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diff --git a/25719.txt b/25719.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1aed66c --- /dev/null +++ b/25719.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12349 @@ +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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRIVATEER'S-MAN *** + +***** This file should be named 25719.txt or 25719.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/7/1/25719/ + +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.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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