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diff --git a/43766-0.txt b/43766-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2951ccc --- /dev/null +++ b/43766-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8330 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43766 *** + +BOOKS BY JAMES OTIS. + + + +WITH PERRY ON LAKE ERIE.+ A TALE OF 1812. 307 pp. Cloth. $1.50. + + +WITH PREBLE AT TRIPOLI.+ A STORY OF "OLD IRONSIDES" AND THE + TRIPOLITAN WAR. 349 pp. Cloth. $1.50. + + +WITH PORTER IN THE ESSEX.+ A STORY OF HIS FAMOUS CRUISE IN SOUTHERN + WATERS DURING THE WAR OF 1812. 344 pp. Cloth. $1.50. + + +THE CRUISE OF THE ENTERPRISE.+ BEING THE STORY OF THE STRUGGLE AND + DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH PRIVATEERING EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE UNITED + STATES IN 1779. 359 pp. Cloth. $1.50. + + +[Illustration: IT WAS ONLY NECESSARY THAT THE CREW SHOULD REACH OUT AND +PULL US ON BOARD.] + + + + +WITH PORTER IN THE ESSEX + +_A Story of his Famous Cruise in Southern +Waters during the War of 1812_ + + +BY +JAMES OTIS + + +ILLUSTRATED BY +WILLIAM F. STECHER + +[Illustration: Logo] + +BOSTON AND CHICAGO +W. A. WILDE COMPANY + + +_Copyright, 1901_, +BY W. A. WILDE COMPANY. +_All rights reserved._ + + + + +WITH PORTER IN THE ESSEX. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER PAGE + I. INTRODUCING MYSELF 17 + + II. THE COAST OF CHILI 34 + + III. OLIVER BENSON'S SCHEME 57 + + IV. AMONG THE WHALERS 80 + + V. THE NEW FLEET 103 + + VI. A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS 126 + + VII. AN ISLAND PORT 149 + +VIII. NUKUHEVA 172 + + IX. AN OLD ENEMY 195 + + X. AMONG THE TYPEES 218 + + XI. A NAVAL STATION 241 + + XII. AT VALPARAISO 264 + +XIII. THE BRITISHERS 287 + + XIV. THE BATTLE 311 + + XV. ON PAROLE 334 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + PAGE +"It was only necessary that the crew should reach out and +pull us on board" _Frontispiece_ 28 + +"He forced the iron rods from their sockets in short order" 77 + +"Soon we were out of reach of the grape, and then we ran +across the ship's bow" 158 + +"The party came in, waving green palm-leaves" 244 + +"Nearer and nearer came the _Phoebe_" 295 + + + + +PROLOGUE. + + +The manuscript of this story was written by Ezra McKnight, a cousin of +that Stephen Decatur McKnight of Hartford, Connecticut, who was captured +after the action between the _Essex_ and the _Phoebe_ and _Cherub_, and +with a companion named James Lyman went to Rio de Janeiro as exchanged +prisoners of war. From that port, according to Lossing, these two +shipped for England in a Swedish vessel, and, although the ship arrived +in safety, her captain never gave any account of his prisoners, nor was +it known what had become of them. That they were murdered would be the +natural inference, since in event of their being treacherously sent to +England some record must have been found regarding them. + +He who wrote the story of the cruise of the _Essex_ which follows here, +searched long but vainly for some clew to the fate of his brave cousin; +in fact, after leaving the United States Navy it was his lifework to +discover the fate of that brave lieutenant who was the only officer +uninjured on board the _Essex_ after that unequal conquest was cowardly +forced upon her by Captain Hillyar of the _Phoebe_, whose vessel and +life had once been spared by Captain Porter. + +Failing to gain any information concerning the lieutenant, Ezra McKnight +set himself down to write the story of that marvellous cruise of the +_Essex_, the United States frigate of thirty-two guns, commanded by +Captain David Porter who was born in Boston on the first of February, +1780. How this manuscript came into the hands of the editor it is not +necessary to state. Suffice it to say that no change has been made in +the original arrangement of the tale, nor in any of the details; it is +here presented virtually as Ezra McKnight wrote it, with only so much of +editing as seemed necessary in order to bring it within the requirements +of a story of the present day. + +To those who may read that which follows for the purpose of learning +somewhat of their country's history, it is well to state a few facts +which would not naturally appear in what was originally intended for an +account of the adventurous voyage. + +The commander of the _Essex_ gained his first experience in the navy on +board the frigate _Constellation_, which vessel he entered as midshipman +in 1798. Concerning him Lossing says that "he was in the action between +the _Constellation_ and the _L'Insurgente_ in February, 1799, when his +gallantry was so conspicuous that he was immediately promoted to +lieutenant. He accompanied the first United States squadron that ever +sailed to the Mediterranean in 1803, and was on board the _Philadelphia_ +when she struck on the rock in the harbor of Tripoli. There he suffered +imprisonment. In 1806 he was appointed to the command of the +_Enterprise_, and cruised in the Mediterranean for six years. On his +return to the United States he was placed in command of the flotilla +station near New Orleans, where he remained until war was declared in +1812, when he was promoted to captain and assigned to the command of the +frigate _Essex_, taking with him, on this last cruise, his adopted son, +David G. Farragut, who, during the War of the Rebellion, was made an +admiral." + +Now, in order that the memory of the reader may be refreshed as to the +strength of the United States Navy while this cruise was being made, the +following extract is taken from Lossing's "War of 1812." + +"As we take a survey from a standpoint at mid-autumn, 1813, we observe +with astonishment only three American frigates at sea, namely, the +_President_, 44; the _Congress_, 38; and the _Essex_, 32. The +_Constitution_, 44, was undergoing repairs; the _Constellation_, 38, +was blockaded at Norfolk; and the _United States_, 44, and _Macedonian_, +38, were prisoners in the Thames above New London. The _Adams_, 28, was +undergoing repairs and alterations, while the _John Adams_, 28, _New +York_, 36, and _Boston_, 28, were virtually condemned. All the brigs, +excepting the _Enterprise_, had been captured, and she was not to be +trusted at sea much longer. The _Essex_, Commodore Porter, was the only +government vessel of size which was then sustaining the reputation of +the American Navy, and she was in far distant seas, with a track equal +to more than a third of the circumference of the globe between her and +the home port from which she sailed. She was then making one of the most +remarkable cruises on record." + +In October, 1812, Captain William Bainbridge was appointed the successor +of Captain Hull in the command of the _Constitution_; and, according to +Lossing, "a small squadron, consisting of the _Constitution_, 44, +_Essex_, 32, and _Hornet_, 18, were placed in his charge. When +Bainbridge entered upon his duty in the new sphere of flag officer, the +_Constitution_ and _Hornet_ were lying in Boston harbor, and the +_Essex_, Captain Porter, was in the Delaware. Orders were sent to the +latter to cruise in the track of the English West Indiamen, and at the +specified time to rendezvous at certain ports, when, if he should not +fall in with the flagship of the squadron, he would be at liberty to +follow the dictates of his own judgment. Such contingency occurred, and +the _Essex_ sailed on a very long and most eventful cruise in the South +Atlantic and Pacific Oceans." + +The _Essex_ left the Delaware October, 1812, in pursuance with the +command received by Captain Porter; and he must have already outlined in +his own mind what course to pursue in case he failed to meet the little +squadron, for Lossing says, "Captain Porter took with him a larger +number of officers and crew than was common for a vessel of that size. +Her muster roll contained three hundred and nineteen names; and her +supplies were so ample that she sank deep in the water, which greatly +impeded her sailing qualities." + +On Porter's monument, which stands in Woodlawn Cemetery, Pennsylvania, +are the following inscriptions: + +"Commodore David Porter, one of the most heroic sons of Pennsylvania, +having long represented his country with fidelity as minister resident +at Constantinople, died at that city in the patriotic discharge of his +duties March 3, 1843." + +"In the War of 1812 his merits were exhibited not merely as an intrepid +commander, but in exploring new fields of success and glory. A career +of brilliant good fortune was crowned by an engagement against superior +force and fearful advantages, which history records as an event among +the most remarkable in naval warfare." + +"His early youth was conspicuous for skill and gallantry in the naval +services of the United States when the American arms were exercised with +romantic chivalry before the battlements of Tripoli. He was on all +occasions among the bravest of the brave; zealous in the performance of +every duty; ardent and resolute in the trying hour of calamity; composed +and steady in the blaze of victory." + +JAMES OTIS. + + + + +WITH PORTER IN THE ESSEX. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +INTRODUCING MYSELF. + + +An awkward, raw-boned lad of fourteen was I when an opportunity came to +enlist as a boy on board the _Essex_, a United States frigate of +thirty-two guns, commanded by Captain David Porter. My desire ever had +been to join the navy, in which my cousin, Stephen Decatur McKnight, had +already won much of glory and a commission; it was through him that I +was finally able to satisfy my longings, which had increased from year +to year until it seemed as if I could be content in no other sphere of +action than that of serving my country upon the ocean. + +War had been declared; once more was it proposed to give England a +lesson in good manners; and while that lesson was being taught, I +intended to so act my part that when it was finished I might have +gained a recognized position among men, even though I was no more than +a boy. + +Stephen had won his way upward, and why might not I? True, there were +times when my heart grew cowardly; but as I figured it to myself at such +moments, I was too timorous even to run, and therefore might gain the +credit of being a hero, when in reality, had I been a trifle more brave, +I might have shown the white feather. + +Perhaps it is not well for me to set down all that was in my mind when I +went on board the _Essex_, for it can be of no especial interest to +those who may chance to read what is written here. It is enough if I say +that two days before the _Essex_ left the Delaware River, or in other +words, on the 28th of October in the year 1812, I was rated on her +papers as "boy," and had already begun to make the acquaintance of one +Philip Robbins, a lad of about my own age, who held the same rank. If +there had been any lower station aboard the frigate, of a truth we two +would have been found occupying it, for he knew no more concerning a +seaman's duty than did I. + +A certain portion of the cruise, which proved to be one of the most +adventurous ever made by a vessel of war, must be omitted here for the +very good reason that I have little or no knowledge concerning it. +During three days after we left the capes of the Delaware it was to +Philip Robbins and myself as if we lingered in the very shadow of death, +and while so lingering received no word of cheer from those around us +because of the fact that we were enduring only that which every lad must +endure who sets out to learn the trade of a sailor. Sick? It was to me +as if that man who should put an end to my life would have been +rendering me a service, for I doubted not but that death must eventually +come, and only when it did would I be free from the pangs of that +overpowering illness which beset me. + +Both Philip and I had vaunted ourselves before the lads of Philadelphia +because we could lay claim to being members of the crew of the _Essex_; +but from the moment the good ship courtesied to the swell of the +Atlantic until we were recovered and could laugh at the past, either of +us would willingly have given up all which we prized most dearly in the +world for the sake of being set back on shore in the humblest station +that might be imagined. + +It is enough if I say that we gained the experience which comes to all +who venture upon the sea, whether for pleasure or for profit, and once +having gained it, were in proper condition ever after to laugh at those +who might be learning the same severe and disagreeable lesson. + +There was never a man on board the ship who did not know that she was +bound for the purpose firstly, of capturing any English vessels that we +might be able to cope with, and secondly, to come across the +_Constitution_ and the _Hornet_, with which ships we would afterward +cruise in company. + +Among our crew, and there were, counting officers as well as men, three +hundred and nineteen all told, were a dozen or more who had fought under +Preble at Tripoli; and while we were headed for Port Praya we heard so +many yarns concerning the doings of our fleet with the Barbary pirates +as would more than suffice to fill a dozen such books as I count this +will make. Therefore it is not well that I attempt to set down any of +them, entertaining though the least exciting would prove. + +When Philip and I signed our names to the ship's papers, both believed +that we should be called upon to take part in sea battles from the time +we gained the offing until we were once more in port; but yet there was +nothing of bloodshed, save such as could be found in the yarns spun by +the men, from the time of sailing until the 27th of November, when we +sighted the mountains of St. Jago and entered the harbor of Port Praya, +hoping there to gain some news of Commodore Bainbridge. + +Nothing was learned, however, as we on the gun-deck soon came to know; +for it must be understood that the crew soon have repeated to them every +word which is spoken aft. Some old shellback hears a bit now and then, +and by piecing the fragments together generally hits upon the truth; +while the marines on guard are ever ready to carry forward such scraps +of conversation as they have overheard when on duty. It is thus, as I +have said, that the ordinary seaman, who is supposed to be in ignorance +of everything save the happenings of the moment, is generally possessed +within a few hours of all the information gained by his superior +officers. + +All we got from the Portuguese governor of Port Praya was a bountiful +supply of pigs, sheep, poultry, and fruit, and it can well be supposed +that our officers were not exerting themselves to let him understand +exactly why we had to enter the port. When we set sail again, it was on +a seaward course, as if we were bound for an African port; but as soon +as we were beyond sight of land the ship was hauled around to the +southwest, and on the 11th of December we crossed the equator in +longitude 30° west. + +Philip and I were in no very comfortable frame of mind as we neared the +equator, knowing full well that lads, and for that matter seamen, who +have never crossed the imaginary line, are subjected to rough if not +absolutely brutal treatment at the hands of every messmate; and we +expected, because of certain remarks that had been made, to receive an +unusually severe dose. + +But fortune favored Captain Porter as well as our humble selves; for +just at noon, when the men were making ready to introduce us to King +Neptune, a Britisher hove in sight, and there was no longer thought of +playing pranks. The enemy had been sighted at last, and even the eldest +among us were quivering with excitement, for it was believed that our +success or failure in this first enterprise which presented itself would +indicate the results of the voyage. + +I was burning with a desire to question my cousin McKnight as to what +might possibly be the result of losing this craft; but you must +understand that a boy on board a frigate is not supposed to speak to his +superior officer without permission. Even had the lieutenant been my +father, I should have been forced by the rules of the ship to keep at +quite as respectful a distance from him as from Captain Porter himself. + +Up to this time neither Philip nor I had succeeded in cultivating the +acquaintance of the older members of the crew; therefore we stood alone, +so to speak, ignorant of what might be the possibilities, but not daring +to ask a single question lest we bring the ridicule of the seamen upon +us. + +If the success of this first venture since we left port had been a true +token of the entire voyage, then were Philip Robbins and myself to reap +the greatest possible benefit from it; for when the _Essex_ was finally +come up with the Britisher on the following day, we lads not only aided +in the capture of the rich prize, but made ourselves such a friend among +the crew as we most needed. + +A lad on board a man-of-war sees hard lines if there be not one among +the older seamen who stands in a certain degree sponsor for him; +otherwise the younger members of the crew will put upon him until his is +indeed a slavish life. Now up to this day we boys could call no man our +friend, and in this I am not counting my cousin, the lieutenant, for his +kindness toward us would count for but little while we were among our +shipmates. + +However, I am saying overly much of myself, and perchance may be +accused of giving undue importance to those members of the ship's +company who were looked upon as of no especial consequence. + +As I have said, we crossed the equator and sighted a strange sail on the +same day. As a matter of course chase was made at once, and before the +sun went down we knew beyond a peradventure that at last we had before +us one of the enemy's vessels. + +There was nothing particularly interesting in the chase as it presented +itself to me. During the greater portion of the time Philip and I were +kept at work below by one task-master or another, and all we knew +regarding our chances of overhauling the stranger was what could be +gathered from those who came near where we were. When night fell, and we +lads were at liberty to go on deck, there was absolutely nothing to be +seen. + +In the morning, however, when the first shot was fired, just before +daybreak, Philip and I tumbled out of our hammocks, wild with +excitement, and at the same time inwardly quaking lest peradventure we +were upon the eve of a naval engagement. + +I question if any orders, however strict, could have kept us below. We +forgot for the moment that one is not allowed to roam over a naval +vessel at will, but clambered on deck as if free to follow our every +inclination; and well for us, perhaps, was it that both officers and +crew were considerably excited at the prospect of finally taking a +prize, otherwise we might have been treated to a dose of the rope's end +because of having unwittingly ventured so far aft. + +The stranger was the British government packet, _Nocton_, carrying ten +guns, and had been hove to when our shot went across her bow. There was +no attempt made at resistance, and she fell into our hands as a ripe +apple falls from the tree, with no particular effort on our part. + +Later, and while the prize crew was being told off to take possession of +her, we learned that she carried thirty-one men, was bound for Falmouth, +and had on board fifty-five thousand dollars in gold and silver coin. + +Lieutenant Finch was made prize-master, and a crew of seventeen told off +to man the packet; for Captain Porter counted on sending her to the +United States, she being a craft that would make a reasonably good +addition to our small navy. + +These men were transferred from our ship to the prize without delay, and +then was begun the work of bringing back the specie,--a task, it is +needless to say, in which Philip and I had no share. + +The scene was such, however, as to attract the attention of any one, +however much experience he might have had in such matters, and we lads +watched with breathless eagerness all the manoeuvres, as the two vessels +rolled lazily upon the long swell, while the small boats plied to and +fro like ants. We gazed curiously at the iron-bound boxes which were +said to be filled with gold or silver, and in our ignorance it seemed as +if already was the cruise a success, since we had taken from the enemy +such a vast amount of money. + +Among the crews of our boats was a seaman by the name of Hiram Hackett, +with whom Philip and I had vainly tried to scrape an acquaintance. A +weather-beaten old shellback was he, who had, against his will, served +the king, having been made prisoner by one of the press-gangs, and who +escaped only a few months before enlisting on board the _Essex_. + +His shipmates looked up to him as to a man of great experience, and well +they might, for I question if Hiram Hackett had not seen more of the ups +and downs of a sailor's life than any among us. He was the only member +of the crew who had not made sport of, or imposed upon, us two in some +way; but yet never a kindly word had he given us. + +Master Hackett was pulling the bow oar of No. 2 boat when she came +alongside with a load of stores, for Captain Porter was taking from the +prize such provisions as would not be needed during the homeward voyage. + +The goods were being hoisted out while the boats lay a few yards off our +lee rail; and as this work was being done a cheese incased in a wooden +box slipped from the sling, and, falling, struck Master Hackett a +glancing blow on the head and shoulder, knocking him senseless into the +sea. + +The only thought in my mind at the instant, and Philip and I were +perched on the brig's rail directly opposite the boat, was that the +seaman, having been rendered unconscious by the blow, would be quickly +drowned; and without stopping to think of possible danger, I leaped +overboard. + +Philip was moved by the same impulse at the same instant, and we struck +the water side by side. + +Looking back upon that attempt at rescue, after so many years of +experience, I believe of a verity that not once in twenty times would +two lads succeed in the effort; for the chances were that we should +come up directly beneath the frigate, or, as we rose to the surface, be +dashed against the hull with force sufficient to kill us. + +As it was, however, we went down side by side until we came in contact +with the man we would save, and him we brought to the surface to +windward of the boat, yet so near her that it was only necessary the +crew should reach out and pull us on board. + +We had done nothing which merited praise,--in fact, should have been +blamed for interfering when we might have hampered the movements of +those who knew better what ought to be done; and yet Captain Porter was +pleased to compliment us when we clambered on board looking like a +couple of half-drowned rats, and the sailors clasped us by the hands as +if to say that in their opinion we had proved ourselves worthy to be +called shipmates. + +It was natural that I should be somewhat puffed up by the attention +which was paid us; but I little dreamed what an important bearing it +would have upon our lives. + +The old sailor, still unconscious, was taken below; Philip and I +overhung the rail once more, watching the men as they transferred the +provisions and specie, for the work had not been interrupted many +moments by the mishap, and all was as before, save for that sense of +satisfaction and pride within my heart when Master Hackett, looking none +the worse for the blow and the ducking, came up behind us. + +We were not aware of his presence until he laid his hands on our +shoulders, and said in a deep, grave voice, much as if speaking to +himself:-- + +"I don't know whether it was a service or contrariwise that you lads did +me, for I'm told that but for your tumblin' over the rail I was like to +have lost the number of my mess, bein' knocked out by the blow in such +fashion that I went down like a stone, with but little chance of +risin'." + +I looked around at the old sailor, hardly understanding what he said; +and he, gazing to windward as if there he saw something which we could +not, continued:-- + +"An old shellback like me is of but little account; and if he hangs on +to life, mayhap it's only to pay off some grudge which them as claim to +know say shouldn't be harbored." + +I knew from this that he referred to the grudge he owed the Britishers +for having pressed him into the king's service, and wondered why he +should speak in such a solemn tone when it stood to reason he ought to +be rejoicing because of having escaped death. + +It was a full minute before the old man went on, and then he spoke more +nearly natural, as it seemed to me:-- + +"We'll set it down that you two lads have done a big service--that you +saved my life--an' it isn't much for me to say that I'm obliged to you, +'cause mere words are cheap. Boys aboard a ship stand in need of a +friendly hand, an' that's what I'm allowin' to hold out toward you until +such time as I've squared off the account begun this day. Whatsoever a +sailorman can do for a mate, I'm bound to do for you; an' all hands are +to understand that what's sauce for you is certain to be sauce for me, +or they'll know the reason why." + +Having said this, Master Hackett went aft to where Lieutenant McKnight +was standing, tugged at a wisp of hair which hung over his forehead, and +at the same time scraped one foot behind him, which answered for a +sailor's bow, saying as he did so:-- + +"I'm ready for duty, sir." + +"Your place in the boat has been taken, therefore you are at liberty +until we get under way," my cousin said with a smile, whereupon the old +man went below, never so much as looking at Philip or me. + +It seemed as if his manner was decidedly curt. After having voluntarily +acknowledged that we saved his life, it appeared as if he might have +said something more, or at least stood near us a few moments to let it +be seen that he had indeed taken us under his wing, and I said +laughingly to Philip:-- + +"Master Hackett is proving to us that words are indeed cheap. He has +thanked us, and that seems to be all that is necessary." + +"And so it is," Philip replied, for he was a better-natured lad than I +by far, and ever ready to make excuses where I found fault. "It was +really nothing of consequence for us to go overboard where there are so +many to lend a helping hand, and when we came on deck again I was +trembling with fear lest one of the officers give us a tongue lashing +for putting ourselves forward at such a time." + +"If we hadn't done so, Master Hackett would likely have gone to the +bottom, for I saw no one making ready to go after him." + +"You didn't give them time, Ezra McKnight," Philip replied laughingly. +"The old man had no more than struck the water before we were on the +rail; and yet I am not to be praised for it, because, to tell the truth, +I didn't realize what I was about." + +That same was true in my case; but there was no reason just then why I +should speak overly much regarding it when I was hungering for yet more +praise, and I put an end to the conversation by turning my attention +once more to the work going on before us. + +The task of transferring the provisions and specie to our ship was not a +long one, and perhaps no more than three hours elapsed from the time the +_Nocton_ hove to until the _Essex_ was on her course once more, while +the prize, with her prisoners below decks, was stretching off for the +home port. + +Before the sun set on this night, Philip and I had good proof that +Master Hackett's gratitude was more than the mere thanks we had +received. Every member of the crew treated us in a different +fashion--more as if we were in fact shipmates, although I saw no +particular change in the old man's behavior. + +It is difficult for me to explain the difference in our positions, and +yet it was very decided. We were called upon to do quite as much work, +to wait upon this one or that one as before, and yet the orders were +given in a more friendly tone. There were not so many kicks bestowed +upon us, nor did a single man lay a rope's end upon our backs; whereas +from the time of leaving port until we leaped overboard for Master +Hackett I question if there was a waking hour when we did not receive a +blow from some one. + +The old man who had declared he would stand our friend no longer wore an +air which seemed to forbid our coming nearer him, and yet I cannot say +that he spoke any very kindly words; but we understood that, if ever we +needed a helping hand, his would be stretched forth. + +That night when we were ready to get into our hammocks, Philip said to +me with a certain tone of triumph:-- + +"This has been a lucky day for the _Essex_. She has captured a prize +that will bring all hands money with which to tassel our handkerchiefs, +if it be so the _Nocton_ reaches a home port, and Captain Porter has the +credit of gathering in fifty-five thousand dollars from the enemy; but I +question if any aboard have been so fortunate since sunrise as you and +me, for we have suddenly become shipmates with the one man among all the +crew who is able to put us on a better footing with those who have +lorded it over us." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE COAST OF CHILI. + + +In order to hold a true course to my story, if perchance it should prove +to be a story, it is necessary I set down here very much of what is +little more than pricking out on a chart the movements of the _Essex_, +for many a long, weary day passed before we had opportunity to work harm +to shipping belonging to subjects of the English king, whom we were +teaching a lesson in good manners. + +On the second day after the capture of the _Nocton_ we hove into sight +the island of Fernando de Noronha; and as our commander had been told at +this place we might gain information of Commodore Bainbridge's squadron, +we came to anchor, but not before the ship had been disguised as a +merchantman. + +Then, flying English colors, we let go our ground tackle off the port, +and Lieutenant Downes went ashore to ask permission of the governor for +us to take on water and such stores as might readily be procured. + +The lieutenant came back with a quantity of fruit for the cabin, and +information that two alleged British vessels of war had called at the +island a week previous, and left there a letter for Sir James Yeo of his +Majesty's ship _Southampton_. + +It seems, as we of the crew learned later, that these were the names +agreed upon between Commodore Bainbridge and our commander, to be used +in an unfriendly port. Captain Porter believed that a lie was not a lie +when told for the benefit of one's country, therefore he sent the +lieutenant back with a present of cheese and ale, and the assurance that +a gentleman on board our vessel, a friend of Sir James Yeo's, counted on +sailing for England from Brazil, and would take the letter with him. + +The governor could do no less than deliver up the missive; and on being +brought aboard it was found to be only such a letter as one English +commander might send to another, with nothing in it to show that the +writer was an American. + +Captain Porter had no idea that the commodore would be such a simple as +to trust his secret with a Britisher, and therefore set about trying to +solve the mystery which he felt confident was contained in the letter. + +Finally, by holding the sheet for some time over a lighted candle, it +was found that a second message had been written in what is known as +sympathetic ink, and this the heat brought out plainly, showing, as was +afterward told us on the gun-deck, the following lines:-- + +"I am bound for St. Salvador, thence off Cape Frio, where I intend to +cruise until the 1st of January. Go off Cape Frio, to the northward of +Rio Janeiro, and keep a lookout for me." + +It surely seemed now as if the course was marked out for us clearly, and +that we would soon be in the company of friends; but it was not to come +about, else I might not be trying to set down the particulars of that +which proved to be a most extraordinary voyage. + +Day after day we cruised up and down the Brazilian coast between Cape +Frio and St. Catherine, but meeting neither American nor English +vessels. The Portuguese craft which we spoke from time to time could +give us no information; and from Captain Porter down to Phil Robbins and +myself, all hands were most decidedly puzzled to know what would be the +outcome of the voyage, when it seemed, despite the luck which attended +us in the beginning, that we had cut ourselves off so completely from +both friend and foe that it might not be possible to get back. + +The old shellbacks told us youngsters that the Brazilian government, +being at peace with England, would not allow us to provision the ship at +any of their ports, and it was unnecessary we be told that the supplies +were growing lower every day. With three hundred men to be fed, even a +full cargo of stores soon grows slim. + +Finally one of the marines who had been on guard in the cabin, told us +that he heard Captain Porter say to some of his officers that it had now +come to a choice between capture, a blockade, or starvation. + +As a matter of course all the sea lawyers on the gun-deck argued the +matter in and out of season, laying down the law in great shape, +according to their own ideas; but, so far as Phil or I could see, not +suggesting anything which offered the slightest hope of relief. + +I might fill many pages with an account of what we two lads thought and +said during this time when it appeared as if the _Essex_ had got the +worst of the voyage, although having captured the only enemy she came +across; but it would be of little interest to a stranger if I should +make the attempt. It is enough to say that every man of the crew, and +the boys, too, for the matter of that, believed we would have a taste of +an English prison before many days had passed, when, suddenly, came most +startling news from one of the marines who had been on duty aft. + +The man declared, and we afterward came to know he spoke no more than +the truth, that he had overheard a consultation between Captain Porter +and his officers, when it was decided that, having failed to find +Commodore Bainbridge, we were to double Cape Horn and strike a blow at +the British whaling fleet in the Pacific. + +Captain Porter argued, so the tale-bearing marine told us, that among +the whalers he stood a good chance of replenishing his naval stores, for +the vessels in that trade were always well armed, and it would be +possible to provision the ship as often as might be necessary, once we +were among the South Sea Islands. He had decided to live on the enemy, +and it only remained to be seen whether that might indeed be possible. + +Of all who heard the story as told by the marine, none believed it save +Master Hackett; and he said, in answer to my question as to whether he +thought we might be able to come out of the scrape with whole skins:-- + +"Ay, that I do, lad; an' it's in my mind that the _Essex_ can do +British shippin' more harm in the Pacific than would be possible +elsewhere. For a time we'll have everything our own way, an' then the +king will have a pretty good idee of what the Yankees can do." + +"But how will it be possible to get home, Master Hackett?" I asked, +thinking more of my own safety than of brave deeds to be accomplished. + +"That's somethin' that don't concern us,--leastways, not until the +_Essex_ has come to the end of her cruise. We've shipped to do all the +harm we can to Englishmen, for that's the meanin' of war, lad. After +we've done our duty will be time enough to think about ourselves, though +I'm allowin' that if we ever see the United States again it'll be after +we've had a reasonably long taste of British prisons." + +Such talk as that was not calculated to make me very comfortable in +mind. As a matter of course I wanted to strike a blow at the king, since +we'd shipped for that purpose; but I wasn't well pleased at doing so +when it was a foregone conclusion that the task would be concluded only +when we were prisoners. We had captured a rich prize already, and I for +one would have felt better if it had been decided that we were to take +the chances of starvation while working back to the home port. This +cutting loose, as it were, did not strike me in a pleasant fashion. + +Before many hours had passed, however, the doubters understood that the +marine had told no more than the truth. + +We were off the harbor of St. Catherine when Captain Porter decided to +take chances which would have deterred many another, and next morning, +that is to say, on the 26th day of January, 1813, the _Essex_ was headed +down the coast for Cape Horn. + +It seemed strange to me at the time, and even at this late day I am +moved to wonderment that such should have been the case--it seemed +strange, I say, that almost without exception the members of our crew +hailed with delight the captain's determination to push forward rather +than turn back. Surely it was a hazardous venture to leave friendly +ports behind, and sail away toward that portion of the world where the +power of the British was exceeding strong. + +Those among the crew who argued in favor of thus trying our fortunes in +the Pacific Ocean were forced to admit that we would be treated with but +scant courtesy by the small nations, who dared not brave the anger of +the English by showing friendship for us. Ours was but a single vessel +of thirty-two guns, and should we come upon two or three whalers at the +same time, it was reasonable to believe that we might find ourselves +opposed by a weight of metal exceeding our own. + +We could not depend upon the government of the United States for so much +as a spare belaying-pin, and all we might get, whether in the way of +stores or ammunition, must come from the enemy. I do not believe any +vessel of war was ever sent into such danger of every form, and it is +hardly to be wondered at that Phil Robbins and I were filled with +apprehension as to the result of the cruise, more particularly since we +heard the evils described in most glowing colors during nearly every +hour of the day, even by those who were in favor of the enterprise. + +"We didn't ship with the agreement that we'd do our best to run into +every possible danger when it might be better to shape a course for +home," Phil said, in what was very like a mutinous tone. "When it comes +to fighting Britishers, then we're bound to risk our lives in the hope +of killing them; but sailing around the world with fair chance of +starving to death before we can run across a craft of any kind, is a +good bit outside of duty." + +Phil was not the only member of the crew who spoke in much the same +tone, and yet I defy any person to say with truth that we were in the +slightest degree mutinous as we faced such a venture as was never known +before. + +Master Hackett seemed well content on the day when the bow of the +_Essex_ was turned toward the south pole, and I was resolved he should +have no opportunity of believing that Phil and I were afraid of what +might lie in our path. + +As a matter of course, we two lads discussed the weighty affair in all +its aspects, enabled to do so with some degree of fairness because of +the opinions which we heard on every side; but we took good care to do +so where no one might overhear us. + +It was only during the first day of this venturesome cruise, however, +that we indulged in what was neither more nor less than mutinous +criticism of our officers' plans; for within twenty-four hours after +leaving the harbor of St. Catherine the wind increased to a full gale, +which for more than eighteen days showed no signs of abatement. + +Never before had I believed it possible that a ship could be so tossed +and buffeted by the waves without being literally torn to pieces! It was +as if our craft had been no larger than a long-boat, and I dare venture +to say that many times she actually stood on end. + +Phil and I were both sick and frightened, and in about the same degree, +which was fortunate for us; for had we been one whit less ill, we might +have lost our wits entirely. Whenever the deathly nausea permitted of +thought I was firmly convinced we would all go to the bottom before +making Cape Horn, and by the time this idea had become firmly fixed in +my mind the sickness of the sea overwhelmed me again, bringing in its +train partial unconsciousness of my surroundings. + +Nor were we lads alarmed without good cause; it was possible to +understand by the behavior of the crew, at such times as we were able to +understand anything, that every man jack believed the _Essex_ would be +finally overcome in her struggle with the elements; and once, when the +turmoil was at its height, Master Hackett came to where I lay in my +hammock for no other apparent purpose than to clasp my hand. + +It was much as though he was bidding me good-by, and I wept bitter tears +of sorrow because I was not to see my dear mother again in this world. + +I could write very much concerning the dreary, painful hours we spent +while it seemed as if death stood very near to each of us; but it is not +well to allow such personal matters to interfere with the tale of what +was accomplished before the good ship _Essex_ was destroyed through a +British trick and British cowardice. + +On the 14th day of February Master Hackett brought word to Phil and me +that we were at last off Cape Horn; and to give a faint idea of the +situation I will set down the fact that, old seaman though he was, it +had become absolutely necessary for him to crawl along the gun-deck like +a crab, otherwise he would have been flung fore and aft by the wild +movements of the ship. + +During that night I fancied we were in smoother water, and within +twenty-four hours it was possible for Phil and me to leave our hammocks +with some degree of safety. + +Almost immediately after rounding the cape the wind shifted to the +southwest, blowing with no more force than was needed to keep our canvas +full; and from that hour we began to live once more. + +We skirted the coasts of Patagonia and Lower Chili for nineteen days, +and at the end of that time the glittering peaks of the Andes were seen +far, far in the distance, and those who had been most despondent +concerning the outcome to the cruise, now began to believe that it would +be possible for us to give a good account of ourselves to the people at +home before death overtook us. + +We now talked of taking rich prizes, even as we previously had discussed +the probability of immediate disaster, and speculated as to how we might +weather the cape once more when, the work having been accomplished, we +would be homeward bound. + +It was the 5th day of March when we were off the island of Mocha, on the +coast of Araucania, with the prospect of a day to be spent on shore +after so many dangers had been encountered and passed. + +To us two lads, who were sick with the odor of the salt breeze, the +scene was entrancing. The mountain on the island towered a full thousand +feet from the sea line, and around it could be seen countless numbers of +birds, while in the surf near the shore hundreds upon hundreds of seals +played like so many dogs. + +For the first time since leaving St. Catherine our ground tackle was let +go, and word came from the cabin that on the morrow we were to be given +a full day's hunting. This last was become a real necessity, rather +than a pleasure, for our stores were sadly in need of being replenished; +but we thought not of this last fact, preferring to believe that +permission to go ashore had been given solely that we might enjoy +ourselves. + +And what a day it proved to be! The island had been inhabited by +Spaniards before the buccaneers reigned in that region, and the forest +was literally teeming with hogs and horses so tame that but little skill +was necessary to shoot them down. + +From sunrise to sunset we hunted, and before noon had proved to our +entire satisfaction that horseflesh was more palatable than pork, +therefore we killed no more hogs than persisted in coming within easy +range. By nightfall we had fresh meat enough to furnish us with food for +many a long day, provided it was salted down before becoming tainted. + +The next day was spent in caring for what we had captured, and in +filling the ship's water-casks, after which we were in fairly good +condition to continue the voyage. The eight-and-forty hours spent on +shore had been sufficient to raise the courage of the most timorous, +among whom could be counted Phil and myself; and all hands were in the +best of spirits as the _Essex_ filled away on her course once more, +despite the fact that there was no possibility of receiving aid from +the friends at home. + +As we ran up the coast Captain Porter made preparations for the work +which all hoped we should find in plenty. The running rigging of the +_Essex_ was carefully overhauled; the ship was repainted and otherwise +put in as good condition as was possible without going into dock. The +boats we carried--seven in all--were strengthened in every manner, and +crews told off for each, so that at a moment's notice we might send out +a flotilla of small craft against an enemy. + +Lieutenant Downes was given command of this little squadron; and from +the way in which he looked after the armament, we knew without being +told that he was ready for any kind of fighting which might come his +way. + +It was in a certain sense a relief to Phil and myself when the boats +were made ready for independent action; as a matter of course, our +strength was not increased one whit by such means, yet it seemed to us +lads that we were in much better trim to meet an enemy than before such +preparations had been made. + +Greatly to our disappointment we were not told off as members of the +boats' crews; and I plucked up sufficient courage to ask Master Hackett +concerning what seemed to us an oversight, hoping he might aid us in +receiving treatment such as we believed to be our due. + +"Frettin' because you haven't been given an independent command, eh?" he +said with a laugh, when I had made what was little less than a +complaint. + +"We are not such fools as to think we can do anything very brave or +wonderful; but at the same time it seems much as if we might perform our +fair share of work," I replied, considerably nettled because he appeared +to treat us as if we were children. + +"I'm allowin', lad, that you'll be called on for all the tasks you can +do conveniently. It stands to reason that the pick of the crew should be +detailed for the boats, seein's how them as put off from the ship under +Lieutenant Downes's command will be forced to jump lively, both as to +fightin' an' work. Now, it looks to me as if you two would have chances +enough, once that fleet of small craft have left us; for the _Essex_ +will be short-handed, an' you lads'll be asked to do the duty of men." + +With this we were content, knowing that Master Hackett would not buoy us +up with false hopes; and it began to seem as if we might, within a +reasonably short time, show that we were made of such material as +warranted our being reckoned among the _men_ on board the _Essex_. + +From the day of leaving the island of Mocha a watch was kept for the +enemy, and each morning we two lads tumbled out of our hammocks firm in +the belief that by nightfall we should be in chase of another prize. +Then, as the sun set before we had sighted the British flag, we felt +quite as positive we should see it when the morning came again. + +Thus the time passed in anticipation unfulfilled until the 14th day of +March, when, on rounding the Point of Angels, the city of Valparaiso lay +full before us like something which had suddenly been thrown up by the +sea. + +Until this moment we had had a stiff breeze, such as sent the _Essex_ +along at a full ten knots an hour; but on rounding the point the wind +died out suddenly, leaving us becalmed under the guns of a battery, +which was hardly to our liking, for we believed Chili was still under +the rule of Spain. + +Captain Porter, not minded to take any more chances than was absolutely +necessary, had hoisted English colors; and as we came into view it gave +me a most disagreeable feeling in the region of the heart to see an +armed American brig tricing up her ports as she prepared for action, +although I could not restrain a sensation of pride that my countrymen +should be willing to fight at an instant's notice, and against great +odds, to uphold the stars and stripes. + +Three Spanish ships were getting under way, and Captain Porter +understood that he might miss many a rich prize if he allowed the crews +of those vessels to know who we were and why we had come. + +Therefore it was that three boats' crews were called away to pull the +ship's head around beyond the point, where she might catch so much of a +breeze as was stirring outside, and in less than two hours we were +beyond sight of the city. + +Phil and I mourned the necessity of being forced to leave port so soon, +when we might have met countrymen who could give us later news from home +than we had; but Master Hackett did much toward consoling us when he +said:-- + +"Take my words for it, lads, we'll be in the harbor of Valparaiso before +you're very much older. The captain didn't count on lettin' the +Spaniards find out who we are, thus puttin' the Britishers on their +guard." + +The old man was in the right, as was usually the case, for on the next +day we ran into port; and our anchors were hardly down when we heard +important news. + +Chili had just gained her independence from the Spaniards, and was more +than ready to welcome us as friends; but it was reported that the +Viceroy of Peru was fitting out armed cruisers to prey upon the American +shipping in the Pacific. + +Of a verity we had arrived in the nick of time, and there was great +rejoicing fore and aft because of such fact. So long as we could keep +secret from the British government the fact of our whereabouts, we might +work the enemy great damage at the same time we protected Yankee +vessels; and even after it was known that we had ventured so far from +home, there was fair opportunity of taking many a prize before being +overhauled by a British squadron. + +Well, the people of Valparaiso gave us a royal welcome. The forts +saluted the stars and stripes with twenty-one guns; nine shots were +fired by the armed brig, and we replied to them all, as a matter of +course, until it was as if everybody was celebrating the Fourth of July. + +The American Consul General came down from Santiago to greet us; the +Chilians strove to show how friendly they felt toward the United States, +and there was a great time, in which the officers gathered most of the +fun, for ordinary seamen are not counted in at such affairs. + +The commissioned officers must have enjoyed themselves in fine style, +however, and we of the crew managed to get a small slice of the welcome +which repaid all hands for the long, disagreeable voyage. + +Only a portion of our crew were allowed shore leave at a time, and by +rare good luck Phil and I were given liberty on the same day when Master +Hackett took his furlough; therefore we saw more of the city than would +have been possible had we set out alone. + +The old gunner was well acquainted in Valparaiso, and before setting out +to visit acquaintances, he showed us all the sights. Then, presenting +each of us with two silver shillings, he went his way, after cautioning +us to be at the shore in time to go aboard before sunset. + +It would have pleased both Phil and me had the old man remained with us; +but it could not be expected that he would give all his time of liberty +to two lads, even though they had gone over the rail to save his life; +therefore we made it appear as if we were eager to be by ourselves, and +began to explore the chief seaport town of Chili. + +Unable to speak the language, we could not expect to make any new +acquaintances ashore, nor did we try, although more than one Chilian lad +gave token that he was as ready to extend the hospitalities of the port +to Yankees as were the dignitaries of the town. + +We had wandered here and there as fancy dictated until noontime, and +Phil proposed that, since we had had our fill of sight-seeing it would +be a good idea to go on ship, or find some of our messmates. + +Strolling with a party of sailors whose chief aim would most likely be +to take aboard all the liquor they could drink, was not to my liking, +and I had just suggested that we go to the rendezvous on the chance of +finding a boat putting off for the _Essex_, when we were surprised by a +hail in our native tongue. + +"Hello, you two lads! Are you from the Yankee ship?" + +Wheeling suddenly around, we saw a boy eighteen years of age or +thereabouts, who was regarding us with an expression which might equally +well have been one of friendship or enmity. + +"We're from the _Essex_," Phil replied, and as he spoke the stranger +came toward us. + +"Can you speak Spanish?" he asked; whereat I replied glibly:-- + +"Not a word, and more's the pity, else we might have had companions in +our sight-seeing." + +"If that's all you're wanting, come with me. I'll show you a good +time." + +"Do you live here?" I asked, fancying that he spoke like one lately from +England. + +"Yes, for the time being; and since I have nothing better to do, suppose +we travel together." + +Every person in the town had been so friendly toward us that we had no +reason to suspect evil, and even though we had considered the +possibility that any one was wickedly disposed, why should harm come to +us who were of so little importance? + +Phil was so delighted at the idea of making a friend in this place where +almost nothing but Spanish was spoken, that he accepted the proposition +without delay, and at once we three set off in company. + +Oliver Benson was the name of this friendly appearing lad, as we soon +learned; and before we had been together half an hour he knew very +nearly as much as we ourselves concerning our position and life aboard +the _Essex_. + +"Boys are not of much account on Yankee ships, according to your story," +he said, in a peculiar tone; and Phil replied glibly:-- + +"It doesn't seem so, except when there's a lot of dirty work to be done. +If we never went back to the _Essex_, I reckon there wouldn't be much +mourning over our loss." + +I insisted that Master Hackett at least would miss us, and declared that +my cousin Stephen's heart would be sore with grief if any accident +happened to either of us; but Benson laughed me to scorn. + +"If you failed to return there isn't one aboard who'd remember your +absence after four-and-twenty hours," he said. "An enemy might work his +will on you and stand no chance of coming to grief, for I doubt not but +that the frigate will sail by to-morrow." + +"We have no enemies here," Phil replied with a laugh, "therefore we +needn't spend time discussing that question." + +I noted a peculiar expression on Benson's face, but gave no great heed +to it, for at that instant he had turned down a narrow street and was +unlocking the door of a stone dwelling. + +"Do you live here?" Phil asked. + +"Yes; and I count on showing you two lads what a Chilian dinner is like. +It will be something to talk about when you get home." + +He held the door open as invitation for us to enter; and although there +was absolutely no reason why I should suspect him of having unfriendly +designs upon us, I hesitated about going in. + +"Go on," Phil said, pushing me forward. "We're fortunate in having run +across Benson, for there are not many lads, either here or at home, who +would spend their time entertaining strangers." + +I could do no less than follow our host, who led us up one flight of +stairs, and thence to the rear of the building. Then he opened the door +of a room and stepped back a pace, that we might advance in front of +him. + +At the outer entrance, I led the way, and while Phil followed close at +my heels, the door was slammed behind us, the clicking of iron telling +that we had been locked in. + +For an instant I was so bewildered as to be incapable of speech, and +then I heard from the other side of the locked door a mocking voice:-- + +"I'll keep you two Yankees here till your ship sails, and then find you +a berth aboard a British whaler; it will be a paying speculation for me, +and you'll have good opportunities for seeing the world." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +OLIVER BENSON'S SCHEME. + + +Phil Robbins and I stood gazing into each other's eyes as if incapable +of speech, during at least sixty seconds after the fellow who had +trapped us announced the purpose of his scheme. That we two lads, who +were of no consequence whatsoever in the sight of the officers of the +_Essex_, should have been made the victims of a plot seemed too +ridiculous to be true; but yet the locked door was sufficient evidence +for the most incredulous. + +It was Phil who first found his tongue, and he asked sharply, as if +positive I could give him a satisfactory answer:-- + +"What does the villain mean by locking us in here? He must think we are +rare prizes!" + +"I'm not making any mistake as to what you're worth," Benson cried from +the hallway. "Yankees don't bring any extravagant price in this part of +the world; but the demand is so great that I won't be forced to keep +you many hours after your tub of a ship leaves port." + +My head was so thick that even then I failed to understand his purpose, +but had an idea the fellow looked upon us as his personal enemies +because England was at war with the United States, and said to Phil, +giving no heed to the fact that I spoke sufficiently loud for Benson to +hear:-- + +"The fellow is such a fool as to believe he serves his country by +imprisoning us." + +"That's where you are making a big mistake, my Yankee cub. Whalers in +this portion of the world are not overly particular as to how they ship +a crew, and pay a decently good price to whoever delivers them +able-bodied hands." + +Now I understood what this enterprising Britisher had in mind. I +remembered reading, before I left home, a long account of how sailors +were trapped in foreign ports by the captains of whaling vessels who had +lost members of their crews by death or desertion. + +If we could be held prisoners until there was no longer any American +vessels in port, Benson might literally sell us to a British whaler; and +once on board such a craft, our chances for escape or relief before the +voyage had come to an end would be very small. + +I was overwhelmed with grief and anger. The knowledge of our +helplessness increased my wrath until for a certain length of time I was +little better than an insane lad. + +I stormed and raved from one end of the small apartment to the other, +now and again throwing myself against the stoutly barred door as if by +such means I might break it down; and during the paroxysm Phil lay at +full length on the floor, giving noisy vent to his sorrow and despair. +There was no care in my mind that Benson was most likely listening to +all we said or did, and would set us down as chicken-hearted; I only +gave heed to our situation, knowing full well how entirely we were in +his power. + +It was not to be supposed that the _Essex_ would remain many days longer +in port; in eight-and-forty hours she would most likely get under way, +and we two lads who had dreamed of winning honor and promotion would be +set down as deserters. Even Master Hackett must believe we had run away, +since, by trying to make him think we were not eager to remain in his +company, lest he should waste all his time of liberty upon us, we had +made it appear as if our greatest desire was to be alone. + +Like a flash all the possibilities of the situation came into my mind. I +heard the comments of our shipmates, saw the word "deserter" written +opposite our names on the ship's register, and imagined the grief of my +parents when the _Essex_ returned to port with such a disgraceful story +concerning us. Meanwhile I could see Phil and myself forced to this or +that disagreeable task, and the end of it all, a tardy release in some +foreign port from which we would be forced to work our way home as best +we might. + +It was a most mournful picture, view it in whatever light I might, and +the stoutest-hearted could well be excused for growing faint and sick +with apprehension. + +Whether we spent one hour or three in such useless wailings I am unable +to say; it seemed to me much as if we had been a full day in that place +before I so far recovered composure of mind as to be able to look at the +situation with some degree of common sense, and then my first act was to +soothe Phil, who still remained stretched at full length upon the floor, +weeping and wailing. + +It was not a difficult task to persuade him into something approaching +calmness; he had literally exhausted himself by giving way so violently +to sorrow, and was, like myself, ready to play a more manly part. + +Our first act, after thus coming to our senses, so to speak, was to +make a thorough examination of this apartment which served as prison; +for of course the thought of escape had been uppermost in our minds, +even when our grief was most violent. + +The room was not different from what one might have fancied after seeing +the exterior of the building. It was, however, twelve feet square, with +a ceiling so low that I could touch it by standing on tiptoe. There were +two windows, both closely barred with iron, as I had already noticed was +usual in Valparaiso, and the view from them was confined to a small plat +of ground enclosed by a high wall of stone, the top of which was nearly +on a level with one of the windows. + +"If we could get out of here, it would not be a difficult task to reach +the ground," Phil said, in a certain tone of hopefulness. + +"I'd guarantee to bring up on the ground all right, wall or no wall, if +it wasn't for the bars." + +Then, with one accord, we laid hold of the iron rods, wrenching at them +with all our strength, but not moving them by so much as a single hair's +breadth, so far as I could see. + +That Benson yet remained in the hall outside, and could hear all that +was said or done, we knew when he cried mockingly:-- + +"Keep on pulling at the bars so long as such work pleases you; they +have held stronger men than you ever will be, and I'm not afraid of your +giving me the slip in that way!" + +Thus we knew that the wretch had made a business of trapping strangers +to sell them to whalers, and this but served to make our case appear +more hopeless; for if he had had experience in such scoundrelly work, it +was probable he would be on his guard against anything we might try to +do. + +By this time I was weary, mentally and bodily, and, not minded to give +the villain any more pleasure,--for I doubted not but that he enjoyed +hearing his prisoners beat vainly against the bars of their cage,--I +whispered to Phil:-- + +"Don't speak nor move. We'll remain silent until he grows tired of +listening and goes away." + +My comrade nodded to show that he agreed, and, seating ourselves on the +floor where we could look out of the window, even though there was +nothing save the small patch of grass to be seen, we held our peace +until the shadows of evening began to lengthen. + +Now was come the time when our shipmates would be returning to the +_Essex_ after a day's pleasuring, and as I fancied them standing on the +shore, discussing the cause of our absence, it was impossible to +restrain my tears. + +Not until the night had fully come did we hear anything from the +hallway, and then the faint sound of stealthy footsteps told that the +villanous Benson, wearied with his fruitless vigil, was descending the +stairs. + +We listened in vain for some noise betokening that the building had +other occupants than our enemy and ourselves; not a sound broke the +silence, and it seemed only reasonable that the scoundrel put the +dwelling to no other purpose than that of a prison. + +It would be useless for me to make any attempt at setting down here all +Phil and I said during the hours of the night, for much of our +conversation was wild in the extreme, and we repeated the same words +again and again, as would any lads in such a situation as we had so +suddenly been plunged. + +About midnight we fell asleep, still sitting on the floor, for there was +no furniture whatsoever in the room; and the day was just breaking when +a noise in the yard outside awakened us. + +Looking out from between the bars we saw Benson, who was placing a +ladder against the building, directly under our window. + +"If he'd only come near enough for me to hit one blow!" Phil muttered +between his teeth, and I wished we might have so much satisfaction as +that, even while knowing he would never give us such an opportunity. + +"I'm not counting on starving you Yankees," the villain said with a +laugh, "and yet I'm no such fool as to open the door long enough to +shove in food. You see I'm running this business alone, for the profits +are not large enough to permit of my hiring a clerk, therefore some of +my arrangements are not really convenient. I'm going to pass you the end +of a rope. Then I can stand on the ground and serve you with food and +water to be hauled up." + +"I wonder if he thinks we'll indulge him in his monkey shines?" Phil +whispered angrily; and I, suddenly realizing that we could only succeed +in biting our own noses if we went contrary to Benson's commands, said +hurriedly in a low tone:-- + +"Hold your tongue! We're bound to eat and drink if we count on making +any effort at getting away. Take what he gives us, and we may thereby +keep up our strength to be used in case an opportunity for escape +presents itself." + +By this time Benson was nearly at the top of the ladder; but he took +good care not to come within reach of our fists. + +He passed in to us a half-inch Manila rope, and I seized the end, +whereupon the villain descended and bent on a small tin vessel filled +with what appeared to be a stew of beans and other vegetables. + +"When you've hauled in, let down the rope again and I'll send you up +some water," Benson cried; and I obeyed his commands in silence. + +When we had thus been served, he said in the tone of one who imparts +pleasing information:-- + +"You'll have to get along without me to-day, for I'm counting on +catching two or three more Yankees before sunset." + +Phil shook his fist at the scoundrel; but I, without knowing exactly +why, felt a certain amount of satisfaction because he reckoned on making +more prisoners. + +Then the fellow disappeared from view, and Phil said angrily:-- + +"I hope our messmates will have more sense than we displayed when we +agreed to let him show us the town." + +"And I'm hoping he'll make a big haul." + +Phil gazed at me in anger and astonishment, whereupon I hastened to +explain myself. + +"There is no doubt but that he can easily do with us as he has proposed, +and our officers will make no great effort to find two boys who are +believed to have deserted. If that scoundrelly Britisher can capture +half a dozen of our crew there'll be a big stir aboard ship, and, in +addition, he won't be able to work his will with so many. One or more +may succeed in escaping, and then the truth will be known." + +Phil's face brightened wonderfully, for he had not looked at the matter +in that light before, and without further conversation we set about +making a hearty breakfast. + +Once our stomachs were filled, hope revived. We were eager that a large +number of our men might be entrapped by Benson, and discussed the +possibility of his success with as much zest as he might have done. + +Then, after two hours or more had elapsed, we began to reflect that it +would not be possible for a lad like him to scrape acquaintance with men +as easily as he had with us boys, and we grew despondent once more. + +Finally I gave up all belief that he could entice any of the crew into +his prison, and said with more of hope in my tones than was actually in +my heart:-- + +"Two great hulking lads like ourselves should be able to get out of an +ordinary house! If this place had been built for a jail, the situation +would be changed; but it is no more than an ordinary dwelling, and I +dare say these bars are not set in the wall so solidly but that we can +succeed in moving them." + +"Tell me how to go about it, and I'll do my best; but I fail to +understand how we can accomplish anything." + +Phil's despair served to give me what was very like courage; and even +though there was but little hope in my heart that we could effect +anything, I spoke as if certain of success. + +"We have our knives, and with such tools many a man has worked his way +toward freedom. The mortar which holds the wall in place can be picked +out in time, and Benson won't have a chance to sell us for several days +after the _Essex_ leaves port." + +"It would require a month of hard work to loosen even one of these +stones," Phil replied gloomily. + +"We shall be better off by making some effort at escape, even though we +never succeed. It is almost cowardly to sit here idle, waiting until +that villain can entrap our comrades." + +Having said this I set myself at work pricking out particles of mortar +with the point of my knife; and although the work progressed but slowly, +I could soon see some slight results. + +Phil watched me listlessly until I had taken out as much as would fill +a large spoon, and then he began to see that the task was possible if we +had sufficient time. + +"It's better than doing nothing," he said, as if the idea was his own, +and at once began upon the seam of mortar next that on which I was +working. + +Occupation of some kind was what we most needed; and as the moments wore +on we increased our efforts until, when the sun marked the hour of noon, +we had made quite a showing, although at the expense of grinding away +our knife-points. + +We had worked upon that stone which held the side bar in place, and if +it might be removed we would have an aperture not less than eight inches +in width. As a matter of course, neither of us could pass through such a +narrow space; but if two of the bars were pulled out, then was the way +open. + +We were both resting from our labors when I was seized by a sudden +thought, and cried exultantly:-- + +"We can escape if no time is wasted!" + +"I can't see but that the situation is much the same as when we were +first thrust into this place," Phil said gloomily. + +"So it is; but since the villanous Benson passed us the rope, I'm of the +idea that we can do considerable work." + +"How?" + +"We have surely done something toward loosening the stones. Now, if we +make the rope fast to the lower end of the bar, and also to the handle +of the door, one or the other must give way when we get purchase +enough." + +"Yes, I reckon all that is true; but we're no more likely to get a +purchase on it than we are to walk out of here this minute." + +"I believe it can be done." + +"Then the handle of the door will give way first." + +This was rather in the nature of a wet blanket on my hopes; but I would +not admit that the plan had any defects which might not be rectified, +and set about solving the problem. + +Finally I hit upon a plan,--not anything very brilliant, but a makeshift +which might possibly serve our purpose. + +Doubling the rope, I made one end fast to the bar set into the stone we +had been working upon, and the other end I bent on to the corresponding +bar in the next window, hauling it taut as possible. + +"With our feet against the lower edge of the window we should be able to +fetch something away," I said in a hopeful tone; "and even though we +fail at first, the plan is sure to succeed after we've picked out a +little more of the mortar." + +Well, we tugged and strained to the utmost of our strength for ten +minutes or more, and then, just as I had said to myself that we never +could succeed, one end of the bar started ever so slightly. + +"It can be done!" Phil cried exultantly, and would have bent himself +once more for a supreme effort but that I stopped him. + +"There's little chance we could pull two bars out before sunset, and if +the job is but half done when Benson comes back, he'll understand what +we're trying to do. A fellow who makes a business of trapping men won't +stop at anything, however desperate, in order to prevent his villany +from being known to the authorities." + +"Well, are we to sit here idle?" Phil asked angrily. + +"Not a bit of it! We'll amuse ourselves picking mortar from the next +seam, and thus have both stones loosened by nightfall. After dark we can +yank two bars out, or I'm mistaken." + +Now it seemed as if liberty was near at hand; and after I had cast off +the rope that we might be able to lower it from the window in case +Benson proposed to give us any more food, we set to work on the +difficult task of scraping away the hard mortar. + +It must not be supposed that we removed any very great amount during +this long day; but we had laid bare a deep seam, and thus accomplished +more than I had at first believed would be possible. + +When evening had come there was no doubt in my mind but that we could, +by aid of the rope, wrench away the bars, and I felt brave as a lion +when footsteps on the stairs outside told that the scoundrelly Benson +was returning. + +"He didn't succeed in trapping any one else!" Phil said jubilantly. "We +were the only fools on board the _Essex_." + +"Hello in there!" Benson cried out; and I said gruffly:-- + +"Well, what do you want?" + +"It's well to let you know that I'm around. Your ship is ready to leave +port in the morning, and forty-eight hours later you two duffers will be +getting an idea of whale fishing." + +"Which will be better than staying here forced to listen to the voice of +a cur like you!" Phil replied. + +"That little show of temper will cost you your supper," Benson cried in +a rage. "I'll starve you into submission, if you turn rusty, so have a +care." + +"I reckon you've lost your temper because of not finding any more fools +among the crew of the _Essex_!" + +"I don't keep all my birds in one cage." + +"But you've got all from the _Essex_ in this one, and we two make up the +list," Phil cried with a laugh, for he was finding considerable sport in +thus baiting the villain. + +"Better keep a quiet tongue in your head," I whispered, "otherwise he +might come inside and see what we've been doing." + +"I only wish he would!" and Phil flourished his knife in a manner which +told what he would do if our enemy should be so indiscreet as to come +within striking distance. + +Benson stalked to and fro in the hallway when we ceased to reply to his +jibes, and after half an hour or more we heard him descending the stairs +again. + +Then, by gazing through the bars, we could see that he had gone into the +enclosure,--most likely to make certain everything was as he had left +it; and we listened to the noise of his movements until all was silent +once more. + +"He's gone out in the hope of catching such of our men as have +overstayed their shore leave," Phil whispered. "Now is our time to +begin work with the rope." + +I insisted that we wait ten minutes longer, to make it more certain the +scoundrel had left the building, and then we began the task which I +confidently expected would result in our release. + +The rope was made fast as before, and we two laid hold of it with a +will; but haul and pull as we would, the bars remained firmly in place. +That one which we had started during the afternoon was immovable, and +the perspiration was running down our faces in tiny streams before we +were ready to admit that the plan was a failure. + +"He'll work his will with us," Phil said with a sob as we ceased our +efforts and stood facing each other in the darkness. "We can't get out!" + +"Don't lose your courage so soon. We can work at the mortar all day +to-morrow, and then I'm certain the bars will yield." + +"By that time the _Essex_ will have left port." + +"Other American vessels put in here, and surely we can work our way home +without being forced to serve on board a whaler. Besides, the _Essex_ is +likely to visit this port more than once before her work in the Pacific +is concluded." + +Phil would not be soothed, and he turned from me impatiently just as I +fancied a low whistle sounded outside, near the garden wall. + +In an instant I was at the window, pressing my face against the bars +until the iron made great ridges on my cheeks; but the silence was +profound, and I believed that which I heard was nothing more than the +wind. + +Turning from the window in disappointment, I was about to speak to Phil, +when the whistle sounded again, low and soft, but so distinctly that +there could be no mistake. + +Phil heard it as I did, and we two sprang to the gratings once more, +expecting, hoping, to hear the voices of our messmates. + +Everything was silent, and I stood there like a simple fully thirty +seconds before gathering sufficient sense to speak. Then I cried +softly:-- + +"_Essex_ ahoy!" + +"Ahoy in the shanty!" a voice replied, and I sank to my knees in fervent +thanksgiving, for I recognized the tones of Master Hackett. Now, even +though we might not be released, it would be known aboard ship that we +had not deserted. + +"Where are you?" the old seaman asked in a loud whisper, after remaining +silent a few seconds. + +"At a window just above the height of the wall," Phil replied, and then +a happy thought came to me. + +"We've got a half-inch rope here, Master Hackett, and can let it down if +perchance you might be able to use it." + +"If an old shellback like me can't use a rope, I'd like to see the man +who can. Let it down, lads, an' move lively, for I've had hard work to +keep out of the course of a British cub who's been actin' in a way that +don't seem honest." + +While he spoke I was lowering the rope over the wall, and when Master +Hackett sung out that he had it, we belayed the remaining portion to a +couple of the bars, knowing full well that the old man would soon appear +at the top of the wall unless some one on the street interfered with +him. + +Nor were we mistaken. Before I could have counted ten he was clutching +the bars of our prison, asking how we chanced to be in such a scrape. + +In the fewest possible words I explained how we had been trapped and +what Benson proposed to do with us; whereupon the old man said half to +himself:-- + +"Now I can see what he was after when he came rubbin' alongside some of +us, offerin' to show fine sights if we'd go with him. But instead of +standin' here yarnin', I reckon we'd better get you out of the trap." + +"Wouldn't it be well to report on board that we've been made prisoners, +and ask that a squad of men be sent on shore?" Phil asked timidly. "If +Benson should get an inkling of your being here, he'd make more trouble +for us in some way; and it won't pay to take any chances." + +"I don't count on takin' any more'n is wholesome, an' at the same time +ain't willin' to flash up on board with the yarn that I couldn't get the +best of one Britisher, an' him in a foreign country." + +Then Master Hackett made an examination of the bars, after which he +suddenly disappeared from view, and, to my great surprise, I saw that, +pulling the rope inside the wall, he had slipped into the enclosure. + +Now he was almost as much of a prisoner as were we; and if the Britisher +should come back, the old man might find himself in tight quarters, for +it was reasonable to suppose that a man engaged in such a villanous +business as was Benson always went well armed. + +However, it was destined that Master Hackett should not be disturbed; +and we could see him faintly in the darkness, moving here and there as +if in search of something. + +Then he placed the ladder against the wall, and when he had ascended to +the level of our window we saw that he had with him a short piece of +joist. + +Using this as a lever, after we had told him which bars we had been +working on, he forced the iron rods from their sockets in short order, +thus making for us an open door through which we could pass to the top +of the wall. + +[Illustration: HE FORCED THE IRON RODS FROM THEIR SOCKETS IN SHORT +ORDER.] + +"You can come out now," the old man said with a chuckle, "an' the next +time you're in a strange port I reckon you'll be more careful about +followin' them as agree to give a free blow-out." + +It can readily be imagined that we lost no time in acting upon the +suggestion, and by the aid of the rope we slid down to the ground, +exulting in the sense of freedom. + +Master Hackett led us into one of the main streets, and while doing so +explained that when we failed to return to the ship on time he suspected +we had fallen into trouble, although more than one of the men suggested +that we had deserted. + +"I didn't reckon you were the kind of lads who'd turn around in that +fashion, an' so got permission to come ashore for a spell, agreein' to +report to-morrow mornin' if I hadn't come across anything that would +show why you'd failed to turn up. Then it was I run across that +Britisher, an' found he was mighty anxious to give me a free spree. It +was that which made me believe he could tell somethin' about you, an' I +set about findin' where he lived. It wasn't any easy matter for an old +shellback to follow that sneak, who had good reason for thinkin' some of +us might want to know where he anchored hisself nights; but I managed +the traverse in fair shape, an' here we are." + +"Can we go on board the _Essex_ to-night?" Phil asked. + +"I reckon we might by hirin' a boatman; but there's no reason why we +need be in a hurry." + +"I'd rather be on the gun-deck than in this town," Phil replied with a +shudder, and at that instant, just as we were turning a corner, we came +face to face with Oliver Benson, the young Britisher who made a business +of selling Yankee seamen to English whalers. + +My first impulse was to run away, but before I could so much as move +Master Hackett had leaped upon the villain, and then I would not have +beat a retreat no matter what might have been the cost of remaining. + +I joined the fray, for the Britisher immediately began to fight +desperately; and during several moments the three of us had quite as +much of a task as we could perform, for Benson was armed with a wicked +looking knife, and knew right well how to use it. + +But for Phil, the villain would have succeeded in stabbing Master +Hackett in the back while the two were locked in each other's embrace; +but once his weapon was taken from him, the scoundrel showed signs of +submission. + +"Don't give him a chance to play us any tricks," the old man said as he +unknotted his neckerchief preparatory to binding Benson's hands behind +his back; and I wondered greatly why we should burden ourselves with a +prisoner in a town where, for aught we knew, he might have many friends +or accomplices. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AMONG THE WHALERS. + + +This taking a prisoner in a friendly port was, as I considered the +matter for the moment, a serious affair, and without waiting to reflect +I advised Master Hackett to let the fellow go free. + +"He can't do us any more harm, and we'll warn others as to his scheme. +There's no knowing how much of a row may be kicked up by our depriving +him of his liberty." + +"That's no more'n he did to you, an' the chances are that many a poor +fellow is eatin' his heart out aboard a British whaler because of him. +We've got the scoundrel fast, an' I count on keepin' him so, at least +until after he's been brought face to face with Captain Porter." + +Benson spoke no word; the pallor of his face told that he was afraid, +and if we had not known it before, we understood then that at heart he +was a thorough coward. + +I expected each instant that he would call for help, and there were +enough rough characters around Valparaiso to give us no end of trouble +in case they espoused his cause. + +But Benson remained silent, therefore after a time I came to believe he +did not stand on very good terms with the inhabitants of the town, and +had good reason for thinking his summons would not be answered by aid. +This last surmise of mine was soon found to be very nearly correct, as +will presently be seen. + +After tying the Britisher's hands behind his back, Master Hackett seized +him by the arm and led the way toward the shore, followed closely, as +may be supposed, by Phil and me. + +It was near to midnight; the peace-loving inhabitants of the town were +asleep, and the rougher element must have had a rendezvous at some +distance from the water's edge, for we did not meet a single person +until after having walked to and fro on the shore half an hour or more +shouting for a boatman. + +Then a sleepy looking fellow lounged up to Master Hackett, professing +his willingness to do whatsoever might be required, providing a +sufficient amount of money was forthcoming. + +He had no more than given us to understand this much when a moonbeam +lighted up Benson's face, and in an instant the boatman was animated. + +"Where did you get that fellow?" he asked of Master Hackett in Spanish, +and the latter replied in the same language, repeating the conversation +to Phil and me after we were on board the _Essex_; but for the time we +were completely in the dark so far as understanding the drift of the +talk was concerned. + +"We picked him up a short distance from here," the old seaman replied. +"He had jugged two boys belongin' to our ship, countin' on sellin' 'em +to British whalers after the _Essex_ left port." + +"I know him for a villain, an' have had it in mind that he spent his +time shanghaing sailors, but never could bring it home to him. His game +doesn't stop at Yankees; for when there are none in port he'll pick up +anybody, so it's said." + +"Then you have no objections to carryin' him aboard the ship?" + +"What will you do with him there?" + +"Let the captain settle his hash. We've got good proof of what he's been +up to, an' I promise you he won't be treated any too gently." + +"I'll carry you an' him out to the ship for nothing, if by so doing we +can rid ourselves of the villain." + +"I can't say whether the captain will take him out of your way; but you +may be certain it'll go hard with him." + +Until some time later Phil and I were surprised at seeing the boatman +scurrying around as if we had been commissioned officers who promised a +big fee; and he it was who tossed Benson on board the small boat with no +more ceremony than he would have used in handling a bundle of +merchandise. + +In a twinkling we were hailed by the sentry on board the _Essex_, so +rapidly did the boatman work his oars, and Master Hackett gave such an +account of his party as gained us permission to come up the gangway +ladder. + +Not seeing the old seaman offer to pay the man for having pulled us out +to the ship, I took one of the silver shillings from my pocket, offering +it to him; but he shook his head as he pointed with a grin to where +Master Hackett stood arm in arm with Benson. + +The remainder of the night was spent by the Britisher in the prison of +the ship, or, as a sailor would put it, "in the brig"; and we two lads, +after hearing from the old seaman a literal translation of the +conversation he had had with the boatman, tumbled into our hammocks with +thankful hearts. + +A few hours previous it had seemed certain we would be sent on board a +whaler, while our friends believed us deserters, and now we were in our +proper stations once more. Surely, Master Hackett had repaid whatsoever +of a debt he might have owed us for jumping over the rail to rescue him! + +The reception we met with from our messmates next morning was well +calculated to make lads feel proud. Every man jack came up with some +pleasant word as if we were particular friends with all the crew; and +many were the hopes expressed that the Britisher, Benson, would get such +sauce as he deserved. + +There was never a man on board who did not believe our captain would +deal out the most severe punishment in his power, yet it was agreed by +the idlers on the gun-deck that if the villain was let off too easily, +they would ask for permission to go on shore again and make it their +duty to trim him in proper fashion. + +The yarn which had been told Phil and me regarding the sailing of the +_Essex_ was a hoax. She was taking on board provisions for a long +cruise, and it was hardly probable could be got under way for two or +three days at the earliest. + +Half an hour after inspection one of the marines brought the word +forward that Phil and I were to go aft for an interview with the +captain; and while it was no more than we had been expecting, both of us +were considerably excited by the prospect. + +We were rigged out in our best bibs and tuckers, Master Hackett himself +seeing to it that our hats were properly tilted on "three hairs," and +half a dozen of the older men inspecting us gravely to make certain we +were togged in shipshape and Bristol fashion. + +We found the captain with half a dozen of the officers, among whom was +my cousin, Stephen McKnight, seated around a large table in the after +cabin, looking grave as owls; and certain it is that I was trembling +like a leaf when I bowed and scraped in such fashion as Master Hackett +had said was proper. + +"Well, lads," the captain said, speaking as if he believed we were as +good as himself, "I understand that you had quite an adventure ashore +yesterday, and were near coming to grief." + +"Yes, sir," I replied, after waiting in vain for Phil to speak, and my +voice quivered till it was like a wheezy flute. + +"Tell us the whole story from the time you left Hackett, and do not be +afraid of making it too long." + +Again I waited for Phil; but since he showed no signs of piping up I was +obliged to spin the yarn, for it would never have done to keep the +captain waiting. + +All hands were still as mice while I told of our meeting with Benson; +and to make certain they'd believe me, I made Phil pipe up from time to +time with his, "That's true, sir," or, "It's all as Ezra says, sir." + +When I was at the end of the yarn,--and it was a long one, as you may +believe, for I told every little detail from our meeting with Benson +until we were on board ship again,--the captain said, as polite as a +fiddler:-- + +"You may go, lads, and send Hackett aft." + +Phil came very near tumbling over me as he tried to get out of the cabin +in a hurry; and we were hardly more than amidships before we met Master +Hackett, togged out within an inch of his life. + +"The captain has sent for you, sir," I said with all due respect; and +instead of making any reply, the old fellow turned on his heel stiff as +a ramrod, walking aft till his bowlegs cut a perfect circle. + +Once on the gun-deck again we two lads were forced to tell the idlers +all that had occurred; and we were no sooner done with our yarn than +Master Hackett appeared, looking much as if he had just been made master +of a prize. + +With all his fine looks and lordly manner, he could not tell the idlers +more than we had already done, and all hands of us were forced to wait +in suspense until some long-eared marine should come forward with his +budget of news gathered by eavesdropping. + +Half an hour later the crew of the cutter was called away to carry +Lieutenant Downes ashore; and when that officer came back No. 4 boat was +manned, and the prisoner, Benson, put on board. + +It was not until the next day that we learned the whole of the story, +and then all hands were satisfied that justice would be done by the +Chilian authorities in such a fashion that the Britisher would for some +time be unable to continue his scheme of catching Yankees. + +What we finally learned was much like this: Having inquired into the +case thoroughly, as I have already set down, Captain Porter was +convinced that a flogging would be too slight punishment for such a +villain as Benson, and Mr. Downes made an official report of the case to +the authorities of the port. Those officers promised that the +enterprising Britisher should be imprisoned with hard labor for a year +at the very least; and that this was done, Master Hackett, Phil, and I +knew before the _Essex_ left port, for we three visited the jail and saw +the scoundrel picking oakum under charge of well-armed keepers. + +He glanced out of the corner of his eye at us for a single second, and +then looked steadily at his work, nor could we provoke him into +speaking. I thought at the time, however, and had good reason to +remember it afterward, that if the opportunity should ever present +itself for him to get one or all three of us into his power, he would +not be likely to show us much mercy. + +It was on the day we visited the jail that the brig _Jane_, an American +whaler, came into port, and from her master Captain Porter learned very +much which it was necessary he should know. It was reported that nearly +all the British whalers were armed and provided with letters of marque, +which really put them on a footing with ships of war; and, unless their +plans were speedily nipped in the bud, all the vessels hailing from the +United States would be captured. In fact one of them had already been +seized, the Britisher having no difficulty in coming alongside because +the Yankee craft had been so long at sea that her commander had no idea +war had been proclaimed. + +Captain Porter did not linger after receiving such information. He had +proposed to put additional stores on board; but now decided that he +could not afford to spend any more time in port, and immediately signals +were hoisted recalling those who were in the town on shore leave. + +Master Hackett, Phil, and I were no more than on board before the +_Essex_ was under way, and I believe of a verity we would have been left +behind had we loitered half an hour longer. + +We had been at sea two days when we spoke the Yankee whaleship +_Charles_, and ran so close alongside that it was possible to hail her, +when the skipper was summoned on board to give information. + +A more surprised set of men than those who rowed the Nantucket captain +over to us, I never saw. They stared at the _Essex_ in open-mouthed +amaze, and fired volleys of questions at us as we overhung the rail, +knowing full well that we could get the same news from these men as was +being dealt out in the cabin to our commander. + +Not until after we had explained the meaning of our being in the +Pacific, however, could we get any information, and then we learned that +there was work in plenty before us. + +A Peruvian corsair, in company with an armed British brig, had already +captured the ships _Walker_ and _Barclay_ while they were cruising off +Coquimbo, and unless we took a hand the entire Yankee fleet would soon +be gobbled up. + +The Nantucket skipper did not stay in the cabin more than half an hour; +and immediately he was over the rail, our ship was being brought around +"to take a hand in the fun," as Master Hackett announced, while the +_Charles_ followed in the wake of the _Essex_. + +It can readily be imagined that all hands were in a fine state of +excitement by this time, knowing as we did that our work was cut out for +us; but we counted on cruising two or three days at the very least +before coming up with an enemy. + +Our surprise was quite as great as our pleasure, when, not more than +three hours later, and while the _Charles_ was within two miles of us, +we sighted the Peruvian vessel to the northward. + +In a twinkling we ran up the British colors to coax her within striking +distance; and the captain of the _Charles_ showed himself to be quite as +shrewd as are Nantucket men in general, for no sooner was our false +ensign straightened out than he hoisted the English flag over the stars +and stripes, thus making it appear as if he had been captured by us. + +The Peruvian fell into the trap at once, and came down upon us in fine +style, throwing a shot ahead of the _Essex_ when he was about a mile +away. It was carrying matters with a high hand; but I reckon Captain +Porter wasn't very greatly displeased, since it only made our work more +simple. + +Orders were at once given to pitch three shots directly over the +stranger as a token for him to come nearer, which the Peruvian did, at +the same time sending an armed boat to board us. + +Every man jack of us, save those at the starboard guns, were on deck +when the boat came alongside, a lieutenant in full rig standing in the +stern-sheets, and thus it was Phil and I heard all that was said between +this fine fellow and our commander. + +Captain Porter professed to be in a towering rage; he ordered the +lieutenant to go back at once with an order for the Peruvian to run +under our lee, and then send an officer on board to apologize for having +dared to fire at an English man-of-war. + +How that fellow scurried back! He never so much as suspected that we +were other than what had been represented, and in the shortest possible +space of time another lieutenant, wearing so much gold lace that he +looked like a brazen image, came up the gangway ladder grinning and +bowing like an ape. + +Captain Porter received him on the quarter, but never so much as invited +him into the cabin, and Phil and I crowded well aft to hear what we +allowed would be a mighty interesting conversation. + +The lieutenant reported that his ship was the Peruvian privateer +_Nereyda_, armed with fifteen guns, and carrying a full crew. They were +cruising for Americans, he said, and had already captured two,--the +_Walker_ and the _Barclay_; but the British letter of marque _Nimrod_, a +whaler, had driven their prize crew from the _Walker_ and taken +possession of her. The Peruvian had mistaken us for the _Nimrod_, and +fired for the purpose of showing that they did not count on having their +prizes taken from them in such an unceremonious fashion. + +It puzzled me to make out how the Peruvians, who were under Spanish +rule, dared to attack our vessels while Spain was not at war with the +United States; but the old sea lawyers of the gun-deck explained matters +that evening to their entire satisfaction, by saying the Peruvians must +have believed that Spain, who was so dependent upon England, would soon +declare war against us because the king of Great Britain had done so, +and this would make the capture of the whalers legal. + +Whether that was the right view of the case or not, I can't say; but it +satisfied our old shellbacks, and that was enough. + +But to go back to the Peruvian lieutenant who stood on the quarter +shaking hands with himself because he had straightened out the matter of +having fired on us. I suppose he thought our captain would pat him on +the back for being engaged in the work of destroying Yankee whalers, and +was most likely counting on being invited into the cabin to a blow-out +of the best from the officers' stores. + +It was comical to see the fellow jump when Captain Porter gave a signal +for the British ensign to be hauled down and the stars and stripes run +up! He stared first at the flag, and then at the men amidships who were +watching him, until our gun-deck crowd laughed aloud. + +Captain Porter scowled, for it wasn't good manners to make sport of a +prisoner, and then told the Peruvian who we were, although there was +little need of that after he had seen our flag. + +The next minute orders were given to pitch a couple of shots over the +_Nereyda_, and down came her colors as if our balls had cut away the +halliards. They didn't care to dispute the question, but surrendered +off-hand, as if afraid we might take it into our heads to sink their +piratical craft. + +After that, and until three hours were passed, our men had a lively time +taking the privateer's crew aboard the _Essex_ and stowing them in the +cages on the lower deck. It was good practice for Lieutenant Downes's +fleet of boats, and he did all the work, us idlers overhanging the rail +as we watched the sport. + +When all this had been done and the ship's brig was literally packed +with prisoners, Lieutenant McKnight, my cousin, was sent on board the +_Nereyda_ with a prize crew, and all three vessels (for the Nantucket +skipper hung close to us, as if eager to take part in a fight) stood +inshore to look into Coquimbo with the hope of finding there the +_Nimrod_ and her prizes. + +I had almost forgotten to say that when the _Nereyda_ was overhauled, +our men found in the privateer's brig the master and crew of the +captured ship _Barclay_. Of course they were brought on board the +_Essex_, the officers being quartered aft, and the men messing with us +of the gun-deck. A mighty happy crowd they were on finding themselves on +an American man-of-war, after feeling certain they'd be sent to a +Spanish prison. + +From them we learned that there were no less than twenty-three Yankee +whalers in the Pacific, and fully twenty Britishers, all of the +last-named being heavily armed and on the lookout to capture our ships. +The Englishmen were neglecting the fishery, so the newcomers told us, in +order to catch a Yankee, and the _Essex_ hadn't arrived an hour too +soon. Surely, it seemed as if our misfortune in not meeting Commodore +Bainbridge was a blessing in disguise. + +Well, we didn't find in the harbor of Coquimbo that for which we were +searching, and the captain of the _Charles_, disappointed in not getting +an opportunity to take part in a scrimmage, hauled off to attend to the +whales. + +There was no reason why we should hold possession of the Peruvian, and +good cause why we ought to give her up, for we were not at war with +Spain; therefore, after our unsuccessful visit to Coquimbo, the two +ships were hove to within a mile of each other, that Lieutenant Downes's +fleet might gain more experience in handling their boats. + +In the first place, all the privateer's ammunition, shot, small arms, +and light sails were thrown overboard, which left that craft in such +shape that she couldn't do much harm to anything except herself, and +then her crew was sent on board once more. One of the marines told us +that Captain Porter had made the officers of the _Nereyda_ swear to +deliver a letter to the viceroy of Peru as the price of their liberty, +and in that letter our commander denounced the conduct of the +privateer's captain, insisting that he be punished for having acted as a +pirate. + +Both Phil and I would like very much to know if that letter was ever +delivered, and in case the officers kept their promise, what was done +with them for having made prizes of vessels belonging to a nation with +which Spain was not at war. + +There was no need for any one to ask what our course would be after +parting company with the Peruvian cruiser. Captain Porter would search +for the captured Yankees, as a matter of fact; and the only question in +the minds of us on the gun-deck was as to where he would look for them. + +It goes without saying that our old shellbacks wagged their tongues +furiously over this, and finally it was settled among them that the +_Essex_ must perforce cruise around the island of San Gallan. It was +exactly this which our commander did, and those who had predicted it +plumed their feathers mightily at showing so much seamanship. + +Well, we made good headway until the 28th day of March, with nothing of +interest occurring save that half the crew were constantly on the +lookout for the captured vessels, and then we were well up with San +Gallan. On this day we hauled off to the northward and westward, +counting to cross the track of inward-bound craft. + +It appeared that again were we just in the nick of time, for in less +than sixteen hours after changing the course we sighted three sail +standing for Callao. + +It was a case of prize money and no mistake, for there wasn't one chance +in an hundred that either of the strangers was a Yankee, and there was +some lively jumping and hauling as we put the _Essex_ in trim for a +stiff chase. + +The crew of the _Barclay_ declared that the craft nearest was the one +which had been taken from them by the Peruvian, and Captain Porter set +about cutting her out, regardless of others. + +During four hours we had a most exciting time of it, and then it began +to look very much as if we would get the worst end of the bargain. I +wish I was able to set down here a picture of our ship and crew as we +stood with our eyes fixed on the chase, save at such times as it became +necessary to perform some task; but it is beyond a thickheaded lad like +me. One must needs take part in such a race in order to understand all +the sensations which come to a fellow as he watches eagerly the progress +of the craft, trembling with excitement lest the chase will escape, and +then feeling the cold shivers run down his spine as he realizes that +when he is once where he wants to be, he may, perhaps, be called upon +to scrape an acquaintance with death; for if all the enemy in those +waters were heavily armed, it was not probable every one would fall into +our hands as readily as had the Peruvian privateer. + +It was the "luck of the _Essex_," so Master Hackett declared, which +enabled us to win that race; for when the chase doubled the point of San +Lorenzo we were fully three miles astern, and the most sanguine among us +believed that she'd gain harbor before we could run near enough to fire +a shot. + +We kept on, however, as if believing our chances were of the best, +although knowing that in a short time we would be in the unfriendly port +of Callao, and ten minutes later Master Hackett cried out the words I +have just set down. It was the "luck of the _Essex_" that the wind +should leave the chase as she rounded the point, and we brought a good +breeze with us until we were less than half a mile off. + +Then Lieutenant Downes's command was called to quarters; the small fleet +of boats was lowered away, and the crew bent to the oars as if a fortune +of gold awaited every man jack of them. + +We had no idea but that the chase would make some kind of a fight, and +yet, much though I disliked running my head into the path of a round +shot, so great was my excitement that I would have given all my small +possessions could I have been on board the foremost boat. + +Nor was Phil Robbins behind me in enthusiasm. As the fleet got under way +he flung his arms around my neck and bawled in my ears as if I had +suddenly gone stone deaf:-- + +"Why couldn't it be our luck to be there! Why don't Lieutenant Downes +give us lads half a chance?" + +I shook him off just as Master Hackett came near where we were standing, +and was about to make some impatient reply, for it seemed as if we lads +were receiving shabby treatment by being thus left out of all the good +things; but the old seaman interrupted me by saying:-- + +"You young cubs needn't howl because of not gettin' the thick end of all +that's goin' on. Unless our captain has changed from what he was as a +lieutenant when we licked the Turks, you'll get all the 'burnin' powder' +that's needed before this cruise comes to an end." + +Phil and I were not greatly consoled at being thus told that our turn +would come by and by; but in our chagrin we did not lose sight of what +was taking place so near at hand. + +We saw the boats as they approached the becalmed craft spread out like +a fan, that the attack, in case one was needed, might come from all +points at the same time; and to our great surprise the ship's colors +were struck before a gun had been fired. + +She was the _Barclay_, as the blindest among us could see, for the name +was painted on her rail, and we had robbed the Peruvian privateer of +half her prizes! + +Lieutenant Downes did not even take the trouble of sending the prize +crew off to us as prisoners. He put them beneath the hatches, hoisted +three of his boats inboard and sent the others back, signalling to know +what the next move was to be. + +It was by long odds the tamest capture I ever saw, for not a single +grain of powder was burned, and there was no noise save when our crew +cheered the returning boats. + +Captain Porter soon told, by means of the tiny signal flags, what he +expected of those who were in possession of the whaler. We hoisted the +British colors, and the _Barclay_ sent up the English ensign over the +stars and stripes, after which the wind breezed up with sufficient force +to carry us into Callao. + +We were to enter the port as an Englishman with a prize, and there get +such information as might be useful. + +It was my cousin Stephen who went ashore with a boat's crew, never +heeding the fact that both Phil and I were eager to go with him; and +when he came out, two hours later, signals were shown for both vessels +to gain an offing. + +As we on the gun-deck afterward learned, the fact that the _Essex_ was +so far from home had not yet been made known along the coast, and our +commander was not the kind of a man to dawdle in port when he might be +out attending to business. + +Once we had gained a good offing, the officers and crew of the _Barclay_ +were given the opportunity to go on board their own craft; but nearly +all of them decided to remain with us, and some of our people were +drafted to man her. + +It seems, as we soon came to know, that the captain of the _Barclay_ +proposed that his ship cruise with us, acting as pilot to point out the +enemy, and this proposition was accepted. + +Captain Porter now had a fleet of two ships, and with them he stretched +off the coast to the northward and westward, hunting for whatsoever +might be picked up in the way of Britishers. + +On that night, when our cruise was begun from a new point of departure, +the sea lawyers began to argue as to what should be done now we were on +profitable grounds, and before it was time to turn in they had settled +to their own satisfaction all that our commander should or should not +do. + +I was tired with hearing their tongues wag, and had turned to go further +aft where the chin music was not so loud, when Phil came up, the +expression on his face telling plainly that he had some important matter +in mind. + +"You're to go to your cousin to-morrow morning, Ezra, and beg of him +that we be given permission to join Lieutenant Downes's fleet. It is not +fair that we should miss all the most exciting portion of the work by +being forced to remain aboard the _Essex_ when there are prizes to be +captured." + +"It may be exciting enough if we fall afoul of a Britisher who is in +trim to fight," I said grimly, not minded to let him know how sore my +heart was because we had not been selected by Lieutenant Downes when he +drafted his crew. + +"Master Hackett says we won't see a real fight this side of Cape Horn, +because there's nothing here with metal enough to stand us off, except +the British 64-gun _Standard_, and it's reported that she has already +left Lima, bound for England." + +"We may find some craft that will show her teeth, despite all Master +Hackett says," I replied, little dreaming how nearly the truth I was +speaking. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE NEW FLEET. + + +It would please me greatly to be able to go into all the details of what +was done by the officers and crew of the _Essex_ while a new fleet was +being gotten together, for we did actually collect a squadron of vessels +while so far from the home port; but we met with so many startling +adventures, each of which would be of greater interest to a stranger +than the setting down exactly how that or the other vessel was captured, +that I shall tell this portion of the yarn as briefly as possible. + +First let me say, however, that Phil Robbins and I were treated by the +men on the gun-deck more as shipmates and less like boys after our +adventure in Valparaiso, although why there should have been any change +I am wholly unable to say, for we did nothing of moment, save to show, +by our willingness to accompany Benson when he baited the trap for us, +that we were more simple than lads of our age ought to have been. + +It is not to be supposed that the old shellbacks showed any very intense +desire to be with us, and sometimes plainly said that the room we +occupied was better than our company; but they spoke with us now and +then as if we were in fact shipmates, sometimes even going so far as to +tell us a particularly interesting yarn. It goes without saying that we +were forced to wait upon the whole boiling of them, and were seldom +allowed an idle hour; but, to describe the situation in a word, there +was a decided and agreeable change so far as we two lads were concerned. + +After the _Barclay_ had been recaptured and remanned, we stood across +from the mainland toward the islands without meeting a craft of any +kind. On the 17th of April we made Chatham Island, but were not rewarded +by the sight of an enemy, and a few days later we hove to off Charles's +Island, where was located the whalers' post-office. + +This last consisted only of a stout box nailed to a tree, where the +fishermen deposited letters for each other, or to be taken home by the +craft heading in that direction. Captain Porter did not hesitate to +rifle the "mail," and by so doing gained much valuable information +concerning the different ships in the Pacific. + +We cruised around among the islands, seeing nothing which interested us +in the way of business, until the 29th of April, just at sunrise, when +all hands rushed on deck at the welcome cry of "Sail ho!" the first we +had heard since the day we came across the _Barclay_. + +A large ship could be seen to the westward, and an hour after we began +the chase two other craft were sighted a trifle farther south. + +With three ships in sight, and the odds in favor of all being enemies, +it can well be understood that we were in a fine state of excitement. + +Until this time I had positively refused to do as Phil desired in the +way of asking my cousin, Lieutenant McKnight, to use his influence with +Lieutenant Downes to the end that we might be considered as members of +his fleet; but on this morning, when it seemed positive there would be +hot work in plenty before night, I plucked up sufficient courage, as my +kinsman was standing on the break of the quarter, to approach him. + +It was the first time since we left port that I had ventured so far as +to speak to an officer without first being accosted, and Stephen--I mean +Lieutenant McKnight--looked surprised, as indeed he had good cause to +be, since it is not customary for boys aboard a man-of-war to address +familiarly those who are so far above them in station. + +However, it so chanced that the lieutenant was in good humor, as he +should have been, with so many possible prizes in sight, and kindly +answered my salute by asking what I would have. + +Had he been ashore and had I never sailed under his command, I should +have accosted him by the name of Stephen, and made known my wants +boldly; but now I stuttered and stammered like a simple, thus showing +what a difference a uniform and a commission can make. + +After a time, however, I managed to say, he kindly encouraging me to +"speak up man fashion":-- + +"There's like to be much work for all hands before night, sir, and +Philip Robbins and I are sore at heart because of never having a chance +to prove that we can do more than falls to the lot of boys aboard ship." + +"So!" the lieutenant said with a laugh. "You are growing down-hearted +because there isn't danger enough?" + +"It's not exactly that, sir; but when danger does come, we want our full +share of it." + +"Then you have no cause for complaint, lad. A round shot is as likely to +take you off as me; aboard ship we all run the same chances." + +"But those who are under Lieutenant Downes when his fleet is called away +are likely to see more service and have better opportunities for earning +advancement," I stammered, whereat he laughed heartily, thus putting me +considerably more at my ease. + +"You are eager to try your hand at close work?" he said, rather than +asked; and I fancied he was not displeased because I had ventured to +approach him on such an errand. + +"That is what we most desire, sir," I replied. "If you could only +persuade Lieutenant Downes to take us with him when next the boats are +called away, I would do anything I could to repay you when we get +ashore." + +"But what would my uncle, your father, say when I saw him? Do you think +he is as eager that his son should be shot as you are?" + +"We're not counting on that part of it, sir. All who come to close +quarters with an enemy are not shot, else you would never be standing on +this quarter-deck, wearing the uniform of a lieutenant." + +He smiled at this bold speech of mine, whereat I plucked up courage +sufficient to continue by saying:-- + +"Unless you had been given an opportunity of showing what you could do, +a commission would never have come your way." + +"Now we are getting at the real reason for this request!" he exclaimed +cheerily. "You and Robbins believe that by taking part in one sharp +engagement rapid advancement is assured?" + +"We never will advance, sir, until we have shown ourselves worthy, and +there is no great chance of doing good work while we loiter on board +when others are paving their way to a commission." + +"You speak right sensibly, Cousin Ezra," he said, in a tone which went +straight to my heart; for it proved that he had not forgotten the ties +of kinship which bound us, even though he was so much higher in station. +"I will do all I may properly to persuade Mr. Downes to take you under +his wing. If I succeed, remember that I would be equally shamed if you +showed the white feather." + +"None of the McKnights have ever done anything of the kind, sir, and +it's not likely your cousin would be the first to write himself down a +coward." + +"I begin to believe that you're of the right sort, Ezra; and if you +don't make your way in the navy, it won't be because I haven't done my +share toward it." + +Surely, a lad could not ask for a fairer promise than that; and after +saluting properly I went forward, feeling remarkably well pleased with +myself. + +I found Phil on the forecastle-deck, and the lad was so overjoyed by the +news, having come to believe I would never dare ask such a favor of my +cousin, that he would have kissed me then and there, but I sprang back +in time to prevent an exhibition which must have made us the +laughing-stock of all our messmates. + +From this time on it can well be imagined that we watched the chase with +even more of interest than would ordinarily have been displayed, and +Phil said again and again that he hoped the wind would die away, so we +might be called to the boats. + +If all his wishes could have been granted so quickly, he might have +counted himself the most fortunate lad in all the world. + +We rapidly overhauled the ship first sighted, and it was no more than +nine o'clock in the morning when we came within half a mile, pitching a +shot across her bows which brought her to in short order. + +The _Essex_ was run within hailing distance, and then we learned that +our prize was the British whaleship _Montezuma_, with fourteen hundred +barrels of oil on board. + +We could not afford to spend very much time on her because the other two +craft were near at hand, and without further ceremony than that of +hailing to learn who she was, a prize crew was called away to board her. + +We waited only long enough to make certain our men were not opposed +when they went over the rail, and then the _Essex_ was headed for the +other ships, both of whom were clawing off at the best possible speed. + +For two hours we cracked on every inch of canvas that could be spread, +overhauling the strangers in fine style, and then, while we were yet +fully eight miles distant, Phil's wish was granted. The wind died away +so suddenly that, save for the general excitement of taking prizes, all +hands would have been on the lookout for a squall, and Phil cried in my +ear:-- + +"Now we shall see something of real business. Those craft won't submit +tamely to our small boats, and we shall know what a sea-fight is like!" + +I believed he spoke only the truth, and once more the cold shivers +chased themselves up and down my backbone; for despite all the fine +words with which I had regaled my cousin, I was not really hankering to +put myself in the way of the smallest shot that might be fired. The +mischief had been done, however, and by no one but myself; therefore the +least I could do was to look pleasant, although I hoped most fervently +that Mr. Downes would give no heed to my cousin's request. + +In this last I was most wofully disappointed, for Phil had hardly more +than ceased speaking when a marine came to summon me aft. + +I went, knowing full well why the order had been sent, and blaming +myself for a meddling fool, when by holding my tongue I might have +remained safe and sound on board the _Essex_ instead of pulling a heavy +oar two or three hours simply that the Britishers could have an +opportunity to kill me. + +Lieutenant Downes was on the quarter talking with Captain Porter when I +came up, and not until his interview with the commander was come to an +end did he turn toward me. Then it was to say:-- + +"So you and your comrade are eager for a taste of boat-work?" + +I could do no less than agree with him after all the fine speeches I had +made to my cousin; and he said, as if believing he was doing me a +wonderful favor:-- + +"When the boat crews are called away, you two lads will take your places +alongside me. I have promised Mr. McKnight to have an eye out on you +bloodthirsty youngsters, and it won't be my fault if he doesn't hear +exactly how you behaved under fire." + +If I had not been on the quarter-deck I believe of a verity I should +have groaned; as it was I said to my miserable self that if we caught it +very hot, my cousin would wish I had never been born. + +I thanked the lieutenant in a shaky voice, and, saluting, went forward +to wreak my vengeance on Phil for having persuaded me into such a scrape +when there was no sense in it. + +I changed my mind very quickly after joining the lad; he, like me, had +grown faint-hearted now the opportunity for hot work was close at hand, +and I knew by the expression on his face that he regretted, as did I, +having made any such foolish request. + +"I suppose we've got to go," he said in a faint tone; and the contrast +between his manner now and when I first told him what my cousin had +promised, was so comical that I could not keep my face straight. "It's +all very well for you who are really brave," he continued, believing +from the smile on my face that there was no fear in my heart; "but I +don't think I want to go." + +Since he had given me the credit of being brave when, as a matter of +fact, I was more cowardly even than he, I did not propose to undeceive +him, but said as stoutly as possible:-- + +"You can't back out now, Phil, else every man on board will set you +down for the veriest kind of a coward." + +"That's just what I am," he whispered, and again I laughed, this time +because I had earned the reputation of being stout-hearted when any lamb +would have outclassed me in that respect. + +We were not given much time to mourn over the situation. Our +conversation was hardly more than come to its sorrowful end when the +word was given for the crews of the boats to stand ready, and we two +lads ranged ourselves meekly beside Mr. Downes. + +We embarked in proper fashion once the boats came alongside, and were +stationed in the stern-sheets near the lieutenant, when it would have +been more to my liking had we been forced to work the oars; for by so +doing we might keep our thoughts from what seemed surely to be before +us. + +As I have said, it was about eleven o'clock when the wind died out, and +the _Essex_ was fully eight miles from the nearest stranger. + +I could see that the men were settling to the oars for a long pull, and +the knowledge that whatsoever danger awaited us was an hour or more in +the future enabled me to keep my cowardly fears in check. Phil also +revived when he understood that some considerable time must elapse +before we had come within range of the enemy's guns, and looked quite +cheerful as we answered the cheers of those on board the _Essex_. + +Not until two o'clock, and by that time I was terribly cramped with +sitting so long in one position, did we come near the strangers. Then we +were about a mile distant when they hoisted the British colors and +opened fire. + +We were so far away, and their aim was so bad, that the shots failed to +come within an hundred yards of us, whereat my courage increased once +more; my heart came out of my boots where it had gone at the sound of +the first gun, and I began to think the danger was not so great as had +been represented. + +Phil remained silent, clutching my belt, and I could feel his hand +trembling violently. + +"They can't send a shot anywhere near us," I whispered encouragingly. + +"Ay, there's little danger while we're so far away; but we're going +nearer each moment, and then of a surety they must strike us." + +This was a very unpleasant suggestion, and I ceased my efforts at +bolstering up his courage as I tried to stiffen my own. + +The Britishers were lying about a quarter of a mile apart, and because +the men were at the guns ready for action, I fancied we were very near a +bloody engagement. + +Lieutenant Downes gave a command for the boats to form in open order, +and each craft shot out of line until she was heading a course of her +own, the whole advancing after the fashion of the sticks of a fan. + +It seemed strange to me that the enemy ceased firing at the moment we +began the advance in proper fashion. We could see that on board the +nearest ship they were training their guns on us, and expected each +instant one of our craft would be struck, yet not a piece was +discharged. + +Nearer and nearer we approached, until it was possible to see distinctly +every person on deck; but still the guns remained silent. + +I hardly dared to breathe, nor would I look at Phil lest he should read +in my eyes the fear that was in my heart. + +We were come within fifty yards; every gun on the port side was trained +upon us, and the officers on the quarter stood as if on the point of +giving the order to open fire. + +I shut my eyes, for it seemed certain that the battle could not longer +be delayed, and to my mind there was little chance any of our boats +would survive the first broadside. + +The rousing cheers of the men startled me into opening my eyes again, +and for an instant I could not understand the meaning of the shouts; but +Phil soon enlightened me as he exclaimed in a tone of most intense +relief:-- + +"They've struck their colors! They've struck their colors!" + +It was indeed a fact, and our boat's crew scrambled on board, we two +lads following in silent amazement, hardly conscious of what we were +doing until Lieutenant Downes began calling off the names of those who +would remain on board as prize crew. + +We had captured the _Georgiana_, a British whaler which had originally +been built for the East India Company's service, and was credited with +being a fast sailer. She was pierced for eighteen guns, but had only six +mounted when we took possession of her. + +After the crew had been sent below, the hatches closed, and the officers +were imprisoned in the cabin, Lieutenant Downes called away such of our +men as had been selected to man the prize, and off we went to try +conclusions with the second craft. + +By this time Phil and I were quite brave; we had come to understand +that danger cannot be lessened by fear, and were disposed to believe +that the British whalers were not such fighters as had been supposed. + +Our small fleet dashed on toward the second ship in the same order as +when we came upon the _Georgiana_, and the same peaceful capture was +ours. All the ship's crew were at the guns, yet they hauled down their +colors when we were close upon them, and the Essex had taken three +prizes in one day. + +This last ship proved to be the _Policy_, a whaler, pierced for eighteen +guns and having ten mounted. + +How our men cheered when we were on board the third prize without so +much as a scratch! It was something to boast of, this taking three fine +ships in one day, and again did it appear as if the "luck of the +_Essex_" was an established fact. + +Lieutenant Downes did not think it necessary to pull back to the frigate +now that the work was finished and there did not appear to be anything +of importance on hand. The crews were set about this trifling duty or +that, and we waited until sunset for a wind, when the prizes were sailed +down to where the flagship lay close alongside the _Barclay_ and the +_Montezuma_. + +It was a veritable fleet which Captain Porter now had under his command, +and the only drawback was the number of prisoners we were forced to +look after; but that was a trifling matter when one considered it as the +only cost of four fine ships. + +Master Hackett thought it proper to compliment Phil and me on our +manliness in applying for permission to go with Lieutenant Downes at a +time when it seemed positive there was hot work ahead, and I felt much +as though I was acting a lie when I remained silent while the old man +was bestowing so much praise upon us. + +If he had known all that was in our hearts as we were pulling toward the +whalers, I question if he would so much as have spoken to us again. + +Now we two, Phil and I, began to ask ourselves if we were regularly +drafted to Mr. Downes's fleet, or whether we had been taken for that one +cruise only; and, ashamed though I should be to confess it, there was a +great hope in my heart that in the future we would be forced to remain +on board the _Essex_ when there was any more cutting out to be done. + +Before another day had come to an end we of the gun-deck learned, +through one of the marines, as a matter of course, that Captain Porter +had decided to equip the _Georgiana_ as a cruiser, with Lieutenant +Downes as commander. By so doing he would have an able assistant in +searching for the enemy, and also a consort on which the crew of the +_Essex_ might find refuge in case of any serious injury to the frigate. + +And now it was that, remaining at sea as if we were in dock, the work of +making the fleet ready for service was begun; and the old shellbacks +insisted that by so doing we were adding to the marvellous achievements +of our ship. She had sailed halfway around the world, depending upon the +enemy for supplies, going where there could be no possibility of +receiving assistance in case she was overtaken by disaster,--which was +something that had never been attempted before,--and now we were to +eclipse even that feat by remodelling the enemy's merchantmen into war +vessels while in mid-ocean, using for the purpose supplies we had just +captured. + +If ever there was a case of living on the enemy, ours surely was this +situation. + +From this day until the difficult task had been performed every man and +boy was kept busy from early dawn until darkness rendered it difficult +to see what we were about; and in this general furbishing our own ship +was not neglected. The rigging of the _Essex_ was overhauled and tarred; +strained spars were replaced by new ones, and the frigate was given a +complete coat of paint. + +The _Georgiana_ was transformed by the taking down of her try-work, +which had been used for getting oil from the blubber of whales, and all +the small arms from the other prizes were sent on board. She was given +her full complement of guns, those from the _Policy_ being transshipped, +and on the 18th day of May Lieutenant Commandant Downes hoisted the +American pennant on board the _Georgiana_, 16, firing a salute of +seventeen guns, all of which were answered by the _Essex_, while the +remaining prizes made as much noise as was possible. + +We had a great celebration that day when a new ship was added to the +United States Navy, and the cooks did their share toward it by filling +our duff so full of plums that one could almost believe he was eating a +regular, home-made pudding. + +The manning of our prizes cost us so many of our crew that after all the +ships were in sailing trim we had on board the _Essex_ only two hundred +and sixty-four, including officers, a small number, as Master Hackett +declared, to handle the frigate in case we found ourselves in +action,--an event which seemed only too probable when it should be known +in England what mischief we were working among the whalers. + +Our new man-of-war was given a fair trial to prove whether she was as +good a sailer as had been believed, and we soon learned that the +Britishers were decidedly at fault regarding her. She could not hold her +own with the _Essex_ even under the most favorable circumstances; but +yet she was by no means a tub, and might be of great service before +falling in with an enemy sufficiently heavy to send her to the bottom. + +Four days after being put into commission the _Georgiana_ set off on an +independent cruise, and we hung around Charles's Island until the 28th +of May before sighting another sail. + +Then one hove in sight dead ahead, and, success having made us +confident, we piled on the canvas, believing she was the same as ours +already. + +Our three prizes, with good working crews, were close aboard us at the +moment the stranger was sighted, and away we dashed in the finest style, +ready to meet anything from a line-of-battle ship to a couple of +frigates. + +The chase was begun late in the afternoon, and we held on all night, +keeping her well in sight, and heaving in view another sail of which we +took no notice, save to send a couple of boats after her, for the bird +which we had almost in our hand was worth any two well down on the +horizon. + +The stranger was a big ship, and sailed well; but she could not hold +her own with the _Essex_, and by nine o'clock next morning we were +alongside with the crew at quarters. + +We believed of a verity that this fellow would fight, since he had ten +ports on a side, and once more did I feel too nervous for comfort; but +no sooner were we in a position to open the battle than she surrendered, +and we were in possession of the British whaler _Atlantic_, of three +hundred and fifty-five tons burden, carrying twenty-four men. She had +eight eighteen-pounders mounted, and might have held us in check long +enough to show that English sailors are the gluttons at fighting which +they claim to be. + +No sooner had we thrown a prize crew on board, and seen to it that the +Britishers were secured where they couldn't make any trouble for our +men, than the _Essex_ was put about in chase of the sail we had sighted +during the night, our consorts following a long distance in our wake, +unable to keep the pace we were setting. + +We came up with the chase about noon, and then were becalmed within two +miles of her. + +She appeared to be heavily armed, and we were short-handed in +consequence of having distributed so many men among the prizes taken +thus far, as well as sending out the two boats, which had probably been +picked up by some of our fleet before this time. + +To equip the fleet of small boats would require nearly every man and boy +on board, leaving no one to handle the frigate in case the wind sprang +up, and as we noted this fact--I mean as the old shellbacks discussed +it--Master Hackett said to me with a long-drawn sigh of relief:-- + +"It's the luck of the _Essex_ to find Britishers so plentiful; but this +time she's got more'n a mouthful, an' that fellow yonder is like to give +us the slip unless our slow-movin' prizes work up this way before the +wind rises." + +"Do you mean, Master Hackett, that we can't make any effort at capturing +her?" I asked in surprise. + +"Look about an' see if that ain't the size of it. Do you reckon Captain +Porter would strip his own ship, leavin' her helpless in case this 'ere +calm ended with a squall?" + +It surely did not seem possible our commander would do anything of the +kind, and my heart was heavy as I gazed at the Britisher lying so near +at hand and we unable to so much as come up with her. + +Before our crew had much time for discussion we were startled, and some +of the oldest hands almost frightened, by being called to man the boats; +and our surprise may be imagined when we learned that every craft was to +be sent off. + +I saw the old shellbacks looking at each other furtively, exchanging odd +glances and shrugging their shoulders as much as to say that Captain +Porter must have taken leave of his senses; but into the boats they +went, and all hands followed until there were none left aboard the +frigate except the captain himself, the chaplain, the captain's clerk, +and the boatswain. + +Four men only to look after the _Essex_ in case of sudden danger, or in +event of our being forced to surrender! It surely seemed as if we were +gazing upon the frigate for the last time, when the boats were pulled +away, and I heard Master Hackett mutter to the man nearest him:-- + +"Take your good-by squint at the old hooker, matey, for I'm reckonin' +there's many a chance you'll never see her again. I'm willin' to admit +that a man-o'-warsman is bound to run many a risk; but this 'ere beats +anything I ever saw or heard of before." + +And from the expression on the faces of all I understood that to a man +the crew believed we were going far beyond our duty,--which fact, as may +well be imagined, was not calculated to make me very comfortable in +mind. There were an hundred things likely to happen that would leave us +without a ship, and it was by no means even chances that we could gain a +foothold on the deck of the stranger. Surely, the day must come when we +should find a Britisher who would fight, even though he was no more than +a whaler, and this might be the day. + +Looking back I could see Captain Porter pacing the quarter-deck, and I +wondered if he believed himself fully justified in thus leaving the +frigate to the mercy of the sea and weather when we might not succeed in +our errand. + +However, it was not for a lad like me to speculate as to whether the +captain was going beyond duty and reason. I was a member of the boat's +crew, and as such must do my utmost to make of the expedition a success, +regardless of what threatened the _Essex_. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS. + + +Our fears as to what fate might overtake the _Essex_ while we were away +and she had only four men to care for her, were forgotten in a great +measure as we neared the Britisher. + +Probably the question in the minds of all was as to whether the stranger +would show fight. I know it fully occupied my thoughts; but, greatly to +my surprise, I was not very much afraid of what might happen. Perhaps +because there were so many things to think about, I gave less heed to +the enemy than I would have done under other circumstances. + +There is no good reason why I should spin out this portion of the yarn +any longer than is absolutely necessary, more especially since there is +so much of later happening and greater importance to be set down. + +It is enough to say that we approached the enemy in proper fashion, +ready for any kind of a scrimmage, and instead of firing a gun he hauled +down his colors as the others had done. Cowardly though I was, it +disappointed me because these Britishers submitted so tamely. + +We now had, as the second prize of the day, the letter of marque ship +_Greenwich_, three hundred and thirty-eight tons burden, carrying ten +guns and a crew of twenty-five men. + +Captain Porter had taken many chances in sending us all away at the same +time, yet by doing so he had gained another prize which, had she been +left at liberty, might have worked serious mischief to our merchantmen. + +It can readily be supposed that we did not lose any time in getting back +to the frigate. Men enough to take care of the prisoners and work the +prize were left on board, and the remainder of us pulled to the _Essex_ +at full speed, feeling, when we went on deck once more, as if the old +ship had escaped some deadly peril. + +By the time the remainder of our fleet came up, bringing with them the +two boats we had sent out during the night, the _Essex_ was lying +alongside two fine prizes which had not cost us a single charge of +powder. + +We now had four prizes, in addition to the _Barclay_, and I was arguing +with Phil as to how it would be possible to care for them all, and at +the same time take any more, when Master Hackett joined us. + +"I reckon you lads think the old _Essex_ has got about as much as she +can stagger under, eh?" he began; and I repeated to him what Phil and I +had been saying. + +"I allow we've got a good big job on our hands, lads," the old man said, +speaking thoughtfully, as if weighing well every word, "an' now's come +the time when Captain Porter is bound to make port. We're feedin' a +crowd of men, an' can't do any great amount of work with so many craft +to look after." + +"Will we go to Valparaiso?" Phil asked, thinking of Benson. + +"It's beyond an old shellback like me to say, lad; but if I was the +captain of this 'ere frigate, I'd think twice before I poked my nose +into that port the second time." + +"Why? They treated us well before." + +"Ay, an' that's why I'd keep my weather-eye liftin' while we're in these +waters. England is a strong nation, an' these 'ere young republics won't +dare hold out against her commands very long. There'll be a big lot of +kickin' in Great Britain when word is sent there of what we've been +doin', an' you'll find that she'll shut every port on the Pacific +against us." + +I did not fully understand all Master Hackett said; but no particular +harm was done because of my ignorance, since it matters little whether a +boy aboard ship knows the whys and wherefores of everything. + +However, there must have been good reasoning in the old man's words, +since Captain Porter did exactly that which Master Hackett would have +advised. + +When prize crews were on board all our captured ships we were so short +of hands that Lieutenant Gamble of the marines was given charge of the +_Greenwich_, because we had no naval officer to put in command, and the +entire fleet was gotten under way without unnecessary delay. + +None of us on the gun-deck knew for what port we were bound, until the +19th of June, when we ran into the harbor of Tumbez, and came to anchor. + +Why it was, none of our old sea lawyers could determine satisfactorily; +but not one of the crew was given shore liberty. There was no unusual +amount of work to be done on the ships, yet we were kept aboard as close +as if there was danger some of us might desert. + +The captain went on shore every day to bargain for provisions to be +paid for with the money we captured from the _Nocton_, and boatloads of +stores were put aboard this ship or that; therefore it was certain the +inhabitants were friendly, or would be so long as our cash lasted. + +There was no little amount of grumbling because we were kept so snug; +but as a matter of course none of the hard words were spoken where they +might be overheard by the officers, therefore nothing came of it. + +Five days after we let go our ground tackle three sail were seen +standing into the bay, and we were summoned to get the frigate under +way, but the order was countermanded when those on the foremost ship +lowered a boat as if to come ashore. + +Captain Porter waited to learn who the visitors were, and soon we had +the great satisfaction of seeing Lieutenant Downes in the stern-sheets +of the boat, although it puzzled us not a little as to why he had +returned thus soon. + +Of course the lieutenant came on board the _Essex_, as did those who had +manned his boat, and we of the gun-deck heard the whole story of the +_Georgiana's_ adventures while Mr. Downes was having his confab in the +cabin. + +And what a story it was! We cheered and yelled as our old shipmates +spun it off, and nearly went wild with rejoicing. + +Here is the yarn boiled down, and that it was true we knew full well, +for yonder were the prizes coming to close under the _Georgiana_ stern. + +It seems that after leaving us Lieutenant Downes cruised off James's +Island, where he fell in with two Britishers. Hoisting the English +colors, he soon had the captains of the whalers sitting comfortably in +his cabin, and then he told them who he was. Well, the prizes were taken +without resistance, as a matter of course, and the United States entered +into possession, less what prize money would be coming to us, of the +ship _Catherine_ of two hundred and seventy tons burden, carrying eight +guns and twenty-nine men, and the _Rose_, two hundred and twenty tons, +eight guns and twenty-one men. + +After manning these prizes, Lieutenant Downes had only twenty as a crew +all told, and yet that fact did not prevent him from giving chase next +day to the whaler _Hector_, a ship of two hundred and seventy tons, +twenty-five men, and carrying eleven guns, although she was pierced for +twenty. + +This last craft was a Britisher who stood ready to fight, and when Mr. +Downes understood that he had an action on his hands, with hardly men +enough to work his ship, he put the prisoners in irons so that they +might not be able to lend a hand to their countrymen. + +When the _Hector_ was ordered to surrender she refused, and Mr. Downes +let her have a broadside which brought down her main-topmast. The crew +had good pluck, however, and fought their ship until nearly all her +standing and running rigging was shot away, when they could do no less +than haul down their colors. The Britishers had two men killed and six +wounded. + +After putting a prize crew on board this last capture, Lieutenant Downes +had but ten men left in the _Georgiana_, and, including the wounded, he +held seventy-three prisoners. Now it seems that the _Rose_ was an old +tub of a ship which it wouldn't pay to bring into port under the +circumstances; therefore he threw her guns overboard, and filled her +with the prisoners, on condition that they head direct for St. Helena. + +When that had been done he steered for Tumbez, for it appears that he +and Captain Porter had agreed to go there when it was necessary to make +a port. + +Now our fleet consisted of nine sail, and it began to look as if we +might take possession of every port in the Pacific Ocean, if we were so +minded. The beauty of it was that all our ships and ammunition had come +from the Britishers, which was surely an economical way of carrying on a +war. + +Even Phil and I were puffed up with pride because of what had been +accomplished, and we crowed as loud as any man on the gun-deck when we +went over and over again the "luck of the _Essex_." + +We soon learned that the fleet was not yet to the captain's liking, and +on the morning after the arrival of Mr. Downes our people set about +making a change. + +The _Atlantic_, which, as you will remember, we captured just before +running for Tumbez, was an hundred tons larger than the _Georgiana_, and +had shown herself to be a better sailer, as well as possessing superior +qualifications for a cruiser; therefore Mr. Downes and his crew were +transferred to her. Twenty guns were mounted in this new sloop of war, +and she was manned by sixty men. Her name was changed to _Essex Junior_, +and a right trim little ship she was, I can assure you. + +The _Greenwich_ we made over into a store-ship, and all the spare stores +of the other vessels were put into her. She was armed with twenty guns, +but had no more of a crew than was absolutely necessary to work her; +therefore we could not count that she would do much in the way of making +prizes. + +The carpenters were yet busily at work on the _Essex Junior_ when we +left port; but we had become accustomed to fitting at sea, therefore a +little thing like that did not disturb the most nervous. + +A brave show we made as we passed out of the harbor with the stars and +stripes floating in the breeze, and I would have given half my share of +prize money if the people at home could have seen us, and known how this +squadron had been gotten together. + +We were yet at sea on the Fourth of July, and then was held a Yankee +celebration which must have astonished the mermaids. Every ship fired a +salute, and, what pleased us most, did it with powder we had taken from +the Britishers. We had plum duff till we could eat no more, to say +nothing of roast pig, vegetables, and other such cabin stores as tickle +the appetite. + +Phil and I had by this time come to believe we were quite brave, and +counted on the moment when in action we should do that which would cause +Captain Porter to praise us from the quarter-deck in the presence of all +the ship's company. + +On the 9th of July the _Essex Junior_ was in good sailing trim, and the +fleet was hove to in order to part company with the new sloop of war. +Our commander had decided to send the prizes, _Hector_, _Catherine_, +_Policy_, and _Montezuma_, as well as the recaptured ship _Barclay_, +into Valparaiso, and Commandant Downes was to take charge of the matter. + +We parted company about noon, the frigate, with the _Greenwich_ and +_Georgiana_, remaining hove to until the _Essex Junior_ and her convoy +were hull down in the distance, after which we squared away for a cruise +among the Gallipagos, so the marines who had stood guard in the cabin +reported; but we knew that between where we then were and the islands in +question was a good chance of taking more prizes, and, because of the +"luck of the _Essex_," reckoned on adding to our list of captures before +arriving at this new cruising ground. + +We counted on having our average good fortune; but never dreamed, +confident though we were, of the success which was so soon to be ours. + +Four days after we parted company with our prizes and the _Essex +Junior_, that is to say, on the 13th day of July, the lookouts sighted +three sail off Banks's Bay, all on a wind, but a good deal separated. + +Phil and I were no longer excited by such information. Both of us felt +elated; but we had thus far captured everything which had been sighted, +and when a sail was reported, we of the gun-deck at once reckoned her +as a prize. Had we failed to take two or three craft during our cruise, +then we would have been in suspense until the chase was ended; but so +good had been our fortune that the worst grumblers among the crew began +to find fault because the Britishers fell into our hands like over-ripe +apples. + +Our little fleet was in a bunch, hardly more than a quarter of a mile +separating each craft, when the word was given that more ships had come +up to be captured; and on this day we had an opportunity of learning how +well the squadron could manoeuvre. + +Captain Porter signalled that he would give chase to the ship in the +middle of the line, which was farthest down to leeward, while the +_Greenwich_ and the _Georgiana_ endeavored to cut off one of the others. + +This race was different from others which had fallen to our lot, +inasmuch as we were eager to know what was going on astern as well as +ahead; and every man jack of us off duty gathered on the +forecastle-deck, confident that all three of the strangers would be +taken, but curious as to how it might be done. + +We of the frigate overhauled our portion of the chase rapidly; but the +stranger was so far to leeward that we were forced to run a long +distance from our consorts, and when the _Essex_ was a couple of +leagues off, those who were watching astern could see that one of the +strangers which we had left for the _Georgiana_ and the _Greenwich_ to +look after, had tacked, and was evidently manoeuvring to cut the +_Georgiana_ out. + +Now had matters become interesting for a verity. Short-handed as our +consorts were, there was a good chance that one would be captured while +we were running to leeward, and I literally held my breath in suspense, +expecting each moment to see the tiny wisp of red and white which we +knew to be the stars and stripes, hauled down in response to the +stranger's threats. + +If any proof had been needed that Yankees were not inclined to surrender +without a fight, we had it then, when we saw the _Greenwich_ heave to, +take a portion of the crew from the _Georgiana_, and bear boldly down on +the enemy. + +What a cheer went up from our men when this had been done! I was proud +of my countrymen then, and could have hugged every old shellback on +board the _Greenwich_ with a good zest, had it been possible to get at +them. + +"I'll answer for it that our comrades hold those two Britishers in check +until we can get back," Master Hackett said in a tone of satisfaction, +and again we cheered until those on the ship we were overhauling so +rapidly must have heard and wondered why we were making such a fuss +about the capture of a whaler. + +Well, we bore down on the chase hand over hand, and when we were so near +that a shot might have been pitched into any part of her, the ship hove +to without the slightest show of resistance. + +Captain Porter hailed as the British colors were hauled down, and then +we learned that this last prize was the English whaler _Charlton_, two +hundred and seventy-four tons, with ten guns and twenty-one men. + +Her officers were transferred to the _Essex_, a prize crew was thrown on +board in a twinkling, and the frigate hauled her wind to take care of +the others. + +Captain Porter was so eager for information that he questioned the +captain of the _Charlton_ on the quarter-deck, and many of the gun-deck +inquisitives heard the whole story. + +By this means our commander learned that the largest of the ships we now +counted on taking was the _Seringapatam_, three hundred and fifty-seven +tons, carrying fourteen guns and forty men. It was this craft which had +been manoeuvring to cut out the _Georgiana_, and unless we had been +near at hand to lend assistance the job might have been done. + +The other Britisher was the _New Zealander_, of two hundred and +fifty-nine tons, eight guns, and twenty-three men. + +The _Seringapatam_ had been built for a cruiser, so our prisoners said, +and was the most dangerous ship, so far as the American trade was +concerned, of any craft west of Cape Horn. + +There was not one of us who did not feel the most intense desire to +capture this craft, and particularly to do so before she could work any +serious damage to our consorts. + +We could see that the _Greenwich_ had already gone into action with the +Britisher, and we cheered ourselves hoarse by way of encouragement to +the brave fellows who had tackled a craft heavier than themselves, +although there was not the slightest chance they would hear our cries. + +Our ship, meaning the _Greenwich_, was manoeuvred beautifully; she +poured in three broadsides before the enemy could get into position to +fire one, and we were yet more than a league distant when the Britisher +showed that she had had enough. As her colors came down we cheered and +shouted like wild men, some of the old shellbacks dancing around the +deck like apes who have suddenly gone mad; but before many minutes +passed we saw that we had begun our rejoicings a trifle too early. + +After giving token of surrender the captain of the _Seringapatam_ +evidently thought he yet had an opportunity to escape, for he slipped +off to windward before a prize crew could be thrown on board. + +We gazed in breathless suspense as the _Greenwich_, never stopping to +pick up the crew in the two boats which had been lowered to take +possession of the prize, crept up on the enemy's quarter and poured in +such a fire as was most surprising, considering the number of men which +were left on board. + +The Britisher soon came to understand that we Yankees were too much for +him, even though he outclassed us both as to metal and men, for he wore +around and came down to us as meekly as any lamb. + +Captain Porter lost no time in throwing a prize crew on board, after +transshipping the officers, and away we went for the _New Zealander_, +who was doing her feeble best to crawl out of the way; but succeeding +very badly. + +When we passed within half a mile of the _Greenwich_ our crew lined the +yards and gave her the heartiest of salutes, while Captain Porter +winked at the performance when he should have reprimanded us severely +for daring to do so without permission or orders. + +The _New Zealander_ was taken without opposition, and again we found +ourselves with more prizes and prisoners than could conveniently be +managed. + +Before nightfall Captain Porter learned that the commander of the +_Seringapatam_ had taken one prize illegally, he having no letter of +marque; and since this was neither more nor less than piracy, the +venturesome Britisher was put in irons to be sent home for trial. + +Next morning the _Charlton's_ guns, ammunition, small arms, and spare +sails were taken out; all the prisoners were put on board, and she was +allowed to make sail for Rio de Janeiro, every man jack being under +parole to go to that port and none other. + +Hardly had she filled away on her course than we set to work putting the +_Seringapatam_ into shape for our own use. The guns of the _New +Zealander_ were mounted in her, which brought up the number to +twenty-two, but we could leave on board no more than a sufficient crew +to work her. + +Then orders were given that the oil which we had taken, and which was +stored on the _Essex_, the _Greenwich_, and the _Georgiana_, should be +put on board the latter ship, and she sent home. + +Loading a ship in mid ocean with such heavy articles as casks of oil, is +a slow and laborious task, as we soon learned. It was necessary to sling +each hogshead into a boat, pull to the craft which was being loaded, and +there hoist it inboard, working disadvantageously all the while because +of the heavy swell. + +It was not until the 24th day of July that the _Georgiana_ was ready for +the voyage to the United States, and then the captain of the +_Seringapatam_ had been sent on board as a prisoner to be closely +guarded; but no crew selected to take charge of her. + +On this evening our men, greasy and stained with their work of handling +oil, were called amidships while Captain Porter stood on the break of +the quarter. + +All hands knew that we were now to learn who would sail in the +_Georgiana_, and each man looked at his neighbor to know how he felt +about going home while the most dangerous portion of the work yet +remained to be done, which would be when the British men-of-war came +around the Horn to wind up our career. + +The captain began by reminding us that our term of service had nearly +expired, and that a certain number must be sent home to work the +_Georgiana_. + +"I will give you all the same show," he said; "and if too many +volunteer to make up the crew, we will take those whose time of +enlistment is nearest at an end. You are to think it over this evening; +try to settle the matter among yourselves; but if that can't be done, I +will take a hand at it to-morrow morning." + +With this we were dismissed, and once all hands were on the gun-deck, +with the exception of those who remained above on watch, a most +tremendous jawing was begun. Every man tried to speak at the same time, +and the uproar was so great that no single word could be distinguished. +I could not make out whether the men were excited lest they should not +be able to go, or if there was a desire to remain. + +Phil and I went into a corner by ourselves, where we could hear each +other speak, and there I asked him what he thought about volunteering +for the _Georgiana_. + +"I count on staying here, if Captain Porter don't drive me out," he said +emphatically, thus showing that his decision had been made before we +came below. "You know, Ezra, that I don't amount to much when it comes +to a show of bravery; but I'm not such a coward as to turn now, when the +greatest danger is yet to be met." + +I flung my arms around the dear fellow and kissed him on both cheeks. +He had spoken that which was in my own heart, although I could not have +put it in such proper words; and then it was decided between us that we +would remain by the _Essex_ so long as should be permitted us. + +By the time we two had settled the question, Master Hackett had +succeeded in quieting the wranglers sufficiently to make himself heard, +and the old man proved to be quite a dandy at handling a meeting. + +"Hold your jaw, you lubbers!" he shouted with such a volume of sound +that he must have been heard distinctly by those on the quarter-deck. +"The captain wants to know how many of us is achin' to get home before +the Britishers send half a dozen frigates down here to blow us out of +the water, an' he'll never get the information unless you settle down +into peaceable sailormen. There's no use waggin' your chins over this +thing; every man has a right to do what pleases him best, an' now he's +got a fair chance. What I say is this: Let them as want to go aboard the +_Georgiana_ toddle to the port side, and them who count on holdin' by +the old hooker, step over to starboard." + +The men looked around curiously for an instant, and then every one of +them moved to starboard, Phil and I among the rest. + +There was a broad grin on Master Hackett's face when he cried with a +semblance of anger:-- + +"This 'ere won't do at all. Some of us are bound to go, seein's how we +can't let that cargo of oil run to waste. Of course _I'll_ hold to the +frigate; but them as have got wives an' children ashore ought 'er get +over to port, an' we'll feel no shame for 'em, knowin' as we do that a +crew must be made up for the _Georgiana_." + +"It's none of your business how many wives or children we've got, Hiram +Hackett!" one of the throng shouted. "It's as much our right as yours to +stick to the frigate, an' we count on doin' it. Why not send the boys? +They can do the work of sailormen aboard the _Georgiana_! Then you'll +have two towards a crew." + +"Come here, you skulkers!" Master Hackett roared, looking at Phil and +me, and there was nothing for it but to step out from among the crew. + +"Act as spokesman, Phil," I whispered. "You can go ahead of me when it +comes to jawing; but remember that they can't drive us off unless the +captain gives the word, and I'm thinking that my cousin Stephen will +stand up for our rights." + +"Are you two infants ready to obey orders an' go aboard the +_Georgiana_?" Master Hackett asked, looking as fierce as if he counted +on eating us. + +"No, sir!" Phil shouted at the full strength of his lungs. "We've got +as much right to stay as you have, an' we won't volunteer!" + +"Three cheers for the infants!" some one shouted, and the men yelled +until their throats were like to split. + +Then the crew crowded around Master Hackett, each man trying to make +himself heard, and I understood that there was little chance of finding +a crew for the _Georgiana_ if every one was to do as he pleased. + +By this time the noise was so great that Lieutenant McKnight was sent +below to learn whether or no a riot was in progress, and, luckily, I +succeeded in gaining speech with him before the men knew he was on the +gun-deck. + +"Surely you will stand our friend in this matter, Cousin Stephen," I +said, clutching him by the coat-sleeve without regard to the +proprieties; for it is looked upon as insubordination for a common +sailor to lay hold of an officer. + +"In what way, Ezra? Are so many eager to see home again that you fear +there'll be no room for you?" + +"It's just the other way, sir," Phil broke in. "Not a man will +volunteer, and some of them have said that we two lads must go whether +we like it or not." + +"It isn't right to force us because we are lads!" I cried. "We've done +our duty so far as we knew, and our age shouldn't give license for +injustice!" + +"See here, my lads, you're not looking at this matter in the proper +light. We shall soon be turning and twisting to get out of a British +frigate's way, and many of us will lose the number of his mess before +the _Essex_ doubles Cape Horn again. You can go now without being called +a coward, and it's far better to get out of the scrape while affairs are +flourishing as they are at present." + +"Are you going in the _Georgiana_, Cousin Stephen?" I asked. + +"What? Me? Never, unless the captain gives a positive order to that +effect." + +"If you are allowed to remain, why should we be forced to go?" + +He turned from me quickly, and, without making any attempt to restore +order, went on deck. + +The men jawed and argued more violently than ever after my cousin +disappeared, and very soon the master-at-arms came below with an order +for every man jack of us to show himself abaft the mainmast. + +We found the captain waiting for us as before; and although there was +very good reason why he should read the riot act because of the uproar, +I understood by the expression on his face that he was well pleased the +men had not shown a willingness to leave the frigate. + +When all hands had quieted down once more he made a little speech in +which he thanked us for being so eager to stay by the _Essex_, and +declared that he felt proud of every old barnacle there; but at the same +time it was absolutely necessary a crew be sent on board the +_Georgiana_. + +"Those men who have families must go," he said finally, after declaring +that it had become necessary for him to settle the matter, since the +crew themselves could not. "A list shall be made out of such as have +others depending upon them, and it will then be posted on the gun-deck. +Abide by my decision as you ever have, and I will make it my solemn duty +to let the people of the United States know that those who returned in +the _Georgiana_ did not do so of their own free will." + +We were sent below once more, and Phil and I felt well content, for by +the captain's ruling we could not be sent home in the oil-laden craft. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AN ISLAND PORT. + + +The _Georgiana_ left us next morning, carrying a sorrowful-looking crew, +as can well be imagined, for every man jack of them felt as if he might +be accused of cowardice in leaving the _Essex_ at a time when there was +good reason to expect she would meet with a superior force. + +I fail to understand yet why it had come into the minds of all that we +would never double Cape Horn in the old frigate. No one put such a +belief into words, and yet I knew full well it was looked upon as a +fact, because of certain remarks let drop now and then when was being +discussed the question of seeing the friends at home. + +It had really come to be the belief of us all, although carefully kept +in the background, that the time must come when we would meet with such +a force of Britishers as could put an end to the "luck of the _Essex_." + +And it is little wonder that our crew, even counting the boys, should +have considered it as inevitable that the dear old frigate would come +to an end of her cruising before many months had passed, for we knew +full well the English people must soon demand that we who had done so +much mischief be put out of the way of working yet further damage. + +Consider well what had been done, and then it may be seen that the +British navy would speedily come after us with a heavy force. Here is +the situation as it was defined by a member of the United States Navy, +he looking at the matter a few weeks after the _Georgiana_ had sailed, +and we were in an island port refitting and overhauling the fleet:-- + +"The situation of the _Essex_ was sufficiently remarkable, at this +moment, to merit a brief notice. She had been the first American to +carry the pennant of a man-of-war round the Cape of Good Hope, and now +she had been the first to bring it into the distant ocean. More than ten +thousand miles from home, without colonies, stations, or even a friendly +port to repair to, short of stores, without a consort, and otherwise in +possession of none of the required means of subsistence and efficiency, +she had boldly steered into this distant region, where she had found all +that she required, through her own activity; and having swept the seas +of her enemies, she had now retired to these little-frequented islands +to refit, with the security of a ship at home. It is due to the officer +who so promptly adopted and so successfully executed this plan, to add, +that his enterprise, self-reliance, and skill indicated a man of bold +and masculine courage; qualities that are indispensable in forming a +naval captain. + +"In the way of service to the public, perhaps the greatest performed by +the _Essex_ was protecting American ships in the Pacific, nearly all of +which would probably have fallen into the hands of the enemy but for her +appearance in that ocean. But the positive injury done the English +commerce was far from trifling. The _Essex_ had now captured about four +thousand tons of its shipping, made near four hundred prisoners, and for +the moment had literally destroyed its fisheries in this part of the +world. In October, 1812, she had sailed from America alone, with six +months' provisions and the usual stores in her; and in October, 1813, +she was lying, in perfect security, at an island in the Pacific, with a +respectable consort, surrounded by prizes, and in possession of all the +means that were necessary to render a frigate of her class efficient. +Throughout the whole of these movements we see a constant tendency to +distress the enemy, and to maintain the character of the ship as an +active, well-organized, and high-toned man-of-war." + +All this was written concerning us after we had made that island port +which I shall describe later; but before entering it we were to see some +service, and experience our first disappointment in the way of capturing +every sail we sighted. + +It was on the 25th day of July when the _Georgiana_ left us, only to be +recaptured, as we afterward learned to our sorrow, before gaining an +American port. + +We remained hove to until the oil-laden prize was hull down on the +horizon, and then, with the _Essex_ leading, our little squadron, +consisting of the frigate, the _Greenwich_, _Seringapatam_, and _New +Zealander_, trailing along in fine style, cruised here and there in +search of another Britisher. + +On the morning of the third day thereafter, while we lay becalmed, a +strange sail was sighted carrying with her a fine breeze. + +As a matter of course she soon ran out of our range of vision, but +Captain Porter was not the kind of a commander to give up the hope of +catching an enemy, once having clapped his eyes on her; and at sunset, +when the wind sprang up again, signals were set for every ship to crowd +on sail in pursuit of the Britisher, although by this time she had many +leagues the start. + +The "luck of the _Essex_" was with us yet, for next morning at sunrise +the lookouts at the masthead sighted the stranger standing across our +bow on a bowline. + +By this time the breeze fined down again, and the dullest among us knew +that unless we could get the frigate through the water at a better pace, +our hope of taking another prize that day was at an end. + +Captain Porter had a scheme of his own, however, and at once set about +executing it, to the surprise and admiration of all our old shellbacks, +even though it cost us considerable labor. + +A three-cornered frame was knocked together by the carpenters, covered +with canvas, and weighted by four-pound shot on one side. This was +rigged to run from the spritsail-yard to an outrigger aft. It was +dropped into the water forward, and then half the crew, trailing on to a +small hawser made fast to the triangle as boys tie the string of a kite, +hauled it quickly astern. + +This, acting as a paddle, sent us ahead in fine style, and as soon as +the contrivance was well aft, it would be hoisted out of the water, run +forward, and dropped again. + +The labor required to work such a machine was very great; but we made +light of it on seeing that we were forging ahead faster than the +stranger could sail, and, with the perspiration running in great +streams down our bodies, we pulled and hauled with a will until, having +come within about four miles of the ship, we counted on making a prize. + +By this time it could be seen that she was a British whaler, and an +uncommonly fine craft. What was more, we began to understand that she, +unlike many we had already overhauled, did not intend that we should +capture her without paying the piper for our dancing. + +Her boats were got out to tow, and we could not work the canvas-paddle +fast enough to hold our own in the way of speed. + +The remainder of our fleet were hull down astern, therefore it was +useless to expect assistance from them,--a fact which caused Master +Hackett to say despairingly:-- + +"I allow, lads, that we've come to an end of the 'luck' for the time +bein'. That 'ere craft will muster more men accordin' to her size than +we can." + +"Gettin' afraid, eh?" some one shouted scornfully; whereat Master +Hackett replied with considerable show of spirit:-- + +"Not a bit of it, you lubber; but men count in the kind of a breeze +we're tryin' to work up, an' towin' that ship with boats is child's +play compared with what it would be to drag the _Essex_ through the +water." + +I believed our men would begin squabbling among themselves, because of +their disappointment in being thus prevented from taking a prize; but +one of the lieutenants quickly put an end to the words by bawling out an +order which showed us that the Britisher might not find towing a very +profitable job. + +The word was passed to lower the gig and one of the whale-boats, and our +men cheered lustily while this was being done, for they had a fairly +good idea of what the captain was counting on doing. + +Lieutenant McKnight, my cousin Stephen, was announced as commander of +the small expedition, and he began calling off the names of those whom +he counted on taking with him, after word had been passed that each man, +as he was thus chosen, should arm himself with a musket and plenty of +powder and bullets. + +Master Hackett was the first selected, and then followed name after name +so rapidly that I soon understood Phil and I would be left out of the +business unless something was done quickly. + +Without waiting to consult my comrade, I walked across the deck, +coughing loudly, and passing within a few feet of where the lieutenant +was standing. + +He looked up, smiled oddly, and then, after a show of hesitation +called:-- + +"Ezra McKnight! Philip Robbins!" + +"You're a beauty!" Phil whispered, as he ran past me on his way below to +get the musket and ammunition, and my only regret at that moment was +because I could not thank my cousin for the favor he had done us. + +We two lads tumbled into the gig alongside Master Hackett, who asked +gruffly:-- + +"What is the lieutenant thinkin' of to send a couple of infants out on a +job like this?" + +"Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to ask him; I don't care to +take the chances of so doing, even though your curiosity is not +satisfied," I said pertly. "If shooting is to be done, which seems +reasonable after we've been ordered to arm ourselves, I reckon the +'infants' can do as much as some others who are older." + +Master Hackett did not reply; but by the movements of his mouth I knew +he was not so displeased but that he was trying to hide a smile. + +Just then Stephen McKnight stepped aboard the gig, and as he did so +Captain Porter cried over the rail:-- + +"Remember, McKnight, that you are not to make any effort at boarding, +however tempting may be the opportunity. Get ahead of the chase and +drive in her boats, after which you will return as soon as possible." + +"I understand, sir," Stephen replied, and then came the order to "give +way with a will." + +Phil and I were not counted among the oarsmen, as I saw when the work +was begun; but we did a trifle toward helping the good work along by +pushing on Master Hackett's oar, and he made no effort to prevent us, +even though we were "infants." + +It would not have been good seamanship to go any nearer the enemy than +was necessary, in the effort to get ahead of her, therefore we made a +wide sweep around to port; and when we were opposite, not more than +three hundred yards distant, her gunners let fly a couple of pieces +which had been loaded with grape. + +The whistling of the shot, which struck everywhere around us, sent the +cold shivers up and down my back; but I pushed on Master Hackett's oar +all the harder, keeping my eyes fixed straight ahead lest the old man +should read in them more than I cared to have him know. + +Phil started ever so slightly; but managed to hold himself firm after +that, and each of us knew that the other was sorely afraid, although it +is certain neither would have gone back had the opportunity presented +itself. + +We were treated to more grape, the biggest portion of which passed over +our heads, and after that second volley I somehow forgot that I was +frightened; but loaded my musket carefully, hoping the time would soon +come when I could do a little to help balance the account. + +Soon we were out of range of the grape, and then we ran across the +ship's bow, every man loading and discharging his musket at the crew of +the towing-boats as rapidly as possible. + +[Illustration: SOON WE WERE OUT OF REACH OF THE GRAPE, AND THEN WE RAN +ACROSS THE SHIP'S BOW.] + +"They can't stand that kind of a game very long," Master Hackett said, +as he wounded one of the Britishers in the foremost boat. "They've come +out to pull an oar an' ain't in shape for a fight, so it don't stand to +reason they'll hold their ground a great while." + +The British oarsmen were already beginning to slacken their pace, and I +looked astern to make out what our people counted on doing while we lay +there preventing the work of towing. + +The sight was one to warm the blood even of a coward. All our boats were +out and being manned rapidly, and I had no need to ask what would be the +next move. + +"Ay, lad, the captain is goin' to board her," Master Hackett said +quietly, when I called his attention to the frigate. "I counted the old +man would be at that fun mighty soon after we'd got into position, an' +the worst of it is that we don't have a hand in the scrimmage." + +We soon learned to our sorrow that we had a scrimmage of our own which +would occupy us in good shape so long as the towing-boats were kept out. + +The Britishers had brought two guns on the forecastle-deck, and began +giving us our medicine just as the _Essex's_ crew were pulling away from +her side. + +The first discharge did us no damage; but it was not difficult to guess +that after the gunners once got our range we would suffer severely, and +again I had hard work to prevent showing the white feather. + +The grape came nearer and nearer, the gunners working the pieces faster +than I had ever thought could be possible, and we kept peppering away at +the men in the boats, firing so lively that soon they were driven in; +but it had cost two of our fellows slight wounds. + +The grapeshot would settle our business very speedily, I believed, +unless our boarding party came along soon, and I looked anxiously +astern. + +The oars flashed in the water at the rate of forty strokes a minute, +and our men were cheering lustily as they thought of adding another to +the long list of prizes credited to the _Essex_. + +Now the grape was coming with truer aim; two of our oars had been +sheered off close to the rail, as neatly as if done by an axe, and it +seemed certain some one of us would soon lose the number of his mess; +yet, strange to say, I was not so terribly frightened as the situation +warranted. + +"The boarders will soon be goin' over the Britisher's rail, an' then +comes the time for us to pull a little nearer," Master Hackett whispered +to me, as if thinking I needed cheering. "Take aim at the gunners, an' +it'll make you a heap easier in mind if you can knock one over." + +I discharged my musket with careful aim, and then looked over my +shoulder while reloading to ascertain whether the rest of our people +were coming up. + +The boats from the _Essex_ were making rapid way over the water, the +spray from their bows glittering in the sunlight like diamonds, and the +enemy now turned his attention from us ahead to those who were so +rapidly overhauling him from astern. + +A full broadside was fired at the boarders, but the heavy shot passed +over their heads without doing any damage, and we in advance added our +shouts of joy to those of the boarding party. + +The Britishers must have turned cowardly as they saw our men coming +toward them without heed to their fire, and in another instant we were +yelling at the full strength of our lungs, as the English flag was +hauled down in token of surrender. + +"The 'luck of the _Essex_' still holds good," Master Hackett cried +gleefully. "Yonder ship will show well among our fleet, an' it's a pity +we can't give her a crew of decent size." + +The boats which we had been trying to drive in were now called +alongside, and our people were coming hand over hand to take possession, +when a breeze from the eastward sprang up like a squall, filling the +sails of the prize in an instant. + +Before I was well aware of what had happened the Britisher was hauled up +close on the wind. Her colors were hoisted again, and off she went to +the northward like a flash, leaving the boarding party astern as if +their craft had been anchored. + +Just for an instant I believed the enemy would succeed in running down +those of us who were in the gig and whale-boat. She came up until we +were close under her forefoot; but the helmsman could not bring her +nearer, and we swept astern like a flash. + +It was well for us that she came so close, otherwise we might have been +knocked to flinders, for no less than six charges of grape were fired +point-blank at our boats; but the missiles passed over our heads, and, +instead of congratulating themselves upon the escape from instant death, +the men grumbled long and loud because we had lost the first ship which +by rights should have been made a prize. + +"If that 'ere squall had held off five minutes longer, we'd have been in +possession," Master Hackett said in a tone so sorrowful that one could +well believe the tears were very near his eyelids. + +To Phil and me it was most singular, this seeing one ship filling away +with all the wind she needed, and another, our frigate, lying no more +than four miles distant with not breeze enough to lift the vane at her +masthead. + +The only thing which prevented our men from having a desperate fit of +the sulks was the belief that when the _Essex_ did get the wind she +would make chase; but as the hours wore on we understood that the +Britisher was really lost to us, for this time at least. + +It was near to nine o'clock in the evening before the last of our boats +was hoisted inboard, and, owing to the darkness which hid the enemy from +view, it was useless to think of making sail. + +We laid hove to until our consorts came up, and then the fleet was kept +jogging to and fro in the hope that when morning came the "luck of the +_Essex_" would show us the Britisher. + +We were doomed to disappointment, however, so far as this particular +craft was concerned, for when day broke not a sail was to be seen. + +Captain Porter did all a commander should do under the circumstances. +During three days we cruised to the northward and eastward, and at the +end of that time there was no longer any question, even in the minds of +the most sanguine, but that the Britisher had given us the slip. + +Once this unpleasant fact was impressed upon him beyond the shadow of a +doubt, Captain Porter hauled away for James's Island, where we had good +reason to believe more British whalers might be found. + +Not a sail was to be seen in the little bay when we entered on the 4th +day of August; but, believing the men would be the better for a short +cruise ashore, our commander gave the word to anchor. + +Next morning, before a single man had time to ask for liberty, it was +reported by one of the gunners that a goodly portion of the powder which +we had brought with us from the United States, had been damaged by water +while we were doubling the Horn. But for the fact that this particular +man was nosing around where he really had no business to be, the _Essex_ +might have gone into action only to discover, when it was too late, that +she had nothing with which to fight. + +"What will we do?" I asked of Master Hackett when our misfortune was +known on the gun-deck. "We're not likely to come across ammunition in +these waters, unless by taking more prizes; and it begins to appear as +if we'd driven all the Britishers away." + +"It ain't as bad as it might be, lad, although I allow it's rough +enough. Accordin' to all accounts the _Seringapatam_ has enough aboard, +although when the _Essex_ takes what she needs, it'll leave Lieutenant +Downes well-nigh helpless." + +It was a disaster so great, that not a man so much as thought of asking +for shore leave, and on the gun-deck we gathered to discuss the sudden +change of affairs until word was brought that one watch might land to +enjoy themselves, at the same time that they took in a supply of wood +and water. + +After a short run on the island the men succeeded in putting from their +minds all thoughts of the discovery made by the meddlesome gunner, +believing that Captain Porter would succeed, no one knew how, in +supplying the lack of powder. + +During more than two weeks we lay at James's Island, bringing in +supplies of pork, water, and wood, and during all that time not a single +sail hove in sight. + +Then came the word, on the evening of August 21, that the fleet would +proceed to Banks's Bay, and next morning we were under way, making the +run in thirty-six hours. + +No sooner had the ship been brought to anchor than we understood how +Captain Porter proposed to supply us with ammunition. It was reported, +by one of the marines, as a matter of course, that the _Essex_ would on +the next morning make a short cruise by herself, leaving the prizes in +the bay. + +Our old shellbacks were perfectly satisfied on hearing this news. The +only way in which more powder could be procured, was by taking it from +the Britishers, and we had no doubt but that we should soon pick up an +armed whaler who would be forced to supply us. + +Well, to make a long story short, we cruised from the 24th of August +until the 15th of September without seeing anything in the form of a +sailing craft, and all hands were growing discouraged when, in the early +morning, a ship was reported apparently lying to a long distance to the +southward, and to windward. + +There was no hope of coming up with her if we began the business boldly, +for she had a big advantage of us in position; therefore our commander +set about playing a trick which might bring the stranger into our hands +with but little labor. + +Our light yards were sent down, and the frigate otherwise disguised +until she had much the look of a whaler. Then she was slowly kept +turning to windward, each moment drawing nearer the Britisher, for by +this time we had settled in our minds that the stranger was one of the +enemy's ships. + +This trick worked to a charm, and by noon we were so near that it was +possible to see that our intended prize was fast to a whale, which she +was cutting in, at the same time drifting rapidly down on us. + +An hour later we were no more than four miles apart, and then it was +that the Britisher began to scent our trick. He had come to the +conclusion that a big ship like ours, even though she might be a +whaler, would not loaf around in that fashion unless for mischief; and +once this idea was in his head the skipper cast off from his prize, +making all sail to windward. + +There was no longer any reason why we should keep the disguise. Our +yards were hoisted once more, and with everything drawing we began the +chase, each man of our crew watching the progress eagerly, for the +capture of this ship meant something more than taking a prize. We could +see that she was pierced with six ports on a side, and it was reasonable +to suppose that on board was powder enough to provide us with as much as +might be needed until another armed Britisher could be overhauled. + +Not until four o'clock in the afternoon did we come near enough to pitch +a few shots ahead and over her, when she hove to under our lee, and a +mighty shout of mingled satisfaction and triumph went up from the crew. + +This prize was the _Sir Andrew Hammond_, of three hundred and one tons, +twelve guns, and thirty-one men. + +And now comes the odd part of the capture: From the time our ship had +brought her well in sight the men declared that she had a familiar look; +and when finally she came to within half a mile of us, Master Hackett +cried joyously:-- + +"We haven't outrun our luck, an' that's a fact! Yonder craft is the same +we lost in the squall--the one that gave us such a long job with nothin' +but a few broken oars to show for it!" + +That the old seaman had spoken only the truth we all understood now it +had been suggested; the ship lying under our lee was none other than the +last we had chased and lost, but only to find again on this day when we +were growing discouraged with much useless cruising. + +The _Hammond_ proved to be a rich prize for us just at that time, for +she had on board a large supply of prime beef, pork, bread, wood, and +water, and none of such stores would be wasted. The ammunition was in +good condition, but not of such quantity as to satisfy us; however, half +a loaf is better than none at all, and after taking the prisoners on +board the _Essex_, leaving a small prize crew to handle the new addition +to our fleet, we made sail for Banks's Bay. + +We had hardly more than arrived there and overhauled the _Hammond_, +than the _Essex Junior_ came into port on her return from Valparaiso, +where she had left the prizes to be sold. + +She reported that five or six heavy frigates had been sent out from +England to search for us, and, what seemed of more importance at the +time, that the Chilian government was no longer as friendly to us as +when we left port. The Britishers had most likely been threatening them. + +"Well," Master Hackett said deliberately, when the news I have set down +above was made known on the gun-deck, "if we had all the powder that our +fleet needs, I reckon we could afford to wait for the Britishers, an', +what's more, flog the whole boilin' of 'em when they come. But seein's +how we ain't in condition for heavy work, it's bound to be a case of +twistin' an' turnin' till we can clean up our job of capturin' whalers." + +"What then, Master Hackett?" Phil asked. + +"What then, lad? Why, I reckon we'll have to take our medicine like +little men; an' in the swallowin' of it we'll know what British prison +ships are like." + +"Then you don't believe we can double the Horn without coming upon some +of them?" I asked, my spine growing chilly for an instant. + +"I'm allowin' that the old frigate will see her finish this side the +cape, for it ain't good sense to believe she can fight her way through. +I've said all along that the Britishers were bound to smash us some day, +'cause it don't stand to reason a nation what claims to rule the sea can +afford to let a little craft like ours play hob with 'em in such fashion +as we've been doin'. For the sake of their reputation they've got to +gather us in." + +It could plainly be seen that the majority of our crew held the same +opinion as did Master Hackett, and yet I failed to discover anything +which looked like fear. The men were satisfied that they had worked the +game for all there was in it, and now believed the day to be near at +hand when we'd be forced to haul down the stars and stripes, although I +venture to say that never one of them fancied it would be brought about +in such a cowardly fashion as finally was the case. + +The marines soon brought important news to us of the gun-deck. They +reported that Captain Porter and his officers had decided to make port +somewhere among the Marquesas, that group of islands in the Pacific +concerning which so little was known at the time. + +We were to search for some secluded harbor, so the marines declared, +and there refit the fleet for the homeward bound voyage, which was to be +begun at the earliest possible moment, in the faint hope that we might +save the frigate from those who were coming in such force to capture +her. + +Two days afterward, when the stores from the _Sir Andrew Hammond_ had +been distributed among the vessels of the fleet, all the craft were +ordered to get under way, and we set out to find a natural dockyard, for +it must be remembered that ships cannot remain long at sea without +gathering so much marine growth on their bottoms that the swiftest soon +becomes a sluggish sailer. + +It was to scrape the hulls, paint all the woodwork and put it in +condition for that battle with the elements which awaited us off Cape +Horn, if we succeeded in getting there, and otherwise make ready for +whatever might be before us, that we set off in search of a hiding-place +which should at the time serve as a dock for refitting our battered +fleet. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +NUKUHEVA. + + +We set sail from Banks's Bay October 2, in company with the _Essex +Junior_ and our prizes, but the latter were such slow sailers as +compared with the frigate that we did not make the group of the +Marquesas until the 23d, when we ran here and there seeking such a +harbor as would admit of our performing the work the captain counted on +doing. + +Not until four days more had passed did we find that which seemed to +suit us in every particular, and then the fleet came to anchor in a fine +bay at the island of Nukuheva. + +Now a word in regard to the spelling of the island's name. My cousin, +Lieutenant McKnight, gave it as set down above; but I have since seen it +written "Nooaheevah," and "Noukahiva," therefore the reader, if it so +chances that any one ever reads what has cost me so much time to set +down, may take his choice of the names. I believe, however, that it +should be written Nukuheva, because my cousin, the lieutenant, told me +so. + +And now, before I relate anything concerning our visit to this island, +which proved to be so full of adventure, I ask permission to copy here +that which I read many years afterward, and this I do because it would +be impossible otherwise to describe the beautiful place--the most +beautiful I have ever seen. + +That which follows was written by a sailor[1] who spent many months on +the island, and was fortunate in being able to describe in a most +entertaining manner everything he saw, which is by long odds more than I +can do. + +"The cluster comprising the islands of Roohka, Ropo, and Nukuheva were +altogether unknown to the world until the year 1791, when they were +discovered by Captain Ingraham of Boston, nearly two centuries after the +discovery of the adjacent islands by the agent of the Spanish viceroy. + +"Nukuheva is the most important of these islands, being the only one at +which ships are much in the habit of touching, and is celebrated as +being the place where the adventurous Captain Porter refitted his ships +during the late war between England and the United States, and whence +he sallied out upon the large whaling fleet then sailing under the +enemy's flag in the surrounding seas. This island is about twenty miles +in length and nearly as many in breadth. It has three good harbors on +its coast; the largest and best of which is called by the people living +in its vicinity, 'Tyohee,' and by Captain Porter was denominated +Massachusetts Bay. Among the adverse tribes dwelling about the shores of +the other bays, and by all voyagers, it is generally known by the name +bestowed upon the island itself--Nukuheva. + +"In the bay of Nukuheva was the anchorage we desired to reach. We had +perceived the loom of the mountains about sunset; so that after running +all night with a very light breeze, we found ourselves close in with the +island the next morning; but as the bay we sought lay on its farther +side, we were obliged to sail some distance along the shore, catching, +as we proceeded, short glimpses of blooming valleys, deep glens, +waterfalls, and waving groves, hidden here and there by projecting and +rocky headlands, every moment opening to the view some new and startling +scene of beauty. + +"Those who for the first time visit the South Seas, generally are +surprised at the appearance of the islands when beheld from the sea. +From the vague accounts we sometimes have of their beauty, many people +are apt to picture to themselves enamelled and softly swelling plains, +shaded over with delicious groves, and watered by purling brooks, and +the entire country but little elevated above the surrounding ocean. The +reality is very different; bold rock-bound coasts with the surf beating +high against the lofty cliffs, and broken here and there into deep +inlets which open to the view thickly wooded valleys separated by the +spurs of mountains clothed with tufted grass, and sweeping down toward +the sea from an elevated and furrowed interior, form the principal +features of these islands. + +"... As we slowly advanced up the bay, numerous canoes pushed off from +the surrounding shores, and we were soon in the midst of quite a +flotilla of them, their savage occupants struggling to get aboard of us, +and jostling one another in their ineffectual attempts. + +"Occasionally the projecting outriggers of their slight shallops, +running foul of one another, would become entangled beneath the water, +threatening to capsize the canoes, when a scene of confusion would ensue +that baffles description. Such strange outcries and passionate +gesticulations I never certainly heard or saw before. You would have +thought the islanders were on the point of flying at one another's +throats, whereas they were only amicably engaged in disentangling their +boats. + +"Scattered here and there among the canoes might be seen numbers of +cocoanuts floating closely together in circular groups, and bobbing up +and down with every wave. By some inexplicable means these cocoanuts +were all steadily approaching toward the ship. As I leaned curiously +over the side, endeavoring to solve their mysterious movements, one mass +far in advance of the rest attracted my attention. In its centre was +something I could take for nothing less than a cocoanut, but which I +certainly considered one of the most extraordinary specimens of the +fruit I had ever seen. It kept twirling and dancing about among the rest +in the most singular manner, and as it grew nearer I thought it bore a +remarkable resemblance to the brown shaven skull of one of the savages. +Presently it betrayed a pair of eyes, and soon I became aware that what +I had supposed to have been one of the fruit was nothing else than the +head of an Islander, who had adopted this singular method of bringing +his produce to market. The cocoanuts were all attached to one another by +strips of the husk, partly torn from the shell and rudely fashioned +together. Their proprietor, inserting his head into the midst of them, +impelled his necklace of cocoanuts through the water by striking out +beneath the surface with his feet. + +"... We had approached within a mile and a half, perhaps, of the foot of +the bay, when some of the islanders, who by this time had managed to +scramble aboard of us at the risk of swamping their canoes, directed our +attention to a singular commotion in the water ahead of the vessel. At +first I imagined it to be produced by a shoal of fish sporting on the +surface, but our savage friends assured us that it was caused by a shoal +of 'whinhenies' (young girls), who in this manner were coming off from +the shore to welcome us. As they drew nearer, and I watched the rising +and sinking of their forms, and beheld the uplifted right arm bearing +above the water the girdle of tappa, and their long dark hair trailing +behind them as they swam, I almost fancied they could be nothing else +than so many mermaids--and very like mermaids they behaved too.... + +"The bay of Nukuheva in which we were then lying is an expanse of water +not unlike in figure the space included within the limits of a +horseshoe. It is, perhaps, nine miles in circumference. You approach it +from the sea by a narrow entrance, flanked on either side by two small +twin islets which soar conically to the height of some five hundred +feet. From these the shore recedes on both hands, and describes a deep +semicircle. + +"From the verge of the water the land rises uniformly on all sides, with +green and sloping acclivities, until from gentle rolling hillsides and +moderate elevations it insensibly swells into lofty and majestic +heights, whose blue outlines, ranged all around, close in the view. The +beautiful aspect of the shore is heightened by deep and romantic glens, +which come down to it at almost equal distances, all apparently +radiating from a common centre, and the upper extremities of which are +lost to the eye beneath the shadow of the mountains. Down each of these +little valleys flows a clear stream, here and there assuming the form of +a slender cascade, then stealing invisibly along until it bursts upon +the sight again in larger and more noisy waterfalls, and at last +demurely wanders along to the sea. + +"The houses of the natives, constructed of the yellow bamboo, tastefully +twisted together in a kind of wickerwork, and thatched with the long +tapering leaves of the palmetto, are scattered irregularly along these +valleys beneath the shady branches of the cocoanut tree. + +"Nothing can exceed the imposing scenery of this bay. Viewed from our +ship as she lay at anchor in the middle of the harbor, it presented the +appearance of a vast natural amphitheatre in decay, and overgrown with +vines, the deep glens that furrowed its sides appearing like enormous +fissures caused by the ravages of time. Very often when lost in +admiration of its beauty, I have experienced a pang of regret that a +scene so enchanting should be hidden from the world in these remote +seas, and seldom meet the eyes of devoted lovers of nature. + +"Besides this bay the shores of the island are indented by several other +extensive inlets, into which descend broad and verdant valleys. These +are inhabited by as many different kinds of savages, who, although +speaking kindred dialects of a common language, and having the same +religion and laws, have from time immemorial waged hereditary warfare +against each other. The intervening mountains, generally two or three +thousand feet above the level of the sea, geographically define the +territories of each of these hostile tribes who never cross them, save +on some expedition of war or plunder. Immediately adjacent to Nukuheva, +and only separated from it by the mountains seen from the harbor, lies +the lovely valley of Happar, whose inmates cherish the most friendly +relations with the inhabitants of Nukuheva. On the other side of +Happar, and closely adjoining it, is the magnificent valley of the +dreaded Typees, the unappeasable enemies of both these tribes. + +"These celebrated warriors appear to inspire the other islanders with +unspeakable terrors. Their very name is a frightful one; for the word +'Typee' in the Marquesan dialect signifies a lover of human flesh. + +"It is rather singular that the title should have been bestowed upon +them exclusively, inasmuch as the natives of all this group are +irreclaimable cannibals. The name may, perhaps, have been given to +denote the powerful ferocity of this clan, and to convey a special +stigma along with it. + +"These same Typees enjoy a prodigious notoriety all over the islands. +The natives of Nukuheva would frequently recount in pantomime to our +ship's company their terrible feats, and would show the marks of wounds +they had received in desperate encounters with them. When ashore they +would try to frighten us by pointing to one of their own number, and +calling him a 'Typee,' manifesting no little surprise that we did not +take to our heels at so terrible an announcement. It was quite amusing, +too, to see with what earnestness they disclaimed all cannibal +propensities on their own part, while they denounced their enemies--the +Typees--as inveterate gormandizers of human flesh.... + +"Although I was convinced that the inhabitants of our bay were as arrant +cannibals as any of the other tribes on the island, still I could not +but feel a particular and most unqualified repugnance to the aforesaid +Typees. Even before visiting the Marquesas, I had heard from men who had +touched at the group on former voyages, some revolting stories in +connection with these savages; and fresh in my remembrance was the +adventure of the master of the _Katherine_, who only a few months +previous, imprudently venturing into this bay in an armed boat for the +purpose of barter, was seized by the natives, carried back a little +distance into their valley, and was only saved from a cruel death by the +intervention of a young girl, who facilitated his escape by night along +the beach to Nukuheva. + +"I have heard too of an English vessel that many years ago, after a +weary cruise, sought to enter the bay of Nukuheva, and arriving within +two or three miles of the land, was met by a large canoe filled with +natives, who offered to lead the way to the place of their destination. +The captain, unacquainted with the localities of the island, joyfully +acceded to the proposition--the canoe paddled on and the ship followed. +She was soon conducted to a beautiful inlet, and dropped her anchor in +its waters beneath the shadows of the lofty shore. That same night the +perfidious Typees, who had thus inveigled her into their fatal bay, +flocked aboard the doomed vessel by hundreds, and at a given signal +murdered every soul on board." + +After reading the description which I have copied word for word, it is +possible to have a good idea concerning that harbor into which our fleet +sailed, all hands knowing full well that here we might remain secure +alike from the elements and Britishers, so long as it should please us +to stay. + +In addition, we were free from any fears regarding what the natives +might attempt to do, partly owing to our strength, but chiefly because +the first person to greet us was neither more nor less than a member of +the American navy. + +Fancy meeting a Yankee gentleman in this out-of-the-way place whose +inhabitants were credited with being the most ferocious of cannibals, +eager to devour anything in the way of human flesh that crossed their +path! + +The natives came out in boats to meet us exactly as is set down in that +which I have copied; but all hands gave way to a canoe in which we saw +one of our own countrymen. + +He came over the side, spoke a few words with Lieutenant McKnight, who +immediately treated him with the greatest consideration, and then +introduced the stranger to our captain. + +It can well be supposed that every man jack of our crew stood by in +open-mouthed astonishment at seeing this white man come aboard as if he +felt himself at home in the Marquesas group; but we were forced to +remain in ignorance until that evening, when one of the marines +unravelled the yarn which at first had seemed too strange to us. + +Our visitor was Mr. John Maury, a midshipman of the navy, who, with +three sailors, had been left in this harbor by the captain of an +American merchantman, himself a lieutenant in the service, to gather +sandalwood while the ship was gone to China. Now that he heard of the +war for the first time, and believed his captain would not dare come to +fetch him away, the midshipman proposed to Captain Porter that he and +his companions join our frigate; a proposition which was quickly +accepted. A little later that evening the three sailors came on board, +and mighty good shipmates did they prove to be. + +These last told us of the gun-deck that a fierce war was raging between +the Typees over the mountains and the Happars who dwelt along the shore +of the bay, and most likely it would be necessary for us to take part in +it against the Typees if we counted on being allowed to remain +unmolested while the repairs were being made to our ships. + +This did not cause us very much uneasiness, however, and Master Hackett +but echoed the thought in the minds of all when he said to the +newcomers:-- + +"Seein's how we've driven the Britishers out of the Pacific Ocean, so to +speak, I reckon it won't be any very hard job to wipe up the earth with +a lot of niggers that ain't supposed to know the muzzle of a musket from +the stock." + +The new sailors made no reply to this rather bold remark, and I fancied +from the expression on their faces that they did not believe we would +find it very easy work to do the "wiping," even though the Typees were +ignorant as to the use of a musket. + +These jolly fellows also told us another yarn which caused some +surprise, and led us to wonder whether we might not find more of our +countrymen on the island. + +According to the story which they had heard from the Happars, a small +schooner had gone ashore further up the coast, and at least one of her +crew was yet living with the Typees, which went to prove, according to +my way of thinking, that these natives were not quite the cannibals +they had been represented; although Phil suggested that the man, too +lean for good eating, was thus being kept until he had gathered fat +enough for the roasting. + +However, we gave but little heed to the story, because in the first +place, none of our visitors had seen the man, and secondly, owing to the +fact that the natives might easily have been mistaken. + +Perhaps it would have been better for Phil and me had we paid more +attention to the yarn and kept it well in mind. + +Next morning when the captain and two of the lieutenants went on shore, +Mr. Maury accompanied them. He, having learned the language, was to act +as interpreter, which assistance, so all hands believed, would help us +along in great shape. + +It was owing to my cousin, Lieutenant McKnight, that Phil and I had an +opportunity of seeing the landing, which was a rare sight, I assure you. + +When the boat's crew was called away Stephen motioned for us two lads to +take our places in the boat, and since each of us pulled an oar, it is +doubtful if the captain knew that we were out of place. + +The natives had been swimming around our ship since early daylight, +passing up fruit and flowers until the gun-deck of the _Essex_ had much +the appearance of a country fair-ground; and now when the captain was +rowed ashore they followed our boat, tossing and tumbling in the water +like a lot of seals, or, perhaps, mermaids, though I'm not just certain +how these last would act under the same circumstances. + +Well, the natives gave Captain Porter a fine reception,--though perhaps +they would have made him into a stew but for the fact that they were +needing help in their war,--and, later in the day, we learned by way of +the marines that our commander had agreed to do whatever he might to end +the war. + +As we were situated he couldn't have done less than agree to this, so +our old sea lawyers declared after a tremendous lot of jawing; for +unless the natives were willing to help us with the repairs and keep the +peace, Nukuheva harbor was no place for us. + +During the afternoon one watch from each ship was given shore leave, and +every Happar who owned a house set out his best in the way of a feast +for the frolicsome sailors. + +We were given quarts and quarts of peoo-peoo, which looks exactly like +thick flour paste and tastes like a nice stew, and in the eating of it +we made fun enough for the natives to keep them laughing half a +life-time. It seems, as we learned afterward, that the people stick +their finger into the stuff, twist it around a bit, and manage to hook +up a portion as large as a walnut; but there's considerable of a knack +in that kind of work, as we soon learned to our cost. + +Master Hackett, Phil, and I, the guests of an old native who was covered +with tattooing till his body looked like a piece of calico, contrived to +cover our hands and face with the sticky stuff; and if the old woman who +appeared to be our host's wife had not swabbed us off with a mop, we +would have been glued fast to whatever we touched. + +We were also treated to the milk of young cocoanuts, which comes +precious near being the best drink you ever tasted, and fruit of all +kinds, which would have been received with more show of gratitude but +for the fact that the gun-deck of the _Essex_ was literally lumbered up +with such stuff. + +Describe what we saw and did that afternoon? It's beyond me entirely, +and I must give over the attempt by saying that it was the queerest and +quite the most enjoyable half day I ever spent. Of course we couldn't do +any chinning with the natives; but we looked at them and laughed, and +they looked at us laughing still harder, until we managed to get the +same idea they probably did, that the whole boiling of us were firm +friends forever. + +I wish you could have seen those boys and girls swim! They were like so +many ducks in the water, and spent the greater portion of their time, +when there was no company at home, drifting around the bay with, so far +as Phil and I could make out, no effort whatever to keep themselves +afloat. + +Next morning the other watch was given shore leave, and meanwhile our +officers were making preparations for the war which must be fought +before we could set about getting the fleet into trim for another rub +with the Britishers. + +There was more than one man on our gun-deck who began to believe, now +there was no question but we should have a scrimmage ashore, that it was +risky for our captain to take any part in the quarrel, and the argument +they put forth was a good one, as even Master Hackett was forced to +admit. + +In the first place we were so few in numbers that not a single vessel in +the fleet was fully manned, and there would be no opportunity to enlist +others to make up a crew. Every man killed or disabled would weaken our +force just so much when we met the British ships of war, and such +chances as these we had no right to take. + +In the second place our jackies understood nothing about fighting on +land, particularly in such a wild country as we saw before us. The +natives might not be overly well armed; but we knew for a fact that they +possessed weapons of some kind and could use them to good advantage. + +"How much show would an old shellback who must depend upon a cutlass or +a boarding pike, stand against these black fellows in a bit of woods so +thick that you couldn't swing a cat?" one of the men asked, and Master +Hackett replied sharply:-- + +"We've muskets enough to arm all hands, an' I allow that you've got +sense enough to pull the trigger after the piece has been loaded, eh?" + +"I can do that much all right, matey; but what about the rest of it. +While I'm mixed up with a lot of bushes tryin' to reload, how am I to +keep the villains from comin' to close quarters where I'm outclassed?" + +"If you're goin' to pick up sich imaginin's as that, I reckon you +wouldn't be fit timber for a shore fight; but I'd hate to say I was a +Yankee, an' didn't dare to stand up in front of these heathen." + +"I'm willin' enough to stand up pervidin' I can find out what it all +amounts to. We're mixin' in this 'ere row without gettin' any benefit +from it." + +"We shall have the use of the bay while we're refittin', an' won't +stand in danger of bein' knocked over by a dirty heathen and a club." + +"There's plenty of islands about here with bays as big as we need, an' +no bloomin' war on hand," the old barnacle said in a surly tone, +whereupon Master Hackett jumped upon him, so to speak:-- + +"How do you know that? Have you been knockin' 'round these seas so many +years that you can call to mind every hole and corner? If three white +men can live here a matter of ten months, as we know has been the case, +why isn't it the choice island of the whole group for us?" + +"I ain't kickin' about the island; it's the war that sticks in my crop." + +"Let it stick there then," Master Hackett growled. "Send word aft that +you've got a rush of light-colored blood to the head, an' ain't fit to +be trusted ashore. I reckon the captain will let you off without makin' +much of a fuss." + +"See here, Hiram Hackett, you're too free with your tongue, an' that's +no lie either. When I try to get out of a scrimmage, jest let me know, +an' I'll make you a present of the best pair of black eyes you ever +wore. I reckon a man can have his growl without it bein' told all over +the ship that he's gettin' weak in the upper story, eh?" + +This last remark brought the squabble to a close, and each man appeared +to think that he had come off at the top of the heap, when, according to +my idea, they ended in the same place they began. + +Phil and I did a good bit of thinking and arguing over this new war in +which we were to take part; but we were mighty careful not to speak of +it where any sailorman might hear us, and in the meantime we watched and +took part in the preparations. + +On the third day after our arrival a crowd of Typees appeared on the +crests of the mountains, brandishing spears and clubs as if they counted +on killing and eating us in short order. + +One of the marines told us of the gun-deck that Captain Porter had sent +word to the Typees that he had force enough to take possession of the +island, and if they didn't mind their eyes and keep peaceable, he'd +settle the hash of the whole tribe before their chief could so much as +say, scat! I didn't believe the yarn, however, for if all that Mr. +Maury's sailormen had told us was true, where did the captain find a +messenger to carry his threats? + +Phil and I had supposed, from the preparations which were being made, +and the talk we had heard, that we'd begin our share of the war before +work was commenced on the vessels; but this we soon learned was a +mistake. + +The muskets, cutlasses, and ammunition had been taken out where we might +get at them handily, I suppose, and the boats were fitted up with small +2-pounder guns, after which we were set to work on other duties. + +Camps, made of spare sails, were set up in a grove a short distance from +the shore, and the frigate pulled in where we might clean her bottom by +diving, or, what was better still, hire the natives to do it. + +Phil and I were detailed for shore duty, and we had a soft snap of it, +since our only work was to help the cooks; and while the men were +setting up rigging, scraping spars, or slushing down the masts, we +loafed in the cool grove, enjoying ourselves mightily. + +We didn't see anything that looked like war, except once in a while when +a crowd of Typees came out on the top of the mountain and shook their +clubs at us; but all that was such harmless amusement for them, and did +not interfere with us in the slightest, that we came to think of the +promise to the natives as something already forgotten. + +Now and again we would hear of the white man who was with the Typees, +evidently enjoying himself, and more than one of our crew seemed to +think it was the captain's duty to go in search of him; but nothing was +done in that line, and meanwhile the work on the fleet was progressing +in great shape. + +All the ships had been cleaned of the marine growth which prevented them +from sailing at their best speed, and on each a fair share of other work +had been done. + +Captain Porter had given out that the name of the bay was to be +"Massachusetts" instead of Nukuheva; but otherwise than that, and the +fact that we had grown fast friends with the natives, particularly the +girls and young fellows, all was as when we first arrived. + +Then came the day when we found that our commander meant all he +promised, so far as taking a hand in the war was concerned. + +The Typees, having danced and shaken their clubs without being +disturbed, probably came to believe that we wouldn't attempt to do them +any harm if they cut capers with the Happars, so they began operations +by coming into the valley one dark night, tearing down houses, trampling +over gardens, and killing bread-fruit trees. + +The scoundrels did a big lot of mischief, and having grown bolder by +action, even had the cheek to send a messenger to Captain Porter with +the announcement that he was a coward who didn't dare come on the +mountains. + +Master Hackett was near by when the Typee boy arrived, and heard Mr. +Maury translate the message. This is the old sailor's story:-- + +"The captain kept his face straight when the lad begun, and then Mr. +Maury tried to back down from repeatin' all that was said; but our +commander wouldn't have any such sneakin' as that. 'Repeat every word, +sir!' he cried, an' the little midshipman went at it lookin' as if he +counted on bein' kicked after it was finished. When all was said, the +captain sent his message back, which was this: 'Tell him who sent you +that I will be on the mountain before the sun has risen three times, an' +then it will be seen which of us is the coward.' The boy went off, +though some of the Happars claimed he ought 'er be killed jest for the +sake of keepin' their hand in at such work; an' I reckon we'll know +mighty soon what it's like to be standin' up against a lot of niggers +with nothin' but a musket an' a cutlass to help out." + +The island war was to be begun, and I felt very uncomfortable in the +region of my spine, for there was good reason to believe I would soon +succeed in proving myself an arrant coward. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Herman Melville. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AN OLD ENEMY. + + +Phil and I were not the only ones who felt disturbed in mind by the +knowledge that within a few hours we should be waging war against the +natives. + +Many an old shellback shook his head ominously on hearing of the message +sent by Captain Porter, and more than one predicted that the "luck of +the _Essex_" would desert her immediately we began to "fool 'round on +shore, sticking our noses into other people's business." + +It was not for a couple of lads like Phil and me to criticise the +movements of our commander, and yet we did venture to do so when certain +there was no one within earshot to repeat our words where trouble might +be brewed for us. + +Thus far we had succeeded in carrying on the work of refitting, with no +interruption whatsoever,--unless you might reckon it a disturbing +influence to have a crowd of Typees on a hill-top two or three miles +away shaking their clubs at us,--and, so far as any one could say, we +might be able to continue at the task until it was finished. + +At all events, so Phil argued, it would be wiser if we kept at work as +long as possible, and knocked off to fight only when it was absolutely +necessary to do so in order to save our lives or protect our property. + +It was not reasonable to suppose that our sailormen would be able to +make much of a fist at fighting amid the thickets and on the cliffs +against those who had been accustomed all their lives to such work, even +though ours might be superior weapons; and should we gain the victory, +the cost might be greater than we could afford. + +When a commander lacks a sufficient number of men to handle all the +vessels of his fleet, it surely seems like taking a great risk to run +the chance of having that number made less by the spears of an enemy, to +vanquish whom can be no very great honor. + +Thus Phil and I argued; but there was another phase of this war which +struck us more keenly, although we did not talk about it very much. +Suppose any of us should be taken prisoners! There appeared to be no +question but that the natives were cannibals, and the idea of being +cooked and eaten was something so horrible that we did not venture to +so much as speak of it. The possible fact remained in our minds more +clearly, perhaps, because we did not put the thoughts into words. + +It did not afford any great relief to know that Master Hackett had very +much the same mental trouble. After we three had done our share in +bringing on shore a 6-pounder to be used in the battle on the mountain, +and were lying in the grove taking a short rest, the old man said +musingly, as if speaking to himself:-- + +"I don't reckon him as serves for the roast at one of these 'ere feasts +knows very much about what's goin' on, seein's how he's dead an' baked; +but it has always struck me that I'd rather have a grave in the ground, +than inside one of these 'ere niggers." + +"Do you suppose they eat all who are killed in battle?" Phil asked, his +voice trembling perceptibly. + +"It would come to that in the end, lad; though if the fight was a big +one, I reckon some of them as were dead would have to be salted down." + +"I wish we were to get under way to-morrow, instead of going out through +that tangle of trees and vines to prove that Captain Porter is no +coward," Phil said with a sigh. + +"So do I, lad. I reckon we could refit our ships without doin' very +much fightin', an' what little trouble might be necessary could be +carried on here in the open, where we sailormen would have a fair show." + +More than this Master Hackett did not say at the time, but from it I +understood that he had come to look upon a battle with the Typees as +something which might well be postponed until we had a larger crew. + +I must say a word in favor of our commander's decision, otherwise it may +be thought that he sent his men into danger without due cause. + +In order to gain the assistance of those natives living near about the +bay, he had been forced to promise the Happars that he would give the +Typees a lesson such as they deserved; and now was come the time when +that should be done, otherwise we might count on having trouble with +those who had stood our friends. + +While Master Hackett and we lads were taking our ease in the grove, a +party of natives numbering two or three hundred carried the 6-pounder to +the summit of the nearest mountain, and from that moment until the +expedition was really begun the Happar warriors continued to come in +from their homes ready for battle until there were not less, so my +cousin, Lieutenant McKnight, declared, than two thousand men stationed +on or near the hill where was the gun, all in something approaching +military order. + +These soldiers were most imposing in appearance, even though they were +heathen. The ordinary costume, now they were attired for battle, was +much like this, and I have taken the description from a writer who, +having lived two years among them, can well be considered as an +authority:-- + +"The splendid, long, drooping tail-feathers of the tropical bird, +thickly interspersed with the gaudy plumage of the cock, were disposed +in an immense upright semicircle upon his head, their lower extremities +being fixed in a crescent of guinea-beads which spanned the forehead. +Around his neck were several enormous necklaces of boar's tusks, +polished like ivory, and disposed in such a manner that the longest #and +largest were upon his capacious chest. + +"Thrust forward through the large apertures in his ears were two small +and finely shaped sperm-whale teeth, presenting their cavities in front, +stuffed with freshly plucked leaves, and curiously wrought at the other +end into strange little images and devices. The loins of the warrior +were girt about with heavy folds of dark-colored tappa, hanging before +and behind in clusters of braided tassels, while anklets and bracelets +of curling human hair completed his unique costume. In his right hand +he grasped a beautifully carved paddle spear, nearly fifteen feet in +length, made of the bright koa wood, one end sharply pointed, and the +other flattened like an oar blade. + +"Hanging obliquely from his girdle by a loop of sinnate, was a richly +decorated pipe; the slender stem was colored with a red pigment, and +round it, as well as the idol-bowl, fluttered little streamers of +thinnest tappa. But that which was most-remarkable in the appearance of +the splendid islander was the elaborate tattooing displayed on every +noble limb. All imaginable lines and curves and figures were delineated +over his whole body, and in their grotesque variety and infinite +profusion I could only compare them to the crowded groupings of quaint +patterns we sometimes see in costly pieces of lacework." + +Now fancy that two thousand of these fierce-looking fellows were hanging +around, while you knew that just over the mountain were seven or eight +thousand more, and you will have some idea of how Phil and I felt when +we knew that our little company of white people were to make, or help +make war, understanding full well that the dead and those taken +prisoners would serve as food for the living victors. + +It was by no means a cheering prospect, view it from whatever +standpoint you choose. + +However, all troubles are greatest when looked at from a distance, and +this was no exception to the rule. + +On the morning of the second day, when Phil and I had worked ourselves +into a regular perspiration of fear, the Happar army, with the exception +of those on the mountain guarding the 6-pounder, were drawn up near the +beach awaiting the coming of our men before proceeding to smoke out the +Typees. + +I listened in fear and trembling to hear the order for all hands to fall +into line, and my surprise was as great as my relief, which is putting +it very strong, when I learned that Captain Porter did not count on +risking many of his men in an encounter. + +Forty sailors and marines had already been told off, and Lieutenant +Downes was placed in command, after which Mr. Maury was ordered to let +the Happar leaders know that our force was ready. + +Master Hackett was not among the number chosen, and although he had +protested that we had no right to take part in this war, he appeared +decidedly disgruntled because of being left behind. + +"I see they've taken the younger sailors," he said to Phil and me as we +watched the small body of white men, completely encircled by the +fierce-looking savages, march off toward the mountain. "If the captain +thinks that a crowd of boys will do the work of men, then I allow he's +makin' the mistake of his life." + +"After all that's been said against the war, you ought to be well +satisfied that you're not called upon to take part," I said in surprise, +whereat the old man turned upon me as if in anger. + +"It makes no difference what I think, when a part of the crew are called +out on an expedition like this. It's my right to go with 'em, an' +perhaps Captain Porter will come to the conclusion, before this day is +ended, that he's made a mistake in puttin' all his dependence on young +fellows who haven't had experience enough to steady them!" + +Neither Phil nor I were disposed to quarrel with that which enabled us +to remain in a position of at least partial security, while the other +poor fellows were perspiring and fuming as they made their way through +the jungle on a six-mile tramp. + +It would be no slight task to scale the mountains when the heat, even +while one remained on the seashore, was most intense; and we could well +fancy what the temperature must be amid the thicket. + +Ten minutes after the rear-guard of the army had passed by our +lounging-place, the entire force was hidden from view by the foliage, +and we saw nothing more of them until two hours later, when the foremost +of the gaudily bedecked warriors appeared on the naked mountain-side +above the line of trees. + +At such a distance they looked like ants, rather than human beings; and +finding it impossible to distinguish our men from the savages, we ceased +to strain our eyes, accounting it too much of an exertion while the heat +was so great. + +Mr. Maury had told us that the Typees had a strong fort on the summit of +the second mountain, and it was probable the engagement, if one ensued, +would be at such a distance from the shore that we could have no view of +it whatsoever; therefore we set about our duties of waiting upon the +cooks, well content with such menial offices as we thought of our +shipmates in the forest. + +Master Hackett found enough on board the _Essex_ to occupy his time +profitably, and half an hour after the army set forth, all hands of us +on the shore of the bay were working as quietly as if there was no +possibility a battle would be fought which might affect us most keenly. + +Until dinner had been cooked and eaten we two lads found little +opportunity for conversation with one another; but after the meal had +come to an end, and those detailed for work upon the ships were at their +tasks once more, our hour of idleness was come. + +We were at liberty to do as we pleased until it was time to prepare +supper, and Phil said, when I started for our old lounging-place, the +grove:-- + +"With all the afternoon before us, why shouldn't we have a look at +what's going on over yonder?" and he pointed toward the mountain summit. + +"Do you mean that we, being clear of such danger because of our duties, +shall voluntarily take part in a fight?" I asked in surprise. + +"I'm not counting on having anything to do with one, save as spectator," +he replied with a laugh. "Mr. Maury has said that the Typee fort is on +the second summit, therefore our people have far to go before beginning +their work. Now, it wouldn't be such a very hard task for us to climb to +the top of this first mountain and there have a full view of all that's +being done. A battle between savages must be something fine, and there +are few lads who ever had such an opportunity as is ours if we choose to +take advantage of it." + +There was much of truth in what he said. The idea had not come into my +head before, that I might, from some secure spot, see all that was being +done, but now that it had been suggested I was decidedly in favor of the +plan. + +True, it would cost us severe labor to climb the mountain-side; but the +descent would be easy, and surely we could well afford to spend some of +our strength in order to witness such a sight as might at this moment be +presented. + +"I'm with you," was my reply as I rose quickly to my feet. "Shall we +tell Master Hackett what we propose doing?" + +"There's no real need of it, and it would cost us a good half hour's +time to go out to the _Essex_ and back. By hurrying up a bit now, we can +be down here again before he has knocked off work." + +"Come on!" I cried gleefully, and we ran forward, following the +footsteps of the war party until we were come to some huge boulders +about two miles from the shore, directly over which the trail seemed to +lead. + +"We can afford to go around such a barrier as that," I said lazily, as +we came to a halt. "The savages, accustomed to such climbing, and in +haste to get into position, most likely took the shortest cut." + +Phil was of my opinion, and thus each of us proved himself to be a +simple, for we should have realized that the Happars would take the best +course, and if a pile of boulders might be avoided by a slight detour, +they would not hesitate about making it. + +We went on our own course, however, and after climbing for half an hour +over the mossy slope which seemed slippery as glass, found the barrier +still on the port side, with no indication of coming to an end. + +"It can't make much difference to us," Phil said cheerily. "We're not +bound for the Typee fort; but only ask for a place where we can see what +is being done on the next mountain." + +During fully half an hour more we climbed, and then, without warning, +found ourselves in the midst of tall yellow weeds growing together as +thickly as they could stand, and as tough and stubborn as so much iron. + +I tried to force them apart with my hands; but such an attempt was +useless, and, half crouching, I brought my shoulder to bear against the +yellow stalks, when I found it possible, by the exercise of all my +strength, to move forward slowly. + +We toiled on for thirty minutes more, expecting each instant to come to +the end of the growth, and then Phil threw himself down exhausted. + +The reeds closed in upon us as we advanced, and thus we were completely +shut out from any breath of air which might be stirring. The heat was +more intense than I had ever experienced, and it seemed almost +impossible that I could continue the ascent ten minutes longer. + +"We'd best put back, and try our luck over the boulders!" Phil said, +panting so heavily that it was only with difficulty he could speak +intelligently. + +"We've fought our way through this stuff for an hour, and it will take +us as long to go back," I said petulantly. "It stands to reason that we +must come to an end of such work very soon, and we'd better push on, if +only to find an easier way of descent." + +Phil made no decided objection to this proposition, and after a short +time of rest I led the way once more, straining my eyes in vain for some +token that we were near the end of this most fatiguing journey. + +On, on we pressed, I wishing most devoutly that I had never fallen in +with Phil's scheme, and then, suddenly, the ironlike weeds became less +dense. It was possible to make my way with far less exertion, and I +shouted the joyful information to Phil, who I knew needed something to +cheer him on. + +"We're getting out where it will be possible to take our choice of +paths!" I cried; "and if you're of the same opinion, we won't travel +many miles farther for the sake of seeing a battle between the savages, +but make our way back to the shore." + +I had no more than thus spoken when there was a rustling of the stiff +stalks just in front of me, and looking up quickly I saw the muzzle of a +musket within three or four inches of my face. + +While standing like a statue gazing at the metal tube, so much surprised +that it was impossible to speak, a voice cried harshly:-- + +"Throw down your weapon, or I'll put a bullet through you." + +"We haven't any weapons!" I cried; and a great simple I was for having +given such information. + +Then there came into my mind the thought that he who had shouted must be +one of our men, because it was not probable there were any on the island +besides them who spoke English, and I cried gleefully to Phil:-- + +"Come on, lad, we've run upon our sailors!" + +Phil increased his pace as much as possible, and was just at my heels +when I stepped out to find myself confronted by none other than the lad +who, I had good reason for believing, was in prison at +Valparaiso--Oliver Benson. + +He stood there grinning, with musket at his shoulder, ready to fire at +the first show of enmity from either of us. + +Phil was quite as much astonished as I had been, when finally he came +into view; but it was possible for him to speak, and he cried:-- + +"Where did you come from?" + +"The last port I left was Valparaiso, where you and your friends spent +so much time lodging me in jail. I'm stopping on this island just now +with the natives who count on wiping your folks out of sight this +afternoon, and I had an idea that you two young scoundrels might be +picked up in the rear of the sailors, for I knew full well you wouldn't +be found in front." + +We stood gazing at him in speechless astonishment, and he, grinning as +usual, seemed to enjoy our display of cowardice. + +"Come up here one at a time and turn your pockets inside out." + +"What's this for?" I asked; but at the same moment taking good care to +obey promptly. + +"I want to make certain you haven't any weapons." + +"We're willing to give you our word as to that," Phil said promptly. + +"I'd rather have better proof," the Britisher replied sharply; and in a +very few seconds we convinced him of our defenceless condition. + +While we were thus being overhauled, I asked myself bitterly how it +chanced that we had been such idiots as to leave camp without so much as +a knife between us; but could find no satisfactory answer to the +question. + +When he was convinced that we were really without weapons, Benson laid +the musket carefully down at his feet and drew a huge clasp-knife, which +he opened. + +"Stand around here!" he commanded sharply, and, as a matter of course, +we did as we were bidden. + +Then the fellow drew from his pocket a small coil of ratline-stuff with +which he proceeded to tie my left arm to Phil's right one in such a +manner that we could not get at the knots with our free hands. + +Now we were entirely in his power and he proceeded to get such +satisfaction as was possible out of the capture. + +"Look at me!" he said sharply. "Did you count that there wouldn't be a +day of reckoning when you left me in jail?" + +"We never thought anything about it," I replied, my anger causing me to +appear bold. "You deserved punishment, and should be behind the bars +this very moment." + +"You evidently know very little about Chilian jails," he went on +complacently. "Money will buy the freedom of any prisoner who is not +accused of murder, and even such an one has been known to escape if he +could show gold enough to convince the keepers. As soon as your +miserable ships were out of the harbor, I quietly walked away one fine +night, for I'd made enough selling Yankees to have a very +respectable-sized hoard where no one could get at it but myself." + +"But how did you chance to be on this island?" Phil asked, curiosity +overcoming his fear. + +"I took passage on a craft bound to the Galapagos on a trading voyage. +We met heavy weather, and were cast away here. Four came ashore; but +three have been roasted, and I'm living on the fat of the land, having +shown the king of the Typees that I can be of more service to him alive +than dead." + +"Then you knew we were in Nukuheva Bay?" I stammered, so much surprised +that I could not speak in proper fashion. + +"Of course I did, and more than once I've crept near enough the shore to +see you lads. I made up my mind that you would soon be where I could +work off old scores, and began operations by advising the king to send +that message to Captain Porter, knowing he'd come out. I believed you +two sneaks would be with the war-party; but on finding you had hung +back, like cowards, was on my way to learn where you were." + +Having made such explanation Benson, who had been seated while we stood +like culprits before him, leaned back in a more comfortable fashion, +surveying us gloatingly. + +"Well, what do you propose doing with us now that the plan has worked to +your satisfaction?" + +"I count on waiting here till your crew and the Happars have been +thoroughly whipped, when I'll take you into the valley and see Typees +roast you in proper fashion. I know how it's done, for I saw the three +who came on shore with me slaughtered and cooked in fine style. My only +trouble is, they'll cut your throats as if you were pigs, and that's too +easy a death for those who did what they could to keep me in jail." + +I had no doubt whatsoever but that the wretch would do exactly as he had +said, and it is not surprising that I literally grew sick with terror. + +Involuntarily I glanced at Phil. His face was pallid, and beadlike +drops of perspiration stood on his forehead, telling of the fear in his +heart. + +It was reasonable to suppose that Benson was well acquainted with the +paths from one mountain to the other, and could readily keep out of the +way of the Happar army, whether it should be successful or beaten. There +appeared to be no ray of hope for us; but I did my poor best to prevent +the murderous Britisher from understanding what was in my heart. + +Phil showed himself braver than was I, for instead of being forced to +spend his time trying to keep himself from showing cowardice, he could +afford to indulge in anger, and he cried, bold as if we were the masters +instead of Benson:-- + +"It's a bad practice to crow very loudly before you've worked your will. +We have more friends on this island than you may claim; and if it so +chances that you can turn us over to the cannibals, they will make you +suffer." + +"If the situation was different, my bantam, I'd admit that what you say +might turn out true; but your people haven't any idea that Oliver Benson +is anywhere except in the jail at Valparaiso, and will set it all down +to the account of the Typees. I shouldn't cry very much if a few hundred +of them were killed to pay for having eaten you." + +After that we fell silent for a time, Benson eying us greedily, as if +he had it in mind to learn what human flesh tasted like, and Phil and I +trying in vain to devise some relief from our troubles. + +There was no way out, as I speedily came to believe. This vindictive +fellow could easily keep us hidden from the returning Happars, and that +the Typees would welcome more captives we knew full well. + +When perhaps fifteen minutes had passed and Benson gave no sign of +leaving this hiding-place in the stiff weeds, Phil asked curtly:-- + +"How much longer do you count on staying here? There'll be no chance of +seeing us roasted, unless you try a hand at the cooking, while we are +hidden in this place." + +"You shall have a chance to travel in due time, so don't grow impatient. +I reckon on staying here until the battle is over, and then there won't +be any risk, so far as I am concerned, in going across the valley." + +Even as he spoke I fancied it was possible to hear faintly the report of +muskets; but it might have been that my imagination played me a trick, +because I was eager to hear such sounds close at hand. + +We remained standing in front of Benson, while he lolled on the ground +at his ease, until it seemed impossible to remain on my feet another +second longer. The work of climbing up the mountain had brought us +almost to the verge of exhaustion, which was forgotten for the time +being in our fears, but now made itself felt more keenly than before. + +Save for that of which I have already spoken, not a sound had been heard +to give token that there were other human beings on the island, and I +began to believe that neither Happars nor Typees were within many miles +of us. + +"Look here, Benson," I finally said, speaking as though he was in my +power rather than I in his, "if you keep us standing here much longer +it'll be a case of carrying us bodily to the roasting-place, for we've +had more of a tramp this day than is really good for our bones." + +"If you so much as move a finger, I'll shoot you like curs." + +"Shoot and have done with it!" Phil cried boldly, scuffling his feet and +waving his arm to provoke the fellow. "I allow that it's within your +power to carry us where we'll be roasted and eaten, therefore the +greatest favor you can do is to shoot now without further parley." + +Having said this Phil threw himself on the ground, dragging me with +him, and I could have kissed the lad for displaying so much spirit while +I was acting the more cowardly part. + +Benson did not shoot, and for two very good reasons: first, he wanted to +carry us in as prisoners that he might gain credit for having captured +two white fellows; and secondly, because he dared not discharge his +musket, lest by so doing he bring down upon him a party of Happars, or, +perhaps, some of our own men. + +I believe that I would have welcomed death if it came in the guise of a +musket ball, so positive did I feel that we should be delivered to the +Typees within a certain length of time, when I had good cause for +knowing what our fate would be; and I would have done anything within my +power to provoke him into killing us quickly, even though I was usually +so cowardly when death seemed near at hand. + +Strange, and almost extravagant, as it may seem, Phil's eyes were closed +in slumber within a very few minutes after he was stretched at full +length upon the ground. The dear lad was so nearly exhausted after his +long climb and the subsequent struggle with the stiff yellow weeds, that +bodily fatigue caused him to forget the danger. + +I, who was probably less weary, could not have lost myself in the +unconsciousness of slumber even though my bed had been the most +rest-inviting ever made. Death was standing very near to me at that +time, and I believed the supreme moment must come before many hours had +passed, for it was not probable we would be aided by those of our crew +who had gone to fight the battles of the friendly Happars. + +Then, after many moments, came a gleam of light into my mind. Benson's +eyes were beginning to grow narrow; I saw his head droop on his bosom, +and he roused up with a start, thus showing that slumber would be +grateful to him. Then it was that a great hope looked in at my heart. + +If he should be overcome by slumber, it was not impossible that Phil and +I might be able to creep up on him so far as to gain possession of the +musket; and once that weapon was in our hands, we would give the villain +a most pressing invitation to go with us to where he could have a second +interview with Captain Porter. + +I watched him as a cat watches a mouse, literally holding my breath in +suspense, and ready to take any chance, however desperate, when the +opportunity should come. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AMONG THE TYPEES. + + +Then, when I was praying most fervently that sleep would overpower him, +his head drooped lower and lower until I understood that the chains of +slumber had bound him for a certain time at least. + +It was most unfortunate that Phil was also asleep. I tugged gently at +his arm, not daring to make any movement which would result in the +slightest noise; but without arousing him. Had his eyes been open as +wide as were mine, I venture to say that without a peradventure we might +have succeeded in gaining our freedom. + +As it was, however, it became necessary to awaken him, regardless of the +possibility that Benson might take alarm, and I pressed my free hand +over his mouth while I prodded him vigorously with my shoulder. + +Even such a violent effort as this failed of its purpose until after +three or four precious moments had elapsed, and then he stared up into +my face inquiringly:-- + +Softly as possible I whispered in his ear:-- + +"Benson is asleep; by leaping upon him suddenly we should be able to get +the upper hands, bound though we are." + +Now he understood what I would have him do, and motioned that he was +ready for any venture. + +Together we worked our way toward the sleeping Britisher. It is not to +be supposed that we two, fettered as we were, could move without making +some noise; but yet we advanced with reasonable stillness until arriving +within two feet of Benson. + +It was my idea that we throw ourselves upon him, pinning the villain +where he lay, with the chance that during the struggle one or the other +of us lads might gain possession of the musket. + +There was no time to decide upon any combined course of action, for it +would have been in the highest degree dangerous had we attempted to +carry on a whispered conversation just then. + +We rose to our feet softly; but were hardly more than standing erect +when Benson leaped up as if he had been watching from under his eyelids, +and in a twinkling struck me down with the butt of his musket. + +Phil would most likely have been treated to the same kind of a dose; +but, as a matter of course, he fell when I did, or, rather, was dragged +down by me, and the Britisher stood over us with a grin of satisfaction. + +"Thought to get the best of me, eh?" he asked in a loud voice. "Do you +two lads think I'm to be done up like a lamb?" + +Then he began kicking us, helpless though we were, and I believed that +more than one of our bones would be broken before he came to an end of +such amusement. + +We endured the punishment in silence, for it would have afforded him too +much satisfaction had we cried aloud with pain, and not until he was +wearied with the exertion did he cease. + +"You're going into the valley of the Typees, my fine birds, kick against +it as you may; and I shall see you roasted and eaten before eight and +forty hours have passed!" + +Phil was about to make an angry reply; but I prodded him with my +shoulder as token that he remain silent, for it was giving this brute +too much pleasure to bandy words with him. + +Now that our attempt at escape had failed, there was no doubt in my mind +but that what he said would come true, and I bent all my energies to +appearing unconcerned; but fearing meanwhile that at the supreme moment +I should give evidence of the cowardice in my heart. + +Benson knew, of course, that he had fallen asleep, and most likely had +no idea of how long a time he remained unconscious. He must have +believed that the nap lasted quite a while, for now he began hurriedly, +after having berated us to his heart's content, to look about with a +view to continuing the journey. + +He forced us to remain perfectly quiet, threatening to fell us with his +musket if we made any noise, while he listened for some token of friend +or foe. + +No sound was heard; it seemed as if we, among all the inhabitants of the +island, were the only ones upon the mountain. + +"I reckon we'll move ahead," he said at length. "You two cubs are to +march in front of me; and if you try to kick up any bobbery, I'll put a +stop to it by a blow over the head,--such as won't kill outright, but +will give a good idea of what's to follow. Step out now, and don't dare +to shout! It won't do you any good, and will cost a lot of trouble." + +We obeyed; what else was there for us to do? My head was humming like a +top from the effects of the blow he had already delivered, and I knew +full well he would not hesitate to maltreat us in any way which came to +his evil mind. + +After we had marched straight ahead for half an hour over a trail which +led first up and then down a stiff slope, we heard sounds of triumph and +joyful songs from what appeared to be a large party three or four +hundred yards to the left of us. + +Benson stopped suddenly, listened an instant, and then a look of +perplexity came over his face, the reason for which I could not so much +as guess. + +When the noise had died away in the distance, those who made it being +apparently on their way to the bay, Benson ordered us forward once more; +but he had lost his confident bearing, and seemed to be studying deeply +over some vexing problem. + +He continued in such mood until we arrived at what had evidently been at +some time a flourishing village, but was now only a smoking ruin. + +Phil and I glanced at each other in triumph. Now we understood why +Benson was perplexed. He had recognized the shouts of triumph as coming +from the Happars instead of the Typees, and began to believe his friends +had lost the battle. Until that moment he was confident the Typees could +vanquish any force sent against them, and that the fact had thus been +disproved, probably worried him. + +I was at a loss to understand whether this might work to our benefit or +injury; but for the time being it pleased me that Benson was not +getting along as swimmingly as he fancied when we first ran so unluckily +upon him. + +The Britisher stood facing the ruins for an instant as if at a loss to +know what course to pursue, and then he bade us march ahead of him up a +narrow path which led to the right through a dense thicket. + +We travelled at a smart pace for fifteen or twenty minutes, and then +were come to a dwelling, unoccupied, which Benson entered without +hesitation and with evident relief of mind. + +This same house has been described by another, and I can do no better +than give his exact words in picturing it:-- + +"About midway up the ascent of a rather abrupt rise of ground waving +with richest verdure, a number of large stones were laid in successive +courses to the height of nearly eight feet, and disposed in such a +manner that their level surface corresponded in shape with the +habitation which was perched upon it. + +"A narrow space, however, was reserved in front of the dwelling, upon +the summit of this pile of stones (called by the natives a 'pi-pi'), +which, being enclosed by a little picket of canes gave it somewhat the +appearance of a veranda. + +"The frame of the house was constructed of large bamboos planted +uprightly, and secured together at intervals by transverse stalks of the +light wood of the hibiscus, lashed with thongs of bark. The rear of the +tenement--built up with successive ranges of cocoanut boughs bound one +upon another, with their leaflets cunningly woven together--inclined a +little from the vertical, and extended from the extreme edge of the +'pi-pi' to about twenty feet from its surface; whence the shelving +roof--thatched with the long, tapering leaves of the palmetto--sloped +steeply off to within about five feet of the floor; leaving the eaves +drooping with tassel-like appendages from the front of the habitation. + +"This dwelling was constructed of light and elegant canes, in a kind of +open screen-work, tastefully adorned with bindings of variegated +sinnate, which served to hold together its various parts. The sides of +the house were similarly built; thus presenting three-quarters for the +circulation of the air, while the whole was impervious to the rain. + +"In length this picturesque building was perhaps twelve yards, while in +breadth it could not have exceeded as many feet. + +"Stooping a little, you passed through a narrow aperture in its front; +and facing you on entering lay two long, perfectly straight, and well +polished trunks of the cocoanut tree, extending the full length of the +dwelling, one of them placed closely against the rear, and the other +lying parallel with it some two yards distant, the interval between them +being spread with a multitude of gayly worked mats, nearly all of a +different pattern. This space formed the common couch and lounging place +of the natives, answering the purpose of a divan in Oriental countries. +Here they would slumber through the hours of the night and recline +luxuriously during the greater part of the day. The remainder of the +floor presented only the cool, shining surfaces of the large stones of +which the 'pi-pi' was composed. + +"From the ridge-pole of the house hung suspended a number of large +packages enveloped in coarse tappa; some of which contained festival +dresses and various other matters of the wardrobe held in high +estimation. These were easily accessible by means of a line which, +passing over the ridge-pole, had one end attached to a bundle, while +with the other, which led to the side of the dwelling and was there +secured, the package could be lowered or elevated at pleasure. + +"Against the farther wall of the house were arranged in tasteful figures +a variety of spears and javelins and other implements of savage +warfare. Outside of the habitation, and built upon the piazza-like area +in its front, was a little shed used as a sort of larder or pantry, and +in which were stored various articles of domestic use and convenience. A +few yards from the 'pi-pi' was a large shed built of cocoanut boughs, +where the process of preparing the peoo-peoo' was carried on and all +culinary operations attended to." + +Such is a good picture of the dwelling which Benson entered, we walking +ahead according to his orders; and here he appeared to be perfectly at +home. + +I fancied that he was somewhat surprised because there was no one to +greet him; but he made himself comfortable by lying stretched out on the +divan at full length, while we two lads were ordered to make a +resting-place of the stone floor. + +My first glance fell upon the collection of weapons, and I must have +been eying it eagerly, for the Britisher said threateningly:-- + +"Thinking that if you could get hold of them I might have the worst of +it, eh? Well, don't you dare so much as move, else I'll knock in the +whole top of your head!" + +To this threat we made no reply, for it was useless to bandy words with +the fellow, who held us securely in his power. We were so weary that +even the smooth side of a stone seemed rest-inviting, and, despite our +danger, enjoyed this being able to stretch out at full length on our +backs. + +At that moment, sore in both body and mind, I would have welcomed the +assurance that we were to remain here undisturbed until another morning +had come. But it seemed as if we had no more than settled ourselves down +as well as the rope on our arms would permit, than the head of a native +appeared from around the corner of the building; and after satisfying +himself that there were no enemies to be feared, the owner of the head +entered, followed by no less than ten men, all of whom appeared to have +been having a rough-and-tumble fight. + +Benson, without troubling himself to rise, said something to the leader +in the party; and because he pointed at us from time to time, both Phil +and I believed he was giving an account of our capture. + +I was literally shaking with fear, fancying we would immediately be +taken out and eaten; but, greatly to my surprise, all the men seemed to +be angry with Benson. + +He talked to them sharply for an instant, and was replied to in such +fashion that I understood the villain was alarmed, for he arose with a +certain degree of humility, and began making a long speech. + +Before this was ended a large crowd came in, filling the building to +its utmost capacity, and Phil whispered to me:-- + +"It seems as if every man, woman, and boy had some cause for complaint +against the Britisher, and there's no question but that he's feeling +uncomfortable in mind. I wonder why they don't set about roasting us?" + +"I reckon Benson has done something they don't like, and he'll be hauled +over the coals before anything is done with us," and as I spoke a faint +hope sprang up in my heart, although I could not understand that there +was any reason for it. + +The Britisher talked for more than ten minutes, the Typees listening to +him most intently; but no sooner had he come to an end than the man who +entered first--he to whom I believed the dwelling belonged--began to +question Benson angrily, and before he was come to an end every man +present was speaking. + +Then, when the uproar was greatest, one of the party cut the bonds which +bound Phil and me, indicating by gestures that we were to recline on the +couch just vacated by the Britisher. + +This was indeed a startling reception, as compared with what we had +anticipated, and our surprise amounted almost to bewilderment when +another of the party brought us a young cocoanut with the top removed +that we might drink the milk, while a third and fourth offered fruit +which they laid before us on the divan. + +While we were thus being treated as honored guests, the majority of the +party were evidently scolding Benson with many a menacing gesture. + +"He's got himself into trouble somehow," Phil said with a chuckle of +content, "and we seem to be getting the best of this party. Talk about +your cannibals! Why, these people couldn't treat us any better if they +were missionaries!" + +Presently Benson seemed to have lost his temper, and, after loud words, +attempted to stalk out of the building with his musket under his arm. + +Before one would have had time to wink, the Britisher was lying on the +stones of the pi-pi, and the chief man of the party was in possession of +the gun. + +It was a most startling transformation, and Benson appeared quite as +surprised as Phil and I; but instead of showing fight he rose to a +sitting posture, where he remained as meek as any lamb, evidently +satisfied that it would not be well for him to make further move toward +leaving the building. + +With the Britisher thus disposed of, there was a tremendous lot of +jawing done by the men, and at short intervals other parties came up, +the greater number looking as if they had been running, until it seemed +as if we had near us the entire population of the town which had been +destroyed. + +Puzzle our brains as we might, Phil and I were wholly at a loss to +understand the meaning of what was going on around us; but were +perfectly satisfied with the position of affairs so far as we were +concerned. + +But for the knowledge that Benson was treated so roughly, I should have +thought that we were being fed up in order to get us in a better +condition for roasting; but it had been shown that he was in disgrace, +and no one could have mistaken the fact that they wished us to look upon +them as our very friendly hosts. + +Finally there was a great commotion outside and an old man appeared, +showing by his manner as well as his costume that he was higher in +authority than any of those around him. + +The owner of the dwelling now began to tell him about our having been +taken prisoners, as we could understand from the gestures; and when the +story was come to an end, some order was given the Britisher, who came +to his feet all standing. + +The chief man--he may have been the king, for all I know--seemed to be +giving Benson a severe rating; and when he had come to an end, our enemy +approached us so sweetly that butter wouldn't have melted in his mouth. +It was difficult then to realize that he was the same villain who had +promised we should be roasted and eaten. + +"You lads are to be taken to Nukuheva Bay, if you feel able to walk so +far before resting," he said without raising his eyes. + +"Nukuheva Bay!" I repeated in astonishment. "Do you mean that the Typees +no longer intend to serve us up as a roast?" and a glimmer of the truth +now flashed across my mind. + +"The Typees are your friends." + +"Then how does it happen you reckoned so confidently on our being +killed?" I asked, grown bolder now the danger appeared to be over. + +"The Yankees have beaten them in the battle which was fought this +forenoon, and you are to be sent back as a peace offering," Benson said +meekly; but it must have cost him an effort to admit the truth of the +matter. + +"And what about you?" Phil asked curiously. + +"I am in more danger than since the first hour after being cast ashore, +when my companions were being killed. If the battle had gone in the +Typees' favor, then I should have been praised for bringing you in; but +now they make a scapegoat of me, and I stand a good chance of being +roasted myself before this scrape is over." + +The fellow really believed what he said, and I could not keep down a +feeling of pity for him; but Phil was less soft-hearted, and said +quickly:-- + +"I think it will be a very nice ending, Master Benson. When you have +satisfied the hunger of these natives, you will probably have done the +first really good deed of your life. Besides, it will save you from +being hanged." + +That Benson was thoroughly cowed and terrified could be told from the +fact that he made no reply to this cruel speech, and my pity for him +increased, although it is doubtful if I would have saved him had it been +in my power, unless I knew for a certainty that he would be sent +immediately to a prison from which he could not escape. + +The Britisher stood before us silently until one of the men prodded him +with a sharp point of a knife, and he asked humbly:-- + +"Are you ready to go back to Nukuheva Bay now, or would you like to +rest a while longer?" + +"We'll go now," I replied quickly, thinking it wisest to take the Typees +while they were in the humor, lest they should suddenly come to believe +that more might be gained by holding us prisoners; and Phil nodded his +head to show that he was quite in my way of thinking. + +No sooner had Benson repeated the words than two men stepped forward, +and the Britisher explained that they would act as our guides during the +journey. + +"Won't you do good for evil by telling Captain Porter that a white man +is here in great danger of being killed?" he asked piteously. "Whatever +your commander asks now will be granted; and if he sends back such +request by those who conduct you, I shall be saved." + +"You would be brought to Nukuheva Bay, and once there our captain would +make you close prisoner." + +"I care not what he does, so that I am saved from these cannibals." + +"An hour ago they were your very good friends; but now you are howling +to be taken from them," Phil suggested. + +"They were my friends, and would be now but for the fact that I advised +them to make war against the Yankees and the Happars, assuring them +they would whip the whole boiling in a twinkling." + +"And now, after trying not only to have us killed, but to bring about +the death of all hands, you coax us to save your miserable life!" Phil +cried angrily, whereat half a dozen pairs of hands were stretched out, +pulling the Britisher violently backward until he fell with a thud on +the stones of the pi-pi. + +Phil and I rose to our feet, although feeling mighty sore in the joints, +and the throng separated in a friendly fashion to give us passage. + +As we walked out of the building Benson cried piteously on us to do what +we could to persuade the captain into demanding his release; and the +last sound we heard on leaving the dwelling where we had fully expected +to meet death in a most horrible form, was his prayers that we would be +merciful. + +The whole change in affairs was rather perplexing, despite the brief +explanation made by Benson; but at the time we gave very little heed to +our ignorance, because of the fact that we were comparatively free once +more. + +If I have set down but few words concerning our feelings while we were +prisoners, and afterward when walking rapidly toward Nukuheva Bay, it is +because I cannot even make a beginning at describing our condition of +mind. To be at one moment the most miserable of human beings, and in +another freed from all troubles, is such a wonderful change that words +fail of picturing it. + +The Typees who conducted us were not disposed to delay on the journey, +although again and again they asked by gestures if we would like to rest +a while, and to each of these questions in turn we shook our heads most +decidedly. I had no desire for rest, wearied though I was, when a couple +of cannibals were to stand watch over us. The sooner I was out of such +company the better pleased should I be. + +There is no reason for making an overly long story of our tramp across +the mountains, for it would be repeating over and over an account of our +great fatigue--fatigue which could not have been borne, I believe, under +less dangerous circumstances. + +Not until late in the evening did we come within hailing distance of the +Happar village near the shore of the bay, and then our guides told us by +gestures that we must lead the way. They evidently did not care to take +the chances of advancing boldly into the settlement while all hands were +celebrating the victory which had been won that day. + +Neither Phil nor I felt any too secure about suddenly appearing before +the Happars, and instead of entering the village, we stood on the +outskirts shouting "_Essex_ ahoy!" at the full strength of our lungs. + +More than fifteen minutes was spent in this effort to summon our +shipmates before the cries were answered, and then who should suddenly +appear before us but Master Hackett! + +I fancied he would greet us affectionately after all the dangers we had +encountered; but in this I was mistaken. + +"Well, have you two infants got enough of skylarkin'?" he asked in a +severe tone, and Phil cried:-- + +"Skylarking! If you have any idea we've been enjoying ourselves, it +would please me well for you to have a turn at such fun." + +"Don't wag your tongues about nothin'; but tell me where you've been, +an' what you count on doin' with them niggers." + +We made a short story of our adventures, for we were so nearly exhausted +that it seemed impossible we could remain on our feet another moment; +but the time had not yet come when we might indulge in rest. + +"You're to go aboard that the captain may speak with you, an' I reckon +them two fellers had better keep close behind." + +"Can't we speak with the captain in the morning?" I asked, hoping to be +allowed a long trick below in my hammock. + +"Not a bit of it. After givin' us all to understand that you'd come to +grief, an' bein' the means of havin' half a dozen men trampin' over +these bloomin' mountains in search of you, the least to be done is to +make a report in proper shape." + +Without further protest we followed the old sailor, our Typee guards +keeping close behind us, and as we walked toward the shore I asked +Master Hackett for an account of the day's doings. + +"There ain't much of a yarn to it," he replied laughingly. "Our men did +the most of the business, an' might have worked the traverse alone, +accordin' to all accounts. They marched over the mountains, drivin' the +Typees before 'em, until comin' to a kind of fort, where it's said no +less than four thousand of the niggers made a stand. Then the Yankees +an' the 6-pounder got in their work. It wasn't any great shakes of a +battle, 'cause it was so soon over. We drove 'em right an' left, an' +wound up the business by pullin' the fort apart. I reckon all the +natives on this 'ere island think we're the toughest fighters they ever +struck. Our people came in about three o'clock, an' since then we've had +visits from this gang an' that, all claimin' to be our best friends. +When them as have been sent out to search for you get back, they'll be +feelin' sore 'cause a couple of worthless infants have caused 'em so +much hard labor." + +Then it was that I thought of Benson's prayers and entreaties until my +heart grew soft, and I asked Master Hackett if he believed the captain +would do anything toward saving his worthless life. + +"I allow he will, lad, though it seems like a waste of good breath to +spend it talkin' about him. Even though we are at war with the +Britishers, we can't let one of 'em be roasted an' ate up like a pig; +but I'll guarantee the captain will keep the brute carefully caged till +we can put him into a stronger prison than is to be found in Chili." + +"And you believe we should say anything about it to Captain Porter, +after Benson did his best to have us roasted and eaten?" Phil asked +sharply. + +"I do for a fact, lad. Just at present you're hot against him; but in a +month from now you'd be eatin' your heart out if you'd held your tongue +when he might 'er been saved." + +We ceased talking of Benson after this, and Master Hackett regaled us +with stories of the battle which he had got from those of our people who +took part in it, until we were on board the ship in Captain Porter's +cabin. + +"Tell me all you have done and seen this day," the captain said when +Master Hackett, with many a flourish and tug at his hair, reported +having found us and our guides. + +We obeyed the command, he interrupting us with questions from time to +time, and then Mr. Maury was summoned that he might act as interpreter +for the Typees. + +This ended the interview so far as we were concerned, for Master Hackett +dragged us backward out of the cabin, leaving the two savages looking +around very suspiciously. + +We had repeated Benson's request, and stated as our belief that he would +speedily be killed and eaten unless a demand was made that he be brought +on board the ship; but to all this the captain gave no reply, and we +left the cabin uncertain as to whether the Britisher would be rescued, +or left to take the punishment he had brought upon himself through +trying to do the Yankees a mischief. + +"Why didn't you let us stay and hear what was said?" Phil asked angrily +of Master Hackett when we were outside. + +"Because he'd got through with you. Are you thinkin' a couple of +troublesome infants like you can loiter around in the after cabin at +your own sweet will?" + +"We might at least have stayed until Captain Porter told us to go," Phil +retorted in an injured tone. + +"That's exactly what he did do when he nodded to me. It was jest the +same as if he'd said, 'Take 'em away,' an' I did it to save you from a +wiggin' such as our captain can give a man with more vim than I ever +heard put into it by any one else." + +I was not quite certain that Master Hackett had received such a signal; +but it was too late now to repair the mischief, and we went below ready +for our hammocks, as you can well believe. + +Never before had I even fancied that a sailor's bed was soft; but on +this night I had been inside of it no more than two minutes before I was +snoring like a top. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A NAVAL STATION. + + +Next morning at sunrise Phil and I were routed out by the cry of "All +hands ahoy!" and if we had expected to be received with open arms and by +our shipmates' congratulations on a narrow escape from death, we would +have been most wofully mistaken. + +Many of the crew, including those who had been forced to roam over the +mountains in search of us, believed we should be brought up for +punishment because of having left the encampment during hostilities +without orders or permission; and those who held to it that there was no +reason, in the absence of orders to the contrary, why we were not +allowed to move around at will, blamed us severely for being such fools +as to run blindly into the arms of an enemy. + +Thus it was that, in one way or another, we had earned a reproof from +all our comrades; and it was administered by their silence or severe +looks when we made our appearance believing a warm reception awaited us. + +Even Master Hackett glanced at us reproachfully for a time; but he grew +more friendly as the forenoon wore on, and then we ventured to ask if he +knew what Captain Porter had done in regard to Benson's appeal for aid. + +"The two natives stayed aboard all night, an' were set ashore less than +half an hour before you turned out. Of course I don't know what orders +our captain gave them; but I'll wager a doughnut against a dollar that +they'll be here again, bringin' the Britisher with 'em, if it so be he's +yet alive, before sunset." + +"What will the men say to being thus careful of a man who admits having +made a business of trapping Yankee sailors in order that he may sell +them like so many slaves?" Phil asked indignantly. + +"I ain't overly certain as to what they'll say; but you can set it down +as a fact that never a mother's son of 'em will so much as open his +mouth where there's a chance his words may be repeated aft. Captain +Porter ain't the kind of a seaman that a crew can afford to monkey with. +He'll do as he believes right, no matter what them as sail under him may +say." + +This conversation was interrupted by a command which surprised even the +oldest shellbacks among us. + +Word was passed that a party of forty men were to take four 6-pounders +from the _Greenwich_, and put them in position on a small hill +overlooking the harbor and our encampment ashore. + +Another force was called off to carry empty water-casks to the same +place, and Master Hackett muttered sufficiently loud for me to hear the +words:-- + +"I reckon we're to make a naval station of this 'ere island; an' if it +so be we show our heels to the Britishers who've been sent out to sink +us, this will be a likely property to hold in the name of the United +States." + +Phil and I knew full well that we had no right to linger on board the +_Essex_, for we had been assigned to duty ashore; and, therefore, while +the working parties I have spoken of were being made up, we clambered +into the first boat that put off for the land. + +Then, as a matter of course, we took up our tasks as cooks' assistants +once more, although it would have pleased us better had we been allowed +to take part in the work of building the fort; for that, as we soon came +to understand, was the purpose for which our men had been called off +from the labor of refitting. + +We two lads had ample time, however, in which to observe all that was +being done, for, as I have already set down, we were allowed many a +spare hour between meals. + +The empty water-casks were filled with earth and sunk a couple of feet +into the summit of the hill in such manner as to form a circle. Then +sand was shovelled against the outside of these, and an excavation made +inside, until we had a breastwork not to be despised even as a +protection against musket balls. The guns were mounted so that they +would cover the harbor and camp, and a flag-staff, on which was hoisted +the stars and stripes, set up in the middle of the enclosure, the whole +presenting the appearance of a regular fort. + +Before all this work had been completed, however, we saw two of the +Typees coming down the mountain-side, escorting a third person whom we +knew full well was none other than Benson, and the question as to +whether our captain would take any trouble to save the life of a +Britisher was answered. + +Phil and I were near the beach when this party came in, waving green +palm-leaves, which answered the purpose of a white flag; and while they +halted, awaiting some word from the ship as to where they should leave +the living peace-offering, we two lads had an opportunity of holding +converse with our enemy. + +[Illustration: THE PARTY CAME IN, WAVING GREEN PALM-LEAVES.] + +He was as humble and friendly as possible, as well he might be, +considering the fact that we had been the means of saving him from being +served up as a Typee roast or stew. + +"If ever it comes my way, I'll do you boys a good turn," he said in a +tone of thankfulness, and I was disposed to let the promise pass without +comment; but Phil did not hold the same opinion. + +"That is to say, you count on being friendly to us until another chance +comes your way of selling us to the whalers, or of seeing us roasted and +eaten," he said angrily; whereupon Benson replied with what I believed +was sincere regret for having attempted to do us bodily harm:-- + +"If you'd been in my position since yesterday, you'd know full well that +I couldn't be other than thankful for what you have done." + +"I allow we were in much the same situation when you had us in your +keeping, and was determined we should be roasted!" the lad said hotly. +"But for the fact that the Typees got the worst of the battle, we'd be +ready for cooking this very minute." + +Benson could make no reply to what was neither more nor less than the +truth, and he hung his head, as seemed to me most proper. + +After a few moments of silence he asked:-- + +"Do you know what your captain counts on doing with me?" + +"He isn't in the custom of telling the crew what he proposes to do," +Phil said curtly; "but this you can set down for a fact, that if he +turns you loose around the bay, you'd better be mighty careful, for +there are those among the men who wouldn't count it a crime to kill you +as they would a mad dog." + +By this time a boat had come ashore from the _Essex_; Benson and the +Typees who had brought him in were taken on board, and we did not get a +glimpse of the Britisher until many days afterward. The natives, +however, came ashore half an hour later and were conducted by our men a +short distance up the mountain, lest the Happars, disregarding the flag +of truce, should set upon them. + +Three days later Captain Porter took possession of the fort and island +in a formal manner. He and his officers went into the fortification +where the flag, which had been lowered a few moments previous, was +hoisted while the ships saluted it in fine style, and then it was +announced that the island had become a portion of the United States. +From that hour, so the captain declared, Nukuheva should be known as +Madison Island, in honor of the President, and the fort was given the +same name. The bay had already been christened Massachusetts, and at the +time it seemed to me that my country had come into possession of a +valuable territory; but those at home thought differently, for in after +years no effort was made to hold what the gallant old _Essex_ had fairly +won. + +The remainder of this day when we took possession was spent in sport, +all hands having full liberty until one hour before sunset; and a grand +jollification we had, visiting the most respectable Happar families. + +Next morning twenty-one men were told off as the force to man the fort, +and command of the same was bestowed upon Lieutenant Gamble of the +Marines. The duty of this little party was to guard the remainder of the +company while at work on the fleet, and otherwise keep peace between the +Happars and the Typees. Then the task of putting the ships into sailing +trim was continued, and Phil and I sincerely regretted having been +assigned to the cook's department, otherwise we might have been numbered +among the defenders of the fort,--a position which would have pleased me +mightily, for it seemed certain that the Typees were more than willing +to let us severely alone. + +As I stop writing at this point for an instant, I come to realize that +my yarn is being spun out too long. It would please me greatly to be +able to set down here all we did while on Madison Island, for we spent +many a happy hour there, despite the hard work; but by so doing I might +never come to an end of that which I hope will pass for what landsmen +call a "story," although every word is no more than the truth, as all +our ship's company can testify. + +In order, therefore, that nothing of importance concerning the cruise of +the _Essex_ may be omitted through lack of time and space, I will copy +here what was afterward written by a great historian[2] concerning what +cost us three days of fighting, and to relate which in detail would +force me to write over many pages. + +"After their first fears had been allayed, or they came to understand +how small was our force, the powerful Typees remained hostile, and +became more and more defiant, to the great discomfort of the Happars and +the annoyance of the Americans. At length Porter resolved to make war +upon them. + +"An expedition of thirty-five Americans, including Captain Porter, and +five thousand Taeehs and Happars, moved against the incorrigibles. The +Typees, armed with slings and spears, met them with such overwhelming +numbers and fierce determination, that at the end of the first day they +were compelled to fall back to the beach, numbering among their +casualties a shattered leg belonging to Lieutenant Downes, caused by a +sling-man's stone. That night the valley of the Typees resounded with +shouts of victory, and the sonorous reverberations of many beaten drums. + +"Porter renewed the attempt the next day, and led his motley army boldly +over the rugged hills into the Typee valley, in the midst of great +exposure to hostile missiles from concealed foes, and many privations. + +"Village after village was destroyed until they came to the principal +town, in which were fine buildings, a large public square, temples and +gods, huge war-canoes, and other exhibitions of half-savage life. These +were all reduced to ashes, and by the broom of desolation that beautiful +valley, four miles in width and nine in length, was made a blackened +desert. The Typees, utterly ruined and humbled, now submissively paid +tribute." + +It seems almost cruel to tell so brave a yarn in such few words; but for +the fact that there are yet more important adventures of our cruise to +be set down, it should not thus be hurried over. + +Neither Phil nor I was of the party which Captain Porter himself led +over the mountains. I am not prepared to say that we would have gone +with the army if permission had been given; we knew what fate awaited +those who might be made prisoners, and would have shrunk from thus +taking the chances of being the principal dish at a Typee feast. + +When our men came back to the beach whipped, at the close of the first +day's fight, and we saw Lieutenant Downes brought in by four Happars, +looking as if death sat on the litter with him, it began to appear as if +Massachusetts Bay was not a desirable naval station. + +Nor were Phil and I the only ones among the company who grew +faint-hearted when the reverses were made known. The old shellbacks who +had previously grumbled because we were to take part in a native war, +now came out strong with their predictions of evil; and to have heard +them scold and mutter, one would have said that already were we +hopelessly overcome. + +Next day, when our men set out leading the entire army, we watched until +they were lost to view in the distance, firmly believing we would never +see them again. During the time we spent anxiously waiting for news from +the battle-field, all hands were in the fort or on board the ships, +ready to open fire if the Typees should chase our people to the shore of +the bay; but at nightfall our anxiety was changed to rejoicing. + +A Happar messenger came in with the information that Captain Porter had +whipped the Typees thoroughly, and would remain absent from the bay +another day in order to destroy the villages belonging to the enemy. + +It was my good fortune to have the opportunity of carrying this news to +Lieutenant Downes, who lay in his cabin on board the _Essex_, and to my +great surprise I discovered that he had never been in doubt as to the +result of the expedition. + +"It couldn't have been otherwise," he said, when I had emptied my budget +of news. "Thirty-five white men with ample supply of ammunition could +beat off all the natives of the island, providing they were not +ambushed. It went without saying that Captain Porter would flog them +into submission." + +Because he spoke to me so familiarly, I ventured to ask him concerning +Benson, for up to this time neither Phil nor I had been able to learn +anything regarding him. + +"He is below, in such snug quarters that I promise you there is no +chance of his escaping." + +"Will he be taken back to Valparaiso?" I ventured to ask. + +"I think not, my lad. It is my opinion that he will remain on board +until we arrive at the home port, and then be delivered over to the +proper authorities. So long as Captain Porter holds command of the +_Essex_, there's little chance the young scoundrel will play any more +tricks on honest seamen." + +As a matter of course, Phil and I knew full well that Benson was on +board the frigate; but we were not just certain what the captain +proposed to do with him when we made Valparaiso again, and this +assurance of Lieutenant Downes's caused me to feel decidedly better +mentally, for we were not minded he should escape his just deserts. + +When our people came back, escorted by the triumphant Happars and +followed by the chief men of the Typees, who were eager that peace be +made between us, we gave them a grand reception, which was not +prolonged, for on the following morning the work of refitting the ships +of the fleet was continued as if our commander was impatient to be at +sea once more, as really was the case if the statements made by Master +Hackett the evening following the return of the army were true. + +I had asked him why Captain Porter was bent on pushing the work forward +to the utmost limit of speed, and the old man said gravely, as if he +considered it an exceedingly serious matter:-- + +"It is near time for the arrival in the Pacific of one or more of the +frigates sent out from England to destroy us. From all I've gathered, +an' by puttin' this an' that together when I've overheard the officers +talkin' it amounts to considerable, it's our commander's idee to meet +the Britishers one by one as fast as they arrive, instead of givin' them +a chance to come at us with a squadron after due preparation. We've got +to fight our way home, if we ever get there; an' accordin' to my way of +thinkin' Captain Porter couldn't do a wiser thing than to meet the enemy +as soon as possible after they round the Horn." + +"Why then, Master Hackett?" + +"Because after such a voyage every ship is bound to be at her worst, an' +it's our best chance; if we give them time to overhaul an' lay plans, we +stand a show to get beaten." + +"And are we to give up the island after having so much trouble to subdue +the Typees?" + +"Not a bit of it, if all I've heard be true. Lieutenant Gamble, with +midshipmen Feltus an' Clapp, are to remain behind in command of the +force detailed for the fort." + +"And they are to stay here to keep peace among the natives," Phil +exclaimed in a tone of surprise, whereupon Master Hackett corrected him +by saying:-- + +"It goes without sayin' that they will keep peace on the island; but +that ain't the reason for leavin' 'em here, by a long shot. We'll need a +harbor for repairs while we stay in the Pacific, especially after two or +three battles at sea, which I reckon will fall to our share. Them as +remain behind will see to it that the Britishers don't take possession +by some of their whalin' vessels or otherwise, an' we'll have a port to +run to if the odds are too great against us." + +I failed to figure out what was to become of those left behind in case +the _Essex_ was destroyed, or if she was forced to flee around the Horn; +and Master Hackett could not help me to a solution. He seemed to treat +it as one of the chances of war which the defenders of the fort must +take, and as such, not worthy of discussion. + +Well, the refitting was pushed forward with all speed, and near about +the first of December we were so far ready for sea that it was only +necessary to take in a quantity of water and fresh provisions. + +The prizes were warped in close under the fort, and moored there in +such manner that nothing short of a most violent tempest could disturb +them. + +The encampment ashore was broken up, and all the men ordered on board +the ships which were to venture out. + +When this last order was given, we had signs of serious trouble. + +The natives, who had become fast friends with our men, set up a terrible +howl, and from morning until night we could see them on the beach crying +and begging that the crew be sent ashore again, while on board the +frigate and the _Essex Junior_ the sailormen themselves were bewailing a +fate which seemed unnecessarily hard. + +There was little mutinous talk on our ship; but we heard again and again +that the crew of the _Essex Junior_ was nearly in a mutinous frame of +mind because the pleasant stay ashore had come to an end. + +As a matter of course the old shellbacks were not concerned in this +insubordination. They recognized the fact that we must put to sea as +speedily as possible, and were even eager to be gone; but many of the +younger fellows would have deserted except for the strong guard which +was kept both night and day. + +Only those who could best be trusted were sent on shore for the stores, +and among these was Master Hackett, therefore we lads heard much of what +was happening aboard of our consort. + +It was the evening of the second day after we had been ordered aboard +ship that Master Hackett told Phil and me, while he was smoking +comfortably near No. I gun, the following startling news:-- + +"Bob White of the _Essex Junior_ has been blowin' his gaff so loud that +it has come to the ears of our officers, an' all hands will be called up +for a wiggin' from the commander before another day goes by, or I'm a +Dutchman, which I ain't." + +"What has he been saying?" Phil asked curiously. + +"That we of the frigate have come to a solemn agreement not to get under +way when the order comes; or, if we're forced to do that, we're to seize +the ship in three days after leavin' port, an' them on the _Essex +Junior_ are to stand by us." + +"But all that is a lie!" I cried hotly. "If there had been a mutiny on +board this ship, surely it would have come to the ears of Phil and me!" + +"I allow that some of our youngsters have been makin' foolish talk +against puttin' to sea when there's so much fun to be had ashore; but as +for downright mutiny, why it's all in your eye, Biddy Martin. I count +that the worst insubordination has been argufied in my hearin', an' that +only went so far as to swimmin' ashore for a night's frolic. Bob White +will find himself in trouble, or I'm mistaken." + +Master Hackett's prediction was verified early next morning, when the +crew of the _Essex Junior_ was ordered aboard the frigate, and, in +company with all our men, summoned to the break of the quarter, where +was standing Captain Porter and his officers, decked out in their newest +uniforms. + +The captain did not show any sign of anger when we stood before him, but +began like a preacher, by telling what he had heard was talked of among +the men. + +It goes without saying that this was the same yarn Master Hackett had +spun for us the night before, and the commander said flatly that he +didn't allow there was any truth in it. + +"I can't believe any of you who have braved so many dangers during this +most glorious cruise would turn mutineers simply because life on the +island is so pleasing. If it should be, however, that you came to such a +pass, rather than allow the shame put upon us, I will without hesitation +hold a match to the magazine and blow all hands into eternity, for it +is better that the ship and every man in her perish, than have it told +at home that we were ready to sacrifice the interests of our country to +personal desires. While I don't believe it possible such an agreement +could have been made, there may be some hot heads among you who do not +care for the disgrace which would come upon all this ship's company, +therefore I wish to see who will agree to obey my commands in the future +as you have in the past. Let those who are ready to do their duty like +men, by remaining on board when we go to meet the enemy, step over on +the starboard side--I mean those who are not only willing, but eager, to +get the good ship _Essex_ under way when the order may be given to do +so." + +In a twinkling every man jack of us was lining the starboard rail, +looking curiously behind to see who would dare show himself mutinously +inclined. + +No one remained on the port side, and Captain Porter looked pleased; but +the end of the matter was not yet, as he then proved by saying:-- + +"Let Bob White come forward!" + +The mutinous sailor obeyed sheepishly; and when he stood out from the +rest of us, a mark for every eye, the captain said sternly:-- + +"This is the man who has reported that you had not only agreed to +disobey orders, but were ready to turn pirates for the sake of spending +your lives on the island. He who will spin such yarns about honest +sailormen is not fit to associate with them. Mr. McKnight," he added, +turning to my cousin Stephen, "see to it that this scoundrel is dropped +into one of the canoes which are hanging around, and let it be +understood that the sentries are to fire at him if he makes any effort +to come aboard again." + +My cousin had hardly more than stepped off the quarter to give the +necessary order, when Master Hackett and a couple of his cronies seized +Bob White, and before one could have counted ten the mutineer was +kicking and splashing in the water alongside. They had not taken the +trouble to see whether a canoe was close at hand. + +There were so many islanders near about, however, that White was +speedily picked up, and from that time he was never seen again, unless, +perchance, it may have been by those who garrisoned the fort. + +Then, after thanking us for what we had already done while under his +command, and for what he expected we would do in the future, the captain +dismissed us that we might get about the work of the day. + +It was only natural that while engaged in this task or the other my +mind should be filled with thoughts of the insubordination, and the +possible result if the crew had been able to remain on the island. + +The seamen among us who had had the most experience in such matters, +believed that we stood but little show against those ships which had +been sent from England in search of us; that the _Essex_ would never +round Cape Horn with the stars and stripes flying. In such case we had +only death or imprisonment to look forward to, and it is not so very +surprising that some of the men should desire to remain among the +islanders. + +As for myself, and I can also speak for Phil in the same words, cowardly +at heart though I was, it seemed far wiser to make a brave fight for it +than go into voluntary exile among cannibals. Yet, while I thus decided, +there was a great fear in my heart concerning our fate, and I would have +given up anything I possessed, with a mortgage on everything which might +come to me in the future, had it been possible to step at that moment +into my own quiet home. I had seen enough of war, although having viewed +it only from the brightest side, and I quaked at the prospect of what +lay before us, even though we might, in the end, succeed in giving our +enemies the slip. + +It was the morning of December 12, 1813, when we got under way, amid +the booming of the guns from Fort Madison, and I venture to say there +was not a man in either ship, whether officer, ordinary seaman, or +marine, who did not wish we might have remained there a few weeks +longer, providing it could be done safely and honorably. + +The prizes were left under the guns of the fort, for now we were going +out to meet the foe in battle, and could not be bothered with such as +they. The _Essex Junior_ and the frigate were to perform the hard work, +receive the British fire, and then, if we were successful, which hardly +seemed probable, would return to take our captured craft to a home port. + +By nightfall the island was lost to view in the distance, and on the +vast expanse of the ocean nothing could be seen by us save the good +frigate _Essex_ and her namesake and consort, _Essex Junior_. + +Now let me set down something which I have copied from a yarn spun by an +old sea-dog[3] who can jockey a spar or make a book with equal ease:-- + +"Up to this time not a dollar had been drawn to meet the expenses of the +frigate. The enemy had furnished provisions, sails, cordage, medicines, +guns, anchors, cables, and slops. A considerable amount of pay even, +had been given to the officers and men, by means of the money taken in +the _Nocton_. Thus far the cruise had been singularly useful and +fortunate, affording an instance of the perfection of naval warfare in +all that relates to distressing an enemy, with the least possible charge +to the assailants; and it remained only to terminate it with a victory +over a ship of equal force, to render it brilliant. It is, perhaps, a +higher eulogium on the officers and crew of this memorable little +frigate to add, that while her good fortune appeared at last to desert +her, they gave this character to their enterprise by the manner in which +they struggled with adversity." + +On this our first evening at sea, after so long a stay in port, Master +Hackett was unusually agreeable and friendly with us lads who had done +our best toward saving his life, whether that best was ill-advised or +opportune. Instead of smoking in the company of the other old sea-dogs, +he joined us near No. 1 gun, and there began to hold forth on the "luck +of the _Essex_" as if believing we needed heartening now that we were +pressing forward to meet an enemy of equal or greater strength than our +own. + +"You lads haven't made quite as bad a fist of sailorin' as I counted on +when you first came aboard," he began. "You've given good attention to +your duties, an' when next you ship, I reckon it should be as ordinary +seamen--" + +"Providing we ever get a chance to ship again," Phil interrupted. "It +seems to be the opinion among all hands that we're on our last cruise." + +"Pay no attention to what those old croakers are sayin'," Master Hackett +replied quickly. "Sailormen always borrow trouble when there's little +show for it, an' don't take the pains to work out the traverse that can +be made. I hold that the 'luck of the _Essex_' is still with her, an' +will be when we meet the Britishers yard-arm to yard-arm, or at whatever +range our commander believes to be best. No man can go into an +engagement an' do his full duty if he counts on bein' knocked out before +it's over. Believe that you've _got_ to lick the other fellow, an' then +you'll have an advantage." + +Master Hackett could not have said anything which would have caused me +to believe more firmly that he, like many another on board the _Essex_, +was convinced we had come to an end of our "luck," and I turned away +abruptly rather than listen further. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] Benson J. Lossing. + +[3] J. Fenimore Cooper. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AT VALPARAISO. + + +I forgot to set down the fact that we brought away from Nukuheva, or, I +suppose I should say, from Madison Island, Mr. Maury and his companions. +They had had quite enough of the place and the life there, beautiful +though the first was, and enticing as the latter might be. It was said +Captain Porter proposed that these men remain in the fort, since, +conversant with the language as they were, communication with the +natives would be more readily had. + +To such a proposition they declined flatly, and this fact should have +been sufficient to show those of our crew who still hankered for the +flesh-pots of Nukuheva, what would have been their condition of mind +after having remained as long in that veritable garden of Eden. + +Our voyage had hardly more than begun, that is to say, it was on the +second day after leaving port, when one of the marines brought word that +Phil and I had been summoned to the quarter-deck. + +The wooden-headed fellow had not taken the trouble to find out why such +an order was given, nor which of the officers had sent it; he only knew +that his sergeant told him to summon us, and we two lads were in a fine +state of excitement. Even Master Hackett looked grave when he questioned +us closely as to whether we had made foolish talk which might have been +overheard by the officers, or if our duties had been seriously neglected +at any time lately. + +He was helping us make ready for the visit all the while he asked these +questions, therefore no time was lost in such converse. + +We could not have neglected our duties, for, as a matter of fact, we had +none while at sea save to answer the beck and call of every member of +the ship's crew, and were so far beneath the officers in station that +they did not even take the trouble to look at us, except when our +services were required. + +However, there was neither rhyme nor reason in our speculating very long +as to why we were thus summoned. We were bound to answer the call as +soon as might be or find ourselves slated for punishment; and as soon as +Master Hackett announced that we were togged out in proper fashion, Phil +and I went aft feeling very uncomfortable in mind. And we came to know +then, if never before, that there is no sense in crossing bridges till +you come to them, or, in other words, it's unwise "to trouble trouble +till trouble troubles you." + +On going aft we found my cousin, Lieutenant McKnight, standing near the +break of the quarter-deck, and, saluting him as I would have done had +there been no kinship between us, I asked if he knew who had summoned +us. + +"I did, lad," he replied. "It is the captain's orders that you and your +mate look after the prisoner, Oliver Benson. He has been cared for by +one of Robert White's cronies, and it is believed best to give him in +charge of those who have personal reasons for holding him fast, +particularly while we are in the harbor of Valparaiso. You'll find him +in the brig, and separate rations will be served out for him. See to it +that he holds no communication with any of the crew; but allow him to +walk about for half an hour every day while you stand guard over him +with loaded muskets. In order to render you more careful, lads, I may +say that we believe the fellow has some plan for escape in his mind, and +you are detailed as his keepers in order that we may be certain of +nipping it in the bud." + +This was the longest speech the lieutenant, my cousin, had favored me +with since I came on board, and it pleased me mightily, as did also the +fact that we two lads were rated by our officers as being better able to +look after the prisoner than some others of the crew. + +Having spoken, Lieutenant McKnight turned on his heel, and we were left +to set about the new duties according to our own ideas as to how they +should be performed. + +We went below from the after end of the gun-deck, and there found the +gloomy cage guarded by a single sentinel, with whom Benson appeared to +be carrying on a lively conversation. + +This portion of the ship would have been shrouded in darkness but for a +lantern which hung over against the bench where I fancied the guard +should remain, and the light was so dim that for the moment Benson did +not recognize us. + +"Have you come to relieve me?" the marine said as we approached, and +while replying to him I was seized by a sudden thought. + +"Will you ask Lieutenant McKnight if he expects us both to remain on +duty, or may we stand watch and watch?" + +"It ain't likely he counts on two lads at the same time lookin' after +one man who's locked in where he can neither help hisself nor hurt +others," the marine replied pertly, whereupon I told him that we should +expect him to bring an answer directly from the lieutenant, otherwise I +would go on deck and learn the reason why. + +He looked at me for an instant as if surprised that a boy aboard ship +should speak to him in such a fashion, and indeed I was rather +astonished at my own air of authority; but I would not lower the words, +once having given them utterance, and he, most likely knowing of the +kinship between the lieutenant and myself, turned on his heel without +giving vent to the sharp words I believed were trembling on the tip of +his tongue. + +Five minutes later, and before either Phil or I had gone so near the +cage that Benson could distinguish our features, the man came back with +the word that we were to look after the prisoner according to our own +ideas of how such work should be done. + +When the marine had left us once more, I went boldly up to the bars of +the prison, and Benson uttered a low cry of what I took to be mingled +disappointment and anger. + +"So you two are to look after me?" he said with a sneer, evidently +having forgotten that he had promised ever to remember us with +liveliest gratitude because of what we had done when he was in the power +of the cannibals. + +Phil, who had never believed soft words should be wasted on a villain +like Benson, answered his remark, which was at the same time a +question:-- + +"It is only right we should do so, if for no other reason than to repay +you for the care you have had over us on two occasions. We shan't +threaten, however, either to sell you to the whalers or make certain you +are roasted and eaten; therefore the account won't be really squared +however long a time may elapse before we gain a home port." + +"Home port?" he cried as if in dismay. "Am I not to be sent ashore at +Valparaiso?" + +"Captain Porter doesn't consider it necessary to tell us all he intends +to do; but I'd be willing to wager considerable that you'll remain in +this cage until we are anchored in some port of the United States." + +Benson appeared to be staggered by this reply, and during two or three +minutes remained as if in deep thought, after which he asked sharply:-- + +"Why has the guard been changed? Isn't an armed marine enough to keep me +here, when it would be impossible to get out unless some one supplied +me with the proper tools for prying off the bars?" + +"We know nothing more than that we have been ordered on duty," Phil +replied curtly. "If the captain had counted on your understanding fully +about the business, I reckon one of the lieutenants would have been here +before this to make explanations." + +Benson gave over for the time being trying to learn the reason for our +coming, and appeared eager to be friendly with us, as might be seen when +he tried to enter into conversation; but neither Phil nor I gave him any +encouragement. We believed there was some serious cause for thus +changing the guard, and were determined not to hold more converse with +the prisoner than was absolutely necessary. + +It was agreed between us that we would stand watch and watch, two hours +at a stretch, and that he who was off duty should not leave the other +alone more than fifteen minutes at one time. + +You see, we suspected that the marines had shown themselves too friendly +to the Britisher; and because it was believed by our officers that an +escape was being connived at, we were assigned the duty of making +certain the sailor-selling Benson remained on board the frigate until +he might be sent to some prison more secure than could be found in +Chili. + +Quarters on the gun-deck were luxurious as compared with those we were +forced to occupy while acting as jailers. Above we had good air and +plenty of it, save during a severe gale; but in the hold of the frigate +we were shut out from everything, even the light of day. One hour was +the same as another in that place of blackness; the _Essex_ might +overhaul and capture half a dozen prizes without our being any the +wiser, and we could only judge what might be the weather by the heel or +lurch of the ship. All this we understood before having been on duty an +hour; and as I realized that many, many long, dreary days might be spent +by us in this disagreeable task, I began to wish most fervently that the +Britisher had been left in the Typee village to supply the cannibals +with the materials for a feast. + +When an hour had passed and we had come to an end of discussing the +reasons for our having been assigned to this duty, we drew lots to +decide who should take the first trick, and Phil was thus selected; +whereupon I proposed to go and have a chat with Master Hackett, to learn +if he could throw any light on the subject. + +"Remember, you are not to remain away more than fifteen minutes," Phil +said warningly, and I promised to keep that fact well in mind. + +When I gained the gun-deck once more, I found the old sailor in a fine +state of anxiety concerning us. Because we had not returned, he believed +we yet remained in the cabin, and was worrying lest we had been accused +of some serious misdemeanor. + +He was evidently relieved and considerably surprised by my explanations, +but could give us no information whatsoever, save that he, like us lads, +believed the captain had reason to suspect that one or more of the +marines had become too friendly with the prisoner. + +"I'll keep my eyes an' ears open, lad, an' it'll be odd if I don't pick +up a bit of news here an' there. It goes without sayin' that the captain +has good cause for givin' such an order, an' the reason is bound to leak +out sooner or later." + +"Will you come below sometimes and have your smoke with us?" I asked. + +"If it so be there are no objections made, I will, lad. It might be a +good plan, in case you have a chance of speakin' with Lieutenant +McKnight, to ask if I would be allowed there. The rule is that none save +the guards are to go near the brig." + +It was time for me to join Phil once more, the fifteen minutes having +been spent, as nearly as I could judge, and back I went to the dreary +post of duty. + +I had hardly more than repeated to him the brief conversation held with +Master Hackett, when my cousin Stephen came down the ladder, greeting us +in most friendly fashion. + +After he had spoken of our duties, enjoining upon us the necessity of +keeping the prisoner in full view all the time, he was pleased to give +the following explanation for what appeared almost like an excess of +precaution:-- + +"It is your especial duty to see that no one has an opportunity of +speaking with the prisoner. It is not supposed that he can escape +unaided; there is a possibility some of our people have been taken in by +his smooth talk, and the captain is determined he be lodged in prison at +a port where we may be certain he will be held." + +Then it was that I made bold to ask if Master Hackett might be allowed +to visit us, and the permission was given without hesitation. + +"There is nothing to prevent his paying you a visit at such times as he +is off duty; but if any other member of the crew should come without +authority from one of the officers, you are to warn him away at once, +and in case he refuses to go immediately, give the alarm aft without +delay." + +With that the lieutenant left us, and Benson, who must have overheard at +least a portion of the conversation, said mockingly:-- + +"I always believed the Yankees were cowards; but never before fancied +the crew of a frigate could be scared by one Englishman." + +Phil would have made an angry reply, but that I motioned him to be +silent, afterward saying in a low tone:-- + +"It is worse than foolish to bandy words with the fellow. We know by his +anger that our coming here has broken up some scheme he had in mind, and +he may as well be allowed the poor satisfaction of gibing at us now and +then." + +"He may have full swing of his tongue once in a while, but I'm not +minded to let him go on as he pleases all the time. While you were on +deck he had altogether too much to say. Suppose you let Master Hackett +know what Lieutenant McKnight said, and then we'll settle down to the +work in shipshape fashion." + +Once more I went on deck; the old sailor seemed greatly pleased at the +confidence which the officers appeared to have in him, by thus +stipulating he should be the only visitor allowed near the brig, and +promised to keep us posted on all that was happening aboard ship. + +And he kept his promise to the letter. No less than twice each day, and +sometimes much oftener, he sat with us repeating the talk of his +shipmates, until we who were forced to remain alone in the darkness had +a very good idea of what was going on above us. + +The gun-deck barnacles were positive, according to Master Hackett, that +at least two of the marines had been detected in favoring the prisoner +more than was allowable, and some of them went so far as to say with +assurance that a plot to liberate him when the first port was made had +been discovered. + +Not until the new year had begun did we learn anything of the outside +world, and then Master Hackett reported that we were lying at San Maria, +on the coast of South America, taking in water. No sail had been sighted +during all this time; but information was given us at this port that the +British frigate _Phoebe_, 36, Captain Hillyar, had weathered the Horn +searching for the _Essex_. + +One week after this, Master Hackett reported that we were entering the +port of Conception; and before the day had come to an end we learned +that no vessels had been found, but that the news regarding the +_Phoebe_ was confirmed. + +"We're now under way for Valparaiso," the old man said, "an' unless I'm +way off in my reckonin', we'll find there that the Chilian authorities +have had a change of heart so far as we Yankees are concerned." + +"Are you of the mind that they'll make trouble for us?" Phil asked. + +"I ain't reckonin' they'll go quite so far as that, but it'll stand us +in hand to be prepared for anything while we're lyin' there." + +"Why doesn't the captain give that port the go-by?" I asked. "Why should +we put in there if the Chilians are like to be disagreeable to us?" + +"Captain Porter isn't the kind of a man to run away from an enemy, lad, +an' that's what it would look like if we tried to slip around the Horn +just now. His plan, accordin' to my way of reckonin', an' I've said it +before, is to take the Britishers one by one as they come along, until +we've given the whole boilin' of 'em a floggin'. If we didn't look in at +Valparaiso, the enemy would say we were afraid to tackle anything but a +whaler." + +"How much heavier than our frigate is a 36-gun ship?" + +"She'd be about the same in weight of metal, though there might be +considerable difference in the way it was distributed. Now, a regular +36-gun ship should carry twenty-six long eighteens below, with sixteen +32-pound carronades an' two chase guns above, makin' forty-four in all. +We've got, as you know, forty 32-pound carronades, an' six long twelves, +which would make the _Phoebe_ heavier than the _Essex_, even though our +craft has two guns more. Now, there isn't a man aboard this 'ere frigate +who wouldn't kick, an' kick hard, if Captain Porter should try to run +away from the Britisher. Give us half a show, an' we'll prove that +whalers are only taken by us in order to replenish stores an' protect +our own merchantmen." + +"That's brave talk; but you'll sing a different tune when we're +alongside the _Phoebe_!" Benson cried from his cage; and this taunt +threw Master Hackett into a towering passion. + +Although it was forbidden that he should hold any converse with the +prisoner, he freed his mind by telling us in a tone sufficiently loud to +be heard by the Britisher, what he would do, regardless of rules, in +case "that chimpanzee in the cage" had anything more to say against the +Yankees. + +"I've heard too much talk from him already," the old man continued, "an' +the next time he so much as peeps while I'm around, I shall go straight +aft an' ask permission to give him a dozen flicks with the cat, laid on +by myself, which will be all he'll need by way of puttin' a stopper on +his tongue." + +From that moment until we were done with him forever, Benson never so +much as snored while Master Hackett was near at hand. + +On the 3d day of February we knew the frigate had come to an anchor, and +shortly afterward the old sailor appeared to give us the news. + +"Yes, we're in Valparaiso again, an' now we're salutin' the fort." + +We could both hear and feel the report of the guns as they were +discharged, and already knew as much as the old man was telling us. + +"The captain will go ashore to chin with the governor accordin' to the +rules an' regulations of the navy, an' after that the old chap will +visit us." + +"But what of a change of heart, Master Hackett?" I asked with a laugh. +"I thought you counted on our getting a different reception from what we +met with last." + +"All this visitin' an' firin' salutes don't cut any ice. It's a way +these 'ere swells have, no matter how they're feelin'. That puffed up +old governor might come aboard of us a dozen times, hobnobbin' with the +officers, an' yet be jest as willin' to cut our throats. Wait till the +_Phoebe_ heaves in sight, an' then we'll have a fairly good idee of +whether they're friendly or not." + +"Are we lying at our old anchorage?" Phil asked. + +"Not a bit of it, my lad. We're well out in the bay, where we can get +under way in a jiffy, an' the _Essex Junior_ is cruisin' around outside, +so's to give us warnin' when the Britisher heaves in sight." + +"Then the captain is expecting a fight?" + +"Expectin' it, lad? Why, he knows it's got to come! The only thing we're +in the dark about is how soon the Britisher will show up." + +Phil and I took turns going on deck during this and the following day, +and I was on the forecastle twenty-four hours after our arrival, when +the governor, his wife, and a boat-load of officers, came off to pay a +ceremonious visit. + +It was near sunset when Master Hackett visited us again, and this time +he had quite a budget of news to unfold. + +In view of the fact that the enemy might appear at any moment, shore +leave was forbidden the crew, and only three of the officers had been +allowed to land since they made their calls upon the governor; but these +last visits were enough to show that Master Hackett's predictions were +verified. + +The officers found, so the marine gossips reported, that there was no +longer any great show of friendliness among the people regarding us, +and, in fact, it was openly said that the Chilians would be well pleased +if we were beaten in the battle which seemed so near at hand. + +"The British government has been threatenin', I reckon," Master Hackett +said with an air of great wisdom, "an' the governor himself is countin' +on our gettin' the worst of the fight; but there's where he's makin' a +mistake, unless it so chances that too many Englishmen come up at the +same time." + +"We shall have the _Essex Junior_ to help us," I said like a simple, +whereupon the old man replied scornfully:-- + +"What would she amount to in a fight? In an action with a frigate she +wouldn't be any force to speak of. A craft carryin' ten 18-pound +carronades and ten short sixes, with a crew of only sixty men, would +likely be in the way rather than lend any help. No, lad, the _Junior_ +ain't to be thought of; an' when we go to quarters, you'll find that +she'll get orders to keep at a proper distance, if only for the sake of +showin' that we don't put two craft against one. The _Phoebe_ will get +fair play, an' no mistake." + +There was never a thought in Master Hackett's mind that the commander of +the _Phoebe_ might not count on giving us fair play; but the fact was +soon made known to us. + +"How many men can we muster?" Phil asked. + +"What with prize crews, an' them as have been drafted to the _Junior_, +I'm told that there are only two hundred an' twenty-five aboard this +'ere ship, countin' officers, cooks, boys, and sich-like useless +raffle." + +"How many would likely be on board the _Phoebe_?" + +"A full hundred more than we've got, an' when it comes to boardin', or +close quarters where muskets can be used, that extra hundred will count +against us terrible." + +"Are you growing faint-hearted, Master Hackett?" Phil asked with a +laugh; at which question the old man turned upon him savagely. + +"An old shellback like me grow faint-hearted? You're talkin' at random, +lad! My time is bound to come before many years have passed, an' I only +hope to lose the number of my mess while standin' by the guns in a fair +fight. A sailorman ain't built to die in his bed, nor does it beseem him +to be buried on shore. What he needs to put him out of this world +comfortably is the roaring of a broadside, the cheers of his messmates, +an' a shot tied to his feet when he's dropped over the rail after havin' +done his duty. So that we win the battle, it don't make much difference +when I go into the next life; but if you should speak of bein' took +prisoner, an' kept cooped up in a cage like that day in an' day out, +there's where I might show the white feather, an' small blame to me." + +The conversation was taking on altogether too gloomy a turn, more +especially since we knew beyond a peradventure that before many days the +frigate would be in action, and I put an end to it by proposing that one +or the other of us go on deck for a whiff of fresh air. + +Phil took advantage of the opportunity; Master Hackett followed him up +the ladder, and I was left with only my gloomy thoughts for company, +unless one counts the prisoner, as perhaps would be correct, since on +this occasion he took it upon himself to be unusually friendly. + +"I'm not counting on saying what your chances will be when the _Essex_ +meets the _Phoebe_" he began. "Your people may get the best of her--" + +"As we surely will!" I replied angrily, for I did not like the tone of +doubt which accompanied the words. + +"Very well, say that you whip her handsomely. Do you think it can be +done without sacrificing some of your men?" + +"Of course we must expect that more than one poor fellow will lose the +number of his mess." + +"The _Phoebe_ isn't the only ship that's likely been sent out against +you; and even though you whip the first two or three you come across, +the time must arrive when you'll be too short-handed to work the +frigate. In other words, no matter how successful your ship may be, +you're bound to come to grief finally." + +It was some such thought as this which was in my own mind, and it +angered me that the Britisher should put it into words, for I did not +relish being reminded of what appeared to be a fact. + +"Why should you figure on our meeting vessel after vessel until we no +longer have a crew left?" I asked sharply. + +"Because it proves that in the long run I shall be set free by my +countrymen, and then will come the time when I'll have the upper hand +once more." + +"Well?" I asked, failing to grasp his meaning. + +"Well?" he said with a laugh. "To save your own neck, why not make +friends with me now? It isn't to be expected that you could set me +ashore; but you might leave the door unlocked by accident, and when the +time came that you were in the brig of a British man-of-war, I would do +you a good turn." + +It surprised me so much, this speech of Benson's, that I allowed him to +finish, instead of checking the villain as I should have done when it +first dawned upon me that he was proposing I play the traitor. + +"Look you, Oliver Benson!" I cried, speaking slowly that the words would +have more weight. "If I knew beyond a peradventure that I might save my +own life by doing the wicked thing you propose, I would say 'no' with my +last breath. If you so much as hint at such a proposition again I will +go straight to the captain with the story, and then you may be certain +he'll give you a taste of the cat." + +"My turn will come before the _Essex_ is out of this scrape, and of that +there is no doubt," he replied venomously; and I questioned not but that +he would wreak vengeance upon Phil and me whenever the opportunity +presented itself. + +I was yet in the dumps when Phil returned, refreshed by a sniff of the +sea air and a glimpse of the sun; but did not think it well to give him +an account of the conversation just held with Benson. In the first place +it could do no good, and, secondly, might make him as dispirited as I +had become; for a fellow may not speak of death or imprisonment, when +one or the other is sure to come soon, without experiencing a certain +heaviness of heart which does not tend to mental comfort. + +If we were to suffer death or imprisonment as the conclusion of the +cruise, there was no good reason for looking forward to it. + +Phil reported that the _Essex Junior_ could be seen in the offing; that +the frigate was lying near the entrance of the harbor where she could be +gotten under way whatever the direction of the wind, and that +everything, save the taking down of the bulkheads aft, was in trim for a +fight. + +"You'd hardly recognize the gun-deck now," he said in conclusion. "The +men are not lounging around jawing or spinning yarns; but appear on the +alert as if expecting the call to quarters at any instant, and it needs +only sand on the deck, so Master Hackett says, to give the proper +showing. + +"Sand on the deck?" I repeated. + +"Ay, so that the planks shall not be slippery when covered with the +blood of our men. I am told that it is always strewn around before a +ship goes into action." + +I could not repress a shudder. It was bad enough to hear Benson talk of +what must surely come to us finally, without listening to an account of +the preparations made for the actual approach of death. + +At that time, when it seemed as if we were cornered like rats, I thought +of my home which I had left so many months, and with the thought came a +great wonderment that boys should ever be eager to leave their mother's +side in order to take part in the wickedness of the world--for surely a +war is wicked, whatever the cause. + +While I sat there in the darkness, staring at the bars of Benson's +prison, I heard again my mother's voice, and for the hundredth time +since leaving home realized that she was my best friend; that I had +voluntarily left her in order to come at last face to face with death or +a lingering imprisonment. + +Surely, this world never held a lad so foolish as I had proved myself to +be! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE BRITISHERS. + + +After making the proposition that I allow him to escape, Benson gave +over holding any intercourse with Phil and me. According to orders, we +allowed him to come out of the cage every day and pace to and fro on the +deck by way of exercise; but he did so in silence, and I was by no means +disgruntled because he held his peace. + +Master Hackett spent considerable time with us two lads while we were in +port awaiting the enemy; but, after the conversation lately set down, he +did not indulge in any speculations which might arouse disagreeable +thoughts in our minds. Perhaps he understood that, confined in the dark +hold, we would quite naturally give ourselves more wholly up to +reflection and foreboding than would be possible on the gun-deck, and +brooding over possible dangers while we were thus virtually alone would +cause them to seem greater than they really were. + +Whatever may have been his motive, I noted with satisfaction the fact +that he spoke in a more cheery strain of the expected action, and on one +or two occasions even went so far as to predict that the _Essex_ would +live to carry the stars and stripes around the Horn again. + +Both Phil and I had come to believe that when the Britishers did arrive +to give us battle, he and I would be forced to remain below, guarding +our prisoner, and again and again we questioned the wisdom of setting +two to watch one when the frigate was really short-handed. + +Despite the cowardly thoughts which we realized would come into our +minds as soon as an engagement was begun, we were sad because there +seemed to be no chance we should bear our share of it. It would have +pleased both of us very decidedly if it could have been possible to sail +the _Essex_ into a home port without a severe fight; but since one must +come, we were eager to perform our full part, whatever might be the +result, and this could not be done if we were forced to act as jailers. + +However, this, like many another trouble, was of slight consequence when +the decisive moment arrived, as we soon learned. + +One morning when the men were beginning to believe that the information +regarding the Britishers having passed around Cape Horn was false, +Master Hackett came below with every evidence of excitement on his face +and in his movements. + +"The enemy are in the offin' at last!" he cried, slapping us two lads on +the back as if believing he had brought most glorious news. + +"Can we see them from the deck?" Phil asked as he leaped toward the +ladder, for it was my time of duty. + +"No, lad, not yet: but the _Junior_ is headin' for the harbor with +signals set that she has sighted the enemy, an' it won't be very long +now before we'll be showin' the _Phoebe_ what we're made of!" + +Having said this much Master Hackett went swiftly on deck again, and I +was left with my own fears and Oliver Benson for company. + +I fully expected that he would try once more to persuade me into letting +him escape, but fortunately for his own skin he said not a word, and I +sat there silent and motionless, trying to picture my behavior in case +it should by some lucky chance be possible for me to bear a hand in the +action which seemed to be so near at hand. + +The moments passed slowly yet quickly, and I believed that a full hour +had elapsed when Phil finally showed himself with excuses for having +stayed away so long. + +"The _Junior_ is close alongside with her anchors down, and Lieutenant +Downes is with Captain Porter, most likely getting orders as to how his +ship is to be handled during the engagement." + +"Can you see the Britisher?" I asked breathlessly. + +"Not yet; the boat's crew which brought the lieutenant on board says +that they should be off the harbor in an hour at the longest." + +"_They_ should be off the harbor. Is there more than one?" + +"Ay, two, so it's reported, and Master Hackett says we'll tackle all +that come, even if it's a whole squadron." + +"He is talking foolishly!" I cried petulantly. "It isn't reasonable to +suppose our commander will take any more chances than are absolutely +necessary." + +"I can't say what he may do; but our people are wild with excitement, +and if the decision was left to them I doubt not but that Master +Hackett's statement would sound less improbable. Go on deck and have a +look around; but give me a chance when the Britishers heave in sight." + +I lost no time in acting on his proposition, and as I came into the +open air I saw Lieutenant McKnight approaching. + +"Well, lads, your disagreeable work has come to an end for a time at +least, and I can't fancy that you'll be sorry." + +I looked perplexed, as indeed I was, and my cousin added:-- + +"The prisoner will be sent on board the _Junior_ for a while." + +"May I ask why, sir?" + +"Because it would not be quite the proper treatment to keep him under +fire. As soon as Lieutenant Downes comes on deck again some of our men +will be sent below to iron the fellow and bring him on deck for +transshipment." + +I did not wait to hear more, or even to take a look around; but ran +below with all speed to impart the cheering news to Phil. + +On hearing what my cousin Stephen had said the lad was almost beside +himself with joy; but Benson was overpowered by rage. He tore and beat +with his fists at the bars of the cage, now crying out that we should be +paid off with interest for treating him in such a manner, and again +begging that we ask Captain Porter to allow him to remain on board. + +There could be but one cause for his frenzy, which was that he had +really made friends with some of the marines, and counted on their +aiding his escape during the excitement of a battle. + +We gave no attention to either his threats or entreaties; but it was a +wonderful relief when three men, headed by Master Hackett, came below, +the latter telling us we were free to go on deck since there was nothing +we might do to aid them in their work. + +I breathed freely for the first time since we had been given charge of +the Britisher, when we stepped on the spar-deck and had a look around. + +Within half a cable's length lay the _Essex Junior_, her boat alongside +our ship, and in the offing two British men-of-war standing directly +into the harbor. + +"I wonder if the fighting will be done while we lay at anchor?" I said +like a simple that I was, and Phil replied with the air of one who is +wiser than his comrade:-- + +"Certainly not. In the first place, Master Hackett says it is against +all the rules for ships to fight in a harbor belonging to a nation with +which we are not at war. Then again, it is necessary to manoeuvre the +frigate while the fighting is going on, and to do that she must be on +the open ocean." + +"I see no signs of our getting under way." + +"Then you must be blind indeed! Notice the men; each is at his proper +station, and on the gun-deck the ammunition has already been brought +out. Perhaps they have sanded the decks." + +I turned away from him impatiently. Of what good was it to mention such +a sinister preparation as that? It quickened the blood in one's veins to +see the crew standing motionless, ready to execute on the instant the +first order which should be given; and made the cold chills run down a +fellow's spine to think that measures were being taken to cover that +which represented the life of our people. + +While I stood, half a coward and half eager to have a hand in the work +about to be done, Benson was brought up from below--literally brought +up, for he refused to lift hand or foot--and then dropped bodily into +the boat alongside. + +Lieutenant Downes took his station in the stern-sheets, and the small +craft was pulled quickly away, leaving us on the _Essex_ to meet the +coming enemy. + +The wind fined down as the Britishers came into the harbor, the +_Phoebe_ leading the way, and we had a good opportunity of examining +them minutely. + +I had taken a station by Master Hackett's side, and therefore came to +know a good many things which otherwise would have failed of attracting +my attention. + +"They've taken on extra metal to meet us," the old sailor said with a +chuckle, as if such fact pleased him wonderfully. "Thirty long +eighteens, sixteen 32-pound carronades, one howitzer, an' six 3-pounders +in her tops. That's givin' us the credit of bein' good fighters, even +though they do accuse us of not darin' to tackle anything but whalers." + +"Did you ever see the other ship, Master Hackett?" I asked. + +"Ay, lad, time and time again. She's the _Cherub_, a 20-gun ship; but +now she's carryin' twenty-eight in all--eighteen 32-pound carronades +below, with eight 24-pound carronades and two long nines above. There +can't be less than two hundred men on board, an' take it all in all, +we've got a decently tough job laid out for us; but we'll tackle it in +great style, lad. Why, the fact that the Britishers don't care to meet +us with such a frigate as the _Phoebe_ alone, is enough to stiffen the +backbone of every man jack belongin' to this 'ere craft." + +As the leading ship came nearer we could see that her crew was at +quarters, and more than one old sea-dog looked aft questioningly, as if +expecting our captain would give the word to prepare for action. + +Friendly port or not, it seemed very much as if the Britisher was making +ready to give us a broadside without the courtesy of hailing. + +Nearer and nearer came the _Phoebe_, forging ahead slowly, and when she +was less than a pistol shot distant her commander, Captain Hillyar, +hailed, asking after Captain Porter's health as if the two were warm +friends. + +[Illustration: NEARER AND NEARER CAME THE PHOEBE.] + +Our commander answered politely, and then warned the Britisher that he +was coming too near. + +"If you foul us, sir," Captain Porter cried, "there will necessarily be +much confusion, and I cannot be answerable for the consequences." + +"I certainly do not meditate making an attack, my dear sir," the +Britisher replied with a bow; but there was that in his voice which +caused me to believe he was not speaking the truth, and Master Hackett +muttered:-- + +"He'll take us if he gets into position, an' now's the time when our +captain should give him somethin' more'n soft talk. If I was in command +of this 'ere frigate I'd sink him off-hand." + +At that moment the wind shifted, taking the _Phoebe_ suddenly aback, +and her bow payed off directly upon the _Essex_. + +It was as if they were minded to board us, and Captain Porter must have +believed that such was the case, for suddenly came the command to call +away the boarders. + +"Now we're in for it, lad!" Master Hackett cried gleefully as he ran to +his station, I following close by his side. "The Britisher counts on +havin' a scrimmage whether we're in a neutral port or not, an' I reckon +we're in the mood to give him all he wants!" + +"I do not intend to board you, sir!" the British captain shouted when he +saw that we were ready for him, and Captain Porter replied with a warmth +that pleased me wonderfully, considering the fact that at heart I am a +coward:-- + +"If your ship fouls this frigate, sir, I shall open upon you, for I am +fully prepared for action!" + +"I do not intend to board you, sir!" Captain Hillyar cried again; but +all the while the _Phoebe_ was creeping nearer to us. + +"Stand ready, boarders!" Captain Porter shouted, giving no further heed +to the Britisher's announcement. "Get away the instant she touches us, +and once on her decks you know your duty!" + +By this time the jib-boom of the _Phoebe_ was across our forecastle, and +the ship in such a position that we might have sunk her before the +_Cherub_ could come near enough to take part in the work. Master Hackett +had already laid hold of the spar, and I was alongside of him, never for +an instant remembering that I should have been frightened. Phil, a huge +cutlass in his hands, was looking about for a place on which to leap; +and, taking it all in all, if I had been capable of connected thought, I +would have said that neither ship could avoid an action. + +Fortunately--there were many aboard us who would say +_unfortunately_--the two frigates did not come into actual contact, and, +seeing that he had put his ship into a most dangerous situation, Captain +Hillyar began shouting:-- + +"It is all an accident, sir! I have no intention of opening an +engagement!" + +While he spoke he waved his hands, the better to attract attention, and +otherwise behaved much like a man who is afraid after he has voluntarily +got himself into a bad scrape. + +Captain Porter gave the word for our men to retire from the +forecastle-deck, and the Britisher slowly drifted by, her captain bowing +and waving his hat, as well he might, considering the fact that our +commander would have been justified in sinking him while it was not +possible for him to strike a blow. + +How our men raved and stormed when the Englishman went by to the inner +harbor uninjured; but they took precious good care that our commander +did not hear their angry words. + +Then, after the _Cherub_ passed us and joined the _Phoebe_ at a berth +nearer the town, leaving our men at liberty to do as they pleased, what +a noisy confab went on among the deck lawyers! All were agreed that we +should have sunk the Britisher; that the boarders should have been sent +away because by coming across us there was every indication that the +enemy intended mischief; and again, that there can be but one meaning +when a man-of-war approaches with her crew at quarters. + +I do not think the men were actually enraged with Captain Porter for not +having taken advantage of the opportunity; but they blamed him severely +for accepting the apology instead of beginning an action which could +have had but one ending, owing to the fact that the _Phoebe_ would +surely have been sunk before her consort could creep up. + +"Mark my words!" one of the old barnacles shouted. "Captain Porter +won't find the Britisher so willin' to let him sneak out of a small +hole; an' if the time ever comes when he can get at us unfairly, we may +count on his doin' it." + +"That's the solemn truth!" half a dozen voices shouted, and I asked +Master Hackett to tell me exactly what he thought of the whole affair. + +"Well," the old man said slowly and thoughtfully, "I don't feel called +upon to rough into our commander simply because he acted the part of a +gentleman. That man Hillyar is a bully, or he'd never come into the +harbor with his men at quarters, an' I'll lay all my prize money against +a herrin', that if he'd found us unprepared, his boarders would have +been called away in short order." + +"Then you think he really meant to attack us?" Phil, who had just come +up, asked. + +"What else could he have counted on doin'? He was takin' the chances of +gettin' the advantage in some way; but his consort didn't keep quite as +near as he'd have liked, an' then when the ship was taken aback, he +found himself at our mercy. If he wasn't up to mischief, why should he +have come so close alongside before luffin'? Captain Porter wouldn't be +fooled by the fine words thrown aboard the _Essex_ when the Britisher +was quakin' in his boots; but he acted the gentleman, as sailors always +should, an' I ain't the man to blame him, though I do wish he could have +seen it in his way to rake the _Phoebe_ when she'd come into such a +beautiful position for the work!" + +The people aboard the _Essex Junior_ were in quite as high a state of +excitement as were we. When word was passed for the boarders, Lieutenant +Downes began warping his ship alongside the frigate in order that he +might have a hand in the scrimmage, and now the _Junior_ was so near +that we could talk in whispers to her crew, who still overhung the rail. + +I suppose Captain Porter knew full well how disappointed our people were +because of having lost such a fine opportunity. He went below, calling +some of the lieutenants after him, and it is in my mind that he did so +simply in order that our old shellbacks might have a chance to ease +their hearts by hard words. + +The Britishers were at anchor, therefore all hands knew we would not +have an encounter for some time to come; and after each man had talked +himself hoarse over the matter, we began to turn our attention to other +things. + +Phil and I were eager to learn if Benson would be kept safely on board +the _Junior_, and questioned some of her men regarding the villain. + +"Don't worry your heads about him," one of the crew replied with a grin. +"We've got no bloomin' marines here, an' every man jack of us has it +well in mind that he's to get what's due him this time. He'll stay where +he is until we make the home port, unless it so be that some of his +friends overhaul us." + +"Is there a brig aboard the _Junior_?" I asked. + +"We've got what answers much the same purpose. He's ironed, an' made +fast to a stanchion." + +"How long are you to keep him?" + +"Until you've given that Britisher the floggin' he deserves, an' ought +to have had half an hour ago. Don't fear the Yankee-seller will give us +the slip; an' if you're feelin' lonesome on his account, come aboard an' +see him now an' then." + +"No, thank you, we've had all we want of that fellow, although we'd +rather take him on board if there's any chance of his getting overboard +in the harbor," I replied with a laugh, feeling much relieved in mind at +knowing that we were not to be burdened with him again immediately. + +Simply to show that we of the frigate were not the only ones who +believed Captain Hillyar had not spoken the truth when he apologized +for coming alongside, I want to set down here that which was written by +the historian Lossing many years after the occurrence, while I have been +trying to put this yarn into something like proper shape for reading:-- + +He says: "It was afterward generally believed that Hillyar had positive +orders to attack the _Essex_, even in a neutral South American port, and +that his intentions were hostile, until the moment when he discovered +his imminent peril in the power of the gallant American." + +Twenty-four hours later the British ships stood out to sea, having taken +on board whatever supplies they needed, and you may be certain they gave +us a wide berth while passing. Our crew was at quarters, ready for any +kind of a trick they might attempt; but Captain Hillyar had had quite +enough of running us down; one experience was sufficient to show him +that Yankee sailors in an unfriendly port are not easily caught napping. + +Now all hands were certain the _Phoebe_ would speedily show her +willingness to engage us, for she was the heavier craft, and we remained +with our nerves strung to their highest tension until it was shown +plainly that the Britisher did not intend to tackle us except at that +moment when it would be possible for her to take us at a disadvantage. + +On the day after the two ships left the harbor we stood boldly out, with +good reason to expect that a ship carrying so much metal as did the +_Phoebe_ would not hesitate to attack us even though the _Essex Junior_ +was near at hand; but, if you please, that valiant Captain Hillyar had +no idea of fighting us on anywhere near even terms. His ship was +superior to ours by at least twenty-five per cent, and yet when we were +outside, ready for a fair battle, he refused to fight until the _Cherub_ +was in position to share a full half of the scrimmage. + +It is not to be supposed that our commander would engage against both +the Britishers, if it could be avoided. He was ready enough to show them +of what stuff his crew was made; but did not propose to do so when it +was impossible we could even so much as hold our own. + +The days went by until four weeks had passed, we ready to fight the +_Phoebe_ alone, and Captain Hillyar showing the white feather on every +occasion when an engagement was possible and the Cherub chanced to be at +a distance. + +Our men chafed and fumed at the cowardice, as we called it, but all in +vain; and one day I asked Master Hackett flatly if he believed Captain +Hillyar was afraid to tackle us. + +"No, lad, I don't," he replied promptly. "It's showin' yourself a fool +to claim that all the Yankees are brave, an' all the Britishers cowards. +The commander of the _Phoebe_ has had his orders to capture or sink us. +He and his consort together can readily do it, an' considerin' that he's +got us bottled up where we've no choice as to comin' out, he counts to +hold the advantage. From his standpoint it's all right, an' I'm not +certain but that our commander would do much the same thing if the +tables were turned." + +It wasn't all idleness with us, however, as we waited for a chance to +engage one or the other of the enemy singly. + +Time and again we got under way as if determined to tackle them both, +and, standing out of the harbor, gave the Britishers an opportunity of +measuring speed with us. We might have shirked a battle by leaving the +_Essex Junior_ to her fate; but Captain Porter did not count on doing +one or the other. + +Each time we stirred up the Englishmen we came back to our anchorage +again, as much as to say that we would leave in company with our +consort, or not at all. + +One day I overheard little Midshipman David Farragut talking with +Lieutenant McKnight about a boat expedition which was to be sent out +some dark night for the purpose of capturing the _Cherub_, and I burned +to make one of the party; but when I spoke of it to my cousin he +reproved me sharply, saying that it was not seemly for boys to be +listening to the conversations of their superiors. + +Now, I never looked upon midshipmen as my superiors. Of course they +lived aft, and ordered the other boys, and old men for that matter, +about in the most ferocious manner; but it seemed as if the lieutenant +was stretching matters when he allowed that thirteen-year-old David +Farragut's conversation should not be listened to by such as me, even +though he was the captain's adopted son. + +However, nothing came of the boat expedition, and perhaps no one save +Midshipman Farragut seriously thought of such a rash venture. + +It was on the 27th day of February when we believed the time had come +for the battle; when Captain Hillyar gave every evidence of being +willing to meet us singly. + +The _Cherub_ was fully a league to windward when the _Phoebe_ ran in +toward the entrance to the harbor, and hoisted a banner on which were +the words, "God and Our Country; British Sailors' Best Rights: Traitors +Offend Both." Then she fired a gun to windward, giving as plain a signal +as sailormen could that she was ready for action. + +You may well believe that we did not spend many minutes in getting under +way, and on the _Essex_ was flying a banner with this motto, one which +we had run up many times before when coaxing the Britishers to stand up +like men:-- + +"Free Trade and Sailors' Rights!" + +It seems that the sail-makers had been at work on another banner, for as +we came out of the harbor a second was run up to the masthead of the +_Essex_, and on it in bold letters were the words:-- + +"God, Our Country, and Liberty; Tyrants Offend Them." + +Our crew was at quarters, Phil and I among the rest, with the officers +in fighting trim on the quarter-deck, and I heard little Midshipman +Farragut say to one of the lieutenants:-- + +"This time we've got them, and we'll show how Yankees fight!" + +I took a fancy to the lad from that moment, although I had seen but +little of him previous to this last visit at Valparaiso; and even though +he was a Spaniard by birth, it did not surprise me to hear him claim to +be a Yankee, although he had no right to the name save by grace of his +adopted father, our commander. + +The crew cheered lustily when the _Phoebe_ stood her ground until we +were within range, and every man was worked up to the highest pitch of +excitement as the order was given for us to let fly a broadside. + +The cheers were changed to groans and yells a moment later, however, for +the Britisher, instead of returning our fire, ran down and joined her +consort. + +After that, even Master Hackett allowed there must be a strain of +cowardly blood in the make-up of Captain Hillyar. + +Once more I set down what another[4] has written, this time concerning +the trick the Britisher played us that day:-- + +"This conduct excited a good deal of feeling among the officers of the +_Essex_, who rightly judged that the challenge should not have been +given if it was not the intention of the enemy to engage singly. Taking +all these circumstances in connection, there can be little question that +Captain Hillyar had been positively instructed not to fight the _Essex_ +alone, if he could possibly avoid it. As he bore the character of a good +and brave officer, it is not easy to find any other reasonable solution +of the course he pursued. His challenge off the port was probably +intended as a ruse to get the _Essex_ into his power; for demonstrations +of this nature are not subject to the severe laws which regulate more +precise defiances to combat." + +Well, we went back to our anchorage again, not in the best of spirits, +for we believed firmly that we could whip the _Phoebe_ in a fair fight, +and every man jack among us, including several of the officers, had +harsh words in his mouth regarding the British captain, Hillyar. + +Within a very few days after this Captain Porter learned that other +English frigates were working their way up to Valparaiso; and when the +blockade should be stronger, it was almost positive both our ships would +fall prizes to the enemy. + +All this we heard from the marines, as a matter of course, and finally +they brought that information which aroused us to the highest pitch once +more. + +It was said by these eavesdroppers that there had been a consultation +of officers in Captain Porter's cabin, and it had been decided that we +bend all our energies to giving the _Essex Junior_ an opportunity of +escape, while we would remain and take the brunt of the fight. + +On some day in the near future, when the wind should be strong and +favorable, we were to put out as if willing to meet both the Britishers. +The _Essex_ could outsail them, as had been proven several times +already, and she was to run two or three leagues off the coast, knowing +full well that the enemy would follow. + +When we were hull down in the distance, the _Essex Junior_ would get +under way, and do her prettiest at doubling the Horn without running +afoul of a British frigate. + +Surely, it seemed as if that plan would work without a hitch, so our old +sea-dogs argued, for the _Phoebe_ and _Cherub_ must follow us, since +neither of them was willing to meet us singly, and they could not run +the chance of waiting for the _Junior_, because we might be trying to +save our own skins, which would not seem improbable in view of the fact +that the frigate was the more valuable ship of the two. + +By such a course we would not be bringing the matter to an issue as far +as the _Essex_ was concerned; but it would open the way for the +_Junior_ to make a home port and give tidings of us who were ready to +venture all rather than have it believed we dared not stand up to a ship +of our size, or even two of them. + +Now we thought and talked of nothing save the scheme to outwit the +Britisher, and it is safe to say that never a crew watched the sky more +intently than did we, for a strong, favoring wind was to be the signal +for getting under way, as we knew by this time from the officers as well +as the marines. + +We were to make a venture which might bring us to grief; but we believed +firmly that the _Junior_ would get safely out of the scrape. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[4] J. Fenimore Cooper. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE BATTLE. + + +We were not kept long watching the weather, nor did we play the ruse +exactly in the same manner which had been determined upon, as will be +seen shortly. + +It seems, as I afterward learned, that when the eavesdropping marines +announced to us of the gun-deck that the scheme had been decided upon, +our officers were as yet only discussing it. + +To be precise, as one should be while setting down facts which go to the +making up of history, it was not until the afternoon of March 27 when +Captain Porter came to the conclusion that, under the circumstances, +there was nothing better to be done than give the _Essex Junior_ an +opportunity to slip out of the harbor while we were leading the +Britishers a long chase seaward. + +In case the _Junior_ got safely off, we would not soon again be troubled +with Oliver Benson; for, as Master Hackett declared, there was every +reason now why he should remain where he was, and, if all went right +with us Americans, he would soon find himself in a prison from which he +could not depart at will. + +I will set down at this point, lest it be forgotten in that whirl of +excitement which always comes over me when I ponder upon the thrilling +deeds of bravery I witnessed within a few hours after Captain Porter had +decided to give the _Junior_ a chance for her life--I will set it down +that from that 27th day of March I ceased to know aught concerning +Oliver Benson. He was in irons on the evening before the gallant frigate +was overtaken by misfortune, and there his history ends so far as I am +concerned. Neither Phil nor I heard of the villain again, although in +after years we made many inquiries concerning him. + +And now I am come to that portion of my poor yarn where the _Essex_ lost +her "luck," and the losing of it cost the life of many a brave man, each +of whom stood facing death with a cheer and a smile until the grim +messenger gained the victory. + +No time in my life stands out in memory so vividly as does the evening +of March 27, 1814, and yet nothing of particular interest to a stranger +occurred at that time. That portion of the crew not on duty had gathered +well forward on the gun-deck, discussing the chances that the _Junior_ +would take in trying to weather the Horn when we knew that the +Britishers had many ships between that point and a home port. + +The majority of our men believed she would pull through all right, for +Mr. Downes was a skilful and at the same time careful seaman, who would +not run unnecessary risks. Besides this fact, our people still relied on +the "luck of the _Essex_," for they were as yet ignorant of the fact +that it had at last deserted the old frigate whose career had been so +glorious. + +There was much jawing and arguing on that evening, but in a friendly +way. Never a man lost his temper, and, to the best of my knowledge, not +a harsh word was spoken during that time of tongue wagging. All hands +were in the best of spirits, thinking that soon we would show the +Britishers a trick worth half a dozen of their clumsy ones, and +believing we might yet prove the _Essex_ to be a match for both the +ships in the offing. It was the most enjoyable time I ever spent aboard +the frigate, for on the eve of that terrible disaster we had forgotten +entirely the dangers which threatened. + +And now let me describe the entrance of Valparaiso harbor, for the +better understanding of that which follows:-- + +It opens to the northward, being formed by a headland on its western +side, and a cove that makes to the southward within it; the main coast +sweeping round to the north and east again, affording the necessary +protection. + +When Phil and I turned in on this 27th day of March it was nearly a dead +calm, with no indication landward that a stiff breeze was concealed by +the fleecy clouds which had been lighted to a crimson glory by the +setting sun. + +Next morning on turning out we found the wind blowing half a gale from +the southward, and the frigate leaping and plunging to the anchors as if +bent on getting under way on her own account. + +My first thought was that the moment had come when we might play our +trick on the Britishers, and I went directly to Master Hackett to learn +if there was any show of leaving port that day. + +"I reckon we'll hold to the ground, lad," the old man said as he gazed +around after the general fashion of sailormen before replying to a +question regarding the weather. "That 'ere Britisher is so careful of +himself that he mightn't think it safe to chase us very far at such a +time, so it stands to reason we'll stay where we are till things look +more promisin'." + +Having satisfied myself on this score, I went with Phil for our +pannikins of tea and whatever the cooks might be pleased to dish out in +the shape of breakfast; but before we had succeeded in our purpose, and +while yet standing in line, with a dozen men ahead of us, the ship gave +a mighty plunge; we heard a noise like the muffled report of a +24-pounder, and the frigate swung around with a lurch that brought us up +all standing against the starboard rail. + +For the instant I was at a loss to understand what had happened, and +then came the cry:-- + +"The port cable has carried away!" + +The heavy chain had snapped under the enormous strain put upon it as the +frigate made a wilder plunge than usual, and in an instant we were being +driven stern foremost directly toward the entrance of the harbor, where +could be seen, less than a mile in the offing, the two Britishers with +everything snugged down to the gale. + +In a twinkling there was a scene of apparent confusion on board the +frigate, although as a matter of fact the seamen were working with a +well-defined purpose, each intent on his portion of the task. + +There was nothing to be done but crowd on all sail, and, whether we were +ready or no, begin that trick which we believed would result in giving +the _Junior_ an opportunity of running the blockade. + +Our men worked like beavers, and even Phil and I took a hand in pulling +and hauling until the good frigate was well under way, staggering toward +that jutting land known as the Point of Angels, a dangerous bluff to +double in the best of weather, because of the sudden and violent squalls +which are frequent there. As a rule all ships reef down while going +around, and here was the _Essex_ under full sail. + +We expected the order which came a moment later, and the topmen were +already standing by the rail to execute it. + +In with the gallant-sails! We were going to haul close by the wind, +counting on holding our weatherly position, and surely it seemed as if +all would go as was desired; but the "luck" of the _Essex_ had left her! + +The Britishers were at such a distance that we might easily, by hugging +the land, give them the slip, and then the chase would begin. + +There was no time for tongue wagging. Every man stood at his post ready +for the next command which might be given, and Phil and I, sheltered by +the starboard rail and the forecastle-deck, were breathlessly watching +the old ship's gallant fight against both the elements and the enemy. + +On the maintop four men stood ready to loose the canvas after we passed +the danger point, and it was to me as if we had already doubled the +bluff when there was a great crash, a swaying of the ship as if she had +received a deadly wound, and we saw the maintopmast with its raffle of +cordage trailing in the water alongside, pounding and threshing against +the side as if bent on staving in the planks. + +The four brave seamen went with the spar; but no effort could be made to +save them. It was a case of holding on hard and running for dear life, +otherwise the _Essex_ would soon have been piled up on the rocks with +all hands battling to keep off death a few seconds longer. + +Phil gripped my arm till it was as if an iron band encircled it, and I +believe of a verity that I ceased to breathe for a full minute. + +To run before the wind with our top hamper dragging astern would have +been to throw ourselves into the arms of the enemy, and while one +portion of the crew were trying to cut away the wreckage, the remainder +did their best to put the frigate about. + +Even green lads like Phil and me understood that we could not beat up to +our old anchorage, even though the frigate had not been wounded, and we +gazed anxiously aft to learn what might be the course whereby we should +slip past the Britishers and the yet more dangerous headlands. + +That question was speedily answered when the _Essex_ was headed directly +across the harbor entrance to its northeastern side, and the anchors +were let go within a pistol shot of the shore, just under a bluff on +which was the Chilian battery. + +I drew a long breath of relief. The ship was no more than three miles +from the town; she lay hard by the land, and equally as much, if not +more so, within a neutral port as before. + +"That was a tight squeeze!" I said, bawling in Phil's ear, because the +roar of the wind rendered ordinary conversation difficult; and he +replied by saying:-- + +"At one time I counted it as a certainty that we must run on such a +course as would allow the Britishers to rake us!" + +At the same instant I noted the fact that while our crew should have +been snugging down the canvas, they were moving here and there as if +going to quarters, and, pouncing on Master Hackett who chanced to pass +near at hand, I asked him for an explanation. + +"Look yonder, lad," he cried. "Are you blind that you can't see both +the Britishers comin' down upon us with motto flags and jacks set? The +brave Captain Hillyar whom our commander spared when we might have sent +him to the bottom, is countin' on tacklin' us while we're wrecked aloft, +an' in no position to manoeuvre." + +"But we're still in the port!" I cried, almost beside myself with +astonishment and fear. + +"He doesn't give a fig for the port, now we're the same as disabled. +It's what the coward has been waitin' for, an' he'd take advantage of us +if we were lyin' just off the town! A gallant Britisher he, who wouldn't +give fair battle, but hangs off an' on till he finds us in a tight +place! Show me a Yankee who'd play so contemptible a game, an' I'll help +keel-haul him!" + +The first boat's crew was called away to get a spring on our cable, and +the _Phoebe_ was bearing down upon us with her men at quarters, thus +showing, if we had had any doubt before, that it was her intention to +open the action when we were well-nigh helpless. + +Our commander was not one to show the white feather, however great the +danger. At every point where we could reeve a halliard, flags were +hoisted, and orders were given to go to quarters, although if the +spring was not got on the cable we might never be able to give them a +broadside. + +None but a bully and a braggart like Captain Hillyar would have attacked +an enemy while in such a condition. + +The _Phoebe_ rounded to when nearly astern of us, and while our men were +working at the spring she opened fire at long range. The _Cherub_ hauled +off our starboard bow and blazed away at the same time. + +The engagement was on, and I hardly realized that I was taking part in +as cruel a sea-fight as was ever waged. Phil and I served the ammunition +for Nos. 1 and 2 guns, and so rapidly did our people deliver their fire +that we were kept on the jump every minute. + +I saw the men throwing sand on the decks, and forgot to be frightened. I +even understood how necessary it was, how greatly it might be to my +advantage in the work, for a 24-pound shot had come through one of the +midship ports, killing three men and wounding as many more, and the red +blood with its odor of salt flowing across the planks where no sand had +been strewn, caused me to slip and slide as if on greased timbers. + +My shirt was covered with blood; my throat smarted with the fumes of +burning powder, and my eyes were half blinded by the smoke. Here and +there lay the body of a shipmate who would never again answer to the +call of his superior; a wounded man had crawled against the forward +bulkhead and was trying to stanch the flow of life fluid, and amid it +all I had no consciousness of fear. The fever of battle was upon me like +a consuming fire, and my only thought, outside of the duties I should +perform, was that we might be mowing down as many of their men as they +were of ours. + +Now and then I saw Phil dimly through the smoke as he passed me going to +and from the magazine. His shirt had been torn away, or flung off, and +thus, half-clad, begrimed with powder until one might have mistaken him +for an African, he cheered whenever we succeeded in firing a broadside, +or waved his arms now and then in response to some command from the +gunners. + +Now I heard a shout from the hatchway that a spring had been got on the +cable, and as we sent a broadside toward the _Phoebe_ or the _Cherub_, +as the case might be, I added my voice to the others, exulting in the +thought that we had sent death aboard the cowardly Britishers. + +Again I heard the cry that our springs had been cut away by a shot, and +was sensible of the fact that the gallant old frigate was being swung +around by the wind until the after gunners were forced to cease work +because they could not bring their pieces to bear. + +Three several times did our brave fellows, working under the enemy's +heavy fire, succeed in getting the springs on the cable, and as often +were the hawsers shot away. + +"The _Phoebe_ is punishing us terribly," so I heard Midshipman Farragut +say; but through an open port I saw the _Cherub_ running down to leeward +to take a position near her consort. Surely, we had given that ship +enough, although not succeeding in doing the frigate any great injury. + +The _Phoebe_ was so far away that we had hardly a gun which could touch +her, while because of her station and long pieces, she sent nearly every +shot aboard us. + +Then came a lull in the fighting, and I heard the word passed from one +to the other that we were to get three long twelves out aft, and side by +side with Phil I aided to the best of my ability in the work. + +The Britishers poured in a heavy fire while we were thus engaged, and +here, there, and everywhere on our decks were dead or wounded men before +we got the new pieces in position. + +Then our most skilful gunners were sent to the long twelves, and we lads +brought ammunition till we were ready to drop from mingled excitement +and fatigue, yet were hardly conscious of our condition, for now were +our guns beginning to tell, and we could see that the Britishers were +suffering as they had made us suffer. + +Then, suddenly, a deafening cheer went up from our men, and running to +one of the ports I squeezed my body out past the gun till I could see +the _Phoebe_ and _Cherub_ hauling off like crippled ducks. + +I believed the battle was at an end, and began to cheer like a crazy +lad, when Master Hackett caught me by the shoulder with a jerk that +brought me up all standing. + +"I reckon the fumes of powder an' blood have gone to your head, lad. +Quiet down a bit, or you'll need to be sent into the cockpit." + +"We've whipped the Britishers!" I shouted, trying vainly to squirm out +of the old sailor's grasp. "They thought to cut us up because we were +well-nigh helpless, and it's themselves who've got the worst of it." + +"Hold your jaw, you young monkey! This is no time for such crowin' as +you're doin'. We've beat 'em off for a time, an' it's allowable we kick +up a bit of a shindy over it; but the battle isn't ended by a long +shot." + +"Not ended?" I cried, coming to my senses in a measure. "Then why have +the Britishers crawled away?" + +"They've only hauled off for repairs, an' it stands you in hand to help +make ready for what's yet to come. Stow your jaw, an' bear a hand with +the rest of us!" + +I was to "bear a hand" in moving the dead to one side where they would +not hamper our movements, and aid in carrying the wounded below, as I +soon saw, and straightway it was as if all strength had departed. + +Now that the heat and excitement of the action was past for the time +being, my stomach revolted at the horrible sights everywhere around, +and, leaning out one of the ports, I yielded to the sickness which beset +me even as it had when first we put to sea. + +That I could have gloried in the terrible carnage; that I had passed the +dead bodies of those who that morning had greeted me with a friendly +word, and not felt my heart quiver, seemed incredible, and I shed +bitter tears because of my hard-heartedness. + +It was cruel as it was wicked, and I must have been possessed by a demon +to have found a savage pleasure in such sickening work! + +Almost without being aware of the fact I listened to a conversation +among the men as to the injury we had received. + +Eleven men had been killed outright, twenty-one were wounded, and two +died after being carried into the cockpit. Our topsail sheets, topsail +halliards, jib and foretopmast staysail halliards had been cut away, and +almost the only canvas that could have been spread was the flying jib. +How many shot had hulled us it was impossible to say; but, looking over +the rail, one could see the big splinters sticking up here and there +until it seemed that we must have been wounded in every square yard of +hull on the stern and starboard side from the water line upward. + +It seemed impossible that we could continue the action another moment, +and yet our men were cheerily making preparations to renew the fight. + +I believe it was the knowledge that we would soon be under fire again +which aided me in so far pulling myself together that I could obey +orders; and even when I was in the thick of the terrible work the sight +of a pool of blood would cause an upheaval of my stomach, although when +the wounds were received and I might have said a soothing word to the +dying, all this carnage was as nothing. + +It is beyond my poor skill with a pen to set down the second portion of +this wicked fight into which we had been so cowardly forced, and also +because I know very little of it from my own knowledge. When the +Britishers came down upon us again the fever of battle took hold of me +once more, and I was little less than crazy. + +Here is the remainder of the story, at which Britishers should blush, as +told by one who quietly pieced together the accounts given him by the +survivors:-- + +"The enemy was not long in making his repairs, and both ships next took +a position on the starboard quarter of the _Essex_, where it was not in +the power of the latter vessel to bring a single gun to bear upon him, +as he was too distant to be reached by carronades. His fire was very +galling, and it left no alternative to Captain Porter between submission +and running down to assail him. He gallantly decided on the latter. But +by this time the _Essex_ had received many serious injuries in addition +to the loss of her topmast. The only sail that could be got upon the +ship to make her head pay off was the flying jib, which was hoisted when +the cable was cut, and the vessel edged away with the intention of +laying the _Phoebe_ aboard. + +"The foretopsail and the foresail were not let fall, though for want of +tacks and sheets they were nearly useless. Still the _Essex_ drove down +on her assailants, closing near enough to open with her carronades. For +a few minutes the firing on both sides was tremendous, the people of the +_Essex_ proving their discipline and gallantry at that trying moment in +a way to justify all the high expectations that had been formed of them, +though their decks were already strewn with killed, and the cockpit was +crowded with the wounded. This work proved too hot for the _Cherub_, +which hauled off a second time, nor did she come near enough to use her +carronades again, during the remainder of the action keeping up a +distant fire with her long guns. + +"The _Phoebe_ discovered no disposition to throw away the immense +advantage she possessed in her long eighteens; and when she found the +_Essex's_ fire becoming warm she kept edging off, throwing her shot at +the same time with fatal effect, cutting down the people of her +antagonist almost with impunity to herself. By this time many of the +guns of the American ship were disabled, and the crews of several had +been swept away. One particular gun was a scene of carnage that is +seldom witnessed in a naval combat, nearly three entire crews falling at +it in the course of the action. Its captain alone escaped with a slight +wound. + +"This scene of almost unresisting carnage had now lasted nearly two +hours, and finding it impossible to close with his adversary, who chose +his distance at pleasure, Captain Porter felt the necessity of taking +some prompt measure if he would prevent the enemy from getting +possession of his ship. The wind had hauled to the westward, and he saw +a hope of running her ashore at a spot where he might land his people +and set her on fire. For a few minutes everything appeared to favor this +design, and the _Essex_ had drifted within musket-shot of the beach when +the wind suddenly shifted from the land, paying the ship's head off in a +way to leave her exposed to a dreadful raking fire. Still, as she was +again closing with the _Phoebe_, Captain Porter indulged a hope of +finally laying that ship aboard. + +"At this moment Lieutenant Commandant Downes came alongside the _Essex_ +in order to receive the orders of his commanding officer, having pulled +through all the fire in order to effect this object. He could be of no +use, for the enemy again put his helm up and kept away, when Mr. Downes, +after remaining in the _Essex_ ten minutes, was directed to return to +his own ship and make preparations to defend, or, at need, to destroy +her. On going away he carried off several of the _Essex's_ wounded, +leaving three of his own men behind him in order to make room in the +boat. + +"The slaughter in the _Essex_ having got to be too horrible, the enemy +firing with deliberation and hulling her at almost every shot, Captain +Porter, as a last resort, ordered a hawser to be bent to the sheet +anchor, and the latter let go in order to bring the head of the ship +around. This effected the object, and once more the Americans got their +broadside to bear, remaining stationary themselves, while their enemy, a +good deal crippled, was drifting slowly to leeward. Even in these +desperate circumstances a ray of hope gleamed through this little +advantage, and Captain Porter was beginning to believe that the _Phoebe_ +would drift out of gun-shot before she discovered his expedient, when +the hawser parted with the strain. + +"There was no longer any chance of saving the ship. To add to his +distress she was on fire, the flames coming up both the main and forward +hatchways; and for a few moments it was thought she would thus be +destroyed. An explosion of powder also occurred below, to add to the +horrors of the scene, and Captain Porter told his people that, in +preference to being blown up, all who chose to incur the risk might +attempt to reach the shore by swimming. Many availed themselves of this +permission, and some succeeded in effecting their escape. Others +perished, while a few, after drifting about on bits of spars, were +picked up by the boats of the enemy. Much the greater part of the crew, +however, remained in the ship, and they set about an attempt to +extinguish the flames, although the shot of the enemy was committing its +havoc the whole time. Fortunately, the fire was got under, when the few +brave men who were left went again to the long guns. + +"The moment had now arrived when Captain Porter was to decide between +submission or the destruction of the remainder of his people. In the +midst of this scene of slaughter he had himself been untouched, and it +would seem that he felt himself called upon to resist as long as his own +strength allowed. But his remaining people entreated him to remember +his wounded, and he at last consented to summon his officers. Only one, +Lieutenant McKnight, could join him on the quarter-deck! The first +lieutenant, Mr. Wilmer, had been knocked overboard by a splinter and +drowned, while getting the sheet anchor from the bows; Lieutenant +Cowell, the next in rank, was mortally wounded; Lieutenant Odenheimer +had just been knocked overboard from the quarter, and did not regain the +vessel for several moments. The reports of the state of the ship were +fearful. A large portion of the guns were disabled, even had there been +men left to fight them. The berth-deck, steerage, wardroom, and cockpit +were full of wounded, and the latter were even killed by shot while +under the surgeon's hands. The carpenter was sent for, and he stated +that of his crew, he alone could perform any duty. He had been over the +side to stop shot-holes, when his slings were cut away and he narrowly +escaped drowning. In short, seventy-five men, officers included, were +all that remained for duty, and the enemy, in perfectly smooth water, +was firing his long eighteens at a nearly unresisting ship, with as much +precision as he could have discharged them at a target. It became an +imperative duty to strike, and the colors were accordingly hauled down +after one of the most remarkable combats to be found in the history of +naval warfare. + +"In this bloody contest the _Essex_ had fifty-eight men killed, +including those who soon died of their hurts, and sixty-six wounded, +making a total of one hundred and twenty-four, or nearly half of all who +were on board at the commencement of the action. Of the missing there +were thirty-one, most of whom were probably drowned, either in +attempting to swim ashore when the ship was on fire, or by being knocked +overboard by splinters or pieces of rigging. Including the missing, the +entire loss was one hundred and fifty-two out of two hundred and +fifty-five. + +"The _Essex_, with a very trifling exception while closing, fought this +battle with her six long twelves, opposed by fifteen long eighteens in +broadside, the long guns of the _Cherub_, and, a good deal of the time, +while they lay on her quarter, by the carronades of both the enemy's +ships. Captain Hillyar's published official letter makes the loss of the +_Phoebe_ four killed and seven wounded; that of the _Cherub_ one killed +and three wounded. Captain Tucker of the _Cherub_ was wounded, and the +first lieutenant of the _Phoebe_ was killed. + +"The English ships were cut up more than could have been expected under +the circumstances, the latter having received no less than eighteen +12-pound shots below the water line. It would seem that the smoothness +of the water rendered the fire very certain on both sides, and it is +only to be regretted that the _Essex_ could not have engaged under her +three topsails from the commencement. + +"The engagement lasted nearly two hours and a half, the long guns of the +_Essex_, it is said, having been fired no less than seventy-five times, +each, in broadside. The enemy must have thrown, agreeably to the +statements made at the time, not less than seven hundred 18-pound shot +at the _Essex_." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ON PAROLE. + + +During the greater portion of that terrible time which has been so +vividly described by one who afterward became familiar with all the +horrible details, I had but little idea of what was going on, save among +us on the gun-deck. + +We had nothing to do with the poor efforts at handling the sorely +wounded ship, and could only load and fire so long as a gun's crew +remained alive. + +When one fell dead or wounded at his task another was called to fill his +place, and speedily the deck was so littered with the lifeless or the +dying that some of us would be summoned to aid the surgeon's force in +dragging them out of the way. + +As during the first portion of the engagement, I was burning with the +fever of battle, and had so little knowledge of what was being done that +I could not have said whether one hour or ten had elapsed since the +action was begun. It seemed to me as if we had been half an ordinary +lifetime at this business, and I had stood so long beneath the shadow +of the death angel's wings that I took it for granted I should be +numbered with the slain when the conflict ceased, but gave no heed to +such possibility. + +Phil and I knew vaguely, because of the dreadful slaughter which +followed, when the frigate's bow payed off while Captain Porter was +trying to beach her, and we came to realize dimly--as though it was +something which did not concern us personally--that we were being so +badly cut to pieces as to make it certain our people must finally yield +to the enemy; but above all was the one thought, a single desire, to do +as much damage as possible to the Britishers before our ship went down. + +Then, when we were in position where we could fire a broadside, we began +to cheer once more, believing that after all our disadvantages we might +compel the foe to retire; but our hearts did not sink, perhaps because +we were too much excited to realize it, when the hawser of the sheet +anchor parted, leaving us once again where we could be raked. + +When the ship was on fire we ran to the spar-deck, yet fighting the +flames, and neither Phil nor I knew until afterward that permission had +been given the men to leap overboard and save themselves. + +We would not have deserted the ship, however, because both of us were +following Master Hackett very closely; it seemed much as though he had +become a part of us, and we could do nothing save by his side or under +his direction. + +Why we three, when all those brave hearts were sent into eternity on +that 28th day of March, should have escaped a wound I am unable to say; +it must have been, as my mother said, that God was not yet ready to +receive us into that portion of his kingdom that had been allotted us. + +The old man took us lads by the hand when finally Captain Porter gave +orders that the colors be hauled down in token of surrender, and there +we stood as if unable to move or speak, when the Britishers came on +board. + +The living were allowed to bury the dead; the wounded were taken on +shore, and then we were, with many others, sent on board the _Cherub_, +where we were by no means badly treated. More than one Britisher on +board that ship was ashamed, as I myself heard them say, at our having +been attacked while disabled, and nearly all did whatsoever they might +to ease the burden of grief and disappointment. + +There is no good reason why I should set down here what we did or said +during such time as we remained in the harbor of Valparaiso, for it +would be sad reading. It can well be supposed that we mourned for our +brave fellows who had been killed, and our hearts went out in sympathy +to those wounded ashore; but as for ourselves, we could do nothing save +exist. + +Then came the day when it was made known that Captain Hillyar had +decided it would be quite out of the question to hamper himself with so +many prisoners, and the _Essex Junior_ was to be converted into a +cartel[5] to take us home after we had given our paroles. + +It seemed most wonderful that after passing through so many dangers we +were really to see our native country once more. I wept tears of joy +when the news came to me, and was not ashamed of so doing. During the +fight, and for many a long day afterward, I thought of myself as so +nearly in the clutches of death that I was already done with the things +of this world. + +When the arrangements had finally been made, however, we learned that my +cousin, Lieutenant McKnight, Mr. Adams, the chaplain, Mr. Lyman, a +master's mate, and eleven of our sailors had already been exchanged for +some prisoners taken from the _Sir Andrew Hammond_, and were then on +board the _Essex Junior_. + +Later, after we had sailed for the United States, my cousin and Mr. +Lyman went to Rio de Janeiro in the _Phoebe_ in order to give some +testimony in behalf of the captors. From that port they sailed in a +Swedish brig bound to England, and since that moment it has been +impossible to learn aught concerning their fate. The captain of the brig +declares that his passengers were sent on board the British sloop-of-war +_Wasp_, at their own request. The _Wasp_ was never heard from after she +parted company with the brig; but it is my opinion, and shared by many, +that Lieutenant McKnight and his companion were foully murdered by the +Swede. + +We left the port of Valparaiso with our papers in good order, and all on +board rejoicing at the prospect of seeing their loved ones once more. At +that time I believed nothing could tempt me to leave my mother again; +but "once a sailor always a sailor" is the proverb, and I am inclined to +think it has in it much truth. + +The voyage was a prosperous one; we doubled Cape Horn without +difficulty or incident, and had we but been in the good ship _Essex_, +returning home after a successful cruise, the days would not have been +long enough for all our happiness. As it was, however, we lived over and +over again the past, discussing the battle which had cost us so dearly +and left the poor old frigate a wreck in the harbor of Valparaiso, and +speaking tenderly with many a choking sob of the shipmates who stood +gallantly to their posts of duty until death struck them down. + +Now we were returning on parole, the survivors of a ship's company which +had struck their colors to the enemy, and it weighed us down, even +though we knew full well that the cruise of the _Essex_ had been of +greatest value to our country. + +We talked of the old ship as if she had once been a living thing, and +regretted most deeply that we had not succeeded in beaching her, or that +we had extinguished the flames when her hold was apparently a mass of +fire. + +In fact, we went over all the details of our voyage which was ending so +sadly, never tiring during all the long weeks, and many times did we +conjure up pictures of our shipmates who had been left behind on +Nukuheva, wondering what they would do after months had passed and we +failed to return, or speculating upon the possibility that they would +attempt the homeward cruise in one of the prizes. + +Poor fellows! While we spoke of them as living happily and amid plenty, +they were battling for life, as I may one day set down in detail, if it +so be that this feeble apology for a landsman's yarn finds favor with +those who may read it. + +The voyage on the cartel was a prosperous one, as I have already said, +and in due time we were off the port of New York, believing that within +a few hours, at the longest, we would be at liberty to go wheresoever it +pleased us. The _Essex Junior_ was no more than thirty miles from land +when we sighted a Britisher who speedily gave us to understand that we +must heave to and show our papers. + +The stranger proved to be the _Saturn_, a razee (meaning a ship-of-war +cut down to a smaller size by reducing the number of decks), commanded +by Captain Nash. + +We had not supposed there might be any question of our detention, for we +had a passport in due form from Captain Hillyar; but this Britisher took +it into his head that there must be something wrong with our craft; he +even questioned the right of Captain Hillyar to parole us, and ended by +giving the order that we lay by him during the night. + +Immediately visions of a British prison danced before our eyes. We had +been forced into a fight when our ship was little better than a wreck, +by one Englishman, and now here was another who proposed to take in +charge a lot of paroled men who were free to sail to their port of +destination according to the usages of war among all nations. + +After a time of jawing and tongue wagging among our sailors, we came to +believe that Captain Porter was the one whom the Britisher particularly +desired to hold; for surely he could have no wish to hamper himself with +a lot of seamen whom he must, beyond a peradventure, set at liberty when +his government learned the facts in the case. + +What they would do with our captain no one seemed to so much as guess; +we had decided among ourselves that some indignity would be put upon +him, and when the word was passed from one to another that Captain +Porter was inclined to make his escape in one of the small boats, every +man jack volunteered to pull him ashore. + +To row a ship's boat thirty miles, with the chances of being lost in the +fog which was even then creeping over the waters, seemed like a +desperate undertaking; but when Master Hackett, who had been selected by +the crew as their spokesman, went aft and made known to Captain Porter +what they desired to do, he accepted the offer without hesitation. + +One of our boats was launched to leeward, where she might not be seen by +those on the razee, and our commander, with little Midshipman Farragut +by his side, lowered himself into the stern-sheets after the crew were +at their stations. + +Six hardy seamen gave way at the oars, and Phil and I waved our hats in +parting at Master Hackett, whom we did not see again until many a long +day had passed. + +The Britisher caught a glimpse of the small boat as she pulled out past +our ship, and he pitched a shot after her as a signal to heave to; but +the old shellbacks who sat at the oars were not the kind to be +frightened by the burning of British powder. They had sniffed the odor +many times before, and if they would voluntarily remain on a burning +ship while the enemy was plugging ball after ball into her as if she had +been no more than a target, they could be depended upon to hold their +course regardless of Captain Nash and the razee _Saturn_. + +Before the Britishers could fire at them again they were lost to view +in the fog, and, as we learned two days afterward, landed in safety on +Long Island. + +Next morning Captain Nash, after examining our papers once more, gave us +permission to continue the voyage, and before nightfall we were lying in +the harbor of New York, rejoicing at having escaped death or a British +prison. + +Yes, we were made much of, once it was known in the city who we were, +but of that there is no reason why I should speak at any length. + +I should add, however, that after sailing and rowing sixty miles or +more, the boat in which was our commander arrived at Babylon, on the +south side of Long Island, and even then her occupants were not free +from trouble. Captain Porter was suspected by the citizens of being a +British officer, and but for the fact that he had his commission from +Congress in his pocket, he might have been detained. + +He made his way to New York, where he was received with demonstrations +of most profound respect; and when the exploits of the _Essex_ had been +told, every city, village, and hamlet in the country sung the praises of +the frigate and those who manned her. + +Phil and I went home as soon as it was possible to escape from those who +were eager to show their admiration of what had been done by the +_Essex_, and I carried in my pocket a song which was made especially for +the frigate. It was printed and sold on the streets; there was in the +verses no little praise for all hands; but the lines I set down here +pleased me more than all the rest, since they referred to that gallant +sailor who by his skill and courage had made it possible for any of us +to see home again. + + + "From the laurel's fairest bough + Let the muse her garland twine, + To adorn our Porter's brow, + Who, beyond the burning line, + Led his caravan of tars o'er the tide. + To the pilgrims fill the bowl, + Who, around the southern pole, + Saw new constellations roll, + For their guide." + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[5] A ship employed in the exchange of prisoners, or in communicating +with the enemy. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS + + +WITH PERRY ON LAKE ERIE + +A TALE OF 1812 + +_By James Otis_ + +_307 pp. Cloth, $1.50_ + + +Characters and incidents largely historical. A lively rendering of a +memorable event.--_The Outlook._ + + +Graphically does Mr. Otis tell the story of the naval battle won by +Commodore Perry. The well-known tale, rehearsed in a new manner, though +with strict adherence to history, is given in the first person by a boy, +who, with the Commodore's young brother, was concerned in all the +important events of that battle, as well as in previously warding off +the capture of Presque Isle. It is one of the best of Revolutionary +tales, in manner, facts, and interest, published within the last year or +two, and the covers are attractive.--_The Literary World._ + + +An account of the brave but often fruitless struggles and attempts of +young Commodore Perry to get into fighting trim the famous Lake Erie +fleet, handicapped as he was by lack of men and material. The author has +in no wise departed from the strict truth, as given by the best +historians, and it is this fact which renders his entertaining story +particularly valuable as a book for the young.--_Dial._ + + +_With Preble at Tripoli_ + +A STORY OF "OLD IRONSIDES" AND THE TRIPOLITAN WAR + +BY JAMES OTIS + +349 pages. Cloth. 12mo. $1.50 + +Second Volume in "_The Great Admiral Series_" + + +It is a typical, dashing, instructive, and thrilling story. It is +intended for boys, but there is hardly a person, young or old, who would +not be intensely interested in it. Such a book as this should be +welcomed by every parent.--_Boston Journal._ + + +This volume gives us a most vivid description of the exploits of the old +"Constitution" and the brave men under Commander Preble's command. It is +of the best juvenile literature.--_The Indianapolis Journal._ + + +It is a thrilling account of the loss of the "Philadelphia," and of the +most famous "cutting out" party in our naval history. It adds a second +volume to one of our most interesting series of books for young +people.--_The Dial._ + + +The ever-stimulating account of "Old Ironsides" and her famous campaign +against the Tripolitan pirates forms the basis of one of Mr. Otis's best +stories; correct in its historical facts, interesting from beginning to +end, it will be welcomed not only by the younger reader, but by the +older one as well.--_The Presbyterian._ + + +_BOOKS BY WILLIAM DRYSDALE_ + +THE YOUNG REPORTER + +A STORY OF PRINTING HOUSE SQUARE + +_300 pp. Cloth. $1.50_ + + +If ever a writer knew how to tell a rattling story that almost lifts you +off your feet on the first page, it is William Drysdale. His style is +vivacious and racy, and the events hurry along like the current of a +stream above a cascade. The story in itself is intensely interesting, +but, aside from its interest, it gives an insight into the life of a +great daily paper of the city that it would be hard to find elsewhere. +Thus the book is instructive as well as captivating.--_Lutheran +Evangelist._ + + +"The Young Reporter" is a rattling book for boys. It is written by Mr. +William Drysdale, a retired journalist, who has held responsible desks +upon the Sun, the Recorder and other papers, and who knows just what he +is talking about.--_New York Recorder_. + + +A genuine boys' book for genuine boys. It is full of life, clean, clear +cut, and inspiring. We can commend this book to any lover of boys' +stories. It is illustrated with spirit, the pictures adding greatly to +the attractiveness of the book.--_Journal of Education._ + + +This is a story of real power, full of life and action, and will enlist +the interest of every stirring and wide-awake boy.--_Herald & +Presbyter._ + + +_Fighting Under the Southern Cross._ + +A Story of the Chile-Peruvian War. + +BY + +_CLAUDE H. WETMORE._ + +335 pages. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +_CONTAINING PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY AND MAP OF CALLAO BAY_ + + +This is one of the best stories for boys that has been issued, and with +great pleasure we heartily recommend it.--_Observer._ + + +This story is full of thrilling interest and dramatic power. The many +picturesque descriptions give a real portrayal of the country and its +people.--_Book News._ + + +This volume is so real that one imagines he is in the centre of action. +This doubtless is due to the author's thorough acquaintance with the +customs and conditions of these countries.--_St. Louis Star._ + + +Just now when there are so many reminders of the differences existing +between the South American States, and while the influence of the +Pan-American Congress in Mexico is being so strongly felt, this book is +very timely. It is a very vivid picture of the war between Chile and +Peru in 1879, and a portrayal of the customs and manners of these states +that is extremely interesting, and that throws much light on present +problems.--_Christian Endeavor World._ + + +The bitter war of conquest waged by Chile against Peru has never been +given any popular presentation until now. The author is a traveler who +has covered all of South America and was a resident of Peru when the war +broke out. His picture of that period is absorbingly interesting, and +the promised sequel of this volume will be awaited with great +eagerness.--_The Interior._ + +W. A. WILDE COMPANY, Boston and Chicago. + + +_Incaland_ + +A Story of Adventure in the interior of Peru and the closing chapters of +the War with Chile. + +BY + +_CLAUDE H. WETMORE._ + +309 pp. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50 + +_CONTAINING PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY._ + + +"The author is thoroughly acquainted with the history and records of the +far-famed land of the Incas, and the story is full of interest +historically as well as a work of excellent romance and +fiction."--_Chronicle-Telegraph._ + + +"Mr. Wetmore has shown in 'Incaland' how that the Chile-Peruvian War was +to the latter people a blessing in disguise, and how that, casting aside +her antiquated systems, Peru introduced many improvements, until she has +to-day attained a most enviable position among the South American +republics. All this information the author has clothed in the attractive +guise of a story, full of interesting and stirring accounts in which +boys will find great delight."--_New York Examiner._ + + +"'Incaland' deals with the history and wonderful progress of Peru +subsequent to the War, and it overflows with historical interest, and, +as it is in a most picturesque setting, it will surely find a hearty +welcome."--_Christian Endeavor World._ + + +"This volume is not only steeped in the Indian lore of the past, but it +embraces as well some of the stirring instances of the Chile-Peruvian +War, and any boy who has read this stirring narrative has unconsciously +acquired not only familiarity with a certain period in history, but with +the manners and aspect of this historic country. It is a ringing boys' +story, full of interest and enthusiasm."--_Free Press, Milwaukee._ + +W. A. WILDE COMPANY, Boston and Chicago. + + +CADET STANDISH OF THE ST. LOUIS + +A STORY OF OUR NAVAL CAMPAIGN IN CUBAN WATERS. + +_352 pages. Cloth. $1.50._ + + +In "Cadet Standish of the St. Louis" Mr. William Drysdale tells the +story of an American boy to whom the Spanish war brought some novel and +exciting experiences. The lad took part in the cable cutting off +Guantanamo, the first exploit in which the great "merchant cruiser" +distinguished herself. Not only is Mr. Drysdale an accomplished writer, +but he has an intimate knowledge of the West Indian regions where most +of the scenes are laid. The result is a most graphic and entertaining +volume.--_Boston Journal._ + + +This is a story of the recent naval combat in Cuban waters. The book is +picturesque and interesting from cover to cover. The local color is +presented in a series of vivid touches and is skillfully interwoven with +the narrative interest. The story is that of a young cadet on board the +_St. Louis_, who is detailed for dangerous shore duty. His adventures +make up the story that at once attracts and informs the reader.--_The +Baptist Union._ + + +It is pleasant to be able to say that this tale of Cadet Standish is +interesting, wholesome, natural, even among exciting scenes. The hero is +a fine fellow in every way: in his relations to his widowed mother, as a +young business man, and with his associates in the navy.--_The Literary +World._ + + +_IN COLONIAL TIMES_ + +IN THE CAMP OF CORNWALLIS: + +A STORY OF REUBEN DENTON AND HIS EXPERIENCES DURING THE NEW JERSEY +CAMPAIGN OF 1777. + +_By Everett T. Tomlinson, Ph. D._ + +_12mo. 353 pp. Cloth, $1.50. Ill._ + + +This story is patriotic, exciting, and pleasing, and instructs in the +early history of our country without appearing to do so.--_Tribune._ + + +Dr. Tomlinson's Revolutionary stories have so whetted the appetites of +his many boy readers that they will begin this one with avidity, and lay +it down with gratitude for the pleasure and information it has +given.--_Christian Endeavor World._ + + +No books are more welcome than those from the pen of this writer. +Besides being thoroughly interesting and of literary merit, they strike +a most patriotic chord, for it is the author's intention to convey a +knowledge of our country's history in an entertaining +manner.--_Inter-Ocean._ + + +This volume is patriotic in tone and treatment, and has all the fire and +spirit that have made the author's "War of the Revolution Series" such +prime favorites with young people. + +This author's books are not only entertaining for the moment, but they +are written with the deeper purpose of creating a desire on the part of +the youthful reader for personal investigation into our national +history.--_Bookseller, Newsdealer & Stationer._ + + +Dr. Tomlinson has done remarkably helpful work along the line of +supplying young people with history in a most attractive form. In this +volume he combines historical facts with exciting and interesting +adventure, which meets the most vigorous demands of a practical +imagination.--_Cumulative Index._ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With Porter in the Essex, by James Otis + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43766 *** |