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diff --git a/29829-h/29829-h.htm b/29829-h/29829-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1593754 --- /dev/null +++ b/29829-h/29829-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6231 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Hair Breadth Escapes, by T. S. Arthur.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; text-indent: 0; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + .trnote {background-color: #EEE; color: inherit; margin: 2em 5% 1em 5%; font-size: small; padding: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 1em; border: dotted 1px gray;} + h1 {margin-top:20px;font-size:2.2em;margin-bottom:20px;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h2 {font-size:1.3em;} + h3 {font-size:1.0em;} + p.tp {font-size:1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:center;} + + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + .fnanchor {font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + hr.fn {width:3em; text-align:left; margin-left: 0; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; height:1px; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid black;} + hr.toprule {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + td.chalgn {text-align:right; margin-top:0; padding-right:1em;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hair Breadth Escapes, by T. S. Arthur + +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: Hair Breadth Escapes + Perilous incidents in the lives of sailors and travelers + in Japan, Cuba, East Indies, etc., etc. + +Author: T. S. Arthur + +Release Date: August 28, 2009 [EBook #29829] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAIR BREADTH ESCAPES *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h1>HAIR BREADTH ESCAPES</h1> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>OR</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:40px;font-size:1.2em;'>PERILOUS INCIDENTS IN THE LIVES OF SAILORS<br /> +AND TRAVELERS IN JAPAN, CUBA,<br /> +EAST INDIES, ETC., ETC.</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;'>BY</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;'>T. S. ARTHUR</p> +<div style='margin:50px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-emb.png' /> +</div> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.1em;margin-bottom:10px;'>NEW YORK</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:20px;'>WORTHINGTON CO., 747 BROADWAY</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;'>Copyright, 1889, By</span><br /> +WORTHINGTON CO.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td /> + <td valign='top' align='right'><span style='font-size:0.8em'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Pirate Life.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#PIRATE_LIFE'>5</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Captivity among the Japanese.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CAPTIVITY_AMONG_THE_JAPANESE'>37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>A Sea-Fight on the Cuban Coast.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#A_SEAFIGHT_ON_THE_CUBAN_COAST'>91</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>A Winter in the Frozen Ocean.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#A_WINTER_IN_THE_FROZEN_OCEAN'>125</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>The Shipwreck.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#THE_SHIPWRECK'>150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Voyage to the East Indies.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VOYAGE_TO_THE_EAST_INDIES'>165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Home-Sickness of a Siberian.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#HOMESICKNESS_OF_A_SIBERIAN'>189</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span></div> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:1.8em;'>ADVENTURES.</p> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='PIRATE_LIFE' id='PIRATE_LIFE'></a> +<h2>Pirate Life.</h2> +</div> +<p>I served as assistant pilot on board the merchant vessel +Dolphin, bound from Jamaica for London, which had +already doubled the southern point of the Island of Cuba, +favored by the wind, when one afternoon, I suddenly +observed a very suspicious-looking schooner bearing down +upon us from the coast. I climbed the mast, with my spy +glass, and became convinced that it was a pirate. I directed +the captain, who was taking his siesta, to be awaked +instantly, showed him the craft, and advised him to alter +our course, that we might avoid her. The captain, a man +of unfortunate temper, whose principal traits of character +were arrogance, avarice, and obstinacy, scorned my counsel, +and insisted that we had nothing to fear, as we were +perfectly well protected by the English flag.</p> +<p>We sailed on, while the schooner drew nearer, for about +half a league, when we observed that the deck of the +strange vessel swarmed with armed men, and her people +were busy in getting out their boats. Upon seeing this, +our captain was not a little frightened, and ordered a +change in the course of the ship; but it was too late, for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span> +we were already within reach of the pirate, who soon +hailed us, commanding our captain to come on board of +his vessel, and as his commands were not obeyed, fired a +broadside into us, which, however, did us no injury. At +the same time a boat, containing nine men, pushed off +towards us. They presented a most ferocious appearance, +being armed with guns, swords, and long knives. +They boarded our brig, as we offered not the least resistance.</p> +<p>They then commanded the captain, the ship’s carpenter, +and myself, to enter their boat, and sent us with an armed +escort of four men, who handled us most roughly, to the +schooner, where the pirate captain received us with deep +curses. He was a gigantic, powerful, well-formed man, of +a pale, sallow complexion, large prominent eyes, a hooked +nose, and a huge mouth, and glossy hair and beard. He +might be about thirty years old, and spoke broken English +with a Spanish accent.</p> +<p>“Have you specie on board?” he asked.</p> +<p>“None at all,” answered our Captain, thoughtlessly +enough, for we had only too much of it, and unfortunately +the papers referring to it lay upon the cabin table.</p> +<p>“The devil,” cried the robber, “do you take me for a +child? All home-bound vessels have money on board; +give up yours quietly, and depart in the devil’s name +whither you will.”</p> +<p>The captain repeated his silly denial, and enraged the +pirate still further.</p> +<p>“Well,” he said with frightful calmness, “if you will +not give up the money, I will throw your cargo overboard, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +and search for it myself. If I find it, I’ll lock you in +your cabin, and burn your vessel with every man on +board.”</p> +<p>After this threat he walked up and down the deck, and +said more quietly, turning to me:</p> +<p>“You must remain with us, for there is no one among +my men who thoroughly understands a helmsman’s duty, +and I must give myself more rest, I am not well.”</p> +<p>One can imagine my sensations. In the meanwhile +supper had been prepared, and the pirate officers, six or +seven in number, invited us politely to partake of it; we +accepted, as we did not wish to displease them. The +meal consisted of onion soup with bread, tolerable fish, and +a very good ham, with plenty of excellent Cogniac and +Bordeaux wine. During supper the schooner approached +the Dolphin, and lay alongside. It was now perfectly +dark, and they showed us a place close by the cabin door, +where we could sleep.</p> +<p>The following morning we were invited to breakfast, +which consisted of coffee with goat’s milk, broiled +fish, smoked pork, very good biscuit, and sweet brandy. +After breakfast we were sent back to the Dolphin, which, +as the captain still persisted in his obstinate assertion that +there was no money on board, was being emptied of her +contents by the robber captain’s commands. First of all +I slipped into the cabin to look after my chest; it had +been broken open and robbed of all articles of value, +among which were two diamond rings. Some suits of +clothes, and some shirts, were all that remained. In +unloading the vessel they began first with the cow; then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +they threw over the poultry, and all the other provisions, +and then the wine and brandy casks. They next came to +the actual cargo of the brig, out of which only what was +very valuable was preserved, for there was no room to +stow any thing away in the pirate ship. Thus they +worked until towards evening, when we were again invited +to supper, and again shown to our sleeping place. +The sailors had already become intoxicated, and were +singing and rioting upon deck, without either officers or +captain daring to check them, for on board such ships +discipline is not to be thought of.</p> +<p>The next day, right after breakfast, the pirate called +the captain to the after deck.</p> +<p>“I speak now,” said he, “in kindness to you, for the +last time; give up your money, or tell where it is concealed. +Do it, or, God d––n me, the Dolphin, yourself, +and all on board are lost.”</p> +<p>The captain answered as before, that there was no money +on board.</p> +<p>“Well then,” cried the captain in a rage, “you shall +find out who you have to deal with. Ho there!” he cried +to his men, “down with him into the hold, tie up the pumps, +and bring fire!”</p> +<p>The command was instantly obeyed, and a quantity of +dry wood was heaped up around the unfortunate man, +which they were just about to kindle, when his agony +wrung from him the confession that under a board in +the cabin floor there was a box containing about five hundred +doubloons. He was unbound, and the gold was +found.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></div> +<p>“Well,” said the pirate, “that is something. But you +have more––I know it! Give it up, or by all the devils, +you shall be burnt.”</p> +<p>The captain now swore, with tears, that he had not a +penny more, but the pirate would not believe him.</p> +<p>“I will refresh your memory,” said he, “rely upon it. +Bind up the pumps again, and kindle the fire quickly!”</p> +<p>The poor man was again bound fast, and the light wood +around him was kindled; the flames licked his clothes +and hands, and his eye-brows and hair were already singed, +but he renewed his protestations and commended himself +to God’s mercy. The pirate at last believing his assertion, +let the pumps play and extinguished the fire.</p> +<p>“Well,” he said in a milder tone, “I will set you at +liberty, and you may sail whither you please, except to +any Cuban port, for if I find you again in these waters I +will scuttle your vessel and leave you to your fate.”</p> +<p>He supplied the Dolphin with water and provisions for +ten days and loosened it from the schooner. I was obliged +to remain upon the pirate ship while the brig set sail, and +had soon vanished from our sight. As a thick mist arose +we anchored on the edge of a sand-bank, and remained +there over night; at break of day we again set sail and +ran into a small, concealed, but very safe harbor on the +coast of Cuba.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>II.</p> +<p>We had scarcely cast anchor when a whole fleet of large +and small boats pushed off from the shore and sailed +towards us. The pirate knew with whom he had to deal, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +and made ready for them. Two officials and several other +gentlemen and ladies now stepped on board, and were saluted +with fifteen guns. After the guests had congratulated +the robber upon his successful expedition, refreshments +were brought, and the whole company commenced dancing +on the deck, where some black musicians were playing. +The merriment lasted far into the night, and all left the +vessel, delighted with the rich presents of silks and jewels +that they had received, while they promised to send purchasers +to the sale of the pirate’s booty, which was to take +place on the following day. As soon as we were alone +again, the pirate captain informed me confidentially, that +he maintained the friendliest relations with the government, +and that he had no dread whatever of any hostile +attempts against him.</p> +<p>“I can easily settle all that with these people,” said he, +“with presents.”</p> +<p>On the following morning the deck was swept and preparations +were made for the sale, and a crowd of ladies and +gentlemen soon appeared; the captain and I received them +on board, and conducted them under the blue canopy with +silver fringe that had been erected for their accommodation. +At a signal from the ship’s bell the sale began. As +many articles were sold by weight, I presided over the +scales, that were placed near the mainmast. The purchasers +stood around me in a semi-circle, and as every one of +them bought either a whole or half a hundred weight, it +was immediately shoveled into the bags and baskets they +had brought. Some attendants, in the meanwhile, handed +round wine, cakes, and biscuit, and the wine had its effect; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +the sale was very lively, and before three o’clock in the +afternoon, our casks and barrels were almost empty.</p> +<p>The captain now invited the whole company to dinner, +and the further sale of silks, linens, and ornaments, was +postponed until afterwards. He then called me aside, and +gave me a peculiar commission; he ordered me to concoct +a drink which should be no less intoxicating than +pleasant.</p> +<p>“After the guests shall have partaken of it,” said he, +“they will bid high enough, and I shall have an excellent +sale. Call it English punch and they will like it all the +better.”</p> +<p>I had to promise him to do my best, and go to work at +once; as we had a good store of all kinds of intoxicating +liquors on board, I could choose what I pleased. I mixed +together, Bordeaux, Madeira, Rum, Arrac, Geneva, Cogniac, +and Porter; dissolved in it half a hat-full of sugar +and threw in about two dozen oranges, and as many sweet +lemons. It certainly tasted most excellently, and even +the smell of it affected my head. After dinner, when the +dessert was about to be placed upon the table, I called six +sailors, and providing each with a large bowl of my mixture, +they marched into the cabin in procession and placed +them on the table; then I informed the company that the +mixture was a new kind of English punch, and filled their +glasses for them.</p> +<p>The delicious drink was very popular and even the +ladies sipped it with delight. The effect was immediate; +after the first two glasses, all grew very loquacious; two +more glasses and the gentlemen were thoroughly intoxicated +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +without being stupified. At this moment the sale +began, and all rushed on deck, and proceeded to purchase +in such a wild, excited manner, that the worst article that +we had, sold for twice its real value. When the business +was nearly concluded, a frightful noise arose on the forward +deck; the crew had received a double allowance of +rum and brandy, and very naturally, a quarrel had arisen +between two of the most excited, in which one of them +was stabbed in the breast. As I understood something of +surgery, I was called upon to dress and bandage the wound, +and whilst I was thus engaged the company departed in +the boats, the gentlemen in a high state of excitement and +much pleased with their bargains.</p> +<p>When all was quiet on board, the captain called to him +the man who had escaped from the combat unhurt, and +inquired into the cause of the bloody fray. And now a fearful +secret came to light. The man revealed a conspiracy +against the captain, headed by one of the officers, which had +been in progress for a month. The officer who commanded +it had asked leave of absence, and was at that time on land, +engaged in perfecting his plan, which was, to fall upon the +captain and murder him with the greater part of the crew. +The wounded sailor had belonged to this conspiracy, which +was frightful enough, and so angered the captain that he was +almost beside himself with rage. He forthwith called together +the whole ship’s company and made known to them +the plot he had discovered. He had scarcely finished speaking +when fierce cries for revenge arose among the crew; +they rushed below, and in a few minutes dragged up the +wounded sailor, hacked off his arms and legs, plunged +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +their knives into his body, and threw it overboard. They +then dragged out his chest; destroyed and tore to rags +every thing in it, and in a perfect frenzy of rage, threw it +into the sea also. Then the watch was trebled and set; +all sharpened their daggers and knives, and prepared for +an attack. But the night passed and nothing occurred.</p> +<p>On the following afternoon, a sail appeared, which +steered towards us; the captain took the spy glass, and +instantly recognized the boat which had carried the +treacherous officer and part of the crew on land the day +before.</p> +<p>“Here come the conspirators,” he cried, with a fearful +curse, “we’ll give them the welcome they deserve. Thirty +of you load your muskets and be ready.”</p> +<p>When the boat was within a short distance of us, it +stopped and hoisted a white flag in token of peace; the +captain did the same, and the boat then approached perfectly +unsuspiciously. When they were within musket +shot, the captain ordered his men to fire. Five men fell +dead, a sixth sprang into the sea, and the rest turned and +rowed away. The captain sent a boat out after the unhappy +wretch who was in the water, and in less than five +minutes they dragged him on board. He was wounded in +the arm and was bleeding freely. But, notwithstanding, +his clothes were, by the captain’s orders, torn off, and he +was exposed naked to the burning rays of the sun. When +he had suffered thus for an hour, the tyrant went to him +and asked with suppressed rage:</p> +<p>“Now traitor, will you confess?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></div> +<p>“I am innocent,” replied the half-dead wretch, “I know +of nothing.”</p> +<p>“Here,” cried the captain to his savages, “take him +and row him into the inlet; there leave him in the +swamp; we’ll see whether the gad-flies will not help his +memory. You,” continued the captain, “go with them, +and give heed to this example.”</p> +<p>Five of the pirates, armed with pistols and swords, +bound the wretched man, hand and foot, threw him into +the boat and rowed into the inlet. Just at the mouth of +it there was a morass filled with gad-flies and other poisonous +insects. Into this dreadful ditch they threw their former +comrade, and then withdrew to a short distance to +jeer at and mock him. In about an hour they drew him +out again; he was still living, but his body was so covered +with blisters that he looked like nothing human. In this +condition he was taken to the ship again.</p> +<p>“Has he confessed?” shouted the captain to us as we +were approaching.</p> +<p>We replied in the negative.</p> +<p>“Then shoot him down like a dog.”</p> +<p>Two of the robbers seized him, one presented a pistol +to his forehead, another to his breast; they were both discharged +at the same moment, and the unhappy man was +bathed in his own blood. As he gave no further sign of +life, they hurled him overboard.</p> +<p>What a deed of horror! I passed a fearful night, for I +could not close my eyes when I thought of the probable +fate that awaited me among these miscreants.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></div> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>III.</p> +<p>The next morning I went sadly enough to my labor, +which consisted in cutting and making a new sail, when +at about ten o’clock, the watch at the mast-head, cried +out:</p> +<p>“A sail! a sail!”</p> +<p>I went aloft, and saw that it was a large merchant vessel. +The captain weighed anchor, sailed down upon her +and when he supposed himself sure of his prey, fired off a +cannon; the brig hoisted the English flag and lay to. +This unexpected manœuvre seemed very suspicious to the +captain; he began to believe that he had to deal with +a man-of-war; changed his plan, and determined upon +boarding the strange vessel; he gave orders to have two +boats manned with the bravest of his crew, which should +attack the ship upon both sides at once, and commanded +me to head the expedition. Such an order terrified me +not a little.</p> +<p>“What,” I cried, “must I fight thus shamefully with +my countrymen. If I am taken prisoner what can I +expect but the most shameful death. No, Senor, I can +never obey your orders.”</p> +<p>“Who are you,” he answered fiercely, “who think yourself +so much better than me and my men? Do we not +expose ourselves to death every hour of the day? My +vessel shall never be taken, for when I can no longer defend +it I will blow it up. Obey me instantly or I will +have you shot in the twinkling of an eye.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></div> +<p>“Do it,” I coolly rejoined, “I do not fear death, but I will +never obey your orders.”</p> +<p>“Well then,” he cried furiously, “to death with him. +Bandage his eyes. Five minutes respite only, and let +three men aim at his head and three at his heart.”</p> +<p>The pirates obeyed instantly, and I commended my soul +to God. When the five minutes had gone, the captain +asked:</p> +<p>“Are you ready, helmsman?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Senor.”</p> +<p>“You persist then in your obstinacy.”</p> +<p>“Yes, Senor.”</p> +<p>“Attention! Make ready! Fire!”</p> +<p>The men fired, but I remained unhurt; a burning cork +flew in my face, but made no wound. The captain had +intended to frighten me, and his men had only loaded +with blank cartridges.</p> +<p>“Well, helmsman,” he cried, “are you mortally wounded? +Have you had enough?”</p> +<p>“I am not wounded, Senor,” I replied, “but I am not a +boy to be trifled with; if you are going to kill me, do it +quickly, for I will never disgrace myself by obeying your +orders.”</p> +<p>“So be it then,” cried the pirate, foaming with rage; +“bind him to the mainmast; unbandage his eyes; let us +have plenty of tinder; lay a train of powder, and to the +devil with him!”</p> +<p>His orders were obeyed; I closed my eyes and awaited +death for the second time. In about ten seconds I heard +a terrible explosion, which stunned me for some minutes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +When I recovered my consciousness, I felt a terrible pain +in my lower limbs; my hands were bound, and my clothes +on fire.</p> +<p>“Shoot me upon the spot; why do you torture me +so?”</p> +<p>But the captain and his men only laughed; and when +my stockings were entirely burnt, he gave orders to pour +water over me and unbind me, saying composedly, as if +nothing had happened:</p> +<p>“You provoked me or I should not have done it; now +go below and get cured.”</p> +<p>But the moment I was unbound, I fainted away, and +when I came to myself I lay upon a matrass in the cabin, +and felt the most intolerable pain in all my limbs, but particularly +in my legs. On a chair beside me sat the cook; +he told me that lemonade had been prepared for me; I took +some of it, and asked him to support me, that I might +look at my legs; they were frightfully burnt; in some +places the bone was exposed. While I was examining +them, the captain appeared, looked at my horrible wounds, +and said, with a show of compassion:</p> +<p>“Helmsman, ask for whatsoever you want, and you, +cook, see that he has it. Make haste and get better; by +heaven, I hope you’ll get over it.”</p> +<p>With these words he left me. I called for a better +bed, the medicine chest, lint, and bandages; every thing +was instantly brought, and I did my best to soothe my +sufferings. I inquired of my officious attendants where +we were, and learnt, to my surprise, that we were again +at anchor in the harbour. The captain had decided that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +the brig was an English man-of-war, and had made a hasty +retreat to a place of safety.</p> +<p>After dinner, the cook made his appearance again, and +as he had nothing else to do, remained with me. He informed +me that the captain, a naturally quick-tempered, +tyrannical man, was a perfect tiger when he was in a +passion, that he had already shot and stabbed twenty of +his men with his own hands, and begged me to be +upon my guard, for I had not a man, but a monster, to +deal with.</p> +<p>“Whatever you want,” he added, compassionately, “let +me know, and be assured that I mean you well.”</p> +<p>With this comforting assurance he departed, while I +prepared a cooling salve and bandaged my wounds neatly. +I drank quantities of lemonade and broth, and felt that +as the afternoon wore on, the heat in my limbs was subsiding. +Towards sunset, the kind cook again appeared, to +see how I was, and to inform me that the captain was +raging like a maniac on deck, for a coasting vessel had +brought him news that my former captain had sailed +straight for Havana, and had there made all sorts of complaints +with regard to the robbery that he had sustained. +While he was speaking the captain himself rushed into +the cabin.</p> +<p>“See,” he cried, “what rogues your countrymen are. +Spite of my commands, that traitor sailed directly for Havana +and entered a complaint against me. But I know +how to deal with him; I have sent four bold fellows after +him; he is a dead man if he lingers two days longer, and +to make all sure, I shall send a fifth this evening, who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +understands his business well, and will despatch him without +mercy.”</p> +<p>With these words he left the cabin. “What a monster, +what cruelty!” I thought, but borne down by fatigue, I +soon fell asleep.</p> +<p>I had been sleeping about two hours when I was roused +by the captain.</p> +<p>“You must come on deck,” he said, rather anxiously, +“we are in trouble.”</p> +<p>Four sailors seized me, and immediately carried me +above, sick as I was. Here I learned that a boat was +approaching in the darkness, and that preparations for +defence were being made.</p> +<p>“Hail it in English,” said the captain.</p> +<p>I did so, but received no answer.</p> +<p>“Now let me try,” he continued; “we’ll see if they understand +Spanish.”</p> +<p>They answered immediately as friends, and announced +that they came with important news for the captain. +The partisans of the officer, who had formed the before-mentioned +conspiracy, maddened by the death of their +comrades, had sworn to be revenged. They had tracked +the fifth assassin, who had been sent off this evening to +the house of one of the government officials, who was in +friendly connection with the pirate captain, and our informants +assured us that if timely aid were not rendered +him, he would certainly be put to death. This information +had a most distressing effect upon the crew, and no +one offered to go upon such a dangerous errand. But the +captain did not lose courage, gave the men quantities of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +rum and brandy, and promised four pieces of gold to each +volunteer. Ten of the boldest then came forward, got +ready immediately, and were fully provided with weapons, +as well as biscuit and wine. Before the end of a quarter +of an hour, they rowed ashore in company with the other +boat. The captain commanded the whole crew to remain +on deck, and doubled the watch. Every thing was quiet, +and prepared for any emergency. I was carried down into +the cabin again, but could not close my eyes; the door +was open, and I heard every thing that passed on deck. +About midnight our boat returned, but only with five +men, who gave the following account of their adventures +to the captain.</p> +<p>After they had landed, and proceeded a few steps, they +came upon a servant of that <i>honest</i> official to whose house +the fifth assassin had been tracked, and who was to have +furnished him with a pass. This man informed them that +the assassin had actually fallen into the hands of the conspirators, +and that he was lost if they did not instantly +hasten to his rescue. They made a circuit to avoid their +enemies, and succeeded in surprising a few stragglers, from +whom they extorted the information that a considerable +number of the conspirators were making merry in the +house of the officer, where they had taken their comrade +prisoner. They immediately proceeded to this house, +where they commenced a most destructive fire through +the doors and windows, not taking any aim or making any +discrimination between friend or foe. They then entered, +killed the wounded, and took some prisoners. Unfortunately +the <i>good old host</i> had received two serious shots, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +and now sent to the captain to request him to send to his +relief the Englishman in whom he placed such confidence. +With regard to the assassin, he had been found bound +hand and foot, but uninjured, and having been provided +with a passport, had proceeded to Havana.</p> +<p>“Helmsman,” cried the captain, now entering the cabin, +“it can’t be helped. You must go on shore, and look after +the old gentleman’s wounds, for he is my best friend, and +I cannot treat him with too much consideration. Put a +mattrass into the boat,” he continued, “that he may lie +comfortably upon it, and when you get to land carry him +as carefully as possible.”</p> +<p>They let me down into the boat in an arm-chair, laid +me upon a mattrass, put a cushion under my head, and +covered me with a silken coverlet. The moon was just +rising, and it was about one o’clock. The current was +against us, and we were almost an hour in reaching the +shore. After we had taken something to eat and drink in +a little ale-house, not ten steps from the beach, I was +placed on a bamboo litter, furnished with an abundance +of soft cushions, and put upon a horse. We journeyed for +about an hour through a high mahogany forest, until we +arrived comfortably at a small town, and before the door +of the mansion of Don Toribios, as the conscientious official +was called. I immediately examined the old man’s +wounds, which proved to be not at all dangerous, extracted +the balls without difficulty, and left him to the care of his +wife and daughter. We returned slowly to our boat, and +reached the schooner before sunrise.</p> +<p>The sailors rendered an account of their expedition, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +each received as a reward a double allowance of brandy, +and they were told that the prisoners they had taken had +been tortured and then shot. The captain asked me particularly +concerning Don Toribios, and as I was able to +give him favorable replies, he was greatly rejoiced, and +loaded me with praises.</p> +<p>“You must go on shore to him every morning or afternoon,” +said he, “for this man is my best friend. But now +go and rest, you seem very weary; you shall be called +when the breakfast is ready.” I was indeed rejoiced to be +able to rest. I bandaged my wounds afresh, stretched +myself on my couch, and fell asleep immediately.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>V.</p> +<p>After dinner, I was about to go on shore, in accordance +with the captain’s orders, when, just as they were letting +me down into the boat, a large vessel appeared in sight. +I was immediately assisted to the mast-head, and commanded +to report what vessel it was. I examined it for a +quarter of an hour through my spy-glass, and was at last +convinced that it was a large Dutch merchantman. The +captain then had me brought down, and communicated +my discovery to the crew, who received it with a loud +“huzza.”</p> +<p>“These Dutchmen,” said he, “are rich prizes; they are +sure to have cash on board.”</p> +<p>Instantly we weighed anchor, and the chase began. But +the Dutchman was suspicious, and tried every means of +avoiding us; it was too late, however, for we sailed twice +as fast as he, and besides had the advantage of the wind. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +To deceive him, we hoisted the English flag, and fired a +shot. He then turned towards us. Our captain supposed +that he would offer resistance, and accordingly, when he +came within shot, sent a ball into him from our forty-four +pounder, which struck the water by the side of the vessel, +and then hoisted the blood-red pirate flag.</p> +<p>“Send the captain, with his papers, on board,” he shouted +through the speaking trumpet. As the fulfilment of +this command seemed tardy to the pirates, they enforced +it by discharging a dozen muskets. This produced the +desired effect; the captain and supercargo immediately +came on board; they were both pale as death, and trembled +with fear. The pirate snatched their papers from +them, and threw them to me saying, “There! translate +those things for me.” Although I understood very little +Dutch, I managed to make out that the vessel was bound +from Antwerp for some Mexican port, and that it was +freighted with wine, cheese, hams, cloths and linens. The +pirate was not a little rejoiced to hear this, and ordered +me to ask the amount of cash on board. The Dutchman +assured us that he had none.</p> +<p>“We will soon see for ourselves!” said the captain, and +taking with him the pilot and four sailors, he went on +board of the merchantman. In half an hour he called +out to the schooner to come alongside. This was done, +and the Dutchman was again sent on board of his vessel, +where he was greeted with a blow from the flat of a sword +that stretched him on the deck. The inquiries concerning +the money now began afresh, accompanied by the threats +of burning both ship and crew, if money should actually +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +be found on board. Then the Dutchman was placed in +confinement, while the crew were sent on board the +schooner, and down into the hold. Both ships sailed into +the harbour at sundown, that they might spend the night +in safety. I received permission to retire to the cabin, and +there found a neat little supper that the care of the +benevolent cook had provided for me. The salve that I +had prepared for my wounds had an excellent effect, and +I was now quite free from pain.</p> +<p>The next morning the freight of the captured vessel +was transferred to the schooner, and I was again obliged +to assist with my small knowledge of Dutch. After dinner +I was sent on shore again, to dress Don Toribios’ +wounds. As they were healing rapidly, and the fever had +quite left him, I soon returned, his daughter having presented +me with a box of Havana cigars.</p> +<p>As night had not yet set in, they proceeded vigorously +in transferring the cargo of the Dutchman, and the goods +were piled up high on the deck of the schooner; they +were not to be sold, as before, but taken by a coasting vessel +to Havana, and disposed of there. The next morning +the coaster appeared, and the transfer of the cargo began +again. While all were thus busied, the captain drew me +aside, and said to me in an unusually confidential tone, “I +must accompany this coaster some distance; we shall be +gone four or five days. Therefore, go on shore once more, +and carry to Don Toribios as much physic as he will want +during this time, but be sure to be back before sunset.”</p> +<p>I immediately obeyed, fulfilled my commission, and +returned at the appointed hour; the captain was making +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +merry with the coaster, and as I would take no part in +their excesses, I retired to rest, but could not sleep. The +door of my cabin opened gently, to admit the cook; he +sat down by me, and said as softly as possible:</p> +<p>“While you were on shore to-day, the captain called +together the crew, and told them that during the course +of four weeks they had all learned to know the captive +Englishman, and must be aware that he was most useful +in every capacity. ‘But,’ said the captain, ‘he is not to be +trusted; I see that he meditates escape, day and night, +and if his plans should succeed, which is not impossible, +the first English man-of-war that he meets will have the +secret of our retreat here, and all will be over with us. I +have, therefore, formed a resolution that will certainly +seem right to you all. We will let him finish the sails +that he is now at work upon, and then get rid of him. +Some evening I will get up a dispute with him; you will +gather around us and take sides, and in the heat of argument +I will plunge my knife into his bosom, and you will +finish the business.’ The crew consulted together, and +opinion was divided; only a few of the most bloody-minded +agreed to the thought of your murder; at last it +was determined to have you closely watched, and not to +allow you to go on shore any more.”</p> +<p>“Have it so then,” cried the captain, angrily; “you +will see what will come of it.”</p> +<p>“Now my friend,” concluded the brave fellow, “now +you know every thing. I fear the captain has not given +up his intention; therefore, take your measures accordingly. +If I can assist you in carrying out any plan that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +you may form, rely upon my desire to serve you. God +grant, that if you escape, I may accompany you.”</p> +<p>With these words he bade me good night and left me. +What were my sensations. “Am I then,” I said to myself +“to be thus cut off in the midst of my youth? No! +I will balk these monsters. I must attempt to save myself +even if the attempt cost me my life.” These thoughts +occupied me during the night, and I did not sleep until +towards four o’clock in the morning.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>VI.</p> +<p>At sunrise the schooner weighed anchor, in order to +accompany the coaster. Towards noon we discovered an +English brig, which proved to be a merchantman, and the +customary pursuit and capture ensued. The cargo consisted +of rum, for the vessel was bound for Liverpool from +Jamaica. The English captain, who was an old acquaintance +of mine, offered to ransom his vessel, and begged me +to make the arrangement for him; this I gladly did, and +the brig was ransomed for four hundred doubloons and +eight casks of rum. The Englishman, who had a considerable +amount of cash on board, pressed upon me, at +parting, twenty doubloons.</p> +<p>Towards evening the skies were covered with black +clouds; the sea began to rage, and every thing indicated +an approaching storm. We therefore ran into a little bay, +sheltered by high rocks, and passed a very quiet night, +although a fearful storm was raging on the open sea, and +the rain fell in torrents. The next morning we set sail +again and conveyed the coaster almost to the place of her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +destination. On our return voyage we captured a French +vessel, but it was also ransomed, and on the evening of +the fourth day we reached again our old station, where the +Dutch brig had been left under the command of the pilot. +The Dutch captain and a great part of his crew had +accompanied us.</p> +<p>The pirate was very well pleased with his short, profitable +trip, and gave orders to the steward to prepare a magnificent +collation, to which he invited his officers, the +Dutch captain, and myself. As it was too warm in the +cabin the table was laid on deck; the steward had done +his best, and when the wine had begun to take effect, the +Dutchman informed me that he had a proposition to make. +He spoke in Dutch, and that no suspicion might be +excited, I immediately informed the captain of what he +had said, and offered to carry on the negociation. This +was agreed to, and the Dutchman then informed me that +he had concealed upon his person, a heavy gold chain, a +gold watch set with brilliants, and two diamond rings, and +that he would give them all if the pirate would release his +vessel and allow him to depart, with provisions for eight +days. I translated all this to the captain as well as I +could, and his countenance immediately beamed with the +friendliest expression.</p> +<p>“Tell the captain,” he replied mildly, “that I accept +his offer, and if he will hand over to me the articles in +question, I swear by the holy virgin, that he shall depart +to-morrow morning early, with eight days’ provisions, and +sail whither he pleases.”</p> +<p>I interpreted this to the captain, who hastened, joyfully, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +into the cabin, and returned in a few minutes with the +jewels, which he laid before the captain, on the table.</p> +<p>“Done,” said he, reaching his hand and filling his +glass; “join me captain and gentlemen all. By heaven, +I will keep my word; you are all witnesses.”</p> +<p>We remained at table until eleven o’clock, when all +retired; my thoughts kept me awake during the whole +night. Immediately after sunrise, the Dutch vessel was +supplied with the promised provisions, besides six casks +of water and two of Geneva. The captain took leave of +us all; put several pieces of gold into my hand, and betook +himself on board of his own ship. In half an hour he +set sail, and with a favourable wind was soon out of sight.</p> +<p>Towards eight o’clock, a boat appeared from the shore, +and brought two calves and two sheep, just killed, and a +quantity of fowls, vegetables, and fruit, as a present for the +captain, from Don Toribios and the other officials. They +announced their intention, also, of paying us a visit with +their wives, in the afternoon, whereat the captain was +much pleased. Preparations were instantly made for +their reception, and the steward was busy enough; at +half-past two the little fleet appeared, and the guests +arrived on board, where they were served with refreshments. +They talked, laughed, joked, played the guitar, +and sang, until near sunset, when the air grew cooler. +Then the seats and benches were cleared away; the old +people betook themselves, with their wine, to the cabin, +and the young ones danced until they were called to supper. +The time was passed most pleasantly, and I almost +forgot that I was on board a pirate vessel. Don Toribios, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +too, was very friendly, and called out as soon as he saw +me, “Going on excellently! all healed over!” I examined +his wounds and found it actually so. The old gentleman +then applied himself industriously to the wine, +and appeared determined to make up for the abstinence +of two weeks. My warning, to be prudent, was not +regarded in the least.</p> +<p>The company found the entertainment so much to +their liking that they remained three hours longer on +board than they had at first intended; the moon was in +her first quarter, but shone brighter than even the full +moon in England. A little after nine, the guests took +leave of the captain and entered their boats; the little +fleet rowed away in the glorious moonlight, and every +thing was restored to order on board of the schooner.</p> +<p>The captain was unusually gay and friendly; had three +bottles of Bordeaux brought, and called to me: “Sit +down; we will drink another glass together. Fill for +yourself. I see you are a brave, fine fellow, and if you +conduct yourself well, you shall have such wages as you’ll +get on no ship of the line, I can tell you. Come, drink; +here’s to our noble profession!”</p> +<p>I was obliged to join him, and drank in this way almost +a bottle full. I succeeded, however, in allaying all his +suspicion of me. Towards midnight I threw myself upon +my bed, but could not close my eyes, my thoughts were so +busy with plans of escape. Where shall I be, I asked myself, +in one––two weeks––in a month? If my plan succeeds, +I shall be upon my way home; but if not, where +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +then? Of this last alternative I would not think, and +towards two o’clock I fell asleep.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>VII.</p> +<p>The next afternoon I sat working at my sails, when a +boat with three negroes in it, pushed off from the shore, +and approached the schooner. The man at the helm had +a large basket, covered with black, before him, and the +usually white aprons of the negroes were black. This +indicated a death, and I was very anxious to know which +of yesterday’s company had so quickly had their joy turned +to mourning; in the meanwhile the boat arrived, and the +chief negro came on board.</p> +<p>“Master dead!” he said, in his broken Spanish. “Don +Toribios dead! last night! Here a letter and presents for +Senor captain and Senor helmsman.”</p> +<p>With these words he handed the captain four bundles +of Havana cigars, as many baskets of fruit, and two great +pastries, besides four jars of sweet-meats. This giving of +presents is customary in Cuba in case of any death, and +I also received the due proportion of gifts. The negro was +dismissed with a present in money.</p> +<p>When the captain, after dinner, had taken his siesta, he +made known to the crew the death of Don Toribios, and +ordered preparations to be made for paying the last honors +to his deceased friend. A hundred bottles of wine, torches, +crape, and whatever else is necessary upon such occasions, +were put into the long-boat, into which the captain entered, +with ten sailors, six musicians, and myself. We found +horses and mules waiting for us on the shore, and we soon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +reached the house of death, before which a great many +tar barrels were burning, and in the centre stood a bier, +upon which the coffin was placed. A number of mourners, +among whom were twelve or fifteen ladies, now +greeted us. We returned their salutations and entered +the brilliantly lighted saloon, hung with black, where sat +the mother and daughter of the dead man, dressed in the +deepest mourning. We expressed our sympathy for them; +refreshments were handed round, and all were provided +with torches. The procession was then arranged. Our +sailors carried the coffin; the musicians commenced a +mournful march; the priest, with the choristers, led the +way and the others followed in pairs; the captain conducted +the mother, and I the daughter. Our sailors sent +up some rockets, and at this signal the schooner fired +minute guns for a half hour. After the conclusion of the +solemnity, we went to the funeral supper, and the guests +indulged in all kinds of gayety.</p> +<p>Midnight had past, when we broke up; towards two +o’clock we got on board the schooner and retired to rest. +The next morning I returned to my sails, but thought +incessantly of my plan for escape, and how it could be +most prudently carried into execution, for the danger of +such an attempt was immense. I believed that I could +possess myself of one of the boats, but where could I find a +companion to be depended upon? Yet such a one was +absolutely necessary. I could never row alone for five or +six leagues, which was the shortest distance that would +place me out of reach of the pirates. Whether I should +confide in the steward, I could not exactly decide. Imagine +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +my astonishment when the honest fellow came to me +while the captain was taking his afternoon’s nap in the +cabin, and began gently to whisper in my ear.</p> +<p>“My friend, we must fly. In a few days there will be +horrible work on board here; a new conspiracy has been +formed against the captain, and his death is inevitable. +We must seize the first opportunity to get away. I know +these waters well, for I was born upon the Cuban coast. +You know that quantities of fishing boats come every +evening to exchange their fish for brandy, and their +owners often remain all night on board, while their boats +are floating by the side of the vessel. My plan is to get +into one of these about midnight, and trust ourselves to +the wind and the current, until the next morning, when +we can find our way to Havana.”</p> +<p>“Well, my honest friend,” I replied, “I agree with you +entirely; in this way we cannot fail to succeed. We will, +therefore, hold ourselves in readiness any day, and God +will not forsake us in our hour of need.”</p> +<p>Thus we separated.</p> +<p>When the captain awoke he complained of violent pain +in his limbs, and I saw clearly that a fever had attacked +him. With his consent, I opened a vein and took from +him thirteen ounces of blood. His bed was placed on the +forward deck, and an awning spread above it, for the cabin +was too close and hot. I left him for the night and prescribed +almond milk and orange flower water.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></div> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>VIII.</p> +<p>It was about sunset, the weather was sultry, and +towards the south masses of clouds were forming, which +betokened a storm. The sea, too, began to be disturbed. +Two fishing boats, that had ventured too far into the open +sea, came alongside and asked to be allowed to lodge on +board for the night. The lieutenant granted their request, +after conferring with the captain, and told them to make +fast their boats to the stern of the vessel. They did so, +and came on board, bringing with them a large basket of +the fish that they had caught.</p> +<p>After they had presented the captain and lieutenant +with the two finest fish in their basket, they exchanged +the rest for rum and brandy.</p> +<p>They took two of the dozen great bottles they received +to treat the crew with. The captain, who had no appetite, +gave up his fish to the crew, and the lieutenant invited +his comrades and me to share his with him.</p> +<p>When the steward came to receive the fish, I said to +him, with peculiar emphasis: +“Well, steward! now or never! display your art!”</p> +<p>He understood me perfectly.</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed, Senor,” he replied, significantly, “I will +make an English sauce for the gentlemen, such as they +cannot find in all Havana.”</p> +<p>He went out, and I went to inquire after the captain.</p> +<p>“I feel much better,” he replied to my inquiries; “only +give me something strengthening.”</p> +<p>I retired to the cabin, wrote down what I wanted upon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +a card, and sent it to the steward. I soon received two +dozen oranges and sweet lemons, a great bottle of Canary, +half a loaf of bread, a pound of sugar, three spoons full of +East India cinnamon, and a bottle of old Malaga wine. +From these I prepared most artistically, a strong, delicious +drink. I mixed with it, finally, one hundred and fifty +drops of opium that I took from the medicine chest. The +dose was rather large, but I had to do, not with men, but +with beasts. After I had poured it all into a large bowl, +I carried it to the captain, who immediately took ten or +twelve spoons full of it, and was quite delighted; I told +him that he might drink as much of it as he pleased.</p> +<p>“Well,” he said, kindly, “since you are so skilful, go +and get two dozen bottles of Bordeaux; you can share +them with the officers.”</p> +<p>I thanked him and turned to go.</p> +<p>“Stop!” he cried, “if I am well my men shall feel well +too; they have been grumbling for several days; I’ll +moisten their throats with rum; we’re perfectly safe here; +tell the steward to roll a barrel on deck; they shall drink +until they can’t stand.”</p> +<p>The storm had, in the meantime, blown over; the sea +was placid, and the full moon was rising gloriously. The +table was already spread; I hastened to the cabin, taking +with me the laudanum bottle from the medicine chest, out +of which I poured a stupefying dose into the rum-cask +and into every bottle of Bordeaux, except the one destined +for my own use, which I marked by a cut in the cork. +Then I gave the captain’s orders to the steward, who immediately +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +obeyed them, and the crew expressed their +gratitude by three cheers and a “Long live the captain!”</p> +<p>I now placed the bottles of Bordeaux upon the table so +that the one I had marked stood by my plate. Eight +o’clock struck during these preparations; supper was +brought and we immediately took our places. The crew +lay about on the deck, and seemed very good humored. +When the keenness of their appetite was appeased, they +began to drink, and the officers broke the necks of the +bottles of Bordeaux.</p> +<p>I did not neglect the captain meanwhile; he was very +well content, for he had already emptied half the bowl. +I perceived that the laudanum was taking effect upon all, +and when I returned to the officers I found them all very +much excited. They were relating their various exploits +so noisily that scarcely a word could be heard. On deck +the wildest confusion reigned, and the sailors were shouting +their horrible pirate songs. The noise lasted about a half +an hour and then grew fainter and fainter till it ceased +entirely; the opium had done its duty; all lay buried in +profound slumber, just where they had been drinking.</p> +<p>The steward and I delayed not an instant in taking +advantage of this favourable moment. We immediately +put into one of the fishing boats, a cask of water, a brandy +flask, a ham and some other provisions, and then provided +ourselves with the necessary clothes. I put on my overcoat, +into which I had sewed a considerable number of +gold-pieces; took a pocket compass, and a good spy glass, +and was in the boat in less than five seconds. The steward +threw down a bundle and followed me immediately.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></div> +<p>We quickly cut the rope that fastened us to the hated +schooner, put up the sail, and as the wind was favourable, +were soon out of sight of her. We got into the current +and shot along like an arrow. I was rather terrified when +the moon set, but the stars shone brightly, and the steward +was indeed well acquainted with those waters. When +the sun rose, we were not more than five leagues from +Havana, and as the wind and current continued to be +favorable, we sailed into port a little after nine o’clock, +heard the bells ringing, and the great city with its threatening +fortifications and forest of masts lay before us. We +landed, and before a half an hour had elapsed, were in the +house of the English consul, relating to him our wonderful +escape from the pirates, whom I had served, much +against my will, for more than a month.</p> +<p>Two days afterwards, an English frigate set sail for +home. I took my passage in it, and after a short, prosperous +voyage, landed at Plymouth, my native town.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +<a name='CAPTIVITY_AMONG_THE_JAPANESE' id='CAPTIVITY_AMONG_THE_JAPANESE'></a> +<h2>Captivity among the Japanese.</h2> +</div> +<p>On the fifth of July, A. D., 1811, the Russian sloop of +war, Diana, approached Kumachir, one of the most southerly +of the Kurile islands, belonging to Japan, for the purpose +of seeking shelter in one of its bays against an +approaching storm. They were received, on their arrival, +by a shower of balls from a fort which commanded the +bay. As no one, however, approached the vessel, its commander, +Vassillii Golownin, considering this hostile reception +as the natural consequence of former deeds of violence +perpetrated by his countrymen in those waters, did not +return the fire, but endeavored, by means of signs, to +make the natives understand that his intentions towards +them were friendly, and that he wished to land merely to +fill his water casks. After a protracted negociation, a +nearer conference was agreed on, and Golownin was imprudent +enough to fall into the snare set for him. But we +will let him describe the dangers and sufferings he underwent, +in his own words:</p> +<p>After we had cast anchor, says he, in the spot designated +to us, I landed with midshipman Moor, the steersman, +Chleb Nikow, four sailors, and Alexis, a native of the +Kuriles, who acted as interpreter. So deceived were we +by the apparent friendliness of the Japanese, that we took +no arms with us, except our swords. In order to destroy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +any distrust they might feel towards us, I ordered our boat +to be partly drawn on shore, and left a sailor to watch it. +The rest of the men, by my orders, carried after us some +chairs, and the presents we intended for the natives. As +I entered the fort, I was astonished to find that a large +crowd had collected in it. There were at least four hundred +soldiers, armed with guns, pikes, and javelins, drawn +up in an open space to the right of the gates. Opposite +to them was a tent made of striped cotton stuffs, into which +we were conducted. The commander of the fort, a stately +man, dressed in a complete suit of armor, and wearing two +sabres by his side, rose on our entrance, and when we had +saluted him, politely begged us to be seated on some +benches which were set ready for us. We thanked him +for his courtesy, but preferred taking our seats on the +chairs which we had brought with us. When we were +seated, they served us with tea without sugar, which they +carried on lacquered wooden waiters. According to the +Japanese custom, the cups were only half full. After we +had partaken of it, they supplied us with pipes and tobacco, +and the conference began. They first inquired the name +and rank of each of us, and then asked repeatedly, and in +an insidious manner, where we came from, whither we +were going, and why our countrymen had formerly ravaged +their northern coasts. When we had returned guarded +answers to these questions, they wanted to know how +many men were in our vessel. As I thought it prudent to +magnify our strength, I replied “a hundred;” but Alexis +could not translate this number, and I was obliged to make +a hundred marks on a piece of paper, with a pencil, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +let the Japanese count them. Whilst they were thus employed, +midshipman Moor observed that naked sabres were +being distributed among the soldiers, and immediately +advised me of the fact; but as we had been so kindly +treated, I thought little of the circumstance, especially as +they were preparing for us a feast, consisting of rice, fish +served up with a green sauce, and many other delicacies, +the names of which we did not know. After we had partaken +heartily of these solids, and for a drink been given +a kind of beer called “Sagic,” I declared that we could +not stay any longer, and begged them to tell us the price +of the meal, which we designed paying for. To this +request of mine, they returned very evasive answers, and +when they saw that we were tired of the useless and +fruitless questioning we had undergone, and were making +preparations to depart, they suddenly threw off the mask +they had hitherto worn, and by their threatening gestures +showed plainly enough what their intentions were. Their +chief, who, until the present moment, had spoken in a +friendly and pleasant manner, now raised his voice, and +pronouncing the name of the Russian who had ravaged +their coasts, made a long speech, during which he often +fiercely struck his hand on his sword, and ended by +swearing that the Emperor would have him cut in two if +he suffered a single Russian, who was in his power, to +escape. As soon as Alexis, in whose anxious countenance +we discovered coming evil, had translated these words to +us, we sprang to our feet, and made for the door. The +Japanese immediately set up a loud and threatening cry, +but did not attempt to seize us, contenting themselves with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +throwing oars and blocks of wood in our way, in order that +in running we might stumble over them and fall. When +we had almost reached the entrance of the fort, they fired +a volley at us, but fortunately hit no one, although the +balls whistled most unpleasantly near to our heads. We +were lucky enough to get out of the fort, and had almost +reached our boat, when I saw to my horror that it was +lying high and dry on shore, for in our absence the tide +had ebbed. As our pursuers were well aware that we +could not float it again, and had also made themselves +acquainted with the fact that there were no weapons in it, +they grew bolder, and surrounded us on all sides, brandishing +their huge sabres, which they held in both hands. +As resistance in such a case would be little less than madness, +we surrendered ourselves to them as their prisoners. +They seized me by the arms, and dragged me back to the +fort, together with my unhappy companions. On the way +a soldier struck me with a small iron rod, but an officer +angrily ordered him to desist, and no more blows followed.</p> +<p>They took us into a large building resembling a barrack, +which stood on the shore, and having forced us to kneel, +bound us with cords of the thickness of one’s finger. Over +these they lapped thinner ones, which gave us great pain. +The Japanese are perfect masters of this art, and we were +excellent specimens of their skill. We had about us just +the same number of ropes and knots, and were tied in +precisely the same parts of our bodies. Cords ran round +our breasts and necks, our elbows nearly touched each +other behind our backs, and our hands were tied fast +together. A long rope was fastened to us, one end of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +which a Japanese held, and on the least intimation of +flight, had only to pull it, and our elbows were painfully +pressed together, whilst the ropes around our necks were +so tightly drawn, that we were nearly choked. But as if +this was not enough, they bound our legs together above +the knees and ancles, and then making slip-knots in the +ends of some ropes, they put them over our necks, and +tied them to the rafters of the building, pulling them so +tight that we could not stir. They then searched our +pockets, and having taken from them every thing they +could find, very coolly lit their pipes and sat down to smoke. +Whilst they were binding us, the chief came in, and +taking his station in front of us, made a speech, during +which he frequently pointed to his mouth, with the intention +probably of intimating to us, that at present they had +no intention of starving us. In this pitiful and agonizing +position we remained for an hour, not knowing what was +to be our fate. When I saw them put the ropes over the +rafters, I concluded, of course, that their intention was to +hang us, and never have I so despised death as I did in +that moment; my only wish was, that they would finish +the murderous work as soon as possible. But the Japanese, +it seemed, had no idea, whatever, of taking such a +step. Their sole design and object was to render futile +any attempt at escape on our part. After a while they +unbound our ancles, loosened the ropes about our knees, +and leading us out of the building, conducted us through +some cultivated fields into a wood. We were so tightly +and skilfully bound that a boy ten years of age might have +conducted us in perfect safety, but these anxious and careful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +people did not think so, for each of us had an especial +watchman who held the rope, and an armed soldier to +walk by his side. From a hill we saw our vessel for the +last time, and with bleeding hearts, bid it and our native +land, a long farewell.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>II.</p> +<p>We walked along in single file, and had proceeded on +our journey for about half an hour, when we heard the +distant thunder of cannon, and concluded that our vessel +must have attacked the fort. I was so tightly bound, +especially about the neck, that my face became swollen, +and I found that my breath was fast leaving me. I could +scarcely swallow, and only with the greatest difficulty, +articulate. We repeatedly begged our guards to loosen a +little the cords which bound us, but the noise of the cannon +had thrown them into such paroxysms of terror that +they took no notice whatever of our entreaties, but kept +looking back, and urging us to go on faster. Life, at this +moment, appeared to me a most intolerable burden, and I +made up my mind to get rid of it, by leaping into the +next stream of water we came to. But this determination +of mine, I found, was easier to be made than carried +out, for whenever we passed over a stream of the smallest +size even, our suspicious guards held us tightly by the +arms. At last, unable to proceed farther, I sank exhausted +and senseless to the ground. When I recovered, I found +that blood had flowed from my mouth and nostrils, and +that I was sprinkled with water. For the first time, the +natives now listened to our entreaties, and loosening our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +bonds, greatly relieved us, enabling us to proceed on our +way with renewed strength.</p> +<p>After walking for about three hours longer, we arrived +at a little village, which is situated on the shores of the +strait separating Kumachir from the island of Jesso. Here +we were led into a house, and rice bread offered us, but as +our appetites were entirely gone, they took us into another +room, and made us lie down near the walls, so that none +of us could communicate with the others. The ropes by +which we had been led along, they tied to iron spikes, +which were driven into the floor, and they drew off our +boots, and again tied our legs as before. When our +guards had thus disposed of us to their entire satisfaction, +they seated themselves in the middle of the apartment, +round a pan of coals, and began to drink tea and smoke +tobacco. One would imagine that men might rest in +peace even among lions, if they were bound as we were, +but the Japanese did not seem to consider themselves safe +even now, for they carefully examined our bonds every +quarter of an hour or so.</p> +<p>Letters were very often brought to the captain of our +guards, which he read attentively, and then communicated +their contents to his companions. They conversed, however, +in such a low tone of voice, that we saw very well +they feared our hearing what they said, though on that +subject they might have made themselves perfectly easy, +for we did not understand a single word of the Japanese +language. Towards midnight they made preparations for +departure. A wide board was brought in, to the four corners +of which ropes had been attached; through these +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +ropes a pole was put, by means of which they raised it +from the ground. They now laid me on the board, and +carried me away, which made us fully believe that they +were going to separate us, and that we now saw each +other for the last time. We, therefore, took leave of each +other like dying men, our eyes filled with tears. The +farewell of the sailors, which they sobbed aloud, cut me to +the heart, for I felt that my imprudence was the cause of +all their misery. I was carried to the shore, and laid on a +mat in a large boat, and to my joy and surprise they +brought down my comrades, one after the other, and laid +them near to me. This was so unexpected, and so gratifying, +that for a moment I almost forgot my sufferings. +They then covered me and my companions with moss, and +an armed guard having taken his seat by the side of each +of us, they pushed off from the shore. During our journey +by water that night, the Japanese kept perfectly quiet. +They spoke not a word, and turned a deaf ear to all our +lamentations and complaints.</p> +<p>At the break of day we arrived at a little village on the +coast of Jesso, where they placed us in several smaller +boats, which they drew along the shore by means of ropes. +From time to time they offered us rice-broth, and roasted +fish, and if any of us wanted to eat, they put the food into +his mouth by means of slender sticks, which, in Japan, +are used instead of forks.</p> +<p>The good people who had bound us in such an unmerciful +manner, from a fear only that we would escape from +them, or commit suicide, now showed themselves to be +any thing but cruel, for they were even, careful to brush +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +the flies from us with green bushes, which otherwise would +have plagued us sadly. After they had carried us along +the coast in this manner, for the space of two days, the +boats were dragged upon the land, and shoved along by +the aid of a large number of people, without either we or +our guards being obliged to leave them. They pulled us +through thickets and woods, and at last we found ourselves +on the top of a high hill. We could not conceive what +possible object the Japanese could have in drawing across +the land, with so much trouble, boats of no inconsiderable +size. We concluded, at last, that they must have seen our +vessel, and feared lest they should lose their prize. But +the solution of the riddle was soon apparent, for when +they had got the boats up to the top of the hill, they +allowed them to slide down the other side by the force of +their own gravity, and then launched them on a small +stream, which, after having navigated for two days, we +left in order to continue our journey by land. They loosened +the bands from our legs, and having drawn on our +boots, asked us whether we would walk or be carried in +litters, by which name they designated boards, some four +feet in length, fastened to ropes, by which they were borne +along. We chose to walk, and accordingly the chief +formed the procession. First walked two of the natives, +side by side, with red staves in their hands, who pointed +out the way. After them came three soldiers, and then +myself. On one side of me walked a soldier, and on the +other a servant, who, with a green bush, brushed the flies +from me. After me walked a guard, who held the rope +that bound me, and then followed people bearing my litter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +In the same manner, Moor, Chleb Nikow, and the sailors, +were led along, and the procession closed with soldiers and +a crowd of servants, who carried the baggage and provisions. +Each one of the latter had fastened to his girdle +a small wooden tablet, marked so as to designate to which +of us he was attached, and what was his duty. During +the whole of the journey, the Japanese preserved the same +order, and the day was spent in the following manner: +At dawn we prepared to start, breakfasted, and set out on +our march. At the villages through which we passed, we +generally stopped to rest, to drink tea, and smoke tobacco. +At noon we dined. An hour after dinner, we started +again, and two or three hours before sunset halted for the +night, generally in some village, or where a garrison lay. +Immediately on our arrival, we were led to the chief’s +dwelling, and seated on benches, until that magnate reviewed +and mustered us. We were then taken to a house +appropriated to us, and bound fast to iron clamps. Afterwards +they pulled off our boots, and washed our feet with +salt and water. We ate regularly three times a day; in +the morning, at noon, and in the evening. Our food +varied very little, consisting of rice-broth, instead of bread, +with salted radishes, instead of salt, a mess of greens, +balls of pastry, or roasted fish. Sometimes we received +mushroom soup, and a hard boiled egg. The food was not +measured out to us, but each one was at liberty to eat as +much as he pleased. Our drink was generally bad tea, +without sugar, and sometimes, though rarely, beer. In +this manner we were taken to our place of destination, +which was as yet unknown to us.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span></div> +<p>By degrees they loosened the ropes, which had been +put round our necks, and when, after a time, a man of +higher rank took the command of our party, he permitted +our hands to be untied, so that we could feed ourselves. +Only when we were carried across some strait or river, did +they bind us so unmercifully tight, and this did not happen +often, nor last long. Our conductors were very careful +of us, and carried their caution and watchfulness so far, +that for a long time they would not suffer us to approach +the shore. However, as we pleaded hard to be allowed +to do so, because we could walk so much easier on the +wet sand, they at last gave a reluctant consent, taking +care to keep between us and the water, even where they +were obliged to wade in it. When, also, they allowed us +to smoke pipes, they held them with both hands, or +fastened to the mouth-pieces wooden balls of the size of +hen’s eggs, for they seemed to imagine that if we were not +restrained, we would choke ourselves with them. We +laughed heartily at this proceeding, and made them understand, +by signs, that it was much easier to strangle ourselves +with these balls than with pipe-stems. At this +they laughed too, but told us that they had most positive +orders to prevent us in every possible way from committing +suicide. They were so very anxious about our health, +that they watched us from the tops of our heads to the +soles of our feet, carried us across the smallest brooks or +puddles, and asked us every morning how we felt.</p> +<p>On the eighth of August, we arrived at Khakodade, a +large town, which they told us was to be our abode for the +present. An immense multitude came forth to meet us. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +The road was lined on both sides with spectators, but they +behaved themselves very soberly, none of them betraying +in their looks, as I saw to my satisfaction, either hatred, +scorn, or malicious pleasure; still less did they attempt +to annoy us with either mockery or outrage. After we +had passed through the town gates, and a long and very +narrow street, we turned into a by-lane, and saw on a high +piece of ground before us, which was surrounded by an +earthen wall and thick-set hedge, and guarded by armed +soldiers, a building which was, perhaps, to be our prison +during life.</p> +<p>As soon as we entered we were mustered by an officer, +according to the instructions given him by the captain of +our guards, and then led farther into the court, where we +saw a large, dark shed, in which stood cages made of +strong bars of wood, and resembling bird-cages in every +thing but size. After the Japanese had taken counsel +among themselves for some time, as to how they should +dispose of us, they led me along a passage, and forced me +to go into one of the little apartments, which was partitioned +off by means of wooden posts. I looked around for +my companions, and judge of my horror, when I found +that they had vanished. After the guards had taken off +my bonds, and also, taken off my boots, they fastened the +door of my cage, without saying a word, and left me to +myself. The thought that I was separated from my comrades, +overcame me, and I threw myself on the ground in +despair.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></div> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>III.</p> +<p>I had lain there, almost unconscious, for some time, +when I perceived a man at the window, who, by signs, +invited me to approach him. As I did so, he handed me +through the grating, a couple of little sweet cakes, and +signified to me that I was to eat them quickly, without letting +any one see me do so, for if that was to happen it +might be all the worse for him. Although at this moment +I felt a positive aversion towards all kinds of food, yet +with a great exertion, I gulped them both down, because +I did not wish either to anger or injure him. He now left +me, with a pleased countenance, promising to provide me +in future, with the same kind of food. I thanked him as +well as I was able, and wondered not a little, that a man, +who to judge from his appearance, was of the lowest rank +in life, should possess so much goodness of heart, as to +resolve on comforting a stranger, at his own peril. Pretty +soon they brought me food, but as I had not the least +appetite, I sent it back untouched, as I did again in the +evening.</p> +<p>One object now wholly occupied my thoughts, and that +was my escape from imprisonment. With this view I +examined my cage very carefully. It was six feet long, +about as broad, and some eight feet high. Tolerably thick +beams separated it from the passage, and in the wall were +a couple of windows, having on the outside, a strong +wooden grating, and within, paper curtains which could be +rolled up or let down. From one of these windows you +looked out on a wall about two feet distant, but the other +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +commanded a beautiful view of mountains, fields, and the +sea. All the furniture which the apartment could boast +of, was a little bench, so small that one could hardly lie +down on it, and some mats spread out on the floor.</p> +<p>I was thoroughly convinced that with the aid of an +ordinary knife, it would be very easy to cut through the +wooden grating of the window, and that in a dark night, I +could, with very little difficulty, find my way into the +court-yard and over the wall. But then, where was the +knife to come from, when they had not trusted us with +even a needle? And suppose that I was lucky enough to +escape, whither could I turn my steps? The fear too of +aggravating the already hard lot of my companions, +turned aside any ideas which I might have entertained of +attempting a flight. Moreover, our guards were not by +any means remiss in their duties. During the whole +night, I heard very plainly, people walking round the +walls, and striking the hours by means of a couple of dry +sticks. My attendants too came very often into the entry +with a light, in order to see what I was doing. Before +night set in, they brought me a thick cotton covering, and +a night-gown, wide and wadded, but which smelt so badly, +as it was old and dirty, that I threw it aside into one +corner of my cage.</p> +<p>On the following morning, whilst every thing was yet +still, I heard, to my great joy, some Russian words very +plainly pronounced. I sprang up from the bench on which +I was lying, and going to the window, which looked out +on the next building, heard midshipman Moor in conversation +with one of the sailors. Most fervently did I thank +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +God for this unexpected discovery, for I now knew that +my companions not only were under the same roof, but +were not imprisoned in separate cells, and had, therefore, +opportunity for comforting each other, and making the +time appear shorter. After several days, during which +the tedious and solitary life I led had well nigh driven me +to despair, there walked into my cell a Japanese officer, +whom I took to be of some rank and importance. After +lamenting that they had thus far been obliged to confine +me by myself, he agreeably surprised me by asking which +of the sailors I would like to have as a companion? I +replied that they were all equally dear to me, and that I +wished to have them all with me in turns; he immediately +gave orders to have my wish attended to. I asked +him if the Japanese intended to treat us always in this +manner?</p> +<p>“No,” answered he; “in future you will all live together, +and after a while be sent home.”</p> +<p>“Will this soon happen?” I asked.</p> +<p>“Not so very soon,” replied he, shortly, and left without +further explanations.</p> +<p>Men who find themselves in a situation like ours, catch +up every word, and meditate on it closely. Had he said +“soon,” I would have regarded his words as a mere +attempt at consolation; but now I believed him, and grew +more contented. Hardly was this officer gone, when one +of the sailors was brought to me. The man was not a +little astonished to see what a pleasant apartment I had, +and feasted his eyes on the objects he saw from my window. +My prison seemed a paradise compared to the cells +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +in which he and the rest had been put. These cells, it +was true, were built like mine, but far more narrow and +penable, and they stood one on the other in a kind of +shed, so that there was a free passage all round them. Instead +of a door, they had an opening so low that you had +to creep through it. No friendly ray of light ever penetrated +to them, and they were surrounded by gloom and +darkness.</p> +<p>The conversation I held with the sailor invigorated, in +some degree, the sorrow I felt, and I now ate the food +that was brought to me for the first time since our arrival +at Khakodade. Our food now was worse by far than +when we were on our way to the town. They gave us by +turns, rice-broth, warm water, with grated radishes, but no +herbs, finely cut leeks, boiled beans, salted cucumbers, a +soup with balls of meal, made from beans and spoiled +fish. Our drink was generally warm water; sometimes, +but seldom, they gave us poor tea, without sugar. When +we complained of this wretched fare to one of the officers +of the guard, he promised us meat, butter, and milk, but +excused himself afterwards, when we reminded him of his +promise, by jocosely telling us that the cows were still at +pasture. When, in order to accomplish our purpose in +another manner, we feigned illness, he asked us, in a sympathizing +manner, what the Russians did when they were +sick? and what they ate?</p> +<p>“All that the physician prescribes,” answered I; “most +commonly chicken broth.”</p> +<p>Immediately he demanded of us a detailed account of +how chicken broth was prepared, and when we gave it, he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +wrote it down on a piece of paper. But it seemed as if +this were done merely from curiosity or derision, for the +chicken broth was never mentioned afterwards. Once he +treated us to beer, and in return wished to see us perform +a Russian dance. When I remarked to him that no one +could compel us to dance, in such a situation as ours, he +said, composedly:</p> +<p>“That’s true; a Japanese, in such a case, would neither +dance nor sing.”</p> +<p>As I could not obtain any materials for writing, I invented, +in order to note daily occurrences, a diary of a peculiar +kind. If any thing pleasant occurred, I tied a knot in a +white thread, which I pulled out of my shirt. When any +thing unpleasant happened to us, I tied a knot in a black +silken thread, from my cravat. If any thing note-worthy +took place, either pleasant or the reverse, I tied together +the ends of a green thread, which I drew from the lining +of my uniform. From time to time I reckoned over these +knots, and recalled to my mind the circumstances they +were intended to denote.</p> +<p>On the tenth of August, word was brought to us that +the commander-in-chief of the town wished to see us, and +that at noon we were to be presented to him. Accordingly, +at the appointed time, they took us singly from our +cages, bound ropes round our bodies, and led us by them, +under a strong escort, through a long and wide street, +which ran through the town and was filled with people, +to a castle surrounded by an earthen wall, at the gates of +which stood a numerous guard. Having taken us into the +court-yard, they made us take our seats on benches and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +mats, and treated us to good tea, sugar, and tobacco. We +might have sat there about an hour, when a voice was +heard calling, “Captain Khovorin!” which was the way +the Japanese pronounced my name. Two soldiers, who +stood by my side, immediately led me through a door, +which was hastily closed behind me, into a large hall, +through the paper curtains of which came a dim light. +On the walls of this apartment hung irons, with which to +fetter criminals, cords, and other instruments of punishment, +which made me conclude that I was in a chamber +devoted to the torture. In the middle of the hall, sat the +commander-in-chief, on a kind of raised platform. He +was surrounded by several officers and scribes, each of +whom had before him his paper and inkstand, and at his +side a dagger and huge sabre. After the other prisoners +had been led in, a most tedious and insignificantly minute +examination was commenced, concerning our names and +ages, our parents, and places of birth; also as to the Russian +Empire, its power on land and sea, the ship we arrived +in, and the object of our journey. The answers we deemed +advisable to give, were, as well as the interpreter could +understand them and translate them into Japanese, noted +down with the greatest exactness.</p> +<p>At last the commander-in-chief asked, with particular +emphasis, if the religion of Russia had not been lately +changed, as an ambassador who had formerly been in +Japan, had worn a long cue, and hair thickly powdered, +whilst we had it cut short. When we told him that in +our country, the style of wearing the hair had nothing +whatever to do with religion, the Japanese laughed in a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +contemptuous manner, and wondered not a little, that we +had no fixed laws on so important a subject. As it was +now nearly dark, we were led back to our cages.</p> +<p>Afterwards, we were several more times taken into this +hall, where the same questions were put to us, though in +a different form, that they might entrap us. They compared +the answers we now gave, with those formerly +given, and on the slightest difference appearing, made the +most diffuse inquiries about it. Finally, on the twenty-seventh +of September, they took us from Khakodale to +Matsmai, the capital of the island, which is situated on +the southern coast, where we were immediately immured +in a strongly fortified building, which stood on a hill.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>IV.</p> +<p>At the first look which we took of our quarters, we +thought that we had seen the sun for the last time, for +although without, the day was clear and bright, yet within +almost total darkness reigned.</p> +<p>Imagine a four cornered shed, five and twenty paces +long, fifteen wide, and some twelve feet high, three sides +of which were walled up without the smallest opening, +and the fourth covered with a strong wooden grating made +of bars placed about four inches from each other. In the +grating was a door and little gate, but both securely +bolted. In the middle of the shed stood a couple of cages, +likewise made of wooden bars, and separated from each +other and the wall, by narrow passages. One of these +cages was six feet square and ten high; the other was of +the same heighth and breadth, but only eight feet high. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +In the latter were the sailors, and in the former, Moor, +Chleb Nikow, and I. The entrance to each of them was so +narrow that one was obliged to creep through it. The +door was made of thick beams and fastened by means of +a strong iron bolt, over which was a little opening through +which they put our food, when they gave it to us. The +wall of each cage, which was opposite that of the other, +was made of boards, so that we could not see the sailors +nor they us. Outside of the grating which formed one +side of the shed, was a sentry box, in which two soldiers +kept a continual watch. They could see us all, and did +not take their eyes off us for a single moment.</p> +<p>During the night they entered the shed every half hour, +walked around our cages and looked in through the bars. +From sunset until the break of day, numerous watchmen +went the rounds with lanterns, and struck the hours with +a couple of sticks.</p> +<p>At night our prison was still more dreary, for we had +neither light nor fire. A lamp set in a paper lantern, +burned in the guard-house, and threw a pale, sickly light +into the shed, which it would not have been sufficient to +illumine, under any circumstances. Except the scanty +portion which the rays of this light fell on, all the shed +was shrouded in impenetrable darkness. The rattling which +ensued from the opening and shutting of doors, whenever +the guards visited us, broke through the deep silence of +night, and added to the discomforts of our situation. It +was out of our power to enjoy a calm refreshing sleep, for +besides the noise, frightful phantoms of every kind drove +it away.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span></div> +<p>The shed, cages, guard-houses, and hedges, by which +they were surrounded, were all quite new, and had so +lately been finished, that the chips and shavings had not +yet been carried away. The building, which was large, +and made of beautiful wood, must have cost the Japanese +government no trifling sum; greater indeed, we imagined, +than they would have devoted to such an object, had their +intention been soon to set us free. For a sojourn of two +or three years, they might easily have found some suitable +building already constructed, and the security and +arrangements of this place, seemed to denote that it was +to be our abode for a long while, perhaps during life. +These reflections tormented us fearfully. For a long +while we sat silently gazing at each other, considering ourselves +as victims to our own imprudence. On the fourth +day after our arrival at Matsmai, the Japanese took us +out of our cages, in order, as they told us, to present us +to the governor. We went bound in the old way, with +soldiers holding the ropes. The road to the fort was +through a dirty street, which they had covered with +boards, and as it commenced raining, they held umbrellas +over our heads. We were led into a roomy court-yard +within the fort, which was covered with pebbles, and were +placed in a row on a bench which stood within a small +building. After we had remained here about an hour, a +door was opened, and we were taken through a second +court into a third, where the soldiers who accompanied us, +laid aside their sabres, daggers, and the straw sandals +which they wore instead of shoes, and at the same time, +pulled off our boots. We were now taken into an immense +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +hall, the floor of which was covered with magnificently +worked carpets. The doors and windows were made of +beautiful wood elaborately carved. On the curtains which +according to the Japanese custom, formed the partition +walls between the rooms, and could be removed at pleasure, +were paintings set in golden frames, and ornaments +representing beasts and birds. On both sides of the room +were seated Japanese officers, armed with swords and +daggers. They laughed and joked among themselves +until a noise was heard, and a voice cried, “Hush!” +when a deep silence prevailed.</p> +<p>A servant now entered the apartment, kneeled down at +the door, laid the palms of his hands on the ground, and +bowed his head. The governor then made his appearance, +clad in a plain black robe, on the sleeves of which was +embroidered his crest, as is customary in Japan. At his +girdle hung a dagger, but his sabre was carried by a servant, +who had it rolled up in a cloth, that his hands might +not touch it. After the governor had taken his seat, the +Japanese all made him a reverence, laying the palms of +their hands on the floor, and bowing so profoundly that +their foreheads touched it, in which position they remained +for several seconds. He replied to their salutation by +bowing low, his hands placed on his knees. We also +saluted him, in the European fashion, and he nodded his +head to us, smiling all the while, as if to assure us that +his intentions towards us were friendly.</p> +<p>He now drew from his bosom a sheet of paper, and +called over the names of each one of us, according to his +rank. We replied singly, by a bow, and each time he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +bent his head. He then spoke to a man who was sitting +by his side, and who held the post of interpreter, and +commanded him to translate to us what he was about to +say. But this individual did not seem to have the slightest +knowledge of the Russian language, and began with +the words:</p> +<p>“I am a man, thou art a man, another is a man, tell me +what kind of a man?”</p> +<p>When we, astounded at the fellow’s impudence, managed +to explain to them that we did not understand in the least +what he was trying to say, and the officers, after some +trouble, had made him confess that he did not know even +the commonest phrases in the Russian language, they +began to laugh, drove him away, and made use of our +interpreter, Alexis, who had hitherto remained a prisoner +with us. After an examination, during which the same +questions were put to us as had been formerly asked by +them, the governor, or “Bunjo,” as the Japanese term him, +told us that if we had any request to make, we might +now do so.</p> +<p>“We wish only for two things,” we replied, “either to +return to our native land, or if that is impossible, to die.”</p> +<p>At this unexpected declaration, the governor made a +long and earnest speech, in which he laid particular emphasis +on the fact that the Japanese were men, and had +feelings like the rest of mankind, and that, therefore, we +need not doubt them, nor have any fear, for as soon as it +was proved that it was not by the command of the Russian +Emperor, that our countrymen had committed violence +in Japanese territory, but of their own accord, we should +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +be sent home, abundantly supplied with all things necessary. +Until that time, they would take care that we +wanted for nothing, and if we needed clothes or any thing +else, we must not be ashamed to ask for them.</p> +<p>The Bunjo then left us, and we returned to our cages +with the hope, at least, that through favorable circumstances +we might escape from our imprisonment.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>V.</p> +<p>From that day our food was greatly improved, for besides +the rice broth, and salt radishes, which they had hitherto +given us, we now received very good fresh and salt fish, +roasted or boiled in poppy-oil, soups made from different +kinds of savory herbs, or sea-mussles, and when the snow +began to fall, they shot sea-dogs, bears, and rabbits, for us, +and prepared under our direction, sometimes, a Russian +dish, namely, fish eaten with thin grits, and little barley-cakes. +Our food was brought to us three times a day. +For drink, we received warm and strong tea, and after any +fatiguing examination, they gave us two glasses of warm +beer, which they did also in cold weather. They also furnished +us with furred coats, and night garments, and when +they found that it was not customary in Russia to spend +the night on the ground, they made us benches to sleep +upon.</p> +<p>This amiable behavior, on the part of the Japanese, emboldened +us to ask one of the officers, who visited us, +whether it was not possible to have a window cut in the +back wall of the shed, so that we might be able to see the +sky and the tops of the trees. He did not refuse our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +request, but examined the wall, asked us where we would +like to have it made, praised our choice, and went away. +We, of course, believed that our entreaty would be complied +with, but we were very much mistaken, for when, a +few days afterwards, we repeated our request, the officer +replied that the Japanese were very anxious about the +state of our health, and feared lest the north wind would +give us a cold; therefore, they deemed it more prudent +not to make a window.</p> +<p>As the autumn came on, and it grew more and more +unpleasant to live in an open building, the Japanese, at +our earnest solicitation, pasted paper over the lattice work, +and made a window in the roof, which could be opened +and shut by means of ropes. Through this window we +saw the sky at times, which, in a situation like ours, was +a great comfort. Moreover, when it grew colder, they dug +a couple of holes in the ground, about two paces distant +from the cages, and having lined them with flag-stones, +filled them with sand. During the day they burnt charcoal +on these hearths, and by sitting close to the grating, +we could warm ourselves without being within reach of +the coals. After a few days, they gave us pipes with very +long stems, to the middle of which they tied wooden balls, +which were too large to be drawn through the pales. In +this way we could smoke the pipes, which they filled for +us, as often as we wished, without having the power to +draw them into our prisons. This mistrust of us, raised +our indignation to the highest pitch; but when we expostulated +with them, and told them, in the strongest terms, +what a horror and aversion the Europeans entertained for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +suicide, they merely laughed, and appealed to their laws, +which enjoined on them the necessity of keeping from +their prisoners every thing with which they could hurt +either themselves or others. For this reason they would +never trust us with needles to mend our clothes, nor even +with a pair of scissors to cut our nails, obliging us to put +our hands through the bars of our cages, that the soldiers +might perform the operation for us.</p> +<p>In the beginning of our captivity, they had not allowed +us even to change our clothes or wash our shirts, but now +they provided us with water for that purpose, which +relieved one of our most pressing necessities. They also +invited us to get into a tub, in which water was warmed +by means of a pipe connecting with a little oven, and +wash ourselves. I took the lead, and we found that we +had all to bathe in the same water. This arrangement +displeased us not a little, as we held it to be treatment +unworthy of the commonest criminals. But we soon +were silent on this point however, for to our great astonishment, +we saw the soldiers who guarded us, follow our +example, and without adding a drop of fresh water, use +the same that we had bathed in! and these soldiers did +not by any means hold a low rank in society, but were +highly esteemed by their countrymen.</p> +<p>We had, in the meantime, by the command of the governor, +by whose orders we were supplied with pen and +ink, and with the aid of several interpreters, prepared a +written defence which, when finished, we sent to him. +On the fifteenth of November, we were again led into the +fort, but this time with great rejoicing, and with the assurance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +that our affairs were prospering, and that our innocence +was beginning to be universally acknowledged. The +Bunjo too declared that after our assertions, and written +defence, he now viewed the attack made on Japanese +property by the Russian vessel, in an entirely different +light, and that he was fully convinced of our entire innocence. +It was true that he had not the disposing of us; +that remained with the Emperor, but he would do all in +his power to bring our affairs to a happy termination. In +the meantime we must not be discouraged, but pray to +God. This reference to God, which the Bunjo never failed +to make when he examined us, always gave us pleasure, +for by it we recognized with joy, that the people into +whose power we were fallen, had at least some notion of a +Supreme being who cared for man.</p> +<p>After this the ropes were taken from us, at which all +the Japanese heartily rejoiced; indeed, some were so much +moved as to have tears in their eyes. We thanked the +Bunjo and officers for their kindness, and for the first +time, returned unbound to our prison, where we found +every thing so altered that it was unaccountable to us, +how the Japanese had accomplished the work in so short +a space of time as that during which we were absent. +The lattice work of our cages had been removed, and the +gloomy passage was transformed into a roomy and cheerful +apartment, in which we could all move about conveniently. +Round a hearth on which was boiling tea in copper +kettles, they had made a kind of wooden frame, on +which each of us found a cup, pipe, and tobacco pouch, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +and instead of the oil lamp which had formerly given us +light, we were now treated to candles.</p> +<p>Hardly had we somewhat recovered from our astonishment, +when some of the officers came with their children +to pay us a visit. They congratulated us on this happy +change in our condition, sat down with us by the fire, +smoked and chatted. In a word, we were no longer +treated as prisoners, but as guests. Our supper was now +brought to us, not as usual, in cups, but on new and handsome +plates. They gave us also, plenty of beer. The +hopes of again seeing our native land was awakened +within us anew, and this night was the first since our +imprisonment, in which we enjoyed a calm sleep.</p> +<p>But, alas our joy lasted only a few days. Old suspicions +reviving, gradually made our situation worse and +worse. Our food was changed back to what it was formerly, +and nothing remained but the new dishes on which +they brought it to us. In the place of candles, the old +oil lamp went into service again, and the guards once more +hung up before our eyes the ropes which they had only a +little while before removed. Gradually we observed many +other indications that our affairs were again assuming a +serious aspect since the commander of Kumachir, who had +originally made us prisoners by treachery, arrived in +Matsmai.</p> +<p>Our suspicions soon became certainty, for the Bunjo +ordered us to instruct a Japanese in the Russian language, +as they could not trust the interpreter whom we had formerly +employed. We refused for a long while to undertake +this tedious task, but were at last obliged to do so, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +they told us very plainly that on it depended the possibility +of our liberation. The Japanese had now an opportunity +of satisfying their curiosity, through our very +docile scholar, a scribe of the Bunjo’s. They took unlimited +advantage of this opportunity, to our great disgust +and vexation, whilst from them we could not get a word +as to the intention of their government towards us, nor +even whether a Russian vessel had arrived at Japan during +our absence, to demand our release. Every day our conviction +grew stronger, that nothing was further from their +thoughts than to liberate us, but that they were striving +by every means in their power to conceal from us our sad +fate, and we came to the conclusion that nothing was left +to us but flight.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>VI.</p> +<p>We were, however, diverted from these thoughts by the +announcement that we were to change our quarters as +soon as the fine weather set in. Accordingly, on the first +of April, we were removed to a house which was some +distance off, and not far from the coast. Yet this was not +by any means the commencement of our final liberation, +but of a still longer imprisonment, though it was to be in +a milder form and more healthy place. At any rate, we +thus interpreted the remark of the commander-in-chief, +that we must now look upon the Japanese as brethren and +countrymen. However, we had so little desire to claim +any relationship that we set to work in earnest to make +preparations for a flight. The first thing we did was to +examine into the condition of our new abode.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></div> +<p>The house in which we now found ourselves, lay near +the southern gate of the fort, between a wall and a steep +rock, at the foot of which lay the town. It was surrounded +by a large court-yard and a high wooden fence. +Another fence divided the yard into two parts, of which +the one nearest the house was set apart for our own use. +As there were three or four trees in this enclosure, the +Japanese, when they were pointing out to us the advantages +of our new residence, dubbed it a garden, but we +found that if we wished to get along without wounding +their vanity, we must call a pool of water that was in one +corner of it, “a lake,” and a heap of mud in this pool, +“an island.” This so-called garden was connected with +the other court, by means of a little door, which was +always kept shut, except when the captain of the guard +visited us, or we were permitted to take a walk, which +now frequently happened. A gate which was kept carefully +closed during the night, led from the second court +into the street. Our house was divided into two parts by +a lattice work which ran through it in the direction of the +fence separating the two court-yards, with one of which +each division was connected. In the first of these divisions +were three chambers, separated from each other by +screens, which were appropriated to our use, and in the +second dwelt soldiers armed with guns, javelins, swords, +and daggers. In this way they could easily watch us, and +their commander generally sat by the lattice and looked +into our rooms. A gallery ran round our apartments, +from which we could look out upon the sea, and a shore +which lay opposite.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span></div> +<p>Our present habitation was in reality far better than the +former one, for we could now at least enjoy the sight of +the heavens, walk round the court-yard undisturbed, and +inhale the fresh air and cool breeze. Our food, also, was +much improved. Yet when we came to reflect on the last +words of the governor, we knew not whether to rejoice or +be sad. He had told us, in the plainest terms, to consider +the Japanese as brethren and countrymen, without striving +to cheer us, as he was wont to do, with the prospect of +returning to our native land. What could this mean, but +that we were now domiciliated in Japan, and must in +future give up all thoughts of returning home? Yet we +were now more determined than ever, either to free ourselves +by force, or escape on some favorable opportunity +offering. After mature deliberation, we determined on +attempting flight, hoping that ere our absence was discovered +we should have time to reach some mountains, +in the north of the island, where we could lie concealed +until an opportunity offered of seizing some kind of a +vessel along the coast, in which we could make a journey +from island to island, and so reach the nearest Russian +port. Having thus made our plans, the first thing we +determined to do was to divert the attention of the Japanese +from us, by assuming a cheerful demeanor, and suffering +no complaint to escape us. To our great joy, we were +successful. It is true that the soldiers, who mounted +guard, did not sleep at their posts during the night, but +they troubled themselves less about us than formerly, and +sat round the fire, smoking their pipes and playing at +draughts. The officer still went the rounds every half +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +hour, with his men, but he then sat down in a corner, and +amused himself by reading. In the meantime, we sought +to provide ourselves with such things as were indispensable +to our flight. Every day we put aside some of the rice +broth, which continued to be our usual food, and having +dried it during the night, put it into bags, which we tied +to our girdles, or under our arms. One day, whilst we +were walking outside of the town, one of the sailors found +a fire-steel. He immediately put his foot upon it, and +stooping down under pretence of pulling up his stocking, +slipped it into his pocket. We stole some flints from our +attendants, and made tinder by burning an old shirt. +“Necessity is the mother of invention,” says an old proverb, +which, in our case, spoke truly, for by untiring perseverance +we succeeded in constructing a compass, which, +though of course imperfect, answered every purpose. After +many entreaties, we procured from our attendants a +couple of needles, under pretence of mending our clothes. +Pretending that we had lost them, we devoted them to the +manufacture of our compass. Through repeated rubbings +on a magnetic stone, which Chleb Nikow had found, and +which we kept carefully concealed in a corner of the yard, +we succeeded in rendering one of them magnetic, and then +fastened it to a little sheet of copper, which we loosened +from the roof of our house. We undertook, besides this, +to manufacture some weapons for our defence, in case of +need, and in this attempt fortune again favored us. We +found, among the grass in the court-yard, a large and +sharp chisel, which, most probably, the carpenters had +used in the construction of the house, and forgotten. We +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +put it carefully by, in order that we might fasten it to a +pole, and use it in the moment of our flight as a spear. +We found, also, a spade in the court, which we hid, that it +too might serve as a weapon. Besides this, the sailors, on +the night when we made the attempt, were to arm themselves +with some long poles, which had been used in drying +our clothes.</p> +<p>After we had finished our preparations, we noted carefully, +whenever we took a walk, the road and footpath +which led to the mountains. On the twenty-third of +April, having gone farther than usual, we induced our +attendants, under the plea of curiosity, to show us a temple, +which lay directly in the way we must take in our +flight. Whilst we were gathering, as usual, leeks and +herbs for our own use, we observed accurately the whole +neighborhood, and then set out on our way home. When +we arrived there, we went to bed. A half an hour before +midnight, two of the sailors, who had taken a couple of +knives from the kitchen, which adjoined our rooms, slunk +into the garden just after the guard had made the twelfth +round, and hiding themselves under the steps, began digging +a hole under the hedge, whilst we put a bundle of +clothes into each of their beds, that it might appear as if +they were still there.</p> +<p>After they had happily finished their task, without +being discovered, we all went out, and one after the other +crept through the hole. When it came to my turn, I +stumbled, but got through, striking my knee, however, as +I did so, against a small post, which was nearly buried in +the ground. The blow was violent, but the pain soon disappeared. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +We now found ourselves in a very narrow +footpath, between the hedge and the wall of the fort, +which we followed, and after some trouble, reached the +principal street of the town. We hastened along, keeping +among the trees, and at the end of a half hour found ourselves +at the foot of a high mountain, which we were +obliged to ascend.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>VII.</p> +<p>We immediately began to climb up the hill, and endeavored, +as far as possible, by means of the stars, our +only guides, to direct our course due north. By the time +we had reached the first eminence, I felt a stinging pain +in my knee, which suddenly swelled up so much, and put +me into such agony, that I could proceed only with the +greatest difficulty. My companions, therefore, to my great +vexation and concern, were obliged to halt every little +while, that I might recover myself, and ease my injured +limb.</p> +<p>Our intention was to reach, before daybreak, that portion +of the hill which was covered with trees, in order to +secure ourselves against the first attempts which the Japanese, +who we now considered as our mortal enemies, +might make to capture us. In our walks through the +valleys which surrounded the town, these woods had not +appeared to us to be very far off, but we saw now how +much we had been deceived. One of the footpaths which +we had remarked during the day as leading directly to +them, we were unable to find in the thick darkness, which +shrouded from our view objects only a few paces distant.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span></div> +<p>The only resource left to us was to keep ascending, +which the unevenness of the soil, covered as it was with +brushwood, rendered tedious and difficult. After three +painful hours passed in this way, we came at last to the +highest ridge of the mountain, and now imagined that we +could go forward on the high level ground, without any +great exertion. But fate had many obstacles and much +trouble in store for us, that we knew not of. We had now +got to a part of the mountain which in many places was +covered with snow, and as we did not wish our trail to be +visible to the Japanese, we were obliged to go first to the +one side and then to the other, and often had to retrace +our steps. In this way we expended our strength, and +made very little progress. An hour before daybreak, we +struck on a broad road, which led towards the north, and +which was firm and almost free from snow. As we knew +that we could now go on without the fear of leaving our +footprints visible, we rejoiced not a little, and redoubled +our speed. I still felt much pain in my knee and leg, but +as we were now on level ground, it was not to be compared +to what I endured whilst ascending the mountain. +We believed that we must now reach the wood in a very +short time, and had made up our minds to rest in one of +its thickets, when suddenly a sailor who chanced to look +back, exclaimed, “They are coming after us on horseback, +with lanterns!” and immediately sprang into an opening +by the road side. Startled by this exclamation, we looked +round, and perceived some lights which seemed to be rapidly +approaching us. Seeing that there was no time to be +lost, we followed the sailor’s example. For a long way +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +the road led us down the mountain, without there being +either tree or bush to afford us shelter, or screen us from +our pursuers. Soon the day began to break. If there +had been more light at that moment, the Japanese must +inevitably have seen us from the surrounding heights, as +there was nothing which could hide us from their sight. +At length we reached the bottom of the ravine, which +was surrounded by naked rocks. Deep snow covered it, +and we could not find a single place where we could hide. +It was now broad day, and we stood still for a moment, +looking vainly in every direction, and much perplexed to +know what to do. At length we discovered in the rocks +an opening, which on examination, turned out to be a +cave, but so small as to be hardly able to contain us all. +Close to it was a water-fall, which coming down from the +mountain, had hollowed out in the snow, directly before +the entrance, a pit some ten feet deep. By the aid of a +little tree we climbed into this cave, in which, however, +we could not sit down, but were obliged to stand upright, +squeezed together in a most uncomfortable way. As the +bottom of our hiding-place was shelving, and covered with +loose stones, we were obliged to change our positions with +the greatest caution, for fear of rolling out, and in order +to rest ourselves, we leaned first on one elbow and then +on the other. However, we were now tolerably secure, +for the cave could not be seen by any one who was not +close to it.</p> +<p>We remained in this position until sunset, consulting, +with drooping courage, on the best way to save ourselves. +The day was clear and warm, but the rays of the sun did +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +not penetrate into the ravine, and the water-fall made the +air so cold that our teeth absolutely chattered. We heard +plainly the strokes of an axe in the surrounding forest, +and as we ventured out in the evening, saw people on the +mountains. Suddenly we heard a rushing sound as if +some one was sliding down the mountain towards us. It +came nearer and grew louder, and we thought that we +should now soon see the soldiers who were seeking us. +We prepared ourselves for a struggle, when behold a wild +stag appeared, and as soon as he saw us, dashed quickly +away.</p> +<p>As soon as the stars began to appear, we left our inconvenient +hiding-place, and climbed up a high mountain, +which in many places was overgrown with brushwood. +My situation was now really dreadful. While in the cave +I had held my leg in one position, and consequently, felt +no great pain, but it returned as soon as I began to walk, +and soon became almost intolerable. As we had still to +cross many mountains, and in our case great haste was +necessary, I saw clearly that I was keeping back my comrades, +and most likely would be the cause of their re-capture. +I, therefore, implored them to leave me to my fate, +and think only of their own safety. But my entreaties +had no effect on them whatever, except to render them +most determined not to leave me. They swore they +would stay by me whilst life remained, and that they +were perfectly willing to rest whenever I wished it. Moreover, +Makarov, the strongest of the sailors, entreated +me to let him help me along, which he could do, if I would +go behind him, and hold fast to his girdle. On hearing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +this I determined to remain with my companions and +allow myself to be dragged along by them.</p> +<p>After we had gone some distance from them, over rocky +cliffs, and through deep ravines, we came to a couple of +huts, from which came a whistling noise, such as, with us, +the people use to charm quails, in order to capture them. +We stooped down among the grass, and listened for a long +while, in order to find out whether it came from a bird, or +whether there were people in the huts. As it was not +likely that many persons dwelt in such an out of the way +place, we took courage, and went up to them; but when +we drew near, we found out that what we had taken for +huts, were in reality two heaps of wood. As we had not +been able to gain a moment’s rest during the preceding +day, we laid ourselves down on this spot, where we were +protected from the wind and cold, and slept for two or +three hours. Greatly refreshed, we started again on our +journey, and by daybreak reached the top of a high mountain, +which was covered with thick brushwood, and which +far out-topped the surrounding hills. Here we determined +to pass the day. As at sunrise a thick fog covered the +tops of the mountains, we ventured to make a fire among +the bushes to warm our limbs, stiffened with wet and cold. +We placed on it a tea kettle, which, however, was not for +the purpose of preparing tea, a luxury by no means within +our reach, but to warm our dry and mouldy rice, in order +to render it palatable. We searched, also, for wild herbs, +but nothing eatable was to be found any where, for on the +heights winter reigned despotic. We melted some snow +for a drink, and made a meal of our rice, which was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +already nearly putrid. In the meantime, black clouds +were rising in the east, the wind howled through the trees, +and every thing indicated that a storm was fast approaching. +As we concluded that none of the Japanese would +venture among the mountains in such weather as this, we +determined not to wait for the approach of night, but to +continue our journey during the day. After we had passed +through a deep ravine, and waded through a stream of +water, the road again led us up the mountain, and we had +already reached a tolerable height, when suddenly a high +and steep rock towered up directly in front of us, which +could not be ascended without great difficulty and danger, +and yet there was no way of avoiding it. Up we went, I +holding fast to the girdle of Makarov, who had nearly +reached the top, when he was obliged to free himself from +my grasp, in order to climb up a very steep part of the +rock just at the top. I braced the toes of my uninjured +foot against a projecting stone, wound my right arm round +a young tree, which curved up from below, and in this +position waited until Makarov had reached the summit, +from which he could assist me to mount up to him. But +this Hercules of a man was now so fatigued and overcome +that he had hardly strength to swing himself to the top of +the rock, where he lay as if dead. At this moment the +stone, against which I was resting, gave way, and rolled +down the mountain, leaving me swinging by one hand, and +totally unable, on account of the smoothness of the rock, +to get a resting place for my feet. The other sailors, it is +true, were not far from me, but they were all so fatigued +as to be totally unable to come to my assistance. In this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +fearful situation I passed several minutes, and my hand +began to pain me so intolerably that I was tempted to let +go my hold, and have my sufferings ended by being dashed +to pieces on the rocks, a hundred fathoms below me.</p> +<p>But at this moment Makarov recovered himself, and +seeing the danger I was in, prepared to help me. He +braced his left foot against a stone, which projected from +the rock directly opposite to my breast, grasped the +branches of the tree to which I was clinging, and let me +seize his girdle with my unoccupied hand. Then, with a +great exertion of strength, he dragged me to his side, and +again fell back almost senseless. Had the stone, on which +he stood, given way, or the bough he grasped broken, we +should both have been inevitably dashed to the ground. +After we had rested for some time on the top of the rock, +we continued our fatiguing journey until nightfall. We +then encamped on a part of the mountain which was overgrown +with reeds, and immediately made a fire to prepare +our evening meal, which this time consisted of wild leeks +and other herbs, collected along the banks of the stream +we had waded through. We then dried our clothes, and +lay down to rest in a tent hastily constructed of reeds. +Want of sleep, and the great fatigue we had undergone, +soon closed our eyes, and we slept soundly. After a few +hours I awoke, and found the hut so uncomfortably hot +that I went out into the open air. I leaned against a tree +which grew near by, and thought over our probable fate. +The sublime picture of nature first attracted my attention. +The sky was clear, but below us and among the +mountains rolled dark masses of clouds; it was most probably +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +raining in the valleys. The snow which lay on +the mountains glittered brightly in the distance, and never +before had I seen the stars shine forth so clearly as they +did on that night. A death-like silence prevailed, or was +broken only by the sighing of the breeze as it swept softly +by. But the beauty and sublimity of this spectacle suddenly +vanished, as the thoughts of our situation came +thronging upon me, clothed with the most fearful shapes. +Six men on one of the highest of the Japanese mountains, +without sufficient food, clothing, or even weapons to defend +themselves from the attacks of wild animals; possessing +neither knowledge nor ability to construct any kind of a +vessel in which they might escape, and one of them, moreover, +with a wounded leg, which at every step, pained him +dreadfully. When I thought of this, our helpless position, +my feelings bordered on despair. Whilst I was occupied +with these sad thoughts, some of my companions +awoke, and their sighs and prayers affected me so deeply +that I forgot myself, and shed scalding tears. In this way +an hour passed by, but the cold night air finally forced me +to seek shelter in the hut, where I lay down, but not to +sleep.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>VIII.</p> +<p>As the road over these high mountains was filled with +difficulties and danger, we now determined to direct our +steps towards the coast, creeping along during the day +and hiding by night in the woods and among the hills. +As we were descending from the heights we suddenly +caught sight of some mounted soldiers, who were on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +same road which we were travelling, and coming directly +towards us. We immediately crept into a hollow, and +hid among some bushes. The soldiers, fortunately, rode +by without perceiving us, but we now saw plainly enough +how vigilant our pursuers were. We grew bolder, however, +and on the following night, passed through a village, +in order to take a look at a couple of boats which we saw +lying on the shore near to it. We found that they were +in good condition, but much too small for us to trust ourselves +in on the open sea.</p> +<p>During the day as we lay concealed in a thicket, we +prepared every thing that was necessary for the success of +our anticipated flight. We sewed two of our shirts +together for a sail, and made all the necessary rigging of +some ropes, which we had brought with us. From one of +our hiding-places we remarked at one time, that a large +Japanese vessel, which was sailing along the coast, had cast +anchor near to a neighboring village, and we determined +to surprise and capture it during the night. By good fortune +we passed through the village undiscovered, and were +close to the vessel, when suddenly it weighed anchor and +sailed away. We gazed after it for a while, and then sorrowfully +pursued our way along the shore.</p> +<p>After having ventured into the village for several nights +without accomplishing our purpose, we were at last discovered +on the morning of the first of May, as we were +returning rather late, by a woman who was standing on +one of the surrounding heights. She immediately beckoned +in every direction to give notice of the discovery she +had made. We saw immediately that no time was to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +lost, and fled into a ravine that we might hide ourselves +among the bushes. Unluckily, before we could reach a +place of concealment, we found ourselves surrounded by a +crowd of people who raised a loud cry. I and Makarov, +my inseparable attendant, took refuge in a thicket, but soon +being unable to go farther, we lay down and waited the +result of the affair. To our great astonishment, instead +of our pursuers being the country people, as we imagined, +we perceived several well-armed soldiers, and an officer +on horseback.</p> +<p>Our companions were immediately surrounded and forced +to surrender, and from our hiding-place we could plainly +see how the Japanese bound their hands behind their +backs, inquired from them where we were, and led them +towards the shore, whilst some of them commenced an +active search after us.</p> +<p>“What shall we do now?” asked Makarov, trembling +with fear.</p> +<p>“Perhaps,” replied I, “the Japanese will not find us to-day, +in which case, as soon as it grows dark, we will steal +along the coast, capture a boat, and sail from island to +island, until we reach the nearest Russian port.”</p> +<p>Makarov agreed to my proposition, but we did not +reflect that every thing necessary for such an undertaking, +which we had prepared with so much trouble, had fallen +into the hands of the Japanese, with our companions.</p> +<p>Whilst we were yet discussing the possibility of flight, +four of our pursuers, two of whom were armed with +spears, and the other two with sabres, came directly +towards us, searching even nooks and corners, where a dog +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +could hardly hide. I now took in my hand the pole with +the chisel fastened to it; but Makarov, with tears in his +eyes, begged me not to defend myself, or injure any of the +Japanese, for if I did so I would ruin not only us two, but +all my companions, whilst by a voluntary surrender, we +might all perhaps be saved. These words made such +a deep impression on me, that I immediately struck +my spear in the ground, and walked out followed by +Makarov.</p> +<p>The Japanese were so startled at our sudden appearance, +that they stepped backwards a few paces; but when +they saw that we were unarmed, they grew bolder, advanced +towards us, seized us, bound our hands behind our +backs, and led us towards a house which stood on the sea +shore. Here we found the rest of our party, who had +already been taken. Our captors now treated us to rice-broth, +herrings, radishes, tea, and sago. Not the slightest +injury did they do us, nor even bestow a single invective +on us, either whilst they were taking us to the house, or +after we got there. On the contrary, when they remarked +that I limped and walked with difficulty, two of them took +me by the arms, and assisted me over the hills and dangerous +places. After resting here for an hour, they bound +our hands, as they had formerly done, and led us along +the sea shore under a strong escort, back to Matsmai.</p> +<p>We remarked that the Japanese had stuck little staves +in our footprints, wherever we had gone during the night, +and we learnt from them that they had never once lost +sight of our trail. Indeed, they had often seen us, and +had watched us when we slept or took our frugal meals. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +Why they had never seized us, we could not imagine. +Perhaps, with their well known cowardice, they feared +lest we might defend ourselves, and kill some of them. As +often as we passed through a valley, the inhabitants flocked +out of their houses to see us, but to their credit be it +said, that we never received from them the slightest injury +nor even a mocking word. They all regarded us with +pity, and some of the women, who gave us food and drink, +wept! So much good feeling was displayed by a people, +that we enlightened Europeans consider rude and inhuman! +The leader of our escort, however, was far less +obliging and polite to us than the Japanese officers had +formerly been. Although there was no lack of horses in +the neighborhood, we were obliged to walk, and were no +longer carried over streams of water, but forced to wade +through them. When it rained, too, they did not hold +umbrellas over us, but covered us with mats. We soon +became very much fatigued, especially I, for the pain in +my leg grew more violent every moment. During that +night, which was unusually dark, they led us along with +the greatest caution. We walked in single file, and before +each of us, as also before the leader of the band, a lantern +was carried. Men, too, with lights in their hands, went +before, and came after the procession. Near steep cliffs, +and deep ravines, a crowd of people, who had been summoned +from the neighboring villages to attend us on our +journey back to Matsmai, shook out bundles of straw, +which they carried, and set fire to them, so that it was as +bright as day. Had an European seen our train in the +distance, he would have imagined that we were carrying +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +along the mortal remains of some distinguished man. +On the third of May, we arrived at Matsmai, and halted +before the gates of the town. An imperial officer immediately +made his appearance, and without saying a word +began thoroughly to search us. We remarked to him that +he might save himself the trouble, as he would find +nothing on us.</p> +<p>“I know that very well,” replied he, coolly, “but the +laws of Japan require it.”</p> +<p>As soon as he had performed his duty, the soldiers who +accompanied us put on their city clothing, and with slow +and weary steps we took our way back into the town. +The officer who had taken us prisoners, rode a horse richly +caparisoned with silk, and looked round on all sides with +the air of a proud victor, returning laden with the spoils +of conquest, and who, for his heroic deeds, claimed laurels +and thanks from his countrymen. The crowd of spectators +was immense, and as it rained, and they all carried +umbrellas, the sight was a strange one.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>IX.</p> +<p>We were taken directly to the castle. Formerly we had +always worn our caps until we entered the court, but now +we were obliged to take them off at the castle gates. After +being taken into an ante-chamber, and treated to rice-broth, +salted radishes, and tea without sugar, they led us into +the judgment hall, where the officers had already assembled, +and where the governor soon afterwards made his +appearance. There was not the slightest change visible in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +his countenance; he seemed as pleasant and unruffled as +ever, and showed no displeasure at our behavior. As soon +as he had taken his seat, he inquired, with his accustomed +good humor, what were the motives of our flight? I remarked +to him that I wished, first of all, to declare that I +alone was responsible for the course we had pursued, and +that it was against their will that my companions had +obeyed my orders; if they had refused to do so, they +would be liable to severe penalties, if we ever returned to +our native land. Therefore, though the Japanese should +kill me, they ought not to harm a hair of their heads. +The Bunjo replied, in the coolest manner possible, that if +the Japanese considered it necessary to take my life, they +could so without my putting them in mind of the fact; if, +on the contrary, they did not deem it advisable to do so, +all my entreaties would avail nothing. He then repeated +his question.</p> +<p>“We fled,” replied I, “because we had not the slightest +prospect of ever being set free; on the contrary, every day +showed us more clearly that the Japanese were determined +never to release us.”</p> +<p>“Who told you that? Have I ever hinted to you that +we would always hold you prisoners?”</p> +<p>“The orders from the capital,” replied I, “forboded no +good.”</p> +<p>“Whence do you know that?”</p> +<p>“The officer here present, whom we instructed in the +Russian language, gave us good ground to suppose so.”</p> +<p>The governor now addressed several questions to this +officer, which we understood no better than his answers; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +we saw only that he was not a little embarrassed, and +grew red and white by turns.</p> +<p>The governor now turned to us again and commanded +us to give him the history of our flight, without omitting +the most trivial circumstance. We were obliged to tell +him where we were each day, and make a sketch of several +localities, concerning which he seemed to be in some +doubt. After he had demanded of us whether some of the +guards and servants had not been privy to and aided our +escape, he inquired in an earnest manner, what was the +precise object of our flight.</p> +<p>“To return to our native land,” replied we.</p> +<p>“How would it have been possible to have carried out +this project?”</p> +<p>“We intended to capture a boat somewhere along the +coast, and venture in it to the nearest Russian port.”</p> +<p>“Could you not have guessed that as soon as your escape +was known, orders would be given immediately, to watch +the coast and especially all vessels.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we expected that, but in the course of time our enterprise +might have succeeded when we least expected it.”</p> +<p>“But,” continued the governor, “you saw in your former +journeys, that the land was covered with mountains, +among which it is very difficult to travel, and that along +the coast lie numberless villages, which would render +escape almost impossible. Your undertaking was thoughtless +and childish.”</p> +<p>“And yet,” replied I, “for six nights we wandered +along the shore, and through these villages, without being +discovered by any one. At any rate, we would leave no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +plan untried, let it be as thoughtless, or even desperate as +it may, to escape from our miserable lot, and as we had +an eternal imprisonment hovering over us, we determined +either to reach our homes, or find a grave among the +mountains or beneath the waves.”</p> +<p>“Why was it necessary to go into the woods or on the +sea in order to die, when you could do it very easily here?”</p> +<p>“That would have been suicide, but if we venture our +lives to win our freedom, we could rely on the aid of God, +and perhaps gain our end.”</p> +<p>“Had you succeeded, what would you have said in +Russia, concerning the Japanese?”</p> +<p>“All that we have heard or seen, without adding or +concealing any thing.”</p> +<p>“Do not you know that if you had escaped, the governor, +and several other officers would have lost their +lives in consequence.”</p> +<p>“We could well imagine that the guards would not +have escaped punishment, as that is customary in Europe, +but we were not aware that the Japanese laws were so +cruel as to condemn innocent persons to death.”</p> +<p>“Is there a law in Europe which allows a prisoner to +escape?”</p> +<p>“There is certainly no written law, but if he has not +pledged his word of honor, it is allowable for him to seize +on any favorable opportunity for flight.”</p> +<p>With this equivocal explanation, the examination +ended, and the Governor now made a long speech, in +which he said: If we were Japanese, and had secretly left +our prison, the consequences for us would have been very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +serious; but as we were foreigners, and not acquainted +with the Japanese laws, and had, moreover, no object in +view which was injurious to the Japanese, but were influenced +solely by a desire to see again our native land, which +is dearest to every man; therefore, his good opinion of us +remained unchanged. It was true that he could not +answer for the light in which the government would regard +our flight, but he would still hold himself devoted to our +interests, and endeavor to get permission for us to return +to Russia; but until our affairs were settled, we must, +according to the Japanese laws, return to prison, and be +more carefully guarded than before.</p> +<p>After the governor had finished his speech, he left the +hall, whilst we were immediately bound, and led to a +prison, which, like our former ones, consisted of cages. I +was put into a small one, whilst my companions were confined +together in one of a large size. They stood, however, +so near together, that we could converse very easily. +Our food was now given to us with a very sparing hand, +and the sailors continually complained of hunger. After +supper, which we ate about four o’clock, our prison was +shut up, and as the walls were made of boards, instead of +lattice work, not a ray of light reached us after that hour. +As soon as it struck six o’clock, the guards came to examine +us, which they did very thoroughly, and if we were +asleep woke us, to answer to our names. On the fourth +of May, we were again led into the hall, at daybreak, +where, as I received many hints, something very important +was this time to be determined. When we had taken +our places on the benches, which were prepared for us, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +they unloosened our hands, but did not remove from our +waists the rope, which we were led by. The governor +now repeated the questions he had before asked us, and +had the answers we gave, carefully explained. But now +came the most important question, which was, whether I +considered my conduct as right or wrong, and whether I +thought I had acted properly towards the Japanese or not.</p> +<p>“The Japanese,” replied I, “forced us to the course we +took, by first taking us prisoners by stratagem, and then +refusing to give credence to our assertions.”</p> +<p>The governor appeared very much astonished at my +words; the capturing of us, he said, was now a by-gone affair, +about which it was useless to say any thing; he merely +wished to know whether I considered myself innocent or +guilty, as in the former case he could not lay our case +before the Emperor. All the objections I made, did no +good; they only made him angry, and he kept repeating +the same question. At last as I began to see what he was +aiming at, and that he only had our interests in view, I +frankly confessed that we had not acted rightly, and that +our conduct merited punishment. He seemed very well +satisfied with this confession of mine, and we were told +that our affairs were prospering.</p> +<p>We were now led back to the house, where we had +dwelt before our flight, and treated very well. Besides +our usual fare, they gave us tea, and very good tobacco, +and provided us, too, with combs, handkerchiefs, and also +curtains, to protect us against the gnats, which were very +troublesome. Besides these marks of good-will, they gave +us some Russian books to read, and pens, ink, and paper; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +but when we expressed a wish to learn to write the Japanese +tongue, they told us that their laws expressly forbade +them to teach Christians their language. We never, +however, received permission to take walks again, but in +order that we might enjoy the fresh air, the governor +ordered the doors of our dwelling to be left open from +morning until evening.</p> +<p>In this manner, with all our wants gratified, but with +time hanging heavy on our hands, we lived until the sixth +of September. On that day we were again conducted to +the castle, and received the joyful intelligence that the +Diana was again at Kumachir, and treating with the Japanese +government for our liberation. Our joy, however, +was of short duration, for we received information in a +letter from the commander of the vessel, that in order to +satisfy the Japanese, he was obliged to return to Russia to +procure from the government the required avowal, that the +acts of violence perpetrated in Japanese territory, was done +without their knowledge or consent. We were, therefore, +obliged to remain for another year, but during that time we +were treated with the greatest consideration.</p> +<p>In September following, word was brought to us that +a Russian vessel had again arrived in the Japanese waters, +and a few days afterwards we were informed that the +negotiations had been successfully terminated, and that +we would soon begin our journey to Khakodade. From +this time forward, we were most hospitably entertained. +Several officers, with their children, visited us, and heartily +wished us joy at our liberation. The mayor of the +town, also came to see us, and presented us with a beautifully +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +lacquered casket, filled with confectionary, as a token +of remembrance. On the following morning, amid the +rejoicing of the inhabitants, we left Matsmai, and after a +journey of three days, reached Khakodade, where the +Diana soon afterwards arrived, accompanied by a multitude +of Japanese boats, tastefully ornamented.</p> +<p>On the morning of the fifth of October, an officer, in the +most respectful manner, presented me with my hat and +sword, which, during our imprisonment, had been carefully +preserved. I was, however, obliged to dress myself +as the Japanese wished, namely, in a jacket, and wide +breeches of costly silk, which had been made expressly for +the occasion. The hat and sword must have made this +dress appear strange enough in the eyes of Europeans, but +as it was all the same to the Japanese, and since they had +returned our arms, they had ceased to regard us as prisoners. +I willingly complied with their wishes, and determined +to present myself before my countrymen, in a +costume in which they would have some difficulty in recognizing +me.</p> +<p>As every thing was ready for our departure, we went +down to the shore, accompanied by the governor and all +the officers. Here we found a magnificently decorated +barge waiting for us, in which we embarked, after having +taken leave of a crowd of people, who wished us a pleasant +journey. A multitude of boats, laden with every +thing belonging to us, and numerous presents besides, shot +from the shore, and accompanied us to the vessel.</p> +<p>On board the Diana, the officers and men received us +with a joy which only brothers or bosom friends feel under +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +such circumstances. As for ourselves, when after an imprisonment +of two years, two months, and twenty-six +days, we again found ourselves on board an imperial vessel +of war, and surrounded by our countrymen, we felt +what can only be felt, and not described. On the tenth +of October we weighed anchor, and with a favorable wind +left the land of our sufferings, whose inhabitants, nevertheless, +we had learned to esteem and love.</p> +<p>So ends the narrative of Golownin. He resumed the +command of his vessel, sailed for Kamtschatka, and from +there went to St. Petersburg, where he and his rescued +companions were richly rewarded by the Emperor.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +<a name='A_SEAFIGHT_ON_THE_CUBAN_COAST' id='A_SEAFIGHT_ON_THE_CUBAN_COAST'></a> +<h2>A Sea-Fight on the Cuban Coast.</h2> +</div> +<p>By the orders of the British government, I cruised for +a season in the Cuban waters, for the express purpose of +aiding in the suppression of the slave trade, which, in +spite of all treaties and efforts to put an end to it, was +still carried on with the most unblushing boldness. I had +under my command a small, but well-armed schooner, with +a crew of picked men, and sailed for my destination with +the most positive orders to sink or capture all suspected +vessels. We cruised about for some time without making +any prizes, and the weary and monotonous life I led, +became almost unbearable to me, driving me from the +cabin to the deck, and from the deck to the cabin, seeking +in vain for some relief from the ennui I suffered.</p> +<p>One very dark evening, it might have been about eight +o’clock, I went on deck depressed in spirits, and completely +out of sorts. Here I found Timothy Tailtackle, who had +the watch, gazing into the surrounding darkness so intently +that he did not perceive me until I was standing close to +him.</p> +<p>“Any thing in sight, Master Tailtackle?” asked I, +eagerly.</p> +<p>“Not exactly, sir, but I have just been begging for your +glass. See there! once, twice; but it is as dark as pitch +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +Pray, sir, tell me how far are we from the Hole in the +Wall?”</p> +<p>The Hole in the Wall is a very remarkable rock forming +the southern promontory of the island of Abaco, one +of the Bahamas. As its name signifies, it resembles, +either, from the action of the waves, or from the cannonadings +it has received, a perforated wall. It rises some +forty feet above the surface of the water.</p> +<p>“We are ten miles distant, at least,” said I.</p> +<p>“Then,” cried Tailtackle, in a sharp tone, “there must +be a sail to windward, and not far off either.”</p> +<p>“Where?” asked I, eagerly; “quick, get my glass.”</p> +<p>“Here it is, sir.”</p> +<p>“Let me see, then.”</p> +<p>I looked through the glass until my eyes ached, but as +I could perceive nothing, I resumed my walk on deck, +satisfied in my own mind that Timothy had been mistaken. +The latter, however, continued to look through +the glass, and when I approached him, a few minutes +afterwards, said:</p> +<p>“Well, sir, now that it brightens a little, I see what it +is that has been puzzling me.”</p> +<p>“The deuce you do! give me the glass.” In a moment +I saw it also.</p> +<p>“By Jove, Tailtackle, you’re right. Send the men to +their posts, get the long guns ready, and clear the deck for +action.”</p> +<p>These orders of mine quickly changed our hitherto +quiet vessel into a scene of bustle and confusion. I kept +my eyes steadily fixed on the object which had attracted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +the watchful gaze of Timothy Tailtackle, but all that I +could make out was that it was a strange sail. On account +of the distance, and unusual darkness of the night, I could +distinguish neither its size nor rig. All this time a fine +breeze was driving us rapidly towards the coast of Cuba.</p> +<p>“Give the glass to the boatswain, Master Tailtackle, +and come forward here.”</p> +<p>The long gun was now swung round, and the other +pieces run into the opened ports. They were all double +shotted and carefully primed, and the whole crew, even to +a negro we had on board, stood at their posts ready for +action.</p> +<p>“I see her now, sir, plain enough,” cried Tailtackle.</p> +<p>“Good! What does she look like?”</p> +<p>“A large brig, sir, hard up against the wind. You can +see her now without the glass.”</p> +<p>I looked in the direction indicated by Tailtackle, and +sure enough, there was a dark mass towering above the +surface of the water, dim and black like a spirit from the +deep.</p> +<p>“She’s a large vessel, sir,” said Tailtackle, “there’s no +doubt of that; there goes her lower sails, and now they’re +furling her topsail; ha! she’s crossing our bows; look +out, sir, here comes a shot.”</p> +<p>“The devil!” ejaculated I. I now saw the vessel plain +enough, scudding before the wind.</p> +<p>“Keep her close to the wind––ease her a little––that’s +right––now give that fellow a shot across his bows––we’ll +find out what he’s made of. Reefpoint,” continued I, to +one of the midshipmen, “show our signal.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span></div> +<p>“Aye, aye, sir.”</p> +<p>The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our +ghostly friend remained silent and dark.</p> +<p>“Scarfemwell,” said I to the gunner, “go forward to the +long gun; Tailtackle, I’ve no great liking for that chap, +open the magazine.”</p> +<p>The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he +shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to +cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as +we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, +he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than +a cable’s length from us. At this moment, Tailtackle, in +his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the +hatchway, and said:</p> +<p>“If I might advise, sir, I think we had better keep our +hatches down; that fellow is not honorable, depend upon +it, sir.”</p> +<p>“Very well, Tailtackle, very well. Forward there, +Master Jigmaree; give him a shot, if he won’t speak, +right between the masts, sir. Do you hear?”</p> +<p>“Aye, aye, sir,” answered the boatswain.</p> +<p>“Fire.”</p> +<p>The gun was discharged, and immediately we heard the +crashing of timbers on board the stranger, accompanied by +a piercing cry, such as a negro makes at the death of his +companions, and then came a long and doleful howl.</p> +<p>“A slaver, sir, and our shot has struck him,” cried +Handlead, the gunner.</p> +<p>“Then we shall have a little sport,” remarked I. Hardly +had I spoken, when the brig again shortened sail, and fired +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +a shot from her bows; then came another, and another, +and another.</p> +<p>“She shows a good set of teeth,” cried Jigmaree; “nine +on a side, as I am a living sinner!”</p> +<p>Three of the shots struck us, mortally wounding a +sailor, and injuring the poor little midshipman, Reefpoint, +who was hit by a splinter.</p> +<p>“Steady, men––aim low––fire!”</p> +<p>Again the long gun was discharged, together with two +smaller pieces. But our friend was too nimble for us; he +crowded on sail, and escaped in spite of our efforts to overtake +him. In less than an hour we lost sight of him.</p> +<p>“Crowd on sail, and after him, Master Jigmaree,” said +I; but as I feared lest he might lead us too near the coast, +I went down into the cabin to consult the chart.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>II.</p> +<p>In the cabin I found Wagtail, Gelid, and Bangs, three +British officers, stationed at the West Indies, capital fellows, +who finding their time hang heavy on their hands, +had procured leave of absence, and accompanied me in my +cruise, which though somewhat dangerous it is true, still +offered occasional opportunities of amusement. They were +sitting round a small table, smoking, and before them +stood glasses of brandy and water.</p> +<p>“Something of a fight, eh?” said Paul Gelid, a long-limbed +Creole from the Bahamas, but a warm-hearted, +honorable fellow, with a drawling voice. “Not very +pleasant in the evening, I should say.”</p> +<p>“You’re a pretty fellow,” retorted Aaron Bangs, “to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +plaguing us with your chatter at such an unseasonable +moment as this.”</p> +<p>Bangs had been an active and brave officer, but ease +and comfort was every thing to him, and when he could +not fight, he did not like to hear it spoken of.</p> +<p>Pepperpot Wagtail was a little round fellow, of an irritable +temperament, but great goodness of heart, and very +scrupulous in his dealings with mankind. He had been +sick and had come on board in order to recruit his health. +I do not know how to describe his appearance better than +to compare him to an egg, to the large end of which, his +little feet were fastened.</p> +<p>“My dear sir,” he said to Bangs, “reach me that cursed +biscuit.”</p> +<p>Bangs gave him the bowl, throwing into it some pieces +of biscuit which were as hard as stones.</p> +<p>All this time I was occupied with my chart. Wagtail +took a piece of the biscuit and put it into his mouth.</p> +<p>“Zounds! my dear Aaron,” cried he, ironically, “what +dentist are you in league with? Gelid has just broken off +his favorite tooth, and now you want”––</p> +<p>“Bah!” replied Bangs, “don’t frighten yourself; but +what the deuce is this? Wagtail, Gelid, my dear fellows, +look here!”</p> +<p>A sailor, who was followed by the ship’s surgeon, +brought down on his back, the poor fellow who had been +wounded, and laid him on the table. I must here remark +that the captain’s cabin in small vessels is sometimes used +as a cockpit, as it now was.</p> +<p>“Your pardon, captain and gentlemen,” said the surgeon, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +“but I must, I fear, perform an ugly operation on this poor +lad, and I think it better that you should go on deck.”</p> +<p>I had now an opportunity of seeing what kind of mettle +my friends were made of.</p> +<p>“Doctor,” said Bangs, pulling off his coat, “I can be +of use, I know very well––no skill, but firm nerves.”</p> +<p>“And I,” cried Wagtail, “can tie a bandage, although I +am not a surgeon.”</p> +<p>Gelid said nothing, but when it came to the pinch was +the most useful of all. The wounded lad Wiggins, a fine +young man, was weak and very pale, but bold as a lion. +A cannon shot had shivered the bone of his leg just above +the knee. Round his thigh was a tourniquet, and in consequence +he did not bleed much.</p> +<p>“Captain,” said the poor boy, “I shall get over this. I +have no great pain, sir; I have not indeed.“</p> +<p>All this time the surgeon was cutting his pantaloons +from his leg, and now a shocking sight presented itself to +our view. The foot and leg were blue and shrivelled, and +connected with the thigh by only a small ligament; the +knee pan too was shattered. The doctor made the young +man swallow a glass of brandy, containing a strong dose +of opium, and then began to amputate the limb above the +knee. As long as the knife was used, Aaron remained +firm, but when the saw grated against the bone, he murmured +with a shudder:</p> +<p>“I’m going on deck captain: I can’t stand this––I’m +sick as a dog.”</p> +<p>He was so weak that I released him and took his place, +holding Wiggins in my arms. Wagtail, too, was soon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +obliged to beat a retreat, but Gelid remained firm as a +rock. The leg was amputated, the arteries tied, and the +surgeon busy in loosening the tourniquet, when suddenly +the thread which bound the principal artery, gave way, +and a stream of blood gushed forth, as if driven by an +engine. The poor fellow had hardly time to cry “Take +away that cold hand from my heart!” when his eyes grew +dim, his lower jaw fell, and in a minute it was all over +with him.</p> +<p>“Dead as Julius Cæsar, captain,” said Gelid coolly.</p> +<p>Dead enough, thought I, and left the cabin to go on +deck. At the foot of the companion-ladder, I stumbled +over something.</p> +<p>“What the deuce is this?” growled I.</p> +<p>“It’s me, sir.”</p> +<p>“Me––and who’s me?”</p> +<p>“Reefpoint, sir.”</p> +<p>“Gracious God! what are you doing here youngster? +You’re not wounded, I hope.”</p> +<p>“A little, sir; a scratch from a splinter, sir. The same +shot that tripped up poor Wiggins, sent a splinter after +me.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t you go to the doctor, Reefpoint?”</p> +<p>“I was waiting until he had finished with Wiggins, +sir, but as it is all over with him now, I’ll go and have my +wound dressed.”</p> +<p>His voice grew weaker and weaker, until I could hardly +understand what he said. I took him in my arms, carried +him into the cabin, and undressed him. I found that he +was wounded in the right side just above the hip. Bangs, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +who in the meanwhile had got over his weakness by the +aid of a glass of water, lent his aid, and the natural goodness +of his heart now made itself apparent.</p> +<p>“What, Reefpoint! little reefer,” he cried; “you are +surely not wounded, my dear friend––such a little fellow; +why I should as soon have thought they would have shot +at a fly.”</p> +<p>“Indeed, I am wounded, Master Bangs; look there.”</p> +<p>Bangs examined the wound, holding the poor little midshipman +in his arms.</p> +<p>“God bless me!” he cried, with an outbreak of the +most heartfelt grief; “you seem more fit to be in your +mother’s nursery, than to be knocked about in this way.”</p> +<p>Reefpoint sank fainting into his arms.</p> +<p>“With the captain’s permission you must have my +bed,” said Aaron to him, whilst he and Wagtail undressed +the boy with the greatest care and tenderness, and laid +him in the hammock.</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir,” sobbed little Reefpoint, “if my mother +were here, she would thank you too.”</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>III.</p> +<p>My duty called me on deck, and I heard no more. +The night was very dark, and I could see nothing of the +stranger, but I steered as near as I could in the direction I +believed him to have taken, hoping to catch a glimpse of +him at daybreak. After a little while Bangs came on +deck.</p> +<p>“Well, captain, now that the little reefer is asleep, what +do you think of this business? A pretty large vessel, eh? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +We nearly had a brush with her. I’m not particularly +sorry, though, she has taken herself off, especially as the +wind has gone down.”</p> +<p>“Ah, but my dear sir,” replied I, “I don’t think that +we have done with her yet. I hope to have a brush with +her at daybreak.”</p> +<p>“Now, captain, you’re jesting; you don’t wish that +really and truly, do you?”</p> +<p>“Really and truly, my dear fellow, and the only thing +which troubles me, is that you and your friends will +thereby be exposed to danger.”</p> +<p>“Bah! don’t bother yourself about that, but reflect +before you engage with this slaver, how is it possible to +gain any advantage over him? Remember that he has +twice as many men as we have, and eighteen guns to our +three.”</p> +<p>“Time will show,” replied I, smiling; “but I must and +will fight, if I can only get alongside of him. And now, +my dear friend, as the surgeon has left the cabin, I advise +you to go down to your hammock––good night. I fear +that I must remain on deck.”</p> +<p>“Good night, captain. Heaven guard you. I will go +down and comfort my friends.”</p> +<p>He went below, and I continued my walk on deck, +stopping every moment to look through the nightglass, +until my eyes ached. The long night was at last over, +and the light of day found me leaning against the mast, +sleeping soundly. The noise made by the sailors, in holy-stoning +the deck, woke me, and I discovered our friend of +the previous night, under full sail, about four miles to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +leeward of us, and evidently striving to reach the coast of +Cuba. During the night, however, we had sailed faster +than he had expected, and as we were now between him +and the island, his purpose was frustrated. When he saw +that he was thus cut off from the land, he hoisted his lower +sails, fired a gun, and run up the Spanish flag, as if he had +been a vessel of war. It was now bright day, and Wagtail, +Bangs, and Gelid, were all three on deck, washing +themselves. I, myself, was standing forward by the long +gun, when Pegtop, Bangs’ black servant, came to me, and +said:</p> +<p>“Scuse me, massa captin; could ye gibe me some guns?”</p> +<p>“Some guns,” replied I; “certainly, a half dozen of +them, if you wish it.”</p> +<p>“Jist de number massa told me to fotch him; tank’e, +massa captin.”</p> +<p>Pegtop was very fond of this word, “massa,” and could +never get accustomed to any other title used by the whites.</p> +<p>“Listen, friend,” said I to Pegtop, “now that you have +got the guns; is your master really going to fight?”</p> +<p>The negro stood still, rolling his eyes, and expressing in +his countenance the greatest astonishment.</p> +<p>“Massa Bangs fight! Golly, massa, you jestin? Massa +Bangs fight? Why yer doesn’t know him. Ye ought to +see de way he fotches down de ducks and snipe, and a man +isn’t so hard to hit as dem.”</p> +<p>“Granted,” said I; “but a snipe has not a loaded gun +in his claws, like a Spaniard, friend Pegtop.”</p> +<p>“Makes no difference, massa,” replied Pegtop, decidedly. +“Saw massa Aaron, myself, fight robbers, and helped him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +to kill de debbils, too. Massa Aaron fight? Don’t say +nothin’ more about dat.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” said I; “and is Master Gelid going to fight.”</p> +<p>“B’lieve he will; fust rate friend of massa Bangs––good +at shootin’ ducks, too––guess he’ll fight.”</p> +<p>“Ah,” said I, “your friends are all heroes, Pegtop. +Will Master Wagtail also fight?”</p> +<p>Pegtop came closer to me, and said in a low, mysterious +voice:</p> +<p>“Aint so sartin about him, massa; nice little fat man, +but tinks too much of his belly. Not ’zactly sartin if he’ll +fight or not.”</p> +<p>With these words, Pegtop and the two other blacks, +Chin-Chin and Zampa, Wagtail’s and Gelid’s servants, took +a couple of guns apiece, and providing themselves with +the necessary ammunition, went aft, and began carefully +cleaning and oiling the weapons. I had expected that the +wind would blow fresher at daybreak, but I was mistaken. +Well, thought I, we might as well sit down to breakfast, +which we accordingly did.</p> +<p>The wind soon died away entirely, and I ordered out +the sweeps, but I soon found that we had no chance of +overtaking the slaver in that way, and it was just as much +out of the question to attack him with our boats. Besides, +as we did not know at what moment we might ourselves +be attacked, I was unwilling to fatigue my men by compelling +them to row under a burning sun, whilst the enemy +could man his oars with lusty slaves, and not use a single +man of his crew. Accordingly, I ordered the men to +desist, and remained all day on deck, watching the brig, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +which was gradually leaving us. At noon I ordered the +boatswain to pipe to dinner. When the men had finished +their meal, they came on deck again, and as the calm still +continued, and there was no prospect of a wind springing +up, we sat down to dinner in the cabin. Very little was +spoken by any of us. My friends were brave men, but +still they could not help feeling glad that they had escaped +an engagement, which would bring them danger without +profit. As for myself, my feelings were of a mixed nature, +for though I was determined to use every endeavor to +bring the enemy to an engagement, yet I confess that my +heart would not have been broken had he escaped us. +But this was not to be, for we had hardly ordered our +meal, when the rush of the water past the vessel caught +my ear, and I knew in a moment that we were once more +in motion. At this moment Tailtackle appeared at the +cabin door, and announced that the wind had sprung up +again, and that the strange vessel was bearing down upon +us. I immediately rushed on deck, and sure enough, there +was the slaver, some two miles from us, his deck crowded +with men, and evidently prepared for action. As soon as +I saw the state of affairs, I busied myself in putting every +thing in order, on board our vessel, for a fight. Wagtail +and Gelid had followed me on deck, and were now assisting +their servants in putting the muskets in order. Bangs +alone remained in the cabin, and when I went down, I +found him swallowing the last morsel of his meal. He +had on his fork some very respectable pieces of cheese. +Before I left the deck, I saw clearly enough that a combat +was inevitable, and as the disparity between the two +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +vessels was very great, I confess that I had serious misgivings +as to its probable result. That I felt excited and +uneasy at the prospect before me, I cannot deny; it was +the first time I had commanded a vessel, and on the result +of this action rested all my hopes of promotion. God +bless me! I was but a boy, not more than one-and-twenty +years of age. A strange and indescribable feeling came +over me at this moment––an irresistible desire to open my +heart to the excellent man I saw before me. I sat down.</p> +<p>“Halloa, captain,” cried Bangs, putting down his coffee +cup, “what’s the matter with you? You look infernally +pale, my dear fellow.”</p> +<p>“I was up all night,” replied I, somewhat embarrassed, +“and have been running about all day. I am very tired.”</p> +<p>As I pronounced these words, a shudder ran through +my frame, and a strong emotion, which I could not +account for, kept my tongue tied.</p> +<p>“Master Bangs,” said I, at length, “you are the only +friend in whom at this moment I can confide. You know +my circumstances in life, and I feel that I can with confidence +ask you to do the son of my father a favor.”</p> +<p>“What is it you wish, my dear fellow––speak out.”</p> +<p>“I will speak. In the first place, I am very much +worried that I have exposed you and your friends to so +much danger, but I could not foresee it; on that score my +conscience is easy; the only thing I ask of you all is to +remain below and not expose yourselves unnecessarily. If +I should fall,”––here I involuntarily grasped Bang’s hand––“and +I doubt if I shall see another sunset, for we are +going to fight against fearful odds.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></div> +<p>“Well,” interrupted Bangs, “if the enemy is too strong +for you, why didn’t you leave him to himself, my dear +fellow, and take to flight?”</p> +<p>“A thousand things, my worthy friend, prevented me +from taking such a step. I am a young man and a young +officer, and must win my character in the service; no, it +is impossible to fly; an older and more tried seaman than +myself might have done so, but I must fight; if a shot +finishes me, will you, my dear friend, deliver this portfolio +to my poor mother, whose only support I am?”</p> +<p>As I uttered these words, the scalding tears rolled in +torrents down my cheeks. I trembled like a leaf, and +firmly pressing my friend’s hand in mine, I fell on my +knees and fervently and silently prayed to that God in +whose all-mighty hand my destiny lay, that he would +give me strength on this day, to do my duty as became an +English sailor. Bangs knelt by my side. Suddenly my +tears ceased to flow and I arose.</p> +<p>“I am not ashamed to have shown so much feeling +before you, my friend.”</p> +<p>“Don’t mention it, my dear boy, neither of us will fight +any the worse for it.”</p> +<p>I looked at him in astonishment.</p> +<p>“Are you going to fight?” I asked.</p> +<p>“Of course I am,” replied he; “why not? I have no +longer either mother or wife. Fight? Of course I will +fight.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span></div> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>IV.</p> +<p>“Another shot, sir,” cried Tailtackle, through the open +cabin window.</p> +<p>All was now noise and confusion, and I hastened on +deck. Our opponent was a large brig of at least three +hundred tons burthen, a low vessel painted black. Its +sides were as round as an apple, the yards were unusually +large, and it was evidently filled with men. I counted +nine guns on a side and prayed silently that they might +not prove long guns. I was not a little horrified to find, +on looking through the glass, that the deck was covered +with naked negroes. That the vessel was a slaver, I had +not for a moment doubted, and I had also imagined that +its crew might number fifty men, but that the captain +would resort to such a dangerous expedient––dangerous to +himself as well as to us––as to arm the slaves, had never +entered my mind, and it startled me not a little to find +that he had done so, as it showed that I must expect the +most desperate resistance.</p> +<p>Tailtackle had pulled off his jacket, and was standing +by my side. His belt was tightly drawn round his waist, +and his cutlass hung from it. The rest of the men were +armed in the same manner; some of them had also, +muskets, and the others stood at their posts, near the +guns. The grapnels were loosened, and tubs of wadding, +and boxes of cartridge stood ready for use. In short, all +was prepared for action.</p> +<p>“Master Tailtackle,” said I, “your post is in the magazine. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +Lay aside your cutlass; it is not your duty to lead +the boarders.”</p> +<p>“Master Timothy,” said Bangs, “could you do without +one of these pikes?”</p> +<p>“Certainly, sir,” replied Timothy, laughing, “but you +do not intend to lead the boarders yourself, do you, sir?”</p> +<p>“How do you know that?” returned Aaron, with a +grim smile, “since I have been fool enough to trust myself +in this dancing cork of a vessel;” as he spoke he laid aside +his coat, unsheathed a cutlass, and bound a red woolen +cloth round his head.</p> +<p>The slaver, who was now hardly a cable’s length from +us, suddenly put up his helm with the evident intention +of running under our quarters, but at this moment we +poured a broadside into him. I could see the white +splinters fly from his side, and again there rang in our +ears a sharp piercing cry, followed by that long, melancholy +howl already described.</p> +<p>“We have hit some of the poor blacks again,” said +Tailtackle, who was still on deck.</p> +<p>But we had no further time for observation, for the +Spaniard returned our broadside with the same cold-blooded +precision as before.</p> +<p>“Down with the helm and let her swing round,” cried +I––“cross his quarters––forward there––out with the +sweeps, and hold her steady––that’s right––now run over +a gun and let him have it––steady boys––aim well––fire!”</p> +<p>We now lay directly across the stern of the slaver, +hardly thirty feet from him, and although he defended +himself with great determination and courage, pouring +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +upon us a perfect shower of musket balls from his rigging +and cabin windows, yet I saw very clearly that in consequence +of the skill with which our helm was managed, +enabling us to retain a raking position, that our fire was +making terrible havoc on board of him.</p> +<p>“Hurrah! his foremast’s down. Well done, boys; pepper +him well, whilst he is in confusion. There goes his +gaff and flag, but don’t stop firing on that account; it did +not come down with his consent. I told you so––he has +run it up again. Good, my lads; you have shot the main +yard away now, and he can’t escape us.”</p> +<p>Nimbly as monkeys, two sailors clambered up the rigging +to repair the injury done. Had they succeeded in +their object, the slaver would again have got under way +and escaped from our fire. All this time, Bangs and Gelid +had been firing at the enemy with the most murderous +precision. They lay behind the bulwarks, and their black +servants were in the cabin busily engaged in loading their +muskets for them. Wagtail, who was not much of a shot, +sat on deck and passed the weapons up and down.</p> +<p>“For heaven’s sake, Master Bangs,” cried I, “pick off +those two men in the rigging. Down with them.”</p> +<p>“What! those two chaps at the end of the long pole?” +asked Bangs, turning to me with the greatest coolness +imaginable.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes––down with them.”</p> +<p>He raised his musket as deliberately as if he were +shooting at a target.</p> +<p>“I say, Gelid, my boy, take the one this way, will you?”</p> +<p>“Certainly,” replied Paul.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></div> +<p>They fired, and the seamen fell, and after struggling in +the water for a moment like wounded birds, sank to the +bottom, leaving on the surface of the sea, pools of blood +to mark their graves.</p> +<p>“Now,” cried I, to the man at the wheel, “run her +alongside of the Spaniard. Out with the grapnels, men; +that’s right. Hurrah! she’s ours.”</p> +<p>“Follow me, ye boarders!” I exclaimed as soon as I had +collected my people, and in the excitement of the moment +I sprang on the slaver’s deck, followed by eight-and-twenty +men. But the enemy was ready for us, and we +were received by a shower of musket balls that sent four +of our tars into the next world, and wounded three more. +Spite of this warm reception, however, we reached the +quarter-deck, where the Spanish captain with about forty +men, armed with swords and pistols, presented a formidable +front. We attacked them; Tailtackle, who as soon as +he heard the cry of “boarders,” had rushed out of the +magazine and followed us, split the captain’s skull with +his cutlass. The lieutenant was my bird, and I had +nearly finished him, when he suddenly drew a pistol from +his belt and shot me through the shoulder. I felt no pain +except a sharp twinge, and then a sensation of cold, as if +some one had poured water over my neck.</p> +<p>Our fellows fought with the accustomed bravery of British +sailors, but for some time the chances of the combat were +doubtful. At last our opponents began to waver, and finally +gave way; but at this moment some fifty blacks, armed with +muskets, sprang suddenly upon deck, and rushed to the aid +of the Spaniards. I now gave up all as lost. My men, disheartened +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +at this accession to the number of their foes, began +to give way, whilst the Spanish crew fought with renewed +courage. Moreover, we found that we were now fighting +not for glory, but for life itself; for, on looking round, we +saw to our horror that the grapnels had been loosened, +and thus all retreat cut off. Our vessel was no longer +lying alongside of the brig, but across its bows, so that the +bowsprit of the latter crossed its deck. We could not, +therefore, reach it, since the Spaniards had possession of +the forecastle of their own vessel. At this critical moment +we received unexpected aid in the shape of a shower of +grape shot from our schooner, which swept away many of +the negroes, besides wounding a large number of them, +whilst at the same time a new party of combatants sprang +on deck to our rescue.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>V.</p> +<p>When we boarded the slaver, we left on board our vessel +the helmsman Peter Mangrave, the black quarter-master +Pearl, five negroes who were on board as passengers, little +Reefpoint, who was wounded, and Bangs, Gelid, and Wagtail. +At the moment when I had given up all as lost, +honest Pearl sprang on deck, his cutlass in his hand, +accompanied by the five blacks and Peter Mangrave, +whilst behind him came no less a person than Aaron +Bangs, with the three negro servants, whom he had armed +with pikes.</p> +<p>“Now Pearl, my beauty,” cried Bangs, waving his cutlass, +“give them a touch of their own lingo.”</p> +<p>Immediately the black quarter-master called out:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></div> +<p>“Coramantee Sheik Cowloo kokemoni pepulorum fir.”</p> +<p>Which I afterwards found out meant, “See the Sultan +Cowloo, the great ostrich, with a feather on his back as big +as a palm leaf; fight for him, you dogs.”</p> +<p>Immediately the blacks joined Bangs’ party, and commenced +so fierce an attack on their former masters, that +they soon drove them down the hatchway, leaving half +their number on the bloody deck, dead or dangerously +wounded. But, driven to desperation, they still resisted, +firing up the hatchway, and paying no attention to my +repeated demands to them to surrender.</p> +<p>“God in Heaven!” cried Jigmaree, “that is the sound +of hammers; they are freeing the blacks.”</p> +<p>“If you unchain the negroes,” cried I, in the Spanish +language, “by the Heaven above us, I will blow you into +the air, if I have to go with you. Stop, Spanairds! think +madmen, what you are doing.”</p> +<p>“Cover the hatches,” cried Tailtackle.</p> +<p>But the covers must have been lost overboard, for they +were nowhere to be found. The firing from the hold still +continued.</p> +<p>“Loosen the gun, and load it with grape,” cried I. “Forward +with it, and fire down the hatchway.”</p> +<p>The shot struck among the closely packed slaves, and a +fearful, heart-rending cry rent the air. Oh God! I shall +never forget it. Yet still the madmen continued their fire.</p> +<p>“Load, and fire again.”</p> +<p>My men were now mad with rage, and fought more like +devils than human beings.</p> +<p>“Once more, my lads,” cried I; but this time they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +pushed the gun so madly forward, that both it and the +carriage were precipitated with a fearful crash into the +hold. At the same moment a cloud of smoke burst forth +from the hold.</p> +<p>“They have fired the brig,” cried Jigmaree. “Back to +the schooner, or we shall be blown into the air like onion +peels.”</p> +<p>But the schooner had got loose, and was fast leaving us. +Gelid, Wagtail, and Reefpoint, were on board; the latter, +though badly wounded, had crept out of his hammock, +and on deck. They made us understand, by signs, that +they could not hoist the sails, and that, moreover, the +rudder was shot away, and the vessel unmanageable in +consequence.</p> +<p>“Up with the foresail, men,” cried I; “hoist the foresail, +and get the brig under way, or we are lost.”</p> +<p>My men obeyed my orders with the calmness of desperation. +I took hold of the wheel myself, and in a few +moments we lay alongside of our vessel once more. It +was high time, for already some hundred and fifty +unfettered slaves had rushed on deck, and we had hardly +time to spring on board, to escape the furious charge they +made on us from the hinder part of the vessel. The murderous +fire of grape shot they had endured, had made them +perfectly mad with rage, and had they been able to get at +us we should undoubtedly have been torn to pieces.</p> +<p>But the fire was quicker than they. The smoke, which +rose like a pillar of clouds through the hatchway, was now +mingled with red tongues of flame, which, like fiery serpents, +twined themselves round the crackling masts and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +rigging, that shrivelled in their hot embrace. The sea, +too, vied with its fierce brother element in destroying the +ill-fated vessel. Either through our shots, or from the +falling of the gun into its hold, some of the planks had +been started, and the water rushed in in torrents. The +flames increase, the guns become heated and go off, and at +last the ship suddenly sinks from our view, whilst the +loud and awful death-cry of five hundred helpless beings, +imprisoned in the burning vessel, rings in our ears, curdling +our blood, and seeming as if it would burst the very +vault of Heaven with its appalling tones. It was a fitting +knell to be rung over the slaver’s grave.</p> +<p>And now the brilliant rays of the setting sun, streaming +brightly over the waters, gild with an unearthly glare +the whirling clouds of smoke, that rising towards the blue +sky, grow fainter and fainter until they are lost in the +clear ether. The sea no longer dances and flashes in the +red light, as if exulting with the glee of fiends at the +mortal agony of its victims. Calm and smooth as a polished +mirror, it lies spread out over the spot where the +slaver sank.</p> +<p>Suddenly a huge cloud of thick black smoke rises from +the bosom of the deep. It mounts upward until it rivals +in height our vessel’s masts, and then it spreads itself over +the scene like a sable pall, as if it would prevent the +fumes of such unclean and hideous offering from rising to +Heaven, and hurl them down on our accursed heads, as +witnesses of the wrath of that Being, who has said: +“Thou shalt not kill.” And now for a moment all is still +as the grave, and it seems to me that the air is too hot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +and close to breathe; it stifles me, and I feel like a second +Cain.</p> +<p>At this moment a crowd of slaves, men, women, and +little children, who had been drawn down by the sinking +vessel, appeared struggling on the surface of the sea. The +strongest cried like very devils in their despair, whilst the +women and children, the weak and the helpless, gasped +vainly for breath, and worn out by their efforts to sustain +themselves above the water, sank at last to the bottom +with a look of mute agony I shall never forget. Among +the whole number, we did not see one of the ship’s crew. +Like desperate men, they had sunk with their vessel. We +fished up about one half of the unhappy blacks, but the +direst necessity compelled us to leave the rest of them, as +it was impossible for us to take them on board. Oh that +I could for ever blot this scene from my memory!</p> +<p>It chanced that among those saved, was a young and +pretty girl, who, weak and exhausted, was lying on deck, +her head resting on a block of wood. A powerful negro +swam to that part of the vessel where she lay. Seeing +him in the water, she sprang up and held out her hand to +him, to help him on board. As he was about to grasp it, +he was struck in the breast by a shot, and mortally +wounded. With a shriek the poor girl sprang overboard, +clasped him in her arms, and they sank together.</p> +<p>“Oh, woman, woman,” said Aaron, “whatever may be +the color of thy skin, thy heart is always the same.”</p> +<p>Soon all was still again; here and there a wounded +negro still struggled for a moment ere he sank into his +watery grave. A few spars from the ill-fated vessel, were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +yet tossed about on the surface of the sea, whilst the blood-red +rays of the setting sun poured a flood of light over the +bloody deck, shattered hull, and torn rigging of the +schooner, lighting up the faces of the dead with an +unearthly glare. At this moment some drops of rain fell +from a passing cloud, like tears from the pitying eyes of +an angel, who, sailing through the skies, had stopped for a +moment in her flight to look down sorrowfully on the scene +of desolation which man, the worm of a day, had caused +in a moment of power and savage madness.</p> +<p>On a gun-carriage, close to me, sat Aaron, whilst the +surgeon bound up a cut in his neck. He looked solemnly +at me for a moment, and then pointing towards the brilliant +luminary, which, as it sank beneath the waves, lit up +the western sky with a crimson and golden light, said:</p> +<p>“Remember this morning, captain, and thank the Almighty, +who whilst sending so many poor creatures to +their final account, has in his great mercy permitted us to +see the end of this fearful day. Oh, thank him, captain, +that you have once more seen the sun set.”</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>VI.</p> +<p>The wound in Bangs’ neck, which had been made by a +boarding pike, was not deep, but still it was an ugly cut, +and if, as he himself expressed it, he had not been bull-necked, +it would have gone hard with him.</p> +<p>“Captain, my boy,” said he, when the surgeon had +finished dressing his wound, “I’m pretty well patched up +now, and feel as good as new, except a little stiffness, but +I’m very thankful I have such a strong bundle of muscles, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +or some of the arteries would have been in danger. Come, +and get mended yourself now, and I will hold the light.”</p> +<p>A calm had fallen on the sea, which rendered all work +unnecessary at present, and the cabin, which was again +used as a cockpit, was filled with poor fellows waiting to +have their wounds dressed. When it came to my turn I +took off my clothes and seated myself on a tub. The +pistol bullet which had struck me, was sticking in the +fleshy part of my left shoulder, just below the skin, and +made a small protuberance resembling a sloe in form and +colour. The collar bone which it had first struck, but +glanced off from, to bury itself in the muscles of the arm, +was somewhat injured, and my breast was not a little bruised. +The opening in the skin, caused by the bullet, was so +small that one could hardly introduce a pea into it, and +scarcely any blood flowed therefrom.</p> +<p>“It is a very simple thing, sir,” said the surgeon, as he +introduced a small probe into the wound; putting a finger +on each side of the ball, he pressed them together, causing +it to fly out.</p> +<p>“It is a lucky thing, captain,” said Bangs, “that your +collar bone can bear something, as well as my neck, but +this bruise on your breast is of more consequence; you +must go to bed, and take care of yourself.”</p> +<p>But there was no bed on which I could lie down. The +cabin was filled with the wounded, and the surgeon had +plenty of work before him, for out of our little crew of +forty-two men, nine were killed and eleven wounded. +Accordingly I had a tent erected on deck, in which I and +my friends determined to take up our quarters for the night. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +It was now eight o’clock. I could only remain in the tent +until I saw my friends provided for, for my presence was +constantly required to direct the repairing of the injuries +we had sustained. The greatest part of our rigging was +shot away, and the tired sailors were busy in mending it +as well as they were able. Our mainmast was much +injured near the deck, and we were obliged as well as circumstances +would permit, to steady it with wooden props. +Our foremast had fortunately come off with a whole skin, +but we had received thirteen shots in our hull, three of +them between wind and water.</p> +<p>When all was done that skill and the most determined +perseverance could do, I returned to our tent. Not far +from it, near the stern of the vessel, sat Wagtail, preparing +our supper with the help of the cook. This meal, as you +may imagine, was uncommonly simple––salt beef, biscuits +and cold grog, but I doubt if any of us before or since, +ever partook of a meal with such an appetite as we did +then. The beef disappeared as if by magic; the bones +were polished off until they were as white as ivory, whilst +the rum sank in the flask like the quicksilver in a barometer, +on the approach of a hurricane.</p> +<p>“Holloa captain,” cried Bangs, when he had stopped to +take breath, “how do you feel, my boy?”</p> +<p>“Well, not as easy as I could wish for; this day has +been a day of fearful responsibility to me.”</p> +<p>“Just so,” replied he, “I shall sleep with a heavy heart +myself, for though I am no butcher by profession, I have +this day shed the blood of more than one fellow creature; +it is a dreadful reflection, and what was it all for, captain? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +You meet a large vessel in the night, and sing out ’heave +to.’ The large vessel says ‘I won’t.’ You say ‘You +shall.’ The large vessel replies ‘I’ll be damned if I do.’ +And immediately you take measures to make the large +vessel heave to, and thereby some five hundred human +beings, who a few hours ago were in possession of life and +health, are now food for fishes.”</p> +<p>I felt hurt. “I had not expected this from you, sir, +and–––”</p> +<p>“Hush!” said he, “I do not blame you. You have done +right; but why will not the government at home take +some decisive measures to put an end to this horrible +traffic, and so prevent scenes like this from occurring?”</p> +<p>We spoke for some time on this subject, and my friends +grew so warm that many bitter speeches were made, and +the conversation became unpleasant.</p> +<p>“Well, gentlemen,” said I at last, “I don’t know how +you feel, but I am completely knocked up; fortunately it +is now calm, and I think we shall sleep well, and so, +good night.”</p> +<p>We went to bed, and the sun was already some distance +above the horizon when we awoke on the next morning. +It had been perfectly calm during the night, and we found +ourselves still so near the scene of the preceding day’s +combat, that several corpses were swimming around the +vessel. As I went forward I was not a little alarmed to +see the number of black faces that were there.</p> +<p>“Master Tailtackle, how many of these poor creatures +have we on board?”</p> +<p>“Fifty-nine in the hold, sir, and thirty-five on deck.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span></div> +<p>At this moment Bangs walked out of the tent and +approached the spot where I stood. Hardly was he +perceived by the blacks, when the cry of “Shiek Cowloo,” +rent the air. Bangs was greatly startled at this unexpected +salute, for he had forgotten his heroic deeds of +yesterday, and did not know what to attribute it to; at last +the cause of it seemed to strike him, for he rushed back +to the tent with a roar of laughter. I went down into the +cabin and sat down to breakfast with Gelid and Wagtail. +Suddenly we heard Bangs cry out, “Pegtop! come here, +Pegtop––do you hear? Help me to tie my cravat––that’s +right. Now I will go on deck.”</p> +<p>Here Pearl, the black quarter-master, was impatiently +waiting for him.</p> +<p>“Well Pearl, my boy, what is the matter?” and then +before Pearl could reply, “I say, Pearl, go to the other +end of the vessel and tell your black friends that it was +all a humbug––that I am neither the Sultan Cowloo, nor +have a feather as big as a palm leaf on my back, of which +I can easily satisfy them if they wish it.”</p> +<p>“Oh, sir,” said Pearl, bowing, “I think the less we say +about that the better, because we have not half enough +fetters for the savages, and if they were undeceived, they +could easily rise, as our crew are much diminished, and +murder the whole of us.”</p> +<p>“The devil!” muttered Aaron; “well then go and tell +them that I am a bigger ostrich than ever, and that I will +very soon astonish them; they may take my word for it.”</p> +<p>“Pegtop, you rascal,” continued he, “come here. I say, +Pegtop, bring me my uniform––that’s right––now my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +sword––never mind the pantaloons, I want them to see +that it’s all fudge about the feather––now my hat––that’s +right––now go before me, and fan me with the lid of that +box of herrings.”</p> +<p>Pegtop did as he was bid, and Bangs followed him, +affecting the most majestic walk and gravest look. But +hardly had he left the tent, when the blacks again set up a +wild cry, and those who were not chained, flocked around +him, dancing and shouting, and whilst some of them rubbed +their flat noses and wooly heads against him, others +seized hold of his clothes, so that after several vain attempts +to shake them off, he took to his heels and fled back to the +tent, amid the laughter of the whole crew. Bangs laughed +louder than any of them.</p> +<p>“I say, captain,” said he, lying down on the deck and +looking through the window into the cabin where we were +just beginning to breakfast, “how the deuce am I to get +down there? If I stir outside of the tent, these black +barbarians swarm round me. Ah! I see–––”</p> +<p>Without further reflection, he put his legs through the +small hatchway which was directly over the breakfast +table, in order to get into the cabin in that way, but +unluckily he trod in a bowl of broth, with which Wagtail +used always to begin his breakfast. The broth happening +to be broiling hot, he jerked his foot out of it, striking +Gelid in the face as he did so.</p> +<p>“Oh! oh!” cried Paul, whilst Wagtail threw himself +on the sofa, and roared with laughter. But the next +moment Bangs gave another kick, and this time Pepperpot +got a sound blow on the side of the head, whilst down +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +came the great ostrich, clattering among cups and dishes, +and making an awful havoc amongst them. After indulging +in peals of laughter for a while longer, we collected the +fragments of our breakfast, and ate it with undiminished +appetites.</p> +<p>About this time a light breeze sprang up, and we crept +slowly forward to the place of our destination.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>VII.</p> +<p>“Land ahead!” cried the lookout, from the mast head.</p> +<p>“What does it look like?” asked I.</p> +<p>“Low hills, sir, and now I see houses on the highest +peaks.”</p> +<p>“Hurrah, New Providence, Fort Nassau, ho!”</p> +<p>Soon we saw the shores of the British island, New +Providence, but the wind lulled, and we were soon nearly +becalmed again.</p> +<p>“I say, captain,” said Bangs, “we must be your guests +for this night at least, and trouble you for lodgings on +board your nut-shell. No hopes, as I see, of getting into +port to-night, and if we did it would be too late to land.”</p> +<p>He was right, and we sat down to our rude and homely +meal in the little broiling hot cabin. We were all in a +very good humor. I flattered myself that my conduct in +our late combat with the slaver, would advance me several +steps up the ladder of promotion, whilst my friends were +overjoyed at the thoughts of soon being on terra firma +once more.</p> +<p>“Captain, my boy,” said Bangs, “I honor your profession; +but, nevertheless, have no great desire to belong to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +it. I am satisfied that no persuasion or bribery can ever +induce me to make my home on the deep; and, indeed, +viewing the thing closely–––”</p> +<p>“By the mark two fathoms less three quarters,” called +out the leadsman.</p> +<p>We ran into the harbor of Nassau, where we saw the +glimmering of lights, but as it was too late to land that +night, we dropped anchor, and after taking a parting glass +of grog, went to bed. As I was convinced of the perfect +security of the harbor, I ran the schooner, as she needed +repairing badly, quite near to the shore, in order to be close +to the dock-yard. During the night the little vessel softly +touched the bottom. The shock woke me and several of +the men, for though a seaman is accustomed to the swell +and motion of the heaving ocean, yet the slightest touch +of any hard, opposing substance, rouses him quick as +lightning. I could hear, through the thin partition, the +officers in earnest conversation.</p> +<p>“We are aground,” said one.</p> +<p>“Well, what of it,” said another; “there is no sea +here; all is still and calm, and shut in by the land.”</p> +<p>However, we were all soon snoring again, for during +the last few days we had over-tasked our strength considerably, +and since the late action had deprived us of the +services of one half of the crew, the other half had had +still harder duty to perform, and were almost exhausted. +It might have been about four o’clock in the morning, +when I was suddenly roused by the sound of voices in the +apartment next to the cabin. I heard one person call to +another, and then a cry of murder reached my ears. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +Pretty soon Wagtail, who was sleeping on a mattrass +below me, coughed loudly and hastily. A heavy splash +followed, and immediately some of the men in the forecastle +called out:</p> +<p>“The vessel is full of water––water up to our hammocks.”</p> +<p>“I am drunk,” roared Wagtail, who with might and +main was rolling about his little bed. “Captain, I am +drunk––Gelid, Bangs, we are all drunk.”</p> +<p>“To the pumps!” cried Tailtackle, who had hastened on +deck.</p> +<p>“It is useless,” said I, springing out of bed, and sinking +up to my knees in water. “Bring a light, Tailtackle, one +of the planks must have started, and as the tide is rising, +get out the boats, and put the wounded into them. Don’t +be alarmed men, the vessel is aground, and as it is nearly +high tide, there is no danger.”</p> +<p>The sailors were now quiet, and busied themselves in +putting bedding and provisions into the boats belonging to +the vessel, and those which, on hearing the alarm given, +had come from the shore to our rescue. As there was no +immediate danger, I returned to the cabin, wading through +the water, which rose to my body. Bangs was sitting up +in bed, busily engaged in putting on his breeches, which +luckily he had put under his pillow. The rest of his own +clothes, and those of his friends, were swimming about the +cabin, saturated with water. Gelid, who during all the +tumult had slept soundly, was now awake. He put one +of his legs out of bed, with a view of rising, and plunged +it into the water.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span></div> +<p>“Heavens! Wagtail,” he exclaimed, “the cabin is full +of water––we are sinking! Ah! it is deuced hard to be +drowned in this puddle, like potatoes in a tub.”</p> +<p>“Captain, captain,” cried Bangs, looking over the side +of his bed, “did you ever see the like of that? There, +just under your light––look at it; why it’s a bird’s nest, +with a thrush in it, swimming about.”</p> +<p>“Damn your bird’s nest,” growled little Pepperpot, “by +Jove, it’s my wig with a live rat in it.”</p> +<p>“The deuce take your wig,” said Paul; “Zounds! take +care of my boots.”</p> +<p>“Hang the wig and boots, too,” cried Bangs, “there +goes my Sunday coat. Captain, who has sunk the ship?”</p> +<p>Here his eyes met mine, and a few words served to +explain our situation; the only question now was, how to +get ashore, as nothing could be done until daybreak. My +determination was soon made. I put my friends into one +of the boats, which were lying alongside of the schooner, +gave their wet chests into the care of their black servants, +and let them find a lodging as well as they could. Then +the wounded, and afterwards the rest of the crew were +put on board a couple of merchant vessels lying near us, +and as their captains were obliging fellows, I easily persuaded +them to take the schooner between them, at ebb-tide, +and raise it with the flood. When it was pumped +out, and afloat again, I took it into port, where it received +a thorough overhauling. As there remained nothing more +to be done, I put on dry clothes, and towards evening went +ashore. Thus ended my first cruise.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +<a name='A_WINTER_IN_THE_FROZEN_OCEAN' id='A_WINTER_IN_THE_FROZEN_OCEAN'></a> +<h2>A Winter in the Frozen Ocean.</h2> +</div> +<p>One stormy winter’s evening, in the year 1579, Gerhard +de Ver was sitting in the warm and cheerful parlor +of his plain but comfortable dwelling, in the city of Amsterdam. +He was a pleasant, good-natured man, but +evidently weak, and suffering from hardships recently +undergone. As he sat before the fire, in his easy chair, +his eye rested, with evident satisfaction, on a group of +young sailors, who were accustomed to visit him, both to +show the sympathy they felt for the sufferings he had +undergone in the service of his native land, and to gain +information from his rich store of experience. After a +lively conversation, in which they had now and then, to +their no little joy, succeeded in bringing a smile to the +care-worn face of their patron, they began to converse +together in a low tone of voice, and to show by their +manner that they were about to prefer a very unusual +request.</p> +<p>“Father Gerhard,” at last began one of the party, +“you are well aware that nothing would give us greater +pleasure than the restoration of your health, and that with +you we are impatiently waiting for the moment when you +shall be able to leave your room again, but we know well +enough that when that moment arrives, the irresistible +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +desire of being useful to your native land, will drive you +to distant parts of the earth, and separate us for a long +time again; do not, therefore, consider it indiscreet if we +now remind you of a promise formerly made to us, and beg +you to relate the history of your last voyage to the Frozen +Ocean, which must certainly be as astonishing as instructive; +indeed, the reports which circulate among the neighbors +concerning it, are so incredible that we find it almost +impossible to believe them, without having them confirmed +by yourself.”</p> +<p>“Truly,” replied Gerhard, “you could have chosen no +more appropriate time to remind me of my promise than +this evening. The storm, which now sweeps through the +street, and drives the snow against the windows, brings +most vividly to my recollection the wretched hut in which +I and my unhappy companions, of whom few ever saw +their homes again, passed the most miserable portion of +our lives, tormented by hunger and sickness, and in continual +dread of the fierce and ravenous polar bears; shut +up in that distant part of the world, where the winter lasts +for eight months, and there is unbroken night from the +beginning of November to the end of January; where the +cold is so intense that it is impossible, even when wrapped +up in thick furs, to remain in the open air for any length +of time; where the breath is changed to rime; where one’s +hands, nose, and ears, freeze if exposed to the air for a +moment; where brandy is quickly congealed, and quicksilver +becomes hard enough to be struck with a hammer.”</p> +<p>“You have roused our curiosity so,” remarked the +young man, when Gerhard, who had betrayed considerable +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +warmth of manner, suddenly ceased speaking, “that it will +really be an act of kindness to satisfy it; therefore, pray +commence, at least this evening, a recital of your adventures, +but steer your course so as not to fatigue yourself too +much; sail along gently, for a day’s journey, more or less +you know, is of little consequence. But heave the anchor, +Father Gerhard, if it please you.”</p> +<p>“In God’s name then,” said Gerhard, and commenced +as follows:</p> +<p>“You all know the difficulties and dangers of a voyage +to the East Indies, but you do not know what wealth may +be gained by a commercial intercourse with those distant +regions, or that, as is very natural, men for a long time +have had their attention turned to the discovery of a +nearer route than any one at present known of. At first, +repeated attempts were made to find out a strait which, +as many still believe, divides the continent of America, but +as the voyagers met with no success whatever, their attention +was drawn to the Arctic Ocean, which washes the +northern coasts of Asia and Europe. The enterprising +merchants who had been engaged in former expeditions, +now resolved to send one to that part of the world which +though so near to them was so little known. It is true +that a small squadron which was sent out for the purpose, +and with which I sailed, failed in reaching its destination, +owing to the advanced state of the season, but it was found +that the northern coast of the continent ran off in a southeasternly +direction, and great hopes were entertained that +an expedition sent out at a more favourable season, would be +attended with the happiest results. Although many who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +had engaged in enterprises like these, had lost both money +and courage, yet, induced by the accounts which we +brought home, and by my advice, the city of Amsterdam +resolved to make another and final attempt. It fitted out +at its own expense, a couple of vessels, and having provided +them with all things necessary, entrusted them to the +care of myself and three others, viz: Jacob Heemskerk, +John Cornelius Ryp, and William Barents.</p> +<p>“On the 10th of May, 1569, we left Amsterdam, accompanied +by the good wishes of the whole town, and as a +favourable wind filled our sails, we made our way so rapidly +towards the north, that by the 5th of June, we encountered +vast floes of ice, which covered the sea as far as the +eye could reach. Four days later, we discovered land, +which was not noted down on the chart; it proved to be +an island some four miles long, and evidently hitherto +unknown. Some of the men took one of the boats and +went ashore; they found many gull’s eggs, and had a +narrow escape from losing their lives. They ascended a +hill of snow which was as solid as a block of marble, but +in attempting to descend, they found themselves obliged +to slide to the bottom, and were in imminent danger of +being hurled upon the sharp rocks by which it was surrounded; +happily, they received no injury. The next day +we had a hard struggle with a polar bear, for dangerous as +these creatures were, we always felt desirous of attacking +them, and we now undertook to take one alive. Accordingly, +seeing a big fellow not far from us, we took a boat, +and set out with the intention of capturing him, by throwing +a noose over his head, but when we came near to him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +we did not dare to attack him, on account of the ferocity +he exhibited, but returned for more men, muskets, and +pikes. Ryp’s people were coming to our aid; we went after +him again, but we were obliged to fight for more than four +hours, as our shots did him very little harm. After having +received a blow in the back with a hatchet, which was +wielded by such a strong arm that it remained sticking in +him, he attempted to swim off, but a cut on the head +finished him. We took the carcase on board Ryp’s vessel, +and stripped off the hide, which measured twelve feet +in length. The flesh we cooked, and some of us liked it +as well as beef. In consequence of this adventure we +named the island ‘Bear’s Island.’</p> +<p>“After remaining here for a few days, we continued our +journey towards the north, and after sailing for ten days, +through a sea blocked up with masses of ice, we arrived +at a coast which ran off in an easterly direction, where we +determined to cast anchor. We imagined it to be a part +of Greenland, and as it was formed of sharp pointed hills, +we gave it the name of ‘Spitzbergen,’ (pointed mountains.) +We were not a little surprised to find an active vegetation +existing in this high latitude, and went on shore to gather +sorrel and scurvy grass, which are excellent preventatives +against the scurvy, a disease which, as you know, breaks +out with great violence on board of vessels going so far +north, and is occasioned by a want of fresh meat. We +saw also a great many bears, foxes, and reindeers, and also +immense flocks of wild geese, which we drove from their +nests in order to procure their eggs, which we found +excellent.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span></div> +<p>“As the wind remained unfavorable, and the masses of +ice continued to press closer together, we were obliged to +give up our plan of reaching the most northern point of +Spitzbergen, and then sailing towards the east, and return +to Bear’s Island. The two captains now differed in their +opinion as to the best course to be pursued; Ryp persisted +that if we were to keep on towards the north, we would +without doubt, reach an open sea, while Barents thought +we were already too far north; so it was finally determined +that each should go his own way. Accordingly, on the +1st of July, the two vessels parted company, Ryp sailing +for Spitzbergen, whilst we steered towards the south coast. +From this moment commenced all the suffering and danger, +which we experienced on our adventurous voyage.”</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>II.</p> +<p>“After having with great difficulty and danger, worked +our way between huge blocks of ice, for two weeks, we at +last, on the 16th of July, at noon, came in sight of Nova +Zembla, a spot very frequently visited by whalers, and +steered our course along the western shore, as our object +was to sail round the island, in order to make our way +towards the east. But although it was now the middle of +summer, we were much impeded by floating masses of ice, +which covered the sea in every direction, as far as the eye +could reach, and obliged us to wait until an opening offered, +through which we might sail. We arrived at last at an +island which from the number of crosses the whalers have +there set up, is called the “Isle of Crosses.” Here we +anchored to take in a supply of fresh water. Heemskerk +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +took one of the boats and went ashore to visit the crosses. +I accompanied him, and we were walking along, not +dreaming of danger, when suddenly we came upon a couple +of bears, who were hid near by. As we were totally +unprovided with weapons, we were not a little alarmed at +the sight. The bears, as is customary with these animals, +raised themselves on their hind legs, to find out what was +going on, as they can smell further than they can see. As +soon as they became aware of our presence, they came +running towards us. Our hair now actually stood on end +at the frightful danger we ran, and we started off for our +boats as fast as we could go. But Heemskerk, who had +far more presence of mind and courage, stood still, and +swore that he would put a boat hook he held in his hand, +into the first man who attempted to fly. ‘If we run +away one by one in this way,’ cried he, ‘some of us will +most assuredly be torn to pieces, but if we stand still and +raise a shrill cry all together, the bears will be frightened +and retreat.’ We followed his advice, and it turned out +exactly as he predicted, so that whilst the bears stood stupified, +we regained our boat. This shows how good a +thing presence of mind is; fear always rushes into danger +sooner than courage.</p> +<p>“After much suffering and danger, we at last reached +the northern extremity of the island, and began to double +it. Some of the men, who had been sent on shore to +ascend a mountain, and report what was visible from it, +surprised us with the joyful information that they believed +the sea to be free from ice towards the east. But, alas, the +next day showed how much they had been deceived; we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +had not sailed but a few miles further, when we encountered +a huge bank of ice, which rendered further progress +in that direction impossible. As the snow storm every +hour raged more fiercely, and the cold grew more intense, +we determined to retrace our course along the eastern +shore, in order to reach the continent, there in some secure +harbor to wait for more favorable weather. But we had +only gone a short distance in this direction, when the ice +closed in all around us, and on the twenty-sixth of August +we remained firmly fixed in it. All our endeavors to float +our vessel again, were in vain, and we very nearly lost +three of our best men in the attempt; the ice on which +they were standing suddenly gave way, but fortunately +they were near the vessel, and very active, so they seized +hold of the ropes which hung down from the yards, and +clambered on board. It was an anxious moment for all +parties, for they would most assuredly have been driven +away with the ice and lost, had they not been saved by +the aid of God, and their own activity.</p> +<p>“The ice was often in motion, but did not break up; +but masses of it piled themselves up in all directions. In +consequence of this, our vessel was hoisted up as if by +pulleys, and then thrown on its side with such a fearful +crash, that we expected every moment to see it go to +pieces. We found it necessary to bring the boat and +shallop to land, as in case of the ship’s going to pieces, we +depended on them for our safety. We also stored away, +under a tent hastily constructed of sails, provisions, ammunition, +and useful tools. The sea was now covered with +ice as far as the eye could reach; part of it swam about +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +in huge masses, whilst the rest was smooth and firm as a +frozen mill-pond. The cold was now so intense, that we +found it impossible to keep ourselves warm under the +upper deck, where the kitchen was, but were obliged to +remove the stove to the hold, and were almost smothered +by the smoke in consequence.</p> +<p>“Some of the men, who had been sent further into the +country, to ascertain its character, brought back the welcome +news that there was a stream of excellent fresh +water not far distant, and that along its banks lay piles +of drift wood. As we considered it possible, after this +discovery, to pass the winter here, we gave up the desperate +plan we had formed, of making our way back to the +continent in our two miserable boats, and commenced +erecting a roomy and substantial hut. While thus occupied, +we were much troubled by the increasing cold, and +the hungry bears, who lay in wait for us in every direction. +In order to give you a correct picture of our hardships, +and miserable life, I will endeavor to relate to you +the most note-worthy events as they occurred day by day, +and in this way to keep the thread of my narrative +unbroken.</p> +<p>“September 1st.––This day we began to build our hut, +and transported to it, on sledges, sufficient drift wood to be +used for fires during the winter, which we piled up in convenient +places. Whilst part of the men were occupied in +this arduous task, the rest remained on board the vessel to +prepare the meals, and keep a watch for the safety of +those on shore. One day we received a visit from three +huge bears; two of them came towards the ship, but the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +third remained hidden behind a piece of ice. It happened +that a tub of salt meat, which we intended to soak in fresh +water, was standing on the shore; one of the bears ran +up to it, and putting his muzzle in, was about to help himself +to a piece, when a shot struck him in the head so +cleverly that he fell dead without a groan. It was curious +to see how the second bear stood gazing at his motionless +companion, with a stupified look, and then walked round +him, trying to discover what was the matter with him. +When he found that he could make nothing of him, he +left him, and went away. But we had no idea of trusting +the fellow, and as we wished to go ashore, we armed ourselves +with muskets and pikes, in case he should come +back, which he pretty soon did. He raised himself on his +hind legs, in a threatening manner, but one of us shot him +in the stomach, which caused him to sink down with a +howl on all fours again, and make off as fast as he could +go. We now took out the entrails of the dead bear, and +placed him on his legs, in order that he might be frozen, +and so preserved until spring, when we intended to take +him home with us. Some time afterwards, one of the men +was chased by a bear, and happened to come by this spot. +His pursuer was close on his heels, but as soon as he saw +his immovable companion, who was covered with snow, his +front paws alone being visible, he stopped short, and +approached him. In this way the sailor gained sufficient +time to reach the ship, and alarm us with the cry of ’a +bear! a bear!’ We hastened on deck, but not one of us +could see, so much had our eyes suffered with the thick +smoke in which we had been obliged to remain during the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +bad weather, in order to escape being frozen. Our aid, +however, was not needed, as the bear, when he saw the +number of his opponents, made off in great haste.</p> +<p>“September 24th.––On this day we began to put up the +beams of our hut, as the idea of being obliged to pass a +winter here, filled us with great anxiety; but as the vessel +was now firmly embedded in the ice, and we saw no prospect +of getting it free again until the return of fine weather, +we were obliged to make a virtue of necessity, and submit +quietly to our hard fate. We tore up a part of the deck +of our vessel, and made a roof for our hut of it; then we +plastered the walls with pitch, and when, on the second of +October, the building was finished, instead of putting on the +roof, as is customary, a pole or bush, we erected a kind of +staff, made of hard snow. We now took our sleds, and +drew tools and provisions to it; but the cold was so intense +that the beer casks burst, and their contents became a solid +mass of ice. After we had, for greater security, drawn +the boats on shore, and turned them upside down, we +betook ourselves to our hut, and arranged every thing +within it as well as we were able.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>III.</p> +<p>“With the beginning of November, the cold became so +intense, that we could venture out into the air for a very +short time only, long enough merely to collect what fuel +we needed, and to set the traps which we had placed round +the hut to catch foxes, which I assure you were considered +quite a dainty by us poor wretches, greedy as we were +after fresh meat. On the 4th of November, the sun was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +no longer visible, and a long and dreary night set in. All +the light we had came from the moon, aurora borealis, and +the lamps which we hung around our hut, and fed with +bear’s fat. The only consolation left us was that with the +sun the bears had left us, and we could now leave the hut +without danger of being devoured. The cold still continued +to increase hourly, and we were obliged to distribute +our stock of clothing among the men, in order to protect +them better against the frost, yet in spite of every precaution, +hands and feet which were wrapped up in thick furs +and cloths, became stiff and numb, when only a few paces +from the fire. The best protection against the cold, we +found to be heated stones. We felt the want of spirituous +liquors sadly; those we had, froze, and when thawed lost +both strength and flavour. Our health, however, was +much better than we had reason to expect, when our mode +of life is taken into consideration; but this, I imagine was +owing to the good advice of the surgeon to bathe daily, +which we always did. One morning, towards the end of +November, one of us wishing to leave the hut, found the +door tightly closed by the snow, and was obliged to dig +through it. This work we had to repeat daily, or otherwise +we should have been completely buried. On the 16th +of November, we found that we had used all the fuel that +was in the hut, and were therefore, obliged to dig out of +the snow the rest of what we had gathered for use, and +bring it into our dwelling. We worked alternately in +couples, and had to make all the haste we could, for in +spite of fox-skins and extra clothing, we were not able +to endure the cold long. Until the 29th of December, we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +experienced dreadful weather; snow fell in abundance, +and for three days we were unable to leave the hut. On +the evening of the fourth day, it moderated somewhat, and +one of the sailors ventured to make a hole through the +wall, near to the door, and creep through it in order to see +how things stood without. He came back pretty soon and +told us that the snow was piled up higher than the hut, +and that it was just as cold as ever; he said that if he had +not returned, his ears would have been frozen. On the +29th of December, some of the men dug the door free +again, and made a kind of a tunnel through the snow, out +of which we emerged as from a cellar. But all our trouble +was in vain, for the next day another fall of snow blocked +up the door, and made us prisoners again. Stormy days +were the more unendurable, as the fire would not burn, but +filled the hut with smoke. At such times we commonly +lay in our beds, which like the walls of the hut, were +covered with a thick coating of ice, whenever the fire did +not burn brightly. Whilst in this unpleasant situation, +one of us happened to remember that there was a good +store of coals on board the vessel, and the most hardy of +the party immediately made an attempt to bring them to +the hut, and after great exertions, succeeded in their +attempt. We immediately kindled a good fire, and for the +first time an agreeable warmth spread through the room. +In order better to retain it, we stopped up the hole we had +made to let the smoke escape, and merrier than usual, +went to bed and began chatting together; but soon, giddiness +and then stupefaction attacked us, and had not one +of the party had the presence of mind to crawl to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +door and open it, we would soon have been suffocated by +the poisonous gas which came from the coal. Thus +ended the year 1596. The next year commenced with the +same unpleasant weather, so that we were obliged to pass +New Year’s day in the house. We had now used up all +our split wood, and on account of the cold, were unable to +go out to procure more. On the 5th of January, the +weather at last moderated, and we got the door open, +cleaned the house out, and split some more wood, as we +were afraid that we should again be buried by the snow. +After working hard all day, we began in the evening to +talk about home, and it occurred to us that our countrymen +were at that very moment celebrating one of their +merriest festivals, namely, that of the Three Kings. We +determined, therefore, to forget our sad lot for a while, and +prepare a little feast. Each one of the men put by some +of his biscuit, and the captain gave some wine. We now +made a good wine soup, and prepared also some pancakes, +which we made of a couple of pounds of starch which had +been taken on board for the purpose of pasting cartridges, +and some oil; the biscuits we soaked in wine. We now +celebrated the evening in fine style, and for the time, forgot +our sad lot, and imagined ourselves once more surrounded +by our friends and relations. In this way we +enjoyed our humble meal as much as if it had been a +sumptuous feast. We got into such a good humor that we +chose a king, as it is customary to do on such occasions, +and saluted him by the title of “Lord of Nova Zembla,” +a kingdom which though of considerable size, is not very +well provided with either inhabitants or revenue.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span></div> +<p>“On leaving the hut next day, we found the air a little +less keen, and felt that since the snow had ceased to fall, +the cold had somewhat abated. We could now hope to see +the sun before long, and on the 8th of January we really +perceived a faint glimmering in the sky, at which we +rejoiced not a little. Eight days later we perceived a reddish +tinge, which we hailed as the harbinger of the near +approach of the sun. We perceived, also, a slight warmth +in the wind, which, joined to the heat of our fire, partially +melted the ice on the walls of the hut, which, until now, +had remained perfectly solid. As the glimmering light +grew stronger every day, we at length ventured, well-armed, +to the ship, which still remained in the same position +as formerly, but had been frequently visited by bears, +as their footsteps in the snow plainly showed. We took a +light, and descended into the hold, where we found the +water a foot in depth, and frozen perfectly tight.</p> +<p>“As the weather remained fair, we went out into the +open air daily. Our usual resort was a hill about a half +mile distant, from which we brought stones to our hut, and +heated them, in order to warm our beds. It now grew +brighter every day, and we were soon able to amuse ourselves +by shooting with a cross-bow, using for a mark the +top of our snowy flag-staff, which, until now, we had been +unable to see. Indeed, we took exercise in any way possible, +and endeavored by throwing, running, and other +gymnastic sports, to restore strength and suppleness to our +half frozen limbs. The foxes, in capturing whom we had +formerly been so busily engaged, now suddenly vanished, +a sure sign of the re-appearance of the bears. These dangerous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +beasts soon visited us again, and the war against +them was renewed; they evidently came from some more +southerly climate, where they had been passing the long +winter, as they were very fat. They often endeavored to +break open the door of the hut, and one of them even +clambered upon the roof, and endeavored to get inside +through the hole we had made to allow the smoke to +escape; it required the united energies of all of us to +defeat his intentions.</p> +<p>“The 27th of January was a sad day for us, for on it one +of our party died. He had been sick at the building of +the hut, and we had been obliged to convey him to it on a +sled. We buried him in the snow, with a prayer, and held +a funeral feast to his honor; but we soon recovered our +wonted flow of spirits, as we were now confidently expecting +a speedy release from the wretched situation in which +we had been placed.</p> +<p>“The cold continued unbroken for three months longer, +although it was not so severe as formerly. Our provisions +now gave out, and on the 3rd of May we cooked our last +piece of pork. During the latter part of May we began +to make preparations for our journey, and as we found our +ship was no longer sea-worthy, we dug out the shallop and +boat, which had been protected by the deep snow. We +spent all the month of May in mending and fitting out +these two vessels. Whilst we were prosecuting this work, +we were more than once in great danger of being torn to +pieces by the bears. We shot a great many of them, but +it happened we found them more dangerous when dead +than when alive. Being greatly in want of food we cooked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +a liver of one of them, and found it very palatable, but all +of us fell sick in consequence, and some were so very ill +that their lives were despaired of; they were covered from +head to foot with a loathsome eruption. However, they +at last recovered, for which we thanked God most sincerely, +for had we lost them, the rest of us would not have +had sufficient strength to launch the boats. In spite of +this warning one of the men was imprudent enough, one +day, to bring a pot of bear’s liver to the fire, as he was +hungry; but Heemskerk, who was standing by, threw it +out of the window.</p> +<p>“The weather often grew milder, and the sea began to +be free from ice, but a single north wind brought back the +most intense cold, and the sea was again covered with ice. +In the meanwhile we worked hard to get out of our leaky +vessel all that was necessary for our dangerous voyage, but +suddenly we experienced a more dreadful storm of snow, +hail, and rain, than had yet overtaken us, and which we +did not expect at this time of the year. The weather was +so bad that we were obliged to leave every thing and +retreat to the hut. But we found this in a miserable condition, +for we had used the boards, of which the roof was +composed, to mend our vessels, and a piece of sail, which +had taken their place, answered its purpose so badly that +the hut was full of water. Often and often did our courage +sink, and we give up in despair, but Heemskerk always +cried, ‘If you do not wish to remain in Nova Zembla, and +dig your graves in the snow, you must exert all your +remaining strength to equip the boats, on which depend +all our hopes of safety.’ These words acted like an electrical +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +shock on us, and spurred us on to do what seemed +almost impossible.</p> +<p>“In the beginning of June, we dragged the two boats to +the vessel, in order, when all was ready, to take them from +there to the edge of the ice and launch them into the sea. +Suddenly another storm arose unexpectedly, and we were +in constant dread lest the ice should break up, and all our +property be lost. In that case there would be no hope for +us; but Providence watched over us, and the storm passed +by, and did us not the slightest harm. We had now to +perform our last but most difficult task, viz: to open a +passage through the ice from the ship to the open sea, +through which we might take the shallop. This, after +incredible toil, we accomplished, and loaded our two boats +with the tools and provisions we had just taken from the +wreck, which consisted of thirteen casks of biscuits, and +several more of bacon, oil, and wine. Then being all +ready, we started on our voyage on the morning of the +14th of June, 1597.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>IV.</p> +<p>“In high spirits and full of courage, we now began a +voyage, which certainly was the most remarkable ever +undertaken. Crowded together in two wretched, open, +and heavily laden boats, we had to cross a space of not +less than two hundred miles, in order to reach the nearest +shore, and this in a climate where the middle of summer +is as cold as our severest winters, and upon a sea covered +with huge masses of ice, which at one moment are stationary, +and in the next hurled together by a storm, with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +terrific force. Besides, we were weak from our previous +exertions, and had not really the strength to strive successfully +against the dangers which threatened us.</p> +<p>“As the eastern shore of Nova Zembla appeared to be +bound up with unbroken ice, Barents, with admirable prudence, +had advised us to steer towards the north, so that +having passed round the northern point of land, we might +reach the western coast, and from there run for some Russian +port, where we might hope to meet some vessel bound +for the Netherlands. We had not gone far on this projected +route, when we found ourselves so hemmed in by +icebergs, as to be totally unable to make any further progress. +Such an unpropitious commencement would have +disheartened many men, but fortunately, we were accustomed +to danger and disappointment in every shape; so we +kept up our spirits, and cast anchor in order to wait until +the breaking up of the ice should afford us an opportunity +of proceeding on our journey again. In the meantime we +employed ourselves in seeking bird’s eggs for our sick, of +whom we now had several, and in melting snow by the +fire for drinking water. On the 15th of June, the ice in +which we were embedded, broke up, and a favorable wind +springing up, our men handled their oars so well, that by +the 17th we had reached the most northerly point of the +island. But, unfortunately, on the same day the icebergs +were put in such violent agitation by a storm, and struck the +boats with such force, that the boldest grew disheartened. +We took a last farewell of each other, and expected every +moment would be our last. In this fearful extremity we +held a consultation as to what was best to be done; no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +other means of safety could we see, than to work our way +out of the floating ice, and get upon some iceberg. But +all our endeavors to get alongside of one of these were in +vain, and unable to endure longer the lamentations of my +companions, I caught hold of the end of a rope, and leaped +like a frog from one place to another, until I reached the +firm ice. As the rope was fastened to the two boats, they +were quickly drawn to the spot I had reached, when the +men took out their cargoes and pulled them upon the ice. +We found they were so much injured by striking against +the ice, as to need a thorough overhauling, which we set +about without delay. The driftwood, which lay along the +shore in considerable quantities, now stood us in good need, +as by means of it we were enabled to boil our pitch and tar.</p> +<p>“For four long and dreary days had we lain among ice +and snow, when a south wind sprang up, and once more +opened a passage for us. We hastily launched our boats +again, and put their cargoes into them; but hardly had we +commenced to row when we found ourselves surrounded +by masses of ice again, and were obliged to pick our way +out of them with great difficulty; at last we reached the +open sea once more, and were able to continue our voyage +until the 25th of June, when we were obliged to cast +anchor again near a field of ice. At the same time a +violent storm arose, and drove our miserable crafts to sea, +where they were tossed about in great danger of being +dashed to pieces against an iceberg, or upset by the wind. +Our men now employed what little strength they had left +in striving to get back to the land, but as this could not +be done by simple rowing, we ventured to hoist a small +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +sail, which we had scarcely done when the foremast of the +boat I commanded suddenly broke in two places, and I +found myself obliged, in order to keep up with the shallop, +to raise the mainsail, which, however, I had to lower again +immediately, or my boat would have been inevitably +upset.</p> +<p>“We now deemed our destruction inevitable, as the +storm of wind, which had hitherto blown from the south, +suddenly changed to the north-east, and drove us from the +shore. In the meanwhile the shallop had vanished, and +we sought for it in vain for a long time, owing to a thick +fog which covered the sea. At last I ordered some shots +to be fired, and to my great joy they were answered by +others from the shallop. I afterwards employed this +means of finding the whereabouts of our comrades with +great success on all such occasions.</p> +<p>“On the 28th of June we were again shut in, and obliged +to anchor alongside of an iceberg. As we were much +fatigued by the incessant tossing about of the boats, we +erected a tent on it, and determined to pass the night +there; but that we might sleep in safety, we set a watch, +and it was a happy thing for us that we did so, for at midnight +we received a visit from three immense bears, who, +had we not been on our guard, would most assuredly have +made a comfortable meal off of some of us. At the cry +of ‘Bears! bears!’ we seized our muskets, and although +they were loaded with shot merely, fired them at the +animals, who were so stupefied at the inhospitable reception +their friendly visit met with, that they allowed us +time to load with ball. One of them had fallen at the first +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +fire, and the two others made off in all haste. Pretty +soon, however, they changed their minds, and coming +back, dragged their dead comrade away with them for a +short distance, and then set to work to devour him. As +soon as we remarked this, we let them have another shot, +and this time they ran off in earnest. Four of us now +went to look at the carcass of the dead bear, and found to +our no little astonishment that they had devoured half of +it. The wind, on this and the two following days, blowing +from the same quarter, we were obliged to remain where +we were.</p> +<p>“The night of the 1st of July, was one of the most fearful +and dangerous that we had as yet experienced. The +storm gradually increased in violence, and at last by hurling +the floating masses of ice against the firm bank on +which we were encamped, broke off that portion of it +which held our boats, so that they got loose and were +driven away. Many bundles and casks fell into the sea, +and it was with great difficulty, that by springing from place +to place, we succeeded in securing our boats, in which were +the sick. After the storm was somewhat abated, we endeavored +to collect our provisions and tools together, but alas, +missed a great many which were very necessary for the +completion of our voyage. Whilst one half of the men +were thus employed, the others went over the ice to the +land, in order to get a tree that they might mend the broken +mast of the shallop. They found not only what they sought, +but also, wedges for splitting wood, and wood already split, +from which we judged that men had been in this place before.</p> +<p>“About this time we lost two of our men, who had been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +sick for some time, having been obliged to be carried from +our hut to the boat, when we started on our voyage. +When Barents, who had also been ailing, heard this, he +assured us that his end too was approaching, but as he at +the same time regarded with attention, a chart of that part +of the country which we had seen, which I had prepared, +we did not believe he was so ill, and paid but little attention +to his words. Pretty soon, however, he laid down +the chart and asked for water; but hardly had he drank, +when suddenly he bowed his head and died, to the great +grief of all of us. We lost in him a brave comrade and +intelligent man, on whose skill rested most of our hopes +of again seeing our native land.</p> +<p>“Sorrowing deeply, we continued on our journey, and +at length, on the 4th of August, reached the Russian coast, +after having suffered much from the cold, and also from +the scurvy, which on account of the want of fresh provisions, +had broken out among us. We landed to try and +find some signs of life, but could see no habitations, and +the ground produced nothing but wild shrubs. Some of +the party proposed that we should continue our journey by +land; but as we could easily lose our way, and fall into +great danger, in a desert, which was very likely filled with +wild animals, the majority decided in favor of continuing +along the coast. But we could not hold out much longer, +for our provisions were reduced to a few mouldy biscuits; +the most of us, tormented as we were by hunger and sickness, +would have welcomed death as a happy release. +Happily, however, we discovered a Russian barque coming +towards us under full sail; when she reached us, Heemskirk +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +went on board, and taking some money in one hand, +pointed with the other to a cask of fish which stood on deck. +The Russians understood him, took the money, and gave +him the fish, together with some little cakes. Half starved +as we were, we rejoiced greatly at this purchase, and +hastened to refresh ourselves with the food.</p> +<p>“We now very often met Russian vessels, and they +sold or gave us, very readily, a part of their scanty stock +of provisions. By the 20th of August, we reached the +western shore of the White Sea, and by good luck arrived +at a spot where some little houses were standing. We +entered them and were received with great kindness by +their owners, who were poor Russian fishermen. They +led us into a warm room, where we could dry our wet +clothes, and gave us a meal of good fish and soup.</p> +<p>“After continuing our journey for several days more, +we were obliged, by a storm, to land again, and found a +hut where three men dwelt. They cordially welcomed +us, and when at their request we had told them our story, +informed us that a vessel from the Netherlands was at +anchor at Kola, a Russian port not many miles distant. +We entreated them to go with one of our party to Kola by +land, but as they could not go themselves they sent a messenger, +who in a few days returned without our comrade, +but with a letter, through which we learnt to our joy and +astonishment, that Ryp himself, the commander of the +other vessel, from whom we had separated at Bear’s Island, +had arrived at Kola in safety, after seeking for an eastern +passage in vain.</p> +<p>“It was not long before he arrived himself, in a boat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +loaded with provisions, and after a warm greeting we took, +for the first time since many days, our usual food and +drink. Favored by the wind, Heemskerk soon brought us +to Kala, where the Russian governor listened with great +sympathy to the history of our adventures and sufferings, +and ordered our two boats to be preserved as memorials of +our wondrous journey.</p> +<p>“On the 18th of September we set sail, and after a +prosperous voyage entered the Meuse. From there we +went to Amsterdam, and doubtless it is still fresh in your +memories, how we were conducted into the town, dressed +in the fox skins we had worn at Nova Zembla, and followed +by the acclamations of the whole population.”</p> +<p>Father Gerhard ceased speaking, and for a while the +young people kept silent too, so much had they been +astonished by the recital of such strange adventures. +Most did they marvel at the calm resignation of the voyagers +to their sad fate, and they hoped that in the voyages +which they themselves might hereafter make, that they +should have as excellent and brave companions.</p> +<p>They now thanked their patron for the trouble he had +taken to gratify them, and with a hearty squeeze of the +hand wished him good night.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +<a name='THE_SHIPWRECK' id='THE_SHIPWRECK'></a> +<h2>The Shipwreck.</h2> +</div> +<p>A few years ago a company of one of the English regiments +of infantry, consisting of eleven officers and two +hundred soldiers embarked in a large, strongly built ship, +to sail from Quebec to Halifax. Besides the troops, there +were forty-eight passengers on board, most of them women +and children, and the whole number of persons, including +the sailors, amounted to upwards of three hundred.</p> +<p>On the evening of the tenth day, when they were clear +of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and a brisk wind had driven +them out many leagues to seaward, the pilot who, for the +greater security of the troops had been kept on board, +directed the course of the vessel to the westward, hoping +on the next day to run her into Halifax. From the windward +side of the otherwise clear heavens a dark cloud +showed itself on the horizon, and in a short time afterwards +the ship was enveloped in one of those dense fogs, +which make a voyage along these coasts so perilous, during +the greater part of the year. They had now come within +that space of the ocean in which it was usual to hold a +ship’s course in sailing from England to the West Indies; +torrents of rain increased the thickness of the fog, and +fearful gusts of wind increased the danger, and the officers in +charge of the troops, thought it expedient to hold a consultation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +with the captain, as to what course was best to be +pursued in the present circumstances. The result of this +conference was a determination to keep on the course +deemed expedient by the pilot, but with as little sail set as +possible. For their further safety a watch was stationed +on the foredeck, with the company’s drums which they +beat from to time, and taking besides every other precaution +against their coming into collision with another vessel.</p> +<p>Among the officers, was a lieutenant named Stewart, a +young man of uncommon steadiness and bravery, and who +in his zeal for the comfort of the soldiers and the discipline +necessary to be observed for maintaining order in the ship, +had during the whole voyage, limited his own hours of +rest to the smallest possible number. One night, completely +worn out, he was about to betake himself to his +hammock, when the colonel requested in view of the +danger that every moment threatened, that he would +remain all night upon deck. Stewart rallied his remaining +strength, and conquering the importunate demands of +sleep, he took his station with ten men on the foredeck, +whilst the captain, with eight soldiers, kept watch at the +stern. The rain poured down in streams, squalls of wind +and angry waves caused the good ship to reel and turn +like one drunk, and to add to the horrors of their situation, +the night was so dark they could not see half the length +of the ship before them, and the fog enshrouded them in +its oppressive vapor. At ten o’clock, the watch on the +bowsprit called out to the lieutenant on the foredeck, and +directed his attention to a clear spot which he declared to +proceed from a light. Stewart at once proceeded to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +stern where he found the pilot seated on the rudder, apparently +watching the same appearance, but when he inquired +of him what it meant, he received a very short uncourteous +reply, together with a command from the captain who was +by, to go back to his post. He did so, and not long after +the man on the bowsprit once more called out, that notwithstanding +the thick fog he saw a light distinctly; Stewart +looked in the direction the sailor pointed out, and plainly +saw the glimmer of the friendly beacon, and knew it at +once as the signal placed to warn ships from approaching +too near the cliffs which lined the shore. Notwithstanding +his first repulse, he approached the pilot a second time; +but he met with a second repulse;––he was answered––“Sir, +I have been royal pilot on this coast for twenty-five +years, and I ought to know where I am.” The captain +too, in a sterner manner then before, commanded Stewart +to return to his watch. The lieutenant dared utter no +further remonstrance, but with a heart, heavy with sad +forebodings, busied himself to keep up the failing spirits +of his men who were as apprehensive of the threatened +danger as himself. And his sad foreboding was only too +soon fulfilled, for whilst the pilot imagined his vessel to be +sailing on the open sea, she was already among the rocks +that lay but a mile and an half from the coast, but yet +were sixty distant from the roadstead by which they were +to enter Halifax.</p> +<p>By midnight, Stewart felt himself so fairly exhausted +by cold and long watching, that he left the quarter deck, +and went below to snatch, if possible, a few minutes sleep. +He had been in his cabin only long enough to change his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +damp clothing for dry, when a fearful crash told him the +ship had struck upon the rocks. In a moment he was +back on the quarter deck. He found that a surging billow +had struck the hinder part of the ship, tore off part of the +sheathing, and carried away the watch-house in which two +women were sleeping––all efforts to rescue them were in +vain. Whilst the storm-tossed ocean raged and foamed +around the devoted ship, and night shrouded all objects in +her veil of impenetrable darkness, wild shrieks and cries +arose from the women and children, increasing the horrors +of the moment, and filled the stoutest hearted among the +mariners and soldiers with dread and despair. Among the +soldiers all discipline was at an end, and in many families +this hour of terrors had loosed the bonds of affection and +dependence, that until now had subsisted for years. The +men forsook their wives in the endeavour to save their own +lives; their wives and children were entreating the help +from strangers denied them by husbands and fathers, and an +officer who had heretofore been considered not only as a most +courageous soldier, but had showed himself a kind and +affectionate husband, now turned a deaf ear to the prayers +of his wife, and intent only on his own deliverance, climbed +up into the rigging of the mainmast, left her to her fate +below, whatever it might be. In the meantime, the captain +had ordered the ship to be examined, he found that +she had struck upon a hidden rock, and the waves beating +over the quarter deck had already filled all the rooms +with water. Several men had been washed overboard +as they rushed from their hammocks to the deck at the +moment of the ship striking, but the greater number had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +reached the foredeck where they crowded closely together, +awaiting in painful anxiety for what the morning would +bring.</p> +<p>At length the dappling clouds in the east proclaimed +the hour of dawning––the day struggled into existence, +and showed to the great joy of the shipwrecked, a rock +about fifty yards distant, which raising its dark head above +the foaming sea, promised present safety if it could be +reached, although the white waves broke furiously against it. +But how were they to reach it? The only hope––and it was +a weak one––was if they could succeed in passing a rope +from the ship to the rock, and fastening it there so firmly +that by its aid all might be able to leave the wreck. But +who was the adventurous one to carry it thither? The +most experienced officers on board, declared it impossible +for any one to brave those angry breakers successfully, and +the best and most resolute of the sailors, who, perhaps, +would have ventured encountering such a risk, had broken +into the spirit room and were now lying drunk, seeking +to drown the bitterness of death which they were so certain +of meeting, by steeping their senses in oblivion.</p> +<p>In the meantime, Lieutenant Stewart with folded arms +and thoughtful mien, stood on the foredeck, measuring +with his eyes the distance between the wreck and the rock. +After some minutes spent in deep consideration, he threw +off his coat, fastened a rope round his body, and plunged +into the boiling surf. The soldiers looked on in anxious +silence––for the bold swimmer had almost immediately +disappeared from their view––a wave had buried him deep +in its bosom––but again his head was seen above its foaming +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +crest, and with strong arms he parted the angry waters +as he swam boldly forward, like one determined to battle +with and conquer fate. His strength would not have +sufficed to enable him to accomplish his aim, had not a +huge wave borne him onward, and dashing powerfully +against the rocky ledge left him behind as it retreated. +Stunned by the violence with which he was thrown, he +lay for some moments deprived of all consciousness; +his senses at length returning, he rose hastily and mustering +all his strength, essayed to climb the steep and +rugged rock, the difficulty of the assent being increased by +the slippery sea-grass with which it was covered. After +many toilsome efforts he reached the top, where he succeeded +in fastening his rope. But as it was impossible for +him to be seen from this height by those on the wreck, on +account of the thick fog, he was obliged to descend to the +shore, where, as he was nearer the ship, he hoped he might +be visible, and thus relieve part of their anxiety. On the +side next the ship the breakers dashed so violently that he +dreaded making the attempt, and venturing on the other, +he fell from the steep and slippery path down into the sea.</p> +<p>Benumbed with cold, and sorely wounded by the sharp +edges of the rocks, he was at first scarcely able to move, +but still he managed to keep his head above the water, +and after an half hour spent in a vigorous struggle with +death, a rushing wave once more carried him to the shore, +where bruised and bleeding he lay on his back like one +dead. He felt like giving up the contest, but he saw the +sinking ship and his doomed companions––with great effort, +therefore, he raised himself, gave the appointed signal to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +show that he had succeeded in fastening the rope, and a gleam +of joy shot through his heart as he heard the loud cheers +with which the news was hailed on board.</p> +<p>In less than a minute, the only boat belonging to the +ship was let down, and manned with but one stout sailor. +Slipping along by the rope which Stewart had drawn he +guided his frail craft to the rock, to which he fastened a +stronger one, brought with him for that purpose: this being +done, he returned to the wreck in order to bring off the +passengers. It was determined to send away the women +and children first, and accordingly two grown females or a +mother with several children were bound together and sent +off, the little boat which was guided by two sailors being +too small to hold any more.</p> +<p>Stewart assured that the slippery surface of the rock +where he had stood when fastening the rope, would not +afford sufficient space for all on board, even to stand upon, +was half in despair, but just at the moment however, that +the boat containing the colonel’s wife, her two children, +and the surgeon of the regiment, pushed off from the ship, +the fog lifted and parting at the coast, showed another +rock of greater height and broader extent a few yards +distant from the one on which he stood. The boat almost +touched the one first reached––he gave the sailors a sign––it +was understood, and they rowed to the second rock +where the surf was much less dangerous, and the breakers +small in comparison with those that beat against the other. +A better landing was to be obtained here, and without the +loss of a single life or any untoward occurrence, the women +and children reached this place of safety if not of comfort +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +Whilst this was being done, they made a running noose to +slip along on the rope that Stewart had fastened to the rock +on which he now stood, which rope as we before have said +reached to the ship. By this contrivance the officers and +most of the soldiers attained the smaller rock, and in the +course of two or three hours all on board were safely +rescued. By a merciful Providence the ship groaning, +creaking, tottering, and gradually sinking, just kept above +the water until the last man was taken off; then a surging +wave dashed over her, and she was seen no more––a few +circling eddies alone showed the spot where she went +down.</p> +<p>When the men who, as we have said had landed on the +smaller rock had assembled, they found it incapable of +holding so many––all could not stand in the narrow space +its surface afforded, and too closely crowded, they could not +resist the pressure of the waves that sometimes broke over +it. The higher rock where the women and children were +landed showed that there was still room for many more of +the shipwrecked; the colonel, therefore, proposed that the +officers should be rowed thither in the boat, but to this the +soldiers would not listen. With death staring them in the +face, they declared all subordination was at an end––that +preference on account of rank and birth was not to be +thought of––all were now on an equality, life was as dear +to the meanest soldier as to the highest in command; no! +no preference should be given––it must be decided by lot, who +should go, and who remain. All efforts to still the angry +tumult that now arose among the excited troops was +in vain, and the little island whose rock-covered surface, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +lifted for ages above that boiling flood, where wave contended +with wave, and had never before been pressed by +the foot of man, now became a scene of strife and confusion.</p> +<p>In the midst of the crowd who could thus strive with +each other in the very presence of death, lay Stewart, +senseless and covered with the blood that flowed plentifully +from his wounds. All believed him to be dying, and only +a few cared to trouble themselves about the noble young +officer, to whose disinterested daring the whole crew owed +their lives. His strong constitution, however, soon triumphed +over his temporary exhaustion, and he awoke to +consciousness, just when the oaths and outcries of the +striving soldiers was at the loudest. Slowly and painfully +he arose on his stiffened limbs, and supported on the arm +of one of his own men from whom he learned the cause +of the tumult, he approached and commanded silence. +This in the presence of his superior officers was out of +place, but distinction was at an end, and beloved as he was +by all the soldiers, the command was obeyed at once. +“My friends,” he began, “death, inevitable death awaits us +all alike, both on the other rock and here where the angry +waves beat over us, if we do not soon obtain help. Our +only hope for deliverance is by means of the boat, through +which we may, perhaps, obtain it from the land, which +cannot be very distant. Let the officers and sailors then +go over to the other rock, where there is more room than +on this, and the surf being less violent and itself nearer to +the coast, they can better venture to seek the help, without +which we must all perish. We will remain here in peace +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +together, awaiting the issue whatever it be; I will not +leave you, but am ready to share every danger, and as I +was the first to spring into the foaming sea, to try what +could be done for the salvation of all, so I will be the very +last to leave this rock.”</p> +<p>His words were answered by a cheer; the true heroic +spirit which breathed from his words––the magnanimity +of his whole proceedings since the first moment of the +common danger, flashed upon the memories of these rude +men, and wrought an instant change. The soldiers calmed +and encouraged, no longer objected to the departure of the +officers and sailors for the other rock, and the boat at once +began to ply between. As it would not carry but two +persons at once, it took some time before the specified persons +had passed over. At the last voyage there was but +one to go. This officer as he took his place on the seat +beside the rowers, called out to Stewart to “come along, +for the flood was rapidly rising on the rock, and his staying +behind would do the soldiers no good.” The lieutenant +however refused the invitation, with the words that as he +had promised the soldiers to remain with them, he was +determined to do so, whether the issue was life or death.</p> +<p>So, while the officers with the pilot and sailors were borne +to a place of comparative safety, Stewart stood with his two +hundred soldiers upon that naked rock that gradually grew +less from the rising of the encroaching waters.</p> +<p>Not without good ground for apprehension, had the last +departing officer warned the lieutenant of the danger that +threatened from the advancing tide. The rock on which +two hundred human beings were now crowded, hoping to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +escape or gain a respite from death, was one which in nautical +phrase is called a sunken reef, that is only above +water at ebb tide, while at flood, except when swayed by +a sweeping north wind, the sea buries it in a depth of ten +or fifteen feet.</p> +<p>The pilot knew this well, and having made it known to +the colonel, this knowledge was the occasion of his heartless +proposition, that the officers should be saved, leaving +the soldiers to perish.</p> +<p>But when men deal treacherously with the unfortunate, +or seek to ruin the unsuspecting, it is then that a kind +Providence watches over them––it is then that the hand +of the Most High is stretched forth for their protection;––throughout +the whole of this day, the only wind that held +the flood tide in check, namely the north-east, swept over +the still angry ocean and restrained its perilous advance.</p> +<p>Soon after the ship went down, the sea became covered +with boxes and barrels, together with many other articles +of the stores on board which had been floated from the +hold; the confined air between the decks had caused an +explosion, and burst the vessel in every part. This was +providential, if those casks of provisions would only flock +toward the rock, they might be able to secure enough to +support them until help could be obtained either by a passing +vessel, or from the shore.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the still rising water had encroached +so far upon the rock that but one dry place was left; here +the soldiers clustered, standing close to one another, for the +confined space admitted but little movement. In order +to judge of the rapidity with which the tide was rising, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +Lieutenant Stewart ordered two large stones to be placed +on a rocky projection, whose surface at this time was just +even with the water. Leaving the spot and returning after +a time, they found them completely hidden. They then +placed two others on a spot somewhat higher, and turning +away, scarce daring to hope that they should see them +again. But what was their joy on returning, to find not +only the two last dry, but the first two entirely out of +the water; they were thus assured the tide had reached +its highest mark.</p> +<p>But now another trouble arose which threatened every +moment to increase the sufferings of the shipwrecked. As +the waves dashed over them for many hours, they had +swallowed a large quantity of sea water, this created a burning +thirst, that was increased by their clothing being +entirely saturated with salt water. Whilst thus suffering, +an object was seen floating on the surface of the water, +and approaching the shore, which promised help in this +moment of due necessity. One of the sergeants was the +first to remark it, and hastening to Stewart, remarked that +a cask was being washed by the waves to the edge of the +rock, and that he was sure it contained rum. The lieutenant, +who dreaded the effect of strong drink on the men +as the greatest possible evil, bade the sergeant to sink it as +soon as it reached the shore. The cask came nearer––a +huge wave lifted it high and dry upon the rock. The +sergeant could not obey Stewart’s order––the soldiers at +once clustered around it, and having been slightly broken +as it was dashed upon the rugged resting place, to their great +delight, discovered that it held––not rum, but pure sweet +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +water, and in such quantity that all could drink to their +satisfaction.</p> +<p>Thus delivered from dread of being washed away and +the torment of thirst, new hope and increased courage +sprang up in the breasts of the shipwrecked, and beginning +to think over how they might better their condition, their +first act was to prepare a comfortable place for their wounded +lieutenant, who seemed to be rapidly sinking from loss of +blood and the effect of his severe exertions. One corner +of the rock, the highest above the sea, presented a smoother +surface than the rest; they cleared the slippery sea-grass +from the spot, and wrapping a cloak round him, laid him +down. Two soldiers, one on the right hand, the other on +the left, lay down near to screen him from the cutting sea +breeze, some others lay across these, thus forming a pyramid +of bodies that secured to the wounded a shelter from +wind and rain. The rest of the soldiers threw themselves +on the rocky surface, whereon they could find a place, and +in a few moments were as sound asleep as if reposing in +the most luxurious chamber.</p> +<p>The day closed in, but the fog still continued; the rain +poured down in torrents on those half naked men, and the +piercing north-east wind made them shiver as it swept +over them in their thin and sea-soaked garments. At last +all desire for sleep was banished, and rising from their +uncomfortable lodging places, each one looked out into the +darksome night in hopes of discovering a delivering ship. +Sometimes the silence that brooded over the little island +was interrupted by the joyful cry of “a ship! a ship!” +but directly after, some foam-crested billow rising high +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +above the surrounding waves, showed what had caused +the delusion.</p> +<p>The sufferings of the unhappy men after this one short +alleviation again increased, the tide rose higher than before, +for the wind had now chopped round to the west, there +was no restraining influence from it as at first. The sea, +as if claiming the rock as part of his domain, advanced +higher and higher, until at last only one dry spot remained +upon which the soldiers clustered so closely, that those who +stood in the middle could scarcely breathe. All believed +that death was approaching––all hope of deliverance had +faded from each heart, and every one of the seemingly +doomed party who could control his thoughts in that +dreadful hour, summoned his last effort to be expended in +prayer.</p> +<p>As they stood there in silence with hearts darkened by +the utter extinction of hope, a red light was seen above +the rolling waves––its ruddy glow as it glanced upon the +white-capped billows caused those sunken hearts to beat +with renewed activity––they gazed far out upon the sea, +but no man spoke; in a moment more the form of a ship +was seen, dimly but certainly in the enveloping fog. The +loud and joyful huzza that burst from the shipwrecked +soldiers proved to those on board the vessel sent to their +rescue, that the rock was still unsubmerged, and that life +was there, and they returned the cheer with great good-will. +It appeared afterwards that some of the sailors had +attempted to reach the shore in the jolly boat; that they +encountered great toil and danger, but were at last so fortunate +as to come up with two fishing vessels. One of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +these had already taken the officers and women from the +larger rock and landed them on the coast; the other +turned about to look after the soldiers, although the captain +of the wrecked vessel declared it was folly to expect +to find any of them living, for he was convinced that the +“sunken reef” had long ere this been hidden beneath the +foaming waters.</p> +<p>For fear of the ship being injured by the rocks, they +could only approach within a certain distance, and with +only one small boat. Stewart called through a speaking +trumpet to the sailors, and inquired how many they could +take at one time in the boat. They answered, “twelve,” +at the same time recommending to the shipwrecked to +embark quietly, and not rush in such numbers as to peril +their own safety. Stewart, exhausted as he was, enforced +the necessity there was for this caution, and marshaling +his men as well as was possible in the narrow space, he +divided off the first twelve, and his command was obeyed +with promptness and without confusion. In the meantime, +the little boat had reached the rock, and the embarcation +began, and without the least disorder. The night +came on, but nineteen times the boat made its way through +the darkness, from the ship to the now nearly submerged +rock, still bearing its living freight in safety, and it was +only at the last voyage that they shipped the two last +soldiers, and the noble hearted, heroic Stewart, whose soul +was full of blissful feelings at the thought that by his +courage, obtained through confidence in God, he had saved +the lives of three hundred men.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +<a name='VOYAGE_TO_THE_EAST_INDIES' id='VOYAGE_TO_THE_EAST_INDIES'></a> +<h2>Voyage to the East Indies.</h2> +</div> +<p>Soon after embarking, and wearied by the exertions I +had been obliged to make for the last few days, I betook +myself to my cabin and to rest. When I again ascended +to the deck, I looked towards the shore we had left, but +nothing was to be seen, but a long gray stripe that lay like +a dim cloud along the distant horizon. It was the last +sight of my native land, and gradually its faint purple +outline faded until it was lost in the foam-crested waves. +On all sides of me was the wild waste of waters; as far as +the eye could reach, it rested upon moving masses like fields +of sea-green. Above us was the blue and vaulted heavens +that were now illumined with the burnished rays of an +August sun, that was even now dipping his broad disk into +the waves that formed the distant horizon.</p> +<p>All around was life and motion; ours had not been the +only ship that had taken advantage of a favorable wind to +put out from Cuxhaven to the open sea. Four or five +other ships were sailing along side, and as they spread +their snowy sails, on which the bright rays of the summer +sun was playing, they skimmed like white-winged sea-mews +over the dark green waters.</p> +<p>And now one of the pilot boats that lie here at anchor, +yet tossed year in and year out by the restless waves, sending +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +on board both, to the homeward and outward bound a +skilful guide, to steer the ship through the perilous shoals +and sand banks that lie on this coast, approached, to take +up the pilot that had steered us safely into the open sea. +He took charge of all our letters––from those written to +parent, friend, or lady love left behind, to the tender lines +penned by the least shipboy, taking a long farewell of the +mother who standing on the pier, waved her hand to her +child whose home was henceforward to be on the deep, +until long after we sailed. The pilot thrust them all into +his great leathern bag, held out his sea-hardened hand to +bid each one farewell and gave us his sailor-like greeting: +“Farewell, and a lucky voyage to you.” He jumped into +the boat, four lusty rowers sat on the benches, and it flew +over the glancing waters with the speed of a bird until it +reached the one-sailed craft he called his pilot ship. This +was our final adieu to the homes we had left, for with the +departure of the pilot from on board, the last link that +unites the sailor to his native land is broken, and it is then +the traveller feels how really every rolling wave increases +the distance between him and the fireside joys he has left +behind.</p> +<p>Light winds soon drove us into the English channel, +where we saw the chalk cliffs of Dover shimmering in the +bright sunshine on one side––the coast of France like a +soft blue cloud dipping into the sea on the other. We +approached so near to the British shore, that we could +distinguish the buildings and light-houses plainly. Near to +Dover, and on a rocky precipice, stands an old fortress of the +middle ages, looking out threateningly with bristling canon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +on the town and over the sea that breaks and murmurs at +its rocky base.</p> +<p>As it became dark, numerous beacon lights blazed from +the watch-towers, some speedily vanishing, others twinkling +and glancing like meteors that beguile the wanderer from +his way, but many with clear and steady ray, shone brightly +over the face of the deep and guided the sailor on his +adventurous course. The first were the so-called fire +drakes, covered partly by metallic plates which turn, and +thus is caused the appearing and vanishing of the light so +speedily, the latter is the steady beacon of the light-house, +which distinguishable from all others by its brilliancy and +the color of its flame, enables the seaman to direct his craft +safely through the channel. Hundreds of other lights +were glancing everywhere, like the fire flies of the tropics +upon the face of night, those were the burning lanterns +carried at the prow of the steamboats, warning each other +of approaching too near, and giving the same intelligence +to ships.</p> +<p>On the following morning we found ourselves in the +neighbourhood of the Isle of Wight, and vainly looked out +for some compassionate fisher boat, that for a flask of +brandy or some salted fish, would carry our last letters to +some port, from whence they might be forwarded to our +homes. A few days later, and we lost sight of the English +coast; and with it the last land in Europe faded from our +eyes. We found ourselves on the open sea, and with lightly +swelling sails, steering for the Cape de Verd Islands. Of +the many vessels which we hailed or passed in the British +channel, not one was to be seen; here every ship held +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +silently on her own monotonous way, without troubling +herself about the fate of another; and here instead of the +life and bustle to be met with on a coasting voyage, nothing +was to be seen, but the dark blue waves of the broad +Atlantic and the bright resplendent sky.</p> +<p>To enjoy a sea-voyage one must have entirely overcome +the severe ordeal of sea-sickness, and then with the +high health that generally follows the departure of this +disagreeable visitant, life on the ocean is not without a +beauty and variety of its own. In a fortnight one becomes +sufficiently versed in the laws of equilibrium to maintain +his place in his hammock from a sudden lurching of the +ship in a squall or night of tempest, or so skilfully to balance +himself and his plate at table, that neither shall be +thrown to the right or left. By degrees, too, one becomes +accustomed to the slovenliness of the cabin servants, and +the dusky appearance of stained and soiled table cloths, +and at last even ceases to miss the newspapers and the +absence of cream in his coffee.</p> +<p>During the first part of our voyage we had most beautiful +weather; the deep blue sea upon which the foam-crested +waves chased each other as if at play, and the +bright heavens where thin and transparent clouds were +floating like veils of gossamer, filled the heart with gladness +and disposed it to profitable musings. Light winds +filled the sails that swelled beautifully on their masts and +drove the ship, that under a cloud of white canvass looked +like a stately queen, onward. Sometimes she would lie +motionless on the waves for a time, then urged by the +breeze she would glide forth like a capricious beauty, cutting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +the water at the rate of more than four miles an +hour. So gentle was the motion, that in the cabin one +could scarce hear the murmur of the waves as the ship +kissed them with her bowsprit, or raised a track of foam +as she divided them with her sharp keel or directing rudder.</p> +<p>It may seem strange, but it is nevertheless true, that on +the land, the Sabbath never speaks to man with such solemn +voice as it does in beautiful weather on the deep blue +sea. Then it seems as if wind and wave and sun and sky +were all holding sacred festival, and Nature, such as she +appears on that wide and wonderful expanse, invited man, +the favored creature, to worship with her in her grand and +sacred temple. On week days, with the perpetual industry +usual on board a ship, the bustling of the sailors +as they pursue their several avocations, the call of the +boatswain, the noise of the carpenters’ hammer that cannot +be excluded from the cabin, contrasts vividly with the +calm brought by the solemn stillness of the Sabbath,––its +influence is visible on all. No tar-bucket is seen on deck, +no paint-pot stands in the way, the sailor intermits his +weekly task of mending the sails, and the ropes that are +to be repaired are laid aside. The deck is scoured white +and smooth with sand; everything is clean, even the +cabin-boy and the table-cloth, two articles that on weekdays +seem to hold themselves privileged to be dirty.</p> +<p>The sailors indeed, that is only some of them, take +advantage of the time bestowed by the Sabbath, to mend +their jackets and stockings, or patch up old boots and shoes; +others lie stretched out on the deck with a book in their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +hands or a cigar in their mouths, murmuring something to +which the waves are the only listeners; others are down +in the forecastle looking over their chests and coffers, the +sight of their humble effects, or perhaps some cherished +keepsake, recalling thoughts of loved ones at home. But +in whatever business engaged, the influence of the Sabbath +is seen on all, for there is no countenance but speaks the +calm and quiet content, which this blessed day, so wisely +ordered as a respite from toil and care, brings to all, whether +on land or sea.</p> +<p>We were out four weeks without having seen anything +but sky and water, when one day we saw the rugged crest +of a high mountain rising above a pile of thick gray clouds. +It was the high hill of the island of St. Anthony, the most +westerly of the Cape de Verd group. Little by little the +low-lying clouds ascend like a drawn up curtain, and the +whole island lay spread out, a living panorama, to our +view. But alas! we passengers were not permitted to +leave the ship, and as soon as we had taken in provisions +and water, the anchor was lifted and we held on our way +towards the south.</p> +<p>As in all lands lying in the warm latitudes, the works +of nature are found in greater and more vigorous beauty +than beneath our colder and melancholy skies, so also do +the tropical seas present appearances never seen in the +northern waters. If a storm arises, the whole creation +seems to be dissolving. No words can be found adequate +to describe the scene, or in any measure to convey the +frightful experience the sailor has to undergo. But on the +other hand, in clear and calm weather, the tropical sea +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +presents an aspect of gorgeousness and grandeur, with +which the loveliest natural scenery of a northern climate +cannot compare. Here the rising of the sun from his bed +of waves, presents a spectacle that fills the heart with +reverence and awe at the same time that it swells with rapture +of the purest kind. The thick clouds that rested like a +veil of darkness upon the illimitable surface of the sea, +at the coming of the god of day, disperse in their vapors. +The twinkling stars grow paler as he approaches, the dark +gray color of the water changes to a cheerful blue, and +streaks of clear purple are seen in the east, increasing each +moment to a varied hue, and as the horizon brightens, +darkness flies far from the bosom of the waters. Suddenly +rays of glorious light break forth from heaven and pour +their golden glory on the sea, the sun rises in his glowing +strength above the bank of purple clouds, and as they disperse +themselves over the azure firmament, various are the +shapes, whether beautiful or grotesque, that they assume. +One can imagine he sees towns, hills, castles with tall +towers, ships, and a thousand other objects in their flitting +shapes, but yet scarcely formed ere they lose their evanescent +beauty both of form and color, as the sun mounts +above the horizon.</p> +<p>The animal kingdom of the tropical ocean is extraordinarily +rich and varied. The sea birds are distinguished +by their size, and beauty of plumage, and greatly surpass +those that belong to the north. Thousands of flying fish +spring above the surface, in order to escape some lurking +enemy below, only to find their death on the deck of the +ship, but oftener to fall an easy prey to some rapacious +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +bird. Nothing can equal the gay colors of the Bonito and +Dorado, a smaller kind of ravenous fish peculiar to the +Southern seas, and which are always found in close pursuit +of their neighbors, the flying fish. With what enchantment +does the astonished spectator fasten his gaze upon +the lightly moving waters. His eye penetrates the depths +that lie far below the crystal surface, and is lost in wonder +at beholding the myriads of living creatures with which +the mighty ocean teems! Not a moment but what presents +some new and interesting subject for inquiry or contemplation, +thus breaking in pleasantly on the otherwise +monotonous current of sea life.</p> +<p>So the day passes over, full of interest, if man will only +take the trouble to secure it; and the sun that here regularly +measures his diurnal course in twelve hours, is +declining to his setting. Again the attendant clouds, that +at times assume the appearance of burning volcanoes, +gather around him, as though to curtain him as he sinks +to rest, but as his glancing rays reflected on the smooth +water are refracted in gushing vapors, thousands of fireballs +seemed to rise as from a crater, and streams of burning +lava to flow into the ocean. At length the sun is +hidden beneath the waves; for a few minutes the western +horizon is like a sea of glowing purple, and then night +comes, shrouding all in her darksome veil. But there is +no gloom; thousands of stars far brighter than those of +northern lands glitter in the firmament, and are mirrored +in the chrystal waters; fiery meteors dart through the +heavens, and the whole surface of the ocean is covered +with luminous insects.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span></div> +<p>Pleasant as is life on shipboard, even in a slow voyage, +when with sufficient wind, which is mostly the case in this +latitude, to keep the vessel moving, bringing refreshing +coolness to the sailor, and spreading life and healthful +motion over the sea; not less uncomfortable is the condition +of a vessel when becalmed, as is not seldom the case +for many weeks together. With heavy heart the mariner +sees the breeze that so lately rippled the waves, gradually +die away, and leave the bosom of the ocean calm as a +slumbering lake. The sails hang flapping from the yards, +the sea is motionless, presenting a dull expanse of water +as far as the eye can reach, and no zephyrs float through +the atmosphere to give relief from the burning rays of the +sun. The ship lies like a log on the water, the discontent +and murmurs of the crew increase every day, and in vain +do they try to drive the tedium away by practising all +sorts of diversion. But the night brings some relief, not +only in her calm beauty, but cooling dews refresh the +heated atmosphere, and the moon and stars shine forth in +unsurpassable glory in the cloudless heavens.</p> +<p>On the first of October, we passed the equator. Neptune, +as is his custom with all ships, honored us with a +visit. With the early twilight, we heard a deep bass voice +that seemed to rise up out of the waves, hail the ship in +true nautical style. The helmsman answered through his +speaking trumpet, to the usual questions of where we were +bound, and from whence we had sailed. Two of the ship +boys were listening with all their ears, and peering curiously +but vainly over the bulwarks in order to get a sight of old +Neptune. At length the voice from the bowsprit made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +itself more audible, and in the following manner. “I see +that there are a few on board that have never before been +in my territory, and must submit to the regulations I +demand, as it becomes them to do.” As the last words +were uttered a gigantic figure, his head covered with a +periwig of knotted sea-grass, with a false nose, and his face +painted in various colors, now ascended the ship’s side, +and clambered on deck. He carried a speaking trumpet +of three feet long in his right hand, under his left arm was +a few thick books, and from the leg of his boot a huge +wooden compass protruded itself. A masculine woman in +whose soot-begrimed lineaments I, with some trouble, recognized +those of our boatswain, personating Amphitrite, +followed the god of the sea, carrying a long lubberly boy +in her arms, wrapped up in an old sail. They were introduced +to us by Neptune as his wife and son. Having +advanced to the after deck, where the sailors were assembled, +he opened one of his colossal books and spread an +old sea chart out upon the deck. “Hallo, helmsman,” +he inquired, “what is your latitude and longitude?” The +answer being given, he grumbled something as he pulled +his huge compass from his boot, and having carefully +measured his old chart, at last struck a hole in it, as he +exclaimed, “Here you are––all right––what course are +you steering?” “South, south-east!” “You must go four +degrees to westward––you will have a better wind,” growled +Neptune, and therewith he doubled up the chart, and stuck +the compass in his boot again. “I must see after my new +circumnavigators,” he added in the same gruff tone as he +turned his eyes on the two before-mentioned boys and one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +old sailor who, although he had followed the sea for twelve +years, had never, until now, crossed the equator; “we +must make a nearer acquaintance.”</p> +<p>The name, birth, and age of each being inquired into, +and duly registered in one of the large books, each one +after having his eyes blindfolded, was led by the sailors to +the forecastle and seated on a plank, under which was +placed a large tub of water. The next operation was to +shave them, and accordingly their faces were smeared over +with a horrible mixture of shoemaker’s wax, train oil and +soot, most ungently laid on with a coarse painter’s brush. +Neptune then performed the office of barber himself, taking +a long piece of iron which had once served as the hoop +of a tun, he scraped their chins in the most unmerciful +manner.</p> +<p>No sooner was this operation ended, then they pulled +away the props of the plank on which the three tyros were +seated, so that they fell over head and ears in the tub of +water below, and thus received what the sailors call a +“genuine Neptune’s baptism.” After all these ceremonies +he turned as if to go, but the young sea-god at this moment +set up a most fearful outcry––he bawled as loud and lustily +as any mortal. “Just listen,” said Neptune; “now I cannot +go back to my cave in peace, but that cub will roar +and bellow the whole night, so as to disturb all the waves +below,––nothing even quiets him but a stiff glass of grog, +for he likes that far better than sea water.”</p> +<p>The captain understood the hint; he laughed and nodded +to the steward. Young Neptune continued his lamentation +nearly a quarter of an hour; I saw one of the cabin +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +servants carrying a smoking bowl of punch to the foredeck, +and the joyful shouts and loud hurrah that attested +how welcome was its reception, reached us who were in +the cabin below.</p> +<p>On the following day as the ship, driven by a light +wind, moved lazily through the waters, we observed two +large sharks following in her wake. The sailors were at +great pains to take them, but greatly to the vexation of +themselves and the passengers who entered quite as eagerly +into this sport as themselves, the cunning fish disdained +the bait and swam slowly away. To my enquiries of why +they had not seized upon the meat thrown out as lure, +sharks having always been represented as voracious and +greedy, one of the passengers answered,</p> +<p>“It all depends on whether or not they are hungry. In +some soundings, where fish abound, I have seen sharks by +the hundred, which not only refused the bait, but did not +injure the men who went into the water to bathe or accidentally +fell overboard. Nevertheless, like yourself, I +wonder that these creatures did not bite, for the sharks of +the Atlantic are considered particularly greedy.”</p> +<p>“I can tell ye,” said the boatswain, who was standing +close by, “why they did not take hold of the bait. It is +because we are just in the track of the Brazilian slave +ships; they throw many of the niggers overboard, for many +die, and there’s no doubt but the creatures find richer +morsels than a bit of salt beef.”</p> +<p>“Are there not several species of sharks?” I inquired of +a passenger who seemed well acquainted with natural +history in all its variety.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span></div> +<p>“A great many,” he answered, “and the largest and +most rapacious is the white shark, to which class those +that have just left us belong. He moves through the +Atlantic as if it was his own realm, but is seldom seen +beyond the solstitial point, preferring the latitude within +the tropics; he is also found in the Mediterranean sea, and +also in the gulf of Lyons, where he is peculiarly savage. +The blue shark, seen in the English channel, is seldom +dangerous; others, larger but less harmless, infest the +northern seas, and are often pursued by the whalers merely +for sport. Then there is the spotted or tiger shark, not +very large but exceedingly rapacious; the hammer shark, +which derives its name from the peculiar shape of its head, +and the ground shark, which is the most to be dreaded of +any, since he lies deep down in the water, and rising suddenly, +seizes his prey without any one suspecting his +vicinity.”</p> +<p>“Suppose a man is so unfortunate as to fall overboard, +and a shark is in the neighborhood,” said I, “what can he +do to save himself? Is there no hope of escaping from his +dreadful jaws?”</p> +<p>“The best means I have seen tried,” he replied, “and +with good effect is, if a man is a good swimmer, to throw +himself on his back, splash the water with his feet, and +shout with all his strength. The shark is a great coward +and easily frightened––noise will always drive him off. +When I was on a voyage to the West Indies, two or three +years ago, I had a Newfoundland dog with me, who was +accustomed to spring into the water from any height, and +after anything. I was greatly attached to the animal, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +you may imagine my alarm as, one day we were lying +becalmed off the West India islands, I saw him jump down +and with, loud barkings, as if delighted with the sport, swim +after a large shark that was playing around the ship. I +expected nothing else but to see him devoured in an +instant, but to my astonishment the monster turned and +swam vigorously, evidently frightened by the barking of +the dog who continued to follow him, until a boat was let +down and himself brought back by the sailors.</p> +<p>“A singular method,” continued my learned fellow-passenger, +“is practised by the divers who collect pearls on +the coast of Ceylon. They often let themselves down an +hundred feet in order to reach the mud banks where the +pearl oysters are to be found, and whilst they are filling +their baskets they must watch carefully on all sides lest a +shark fall upon them. If they see one near, they stir up +the mud, and then while the enemy is blinded by the turbid +water they rise as quickly as possible to the surface. Many +escape in this manner, but many also fall victims. Fair +ladies as they adorn their persons with these costly ornaments +think little of the suffering by which they are +obtained,––the arduous adventurous life, or of the unfortunates +who are annually swallowed by those savages of the +deep. When one considers how often those poor Indians +must dive to the bottom, to say nothing of the loss of life, +before a string of pearls can be obtained, we may confidently +assert that every necklace has been purchased by +at least the life of one human being.”</p> +<p>Scudding now before a fresher wind, we steered towards +the south and soon found ourselves in a colder climate. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +The flying fish played lively as ever around the ship, and +one night so many fell on deck as to furnish an excellent +mess for breakfast. Black dolphins, the greatest enemy +of their flying neighbors, tumbled playfully about in the +rippling water, and at times encircled the ship in great +numbers. Their motion is swift and vigorous,––so much +so that it is scarcely possible to strike them with a harpoon.</p> +<p>On the 20th of October we reached the latitude of the +Cape of Good Hope. Flocks of sea birds fluttered around +our masts, for this colder region is the home of the beautiful +sea dove, the great white albatross and an innumerable +multitude of smaller kinds, that on the approach of stormy +weather seem to rise, as by the stroke of a magician’s wand, +from the sea. One of the few changes one meets with on +a voyage to Africa is angling for birds, for they are as +easily taken as the finny tribe, by baiting a fish-hook with +a piece of fat meat, and especially so in those rough seas, +upon whose surface little to nourish can be found, they +seize greedily upon the hook, which fastens itself readily +in their crooked bills. All these sea birds are clothed with +a coat of feathers so thick and elastic that except in one or +two places they are invulnerable to a bullet.</p> +<p>The fable of the Flying Dutchman is well known––the +Demon ship is still supposed to traverse his unwearied but +unprofitable course in the neighborhood of the Cape. The +weather is stormy almost throughout the year, the skies ever +dark and cloudy, but while other ships, scarcely able to keep +themselves steadily afloat, dare show but one or two storm +sails, the phantom ship is scudding before the gale under a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +full press of canvass. Our captain assured us with an +expression of countenance which showed that he himself +believed what he asserted, that he had once seen the Dutchman +under crowded sail in Table Bay hardly two English +miles distant; that he had altered his course in order to +come up with him, but all at once he vanished, and +although he steered a long time in the same direction, he +found no trace of him. The thing easily explains itself +when one considers that the sky is always dark and foggy, +the sea rough and tempestuous, and not seldom sudden +storms of hail and snow prevent the voyager from seeing +a quarter of a mile before him; how easy then to lose +sight of a vessel in an instant.</p> +<p>Much more dangerous than the Flying Dutchman are the +floating bodies of ice, found also in these latitudes; and +which often cause great damage to ships, for owing to the +thickness of the atmosphere they are not seen, until they +are driven against them. A few years ago an English +frigate in doubling the Cape, ran foul of an iceberg with +such force that she sprung a leak, and broke the rudder in +splinters. Luckily a puff of wind that streamed from a +cleft in the ice and threw back the sails, freed the ship +from her perilous condition since another stroke upon the +iceberg would have dashed her to pieces.</p> +<p>There is no climate where gurnets are found in such +numbers as in the neighborhood of the Cape. In stormy +or cloudy nights the sparkle of these beautiful sea-fish is +the brightest. The troubled waves as they dash their +foam-crested waters against the ship, glitter as though +thousands of brilliant stars were seen among them, and as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +the rushing keel divides them in her course, the effect is +indescribable, and recalls to the mind of the spectator tales +of fairies and sea-nymphs that come up from their ocean +caves to gaze with bright and curious eyes on the daring +mortals that invade their realm.</p> +<p>After doubling the Cape, we had sailed a whole week +with a steady and favorable wind towards the Isle of Bourbon, +when on one clear day whilst all were assembled on +the deck, we were startled by a cannon shot fired at no +great distance, and came booming over the waters like the +voice of thunder. The captain was hastily summoned +from his cabin, but ere he made his appearance a second +report broke upon the deep stillness that succeeded the +first. At the same moment a sailor on the lookout called +out from above, that he “saw a light over the bows of the +ship, but could not make out what it was.” “Is it a ship,” +inquired the captain, as he began hastily to ascend the +mainmast. “No, sir!” was the answer, “the light is too +large to come from a ship’s lantern, and it cannot be the +Isle of Bourbon.” “It must be a vessel on fire,” exclaimed +the captain, as many cannon shots broke upon the silent +air, “Bourbon lies much farther to the north. Aloft there! +crowd on sail––in order to carry help to those unfortunates +before it is too late!”</p> +<p>Whilst the sailors were busy in executing the captain’s +orders, he bade the gunners fire the cannon so that the crew +of the burning ship might know that help was near. In +half an hour from the first alarm, we could plainly discern +the blazing vessel with the naked eye, and soon after distinguished +the whirling columns of flame as they towered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +above the masts. The night, too, had come on, and the +impression made by the lurid light that shone far over the +quiet waters, and the booming sound of cannon that from +time to time burst on its stillness, was one too awful to be +soon forgotten. “If we only do not reach them too late!” +cried one of the passengers who, like the sailors, never even +turned their eyes away from the burning spectacle. “I +hope the crew have taken to their boats before this,” said +the captain, who with his nightglass to his eye was steadfastly +regarding the unfortunate ship.</p> +<p>The breeze springing up more freshly, we sailed with +increased speed towards the distressed vessel, the forepart +of which was now one sheet of flame; we saw the angry +fiery element enveloping the foremast from top to bottom +as in a garment, now sweep over to the mainmast, the +sails of which were instantly on fire. How far the conflagration +had proceeded inside we could not ascertain; but +we were very certain the crew had left her and taken to +the boats, for our continued cannon shots were answered by +muskets fired from the barge and jolly boat.</p> +<p>As we approached carefully so as to avoid danger to ourselves +from the collision with the burning ship, a wild cry +arose from the foredeck of the latter––piercing yet mournful, +and while pained and astonished we looked about to +discover what it meant, a spectacle singular as fearful met +our eyes. The ship had a number of animals on board +which were being taken to England for a menagerie. In +their haste to leave, the crew had either forgotten to unloose +them, or feared that by liberating them, they might +meet in their rage a worse enemy than even the fire. In +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +wild and unavailing efforts, they dashed furiously against +the iron bars that inclosed them, and their fearful cries +almost drowned the hissing and crackling sound of the +flames. At length they reached the mizzenmast, and the +falling yards loosened a plank or two of one of the cages––a +noble lion with flowing mane and glaring eyes burst forth +and sprung overboard. At the same instant an elephant +had freed himself from the rope which fettered his hind +legs. Flourishing his long proboscis he rushed into the +midst of the fire, but soon driven back by the heat he +retreated to a portion of the foredeck which had not yet +ignited, and his death-cry echoed loud and mournfully over +the dusky ocean.</p> +<p>The falling of the mainmast ended the sad catastrophe. +The cages of the other animals had taken fire, and their +wild occupants bursting through the half burned planks, +showed their dark forms here and there on the deck, and +maddened with pain, shrieked aloud in agony as they +plunged into the sea. The elephant drew himself up as +for a last effort, and was about to spring overboard, as one +bright, blinding glare shot athwart our eyes, and the next +moment, vessel, animals, all had vanished as if by magic. +The explosion that followed instantly––the sparkling brands +that were hurled in all directions, explained that the flames +had reached the magazine and thus blown up the luckless +ship.</p> +<p>By this time, we had come up close to the boats, when +a strange sound of snorting and moaning caused us to turn +our eyes once more to the spot where the ship disappeared. +We saw the huge form of the lion contending with the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +waves; attracted by the voices of men he was making +every effort to reach the jolly boat. With consternation, +the crew of the frail craft observed the advance of this +dangerous messmate, for if he laid but one of his paws upon +the side, overladen as she was already, she must inevitably +sink by the increased weight. The sailors plied their oars +with renewed force––the little boat shot over the waters +like an arrow, and the poor animal was left far behind. +For a long time, panting and toiling, he continued the pursuit, +battling vigorously with wind and waves; but at last +his strokes grew weaker, his breathing shorter, and we saw +him finally yield quietly to the waves that settled over +him even as they had closed above the devoted ship.</p> +<p>The captain now called the sailors, who silent and +motionless were standing about, regarding the singular and +impressive spectacle, to their several duties. The sails +were taken in, ropes were thrown to the boats, and such a +number of dark figures clambered up the deck that we +began to be uneasy, and rather doubtful of the character +of the rescued. We soon, however, became convinced that +we had to do with honorable people, and who, singular as +they looked to us in their oriental garb, took all possible +pains to show their gratitude for our timely succor. From +the few Europeans on board, we learned that the ship was +from Sumatra bound to London; we therefore landed +them on the Isle of Bourbon whose port we entered two +days after.</p> +<p>With the cold climate that we exchanged for a warmer +as we again approached the equator, we lost sight of the +countless flocks of sea-birds that so long had accompanied +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +us. It is something remarkable that they only inhabit the +colder latitudes, for in a warmer climate it is a rare thing +to find them. Sometimes a few weary land-birds that have +strayed from their homeward way, skim over the ocean, +or rest upon the masts; how they maintain themselves on +the wing cannot be conjectured, but certain it is, they have +been seen on the trackless ocean, when no point of land was +within hundreds of miles.</p> +<p>On the first day of December, a long range of blue hills +rose on the far horizon as if springing from the sea; we +soon found it to be the coast of Sumatra. Contrary winds +kept us beating about and prevented our entering the straits +of Sunda, but we found ourselves surrounded by a number +of ships from all nations sharing a like fate, and waiting +with the same impatience for a favoring wind to blow them +into Sunda Roads or to their different destinations. At last +the wished for breeze sprung up, the sails swelled, and our +gallant ship sailed proudly through the straits. On all +sides were seen chains of blue hills and richly wooded +islands rising out of the water; the long coast of Java and +Sumatra covered with vegetation and groups of beautiful +trees, and the thousand little green islets that studded the +straits like emeralds cast at random, presented a lively +picture that contrasted pleasantly with the late monotony +we had endured. Huge trunks of pistangs and tops of +cocoanut trees, broken off by the wind were driven about +in all directions, and as they met us, awakened almost as +much apprehension as would a reef of rocks. We passed +many islands uninhabited, and with their impervious +forests still remaining in primitive wildness, clothed in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +beauty of a perpetual verdure unknown in northern regions, +and soon came in sight of the white houses of the island of +Java, which surrounded with lofty trees and blooming gardens, +proclaimed themselves the dwellings of Europeans. +From many eminences the Dutch flag was seen floating, and +as we sailed along, a Java village looked out from among +the tall cocoanut trees; little barks shot out from the +shore and steered towards our ship, and one European boat +manned with eight Javanese rowers, and bearing the flag +of Holland at her stern reached us first.</p> +<p>A police officer, corpulent and full of importance, now +came on board and handed the captain a sheet of paper on +which he was desired to inscribe the name and destination +of the vessel, from what port she had sailed, what burthen +she carried, and other notices of the same kind.</p> +<p>This finished, the Javanese barks rowed swiftly along +side; these small crafts are generally made of the trunk of +a tree, neatly hollowed out; they are filled with fruit, fowls, +eggs, apes, parrots, shells, and such like wares, with which +the owner drives a profitable trade with the ships. He +sits on a little bench in the midst of his merchandize with +a short, broad oar in either hand; with this he propels his +fragile vessel; which is often not more than an inch or two +above the water’s edge. After we had exchanged our pure +Spanish piastres, which is the coin they most prefer, for +such things as we needed, the traffic with the sailors commenced.</p> +<p>Such old jackets, woolen shirts, caps and whatever other +articles of clothing they could spare were bartered for eggs, +cocoanuts, pine apples and other eatables. This accounts +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +for the singular garb of the Javanese boatmen,––striped +shirts, woolen caps and duck trowsers are strangely mingled +with portions of the oriental dress, and a sailor’s +jacket with large brass buttons is considered quite ornamental. +Next to clothing they prefer knives, scissors and +articles of iron ware. In general the Javanese are pretty +good judges of the value of these articles, and mostly contrive +to make a more profitable traffic from their fruit and +poultry than the European sailor with his stock of old +clothes. In the evening it is often the case at this time +of year that constant lightnings play round the horizon, +illumining the picturesque shores of Java and Sumatra. +Impenetrable darkness shrouds both earth and sea, and +only by the light of the electric flash is the mariner shown +how to keep off land, and with shortened sail holds on his +way. On board of all vessels, on binnacle, masts and +spars are hung lighted lanterns in order to avoid collision +with each other, for in the thick darkness that envelopes +all around, no object can be discerned at a distance of +three yards. In the meantime the wind pipes shrilly +through the shrouds, and lashes the waves into foam white +as snow-wreaths. After a few hours all again is still, no +breeze disturbs the ocean, the sails flap lazily against the +mast, the waves subside to a glassy smoothness, and the +rain gradually ceases as the dawn approaches. So pass +the nights in this climate during the rainy season.</p> +<p>In the morning we found ourselves surrounded with a +great number of vessels, the white sails of European ships +covered the sea on all sides, contrasting strongly with the +small coasters made of plaited hemp that darted gaily over +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +the blue waves, and fishing boats of all sorts and sizes were +crossing our path or following in our wake. We were +seemingly enclosed in a nest of small islands, and it was a +mystery to conceive how it would be possible to find our +way out of such a labyrinth. Only by the high volcanic +hills, with their crowns of light smoke were we able to +recognize the mainland of Java, whilst the flowery coast +of Sumatra faded gradually from our view, until at length +it was lost on the distant horizon. But the experienced +eye of our captain discerned clearly the way that lay +before us; for many years he had guided his ship in safety +through these dangerous seas, and attentive to his duty +and his chart, he disentangled her from among this knot of +islands and we found ourselves once more in a free offing. +Soon the Roads of Batavia were in sight, where more than +fifty large ships and an incredible number of smaller ones +were lying at anchor. The French, Dutch, Austrian and +English flags greeted our arrival, one ship after another welcomed +us to the roads with their thundering cannon, which +was regularly answered by the guard ship constantly stationed +here. At last our anchor was let down and fell +rattling into the deep. But, different from Sumatra and +the coast of Java we had left, nothing was to be seen at +Batavia but a flat, low beach overgrown with bushes, +behind which appeared some groups of green trees, and in +the far distance rose a chain of blue hills from the summits +of which clouds of smoke were issuing, that told of the +many volcanic fires that are constantly burning in the +Island of Java.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +<a name='HOMESICKNESS_OF_A_SIBERIAN' id='HOMESICKNESS_OF_A_SIBERIAN'></a> +<h2>Home-Sickness of a Siberian.</h2> +</div> +<p>Every Russian officer is permitted to choose their servants +from among the soldiers, the number varying +according to the rank; the under lieutenants having the +right to one, the captains can demand three, and the field +marshal twenty-four. These men, although freed from +military duty, are still numbered as belonging to their +several regiments, which they are obliged to enter, whenever +their master pleases. They are better fed and clothed +than their comrades, and upon the whole, live an easier +and pleasanter life. Among these soldier-servants, I +became acquainted with one, a Siberian, whose regiment +was quartered in a small town in the government of Pultowa. +He was a dragoon and servant to the Adjutant of +the division, with whom I spent many hours in playing +chess, and this man waited on us, bringing us tea, or whatever +other refreshments we needed.</p> +<p>Fulfilling all his duties to his master not only with +ability, but the greatest fidelity, he was treated with more +friendship, and allowed indulgences denied to others of his +class, the humane officer whom it was his lot to serve, +knowing how to appreciate his faithfulness, and wishing +to remove the deep melancholy under which he constantly +labored.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span></div> +<p>This he was not able to do––for it was caused by home-sickness. +He pined for his rude home in Siberia––for the +ice-fields, the marshy meadows, and the barren steppes of +his fatherland––he saw no beauty in the summer plains +of the South, no charm in the cultivated fields, nor found +pleasure in the society into which he was thrown. His +sadness increased every day––he lost his flesh, and at +length became incapable of effort, reduced to the borders +of the grave.</p> +<p>In vain did his kind master endeavor to soothe him with +comforting words––as vain the attempt of the garrison +surgeon to cure him with varied prescriptions. His malady +grew in proportion with their efforts to heal it, until it took +the form of monomania. He saw no means by which he +could accomplish his return to his beloved country so as to +be able to remain there in safety,––did he leave his kind +master and fly, it would be of no avail, for the same power +that had at first compelled his forced service, would exact +it anew and with greater vigor. He, therefore, took the +desperate resolution to get himself banished. This he +could not do except he committed the crime of murder, +and an opportunity soon offered itself.<a name='FNanchor_0001' id='FNanchor_0001'></a><a href='#Footnote_0001' class='fnanchor'>[A]</a> The victim was +a young girl, a servant in the same house with himself. +She was of a taunting, irritating disposition, and disputes +were constantly occurring between them––he resolved she +should be the sacrifice to his home-sickness, and accordingly +in the next provocation he received from her, he gave her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +a blow which killed her. He was imprisoned, tried by +military law, and his judges not knowing him to be a +Siberian, and never guessing his motive for the deed which +he acknowledged he had committed, passed sentence of +banishment for life to Siberia.</p> +<p>But this decree was only to be fulfilled after a preliminary +punishment had been inflicted––a punishment of +which he had not thought, and which embittered, if it +did not destroy, the hope of seeing his fatherland once +more.</p> +<p>Before he commenced his journey into banishment, he +was to receive seventy strokes of the knout, and the chances +were that he would die under the operation, few constitutions +being able to endure its severity. But he did survive +it, and the fortitude with which he bore it awoke the +admiration of all. I was obliged to be one of the spectators +of the execution of this bloody sentence, so I had a +full opportunity of witnessing the stoical heroism with +which the unhappy man bore the strokes that tore his +flesh from his back and shoulders. But if I was astonished +at this courageous endurance of bodily pain, I was +yet more so when I saw the look of eager inquiry, that +notwithstanding the terrible suffering he was undergoing, +he cast from time to time on his soldier’s cap that lay on +the ground quite near him, into which according to the +Russian custom, the spectators were dropping money, and +so great was their admiration of his endurance, that it was +filled to the brim with gold and silver coin, together with +bank notes of larger value. Virtue and crime were so mingled +in this man, that it was hard to form an opinion of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +him. The love of country, one of the highest of human +emotions, and avarice, almost the lowest, gave the poor +criminal, after receiving the seventieth stroke, strength +sufficient to walk with the support of the jailor’s arm to the +hospital, from whence a few weeks after, his wounds being +healed, he was sent with some other criminals to his +beloved Siberia.</p> +<p style='font-variant:small-caps;text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>THE END</p> +<hr class='fn' /> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_0001' id='Footnote_0001'></a><a href='#FNanchor_0001'><span class='label'>[A]</span></a> +<p>Capital punishment is very rare in Russia, murderers escaping with sentence of banishment.</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class="trnote"> + +<p class='tp' style='font-weight: bold; margin-top:5px;'>Transcriber’s Note</p> + +<p>In the first story, <i>Pirate Life</i>, there is no section numbered "IV" as originally published.</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: ppg0824 --> +<!-- timestamp: Thu Aug 27 13:50:21 -0600 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hair Breadth Escapes, by T. 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