
+concluded,--
+
+"I am," I replied, "as you may imagine, Sir, much gratified and
+honoured at your proposal, which I hardly need say that I willingly
+accept. I only hope you will make allowance for my ignorance at first
+setting off, and not ascribe to any other cause my imperfections. You
+may assure yourself that good-will shall never be wanting on my part,
+and I shall work day and night, if required, to prove my gratitude for
+so kind an offer."
+
+"Then, it is settled," said Mr. Trevannion; "but what are we to do
+with your brother Philip?"
+
+"He thinks for himself, Sir, and does not agree with me on the
+question in point. Of course, I have no right to insist that my
+scruples should be his; indeed, I fear that I should have little
+chance in persuading him, as he is so fond of a life of adventure. It
+is natural in one so young. Age will sober him."
+
+"Then you have no objection to his going on board of a privateer?"
+
+"I would rather that he was in any other service, Sir; but as I cannot
+control him, I must submit, if he insist upon following that
+profession. He is a gallant, clever boy, and as soon as I can, I will
+try to procure him a situation in a king's ship. At present he must go
+to sea in some way or the other, and it were, perhaps, better that he
+should be in good hands (such as Captain Levee's for instance) on
+board of a privateer, than mix up with those who might demoralize him
+more."
+
+"Well, then, he shall have his choice," replied Mr. Trevannion. "He is
+a smart lad, and will do you credit wherever he may be."
+
+"If I may take the liberty to advise, Sir," replied I, "I think you
+could not do better than to give the command of the Sparrow-Hawk to
+the chief officer, Mr. James; he is a good seaman and a brave man,
+and I have no doubt will acquit himself to your satisfaction."
+
+"I was thinking the same; and as you recommend him, he shall take your
+place. Now, as all this is settled, you may as well go on board and
+make known that you have resigned the command. Tell Mr. James that he
+is to take your place. Bring your clothes on shore, and you will find
+apartments ready for you on your return, for in future you will of
+course consider this house as your residence. I assure you that, now
+that you do not leave me, I am almost glad that the affair is arranged
+as it is. I wanted assistance, that is the fact, and I hold myself
+fortunate that you are the party who has been selected. We shall meet
+in the evening."
+
+Mr. Trevannion then went away in the direction of his daughter's room,
+instead of the counting-house as usual, and I quitted the house. I did
+not go immediately down to the wharf to embark. I wanted to have a
+short time for reflection, for I was much overpowered with Mr.
+Trevannion's kindness, and the happy prospects before me. I walked out
+in the country for some distance, deep in my own reflections, and I
+must say that Miss Trevannion was too often interfering with my train
+of thought.
+
+I had of course no fixed ideas, but I more than once was weighing in
+my mind whether I should not make known to them who I was, and how
+superior in birth to what they imagined. After an hour passed in
+building castles, I retraced my steps, passed through the town, and
+going down to the wharf, waved my handkerchief for a boat, and was
+soon on board. I then summoned the officers and men, told them that I
+had resigned the command of the vessel, and that in future they were
+to consider Mr. James as their captain. I packed up my clothes,
+leaving many articles for my successor which were no longer of any use
+to me, but which he would have been compelled to replace.
+
+Philip I found was down in the cabin, and with him I had a long
+conversation. He stated his wish to remain at sea, saying that he
+preferred a privateer to a merchant vessel, and a king's ship to a
+privateer. Not being old enough, or sufficient time at sea to be
+eligible for a king's ship, I agreed that he should sail with Captain
+Levee, as soon as he came back from his cruise. He had already sent in
+a good prize. As soon as my clothes and other articles were put into
+the boat, I wished them all farewell, and was cheered by the men as I
+pulled on shore.
+
+My effects were taken up to Mr. Trevannion's house by the seamen, to
+whom I gave a gratuity, and I was met by Mr. Trevannion, who showed me
+into a large and well-furnished bed-room, which he told me was in
+future to be considered as my own. I passed away the afternoon in
+arranging my clothes, and did not go down to the parlour till
+supper-time, where I found Miss Trevannion, who congratulated me upon
+my having changed my occupation to one more worthy of me. I made a
+suitable reply, and we sat down to supper. Having described this first
+great event in my life, I shall for the present conclude.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+    After staying a year with him, Mr. Trevannion proposes
+    to take me into Partnership, but I decline the offer
+    from conscientious motives--Miss Trevannion treats me
+    with unmerited coldness--This and her Father's anger
+    make me resolve to quit the House--What I overhear and
+    see before my departure--The Ring.
+
+
+You may now behold me in a very different position, my dear Madam;
+instead of the laced hat and hanger at my side, imagine me in a plain
+suit of gray with black buttons, and a pen behind my ear; instead of
+walking the deck and balancing to the motion of the vessel, I am now
+perched immoveably upon a high stool; instead of sweeping the horizon
+with my telescope, or watching the straining and bending of the spars
+aloft, I am now with my eyes incessantly fixed upon the ledger or
+day-book, absorbed in calculation. You may inquire how I liked the
+change. At first, I must confess, not over much, and, notwithstanding
+my dislike to the life of a privateer's-man, I often sighed heavily,
+and wished that I were an officer in the king's service. The change
+from a life of activity to one of sedentary habits was too sudden, and
+I often found myself, with my eyes still fixed upon the figures
+before me, absorbed in a sort of castle-building reverie, in which I
+was boarding or chasing the enemy, handling my cutlass, and sometimes
+so moved by my imagination as to brandish my arm over my head, when an
+exclamation of surprise from one of the clerks would remind me of my
+folly, and, angry with myself, I would once more resume my pen. But
+after a time I had more command over myself, and could sit steadily at
+my work. Mr. Trevannion had often observed how absent I was, and it
+was a source of amusement to him; when we met at dinner, his daughter
+would say: "So, I hear you had another sea-fight this morning, Mr.
+Elrington;" and her father would laugh heartily as he gave a
+description of my ridiculous conduct.
+
+I very soon, with the kind assistance of Mr. Trevannion, became master
+of my work, and gave him satisfaction. My chief employment consisted
+in writing the letters to correspondents. At first I only copied Mr.
+Trevannion's letters in his private letter-book; but as I became aware
+of the nature of the correspondence, and what was necessary to be
+detailed, I then made a rough copy of the letters, and submitted them
+to Mr. Trevannion for his approval. At first there were a few
+alterations made, afterwards I wrote them fairly out, and almost
+invariably they gave satisfaction, or if any thing was added, it was
+in a postscript. Mr. Trevannion's affairs, I found, were much more
+extensive than I had imagined. He had the two privateers, two vessels
+on the coast of Africa trading for ivory and gold-dust and other
+articles, two or three vessels employed in trading to Virginia for
+tobacco and other produce, and some smaller vessels engaged in the
+Newfoundland fisheries, which, when they had taken in their cargo, ran
+to the Mediterranean to dispose of it, and returned with Mediterranean
+produce to Liverpool. That he was a very wealthy man, independent of
+his large stakes upon the seas, was certain. He had lent much money to
+the guild of Liverpool, and had some tenanted properties in the
+county; but of them I knew nothing, except from the payment of the
+rents. What surprised me much was, that a man of Mr. Trevannion's
+wealth, having but one child to provide for, should not retire from
+business--and I once made the remark to his daughter. Her reply was:
+"I thought as you do once, but now I think differently. When I have
+been on a visit with my father, and he has stayed away for several
+weeks, you have no idea how restless and uneasy he has become from
+want of occupation. It has become his habit, and habit is second
+nature. It is not from a wish to accumulate that he continues at the
+counting-house, but because he cannot be happy without employment. I,
+therefore, do not any longer persuade him to leave off, as I am
+convinced that it would be persuading him to be unhappy. Until you
+came, I think the fatigue was too great for him; but you have, as he
+apprizes me, relieved him of the heaviest portion of the labour, and I
+hardly need say that I am rejoiced that you have so done."
+
+"It certainly is not that he requires to make money, Miss Trevannion;
+and, as he is so liberal in every thing, I must credit what you
+assert, that it is the dislike to having no employment which induces
+him to continue in business. It has not yet become such a habit in
+me," continued I, smiling; "I think I could leave it off with great
+pleasure."
+
+"But is not that because you have not yet recovered from your former
+habits, which were so at variance with a quiet and a sedentary life?"
+replied she.
+
+"I fear it is so," said I, "and, I believe, of all habits, those of a
+vagrant are the most difficult to overcome. You used to laugh at me
+the first few months that I was here. I presume that I am a little
+improved, as I have not been attacked lately?"
+
+"My father says so, and is much pleased with you, Mr. Elrington, if my
+telling you so gives you any satisfaction."
+
+"Certainly it does, because I wish to please him."
+
+"And me, too, I hope?"
+
+"Yes, most truly, Miss Trevannion; I only wish I had it in my power to
+show how much I study your good opinion."
+
+"Will you risk my father's displeasure for it?" replied she, looking
+at me fixedly.
+
+"Yes, I will, provided--"
+
+"Oh! there is a proviso already."
+
+"I grant that there should not have been any, as I am sure that you
+would not ask me to do any thing which is wrong. And my proviso was,
+that I did not undertake what my conscience did not approve."
+
+"Your proviso was good, Mr. Elrington, for when a woman would
+persuade, a man should be particularly guarded that he is not led into
+error by a rash promise. I think, however, that we are both agreed
+upon the point. I will therefore, come at once to what I wish you to
+do. It is the intention of my father, in the course of a few days,
+when you shall have accomplished your year of service, to offer to
+take you into partnership; and I am certain it will be on liberal
+terms. Now I wish you to refuse his offer unless he gives up
+privateering."
+
+"I will do so at all risks, and I am truly glad that I have your
+encouragement for taking such a bold step."
+
+"I tell you frankly that he will be very indignant. There is an
+excitement about the privateering which has become almost necessary to
+him, and he cares little about the remainder of his speculations. He
+is so blind to the immorality to which it leads, that he does not
+think it is an unlawful pursuit; if he did, I am sure that he would
+abandon it. All my persuasion has been useless."
+
+"And if a favourite and only daughter cannot prevail, what chance have
+I, Miss Trevannion?"
+
+"A better chance, Mr. Elrington; he is partial to me, but I am a
+woman, and he looks upon my observations as a woman's weakness. The
+objections raised by a man, a young man, and one who has so long been
+actively engaged in the service, will, therefore, carry more weight;
+besides, he has now become so accustomed to you, and has had so much
+trouble taken off his hands, and, at the same time, has such implicit
+confidence in you, that I do not think, if he finds that he has to
+choose between your leaving him and his leaving off privateering, he
+will hesitate in relinquishing the latter. You have, moreover, great
+weight with him, Mr. Elrington; my father is fully aware of the deep
+obligation he is under to your courage and self-devotion in the affair
+of the Jacobite refugees. You will, therefore, succeed, if you are
+firm; and, if you do succeed, you will have my gratitude, if that is
+of any importance to you; my friendship you know you have already."
+
+The entrance of Mr. Trevannion prevented my reply. We had been waiting
+for his return from a walk, and dinner had been ready some time. "I
+have just seen some of the men of the Arrow," said Mr. Trevannion,
+taking off his hat and spencer, "and that detained me."
+
+"Has Captain Levee arrived, then, Sir?" said I.
+
+"No; but he has sent in a prize--of no great value--laden with light
+wares. The men in charge tell me he has had a rough affair with a
+vessel armed _en flute_, and that he has lost some men. Your brother
+Philip, as usual, is wounded."
+
+I should here observe, that during the year which had passed away, the
+two privateers had been several times in port--they had met with
+moderate success, barely sufficient to pay their expenses; my brother
+Philip had always conducted himself very gallantly, and had been twice
+wounded in different engagements.
+
+"Well, Sir," replied I, "I do not think that the loss of a little
+blood will do any harm to such a hot-headed youth as Master Philip;
+but I hope in a short time to give him an opportunity of shedding it
+in the service of the king, instead of in the pursuit of money.
+Indeed," continued I, as I sat down to table, "the enemy are now so
+cautious, or have so few vessels on the high seas, that I fear your
+privateering account current will not be very favourable, when
+balanced, as it will be in a few days, notwithstanding this cargo of
+wares just arrived."
+
+"Then we must hope better for next year," replied Mr. Trevannion.
+"Amy, my dear, have you been out to-day?"
+
+"Yes, Sir; I was riding for two hours."
+
+"Have they altered your pillion yet?"
+
+"Yes, Sir; it came home last night, and it is now very comfortable."
+
+"I called at Mrs. Carleton's, who is much better. What a fop that Mr.
+Carleton is--I don't know what scented powder he uses, but it perfumed
+the whole room. Had not Mrs. Carleton been such an invalid, I should
+have opened the window."
+
+Mr. Trevannion then turned the conversation to some political
+intelligence which he had just received, and this engaged us till the
+dinner was over, and I returned to the counting-house, where I found
+the men who had brought in the prize, and who gave me a letter from
+Philip, stating that his wound was of no consequence.
+
+The communication of Mr. Trevannion took place, as his daughter had
+assured me it would, on the anniversary of my entering into Mr.
+Trevannion's counting-house. After dinner, as we, as usual, were
+smoking our pipes, Mr. Trevannion said: "Elrington, you have been with
+me now one year, and during that time you have made yourself fully
+master of your business; much to my surprise, I acknowledge, but still
+more to my satisfaction. That I have every reason to be satisfied with
+you, you may imagine, when I tell you that it is now my intention to
+take you into partnership, and I trust by my so doing that you will
+soon be an independent man. You know the capital in the business as
+well as I do. I did say an eighth, but I now propose to make over to
+you one-fourth, and to allow your profits of every year (deducting
+your necessary expenses) to be invested in the business, until you
+have acquired a right to one-half. Of future arrangements we will
+speak hereafter."
+
+"Mr. Trevannion," replied I, "that I am truly grateful for such
+unexpected liberality, I hardly need say, and you have my best thanks
+for your noble offer; but I have scruples which, I must confess, I
+cannot get over."
+
+"Scruples!" exclaimed Mr. Trevannion, laying down his pipe on the
+table. "Oh! I see now," continued he after a pause; "you think I am
+robbing my daughter. No, no, the labourer is worthy of his hire, and
+she will have more than sufficient. You carry your conscientiousness
+too far, my dear fellow; I have more than enough for Amy, out of the
+business altogether."
+
+"I am aware of that, Sir," added I, "and I did not, therefore, refer
+to your daughter when I said that I had scruples. I must be candid
+with you, Sir. How is it that I am now in your employ?"
+
+"Why, because you had a dislike to privateering, and I had a debt of
+gratitude to pay."
+
+"Exactly, Sir; but whether you had been pleased to employ me or not, I
+had made up my mind, as you well know, from conscientious motives, not
+to continue on board of a privateer."
+
+"Well, I grant that."
+
+"The same motives, Sir, will not allow me to be a sharer in the
+profits arising from such sources. I should consider myself equally
+wrong if I did so, as if I remained on board. Do not be angry with me,
+Sir," continued I; "if I, with many thanks, decline your offer of
+being your partner; I will faithfully serve you upon any salary which
+you may consider I may merit, and trust to your liberality in every
+thing."
+
+Mr. Trevannion made no reply; he had resumed his pipe, and continued
+to smoke it, with his eyes fixed upon the mantelpiece. As soon as his
+pipe was out, he rose, put on his hat, and walked out of the room,
+without making any further observation. I waited a few minutes, and
+then went back to the counting-house.
+
+That Mr. Trevannion was seriously offended, I was convinced; but I
+valued the good opinion of his daughter more than I did that of Mr.
+Trevannion; indeed, my feelings towards her had, during the year that
+I had been in the house, gradually become of that nature that they
+threatened much my peace of mind. I cannot say that I loved her in the
+usual acceptation of the term, adoration would better express what I
+felt. She was so pure, so perfect, such a model of female perfection,
+that I looked up to her with a reverence which almost quelled any
+feeling of love. I felt that she was above me, and that, with her
+wealth, it would be madness for one in my present position to aspire
+to her. Yet with this feeling I would have sacrificed all my hopes and
+present advantages to have obtained her approving smile. It is not,
+therefore, to be wondered at that I risked Mr. Trevannion's
+displeasure to gain her approbation; and when I resumed my seat at my
+desk, and thought of what had passed, I made up my mind to be once
+more an outcast in the world rather than swerve from the promise which
+I had made to her. I knew Mr. Trevannion to be a very decided man,
+and hasty when offended. That he was seriously offended with me there
+was no doubt. I found that he had quitted the house immediately after
+he had left the room. I had hoped that he had gone to his daughter's
+apartments, and that a conversation with her might have produced a
+good effect; but such was not the case.
+
+In about half an hour Mr. Trevannion returned, and as he walked into
+the back room adjoining the counting-house, he desired me to follow
+him; I did so: "Mr. Elrington," said he, sitting down, and leaving me
+standing at the table, "I fear, after what has passed that we shall
+not continue on good terms. You have reproached me, an old man, with
+carrying on an unlawful business; in short, in raising your own
+scruples and talking of your own conscience, you have implied that I
+am acting contrary to what conscience should dictate. In short, you
+have told me, by implication, that I am not an honest man. You have
+thrown back in my face my liberal offer. My wish to oblige you has
+been treated not only with indifference, but I may add with contumely;
+and that merely because you have formed some absurd notions of right
+and wrong in which you will find no one to agree with you, except,
+perhaps, priests and women. I wish you well, Mr. Elrington,
+nevertheless. I am truly sorry for your infatuation, and wished to
+have served you, but you will not be assisted by me."
+
+Here Mr. Trevannion paused, but I made no reply. After a time, wiping
+the perspiration from his forehead with his handkerchief, for he
+evidently was in a state of great excitement he continued:
+
+"As you do not choose to join me from conscientious scruples, I cannot
+but imagine that you do not like to serve me from similar motives, for
+I see little difference between the two (and here, Madam, there was
+some force in his observation, but it never occurred to me before); at
+all events, without weighing your scruples so exactly as to know how
+far they may or may not extend, I feel that we are not likely to go on
+pleasantly together. I shall always think that I am reproached by you
+when any thing is said connected with the privateers--and you may have
+twinges of conscience which may be disagreeable to you. Let us,
+therefore, part quietly. For your services up to the present, and to
+assist you in any other engagements you may enter on, take this--"
+
+Mr. Trevannion opened a lower drawer of the table, and put before me a
+bag containing, as I afterwards discovered, 250 gold jacobuses.
+
+"I wish you well, Mr. Elrington, but I sincerely wish that we had
+never met."
+
+Mr. Trevannion then rose abruptly, and, before I could make any reply,
+brushed past me, went out at the door, and again walked away at a
+rapid pace down the street. I remained where I stood; my eyes had
+followed him as he went away. I was completely surprised. I
+anticipated much anger, much altercation; but I never had an idea that
+he would be so unjust as to throw off in this way one who for his sake
+had gone through a heavy trial and come out with honour. My heart was
+full of bitterness. I felt that Mr. Trevannion had treated me with
+harshness and ingratitude.
+
+"Alas!" thought I, "such is the world, and such will ever be the case
+with such imperfect beings as we are. How vain to expect any thing
+like consistency, much less perfection, in our erring natures. Hurt
+but the self-love of a man, wound his vanity, and all obligations are
+forgotten."
+
+I turned away from the bag of money, which I was resolved not to
+accept, although I had not at the time twenty guineas at my own
+disposal. It was now within half an hour of dark; I collected all my
+books, put some in the iron safe, others as usual in my desk, and
+having arranged every thing as completely as I could, I locked the
+safe, and inclosed the keys in a parcel, which I sealed. Putting Mr.
+Trevannion's name on the outside, I laid the parcel on the table in
+the room where we had had our conference, by the side of the bag of
+money.
+
+It was now dark, or nearly so, and leaving the confidential porter, as
+usual, to shut up the house, I went up to the sitting-room with the
+expectation of seeing Miss Trevannion, and bidding her farewell. I was
+not disappointed; I found her at her netting, having just lighted the
+lamp which hung over the table.
+
+"Miss Trevannion," said I, advancing respectfully towards her, "I
+have fulfilled my promise, and I have received my reward"--she looked
+up at me--"which is, I am dismissed from this house and your presence
+for ever."
+
+"I trust," said she, after a pause, "that you have not exceeded my
+wishes. It appears to me so strange, that I must think that such is
+the case. My father never could have dismissed you in this way for
+merely expressing an opinion, Mr. Elrington. You must have gone too
+far."
+
+"Miss Trevannion, when you meet your father, you can then ascertain
+whether I have been guilty of intemperance or rudeness, or a proper
+want of respect in making the communication--which I did in exactly
+the manner you yourself proposed, and my reward has been such as I
+state."
+
+"You have a better reward, Mr. Elrington, if what you assert is really
+correct. You have the reward of having done your duty; but I cannot
+imagine that your dismissal has arisen from the mere expression of an
+opinion. You'll excuse me, Mr. Elrington, that as a daughter, I
+cannot, in justice to a much respected father, believe that such is
+the case."
+
+This was said in so cold a manner, that I was nettled to the highest
+degree. Miss Trevannion had promised me her gratitude, instead of
+which I felt that she was doubting my word, and, as it were, taking
+the side of her father against me. And this was the return from her. I
+could have upbraided her, and told her what I felt; namely, that she
+had taken advantage of my feelings towards her to make me a cat's-paw
+to obtain her end with her father; and that now, having failed, I was
+left to my fate, without even commiseration; but she looked so calm,
+so grave, and so beautiful, that I could not do it. I commanded my
+wounded feelings, and replied:
+
+"Since I have the misfortune to meet the displeasure of the daughter
+as well as of the father, Miss Trevannion, I have not another word to
+say, but farewell, and may you prosper."
+
+My voice faltered as I said the last words, and, bowing to her, I
+quitted the room. Miss Trevannion did not even say farewell to me, but
+I thought that her lips appeared to move, as quitting the room I took
+my last look upon her beautiful face. I shut the door after me, and,
+overpowered by my feelings, I sank upon a settee in the ante-room, in
+a state of giddy stupor. I know not how long I remained there, for my
+head turned and my senses reeled; but I was aroused from it by the
+heavy tread of Mr. Trevannion, who came along the corridor without a
+light, and not perceiving me, opened the door of the sitting-room
+where his daughter still remained. He threw the door too after he had
+entered, but it did not quite close, leaving a narrow stream of light
+through the ante-room.
+
+"Father," said Miss Trevannion in my hearing, "you look warm and
+excited."
+
+"I have reason so to be," replied Mr. Trevannion, abruptly.
+
+"I have heard from Mr. Elrington the cause of it," replied Miss
+Trevannion; "that is, I have heard his version of it. I am glad that
+you have come back, as I am most anxious to hear yours. What has Mr.
+Elrington said or done to cause such irritation and his dismissal?"
+
+"He has behaved with insolence and ingratitude," replied Mr.
+Trevannion; "I offered him partnership, and he refused, unless I would
+give up privateering."
+
+"So he stated; but in what manner was he insolent to you?"
+
+"Insolent!--told me that he acted from conscientious motives, which
+was as much as to say that I did not."
+
+"Was his language very offensive?"
+
+"No, not his language--that was respectful enough; but it was the very
+respect which made it insolent. So I told him that as he could not,
+from scruples of conscience, join me in privateering, of course his
+scruples of conscience could not allow him to keep the books, and I
+dismissed him."
+
+"Do you mean to say, my dear father, that he, in a respectful manner,
+declined entering into partnership from these scruples which you
+mention; that he gave you no other offence than expressing his
+opinion, and declining your offer?"
+
+"And what would you have more?" replied Mr. Trevannion.
+
+"I wish to know where was the insult, the ingratitude, on his part
+which you complain of?"
+
+"Simply in refusing the offer. He ought to have felt grateful, and he
+was not; and he had no right to give such reasons as he did; for the
+reasons were condemning my actions. But you women cannot understand
+these things."
+
+"I rather think, my dear father, that we cannot; for I cannot perceive
+either the insult or the ingratitude which you complain of, and such I
+think will be your own opinion when you have had time to reflect, and
+are more cool. Mr. Elrington expressed nothing more to-day, when he
+stated his dislike to privateering from conscientious motives than he
+did after his return from his confinement in the Tower, when he gave
+up the command of the privateer on those very grounds; and then, when
+still warm with gratitude to him for his self-devotion, you did not
+consider it an insult, but, on the contrary, took him still nearer to
+you into your own house. Why, then, should you consider it an insult
+now? Neither can I see any ingratitude. You made him an offer, the
+value of which, in a worldly point of view, he could not but
+appreciate, and he declined it from conscientious motives; declined
+it, as you acknowledge, respectfully; proving that he was ready to
+sacrifice his worldly interests to what he considered his duty as a
+Christian. When Mr. Elrington told me that you had dismissed him, I
+felt so certain that he must have been guilty of some unpardonable
+conduct towards you to have induced you to have resorted to such a
+step, that I did not credit him when he asserted the contrary. I could
+not believe, as a daughter, any thing so much to the prejudice of my
+own father, and so much at variance with his general conduct. I now
+feel that I have been most unjust to Mr. Elrington, and conducted
+myself towards him in a way which I bitterly regret, and hope by some
+means to be able to express my contrition for--"
+
+"Amy--Amy," said Mr. Trevannion, severely, "are you blinded by regard
+for this young man, that you side against your own father? Am I to
+understand that you have given your affections without my sanction or
+approval?"
+
+"No, Sir," replied Miss Trevannion; "that I do respect and regard Mr.
+Elrington is true, and I cannot do otherwise for his many good
+qualities and his devotion towards you; but if you would ask me if I
+love him, I reply that such a thought has not yet entered my head.
+Without a knowledge of who he is, or his family, and without your
+approval, I should never think of yielding up my affections in so
+hasty a manner; but I may say more: these affections have never been
+solicited by Mr. Elrington. He has always behaved towards me with that
+respect, which, as the daughter of his patron, I have had a right to
+expect; but in no instance has he ever signified to me that he had any
+preference in my favour. Having assured you of this, my dear father, I
+cannot but say that I consider that he has, in this instance, not only
+been treated with injustice by you, but also by me."
+
+"Say no more," replied Mr. Trevannion. As he said this, I heard
+footsteps in the passage, and was about to retreat to my own room; but
+as the party came without a light, I remained. It was the porter, who
+knocked at the sitting-room door, and was requested to come in by Mr.
+Trevannion.
+
+"If you please, Sir, Mr. Elrington is gone out, I believe, and I found
+this packet directed to you on the table of the inner room, and also
+this bag of money, which I suppose you forgot to put away before you
+left."
+
+"Very well, Humphrey, leave them on the table."
+
+The man did so, and quitted the room, not perceiving me in the dark as
+he passed through the ante-room.
+
+"He has not taken the money," observed Mr. Trevannion. "He might have
+done so, as he ought to be paid for his services."
+
+"I presume, my dear father, that his feelings were too much hurt by
+what passed," said Miss Trevannion. "There are obligations which
+cannot be repaid with gold."
+
+"These, I perceive, are the keys of the safe; I did not think that he
+would have gone away this night."
+
+I now considered it high time to quit the ante-room, where I had been
+irresistibly detained by the conversation which took place. I hastened
+to my own chamber, determined that I would leave the house the next
+morning before any one was stirring. I gained it in the dark, but
+having the means of striking a light, I did so, and packed up all my
+clothes ready for my departure. I had just fastened down my valise,
+when I perceived a light on the further end of the long corridor which
+led to my apartment. Thinking it might be Mr. Trevannion, and not
+wishing to see him, I blew out my own light and retreated to a small
+dressing-room, within my chamber, communicating by a glass door. The
+light evidently approached, and at last I perceived the party was
+entering my room, the door of which was wide open. It was Miss
+Trevannion who entered, and turning round with her chamber-light in
+her hand, appeared to survey the apartment with a mournful air. She
+perceived my valise, and her eyes were fixed upon it for some time; at
+last she walked up to the dressing-table, and, sitting on the stool
+before it, leant down her head upon her hands and wept.
+
+"Alas!" thought I, "if those tears were but for me; but it is not
+so--she has been excited, and her tears have come to her relief."
+
+After a time she raised her head from the table, and said, "How unjust
+have I been--and I shall see him no more!--if I could but beg his
+pardon, I should be more happy. Poor fellow!--what must he have felt
+at my harsh bearing. Oh! my father, I could not have believed it. And
+what did I say?--that I had no feeling for--well, I thought so at the
+time, but now--I am not quite sure that I was correct, though
+he--well, it's better that he's gone--but I cannot bear that he should
+have gone as he has done. How his opinion of me must have changed!
+That is what vexes me--" and again she bent her head down on the table
+and wept.
+
+In a moment she again rose, and took her candle in her hand.
+Perceiving on the dressing-table a small gold ring which I had taken
+off my finger the day before, and had forgotten, she took it up and
+examined it. After a little while she laid her light down on the
+table, and put the ring upon her finger.
+
+"I will keep it till I see him again," murmured she; and then taking
+her light, she walked slowly out of the room.
+
+The knowledge I had gained by this unintentional eavesdropping on my
+part, was the source of much reflection--and as I lay on the bed
+without taking off my clothes, it occupied my thoughts till the day
+began to break. That I still retained the good opinion of Miss
+Trevannion was certain, and the mortification I had endured at our
+final interview was now wholly removed. It was her duty to suppose her
+parent not in fault till the contrary was proved. She had known her
+father for years--me she had only known for a short time, and never
+before had she known him guilty of injustice. But her expressions and
+her behaviour in my room--was it possible that she was partial to me,
+more partial than she had asserted to her father when she was
+questioned!--and her taking away the ring!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+    A Conspiracy, which ends satisfactorily to all
+    Parties--Privateering is abandoned, and Captain
+    Levee and Philip serve the King.
+
+
+The night passed away in attempts at analyzing the real feelings of
+Miss Trevannion, and also my own towards her; and now that I was to be
+separated from her, I discovered what I really had not before
+imagined, that my future happiness was seriously endangered by my
+sentiments towards her: in short, dear Madam, that I was most
+seriously in love.
+
+"And now," thought I, "of what avail is it to have made this discovery
+now, except it were to convince me, as Miss Trevannion had said, that
+it were better that I were gone."
+
+I did not fail to call to mind her observation about my unknown
+parentage and family, and this I reflected upon with pleasure, as it
+was the chief objection raised by her, and, at the same time, one that
+I could proudly remove, from my birth being really more distinguished
+than her own. Should I make it known? How could I?--we should,
+probably, never meet again. All this, and much more, was canvassed in
+my mind during the night, and also another question of more real
+importance, which was, what I was to do, and where I was to go? On
+this last point I could not make up my mind, but I determined that I
+would not leave Liverpool for a day or two, but would take up my
+quarters at my old lodgings, where I had lived with Captain Levee.
+
+As the day dawned, I rose from the bed, and, taking my valise on my
+shoulder, I went softly down-stairs, opened the street door, and
+shutting it again carefully, I hastened down the street as fast as I
+could. I met nobody; for it was still early, and arrived at the
+lodging-house, where I had some trouble to obtain admittance; the old
+lady at last opening the door in great dishabille.
+
+"Captain Elrington! is it possible," exclaimed she, "why, what's the
+matter?"
+
+"Nothing, Madam," replied I, "but that I have come to take possession
+of your lodgings for a few days."
+
+"And welcome, Sir," replied she; "will you walk up-stairs while I make
+myself more fit to be seen. I was in bed and fast asleep when you
+knocked; I do believe I was dreaming of my good friend, Captain
+Levee."
+
+I went up-stairs and threw myself on the old settee which was so
+familiar to me, and somehow or another, in a few minute's I was in a
+sound sleep. How long I might have slept on I cannot tell, but in less
+than an hour I was waked up by loud talking and laughter, and a few
+seconds afterwards found myself embraced by my brother Philip and
+Captain Levee. The Arrow had anchored at break of day, and they had
+just come on shore. I was delighted to see them, as every one is when
+he meets with friends when he is in distress. I briefly stated how it
+was that they found me there, and when breakfast was on the table, I
+entered into full details of what had passed, with the exception of
+Miss Trevannion having entered my room--that I considered too sacred
+to repeat to any one.
+
+"You know, my dear Elrington," said Captain Levee, "that I have not
+the scruples which you have relative to privateering, but still I
+respect the conscientious scruples of others. There is no excuse for
+Mr. Trevannion's conduct, and I cannot think but there is something
+else at the bottom of all this. You haven't been making love to his
+daughter, or, what would amount to the same thing, she has not been
+making advances to you?"
+
+"I have not dared the first, Levee, and you do not know her, to
+suppose her capable of the latter."
+
+"Well, if she had done so, there would have been no harm done,"
+replied he; "but I will say no more as you look so grave. Philip and I
+will now call upon Mr. Trevannion, and while I engage the old
+gentleman, Philip shall run alongside of the young maiden, and between
+the two we shall get our bearings and distance, and know how the land
+lies--and I will tell you more, Elrington, although I have no
+objection to be captain of a privateer, I certainly consider the
+command of a king's ship more reputable; and if I could manage to get
+the Arrow hired into the king's service (I still remaining in command
+of her), I should prefer it being so. At all events, I'll side with
+you, and that will drive the old gentleman on a dead lee-shore. Come
+along, Philip--we shall be with you in two hours, Elrington." With
+these words Captain Levee left the room, followed by my brother.
+
+It was nearly three hours before they returned, and then I received
+the following narratives: Captain Levee, as he sat down, said, "Now,
+Philip, we'll hear your account first."
+
+"Well, mine is soon told," replied Philip; "I had made up my mind how
+to act, and did not tell Captain Levee what I intended to do. When Mr.
+Trevannion met us in the room behind the counting-house, he appeared
+very much flurried: he shook hands with Captain Levee, and offered me
+his hand, which I refused, saying, 'Mr. Trevannion, I have just seen
+my brother, and I hardly need say that nothing will induce me to
+remain in your employ. I will, therefore, thank you for my wages at
+your convenience.'
+
+"'Hey-day, young man,' cried he, 'you give yourself strange airs.
+Well, Sir, you shall have your discharge; I can do without such
+snip-jacks as you are.'
+
+"'Snip-jacks! Mr. Trevannion,' replied I; 'if I must say it, we are
+better born and better bred than you or any of your connections, and
+you were honoured by our service.'"
+
+"You said that, Philip?--then you were wrong."
+
+"I told the truth."
+
+"Still, you should not have said it; we took his service, and
+therefore--"
+
+"We are not snip-jacks," interrupted Philip, "and his calling names
+brought on the reply."
+
+"You must admit the provocation, Elrington," said Captain Levee.
+
+"Well, go on, Philip."
+
+"'Indeed,' said Mr. Trevannion, in a great passion; 'well, then, I
+will soon rid myself of the obligation. Call this afternoon, Master
+Philip, and you shall receive your wages. You may now quit the room.'
+
+"I did so, and put my hat a-cock to annoy him."
+
+"So far his narrative is quite correct," said Captain Levee;--"now go
+on."
+
+"Well," said Philip, "instead of turning out of the house, I turned
+into it, and went to the young lady's sitting-room. I opened the door
+softly, and found her with her hand up to her head, looking very
+sedate and sorrowful. 'Master Philip,' said she, 'you startled me; I
+am glad to see you--when did you arrive?'
+
+"'This morning, Miss Trevannion.'
+
+"'Well, sit down, and bear me company for a time. Have you seen your
+brother?'
+
+"'I have, Miss Trevannion,' replied I, still remaining on my feet,
+'and I have just seen your father. I come now to bid you farewell. I
+have left the privateer, and shall never join her again; perhaps I may
+never see you again either, which, believe me, I am truly sorry for.'
+
+"She covered her eyes with her hand, as she leant on the table, and I
+saw a tear fall as she said--
+
+"'It is a sad business altogether, and has distressed me very much. I
+hope your brother does not think that I blame him; tell him that I do
+not in the least, and that he must forget my behaviour to him when we
+parted. I did him injustice, and I beg his pardon. Tell him so,
+Philip.'"
+
+"Did she say those words, Philip?"
+
+"Yes, word for word, and looked like an angel when she said so. I
+replied that I would certainly deliver her message, but that I must
+not remain, for fear of Mr. Trevannion finding me with her, as he
+ordered me to quit the house.
+
+"'Indeed,' said she; 'what can be the matter with my poor father?'
+
+"'Why, Miss Trevannion,' said I, 'he was very angry, and he had
+reason, for I was very saucy, and that's the truth.'
+
+"'Why, Philip, what did you say to him?'
+
+"'Oh, I hardly know,' replied I, 'but I know that I said more than I
+ought; for I was very angry at my brother's dismissal. Good-bye, Miss
+Trevannion.'
+
+"Miss Trevannion was taking a ring off her finger as I said good-bye,
+and I thought she was going to give it me as a keep-sake; but, after a
+little hesitation, she put it on again, and then held out her hand,
+saying, 'Good-bye, Master Philip, let us not part in anger, at all
+events.' I took her hand, bowed, and turned away to quit the room;
+when I was at the door I looked round, and she was sitting with her
+face in her hands, and I think she was weeping. I went out into the
+street, and waited for Captain Levee, and there's an end of my story."
+
+"Well, now I'll give you my portion, Elrington:--As soon as Philip
+went out of the room, Mr. Trevannion said, 'That's a most impudent
+boy, and I am glad that he is gone. You are of course aware that his
+brother has left me, and the cause of our disagreement.'
+
+"'Yes, Sir,' replied I, drily, 'I have heard the whole particulars.'
+
+"'Did you ever hear of such ridiculous scruples?' said he.
+
+"'Yes, Sir, I heard them before, and so did you, when he gave up the
+command of the privateer, and I respected them, because I knew that
+Mr. Elrington was sincere. Indeed, his observations on that head are
+undeniably true, and have had great weight with me; so much so, that I
+intend to enter into the king's service as soon as I possibly can.'
+
+"I wish you had seen the look of Mr. Trevannion when I said this--he
+was stupified. That I, Captain Levee, who had commanded his vessels so
+long--I, the very _beau ideal_ of a privateer's-man, a reckless,
+extravagant dare-devil, should also presume to have scruples, was too
+much for him. 'Et tu, Brute,' he might have exclaimed, but he did not;
+but he stared at me without speaking for some time; at last he said,
+'Is the golden age arrived, or is this a conspiracy?'
+
+"'Neither one nor the other, Sir,' I replied; 'I follow privateering,
+because I can do no better; but as soon as I can do better, I shall
+leave it off.'
+
+"'Perhaps,' said Mr. Trevannion, 'you would wish to resign the command
+at once. If so, I beg you will not make any ceremony.'
+
+"'I have not wished to put you to any inconvenience, Mr. Trevannion,'
+replied I, 'but as you kindly beg me to use no ceremony, I will take
+advantage of your offer, and resign the command of the Arrow this
+day.'"
+
+"Surely, Levee, you have not done so?"
+
+"Yes, I have," replied Captain Levee, "and I have done so, in the
+first place, out of friendship to you, and, in the second, because I
+wish to be employed in the king's service, and my only chance of
+obtaining that wish is doing what I have done."
+
+"How will that effect your purpose?"
+
+"Because the men have sailed so long with me, that they will not sail
+under any other person, if I tell them not. Mr. Trevannion will find
+himself in an awkward position, and I think we can force him to hire
+his vessel to government, who will gladly accept such a one as the
+Arrow."
+
+"That I believe, if from her reputation alone," replied I. "Well,
+Levee, I thank you very much for this proof of sincere friendship. The
+plot thickens, and a few days will decide the question."
+
+"Very true, and now let me finish my story. 'I am afraid,' said Mr.
+Trevannion, in a very sarcastic tone, 'that I shall not be able to
+find any one to replace you in this moral age, Captain Levee; but I
+will try.'
+
+"'Sir,' I replied, 'I will now answer your sarcasm. There is some
+excuse for ignorant seamen before the mast, who enter on board of
+privateers: they are indifferent to blood and carnage, and their
+feelings are blunted--there is some excuse even for decayed gentlemen
+like me, Mr. Trevannion (for I am a gentleman born), who, to obtain a
+maintenance without labour, risk their lives and shed their blood; but
+there is no excuse for those who, having already as much wealth and
+more than they can require, still furnish the means and equip vessels
+of this description to commit the destruction which they do, for the
+sake of gain. There is a sermon, Sir, for you from a captain of a
+privateer, and I now wish you good morning.' I then got up, and,
+making a profound bow, I quitted the room before Mr. Trevannion made
+any reply, and here I am. Now all we have to do is to wait quietly,
+and see what takes place; but first, I shall go on board the Arrow,
+and let them know that I have quarrelled with the owner. The men are
+not very well pleased as it is with their want of success these two
+last voyages, and it will require but little to blow up the discontent
+into a mutiny. Come, Philip, I shall want you to assist me. We shall
+be back to dinner, Elrington."
+
+When I was again alone, I had time to consider what had passed. What I
+chiefly dwelt upon was the interview between Philip and Miss
+Trevannion--her message to me--her hesitation--and keeping the ring. I
+could not help surmising that our feelings towards each other were
+reciprocal, and this idea gave me infinite delight, and repaid me for
+all that had passed. Then my brother's hasty declaration to her
+father, that we were better born and bred than he was, would certainly
+be repeated by him to his daughter, and must make an impression. And
+what would Mr. Trevannion do? Would he give way to the unanimous
+opinion against him? I feared not, at least without another struggle.
+All these questions occupied my thoughts till the return of Captain
+Levee and Philip from the privateer. They had well managed their
+business. The crew of the Arrow had come to an unanimous resolution
+that they would not sail with any other captain but Captain Levee; and
+that if he did resign the command of the vessel, as soon as their
+wages were paid, and they received their share of prize-money, they
+would leave, and enter into the king's service.
+
+That afternoon Mr. Trevannion sent for the officer next in command, to
+give him the command of the vessel; but as he went over the side, the
+men expecting that he was sent for, for that purpose, told him that
+they would serve under no one but Captain Levee, and that he might
+acquaint the owner with their determination. This put the finishing
+blow to Mr. Trevannion. As soon as this was communicated to him, he
+was wild with rage in being thus thwarted in every way. As I
+afterwards was informed, he went even to his daughter, acquainted her
+with all that had passed, and gave vent to his indignation, accusing
+her of being a party in the conspiracy. But this was to be his last
+effort: the excitement had been too great, and after dinner he felt so
+unwell that he went to bed. The next morning he was in a raging fever,
+and at times delirious. The fever was so violent that the doctors had
+much to do to reduce it, and for ten days Mr. Trevannion was in great
+danger. At last it was got under, leaving him in a state of great
+weakness and exhaustion, and his recovery was any thing but rapid.
+Humphrey, the porter, had brought us this intelligence; as now there
+was no one to transact the business of the house, and the poor fellow
+did not know what to do, I desired him to apply to Miss Trevannion for
+directions, and told him that, although I would not enter the house, I
+would, if she wished it, see to the more important concerns which
+could not be neglected. She was then attending her father, and sent me
+a message, requesting, as a favour to her, that I would assist all I
+could in the dilemma. I consequently sent for the books, and gave
+orders, and made the necessary arrangements as I had done before I had
+been dismissed by Mr. Trevannion.
+
+It was nearly five weeks before Mr. Trevannion had sufficiently
+recovered to mention any thing about business to him, and then it was
+that he learnt from his daughter that I had carried it on for him
+during his illness, and that every thing had gone on as well as if he
+had acted for himself. Although Miss Trevannion had not expressed a
+wish that I should call, she had sent Humphrey for my brother Philip,
+to let us know the dangerous state in which her father was, and after
+that Philip called every day, and was the bearer of messages to me. As
+her father recovered, she told Philip that he had expressed himself
+very strongly as to his conduct towards me, and had acknowledged that
+I was right in my scruples, and that he was astonished that he had not
+viewed privateering in the same light that I did. That he felt very
+grateful for my considerate and kind conduct in conducting the
+business during his illness, and that as soon as he was well enough he
+would call upon me, to beg my pardon for his conduct towards me. Miss
+Trevannion also told him that her father had said that he considered
+his illness a judgment upon him, and a warning to open his eyes to his
+sacrifice of principle to the desire of gain, and that he received it
+accordingly with humility and thankfulness; that it was his intention
+to offer the privateer vessels to government, and if they did not hire
+them, he should dispose of them in some other way. This was very
+agreeable intelligence, and was the source of much conversation
+between Captain Levee and me.
+
+About a fortnight afterwards, Mr. Trevannion, who was still weak, sent
+me a billet, in which he said that he was afraid that his anxiety to
+see me and his being still confined to his room, rather retarded his
+recovery, and begged as a favour that I would accept his
+acknowledgment in writing, and come to see him. That I consented to
+do, and repaired to his house accordingly. I found him in his room,
+sitting in his dressing-gown, and he had evidently suffered much.
+
+"Mr. Elrington," said he, "I trust to your excellent nature to accept
+my apologies for the very unjust treatment you have received at my
+hands. I am ashamed of myself, and I can say no more."
+
+"I beg, Mr. Trevannion, that you will say no more; I accept the return
+of your friendship with pleasure," replied I; "I am sorry that you
+have been so ill."
+
+"I am not," replied he; "it is good for us to be chastised at times.
+My sickness has opened my eyes, and made me, I trust, a better man.
+May I ask a favour of you?"
+
+"Most certainly, Sir," replied I.
+
+"It is that you will execute a commission for me, which is to go to
+London on my account, see the government people who control the naval
+affairs, and offer the Arrow as a hired vessel. You know all her
+qualities so well, and have kept her accounts so long, that you will
+be able to furnish them with all necessary information. I should wish
+Captain Levee to go with you, and, if you possibly can, make it a
+condition that he is taken into the king's service, and appointed the
+captain of her."
+
+"I will do so with pleasure," replied I.
+
+"One more favour I have to beg, Mr. Elrington. When I so foolishly
+quarrelled with you, you left a bag of money, to which you were fully
+entitled from your good services, upon the table in the inner room. I
+trust now that you will not mortify me by refusing it, or I shall
+think that you have not really forgiven me."
+
+I bowed assent.
+
+"I thank you, Mr. Elrington--thank you very much. Now I shall soon get
+well. To-morrow, perhaps, you will have the kindness to come and see
+me again. I feel rather overcome at present. Remember me kindly to
+Philip. Good-bye for to-day," said Mr. Trevannion, holding out his
+emaciated hand. "God bless you."
+
+I took his hand and quitted the room, shutting the door softly. Mr.
+Trevannion was quite alone when I was with him. Humphrey, the porter,
+had shown me up-stairs to the room.
+
+Anxious as I was to see Miss Trevannion, I did not venture into the
+sitting-room, but passed the door and went down-stairs; when I was
+going out of the street door, Humphrey followed me, and said Miss
+Trevannion wished to see me. I went back again with a beating heart, a
+sensation I had not felt before, when about to go into her presence.
+She was standing by the table.
+
+"Mr. Elrington," said she, as I bowed upon entering, "I did not think
+that you could carry your resentment against me so far as to leave the
+house without asking to see me; but if you do not wish to see me, 'tis
+a duty I owe to myself to wish to see you, if only for a moment, that
+I may beg your pardon for my conduct towards you when we last parted.
+I have suffered much since that, Mr. Elrington; do not make me suffer
+more by continuing your resentment. Recollect I am but a weak woman,
+and must not be judged so severely as one of your own sex."
+
+"I have nothing to pardon that I am aware of, Miss Trevannion,"
+replied I; "I did not intrude upon you just now, because being no
+longer an inmate of the house, and not having parted with you in
+complete amity, I thought it would be presumptuous in me so to do."
+
+"You are very generous, Mr. Elrington," replied she; "now take my
+hand, and I promise never to be so hasty again."
+
+I took the proffered hand, and raised it respectfully to my lips. I
+had never done so before; but Miss Trevannion showed no signs of
+displeasure, or attempt to withdraw it.
+
+"Do you think my father looks very ill, Mr. Elrington?" said she.
+
+"From his appearance, I think that he must have suffered much."
+
+"I am most thankful that you have come to see him, Mr. Elrington. You
+have no idea how his mind was troubled, and how he longed to be
+reconciled to you. I trust he has made his peace."
+
+"I have always had too much respect for your father, and gratitude for
+his kindness to me, to have made that a work of difficulty."
+
+"You rejoice me much--make me very happy, Mr. Elrington," replied Miss
+Trevannion, as the tears dropped fast from her eyes. "You must excuse
+me," said she; "I have become very weak and nervous during my father's
+illness--and sitting up with him so much,--but it is over now."
+
+"You have had much anxiety, I see, Miss Trevannion; you are pale and
+thin to what you were."
+
+"Did my father--? but I have no right to ask such questions."
+
+"You would inquire, Miss Trevannion, whether any thing was said as to
+future arrangements?"
+
+Miss Trevannion made a sign of assent.
+
+"I have promised to execute a commission for him, and am going to
+London, accompanied by Captain Levee."
+
+"To get rid of those wretched privateers, is it not?"
+
+"Yes, it is, and I am to come to-morrow to arrange further; but I
+think you want to return to your father's room, so I will now take my
+leave."
+
+"You are considerate, Mr. Elrington; I did want to go up-stairs; but
+before I go I have some property of yours to place in your hands."
+
+I bowed, thinking that she referred to the ring, which I perceived on
+her finger, and was annoyed that she was in such haste to return it.
+But, on the contrary, she went to the buffet and brought out the bag
+of gold jacobuses, which she laid on the table.
+
+"You are very proud, Mr. Elrington, not to take what was fairly your
+due," said Miss Trevannion, smiling.
+
+"It is much more than I have ever earned," replied I; "but your father
+made me promise not to refuse it a second time, and of course I shall
+now take it."
+
+My heart was much lightened when I found that it was the gold, and not
+the ring.
+
+"Then good-bye, Mr. Elrington; to-morrow I shall see you, of course."
+
+Miss Trevannion then left the room and hastened up-stairs to her
+father, and I went home to my lodgings. I narrated the substance of
+what had passed between Mr. Trevannion and me to Captain Levee and
+Philip, and also that I had been kindly received by Miss Trevannion.
+
+"Well, I like the reconciliation and arrangement very much," said
+Captain Levee; "and as you have such a bag of gold, and I have not
+fifty guineas in the world, you shall stand treat in London,
+Elrington."
+
+"That I will, with pleasure; it will only be discharging an old debt,
+Levee. Philip shall go with us."
+
+"But," said Captain Levee, "do you not think they will recognize their
+state prisoner, and be cautious of a Jacobite?"
+
+"They may remember the name," said I, "but my person was seen but by
+few. I do, however, think it would be advisable, as I shall have to
+sign papers, to take another."
+
+"I think so, too," replied Captain Levee; "what shall we call you?"
+
+"Let me see; I'll have a good name. I had a relative of the name of
+Musgrave; I think I will borrow his name. What say you, Philip. Will
+you be for the future Philip Musgrave?"
+
+"Yes, brother, with all my heart. The name appears to fit me better
+than that of Elrington."
+
+Thus, Madam, did I resume my real name without any suspicion on the
+part of Captain Levee; but I could not well sign government papers
+with an assumed one.
+
+On the following day I called upon Mr. Trevannion, who received me
+with great affection, and it was arranged that I should set off in
+three days, which time would be required for preparation, and to make
+the necessary purchases. To supply funds for the journey, Mr.
+Trevannion gave me another bag of jacobuses, of the same amount as the
+former, saying that he wished us to appear bravely when we arrived in
+London, and that he should require no account of the expenditure, only
+that if the contents of the bag were not sufficient, he would supply
+more. This was nothing more but an excuse on his part to be generous;
+for one quarter of the money would have been sufficient for all
+needful expenses. I told him that I had taken the name of Musgrave, as
+that of Elrington might be remembered to the injury of the proposal,
+and he said that it was well thought of by me. Miss Trevannion had
+entered the room when I mentioned that to her father, and afterwards
+had quitted it. After I had taken leave of Mr. Trevannion, I went down
+to the sitting-room, where I found his daughter waiting for me. We had
+much friendly discourse, and at one time she said, "I heard you say
+that you had taken the name of Musgrave for your intended journey. Do
+you intend to retain that name when you return?"
+
+"Why should I?" replied I.
+
+"Because," replied she, "perhaps it is your real name. Excuse a lady's
+curiosity, but is not that the fact?"
+
+"Miss Trevannion," replied I, "my real name must at present remain a
+secret."
+
+"That is to say, it will no longer be a secret if intrusted to me? I
+thank you, Sir, for the compliment."
+
+"I do not intend to imply that, Miss Trevannion; I fully believe that
+you can keep a secret."
+
+"If you fully believe so, you might, then, reply to my question; the
+more so, as I now pledge myself to keep your secret most faithfully."
+
+"Then, Miss Trevannion, my real name is Musgrave," replied I.
+
+"I thank you for your confidence, Mr. Musgrave, which shall not be
+misplaced. I might now follow up my inquiries as to why you changed
+your name, with many other queries; but I am too discreet for
+that--the time may come when I shall know all; but I am content with
+your proof of confidence, and thank you for it."
+
+Miss Trevannion never was so lively and communicative with me before,
+as she was this morning; there was a friendliness without any of her
+usual reserve, and I left her more full of admiration and devotion
+than ever.
+
+In three days more our preparations were made, and taking leave of
+Miss Trevannion and her father, who was recovering, and had admitted
+company to his room, we set off on horseback, as we had done before,
+and attended by the same two men of Captain Levee's who had served us
+on a former journey to London. We had no adventure whatever on this
+journey which could be worth narrating, and I shall therefore say that
+we arrived in good health and spirits, and took up our abode at once
+at our former lodging-house, instead of going to the inn. We were
+welcomed by the hostess, who had her house almost empty. The following
+day I made inquiries, and, in consequence, went to the Navy Office,
+and requesting to see one of the head clerks, informed him of the
+occasion of my coming up to London. He was very civil, and replied
+that the government were in want of vessels, and he had no doubt but
+they would have the Arrow, as she was well known as a strong
+privateer. I then inquired whether they thought it likely that Captain
+Levee might be taken into the service, stating what an excellent crew
+the Arrow had, and that they would not remain in her, unless they were
+commanded, by him, in whom they had great confidence.
+
+The clerk replied that it might be done certainly,--"but," added
+he--"Sir, you cannot expect people to do such kind offices without
+they are rewarded."
+
+I perfectly understood him, and replied, that, of course, I did not
+expect it; but I was so ignorant as to what ought to be done, that I
+begged that he would give me his advice, for which I should be most
+grateful.
+
+"Well, well, you understand me, Mr. Musgrave, and that is sufficient.
+I will be plain with you. It will cost 100 guineas to obtain what you
+want for Captain Levee, and of that money I shall not receive a doit."
+
+"I shall be most happy to give that sum and half as much more, to
+obtain my wish, Sir, and shall feel much obliged to you in the
+bargain; and while I am negotiating, I may as well state that I have a
+brother who sails with Captain Levee, who is most anxious to be with
+him, and sail as his lieutenant."
+
+"That will cost another fifty guineas, Mr. Musgrave."
+
+"I am most willing," replied I.
+
+"Well, we must first get the vessel hired into the service. You have
+your tonnage and equipment all on paper?"
+
+"Every thing that is requisite; and, moreover, every cruise she has
+made, the actions she has fought, and the prizes she has taken under
+the command of Captain Levee, and with the crew now on board."
+
+"Furnish all these documents, Mr. Musgrave, and leave it to me. I am
+to understand that you perfectly agree to the terms I have proposed?"
+
+"Perfectly, Sir; and, if you please, I will sign a memorandum to that
+effect."
+
+"No, no," replied he, "we never put such things down on paper. It is
+an affair of honour and good faith. You say your money is all ready."
+
+"At a minute's warning."
+
+"That is sufficient, Mr. Musgrave. I will now wish you good morning.
+Send me the documents."
+
+"I have them in my pocket, Sir."
+
+"Better still; then the affair may be arranged this afternoon, and you
+may call to-morrow at about two in the afternoon; and you may as well
+bring the money with you, as you can but take it away again if every
+thing is not to your satisfaction."
+
+I returned to the lodgings quite delighted with the prospect of such a
+fortunate issue to my mission, and was in good time for dinner. I did
+not tell Captain Levee or Philip of what had passed, but merely that I
+considered that there was a good chance of success, and that I was to
+call on the following day. That night we went to the theatre, and saw
+a play performed written by Shakspeare, in the time of Queen
+Elizabeth, and called the "Merry Wives of Windsor." We were much
+pleased with the character _Falstaff_, a fat knight, full of humour.
+The next day, at the time appointed, I called upon the head clerk, who
+told me that every thing was arranged according to my wishes; that the
+hiring of the vessel was according to her tonnage; and he considered
+that the price offered by the government was fair and liberal; so did
+I, and immediately accepted it. He then drew from his desk the
+articles of agreement between the government and the owner of the
+vessel, and at the same time, the warrants for Captain Levee and
+Philip, to act as commander and lieutenant.
+
+"Now, Mr. Musgrave, all you have to do is to sign the first paper, and
+fulfil the other portion of our agreement."
+
+I immediately pulled out the bag of money which I had brought with me,
+and after counting it over, the clerk gave me his pen to sign the
+document, and handed to me the warrants for Philip and Captain Levee.
+
+"You have behaved liberally in this affair, Mr. Musgrave," said the
+gentleman, as he locked up the bag of money in his desk; "if at any
+time I can be of use to you, you may command me."
+
+"I thank you, Sir," replied I, "I may by-and-by have to ask you to
+exert your influence in behalf of my brother, that he may obtain the
+command of one of the king's ships, and if you can help me, I shall be
+most grateful."
+
+"Depend upon it I will," replied he, "and I beg you will use no
+ceremony on making the application."
+
+He then shook hands with me, and I went home. Dinner was over when I
+came back, but the hostess had put away some victuals for me, and
+while I was eating them, I gave them an account of my success, handing
+their warrants to Captain Levee and Philip. They could hardly credit
+me, even when the documents were in their hands, but pledging them to
+secrecy, I told them by what means I had been so successful. Whereupon
+they thanked me, and we then went out to procure the uniforms suitable
+to their respective ranks, and this occupied us till the evening, when
+we agreed to go to the cockpit and see the fights between the various
+animals, with which Philip particularly was much delighted. As we had
+nothing to detain us in London, and it was necessary that the Arrow
+should immediately run round to the Nore, we determined, as the
+uniforms were to be ready on the following day, that the day after
+that we would return to Liverpool.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+    We return to Liverpool--I have an interview with Miss
+    Trevannion--Plutus interferes with Cupid, and I sail
+    again for the coast of Africa.
+
+
+We set off and arrived at Liverpool, without accident, late on the
+sixth night, when we repaired to our usual lodgings. The next day I
+called to tell Mr. Trevannion that I had returned, and was informed by
+Humphrey that he was quite strong again, and very anxious to see me,
+although he had no idea that I should return so soon. Humphrey went up
+to announce my arrival, and Mr. Trevannion admitted me immediately,
+although he was not yet out of bed.
+
+"I fear that you have not been successful," said he, as he took my
+hand.
+
+"On the contrary, Sir, I have succeeded in every thing," and I then
+gave him an account of what had happened.
+
+"Well," replied he, "I am very glad of it, and recollect I must be at
+the expense, as, without you had incurred it, the schooner would not,
+in all probability, have been hired. And now I want to consult with
+you about something else. Here is a letter from Captain Irving, of the
+Amy, brought home by the Chester Lass."
+
+These were two vessels employed on the Gold Coast, which belonged to
+Mr. Trevannion.
+
+"Read it," said Mr. Trevannion, "and give me your opinion."
+
+I did so: Captain Irving stated that he had pushed the two vessels up
+a small river on the coast, which he had not known of before, and had
+fallen in with a black ruler, who had never yet treated with the
+English; but only with the Spaniards, for slaves. That his English
+commodities were quite new to the natives, and that, in consequence,
+he had made a most fortunate traffic with them, and had loaded a
+vessel with ivory, wax, and gold-dust to the amount of 1,000 pounds,
+and that he had sent the Chester Lass, remaining himself, to continue
+the barter before it was known to the other ships on the coast, which
+it would soon be. He continued, that he had not sufficient of the
+articles which were most valued by the natives, and requested that Mr.
+Trevannion would immediately despatch another vessel with various
+goods enumerated, and that then he should be able to fill his own
+vessel as well as the one that he had despatched home; that the river
+was in such a latitude, and the mouth difficult to discover; that he
+sent a little sketch of the coast, which would facilitate the
+discovery--but that no time was to be lost, as the sickly season was
+coming on, and it was very unhealthy at that time.
+
+As I folded up the letter, Mr. Trevannion said,
+
+"Now, here is an invoice of the whole cargo sent home by the Chester
+Lass. I reckon it worth about 7,000_l._"
+
+I looked over the invoice, and agreed with Mr. Trevannion, that it was
+well worth that, if not more.
+
+"This is most important, you will acknowledge, Musgrave," said Mr.
+Trevannion; "but before I go any further, I trust that, now the only
+difficulty is got over, you will not refuse to be my partner; the only
+difference I intend to make is, that I now offer you one-fourth
+instead of one-eighth. Silence gives consent," continued Mr.
+Trevannion, as I did not immediately reply.
+
+"I was so astonished at your munificent offer, Sir, that I could not
+well speak."
+
+"Then it's agreed; so say no more about it," said Mr. Trevannion,
+taking me by the hand, and pressing it warmly--"and now to business.
+My idea is, to sent out the Sparrow-Hawk, being so fast a sailer. Of
+course, as a privateer, she has done her work; and as the government
+wish the complement of the Arrow to be increased, I think we cannot do
+better than to fill her up with some of the Sparrow-Hawk's men,
+leaving about twenty-five on board of her, and sending her out as soon
+as possible to the coast, with the articles which Captain Irving
+requests."
+
+"I agree with you, Sir, that it will be the best plan."
+
+"But whom to send is the difficulty," said Mr. Trevannion. "Captain
+Paul, of the Chester Lass, is very ill, and not likely to be out of
+bed for some time; and even if he were well, I have no opinion of him
+in an affair of this moment. If, as Captain Irving says, he can fill
+the Amy, her cargo will be worth three times that of the Chester Lass;
+but, of course, the destination of the Sparrow-Hawk must be a secret,
+and I do not know whom to intrust her to. We require some one in whom
+we can put confidence."
+
+"I agree with you, Sir," replied I; "and, if you have no objection, I
+think that the best plan will be for me to go myself; I shall be back
+again in ten weeks at the furthest."
+
+"Well, as you will now have a strong interest in it, I really think so
+too. In fact, I don't know whom else we can trust."
+
+"I agree with you, Sir, and I will go myself, and I think the sooner
+the better; but I do not know whether we can obtain all the goods
+requisite immediately."
+
+"We can have them in five or six days," replied Mr. Trevannion; "I
+sent Humphrey out to make inquiry."
+
+"At all events, I must look to them myself; and there are many other
+things to manage, so I had better wish you a good morning now, Mr.
+Trevannion, and in the evening I will call again, and let you know
+what I have done."
+
+"Do so," said he, and I then took my leave.
+
+I certainly was very much astonished as well as much pleased at Mr.
+Trevannion's liberality relative to the partnership, and I could now
+look forward to competency in a few years at the furthest. Certainly,
+if Mr. Trevannion had been hasty in his conduct towards me, he had
+made most noble reparation. I first returned to the lodgings and told
+Captain Levee and Philip what had passed; they immediately proposed
+that we should all go together on board the Sparrow-Hawk, that I might
+make my arrangements, and that they might persuade some of the men to
+join the Arrow. I first picked out the men I wished to sail with me;
+and then they talked over the rest, who that evening went on shore for
+their wages, and the next morning joined the Arrow, as Captain Levee
+was anxious to get round to the Nore. The day after the men joined,
+the Arrow sailed, which I was not sorry for, as it left me more at
+leisure to expedite my own affairs. Philip promised to be my
+correspondent, and I bade them both farewell with regret. I called in
+the evening, as I had promised, upon Mr. Trevannion, and he then gave
+me the deed of partnership, signed and dated the day when he first
+made the offer, and we had quarrelled; but I did not see Miss
+Trevannion; much to my regret, her father said that she was ailing.
+The business I had to transact, and fitting out the Sparrow-Hawk, so
+completely occupied me, that it was now three days that I had been at
+Liverpool without having seen her, and I was much annoyed at it, as I
+had called every day. My feelings towards her were now stronger than
+before. She was never out of my thoughts, and I hardly know how it was
+that I transacted business as I did. This evening I was determined, if
+possible, that I would see her, and find out why she avoided me, as it
+appeared to me that she did. When I called, therefore, I did not ask
+to see her father, but told Humphrey to find out where Miss Trevannion
+was, and say that I requested to speak with her. Humphrey returned,
+and said that she was in the sitting-room, to which I instantly
+repaired.
+
+"I am fearful, that I have given you some unintentional cause of
+displeasure, Miss Trevannion," said I, as I entered, "for you have
+appeared to avoid me since my return."
+
+"Indeed, Mr. Musgrave, I have not," replied she; "I was most anxious
+to see you, and have thought it very unpolite, I may add, unkind, on
+your part not to have come to me."
+
+"I have been in the house every day, and sometimes twice a-day, with
+your father, Miss Trevannion, and have never met you. Once I inquired
+for you, and your father told me you were unwell, whereas Humphrey had
+but five minutes before told me that you were well and in good
+spirits."
+
+"Humphrey told the truth, and so did my father. I was in good health
+and spirits, and in five minutes afterwards I was ill and unhappy."
+
+"I trust I was no party to it, Miss Trevannion."
+
+"You were a party to it, but not the great offender, who was my
+father. He had told me that upon your return he had installed you as
+his partner, and had done you the justice you had deserved; and then
+he told me that you were going out to the coast of Africa in the
+Sparrow-Hawk."
+
+"It is very true, Miss Trevannion; but where is the offence?"
+
+"The offence is this: my father no sooner does you justice than he
+wants more ivory and gold-dust, having more than enough already; but I
+told him it was as bad as privateering, for in either case he sends
+people out to sacrifice their lives, that he may gain more money. I
+have no patience with this foolish pursuit of wealth."
+
+"After all your father's kindness to me, Miss Trevannion, I could do
+no less than accept the offer."
+
+"You would have been more wise and more just to yourself to have
+refused it, Mr. Musgrave. I read the letters to my father when they
+arrived, and you know what Captain Irving says about the unhealthiness
+of the climate. You have been my father's best friend, and he should
+not have treated you thus."
+
+"I never did value life, Miss Trevannion; but really the kind interest
+you have expressed on this occasion makes me feel as if my poor life
+was of some value. To one who has been such a football of fortune as I
+have been, and who has hardly, known a kind feeling towards him ever
+expressed, it is a gratification that I really appreciate, and coming
+from one whom I respect and esteem more than any other person in the
+world, it quite overpowers me. Indeed, Miss Trevannion, I am truly
+grateful."
+
+I was correct when I said that it overpowered me, for it did
+completely, and I was so oppressed by my feelings, that I reeled to a
+chair, and covered up my face with my hands. What would I have given
+to have dared to state what I felt!
+
+"You are ill, Mr. Musgrave," said Miss Trevannion, coming to me. "Can
+I offer you any thing?"
+
+I made no reply; I could not speak.
+
+"Mr. Musgrave," said Miss Trevannion, taking my hand, "you frighten
+me. What is the matter? Shall I call Humphrey?"
+
+I felt her hand tremble in mine, and, uncertain what to think, I came
+to the resolution to make the avowal.
+
+"Miss Trevannion," said I, after a pause, and rising from my chair, "I
+feel that this internal conflict is too great for me, and if it lasts
+it must kill me. I give you my honour that I have for months tried
+every thing in my power to curb my desires and to persuade myself of
+my folly and rash ambition, but I cannot do so any longer. It were
+better that I knew my fate at once, even if my sentence should be my
+death. You will ridicule my folly, be surprised at my presumption,
+and, in all probability, spurn me for the avowal, but make it I must.
+Miss Trevannion, I have dared--to love you; I have but one excuse to
+offer, which is, that I have been more than a year in your company,
+and it is impossible for any one not to love one so pure, so
+beautiful, and so good. I would have postponed this avowal till I was
+able to resume my position in society, by the means which industry
+might have afforded me; but my departure upon this business, and the
+kind of presentiment which I have, that I may not see you again, has
+forced it from me. In a few days I leave you--be gentle with me for my
+involuntary offence--pity me while you condemn, and I will return no
+more."
+
+Miss Trevannion did not reply; she breathed quick, and stood
+motionless. I gathered courage; I looked in her face, there was no
+displeasure--I approached her, she was half-fainting, and put her hand
+upon my shoulder to steady herself. I put my arm round her waist; and
+led her to the sofa, and knelt at her feet, watching every change in
+her beautiful countenance. I took her hand and pressed it to my lips;
+by degrees I became more bold, and got by her side, and pressed her to
+my heart. She burst into tears, and wept with her head on my bosom.
+
+"Do not be angry with me," said I, after a time.
+
+"Do I appear as if I was angry with you?" replied she, raising her
+head.
+
+"Oh, no; but I cannot believe my happiness to be real. It must be a
+dream."
+
+"What is life but a dream?" replied she mournfully. "Oh, the coast of
+Africa! How I dread it!"
+
+And so I confess did I from that moment; I had a presentiment, as I
+had told her, that something would go wrong, and I could not get over
+the feeling.
+
+I shall no longer dwell upon what took place on that delightful
+evening, Madam; suffice to say, that Miss Trevannion and I were
+mutually pledged, and, after an exchange of thought and feeling, we
+parted, and when we did part I pressed those dear lips to mine. I went
+home reeling with excitement, and hastened to bed, that I might have
+unrestrained freedom of thought. I enacted the scene of the evening
+over and over again; recalled each motion, each look, every word which
+had passed, and, defying fever and presentiment of evil, imagined also
+our happy meeting to part no more. It was long before I could compose
+myself to sleep, and when I did, I need not say who it was who
+occupied my dreams. I called as soon as I could venture so to do on
+the following day, and had a long interview with my dear Amy. Before I
+went up to her father, I tried to soothe her anxiety upon my
+approaching voyage, and to persuade her that there was little or no
+danger to be apprehended in so short a stay. Willingly would I have
+given it up, but Mr. Trevannion had so set his mind upon it, and I
+had, by my consent, rendered it so impossible for him to find a
+substitute in time, that I could not do so, and I persuaded Miss
+Trevannion that I was right in acting to my promise. One question that
+came forward was, whether we should make known our engagement to her
+father at once, and this was decided in the negative. Much as he
+liked me, he was not yet prepared to receive me so suddenly as a
+son-in-law, and Amy was of opinion that the communication had better
+be postponed. To this, of course, I gave a willing assent. I was
+satisfied with the knowledge of her affection, which I felt would
+never change. As I was talking with her father, after my interview
+with Amy, he said:
+
+"Really, Elrington, or Musgrave, I hardly know which to call you."
+
+"Musgrave is my real name, Sir," replied I.
+
+"Musgrave--Musgrave--where did I know a Musgrave?"
+
+"We are from the north," replied I.
+
+"Well," said he, "I was going to say, that I really wish I could find
+some one else to take your place in this voyage, for I do not much
+like your going."
+
+"Do, my dear father," said Miss Trevannion, who was standing by him.
+
+"Hey! Miss Amy, what have you to do with it, I should like to know,
+and how can it concern you whether Mr. Musgrave goes or not?"
+
+"I said so, Sir, because I know how you will feel his loss for so long
+a period. You know how you did feel his loss before, and I do not wish
+to see you working so hard, as you will have to do it without his
+assistance."
+
+"Well, that's kindly thought, Amy, at all events; but still I fear
+that Mr. Musgrave must go, and I must work by myself till he comes
+back; so it's no use saying any more about it."
+
+Amy sighed and made no reply. On the third day after this interview,
+every thing was ready, and on the following morning I was to sail. Mr.
+Trevannion had so many directions to give, and kept me so wholly with
+him, that I could hardly find time to speak to his daughter. However,
+it was agreed that as I was to sail at daylight, that she would see me
+after her father had gone to bed. Our meeting took place--need I say
+that it was a tender one. We renewed our vows over and over again, and
+it was not till past midnight that I tore myself away. Old Humphrey
+looked very knowingly at me when he let me out of the street-door. I
+slipped a guinea in his hand and wished him good-bye. I hastened on
+board of the Sparrow-Hawk, and desiring to be called before daylight,
+went down into the cabin. There I remained sitting at the table, and
+thinking of Amy so long, that when the mate came down to wake me, he
+found that I was still sitting there, having never been to bed during
+the whole of the night.
+
+I started from my reverie and hastened on deck to get the schooner
+under weigh. It was soon done, although we were, comparatively
+speaking, short-handed. There was a fine breeze, and lightened as she
+now was, the little vessel flew through the water. Liverpool was soon
+out of sight, and we were dashing down the Irish Channel.
+
+"She sails well, now," said I to the second mate, a very clever man,
+and much better educated than most seamen, for he could navigate, as
+well as being a first-rate seaman.
+
+"Yes, Sir," replied Olivarez, "she walks fast. She is not too deep
+now," replied he; "what a slaver she would make."
+
+This man was not an Englishman, but a Brazilian Portuguese by birth,
+although he had long been out of his country. Having set her course, I
+went down below, that I might indulge in my castle-building more at my
+ease. The wind increased to a gale, but as it was from the northward,
+and bore us to our destination, it was welcomed. We soon crossed the
+Bay of Biscay, and were in more genial latitudes; and, after a rapid
+run of about four weeks, I found myself nearly in the latitude given
+to us of the river where the Amy was at anchor. I then hauled in for
+the shore, which was very low, and required being approached with
+caution. We saw some towering palmtrees at sunset, and then we hove
+to; the next day we again stood in, and having ascertained our exact
+latitude at noon, we found ourselves about four miles to the northward
+of the river's mouth. We shaped a course, and in two hours I made out
+the marks given for our guidance in the rough sketch of Captain
+Irving, and thus satisfied that I was right, ran directly for the
+mouth of the river. Captain Irving was correct in saying it was
+difficult, for it was not until we were within a mile that we could
+find any opening; but at last we did, and at the same time perceived
+the mast of two vessels at some distance up the river. We stood in,
+and found that there was no bar at the river mouth, which was a very
+unusual circumstance on this coast. The soundings were gradual, and in
+an hour afterwards we anchored between the Amy and a fine schooner
+under British colours. Captain Irving recognized the Sparrow-Hawk, and
+immediately came on board. After the usual salutations, he told me
+that his vessel was half-laden, but that he waited for the articles he
+had sent for to enable him to complete his cargo. I told him that I
+had them on board, and he should have them as soon as he sent his
+boats. He stated that no vessels, except those engaged in the
+slave-trade, had ever come into this river, and that they only brought
+the cloth and other articles usual in the trade; but that his assorted
+cargo had astonished the people, and they were wild to possess things
+which they had never before seen. They had offered slaves in
+quantities, but finding that he would not take them in exchange, they
+had now brought down ivory and gold-dust. He told me how glad he was
+that I had come, as the river was very sickly, and was becoming more
+and more so every day; that out of twelve men he had already four down
+with fever.
+
+I inquired of him what that vessel was on the other side of us. He
+replied it was a Liverpool slave-trader, and that the captain appeared
+to be a very good sort of man; that he never indulged in liquor, nor
+was given to profane language.
+
+A few minutes afterwards the captain of the slaver came on board to
+pay his respects, and I asked him down in the cabin, and gave him beer
+and cheese, the two greatest luxuries in those climes. He appeared, as
+Captain Irving stated, a very quiet, well-behaved, serious person,
+which I was rather surprised at. When we repaired on deck, I observed,
+as the vessel was close to us, that there were two very large dogs on
+board, who, at the sight of the captain, bayed furiously. He told me
+that they were Cuba bloodhounds, and that he never went on shore
+without them, as they were the most faithful and courageous animals,
+and he considered that he was safer with them than with half a dozen
+armed men. Shortly afterwards Captain Irving and he both took leave.
+As there were still some hours of daylight, Captain Irving sent his
+boats for the goods, and after that, as the evening fell, I went down
+below, as Captain Irving requested I would do, and by no means remain
+on deck after sun-down, as it was extremely unhealthy.
+
+On the following day Captain Irving went on shore with his goods and
+trafficked most favourably. Indeed, as we afterwards found out, he had
+procured in exchange more ivory than his vessel would hold, besides
+much gold-dust. The day after I went on shore with Captain Irving to
+call upon the king, as he called himself. He was seated in front of a
+hut made of palmetto leaves, with a lace coat on, but no other garment
+whatever, so that he made a curious appearance. After a little
+conversation, I went away, and hearing that the slaver was taking her
+cargo on board, about a hundred yards further up, I walked in that
+direction. The slaves were brought down in about twenty at a time, all
+of them fastened by the neck to a long bamboo pole, which confined
+them all together. One string of them had been sent down and put in
+the boat, and another was standing ready for embarkation; when as I
+cast my eyes over them and commiserated their misery, I observed a
+female whom I thought I had seen before. I looked again, and behold!
+is was Whyna, the princess who had been so kind to me in my captivity.
+I went up to her and touched her on the shoulder. She turned round, as
+well as the lashing to the pole would permit her, and on seeing me
+gave a faint scream. Without ceremony I took out my knife and released
+her, and led her away. She fell down at my feet and kissed them. The
+black man who had charge of the delivery of the slaves was very angry,
+and ran up to me, brandishing his long stick; but the captain of the
+schooner, who was on shore, and who had witnessed what I had done,
+saluted him with a kick in the stomach, which made him quiet enough.
+In few words I told the captain of the slaver that I was once in
+captivity, and this woman had befriended me, requesting him to name
+his price and I would willingly pay it.
+
+"It's not worth mentioning, Sir," replied he; "women are as cheap as
+dirt; take her and welcome."
+
+"Not so," replied I; "I must pay her ransom."
+
+"Well then, Sir," said he, "I am in great want of a telescope; you
+have one on board, will you let me have it?"
+
+"Most certainly," replied I, "and many thanks into the bargain."
+
+I lifted up the poor creature, who was sadly emaciated and weak, and
+led her to the boat of the Amy and put her in. Captain Irving came
+down, and we returned on board. It was with great difficulty that,
+after I had given the poor creature some refreshment, which she was
+really in need of, I could recollect sufficient of her language to
+make myself understood by her; but by degrees words came to my memory,
+and as she spoke I recovered more. As well as I could make her out,
+the warriors had risen against the king on account of his barbarity,
+and had cut him to pieces; and that all his wives and servants had
+been sold as slaves. I promised her that she should not be a slave,
+but should come to my country and be taken care of.
+
+She kissed my hands, and as she smiled her thanks, she reminded me of
+the Whyna of former times. I did not, however, think it advisable that
+she should come on board of the schooner, and I requested Captain
+Irving to take charge of her, and let her want for nothing, telling
+him that I intended that she should go home in his vessel. He
+willingly consented, and I hailed the schooner for a boat and went on
+deck. Whyna followed, but I told her I was obliged to go on board of
+the schooner, and that she had better go and lie down. As she probably
+thought that the Amy was my vessel, and that I was going away on a
+visit, she complied with my request, and went down with Captain
+Irving, who led her into a state-room which was not occupied.
+
+As soon as I arrived on board the schooner, I sent the telescope which
+the captain of the slaver had begged for. Whyna had said to me, "I
+shall be your slave now," evidently expecting that she was to remain
+with me, but that I could not consent to. Miss Trevannion had heard
+from me my adventures when in captivity, and I would not on that
+account allow Whyna to be in the same vessel with me. The next day
+Captain Irving came on board to tell me that he had two more men down
+with the fever, and that he wished I could give them some assistance
+in getting his cargo on board, which I did, and before night the Amy
+was loaded up to the hatchways, and there still remained a considerate
+number of elephants' teeth on shore in the hut where he received them.
+I therefore determined, as his crew were evidently sickening fast,
+that he should sail immediately, and that I would take the remainder
+of the ivory on board of the schooner and follow him, giving him a
+rendezvous to wait at until I joined him, that we might proceed home
+in company. That night three of my men were ill.
+
+I was on board of the Amy, and had been talking with Whyna, who wanted
+to know why I did not sleep on board of the vessel. I told her that I
+could not, but that we were to go to England directly, and that I was
+living on board of the schooner. Captain Irving weighed at daybreak,
+and in an hour was out of the river, and as I was as anxious to be
+clear of such an unhealthy spot, I manned my boats and went on shore
+for the ivory that was left. I found that it would take the whole of
+the day to embark it, as we had to go two miles further up the river
+than the depth of water would permit the vessel to do; for the ivory
+was in a hut close to the king's house. I had sent off four
+boat-loads, and it being then noon, I went off with the fifth myself,
+that I might get my dinner, leaving the second mate to attend on
+shore, and taking with me the first mate who messed in the cabin. As
+we were in the middle of the stream, the boat struck against a stump
+of a tree, as we supposed, and knocked so large a hole in the bow that
+she began to fill. I immediately ordered the men to pull for the
+nearest point, which was on the opposite side of the river, that we
+might ground the boat to prevent her sinking.
+
+The first mate, who was a very active man, finding that the elephants'
+teeth prevented his reaching the bow of the boat, and stuffing into it
+some oakum which he had found in the stern sheets, sounded with the
+boat-hook, and finding that there was not more than three feet of
+water where we were pulling, jumped over the bows to push the oakum
+into the hole; but the poor fellow had not been a few seconds in the
+water, when he gave a shriek, and we perceived that a large shark had
+snapped him in two. This was a sad mishap, and the men, terrified,
+pulled as hard as they could, while two of them baled out the boat, to
+gain the shore, for we knew what fate awaited us if we sunk in the
+river. With great exertion we succeeded, running her up among the
+canes, with grew on that side of the river so thick that it was
+difficult to force your way through them.
+
+We landed up to our knees in mud, and, throwing out the ivory, we
+found that a whole plank was rent out, and that it was impossible to
+repair our boat; and we were hidden by the canes from those who could
+have assisted us, had they known that we required their assistance,
+and we had no possible means of communication. At last I thought that
+if I could force my way through the canes to the point down the river,
+I could hail and make signals for assistance; and, desiring the men to
+remain by the boat, I set off upon my expedition. At first I got on
+pretty well, as there were little paths through the canes, made, as I
+imagined, by the natives; and, although I was often up to my knees in
+thick black mud, I continued to get on pretty fast; but at last the
+canes grew so thick that I could hardly force my way through them, and
+it was a work of excessive labour. Still I persevered, expecting each
+second that I should arrive at the banks of the river, and be rewarded
+for my fatigue; but the more I laboured the worse it appeared to be,
+and at last I became worn out with fatigue, and quite bewildered. I
+then tried to find my way back, and was equally unsuccessful, and I
+sat down with any thing but pleasant thoughts in my mind. I calculated
+that I had been two hours in making this attempt, and was now quite
+puzzled how to proceed. I bitterly lamented my rashness, now that it
+was too late.
+
+Having reposed a little, I resumed my toil, and was again, after an
+hour's exertion, compelled, from fatigue, to sit down in the deep
+black mud. Another respite from toil, and another hour or more of
+exertion, and I gave myself up for lost. The day was evidently fast
+closing in--the light overhead was not near so bright as it had been;
+and I knew that a night passed in the miasma of the cane was death. At
+last it became darker and darker. There could not be an hour of
+daylight remaining. I determined upon one more struggle, and, reeking
+as I was with perspiration and faint with fatigue, I rose again, and
+was forcing my way through the thickest of the canes, when I heard a
+deep growl, and perceived a large panther not twenty yards from me. It
+was on the move as well as I was, attempting to force his way through
+the canes, so as to come to me. I retreated from him as fast as I
+could, but he gained slowly on me, and my strength was fast
+exhausting. I thought I heard sounds at a distance, and they became
+more and more distinct, but what they were, my fear and my struggles
+probably prevented me from making out. My eyes were fixed upon the
+fierce animal which was in pursuit of me, and I now thanked God that
+the canes were so thick and impassable; still the animal evidently
+gained ground--until it was not more than five yards from me, dashing
+and springing at the canes, and tearing them aside with his teeth.
+
+The sounds were now nearer, and I made them out to be the howling of
+other animals. A moment's pause, and I thought it was the baying of
+dogs; and I then thought that I must have arrived close to where the
+schooner was, and that I heard the baying of the bloodhounds. At last
+I could do no more, and I dropped, exhausted and almost senseless, in
+the mud. I recollect hearing the crashing of the canes, and then a
+savage roar, and then yells, and growls, and struggles, and fierce
+contention--but I had fainted.
+
+I must now inform the reader that about an hour after I had left the
+boat the captain of the slaver was pulling up the river, and was
+hailed by our men in our long-boat. Perceiving them on shore on that
+side of the river, and that they were in distress, he pulled towards
+them, and they told him what had happened, and that an hour previous I
+had left the boat to force my way through the cane-brakes, and they
+had heard nothing of me since.
+
+"Madness!" cried he. "He is a lost man. Stay till I come back from the
+schooner."
+
+He went back to the schooner, and taking two of his crew, who were
+negroes, and his two bloodhounds, into the boat, he returned
+immediately, and as soon as he landed he put the bloodhounds on my
+track, and sent the negroes on with them. They had followed me in all
+my windings, for it appeared that I had travelled in every direction,
+and had come up with me just as I had sunk with exhaustion, and the
+panther was so close upon me. The bloodhounds had attacked the
+panther, and this was the noise which sounded in my ears, as I lay
+stupified and at the mercy of the wild beast. The panther was not
+easily, although eventually, overcome, and the black men coming up,
+had found me and borne me in a state of insensibility on board of the
+Sparrow-Hawk. The fever had come on me, and it was not till three
+weeks afterwards that I recovered my senses, when I learnt what I have
+now told the reader, and much more, with which I am about to make him
+acquainted.
+
+When I recovered my senses, I found myself in the cabin of the
+Sparrow-Hawk. For some hours I was confused and wandering, but I
+rallied from time to time, till I could at last recognize the beams
+and carlines over my head. I was too weak to move, and I continued to
+lie on my back till I again fell asleep; how long I do not know, but
+it must have been for many hours, and then when I awoke I found myself
+much stronger.
+
+I could now turn on my bed, and doing so I perceived a young man of
+the name of Ingram by my side in a doze, with his eyes shut. I called
+him in a faint voice, and he started up.
+
+"I have been very ill," said I, "have I not?"
+
+"Yes, Sir, indeed you have."
+
+"I have been trying to recollect all about it, but I cannot as yet."
+
+"It's not worth remembering, Sir," replied he. "Do you wish any thing
+to drink?"
+
+"No," replied I.
+
+"Then you had better go to sleep again."
+
+"I cannot do that. I feel as if I should like to get up. Where is Mr.
+Thompson? I must see him."
+
+"Mr. Thompson, Sir," replied he; "don't you recollect?"
+
+"What?"
+
+"Why, Sir, he was bitten in two by a shark."
+
+"Shark!" this was the key-note required, and my memory returned.
+"Yes, yes, I recollect now all, all. I recollect the panther and the
+cane-brakes. How was I preserved?"
+
+"The bloodhounds killed the panther, and you were brought on board
+insensible, and have been in a raging fever ever since."
+
+"It must be so," replied I, collecting my senses after a few moments
+of thought. "It must be so. How long have I been ill?"
+
+"This is the twenty-first day."
+
+"The twenty-first day!" cried I. "Is it possible? Are none of the men
+ill?"
+
+"No, Sir, they are all well."
+
+"But I hear the water against the bends. Are we not still at anchor?"
+
+"No, Sir, the second mate got the schooner under weigh as he found you
+were so ill."
+
+"And I have been ill twenty-one days. Why we must be near home?"
+
+"We expect to make the land in a few days, Sir," replied Ingram.
+
+"Thank Heaven for all its mercies," said I. "I never expected to see
+old England again. But what a bad smell there is. What can it be?"
+
+"I suppose it is the bilge-water, Sir," replied Ingram. "People who
+are ill and weak always are annoyed by it; but I think, Sir, if you
+would take a little gruel, and then go to sleep again, it would be
+better."
+
+"Well, I fear I am not very strong, and talking so much has done me no
+good. I think I could take a little gruel."
+
+"Then, Sir, I'll go and get some made, and be back very soon."
+
+"Do, Ingram, and tell Mr. Olivarez, the second mate, that I would
+speak to him."
+
+"Yes, I will," replied the man, and he left the state-room.
+
+I waited some time listening for the arrival of the second mate, and
+then I thought that I heard odd noises in the hold before the
+bulk-head of the state-room in which I was lying, but I was still very
+weak, and my head swam. After a time Ingram came down with the gruel,
+into which he put some sugar and a spoonful of rum, to flavour it, as
+he said. He offered it to me, and I drank it all, for I had an
+appetite; but whether it was that I was very weak, or the rum he put
+in was more than he said, it is certain that I had hardly given him
+back the basin than I felt so drowsy that I turned away from him, and
+was soon again in forgetfulness.
+
+This Ingram was a young man who had been apprenticed to an apothecary,
+and had taken to the sea. He was well educated, and a very merry
+fellow, and I had chosen him as one who could attend upon me in the
+cabin, and at the same time be otherwise useful if required, as he was
+a very good seaman, and very active. When I awoke again I felt
+convinced that I must have slept through the night, as it was broad
+daylight, as before, but Ingram was not by my bed-side. There was no
+bell in the state-room, and I was obliged to await his coming. I felt
+much stronger than the day before, and now proposed getting out of bed
+as soon as Ingram should come down into the cabin. I now remembered
+that the second mate had not come down to me, and heard noises and
+murmurings in the hold as I had the day previous, which surprised me,
+and I became more anxious for the return of Ingram. At last he came,
+and I told him that I had been awake more than an hour.
+
+"How do you feel yourself, Sir?" said he.
+
+"Quite strong. I should like to get up and dress. Perhaps I may be
+able to get on deck for a quarter of an hour."
+
+"I think," replied he, "that you had better wait, and hear what I have
+to tell you, Sir. I would not tell you yesterday, because I thought it
+would be too much for you; but as I see you are really better to-day,
+I must say that I have strange things to tell you."
+
+"Indeed!" cried I, with surprise. "Strange things. By the bye, why did
+not Olivarez come to me yesterday?"
+
+"I will explain all to you, Sir, if you will lie down and listen to
+what I have to say, and take the news quietly."
+
+"Very well, Ingram, I will do so. Now pray go on."
+
+"You were brought on board in a state of fever and insensibility by
+the captain of the slaver. He said, as he lifted you over the side,
+that you were a dead man. We all thought the same, and you were taken
+down into the cabin with that persuasion on the part of the whole
+crew. Your delirium and fever increased, and every hour it was
+expected that you would give up the ghost. Now, Sir, two days
+afterwards the slaver sailed with his cargo, and we were left alone in
+the river. Olivarez, who of course commanded, talked to the men. He
+said that you were as good as dead already, and that he thought that
+this was a fair opportunity for their making money. He proposed that
+the ivory still on shore should be changed for slaves, which he said
+the negroes would gladly do, and that we should run with our cargo to
+the Brazils. He said that it was useless our remaining in the river,
+as we should all lose our lives in the same way that you had done, and
+that he thought, as commanding the schooner, he knew what would best
+please the owner, who had long employed vessels in the slave-trade,
+and would not be sorry to find that we had run a cargo, and would
+reward them all liberally. That this would be an excuse to leave the
+river immediately, whereas otherwise they would have to wait till you
+recovered or died, and by that time they might half of them be dead
+themselves. Do you understand me, Sir?"
+
+"Yes, perfectly. Go on, Ingram."
+
+"Well, Sir, the men did not perceive what he was about, and replied
+that so long as they left the river they did not care how soon, and
+that it was better that we should take a cargo of slaves at all
+events, for Olivarez was in command now, and they should do as he
+ordered them. I made no reply, indeed Olivarez never put the question
+to me. Well, Sir, the ivory was soon exchanged for slaves, who are now
+on board, and it is the slaves whom you have smelt and complained of.
+We received on board 140, and provisions sufficient with what we had,
+and having taken in all the water we could below and on deck, we made
+sail out of the river, and have since steered for the Brazils."
+
+"But Olivarez has taken a most unwarrantable responsibility," said I;
+"and one that he shall answer for."
+
+"Stop, Sir," replied Ingram, "you have only heard the first part of
+the story. When we had been three days at sea, Olivarez, who had been
+talking to the men, one by one and apart, called them together, and
+said, it was an opportunity not to be lost, that they had possession
+of the vessel, and the owner would never have a clue to where she had
+gone, and that now was the time to take possession of her for
+themselves, and employ her in the slave-trade on their own account.
+That, sailing so fast, nothing could overhaul her or board her, and,
+therefore, they were free from danger. He then proposed that he should
+command and navigate, and receive one-half of the profits, and that
+the other half should be divided among the crew--the expense of the
+provisions, &c. being paid out of it previous to their sharing and
+making a calculation, he showed them that every voyage would be worth
+about 100_l._ a-man after all expenses were paid. The crew consented
+at once to the terms--all but me; and when he asked me, my answer was,
+that I would consent to nothing while you were yet alive. I said that,
+because I was afraid that they would murder me, or throw me
+overboard."
+
+"Go on, Ingram; go on, and let me hear it all at once."
+
+"'Then you will soon be freed from your difficulty,' said Olivarez.
+
+"'I do not know that, Sir,' I replied, 'for I think Mr. Musgrave may
+get over it.'
+
+"'Indeed,' he returned, 'well, then, so much the worse for him.'
+
+"As he, Olivarez, said this, the whole of the crew, to do them
+justice, cried out, that there should be no murder, for if there was,
+they not only would have nothing to do with the affair, but would make
+it known at the first port to which they came. That you had always
+been a kind, good officer, and were too brave a man to die in that
+way.
+
+"'Well, my men,' said Olivarez, 'I never had an idea of the kind, and
+I promise you, if he lives through it, there shall be no murder; I
+will put him on shore at the first port we arrive at, but in such a
+way as to secure our safety--that we must look to.'
+
+"The men said, that that was all right, and then they all agreed to
+join him.
+
+"'And you, Ingram,' said Olivarez, 'what do you say?'
+
+"'What I said before,' I replied; 'that as long as Mr. Musgrave lives
+I will come to no agreement whatever.'
+
+"'Well,' said Olivarez, 'it is but postponing your decision; I know
+that you will join us. So now, my lads, as we're all agreed, we may as
+well go to dinner.'"
+
+"The scoundrel shall pay for this," cried I.
+
+"Hush, Sir, hush, I pray; say nothing, but wait patiently and see what
+turns up. We are not yet at Rio, and when we are, we may be able to do
+something, but every thing depends upon keeping quiet, for if the men
+become alarmed, they may be persuaded to kill you to save themselves."
+
+"That is very true, Ingram," replied I. "Leave me now for half an
+hour, I wish to be alone."
+
+You may imagine, my dear Madam, my agitation at hearing this
+intelligence. I who had thought that I was within a few days' sail of
+Liverpool, to be there received by my cherished Amy, to find myself in
+the hands of pirates, and close to the Brazils with a cargo of slaves;
+which they, or rather Olivarez, had taken in the vessel to Rio that he
+might not be discovered, for he might have found a better mart for his
+live cargo. And then what would be the anxiety of Amy and her father
+when I was not heard of? It would be supposed that the schooner was
+upset in a squall, and all hands had perished. Excited and angry as I
+was, I felt the truth of what Ingram said, and that it was necessary
+to be quiet. Perhaps I might by that means not only preserve my life,
+but again find myself in my own country. When Ingram returned, I asked
+him if Olivarez knew that I was better, and had recovered my reason.
+He replied that he did, but that he had told him I was so weak that I
+could hardly recover.
+
+"That is well," said I; "keep him in that belief as long as you can."
+
+He now offered me more gruel, which I took, and I believe that he put
+an opiate in it, for shortly after I had taken it, I again felt
+drowsy, and was soon fast asleep. I awoke sooner than before, for it
+was night, and I heard the voice of Olivarez on deck; from what I
+gathered, land was in sight, and I heard him order the schooner to be
+hove to. In the morning Ingram came down in the cabin, bringing me
+some breakfast, which I ate heartily, for I was recovering fast, and
+had become quite ravenous.
+
+"Land is in sight," said I.
+
+"Yes, Sir, it is; but we are many miles to the northward of Rio, I
+understand, for Olivarez knows the coast well. We shall not be in
+to-day, if we are to-morrow."
+
+"I feel quite strong now," replied I, "and I want to get up."
+
+"Do so, Sir," said he; "but if you hear any one coming down the
+ladder, get into bed again."
+
+With Ingram's assistance I dressed myself, and went into the cabin. I
+reeled as I walked, but as soon as I felt the cool breeze from the
+stern-ports, I was revived, and in an hour I could walk quite strong.
+
+"Have you heard any more?" inquired I of Ingram.
+
+"Olivarez asked me this morning how you were. I replied that you were
+recovering fast.
+
+"'Very well,' said he, 'you will share his fate, whatever it may be,
+since you have been so careful of him, and have put us in such a
+dilemma; but I'll contrive to dispose of you both.'
+
+"I made no reply, Sir, as I knew that would only irritate him."
+
+"You did right, Ingram; a few days will decide our fate. I do not
+think that he dares to murder us."
+
+"Nor do I think he wishes it, if he can be clear of us with safety to
+himself," replied Ingram.
+
+Two days more passed away, and then Ingram told me that we were a few
+miles from the town, and should soon be at anchor.
+
+"Go softly," replied I, "and tell me what is going on."
+
+He went up the ladder, but soon came down again, saying, "We are
+locked in, Sir."
+
+I was very much annoyed at this, but it could not be helped--our only
+remedy was patience; but I must confess that I was in a state of
+great anxiety. We heard the anchor let go, and boats came on board,
+after which all was silent for the night. The next morning we heard
+them open the hatches, and the slaves were ordered upon deck. The day
+was passed in landing them. I was ravenously hungry, and asked Ingram
+whether they intended to starve us. He went up the ladder to call for
+victuals, when he found on the upper step of the ladder a large vessel
+full of water and some cooked provisions, which had probably been put
+there during the night. There was enough to last two or three days.
+The next day passed and no one came near us, and I had some thoughts
+of dropping out of the stern-ports and attempting to swim on shore;
+but Ingram, who had put his head out of them as far as he could, told
+me that we must be at some distance from the shore, and there were
+several sharks playing round the stern, as is always the case with
+vessels laden with slaves.
+
+The next morning, however, put an end to our suspense, for the
+companion was unlocked, and Olivarez, accompanied by four Portuguese,
+came down into the cabin. He spoke to them in Portuguese, and they
+advanced, and seizing Ingram and me by the collar, led us up the
+ladder. I would have expostulated, but of course could not make myself
+understood. Olivarez, however, said,
+
+"Resistance is useless, Mr. Musgrave; all you have to do is to go
+quietly with these men. As soon as the schooner has sailed, you will
+be released."
+
+"Well," replied I, "it maybe so, Olivarez; but mark my words, you will
+repent this, and I shall see you on a gibbet."
+
+"I trust the wood is not yet out of the ground," replied he; "but I
+cannot waste any more words with you."
+
+He then spoke to the Portuguese, who appeared to be government
+officers of some kind, and they led us to the gangway; we went into
+the boat, and they pulled us to the shore.
+
+"Where can they be taking us, Ingram?" said I.
+
+"Heaven knows, Sir, but we shall find out."
+
+I attempted to speak to the officers, but they cried "_Silentio_,"
+which word I fully understood to mean "silence," and finding that I
+could not induce them to hear me, I said no more. We landed at a
+jetty, and were then led through the streets to a large square. On one
+side of it was a heavy building, to which they directed their steps.
+The door was opened for us, and we were led in. A paper was produced
+by our conductors, and was apparently copied into a book, after which
+they went away, leaving us with the people who had received us, and
+who, by their appearance, I knew to be gaolers.
+
+"Of what crime am I accused?" inquired I.
+
+No reply was given, but two of the subordinates took us away, unlocked
+a massive door, and thrust us into a large court-yard, full of men of
+every colour.
+
+"Well," said I, as the door closed upon us, "we are in gaol at all
+events; but the question now is, shall we be released as Olivarez had
+stated?"
+
+"It is hard to say," replied Ingram. "The question is, what gaol is
+this? Could we find any one who could speak English, we might
+discover."
+
+Several of those around us had come towards us to examine us, and then
+left us, when, as we were conversing, a negro came up, and hearing
+what we said, addressed us in English.
+
+"Massa want one to speak English--I speak English--some long while on
+board English vessel."
+
+"Well, then, my good fellow," said I, "can you tell us what this gaol
+is, and what prisoners are confined here for?"
+
+"Yes, massa, every body know that, suppose he live at Rio. This gaol
+for people that go dig diamonds."
+
+"How do you mean?"
+
+"Mean! massa--people sent here to work in diamond-mines all life long
+till they die. Keep 'em here till hab plenty to send up all at one
+time. Then guard take them up the country, and they go dig and wash
+for diamond. Suppose you find very big diamond, you go free. Suppose
+not, den you die there."
+
+"Merciful Heavens!" cried I to Ingram, "then we are condemned as
+slaves to the mines."
+
+"Yes," replied Ingram with a sigh. "Well, it's better than working in
+the quicksilver-mines. At all events, we shall have fresh air."
+
+"Fresh air without liberty," cried I, clasping my hands.
+
+"Come, Sir, courage, we do not yet know our fate. Perhaps we may, as
+Olivarez said, be allowed to go free after the schooner sails."
+
+I shook my head, for I was convinced otherwise.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+    The Diamond-Mines, and what occurred there--I lose my
+    friend Ingram, and another acquaintance, but they both
+    leave me valuable Legacies.
+
+
+After remaining in the court about two hours, it being then near to
+nightfall, the gaolers came out into the yard, and we were all driven
+into a large apartment, the walls of which were of such solid
+materials, and the floor of large flag-stones, as to prevent any
+possibility of escape. I was never in such a scene of filth and
+wretchedness. There was not a spot where one could be driven without
+being defiled in some way or another; and so many human beings--one
+half of whom were negroes--being crowded into so small a space, with
+only one barred window, so high up as only to serve as a ventilator,
+created an atmosphere worse than any slave-vessel's hold. I leaned
+with my back against the wall, and, I must say, never was so miserable
+in my life. I thought of Amy, and my sanguine hopes and anticipations
+of happiness, now all wrecked. I thought of Captain Levee and my
+brother Philip careering over the seas, free as the wind. I thought of
+poor Whyna, and the distress she must feel at finding I did not rejoin
+her. I planned a hundred schemes to make known my situation, but every
+scheme, as soon as I weighed it, I found was hopeless. Still weak from
+previous disease, I felt as if I should be suffocated if I remained
+long in this pestiferous abode, and I wept like a child. Daylight came
+at last, and soon afterwards the door was opened; we were admitted
+into the yard, and all hastened to the large tub of water, which was
+soon emptied. The fighting and scrambling to obtain first possession
+was really revolting. An hour afterwards some coarse provisions were
+served out, and then we learnt, to our great delight, that we were
+immediately to set out for the mines. It would be thought that this
+could be no great cause for exaltation; we were about to go to pass
+the rest of our lives in bondage; but all misery is comparative, and
+sooner than have remained another night in that dreadful hole, I would
+have welcomed any change. About an hour afterwards a guard of
+dirty-looking soldiers came in; we were all handcuffed to a long
+chain, at about two feet apart, one on each side, so that we walked in
+pairs, and as soon as the first chain was full--and I was handcuffed
+to it--we were ordered out into the square to wait for the others. My
+superior dress and appearance as an Englishman excited much curiosity;
+people pointed to me and made remarks, but I had no opportunity of
+communicating with any of the authorities, nor would it have been of
+any use if I had had. We remained there more than an hour, as the
+other chains of prisoners came out one by one; we were five chains in
+all, about forty on a chain. We were then ordered to move on, walking
+between a guard of about twenty or thirty soldiers, who marched, on
+each side of us, with their muskets and bayonets fixed, about three
+yards from each other. In another hour we were clear of the town, and
+threading our way through a lane bounded on each side by prickly pears
+and other shrubs. There was no want of merriment among the party; they
+talked and laughed with one another, and the soldiers who guarded
+them, and appeared to care little for their fate. As for me, I was
+broken-hearted with the disgrace and the villainous manner in which I
+had been thus sacrificed. My heart was full of bitterness, and I could
+gladly have lain down and died, had I not been still buoyed up with
+some faint hope that I should have an opportunity of making my
+position known, and obtain my release. I will pass over the journey,
+as one day was but the forerunner of the other. We halted at noon, and
+were supplied with fruit and maize, but we were never unchained, day
+or night. In a short time I was like all the rest--covered with
+vermin, and disgusting to myself. It was, I think, between four and
+five weeks before we arrived at our destination, which was in the
+district of Tejuco, and the locality of the diamond-mines was called
+the Sierra de Espinhaco. This sierra, or mountain, was a ridge of
+inaccessible precipices on each side of a narrow valley, traversed by
+a small river called the Tequetinhonha, and in this valley, and in the
+bed of the river, were the diamonds found, for which we were condemned
+to toil for the remainder of our days. As we entered the ravine, I
+perceived how impossible it would be to escape; even if a person could
+find his way back, after having succeeded in his escape. For many
+miles the road was a narrow path cut on the side of the mountain,
+yawning precipice below and inaccessible rocks above, and this narrow
+way was at every two miles blocked up by a guard-house built upon it,
+and through the portcullis of which it would be necessary to force a
+way. And here we were, thousands of miles away from civilized life, in
+the heart of a country uninhabited except by occasional bands of
+Indians. At last we filed through the last of the guard-houses, and
+found ourselves in a wider part of the ravine, which was crowded with
+buildings of various descriptions. We were led up to the director's
+house, and our names, persons, and descriptions were taken down by a
+clerk. When my turn came, and I was asked in Portuguese who I was, I
+shook my head, and replied "Ingles." An interpreter was called, and I
+then stated my name, and begged the director would hear what I had to
+say. He shook his head, and, after they had taken my description,
+desired me to go away.
+
+"Why did you not explain for me?" said I to the interpreter.
+
+"Because he won't hear what you have to say; if he would, every man on
+the chain would attempt to prove that he was sent here by mistake. You
+may, by-and-by, find an opportunity to speak to him, that is, after
+you have learnt Portuguese, and have been here a year or two; but it
+will do no good."
+
+During the whole of the journey, I had been separated from Ingram, and
+now, for the first time since we left prison, I had an opportunity of
+shaking him by the hand. I need not say how glad I was to meet again
+my companion in misfortune, and our only fear was now, that we should
+be again separated; but such was not the case. There were regular
+lodgings or barracks for the slaves, which were certainly not bad; but
+as all escape was considered impossible, any one who chose to raise a
+little hut for himself out of the bushes which grew on the rocks was
+permitted so to do. The hours of work were regular; we were allotted
+out in gangs, which took up a certain square of the river, or river's
+side; we worked from daylight till near dusk, with only an hour
+allowed for repose in the heat of the day. There was a superintendent
+over each gang of twenty, who watched them and made them work. These
+superintendents were controlled by inspectors, who had the charge of
+four or five gangs, and who brought unto the director the produce of
+the day's toil. The work was simple. The sand and alluvial soil were
+thrown into troughs with small sieve bottoms, out of which escaped all
+the smaller matter, when it was washed with the water from the river.
+The stones and larger particles were then carefully examined, and any
+diamonds found were taken out and delivered to the superintendents,
+who then made them over to the inspectors, when they came round. The
+inspectors carried them to their houses (for they had houses from
+government), and in the evening delivered every diamond found to the
+director. After a short time, I found that the office of
+superintendent, and also of inspector, was open to any of the slaves
+who conducted themselves well; and that the whole of those now
+employed in the offices were slaves for life, as well as ourselves.
+What puzzled me was, how so many people, for in all we amounted to
+seven hundred or more, were to be found in food; but I afterwards
+discovered that the government had farms and herds of cattle at a few
+miles' distance, cultivated by slaves and Indians expressly for the
+purpose. Our rations were scanty, but we were permitted to cultivate
+as well as we could any spot we could find on the arid side of the
+mountain as a garden; and some of them, who had been there for many
+years, had, in course of time, produced a good soil, and reared plenty
+of vegetables. To my surprise, I found at least twenty Englishmen
+among the whole mass of slaves; and one or two of them were
+inspectors, and several of them superintendents--saying much in favour
+of my countrymen. Their conversation and their advice tended much to
+soothe the hardships of my captivity, but I found from them that any
+hopes of ever leaving the mines were useless, and that our bones must
+all be laid by the side of the mountain. Of course, Ingram and I were
+inseparable; we worked in the same gang, and we very soon built a hut
+for ourselves; and Ingram, who was a light-hearted young man, set to
+work to make a garden. He moved heavy stones on the sides of the
+mountain, and scraped up all the mould he could find; sometimes he
+would get his handkerchief full, but not often, but, as he said, every
+little helped. He killed lizards for manure, and with them and leaves
+he made a little dung-heap, which he watered, to assist putrefaction.
+Every thing that would assist, he carefully collected; and by degrees
+he had sufficient for a patch of four or five yards square. This he
+planted; and with the refuse made more manure; and in the course of a
+few months, by incessant activity and assisted by me, he had a very
+tolerable patch of ground covered with this manure and the alluvial
+soil washed out by the diamond-seeking, mixed up together. We then
+obtained seeds, and grew vegetables like the rest, and this proved a
+great increase to our comforts--that is our bodily wants; but my mind
+was far away. Amy Trevannion was never out of my thoughts, and I fell
+into a deep melancholy. I worked hard at my vocation, and was
+fortunate enough to find some good diamonds, long before I had been a
+year at the mines. Having acquired the Portuguese language, I was soon
+after raised to the office of superintendent. I now no longer worked,
+but overlooked others, with a cane in my hand to administer punishment
+to those who neglected their business. I cannot say that I liked the
+change, I was not so miserable when I was employed, but I did my duty
+with diligence. Ingram was in my gang, and another Englishman, an old
+man,--I should think not less than seventy years old. He told me that
+he belonged to a merchant vessel, and in a drunken brawl a Portuguese
+had been killed; he and two others had been condemned to the mines,
+but the others were dead long ago. About a month after my elevation,
+this old man, who was very feeble, and whom I treated with great
+kindness on account of his age--exacting no more than I thought he
+could well perform--fell sick. I reported him as being really ill, and
+Ingram, who was by no means a bad doctor, told me that he would die.
+A few hours before his death he sent for me to his hut, and after
+thanking me for my kindness to him, he said that he knew he was dying,
+and that he wished to leave me all his property (which the slaves are
+permitted to do), that is, he left me his garden, which was the best
+on the Sierra, his hut, which also was a very good one, and then
+putting his hand under the leaves which formed his bed, he pulled out
+a tattered, thumbed book, which he told me was a Bible.
+
+"At first I read," said he, "to pass away time, in this melancholy
+place, but of late I have read it I hope to a better purpose."
+
+I thanked the poor man for his present, and wished him good-bye. A few
+hours afterwards he was dead, and Ingram and I buried him by the side
+of the mountain. Shortly afterwards our inspector died, and, to my
+astonishment, I was put into his place. I could not imagine why I was
+thus so fortunate in being promoted, but I afterwards found out that,
+although I had never but casually seen her, I was indebted for my good
+fortune to a fancy which the director's eldest daughter (for he had
+his family with him) had taken for me.
+
+This was singular, for I had never spoken to her, and what is more
+strange, I never did speak to her, nor did she ever attempt to speak
+to me, so that it was wholly disinterested on her part. I had now
+still less to do, and was in constant communication with the director,
+and one day stated to him how it was that I had been brought there. He
+told me that he believed me, but could not help me, and after that,
+the subject was never again mentioned between us. Having little to do,
+I now took up the Bible given me by the old Englishman, as I had time
+to read it, which I had not before, when I was employed the whole day;
+but now I had a convenient cottage, as I may call it, of my own, and
+plenty of leisure and retirement.
+
+I studied the Bible carefully, and found much comfort in it. Not that
+I was content with my lot--that I never could be while I was separated
+from Amy--but still I found much consolation, and I became, to a
+certain degree, resigned. I thought of my former life with disgust,
+and this second reading of the Bible, for the reader may recollect
+that the first took place when I was first confined in the Tower, was
+certainly of great advantage to me. I had more time to dwell upon
+it--more time for reflection and self-examination--and every day I
+reaped more advantage and became more worthy of the name of Christian.
+I now prayed fervently, and I think my prayers were heard, as you, my
+dear Madam, will also think as I continue my narrative. About three
+months after I had been appointed an inspector, Ingram was taken ill.
+At first he complained of disordered bowels, but in a few days
+inflammation came on, which ended in mortification. He was in great
+agony until the mortification took place, when he obtained comparative
+relief.
+
+"My dear Mr. Musgrave," he said, as I was at his bed-side, "in a few
+hours I shall have escaped from the mines, and be no more in bondage.
+I shall follow the poor old Englishman, who left you his executor. I
+am about to do the same. I shall now make my will verbally, as we have
+no writing-materials here, and leave you all I possess."
+
+"Why are you not more serious, Ingram," I said, "at such a moment as
+this?"
+
+"I am most serious," he replied. "I know that in a few hours I shall
+be no more, and I trust in the mercy of Him who died for kings and for
+slaves; but, Musgrave, I have a secret to tell you. Do you recollect
+the story in the fairy tales of the little white cat whose head was
+obliged to be cut off, and who then turned into the most beautiful
+princess in the world? Well, my secret is something like hers."
+
+I thought, by his continuing in this strain, that his head was
+wandering. I was about to speak to him, when he continued:
+
+"Do you know what has occasioned my death? I will tell you the secret.
+I was washing for diamonds, when I found one of a size which
+astonished me. I knew it was of great value, and I did not choose that
+the King of Portugal should receive such a benefit from my hands. I
+put it into my mouth to secrete it, hardly knowing what I should do
+afterwards, but I was thinking how I should act, when one of the
+superintendents passing (that crabbed old Portuguese belonging to the
+next gang), and seeing me idle and in deep thought, he struck me with
+his cane such a smart rap on the shoulders, that he not only made me
+jump out of my reverie, but the diamond went down my throat. I'm sure
+if I had tried to swallow it I could not have done so, but the shock
+forced it down. Well, this has occasioned my death, for it has
+remained in my stomach and occasioned the stoppage, which has ended in
+inflammation and mortification. I feel it here even now; give me your
+finger, don't you feel it? Well, now you understand why I talked of
+the little white cat. Don't cut off my head, but when I am dead, just
+put your knife down there and take out the diamond and bury it, for I
+tell you--and they say dying men see clearer than others--but that I
+am certain you will be released from these mines, and then the diamond
+will be a fortune to you, and you will find that being my executor was
+of some value to you. Now, pray--no scruple--I entreat it as a last
+favour, promise me that you will do as I wish--pray promise me, or I
+shall die unhappy."
+
+I could not help promising him to execute his wishes, he appeared so
+earnest and asked it as a last favour, but I felt very repugnant at
+the idea. In another hour poor Ingram breathed his last, and I was
+most melancholy at the loss of so worthy a friend, who had by serving
+me been subjected to the same slavery as myself. I left the hut and
+went to my own house, thinking over the strange communication that had
+been made to me. And why, thought I, should I obtain this diamond? I
+have no chance of leaving this; yet, who knows, Ingram prophesied in
+his dying moments that I should--well, at all events, I will keep my
+promise to the poor fellow. I reported his death to the director, and,
+about an hour afterwards, went to the hut where he lay. His
+countenance was placid, and I looked at him for a long while, and
+queried whether he was not happier than I was or ever could be. But,
+to comply with his request--I could not bear the idea. I did not want
+the diamond, and I, who in my early career had thought nothing of
+cutting and maiming the living man, now shuddered at the idea of
+making an incision in a dead body. But there was no time to be lost,
+the burials always took place at sunset, and it was near the hour. I
+bent a piece of bamboo cane double, like a pair of sugar-tongs, and
+then putting my finger to the part of his stomach which he had pointed
+out, I felt that there was a hard substance, and I made an incision
+with my knife--probing with the blade. I touched the diamond, and then
+using the piece of cane as a pair of pincers, I contrived, after one
+or two attempts, to extract it. I threw the diamond without
+examination into a pan of water which stood by the bed, and covering
+up the body, I made a hole in the floor of the hut and buried the
+knife, which I felt I never could use again.
+
+I looked out of the hut and perceived two of the slaves, who performed
+that office, coming towards me to take away the body. I desired them
+to carry it leaving the clothes on, followed them, and saw it
+deposited in the earth; after which I read prayers over the grave and
+could not refrain from shedding many tears to the memory of my
+faithful associate. I then returned to the hut, and taking the pan of
+water in my hand went to my own abode. I could not bear to touch the
+diamond, but I dared not leave it where it was; so I poured all the
+water out of the pan, and then rolled the diamond out on the floor,
+which was of hardened clay. I saw at once that it was one of great
+value, weighing, I should think, thirteen or fourteen _grammes_, and
+of a very pure water. It was in the form of an obtuse octohaedron, and
+on one side was quite smooth and transparent. Having made this
+examination, I picked up some of the clay with a piece of iron, and
+rolling the diamond into the hole, I jammed the clay down over it.
+"There," said I, "you may remain till doomsday, or till some one finds
+you; you will be of no use to me;" and I thought of the cock in the
+fable. My tattered Bible caught my eye, and I said to it, "You are of
+more value than all the diamonds in the world;" and I only uttered
+what I felt.
+
+For a long time I mourned for Ingram, and thought nothing of the
+diamond. Three months more passed away, and I had been eighteen months
+in the mines, when some visitors made their appearance--no less than
+one of the principals of the Jesuit order, who had been sent by the
+king of Portugal out to the Brazils, on a tour of inspection, as it
+was called, but in fact to examine into the state of affairs, and the
+way in which the government revenue was collected. There had lately
+been so much peculation on the part of the various officers, that it
+was considered necessary to make minute inquiry. A Portuguese nobleman
+had been sent out the year before, but had died shortly after his
+arrival, and there was every reason to suppose that he had been
+poisoned, that the inquiry might be got rid of. Now this Jesuit priest
+had been sent out, probably because a Portuguese, who thought little
+of poisoning and stabbing a layman, would not dare to attempt the life
+of so sacred a character. Having full and extraordinary powers, he had
+made a short inquiry into the different departments of government, and
+had now come to the mines to ascertain how far the delivery of the
+diamonds at the treasury agreed with the collection at the mines; for
+these mines had usually produced from a million to a million and a
+half of revenue. The director was in a great fuss when he heard of
+this arrival at the further barrier; although immediately announced to
+him, he had scarcely an hour to prepare before the superior of the
+Jesuits arrived with his suite, consisting of about twenty people, and
+fifty or sixty sumpter mules and riding-horses. We were all called out
+to receive him, that is, all the inspectors. I went to attend the
+parade, and awaited with much indifference; but my feelings were soon
+changed, when in this superior of the Jesuits I beheld the Catholic
+priest who had visited me in the Tower and obtained my release. The
+superior bowed to the director and to all around him, and as he then
+looked at us all, he recognized me immediately.
+
+"You here, my son?" said he.
+
+"Yes, holy father," replied I, "and I thank Heaven that your arrival
+will enable me to prove my innocence."
+
+"Pray how is this?" said he.
+
+In a few words I narrated my story.
+
+"And you were thrown into prison without being permitted to defend
+yourself?"
+
+"Even so, good father, and sent to the mines to slave for life."
+
+"Did you not make known your case to the director of the mines?"
+
+"I did, Sir, but he stated that he pitied me, but could not help me."
+
+"Is this the case, Mr. Director?" said the Jesuit, severely.
+
+"It is, Sir," replied the director; "I have more than once reported
+cases of what appeared to me great hardship, if what those condemned
+have said was true, and have been told that I was too officious, and
+that there could be no reversal of sentence. I can prove to you, Sir,
+by my journals and letter-books how many cases I did formerly attempt
+to bring before the government; but I at last received such replies,
+which I can show you, as will prove that there has been no fault of
+mine."
+
+"Allow me to add, holy father," said I, "that the kindness and
+consideration of the director have been very great to all those under
+his charge, and I think it very fortunate that such a person has been
+appointed to this situation, as he has done every thing that has been
+in his power to alleviate the miseries of bondage."
+
+"I am glad to hear you say so, Mr. Elrington; Mr. Director, this
+gentleman is a dear friend of mine, let him instantly be released. My
+orders are not to be disputed by the viceroy himself."
+
+The superior then embraced me cordially, and told me that I was free,
+and should return with him to Rio. Imagine, my dear Madam, my joy and
+gratitude. I fell on my knees before him, and kissed his hands. He
+gave me his blessing, and raised me up.
+
+"Where is your companion in misfortune?" said he.
+
+"Alas! Sir, he is dead," replied I.
+
+The superior shook his head and turned away, saying, "I will search
+into this affair to the bottom, depend upon it, when I get back to
+Rio."
+
+He then desired the director to bring out his books, and his own
+secretary to follow him, leaving his servants in the court-yard with
+me and the other inspectors. I received the congratulations of all
+parties present, and as soon as possible I escaped from them, and
+returned to my own room, where I knelt and fervently thanked God for
+my unexpected deliverance; and having paid my duty to the Most High, I
+sat down, and fell into a most delightful reverie of anticipations.
+In the evening, after the superior had dismissed him, the director
+sent for me, and said,
+
+"Allow me to return you many thanks for your kindness in speaking so
+favourably of me as you have done. You have, indeed, been of service
+to me, and I am most grateful."
+
+"I only did you justice, director," replied I.
+
+"Yes, but how few have justice done them in this world," replied he.
+"The superior desired me to tell you, that you are to live with the
+gentlemen of his suite. Of course, you know, it is not etiquette for
+him to admit any body to his table. At all events you must allow me
+one pleasure, which is to supply you with clothes proper to your
+appearance, which I can easily do without inconvenience to myself."
+
+The director then led me into his room, and opened a wardrobe full of
+rich suits, selected two of the handsomest, with linen and every other
+article requisite, a handsome sword and hat, all of which he begged me
+to accept. Calling one of his servants, he ordered him to put them
+into a valise, and take them to my apartment.
+
+"Is there any thing else that I can do?--speak freely."
+
+"No, director," replied I, "I will accept these things from you, as I
+cannot procure them here, but when at Rio, I have means to obtain
+every thing that I require. I return you many thanks."
+
+"I will send my servant to arrange your hair," said he; "and I pray
+you to consider him at your disposal during the few days which the
+superior may remain here."
+
+"Do you think it will take him so long?"
+
+"Yes," replied the director, "I will tell you in confidence, that he
+has brought with him the produce of the mines accounted for to the
+government at home, and on his first inspection has found such
+defalcation from that which has been transmitted by me to Rio, that I
+expect there will be serious business. They never imagined at Rio that
+he would have undertaken such a tedious journey as he has done, and
+they are in much alarm about it; but I will leave you now, that you
+may go home and make your toilet. Allow me to congratulate you, with
+all my heart, at the fortunate termination to your unjust bondage."
+
+Having again thanked him for his kindness, I went to my lodging, where
+I found his servant waiting for me; and having had my hair arranged in
+a very tolerable manner, and a little powder thrown in, I put on one
+of the suits, which fitted me pretty well, requiring but a slight
+alteration, from being rather full, which the servant soon managed.
+Thus did I once more appear as a gentleman--contrary to all my
+expectations--and I then went and joined the suite of the superior,
+who, when they perceived the difference which dress made in my
+appearance, congratulated me, and warmly welcomed me to join the meal
+which had just been prepared for them. On the following day, the
+superior sent for me, and ordering me to sit down, requested that I
+would enter into full detail of what had happened to me since we last
+parted. I did so, and my narrative occupied the whole afternoon.
+
+"Your life has been full of vicissitude," replied he; "I trust,
+however, that your adventures are now over, and that you will be
+restored to your friends: the service you performed for our cause will
+never be forgotten."
+
+I ventured to ask him how it was that he was now in the employ of the
+King of Portugal? He replied,
+
+"I am an Irishman by birth, and educated at St. Omers. I was first
+sent to Spain by the order when I was young, and have since been
+employed all over the world in the advancement of our holy church.
+Country with our order is of no consequence. We all serve the holy
+church, and go wherever our services are required. I would you were a
+Catholic, I could advance you beyond all your hopes; but you are
+engaged to be married, and that puts an end to the question."
+
+As I thought the holy father must be tired with our long conference, I
+rose and took my leave.
+
+Three days afterwards I was informed by him that he intended to set
+off on his return to Rio, and now I thought of the diamond, which I
+resolved to carry with me. I had no fear of being searched while under
+this excellent superior's protection, and therefore I went to my
+lodging, dug up the diamond, and having washed it, for the first time
+gave it the examination which it deserved. It certainly was a stone of
+great value, but of what value I could not exactly say. From what I
+had learnt from the director, who usually put his idea of the value
+upon any diamond of size which was brought to him, I considered that
+20,000_l._ was the least which could be put upon the stone. I took the
+precaution not to carry it loose in my pocket, but to sew it within
+the lining of my clothes. Glad I was, indeed, when the orders to start
+the next morning were given out. I found that a horse was appointed
+for me, and having made up my valise, not forgetting my tattered
+Bible, I went to my bed, thanking God that this was to be the last
+night that I was to pass in the accursed Sierra de Espinhaco.
+
+At daylight the superior took his leave, mounted his mule, and we set
+forth, passing the guard-house in the narrow road, which I never
+expected to pass again. Before noon we were clear of the Sierra, and
+once more in the open country. The attendants, with a portion of the
+sumpter mules, went in advance, to prepare for the superior's arrival
+at the spot where we were to halt.
+
+The weather was excessively sultry, and the glare of the sun was very
+distressing. At noon we stopped to take our dinner, and the usual
+siesta after it. The attendants in advance had raised a sort of
+palanquin for the superior, and every thing was ready. The superior
+alighted, and sat down under the palanquin, which protected him from
+the rays of the sun; we all sat round at a respectful distance. The
+heat was so intense, that to relieve himself, the superior had, when
+he sat down, thrown off his long black robe, such as is worn by the
+priests of his order. Dinner was served up, and we had a merry party,
+notwithstanding the great heat. After our meal, we all shaded
+ourselves as well as we could, and took our siesta for about two
+hours, when the superior rose up, and gave the signal for resuming our
+journey. The horses were soon ready, and the superior's mule being
+brought up to the palanquin, he rose up, and one of his attendants was
+lifting up his robe for the superior to resume it, when my eye
+detected the head of a snake just showing itself out of the
+side-pocket of the robe in which he carried his breviary and his
+handkerchief. I knew the snake well, for we often found them in the
+Sierra de Espinhaco, and some two or three of the slaves had lost
+their lives by their bite, which was so fatal, that they died in less
+than five minutes afterwards. The superior had his handkerchief in his
+hand, and would have undoubtedly put it in his pocket before he
+mounted his mule, and if so, would certainly have been bitten, and
+lost his life. As the superior was fastening his robe at the throat, I
+darted forward, seized it, threw it on the ground, and commenced
+stamping upon it with all my force, much to the surprise of the whole
+party. Some of them thought me mad, and others, who were horrified at
+such treatment of the holy garment, called out, "Heretico maldetto!"
+which, Madam, you must know, means, accursed heretic. Having felt the
+snake (which is very short, but very thick in the body, with a head
+like a toad) several times moving under my feet, and then moving no
+more, I then stepped off the garment, and turning it over, I lifted it
+up by the skirt, so that the dead snake rolled out of the pocket.
+
+"I thank the God whom we all worship, and the Son of God, who died for
+us all, whether Catholic or Heretic," cried I, "that I have been the
+means of preserving our holy father."
+
+I had knelt down as I thus prayed, and the superior, perceiving the
+danger that he had been in, did the same, and silently returned his
+thanks; at his example all the rest went down on their knees.
+
+"Yes," said the superior; "would to God that instead of reviling each
+other, all denominations of Christians would join in thus bruising the
+head of the serpent which seeks our spiritual death."
+
+He then rose and said,
+
+"My son, I thank thee for the kind service thou hast performed."
+
+I then explained to the superior the deadly nature of the animal, and
+my fear that he would have put his handkerchief in the pocket of his
+robe before I had time to prevent him, and begged him to excuse my
+seeming abruptness.
+
+"There needs no apology for saving a man's life," replied he,
+smiling.--"Come, let us go forward."
+
+I hardly need say that we were not quite so long in returning to Rio
+as we were in going to the mines. We accomplished our journey, without
+using extreme haste, in about half of the time. On our arrival, we
+took up our quarters at a magnificent palace, which had been
+appropriated to the superior during his residence at Rio, and I found
+myself sumptuously lodged. For some days, during which the superior
+had frequent interviews with the viceroy, I did not see him, but one
+day I was summoned to his pretence.
+
+"My son," said he, "I have lost no time in investigating your affair,
+and I find that all you have said is quite correct. To the disgrace of
+the government here, and the manner in which justice is administered,
+it appears that this man, Olivarez, on his arrival, went to the
+secretary of the judge of that court in which such offences are tried,
+and stated that he had two English mutineers on board, who had
+attempted to take the vessel, and wounded several of his men
+dangerously; that he wished, of course, to deliver them up to justice,
+but that the immediate departure of his vessel would be prevented by
+so doing, as his crew would be required as evidence; that the delay
+would be very disadvantageous; and he inquired whether it could not be
+managed that these men might be punished without the appearance of
+himself and his men, as he would pay a good sum rather than be
+detained. The secretary perfectly understood the trick, and upon the
+receipt of five hundred cruzados, he accepted the deposition of
+Olivarez, sworn to by him, as sufficient evidence, and you were
+consigned to the mines upon this deposition by a warrant from the
+judge. We have had some trouble to obtain all the facts, but the
+question has been severely applied, and has elicited them. Now, first,
+as to the judge and his secretary, they have gone to the gaol, and
+will take your place in the mines for life. Next as to Olivarez. It
+appears that, on his arrival, he sold his cargo of slaves very
+advantageously; that having received the money, he gave a small
+portion to each of his men, and that they went on shore, and, like all
+English seamen, were soon in a state of intoxication; that Olivarez
+took such steps with the police, as to have them all thrown into
+prison when in that state; and, on the following morning, he went to
+them, persuaded them that they had committed themselves during their
+intoxication, and that it required a large sum to free them. This he
+pretended to have paid for them, and having purchased a cargo for his
+voyage, he got them all on board, and again ran for the coast of
+Africa. In three months he returned with another cargo, which he sold.
+He had found out his mother, and now he expended the money he had made
+in purchasing a good property about seven miles from Rio, where he
+placed his mother and some slaves to take care of it, and cultivate
+it. He contrived to defraud his crew as much as he could, and before
+he went to the coast again, he married an amiable young person, the
+daughter of a neighbour. He made a third and a fourth voyage with
+equal success, but on the third voyage he contrived to get rid of a
+portion of his English crew, who were now becoming troublesome, by
+taking some Portuguese sailors out with him, and leaving the English
+on the coast, as if by mistake. Previous to the fourth voyage, it
+appears that he satisfied the remainder of the English crew by
+producing accounts, and sharing out to them several hundred dollars
+previous to their departure for the coast. He made a slight addition
+to his Portuguese sailors, not putting too many on board, to avoid
+suspicion, and when on the coast of Africa, a portion of the English
+crew died; whether by poison or not is not known, and the others he
+put on shore, seizing all their property, and the dollars with which
+he had satisfied them. On his return from his fourth voyage, having
+now nothing to fear from the partners in his atrocious deed, having
+realized a large sum, he determined to remain on shore altogether, and
+live on his property with his mother and wife. He did so, and sent out
+the schooner under a Portuguese captain and crew, to be employed for
+him as owner in the slave traffic, and she has made two voyages since,
+and is expected back again every day. Now, my son, retribution has
+fallen heavily upon this bad man. Had he been discovered and punished
+when he first did the deed, it would have been as nothing compared to
+what it has been now; he then had no property--no ties--in fact,
+nothing or little to regret; but now, with a wife and child, with a
+valuable property, living in independence, and increasing that wealth
+daily--now, when he is at the very summit of his ambition, restored to
+his own country, respected and considered as being a man of wealth, he
+has been seized, thrown into a dungeon, put to the question, and now
+lies in a state of misery, awaiting the sentence of death which has
+been pronounced against him. Neither has he the consolation of knowing
+that he leaves those whom he loves in a state of affluence, for all
+his property, having been gained by making use of your property,
+necessarily is your property, and not his, and it has been confiscated
+accordingly for your use and benefit. As soon as every thing is
+collected, it will be paid into your hands. Thus, my son, I have at
+last attained justice for you."
+
+I was, as you may imagine, my dear Madam, profuse in my
+acknowledgments, but he stopped me, saying,
+
+"I was sent here to see that justice was done to every body, if I
+possibly could--no easy task, when all are amassing money, not caring
+how they obtain it; but, surely, if any one has peculiar claims upon
+me, it is you."
+
+The superior then asked me many questions relative to my parentage,
+and I did not conceal any thing from him. I told who I was, and why,
+at an early age, I had left my father's house. He asked me many
+questions, and, after about two hours' conversation, he dismissed me,
+saying,
+
+"You may always depend upon my protection and gratitude."
+
+Before he dismissed me, he told me that he was about to send a
+despatch-boat to Lisbon, and as I might wish to inform my friends of
+my safety, if I would write letters, he would insure their being
+safely delivered to my friends in England. I gladly availed myself of
+this offer, and indeed would have begged a passage for myself, if it
+had not been that I considered Olivarez's money to be the property of
+Mr. Trevannion, and was determined to remit it to him before I left
+Rio. This detained me about six weeks longer, during which interval
+Olivarez had suffered the penalty due to his crimes, having been
+strangled in the market-place.
+
+The money received was 28,000 cruzados, and not knowing how to dispose
+of it, I applied to the superior, who gave me orders for it in
+duplicates upon the treasury at Lisbon, one of which I had very soon
+an opportunity of sending home to Mr. Trevannion, with a duplicate of
+my first letter, and a second to him and Amy, stating my intention of
+returning as soon as possible. But this was by a Portuguese frigate,
+which made a very circuitous route home, and I did not choose to go by
+that conveyance, as her detention at the different ports was so
+uncertain. At last I became very impatient for my departure, and
+anxiously awaited the sailing of some vessel to any port of Europe.
+
+I had reserved 1,000 cruzados for my own expenses, which I considered
+as quite sufficient, but they were gradually wasting away, for I was
+everywhere received, and in the best company of Rio. At last one day
+the superior sent for me, and told me that he was about to send an
+advice-boat to Lisbon, and I might take a passage if I wished; that it
+was a very small one, but a very fast sailer. I thanked him heartily,
+accepted the proposal, and went to my room to pack up my clothes. In
+the afternoon the captain of the xebeque called upon me, and told me
+that he would start on the following morning if I would be ready. I
+replied that I should be, put some dollars into his hands, requesting
+that he would procure for me any thing that he considered would be
+necessary and agreeable, and if the sum I had given him was not
+enough, I would repay him the remainder as soon as we were out of
+harbour. I took my leave of the superior, who parted with me with many
+protestations of regard on his side, and tears of gratitude on mine,
+and early the next morning I was on board of the xebeque. In light
+winds she was extremely fast, but she certainly was too small to cross
+the Atlantic Ocean; nevertheless, as the captain said, she had crossed
+it several times, and he hoped that she often would again.
+
+The passage, however, that he usually made, was to run up to the
+northward of the Antilles, and then cross over, making the Bahama
+Isles, and from thence taking a fresh departure for Lisbon. Our crew
+consisted of only eight men, besides the captain; but as the vessel
+was not more than thirty tons, they were sufficient. We made a good
+run, until we were in about twenty-four degrees of north latitude,
+when, as we stretched to the eastward to cross the Atlantic, we met
+with a most violent gale, which lasted several days, and I fully
+expected every hour that the vessel would go down, buried as she was
+by the heavy sea. At last we had no chance but to scud before the
+wind, which we did for two days before a raging and following sea,
+that appeared determined upon our destruction. On the second night, as
+I was on deck, watching the breaking and tossing of the billows, and
+the swift career of the little bark, which enabled her to avoid them,
+the water suddenly appeared of one white foam, and as we rose upon the
+next sea, we were hurled along on its crest, reeling on the foam until
+it had passed us, and then we struck heavily upon a rock. Fortunately,
+it was a soft coral rock, or we had all perished. The next wave lifted
+us up again, and threw us further on, and, on its receding, the little
+xebeque laid high and dry, and careened over on her bilge.
+
+The waters rose and fell, and roared and foamed about us, but they
+lifted us no more, neither did they wash us off the decks as we clung
+to the rigging; for the stout short mast, upon which the lateen sail
+was hoisted, had not been carried away. We remained where we were till
+morning, every one holding on, and not communicating with each other.
+As the night wore away, so did the gale decrease and the sea subside.
+The waters now gradually left us; at intervals, when the waves
+receded, we could walk on shore; but we remained on the vessel till
+noon, by which time we found our vessel high and dry, having been
+carried over a coral reef, which appeared to extend one or two miles
+into the offing.
+
+The men, who had been much buffeted by the waves, and who were
+exhausted by clinging so long to the rigging, now that they found
+themselves safe, and were warmed by the heat of the sun, rallied, and
+began to move about. We had a long consultation as to how we should
+act. There was no chance of getting the vessel off again, and we did
+not exactly know where we were; but the captain and I agreed that it
+must be upon one of the small islands of the Bahama group that we had
+been cast away, and our conjecture was right. After some consultation,
+the captain and I called the men together, and told them that it was
+very probable that we might be some time before we could find the
+means of getting off the island, and that, therefore, we must all do
+our best; that we would land and erect a tent with the sails, and
+obtain provisions; after that we would consider the vessel and her
+stores as public property, but that every man's private property
+should be secured to him as if we were still on board of the xebeque;
+that the captain should retain the command as before, and his orders
+should be obeyed by every body, as long as they were reasonable and
+just.
+
+The men, who were well-behaved, quiet fellows--and not, like English
+seamen, given to liquor--readily agreed, and it was arranged that the
+following morning we should commence our labours. This was a sad blow
+to me, who was anticipating a speedy meeting with Amy. I knew how
+doubtful was the chance of our being seen by any vessel, and that I
+must remain here for months, if not longer--but I had been schooled,
+and could now say with fervency, "Thy will, oh Lord, and not mine, be
+done."
+
+We remained on board of the vessel that night, and the next morning
+the gale had ceased, and the waters, to our astonishment, had receded,
+so as to leave us at least sixty yards from the sea, which was now
+almost calm. We first took a survey of the island, to ascertain if
+there was any water, and, as the island was not more than two miles in
+circumference, this did not take us long. Fortunately, in the centre
+we found a deep hole sunk in the soft coral rock by some other people
+who had been wrecked here, and in the hole the water was, although a
+little brackish, somewhat palatable. It evidently was the sea-water
+filtered through the soft rock.
+
+The whole of the island was surrounded with coral reefs, with lanes of
+deep water running between them, and the fish were sporting in
+thousands after the storm, but there was not a tree or vestige of
+vegetation upon the whole island. We soon, however, discovered that
+it was frequented by turtle, for we found some eggs, fresh-buried, in
+the sand. Having made this survey, we then went back to the vessel,
+and with spars and sails rigged a tent upon the highest point of the
+island, which might be ten or fifteen feet above the level of the sea.
+The tent was large enough to hold fifty men, if required, so we
+brought our bedding and chests and all our cooking apparatus on shore,
+made a fire-place outside the tent with the little cabouse we had on
+board of the vessel, sent a man to obtain water from the hole, and put
+on some meat to boil for our dinners. In the evening we all went out
+to turn turtle, and succeeded in turning three, when we decided that
+we would not capture any more until we had made a turtle-pond to put
+them in, for we had not more than two months' provisions on board of
+the vessel, and did not know how long we might be detained. The men
+behaved very well, and indeed seemed determined to make themselves as
+comfortable as they could under existing circumstances. The next day
+we put out some lines in deep water, and caught several large fish,
+and then we went to find a proper spot for a turtle-pond. We selected
+a hole in the reef which we thought would answer, as we had only one
+end of it to fill up, and we commenced breaking away the rock with
+crowbars, and worked hard the whole of the day, some breaking and
+others carrying the masses broken off. By degrees they rose to the
+surface of the water, and in two days more we calculated that the pond
+would be ready to receive the turtle. We had killed one turtle in the
+morning, and we now lived upon it altogether, as we wished to save our
+salt provisions. The captain and I had many consultations as to what
+we should do, and what attempts we should make to get off from this
+spot. Build a boat we could not, as we had not a carpenter among us,
+or the means of making the iron-work necessary. We had some tools,
+such as are usually used on board of vessels, and several pounds of
+large nails, but none fit for boat-building. I proposed that we should
+examine the bottom of the xebeque, and see what damage was done to it.
+We did so, and found that the garboard streak was broken and two of
+her timbers, but they were easy to repair; in every other respect she
+was sound. I then proposed that we should cut down the xebeque to a
+large boat, which we could easily do by ripping off her planks and
+decks, and sawing down her timbers to the height we required. It would
+be a heavy boat, it was true, but we should be able to launch her with
+rollers, and the draught of water would be so small that we could get
+her over the reefs, which we could not possibly do the xebeque. The
+captain approved of the idea, and we agreed that as soon as the
+turtle-pond was finished we would make the attempt. In two days more
+we had finished the pond, and had turned thirty turtle, which we put
+into it. The men, now that they found that they had plenty to eat,
+began to show signs of laziness, and did not very readily commence the
+work upon the xebeque. They ate and slept, ate and slept again, on the
+mattresses spread in the tent. At times they would fish, but it was
+with difficulty that the captain and I could persuade them to work,
+and if they did work half an hour, they then threw down their axes and
+crowbars, and went back to the tent. They had plenty of tobacco, and
+they smoked half the day, ate turtle, and then slept again.
+Nevertheless, as the captain and I worked hard, the work progressed;
+in about ten days after we began the work, we had ripped off her decks
+and her side-planks as low as we thought right, and we were now sawing
+through the timbers, when the quiet of our party was disturbed by what
+may be considered a very strange quarrel. One of the men asserted in
+conversation that St. Antony was born in Padua; one or two of the
+other seamen denied it, and this difference of opinion, which at first
+was a mere nothing, from sullenness, I presume, and something being
+required to excite them, in the course of a day or two ended in a
+serious feud; the Paduans terming the anti-Paduans heretics and Jews.
+The epithet of Jew was what irritated so much, and the parties being
+exactly even, four on each side, on the third day, after an angry
+altercation, they all rushed out of the tent to decide the affair with
+their knives. The conflict was very fierce, and took place when the
+captain and I were at the xebeque, and before we could separate them,
+four of them had fallen; two were killed, and the other two badly
+wounded. It may appear ridiculous that people should take each other's
+lives for such a trifle; but, after all, nations declare war against
+each other, and thousands are killed on both sides for causes almost
+as slight. With great difficulty we separated the remaining
+combatants, and such was their rage and excitement, that every now and
+then they would attempt to break from us and attack each other again;
+but at last we disarmed them.
+
+This was a sad business; and it was melancholy to think that
+companions in misfortune should take each other's lives, instead of
+feeling grateful to the Almighty for their preservation.
+
+We buried the two men who had fallen, and dressed the wounds of the
+hurt; but after this quarrel the four others came to their work, and
+continued steady at it. We had now removed the upper portion of the
+xebeque, and commenced fixing beams and carlines on the lower part, so
+as to make a decked boat of it, and in another week we had decked her
+over. But we had a great deal more to do: we had to reduce the mast
+and yard to a proper size, to alter the sail and rigging, to make a
+small rudder, and rollers to launch her upon. All this, with our
+reduced force, occupied us another month; for the two wounded men,
+although recovering, could but just crawl about. We turned many more
+turtle at night, that we might have a sufficient supply. We now looked
+out for a channel of deep water through the reef, to get our boat out,
+and made one out to a certain extent, but could not survey further
+without getting off the reef, and the sharks were so numerous that we
+dared not venture. However, we took it for granted, as we had found
+deep water in shore, that we should be sure to do so in the offing;
+and we now got our boat upon the rollers which we had made, by digging
+away the sand from beneath her, and a trench to the water's edge. We
+had been two months on the island when all was ready for launching.
+
+Anxious as I was to return to England, I cannot say that I was unhappy
+when on this island: there was always a fine sea-breeze, which cooled
+the air, and enabled us to work without exhaustion. With the exception
+of the unfortunate quarrel I have referred to, every thing went on
+quietly. After work was over, I resorted as usual to my Bible, and
+read for hours; and this calmed and allayed any impatient feelings
+which might at times arise. I felt that I had great cause to be
+grateful to the Almighty for preserving me as he had done, and that it
+would be folly and wickedness on my part to repine because I could not
+obtain all that I wished. I waited, therefore, for His own good time,
+without murmuring, and in full confidence that all was for the best.
+
+At last we contrived to get our boat into the water, and she floated
+much lighter than we thought she would have done, considering the
+weight of wood that was in her. As soon as she was anchored about ten
+feet from the beach, we made a gangway to her with planks, and
+commenced getting all our salt provisions, water, and stores, which we
+had selected as most necessary, on board of her. The stowage of these
+occupied us two days; we then got the yard up and bent the sail, and
+having fitted oars, we determined that the next day we would embark.
+As she still swam light, we got on board of her as many turtle as we
+could conveniently carry, and then, for the last time, went onshore to
+sleep.
+
+As there was no room for our chests, it was agreed that we each should
+have a bundle on board, selecting those things which we most required
+and most valued. This proposal, which was made by the captain, put me
+in mind of the diamond, which had scarcely once entered my thoughts
+since I had been on the island. When I took it out of my chest, I
+thought that I might as well make it more convenient to carry, as
+there was no saying what might be the result of our new expedition;
+so, when the other men were all busy about their own effects, or
+asleep, I first took the precaution to roll it up in a covering of
+pitch, so that, if taken from me or lost, it might not be known to be
+a diamond, and then I sewed it up in a piece of leather, which I cut
+from an old glove, putting a strong leather lanyard to it, so that I
+might wear it round my neck. Having done this without any one taking
+notice, and having nothing else to do, I took some fine twine, and
+worked it over, like the mousing of a stay, in a way peculiar to
+sailors, so that, when finished, it was very much in the shape of a
+miniature buoy to an anchor, and reminded me of a _fend-off_, or
+fender, such as they use to prevent any injury to the sides of a
+vessel when coming in contact with another. Having finished my work,
+I put the leather lanyard round my neck, inside of my shirt, so that
+my diamond was concealed from sight; I then put up my remaining
+pieces-of-eight--which were nearly 500, the best of my clothes (for
+during my stay at Rio I had very much increased my stock), and I
+hardly need say that the old Bible was not left behind.
+
+It was a beautiful, calm morning when we embarked, and, lifting the
+anchor, took to our oars, and pulled out through the deep channel, the
+captain standing at the bow and conning us through, while I took the
+helm. The boat pulled well and steered well; we had yet to see what
+she could do under canvas. After a pull of two hours we were clear of
+the reef, and out in the open sea. We then laid in the oars, and
+commenced our preparations for hoisting the sail to a breeze, which
+then blew from the southward. When all was ready, the men hoisted the
+sail, but in so doing, a rope being foul, as I was attempting to clear
+it, I was tripped up, and fell with my right knee on a spike, which
+entered deep, putting me to excruciating pain, and laming me
+completely. I was obliged to sit down abaft, for I nearly fainted
+away. In the mean time the sail was set, and the boat stood well up to
+it. She proved to be very stiff under canvas, which was a source of
+great congratulation. My knee became so painful and stiff that I could
+not move it; I took one of my shirts out of my bundle, tore it up into
+bandages, and put them on. We had resolved to attempt to make New
+Providence, the largest of the Bahama group, where we knew that there
+was a town called Nassau, and from whence we hoped to obtain some
+conveyance to Europe; but we knew nothing of the port, or the
+inhabitants, or what trade was carried on with them.
+
+For several hours our little bark went gaily over the water, but
+towards nightfall the wind shifted, and the weather looked
+threatening. We hardly knew how to steer, as we did not know the
+position of the island which we had left, and now the wind heading us,
+we hauled up on the larboard tack, with our head to the northward and
+eastward. As the sun went down, the wind increased, and the sea ran
+fast. Our boat behaved well, till it began to blow very hard, and
+then it took in so much water, that we were forced to bale.
+
+We had reefed our sail, and made every thing as snug as we could, but
+the sea rising fast, and the boat taking in more water, we considered
+it prudent to lighten her, which we did by throwing overboard all the
+turtle. This we did without regret, as we were tired of eating them
+for so long a while. The day broke, and there appeared every sign of
+bad weather, and the waves now tossed and foamed too much for such a
+small craft as we were in. About noon we saw a vessel on a wind to
+leeward of us, which was a source of great delight to us all, and we
+bore down to her. We soon made her out to be an hermaphrodite brig,
+under her close-reefed topsails and trysails. We ran under her counter
+and hailed. We perceived several men standing abaft, and apparently
+they suspected us for a rover, for they had muskets and other weapons
+in their hands. We told them that we had been shipwrecked, and the
+boat was sinking in the gale, and then we rounded to under her lee.
+
+There we remained for four or five hours, during which the wind and
+the sea went down very fast, and the boat no longer took in water; but
+we had been all too much alarmed with the danger in which we had been,
+to like to continue our voyage in her, and as we thought that we could
+now go alongside with safety, we hailed again, and asked permission.
+After some parleying, they threw us a rope, which we made fast to the
+boat, and lowered our sail, keeping off on a broad sheer, as there
+still was a great deal of sea. They then entered into conversation
+with us. I told them all that had happened, and inquired where the
+brig was bound to.
+
+They replied, to James Town, Virginia. I asked them if they could give
+us a passage there, as we were afraid to proceed in our boat; or if
+not, would they see us safe into New Providence.
+
+The captain then came forward. He was a very dark man, dark as a
+mulatto, with keen small eyes, and a hooked nose. I never beheld a
+more deformed and repulsive countenance.
+
+He said, that he could not go to New Providence, as it was out of his
+way, and that we might easily get there ourselves if we thought
+proper.
+
+I replied, that the boat was not sufficiently large and seaworthy, and
+that we had already nearly gone down, and if another gale should come
+on, we certainly should founder, and again requested that he would
+take us on board.
+
+"Have you any money to pay for your passage?" inquired he.
+
+"Why," said I, "common charity and the feelings of a seaman towards
+sailors in distress should be sufficient to induce you to take us on
+board, and not leave us to perish; but if you require money," I
+replied, "we have more than sufficient to satisfy you."
+
+"How much?" screamed out a lad of about fourteen, who was the very
+image of the captain in miniature.
+
+I did not reply to this question, and the captain then said, "What do
+you propose to do with the boat?"
+
+"Let her go adrift, to be sure," replied I.
+
+"What have you got on board of her?" said he.
+
+I enumerated, as well as I could recollect, the provisions and stores
+that we had.
+
+"Well," replied he, "I will wait till it is a little smoother, and
+then we will clear the boat and take you on board."
+
+He then left the gangway, where he had been standing, and we continued
+to be towed by the brig.
+
+"I do not like that fellow," said I to the Portuguese captain; "he
+appears, or pretends, to take us for pirates, but he is more like a
+pirate himself."
+
+"He looks like the devil himself," replied the captain, "and to ask
+people in our condition to pay for their passage! He is a monster!
+However, we all have a few doubloons, thank Heaven."
+
+About an hour afterwards, it being much more moderate, the captain of
+the brig told us to sheer alongside, and that four of us might come
+out and the others remain in the boat till she was cleared.
+
+"I think you had better go," said I to the captain, "for with so much
+motion I never shall be able to get up the side with my bad knee."
+
+We then sheered the boat alongside, and the captain and three of our
+men got on board, but not without difficulty. I saw them go aft and
+down below with the captain of the brig, but I never saw them on deck
+again, much to my surprise, although we were more than half an hour
+before they again hailed us, and told us to come alongside again.
+During this half-hour my mind misgave me sadly that all was not right,
+from not seeing the Portuguese captain, or either of the three men,
+and I took it into my head that the vessel was a pirate; and I knew if
+such was the case, we should instantly be rifled, if not murdered. I
+took the precaution of taking off the bandage from my knee, and having
+removed the diamond from my neck, I put it under my ham in the cavity,
+which held it with ease, and then put the bandage on again over it, as
+I thought they would hardly take a bandage off a bad knee to see if
+there was any thing concealed beneath it. It was with difficulty that
+I contrived to get on board the brig, and as soon as I had gained the
+deck, I was ordered to go down into the cabin; as I went aft, I looked
+round for the Portuguese captain and the men, but could not see them.
+I contrived, with difficulty, to get down into the cabin, and as soon
+as I was there I was seized by the arms and held fast by two of the
+men, while others bound me with seizings.
+
+As the captain was looking on, I inquired into the cause of this
+outrage. He replied, that we were a parcel of rascally pirates, who
+would have taken his vessel if he had not been too deep for us; I told
+him it was false, and that I could easily prove it, as we still had
+the despatches on board with which we had been charged, and that I
+could show full proof that I was the same person that I stated myself
+to be; that I very much feared that we had fallen into the hands of
+pirates ourselves, but that I would have justice done as soon as we
+arrived at James Town, without he intended to murder us all before we
+arrived. His answer was, that he was too old a bird to be caught with
+such chaff, and that he would secure us and deliver us up to the
+authorities as soon as he arrived. I replied, in great anger, that he
+would then be convinced of his error, if it was an error, on his part;
+that his conduct was infamous, and he looked like a scoundrel, and I
+believed him to be one.
+
+"You call me a scoundrel, do you," said he, levelling a pistol at my
+head.
+
+"You call us scoundrels, do you," cried the boy I have made mention
+of, and who was evidently the son of the captain, taking up another
+pistol in his hand. "Shall I shoot him, father?"
+
+"No, Peleg; not yet; we will pay them all when we get in. Take him
+away, and put him in irons with the rest," said the captain; and I was
+immediately dragged forward between decks through a door in the
+bulk-heads, where I found the Portuguese captain and three seamen
+already in irons.
+
+"This is pretty treatment," said he to me.
+
+"Yes, it is, indeed," replied I; "but I will make him smart for it
+when we arrive."
+
+"Shall we ever arrive?" said the Portuguese captain, looking at me and
+compressing his lips.
+
+"I say, my man," said I to the seaman who stood over us with a pistol
+and a cutlass, "who are you; and what are you? Tell us the truth: are
+you pirates?"
+
+"I never was yet," replied he, "nor do I mean to be; but our skipper
+says that you are, and that he knew you as soon as you came alongside.
+That's all I can say about it."
+
+"Why, if we are pirates, as he says, and he recognizes us, he must
+have been in pirates' company, that is clear."
+
+"Well; he may have been, for all I know," replied the man. "I don't
+consider him any very great things; but he is our captain, and we must
+obey orders."
+
+The man now brought forward the other three men who had been left in
+the boat. They told us that the boat had been cleared; all the
+provisions, stores, sails, &c. had been taken out of her;--a proof
+that she had been gutted and then cut adrift;--that all our bundles
+were down in the captain's cabin, and that the ill-looking urchin, his
+son, had overhauled them, one after another, and handed to his father
+all the money that he had found; that they had been searched very
+carefully; and that they had heard the captain say that we were all to
+be sent up, one by one, and searched in the same manner;--and so it
+proved. I was first taken aft to have my pockets rummaged by the
+little villain, and as soon as I had been led forward and again put
+into irons, the Portuguese captain and three other seamen were sent
+for and treated in the same way. We inquired of the men what money
+they had in their bundles and about their persons. They had each man
+four doubloons at Rio for wages, and the captain had about forty
+doubloons. I had five hundred pieces-of-eight: so that, altogether, we
+had been robbed to the tune of about four hundred pounds sterling,
+independent of our clothes, which were of some value to us; that is,
+mine were, at all events.
+
+The seamen who guarded us, and who relieved each other every watch,
+were not at all surly or ill-natured. I asked one of them during the
+night watch whether he thought the captain would take our lives.
+
+"No;" said he, "we will not allow that. You may be pirates, as he
+says, although we do not think you are; but if pirates, you shall have
+fair play; that we have all made up our minds to. No hanging first,
+and trying afterwards."
+
+I had a long conversation with this man, who appeared very much
+inclined to be sociable. He told me that the vessel was named the
+_Transcendant_; that she sailed from Virginia to the West Indies, and
+that sometimes she went to England; that the captain of her was also
+the owner, but where he came from, or what he was, they did not know,
+except that he was a Virginian,--they believed so, for that he had a
+tobacco estate there, which was carried on by his eldest son. He
+called the captain a stingy, miserly fellow, who would sacrifice any
+man's life to save a shilling, and that there were odd stories about
+him at James Town.
+
+I was well satisfied with my conversation with this man, as it assured
+me that our lives would not be taken, and I had no fear of the result
+upon my arrival at James Town, for, as I have mentioned before, Mr.
+Trevannion had vessels which sailed to that port, and I well
+recollected the names of the parties to whom the vessel and cargo were
+consigned.
+
+On the following day the captain of the brig, followed by his
+ill-favoured son, came forward and looked at us as we sat in irons,
+upon which I addressed him,
+
+"You have put me in irons, Sir, when I threw myself upon your
+protection. You have robbed us of our money to the amount of nearly
+400_l._, and you detain our other property. I now again desire that I
+may be released. I offered to convince you that I was a person of
+property, but you refused to listen to me. Now, Sir, I will tell you
+that I am a partner in the house of Trevannion, at Liverpool, and that
+we have vessels that trade between James Town and that port. Our
+vessels are consigned to Messrs. Fairbrother and Wilcocks, of James
+Town, and on my arrival I will soon prove that to you; and also not
+only make you surrender the property you have robbed us of, but I will
+make you smart pretty handsomely for your treatment of us, that you
+may depend upon."
+
+"Fairbrother and Wilcocks," muttered he; "confound the fellow. Oh,"
+said he, turning to me, "you got the name of that firm from some ship
+you have plundered and sunk, I suppose. No, no, that won't do, old
+birds are not to be caught with chaff."
+
+"I believe you to have been a pirate yourself, if you are not one
+now," replied I; "at all events you are a thief and a paltry
+villain--but our time will come."
+
+"Yes, it will," said the captain of the xebeque, "and remember, you
+scoundrel, if you can escape and buy off justice, you shall not escape
+seven Portuguese knives, mind you that."
+
+"No, no," cried the Portuguese sailors; "stop till we are on shore,
+and then come on shore if you dare."
+
+"I say, father," said young Hopeful, "this looks like mischief; better
+hang them, I reckon, than to be stuck like pigs. They look as if
+they'd do it, don't they?"
+
+I shall never forget the diabolical expression of the captain of the
+brig after the Portuguese sailors had done speaking. He had a pistol
+at his belt, which he drew out.
+
+"That's right, shoot 'em, father; dead men tell no tales, as you have
+always said."
+
+"No, no," said the seaman who was on guard, motioning them back with
+his cutlass, "there will be no shooting nor hanging either; we are all
+sworn to that. If so be they be pirates, there's the law of the
+country to condemn them; and if they be not pirates, why then that's
+another story."
+
+The captain looked at the seaman as if he could have shot him if he
+dared. Then turned round hastily and went back to the cabin, followed
+by his worthy offspring.
+
+For seven days we remained in irons, when we heard land announced by
+the sailors on deck, and the brig's head was put towards it. At night
+she was hove to, and the next morning again stood in, and we perceived
+that we were in smooth water. Towards night the anchor was let go, and
+we asked the guard if we had arrived at James Town.
+
+He replied, "No, but we were in a river on the coast, but he did not
+know what river it was nor did any of the crew, nor could they tell
+why the captain had anchored there. But they had seen several canoes
+with Indians cross the river, but that there appeared to be no white
+settlement that they could discover." The mystery was, however,
+cleared up on the following morning. A small boat, which could barely
+hold eight people, was lowered from the stern, and hauled up
+alongside. We were taken up, one by one, the scoundrel of a captain
+having first stripped each of us to our trowsers, not even allowing us
+a shirt. We were ordered to get into the boat. As soon as we were all
+in, and our weight brought the boat down to her gunnel, two oars were
+handed to us, and then the captain of the brig said,
+
+"Now, you rascally pirates, I might have hanged you all, and I would
+have done so, for I know you well. I recollect your faces when you
+plundered the 'Eliza,' when I was off Porto Rico; but if I put you in
+prison at James Town, I shall have to wait two or three months until
+the court sits, and I cannot be detained for such scoundrels as you;
+so now you may pull on shore, and get on how you can. Shove off,
+directly, or I'll put a bullet through your brains."
+
+"Hold fast," cried I, "and let him fire if he dares. You men belonging
+to the _Transcendant_, I call you to witness this treatment. Your
+captain has robbed us of a large sum of money, and now turns us
+adrift, so as to compel us to land among savages, who may kill us
+immediately. I appeal to you, will you permit this cruelty and
+injustice? If you are English, I conceive you will not."
+
+There was some talk and expostulation with the captain of the brig, in
+consequence of what I said; but while it was going on, the captain's
+son leaned over the side, and, with his knife, cut the painter, or
+rope which held the boat, and as the tide was running on very strong,
+in less than half a minute we were a long way astern of the brig, and
+drifting fast up the river.
+
+We got out our oars, and attempted to pull for the brig, for we knew
+that the seamen were taking our parts; but it was in vain; the tide
+ran several miles an hour, and in another minute or two, with all our
+exertions, we were nearly a quarter of a mile astern of her, and the
+boat was so loaded that we hardly dared move lest we should upset it.
+We had, therefore, no option but to go on shore and take our chance;
+but when the men were pulling round for the shore, on reflection I
+thought that we had better not land so soon, as the sailors had told
+us that they had seen the Indians in their canoes. I therefore
+recommended that we should allow the boat to drift up the river with
+the tide, and then drift down again when the tide turned, remaining in
+the middle of the stream till it was dark, when we would land and make
+our way into the woods. My advice was followed; we sat still in the
+boat, just keeping her head to the stream with the oars, and, being
+without our shirts, the sun scorching and blistering our backs, till
+past noon, during which time we must have drifted nearly twenty miles
+up the river, which was as broad as the arm of a sea at the entrance;
+then the tide turned, and we drifted back again till it was dusk, when
+it was again slack water. All this while we kept a sharp look-out to
+see if we could perceive any Indians, but not one was to be seen. I
+now proposed that we should take our oars and pull out of the river,
+as if we had only gone up on a survey, for the brig had got under
+weigh, and had anchored, for want of wind, about four miles off, and
+the Indians, if there were any, would suppose that we were returning
+to the ship. We did so, and pulled till it was dark, and were within
+two miles of the brig, where the flood-tide again made strong, when we
+turned the boat's head up the river, and pulled with the oars to get
+up as far as we could before we landed. This we did, suffering much
+from hunger and thirst, as well as being confined so long in one
+position. As my knee was quite well, I now took off the bandage, and
+hung my diamond round my neck as before. I could not help feeling a
+satisfaction, when I thought that the thief of a captain little
+imagined what a mine of wealth he was losing when he turned me adrift.
+It was about midnight when the tide ceased to flow, and we then agreed
+to land, and the question then was, whether we should separate or keep
+together. After some discussion, we agreed to separate in twos, and
+the Portuguese captain and I agreed to keep each other company. We
+first pushed the boat into the stream, that she might drift away, and
+then, shaking each other by the hand and bidding adieu, we all started
+in different directions. For some time the captain and I threaded the
+woods in silence, when we were stopped by a stream of deep water, with
+such high banks, that in the dark we did not know how to cross it. We
+walked by the side of it for some time to discover a passage, and in
+so doing, we at last found ourselves again on the banks of the river,
+and our boat lying close to us, having grounded not far from where we
+had shoved her off. We tasted the water in the creek, and found it
+quite fresh: we had several times tried it on the river, and found it
+quite salt from the tide running in. We drank plentifully, and sat
+down to recover ourselves, for although we had not walked more than
+half an hour, the pushing through the brushwood was very fatiguing.
+
+"I think," said I, "that this boat will certainly betray us, and would
+it not be better to take possession of it again? It will hold two
+comfortably, and I think we shall get on as well, if not better, in a
+boat than in the woods without compass and without guide."
+
+"I agree with you," said the captain; "but what shall we do?"
+
+"Let us retrace our steps; let us pull again, with the ebb-tide, for
+the mouth of the river, and then coast it along shore; we may arrive
+at some settlement, if we do not starve by the way."
+
+"I agree with you," he said, "it will be the best plan; we must
+conceal ourselves in the day, and coast along at night."
+
+We waded into the river, got into the boat, and again pulled out. The
+boat being light, now pulled well, and we made good speed; and at
+daylight we were clear of the river, and close to a small island near
+the mouth of it. Upon this, we agreed to land, to try if we could
+procure food, for we were much exhausted, and also to conceal
+ourselves from the natives. We ran our little boat on shore, and
+concealed her among some bushes which grew down at the water's edge.
+We looked well round, but could see nothing, and we then walked out in
+search of food; we found some wild plums, which we eagerly devoured;
+and going down again to the beach, where there were some rocks, we
+found shell-fish, of which we broke the shells between two stones, and
+made a meal of. After our hunger was satisfied, we lay down under the
+shelter of the boat, and fell fast asleep. We were so tired that we
+did not wake up till it was nearly dark, when we agreed to start
+again, and pull along the coast to the northward. We were just
+launching our boat, when we perceived a canoe about three miles off,
+steering for the mouth of the river to the island. This stopped us,
+and we remained in our hiding-place. The canoe approached, steering
+directly for the spot where we lay concealed, and we imagined that
+they had discovered us. Such, however, proved not to be the case, for
+they ran on shore about fifty yards from us, and hauling up the canoe,
+they got out and walked away on land. There were four men, but it was
+now too dark to distinguish any more. We remained quiet for a quarter
+of an hour, when I proposed that we should embark.
+
+"Have you ever managed a canoe?" said the Portuguese captain to me.
+
+"I have been in one in Africa very often," I said, "but they are
+dug-outs, as we call them."
+
+"So have I, and I do not think there is so much difference between
+them and these canoes. Can you paddle?"
+
+"Yes," I replied.
+
+"So can I," he said. "Now observe, the best thing we can do is to take
+possession of that canoe; and then we shall get on better, for our
+boat will always attract notice, whereas a canoe will not; besides, it
+will prevent these Indians, if they are come to look for us, which I
+suspect they have, from following us."
+
+"I think you are right," I said; "but how shall we manage?"
+
+"In this way. You shall shove off our boat and walk by its side,
+dragging it up to where the canoe lies; I will go to the canoe, launch
+it, and then we will make off with both till we are too far out to be
+taken; then, when we have got into the canoe, we will turn our boat
+adrift."
+
+I agreed to the proposals. We launched our boat very quietly, and I
+walked in the water up to my knees, drawing it after me till I arrived
+opposite to the canoe. The Portuguese crept on his hands and knees
+till he had gained the canoe, pushed her off, and joined me. We made
+her fast to the tow-rope of our own boat, then got into the boat, and
+pulled away from the island.
+
+We had not gained more than a hundred yards, when the whiz of an arrow
+met our ears. The Indians had discovered us, it was evident. Two or
+three more arrows came flying by us, but we had now got well out, and
+they fell harmless. We continued to pull till we were half a mile from
+the island, and then we laid on our oars. The stars shone bright;
+there was a young moon, so as to enable us to see pretty well. We
+found the paddles of the canoe lying on the cross-pieces. We had
+nothing to take from the boat but our tow-rope and the two small oars;
+these we put into the canoe, and then getting in ourselves, we let the
+boat go adrift. We put her head to the northward, between the island
+and the main, and paddled away as fast as we could.
+
+The captain was a much better hand than I was, and he therefore took
+the office of steersman. The water was as smooth as glass, and we made
+rapid progress, and did not discontinue our exertions, except now and
+then resting for a few moments, till the morning dawned, when we could
+hardly distinguish the island we had left, and found ourselves about
+five miles from the mainland. We had now time to examine the contents
+of the canoe, and had much reason to be gratified with our
+acquisition. It had three bear-skins at the bottom, several pounds of
+yams, cooked and uncooked, two calabashes full of water, bows and
+arrows, three spears, a tomahawk, three fishing-lines and hooks, and
+some little gourds full of black, white, and red paint; and what we
+prized more than all, some flints and a large rusty nail, with rotten
+wood to serve as tinder.
+
+"We are fortunate," said the captain; "now, before we pull in for the
+shore we must paint ourselves like Indians; at all events, you must
+black yourself, as you have no shirt, and I must do the same, although
+I do not require it so much as you do."
+
+"Let us have something to eat and drink first," replied I, "and we
+will proceed to our toilet afterwards."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+    My adventures with the Indians, with what happened to
+    the Portuguese Captain, my companion.
+
+
+Having eaten some venison, and drunk out of the calabash, the captain
+painted me black, with here and there a line of red and white on the
+face and shoulders. I performed the same duty towards him, and we then
+resumed our paddles, and pushed in a slanting direction for the shore.
+The tide now ran down against us, and we could hardly stem it, and
+finding ourselves opposite a beach clear of trees for a quarter of a
+mile, we agreed to run on shore to look for a large stone. We soon
+found one which answered our purpose, and paddling off again to three
+or four hundred yards, we made the stone fast to the bow-rope of our
+boat, and anchored the canoe with it. Having succeeded in this, we got
+out the fishing-lines, and with a piece of raw meat as a bait, we soon
+had several fish in the canoe; after which we put on no more baits,
+but pretended to fish till the tide slacked, when we lifted our anchor
+and recommenced our paddling to the northward.
+
+At night we landed on a rock, close to the beach, having well
+reconnoitred before it was dark to see if there were any canoes or
+Indians to be seen on the shore; and thus we continued for five days,
+during which we passed the mouths of one or two rivers, and had
+gained, as we supposed, more than 150 miles along the coast, but how
+much to the northward we could not tell, as we followed the windings
+of the shore. We were twice obliged to land to obtain water, but we
+always did so in the daytime, having taken the precaution to black the
+whole of our bodies and take off our trowsers before we landed. Our
+deer's flesh was all gone, and we continued to live on fish, cooking
+as much as we could at one time. The collecting firewood was the great
+risk which we ran; for we were then obliged to land where there was
+wood. It was on the sixth day that we were first in danger. As we
+rounded a point, we fell in with another canoe with six or seven
+people in it. They were not more than 300 yards off when we first saw
+them. The Indians stood up in the canoe, looked at us very earnestly,
+and then perceiving that we were not of their tribe, I presume, pulled
+towards us. We immediately turned and pulled away. They had been
+fishing, and two of them were pulling up the lines, while the others
+paddled, which gave us a little advantage; but they had three paddles
+and we had only two. They shouted and paddled with all their might,
+but they gained little, as they were seven in the canoe, five men and
+two women, and deep in consequence. As they gained slowly upon us,
+notwithstanding all our exertions, the Portuguese said to me, "They
+have no weapons in the boat, I should think; if they had, they would
+use them, for we are within bow-shot. Can you use a bow and arrow?"
+
+"I could once," replied I, "use it very fairly," for when I was
+captive with Whyna, she would often practise the bow and arrow with
+me, and I became somewhat expert before I left her.
+
+"Well, then," said he, "let me paddle on, and do you put an arrow in
+the bow and threaten them, at all events."
+
+I did so, and stood up, taking aim as if about to shoot, at which they
+ceased paddling, and after talking a little they turned the head of
+their canoe round, and made for the shore. We proceeded, as may be
+imagined, with all diligence. I laid down my bow and arrows and
+resumed my paddle, and in an hour we could no longer see our late
+pursuers. We continued our voyage, and for three days met with no
+further adventures, when about noon, on the fourth day, the sky became
+overcast, and there was every prospect of rough weather. Before night
+the wind and sea rose, and it was no longer possible for us to keep
+along the coast, which already was covered with breakers.
+
+We had, therefore, no remedy but to make for the shore and haul up the
+canoe, for we could not perceive any inlet which might shelter us. It
+was quite dark when we dashed the canoe through the breakers and
+landed. We hauled her up some distance, as there was every appearance
+of worse weather, and sheltered ourselves under the lee of a high
+rock. The wind now blew fiercely, and rain descended in torrents. We
+tried to light a fire to warm ourselves, but could not succeed, so we
+lay down on one bear-skin, and covered ourselves with the others,
+waiting impatiently for daylight. When the day dawned, the weather was
+worse than ever. We now looked out for a better place of concealment
+for ourselves and our canoe, and found one at about fifty yards'
+distance: between two high rocks there was a narrow cleft or passage,
+which was large enough for us and for the canoe, and this hid us both
+from the storm and from the sea. Into this cleft we hauled our canoe
+and withdrew ourselves, making a meal off some fish we roasted on the
+embers. We remained there for two days, when the weather moderated,
+but the sea was still too rough for us to launch the canoe; so we
+decided upon remaining one day more, although our provisions were all
+gone and our calabashes quite empty. On the third day, to our great
+surprise and alarm, we heard the report of a musket not far from us.
+From this we knew that we could not be very far from the English
+settlements, for it was only the Indians near to the settlements who
+had obtained muskets. But whether it was an Indian or a white man who
+fired we could not, of course, tell. I recollected that, in the last
+advices we had had from James Town, our factors had stated that there
+was a cruel war carried on between the Indians and the settlers, and
+that the Indians had ravaged the plantations; but that was two years
+ago, and how it might be now it was impossible to tell. A second
+report of a musket still nearer induced me to creep along by the side
+of the rock, and look out to see if any one was near. To my great
+alarm, I perceived five Indians with muskets not a hundred yards off.
+I drew back, as I hoped, unperceived, but the eye of an Indian was too
+keen. They had discovered me; and whilst I was relating to the
+Portuguese captain what I had seen, they were suddenly upon us. We had
+no time to make resistance, even if we were inclined so to do, we
+therefore sat still. They came up and looked at us. The wet had washed
+off a great portion of the paint upon my back and shoulders. One of
+the Indians touched me on the shoulder, and said, "Ugh!--white man
+paint like Indian." They then examined the canoe and its contents, and
+having spoken a few words to each other, apparently relating to the
+canoe, they put a thong of leather round each of our arms, and, making
+a motion for us to follow them, they led us away.
+
+"We've done our best, and could do no more," said the Portuguese; "I
+feel that it's all over with me now, and I shall soon sleep in the
+bosom of Jesus."
+
+My heart was too full to make any reply. The Indians led on, and I
+followed in silence.
+
+We passed through the woods, which appeared to be interminable, till
+the night closed in, and then the Indians halted, and while one
+remained as guard over us, the others collected wood for a fire. They
+had some provisions, but offered none to us. After an hour they lay
+down to sleep round the fire, placing me and the Portuguese captain
+next to the fire, and lying outside of us. They were soon fast asleep,
+or appeared to be, when I said to the captain, "Have you your knife?
+for if they remain asleep, let us wait an hour or so, and if you can
+cut the leather thong which the Indian holds in his hand, and then
+watch your opportunity, I will do the same, and we may escape."
+
+"I have my knife, but my Indian is not asleep," replied he; "I will
+wait till he is."
+
+"What signal shall we make if we succeed?" said I.
+
+"When you are ready, lift your arm up, I shall understand, and if I am
+ready, I will do the same. Agreed; and now let us be quiet, for depend
+upon it our conversation has roused them all."
+
+We then composed ourselves, as if to sleep, and remained in that way
+for more than an hour, by which time we were convinced that our
+captors were slumbering. I then drew out my knife, for the Indians had
+not attempted to rifle us, and cut the thong which was round my arm,
+without awaking the Indian who had the other end in his hand. I
+remained quiet for a quarter of an hour, when the Portuguese lifted up
+his arm as a signal that he was free. I listened attentively, and
+being certain that the Indians were asleep, I lifted up my arm also.
+
+The Portuguese then rose up carefully, and without noise, stepping
+past the bodies of the Indians, till he was clear of the circle. I did
+the same, and pointed to the muskets, which lay on the grass by the
+Indians. He took one up and I another, and we retreated to a short
+distance.
+
+"We must have the other muskets," said I; "stay where you are."
+
+I advanced cautiously and took up the other three muskets, and was
+retreating with them, when one of the Indians turned round as if
+awaking. I ran past the Portuguese, and making a sign for him to
+follow me, we retreated a few yards into the wood, where we could
+watch the Indians without being seen ourselves. The Portuguese
+motioned to be off, but I detained him, and I was right. The Indian
+roused up and sat upon his haunches; perceiving that we had escaped,
+he waked up the others. They started on their feet, and looking round,
+found that the muskets were all gone; and then they held a
+consultation. At last they appeared to have made up their minds to
+follow, and, if possible, recapture us, for they went back in the
+direction of the sea.
+
+"Now, then, we must hide three of the muskets," said I, in a whisper,
+"and keep the others to defend ourselves."
+
+We examined and found that they were all loaded, and the Portuguese
+then said to me, "There are five of them. If they meet with us, and we
+discharge two muskets and we do not kill, we shall be at their mercy.
+If we do kill, still there will be three against two; we had better
+carry all the muskets. Do you take two, and I will take three."
+
+As I thought he was right, I consented, and we now went the same path
+towards the sea which the Indians had done before us in pursuit of us.
+We walked fast, as we knew the Indians would do the same, and they had
+the start of us, so that we were not likely to come up with them. It
+was severe work, but we did not slacken our pace, and before dawn the
+sea was quite visible through the branches of the trees, for we had
+arrived at the outskirts of the wood.
+
+As soon as we had gained the beach, which was 500 yards wide, we
+looked round to see if we could perceive the Indians, but we could
+observe nobody.
+
+"Let us, while it is yet dark, go round so as to get on the opposite
+side of the rocks where we were concealed," said the Portuguese. "If
+they are there, we shall take them by surprise."
+
+Keeping just within the wood, we walked half a mile to the southward,
+and then emerged just as the day was breaking, and made for the rocks.
+As soon as we arrived, we examined very cautiously before we entered
+the cleft, but there was nobody there, and the canoe was safe.
+
+"They are not here," said I; "where can they be?"
+
+"They cannot be far off," said the Portuguese; "I suspect they are
+hidden somewhere, and intend to surprise us while we are launching our
+canoe, and when our muskets will be out of our hands."
+
+"I agree with you; let us now wait at some little distance from the
+rocks till broad daylight, we shall then be secure from surprise."
+
+We did so, and when the sun rose we looked well round, but could see
+nobody. We entered the cleft, and were about to lay down the muskets,
+and lay hold of the canoe, when I perceived a small piece of rock to
+drop down. This caused me immediately to suspect the truth, and I
+cried to the Portuguese to come back with me. He did so, and I told
+him that I was certain that the Indians had climbed the rock, and were
+lying down on the top of it, ready to pounce upon us.
+
+"Depend upon it, they must be there," said he, when I mentioned the
+falling piece of rock; "let us walk round and see if we can discover
+them."
+
+We did so, but they were too well concealed.
+
+"But what must be done now?" said he. "It is useless our attempting to
+clamber to the top of the rock, for no one could do it with a musket
+in his hand."
+
+"No," replied I, "that is certain; and if we attempt to bring the
+canoe out of the cleft, they may drop down upon us."
+
+"I think," said he, "that if we were to go in and take the tow-rope in
+our hands, which is several yards long, we might haul out the canoe by
+it, and when once it is clear of the cleft they cannot move without
+our seeing them."
+
+"We will try, at all events," replied I. "Do you stay on the watch
+while I get hold of the tow-rope and bring it out."
+
+The Indians did not expect this manoeuvre, it was clear. Still keeping
+the muskets in our possession, the butts on the sand, and the muzzles
+resting on our shoulders, we laid hold of the tow-rope, and by great
+exertion hauled the canoe several yards away from between the two
+rocks. We then paused for breath after a minute or two, with our eyes
+fixed upon the top of the rock to see if they moved, and then we
+hauled it at least a hundred yards further off, when for the first
+time I perceived that the bow and arrows were not in the canoe, and
+that they must have been taken by the Indians.
+
+"Then we must haul again," said the Portuguese, when I stated this to
+him, "till we are out of bow-shot. Let us put the muskets into the
+canoe, and drag it as fast as we can."
+
+We did so, and gained another hundred yards before we stopped, when an
+arrow was discharged from the summit of the rock, and buried itself in
+the sand close to my feet.
+
+"Haul again," said the Portuguese, "we are not out of shot yet."
+
+Again we exerted ourselves, and gained another hundred yards, during
+which two more arrows were discharged, and one of them went through
+the left arm of my comrade; but as it was through the fleshy part, and
+did not touch the bone, it did not disable him. A third arrow was
+sent after us, but did not reach us, and we knew that we were out of
+distance.
+
+"Cut the shaft of the arrow, and draw it through the arm," said the
+Portuguese.
+
+"Not now," said I; "they will perceive me doing so, and will think
+that you are disabled. That may induce them to rush upon us, thinking
+they have only one man to deal with."
+
+"Well, it's no great matter," replied he; "we must now drag our canoe
+down to the water and launch her, if they will let us. We have
+outwitted them so far."
+
+We now turned the head of the canoe towards the sea, and slowly
+dragged her down; our eyes, as may be supposed, constantly kept upon
+the rock, to see if the Indians would move, but they did not. They
+perhaps felt that they had no chance with us, having all the fire-arms
+and an open beach in our favour. We launched our canoe without further
+interruption on their part, and in a few minutes, taking care to be
+out of arrow distance, we passed the rock with our head to the
+northward. When about two miles off, we perceived the Indians to
+descend from the rock and walk away into the woods.
+
+"Let us praise God for this miraculous escape," said I to the
+Portuguese.
+
+"I do; and the holy patron saint who has preserved me," replied the
+Portuguese captain; "but I am still heavy at heart. I feel that we have
+escaped only to come into more strange and fresh calamity. I shall
+never get back to Lisbon, that I feel convinced of."
+
+I tried all I could to encourage him, but it was of no avail. He told
+me that the presentiment was too strong, and could not be overcome by
+any argument. Indeed he appeared to have allowed the idea so to have
+taken possession of his mind, that his reason became enervated; and
+having heard how the Indians burnt their prisoners, he talked about
+martyrdom at the stake, and rising up to Heaven in great glory, there
+to be received by the whole body of saints and legions of angels.
+
+"What is the use of our thus labouring at the paddle?" said he; "why
+not at once let us go ashore and receive the crown of martyrdom? I am
+ready; for I long for the hour, and shall rejoice."
+
+I said all I could to keep him quiet, but it was useless, and such was
+his insanity, that he gradually neared the shore by steering against
+me with his paddle, so that I could not prevent it. I had drawn the
+shaft of the arrow through his arm, and he appeared to feel no pain. I
+expostulated with him at his keeping the canoe so near to the shore,
+but he smiled and gave no reply.
+
+We had the stream against us, and made but little way, and it vexed me
+very much to hear him talk so loud as he did, as the Indians must have
+heard him, and I thought would follow us along the coast; but he
+ransacked the whole book of martyrs, telling me how one had his body
+sawn in two, another was pinched to death; this one burnt, that
+tortured; every variety of death he entered upon during the whole of
+that day without ceasing.
+
+I ascribed much of this to the pain arising from the wounded arm,
+notwithstanding which he paddled with as much vigour as ever. As the
+night came on, I entreated him to hold his tongue, but it was in vain,
+and I felt assured that his reason was quite gone. He continued to
+talk loud and rave without intermission, and I now considered our fate
+as sealed. We had no water in the boat or provisions of any kind, and
+I proposed that we should heave-to and catch some fish, telling him
+that if he talked we should scare them away.
+
+This made him quiet for a time, but as soon as we had hooked four or
+five fish, he again commenced his history of the glorious martyrs. I
+prayed him to be silent, for a short time at least, and he was so for
+about four or five minutes, when he would break out into some
+ejaculation, which I immediately stopped. At last he could talk no
+more for want of water; his lips were glued together, and so were
+mine. Nevertheless, I continued paddling for two hours more, when I
+found by the canoe grounding that he had steered her on the beach.
+There was no help for it. We landed and went in search of water, which
+we found about half of a mile from where our canoe was beached.
+
+We drank heartily, filled the calabash, and were returning to the
+canoe, when he again commenced talking as loud as ever. I was in great
+anger, but I put my hand before his mouth, beseeching him in a whisper
+to be quiet. As we were doing this, we were suddenly sprung upon and
+seized by several Indians, and in a minute were bound hands and feet.
+
+"I knew it," cried the Portuguese; "I knew it would be so. Well, I am
+prepared; are not you, my good friend?"
+
+I made no reply. I felt that in his madness he had sacrificed his own
+life and mine also; but it was the will of Heaven. The Indians left
+two to guard us, and went down to the canoe, returning with their
+muskets. I soon perceived that they were the same whom we had escaped
+from the night before, and the one who had spoken a little English
+when we were first captured now came to me and said, "White man paint
+like Indian, steal gun--ugh."
+
+When the Indians had returned from the canoe, our feet were unbound,
+and we were again led away by the leather thong which was fast to our
+arms. The Portuguese now began to find his tongue again, and talked
+incessantly, the Indians not checking him; from which, it was evident
+that they were on their own domains. After four hours' walking they
+kindled a fire, and went to repose as before; but this time they took
+our knives from us, and bound our legs so tight that they gave us much
+pain. I did not expostulate, as I knew it was useless. My companion,
+as the thong entered into his flesh, seemed pleased, saying, "Now my
+martyrdom is commencing."
+
+Alas! poor man; but I will not anticipate. We travelled three days,
+during which we were supplied with a small portion of parched Indian
+corn every day, just sufficient for our sustenance, and no more. On
+the fourth morning the Indians, after an hour's travelling, set up
+some shrill and barbarous cries, which I afterwards discovered was
+their warhoop. These cries were replied to by others at a distance,
+and in about a quarter of an hour afterwards we found ourselves close
+to a number of wigwams, as they are termed (the Indian houses), and
+soon surrounded by a large party of men, women, and children, who
+greeted us with taunts and menaces.
+
+We were led into a larger wigwam than the others, where we found
+several Indians of grave aspect assembled, and a man who could speak
+English was ordered in as interpreter. He asked us where we came from
+in the canoe. I replied, that we came from the south, but we had been
+wrecked in a big ship, and had taken the canoe, which we found on the
+beach. They asked no more questions. We were led out, and in about an
+hour afterwards the Indian who had spoken English to us when we were
+captured, came up with two others and painted us black, saying, "The
+white man like paint. Black paint good."
+
+I did not know till afterwards that this painting black was a sign
+that we were condemned to death, but so it was. They took off our
+trowsers, the only garments we had on, and left us naked. To my
+surprise, they did not take the diamond which was sewed up in leather
+from off my neck; but as I learnt subsequently, the Indians are much
+given to conjurors and charms, wearing many round their own necks and
+about their persons, and they respect the charms that their enemies
+wear, indeed are afraid of them, lest they should be harmed by having
+them in their possession. We remained in a wigwam during that day,
+with guards over us. The following day we were led out and cast loose,
+and we found all the Indians, women and children, ranged in two lines,
+each holding in their hands a club or stick, or rod of some
+description or another.
+
+We were led to the end of the row, and looked about us in amazement.
+They made signs to us which we did not understand, and while we were
+remaining in doubt as to what was to be our fate, an old woman, who
+had been menacing and grinning at me for some time, and who was the
+most hideous animal that I ever beheld in the shape of a woman, thrust
+a straw into my eye, giving me most excruciating agony. I was so
+carried away by rage and pain, that I saluted her with a kick in the
+stomach, which laid her doubled up on the ground, expecting to be
+scalped for so doing the next moment. On the contrary, the Indians
+laughed, while some of the other women dragged her away.
+
+At last the interpreter came, and from him we learnt that we had to
+run the gauntlet, and that, as soon as we gained the large lodge
+where we had been examined by the old Indians on the day previous, we
+were safe, and that we must run for that as fast as we could. The
+Portuguese, who was still as mad as ever, was then pushed on; he would
+not run, but walked, glorying in the blows, which showered down upon
+him like hail; and, moreover, he prevented me from running for some
+time, till I got past him. I had been cruelly punished, and was mad
+with pain, when I perceived a tall, gaunt Indian waiting for me with a
+heavy club. Careless of life or consequences, I rushed past him, and
+as I passed I threw out my fist with such impetus, that, hitting him
+under the right ear, he fell senseless, and it appears that he never
+rose again, for the blow killed him; after which I at last gained the
+council-house, and was soon afterwards followed by my companion, who
+was streaming with blood. We were then led away, and tied by our necks
+to two stakes about twenty yards apart, and there we remained for the
+night.
+
+The Portuguese passed the night in singing; I passed it in silence and
+prayer. I felt convinced that we were to die, and I feared that it
+would be by fire or torture, for I had heard something of the manners
+and customs of these Indians. I made my peace with God as well as a
+poor sinner could, prayed for mercy through Jesus Christ, sighed my
+adieu to Amy, and made up my mind to die.
+
+Early the next morning the Indians brought firewood, and placed it in
+bundles round the stakes, at a distance of about fourteen yards from
+the centre. They then went to the Portuguese, tied his hands behind
+him, and exchanged the rope by which he had been fastened for a much
+stronger one, one end of which they fastened to his wrists behind him,
+and the other to the stake. As they left me as I was before, it was
+plain that the Portuguese was to suffer first. They then set fire to
+the piles of wood which were round the stake, which were too far from
+him to burn him, and I could not imagine what they intended to do, but
+you may conceive that I was in a state of awful suspense and anxiety,
+as I was well convinced that his fate, whatever it might be, would be
+my own.
+
+During these appalling preparations, the Portuguese appeared as if he
+really enjoyed the scene.
+
+"Now, my good friend," said he to me, "you shall see how I can suffer
+for the true faith. Even a heretic like you shall be converted by my
+example, and I shall ascend to Heaven with you in my arms. Come on, ye
+fiends; come on, ye heathens, and see how a Christian can suffer."
+
+Much as I felt for him and for myself, I could not lament that his
+reason had left him, as I thought his sufferings would be less; but
+his exclamations were soon drowned by a loud yell from the Indians,
+who all rushed upon my unfortunate companion.
+
+For a moment or two they were crowded so thick round him that I could
+not perceive what they were doing, but after that they separated, and
+I beheld him bleeding profusely, his ears and nose having been cut
+off, and a broken iron ramrod passed through both cheeks. And now a
+scene took place, at the remembrance of which, even now, my blood
+curdles. Some caught up the burning sticks and applied them to his
+flesh, others stuck him full of small splints, the ends of which they
+lighted. The Indian warriors shot at him with muskets loaded with
+powder only, so as to burn him terribly on every part of the body. The
+women took up handfuls of lighted ashes and showered them down on him,
+so that the ground he trod upon was a mass of burning embers, and he
+walked upon fire.
+
+Red-hot irons were now brought forward, and his body seared in all
+parts, his tormentors seeking out where they could give him the most
+pain. At last one applied the hot iron to his eyes, and burnt them
+out. Imagine my feelings at this horrid scene--imagine the knowledge
+that this was to be also my fate in a short time; but, what is more
+strange to tell, imagine, Madam, my companion not only deriding his
+torturers, but not flinching from the torture; on the contrary,
+praising God for his goodness in thus allowing him to be a martyr for
+the true faith, offering his body to their inflictions, and shouting
+manfully; but such was the behaviour of my insane friend, and this
+behaviour appeared to give great satisfaction to the Indians.
+
+For nearly two hours did this torture continue, his body was black
+and bloody all over, and the smell of the burning flesh was horrible;
+but by this time it appeared as if he was much exhausted, and, indeed,
+appeared to be almost insensible to pain. He walked round the stake as
+before upon the burning coals, but appeared not to know when further
+torture was applied to him or not. He now sang hymns in Portuguese in
+a low voice, for he was much exhausted. Soon afterwards he staggered
+and fell down with his face upon the burning embers; but even the
+flesh of his face grilling, as it were, appeared to have no effect
+upon him. An Indian then went up to him, and with his knife cut a
+circle round his head, and tore off the whole scalp, flesh and hair
+together, and when he had done this the old woman whom I had saluted
+with a kick before I ran the gauntlet, and who had his ears hanging on
+her neck to a string, lifted up a handful of burning coals, and put
+them upon his bleeding head.
+
+This seemed to rouse him. He lifted up his head, but his features were
+no longer to be distinguished, as his face was burnt to a black coal,
+and he said, "Take me, ye holy saints. Angels, receive me," and, to my
+great astonishment, he again rose on his legs, and tottered round and
+round for a few minutes. At last he sank down, with his back against
+the stake, and one of the Indians cleaved his brain with his tomahawk;
+and thus ended the life and the misery of my unfortunate
+companion--and it was now my turn.
+
+"Well," thought I, "it is but two hours of suffering, and then I shall
+be beyond their malice. May God have mercy upon my soul."
+
+The same preparations were now made for me. I was fastened with the
+stout rope, and my arms tied behind me, the wood was fired, and one of
+the chiefs was haranguing the Indians. He finished, the low yell was
+given, when the old woman whom I had before mentioned ran up to me,
+and saying something which I could not understand, put her hand upon
+me.
+
+When she did this the other Indians, who were about to rush on me,
+drew back with signs of disappointment on many of their wild
+countenances. The chiefs then went into the council-house, leaving me
+tied where I was, and the wood burning around me, the mass of Indians
+standing about as if waiting the decision of the chiefs. After a time
+three Indians, one of whom was the interpreter, came up to me, and,
+kicking aside the burning poles, cast me loose.
+
+I asked the interpreter what he was about to do. He replied, "You kill
+Indian here (pointing to his own ear), you kill him dead. Squaw lose
+husband--want another--take you--stead of him."
+
+They led me to the council-house before the chiefs. The old woman whom
+I had kicked was there. It was her husband that I had killed by the
+blow behind the ear, and she had claimed me in his stead, and,
+according to the custom of the country, her claim was allowed, and I
+was made over to her, and received into the tribe. Strange custom for
+a woman to marry the murderer of her husband, but still such it was,
+and thus did I find myself freed from the stake when I least expected
+it. The principal chief made me a speech, which was interpreted, in
+which he told me that I was now the husband of Manou, and was one of
+their own tribe; that I must be strong in war, and must hunt and
+procure venison for my family.
+
+They then washed off the black paint, and after a few more speeches
+and ceremonies, I was handed over to the hideous old hag, whose neck
+was still decorated with the two ears of my companion. To say that I
+would have preferred the torture would be saying too much, but that I
+loathed the creature to excess was certain. However, I said nothing,
+but allowed her to take me by the hand and lead me to her wigwam. As
+soon as we were in she brought me some venison, which I ate greedily,
+for I had had nothing for thirty-six hours. She then offered me the
+leggings, as they call them, which the Indians wear, and the other
+portions of the Indian dress, which probably belonged to her late
+husband. I put them on, as I was glad to cover my nakedness, and, worn
+out with walking and exertion, I first thanked God for my miraculous
+preservation, and then lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
+
+It was not until the next day that I awoke, and I then perceived the
+old woman rubbing oil upon the deep cuts made in my wrists and
+shoulders by the leather thongs. She again set meat before me, and I
+ate heartily, but I looked upon her with abhorrence, and when she
+attempted to fondle me, I turned away and spit with disgust, at which
+she retired, grumbling. I now had leisure to reflect. I passed over
+with a shudder the scenes that had passed, and again returned thanks
+to God for my deliverance. I called to mind how often I had been
+preserved and delivered. From my bondage in Africa, from my
+imprisonment in the Tower, from my hopeless slavery in the mines, from
+our wreck on the island, and now, after passing through such dangers,
+from an almost certain cruel death by torture. Truly did I feel how
+grateful I ought to be for that Providence which had so often
+preserved me, and that my only reliance in future must be in its
+gracious protection.
+
+But here I was, married to a woman I detested, and living with
+barbarians; and I said to myself, "That kind Heaven which has already
+done so much for me will, in its own good time, also release me from
+this thraldom. In the meanwhile let me not murmur, but be thankful."
+My squaw, as they call their wives among the Indians, now came up to
+me and offered to paint me, and I thought it advisable that she
+should, as I felt that the sooner I conformed myself to their customs
+the more chance I had of making my escape, which I was resolved to do
+the first opportunity.
+
+As soon as she had completed my toilet I walked out of the wigwam,
+that I might look about me and be seen. The Indians, who were
+sauntering about, met me with a friendly "Ugh," which appeared a
+favourite monosyllable with them. At last I met with the interpreter,
+and began to converse with him. I asked what nation I was now
+belonging to, and he said the Massowomicks. I asked how large their
+country was, and he told me much which I could not understand, except
+that it appeared to me a very powerful nation.
+
+I was very careful of mentioning the English, or any thing about their
+settlement, although I was anxious to know where it was; but I asked
+him whether they were at war with any other nation. He said "No, they
+had been at war with other tribes, but that they had all made peace
+that they might join against the white man, who had taken their land."
+
+"I am an Indian now," said I.
+
+"Yes, and you will forget the white man," said he. "You have now red
+blood in your veins. You marry Indian wife, you all the same as one
+Indian."
+
+I said, "War Indian beat his wife, suppose she talk too much?"
+
+"Plenty talk, plenty beat," said he.
+
+"Suppose my wife talk too much and I beat her, what Indian people
+say?"
+
+"Say good. Suppose wife too old, you take two wife, one more young."
+
+I was very much pleased with this conversation; not that I had the
+slightest idea of profiting by his information by taking another wife,
+but I felt such a disgust at my present one, and had already seen what
+a fury she could be, that I was resolved, if necessary, to show her
+that I was master, for I felt certain that if I did not, she would
+soon attempt to master me, and so it turned out.
+
+On the third day she took down a bow and arrows and made a sign to me
+to go out, and, I presumed, bring back food; and as there was nothing
+in the house, I thought the request reasonable. I therefore went out
+of the wigwam and found that many of the young men were going out on a
+hunting-party, and that I was to join them. We set off and travelled
+for six hours before we came to the hunting-ground, and as the deer
+passed me I thought of Whyna and my hunting excursions with her. I
+was, however, fortunate, and killed two deer, much to the surprise of
+the Indians, who thought a white man could not use a bow and arrows,
+and I rose very much in their estimation in consequence. The deer was
+cut up, and we hung upon branches what we could not carry.
+
+We did not go home that night, but feasted over a large fire. The next
+morning we all carried home our loads, and mine was as large as any of
+the others, if not larger; neither did I flag on the way, for I was
+naturally very strong and active, and had lately been inured to
+fatigue. When we arrived, the squaws and men among the others were
+despatched for the remainder of the venison. I now went out every day
+by myself and practised with my bow, till I had become more expert,
+for I wanted practice. I had no musket, but I had a tomahawk and a
+long knife. I began to pick up a few words of the language, and by
+means of the interpreter I gained them very fast. Before I had been
+three months with the Indians I had acquired their confidence and
+respect. They found that I was expert, and able to gain my own
+livelihood, and I may add that before I had been three months I had
+also mastered my wife. When she found that I would not submit to her
+caresses, she was very indignant and very violent, but I immediately
+knocked her down, and beat her unmercifully. This brought her to her
+senses, and after that I treated her as my slave with great rigour,
+and as she was a notorious scold, the Indians liked me all the better
+for it.
+
+You may think that this was not fair treatment towards a woman who had
+saved my life; but she only saved it for her own purposes, and would
+have worn my ears, as well as my companion's, if I had not killed her
+husband. The fact is, I had no alternative; I must have either treated
+her kindly and submitted to her nauseous endearments, or have kept her
+at a respectful distance by severity, and I hardly need say that I
+preferred the latter. So far as her choice of a husband was concerned,
+she made a bad one, for she received nothing but blows and bad usage.
+I had one day driven my wife out of the wigwam in consequence of her
+presuming to "talk too much," as the Indian said, when the interpreter
+told me that one of the chiefs was willing that I should marry his
+daughter, polygamy being one of their customs.
+
+I was very much annoyed at this, for I knew the young girl very well:
+she was very graceful and very pretty; and I felt that my fidelity to
+Amy would be in great danger if the marriage was to take place; and if
+proposed, I dared not refuse so great a distinction.
+
+I replied that I was fortunate, but that I feared my present wife
+would make her very unhappy, as she wanted to be the chief woman of
+the wigwam, and when I was away I could not tell what the old woman
+might do to her, and the conversation was dropped.
+
+This little Indian had, before this, shown me as much favour as an
+Indian girl ever ventures to show, sufficient, at all events, to
+satisfy me that I was not disagreeable to her, and what the
+interpreter had said made me very uncomfortable. However, I consoled
+myself with the recollection that if I were compelled to marry this
+girl, it would be an involuntary infidelity on my part, and on that
+account might well be excused; for the hope of again rejoining Amy
+never left me at any time.
+
+One day I went out in search of deer, and was led away from my
+companions after a buck which I had wounded and attempted to overtake.
+They saw me in chase of my quarry, and left me in pursuit. I followed
+for several hours, continually coming up with it and as continually
+losing it again. At last, I heard the report of a musket close to
+where the deer was last seen by me, and I thought that some Indian had
+shot it. I walked forward, however, very cautiously, and perceived a
+white man standing by the animal, which lay at his feet. I started
+back, for I did not know whether I had fallen in with a friend or a
+foe; but as I knew that he had not had time to reload his musket, I
+hallooed to him, concealing myself at the same time behind a tree.
+
+"Is that you, Evans?" said the man in reply.
+
+"No," said I, "it is an Englishman."
+
+"Well, show yourself, then," said he.
+
+"I am dressed as an Indian," replied I; "I was taken by the Indians."
+
+"Well, come along," said the man, who was attired as a seafaring man.
+
+I came from behind the tree, and when he saw me he snatched up his
+musket.
+
+"Don't be afraid," said I.
+
+"Afraid!" said he; "I should like to see what I am afraid of; but I'll
+be on my guard."
+
+"That's right," I replied.
+
+I then told him that I had been taken by the Indians, and they saved
+my life because one of their women chose me as her husband, and that I
+was anxious to escape from them.
+
+"Well," said he, "I am on board of a schooner at anchor down below in
+the river. There are a few of us come on shore to get some venison,
+and I have lost my comrades; but I had no idea that the Indians were
+down here so close to the English settlements."
+
+"How close are we, then?" said I; "for I know not where I am. This is
+certainly not our usual hunting-ground, for I have been led many miles
+from it, in pursuit of the animal you have just shot."
+
+"Well, I thought so; for I have been on shore here more than once, and
+I have never met with an Indian. You ask how far you are from the
+settlement; that I can hardly tell you, because the settlers have
+spread out so far; but you are about forty or fifty miles from James
+Town."
+
+"And what river, then, is your schooner at anchor in?"
+
+"I don't know the name," replied the man; "I'm not sure that it has a
+name. We come here for wood and water, because it is quiet, not
+inhabited, and no questions asked."
+
+"What are you, then?" inquired I.
+
+"Why, to tell you the truth, we are what are called 'Jolly Rovers;'
+and if you have a mind to come on board, we can find a berth for you,
+I dare say."
+
+"Many thanks," replied I; "but I am not sufficiently fond of the sea,
+and I should be of no use" (for, by his term of Jolly Rover, I knew
+that they were pirates).
+
+"That's as you please," replied he; "no harm's done."
+
+"No," replied I; "and I thank you for your kind offer, but I cannot
+live long on board of a vessel. Will you now tell me which is the
+right track to the English plantations?"
+
+"Why," said he, "they bear right out in that direction; and I dare
+say, if you travel five or six leagues, you will fall aboard of some
+plantation or another--right in that quarter; follow your nose, old
+fellow, and you can't go wrong."
+
+"Many thanks," I replied; "am I likely to meet your companions?--they
+may take me for an Indian."
+
+"Not in that direction," replied he; "they were astern of me a long
+way."
+
+"Farewell, then, and many thanks," I replied.
+
+"Good-bye, old fellow; and the sooner you rub off that paint, the
+sooner you'll look like a Christian," said the careless rover, as I
+walked away.
+
+"No bad advice," I thought: for I was now determined to make for the
+English settlements as fast as I could, "and I will do so when I once
+see an English habitation, but not before; I may fall in with Indians
+yet."
+
+I then set off as fast as I could, and being now inured to running for
+a long time without stopping, I left the rover a long way behind me in
+a very short time. I continued my speed till it was dark, when I heard
+the barking of a dog, which I knew was English, for the Indian dogs do
+not bark. I then proceeded cautiously and in the direction where I
+heard the dog bark, and arrived in a quarter of an hour to a cleared
+ground, with a rail fence round it.
+
+"Thank God!" I cried, "that I am at last among my own countrymen."
+
+I considered, however, that it would not be prudent to show myself,
+especially in my Indian paint, at such a time of night, and I
+therefore sat down under the lee-side of a large tree, and remained
+there till morning. I then looked about for water, and having found a
+running stream, I washed off my paint, and appeared what I really was,
+a white man in an Indian dress. I then went up again to the clearing,
+and looked for the habitation, which I discovered on the top of a
+hill, about four hundred yards off. The trees were cleared away for
+about three hundred yards all round it. It was built of heavy logs,
+let into one another, with one window only, and that very small. The
+door was still shut. I walked up to it, and tapped at the door.
+
+"Who's there?" replied a hoarse voice.
+
+"An Englishman, and a stranger," I replied. "I have just escaped from
+the Indians."
+
+"Well, we'll see what you are in a very short time," replied the
+voice. "James, get me my gun."
+
+In a minute the door opened, and I beheld a woman more than six feet
+high, of gaunt appearance and large dimensions: I thought that I had
+never seen such a masculine creature before. It was her voice which I
+had heard. Two men were seated by the fire-place.
+
+"Who are you?" said she, with the musket ready for the present.
+
+I told her in a few words.
+
+"Show me the palm of your hand--turn it up at once."
+
+I did so, without the least idea of the reason for the demand; but I
+afterwards discovered that it was to ascertain whether I was one of
+those who had been transported to the settlement, as they all had the
+letter R branded on them.
+
+"Oh, you're not a gaol-bird, then, I see: you may come in; but you'll
+give me that bow and arrows, if you please."
+
+"Certainly," replied I, "if you wish it."
+
+"Why, there's nothing like making sure in this world; and although you
+look a very peaceable, good-looking sort of personage, notwithstanding
+your Indian set-out, still I've known just as amiable people as you,
+in appearance, very mischievous at times. Now come in, and let us hear
+what you have to say for yourself. Jeykell, get some more wood."
+
+One man went out to obey her orders; the other sat by the fire with
+his musket between his knees. I sat down by the fire, at the request
+of the woman, who had seated herself by the side of the man, and then,
+on her repeating her question, I gave her a narrative of my
+adventures, from the time that I left Rio.
+
+"Well," says she, "we seldom hear stories like them; it's all the
+world like a book; and pray what's that thing (pointing to the diamond
+in its case) you have hanging to your neck there? you have left that
+out in your history."
+
+"That's a charm given me by my Indian wife, to preserve me from
+disasters from wild animals; no panther, wolf, or bear will ever
+attack me."
+
+"Well," said she, "if so be it has that power, all I can say is, it's
+not a bad charm to wear in these parts, for there are animals enough
+in the woods in summer, and round the house all night in winter; but I
+don't believe a bit in the charm, and that's the truth; however, if it
+does no good, it can't do no harm, so you may keep it on, and
+welcome."
+
+"May I ask how far it is to James Town?" said I.
+
+"What, going to James Town already? I suppose you expect to be there
+to-night?"
+
+"Not exactly, my good woman," replied I. "I must trespass upon your
+kindness to give me something to eat, for I am hungry."
+
+"Good woman! bah! and pray how dare you call me good woman? Call me
+mistress, if you want any thing."
+
+"I beg your pardon," said I. "Well, then, mistress, will you give me
+something to eat?"
+
+"Yes, I will. James, fetch the meal-cake and a bit of salt pork, and
+give him to eat, while I call the cows from the bush."
+
+The mistress, as I shall in future call her, then put down her musket
+and left the cabin. During her absence I entered into conversation
+with the man called James, for the other had gone out. To my inquiry
+how far it was to James Town, he replied that he really did not know;
+that he was sent out a convict, and sold for ten years to the husband
+of the mistress, who had died two years ago; that this man had a small
+vessel, in which he went to James Town by water, and that he had
+returned with him in his vessel; that the distance by water, he
+considered about one hundred and fifty miles, but by land it was not
+half that distance; that he did not know the way, nor did he believe
+that there was any road as yet made to James Town, as this plantation
+was quite by itself, and a long way from any other. He understood that
+the nearest plantation was twenty miles off, and he knew there was no
+road to it, as no one ever went or came except by water.
+
+"But," said I, "are not the settlers at war with the Indian tribes
+that surround them?"
+
+"Yes; and have been now for three or four years; and the Indians have
+done great mischief to the plantations, and killed a great many
+people; but the settlers have punished them severely."
+
+"Then how is it that this plantation, which is so solitary, has not
+been attacked?"
+
+"Because the mistress's husband was a great friend of the Indians, and
+it is said used to bring them cargoes of muskets and ammunition from
+James Town, contrary to all law and regulation. But if he was friendly
+with them, the mistress is not; for she has quarrelled with the
+principal chief, and I should not be surprised if we were attacked
+some day, and all scalped."
+
+"And what does the mistress say to that?"
+
+"Oh, she don't care; she'd fight a hundred Indians, or white men
+either. I never saw such a creature--she's afraid of nothing."
+
+"Who is the other man I saw here?"
+
+"Oh, he's another like myself. There were three of us, but one was
+drowned by falling overboard from the sloop."
+
+"Well, but my good fellow, how shall I get to James Town?"
+
+"I'm sure I can't tell; but my idea is that you will never get there
+unless mistress chooses."
+
+"Why, surely she won't detain me by force?"
+
+"Won't she?--you don't know her. Why, she'd stop an army," replied the
+man. "I don't think that she will let you go--I don't know; but that's
+my opinion. She wants another hand."
+
+"What, do you mean to say that she'll make me work?"
+
+"I mean to say that, according to the laws of the settlement, she has
+a right to detain you. Any person found roving here, who cannot give a
+satisfactory account of himself, may be detained till something is
+heard about him; for he may be a runaway convict, or a runaway
+apprentice, which is much the same, after all. Now, she may say that
+your account of yourself is not satisfactory, and therefore she
+detained you; and if you won't work, she won't give you to eat; so
+there you are."
+
+"Well, we will see if she is able."
+
+"Able! if you mean strong enough, why she'd take you up with one hand;
+and she is as resolute and severe as she is strong. I had rather have
+to deal with three men, and that's the truth."
+
+"What's the truth, James?" cried the mistress, coming in at the door.
+"Let's hear the truth from your lips, it will be something new."
+
+"I said that I was sent here for finding a pocket-book, mistress;
+that's all."
+
+"Yes; but you did not tell him where you found it--at the bottom of a
+gentleman's coat-pocket, you know. You can only tell the truth by
+halves yet, I see."
+
+Wishing to ascertain how far the man's suspicions were correct, I said
+to her,
+
+"I have good friends in James Town: if I were once there I could
+procure money and any thing else to any amount that I required."
+
+"Well," says she, "you may have; but I'm afraid that the post don't go
+out to-day. One would think, after all your wanderings and
+difficulties, that you'd be glad to be quiet a little, and remain
+here; so we'll talk about James Town some time about next spring."
+
+"Indeed, mistress, I hope you will not detain me here. I can pay you
+handsomely, on my arrival at James Town, for your kind treatment and
+any trouble you may take for me."
+
+"Pay me! what do I want with money?--there's no shops here with
+ribbons, and calicoes, and muslins; and if there were, I'm not a fine
+madam. Money! why I've no child to leave what I have to--no husband to
+spend it for me. I have bags and bags of dollars, young man, which my
+husband heaped up, and they are of as much use to me as they are now
+to him."
+
+"I am glad that you are so rich, mistress, and more glad that your
+money is so little cared for and so little wanted; but if you do not
+want money, I do very much want to get back to my friends, who think I
+am dead, and mourn for me."
+
+"Well, if they have mourned, their sorrow is over by this time, and
+therefore your staying here will not distress them more. I may as well
+tell you at once that you shall not go; so make up your mind to be
+contented, and you'll fare none the worse for it."
+
+This was said in so decided a tone, that, bearing in mind what I had
+heard from the convict servant, I thought it advisable to push the
+question no further for the present, making up my mind that I would
+wait a short time, and then make my escape, if she still persisted in
+detaining me by force; but this I could not venture upon until I was
+in possession of fire-arms, and I could not obtain them while she had
+any suspicion. I therefore replied--
+
+"Well, since you are determined I shall not go, I have nothing more to
+say, except that I will wait your pleasure, and, in the mean time, let
+me make myself as useful as I can, for I don't want to eat the bread
+of idleness."
+
+"You're a very sensible young man," replied she; "and now you shall
+have a shirt to put on, which will improve your appearance a great
+deal."
+
+She then went into the inner room, which I presumed was her bed-room,
+as there were but two rooms in the cabin. As she went out, I could not
+help wondering at her. On examination, I felt assured that she was
+more than six feet high, and her shoulders as broad and her arms as
+nervous as a man's of that stature. Her chest was very expanded, but
+bosom she had none. In fact, she was a man in woman's clothing, and I
+began to doubt her sex. Her features were not bad, had they been of
+smaller dimensions, but her nose was too large, although it was
+straight; her eyes were grand, but they were surmounted with such
+coarse eyebrows; her mouth was well shaped, and her teeth were good
+and regular, but it was the mouth of an ogress; her walk was
+commanding and firm; every action denoted energy and muscle; and
+certainly, from the conversation I have already made known, her mind
+was quite as masculine as her body--she was a splendid monster. In a
+minute she returned, bringing me a good check shirt and a pair of
+duck trowsers, which I thankfully accepted.
+
+"I've plenty more for those who please me," said she, carelessly;
+"when you've put them on, come out to me, and I'll show you the
+plantation."
+
+In a minute or two I joined her, and she led me round the
+tobacco-fields, then to the maize or Indian corn grounds, pointing out
+and explaining every thing. She also showed me the cows, store pigs,
+and poultry. Wishing to please her, I asked many questions, and
+pretended to take an interest in all I saw. This pleased her much, and
+once or twice she smiled--but such a smile! After an hour's ramble we
+returned, and found the two servants very busy, one husking maize, and
+the other in the shed where the tobacco was dried. I asked some
+questions of her about the tobacco--how many casks or bales she made a
+year? She replied that she made it in bales, and sold it by weight.
+
+"It must be heavy carriage from here to James Town?" said I.
+
+"Yes, indeed, if it went that way it never would arrive, I imagine,"
+replied she; "but I have a sloop in the river below, which carries it
+round."
+
+"When is the time it is harvested and fit to be carried round?"
+inquired I.
+
+"It is now turning fast," said she; "all that you see hanging in the
+drying-sheds has been already drawn; in three or four weeks it will
+all be housed, and then we begin to pack: in about two months from
+this the sloop will take it round."
+
+"But is it not very expensive keeping a sloop on purpose, with men to
+have her in charge?" inquired I, to hear what she would say.
+
+"The sloop lies at anchor, without a soul on board," said she. "No one
+ever comes up this river. I believe Captain Smith, who made the
+settlement, did do so once. There is another river, about twenty miles
+farther down, which is occasionally frequented by buccaneers, I am
+told--indeed, I know it, for my husband had more to do with them than
+perhaps was good for his soul, but this little river is never
+visited."
+
+"Then your servants take her round?"
+
+"Yes; I leave one in charge, and take two with me."
+
+"But you have but two."
+
+"Not till you came--one died; but now I have three," and she smiled at
+me again.
+
+If I had not been so afraid of affronting her, I certainly would have
+said to her, "Do any thing, I beg, but smile."
+
+I said no more on that point. She called Jeykell, who was in the
+tobacco-shed, and desired him to kill a couple of chickens, and bring
+them in. We then entered the cabin, and she observed--
+
+"I don't doubt but you are tired with so much fatigue; you look so; go
+and sleep on one of their beds; you shall have one for yourself by
+night."
+
+I was not sorry to do as she proposed, for I was tired out. I lay
+down, and did not wake till she called me and told me that dinner was
+ready. I was quite ready for that also, and I sat down with her, but
+the two convict servants did not. She ate in proportion to her size,
+and that is saying enough. After dinner she left me, and went with her
+two men on her farming avocations, and I was for a long while
+cogitating on what had passed. I perceived that I was completely in
+her power, and that it was only by obtaining her good-will that I had
+any chance of getting away, and I made up my mind to act accordingly.
+I found a comfortable bed, of the husks of Indian corn, prepared for
+me at night, in an ante-room where the two servant-men slept. It was a
+luxury that I had not enjoyed for a long while. For several days I
+remained very quiet, and apparently very contented. My mistress gave
+me no hard work, chiefly sending me on messages or taking me out with
+her. She made the distinction between me and the convicts that I
+always took my meals with her and they did not. In short, I was
+treated as a friend and visitor more than any thing else, and had I
+not been so anxious about going to England, I certainly had no reason
+to complain except of my detention, and this, it was evident, it was
+not in her power to prevent, as, until the sloop went away with the
+tobacco, she had no means of sending me away. One day, however, as I
+was walking past the tobacco-shed, I heard my name mentioned by the
+two convicts, and stopping, I heard James say,
+
+"Depend upon it, that's what she's after, Jeykell; and he is to be our
+master, whether he likes it or not."
+
+"Well, I shouldn't wonder," replied the other; "she does make pure
+love to him, that's certain."
+
+"Very true; every thing's fierce with her--even love--and so he'll
+find it if he don't fancy her."
+
+"Yes, indeed:--well, I'd rather serve another ten years than she
+should fall in love with me."
+
+"And if I had my choice, whether to be her husband or to swing, I
+should take the cord in preference."
+
+"Well, I pity him from my heart; for he is a good youth, and a
+fair-spoken and a handsome, too; and I'm sure that he has no idea of
+his unfortunate situation."
+
+"No idea, indeed," said I to myself, as I walked away. "Merciful
+Heaven! is it possible!" And when I thought over her conduct, and what
+had passed between us, I perceived not only that the convicts were
+right in their supposition, but that I had, by wishing to make myself
+agreeable to her, even assisted in bringing affairs to this crisis.
+
+That very day she had said to me: "I was very young when I married,
+only fourteen, and I lived with my husband nine years. He is dead more
+than a year now."
+
+When she said that, which she did at dinner, while she was clawing the
+flesh off the bone of a wild turkey, there was something so ridiculous
+in that feminine confession, coming from such a masculine mouth, that
+I felt very much inclined to laugh, but I replied,
+
+"You are a young widow, and ought to think of another husband."
+
+Again, when she said, "If ever I marry again, it shall not be a man
+who has been burnt on the hand. No, no, my husband shall be able to
+open both hands and show them."
+
+I replied, "You are right there. I would never disgrace myself by
+marrying a convict."
+
+When I thought of these and many other conversations which had passed
+between us, I had no doubt, in my own mind, but that the convicts were
+correct in their suppositions, and I was disgusted at my own
+blindness.
+
+"At all events," said I to myself, after a long cogitation, "if she
+wants to marry me, she must go to James Town for a parson, and if I
+once get there, I will contrive, as soon as extra constables are sworn
+in, to break off the match." But, seriously, I was in an awkward
+plight. There was something in that woman that was awful, and I could
+imagine her revenge to be most deadly. I thought the old Indian squaw
+to be bad enough, but this new mistress was a thousand times worse.
+What a hard fate, I thought, was mine, that I should be thus forced to
+marry against my will, and be separated from her whom I adored. I was
+a long while turning over the matter in my mind, and at last I
+resolved that I would make no alteration in my behaviour, but behave
+to her as before, and that if the affair was precipitated by my
+mistress, that I would be off to the woods, and take my chance of wild
+beasts and wild Indians, rather than consent to her wishes. I then
+went into the cabin, where I found her alone.
+
+"Alexander," said she (she would know my Christian name, and called me
+by it), "they say widows court the men, and that they are privileged
+to do so" (I turned pale, for I little thought that there was to be an
+explanation so soon); "at all events, whether they are or not, I know
+that a woman in my position cannot well expect a young man in yours to
+venture without encouragement. Now, Alexander, I have long perceived
+your feelings and your wishes, and I have only to say that mine are
+such as yours" (oh, I wish they were, thought I), "and therefore you
+have but to ask and to have."
+
+I was mute with fear and despair, and could not find a reply to make
+to her.
+
+"Why do you not answer, Alexander? Do you think me too forward?"
+
+"No," stammered I; "you are very kind, but this is so unexpected--so
+unlooked for--so unhoped for--I am so overcome."
+
+Observe, Madam, how strangely the sexes were changed. I was the woman
+in this instance.
+
+"I should like to consult my friends."
+
+"Consult your fiddlesticks," replied she, quickly. "Who have you got
+to consult? I hope, Alexander," said she, setting her broad teeth
+together, "that you are not trifling with me?"
+
+"Indeed, I never should think of trifling with you, mistress," replied
+I. "I feel much obliged to you for showing such a preference for me."
+
+"I think, Alexander, that you ought; so now then, if you please, give
+me your answer," replied she.
+
+"Had I been prepared for your kindness, I would have done so at once,
+but I have many serious questions to put to myself, and if you please,
+we will renew the subject to-morrow morning. I will then tell you
+candidly how I am situated; and if after that you do not withdraw your
+proposal, I shall be most happy to be yours as soon as we can go to
+James Town to be married."
+
+"If," replied she, "you mean to insinuate, Alexander, that you have a
+wife in England, that is of no consequence in this settlement; for
+those who live here are free from all English marriages; and as for
+going to James Town, that is quite unnecessary. If the people in the
+settlement were to wait for a parson when they married, they would
+never be married at all. All that is necessary is, that we shall draw
+up an agreement of marriage, on paper, sign it, and have it witnessed.
+However, as I perceive that you are flurried, I will wait till
+to-morrow morning for your decision."
+
+My mistress then rose from her stool, and went into her chamber,
+shutting to the door with more emphasis than was at all agreeable to
+my nerves. I walked out into the open air to recover myself, and to
+reflect upon what course I should take in this awkward and dangerous
+dilemma. Marrying was out of the question--but how to avoid it? It was
+almost like being stopped by a highwayman. He says, "Your money or
+your life." My mistress's demand was, "Marriage or your life." There
+was but one hope, which was to escape that very night, and take my
+chance in the woods, and so I resolved to do.
+
+I did not go in till dark; my mistress was in her own room; the two
+convicts were sitting by the fire. I took my seat by them, but did not
+speak, except in a whisper, telling them that their mistress was not
+well, and that we had better go to bed, and not talk. They stared at
+me at the idea of the mistress being ill; they had never known her to
+complain of any thing since they resided with her; but the hint was
+sufficient. They went to bed, and so did I with my clothes on,
+watching the crevices of the door of her room to see if her lamp was
+out. In about half an hour the little thin beams through the chinks of
+her door disappeared, and then I knew that she had gone to bed. I
+watched two hours more before I ventured to stir. The convicts were
+both snoring loud, and effectually drowned any slight noise I might
+make in moving about. I went to the locker, secured all the cold meat
+for provision, took down one of the muskets and ammunition-belts, and
+having put the latter over my shoulders, I then took the musket in my
+hand and crept softly to the door of the cabin. Here was the only
+difficulty; once out, but five yards off, and I was clear. I removed
+the heavy wooden bar, without noise, and had now only to draw the
+bolt. I put my finger to it, and was sliding it gently and
+successfully back, when my throat was seized, and I was hurled back on
+the floor of the cabin. I was so stunned by the violence of the fall,
+that for a short time I was insensible. When I recovered, I felt a
+great weight upon my chest, and opening my eyes, found my mistress
+sitting upon me, and giving orders to the convicts, one of whom had
+already lighted the lamp.
+
+"For mercy's sake, get off my chest," said I, in a faint voice.
+
+"Yes, I will, but not yet," replied my mistress. "Now, James, hand
+them to me."
+
+James handed some chains to his mistress, who, turning round as she
+sat on my body, made the manacle at the end of the chain fast round my
+ankle. This went with a snap-spring, which could not be opened
+without a key belonging to it. At last she rose off my body, and I
+could breathe free. She then called to the convicts, saying,
+
+"Go both of you into the tobacco-shed, and wait there till I call you
+out. If I find you one foot nearer to us, I'll flay you alive."
+
+The servants ran off as fast at they could. When they were gone, my
+mistress said,
+
+"So you were about to escape, were you? You would avoid the chances of
+matrimony, and now you have other chances which you little dreamt of."
+
+"I thought it was the wisest thing that I could do," replied I. "Since
+I must be plain, I am sacredly betrothed to another person, and I
+could not even for you break my faith. I meant to have told you so
+to-morrow morning, but I was afraid it would annoy you, and therefore
+I wished to go away without giving you any answer."
+
+"Well, Sir, I offered to be your wife, which would have made you my
+lord and master. You refuse it, and now I make you my slave. I give
+you your option; you shall either consent to be my husband, or you
+shall remain as you are, and toil hard; but any time that you think
+better of it, and are willing to embrace my offer, you will be free,
+and I will be as a wife in subjection."
+
+"So you say," replied I; "but suppose I was to make you angry after I
+married you, you would do to me as you have done now. I may, perhaps,
+one day get free from this chain, but, once married to you, I am a
+slave for ever."
+
+"You may think otherwise before long," replied she; "in the mean time,
+you may walk out and cool yourself."
+
+She then returned to her room, and I rose, having determined to walk
+out and cool myself, as she proposed; but when I was on my legs, I
+found that to the other end of the chain, which was very heavy, and
+about two yards long, was, riveted an iron ball of about thirty pounds
+weight, so that I could not walk without carrying this heavy weight in
+my hands, for it could not be dragged. I lifted up the iron ball, and
+went out of the house. I was no longer afraid of her. I was in too
+great a rage to fear any thing. As I calmed, I considered my case, and
+found it to be hopeless; as I thought of Amy, and the many months of
+hope deferred, I wept bitterly; and I had no consolation, for the
+reader may recollect that I lost my Bible when I was sent on shore,
+naked almost, by the rascally captain of the Transcendant.
+
+I had now been twenty months away from Liverpool, and I felt as if my
+chance of seeing her that I loved was indeed hopeless. I might remain
+chained in such a solitude for years, or I might expire under her
+barbarous treatment, for I fully knew what I had to expect. However, I
+was resolved. I prayed fervently for support and succour in my time of
+trouble, and became more composed. I remained out the whole of the
+night, and watched the rising sun. The two convicts came out to their
+work, and shrugged their shoulders as they passed me, but they dared
+not speak to me.
+
+My mistress at last came out. She commenced with abuse, but I gave no
+answer. She tried soothing, but I was mute. At last she became frantic
+in her passion, hurled me away from her, and after being dreadfully
+beaten, I fell to the ground. She put her foot upon my neck, and she
+stood there, looking like a fury. She loaded me with epithets, and
+then of a sudden went down on her knees by me, and begged my pardon,
+calling me her dear Alexander--her life--entreating me to accede to
+her wishes. Never was there such a tigress in love before, I really
+believe.
+
+"Hear me," replied I; "as long as I am chained, I never will give any
+answer upon the present subject, that I swear."
+
+She rose from my side, and walked away.
+
+It is impossible, my dear Madam, for me to describe what I suffered
+from this woman for more than six weeks, during which she kept me
+chained in this way--at one time entreating me, the next moment
+kicking me, and throwing me down. I had no peace--my life became a
+burden to me, and I often entreated her, in mercy, to put an end to my
+sufferings. I also had my paroxysms of rage, and would then spurn her,
+spit at her, and do every thing I could, and say all that I could
+imagine, to show my hatred and contempt. At other times I was sullen,
+and that always annoyed her. She would bear my reproaches
+patiently--bear any thing, so long as I would talk; but if I remained
+obstinately silent, then, in a short time, her fury would break forth.
+I pitied her, notwithstanding her ill-treatment, for the woman did
+love me (after her own fashion) most intensely.
+
+It was on the seventh week of my confinement on the chain, that one
+morning very early, as I was lying in the tobacco-shed, for she had
+turned me out of the cabin, I perceived among the trees, which were
+about three hundred yards from the cabin, two Indians, in what is
+called their war-paint, which is a sign that they were on a hostile
+excursion. I remained perfectly quiet, and well concealed, that I
+might watch them. The convicts had more than once told me that the
+Indians would attack us, in consequence of an insult which my mistress
+had offered to their chief, with whom her husband had been so
+friendly; and when they stated what had passed, I agreed with them
+that they would not fail to resent the insult as soon as they could. I
+had therefore always been on the look-out, but had never seen any
+Indians before. My mistress, to whom I had, in our days of sweet
+converse, spoken about them, always laughed at the idea of their
+attacking her, and said that they might come if they liked. She had
+made every preparation for them, as she had loop-holes stuffed up with
+moss just below the roof of the cabin, from which you could fire down
+upon them till they were within four yards of the cabin, and other
+loop-holes, from which you might shoot them when close to; the window
+and door were impregnable, and provided that we were once in the
+cabin, there was no doubt but that a serious, if not effectual,
+resistance might be made. That the Indians were reconnoitring the
+cabin was evident, and that they did not do so for nothing was equally
+certain. After a while, during which I made out six of them, they fell
+back in the wood, and disappeared. The dog at that moment came out to
+me, and it was probably the sight of the dog which made them retreat,
+as they feared that he would have given notice of their being so close
+to us. I waited till the convicts came out, and then I went into the
+cabin, and said,
+
+"You drove me out of the house last night, and I come to return good
+for evil. As I lay in the tobacco-shed, I saw six Indians in the wood,
+to the east of the cabin, reconnoitring, and I have no doubt but that
+you will be attacked this night, so I give you notice."
+
+"And you hope that, by this fear of their attack, you will be set
+free, is it not?"
+
+"It is perfectly indifferent to me whether I am or not. I have often
+asked you to put an end to my misery, and as you have not done it, I
+shall bless those Indians for the friendly act; a blow of a tomahawk
+will release me, if you will not."
+
+"Well, then, let them come with their tomahawks," replied she, "and I
+will protect you from them, for no one shall release you but myself."
+
+"As you please," replied I; "I have done my duty in telling you what I
+have seen, and you may take precautions or not; for myself I care
+nothing."
+
+So saying, I lifted up my ball of iron and went away out of the door.
+I remained out of doors the whole of the day, and therefore did not
+know whether my mistress took any precautions or not, but I told the
+two convicts what I had seen, and advised them not to go far from the
+cabin, as they would run great danger.
+
+They inquired of me where I had seen the Indians, and I pointed out
+the spot in the wood, after which they went away. I was certain that
+the attack would be on this night, as there was no moon till three
+hours before daybreak; and as it was very dark, it would probably take
+place in the early part of the night. I had made up my mind what I
+would do, which was not in any way to defend the cabin while chained,
+but, when I was freed, I would fight to the last, so that I might be
+killed where I stood, and not be taken alive and tortured.
+
+I did not go out from home all that day, and, to my surprise, I was
+not molested by my mistress. At dark she called the convicts, but they
+did not answer; she came out to look for them, and asked me whether I
+had seen them.
+
+I told her that I had not seen them for two hours, and I had thought
+that they were in the house.
+
+"Did you tell them about the Indians?"
+
+"Yes, I did," I replied, "and stated my opinion that they would attack
+us this night, and I advised them not to go far from the cabin, or
+they might be cut off."
+
+"Then the cowardly sneaks have run off to the woods, and left us to
+defend ourselves how we can."
+
+"I shall not defend myself," replied I. "I shall stay here where I am.
+I wait for death, and will not avoid it."
+
+"Come into the house," said she, abruptly.
+
+"No," replied I, "I will not."
+
+"You will not," said she, and catching up the chain and ball in one
+hand, with her other arm she caught me round the waist, and carried me
+into the house.
+
+"Well," replied I, "it is only deferring it a little longer; they will
+force their way in it at last, and I will die here."
+
+"Wait until they arrive," replied my mistress. "But do you mean to say
+that you will not help to defend the house?"
+
+"Certainly not, as long as I am chained as a slave," replied I.
+
+My mistress made no reply, but busied herself with barring the door
+and window. She then placed the table and stools so that she might
+stand upon them and fire out of the upper loop-holes; pulled the moss
+out of the loop-holes; took down the muskets--of which there were
+six--from their rests, examined the priming of those which were
+loaded, and loaded those which were not. She then got out a supply of
+powder and ball, which she put ready on the table, brought the axes
+out, that they might be at hand, examined the water-jars to ascertain
+whether the convicts had filled them as she had ordered, and then,
+when all was prepared for defence, she removed the lamp into the inner
+room, leaving the one we were in so dark, that the Indians could not,
+by looking through the chinks or loop-holes, discover where the
+occupants of the cabin might be. All these arrangements she made with
+the greatest coolness, and I could not help admiring her courage and
+self-possession.
+
+"Is there any more to be done, Alexander?" said she, in a mild voice.
+
+"Where is the dog?" replied I.
+
+"Tied up in the tobacco-shed," said she.
+
+"Then there is no more to be done," replied I; "the dog will give you
+notice of their coming, as they will first occupy the tobacco-shed as
+an advanced post."
+
+"Alexander, will you promise not to escape if I set you free?"
+
+"Certainly not," replied I. "You set me free for your own purposes,
+because you wish me to help to defend your property; and then,
+forsooth, when the Indians are beat off, you will chain me again."
+
+"No, no; that was not my feeling, as I sit here alive," replied she;
+"but I was thinking that, if forced to retreat from the cabin, you
+would never be able to escape, and I never could save you; but they
+should hack me to pieces first."
+
+"Answer me one question," said I. "In a time of peril like this, would
+you, as a conscientious person, think that you were justified in
+retaining in such fetters even a convict who had robbed you? And if
+you feel that you would not, on what grounds do you act in this way to
+a man whom you profess to love?--I leave it to your conscience."
+
+She remained silent for some time: when the dog barked, and she
+started up.
+
+"I believe I am mad, or a fool," said she, sweeping back her hair from
+her forehead.
+
+She then took the key of the manacle out of her dress, and released
+me.
+
+"Alexander"--
+
+"Silence!" said I, putting my hand to her mouth, "this is no time to
+be heard speaking. Silence!" repeated I, in a whisper, "I hear them,
+they are round the house."
+
+I stood upon one of the stools and looked through a loop-hole. It was
+very dark, but as the Indians stood on the hill, there was clear sky
+behind them as low down as their waists, and I could perceive their
+motions, as they appeared to be receiving orders from their chief; and
+they advanced to the door of the cabin with axes and tomahawks. My
+mistress had mounted on the table at the same time that I had got on
+the stool. We now got down again without speaking, and each taking a
+musket, we kneeled down at the lower loop-holes which I have
+described. On second thoughts, I mounted the stool, whispering to her,
+"Don't fire till I do."
+
+The Indians came to the door and tapped, one asking in English to be
+let in. No reply was given, and they commenced their attack upon the
+door with their axes. As soon as this aggression took place, I took
+good aim at their chief, as I presumed him to be, who was now standing
+alone on the hill. I fired. He fell immediately.
+
+As I leaped from the stool my mistress discharged her musket, and we
+both caught up others and returned to the loop-holes below. By this
+time the blows of the axes were incessant, and made the cabin-door
+tremble, and the dust to fly down in showers from the roof; but the
+door was of double oak with iron braces, and not easily to be cut
+through; and the bars which held it were of great size and strength.
+
+It was some time before we could get another shot at an Indian, but at
+last I succeeded, and as his comrades were taking the body away my
+mistress shot another. After this the blows of the axes ceased, and
+they evidently had retreated. I then went into the inner room and
+extinguished the lamp, that they might not be able to see us--for the
+lamp gave a faint light. We returned to the table, and loaded the
+muskets in the dark.
+
+As I put my musket on the table, my mistress said, "Will they come
+again?"
+
+"Yes;" replied I, "I think they will; but if you wish to talk, we had
+better retreat to the fire-place: there we shall be safe from any
+shot."
+
+We retreated to the fire-place, and sat down on the ashes; it just
+held us both, and my mistress took this opportunity of embracing me,
+saying--
+
+"Dear Alexander, if I had a thousand lives, I would sacrifice them for
+you."
+
+"We have but one," replied I, "and that one I will devote for your
+defence; I can do no more."
+
+"Who did you fire at?" said she.
+
+"The chief, as I believe, who was on the hill giving orders. He fell;
+and I think that he fell dead."
+
+"Then depend upon it they will retreat," said she.
+
+"I think not; they will be revenged, if they possibly can; and we must
+expect a hard fight for it."
+
+"Why, what can they do? They never can break through the door, and
+when daylight comes we can shoot them by dozens."
+
+"Depend upon it," said I, "they will try to burn us out. The wind is
+high, which is all in their favour, and I suspect they are now gone to
+collect firewood."
+
+"And if they do fire the cabin, what shall we do? I never thought of
+that."
+
+"We must remain in it as long as we can, and then sally out and fight
+to the last; but every thing depends on circumstances. Be guided by
+me, and I will save you if I can."
+
+"Be guided by you!"
+
+"Yes! Recollect I am not in chains now, and that although you have all
+the courage of a man, still you have not been so accustomed to warfare
+as I have been. I have long been accustomed to command, to plan, and
+to execute, in times of peril like this."
+
+"You have great strength and courage; I little thought what a lion I
+had chained up," replied she. "Well, I love you all the better for it,
+and I will be guided by you, for I perceive already that you have the
+best head of the two. Hark! What is that?"
+
+"It is what I said," replied I; "they are laying firewood against the
+logs of the cabin on the windward side--(this was on the side
+opposite to the door). Now we must try if we cannot pick off some more
+of them," said I, rising and taking a musket. "Bring the stools over
+to this side, for we must fire from the upper loop-holes."
+
+We remained at our posts for some time without seeing an Indian. They
+had gone back to the wood for more combustibles. At last we perceived
+them coming back with the wood. I should imagine there were at least
+twenty of them.
+
+"Now, take good aim," said I.
+
+We both fired almost at the same moment, and three Indians fell.
+
+"Get down, and give me another musket," said I to my mistress.
+
+She handed me one, and, taking another for herself, resumed her
+station. We fired several times; sometimes with and sometimes without
+success; for the Indians went away twice for firewood before they had
+collected what they considered sufficient. By this time it was piled
+up to the eaves of the cabin, and our loop-holes were shut up; we
+therefore went over to the other side, where the door was, to see if
+there were any Indians there, but could not see one. We had been on
+the look-out for about five minutes, when the crackling of the wood,
+and the smoke forcing itself through the crevices between the logs,
+told us that the fire had been applied, and the wind soon fanned it up
+so that the flame poured through every chink and loop-hole, and
+lighted up the cabin.
+
+"We must retreat to the fire-place," said I. "Come quickly, or we
+shall be shot."
+
+"Why so?" said she, as she did as I requested.
+
+"They will peep through the loop-holes on the side of the cabin where
+the door is and see us plainly, until the cabin is filled with smoke,
+which it soon will be."
+
+"But tell me what we are to do now, for I feel if this smoke increases
+we shall not be able to speak to one another."
+
+This she said about five minutes after we had remained standing in the
+fire-place, with our heads up the chimney.
+
+"Perhaps it will be as well," replied I, "that I do speak so. This
+fierce wind drives the smoke to leeward in volumes, but the great
+burst of smoke will be when the roof is well on fire. It is now
+burning fiercely on the windward side, but we must wait till the
+lee-side has caught, and then the volume of smoke will be greater. The
+great point is to hit the precise time of opening the door, and
+escaping shrouded in a volume of smoke. If too soon, they will
+perceive us, and we shall be shot down; if too late, the roof will
+fall upon us, and we shall be smothered or burnt. We had better now, I
+think, leave this, and be all ready. Our best weapon, if we have to
+fight our way, will be an axe. Let us each take one, and, by now going
+near to the door, and putting our mouths to one of the loop-holes, we
+shall breathe freer, and unbar the door at the right time. Do you
+agree with me?"
+
+"You are right," said she; "you are a _man_, and I am a _woman_."
+
+We left the fire-place, and having felt for and found the axes, we
+went near the door, and put our mouths to the loop-holes below; and
+the smoke passing above them enabled us to breathe freer. I looked out
+and perceived that, with the exception of about six yards to leeward
+of the cabin, there was a dense volume of smoke rolling along the
+ground for a long distance, and that if we could only once gain it
+without being perceived, we should probably be saved. I therefore
+unbarred the door, drew the bolt, and held it in my hand, all ready
+for a start. The cabin was now in flames in every part as well as the
+roof. I touched my mistress, and then took her hand in mine, watching
+at the loop-hole. At last, when the heat was almost unbearable, an
+eddy of the wind drove back the smoke close to the lee-side of the
+cabin, and all was dark. I jumped up, opened the door, and dragged my
+mistress after me; we walked out into the black mass completely hid
+from our enemies, and then running hand-in-hand as fast as we could to
+leeward in the centre of the smoke, we found ourselves at least one
+hundred yards from the cabin without the Indians having any idea that
+we were not still inside. As we retreated, the density of the smoke
+became less, and I then told her to run for her life, as the Indians
+would discover that the door of the cabin was open and that we had
+escaped--and so it proved. We were still a hundred yards from the wood
+when a yell was given which proved that they had discovered our
+escape, and were in pursuit. We gained the wood; I turned round a
+moment to look behind me, and perceived at least forty or fifty
+Indians in full pursuit of us--the foremost about two hundred yards
+distant.
+
+"Now we must run for it, mistress," said I, "and we must no longer
+take hands. We shall have to thread the wood. Away! We have no time to
+lose."
+
+So saying, I snatched my hand from her and sprang forward; she
+following me as fast as she could, more fearful, evidently, of my
+making my escape from her than of her own escape from the Indians. As
+soon as I was a hundred yards in the wood, I turned short to the
+right, and fled with all my speed in that direction, because I hoped
+by this means to deceive the Indians, and it was easier to run where
+the wood was not so thick. My mistress followed me close: she would
+have hallooed to me, but she had not breath after the first half-mile.
+I found out that I was more fleet than she was. Whether encumbered
+with her clothes, or perhaps not so much used to exercise, I heard her
+panting after me. I could easily have left her, but my fear was that
+she would have called to me, and if she had, the Indians would have
+heard her, and have known the direction I had taken, and, when once on
+my trail, they would, as soon as daylight came, have followed me by it
+to any distance; I therefore slackened my speed so as just to enable
+my mistress to keep up with me at about ten yards' distance; when we
+had run about three miles I felt certain that she could not proceed
+much further: speak she could not, and as I ran without once looking
+behind me, she could make no sign. I continued at a less rapid pace
+for about a mile further. I did this to enable her to keep up with me,
+and to recover my own breath as much as possible previous to a start.
+The voices of the Indians had long been out of hearing, and it was
+clear that they had not discovered the direction which we had taken. I
+knew, therefore, that they could not hear her now, if she did cry out
+as loud as she could, and I gradually increased my speed, till I
+could no longer hear her panting behind me; I then went off at my full
+speed, and after a few minutes I heard her voice at some distance
+faintly calling out my name. "Yes," thought I, "but I have not
+forgotten the ball and chain; and if you thought that you had let
+loose a lion while we were in the cabin, you shall find that you have
+loosed a deer in the woods." I then stopped for a few moments to
+recover my breath; I did not, however, wait long; I was afraid that my
+mistress might recover her breath as well as myself, and I again set
+off as fast as I could. The idea of torture from the Indians, or again
+being kept confined by my mistress, gave me endurance which I thought
+myself incapable of. Before morning I calculated that I had run at
+least twenty miles, if not more.
+
+With the perspiration running down me in streams, and hardly able to
+drag one leg before the other, I at last, just about daybreak, gave it
+up, when I threw myself on the ground, and dropped out of my hand my
+axe, which I had carried the whole way. I lay there for more than half
+an hour, tormented with thirst, but quite unable to move. At last I
+recovered; and, as I well knew that the Indians would divide in
+parties of three or four, and hunt every part of the woods, and by
+daylight probably discover my track, I rose and prepared to resume my
+toil, when, looking round me, I perceived that I was exactly on the
+spot where I had followed the deer, and had fallen in with the Jolly
+Rover, as he termed himself, who had pointed out the way to the
+plantations. I turned and saw the river below, and as he had told me
+that the Indians never came there, I resolved to go to the river,
+where, at least, I should find shell-fish and water. I did so; and in
+half an hour arrived at the skirts of the wood, and found that the
+river was about four hundred yards from me and clear of trees at the
+mouth for some distance. I went down to the river, which ran swiftly
+out, and I drank till I was ready to burst. I then rose on my feet,
+and walked along its banks towards the mouth, thinking what I should
+do. To get to James Town appeared to me to be an impossibility, unless
+by water, and I was not likely to meet with any other vessel here but
+a pirate. Should I then go aboard of a pirate? It appeared to me to
+be my only resource, and that I should be happy if I could find one.
+
+By this time I had arrived at the mouth of the river, and, looking out
+to seaward, I saw a schooner at anchor. She was about three miles off.
+That she was a pirate vessel, I presumed. Should I go on board of her
+or not? and if so, how was I to get on board? All her boats were up:
+and I surmised that she had just left the river with the intention of
+sailing as soon as there was any wind, for now it was calm. The river
+ran out swiftly, and I thought I should be able to swim the distance
+with the assistance I should obtain from the current, which swept down
+right for her, and she was riding to its strength.
+
+I was demurring. I had been perhaps two hours on the beach, waiting to
+see if she might send a boat on shore, when, as I stood at the
+river-side, still hesitating, I happened to turn round and perceived
+three Indians coming down upon me as fast as they could. I hesitated
+no longer, but plunged into the stream, and was swept out two hundred
+yards before they arrived at the beach. I made for the schooner; and
+the current ran out so fast, that in half an hour I was close to her.
+I swam for her cable, which I clung to, and then shouted loudly. This
+induced some of the crew to look over the bows, and they handed me a
+bowling knot, into which I fixed myself, and was hauled on board.
+
+I was dragged aft to give an account of myself, and I stated in few
+words that I had been pursued by the Indians, and swam off to save my
+life.
+
+"Hav'n't we met before?" said a rough voice.
+
+I looked, and saw the Jolly Rover, whom I had fallen in with on shore.
+I said, "Yes; I was escaping from the Indians when I met you, and you
+showed me the direction of the plantations."
+
+"All's right," said he. "It's a true bill; and were those Indians
+after you that we saw on the beach just now?"
+
+"Yes," I replied; and then I stated how it was that they had attacked
+our cabin, and how we had escaped.
+
+"That was well done, and so you swam off three miles. Fire and water
+won't hurt you; that's clear. You're just the man for us. What
+thing-um-bob is this that you have hung round your neck?" said he,
+taking up the leathern bag with the diamond in it.
+
+"That," replied I--a sudden thought having struck me--"is my caul; I
+was born with a caul, and I have always worn it, as it saves a man
+from drowning."
+
+"No wonder that you swam three miles, then," replied the man.
+
+You must know, Madam, that some people are born with a membrane over
+the face, which is termed a caul, and there has been a vulgar error
+that such people can never be drowned, especially if they wear this
+caul about their person in after-life. Sailors are superstitious in
+many things, but particularly in this, and my caul was therefore as
+much respected by them as it hung round my neck, as it was by the
+Indians when they thought it was what they call "magic" or "medicine."
+
+"Well," said the Jolly Rover, "as you had so much fire, so much water,
+and so much running, I think you won't be sorry to have a biscuit and
+glass of grog, and then turn in; to-morrow we will talk to you."
+
+I went down below, very glad to accept the offer, and as I was
+regaling myself, who should come up to me but two of the Portuguese
+who had been wrecked in the xebeque, and put on shore with me in the
+little boat by the captain of the Transcendant. I was very glad to see
+them. They told me that, after great hardship and suffering, they had
+arrived famished at the banks of this river, and had been taken on
+board by the pirates, and had remained with them ever since; that they
+were very anxious to get away, but never had an opportunity. I begged
+them not to say who I was, but merely that I was once a shipmate of
+theirs. They promised, and being very tired, I then lay down and fell
+asleep. I was so worn out, that I did not wake till the next morning,
+when I found that we were under all sail running down to the
+southward. I saw the Jolly Rover, as I had termed him, on deck (his
+real or assumed name, I don't know which, I found out to be Toplift),
+sitting on a gun abaft. He called me to him. I said,
+
+"Are you the captain?"
+
+"Yes," he replied, "for want of a better. I told you months ago what
+we were, so it's no use repeating it. Do you intend to join us?"
+
+"Then," replied I, "I will be very candid with you. I have been driven
+as it were on board of your vessel, but certainly without knowing
+exactly what she was. Now, captain, I have to ask you one
+question:--Would you, if you could go on shore in England, with plenty
+of money at your command, and plenty of good friends,--would you be
+here?"
+
+"No; certainly not," replied he.
+
+"Well; I am in that position. If once in England, I have money enough
+to live upon, and plenty of friends; I therefore naturally want to get
+back to England, and not to run the risk of my neck on board of this
+vessel."
+
+"That's very true," replied he, "but there are other considerations;
+my men won't have a man on board who will not swear fidelity, and if
+you will not, I cannot protect you,--they will throw you overboard. We
+don't carry passengers."
+
+"That's very true, also; and I will swear fidelity so far as this,
+that you never shall be betrayed by me, and I never will appear as a
+witness against one of you; it were most ungrateful if I did. While I
+am on board, I will do any duty you please to put me to, for I cannot
+expect to eat my bread for nothing."
+
+"And suppose we come to action?"
+
+"There's the difficulty," replied I; "against an English ship I never
+will fight."
+
+"But if we are opposed to any other nation, and there is a chance of
+our being overpowered?"
+
+"Why, then, if you are overpowered, as I shall be hung along with the
+rest, I think I must do all I can to save my own life; but,
+overpowered or not, I will not fire a shot or draw a cutlass against
+my own countrymen."
+
+"Well, I cannot deny but that's all very fair."
+
+"I think," replied I, "it is as much as you can expect; especially as
+I never will share any prize-money."
+
+"Well; I will talk to the men, and hear what they say; but, now,
+answer me one question--Are you not a seaman?"
+
+"I will answer the truth to every thing; I am a seaman, and I have
+commanded a privateer. I have served many years in privateers, and
+have seen a great deal of hard fighting."
+
+"So I thought," replied he; "and now answer me another question,--Was
+it not you that played that trick to that French privateer captain at
+Bordeaux?"
+
+"Yes it was," replied I; "but how came you to know that?"
+
+"Because I was the mate of a merchant vessel that had been captured,
+and I saw you three or four times as you passed the vessel I was on
+board of; for, being put in quarantine, we were not sent to prison
+till the pratique was given. I thought that I knew you again."
+
+"Well; I have no concealment to make."
+
+"No: but I will tell you candidly, my men, if they knew all this,
+would not allow you to leave the vessel. Indeed, you might be captain
+if you pleased, for I do not suit them. Our captain--for I was his
+officer--was killed about six months ago; and I really am not fit for
+the office--I am too tender-hearted."
+
+"Well; you don't look so," replied I, laughing.
+
+"Can't judge of outsides," replied he; "but it's a fact. They say that
+they will be all condemned if taken, from my not destroying the crews
+of the vessels we take; that they will be so many witnesses against
+them; and I cannot make up my mind to cold-blooded murder. I am bad
+enough; I rob on the high seas; I kill on the high seas--for we must
+kill when we fight; but I cannot commit deliberate murder either at
+sea or on shore, and so I tell them. If any one else could navigate
+the vessel, I should be superseded immediately."
+
+"I am glad to hear you say what you have, captain, it makes me less
+dissatisfied at finding myself here. Well; I have said all I can, and
+I must trust to you to manage with your ship's company."
+
+"It will be a difficult job," said he, musing.
+
+"Tell them," replied I, "that I was once a captain of a vessel like
+this (after all, there is not so much difference between a pirate and
+privateer as you may think)--and that I will not be under the command
+of any one."
+
+"If they hear that, they will give you the command of this vessel."
+
+"I will refuse to take it; and give my reasons."
+
+"Well; I'll tell them that: I leave you to settle with them how you
+can; but," added he, in a low tone; "there are some desperate villains
+among them."
+
+"That I take for granted," replied I; "so now I leave you to speak to
+them."
+
+Toplift did so. He told them that I was a pirate captain, who had lost
+his vessel and been thrown on shore, but I refused to join any ship
+except as captain of her; that I would not serve as first officer, and
+would obey no one. He told them that he knew me before, and he
+narrated the business at Bordeaux when I commanded a privateer,
+extolling me, as I afterwards found, beyond all measure.
+
+The crew, having heard what he had to say, went forward, and, after
+consultation, came to Toplift and said that I must take the oath.
+
+Toplift replied that he had desired me so to do, and that I had
+answered that I would not. "But," said he, "you had better speak to
+him yourselves. Call all hands aft and hear what he has to say."
+
+This was done, and I was sent for.
+
+"I have told them what you said, Sir. I don't know your name."
+
+"I have no name," replied I, proudly, "except 'Captain'--that's my
+name."
+
+The fact is, Madam, I was determined to carry it out bravely; knowing
+that it is the best way to deal with such people as I now had in hand.
+
+"Well, then, Captain, I have told the men that you will not take the
+oath."
+
+"Take the oath," replied I, with scorn; "no; I administer the oath to
+others. I make them take it. I make them swear fidelity to me. Such
+has been my conduct, and I shall not depart from it."
+
+"Well, but, Captain Toplift, you don't mean to say that he is to
+remain on board with us and not take the oath," said a surly-looking
+ruffian. "In spite of you, he shall take the oath, Captain Toplift."
+
+"Captain Toplift," said I, calmly, "do you allow one of your crew to
+use such language as this. Had I been captain of this ship, I would
+have blown his brains out as he stood. You don't know to deal with
+these rascals. I do."
+
+Captain Toplift, who appeared much pleased at being supported in this
+way by me--(strange that a single individual, whom they might have
+thrown overboard in a minute, should have gained such an ascendency,
+but so it was)--and who perceived that the men fell back, as if taken
+by surprise, then said, "Captain, you have taught me a good lesson,
+which I will take advantage of. Seize that fellow and put him in
+irons."
+
+"Hah!" cried the man, seeing that no one touched him: "who is to bell
+the cat! hah!" and he drew his cutlass.
+
+"I will, then," said I to Captain Toplift, "if you desire it;" and,
+stepping forward, I went up to the man, saying, "Come, come, my good
+fellow, this won't do here; I'm used to deal with such chaps as you,
+and I can manage worse than you, a good deal."
+
+I advanced till I was within the stroke of his cutlass before he was
+aware of it, and, seizing him by the waist, I threw him flat on his
+back and put my foot on his neck.
+
+"Now," cried I, in an authoritative voice, "put this man in irons
+immediately--refuse who dares. Here, you Sirs, lay hold of this
+fellow," continued I, looking to the Portuguese; who accordingly came
+forward and led him away, assisted by others, who now joined them.
+
+"Are there any more mutineers here?" inquired I; "if so, let them step
+forward."
+
+No one stirred.
+
+"My lads," said I, "it is very true that I have refused to take the
+oath, for the oath is not given to those who command, but to those who
+obey; but at the same time I am not one to betray you. You know who I
+am; and is it likely?"
+
+"No, no," replied the men.
+
+"Sir," asked one of them, who had been most forward and insolent,
+"will you be our captain?--say but the word,--you are the sort of man
+we want."
+
+"You have a captain already," replied I, "and in a few weeks I shall
+command a vessel of my own; I cannot, therefore, accept your offer;
+but while I am on board I will do all in my power to assist Captain
+Toplift in any way, and you can desire no more. And now, my men, as an
+old hand, I have but this advice to give you, which is--to return to
+your duty; for every thing in a vessel of this description depends
+upon obedience; and to you, Captain Toplift, I have also advice to
+give, which is--to shoot the first man who behaves as that scoundrel
+did who is now in irons. Boatswain! pipe down."
+
+I hardly knew whether this latter order would be obeyed by the
+boatswain, or, if obeyed by the boatswain, whether it would be obeyed
+by the men; but, to my great satisfaction, it was; and the men retired
+peaceably.
+
+"Well, Captain Toplift," said I, "I have done you no harm, and myself
+some good."
+
+"You have indeed," replied he; "come down into the cabin." When we
+were in the cabin he said, "You have unarmed and subdued the most
+mutinous rascal in the vessel, and you have strengthened my authority.
+They fully believe you are what you assert from your behaviour, and I
+feel, with you at my side, I shall get on better with these fellows
+than I have done. But now, to keep up the idea, you must, of course,
+mess in the cabin with me, and I can offer you clothes, not my own,
+but those of the former captain, which will suit your shape and make."
+
+I readily agreed with him; and having equipped myself in the clothes
+he offered me, which were handsome, I soon afterwards went on deck
+with him, and received the greatest respect from the men as I passed
+them. A cot was slung for me in the cabin, and I lived altogether with
+Captain Toplift, who was a good-hearted, rough sort of a man,
+certainly wholly unfit for the command of a vessel manned by such a
+set of miscreants, and employed on such a service. He told me that he
+had been taken three years before by a pirate vessel, and finding that
+he could navigate, they had detained him by force, and that at last he
+had become accustomed to his position.
+
+"We all must live," said he, "and I had no other means of livelihood
+left me; but it's sorely against my conscience, and that's the truth.
+However, I am used to it now, and that reconciles you to any thing,
+except murder in cold blood, and that I never will consent to."
+
+On my inquiring where they were about to cruise, he said on the
+Spanish Main.
+
+"But," said I, "it is peace with the Spaniards just now."
+
+"I hardly knew," said he, "it was peace. Not that peace makes any
+difference to us, for we take every thing; but you refer to myself, I
+know, and I tell you frankly that I have preferred this cruise merely
+that we may not fall in with English vessels, which we are not likely
+to do there. I wish I was out of her with all my heart and soul."
+
+"No doubt of it, Captain Toplift; I think you are sincere. Suppose you
+put into one of the inlets of Jamaica, they won't know where we are;
+let us take a boat on shore and leave her. I will provide for you, and
+you shall gain your living in an honest way."
+
+"God bless you, Sir," said he; "I will try what I can do. We must talk
+the matter over, for they may suspect something, and then it would be
+all over with us."
+
+We continued to run down till we were in the latitude of the Virgin
+Isles, and then we altered her course for Jamaica. The first and
+second mates generally received information of Captain Toplift as to
+his movements and intentions, which they communicated to the crew. If
+the crew disapproved of them, they said so, and they were considered
+to have some voice in the matter.
+
+Now, although no navigators, these men knew enough of a chart and a
+course to find that there must be some reason for its being altered as
+it was, instead of running down by the Spanish Main, and they inquired
+why the cruise was altered.
+
+Captain Toplift replied that he had taken my advice, and that I had
+assured him that at the back of the island of Jamaica we should
+certainly fall in with some rich Spanish vessels, if we lay there
+quiet in some nook or another for a short time, as this was their time
+for coming up from the south to the Havannah, where they rendezvoused
+for a convoy.
+
+This reply appeared very satisfactory to the crew, for they were all
+cheerful and obedient, and we ran down to Jamaica, and when we were
+close in shore, we shortened sail and hove to. We remained three or
+four days in the offing, that we might not cause any suspicion by our
+leaving too soon. Captain Toplift then told the mates that I proposed
+anchoring in some secret bay or inlet, as we were certain to see the
+Spanish ships if we could send any one ashore on the hills to look out
+for them. This was agreed to, and we made sail and ran along the
+coast, looking out for some convenient anchorage.
+
+As we were so doing, a vessel hove in sight, and we immediately made
+all sail in chase. As she did not attempt to avoid us, we hauled off
+as she came near, to see what she might be. She then hoisted a yellow
+flag at her peak (for she was an hermaphrodite brig); this puzzled us
+not a little, and we edged down towards her, for she was very
+rakish-looking, except in her sails.
+
+As we neared, finding I suppose that we did not answer her signals,
+and we were not the vessel she expected us to be, she suddenly
+altered her course before the wind, setting all the sail that she
+possibly could. We immediately crowded canvas in chase, and came up
+with her fast. As we ran, the mate and I looked at her through the
+glass, and I made her out to be the Transcendant, the captain of which
+had treated us so cruelly when we were in the boat, and who had robbed
+us of our money and clothes. I called the Portuguese and desired them
+to look at the vessel through the glass, and give me their opinion.
+They directly said that it was the vessel I supposed.
+
+"Let us only catch the rascal," said I, "and we will pay him in his
+own coin;" and I immediately gave directions for the better trimming
+of the sails, so anxious was I to come up with him.
+
+The men of the schooner were much pleased at the anxiety I displayed
+to come up with the chase, and by the alacrity with which they obeyed
+me, I saw how anxious they were that I should be their captain. In two
+hours we were within gun-shot, and sent one of our bow-chasers after
+him. Perceiving that it was useless to run, the fellow hove to, and as
+we came alongside, he was all ready with his boat to come on board. He
+did so, and at first I kept out of sight to hear what he would say. He
+was followed up the side by his amiable son. Captain Toplift received
+him on deck, and he looked around him, saying, "I believe I am right.
+I was afraid I had made more mistakes than one. I believe you are in
+the free trade?"
+
+"Yes," replied Toplift, "we are."
+
+"Yes, I thought so, captain, but I expected to meet another schooner
+which is very like to yours, and is also in the trade. I made my
+signal to her, as, when she has any thing to get rid of, why I take it
+off her hands. Perhaps you may have something of the kind which is not
+exactly safe to show,--church-plate and the like. I pay ready
+money--that's my plan."
+
+As it afterwards appeared, Madam, this scoundrel had been in the free
+trade, or pirating, himself for many years, but he had taken an
+opportunity of walking off with a large sum of money belonging to the
+pirate crew, and with this money he had purchased his property in
+Virginia and the brig which he now commanded. Although he did not
+follow up the free trade any more, he had made arrangements with a
+pirate captain whom he met at Port Royal to meet them at the back of
+the island and receive such articles as the pirate might want to turn
+into cash, by which he, of course, took care to secure large profits.
+
+This he had done several times, and as he sold his cargo at Port Royal
+for dollars, he had always cash to pay for what the pirate wished to
+get rid of. But he had now run into the lion's jaws, for not only were
+I and the Portuguese on board to denounce him as a robber, but, what
+was still more unfortunate for him, three of the pirate's crew, whom
+he had swindled out of their property, were also on board of us, and
+recognized him immediately.
+
+As Captain Toplift knew how I had been treated by him, he thought it
+was time he should be confronted with me, and to his question as to
+whether there was any thing to dispose of, he replied to him, "You
+must put that question to the captain. There he is."
+
+The fellow turned to me; he looked at me, stared, and was mute, when
+his cub of a boy cried out, "As sure as a gun it's he, father, and no
+mistake."
+
+"Oh, you imp of Satan, you know me, do you?" replied I. "Yes, it is
+he. Send all the men aft."
+
+The men came fast enough. They were only waiting till I had spoken to
+them to come and give information against him.
+
+"Now, my lads," said I, "this is a scoundrel who fell in with some of
+us when we were in distress, after we had lost our vessel. Instead of
+behaving as one seaman does to another, he robbed us of all we had,
+and turned us adrift naked to be killed by the Indians. Of all, I and
+the two Portuguese you took on board about four months back are the
+only three left: the others perished. The one who was with me was
+burnt to death by the Indians, and I narrowly escaped. I leave you to
+decide what this scoundrel merits."
+
+"But there is more against him, captain," said the men, and then four
+of them stepped out and declared that he had run away with the money
+belonging to the crew of which they were a part, and that the sum he
+had stolen amounted to 25,000 dollars.
+
+"What have you to say for yourself?" said I to him.
+
+"That I have been a cursed fool to be caught as I have been."
+
+"What will they do, father?"
+
+"Hang us, I suppose," replied he.
+
+"Captain Toplift," said I, "I do not command this vessel, and I shall
+therefore leave you to decide upon the fate of this miscreant;" and
+having said that, I was going below to the cabin, when the captain of
+the Transcendant's son ran to me, and said, "I want to speak to you,
+Sir, when you are alone."
+
+"What are you after, Peleg?" cried his father.
+
+"I'm going to save your life, father, if I can," replied he.
+
+"You'll be clever if you do that, boy," said the man, sneeringly.
+
+I allowed the boy to follow me down into the cabin, and then asked him
+what he had to say.
+
+"I have that to tell you which is of more value than the lives of a
+hundred boys like me."
+
+"Boys like you? Why I thought it was to save your father's life that
+you came down, Sir?"
+
+"Pooh!" said he, "let him hang; he was born for a halter. I am come to
+save my own life. I only said that to gammon him."
+
+"You're a hopeful youth," said I; "and pray what is that you can tell
+me that will save your own neck from the halter?"
+
+"That which will save your own, most likely," replied the boy, "and
+tit-for-tat's all fair."
+
+"Well, let's hear it, then," replied I.
+
+"No, not unless you promise. I can swing, if need be, as well as
+father, but I'd rather not, 'cause I know where all his money is
+hidden."
+
+"I can't make any promise," replied I.
+
+"Then I can't tell," replied he, "so I may e'en go on deck and tell
+father that I cannot manage it;" and as he said the latter part of
+this speech, the undaunted little villain actually laughed at the idea
+of gammoning his father, as he termed it.
+
+Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from
+it, is mostly true; but it is more certain that if you train a child
+up in the way that he should not go, he will be a more true disciple.
+Could there be a more decided proof of the above than the behaviour of
+this young villain? but his father had made him so, and thus was he
+rewarded.
+
+"Stop," said I, for I had reflected whether, after all, there were any
+grounds for hanging the boy, and come to a conclusion that a jury
+would have probably acquitted him. "Stop," said I; "you say that what
+you can tell is of the greatest consequence."
+
+"And becomes of more consequence every minute that passes," replied
+he. "I will tell you every thing, and let you into father's secrets. I
+peach upon father altogether."
+
+"Well, then," replied I, "if what you have to disclose proves
+important, I will do all I can to save your life, and I have no doubt
+that I shall be able so to do."
+
+"No more have I," replied he, "or I would not have come to you. Now
+then, father came to the back of the island to do a little business
+with a pirate schooner, as he said just now; and he has very often
+done it before, as he said just now; but father did not tell you all.
+When we were in Port Royal, father went to the captain of a king's
+vessel who is there, having been sent to put down the pirates if
+possible, and he offered this captain of the king's ship, for a
+certain sum, to put our friends that we exchange with into his hands."
+
+"What, betray his friend the pirate?"
+
+"Yes, father agreed that he would come round as he has done this day,
+and would contrive to chaffer and bargain with him and keep him so
+late in the bay that the king's ship should come upon him all of a
+sudden and take him, and this was father's intention, only you have
+pinned him. The king's ship will be round that point in two hours or
+thereabouts, so if you are found here you will be taken and hanged as
+sure as I ain't hanged yet. Now ain't this important news, and worth
+all I asked for it?"
+
+"It certainly is, if it is true, boy."
+
+"Oh, I'll prove it, for I always goes with father, and he trusts me
+with every thing. I saw the paper signed. The king's ship is called
+the Vestal, and the captain who signed the paper, signed it Philip
+Musgrave."
+
+"Indeed," said I, turning away, for I did not wish the boy to perceive
+my emotion at this announcement. I recovered myself as soon as I
+could, and said to him, "Boy, I will keep my promise. Do you stay
+below, and I will go on deck and plead for your life."
+
+"Mayn't I go on deck for a bit?" said he.
+
+"What, to wish your father good-bye? No, no, you had better spare
+yourself and him that painful meeting."
+
+"No, I don't want to wish him good-bye; I'll wait till it's over, only
+I never did see a man hanged, and I have a curiosity to have just a
+peep."
+
+"Out, you little monster," cried I, running up on deck, for the
+information I had received was too important not to be immediately
+taken advantage of.
+
+"Well, captain, has the boy saved his father's life?"
+
+"No," replied I, in a loud voice.
+
+"Then, up he goes," said the men, for the halter had been round his
+neck and run out to the yard-arm for some time, and the men had manned
+the rope, only awaiting my return on deck. In a second, the captain of
+the Transcendant was swinging in the air, and certainly if ever a
+scoundrel merited his fate, it was that man. Shortly afterwards I
+turned round, and there was the young hopeful looking at his father's
+body swinging to and fro with the motion of the vessel.
+
+I looked in vain for a tear in his eye; there was not a symptom of
+emotion. Seeing me look sternly at him, he hastened down below again.
+
+"My lads," said I to the men, who were all on deck, "I have received
+intelligence of that importance that I recommend that we should cut
+that vessel adrift, and make sail without a moment's loss of time."
+
+"What, not plunder?" cried the men, looking at the Transcendant.
+
+"No, not think of it, if you are wise."
+
+At this reply all of the men exclaimed that "that would not do"--"that
+plunder they would"--that "I was not the captain of the vessel," and
+many more expressions showing how soon a man may lose popularity on
+board of a pirate vessel.
+
+"I gave my opinion, my men, and if you will hear why I said so--"
+
+"No, no, out boats," cried they all, and simultaneously ran to lower
+down the boats, for it was now calm, that they might tow the schooner
+alongside of the Transcendant.
+
+"You might as well talk to the wind as talk to them when there is
+plunder to be obtained," said Toplift to me in a low tone.
+
+"Come down with me," said I, "and I will tell you what I have heard."
+
+"Ain't they going to plunder the brig?" said Master Peleg, when we
+came down; "I know where father's dollars are," and up he ran on deck.
+
+I made a short remark upon the depravity of the boy, and then informed
+Captain Toplift of what he had told me.
+
+"If you had told them, they would not have paid attention to you. The
+boat's crew who came with the captain have told them that there is
+money on board, and all authority is now at an end."
+
+"Well," replied I, "I believe that the boy has told the truth."
+
+"And what do you mean to do?"
+
+"Remain below quietly, if I am allowed," replied I.
+
+"But I cannot," said he; "they would throw me overboard."
+
+"Make as bad a fight of it as you can," replied I.
+
+"That I will," said Captain Toplift, "and with so superior a force
+opposed, we cannot stand long. But I must tell you where you must be."
+
+"Where?" replied I.
+
+"At the entrance of the magazine, for as sure as we stand here they
+will blow up the vessel rather than be taken. Not all of them, but two
+or three I know are determined so to do, and resolute enough to do it.
+My pistols are there. You have only to open this door, and you are in
+the magazine passage. See," said he, opening the door, "there is the
+scuttle where they hand the powder up."
+
+"I will be on the watch, depend upon it; and, Captain Toplift, if the
+schooner is taken, and I am alive, you may have no fear for yourself."
+
+"Now let us go on deck again."
+
+"I will follow you," replied I.
+
+"I am alone at last, thank Heaven!" said I to myself. "What a position
+am I in, and how much will be in suspense before twenty-four hours are
+over. My own brother here, not ten miles perhaps from me, commanding
+the vessel which will attack this on which I am on board. That they
+will take us I have no doubt; but what risk do I run--of death by
+shot, or by their blowing up the vessel in spite of me, or of no
+quarter being given. Well, I wish it were decided. At all events, I am
+long supposed dead, and I shall not be recognized among the heaps of
+bodies."
+
+I then went to the locker and took out my duck frock and trowsers,
+determining that I would, if I were killed, be killed in those
+clothes, and be thrown overboard as a common seaman. I then went on
+deck, for I had heard the grating of the sides of the two vessels and
+knew that they were in contact.
+
+All was uproar and confusion on board of the Transcendant, but there
+was nobody on board the schooner except Toplift and myself. I cannot
+say that I never saw such a scene, for I had seen quite as bad on
+board of a privateer. The common seamen, as well as the soldiers, when
+let loose to plunder, are like maniacs. In half an hour they had
+broken open every thing, cut the crew to pieces, found out the hoard
+of dollars, which was shown them by young Peleg, who tried for his
+share, but for so doing received a chop with a cutlass, which cut off
+his right ear, and wounded him severely on the shoulder; but his right
+arm was not disabled, and while the man that cut him down was bending
+over a heap of dollars, which took both hands to lift them, the boy
+ran his knife deep into the man's side, who fell mortally wounded. The
+rush for the dollars thus at the mercy of the rest was so great, that
+Peleg was not minded, and he crept away and came on board the
+schooner. We saw that he was bleeding profusely, but we asked no
+questions, and he went down the ladder forward.
+
+"What has that young villain been after?" said Toplift.
+
+"I presume he has been quarrelling for plunder, and considered that he
+had a greater right to his father's money than anybody else."
+
+Among other plunder the people had not forgotten to look for liquor,
+and an hour had not passed before three-fourths of the men were more
+or less intoxicated. They had found plenty of good clothes, and were
+strutting about with gold-laced waistcoats and embroidered coats over
+their dirty frocks. The uproar increased every minute, when Toplift,
+who had been looking out with the glass, exclaimed, "There she is, by
+all that's sacred!"
+
+I caught the glass out of his hand, and found it was the king's ship.
+She was a large flush vessel, apparently of eighteen or twenty guns,
+just opening from the point, and not seven miles from us. We were
+still becalmed, and she was bringing the wind down with her, so that
+to escape appeared impossible.
+
+"Now, what shall we do?" said Captain Toplift; "shall we allow her to
+come down upon us and say nothing to the men, or shall we point out
+the danger, and persuade them to come on board and prepare?"
+
+"You must do as you please," replied I, "I am indifferent which. It
+will be dark in another hour, and she will not be down by that time. I
+would rather avoid fighting, and get away from the schooner quietly if
+I could, but that I fear is impossible now."
+
+"Well, I must go on board of the brig and let them know, for if they
+find it out themselves, they will throw us overboard."
+
+Captain Toplift then went on board of the brig, and calling to the men
+who were still sober, told them that there was a king's ship coming
+down upon them not seven miles off. This had the effect of putting an
+end to the confusion and noise of a great portion of the men, who
+hastened on board of the schooner, but others, who were intoxicated,
+were with difficulty persuaded to return.
+
+At last they were all got on board, and the schooner, clear from the
+brig, was made ready for action; but Toplift was obliged to make some
+alteration in the stationing of the men, as those who were to hand up
+the powder were all of them tipsy. By the time that the schooner was
+ready, and the breeze had come down to her, the corvette was not more
+than three miles from us; but it was quite dark, for there is no
+twilight in those parts. We consulted what course we should take to
+avoid her, if possible, and agreed that we would stand in shore and
+pass her if we possibly could. We knew that, if seen, we were then
+certain to be obliged to fight; but if not seen, we might escape.
+
+We then shifted the helm and bore up across her bows, but we had not
+steered in this direction more than a quarter of an hour, when the
+Transcendant was perceived to be on fire, having been fired by the
+drunken men before they left her, and soon afterwards she burst out
+into flames that threw a strong light to a great distance, discovering
+the corvette to us at two miles' distance, and of course exposing us
+to the corvette, who immediately altered her course for us. We had
+therefore only to fight, and the crew, being most of them in liquor,
+declared that they would fight till the schooner sunk under them. In a
+quarter of an hour, the corvette being close to us, and standing stem
+on, we opened our fire, raking her masts and yards, and then I went
+down below. I had changed my clothes for the duck trowsers and shirt
+which I had swum on board in, and I now remained quietly in the cabin.
+A few minutes afterwards the corvette opened her fire, and the shot
+did great execution. The cries of the wounded and the shouts of the
+tipsy men were mingled together, but the crew of the schooner tired
+with great rapidity, and sustained the unequal conflict most
+gallantly.
+
+After a time some men darted down into the cabin. I was then at the
+door which led to the magazine passage, and busied myself handing up
+the powder, as it secured me from observation, and it was supposed
+that I was one of the crew sent down for that duty.
+
+The men roared out, "Where is the captain? We want him to fight the
+ship. Toplift is an old fool, and don't know what he is about."
+
+I made no reply, but with my back towards them continued to hand up
+the powder, and, having changed my dress, they did not recognize me,
+so they rushed upon deck again.
+
+The corvette was now alongside of the schooner, pouring in her
+broadsides with fatal execution, the shot passing in every direction
+through her, so that there was as much danger below as on deck, and it
+was evident that the schooner could not oppose them much longer. Still
+they continued to fire with great resolution, being now sobered into
+more steadiness than at first. But by this time more than half the men
+were killed and wounded, and our guns were encumbered with the wreck
+and bodies. I heard them, at the very time that a crashing broadside
+was poured in by the corvette, cry out, "Avast firing for a moment and
+clear the decks."
+
+They did so, and having thrown the bodies overboard and cut away the
+spars and rigging which had fallen, so as to enable them to work their
+guns, during which time three broadsides were poured in, they remanned
+their guns, and fought with as much spirit as before. I could not help
+admiring the courage of the scoundrels, for nothing could exceed it;
+but resistance was useless, further than they preferred dying at their
+guns to being hanged on the gibbet.
+
+But the shouts of the pirates and the reports of the guns gradually
+decreased. The men were swept away by the enemy's fire, and the guns
+were one by one disabled. The schooner's sides were torn out, and the
+water poured in below so fast that it was rising to the magazine. I
+heard a cry of boarders, and the striking of the two vessels together,
+and then there was a rush down below, when a man came aft to the
+magazine passage. It was the fellow whom I had struck down on the
+quarter-deck and had put into irons.
+
+"Come along," said he, to the others; "we'll send the corvette and
+ourselves all to the devil together. Out of the way there."
+
+"Stand back," said I.
+
+"Stand back," replied he, pointing his pistol down to the magazine.
+
+I threw up his arm, and the pistol went off, striking the beams above.
+
+"Blast you," cried he, "whoever you are; but I've another," and he
+attempted to draw it out of his belt, but before he could effect it I
+blew out his brains with the pistol which I had ready cocked in my
+hand.
+
+His companions started back, and I pointed my second pistol at them,
+saying, "The man who comes forward this way dies."
+
+As I said this the crew of the corvette, who had cleared the decks,
+charged down below, and the pirates ran away and secreted themselves.
+Perceiving them coming forward, I said to them, "Put a guard over the
+magazine; they have attempted to blow up the vessel already."
+
+"Who are you?" said an officer.
+
+"A prisoner," replied I.
+
+"Well, then, lead him on deck, and stay here, two of you; shut down
+the magazine scuttle and keep guard."
+
+"Thank Heaven," thought I, "that this affair is over," as a seaman
+led me by the collar on deck, and handed me to others, who took me on
+board of the corvette.
+
+We were all put down below that remained out of the schooner's crew,
+about eighteen or nineteen, not more, and I was glad to find Captain
+Toplift, although badly wounded with a splinter, was among the number.
+We remained there huddled together with a guard of ten men over us for
+more than an hour, when we heard, from the conversation on deck, that
+the schooner had sunk. After that the guns of the corvette were
+secured, and the men had an allowance of liquor served out to them,
+the watch was called, and all was quiet during the remainder of that
+night. For some time I was in a state of excitement from the events of
+the last twenty-four hours crowding so rapidly, but by degrees I
+became calm. I asked one of the guard who was the captain of the
+corvette.
+
+"What's that to you, you gallows-bird?" replied he.
+
+"A civil question might receive a civil reply," answered I.
+
+"So it might with any one else; but if you don't want the hilt of my
+cutlass down your throat, you will hold your tongue."
+
+But I did not require to repeat the question, as I heard one of the
+officers on deck say, "It's Captain Musgrave's orders."
+
+This satisfied me, and I lay down with the rest of the prisoners,
+waiting for daybreak, when I trusted my troubles would soon be over.
+They were all sound asleep. Strange that men who knew that they would
+be hanged In a few days, if not the next morning, should sleep so
+sound--but so it was--while I, who had every reason to believe that my
+sufferings were over, could not sleep one wink. I was, however, fully
+satisfied with my own castle-buildings during the night, and more
+satisfied when it was again broad daylight. After the men had had
+their breakfast, an order came down for all the prisoners to be
+brought on deck. We were led up under guard, and made to stand all in
+a row. I looked round for my brother, but he was not on deck. It was
+the first lieutenant who was there, with several other officers, and
+the clerk, with pen and ink, to take down the names of the prisoners.
+
+"Who was the captain of this vessel?" said the first lieutenant.
+
+"I was, Sir," replied Toplift; "but much against my will."
+
+"Oh, of course; every man was on board of her against his will. What
+is your name? Put him down, Mr. Pearson. Any other officers alive?"
+
+"No, Sir," replied Toplift.
+
+The name of every man was then asked and put down, and it so happened
+that I was the last; for, anxious to see my brother, I had walked up
+the foremost, and they had commenced their interrogation at the other
+end of the line.
+
+"What is your name?"
+
+"I do not belong to the schooner," replied I.
+
+"Of course not; you dropped on board her from the clouds."
+
+"No, Sir, I did not; I swam on board of her to save my life."
+
+"Then you went out of the frying-pan into the fire, I reckon, my good
+fellow, for your life is forfeited now."
+
+"I rather think not, Sir," replied I. "On the contrary, I feel it is
+quite safe."
+
+"Give us none of your jaw, my good fellow, but give us your name."
+
+"Certainly, Sir, if you require it. My name is Alexander Musgrave,
+Sir," replied I; "I am the elder brother of your captain, Philip
+Musgrave, and I will thank you to go into his cabin and inform him
+that I am here."
+
+The first lieutenant and officers started back in astonishment, and so
+did Captain Toplift and the pirates. The first lieutenant hardly knew
+whether to consider it as a pretence on my part or not, and was
+undecided how to act, when Captain Toplift said, "I do not know
+whether the gentleman is as he says, but this is certain, and all the
+men can prove it as well as myself, that he did swim on board, as he
+said, to escape from the Indians, and that he has never joined the
+crew. They offered to make him captain in my stead, and he positively
+refused it."
+
+"Yes," said all the pirates; "that's true enough."
+
+"Well, Sir," replied the first lieutenant, "I will certainly carry
+your message."
+
+"To make all certain," replied I, "I will write my name on a slip of
+paper for you to take in to the captain. He knows my signature."
+
+I did so, and the first lieutenant took the paper, and went into the
+cabin. In a minute he returned, and requested me to follow him. I did
+so, and in another minute I was in the arms of my brother. For some
+time we neither of us could speak. At last Philip said, "That you are
+alive and well, let me thank Heaven. I have considered you as dead,
+and so have others; and to find you on board of a pirate--on board of
+a vessel which I have been riddling with shot, any one of which might
+have caused your death. Thank God I was ignorant that you were on
+board, or I never could have done my duty. I will not ask how you came
+on board of this vessel, for that must be the end of your narrative,
+which I must have from the time that you first left Rio, and
+afterwards in detail the whole from the time that you left the Coast."
+
+"Then they received my letters from Rio?"
+
+"Yes, after imagining you were dead, they were rejoiced by those
+letters; but I will not anticipate my story, nor will I now ask for
+yours; it is sufficient at present that you are alive, my dear
+Alexander, and once more in my arms."
+
+"Let me ask one question," replied I.
+
+"I know what it will be. She was in good health, but suffering much in
+mind from having no account of you. Her father and others have
+reasoned with her, and painted the impossibility of your being in
+existence, as the xebeque you sailed in had never been heard of. She
+still adheres in the opinion that you are alive, and will not abandon
+the hope of seeing you again; but hope deferred has paled her cheek
+even more pale than it usually is, and she evidently suffers much, for
+her life is wrapped in yours. Now having told you this, you must come
+into my state-room, and allow me to enable you to appear as my brother
+ought to do. I do not think that there is any difference in our size
+now, although there was when we last parted."
+
+"Many thanks, Philip, but before I adonize my outward man I should
+wish to satisfy my inward cravings; and, to tell you the truth, I'm so
+hungry from not having broken my fast for nearly twenty-four hours,
+that if you could order something to eat while you are looking out the
+clothes, I should feel in no small degree grateful."
+
+Philip rang the bell and ordered the steward in bring something to eat
+and drink, and after eating I occupied a quarter of an hour more in
+getting rid of the pirate smoke and dirt, and putting on one of his
+uniforms, for he had no other clothes on board, when I came out,
+looking not at all like a pirate.
+
+"Now, then," said Philip, "before we have our _tete-a-tete_, come out
+with me, and let me introduce you to the officers as my brother."
+
+I went out with him, and was formally introduced. The first lieutenant
+apologized for his rough speech, but I told him that there was no
+occasion for any apology, as I had no doubt that I looked very much
+like a pirate at the time.
+
+"More than you do now. Sir, at all events," replied he.
+
+"By the bye, brother," said I, "there is one man among the prisoners
+who, although compelled to act as captain by the men, is no pirate.
+His conduct I will explain to you. May I request him to be kindly
+treated? His name is Toplift--and also two Portuguese, my former
+companions."
+
+"Certainly," replied Philip, "your word is sufficient. Let those
+persons be released and taken care of," said he to the first
+lieutenant. "We will wait for the particulars by-and-by."
+
+I remained on deck about ten minutes, and then returned to the cabin
+with my brother.
+
+"What is this which you have left on my dressing-table?" said Philip,
+surveying the leather bag which contained the diamond.
+
+"That, Philip," said I, "is a portion of my narrative, and eventually
+may prove a very important one. I don't think that I can afford to
+make you a present of it, but I shall see."
+
+"It does not look very valuable," replied he.
+
+"At all events, do me the favour to lock it up carefully," replied I.
+
+"Well, if you are in earnest I will," he said, and having put it in a
+drawer and locked it up, he said, "Now, Alexander, let me have your
+history."
+
+I commenced, and told him all that the reader is now acquainted with.
+Dinner broke off my narrative, and as soon as it was over I resumed
+it. When I had finished, he expressed his astonishment, and asked many
+questions. Among others he said, "And that little wretch Peleg, the
+captain of the Transcendant's son, is he on board?"
+
+"I have not seen him," replied I, "and therefore presume that he was
+not able to move, and went down in the schooner." Which was the case.
+
+"You have indeed told me a strange tale," said Philip, "and you have
+had some extraordinary escapes. You must have a charmed life, and you
+appear to have been preserved to prove that Amy's persuasion of your
+being still alive was just and well-founded; and now it is my turn to
+talk, and yours to listen. When I left you as lieutenant of Captain
+Levee's schooner, we very shortly afterwards had an action with a
+Spanish vessel of very superior force, for she mounted thirty guns.
+Having no chance with her, from her superior weight of metal, we threw
+ourselves on her bow and boarded. The Spaniards did not relish this
+kind of close fighting, and gave us immediate possession of their
+deck. Captain Levee, when he brought in his prize, was appointed to a
+frigate of thirty-six guns, and I followed him as his first
+lieutenant. We had another combat with a vessel of equal force, in
+which we were the victors, and I was sent in the prize. Captain Levee
+wrote very kindly in my behalf, and I was made a captain, and given
+the command of a small brig. But let me first finish with Captain
+Levee. He captured a galleon, which gave him a large fortune, and he
+then gave up the command of his ship, and went on shore, telling me in
+a letter that he had hitherto squandered away all his money, but now
+that he had got so much, he intended to keep it. He has done so, for
+he has purchased a large landed property, is married, and I believe,
+is very happy."
+
+"He deserves it," replied I; "and long may he be so."
+
+"Well, to continue. I was sent out on this station, and having
+information that the vessel which you are now on board of was at
+anchor in a bay close to the Havannah, I ran in and reconnoitred. She
+hoisted Spanish colours, and I did the same. It fell calm, and I lay
+about four miles outside. I was mistaken for another Spanish vessel,
+and the captain of this vessel, or, to speak correctly, the Spanish
+captain of the Spanish brig, came out to see me, and did not discover
+his mistake till he was on board. I detained him and his boat's crew.
+It continued calm till the evening, when the breeze sprung up, and I
+put the head of the brig right for the bay, as if I were going in to
+anchor. The breeze being light, it was dark before I got in and
+alongside this vessel. They were completely surprised, for they
+imagined that their captain was dining with his old friend, and having
+no idea that we were any thing but Spanish, had not the least
+preparation for resistance. We had possession of her decks before they
+could seize their arms, and I brought her out without any one knowing
+that she had been captured. On my arrival, the admiral gave me the
+command of her, which I have held for nine months; but she is very
+defective, and I was ordered home, and should have sailed, had it not
+been that that scoundrel, the captain of the Transcendant, gave me the
+information which induced me to come round to the back of the island.
+Little did I think what happiness awaited me. So much for myself. Do
+not think me an egotist for speaking of myself, I am only clearing
+away the less important information to arrive at that which most
+interests you. The Amy arrived safe with her valuable cargo. The
+captain reported that he had remained at the rendezvous until blown
+off by a sort of hurricane, and that finding himself a long way off,
+he considered, when the gale had ceased, that he was not justified in
+remaining with so valuable a cargo, but was bound to make the best of
+his way to Liverpool. He was right, and his conduct was approved of by
+Mr. Trevannion, who looked for your arrival every hour. At last a week
+passed away and you did not make your appearance, and great alarm was
+entertained for your safety. The weeks grew into months, and it was
+supposed that you had been upset in the same hurricane which had
+driven the Amy so far off from her rendezvous. The poor girl, Whyna,
+was, as you may suppose, kindly received by Mr. Trevannion and his
+daughter, and soon gained their affection; but she pined for your
+return, and when she was told that you were dead she never recovered
+it. The climate certainly did not agree with her, and she contracted a
+very bad cough during the winter, but I believe from my heart that it
+was your loss which affected her the most severely. After she had been
+about eighteen months in England, she fell into a consumption and
+died."
+
+"Poor Whyna!" said I, with a sigh.
+
+"Alexander," said Philip, "perhaps it was all for the best, for that
+poor girl loved you sincerely, and supposing that she was now still
+alive and living with Miss Trevannion, and on your return your
+marriage should (which of course, unless Heaven decrees otherwise, it
+will) take place, that poor creature would have been very unhappy; and
+although the idea of her being a rival to Miss Trevannion is something
+which may appear absurd to us, yet she had the same feelings, and must
+have endured the same pangs as any other woman, let her colour be what
+it may. I think, therefore, that her removal was a blessing and a
+happy dispensation. I saw Mr. Trevannion and his daughter but once
+previous to their receiving your letters from Rio acquainting them
+with your misfortunes and happy deliverance from slavery. They were
+both very dejected, and Mr. Trevannion talked of retiring from
+business, and living upon his property near Liverpool. As I
+corresponded regularly with Amy, I learnt that he had done so, and had
+just wound up his affairs when your letters arrived from Rio with an
+order on the Portuguese Exchequer for a considerable sum. I hardly
+need say that the joy occasioned by this intelligence was great. Amy
+recovered her good looks, and her father bitterly lamented his having
+retired from business, as he had wished to have made the whole over to
+you. The money you remitted from Rio he considered as your own, and he
+also set apart your share of the business from the time that you were
+admitted as a partner. He was not aware that you could carry a diamond
+of such immense value about your person, exposed to the view of every
+one; among Indians, settlers, and pirates. That my delight was equal
+to theirs you will, I am sure, give me credit to believe; and although
+I was obliged to sail for the West Indies, every day I anticipated
+receiving a letter informing me of your arrival in England. Judge then
+my distress at first receiving letters stating that you had not been
+heard of for three months after your leaving Rio, and expressions of
+fear that some accident had happened, and then month after month many
+more and more desponding letters, in which Mr. Trevannion plainly
+stated that the xebeque must have foundered; and only Amy clinging to
+the hope that you were still alive. I acknowledge that I considered
+you dead, and you may therefore imagine my surprise and delight when
+your signature on the slip of paper proved that you were not only in
+existence, but on board of the same vessel with me."
+
+Such was the narrative of my brother Philip in return for mine, and it
+was late at night when we parted. Oh! how sincerely did I pray that
+night, thanking Heaven for all its mercies, and entreating that the
+cup might not be again dashed from my lips. When I arose the next
+morning I found that Philip was on deck, and I followed him.
+
+"We shall soon be in Port Royal with this wind," said he, "and I hope
+to find the admiral still there."
+
+I had some conversation with the officers, and then went below to see
+Toplift. He was in his hammock, for he had much fever and suffered
+from his wound, but the surgeon said that he would do well.
+
+"Toplift," said I, "you must keep your mind at ease, for my brother
+has promised me that you shall not be tried with the others, and has
+no doubt that when he explains the whole to the admiral you will be
+thanked for your service."
+
+"Thanked!" said Toplift, "if I am not hanged, I shall be fortunate
+enough."
+
+"No fear of that," replied I, "so keep your mind easy and get well as
+fast as you can."
+
+"Well then, Sir, you have saved my life, at all events, for had you
+not come on board, no one would have ever spoken for me, or believed
+that I was not a pirate in heart like all the others, except the two
+Portuguese."
+
+"If necessary, they will be evidence in your favour, but I do not
+think any evidence will be required except mine, and that will be
+sufficient with the admiral. I promised you that you should never want
+the means of getting your livelihood, and I repeat that promise now."
+
+"Thank you, Sir," replied he, and I then left him and went up to the
+cabin to breakfast.
+
+The following day we were at anchor at Port Royal; my brother reported
+what had occurred, and the admiral sent for all the pirate prisoners
+except Toplift, whose case was so fully represented by me and my
+brother, that he was permitted to go at large, and to take a passage
+home to England free of expense if he wished it. It is hardly
+necessary to say that Toplift accepted this offer, and remained in the
+vessel with me. The two Portuguese were also liberated. Three days
+after our arrival we sailed for England, and after a quick run of
+between five and six weeks, we anchored at Spithead. My brother could
+not leave his ship, and I therefore requested him to write to
+Liverpool stating that he had intelligence of me, and that I was
+alive; that I had been wrecked and had fallen into the hands of the
+Indians near the English settlements in Virginia, and that I had
+escaped and was, he believed, at James Town.
+
+I considered it wise to make a communication like this at first, as
+too sudden an announcement might be dangerous to one in so weak a
+state of health as Philip stated my Amy to be from the letter he had
+received from her father. I remained with him at Portsmouth until the
+reply came. Mr. Trevannion wrote and told Philip that his
+communication had, as it were, raised his daughter from the grave--as
+she had fallen into a state of profound melancholy, which nothing
+could remove--that he had very cautiously introduced the subject, and
+by degrees told her what was reported, and eventually when he found
+that she was more composed, that he had put Philip's letter into her
+hand.
+
+He concluded that he trusted that I would arrive, and soon, for if any
+accident was now to happen to me it would be the death of his
+daughter, who had not strength enough left to bear another reverse. At
+my request Philip then wrote that he had received a letter from a
+brother officer stating that I was well and safe on board, and that
+they would be in England a few days after the receipt of the letter.
+
+Leaving directions to Philip how to proceed, I now went off to London,
+and having fitted myself out with every requisite of dress and toilet,
+I called upon a celebrated Jew diamond merchant and showed him my
+diamond, requesting that he would weigh it and then estimate its
+value. He was much astonished at the sight of such a stone, as well he
+might be, and after weighing it and examining it, he pronounced it
+worth L47,000, provided a purchaser could be found for an article of
+such value.
+
+I told him that I was not a merchant, and could not be travelling
+about to show the diamond to crowned heads, but if he would give me a
+liberal price for it, I would abate a great deal, that he might
+dispose of it to his own advantage. He requested that he might call
+upon me with two of his friends, that they might see the diamond and
+consult with him; and then he would give me an answer. We fixed the
+time for twelve o'clock on the following day, and I took my leave.
+
+The next day he called at the time appointed, accompanied by two
+gentlemen of his own persuasion. They weighed the stone again very
+carefully, examined it by the light of a powerful lamp to ascertain
+its water, and to see if there were any flaws in it, calculated the
+reduction of weight which would take place in cutting it, and, after a
+consultation, I was offered L38,000. I considered this an offer that I
+ought not to refuse, and I closed with them. The next day the affair
+was settled. I received money and bills on government to the amount,
+and wrote to Philip telling him what had taken place. Strange that
+from two slaves in the mines I should have received such valuable
+legacies; from poor Ingram a diamond worth so much money, and from the
+other Englishman a tattered Bible which made me a sincere Christian--a
+legacy in comparison of which the diamond was as dross.
+
+Philip replied to my letter congratulating me on the sale of the
+diamond, and informing me that to his letter he had received a reply
+containing so satisfactory an account of Amy's restored health, that
+he had written to tell them that I had arrived safe in England, and
+would be very soon with them. He recommended my going immediately, as
+the anxiety and suspense would be very injurious to Amy's health. I
+therefore made every arrangement for my departure, purchased horses,
+and procured four stout serving men, well armed, to accompany me, and
+wrote a letter, which I sent by an express courier, stating the exact
+day which I expected to arrive at Mr. Trevannion's country seat.
+
+I waited in London two days to wind up all my affairs, and to give
+time for the express to arrive before me, as I intended to travel very
+fast. My stay in London was the occasion of an important discovery. I
+was at the coffee-house at St. Paul's, and was talking with one of
+Captain Levee's officers, with whom I had picked up an acquaintance,
+when on his calling me by the name of Musgrave, a pinched-up sort of
+looking personage, in a black suit, who was standing at the
+bay-window, turned round, and coming up to me said, "Sir, as a
+stranger I must apologize, but hearing your friend call you by the
+name of Musgrave, may I venture to ask if you are any relative to Sir
+Richard Musgrave, Baronet, who lived in Cumberland?"
+
+"Lived, did you say, Sir? Is he then dead?"
+
+"Yes, Sir; he has been dead these last seven months, and we are
+looking out for his heir and cannot find him."
+
+"I knew the family very well," replied I, "for I am connected with it.
+His eldest son, Richard, of course, must be his heir, as all the
+estates are entailed."
+
+"His eldest son, Richard, Sir, is dead. We have authenticated
+documents to prove that; and, moreover, his second son, Charles, is
+also dead. He came home very ill and died, not at his father's house,
+but at the house of one of his tenants on the estate. It is his third
+son, Alexander Musgrave, whom we seek, and seek in vain. He is now the
+heir to the baronetcy and estates, but we have lost all clue to him.
+We understand that a Captain Philip Musgrave is just arrived from the
+West Indies. He is, we presume, the fourth son. But until we can find
+out what has become of Alexander Musgrave, and whether he is dead or
+alive, we cannot act. I have written this day to Captain Musgrave,
+requesting any information he can give, but have received no answer. I
+presume, Sir, it is useless to inquire of you?"
+
+"Not exactly, Sir, for I am the Alexander Musgrave you seek."
+
+"Indeed, Sir, but what proof have you of your identity to offer to
+us."
+
+"The evidence of my brother, Captain Philip Musgrave, in whose ship I
+have just arrived from the West Indies; that his answer to your letter
+will be satisfactory enough, I have no doubt. Here is a letter from
+him to me, in which you see he addresses me 'my dear Alexander,' and
+concludes with 'your affectionate brother, Philip Musgrave.'"
+
+"This is indeed, satisfactory, Sir," replied the gentleman, "and I
+have only to receive an answer from your brother to make all right and
+clear. Allow me, Sir, to congratulate you upon your accession to the
+title and property. I presume you will have no objection, as soon as
+the necessary proofs are obtained, to accompany me down to Cumberland,
+where I doubt not you will be recognized by many."
+
+"Of that, Sir, I have not the slightest doubt," replied I, "but I
+cannot go down with you to Cumberland at present. I leave London for
+Liverpool the day after to-morrow on important business, and cannot
+disappoint the parties."
+
+"Well, Sir, it must indeed be an important business which will prevent
+you from taking possession of a title and L4,000 per annum," replied
+he; "but here is my address, and I hope I shall hear from you as soon
+as possible, as I shall remain in town till I can bring the heir down
+with me."
+
+The man now looked as if he doubted me. He could not imagine that I
+could neglect the taking possession of the estate for any other
+business, and it did appear singular, so I said to him, "Sir, I have
+been long out of England, and am affianced to a young lady who lives
+near Liverpool. She has been waiting to hear from me for some time,
+and I have sent an express to say that I will be with her on such a
+day. I cannot disappoint her, and, I tell you more, that, without I
+possess her, the possession of the title and estates will give me very
+little pleasure."
+
+"Sir," replied he, making a bow, "I honour your sentiments, and she
+must be a worthy lady who can inspire such feelings. I only hope that
+you will not remain too long at Liverpool, as London is expensive, and
+I am anxious to return to Cumberland."
+
+I then wished the gentleman farewell, and went home to my lodgings. I
+had given him my address in case he wanted to see me before my
+departure.
+
+The next day I received a letter from Philip inclosing the one written
+to him by this gentleman, whose name was Campbell, and who was a
+lawyer. Philip told me what reply he had made to him, and
+congratulated me on my accession to the title and estates. Almost an
+hour afterwards Mr. Campbell called upon me with Philip's letter,
+which he declared to be highly satisfactory, and sufficient in any
+court of justice.
+
+"But," said he, "I would wish to ask you a few particulars."
+
+"And I also would wish to make a few inquiries, Mr. Campbell. I have
+heard your name in my youth, although I cannot recollect ever having
+seen you."
+
+"I was the confidential adviser of your father at one time, Sir,"
+replied he, "but latterly all intercourse had ceased; it was not until
+he was on his death-bed, and fully repented the foolish step which he
+had taken, and the injustice he had been guilty of, that he sent for
+me, much to the annoyance of Lady Musgrave, who would have prevented
+me from coming into the house even when I arrived, had it not been for
+the servants, who disobeyed her."
+
+"And my sisters, Sir, Janet and Mabel?"
+
+"Are both well, and have grown up very fine girls. Your father
+destroyed the deed by which Lady Musgrave was to have had a large
+jointure upon the estate, and she is now entirely dependent upon you
+for what she may receive. When do you expect to be able to come up
+from Liverpool?"
+
+"I can hardly say, but of course as soon as I can."
+
+"Well, Sir, my own affairs will require my presence in the metropolis
+for a month. In the meantime, although I should have preferred to have
+gone down with you to Faristone Hall, and have at once put you in
+possession, yet affairs may remain as they are (for every thing is
+under seal, and Lady Musgrave has been compelled to remove), till it
+suits your convenience. I shall, however, write to let them know that
+you have been found, and will soon come down and take possession."
+
+Mr. Campbell then asked me a few questions, to which I replied
+satisfactorily, and then for the first time he saluted me with my
+title, saying, "Sir Alexander, I will now take my leave."
+
+The next morning I set off on my journey, and travelled with as much
+speed as the horses would permit. I arrived on the fifth day at Mr.
+Trevannion's seat, about nine miles from Liverpool. As I rode up the
+avenue of chestnut trees, I perceived a female form looking out from
+an upper window, which soon afterwards made a precipitate retreat. I
+alighted, and was received at the door in the embrace of Mr.
+Trevannion, who welcomed me with tears, and taking me by the hand he
+led me into an apartment where I found my adored Amy, who threw
+herself into my arms and wept as if her heart would break; but her
+sobs were the sobs of joy, and when she did raise her head and look at
+me, it was with eyes beaming with pleasure, and with smiles upon her
+beautiful lips. I clasped her to my bosom, and felt that I was more
+than repaid for all I had suffered, and my heart was throbbing with
+gratitude and love.
+
+It was some time before we could sufficiently compose ourselves to
+enter into lengthened conversation, and then Amy inquired what had
+occurred to me to occasion such a lengthened absence. We sat down on a
+sofa, and with Amy on one side of me and her father on the other, I
+entered into my narrative.
+
+"And so you have been married since we last heard from you?" said Amy,
+smiling, when I had finished my history.
+
+"Yes," replied I, "I have been; but I hope I shall treat my second
+wife a little better than I did my first."
+
+"I hope so too," replied Amy; "but I have great fear that your
+Virginian mistress may come over and claim you."
+
+"I do not think that likely. From the Indians having followed me to
+the beach, they must have fallen in with her."
+
+"And what do you think became of her?"
+
+"Of course I cannot exactly say; but I presume she died gallantly, and
+fought with her axe to the last."
+
+That evening I had a long conversation with Mr. Trevannion. He told me
+what he had done with the money, which he considered as mine, and I
+put into his care the sum I had received for the diamond. I then spoke
+to him about our marriage, and requested that it might not be
+postponed.
+
+"My dear Musgrave," said he, "my daughter's happiness so depends upon
+her union with you, that I can only say I am willing that it should
+take place to-morrow. For yourself you know that I have the highest
+esteem, and that you must be convinced of when I have consented to
+the match without even making inquiry as to your family and
+connections. Now, however, is the time that I should wish to have some
+information about them."
+
+"My dear Sir, if you will only make inquiries, you will find that the
+family of Musgrave is one of the most highly connected in the north,
+and that the head of it is a or was Sir Richard Musgrave, Baronet, of
+Faristone Hall, in Cumberland. I am a near relative of his, as I can
+satisfactorily prove."
+
+"That is sufficient," replied Mr. Trevannion. "I shall leave you to
+plead your cause with Amy to-morrow; so now, good night."
+
+The following day I told Amy that, since my arrival in England, I had
+heard of the death of my father, and that it was necessary that I
+should go to the north, as family affairs required my presence.
+
+"Are you serious?" replied she.
+
+"Never more so in my life. My presence is absolutely necessary, and I
+made arrangements with the legal adviser of our family that I would be
+there in less than a month."
+
+"It is a long journey," said Mr. Trevannion, "and how long to you
+stay?"
+
+"That I cannot possibly say," replied I; "but not longer than I can
+help."
+
+"I do not think that I shall let you go," said Amy; "you are not to be
+trusted out of sight. You are so born for adventure that you will not
+be heard of again for another two years."
+
+"Such is my misfortune, I grant," replied I; "but, Amy, you look pale
+and thin; change of air would do you much service. Suppose you and
+your father were to come with me. Indeed, Mr. Trevannion, I am in
+earnest. At this delightful time of the year nothing would prove so
+beneficial to her health; and, Amy, then, you know, that I shall not
+be out of your sight."
+
+"I should like the tour very much," replied she, "but--"
+
+"I know what you would say. You do not like the idea of travelling
+with me as Amy Trevannion. You are right. Then let me propose that you
+travel with me as Amy Musgrave."
+
+"I second that proposal," said Mr. Trevannion.
+
+"Consent, Amy, let our marriage be quite private. I know you will
+prefer that it should be so, and so will your father. You will then
+travel with me as my wife, and we never shall part again."
+
+Amy did not reply till her father said, "Amy, it is my wish that it
+should be so. Recollect it will be the last time that you have to obey
+your father, so do not annoy me by a refusal."
+
+"I will not, my dear father," replied Amy, kissing him. "Your last
+command I obey with pleasure. And oh! if I have sometimes been a
+wilful girl, forgive me every thing at this moment."
+
+"My dear child, I have nothing to forgive. May God bless you; and, Mr.
+Musgrave," said he, putting her hand in mine, "if she proves as good a
+wife as she has been a daughter, you now receive a treasure," and I
+felt that the old man stated what was true.
+
+It was arranged that the marriage should take place on that day week,
+and that it should be quite private. There was no parade of bridal
+clothes; in fact, no one was invited, and it was at my request quite a
+secret marriage. A clergyman had been engaged to perform the ceremony,
+and, on the day appointed, I received the hand of my Amy in the
+drawing-room, and in the presence only of Humphrey and two other
+confidential servants.
+
+After the ceremony was over, the clergyman requested me to come with
+him into the adjoining room, and said, it was necessary that he should
+give a certificate of the marriage, which must be inserted in the
+parish register. He had called me aside for that purpose, that I might
+give him my exact name, profession, &c.
+
+"My name is Alexander Musgrave, as you have heard when you married
+us."
+
+"Yes, I know that, but I must be particular. Have you no other name?
+Is that the name that you have been and will be in future known by?"
+
+"Not exactly," replied I; "I have been known by that name, but in
+future shall not be."
+
+"Then what am I to say?"
+
+"You must say, Sir Alexander Musgrave, Baronet, of Faristone Hall,
+Cumberland."
+
+"Good," said he, "that is what I required; and the lady your wife, has
+she any other name but Amy?"
+
+"None, I believe."
+
+The clergyman then wrote out the marriage certificate, and signed it,
+taking a copy for registry, and we returned into the drawing-room.
+
+"Here is the certificate of marriage, Madam," said he; "it ought to be
+in the care of the lady, and therefore, my lady, I hand it over to
+you."
+
+"My lady is much obliged to you for your kindness," replied Amy, for
+she thought that the clergyman was only facetious.
+
+She held the certificate in her hand folded as it had been given her
+for some time. At last curiosity, or, perhaps, having nothing else to
+do, induced her to open it and read it. I was at this time talking
+with the clergyman, and presenting him with a handsome douceur for his
+trouble; but perceiving her to open the certificate, I watched her
+countenance. She read and started. I turned away as if not observing
+her. She then went up to her father and desired him to read it.
+
+The old gentleman took out his glasses, and it was amusing to see the
+way in which he looked at his daughter with his spectacles falling off
+his nose. He then came up, and pointing to the certificate said, "Pray
+how am I in future to address my daughter?"
+
+"As Amy, I trust, Sir, unless you wish to scold her, and then you must
+call her Lady Musgrave. I am, my dear Sir, as the certificate states,
+Sir Alexander Musgrave, of Faristone, with a handsome property
+descended to me. I did not know it till I arrived in London, and if I
+concealed it from you till now, it was only that my Amy should have
+the satisfaction of proving to me that she wedded me in pure
+disinterestedness of affection."
+
+"It was very, very kind of you, Alexander, to do as you have done, and
+I thank you sincerely for it."
+
+"And now, my dear Amy, you understand why I wished you to come with me
+to Cumberland, that you may take possession of your future abode, and
+assume that position in society which you will so much grace. I trust,
+Sir," continued I, "that you will not part from us, and that one roof
+will always cover us, as long as Heaven thinks fit to spare our
+lives."
+
+"May God bless you both," replied Mr. Trevannion, "I cannot part with
+you, and must follow."
+
+About half an hour after this, I requested Amy and Mr. Trevannion to
+sit by me, as I had now another narrative to give them, which was an
+explanation why and how it was that they found me in the position that
+they had done; in short, what were the causes that induced me, and
+afterwards my brother Philip, to quit our parental roof, and to come
+to the resolution of fighting our own way in the world. It was as
+follows:
+
+"Sir Richard Musgrave, my father, married a young lady of high
+connection, a Miss Arabella Johnson, and with her lived, I have every
+reason to believe, a very happy life for nearly twenty-five years,
+when it pleased God to summon her away. I have a good recollection of
+my mother; for although I lived with my brother at a private tutor's,
+about six miles off, I was continually at home, and she did not die
+till I was nearly sixteen; and I can only say, that a more elegant,
+amiable, and truly virtuous woman, as I believe, never existed. By
+this marriage my father had four sons and two daughters; Richard, the
+eldest; Charles, the second; myself, the third; and Philip, the
+fourth; and my sisters, who came last, were named Janet and Mabel. At
+the time of my mother's death, my eldest brother was serving with the
+army, which he had entered from a love of the profession, although,
+as heir to the baronetcy and estates, which are a clear 4,000_l._ per
+annum, he of course had no occasion for a profession. My second
+brother, Charles, being of an adventurous turn, had gone out to the
+East Indies in a high position, as servant to the Company. I was still
+at home, as well as Philip, who is four years my junior, and my
+sisters were of course at home. I pass over my regrets at my mother's
+death, and will now speak more of my father. He was a good-tempered,
+weak man, easily led, and although, during my mother's lifetime, he
+was so well led that it was of little consequence, the case proved
+very different at her death. For a year my father remained quiet in
+the house, content with superintending his improvements on his
+property, and he had lately become infirm, and had given up the hounds
+and rural sports in general. The dairy was one of his principal
+hobbies; and it so happened that a young girl, the daughter of a
+labourer, was one of the females employed in that part of the
+establishment. She was certainly remarkably good-looking; her features
+were very small, and she did not show that robust frame which people
+in her class of life generally do. She was about seventeen years old,
+slight in figure, and certainly a person that you would not pass
+without making some commendatory remark upon her good looks and modest
+appearance. She was not, however, what she appeared; she was beyond
+measure cunning and astute, and, as it proved, inordinately ambitious.
+My father, who was naturally of an amorous disposition, was attracted
+by her, and very soon was constantly in the dairy, and his attentions
+were so marked, that the other servants used to call her 'my lady.' A
+few months after my father had shown a preference for this girl, he
+was seized with his first attack of gout. It did not last him long,
+and in six weeks he was about again, and resumed his attentions to
+her. Philip and I, who were at our tutor's, when we came home, heard
+from others what was going on, and very foolishly played the girl many
+tricks, and annoyed her as much as we could. After we returned, my
+father had another fit of the gout, and when he was confined to his
+room, he desired this girl to be sent for to attend upon him. I cannot
+say what took place, but this is certain, that my father's
+unfortunate passion became so great, and I presume the girl's ambition
+rose in proportion, that about six months afterwards, this daughter of
+a menial was raised to the dignity of Lady Musgrave--she being at that
+time about eighteen, and my father verging on seventy.
+
+"When this ill-assorted and disgraceful connection was known, the
+gentry and aristocracy of the county refused any longer to visit my
+father, and all communication was broken off. In a short time the
+ascendency which this artful girl gained over the old man was most
+wonderful. He lived but in her sight, and knew no will but hers. Her
+father and family were removed to a good house in the neighbourhood,
+and gave themselves all the airs of gentlepeople. The good old steward
+was dismissed, and her father established in his room, although the
+man could not read or write, and was wholly unfit for the office. The
+expense which she launched out into, by his permission, was excessive.
+New liveries, new coaches, diamonds, and dresses fit for the
+court--indeed, every kind of luxury that could be conceived, and much
+greater than my father could afford. She now showed herself in her
+true colours; vindictive and tyrannical to excess, she dismissed all
+the old servants, and oppressed all those to whom she owed a grudge;
+yet my poor father could see nothing but perfection in her. It was not
+till four months after the marriage that Philip and I came home, and
+our new step-mother had not forgotten our treatment of her. She
+treated us with great harshness, refused our taking meals at my
+father's table, and ordered us the coarsest fare; and when we
+complained to my father, denied every thing that we said. As we found
+that we could not induce our father to listen to us or to believe us,
+we tried all we could, and retaliated and annoyed her as much, if not
+more, than she annoyed us, by talking of her mean origin and her
+former occupation; we defied her, and, in so doing, we ruined
+ourselves; for, after a useless struggle on my father's part, he gave
+way to her imperious commands, and sending for me, told me that I had
+become such a reprobate that I was no longer a son of his. He threw me
+a purse, telling me that it was all I might expect from him, and that
+I was instantly to leave the house, and never show my face in it any
+more. I replied, with more spirit than respect, that it was high time
+that the son of a gentleman and lady should leave the house, when such
+lowborn creatures were installed in it as the mistress. My father, in
+a rage, flung his crutch at my head, and I left the room.
+
+"As I went out I met her in the passage; she had evidently been
+listening to what had passed, and she was full of exultation.
+
+"'It is your turn now, you she-devil,' said I, in my rage; 'but wait
+till my father dies. You shall go a-milking again.'
+
+"I do not mean to defend my conduct, but I was then no seventeen, and
+that must be my excuse. I little thought, when I said so, that it
+would be from my hands that she would have to receive bounty, but so
+it is, as Mr. Campbell informs me that my father destroyed, previous
+to his death, the papers which he had signed to secure her a large
+jointure on the estate. I set off with my wardrobe and the purse of
+twenty guineas, which my father had given me, and having a desire to
+see the world, I went on board of a merchant vessel. Six months
+afterwards, when we were at Liverpool, I went on board of a privateer.
+The remainder of my history you are already acquainted with.
+
+"As soon as she had wreaked her vengeance upon me, my brother Philip
+was the next; but he was too young at that time to be turned adrift,
+so she put it off till the time should come, irritating and weaning my
+father from him by every means in her power. Three years afterwards
+she succeeded in having him dismissed, also, and you know how I found
+him out. All these circumstances were very well known in the
+neighbourhood and to our own relations; and one only, my aunt, called
+upon my father, and, after a long conversation, my father consented
+that my sisters should go away, and remain under her charge. My
+step-mother's violent temper, her exactions, her imperious conduct,
+which was now shown even towards him, with what my aunt had advanced,
+had to a certain extent opened my father's eyes. He perceived that she
+had no other view but her own aggrandisement, and that she cared
+little for him. Her repeated attempts, however, to make him sign in
+her favour, in case of his death, were successful, and it was not
+till after her conduct had alienated him from her, and he deplored the
+loss of his children, that he committed the deed to the flames. About
+three years after I had quitted the house, my eldest brother, who had
+information of all that had passed, and who remained in the army
+because he declared that he never would go home till after his
+father's death, was killed by a cannon-ball; and my second brother
+died of a fever about a year ago, when resident at the court of a
+native prince. I had heard nothing of these deaths, or of my father's,
+until my arrival in London; of course, I was most anxious to go down
+to Cumberland, if it were only to undo the wickedness which this woman
+had done, and to make amends to those whom she had so cruelly treated.
+I do not feel any spirit of revenge, but I feel that justice demands
+it of me."
+
+"And I shall go with you with pleasure, to help you in your good
+work," said Amy, "and also because I want to see how she will now
+behave to one whom she has so persecuted, and who has become the
+arbiter of her fate."
+
+"Well, Amy, I will not trust myself on this question. You shall be the
+arbitress of her fate, and what you decide shall be irrevocable."
+
+"I fully appreciate the compliment you pay me," said she, "but I
+prefer that it should be decided in council, and we will call in my
+father to our assistance."
+
+A fortnight after our marriage, we set off for London, in a coach with
+six handsome black horses, and eight armed servants in liveries on
+horseback. We arrived safely on the seventh day, and there we reposed
+for a time previous to setting out for Cumberland. My aunt was in
+London and attending the court, which I was not aware of, and with her
+were my two sisters, Janet and Mabel, whom I had not seen for years,
+and who warmly embraced me, promising that they would soon come down
+and take up their abode at the hall. They expressed their admiration
+of Amy, but, in so doing, they only followed the general opinion, for
+it was impossible to see and not admire her elegance and beauty. My
+aunt showed us every attention, and we were presented to his Majesty,
+who was pleased to compliment Lady Musgrave in very flattering terms.
+We were joined in London by my brother Philip, who had paid off his
+ship, and the day after he joined us I said,
+
+"Philip, there are only you and I left. Do you recollect when you
+inquired about the diamond, the day we met on board of your ship, what
+reply I made to you?"
+
+"Yes; you said that you were afraid that you could not afford to make
+me a present of it."
+
+"At that time I did not think so, Philip, but now I know that I can,
+and I have desired Mr. Trevannion to put out to good security the
+L38,000 that the diamond was sold for, in your name, and for your use.
+You'll not hesitate to accept it, Philip, for you know that I can
+afford it."
+
+"I do not hesitate, my dear Alexander, because I would do the same to
+you, and you would not refuse me. At the same time, that is no reason
+that I should not thank you kindly for your generous behaviour."
+
+Philip accompanied us on our journey to Cumberland. It was tedious,
+for the roads were any thing but good, but the beauty of the scenery
+compensated for the ruggedness of the way. In six days we arrived at
+the Hall, where Mr. Campbell, who had called upon me on my arrival in
+London, had preceded me to make preparations for our reception, which
+was enthusiastic to the highest degree. We were called upon and
+congratulated by all the county, who were delighted to find that such
+a personage as Amy was to be the future mistress.
+
+As soon as all this bustle and excitement were over, I sat down with
+Mr. Campbell to look over the state of affairs, and to set things to
+rights.
+
+After having done justice to many claimants, engaged again the old
+servants that had been discharged, promised farms to the tenants who
+had been unfairly turned out, &c., we then proceeded to decide upon
+what was to be done to the Dowager Lady Musgrave. It appears that at
+my father's death, when she found that the deed had been destroyed by
+his own hands in presence of others, she became frantic with rage,
+and immediately hastened to secure the family jewels, and every
+article of value that she could lay her hands upon, but Mr. Campbell,
+having due notice of what she was about, came in time to prevent her
+taking them away, and, putting seals upon every thing and leaving
+careful guards in the Hall, my lady had gone to her father's house,
+where she still remained. She had, on my arrival, sent me a message,
+imploring my mercy, and reminding me that whatever might be her
+errors, she was still the lawful wife of my father, and she trusted
+that respect to his memory would induce me to allow her sufficient to
+maintain her as Lady Musgrave should be. We had the consultation that
+Amy proposed, and called in Mr. Campbell as a fourth, and it was at
+last decided, that, on consideration that she removed with her family
+to a distance of fifty miles from Faristone, she should have an income
+of L300 per annum, as long as she conducted herself with propriety and
+did not marry again. The last clause was the only one which she
+complained of. Mr. Campbell had, at the request of my father,
+discharged Lady Musgrave's parent from the office of steward and
+called in the old steward to resume his situation, and before
+dismissal, he had to refund certain sums of money not accounted for.
+
+I have now told my eventful tale; I have only to add, that after all
+that I have passed through, I have been rewarded by many years of
+unalloyed happiness. My two sisters are well married, and my three
+children are all that a father could wish. Such, my dear Madam, have
+been the vicissitudes of a "Privateer's-man," and I now subscribe
+myself,
+
+    Your most obedient,
+
+        ALEXANDER MUSGRAVE.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+PRINTED BY BERNH. TAUCHNITZ JUN.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note
+
+This book uses some archaic and alternative spelling--for example,
+befal, stupified, faultering--which has been preserved as printed.
+
+Both _l._ and L have been used to indicate currency; this has been
+preserved as printed.
+
+Punctuation errors have been repaired, and hyphenation has been made
+consistent, without note.
+
+The following typographic errors have been repaired:
+
+    Page 34--ancle to ankle--"... a small manacle was fixed
+    round my left ankle, ..."
+
+    Page 51--villanous to villainous--"The consultation
+    ended by a solemn and most villainous oath ..."
+
+    Page 55--mahing to making--"... rose without making any
+    reply, and hastened on deck."
+
+    Page 75--in to it--"... I shall consider it an insult,
+    and immediately repair ..."
+
+    Page 89--except to expect--"... and if so, we must
+    expect their vengeance."
+
+    Page 104--lite to little--"I slept little on this, I may
+    say, first night ..."
+
+    Page 122--prefered to preferred--"... saying that he
+    preferred a privateer to a merchant vessel, ..."
+
+    Page 151--me to we--"Well, we must first get the vessel
+    hired into the service."
+
+    Page 155--asid to said--"... said Mr. Trevannion, taking
+    me by the hand, ..."
+
+    Page 201--laynyard to lanyard--"... putting a strong
+    leather lanyard to it, ..."
+
+    Page 202--laynyard to lanyard--"... I put the leather
+    lanyard round my neck, ..."
+
+    Page 207--althogether to altogether--"... that,
+    altogether, we had been robbed to the tune of ..."
+
+    Page 236--ke to he--"... and he knew there was no road
+    to it, ..."
+
+    Page 301--Travannion to Trevannion--"... and I have
+    desired Mr. Trevannion to put out to good security ..."
+
+The oe ligatures in manoeuvre(d) have not been retained in this
+version of the e-text.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Privateer's-Man, by Frederick Marryat
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