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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d505e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63124 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63124) diff --git a/old/63124-8.txt b/old/63124-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7288c3e..0000000 --- a/old/63124-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7399 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Pirate Princes and Yankee Jacks, by Daniel -Henderson - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Pirate Princes and Yankee Jacks - Setting forth David Forsyth's Adventures in America's Battles on Sea and Desert with the Buccaneer Princes of Barbary, with an Account of a Search under the Sands of the Sahara Desert for the Treasure-filled Tomb of Ancient Kings - - -Author: Daniel Henderson - - - -Release Date: September 5, 2020 [eBook #63124] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS*** - - -E-text prepared by Tim Lindell, Martin Pettit, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 63124-h.htm or 63124-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/63124/63124-h/63124-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/63124/63124-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/pirateprincesyan00hend - - - - - -PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS - - - * * * * * * - -_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ - - -JUNGLE ROADS - - And Other Trails of Roosevelt - - -BOONE OF THE WILDERNESS - - A Tale of Pioneer Adventure and Achievement in the "Dark and - Bloody Ground" - - -LIFE'S MINSTREL - - A Book of Verse - - -E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY - - * * * * * * - - -[Illustration: STEPHEN DECATUR. - -_From a painting by Rembrandt Peale._] - - -PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS - -Setting forth David Forsyth's Adventures in America's Battles on Sea -and Desert with the Buccaneer Princes of Barbary, with an Account of -a Search under the Sands of the Sahara Desert for the Treasure-filled -Tomb of Ancient Kings - -by - -DANIEL HENDERSON - -Author of "Boone of the Wilderness," "Jungle Roads -and Other Trails of Roosevelt" - - -[Illustration: Logo] - - - - - - -New York -E. P. Dutton & Company -681 Fifth Avenue - -Copyright, 1923, By E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY - -All Rights Reserved - -Printed in the United States of America - - - - -THIS BOOK IS A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND BOYS WHO CREATED AND SERVED IN -AMERICA'S FIRST NAVY - - "_The ship of war, with its acres of canvas, white in the morning - sun, has sunk forever below the horizon.... No longer is the - hoarse voice of the captain heard shouting to the tops or to the - gun-deck in stentorian tones.... All have gone from the deck of - the galley, the frigate, the line-of-battle ship, from the decks - where, in the teeth of gales, they clawed off lee shores, when - the mouths of their guns drank in the seas, or fought the fogs or - Arctic cold; from the decks where they led the changing fortunes - of the fight in the din of desperate battle; where men take life - at the uttermost hazard and clasp hands with fate._" - --EDWARD KIRK RAWSON. - - - - -FOREWORD - -The road cleft by early American ships into the Mediterranean Sea has -become a well-traveled one. On errands of commerce, punishment or -relief, our skippers have laid an ever-broadening way into the Orient. - -Yet who, in the bustle of the present, recalls the pioneer American -captains and sailors who once suffered slavery and torture to make -the Mediterranean a safe sea for Yankee vessels? Who remembers the -Americans who lay for nine years in Turkish prisons? Who recalls -General William Eaton, who led a little band of Americans and Greeks -on a desperate venture across the North African desert to release the -imprisoned crew of the _Philadelphia_ from Turkish bondage, and who, -for the first time, raised the United States flag over a fort of the -old world? - -It is to make this period and its heroic characters live again in the -mind of America that this volume has been written. To link the several -campaigns against the Turks of Barbary, extending over a period of -fifteen years, the author has adopted the method he followed in his -book "Boone of the Wilderness," and introduced characters and episodes -of fiction. The material is largely derived from original sources. - -Permit us, then, without further ado, to present and commend to your -interest the young sailor David Forsyth, who is at times the hero of -the yarn, but quite as often a spectator and historian of the deeds of -the brave men under whom he was privileged to serve. Do not hold his -youth against him. Nelson went to sea at twelve; Drake was scarcely -more than a boy when he fought on the Spanish Main; and Decatur and -many other gallant American officers under whom David served were mere -striplings. Youth was foremost on the sea in those days, and it is -hoped that its ardent spirit flames in this volume, though a century's -dust covers our heroes. - - - - -CONTENTS - -CHAPTER PAGE - I. THE MAN FROM THE EAST 1 - - II. CAPTURED BY CORSAIRS 16 - - III. BARBARY AND THE BUCCANEERS 25 - - IV. _The Rose of Egypt_ 40 - - V. MY FIRST VOYAGE 46 - - VI. MUTINY 56 - - VII. BETRAYED 64 - - VIII. AN AMERICAN FRIGATE BECOMES A CORSAIR'S CATTLESHIP 74 - - IX. LIFE ABOARD _Old Ironsides_ 82 - - X. A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN THE COURT OF TUNIS 95 - - XI. THE LOSS OF _The Philadelphia_ 109 - - XII. WE BLOW UP _The Philadelphia_ 116 - - XIII. THE AMERICAN EAGLE ENTERS THE AFRICAN DESERT 126 - - XIV. THE DESERT GIRL 140 - - XV. REUBEN JAMES SAVES DECATUR'S LIFE 154 - - XVI. WE CAPTURE THE DESERT CITY OF DERNE 162 - - XVII. THE TREASURE TOMB 177 - -XVIII. SOLD INTO SLAVERY 187 - - XIX. THE ESCAPE 198 - - XX. HOME SURPRISES 220 - -POSTSCRIPT. THE END OF THE PIRATES 228 - -BIBLIOGRAPHY 234 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -STEPHEN DECATUR, _from a painting by Rembrandt -Peale_ _Frontispiece_ - - PAGE -"I'D BLOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE PIRATE NESTS OUT OF -THE WATER BEFORE I'D PAY ONE OF THOSE BLOODY -BASHAWS A SIXPENCE!" SAID THE COMMODORE 13 - -WRECKING AND PIRACY HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE -COMMUNITIES BORDERING ON THE MEDITERRANEAN -SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS 35 - -IN LOOK AND IN DEED, WILLIAM EATON WAS A FIGHTER 94 - -"HOW DARE YOU LIFT YOUR HAND AGAINST A SUBJECT -OF MINE," THE BEY OF TUNIS DEMANDED OF EATON 101 - -I HOPED THAT I MIGHT JOIN A CARAVAN THAT WOULD -PASS BY TOKRA--THE TREASURE CITY OF MY DREAMS 105 - -"WE ARE BOUND ACROSS THIS GLOOMY DESERT TO -LIBERATE THREE HUNDRED AMERICANS FROM THE -CHAINS OF BARBARISM."--General Eaton 135 - -THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AN AMERICAN FLAG HAD -BEEN RAISED ON A FORT OF THE OLD WORLD 165 - - - - -PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS - - - - -CHARACTERS OF THE STORY - - -DAVID FORSYTH, an orphan. - -ALEXANDER, his brother. - -REV. EZEKIEL ECCLESTON, D.D., Rector of Marley Chapel, -Baltimore--David's guardian. - -COMMODORE JOSHUA BARNEY, of the United States Navy. - -GENERAL WILLIAM EATON, in command of the American expedition by land -against Tripoli. - -MURAD, an Egyptian. - -BLUDSOE, mate of _The Rose of Egypt_. - -ANNE, "The Desert Girl." - -MUSTAPHA, An Arab boy. - -STEPHEN DECATUR, WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE, EDWARD PREBLE, RICHARD SOMERS, -REUBEN JAMES, SAMUEL CHILDS, and other officers and men of the United -States Navy. - - - - -PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS - - -CHAPTER I - -THE MAN FROM THE EAST - - -"But, my dear Doctor," said the swarthy Egyptian, bowing with upturned -palms, "you surely do not mean to keep the location of this treasure -tomb hidden forever from science. I know that a man of your nature -would not care for the money the jewels and trinkets would bring if -sold, but I can not see how you can refuse to let scholars view these -rare specimens of ancient art. Will you not----" - -"I beg you," said the rector in distressed tones, "to speak no more -about it. The subject awakens unpleasant memories. I have never before -mentioned having seen this treasure tomb. So far as I am concerned the -desert sands shall not be moved from over its door. Please, my good -friend, do not refer to it again!" - -"But," began the Egyptian. - -Commodore Barney jerked him to one side. "Look here, Mr. Murad," he -said in gruff tones, "Dr. Eccleston lost a wife and child in that -exploration. He came to this country to forget his loss. Keep off the -subject of those antiques--the chances are that they're not worth the -trouble it would take to dig them up!" - -"He has a secret that he owes to science," said the Oriental -stubbornly. He was a proud, determined man. The black moustache that -flowed across his tawny face and the black hair that showed in strings -beneath his fez gave an added fierceness to his look. His brilliantly -embroidered cloak made him still more commanding in appearance. -Commodore Barney, with his stout body and sea legs, cut a poor figure -beside him. - -"Harken, my friend," the commodore said sharply, "I mean what I say. -We're not going to have the rector bothered. We don't know your -business in America, and we're not inquiring into it. In return, we ask -you to let us mind our own affairs. If you know what's good for you, -you'll stop hounding the minister for his secret. Science be blowed! -Art be hanged!" - -Alexander and I, David Forsyth, listened with eyes popping. Orphans -we were, adopted by Dr. Eccleston, our mother's rector. My father--as -brave a sailor as ever drew breath, Commodore Barney often assured -us--had been killed on board the commodore's schooner _Hyder Ally_, -while protecting the shipping in the Delaware River from British -frigates during the Revolutionary War. My mother, while father was at -sea, had helped to nurse the sick people of Baltimore, and had herself -died of the pestilence. Dr. Eccleston, a widower, assumed the care of -Alexander and myself. - -Alexander, springing up like Jack's bean-vine, yet growing in brawn -and manliness as his height increased, was my elder by a number of -years. He was much taller than I, yet I was growing too and had hopes -of reaching, by the time I was sixteen, the chalk mark on our wall that -showed Alexander to be five feet, ten inches high. - -It was on a dock in Baltimore that this talk took place. The Egyptian -Murad had come to our city from Washington. What his business was -no one could tell. Some said that he was a Turkish diplomat. Others -said that he was a spy for the Barbary rulers. He attended services -at the rector's church, and had told someone that he was a native of -Alexandria, Egypt. He had embraced the Christian religion, he said, and -had been so persecuted by the indignant Moslems that he had left Egypt -for America. He appeared to have plenty of means, and, because there -was such an air of romance about him, the people of Baltimore accepted -him without much questioning, and were, indeed, rather proud that they -had a man of mystery among them. - -Our presence on the pier was due to the arrival of Alexander's ship, -_The Three Friends_, from England. Alexander, after begging Dr. -Eccleston in vain to permit him to make a sea voyage, had taken French -leave. When news reached our house that _The Three Friends_ had come -into port, and that Alexander was one of the crew, we hurried down -to greet him. The rector was angry and affectionate. The commodore -was proud of the boy. As for me, I regarded Alexander as Ulysses was -doubtless regarded by the boys of his home town when he returned from -his wanderings. - -It was the cargo of _The Three Friends_ that caused the discussion, -and that led the rector to open a closed chapter in his life. The ship -had brought flower-patterned silken gowns, crimson taffetas, pearl -necklaces, and other exquisite articles esteemed by women; and silk -stockings, brilliant scarfs, beaver hats and scarlet cloaks for the -men. The people welcomed these articles. The men had raised tobacco, -caught fish, and gathered furs that they might buy for their families -these rare luxuries from Europe. There were also, in the cargo, chairs -of Russian leather, damask napkins, superb clocks, silver candlesticks -and tankards, and a wealth of treasure of this nature. - -Alexander's special gift for the commodore was a pipe. To the rector he -gave a curious-shaped little bottle. - -"I found it in a curio shop in London," he said. "The proprietor told -me that it had been found in an Egyptian tomb." - -Dr. Eccleston turned pale. Then, recovering himself, he took -the present and held it towards us with what seemed to be real -appreciation. I learned later that his pallor was due to the memories -the queer little bottle awakened. - -"Bless me!" he said, "it's a lacrimatory--a tear-bottle! I found many -a one while I was excavating in Egypt. Some say that they are made to -hold the tears of mourners, but scholars will tell you that they are -after all but receptacles for perfume and ointments." - -Murad had approached. The sight of the curious bottle, which did not -seem to me to be worth a minute's talk, led him into a discussion of -antiquities he had found in Egypt. The rector's eyes kindled. Here -was a subject that had once been his chief interest. Suddenly he -launched forth into a description of a treasure tomb he had literally -stumbled upon in the desert--a tomb upon which a later tomb had been -built, so that, while the later tomb had been plundered by Arabs, the -earlier tomb had remained a secret until he pried up a stone in the -wall and discovered it. The rector who had attended Oxford, and had -gone forth from college to explore the ruins of countries along the -historic Mediterranean coasts, had made a rough map of the location of -this tomb. He now began to tell of the treasures he had found in the -chamber: heavy gold masks, and breast-plates that, while barbarous in -appearance, yet showed beauty of craftsmanship; bulls' heads wrought in -silver with horns of gold; beautiful jugs and cups, wrought in ivory, -alabaster and amber; mummies whose brows and wrists were encircled with -gems--a hoard of riches priceless both to the scholar and the fortune -hunter. - -This description fired my imagination. It also stirred Murad. I saw his -eyes glow and his fingers tremble. I wondered if his vehement demand -that the rector should reveal the location of this cave was created by -his interest in science or by pure lust for riches? As for myself, I -confess that I thought only of the money into which these buried jewels -and trinkets could be turned. - -Later, the commodore told us why the rector had been so swift to end -his tale of the buried treasure. After he had discovered the tomb, -somewhere on the African shore of the Mediterranean, he had covered -it up and joined a caravan bound for Tripoli, meaning to organize a -special expedition for further searches. His caravan was attacked by a -tribe of bandits. A blow from a spear knocked him unconscious. When he -regained his senses, his wife and child were gone. - -"They were taken as loot," said the commodore. "Women and children are -nothing more than baggage to those Arabs!" - -The husband wandered for months through the desert searching for his -family. At last he was stricken with fever. Travelers found him and -placed him aboard a ship bound for England. There he had plunged into -religious work to keep from going mad. Blood-stained garments--proof -that his wife and daughter had been slain--were sent him by an Arabian -sheik. Later he had come to America as a missionary. - -He was now rector of Marley Chapel. It is located about nine miles from -Baltimore, near the bridge at Marley Creek, which enters into Curtis -Creek, a tributary of the Patapsco River. This chapel had been built -long before the Revolution. The minister kept his residence within the -town limits of Baltimore because it extended his field of helpfulness. -The journey to the chapel was made on horseback, and whenever he went -to service Alexander and myself followed him on our ponies, through -sun, rain, sleet or snow. - -On fair-weather days, the church-yard resembled a race-course. The -ladies, in gay clothes, had come in carriages. The men, mounted on -fine horses and sumptuously arrayed, rode beside them. The carriage -wheels rattled. The negro drivers cracked their whips and shouted. The -gentlemen loudly admonished the slaves. Over such a tumult the church -bell, which was suspended from a tree, rang out to warn the people that -the service was about to begin; then a hush fell over the countryside, -broken only by the stamping and snorting of the mettlesome horses in -the shed, or by the chuckles of the negro boys who tended them. - - -To bring our story back to the present hour: Alexander had wandered -off from our group with some of his shipmates. Suddenly there was an -uproar. There were surly fellows in the crew and quarrelsome men in the -crowd. Already Alexander had pointed out to me Black Peter, Muldoon, -Swansen, and other sailors whom he avowed were the toughest men he had -ever met. - -These were now confronted by our town rowdies. We had a few men among -our citizenship of whom we were heartily ashamed--men who knew how to -fight in ways that surpassed for brutality those methods of warfare -learned on shipboard. Eye-gouging, for instance; getting a man down; -twisting a forefinger in the side-locks of his hair; thrusting, by -means of this hold, a thumb into the victim's eye, thereby threatening -to force the eyeball from the socket if the sufferer did not cry -"King's cruse!" which, I suppose you know, meant "enough!" - -The seaman who had been challenged by Steve Dunn, the bully, was Ezra -Wilcox, Alexander's chum. He was a stranger in our town and Alexander -was eager that he should think favorably of the people of Baltimore, -who, everyone knows, are in the main, an open-hearted people. Angered -at having his desire thwarted by the rowdy, Alexander rushed between -Steve and Ezra, and himself took up Ezra's battle. He and the tough -locked arms in a punching and wrestling match, and were soon rolling -over each other on the wharf. Steve, finding that he was getting the -worst of the tussle, reached his hands towards Alexander's side-locks. - -"Look out, Alexander," I cried, dancing over the pair in a frenzy, -"he's trying to gouge you, man!" - -"Unfair! Unfair! No gouging!" the other sailors shouted, while the rest -of the onlookers stood by with their sense of justice absorbed by their -interest. - -Steve's finger was buried in Alexander's shock of hair, and his thumb -crept closer to my brother's eye. I was about to stoop in an attempt to -break the brutal grip when Alexander released his hair by a desperate -jerk that left a wisp between the ruffian's fingers, rolled Steve over, -held him face downward in a grip of iron, and rubbed his nose on the -planks of the dock until blood spurted from it. Then, lifting the -bully up at arm's length, Alexander cast him against the palings with a -force that stunned him. If someone had not grabbed Steve then, he would -have rolled over into the river and few would have mourned him if he -had sank and never bobbed up again. - -Steve's friends advanced, pretending great indignation at Alexander's -roughness, but paused as Ezra Wilcox, Black Peter, Muldoon, and Swansen -came forward itching to take up the battle. - -"Enough of this," cried the rector, roused from his brooding by the -tussle, "Steve's dug into my boy's eye and paid for it with his own -nose! We'll call the affair quits, and I'll ask you Baltimore folks to -show courtesy to the strangers within your gates." - -That afternoon we attended a fair on the chapel grounds. I was eager to -show Alexander that I too had strength and skill, and at the fair, in a -small way, my chance came. - -As we approached the grounds we saw that, among other sports, a -gilt-laced hat had been placed on a greased pole, to be won by the man -or boy who climbed the pole and slid down with the hat on his head. -Alexander challenged me to try. - -Others had tried and had slid back defeated amidst much laughter. I -gave a running leap, however, and clutched the pole a man's height from -the ground. My fingers and feet managed to find cracks and crevices. -My knees stuck. It may have been that the dirt and sand in which I -had taken the precaution to roll before making the attempt enabled my -arms and legs to overcome the grease, or perhaps it was because those -who had tried first had worn most of it away. From whatever reason, I -continued to climb, rubbing the outer part of my sleeve over the pole -as I advanced, so that more of the grease was removed from my path. -At last, amidst cheers, I reached the peak of the pole, seized the -gilt-laced hat, donned it--although it fell down over my ears--and slid -to the ground in triumph. - - -SEA LONGINGS - -"If you can climb masts as well as you can climb poles," said -Alexander, "there's no doubt that you'll be a fine sailorman!" - -"He'll do no mast-climbing!" said Dr. Eccleston. "One sailor in the -family is enough. His climbing will be confined to the steps of a -pulpit. I am training him for the ministry!" - -Alexander looked at me quizzically. I winked at him. He and I had -agreed from childhood that ours should be a seafaring life. My brother -had boldly carried out his intention to follow father's example, but -I, seeing that the rector had set his heart upon my adopting a shore -career, had postponed making my declaration. I was immensely fond of -the rector; I did not care to be the means of bringing further sadness -to him, so I bided my time. - -Commodore Barney heard the rector rebuke Alexander and saw my wink. -Bless me, behind the minister's back, he winked too. He had told me -that, when the United States began to build her navy, he expected to -obtain a place for me on a frigate. "America's prosperity on the sea -is just beginning," he said. "Don't turn your back on your natural -calling. One voyage in a privateer in one of the wars that are on the -horizon will make your fortune. I'll take you to sea with me. Let the -dominie look elsewhere for his recruits!" - -The rector and the commodore were great comrades, but on the subject of -a career for me they never agreed. - -Commodore Barney had been a hero to Alexander and myself as far back -as we could remember. He was a part of our lives from the first--an -unofficial second guardian. I have heard him declare that he was on his -way to our house to adopt us when he met the rector coming out with -one of us clinging to each hand. Dr. Eccleston had told him then, the -commodore stated, that a seafaring man was no fit guardian for children. - -The commodore was a burly, pink-cheeked, big-hearted man. What a -dandy he was! When on shore he wore a cocked hat, a coat with large -lace cuffs, and a cape cut low to show his neck-stock of fine linen -cambric. His breeches were closely fitted with large buckles. He wore -silk stockings and large buckled shoes. No one who saw him sauntering -along Market Street would take him to be a sailor, although his tongue -betrayed his calling. Nautical terms, strange oaths, shipping topics -were forever on his lips. His clothes spoke of the ballroom, but his -language had the tang of the ship's deck and the salt wind. - -He was fond of the ladies. It often amused us to see him dancing -attendance on a maid who minced along in brocade or taffeta, with her -skirts ballooning from the hoops underneath, with bright-colored shoes -peeping out from beneath her skirts, and with an enormous plume in her -big bonnet that waved towards the commodore's cocked hat. The hooped -skirts seemed to be trying to keep her escort at a distance, while he -struggled manfully to pour his words into her ear. - -Murad was still hovering around us. Evidently anxious to appease the -commodore, he had begun to talk to him on sea topics. The commodore, -in turn, started to draw out the Egyptian as to opportunities American -shippers might have to sell cargoes of American goods to Mediterranean -cities. - -"In Barbary, Egypt and beyond," said Murad, "will lie your country's -chief market. The ports of the Mediterranean are eager for your -goods. Lads like these----" he fixed glowing eyes on Alexander and -myself--"will live to make their fortunes in the Mediterranean." - -"I don't know but what you're right," said the commodore, "if someone -will kindly sweep those Barbary buccaneers out of the way. Looks as if -we'll have to build a squadron to do what the navies of Europe have -failed to do through all these centuries. Matters are coming to a head -between our country and the pirate nests of Barbary. I've heard reports -of American ships being captured by ships sent out by the ruler of -Algiers. It may take us a little time to wake up, but in the end we're -going to stop that!" - -"That," said Murad suavely, "is nothing new. If you lived in the -Orient, my dear commodore, you would think little of it. It's merely -the way the rulers of the Barbary countries have of notifying your new -country that it's America's duty to pay them toll--ships and jewels -and gold. All of the nations of Europe pay them for protection, and of -course, in justice to themselves and those who pay them tribute, they -cannot exempt America. If I were your President, I would send liberal -presents every year to the princes of Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli and -Morocco. Then, sir, American ships and sailors would have nothing to -fear in the Mediterranean." - -"Just so!" said the commodore. He cast a long look at the Egyptian, -glanced around at us to see how we took this proposition, and chewed -his tobacco with fierce energy. Then he exploded: - -"I'd blow every one of those pirate nests out of the water before I'd -pay one of those bloody Bashaws a sixpence!" - -[Illustration: "I'D BLOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE PIRATE NESTS OUT OF THE -WATER BEFORE I'D PAY ONE OF THOSE BLOODY BASHAWS A SIXPENCE!" SAID THE -COMMODORE.] - -"Then!" said Murad, "I'm afraid American commerce will find itself -barred from the Mediterranean! I have no interest in the corsairs. I -was merely trying to point out a way by which your skippers could find -new markets over there without being attacked or imprisoned." - -"Well, just belay that advice when you're talking to a man who has -fought for, and still will fight for the honor of his country!" growled -the commodore. - -We followed the old sailor. - -"That fellow's in this land for no good!" the commodore said to the -rector. "The last time I attended a session of Congress, I saw him -listening to the debates. I reckon he's keeping the rulers of Barbary -informed of what's going on over here. Those fellows want to know how -rich our country is, so that they can tax us all that our finances can -stand. I wouldn't be surprised, either, if Murad's not sending advices -of our sailings, so that those pirates can be on the watch for our -ships! - -"Both England and France want to bar us from the trade of the Orient, -and their agents will convey to them there Bashaws any news this -sneaking Murad sends them. Christian convert--my aunt! Once a Moslem -always a Moslem! A trapper of Christians--that's what I think him!" - -Murad went on his way and we went ours. I was to have plenty of -occasion to reflect on the commodore's opinion of the Oriental. - -Alexander stayed with us for two months after his return from England. -Then he hurriedly shipped on a schooner bound for Boston. Its skipper, -when he returned to Baltimore, brought us a note from my brother. In it -he advised us that he had shipped on board the schooner _Marie_ sailing -from Boston for Cadiz. This was in April, 1784. Over a year passed -without bringing tidings of my brother. I had begun to fear that his -ship had gone down, although the good rector, to comfort me, grumbled -that there was a special Providence that took care of fools. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -CAPTURED BY CORSAIRS - - - "_What does it mean to them that somewhere men are free?_ - _Naked and scourged and starved, they groan in slavery!_" - - -The rector had encouraged me to browse through his library. He said -that ministers should be well-read men. It was no hardship for me--I -was fond of books. One day, as I was reading "Hakluyt's Voyages," he -rushed into the room. His usually pale face was red and distorted from -excitement. - -"David, I've news of your brother!" he cried. "I told you that there -was a Providence that safeguarded scapegraces! He's in Algiers. He's -been captured by pirates! They're holding him in slavery for ransom!" - -"Humph," said the commodore, who had followed him into the room, "I -don't call that being guided by a special Providence!" - -"Well," the rector said, "they might have killed him, or he might have -died of a fever in that pestilential country. Yes, I think Providence -is watching over him!" - -The news had come in a bulky envelope that had been forwarded to Dr. -Eccleston by the State Department. - -"Read that," cried the rector, tossing the letter into my lap, "and see -what becomes of lads who leave comfortable homes to sail the ocean!" - -He lit his pipe and fell to brooding, while I gleaned from the roughly -scribbled epistle the story of Alexander's capture by Turkish corsairs. - -That the Mediterranean Sea was infested by pirates Captain Stephens, -with whom Alexander sailed, well knew. But Cadiz lay outside of the -usual zone of the buccaneers, and the idea of danger from corsairs -scarcely entered the thoughts of the skipper and his men. Yet, on July -25, 1785, while the _Marie_ was passing Cape Saint Vincent, she was -pursued by a rakish lateen-sailed vessel. Despite desperate attempts -to outsail her pursuer, she was soon overtaken. Threatened by fourteen -ugly cannon, she awaited the approach of the stranger. - -The _Marie_ was hailed in Spanish. Captain Stephens shouted in reply -the name and destination of his vessel. He had little doubt that he -would be allowed to proceed and was on the point of giving orders to -resume the voyage, when a crowd of seamen in Turkish dress appeared on -the deck of the vessel, which now was found to be an Algerine corsair. - -The dark, bearded faces of the Moslems were forbidding enough, but when -the Mussulmans drew near with savage gestures and a wild brandishing of -weapons, the _Marie's_ men knew that either death or slavery awaited -them. - -A launch thronged with Moors and Arabs, armed with pistols, scimeters, -pikes and spears, put out from the side of the zebec. They fired -several volleys that came dangerously close to the heads of the -American sailors, and threatened to slaughter the crew if they resisted. - -Captain Stephens, when a pistol was held against his breast, -surrendered his ship. He and his crew were transferred to the -corsair, first having been stripped of all their clothes except their -undergarments. They were pricked and prodded until they reached the -forepart of the Algerine ship, where the commander, Rais Ibrahim, -a vicious-looking old Moor, who kept his hand on the pistol that -protruded from his sash as if his fingers itched to fire a bullet into -a Christian's body, repeated the threat of massacre if the captives -disobeyed his orders. - -Captain Stephens, who spoke Spanish, went as far as was safe in -protesting against the seizure. - -Rais Ibrahim, crying upon Allah to wipe out all Christians, replied -that the ships of Barbary were no longer limited by the Mediterranean -Sea. He declared that Algiers had made a peace with her ancient enemy -Spain and was free now to send her vessels through the Strait into the -Atlantic. - -"Have you papers," he sneered, "showing that your country is paying -tribute to the Dey of Algiers? If your government has not purchased -immunity from attack by our corsairs, do not protest to me against your -capture, but rather blame your rulers for neglecting to follow the wise -example of the nations of Europe, who pay my lord the gold that he -demands!" - -A Moslem crew was placed aboard the _Marie_, and she was sailed as a -prize into Algiers. There the prisoners found in captivity the crew of -the American ship _Dauphin_, under Captain Richard O'Brien, who, with -his mate, Andrew Montgomery, and five seamen, had been captured by an -Algerine corsair near Lisbon. - -To announce to the city that he was approaching with a prize the Moslem -captain fired gun after gun. The Port Admiral came out in a launch to -examine the prize and prisoners so that he might make a report to the -Dey; the people on shore gathered at the wharves to gloat over the new -wealth that had come to the city; the barrooms became crowded with -revelers; everyone except the slaves rejoiced. - -The captors were received by their relatives and friends on shore with -cheers and exultation. Estimates of the value of the prisoners and the -ship passed from one to another. The captives were given filthy rags -to cover their nakedness, and were marched through the streets between -rows of jeering infidels. Their destination was the palace of the Dey. -They were driven across the courtyard of the palace, where they entered -a hall. They then were pushed and prodded by their guards up five -flights of stairs, where they went through a narrow, dark entrance into -the Dey's audience room. - -He sat, a dark, fat, greasy creature, upon a low bench that was covered -with cushions of embroidered velvet. - -He viewed the Americans with great resentment. - -"I have sent several times to your nation," he said through his -interpreter, a renegade Englishman, "offering to make peace with -them if they would satisfy my requirements. They have never sent me -a definite reply. Since they have treated me so disdainfully, I will -never make peace with them! As for you, Christian dogs, you shall eat -stones!" - -The captives were driven from his presence and marched to the bagnio, -or prison, where they joined six hundred Christian slaves of various -nationalities--poor, broken-spirited fellows, weighed down with chains. - -Their names were entered in the prison book; each of them was given a -blanket, a scanty supply of coarse clothing, and a small loaf of black, -sour bread. They slept on the floor, with a thin blanket between them -and the cold stones. - -The next day each of them had a chain weighing about forty pounds -placed on him. One end was bound around the waist, and the other end -was fastened by a ring about the ankle. They were then assigned various -tasks for the government. The iron ring on their ankles, they learned, -was the badge of public service. Though it was a cruel weight, it -protected them from abuse by fanatical Moslems. - -Some of the captives were employed at rigging and fitting out cruisers, -and in transporting cargoes and other goods about the city. Because of -the narrow streets the articles they moved could be carried only by -means of poles on their shoulders. If they bumped into a citizen they -were loudly cursed and beaten. The Dey was building a new mosque, and -many of the Christians were employed in transporting blocks of stone -from the wharf to the building. Four men were employed to move one -stone, and only the strongest could bear up under such a load. Some of -the captives were sent into the mountains to blast rocks. Under the -direction of Moslem overseers, who cruelly beat them on the slightest -excuse, the prisoners rolled rocks weighing from twenty to forty tons -down the mountain, where they were then hoisted on carts, drawn by -teams of two hundred or more slaves to a wharf two miles distant, where -the stones were placed on scows and carried across the harbor to be -fitted into a breakwater. - -The prison, to which they returned after the labors of the day, was -an oblong, hollow square, three stories high. The ground floor was -composed of taverns that were kept by favored slaves who paid a goodly -sum for rent, as well as for the liquor they sold. In this way a few of -the slaves were able to earn enough money to purchase their freedom. -These taverns were so dark that lamps had to be kept burning even by -day. They were filled with Turks, Moors, Arabs and Christians, who -often became drunk and sang and babbled in every language. - -The second and third floors were surrounded by galleries that led to -cell-like rooms in which the captives slept. These cells were four -deep to a floor, and hung one over the other like ships' berths. They -swarmed with vermin. The air was too foul to breathe. If any of the -captives rebelled--there was the bastinado! The culprit was thrown -down on his face; his head and hands were tied; an infidel sat on his -shoulders; his legs were held up to present the soles of his feet; and -two infidels delivered from one hundred to five hundred blows. - -If a slave committed a very serious offense, he might be beheaded, -impaled, or burnt alive. For murdering a Mohammedan one slave was cast -off the walls of the city upon iron hooks fastened into the wall, where -he lingered in agony for many hours before he perished. - -The worst danger the Christians faced was an insidious one--the plague. -In the hot, damp air of Africa a fever arises from decaying animal -substances, which is spread about by swarms of locusts. A person may -be attacked by only a slight fever, but he soon becomes delirious and -too weak to move. In five days his body begins to turn black and then -death comes. It is the black pestilence, and it attacks slaves and -rulers without choice. If it had not been for a hospital maintained by -Spanish priests, most of the captives would have died. As it was, many -Christians perished. - - -Murad came into our thoughts as we brooded over Alexander's plight. He -was still in Baltimore and still attended the chapel services. Did he -have influence enough, we asked, to obtain my brother's freedom? - -The commodore had sworn that the Egyptian went to church only for -the purpose of ingratiating himself with Americans upon whom he had -designs. The rector had retorted that he could not allow himself to -suspect one of his flock of any but pure motives when entering the -house of God. He himself, I felt, disliked the man from the East, but -he concealed it well. Therefore, when Murad came to our door, the -rector invited him into the library and told him briefly what had -happened. - -"I am heart-broken over it!" Murad exclaimed, gazing at me with his -great liquid eyes, "and I am helpless because I am no longer a follower -of Mohammed; yet your Government will surely be able to ransom your -brother and his comrades. I do not think their lives will be in danger -if your statesmen appropriate the money promptly. It's shocking, of -course, yet it's quite the usual thing to pay these ransoms. England, -Spain, France--all do it. You see, ever since the days when the Queen -of Sheba brought tribute to King Solomon, the Orientals have been -trained to look for gifts from foreigners who touch their shores." - -The rector looked dismayed at this attempt to justify kidnapping by -the Scriptures. "It's time," he said, "for this western world to teach -those ruffians that blackmail is blackmail and that murder is murder!" - -He fumbled with the envelope that had contained Alexander's letter. A -slip of paper slid out. He read to us this memorandum, written by my -brother: - - -_Amount of Ransom demanded by the Dey of Algiers for the Release of -American captives_ - - "Crew of ship _Dauphin_: - - Algerine Sequins - - Richard O'Brien, captain, ransom demanded 2,000 - Andrew Montgomery, mate 1,500 - Jacob Tessanoir, French passenger 2,000 - Wm. Paterson, seaman 1,500 - Philip Sloan 725 - Peleg Lorin 725 - John Robertson 725 - James Hall 725" - - - "Crew of the Schooner _Marie_: - - Algerine Sequins - - Isaac Stephen, captain, ransom demanded 2,000 - Alexander Forsyth, mate 1,500 - George Smith, seaman 900 - John Gregory 725 - James Hermet 725" - - -"How much is 1,500 Algerine sequins?" I asked Murad. - -"A sequin," he explained, "amounts to eight shillings sterling, so that -12,000 shillings will be required for Alexander, and 126,000 shillings -for the entire lot. There must be added to this sum 10 or 20 per cent -of the total as bribes to the Dey's officers, and as commission to -brokers. There are Jewish merchants over there whose chief business it -is to procure the release of captives--for a consideration! - -"I know such a merchant in Algiers," Murad went on, "I shall write to -him to interest himself in the captives and to use his influence to see -that they are kindly treated. Perhaps he will be able to reduce the -amount of the ransom. When the money is raised, I shall be at your -service for negotiations." - -He bowed himself out. The rector went to the window and stood staring -out after him. "It can't be," I heard him say, "and yet, if the -commodore heard what he said to me, he'd swear the fellow was an agent -for the corsairs!" - - - - -CHAPTER III - -BARBARY AND THE BUCCANEERS - - - "_In lofty strains the bard shall tell_ - _How Truxton fought, how Somers fell,_ - _How gallant Preble's daring host_ - _Triumphed along the Moorish coast,_ - _Forced the proud infidel to treat,_ - _And brought the Crescent to their feet!_" - - -I was straining like a leashed hound to board a ship and fight for my -brother's freedom, but no way was open to secure the release of the -captives except by diplomacy. As a vent for my feelings in those first -weeks of hot rage, I plunged into a study of the history of the Barbary -pirates. Every outrage done by them was the occasion for an outburst of -vain anger on my part. But was it, after all, vain? Later I had my wish -and shared in a campaign to free three hundred American prisoners from -captivity in Tripoli. - -Meanwhile, we lost no time in sending to Alexander as comforting an -answer as we could compose. He had asked that we send his mail to the -care of the English consul who, he wrote, had obtained the consent of -the Dey to send and receive letters for the American captives. - -Dr. Eccleston assured Alexander that Mr. Samuel Smith, Maryland's -representative in Congress, had taken an interest in the case and would -urge Congress to procure his speedy release. It was easy to predict a -swift release--but hard, we soon found, to obtain one. I have heard -men joke about the law's delays, but the delays of diplomats are longer -yet. _Alexander's captivity was to endure for years!_ - -Fortunately for me in my pursuit of knowledge concerning these -buccaneers, I could talk to the rector who had years before traveled -through Mohammedan countries. He poured out to me freely his -recollections of the miserable nations that occupied the African coast -of the Mediterranean. - -In books concerning these pirates his library was not lacking. He was -a great bookworm--some of his people whispered that he would trade -the soul of one of his flock for a rare book. He made friends with -skippers, it was said, mainly to have them bring him the latest books -from abroad. By trading with sailors, schoolmasters and preachers, he -had acquired many volumes, among which were many books on travel and -exploration. - -Wrecking and piracy had been followed by the inhabitants of the -communities bordering on the Mediterranean since the time of Odysseus. -The rector read to me from Thucydides how Minos of Greece used his -fleet to "put down piracy as far as he was able, in order that his -revenues might come in." From Homer he read the passage, "Do you wander -for trade or at random like pirates over the sea?" - -[Illustration: WRECKING AND PIRACY HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE COMMUNITIES -BORDERING ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS.] - -In the first half of the last century before Christ, I learned, Cicilia -and Crete were the chief buccaneering nations on the Mediterranean. -Rome had ruined all of her rivals, and therefore made no effort to -guard the seas from corsairs. Refugees from all nations joined the -pirate fleets of Cicilia and Crete. The small communities surrounding -these pirate states were forced to become allies of the pirate rulers. -In addition to seizing ships and goods, the buccaneers became slavers, -attacking small towns and carrying away men, women and girls. The -island of Delos became a clearing-house for this traffic, and in one -day ten thousand slaves were sold. It was said that while the harbor -of Delos was supposed to offer mariners protection from pirates, the -crew of a ship that anchored alongside a merchant vessel might be the -kind that made merry with the merchantman's crew on shore, and, after -learning of her cargo and destination, might follow her out of the -harbor to cut the throats of her crew on the high seas. - -Along the southern coast of the Mediterranean, in that part which is -now called Barbary or Northern Africa, where Morocco, Algeria, Tunis -and Tripoli lie, the galleys of Phoenician traders roved in these early -times, exploring the rivers. - -Following these traders came Carthaginian warriors who founded colonies -upon this coast. Among these communities was the famous city of -Carthage, that in time brought forth the mighty leader Hannibal. - -Then came the Romans, who conquered the Carthaginians and turned -their cities to ruins. Thus the entire territory became Roman African -colonies. - -Over six centuries after the birth of Christ, the Saracens began to -invade this region. Their wars continued until by the eighth century -all Roman authority was swept away, and Mohammedan rule was established -throughout the country. - - -"RED-BEARD" - -Born of my reading and thinking about Mediterranean pirates, through -my dreams went a pageant of cruel corsairs and pitiable captives. -There was the corsair chief Uruj Barbarossa, who, hearing on his -native island of Lesbos of the rich galleons that passed through the -Mediterranean, entered the Sea in 1504 with a fleet of robber galleys -and made an alliance with the ruler of Tunis whereby that port became -the center for his thieving. This Barbarossa, or Red-Beard, was a -pirate of the heroic order. On one of his first voyages out of Tunis -he fell in with two galleys belonging to Pope Julius II, bearing rich -merchandise from Genoa. These galleys were far bigger than his two -galleots, yet Red-Beard attacked so fiercely that he overcame the -foremost galley. As the second galley came up without having seen the -outcome of the battle, he arrayed his sailors in the clothes of the -Christian captives and, taking the second galley by surprise, captured -her too. His victories made Europe tremble. Emperor Charles V of Spain -in 1516 sent ten thousand veterans to Barbary to end Red-Beard's -career. Barbarossa's army of fifteen hundred men was surprised by -the Spaniards in crossing a river. Having crossed, he turned back on -hearing the cries of his men and died fighting gallantly in their midst. - -Next through my fancy passed Kheyr-ed-din, Red-Beard's brother. Having -slain Red-Beard, the Spaniards could have driven the corsairs out of -Africa, but instead of waging further war, the army returned to Spain. -Kheyr-ed-din then assumed command of the sea rovers, and with a fleet -of one hundred and fifty galleys and brigantines engaged an Allied -Christian fleet of one hundred and forty-six galleons under Admiral -Andrea Doria. The battle amounted only to a skirmish, for Andrea -Doria, although his vessels were manned by sixty thousand men--forces -far greater than that of the infidels--retired when the Moslems had -captured seven of his galleys. - - -GALLANT DON JOHN - -Next in the pageant passed the great corsairs of the battle of Lepanto, -where the Turks, then at the height of their glory, suffered a crushing -defeat at the hands of the brilliant young emperor, Don John of Austria. - -The Moslems, before this historic date of October 7, 1571, were -threatening to overwhelm Europe. They desired to make the rich island -of Cyprus one of their stepping-stones to the mainland. Venice, who -owned the island, resisted the claims of the infidels. The Moslems -thereupon threatened to conquer Venice herself. That city's fleet was -too small to cope with the great navy of the Turks. Philip II of Spain, -appealed to by Pope Pius V, went to her aid. The Holy League to protect -Christendom against the infidels was formed. - -Don John of Austria, brother of Philip, was chosen to lead the -Christian fleet. He was tall and handsome, and, although only -twenty-four, had distinguished himself in wars against the Moors. He -went to join his navy in a dress of white velvet and cloth of gold. -A crimson scarf floated from his breast. Snow-white plumes adorned -his cap. He looked every inch a hero, and every inch a hero he proved -himself to be. - -He found himself at the head of the greatest Christian fleet that had -ever assembled to fight the corsairs. Three hundred vessels and eighty -thousand men sailed forth under his command. The men were incited to -battle by news of the almost unbelievable cruelties the Moslems had -inflicted upon the Venetian garrison of a city in Cyprus which they -had captured. The captain of the Venetian troops, Bragadino, had had -his ears and nose cut off. He was next led around before the Turkish -batteries, crawling on hands and knees, laden with two baskets of -earth. Whenever he passed the quarters of the Turkish general, he was -forced to kiss the ground. Next, with Mustapha, the Moslem general, -looking on, he was flayed alive, and his skin, stuffed with straw, was -then paraded through the town. - -Resolved to end forever such atrocities, the Christian fleet sought -that of Ali Pasha, the Turkish admiral. Three hundred galleys, with -one hundred and twenty thousand men, composed the Moslem fleet. They -came on with their decks covered with flags and streamers, while, hid -by this glory of banners, the galley slaves, chained to the oars, -toiled beneath the lash. The two fleets met near the Gulf of Lepanto. -Don John's lookout, from his perch on the main-top, discovered a white -sail. Behind it came sail after sail, until the full strength of the -Turkish navy was in sight. - -Don John ran up his signal for battle--a white flag--and went in his -gig from galley to galley, encouraging his men. - -"Ready, Sir, and the sooner the better!" they replied to his question -as to their preparedness. - -As a last act before battle, Don John unfurled a standard containing -the figure of the Saviour, fell on his knees and prayed for God's -blessing on his cause, then formed his line of battle. The fire -from the huge floating castles that belonged to his fleet created a -panic among the Turks and broke their line. The ships of both sides -came together in a confused mass, so that their decks, almost joined -together, formed a huge platform upon which the Christians and Turks -battled. - -Ali Pasha, the Moslem admiral, came alongside of Don John's ship and -was on the point of boarding it when the galley of the Spanish captain -Colonna rammed his vessel, while its crew poured a destroying fire -across the Turkish galley's deck. Ali Pasha was slain. The Ottoman -emblem fluttered down from the mast of the flagship, and the Christian -ensign rose in its place. Heartened by this victory, the other -Christian galleys triumphed over their foes. Such Turkish ships as were -able to escape fled, pursued by the Christians. The Moslems lost over -two hundred ships. Twenty thousand of their men perished. The Christian -fleet lost over seven thousand men. Twelve thousand Christian slaves -were set free from the Turkish galleys. - -The Pope who had urged that the Christian fleet be assembled cried in -thanksgiving: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." - - -CERVANTES--WARRIOR AND AUTHOR - -Following these great corsairs came cruel, mean-spirited buccaneers, -whom I was glad to dismiss and replace in my imaginings with that -noble captive of the Turkish pirates, Miguel Cervantes, who, after his -release was to write the immortal book, "Don Quixote." - -In 1575 Cervantes set sail from Naples for the coast of Spain in -the vessel _El Sol_. His brother, Rodrigo, went with him. They were -returning to Spain, their native land, after serving as soldiers of -fortune abroad. Cervantes was the son of an impoverished nobleman of -Castile. He had commanded a company of soldiers on board the _Marquesa_ -at the Battle of Lepanto. In this battle he lost his left arm. He bore -with him a letter of testimonial from Don John, stating that he was as -valiant as he was unlucky, and recommending him to Philip II of Spain. - -His ship was almost in sight of the desired haven. The coast of Barbary -which lay on the shore of the Mediterranean opposite from Spain was -feared by the Spaniards because it was infested with pirates, but it -seemed that on this occasion they were to escape attack. - -Suddenly, however, three corsair galleys, commanded by Arnaut Memi, -pushed out from the Algerine shore. The _El Sol's_ captain tried his -utmost to escape, but was overtaken. A desperate engagement followed, -in which Cervantes fought with valor, but the pirates were in -overwhelming numbers and the master of the _El Sol_ was at last forced -to strike his colors. - -Deli Memi, a renegade Greek, took Cervantes as his captive. Finding -upon his person the letters of recommendation from Don John to the King -of Spain, the pirate thought that a rich and powerful person had become -his prisoner and so set a high ransom price upon him. To make Cervantes -the more anxious to be delivered from captivity, Deli Memi loaded him -with chains and treated him with continued cruelty. - -As a matter of fact, Cervantes was poor both in money and the means of -borrowing it. His father, in the second year of his sons' captivity, -managed to raise enough funds to secure the release of one of them, but -Deli Memi, thinking Miguel of more importance than his brother, kept -the future author and set free Rodrigo. Upon this, Cervantes planned to -escape. In a cavern six miles from Algiers a number of fugitive slaves -were hiding. Rodrigo promised to send a Spanish ship to take away these -refugees. The captive Cervantes was to join them. The ship arrived but -some Algerine fisherman gave the alarm and the vessel was obliged to -put out to sea without the fugitives. - -The Dey of Algiers, learning of the hiding place from a treacherous -comrade of Cervantes, sent soldiers to seize the escaped slaves. He -was a murderous ruler. Cervantes later in "Don Quixote" gave the Dey -eternal infamy by thus painting one of the characters in his colors: - - - "Every day he hanged a slave; impaled one; cut off the ears of - another; and this upon so little animus, or so entirely without - cause, that the Turks would own he did it merely for the sake of - doing it and because it was his nature." - - -Cervantes took the blame for the entire project on himself. Threatened -with torture and death, he held to his story. The ruler, amazed at his -boldness, departed from his usual custom and purchased Cervantes from -Deli Memi for five hundred crowns. - -Again and again the Spaniard tried to escape, always at the risk -of being punished with death. At last, when his master was called -to Constantinople, and was taking Cervantes with him in chains, a -priest obtained his ransom for one hundred pounds, English money, and -Cervantes was free to go home and enter upon the literary career that -brought forth "Don Quixote." - -The nations of Europe by persistent effort could have wiped out -piracy along the entire Barbary coast, but instead they continued to -allow their shipping to be preyed upon, paid ransoms meekly, and sent -bribes in the form of presents to the greedy and insolent rulers. -France incited the pirates to prey upon the shipping of Spain; Great -Britain and Holland urged the corsairs to destroy the sea commerce of -France--each great power sought the pirates as an aid to bar their -rivals from the trade of the Mediterranean. - -The consuls sent from Europe to these provinces were often seized as -hostages by the pashas, deys and beys to whom they toadied, and if the -fleets of their countries in a spasm of rage at some fresh indignity -attacked the Barbary ports, the consuls were tortured. For instance, -when the French shelled Algiers in 1683, the Vicar Apostolic Jean de -Vacher, acting as consul, was blown to pieces from a cannon's mouth. - - -DAUNTLESS MASTER NICHOLS - -While we who were interested in the captives lamented that the nations -of the world, our country included, were so slow to wipe out these -pirates, my thoughts ran back to the story of an adventure that had -been passed on to me through some family chronicles, of one of our -ancestors who fought against this same race of corsairs. This Forsyth -was an English sailor. He shipped in the _Dolphin_, of London, along -with thirty-six men and two boys, under Master Nichols, a skilful and -experienced skipper. - -While in sight of the island of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea -they caught sight of a sail making towards them from the shore. Master -Nichols sent my forbear into the maintop, where he sighted five ships -following the one that had already been discovered. By their appearance -they were taken to be Turkish corsairs. - -The _Dolphin_ was armed with nineteen guns and nine carronades, the -latter pieces being used to fire bullets for the purpose of sweeping -the decks when the ship was boarded by enemies. These guns were made -ready to resist an attack, the men were armed with muskets, pistols -and cutlasses, and the assault was awaited with courage. Master -Nichols, upon the poop, waved his sword as confidently as if the battle -was already won. His example did much to hearten the crew for the -ordeal confronting them. - -When the foremost ship came within range, Master Nichols ordered -his trumpeter to sound and his gunner to aim and fire. The leading -ship, which had gotten the wind of the _Dolphin_, returned the fire -as fiercely. This ship, which was under the command of a renegade -Englishman named Walshingham who acted as admiral of the Moslem fleet, -came alongside of the _Dolphin_. She had twice as many pieces of -ordnance as the _Dolphin_, and had two hundred and fifty men to match -against the forty men on the English ship's decks. These boarded the -_Dolphin_ on the larboard quarter, and came towards the poop with pikes -and hatchets upraised to slaughter. - -However, the _Dolphin's_ crew had a carronade in the captain's cabin, -or round house, and with bullets from this they drove the infidels -back, while their own gunners continued to pour shot into the corsair. -At last the Turkish ship was shot through and through and was in danger -of sinking. Walshingham therefore withdrew his men from the _Dolphin's_ -deck and sailed his ship ahead of the English vessel, receiving a final -broadside as he passed. - -Following Walshingham's ship, two other large Turkish vessels came to -attack, one on the starboard quarter, and the other on the port. Each -of them had twenty-five cannon and about two hundred and fifty men. -With scimiters, hatchets, pikes and other weapons, they poured on to -the _Dolphin's_ deck where the others had left off. One of the most -daring of the Turks climbed into the maintop of the _Dolphin_ to haul -down the flag, but the steward of the ship, espying him, took aim with -his musket. The Turk dropped dead into the sea, and the flag still -floated. - -These boarders were repelled in the same fashion. The _Dolphin's_ crew -fired their small battery with great effect into both ships. They too, -torn and battered, passed on at last to mend their leaks. - -After them came two more ships as well-armed and as well-manned as -those that had passed out of the fight. The gunners of the _Dolphin_ -disposed of one of these quickly, and she hurried to get out of range. -The crew of the other one, however, approaching on the starboard side, -boarded the _Dolphin_ where the earlier assailants had entered, and -swarmed up the deck crying in the Turkish tongue: "Yield yourselves! -Yield yourselves!" Their leaders also promised that the lives of the -Englishmen would be spared, and their ship and goods delivered back to -them. - -"Give no ear to them! Die rather than yield!" cried Captain Nichols. -His men fought on doggedly, plying their ordnance against the ship; -playing upon the boarders with small shot; meeting them in hand-to-hand -encounters. - -Suddenly smoke poured out from the hatches of the _Dolphin_. The -infidels, fearing that their own ship would catch fire from the burning -vessel, retreated from the _Dolphin_, and permitted their ship to fall -far astern of her. - -The _Dolphin's_ intrepid crew now set to work to quench the flames -and succeeded. A haven was near, into which they put, the enemy ships -having gone ashore in other places to save themselves from wreck. - -In these three battles, the _Dolphin_ lost only six men and one boy, -with eight men and one boy hurt. The Moslems lost scores of men. Master -Nichols was wounded twice. The ship arrived safely in the Thames, near -London--a plain merchant ship, manned by ordinary sailors, but as -meritorious of honor as any ship that fought under Nelson or Drake. - -I was glad that the story had been passed down to me. I thought of the -two boys in the crew--one killed, the other wounded. I resolved that -when my chance came to help rid the seas of these buccaneers I would -try to fight as nobly. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -_THE ROSE OF EGYPT_ - - -The Egyptian Murad had surprised the sailors of Baltimore by purchasing -a schooner that had seen service as a privateer. He had changed its -name from _Sally_ to _The Rose of Egypt_. He announced that he intended -to open trade with Mediterranean cities, and that he would make our -town his headquarters. Enlisting a crew from idle men along the -wharves, he began to load the vessel with goods for which there was a -market in the Orient. - -This scheme vastly puzzled the commodore. "I'd like to get to -the bottom of it. It's my private opinion that he deserves a -tar-and-feather party, but I haven't anything to proceed on but strong -suspicions. Every time I go to look in on Congress, blast me, if I -don't run afoul of Murad. He told me, the last time, that a naval -committee desired to question him on trade conditions in the East. Time -must hang heavy on the hands of our representatives--hobnobbing with -such a fellow! They better spend their hours in finding a way to set -our American lads free from Turkish chains. Can't they see what Murad's -up to? I can give a guess that'll turn out to be pretty near the truth. -He's spying on Congress for the rulers of Barbary! If I can only get -proof of it, we'll hang the Egyptian to the _Sally's_ yardarm!" - -There came a turn of events that prevented the commodore from making -further inquiry into Murad's affairs--though it did not hinder him -from spreading his opinions. The Administration chose the old sea-dog -as a confidential messenger to bear certain important dispatches to -Commissioner Benjamin Franklin, in Paris. Off he went, promising to -return within six months, and pledging me that when he came back he -would have a serious interview with the rector that would result in my -getting permission to go to sea. - -Meanwhile the rector had gone to Virginia to attend a conference of -ministers. He came back aflame with a new purpose, and with lips set in -a thin line that spoke determination. - -"These stout-hearted settlers who are flocking out to settle in -Kentucky," he said, "are sheep without shepherds! I have learned that -there is a woeful lack of ministers in the new settlements. I have -determined to spend a year there. My friend, Joshua Littleton, will -occupy my place here until I return. He is a scholarly man. Your -studies will not suffer under him." - -I did not like Mr. Littleton. He was a little dried-up man, too much -occupied with studies to pay attention to the welfare of his pupils. -I had a feeling that he regarded me merely as a mechanical thing that -must be made to utter words and rules. You may note Mr. Littleton's -industry by this advertisement that appeared frequently in a local -journal: - - - "There is a School in Baltimore, in Market Street, where Mr. - Joshua Littleton, late of Yale Colledge, teaches Reading, Writing, - Arithmatick, whole numbers and Fractions, Vulgar and Decimal, The - Mariner's Art, Plain and Mercator's Way, also Geometry, Surveying, - the Latin tongue, the Greek and Hebrew Grammars, Ethicks, - Rhetorick, Logick, Natural Philosophy, and Metaphysicks, all or - any of them at a reasonable price." - - -After I had gleaned from him all he knew of the "Mariner's Art" I was -eager to escape. - -When the rector rode away on horseback to follow Daniel Boone's trail, -I began to spend along the wharves all the time I could find. Murad -invited me to inspect _The Rose of Egypt_, and soon I was as much at -home on board of her as were the sailors the Egyptian had shipped. - -Murad, in his endeavors to make me feel at ease, spun yarns about his -career that were as fascinating as any tale Scheherazade told. One -vividly described how he, having been driven from Alexandria through -persecution, decided to earn his salt by assuming the character of a -dervish--a rôle in which he had to pretend to be both a priest and -a conjurer. He professed to be a devout Mohammedan, and practiced -this holy profession of dervish by giving advice to the sick, and by -selling, for considerable sums of money, small pieces of paper on which -were written sentences in Turkish from the Koran, which he sanctified -by applying them to his shaven and naked crown. - -At a place called Trebizond he was informed by the people that their -ruler was dangerously sick and threatened with blindness. He was -ordered by the ministers of the Bashaw to prescribe for him. Through -files of armed soldiers he was conducted into the presence of the sick -monarch. Calling upon the officers to kneel, he displayed all the pomp -and haughtiness that is expected of a dervish. After invoking the -aid of Allah and Mohammed, he inquired under what disease the Bashaw -labored. Finding that he was afflicted with a fever, accompanied by -a violent inflammation of the eyes, Murad made bold to predict that -he would recover both health and sight by the time of the next new -moon. Searching in the pouch containing his medicines, he produced a -white powder which he ordered to be blown into the ruler's eyes, and -directed that a wash of milk and water should then be used. He likewise -recommended that the patient be sweated by the use of warm drinks and -blankets. - -He was well rewarded with money and presents. - -The next day the caravan he was traveling with departed for Persia, and -Murad, hoping to be nine or ten days' journey from Trebizond by the -time of the next new moon, so that he might be quite out of reach in -case his remedy should harm instead of help the Bashaw, departed with -it. - -The caravan was a large one and heavily loaded. A few days later it was -overtaken by a lighter caravan, also from Trebizond. Murad, trembling -in his shoes, heard two men of the newly arrived caravan talking to -each other concerning the marvellous cure of the Bashaw. He learned -that the court and citizens of Trebizond were singing his praises, and -searching for him to heap rewards upon him. - -"I was tempted to return," Murad concluded his yarn, "but I began to -wonder what the restored Bashaw would say if some jealous physician -should investigate my remedy and find that _I had blown lime in the -Bashaw's eyes to eat the films of disease away_!" - - -Before the rector went away, Murad had been a weekly visitor to our -home. He was a well-educated man, and Dr. Eccleston was glad to chat -with one who could discuss the affairs of the universe and delve back -into classical times. The Egyptian had restless eyes. They roved over -every book in the library. Several times it seemed to me that he was -trying to lead the conversation back to the theme of the treasure tomb. -He would ask the rector if he had heard that a certain statue had been -unearthed in Greece, or if he knew that an expedition was on its way -from London to Egypt to delve for traces of a race that flourished -before the Egyptians. The rector's eyes would light up, and he seemed -to be on the point of answering, but always he checked himself and -turned the topic. On one of these occasions his glance darted towards a -locked bookcase that stood in the corner of the library. Murad's glance -followed his. - -When the rector went west Murad began to call on Mr. Littleton, who -also received him in the library. His visits stopped suddenly. Then he -announced his date of sailing. I kept putting two and two together, and -one night, as I lay awake thinking about all these strange things, it -suddenly flashed on me that the Egyptian had discovered the location -of the rector's diagram of the treasure chamber, and that one of the -reasons for his sailing was to search for the treasure. I searched in -the corner of the library towards which the rector had glanced while -talking to Murad, and found that the lock to one of the bookcases had -been forced. A leather-bound tome, "Travels in the Holy Land," was -missing. - -In an instant I decided to accept Murad's often-urged invitation to -sail with him. - -Murad now told me that, as a matter of form, I should have to apply to -his mate, Mr. Bludsoe. He led me down the deck and whispered to the -mate, who eyed me sharply. Then the mate spoke: - -"Can you steer?" - -"Ay sir," I answered glibly, "I can reef and steer. I can make a -man-rope knot, crown a lanyard, tie a reef-knot, or toss a royal bunt!" - -"I fear," he said dryly, "that you are too expert for our forecastle. -The men will be jealous of you. How are you as a cook?" - -"I can make coffee and peel potatoes," I said more humbly, "and I know -how to fry potatoes, and bacon, roast beefsteak, and cook oatmeal." - -"Get your things and come aboard," he said, "such an all-around fellow -is spoiling on shore." - -I was by no means a greenhorn aboard a schooner. No boy could grow up -in a seaport town without becoming familiar with ships, and be sure -that I was no exception. The wharf and river had been my play region -since earliest childhood. There were a number of yawls and cutters -which the boys of the town were allowed to use when their owners did -not require them, and in these we held mimic warfare, playing at -buccaneers, or pretending that we were Yankee sailors fighting off -English press-gangs. Sometimes a kindly skipper would allow us to -explore his vessel, and there was always an old sailor of deck or dock -willing to show a lad how to tie a rope or haul in a sail. Thus I -became familiar with sailing ships from stem to stern and from the main -royal truck to the keel. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -MY FIRST VOYAGE - - - "_Now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun._ - _All hands to make sail, going large is the song._ - _From under two reefs in our topsails we lie,_ - _Like a cloud in the air, in an instant must fly._ - _There's topsails, topgallant sails, and staysails too._ - _There is stu'nsails and skysails, star gazers so high,_ - _By the sound of one pipe everything it must fly._ - _Now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun,_ - _About ship and reef topsails in one!_ - _All hands up aloft when the helm goes down,_ - _Lower way topsails when the manyards goes round._ - _Chase up and lie out and take two reefs in one._ - _In a moment of time all this work must be done._ - _Man your headbraces, your halyards and all,_ - _And hoist away topsails when it's 'let go and haul!_'" - - (Ditty sung in early days aboard Salem ships.) - - -One night in May, Murad sent word to me that we were to sail at four -o'clock the next morning. I went to bed as usual, but before the hall -clock struck three I was out of my window with my luggage and on my way -to the ship. When I went aboard I found that all of the confusion of -spare rigging, rope, sails, hawsers, oakum and merchandise that I had -noted on the deck the day before, had been cleared away. - -All of the crew were Baltimore men. Some of them were honest, -goodhearted fellows. Others were ruffians. I recognized Steve Dunn and -some of his gang among the crew. Baltimore had evidently become too -hot to hold such rascals. - -Samuel Childs, who had sailed under Commodore Barney, took me under his -wing, although he swore that I should have been keelhauled for going to -sea without asking the advice of the rector or the commodore. - -"But," I protested, "they are both out of the city, and if they knew -the reason I had for going, they would approve." - -"I don't like to see the skipper taking such an interest in you," -Samuel said with a shake of his head. "Mr. Bludsoe, the mate, is a fine -man. You can trust him as you would a father. But these Orientals--I -question their motives. True, Murad was a skipper in the Sultan's navy, -but he's hiding something. He's more than a mere captain. We older men -can take care of ourselves, but you've had no experience with men. -You'd better stick close to me aboard ship, and closer still when we -land!" - -Samuel was our chantie man, and good service he did in stimulating -us to work the windlass in hauling up the anchors--sometimes buried -so deep in the mud at the sea's bottom that it needed the liveliest -sort of chantie to inspire our hearts and strengthen our sinews. The -secret of the swift way in which we heaved up the anchor, cleared away -lashings, pumped the ship, unreeved the running gear, and mastheaded -the topsails lay in the fact that the chantie caused us to work in -unison. No matter how tired we were, our spirits rose and the blood -coursed as we worked to the chantie Samuel roared forth: - - - "Way, haul away; - Oh, haul away, my Rosey. - Way, haul away; - O, haul away, Joe!" - - -There being a fine breeze from the shore, we made sail at the wharf and -headed out to sea. As the wind increased, all sail was made, topmast -stun'sail booms were run out, stun'sails spread, anchors secured, and -all movable things on deck were made fast. When we hove the log it was -seen that we were doing better than ten knot, a rate of speed that made -Murad well satisfied with his ship. - -We were mustered aft--watches were to be chosen. There were ten able -seamen, three ordinary seamen, and one boy--myself. The men were -divided between the port and starboard watches. Mr. Bludsoe, the -chief officer, was in command of the port watch. Mr. French, the -second officer, was in charge of the starboard watch. When we were not -attending to the sails, we were kept busy scraping, painting, tarring -and holy-stoning. - -At four bells--six o'clock--the port watch came on deck to relieve the -starboard. The starboard watch then went below for supper, and were -allowed to remain off duty until eight o'clock--eight bells. The port -watch was then relieved by them, and its members were allowed till -midnight for resting. Short "dog" watches were provided for so that the -port and starboard watch had eight hours off instead of four hours' -duty every other night. - -When the watch was changed, the man at the wheel was relieved, the -lookout man climbed to the topgallant forecastle to relieve the weary -lookout who in loneliness had faced exposure to the weather for four -hours, while the rest of the men smoked their pipes in as comfortable -places as they could find, and swapped yarns. - -The cry that caused the most excitement aboard ship was "All hands -shorten sail." This meant "going aloft." The order had no terrors for -me, thanks to my early experiences on schooners in the Chesapeake Bay. - -It is not much of a job to go up the masts in calm weather. Indeed, -on a calm moonlight night, a place on the crosstrees was my favorite -spot. One seems to be then on the top of a mountain looking out on -an enchanted land. But when the seas are heavy it is a different -matter. The force of the gale that leads the mate to bawl his command -to shorten sail pins you against the mast. The rain lashes you, and -sometimes there is sleet to prick you like swords' points. The man -above you may kick you with his heel as he comes to grips with his -task. The officers on deck and the boatswain on the yardarm have -their eyes fixed on you and the rest of the watch. The canvas must be -mastered and every man must do his part. Overhead the spars and yards -pitch and reel. The yard you stand on seems almost as unstable as the -waves that leap up to engulf you. - -On the first day out, two of our men had a fist-fight due to trouble -that arose between them while they were aloft. Wesley Burroughs had -stopped in the shrouds as if he meant to go no farther. Giles Lake, who -was behind him, thought to find favor with Bludsoe, the boatswain, and -began to prick Wesley's legs with his knife. - -The result, however, was not what he expected. Wesley continued his -ascent, but when the task was done and the two had reached the deck, he -went at Giles, who was much larger, like a thunderbolt. Under the eyes -of the boatswain, who seemed to think Lake deserved the punishment, he -knocked his tormentor down, seized his own sheath knife, and returned -prick for prick. - -An ordeal I feared was that of initiation by King Neptune. I was -relieved when Samuel told me that Neptune's visit came only when a -ship crossed the equator, and that _The Rose of Egypt_ would not cross -that imaginary line. He satisfied my curiosity by describing his own -experience. - -After breakfast on the morning the ship crossed the equator, he was -ordered to prepare for shaving. The crew blindfolded him, led him on -deck, and bound him in a chair. - -A voice said: - -"Neptune has just come over the bow to inquire if anyone here dares to -cross his dominions without being properly initiated. Samuel Childs, -prepare to be shaved by the King of the Seas, a ceremony that will make -you a true child of the ocean!" - -His shirt had been stripped off his back. A speaking-trumpet was held -to his ear, through which a voice thundered: - -"Are you, O landsman, prepared to become a true salt?" - -"I am!" Samuel said boldly. - -"Apply the brush!" - -When the bandage was removed from the victim's eyes, someone stood -before him dressed like Neptune, with gray hair and beard and long -white robes. In his right hand he held a trident; in his left hand the -speaking-trumpet. In a sailor's hand was a paint brush that had been -dipped in tar. With this thin tar Samuel was lathered, the tar being -later removed with fat and oakum. - -Neptune then said: "You may now become an able seaman. You may rise to -boatswain and to captain. If you are killed or drowned, you will be -turned into a sea-horse, and will be my subject. You may now eat salt -pork, mush, and weevilly bread. Do it without grumbling. I now depart!" - -Samuel was again blindfolded. When the bandage was removed, Neptune had -disappeared. It was told Samuel that he had dashed over the bow into -his sea-chariot. - -"I know better now," Samuel explained to me. "Neptune was impersonated -by Jim Thorn, our oldest sailor. His long beard was made of unraveled -rope and yarn. He perched under the bow and climbed aboard by the -chains." - -My first turn at the wheel, with Samuel standing by, was a curious -experience. Told to steer southwest, I found that I swung the wheel -too far, and that the direction was south southwest. When I tried to -swing back to southwest I went too far in the other direction, and was -steering southwest by west. In a few hours, however, I had mastered -the trick. I loved to steer. It enabled me to escape the dirty work -of tarring, painting and cleaning. Yet I never took the helm without -thinking of how my father had been killed at the wheel of the _Hyder -Ally_. - -Whistling aboard ship was a custom disliked by the old sailors. They -entertained a superstition that he who whistled was "whistling for the -wind." On one of my first nights at sea, feeling lonesome, I puckered -my lips and began to blow a tune. Along came Samuel. He paused beside -my berth. - -"My boy," said he, "there are only two kinds of people who whistle. One -is a boatswain. The other is a fool. You are not a boatswain." - -He passed on. I never whistled again aboard ship. - -When we were within the vicinity of the capes, there came a calm spell -in which our schooner barely moved. While we were fretting at this -snail's pace, a frigate, enjoying a wind that had not come our way, -overhauled us and hove to across our bows, displaying the British flag. - -"Have your protections ready, lads," the mate said, squinting across -the water, "that ship is looking for men to impress!" - -A boat put out from the frigate's side and came towards us. - -"On board the cutter, there," called our mate, "what do you want with -us?" - -"On board the schooner," came the reply, "we're looking for deserters -from the British navy. Let drop your ladder!" - -We obeyed. A spruce, slender, important, yet surprisingly youthful -lieutenant came over the side. - -"Compliments of Captain Van Dyke, of His Majesty's ship _Elizabeth_," -he said to the skipper and the mate, "we desire to inspect your crew." - -"It's a high-handed proceeding," said Murad, his black eyes snapping, -"but since we are only slightly armed, I suppose we must submit. My -men are all American citizens. Each has proof of it." He turned to the -mate, "Mr. Bludsoe, have the men lined up." - -The lieutenant passed down the line, scrutinizing the protection -papers and asking searching questions. I was the last one, and as -my turn came, I began to turn cold with dread, for, fearing that I -would be kept from shipping, I had neglected to get a protection -paper. Putting on as bold a front as I could muster, I looked up at -the lieutenant. He had friendly blue eyes--he was not at all like the -dreadful impressment officer of my imagination. - -"Please sir," I said, "I shipped without taking the trouble to get a -protection. I'm an American to the backbone, though. I was born in -Baltimore and my father was killed fighting the British during the -war of Independence. He was on the _Hyder Ally_ when she captured the -English ship, the _General Monk_. I don't want you to take me because I -have a brother who is a prisoner in Algiers, and I expect to join the -new American navy and go to fight for his release!" - -He laughed. "If we robbed you of a father, I think it's due you to be -allowed to go your own way. I should say that your brother requires -your aid more than we do, so I'll take your word for it that you're a -Yankee. Better not go to sea again without a protection paper. I happen -to be a particularly tender-hearted officer." - -He went down the side. - -Samuel Childs gave me a slap on the back that took my breath away. - -"Youngster," he said, "that's the first time I've seen a British -officer pass by an American without papers. Blast them, if they would -give their men better pay and stop flogging them through the fleet for -offences hardly worth one lash, they wouldn't have to be taking us to -fill the places of their deserters!" - -It was a grand though often terrifying sight to see the ship in a -storm flying beneath leaden clouds. With the main topsail and fore -topmast staysail close reefed; with the masts tipping over as if they -were going to plunge their tops into the sea; with spray showering upon -us; with mountainous waves following us as if they would topple their -full weight over our stern; it was a sight to make one both marvel and -tremble. - -In such a storm we lost James Murray, an ordinary seamen, well-liked by -all. - -We were in a heavy sea. The clouds were so low that they enveloped our -mastheads. Tremendous waves beat against our bow, so that our plunging -stem was like a knife cutting a way through them. All hands were called -to shorten sail as the wind increased into a gale. The men who were -light of weight went out along the yardarms, while the heavier men -remained closer to the mast. The upper mizzen topsail was being furled -when a sudden gust of wind blew the sail out of their grasp. - -Murray, who was one of the outermost men, was thrown off the yard into -the sea. As the great waves tossed him up, we saw him struggling to -swim, handicapped as he was by his heavy oil-skins. A boat was cleared -away and volunteers were called for to endeavor to rescue Murray. I -stood forth with the rest of the crew--I saw no one hold back--but a -crew of our strongest men was chosen, and all we could do was to stand -on a yard and watch the progress of the little boat. The seas poured -into her. We could see two of her men baling desperately. At last we -lost sight of her in the mists. An hour later, when we were worrying -greatly over the fate not only of Murray, but also of the boat's crew, -the mist cleared and showed our location to the men struggling out -there in the furious ocean. They gradually made their way towards us -and were pulled on deck exhausted. They said that they had caught one -glimpse of Murray, but as they pulled desperately to reach him the mist -had drifted between him and them--a mist that was to him as a shroud. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -MUTINY - - - "_'Twas on a Black Baller I first served my time_, - Yo ho, blow the man down! - _And on that Black Baller I wasted my prime_, - Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!" - - -Murad had been forced to ship some of the toughest rascals in Baltimore -in order to complete his crew. They were men who had gotten into -trouble through acts of violence ashore, and were forced to take to -sea. They, too, had heard rumors that Murad was a spy in the employ of -the Barbary powers, but it did not seem to bother them. I am of the -opinion that they meant to seize the vessel before it had sailed out of -sight of the Atlantic coast. - -If such was their plan, Mr. Bludsoe, the mate, was their chief -obstacle. He was a fearless, muscular man, and a belaying-pin in his -hand was a deadly weapon. Even in a plain fist fight he was equal to -two of them. He was not overfond of the Egyptian, yet he was the sort -of person who stuck to a task once he had entered on it. - -He suspected Steve Dunn and his crowd of an intention to murder the -officers and seize the ship, and told the skipper of his suspicions. -Murad gave orders that we should be mustered before him. We were under -the guns of an American frigate when the orders were issued, and the -crew obeyed promptly. - -"You men have far more weapons on your persons than is necessary," -the Egyptian said smoothly. "In the interest of good fellowship, and -to keep you from slashing and shooting at each other, I desire you to -leave your knives and pistols in my care. Mr. Bludsoe, you will search -the men's berths and bags and bring to me for safe-keeping any weapons -you find!" - -I saw sullen glances exchanged by Steve Dunn, Mulligan and other -members of the crew. - -"We ain't none of us planning any trouble among ourselves!" said Steve. -"We don't know when this here vessel is going to be boarded by pirates -and we want our weapons handy!" - -"Handy they shall be!" said Murad, still smiling. "It would be too bad -to start ill-feeling between you and me by your disobeying this, my -first request. It would bode ill for our voyage. I was once an admiral -in the Sultan's navy. I know how to make men obey orders. I should hate -to have to ask the captain of yonder frigate to send a crew aboard -to help me make my crew obey. Throw down your knives. You have them -sharpened to a point that makes an honest man shiver. My good fellows, -show me what a good crew I have by obeying me--at once!" - -His voice rang on the last two words. The men dropped their dirks on -the deck. There was a motion of Steve's hand towards the inside of his -shirt as the skipper stooped to pick up one of the knives, but Murad -seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. - -"Look, Mr. Bludsoe," he said, straightening himself swiftly, "Steve -Dunn has a second knife that he wants to give up!" - -He pulled a pistol from his pocket. "Give us the hidden knives too, -men! This pistol might go off if I am kept waiting too long!" - -Mr. Bludsoe had returned with an armful of weapons. He deposited them -at the skipper's back and went down the line, feeling for dirks. He -found two. Ending his search, he ordered the men to go forward. - -In spite of these precautions, the men continued to grow rebellious. -The man who relieved Samuel Childs at the wheel disobeyed orders. When -Mr. Bludsoe scolded him he gave impudence. - -After a scuffle, in which several of the loyal members of the crew, -including Samuel Childs and myself, went to Mr. Bludsoe's assistance, -this man, Bryan by name, was put in irons. - -"Holystone the decks!" the next order given after this episode, brought -no response from seven members of the crew. They outnumbered the -officers and the loyal sailors. If we had not taken possession of their -arms, we should have been in a bad way. The men came forward towards -the Egyptian. - -"Release Bryan if you want us to work!" Steve called. - -"I am the master of this ship!" said Murad calmly, "Bryan is in irons -for disobedience. Others of the crew who refuse to obey orders will be -treated as mutineers. You know the punishment for that! Holystone the -decks!" - -They folded their arms and stood glowering at the skipper. - -"I shall starve them into submission!" Murad said to the mate. - -Two days passed. The men stayed forward. The officers made no attempt -to give them orders. Fortunately, the weather remained calm, and the -few of us who were loyal were sufficient to handle the sails. If a -tempest came, we would be in a serious situation. - -"They will attack like starved wolves tonight!" said Mr. Bludsoe to -Burke, Ross and myself, "I shall give each of you a pistol. Your own -lives are at stake. Shoot any man of them who comes aft." - -The first man who came aft, however, we did not shoot. - -I was the first to catch sight of his figure stealing away from the -forecastle. I fear that my voice trembled when I cried: - -"Halt! Throw up your hands!" - -"It's Reynolds," he said, "Take me to the skipper. I want to throw -myself on his mercy. Intercede for me, lad. I've had my fill of that -gang yonder!" - -The captain and mate had joined me. "It's the first break in their -ranks," he said, "and I'll take advantage of the chance to show them -that they can still surrender without being strung up." - -He turned to me. - -"Give Reynolds biscuits and coffee! He will take the wheel after that, -and if he fails us there we'll----" - -He whirled his hand around his neck and then pointed to a yardarm in a -way that emphasized his meaning far more than words could have done. - -The surrender of Reynolds led us to hope that others were on the verge -of yielding. We questioned Reynolds as he ate ravenously the food we -brought him. He was whole-heartedly aiding us now, because he knew that -if the mutineers triumphed it would go hard with him. - -He said that if we could show the men that we were powerful enough to -conquer Steve Dunn and Mulligan, the ringleaders, the others would be -glad to go back to work. - -"It's those two who're to blame for us not yielding sooner," he -explained. "We had planned twelve hours ago to come out and throw -ourselves on the skipper's mercy, but Mulligan knocked me down when -I suggested it. He thought that he had me cowed, and that I would be -afraid to make any further attempt. He stationed me as a guard at the -forecastle scuttle tonight, while he planned with the others just how -they would attack you. If they could get rid of the skipper and the -mate, they thought it would be easy to bring the others over to their -side. I expect they'll be crawling out very soon to make the attempt." - -"Captain," said Mr. Bludsoe, "I think I can end this. There are lads in -that forecastle whom I don't want to see hung for mutiny. They resent -our trying to starve them into submission, and I'm afraid the longer -they go without food, the more desperate they'll become. May I promise -them that if they come forth peacefully and go to work you will take no -steps to enforce the laws against them?" - -Murad had been plainly worried by the rebellion. We were out of the -track of American frigates, and we still had a long voyage before us. -If a storm came, the few loyal men would find themselves overtaxed in -managing the vessel, and while they were endeavoring to save the ship, -the mutineers would have an opportunity to do murder. - -I could not help wondering, too, whether the Egyptian was not fearful -as to the effect the mutiny would have on his treasure hunt, for the -more I studied him, the deeper became my conviction that he had secured -possession of the rector's secret, and, under the pretext of going -on a trading voyage, was off on a solitary treasure quest. One of my -duties was to keep the cabin clean and tidy, and when opportunity -offered I had poked in chests and cubby-holes to see if I could find -the rector's map of the treasure country. My hurried searches had -failed thus far. - -Thoughts kindred to mine must have been running through Murad's mind, -for he consented to Mr. Bludsoe's proposal. - -"But I warn you against entering the forecastle!" he said, "Better -talk to them at a distance. Keep them well covered with your pistols. -They've found weapons!" - -The mate went forward. I had conceived a strong admiration for him, -and, on an impulse I followed his shadowy figure as it crept along the -starboard side, past the galley, towards the forecastle hatchway. Ross -and Burke, not to be outdone, strung along behind us. - -Mr. Bludsoe had reached the forecastle hatch without meeting a person. -I expected to hear him yell his message down the hatchway, which was -open, but instead I saw his black figure leap into the yellow glare -that came up from the forecastle lantern. He had leaped down into the -room. - -I crept up to the scuttle, and leaned down the hatchway, cutlass in -hand. I was determined to fight in the mate's defence if necessary, -though I knew that my cutlass, with only a youth's arm behind it, was -a poor weapon against desperate men, even if they were only armed with -dirks. - -The men had been standing in the center of the forecastle, and seemed -to have been on the verge of rushing forth to attack us. Reynold's -desertion had not been noted by them, and they had evidently thought -that the person leaping into the room was their sentinel. The mate's -spring, therefore, took them by surprise. They glanced uncertainly up -the ladder, saw the flash of my cutlass, and thought that our entire -force was back of Mr. Bludsoe. It was a reasonable conclusion, for who -would have dreamed that the mate would have done so bold a thing. - -Knives flashed. "Here's one of them," Steve cried, "thought he'd -starved the strength out of us, I reckon. We'll show him!" - -Bludsoe put his back against the ladder and leveled his pistols at the -most menacing mutineers. - -"Men," he said, "I can kill four of you before you down me. There -are others waiting to take care of the rest. Listen--I haven't come -down here to shoot--I'm trying to end this row and save you from the -gallows. Some of you have never been in trouble before. Some of you are -married men. It's no use trying to budge the skipper. You won't get a -bite to eat until you start to work. If you hold out another twelve -hours the chances are some frigate will see our signals and take you to -where you'll get short shrift. Come now, throw down your knives and----" - -A heavy boot, viciously aimed, knocked me aside. Its owner jumped -across my body and leapt towards the scuttle. - -I saw the huge bulk of Mulligan pass me. He had been out to reconnoiter -and we had passed him in the darkness. - -"Look out! Mulligan's behind you!" I cried. - -A shot was fired. - -I crept in despair towards the hatchway. I was unable to interpret -from the sounds and curses that issued from the forecastle what had -happened, and feared that I should see Mr. Bludsoe trampled upon by -those he had tried to rescue from their own folly. Yet, as I raised my -head to peer down, I heard his voice ring out: - -"There's no need for anyone else to pay the price Mulligan has paid. -Down with your weapons!" - -Dirks and pistols clattered to the deck. Some of the points of the -knives stuck into the timber. I looked at these shivering blades and -thanked Providence that they had found lodging there instead of in the -mate's breast. - -Out they came, sullen but subdued. Mr. Bludsoe drove them aft with his -pistol points. - -"Thank you, lad," he said, as he passed me, "I owe my life to you!" - -I peered down into the forecastle. Under the smoky lamp lay Mulligan--a -huge, motionless mass. Blood flowed from his temple. - -The wind had died; the sun was hidden in haze; the sky darkened; the -barometer fell. "We'll be in the midst of a tempest soon," Samuel -Childs whispered to me, "if the rebels had held out they might have had -the ship at their mercy." - -"Call all hands to shorten sail," the skipper said calmly to Mr. -Bludsoe. - -The ship was made snug; the sails were furled; the spars, water casks, -and boats were lashed; the hatches were battened down. - -Seeing that the men were thoroughly cowed, the skipper passed the word -to the cook to serve them with breakfast. From the galley came the -sound of pots and pans. The peace meal was ready. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -BETRAYED - - -It grew warmer as we approached Gibraltar. Flying fish arose from the -water and shot over the surface like silver arrows. Porpoises frolicked -around us. Flocks of sea-gulls followed us as we passed the southern -coast of Europe. Through the Azores we sailed until we came in sight of -the red cliffs of St. Vincent, on the Portugal coast. Then we entered -the Straits of Gibraltar and caught our first sight of the mountainous -African coast. - -I had better note here that three continents form the shores of the -Mediterranean Sea--Europe, Asia and Africa. The entrance to this sea -from the Atlantic is guarded by the Pillars of Hercules, formed by -Gibraltar on the European shore and "the Mount of God" on the African -side. These pillars, it interested me to discover, were thought by the -ancients to have been left standing by Hercules as monuments to his -might when he tore asunder the continents. It will be remembered that -along the sea these monuments of nature guarded, civilization had been -cradled. Art, architecture, law, poetry, drama, and religion had come -into being on these coasts. The treasure tomb that now nightly filled -my dreams had doubtless been laid in these early days. - -And now, as the events of my story have so much to do with this North -African shore, let us have a clear understanding of its cities and -people. The coast is called Barbary, because the race that inhabits it -are named Berbers. They belong to the same stock as the Anglo-Saxons -and many of them have fair complexions, rosy cheeks and light hair. -They are fanatical Mohammedans, and despise us because we are -Christians. The Moors and Arabs, who are descended from the Mussulman -warriors who captured Africa centuries ago, abound here too, and are -the people with whom our quarrel lies. - -Barbary is sometimes called Little Africa. It extends from Egypt to -the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea back to the Sahara -desert. Just over the way from Gibraltar lies Morocco. It is a little -city with white walls surrounded by great hills. Most of the cities of -Barbary are similarly situated between mountains and water. - -Next to the province of Morocco, lies Algeria, and farther on is -Tripoli, the farthest boundary of which adjoins Egypt. - -Algeria, I learned, is five times as large as Pennsylvania. Algiers, -one of the largest cities on the coast, is its capital. Walls of -stone have been built across the harbor as fortifications. Algiers -resembles an amphitheatre. Its streets rise on terraces. The streets -are narrow; bazaars are everywhere. These are roofed over with matting -and lined with booths in which all sorts of goods are sold. The -booths are nothing more or less than holes in the walls in which the -dealer sits, while the customers stand out in the street and buy. One -bazaar is given over to the shoemakers; another bazaar is devoted to -jewelry; still another is set apart for the sale of perfumery. Tailors, -saddlers, rug sellers--each trade has a separate bazaar. Here are shops -selling carpets and rugs, and there is a café in which Turkish coffee, -as sweet as molasses, may be sipped. Yonder is the stand of an Arab -selling sweetmeats; beyond him a man in a long gown fries meat and -sells it hot from the fire. - -There are solid-looking public buildings, and a great mosque that -covers several acres. A turbaned priest from the minaret which rises -far above the roofs of the shops and homes calls out the hour of -prayer, and the Mohammedans kneel. - -A picturesque crowd pours through the dark, narrow streets. Arabs in -long gowns; brown Arabs from the desert; Berbers from their country -villages; Jewish girls in plain long robes of bright colors--pink, red, -green, and yellow; Moorish women in veils; Berber girls with their rosy -faces exposed; boys with shaved heads, wearing gowns and skull caps; -holy men and beggars innumerable. Some of these veiled Mohammedan wives -are only thirteen years old. - -We anchored off Sale, a harbor of Morocco. I heard our skipper tell -the mate that he proposed to go ashore and inquire into the chances of -disposing of part of our cargo to advantage. - -No sooner had he left the ship than I, whose task it was to keep -Murad's quarters tidy, began to make a thorough search of his -belongings. I was seeking that which only my suspicions told me -existed--the map showing the location of the treasure. - -There was a sea chest in the cabin which Murad kept locked. In another -room of the ship, however, I had found a similar chest. The key to this -one I had taken, hoping that it would open the Egyptian's strong-box. -In this experiment I was fortunate--the key turned in the lock as if it -were made to fit it, and the lid was loosened. - -I found in the top of the chest the volume that had been stolen from -the rector's library. The trail was hot. There was, however, no map -between its pages. Deeper into the chest I plunged. At the bottom I -pried up a false bottom and found a paper. It seemed to be a copy -instead of an original. I concluded that if this was the diagram of the -treasure site, Murad had taken ashore the original, and had left this -one aboard in case he lost the first one. - -The map was simple enough. It showed a section of the southern coast of -the Mediterranean. The towns Tripoli and Derne were indicated. Between -them was a village lettered Tokra. In the neighborhood of this spot -were queer markings, which were explained by writing at the bottom of -the map. When I tried to decipher this I found that it was in Arabic. -The original was doubtless in English. Murad, in copying, had doubtless -changed the English to Arabic to keep the secret from prying eyes. - -Towards midnight--while I was on watch--I heard a noise on the water -from the direction of shore. It sounded like rowing, and yet it was -too indistinct a sound for me to make certain. I decided that Murad -had given up his idea of spending the night ashore and was returning. -However, I asked Mr. Bludsoe to listen. - -"Oars!" he said, his ear cocked over the landward side. - -He listened again. "There are three boats at least!" he whispered, "it -looks like an attack. Pass the word for all hands!" - -By this time both watches were on deck. Pistols and cutlasses were -passed out. We lined up along the bulwarks, peering out. - -The mate stood near me. I heard him thinking aloud. "So this is the -way our precious skipper protects us from corsairs?" he muttered, "He -goes ashore and an attack follows. Looks queer. Wonder what slaves are -worth in Morocco? Maybe he's planning to sell a double cargo--goods and -men!" - -We could hear the sounds plainly now. The splash of the oars struck -with a chill more than one of us, but we gripped our weapons and made -up our minds to sell our lives dearly. - -Mr. Bludsoe had been sweeping the sea with a night glass. "They are -near us, men--four boats, swarming with cutthroats!" - -He peered over the rail and shouted: - -"On board the boats! This is an American schooner with whom you have no -business. Come nearer at your peril!" - -Still the boats came on. The steady beat of the oars tightened our -nerves almost to the snapping point. - -The mate shouted a second warning. It was not heeded. "It's either -their lives or ours," he said to us, "Pick out your marks. Fire!" - -Our cannon belched forth flame. Shrieks and curses took the place of -the splash of oars. We saw two boatloads of men pouring into the water, -snatching at the remnants of their cutters. On board the remaining two -boats was havoc and confusion. We saw these boats at last turn stern -and make for the shore. - -One of the boats managed to escape our fire and came up against the -schooner on the farther side. This boat was not in the group we had -first sighted, and in the excitement of the battle, it stole up on us -without discovery. I chanced to turn in its direction just in time to -see a dark head appear above the bulwarks. I caught up a cutlass and -ran with a cry to cleave the fellow's head. He ducked, and my blade cut -into the rail. The mate, with more presence of mind, had caught up a -heavy shot from beside the Long Tom and called upon others to follow -his example. Down into the boat they dropped the balls, smashing heads -and smashing boat. Before her crew could get a foothold on our chains, -she filled with water and sank. In this fashion we met and overcame our -greatest danger. - -"Lower away a boat!" said Mr. Bludsoe, "we can't let those wretches out -there drown without making some attempt at rescue!" - -We rowed out and brought in three men and a lad. - -Mr. Bludsoe questioned them by the light of a lantern. We gathered -around in a circle. The boy could talk Spanish, which the mate also -could speak. They were dark, half-naked creatures, with something of -the appearance of sleek rats as the water dripped from their glossy, -matted hair. - -Two of the Moslems were sullen and made no responses to the mate's -query. One, however, was explosive. His rage was directed not against -us, but against some one of his own party. - -"Who is responsible for this attack? Answer truly, unless you want to -swung from yonder yardarm!" Mr. Bludsoe threatened. - -The fiery individual, with frantic gestures, poured a response intended -for our mate into the lad's ears. - -"The captain of your ship betrayed you," said the interpreter with -rolling eyes and flashing teeth. "He betrayed us too. He said that it -would be easy for us to capture you because he had assured you that you -were free from attack. He led us to believe that the guns had been -spiked and the weapons thrown overboard." - -Mr. Bludsoe turned to the crew. "Murad made such an attempt. I found -him fooling with the cannon and scared him off. I suspected him after -that, and gave him no chance. He's sold us in advance to the pirates of -Morocco. They'll be putting out in pursuit of us as soon as they learn -of the failure!" - -He had scarcely spoken when two lateen sails could be seen moving out -from shore. We were becalmed, and capture seemed certain. - -"We can't beat off their warships! Man the longboat!" Mr. Bludsoe -ordered, "We'll have to trust to yonder mist to hide us. We ought to be -able to reach the Spanish coast if it holds!" - -The moon had been clouded by a fog. We could feel the haze settling -upon us. The change seemed to precede a storm. - -With the war-ships nearly upon us, we rowed off into the haze, taking -the prisoners with us. - -When we were a league from the shore, we heard a gun fired. I thought -that the corsairs, who by this time had doubtless found that we had -deserted the ship, were cruising in search of us and had fired the gun -in our direction. No balls struck the water near us, however, and we -rowed on desperately. - -Mr. Bludsoe questioned Mustapha. "It is the hurricane signal on -shore," the youth explained. "It means that the barometer has fallen -tremendously, and that a storm's on the way. You need have no fear of -pursuit. The ships that came out to attack you will seek shelter now. -We shall all sink if you do not make for the beach!" - -Mr. Bludsoe ordered us to row towards the Moroccan shore, in a -direction that would take us clear of the harbor. Heavy gusts of wind -beat down upon us and floods of rain poured over our straining muscles. -The wind became a gale and threatened to come with greater intensity. -Furious waves leaped up on every side to swallow our boat. We gave up -hope of reaching the shore, and rowed on expecting every uncertain -stroke of our oars to be the last. - -Suddenly Mr. Bludsoe's voice rang out calm and strong through the -tempest. "There's a ship ahead. It must be one of those that came out -to attack us. Yet it's better to take our chances aboard her than to -stay in this sea. Pull towards her!" - -The ship loomed up larger than we had expected. Her sails were cut -differently from those of the corsairs. Against the gray of the storm -we caught sight of the American flag. - -"By all that's holy," the mate cried, "she's a Yankee frigate!" - -The frigate, whose commander was shifting her to the shelter of the -harbor, caught sight of us as we plunged towards her bow. Willing hands -dipped down to help us climb over her side. - -The frigate's name was _George Washington_. Her commander, Captain -William Bainbridge, was bearing to the Dey of Algiers certain presents. -With great joy I learned that peace had been made between Algiers and -the United States, and that Alexander and his comrades were on their -way home. Of these things I shall have more to tell later. We were not -yet out of danger. The hurricane now seemed to be concentrated over -us. The wind's force must have been over a hundred miles an hour. The -tremendous gusts struck the heavy vessel with the force of battering -rams and drove her forward as if she were a cockle-shell. We could see -the shore looming up. - -"Rocks!" someone shouted. We were within a hundred yards of them when a -miracle happened. The wind shifted its fury. It now blew in a twisting -fashion from the shore. Our ship turned with it. On another side of the -harbor there was a beach of yielding sand. Beating behind us with the -same terrific force, the hurricane sent the nose of the frigate into -the sand in a way that held her more firmly than a hundred anchors. - -Here we stayed without listing. The first part of the cyclone lasted -about two hours. There was a lull and we thought the storm was over. It -returned an hour later, however, in all of its fury, and we expected -every moment to be torn from our haven and hurled across the harbor to -destruction--a fate that we could now see had overtaken many vessels, -for the shore was lined with wrecks. Whistling, roaring, devastating, -it whirled over us, lashing the waves until they dashed with savage -force over our decks. Our only comfort was that the onslaughts -gradually decreased in strength, and we saw the barometer rise rapidly -from its lowest point. - -On shore, storehouses, castles, and residences were unroofed or -demolished entirely. - -Spars, masts, and parts of wharves floated on top of the waves. I -shuddered as my eyes rested on a dead body floating amidst a mass of -wreckage. It seemed providential that we were not floating corpses. - -A wreck lay near us. She had overturned and the water was washing -across her deck. She had a familiar look. Her stern was towards us. I -caught a glimpse of her name and read _The Rose of Egypt_. - -Murad had played upon a youth's imagination to lead him into a trap. -The rascal's gift at story-telling had been drawn upon to add me to -those he hoped to lead into captivity that he might obtain ransoms. He -also, no doubt, had it in his mind to revenge himself on the commodore -by persecuting one of whom the sailor was fond. As my knowledge of -Barbary grew, I saw that it was quite possible for Murad to act as a -spy for one or all of these Barbary rulers. America was a new country. -The corsair princes desired information as to how rich she was; what -they had to fear from her navy, etc. It came out later that secret -discussions in Congress upon the subject of the Barbary powers were -promptly reported to the Dey of Algiers, so that when our envoys came -to negotiate with him he threw their secrets into their faces. But, be -that as it may, adventures were crowding upon me so swiftly that I felt -disposed to forgive Murad for the sake of the thrills he had sent my -way. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -AN AMERICAN FRIGATE BECOMES A CORSAIR'S CATTLESHIP - - -When I felt the deck of the _George Washington_ beneath my feet, I felt -a different thrill than that which had run through me when I stepped -aboard _The Rose of Egypt_. I was a navy lad now, and my own quest for -treasure, that had absorbed all of my attentions, dwindled before the -fact that it was now my duty to consider the interests of my country -more than my own selfish aims. - -Moreover I was to meet men, and find adventures, that made my treasure -hunt for the time being a secondary interest. I intended before I -quitted the Barbary coast to make the search; meanwhile I was content -to take what experiences navy life brought me, awaiting my opportunity -to enter the desert in search of the riches. The Egyptian, I had -reason to believe, had been killed in the hurricane. The secret of the -treasure was safe with me. Time would unfold my opportunity. - -As for those who are following this chronicle, let us hope that the -thrilling naval activities these pages will now mirror will be more -absorbing even than the personal experiences I have told about; yet if -any wonder as to the result of my quest for treasure, let me encourage -them by saying that it was the historic events I am now about to relate -that placed me at last in a position to reach the spot where the -jewels and trinkets described by the rector were buried. - -My good friend Samuel Childs found an old comrade on board the _George -Washington_--one Reuben James. The two had been shipmates in the -merchant service. Reuben, though now scarcely more than a boy, was a -veteran sailor. He had gone to sea at the age of thirteen, had sailed -around the world, and had every sort of experience that comes to a -seaman. All of us became members of the frigate's crew, and Samuel and -I were chosen for Reuben's watch, so that the three of us had many a -chance to talk things over. - -From Reuben I drew forth an account of the release of Alexander and the -other American captives. It was not until Samuel told him that I was a -brother to one of the captives that he displayed interest in me; after -he had discovered this fact, however, he went out of his way to be kind -to me. - - -ALEXANDER FREE - -"Well do I remember Alexander Forsyth," Reuben said, "and I'll swear -that when I met him at Marseilles, where he was awaiting a passage home -after his release from bloody Algiers, he was the nearest thing to a -dead man that I have ever seen alive! He looked like a skeleton with a -beating heart! Mark my word, he'll never go to sea again! What can you -expect--after years of cruelty, starvation, sickness, chain-dragging!" - -"You see," Reuben said in excuse for our statesmen, "our Congressmen -had other important things to worry about: Indian uprisings, trouble -at sea with England and France; a union to form between the bickering -commonwealths, finances to raise for running the government, and what -not? A few sailors imprisoned in an out-of-the-way part of the world -were apt to be forgotten!" - -The fresh captures by the pirates that brought about the settlement -had, I was informed, happened in this manner: - -When the Portuguese warships withdrew from guarding the Straits of -Gibraltar, the Algerine cruisers entered the Atlantic in four ships and -swooped down on unsuspecting American vessels. Eleven of our ships were -captured by corsairs. Their crews were taken as slaves to Algiers, and, -added to those already held in captivity, increased the number to one -hundred and fifteen. - -The Swedish consul warned Colonel Humphreys, our minister to Portugal, -that Bassara, a Jew slave-broker at Algiers, through whom the United -States was trying to procure the release of the captives, was out -of favor with the Dey, and that to succeed the business should be -transferred to the Jew Bacri. This was done, and an agreement soon -followed. - -Captain O'Brien was sent to Lisbon to get from Colonel Humphreys the -money the United States promised to pay. Humphreys was forced to send -O'Brien to London to borrow the funds, but, on account of the unsettled -condition of European politics, O'Brien failed in his mission. The -Dey, vexed at the delay, threatened to abandon the treaty. Upon this -a frigate was offered by the American envoys as an inducement to hold -to the treaty, while Bacri himself advanced the necessary gold. The -prisoners were then released and sent in Bacri's ship _Fortune_ to -Marseilles, where the American consul, Stephen Cathalan, Jr., secured a -passage home for them in the Swedish ship _Jupiter_. - -What I had learned of the insolence of the Barbary rulers had come to -me thus far only by hearsay. I was now to see an example of it with my -own eyes. - -While I was thus gathering the details of Alexander's tardy release, -the _George Washington_ was proceeding from Morocco to Algiers, Captain -Bainbridge having been ordered by our government to deliver presents to -the Algerine prince. Before leaving Morocco, Captain Bainbridge, who -had heard the story of the assault upon us with amazement and anger, -demanded of the Dey of Morocco that he surrender to him the Egyptian, -Murad, for the action of our government. - -Word came back that a search had been made for Murad but that no person -such as we described could be found in the city. Punishment for those -who had attacked us was also requested, but the oily monarch protested -that his officers could find no citizens who had attempted such a raid. -Baffled, we went on our way. - -I looked over the rail towards the frowning castles of Algiers in huge -disgust. Yet I was curious to see the town in which Alexander had been -enslaved, and Captain Bainbridge, knowing of my relationship to one of -the released Americans, provided a way that I might enter the palace -as one of his attendants when he went with Consul O'Brien to pay his -supposed respects to the Dey. - -By listening to the English renegade who acted as interpreter between -our officers and the ruler, I gathered that the Dey was in trouble with -his overlord, the Sultan of Turkey, because he had made peace with -France while Turkey, then allied with England, was making war on the -French forces in Egypt. - -To appease the wrath of the Sultan, the Dey had decided to send to that -monarch at Constantinople an ambassador bearing valuable gifts. With -amazing cheek, he now asked Consul O'Brien to lend him the frigate -_George Washington_ for the purpose of bearing the envoy and his train. -Captain Bainbridge blushed. "It is impossible for an American naval -officer to carry out such a mission," I heard him cry. - -"Your ship is anchored under my batteries. My gunner will sink her if -you refuse!" the Dey said with a scowl. - -"That is no work for an American ship," Captain Bainbridge said. - -"Aren't Americans my slaves? Don't they pay tribute to me?" the Dey -demanded. "I now command you to carry my embassy!" - -I felt like rushing forward and choking the creature, and I saw from -Captain Bainbridge's look that it was all that he could do to restrain -himself from drawing his sword and plunging it into the fat stomach of -the beast. - -Consul O'Brien came forth with soothing words. He advised Bainbridge to -obey the ruler, and Bainbridge, because of the superior authority of -the consul, was forced to consent. - -"Shade of Washington!" he exclaimed, when he returned aboard ship, -"behold thy sword hung on a slave to serve a pirate! I never thought to -find a corner of this world where an American would stoop to baseness. -History shall tell how the United States first volunteered a _ship of -war_, equipped, as a _carrier_ for a pirate. It is written. Nothing but -blood can blot the impression out." - -We heard that he wrote thus to the Navy Department: - - - "I hope I may never again be sent to Algiers with tribute, unless - I be authorized to deliver it from the mouth of the cannon." - - -THE VOYAGE TO CONSTANTINOPLE - -When the ambassador to Constantinople came on board, his suite and -following were enough to make angels laugh. There were one hundred -Moslems attending him. Many of the officers brought their wives and -children. In addition there were four horses, twenty-five horned -cattle, four lions, four tigers, four antelopes, and twelve parrots. -The money and regalia loaded as presents for the Sultan were valued at -a million dollars. - -When our frigate reached the two forts that commanded the entrance to -Constantinople, Captain Bainbridge decided that he would save the time -that would be spent in entering the port in the usual formal way. We -approached the anchorage as if we meant to come to a stop. We clewed up -our courses, let go the topsails, and seemed to be complying with the -rules of the port. Then our commander ordered that a salute be fired, -but, when the guns of the fort replied, he ordered sail to be made -under cover of the smoke. By this trick, we passed by the guns under -the smoke screen, and were inside the harbor and beyond range before -the Turks realized it. - -An officer rowed out to ask to what country our ship belonged. - -"The United States," answered our commander. - -The officer returned to shore. A half-hour later he again rowed out to -inform Captain Bainbridge that the Sultan had never heard of the United -States, and desired to know more about it. Our captain replied that he -came from the new world discovered by Columbus. Again the officer went -ashore and returned, bringing this time a lamb and a bunch of flowers, -as tokens of peace and welcome. - -The admiral of the Turkish fleet, Capudan Pasha, took the _George -Washington_ under his protection. The Sultan gave Captain Bainbridge a -certificate which entitled him to special protection in any part of the -Turkish empire. - -With the ambassadors from the Dey of Algiers matters went very -differently. When the messenger was received on board Capudan Pasha's -ship, the admiral snatched from the envoy's hand the Dey's letter, and -then, in a great rage, spat and stamped upon it. He was then told to -inform his master that the admiral meant to spit and trample upon him -when the two met. The Sultan was equally harsh. He told the ambassador -that he would force the Dey to declare war against France within sixty -days, and threatened to punish the ruler if he did not send to him an -immense sum of money. The presents of tigers and other animals were -viewed by him with supreme contempt. - -The sight of the American flag, flown for the first time in this -section of the world, created a sensation. - -It was said that, seeing the stars in the American flag, the Sultan -decided that since there was represented on his flag one of the -heavenly bodies, his country and ours must have the same religion. The -foreign consuls at Constantinople welcomed Captain Bainbridge and he in -turn entertained them. At one dinner he had on the table food and drink -from all quarters of the globe, representing places at which he had -stopped--Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and men from each of these -countries sat at his table. - -We returned to Algiers with a disgruntled ambassador. The Sultan, while -he treated our commander with great courtesy, found fault with the Dey -of Algiers' gifts and threatened to punish both him and his envoy if -more valuable presents were not forthcoming. All of which delighted us -hugely. - -When we drew near to Algiers on our return passage, we wondered what -further indignities would be offered. Captain Bainbridge, having -learned of the Sultan's message to the Dey, knew that a ship would be -required to take a second Algerine mission to Constantinople. Fearing -that the Dey might try to use the _George Washington_ again for this -purpose, and suspecting too that to obtain the money the Sultan -demanded the Algerine prince might attempt to enslave the crew of -the _George Washington_ and hold them for ransom, Captain Bainbridge -decided that he would anchor his ship out of range of the Dey's guns. -Threats and persuasion were used by the Orientals to induce us to come -into the harbor, but Captain Bainbridge squared his jaw and kept the -ship where we had first anchored. - -Consul O'Brien now rowed out and told our commander that the Dey wanted -to have a talk with him. The captain, armed with his certificate of -protection from the Sultan, went ashore. The Dey, maddened over the -result of his intercourse with the Sultan, and further enraged at -Captain Bainbridge's cleverness in avoiding his snares, threatened -him with torture and slavery, and seemed about to call upon his armed -janizaries to seize the officer. At this moment Captain Bainbridge -produced the certificate. The tyrant, seeing his master's signature -upon a document that expressed good will to the American, fawned and -apologized. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -LIFE ABOARD _OLD IRONSIDES_ - - - "_And now to thee, O Captain,_ - _Most earnestly I pray,_ - _That they may never bury me_ - _In church or cloister gray;_ - _But on the windy sea-beach,_ - _At the ending of the land,_ - _All on the surfy sea-beach,_ - _Deep down into the sand._ - - _For there will come the sailors,_ - _Their voices I shall hear,_ - _And at casting of the anchor_ - _The yo-ho loud and clear;_ - _And at hauling of the anchor_ - _The yo-ho and the cheer,--_ - _Farewell, my love, for to the bay_ - _I never more may steer._" - --W. ALLINGHAM. - - -"I hear it reported," Samuel Childs remarked one night on watch, "that -Captain Edward Preble is coming out in command of the _Constitution_. -Looks like he'll have charge of the Mediterranean fleet. A hard man. A -hot temper. He's as rough as the New Hampshire rocks where he was born. -I doubt whether I'd want to serve under him!" - -"The harder they come, the better I like them," said Reuben James. "A -hard man means a hard fighter. I understand Stephen Decatur's coming -out too. There's an officer for you! Hope I have a chance to serve -under both!" - -Samuel Child's idea of Captain Preble's disposition was held aboard all -of our ships. Yet Preble changed this adverse comment to enthusiastic -admiration. It happened in this way: - -As his frigate was passing at night through the Straits of Gibraltar -he met a strange ship and hailed her. The vessel made no reply, but -manoeuvred to get into an advantageous position for firing. - -"I hail you for the last time!" Preble shouted. "If you don't answer, -I'll fire a shot into you." - -"If you do, I'll return a broadside!" came from the strange ship. - -"I should like to catch you at that! I now hail for an answer. What -ship is that?" Captain Preble cried. - -"His Britannic Majesty's eighty-four gun ship-of-the-line _Donegal_! -Sir Richard Strachan. Send a boat on board!" - -Preble shouted back: - -"This is the United States' forty-four gun ship _Constitution_, Captain -Edward Preble, and I'll be d--d if I send a boat on board any ship! -Blow your matches, boys!" - -No broadside was fired. Captain Preble now shouted to the officer -that he doubted the truth of his statement and would stay alongside -until the morning revealed the identity of the stranger. A boat now -approached, bearing a message from the strange ship's commander. He -explained that she was the thirty-two gun British frigate _Maidstone_, -and that, taken by surprise, he had resorted to strategy in order to -get his men to their stations before the _Constitution_ fired. - -Samuel Childs had his chance to serve under this terrible Captain -Preble, and so, for that matter, had all of us. My first meeting with -the captain was far from being one that promised comfort. To explain -why, I had better note here that the clothing supplies of the _George -Washington_ had been depleted, consequently there were several pieces -of my dress that were not in accord with the regulation uniform. -Captain Preble's gaze chanced to rest on me. Then, with an outburst -that nearly frightened me out of my wits, he asked me how I dare -present myself before him in such attire. - -"If I catch you out of uniform again," he said, "out of the service -you'll go!" - -I darted out of his sight, resolving to alter my dress at once, -but a lieutenant hailed me and gave me a message to deliver to the -_Constellation_. He then ordered the coxswain to man the running boat. -Off we rowed. The _Constellation_ lay with her bow towards us. Instead -of waiting for the Jacob's ladder to be thrown to me, I stood in the -bow of the running boat waiting for it to be lifted to the crest -of a sea. The next roller lifted our cockle shell high in the air, -approaching the level of the ship's deck. I took advantage of this -rise and vaulted from our boat. We were in a rough sea, and, instead -of landing on the bulwark, as I had aimed to do, I was hurled by the -next roller head-first across the vessel's side. With the velocity of a -butting goat, my head rammed a group of three officers who had chosen -that particular spot for a chat. Two of them were tossed left and -right; the third one was floored. I arose with abject apologies. Who -should I see squirming and cursing before me but Captain Preble? I felt -my blood turn to ice. - -To my terrified imagination a flogging seemed to be the least -punishment I could expect. Not only had I knocked him down, but here -was I appearing before him in the clothes he had ordered changed. The -other officers, crimson and purple with wrath, helped the Captain to -his feet. It appeared that while I had been waiting for the letter, he -had gone forth in his gig to inspect the very ship I was bound for. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath, "the same lad! The -same uniform!" - -Then suddenly he looked at his frowning companions and burst into -laughter. "Why," he exclaimed, "just when we were talking about our -enemy's guns, he came over the side like a cannon ball! I thought the -gunners of Tripoli were bombarding us!" - -When the laughter ended I had a chance to deliver the letter and to -explain that the lieutenant had pressed me into service before I had an -opportunity to change my garb. - -He nodded. "The irregularity of your clothes we will overlook just -now," he said, "but your irregular way of coming aboard, and the -headlong way in which you approach your superiors, and intrude upon -their conferences, is a matter that warrants your being turned over -to the master-at-arms. However, you scamp, we'll forgive all of your -offences for the laugh you have given us! I hope if I ever call on you -to board an enemy's ship you'll go over her side with the same speed!" - -The crew was divided into three sets. The men in the first set were -called topmen; their duty was to climb the masts and to take in -or furl, reef or let out the sails. This group of topmen were in -turn subdivided, according to the masts of the ship. Thus we had -fore-topmen, main-topmen and mizzen-topmen. - -The second set of men attended to the sails from the deck. It was their -task to handle the lowest sails, and to set and take in the jibs, lower -studding sails and spanker; they also coiled the ropes of the running -gear. These men too were grouped according to masts. - -The third set of men were called scavengers. These did the dirty work -of the ship, gathering the refuse from all quarters of the vessel and -casting it overboard. - -I, on account of my youth, was assigned to none of these sets, but to -the boys' division. There were a dozen of us lads on board, and a merry -set of scamps we were. We were assigned to serve the officers, and -because of this we managed to overhear and pass to each other a good -deal of information concerning the operations of the ship that was not -intended for us to know. Some of us became favorites with the officers -we served, and when we got into mischief and were threatened with -punishment, our officers often shielded us. - -In addition to the sailors and boys, the ship had over a score of -marines on her muster roll. They were the policemen of the ship. In -battle their place was in the rigging, where they picked off the enemy -crew with their muskets. The marines filled a peculiar position, in -that they were called upon to uphold the authority of the officers, and -therefore could not be on intimate terms with the sailors--in fact, the -officers discouraged familiarity between the soldiers and sailors. - -As for food, we were the envy of our British cousins. Our menu was: -Sunday, a pound and a half of beef and half a pint of rice; Monday, a -pound of pork, half a pint of peas and four ounces of cheese; Tuesday, -a pound and a half of beef, and a pound of potatoes; Wednesday, half -a pint of rice, two ounces of butter, and six ounces of molasses; -Thursday, a pound of pork and half a pint of peas; Friday, a pound of -potatoes, a pound of salt fish, and two ounces of butter or one gill of -oil; Saturday, a pound of pork, half a pint of peas, and four ounces of -cheese. In addition, one pound of bread and half a pint of spirits, or -one quart of beer, were served every day. - -Sundays were usually holidays. After muster on the spar deck, we would -have church service, and then the rest of the day was ours to spend as -we pleased. We wore our best uniforms, but we could never tell from one -Sunday to another just what kind of dress we were to appear in. The -captain had a way of ordering us to wear one day blue jackets and white -trousers, and on the next Sunday to change to blue jackets and blue -trousers. When he wanted us to look particularly smart he would command -that we wear in addition our scarlet vests. When, on top of all this, -we donned our shiny black hats, we felt fine indeed. - -In fair weather we slept in hammocks, swung on the berth deck. We were -trained to roll up and stow our hammocks swiftly, so that when a call -to action sounded, our beds disappeared from sight in the bulwark -nettings as if by magic. These hammocks, in battle, were placed against -the bulwarks as shields to prevent splinters from hitting us when the -vessel was hit. - -Our ship kept a merit roll, upon which were entered the names of every -member of the crew. If a man did his work well, he was given a good -standing on this roll; the sheet, on the other hand, also showed who -were the lazy and inefficient members of the crew. The system of -handling men was modeled after that of the older navies, where each man -of the ship's company was assigned a certain duty. - -When a sailor died, we sewed up our mate's body in his hammock and -placed it on a grating in a bow port. Then an officer read the burial -service. At the words, "We commit the body of our brother to the deep," -we raised the grating and allowed the body to drop into the sea. There -would be a heavy splash--then a deep silence rested on both the water -and the ship for several minutes. - -Our greatest enjoyment came from our band, which we had formed out of -members of the crew who had more or less talent for music. I wondered -afterwards how our efforts would have sounded in competition with a -professional band of musicians that in later years played aboard one of -our sister ships. These musicians had found their way into the American -navy in a strange manner. They had enlisted on board a French warship -under the condition that they would not be called on to fight, but -were to be stowed away in the cable tier until "the clouds blew over." -It was also stipulated that they were not to be flogged--a custom of -which many captains were far too fond. The French ship upon which they -played was captured by a Portuguese cruiser. They were permitted by -the Portuguese to enlist in a British vessel, and when the latter was -captured by an American frigate, the band was enrolled in our navy. - - -EVERY-DAY HAZARDS - -In sailing from a cold to a warm climate, we were unknowingly weakening -our rigging, which had been fitted in cold weather. The masts were -subject to expansion and contraction by heat and cold, and so was -our cordage. When we entered the Mediterranean our shrouds and stays -slackened under the hot sun. The ship was in this condition when we -were caught in a heavy gale. The ocean had grown rough. We were at -dinner when a tremendous wave broke over our bow. It poured down the -open hatchway, swept from the galley all the food that was on the -table, washed our table clean of eatables, and poured through all of -the apartments on the berth deck in a terrifying flood. The huge waves -beating upon our ship from the outside, the tossing of the vessel, and -the sloshing water we had shipped racked the vessel so that it seemed -that it must founder. We were a white-faced group, for Davy Jones' -locker seemed to be yawning for us below, but we kept our upper lips -stiff and sprang nimbly to obey orders. The officers commanded the -crew to man the chain pumps and cut holes in the berth deck to permit -the water to pour into the hold, and in this way we emerged from our -dangerous situation. - -Another peril, however, beset us on deck. One of our lieutenants, -watching the rigging, discovered that it had become so slack that the -masts and bowsprit were in danger of being carried away. He summoned -all available hands to help tighten the ropes. We managed at last to -secure purchases on every other shroud, and to sway them all together, -which restored the firmness. - -One night we had shown to us what a terrifying experience it is to have -a fire break out aboard ship. As we were climbing into our hammocks a -shower of sparks flew up from a corner of the cockpit. - -The captain ordered the drum to beat to quarters, and soon the crew -was assembled under good control. Fire buckets filled with water were -standing on the quarterdeck. We ran for them and poured them over the -flames. All hands emptied buckets on the flames until the fire had been -quenched. - -If the fire had occurred a few hours later, when we were asleep, it -might have gathered enough headway to sweep the ship. We learned later -that a lighted candle had fallen from a beam on the deck below and had -set fire to some cloths. The steward had tried to smother the fire -with sheets, but all the cloths had then caught fire. We did not fully -realize our danger until it was pointed out to us that the room in -which the fire had started was next to the powder magazine, and that -the bulkhead between the two compartments had been scorched. - -When decks were cleared for action, you may well believe that my heart -was in my mouth. The ship's company was running here and there as -busy as ants--and apparently as confused. The boatswain and his mates -saw to the rigging and sails. The carpenter and his crew prepared -shot-plugs and mauls and strove to protect the pumps against injury; -the lieutenants went from deck to deck, supervising the work. The -boys who were the powder monkeys rushed up and down at their tasks of -providing the first rounds for the guns; pistols and cutlasses were -distributed. Rammers, sponges, powderhorns, matches and train tackles -were placed beside every cannon. The hatches were closed, so that no -man might desert his post and hide below. The gun lashings were cast -adrift. The marines were drawn up in rank and file. These occupations, -fortunately, left us little time to think of home and loved ones, and -by the time the decks were cleared, why, the cannon were thundering and -the missiles were striking about us. - -Bathing and boat racing were popular sports with us; yet, in the case -of the first pastime, we had to be very careful on account of blue -sharks. - -It was a matter for wonderment with us that, while the blue shark has -been known time and again to attack white men, he seldom bothered -a colored person. We had sailors aboard who had sailed in Oriental -waters, where there are thousands of sharks. These men agreed in their -story that the natives could swim and dive without fear of them, but -if a white man ventured to bathe in the same place the sharks would be -after him in a short time. We learned from these yarn-spinners that the -pearl-divers of Ceylon stay down under water for several minutes at a -time while they gather into bags the shells that contain pearls, and -yet are seldom attacked by sharks. This may have been, though, because -while they were under water their comrades above shouted and sang to -scare the sharks away. Sometimes natives whose skins were of a light -color would dye their bodies black, while other divers would carry in -their girdles spikes made of ironwood, which they used to poke out the -eyes of sharks that came near. - -These stories about sharks were enough to make us enter the water -warily, and to borrow the custom of the pearl divers in making a loud -noise when we bathed. An experience was awaiting us, however, that -brought our danger home to us more than all the warnings that could be -uttered. - -Jim Hodges, perhaps the most expert swimmer among us, was fond of -boasting that he could outswim a shark. One day, when there was a -calm sea, he started to swim from the side of our vessel to another -frigate that was anchored close by. We who were on duty watched, over -the ship's side, his progress. Suddenly a gray fin showed above the -turquoise water, about one hundred yards from him, but moving rapidly -in his direction. We shouted and pointed in the direction of his -danger. He heard us, realized his peril, and turned instantly towards -our ship. The shark at once changed its direction so that the swimmer -and the fish seemed to be following two sides of a triangle that would -meet at the apex--this point being the bow of our vessel. We watched -in breathless suspense while Hodges moved towards us, swimming with -amazing coolness and nerve. The shark gained steadily. We had lowered -a rope at the point nearest to the swimmer, and we could see him -measuring the distance with an anxious look. Those of us who managed to -obtain firearms began to shoot at the shark, but at last it had drawn -so near to the swimmer that there was danger of hitting him with our -bullets. We ceased firing and waited. At last Hodges, with a desperate -spurt, reached the rope. As soon as we felt his tug at it we began -hauling him in. If he had seized the rope a second later, it would have -been too late. The teeth of the shark flashed in the swirl at the end -of the rope. If Hodges had not lifted his feet into the air, one of -them would have been snapped off. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN THE COURT OF TUNIS - - -At Malta, whom should I bump into but commodore Barney! His business in -France having been completed, he had taken the notion to see southern -Europe before returning to the United States. - -He was amazed to see me in the uniform of the United States, yet -proud, too, that I had taken matters into my own hands and gone to -sea willy-nilly. He told me that the rector had been sent back to his -Baltimore charge by his bishop, and that Alexander had begun business -in Baltimore as a ship chandler. My story of Murad's treachery brought -forth a series of explosions, which, however, were cut short by the -arrival of the commodore's friend Captain William Eaton, a military -officer from the United States, who had stopped in Malta on his way to -take the office of American envoy at the court of Tunis. - -The conversation turned towards Captain Eaton's mission to Tunis. "I -understand that I have an abominable ruler to deal with," he said, "I -shall be doing well if I do nothing more than keep Yankee ships and -sailors out of his hands!" - -"I wish I were going with you, sir," I said impulsively. - -"Can you write? Are you handy at clerical work?" he asked. - -"Is he?" burst out the commodore, "why, the boy was brought up to be a -minister. When I knew him a quill or a book was never out of his hands!" - -"I have authority from Washington to employ a secretary," said the -captain. "The lad can accompany me in that office." - -Delighted, I turned away to make the necessary arrangements. "If you -haven't the knack of fighting as well as of writing, I advise you to -decline the position," Captain Eaton called after me, "for I expect to -battle with the Bey of Tunis from the hour I arrive!" - -"That," I returned, "is the reason I said I'd like to go along! You -look like a fighter, sir!" - -Captain Eaton was pleased instead of offended at my boldness. The story -of his career, as I heard it later from the commodore, proved that the -captain was a fighter in deeds as well as in looks. He had a broad -forehead, with deep-set eyes and heavy eyebrows. His nose was that of a -fighter, and if ever a chin expressed determination, his did. - -[Illustration: IN LOOK AND IN DEED, WILLIAM EATON WAS A FIGHTER.] - -His career, as I heard it later from the lips of the commodore, was -fascinating. His father had been a farmer-teacher who raised crops -in the summer and taught school in the winter. William, who was born -in Woodstock, Connecticut, developed into a lad with a studious yet -adventurous spirit. When sixteen he ran away from home and enlisted -in the army where he was employed as a waiter by Major Dennie, of the -Connecticut troops. - - -A DARTMOUTH LAD - -After he had risen to the rank of sergeant, he decided that he -would like to go to college, and secured an honorable discharge. He -was admitted as a freshman to Dartmouth College, at Hanover, New -Hampshire, but was given permission to be absent during the coming -winter, in order that he might by teaching school obtain enough money -to pursue his studies. Due, however, to difficulties at home, he was -forced to prolong his school teaching, and it was not until two years -later that he was able to return to Dartmouth. With his pack suspended -from a staff thrown over his shoulder, he started on foot for Hanover. - -In his pack was a change of linen and a few articles which he expected -to sell on his journey. When he reached Northfield, his money gave out, -and he was in despair. He began, however, to offer his pins, needles -and other notions for sale, and with the proceeds he was able to go -on to college. Here he was received with great kindness by President -Wheelock, and here he pursued his studies, handicapped by sickness and -by the necessity of teaching school in town. At last, in August, 1790, -he received his degree. In March, 1792, he was appointed a captain in -the army of the United States, and was assigned to duty at Pittsburgh -and later at Cincinnati. - -His prediction as to a troubled career in Tunis came true. - -With an embrace and a God-speed from Commodore Barney, I sailed with -Captain Eaton for Tunis. Arriving there, Mr. Cathcart led the captain -to the Bey's palace. I was allowed to follow. We were ushered into the -Bey's Hall of State, and there the captain must approach and bow to a -fat-faced individual who frowned on him as if he were a stray cur that -had wandered in among his satins and velvets. This fellow, from his -safe place among his over-dressed officers, poured out abuse. - -"It is now more than a year since your country promised me gifts of -arms and ships! Why have they not been sent to me?" - -Captain Eaton replied with dignity: "The treaty was received by our -government about eight months ago; a malady then raged in our capital, -which forced not only the citizens, but all the departments of the -government, to fly into the interior villages of the country. About -the time the plague ceased to rage, and permitted the return of the -government, the winter shut up our harbors with ice. We are also -engaged in a war with France; and all our means were used to defend -ourselves against that country." He then went on to explain that he was -empowered to offer a cash sum instead of the naval stores promised. - -"I am not a beggar," said the Bey, "I have cash to spare. The stores -are more than ever needed because of my war with France. You have found -no trouble in fulfilling your promises to Algiers and Tripoli; and to -Algiers have made presents of frigates and other armed vessels." - -The captain explained that the Dey of Algiers had agreed to pay for -certain armed vessels built for him by the United States, and that, -moreover, several years' time had been allowed for their delivery. - -"You may inform me," said the Bey, "that the Dey of Algiers paid you -cash for your vessels. I do not believe it." - -Arguments such as this one went on forever. - -Our first pilgrimage, after becoming settled in Tunis, was to visit the -hill which was once the site of Carthage. We passed through fertile -pastures where donkeys, sheep, cattle, and camels were feeding, and -among fields of wheat, barley, and oats where awkward camels were used -for plowing. Captain Eaton's military soul became aroused as we stood -at the place where the great Hannibal was born. - -My chief was well acquainted with Carthaginian history and thrilled -me with his description of how Hannibal, commanding an army of paid -mercenaries--Africans, Spaniards, Gauls, and Italians--managed them for -thirteen years through wars and hardships in a foreign country without -experiencing a single mutiny. Captain Eaton little dreamed that, on a -small scale to be sure, fate had designed him to play the part of a -Hannibal for his own country--but this will be told in due time. - -When I was not on duty I spent my time taking donkey tours of the -city, with an Arab boy running behind me to make my stubborn steed go. -In this fashion I visited the Maltese, Jewish and Arab quarters, and -explored the bazaars. When I grew hungry, why, here was the stand of an -Arab who sold sweetmeats, and there was the booth of a man who fried -meat and sold it hot from the fire, while always in the streets were -fruit merchants selling fresh dates, oranges, and figs. When I stopped -to buy curios, the swarthy, turbaned dealers usually invited me into -their little shops to sit cross-legged on the floor and sip strong -black coffee while we haggled over prices. - - -THE HORSE-WHIPPING - -Before we arrived in Tunis, the agent there for the United States -was a French merchant, named Joseph Etienne Famin. Upon our arrival -the English consul at Tunis, Major Magre, warned Captain Eaton not -to place confidence in Famin, stating that he was a dangerous man -who would set snares for his successor. Captain Eaton soon learned -that the Frenchman had protested to the Bey against the United States -establishing a consul there "to keep the bread out of his mouth." - -The captain, lonely among enemies, rewarded my faithfulness by taking -me into his confidence. He told me that he had found that Famin had -yielded to every outrageous demand made by the Bey against the United -States, which Famin represented. Captain Eaton also told me that he -suspected the Frenchman of reaping a profit from the presents sent by -the United States to the ruler. Famin, we learned, had declared to the -Bey that Eaton was nothing but a vice-consul, subject to Consul-General -O'Brien at Algiers, and only placed at Tunis to spy upon the court. - -At last, when the Frenchman told the court that "the Americans were a -feeble sect of Christians" and that their independence from England -"was the gift of France," Captain Eaton, giving him his jacket to hold, -horse-whipped Famin at the marine gate of Tunis, before a crowd of -amazed Moslems. - -Famin went whining to the Bey and demanded that Eaton be punished. - -"How dare you lift your hand against a subject of mine in my kingdom?" -the Bey demanded of Captain Eaton, who took me with him to the palace. - -[Illustration: "HOW DARE YOU LIFT YOUR HAND AGAINST A SUBJECT OF MINE?" -THE BEY OF TUNIS DEMANDED OF EATON.] - -The captain replied that Famin had tried to betray him, and had tried -also to betray the Bey. He brought forth a paper, and prepared to read -its contents. - -"Hear him call your prime minister and your agents a set of thieves and -robbers!" exclaimed Captain Eaton. - -"Mercy! Forbearance!" cried Famin. - -"Yes, _thieves_ and _robbers_! This is the man of your confidence!" the -consul went on. Then I heard him tell the Bey that Famin had blabbed -all his secrets to a woman, who had repeated them to others, so that -all the town knew that he was playing a double game with the Americans, -and increasing the misunderstandings that had arisen between the -American envoy and the court. - -Famin trembled as if in a fit, and began an address in Arabic. - -"Speak French!" said the Bey, frowning. - -The ruler was at last convinced of the Frenchman's guilt. As we quitted -the place we heard the Bey say to his court: - -"The American consul has been heated, but truly he has had reason. -I have found him a very plain, candid man; and his concern for his -fellow-citizens is not a crime." - -On one occasion, while Captain Eaton was in the palace, I paid a visit -to the executioner, who occupied a lodge at the entrance to the palace. -I went with an interpreter, a friend of the executioner, but even under -the circumstances I felt timid when the official took down from its -place on the wall a long curved scimitar and began to feel its edge as -a reaper feels the blade of his scythe. - -"It is a good blade--it has never failed me," he said, "even though I -have had to slice off as many as twenty heads in a day." - -If one is disposed to think that the ancient cruelty of these Turkish -rulers has been decreased, let him think of these cruelties which we -saw enacted in spite of our attempts to stop them. - -Five corsairs from Tunis, manned by nine hundred and ninety men, sailed -forth and landed upon the island of St. Peters, belonging to Sardinia. -They captured and brought back with them as prisoners to Tunis two -hundred and twenty men and seven hundred women and children. In the -raid upon the island, old men and women, and mothers with infants were -pulled from their beds, driven down stairs or hurled from windows, -driven almost naked through the streets, crowded into the filthy holds -of the cruisers, and then, when landed at Tunis, bound with thongs and -driven through the streets to the auction square, where they were sold -into slavery. The old, the infirm and the infants, being unfit to work, -were left to shift for themselves. If it had not been for contributions -made by Captain Eaton and European ambassadors, they would have died of -starvation. - -The sum of $640,000 was demanded by the Bey for the ransom of the -slaves, but at last he agreed to accept $270,000 from the king of -Sardinia for their redemption. - - -WAR BREAKS OUT WITH TRIPOLI - -A fire broke out in the palace and destroyed fifty thousand stands of -arms. The Bey called upon Captain Eaton to request the United States to -forward him ten thousand stands of arms. "I have divided my loss," he -said, "among my friends; this quota falls to you to furnish; tell your -government to send them without delay." - -Captain Eaton refused to forward the demand. "You will never receive a -single musket from the United States!" he declared. - -Meanwhile, Captain Eaton's neighbor consul, Mr. Cathcart, was -having similar troubles at the court of Tripoli. We learned from -correspondence that in April, 1800, Tripoli's greedy Bashaw had bidden -Cathcart, the American consul, to tell the President of the United -States that while "he was pleased with his proffers of friendship, had -they been accompanied by a present of a frigate or brig-of-war, he -would be still more inclined to believe them genuine." - -In May the Bashaw asked: "Why do not the United States send me a -present? I am an independent prince as well as the Bey of Tunis, and I -can hurt the commerce of any nation as much as the ruler of Tunis." - -The President paid no heed to these threats. Thereupon, on May 18, -1801, the Bashaw cut down the flagstaff of the American consulate at -Tripoli. Consul Cathcart quitted the city, and a state of war was -declared. - -Matters came to a head with us in Tunis in March, 1803. Commodore -Morris had been detained in port by the Bey because the American -squadron had seized a Tunisian vessel bound for Tripoli, with which -country the United States was at war. Consul Eaton had protested with -more than usual vigor against this outrage. The Bey ordered him to quit -the court at once. - -"It is well," replied Captain Eaton, "I am glad to quit a court where I -have known such violence and indignity!" - -On the 10th of March, we left Tunis on board of one of the ships of the -American squadron. Doctor George Davis, of New York, was left in charge -of American affairs. On the 30th of the same month, Captain Eaton -sailed from Gibraltar in the merchant ship _Perseverance_, bound for -Boston, at which port he arrived May 5th. He then went to Washington -to urge that a land campaign be waged against the ruling Bashaw of -Tripoli, of which project more will appear in this story. He was -appointed navy agent for the United States and instructed to aid in the -campaign of our squadron against the Bashaw of Tripoli. - -I hoped while in Tunis to obtain a leave of absence that I might join a -caravan that would pass by Tokra, the treasure city of my dreams. But -no opportunity came. I remained with the fleet while Captain Eaton was -at home and rejoined him when he returned. He brought with him a plan -of campaign that, in operation, was to bring me well within reach of -the treasure spot. - -[Illustration: I HOPED THAT I MIGHT JOIN A CARAVAN THAT WOULD PASS BY -TOKRA--THE TREASURE CITY OF MY DREAMS.] - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE LOSS OF THE _PHILADELPHIA_ - - - "_But sailors were born for all weathers,_ - _Great guns let it blow, high or low,_ - _Our duty keeps us to our tethers,_ - _And where the gales drive we must go._" - - -Hard luck, indeed! The frigate _Philadelphia_ stranded on a reef in -the harbor of Tripoli, and Captain Bainbridge and his men were left -captives in the hands of the Bashaw. Yet the ill wind for them was a -kind wind for me, since it brought me a chance to serve under Stephen -Decatur in what men say is one of the most brilliant exploits in our -navy's annals. - -Fortunately, before this disaster befell, Captain Bainbridge had been -given an opportunity to show the Mediterranean squadron his mettle, for -Commodore Preble had assigned the _Philadelphia_, under Bainbridge, to -blockade duty on the Barbary Coast. - -When I fell in again with Samuel Childs and Reuben James after my -sojourn in Tunis, the first yarn spun to me in the night watch was that -of how the _Philadelphia_ had been captured. Reuben James was boatswain -aboard of her when she was seized. He dived overboard and swam to -safety when he saw that the jig was up, and rejoined the fleet to tell -again and again the story of Bainbridge's gallantry in the face of -misfortune. - -Reuben's story ran like this: The _Philadelphia_, while cruising in the -vicinity of Cape Gata, had come upon and hailed a cruiser and a brig. -When the commander of the cruiser, at Captain Bainbridge's repeated -demands, sent a boat aboard with his ship's papers, the captain learned -that the cruiser belonged to the Emperor of Morocco; that her name -was the _Meshboha_; that her commander was Ibrahim Lubarez; that she -carried twenty-two guns and one hundred men. - -The captain then sent an armed party to search the brig. He found -imprisoned in her hold Captain Richard Bowen, and seven men. The brig -was the _Celia_ of Boston. Captain Bainbridge released her crew, and -imprisoned the officers and men of the _Meshboha_ aboard his frigate. - -Asked by what authority he had captured an American vessel, Ibrahim -Lubarez replied that he understood that Morocco intended to declare -war on the United States and that when he seized the vessel he thought -that a state of war existed. The captain suspected that the Emperor -of Morocco had given orders that American ships be seized. "You have -committed an act of piracy," he told the Moor, "and for it you will -swing at our yardarm!" - -"Mercy! Mercy!" wailed Ibrahim. Unbuttoning five waistcoats, he brought -forth from a pocket of the fifth a secret document signed by the -Governor of Tangiers. - -Captain Bainbridge reported the matter to Captain Preble, and the -latter at once proceeded to Tangiers with four frigates. There the -Emperor abjectly disclaimed all knowledge of the affair, renewed his -treaty, deprived the Governor of Tangiers of his office, and punished -the commander of the _Meshboha_. - -The American squadron was given a salute of twenty-one guns; a present -of ten bullocks with sheep and fowl was made to Captain Preble, and -the Emperor's court reviewed the American ships and engaged with them -in an exchange of salutes. - -But, Reuben testified, when the American officers discussed the -Emperor's declaration of innocence, they spoke of it as if it were a -huge joke. - -On the morning of October 31st, 1803, Reuben, who was the lookout on -the _Philadelphia_, espied a corsair sneaking out of a port. Captain -Bainbridge at once swung his vessel round in pursuit. The wind was -strong, enabling the frigate to gain on the pirate craft. - -The ship was one of a corsair fleet under command of the Bashaw's -captains, Zurrig, Dghees, Trez, Romani, and El Mograbi. Zurrig had -sailed away from the other vessels on purpose to decoy the American -ship on to a line of partly-submerged rocks that lay in the waters -of the bay, parallel to the shore. The captain of the corsair knew -every yard of the coast, and by hugging the shore, he soon drew the -pursuing frigate into shallow water. The _Philadelphia_ had drawn close -enough to the fleeing vessel to attack with the bow guns, and in the -excitement of seeing if the shots struck home, the officers and crew -forgot that their vessel was in danger of running upon a reef the -corsair knew well how to avoid. - - -A BRAVE OFFICER'S BAD LUCK - -Eight fathoms of water had been reported. Then the men who threw the -lead reported seven fathoms. The cry of six and a half fathoms soon -followed. Captain Bainbridge at once gave the order to head seaward. -The helm was thrown hard over; the sails flapped as the vessel came -up to the wind. It seemed that she would reach deep water safely, but -suddenly the vessel struck a rock and rose with her bow six feet -out of water. From beneath the walls of the city, scarcely three -miles away, the Bashaw's gunboats put out and opened fire on the -_Philadelphia_. Captain Bainbridge made every possible attempt to free -his vessel. The guns forward and other parts of her equipment were -thrown overboard, but the reef held her in an unyielding grip. Her crew -returned the fire of the corsairs as best they could, but as the tide -went out, the ship keeled over and the guns could no longer be fired. -Captain Bainbridge ordered that the magazine be flooded; that the pumps -be wrecked; and that holes be bored in the ship's bottom. - -Warships--feluccas and other small boats crowded with Arabs--now -attacked the _Philadelphia_. Led by their captains, they swarmed over -her sides. The Americans fought with small arms, wounding six of their -assailants, but Bainbridge saw that his men would be massacred if the -fight were prolonged, and hauled down the flag. Bainbridge and his crew -of three hundred and fifteen men then surrendered. A few of the best -swimmers took to the water, Reuben among them, but all were captured -except him. - -The captives, by means I will later describe, managed to write -frequently to their friends aboard vessels of the fleet. Reuben -corresponded with Tom Bowles, and thus knew as much about the -experiences of the prisoners as if he were among them. - -A few days later, he found out, the pirates managed to haul the vessel -off the reef at flood-tide. They recovered the guns that had been -thrown overboard, and boasted that their navy now owned a splendid -American warship that had come into their possession without spending -a sequin, or a drop of blood. The red flag bearing the crescent of -the Moslems was lifted where the Stars and Stripes had flown. To purge -the vessel of Christian contamination, and to consecrate her to the -Prophet, the green flag of Mohammed was unfurled at certain periods. - -As soon as the Americans gave up their arms, the infidels began to -plunder them of all of their valuables. Swords, epaulets, trinkets, -money, and clothing were taken. Captain Bainbridge wore a locket -around his neck that contained a miniature picture of his wife. One of -the looters snatched at it, but Captain Bainbridge made a determined -resistance and was at last allowed to keep the trinket. - -The boats containing the prisoners reached the docks of Tripoli at -ten o'clock that night. The Bashaw was eager to inspect his captives, -and received them in his audience hall, where he and his staff sat -gloating. After much questioning, he sent them to supper, placing them -under the care of Sidi Mohammed D'Ghiers, his prime minister. Mr. -Nissen, the Danish consul, came promptly to comfort the prisoners, and -to offer them such assistance as was in his power to render. - -The Bashaw, who knew that some of the twenty-two officers he had bagged -were members of prominent American families who could afford to pay big -ransoms, was so delighted with the capture that he did not at first -treat the captives severely. They were allowed to wander among groves -of olive, fig, and lemon trees, and, on feast days, were sprinkled with -attar of roses and fumigated with frankincense, while slaves served -them coffee and sherbet. - -The under-officers and sailors were at first treated with some -consideration. The carpenters, riggers, and sailmakers were employed -in making repairs on the Bashaw's gun-boats. The seamen worked on -fortifications. These men, by working overtime, earned a little money, -which they usually spent for drink. The Mussulmans hated drunkenness. -When they saw a drunken American, they spat in his face. Jack, in turn, -thrashed the offender. Arrest and punishment followed, but the Moslems -who guarded the slaves were subject to bribery and lightened their -blows. - -When the sailor was sentenced to receive blows on his bare feet, the -guard would cover the soles with straw pads, telling the culprit -to yell as if he were being hurt, as the chief of the guards was -standing outside to tell by the cries whether the punishment was being -administered. - -The comfort of the officers was soon to end. Reuben showed me letters -received from Tom Bowles written at this period that were full of -bitter complaints. It appeared that the Bashaw summoned Captain -Bainbridge to his presence and told him that one of his ships had been -captured by the American war vessel _John Adams_, and that if their -prisoners were not released the officers and men of the _Philadelphia_ -would be severely treated. Captain Bainbridge was not able to give a -reply that satisfied the ruler. The Bashaw then ordered that he and -his men be removed to a foul dungeon. There, in a room once used for -smoking hides, they were obliged to remain without food except a little -black bread and water. - -A renegade Scotchman named Lisle, in the employ of the Bashaw, visited -Captain Bainbridge here and urged him to send a message to the _John -Adams_ to release the prisoners. - -Captain Bainbridge answered: "Your ruler can subject me to torture -and can lop off my head, but he can not force me to commit an act -incompatible with the character of an American officer." - -When Captain Bainbridge learned that the Bashaw of Tripoli designed -to use the _Philadelphia_ as the chief ship of his own navy, he was -greatly distressed. - -With the aid of the Danish consul Nissen, he managed to write a letter -to Commodore Preble, who was on his way to blockade Tripoli. This -letter he wrote in lemon juice, which, when the paper is held to the -fire, becomes readable. This letter Commodore Preble showed to the -officers and enlisted men of the squadron, and even gave us permission -to copy it for keepsakes in honor of Captain Bainbridge's pluck and -resourcefulness. In the letter the latter advanced this plan for -destroying his frigate: - - - "Charter a small merchant schooner, fill her with men and have - her commanded by fearless and determined officers. Let the vessel - enter the harbor at night, with her men secreted below deck; - steer her directly on board the frigate and then let the officers - and men board, sword in hand, and there is no doubt of their - success. It will be necessary to take several good rowboats in - order to facilitate the retreat after the enterprise has been - accomplished. The frigate in her present condition is a powerful - auxiliary battery for the defense of the harbor. Though it will - be impossible to remove her from anchorage and thus restore this - beautiful vessel to our navy, yet, as she may and no doubt will be - repaired, an important end will be gained by her destruction." - - -How faithfully this plan was carried out by Commodore Preble and his -men, I shall soon show. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -WE BLOW UP THE _PHILADELPHIA_ - - -A DUEL - -Reuben, Samuel and other members of our crew attended a theatrical -performance in Malta during a period in which our ship was detained in -that harbor by a gale. - -There were British ships in port and the contacts of their crews with -men from our ships was seldom friendly. The little affair of the -Revolution had not yet been forgotten, and, besides, the British habit -of impressing us did not contribute towards a harmonious spirit. This -island was one of England's fortresses in those waters and, of course, -Englishmen abounded. - -We saw in the theatre several of our midshipmen, looking very spruce -in their dress uniforms, with brass buttons shining and with flashing -dirks hanging by light chains from their hips. Among them was Joseph -Bainbridge, the younger brother of Captain William Bainbridge. He was -a slender, bright-eyed, manly young fellow, the most popular middie -aboard the _Constitution_. - -The group were standing in the lobby as we entered. We saw a crowd of -young British officers looking them over with an air that came near to -being insulting. Our middies were returning their gaze boldly and with -even more insolence. - -One of the British officers, a tall, handsome fellow looking very fine -in his scarlet coat with silk braid, collided with Bainbridge in the -lobby. - -"I beg your pardon," we heard young Bainbridge say. The lads had been -warned by the captain to avoid quarrels and Bainbridge, we could see, -was trying to obey the command. - -"That fellow pushed Joe on purpose," said Reuben, clenching his huge -fist. "I've heard of that pusher--he's Captain Tyler, the Governor's -secretary, a bad man in a duel. He has a dozen deaths to his credit, -and is itching to add an American life to his score!" - -When the performance was over--the singer Carlotta had entertained -us well--we went out behind the middies, as a sort of rear-guard. We -weren't looking for trouble, but if those lads got into a tussle, we -felt that they might need aid from some plain sailors. - -Captain Tyrone Tyler was standing where Bainbridge and his comrades had -to pass. He gave young Bainbridge a dig with his elbow, whereupon our -middy turned and spoke to him sharply. Tyler then jammed his elbow into -the middy's face, and with his other hand tried to seize our lad by the -collar. - -"Rough work--stand by!" said Reuben to us. We pushed forward. - -Bainbridge, however, had eluded Tyler's grasp. - -His hand went out towards his tormentor, but it had a card in it. - -"You are a bully and a coward," he said as cool as ice, "and I welcome -the duty of putting a stop to your insults to American officers." - -Tyler took the card from him. The comrades of both men closed in. - -"It'll be a duel," said Reuben, in great disgust, "and our lad will go -up against that killer! Why didn't he decide to let us settle it with -our fists?" - -As the two parties separated, Reuben glanced towards another part of -the lobby. "What ho," he exclaimed, "there's Lieutenant Decatur looking -on! He'd have taken part in the affair, you can bet your boots!" - -Stephen Decatur, first lieutenant of the _Constitution_, followed the -midshipman out of the theatre. We saw him approach Bainbridge and draw -him away from the other middies, who were as flustered as hens. - -We learned later that the meeting was to be on the beach the next day -at nine o'clock. You may be sure that every man Jack of us was on the -lookout to see if Lieutenant Decatur intended to permit Bainbridge to -go ashore. When we saw them go off together in the cutter there was -little work done among the crew. It looked to us as if the midshipman -was on his way to sure death, and we decided that Decatur was going to -seek a way out of the quarrel for the lad. - -Reuben shook his head. "That would be against the honor of the United -States' navy. Decatur may give him a lesson or two in duelling, but -he'll see the thing through. They're leaving the ship a full hour and -a half before the time set--I'll wager there'll be pistol practice -somewhere." - -About half-past nine a boat put out from the shore. There were two -officers in it and both sat upright and chatted to each other. Could it -be that----? - -An hour later, young Bainbridge told us what had happened. Decatur, as -the second of Bainbridge, had chosen pistols at four paces. Tyler's -second objected. "This looks like murder, sir!" he said to Decatur. - -The lieutenant replied: "No sir, this looks like death; your friend is -a professed duellist; mine is inexperienced." - -Decatur gave the warning: "Take aim!" and then "Fire!" Both, through -agitation, missed. Again they faced each other. The pistols were -discharged simultaneously. Tyler fell. A surgeon hurried towards him, -while Bainbridge turned to Decatur. "I don't think his bullet touched -me!" he said. - -"I thank God for that!" said the lieutenant. "I fear it is not so well -with your adversary, but he invited it. Let's be off!" They passed poor -Tyler, lying mortally wounded, and lifted their hats as they went. - -Reuben James, ever since I met him, had talked Decatur, Decatur, -Decatur. He idolized him. During our country's affair with France he -had served on a frigate on which Decatur was a midshipman, and the -exploits of the young officer had so appealed to Reuben that he would -have followed the youth into the mouth of death. - -And indeed, what Reuben told me about Decatur made me also a fervent -worshipper. - -My own state was proud to claim Decatur as a son, for he was born in -Sinnepuxent, Maryland. He was of the blood of Lafayette. His father -and grandfather had been naval officers before him; and the former had -served with honor on our side in the war of the Revolution. - -This, however, was not his first experience in these waters. He had -been an officer in Captain Dale's squadron, serving on the _Essex_ -under Captain Bainbridge. Bainbridge and he had been linked in an -affair that made him eager now to help his imprisoned friend. The -commander of a Spanish gunboat insulted Captain Bainbridge at long -distance while the _Essex_ lay in the harbor of Barcelona. Later -Decatur was also insulted. Decatur visited the gunboat. - -"Where is your captain?" he demanded of the officer on duty. - -"He has gone ashore," was the reply. - -"Tell him that Lieutenant Decatur, of the frigate _Essex_, pronounces -him a cowardly scoundrel, and that when they meet on shore he will cut -his ears off!" - -The matter came to the attention of the commandant of the port, who -requested Captain Bainbridge to curb his fiery officer. The captain -replied that if the gunboat commander did not know how to be courteous -to American officers he must take the consequences. The commandant -thereupon ordered the gunboat captain to apologize to Decatur. The -matter reached the ears of the King of Spain. - -"Treat all officers of the United States with courtesy," he ordered, -"and especially those attached to the United States frigate _Essex_." - - -DECATUR'S BRILLIANT EXPLOIT - -Seventy volunteers were required to help Lieutenant Decatur blow up -the _Philadelphia_. Seventy volunteers--that meant that I had a chance -to go. Fortunately, I was one of the first to hear the orders read, -and thus had an opportunity to apply before others. Captain Eaton was -on board the _Siren_, returning from sitting at the court of inquiry, -when Lieutenant Stewart, commander of the _Siren_, read to him orders -he had just received from Commodore Preble. I, as orderly to Captain -Eaton, was present at the reading. Plain and direct was the message, -but thrilling enough without flourishes. - -I stepped forward. - -"Pardon me, Sir," I said, "but I want to be one of the seventy -volunteers. I speak also for Reuben James. Reuben has served under -Lieutenant Decatur at other times, and he'd be heartbroken to be left -behind." - -I realized as I waited for a reply that I had done a bold thing. I was -not supposed to be hearing the letter read, much less acting upon it. -However, Lieutenant Stewart was not strict about discipline and he took -no offence at my act. - -"Your name goes down!" he said, "also Reuben James, though he'll be -given a chance to speak for himself. You show the right spirit, young -man, but don't feel lofty about it, for I expect any other man of our -navy would have said the same thing if he were standing in your place." - -Properly humbled, I went off to tell Reuben James that he had me to -thank for gaining him an adventure. - -Lieutenant Stewart's prediction came true. The crews of the squadron -actually fought with each other for a chance to go. Decatur's name to -them spelt romance. His exploits had been on every man's lips. - -The crew of the ketch _Intrepid_ having been chosen, off we started. It -was sundown when we drifted into the harbor of Tripoli. We approached -the city knowing that a sudden fear of attack had swept over Tripoli; -that the forts were manned; the guns loaded, and a sharp watch kept. - -We learned later that the Moslem guards congratulated themselves when -they saw the ketch entering the harbor, thinking that it was manned by -good Mohammedans who had had the shrewdness to escape blockading ships. - -The gates of the city were shut. The Captain of the Port would not -inspect the ship until morning. The call of the muezzin sounded over -the still waters of the bay. Night fell on the city. - -On board the _Intrepid_ all of the crew, except six men disguised -as Moors, were concealed below deck or behind bulwarks. Our ketch -drifted towards the _Philadelphia_. A sentinel on the frigate hailed -us, but the answer came back from our Maltese pilot in the sentry's -own language to the effect that the ketch had lost her anchors -during a recent gale and wished to make fast to the anchors of the -_Philadelphia_ until new ones could be purchased the next morning. As -if taking permission for granted, Lieutenant Decatur directed Blake, -a sailor who spoke Maltese, and Reuben and myself to set out from -the ketch in a small boat for the purpose of fastening a line to a -ring-bolt on the frigate's bow. When this was done, the sailors on -the ketch were to haul on the line, to bring our boat nearer to the -frigate. The men hidden behind the bulwarks caught the rope as it -came through the hands of their disguised comrades, and helped in the -hauling. - -Suspecting nothing, the Moslems on the _Philadelphia_ sent in turn a -small boat with a line to aid in mooring the _Intrepid_, but Blake met -them and took the line from their hands, saying, in broken Maltese: - -"We will save the gentlemen the trouble." - -So far so good. But now, as the ketch was being hauled in by the bow -line, the pull of the stern line swung her broadside towards the -Tripolitans, and the guards on the _Philadelphia_ saw the men who, -under the screen of the bulwarks, were hauling in the line. - -"Americanos! Americanos!" we heard them shriek. - -Swift action followed on the part of Decatur. The hidden sailors sprang -into the open and gave the line a pull that sent the ketch close to -the _Philadelphia_. An Arab cut the rope, but the Americans were now -near enough to throw grapnels. - -"Boarders away!" Decatur shouted. We in the boat clambered up the sides -of the _Philadelphia_. The rest of the seventy climbed like cats over -the vessel's rail with Midshipman Morris in the lead and Decatur at -his heels. The _Philadelphia's_ deck was home ground to many of us, -and in a moment we had cleared the quarterdecks of the enemy. Then, in -a cutlass charge, we drove the panic-stricken crew before us. Some of -the infidels leaped overboard. Others sought refuge below, but died at -the hands of sailors who had climbed through the ports. In ten minutes' -time a rocket went up from the Americans to signal to the _Siren_ that -the _Philadelphia_ had been taken. - -Combustibles had been rushed on board. Firing gangs were distributed -through the ship. So swift was the work and so fierce was the blaze -that Midshipman Morris and his gang, who were setting fire to the -cockpit, were almost cut off by flames started elsewhere. From the -portholes on both sides the flames leaped out, enveloping the upper -deck. I saw that Decatur was the last to leave the ship. - -The ketch, when all of the boarding party had returned to it in safety, -had its period of danger too, for while it was still fastened at the -frigate's stern, flames poured from the cabin of the _Philadelphia_ -into the cabin of the ketch where the ammunition was stored. The line -was instantly severed. The crew laboring desperately with the big -sweeps, eight to a side, pushed the _Intrepid_ clear of the burning -vessel and headed for the sea. - -At last the flames reached the magazine of the vessel, which burst -with a tremendous roar. Great sheets of flames arose and sparks flew -like a storm of stars over the waters of the harbor. This was the end -of the good ship _Philadelphia_. - - -Every man on the _Intrepid_ returned without injury. Lord Nelson later -declared this exploit to be "the most bold and daring act of the age." -Decatur was made a captain. He received a letter from the Secretary of -the Navy, and noted with joy that it was addressed to "Stephen Decatur, -Esq., Captain in the Navy of the United States." His pride increased -when he read: - - - "The achievement of this brilliant enterprise reflects the highest - honor on all the officers and men concerned. You have acquitted - yourself in a manner which justifies the high confidence we have - reposed in your valor and your skill. The President has desired - me to convey to you his thanks for your gallant conduct on this - occasion, and he likewise requests that you will in his name thank - each individual of your gallant band for their honorable and - valorous support, rendered the more honorable from its having been - volunteered. As a testimonial of the President's high opinion of - your gallant conduct in this instance, he sends you the enclosed - commission." - - -Some people asked if the _Philadelphia_ could not have been saved, -though Commodore Preble's orders were to destroy her. We heard one of -the captive officers of the frigate say later: - -"I know of nothing which could have rendered it impracticable to the -captors to have taken the _Philadelphia_ out of the harbor of Tripoli." -The pilot on board the ketch, _Catalona_, was of the same opinion. -Decatur himself told his wife that he believed that he could have -towed the ship out, even if he could not have sailed her. - -But Commodore Preble, in setting down explicit orders to destroy her, -had written: "I was well informed that her situation was such as to -render it impossible to bring her out." - -He wrote thus because Captain Bainbridge himself had written: - - - "By chartering a merchant vessel and sending her into the harbor - with men secreted, and steering directly on board the frigate, it - might be effected without any or a trifling loss. It would not be - possible to carry the frigate out, owing to the difficulty of the - channel." - - -The main object was to get the _Philadelphia_ out of the possession of -Tripoli. This Decatur did without risking the success of his enterprise. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE AMERICAN EAGLE ENTERS THE AFRICAN DESERT - - -Hotter and hotter grew our campaign. Thicker and faster adventures -came. I could not be in the center of all of them, but I had reason to -be glad that I had been with Captain Eaton in Tunis, because now he -was returning to the seat of war to launch an attack, and I, because -of his friendship for me, was granted the chance to go along. This new -enterprise came about in this way. - -Captain Bainbridge, I was told by Captain Eaton, while a prisoner in -Tripoli, observed in the Bashaw's court three forlorn children. He -inquired who they were. - -"They are the children of Hamet Bashaw," a guard informed him. "Hamet -Bashaw is the elder brother of our ruler, Joseph Bashaw. Hamet occupied -this throne, until Joseph set on foot a rebellion and drove him out. -Hamet fled to Egypt, and his children were captured by our monarch's -troops. They are now held here as hostages, to insure that Hamet will -make no attempts to regain the kingdom." - -"That gives me an idea," Captain Bainbridge remarked to his officers, -and he set to work to plan to unite against Joseph the forces of Hamet -and the United States. - -The lemon juice was again used as ink. In his letter to one of the -consuls, the captain suggested that the United States should send a -party out to find Hamet and persuade him to lead a movement to regain -his throne, using in the campaign marines and sailors of the American -navy. - -It was this scheme, proposed to him while he was in Tunis, that Captain -Eaton advanced when he visited the Navy Department. He returned to the -fleet with permission to join forces with Hamet. - -My employer's enterprise seemed at first thought to be doomed to -failure. Most naval men disapproved and Captain Murray, then in command -of the Gibraltar squadron, opposed it strenuously. Captain Eaton's -title of "Naval Agent" was also resented by Murray and other officers. -The captain met their attacks with his usual vigor. - -"The government," he burst out, "may as well send out _Quaker -meeting-houses_ to float about this sea as frigates with Murrays in -command. The friendly salutes he may receive and return at Gibraltar -produce nothing at Tripoli. Have we but one Truxton and one Sterret in -the United States?" Later, he included Preble and Decatur in his list -of worthy officers. - -Our first task, then, was to find Hamet, whom Joseph had displaced as -ruler of Tripoli. - -In the finding of Hamet we were greatly assisted by a German engineer -named Leitensdorfer, who had been a colonel in a Tyrol battalion. At -this period he was at Cairo, employed as a military engineer by the -Turks. News came to him that Captain Eaton desired a secret agent to -deliver a message to Hamet. He deserted the Turks and sought Captain -Eaton, who employed him. - -With one attendant and two dromedaries, he entered the desert in search -of the Arab tribe that had given shelter to Hamet. The only sleep he -secured was what he could snatch on the back of his beast; he fed his -animals small balls composed of meal and eggs. Reaching the camp in -safety, he was cordially received, and refreshed with coffee. Hamet -agreed to the American proposals, and one night with one hundred and -fifty followers, he rode away from the Mameluke camp as if on an -ordinary ride, but instead he rode to our camp with Leitensdorfer. - -It had been decided that our route of march should be over the Libyan -desert, along the sea-coast, to the town of Derne. The Viceroy at -Alexandria, bribed by the French consul, forbade us to enter the city -or to embark from the harbor. We were not troubled by this order, -however, because Hamet said that if he went by ship along the coast -while the Arabs were left to cross the desert, they would soon lose -heart and turn back. - -Our object in attacking the Tripolitan cities of Derne and Bengazi was -to cut off the enemy's food supplies; to open a channel for intercourse -with the inland tribes; and to use these cities as recruiting places -for our attack on Tripoli. - -The desert lay ahead of us--the place of which an ancient traveler once -said: "How can one live where not a drop of rain falls; where not a -single dish is to be had; where butter can no more be procured than the -philosopher's stone; where wheat is the diet of kings alone; where the -common man lives on dates, and fever has its headquarters?" - -Except for oases here and there, the Libyan desert is so barren that -there is no animal life. At the oases, towns have been in existence -since the days of the Romans. In one of these, Ghadames, the streets -are covered from the sun, and give the traveler the impression that he -is entering a mine. Caravan roads run from oasis to oasis. Donkeys, -horses and cattle are used as beasts of burden, but the camel is the -chief of desert animals. - -Tripoli extends for many hundreds of miles along the coast from Tunis -to Egypt. Its cities and oases contain about a million people. Along -its caravan routes traders bring ostrich feathers, elephant tusks, and -other products from Central Africa to be shipped to Europe. - -Into this desert we push, a motley army. Arab adventurers have gathered -around Hamet, sheiks and tribesmen who are moved only by a hope of -plunder and reward. Our own American forces can be depended on, but -how few they are. The six marines are a good-natured, independent set, -sufficient unto themselves. They look at the Greek soldiers whom the -Greek captain has enlisted with great amusement, for the Greeks wear -kilts. However, they too are good-humored, and the Americans and Greeks -may be counted on to stick together, being Christians, against the -semi-hostile infidels. - -Our food consists of dates, figs, apricots, camel's meat, and camel's -milk. After a while even these will grow scarce and famine will -confront us as it confronted Jacob and his sons in this same country, -but for the present let us not look forward to hunger. - -At the front of our caravan, on swift camels bred for racing, ride -the sheiks. Trained to be on the watch for robber bands, they survey -the horizon keenly, although our expedition is so large that there is -little need to fear attack. Thieves will steal up to plunder at night, -but they dare not attempt robbery in force. - -Behind these picturesque chiefs, come the freight camels, loaded with -all kinds of equipment and supplies. They are drab and sullen as the -desert itself. On these beasts ride their owners, Bedouins in long, -white or brown gowns, wrapped so that only their faces may be seen. - -Our water we carry in pigskins, loaded on certain camels. There are -also jugs of oil. The water tastes like the pigskin, and it almost -sickens one to drink it. - -We follow no path or road; there is none; yet our guides know the way -by rocks and hills or other marks. At night the stars are our only -guides, but the march has been arranged so that we camp near a well or -spring every night. - -When we stop to rest, the camels kneel down to be relieved of their -burdens. Their feet are examined to see if they have been bruised, -and such wounds are treated and bound up, after which the camels are -hobbled to keep them from running away. - -Meanwhile, our tents are being pitched. We smooth out the soft sand to -make a comfortable bed. We have brought fuel with us, and with this a -fire is made. Guards are stationed, and we sleep with our guns near our -hands. The Mohammedans in our party, after first rubbing their faces -and hands with sand because water is not to be had, kneel in prayer. - -During the day the sun beats upon us with almost unbearable heat, and -as there are no clouds in the sky, the sun's rays, striking against the -white sand, almost blind us, while to make things more uncomfortable, -the camels raise a thick dust. We understand now why the Arabs wear -cloths about their heads. We follow their example, and cut slits in -the cloths for eyes and nose. After the sun goes down it is better for -traveling. - -It is lucky for us that we are sailors and used to a rolling motion, -for the motion of the camel is like that of a ship. - -A sand storm comes. A small black cloud arises and grows till in a -short time it has half covered the sky. The sand begins to blow, and -beats into our faces like hail. We stop the caravan; the camels kneel; -and fighting off terror, we lie down with our faces in the ground -beside the beasts. The blowing sand is so thick that it hides the sun. - -The storm passes quickly. There has been, for all the blackness of the -clouds, no drop of rain. - -After the sun goes down, the air becomes cool and blankets are needed. -The sky is full of low-hanging stars and the moon is big and mellow. - -Once in a while we meet a wandering tribe that moves from green place -to green place with their animals, living in tents of camels'-hair -cloth. "_Aleikoom salaam!_" (Peace be with you!) they call to us, -bobbing up and down on their camels. "_Salaam aleikoom!_" (With you -be peace!) we answer. Bands of robbers appear in the distance. At the -oases we meet farmers who are not given to roving. They have priests -and sheiks, and worship in mosques, and raise grain and vegetables. -Once in a while a hospitable sheik roasts a kid on a stick and invites -us to dine. Fingers are forks here. We find it so highly seasoned with -red pepper that our mouths burn and our eyes water. - -The approach of a caravan is picturesque and exciting. First you hear -a moaning sound like the wailing of a strong wind through a clump of -trees. Then a cloud appears on the horizon. In a few moments you see -that this cloud is of dust, and that in its midst are scores of camels. -The rumbling noise you heard is found to be merely the gurgling sound -that camels make. - -It was also interesting to observe a caravan go into camp. The foreleg -of each camel was folded and tied to keep the beast from wandering; -baby camels, their white coats contrasting strongly with the dark brown -color of their parents' coats, knelt by their hobbled mothers. - -The owners of the camels busied themselves in driving stakes for their -tents, while the women occupied themselves by arranging the palanquins -in which they and their little ones traveled on the backs of the -camels. These palanquins are no more or less than woolen tents made -of red blankets supported on the camels' backs by a framework of tree -branches. The camel's hump is wrapped around by woolen stuffs and on -each side of the hump a woman sits, surrounded by babies and bundles, -but protected by the canopy from the sun. - -At some of the oases we passed we saw bronzed, graceful women and girls -weaving carpets and ornamenting veils and blankets. Two women worked at -an upright loom. One of these spinners unwound the skeins of wool while -the other wove, using her fingers as a shuttle. Peeping into one of -their tents I saw the entire family sitting around a wooden dish, into -which all dipped, while kids and dogs tried to poke their heads between -the children, eager to have a share in the repast. - -The date palms were the principal trees at these oases. Nature, when -this land became a desert, yet provided the date palm to sustain the -life of the desert people. Each tree yields a hundred pounds or more -of dates yearly for a century. The green dates taste like unripe -persimmons but the ripe dates are sugary and delicious. The Arabs call -the date the bread of the desert and besides using it as a main food, -feed it also to their camels and dogs. - -It was on March 6th, 1805, that we broke camp and began our fifty days' -march across the desert--a journey that required all of the American -grit we could muster to carry on. Hunger and rebellion and the wavering -of Hamet himself had to be endured, and Arab chiefs had continually to -be coaxed and bribed. - -There were ten Americans in the party: General Eaton, Lieutenant -O'Bannon; Mr. Peck, a non-commissioned officer, six marines, and -myself. The rest of the force was composed of a party of twenty-five -cannoniers and their three officers; thirty-eight Greek soldiers and -their two officers; Hamet Bashaw's company of ninety men; and a party -of Arab cavalry under the command of the Sheiks il Taiib and Mahamet, -including footmen and camel drivers. Our entire force numbered about -four hundred and our caravan consisted of one hundred and seven camels -and a few asses. - - -THE SHEIKS REBEL - -After a day's march the first trouble occurred. The owners of the -camels and horses we had hired demanded pay in advance, but General -Eaton foresaw that if the money were advanced they would be in a -position to desert if they became dissatisfied, and he refused to -comply with their demands. They then became mutinous. To make matters -worse the Sheik il Taiib insinuated to them that if they performed -their services without getting paid, we would be apt to cheat them out -of their wages. - -General Eaton appealed to Hamet but found him undecided and despondent, -and at last he made a bold move by ordering the Christians to take up -their arms and to march back to Alexandria, threatening to abandon both -the expedition and Hamet unless the march proceeded forward at once. -The expedition was resumed. - -After we had marched about seventy-five miles through low sand valleys -and rocky, desert plains, a courier met us, sent to us by some of -Hamet's friends at Derne. He informed us that the province was arming -to assist our cause. - -We chanced to be near the ruins of a castle of Greek design. Because -of the good news the Arabs entertained us with feats of horsemanship, -firing their rifles as they rode. This sport, however, came close to -bringing on a serious disaster. Our Arabs, who were on foot and who -were yet at a distance, bringing up the baggage, heard the firing -and thought that we had been attacked by wild Arabs of the desert. -Thereupon they attempted to disarm and put to death the Christians who -were in their party. One old Arab, however, advised them to postpone -the slaughter until they learned the cause of the firing. This counsel -they heeded, and the lives of the Christians were saved. - -One night, not long after, a musket, a bayonet, cartridges, and all of -our stores of cheese were stolen from one of our tents by the Arabs. - -When we had reached an ancient castle in the desert called by the -Arabs, Masroscan, another rebellion occurred. Here we found vestiges -of old walls, gardens, and mansions that showed that people of refined -tastes had lived there in the dim past. Now a few Arab families lived -in tents among the ruins. Here and there were patches of wheat and -barley, and miserable cattle, sheep, goats, and fowl searched the -ground for sustenance. - -We learned that the Bashaw had directed the caravan to proceed only to -as far as this place, and that its owners had received no part of their -promised pay. General Eaton's cash was low, but he managed to borrow -one hundred and forty dollars among the Christian officers and men, -and turned over to Hamet Bashaw six hundred and seventy-three dollars, -with which he settled the claims of the chiefs of the caravan. Upon -this they agreed to march two days more, but in the night all these -camel-drivers withdrew and turned their camels towards Egypt. - -Hamet Bashaw favored leaving the baggage at the castle and marching -on in the hope of hiring other camels, but, since we were now without -cash, General Eaton rejected this advice, as it would mean proceeding -without provisions and with no money to obtain fresh supplies. - -Then the mischief-maker, Sheik il Taiib, reinforced by other sheiks, -declared that they would proceed no farther until we had sent forward a -messenger to learn if our American warships were awaiting our arrival -at Bomba, a sea-coast town on the route to Derne. These chiefs had -heard that an army of cavalry and foot soldiers had been sent from -Tripoli to the defence of Derne, and they wanted assurances that our -navy was at hand to help us against them. - -"We will delay for no messenger!" General Eaton declared, "as long as -you halt here I will stop your rations." - -To his companions he said: "If they persist in their course, we will -seize the castle, fortify ourselves, and send word to our fleet to send -a naval expedition to our relief!" - -Then he added: "We have marched a distance of two hundred miles through -an inhospitable waste of world, but we are bound across this gloomy -desert on pursuits vastly different from those which lead fanatics to -Mecca; we go to liberate three hundred Americans from the chains of -barbarism!" - -[Illustration: "WE ARE BOUND ACROSS THIS GLOOMY DESERT TO LIBERATE -THREE HUNDRED AMERICANS FROM THE CHAINS OF BARBARISM."--GENERAL EATON.] - -On the next morning we found that General Eaton's firm stand had had -its effect, for fifty camels were reassembled by the sheiks and the -march was resumed. After traveling twenty-five miles we came to a high, -green place by the sea where three tribes of Arabs, numbering four -thousand, lived. Around them were vast herds of camels, horses, cattle, -and countless flocks of sheep and goats. - -We were the first Christians these wild people had ever seen. They -laughed at our dress, but showed great respect towards our officers. -Our polished arms filled them with amazement, and the gold lace on -the General's hat, and his epaulettes, buttons and spurs awed them. -They thought that the ornaments were gold and silver, and expressed -astonishment that God should permit people, who followed what they -called the religion of the devil, to possess such riches. They offered -us for sale whatever food or articles they possessed, including such -rarities as young gazelles and ostriches. They offered us also dates -that had been brought in a five days' journey from the interior of -Africa. We desired to buy all that was offered, but, we had only -our rice to trade for their products, which greatly restricted our -purchasing power. Here we found water in plenty, the rain having been -caught and preserved in natural caverns of rock. - -These Arab tribes had never seen bread. When we offered them hard -biscuit, they broke it with their shepherds' clubs or their hatchets -and tasted it gingerly, but then, liking the taste, they begged us for -more. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE DESERT GIRL - - -Attracted by the sound of a drum, beating rhythmically and unceasingly, -we strolled after sunset to the entrance of an Arab tent. Old women, -with straggling hair and wizened faces, and with eyes ablaze with -excitement, were pounding the drum. The tent was thronged with young -men and women, who watched tensely and eagerly the dancers in their -center. Only young women were dancing. The dance was in honor of a holy -man, and was called the _djdib_. - -Women, urged on by the drum and by the cries of the spectators, whirled -and swayed. Their heads rocked from side to side like tree-tops in a -tempest. The spirit of the dance had taken possession of them and urged -them on until there was no more strength left in their lithe bodies. - -They danced until they became exhausted, then others threw aside their -scarves and renewed the dance. - -I saw a golden-haired girl of about fifteen standing among the tawny -Arab girls. The contrast between her quiet beauty and the bold charms -of her companions drew the attention of all of the members of our -party. I pointed her out to General Eaton. He began to wonder aloud -as to whether she was one of the Circassian race, brought down from -the mountains by Arabian bandits in some raid, or whether she was of -Anglo-Saxon stock. - -"She _must_ be a Circassian," he concluded, "it is unbelievable that -an English or American girl should be owned by this desert tribe!" - -An old woman poked her hatchet-shaped face into that of the young girl. - -"Go and dance! All these years you have been under the protection of -Allah. Who is this Nazarene--that you place him above Mohammed and his -saints? Go and dance. Give your spirit to the djinn! May Allah wither -your budding beauty if you refuse to worship his saint in the dance!" - -She seized the young girl by her thick sash and pulled her into the -center. The band of ribbon that had bound her golden hair became loose; -her hair poured like a flood of gold over her shoulders. She stood -trembling amidst the wild dancers, some of whom, in their frenzy, were -digging her with their sharp elbows. - -The drum beat insistently, but the girl did not obey its urge to dance. -She stood trembling, and now she raised her eyes towards us with a -pleading that roused us to interfere. - -General Eaton motioned to a sheik. - -"We would not interrupt the dance, or offend the hospitality of this -tent in any way. But that girl seems to be of our blood, and the dance -is strange to her. Would it not offend the marabout in whose honor you -dance to have a Nazarene take part? What is worship of the hands and -feet if the heart is not submissive too? I pray you, permit the girl to -withdraw." - -The young Arabs cast hostile glances at us, but the sheik was -good-natured and was expecting rich gifts from the general. He called -the girl to him. She came quickly. He spoke to her in Arabic, and she -withdrew to an alcove. - -"She is an adopted daughter of our tribe," he explained. - -The famine lay heavily upon this people. Perhaps it was due to the -biscuits we offered this tribe that our interference with their -ceremony was not hotly resented. Perhaps, indeed, the famine was -responsible for their next move. - -An old woman came out of the alcove that had hidden the girl and came -directly to General Eaton. "The fair-haired one is a trouble to me," -she said. "We have given her food and shelter for many years, yet when -we speak to her of marriage, she weeps. When we tell her that we will -sell her to become a dancing-girl in the bazaars and cafes if she will -not wed one of our young men, she threatens to kill herself! Lovelier -damsels than she have gone into the harem, happy to have a lord who -will keep them from want. And there are worse lives than to dance at -the _fantasias_ of rich men, and to win the approval of the cafes. The -girl is ungrateful and a burden to us. Our own children are starving. -Give us money to buy food and take the unthankful girl!" - -"Let the girl be summoned," said the general. She came forth, glancing -from the Sheik Abdullah to General Eaton with fear in her eyes. - -"My girl," said the general through an interpreter, "these people have -offered you for sale. My purpose in buying you would be to find you a -good home, where you will be brought up in the way of people of your -color and race. Do you consent?" She looked at him as if she could not -believe her ears, then sobbed, then nodded earnestly. - -"Done!" thundered the general, "I call on Sheik Abdullah to witness -that the offer has been made and accepted. I shall be liberal, too! -Tell me what price such girls bring at the slave-market in Murzuk and -it shall be paid." - -The money was poured into the old hag's outstretched palms. The members -of her family gathered round to gloat over it. The young Arabs laughed -at the prospect of food. The departure of the girl in our company did -not cause them the slightest concern. Maidens are held cheaply in the -Sahara. A swift camel is worth more than a girl. What value has a -Nazarene maiden compared with food for one's own famished children? - -The general, to shield the girl as much as possible from the curious -soldiers, gave her a tent where she dwelt alone, watched over by an old -Nubian woman who had become attached to our party in Egypt and had been -taken along for her value as a cook. - -The general told a group of us briefly that the girl remembered little -of her early life. There was a vague remembrance of a mother who had -lived among these dark people. There came a day when she went out of -her life and a scolding Arab woman took her place. - -The girl and her black servant traveled on donkeys. A young sheik, a -friend of the sheik, who had sold the girl to our party, joined Hamet's -forces at this village. I wondered if he had planned to add the maiden -to his circle of wives. - - -HAMET BASHAW LOSES HIS TEMPER - -A courier from Derne met us here with news that Joseph's army was -approaching Derne. This caused a panic among our Arabs, and even Hamet -seemed to be in doubt as to whether it were wise to proceed. I was -forming a rather low opinion of his bravery, but tried to lose such -thoughts by thinking that if he were a hundred times less a man he -would be better than his brother. Some of the camel drivers fled. We -heard, too, that many of Hamet's followers were planning to turn back. -General Eaton again stopped their rations and ordered that no food be -served them until they marched forward. The general had a lion's heart -and was a born leader. Obstacles like these only served to bring out -his firm qualities. - -The Sheik il Taiib was again the center of the revolt, since he had -resolved to go no farther until news arrived that our vessels were -awaiting us at Bomba. When General Eaton reproached him for his want -of courage and fidelity, he flew into a rage and put himself at the -head of such Arabs as would follow him, which was about half of our -force, and started back to Egypt. Hamet begged General Eaton to send -an officer to pacify him and persuade him to return, but the General -refused. - -"We have paid him for his services," he declared, "and we have a right -to expect that he be faithful to his pledge; I will not permit him to -dictate measures to us!" - -"But he may take part against us," pleaded frightened Hamet. - -"Let him do it," the general answered, "I like an open enemy better -than a treacherous friend!" - -We continued our march. Messengers then arrived from the rebellious -sheik, assuring us that he was really on his way back to Egypt. - -The general sent word back to him: "I will take vigorous steps for the -recovery of the cash and property you have drawn from me by fraud!" - -In a few hours a new messenger arrived with the information that the -Sheik il Taiib would join us if we halted to await his coming. - -At last his caravan hove in sight. - -"You see," he said to the general, to mask his defeat, "what influence -I have among these people!" - -"Yes," returned the general, "and I see also the disgraceful use you -make of it!" - -On the next day, the sheik having been quieted for a time, Hamet -himself again showed signs of turning back. Separating his Moslem party -from us, he took from our officers the horses he had loaned us for the -passage through the desert. When General Eaton reproached him for his -indecision and lack of perseverance, high words followed. We marched -on; Hamet turned back, but after two hours had passed he rejoined us, -complimented the general on his firmness, and said that he had been -forced to pretend that he was falling in with the wishes of his people, -so that he might in the end manage them. - -The next day brought the same daily measure of trouble. Several sheiks -quarreled with Sheik il Taiib over the distribution of the money that -Hamet had paid them, and had quitted camp. We could not proceed without -them because they exercised a powerful influence over the Arab tribes -near Derne, whose support we were counting on. Hamet rode after them to -persuade them to be loyal to us, and in his absence Sheik il Taiib took -the stage again, demanding that the general issue more rations. - -"Remember," he said threateningly, "You are in a desert, and a country -not your own! I am a greater man here than you or the Bashaw!" - -The general retorted: "I have found you at the head of every commotion -which has happened since we left Alexandria. You are the cause of the -present trouble among the chiefs. Leave my tent! But mark: if I find a -mutiny in the camp I will put you to death as the man who produced it." - -The sheik left the tent and rode away with other chiefs. A few hours -later, however, he returned and swore that he was devoted to the -general; that some secret enemy had told lies about him; that he would -even abandon the Bashaw to follow us; and hoped that at Derne he would -have the opportunity to show that he was a _man_. - -Our next halt came when some of the Arab chiefs insisted on riding off -to an oasis called Seewauk for a supply of dates. They promised to -rejoin our party at Bomba. We halted to discuss the matter. - -While this matter was being debated we visited an Arab camp nearby. -We found that the young men and women, although copper-colored, were -handsome and well-formed. The women did not veil, and were modest and -bashful in their deportment. The general complimented the wife of the -chief on her beauty. She smiled and said there were more beautiful -women in camp than herself and brought in a group of girls to prove it. -But the general gallantly held to his first opinion. - -Our soldiers were fond of dates, and to secure them from the girls they -gave as payment the buttons on their uniforms, which the women strung -as ornaments about their necks. - -We were fortunate enough to see a marriage in the Arab camp. Two camels -bearing canopies resembling wagon tops covered with Smyrna carpeting, -passed along, to the noise of volleys of muskets. The bride and groom -rode separately in these canopies, attended by elderly women, adult -unmarried girls, and by mounted Arabs. - -The women chanted a savage kind of song; the men performed daring feats -of horsemanship, and young men and girls danced between the camels. In -this manner they circled their tents and our encampment. Then the camel -carrying the bride was driven seven times around a tent that had been -assigned to her. The animal was then made to kneel, the door of the -canopy was opened, and the bride was pitched headfirst into the tent, -where her women companions were reciting a benediction. - -We were told that presents were expected. We gave a little money to -an old Arab woman who had taken the leading part in the celebration, -supposing her to be the mother of the bride. The general also invited -an Arab of about fifty-five years to his tent to receive an extra -present of provisions. Upon questioning the Arab as to the ages of the -bride and groom, we learned that he himself was the groom; that the -bride was a girl of thirteen years; and that the woman we had supposed -to be her mother was another wife of the groom. - - -THE ALLIES QUARREL - -Now arose a crisis that threatened more than any of the previous ones -the success of our movement. Indeed, even the lives of all of the -Christian members of the expedition were at stake. When we had reached -a spot about ninety miles from Bomba, we found ourselves facing a -famine. We had only six days' rations of rice, no bread nor meat, nor -other ration. General Eaton was therefore anxious that we move forward -to Bomba as swiftly as possible, but Hamet, while the general was out -of camp, ordered the expedition to halt and announced that the troops -needed a day's rest. The reason for his act, we learned, was that he -might send a courier to see if our ships were indeed awaiting us at -Bomba. - -The general stopped the rations when he found that his army had halted, -and Hamet, influenced by his Arab hosts, prepared again to march in a -direction away from Derne. The Arabs tried to seize the weapons of the -Christians, and General Eaton promptly called us to arms. We stood in -a row before the magazine tent, guarding our guns from those who would -use them to slaughter us. When the crowd had fallen back, the general -ordered us to proceed with our daily drill. Seeing this, an Arab chief -shouted: - -"The Christians are preparing to fire on us!" - -Hamet put himself at their head, with drawn sword, as if he feared that -such was our intention. - -General Eaton stood firmly facing the threatening host of Turks and -Arabs. Around him clustered a little group: O'Bannon, Peck, Farquhar, -Leitensdorfer, Selem Aga, the Greek officers, and myself. I tried my -best to keep the gun in my hand from shivering, but the more I tried -the more my hand trembled. Two hundred mounted Turks and Arabs advanced -in full charge against us. The end was in sight. We leveled our -muskets. I thought of Alexander and the Rector and said a prayer. - -"Do not shoot until all hope of peace is gone--then sell your lives -dearly!" General Eaton said. - -The charging Arabs swerved and withdrew, but when we began to -breathe more freely, they came closer, and this time we could see -them selecting us as their targets. It did not seem that any of us -Christians could survive five minutes longer. An Arab youth snapped a -pistol at my breast. Providentially it missed fire. If one bullet had -been fired, war to the death between the two sides would have resulted. -A moment later we heard the command of "fire!" ring out from among the -Arabs. - -"At the first shot, give them a volley!" General Eaton ordered. - -At this critical instant, one of Hamet's officers ran out towards the -mutineers and cried: "For God's sake, do not fire! The Christians are -our friends!" - -Then the general, although a column of muskets was aimed at his -breast, approached Hamet and demanded of him how he could support such -desperate acts. The Bashaw wavered. A chorus of furious whoops from the -Arabs drowned the general's voice. He waved his hand as a signal for -attention. In response, some of the more kindly disposed chiefs rode -before the Arabs with drawn sabres and ordered the infuriated tribesmen -to fall back. - -The general again reproached Hamet for his weakness, and even Hamet's -chief officer asked the Bashaw if he had lost his senses. The latter, -in a fury, struck his officer with his drawn sabre. The fracas began -again and had nearly reached its former heat when General Eaton seized -Hamet by the arm and drew him away from his people. - -"Can it be," the general exclaimed, "that you have forgotten who your -true friends are, and where your interests lie?" - -Hamet melted. He called the general his protector and friend; lamented -that he lost his temper so easily, and ordered the Arabs to disperse. - -General Eaton agreed to issue a ration of rice if the Bashaw promised -march would be resumed early the next morning. This pledge was made and -peace returned. Then we saw a sorry sight. At least two of the white -men had acted like cowards and had hidden themselves among the tents. -They now came slinking forth to stammer excuses that, you may be sure, -were received stonily by us. We again went forward, but after we had -marched twenty-five miles our rice became exhausted, and we were now -without rations. - -With starvation threatening us, Hamet killed a camel, and also gave -one in exchange for sheep, that were also slaughtered. The meat, -however, had to be eaten without bread or salt. As we went on the -hunger increased, and we saw the Arabs searching the plain for roots -and vegetable substances on which they might subsist. A water famine -was almost always with us. At one time we were obliged to drink from a -cistern in which we had found the bodies of two murdered Arabs. - -For the first time in my life I realized the meaning of such passages -of Scripture as: - - - "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; - He leadeth me beside the still waters." - - -While facing yet another insurrection, this time of the gunners, a -courier arrived from Bomba with the news that our ships were off both -that place and Derne. This gave us new strength and courage and ended -the mutiny, and so at last we came to Bomba. - -There, however, we found that the vessel that had been seen had -departed. The fat was in the fire again, with the Arabs abusing us as -impostors and infidels and threatening to leave us, if they did nothing -worse. - -But oh, the resourcefulness of our general! Withdrawing with the -Christians to a high hill nearby, he ordered that a huge fire be -kept burning on its crest all night; the next morning as the Turks -and Arabs were scattering, to go to their homes, when the end of the -expedition seemed indeed to be in sight, we saw from the top of the -hill a sail. The United States' ship _Argus_, with Captain Hull in -command was approaching. The next day the sloop _Hornet_ arrived, laden -with provisions. We then refreshed ourselves and our famished army, and -unloaded from the _Hornet_ the provisions necessary to feed us on the -march to Derne. - -The worst of the journey was over. We were approaching cultivated land. -To keep the inhabitants from becoming hostile to us the Bashaw sent a -herald through the camp to cry: - -"He who fears God and feels attachment to Hamet Bashaw will be careful -to destroy nothing. Let no one touch the growing harvest. He who -transgresses shall lose his right hand!" - -I now heard shrieks from the tent that sheltered the girl we had -rescued by purchase from the Arabs. I saw two camels standing beside -the tent, held by a young Arab who looked towards us furtively. It -flashed across my mind that the young sheik whom I had suspected of an -intention to add the girl to his household had seized upon the moment -when we were engaged in putting down a rebellion to kidnap the girl. -I rushed to the tent, followed by an Arab lad Mustapha, who also came -from the girl's village, and who had shown an humble devotion to her -by daily giving to the negress for the maiden a share of his ration of -dates. - -As we reached the door of the tent the sheik emerged with the girl in -his arms. I jabbed the point of my pistol into his face while Mustapha -plunged earthward in an effort to stay his strides toward the camels. -The lad's attack was so vigorous that the sheik sprawled face downward -into the sand, while the girl, released by his stumble, fell into my -arms for support. - -She was pale with terror and leaned against me like a broken lily. -General Eaton, having pacified Hamet and his supporters, came dashing -between me and the kidnapper, who had seized his knife and risen to his -feet. I still menaced him with my pistol, but the general forbade me to -fire. - -"He richly deserves death," he whispered, taking in at a glance the -situation, "but to fire a shot would cause a general battle and the -defeat of our plans." He then turned to the scowling chief. - -"Mount your camel and go," he said. "Hamet Bashaw wants no one in his -ranks who, under pretense of loyalty to a cause, comes to steal a girl -who despises him." - -The Arab, without replying, mounted his camel and rode away with his -attendant. We saw a small group detach themselves from the main body -and follow him. - -"A good riddance!" the general muttered. Then, seeing Mustapha, he -delighted the youth by saying, "You, my boy, are worth a hundred such -fellows!" - -The Nubian woman, who had been choked into insensibility, now staggered -out of the tent and relieved me of my burden--one that I was none too -glad to surrender. - -The girl murmured something to me in Arabic as she re-entered the tent, -including Mustapha in her glance. I looked at him questioningly. - -"She said," the lad explained, "that her heart is overflowing with -gratitude to you and myself for rescuing her." - -General Eaton ordered that the maiden's tent be continually guarded -after that. I managed to be selected for sentinel duty more often than -anyone else. Mustapha also stood guard with me. The girl sat in the -door of her tent looking up to the stars. With Mustapha interpreting, -we chatted. I told her about America and Baltimore and assured her that -once she was out of the desert, a happy life would open for her. She -asked shy questions about the girls of the United States--what they -wore; how they occupied themselves. I heard her and the Nubian woman -laughing when I said, rather abruptly, that I had not paid attention -to the looks and habits of girls at home. I taught her a few words of -English--"America," "ship," "friend," "good morning," and "good night." - -When we reached Derne, a few days after the encounter I have described -took place, the girl went aboard one of the American warships. The last -I saw of her was when she stepped timidly into a cutter, assisted by -General Eaton. I stood on the shore watching. I saw her glancing back -at the shore and I am sure I saw a motion of her hand in response to my -furious waving. From that hour I began thinking of home more than I had -ever thought of it before. And Mustapha and I, when we walked back to -our tents, never spoke a word to each other the whole way. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -REUBEN JAMES SAVES DECATUR'S LIFE - - -The fleet had not been idle while we fought our way across the desert. -Letters awaited us at Bomba, brought us by one of the naval vessels. -A long epistle, with a thrill in every paragraph, was the combined -work of Samuel Childs and Reuben James. It gave an account of the -gallant way in which Reuben saved his idol Stephen Decatur's life in a -hand-to-hand conflict between the crews of our gunboats and those of -the corsairs. The part describing Reuben's part was written by Samuel, -and bore in the margin a sentence of protest scrawled by the modest -Reuben. Here is the story as I gleaned it: - -The gunboats were sent in to attack the enemy's fleet in two divisions, -one led by Stephen Decatur and the other by Richard Somers. The Moslems -were past masters of this art of boarding. Decatur and Somers were -therefore leading their men to do battle with these ferocious fighters -under severe handicaps. - -Our habit of boarding dismayed Joseph. He had thought that his men were -invincible in a fight on a ship's deck. - -The mode of attack used by the corsairs was always by boarding. Their -vessels were so made that it was easy for them to go on board an enemy. -Their lateen yards were so long that they projected over the deck of -the vessel approached. The infidels used these as a passageway from -their vessel to the prize. Then, from all points of their riggings and -from all quarters of their decks, the pirates would leap on board the -attacked ship. That they might have free use of their hands in climbing -the gunwales of the vessel, they carried their sabres grasped between -their teeth, and had loaded pistols in their belts. As they swarmed -aboard, thus armed, they were a terrifying sight. They were taught -by their religion that if they died in battle with Christians their -salvation was assured, so they fought desperately. But Joseph, scornful -of America, without knowing what fighters her sons were, now found his -fiercest warriors slain by men who could board ship and give battle on -deck with even more strength and bravery than his own captains. - -Decatur, who had charge of the foremost three boats, had to bear the -brunt of the fighting. Opposed to his three boats were nine Tripolitan -boats, well armed and crowded with men. - -Reuben James was in Decatur's boat. The first gun Decatur fired was -loaded with a thousand musket balls in a bag. The shot wrought terrific -damage on board the vessel selected for the attack. The captain fell -dead with fourteen of the musket balls lodged in his body. Thus far -Captain Decatur had had easy work. - -Lieutenant James Decatur, Stephen's brother, had commanded the second -boat. He had been treacherously slain. The Moor in charge of the boat -he attacked hauled down its flag at the first fire. James Decatur then -directed his men to board, but as his boat approached the Tripolitan -craft, the cunning captain shot Decatur dead, and while the dismayed -Americans gathered around their leader, the Moor hauled off his boat. - -News soon reached Stephen of the loss of his brother and away he went -in vengeful pursuit of the slayer of James. He overhauled the boat and -led his men aboard in a fierce charge. Reuben was at his heels. The -Moorish captain was a powerful brute; he had all the weapons a man -could carry, and he was as desperate as a treed wildcat. - -Stephen Decatur, however, went at his huge foe in a way that meant -death either to the Moor or himself. The infidel met Decatur's rush -with his pike, while Decatur depended on his sword. Reuben James was -busy disposing of an infidel. Before he tackled another, he looked to -see what headway the captain was making. Imagine how taken aback he -was to see Decatur staggering back from a pike stab in the breast. He -slashed his way towards his leader, but, as luck would have it, a shot -lodged in his right hand and a moment later a jab from a spear disabled -his left arm. - -Meanwhile Decatur, nothing daunted by his wound, had brought his sword -into play. The blade, meeting a savage blow from the pike, broke off -at the hilt. Reuben saw Decatur dart in past the Moor's weapon, and -grapple with him. An Arab sneaked up in the captain's rear and aimed -a blow at his head. Reuben then threw his own disabled body between -Decatur and his second foe. The blow landed on his head, and he sank -to the deck crippled and half senseless. He could see Decatur and the -Moorish captain fall to the deck, with the infidel on top. The Moor had -one arm free and with it he drew a knife. Reuben closed his eyes. Then -he heard a shot and opened them again. In Decatur's hand was a smoking -pistol, and the slayer of his brother lay dead at the captain's feet. - -From the rest of the letter I gathered facts that gave me a fair idea -of the progress of the campaign. - -The third boat in Decatur's division was commanded by John Trippe, -sailing master. Trippe killed a Moorish captain in much the same manner -as Decatur slew his adversary. As he led his men across the side of a -Tripolitan vessel, his own boat was swept away from the side before all -of his party could board. Thus Trippe, with another officer and nine -men, was left to face thirty-six infidels. Trippe determined, as his -one hope of victory, to kill the captain, a man of great height and -strength. He came as near to death as did Decatur, receiving eleven -wounds. At last, when the Moor had forced him down so that he was -fighting with one knee on deck, he caught his foe off guard and stabbed -him to death with a pike. Fourteen of the infidels had been slain by -the Americans and the remaining twenty-two now surrendered. None of the -Americans were killed. Richard Somers, who commanded the other three -boats, was prevented from following Decatur along the inside route he -took, yet he found means to capture three Moorish gunboats and to sink -three others. - -Reuben James passes out of my story here, but it is due him that I skip -several years and tell how when doctors were about to amputate, because -an old wound had diseased a bone in his leg, he exclaimed: "Doctor, you -are the captain, Sir. Fire away; but I don't think it is shipshape to -put me under jury masts when I have just come into harbor." - -From other correspondence we learned how Commodore Preble, while -his gunboats were thus engaged, sailed into the harbor on board the -_Constitution_, with Captain Chauncey in command, and bombarded the -forts. The ship was excellently handled. Her crew tacked and made sail -under the guns of the enemy with as much coolness and skill as if there -were no guns trained on them. Several times the _Constitution_ passed -within three cables' length of the batteries on shore, and silenced -them. But the moment the frigate passed on, the silenced batteries were -manned again. The monarch had thousands of soldiers at his command and -continued to drive fresh gunners to the batteries. - -On another day a Tripolitan fleet of five gunboats and two galleys came -out to attempt to capture or destroy certain gunboats of the American -fleet lying near the harbor. Commodore Preble signaled to the brigs and -schooners under his command to meet the raiders, and these ships poured -such a hot fire upon the Moslem flotilla that they were forced to turn -back. - -The grape-shot fired by the Americans during these engagements swept -the enemy's decks of men, and worried the gunmen on shore so badly -that it spoiled their aim, so that the _Constitution_ was but slightly -damaged, and had none killed and only one man wounded. - - -THE DEATH OF SOMERS - -Now, came news of the tragedy of the campaign. It was decided to use -the ketch _Intrepid_ as a fireship to destroy the enemy's shipping. -Captain Somers volunteered to take command of her, and Lieutenant -Wadsworth volunteered to go with him. Ten men went with them--six -volunteers from the _Constitution_ and four volunteers from the -_Nautilus_. Two small boats were taken, so that the party could escape -from the floating mine after they had lighted the fuses. The _Intrepid_ -started upon her perilous duty on September 4th. Lieutenant Joseph -Israel of the _Constitution_ arrived at the moment of getting under way -and asked permission to go along. Somers consented. - -The night was dark, and the other American ships soon lost sight of -the ketch. She was discovered, however, by the Tripolitans as she was -entering the harbor, and their batteries opened fire. - -Suddenly, the night was lit by terrifying flashes. A series of -explosions shook land and water. A shower of sparks arose. The powder -on board the _Intrepid_ had prematurely exploded, and left nothing on -the face of the harbor but scorched fragments. All of her officers and -men were killed. Their mangled bodies floated ashore and were found by -the people of Tripoli. - -What caused the explosion remains a mystery. Commodore Preble thought -that the _Intrepid_ had been attacked and boarded by a Tripolitan -gun-boat, and that Captain Somers, rather than be taken captive, -himself exploded the powder; or else that the fire from the batteries -caused so much damage that Somers saw that escape was impossible and -chose death to surrender. This reasoning was partly based on the fact -that Somers and his men had boasted that they would die rather than be -captured. The squadron was greatly affected by this tragedy. Decatur -had special reason to grieve, because Somers had been his schoolmate, -and had given Decatur, before sailing, tokens to remember him by if he -did not return. - -I learned with amazement that Commodore Preble had been recalled. -Although he had conducted a fight that had won for the American navy -lasting glory, the navy department had thought it best to call him home -and to put Commodore Samuel Barron, who was his senior, in his place. -Commodore Preble was notified of this with much praise and apology. No -wonder was it that his going was lamented. His fifty-three officers -joined in a letter of regret. English officers praised his work. The -Pope said that "the American commander, with a small force and in a -short space of time, had done more for the cause of Christianity than -the most powerful nations of Christendom had done for ages." - -The Commodore had labored under great handicaps. Congress had not -supported his requests for ships and supplies, and those that came -were long delayed. The food sent him was poor. He was forced to depend -largely on foreign seamen. - -Commodore Preble was deeply regretful at not being able to carry the -campaign against Tripoli through to final victory, and also mortified -that, with success in sight, he should be recalled. He went home an -almost heartbroken man, although his record must stand out as one of -the most brilliant in our naval history. - -If the bold Preble had continued in command of the squadron, there is -little doubt that when he saw what Eaton was doing at Derne he would -have begun an attack on Tripoli that would have brought Joseph Bashaw -to his knees. - -The one good reason advanced as to why General Eaton's expedition -should have ended at Derne was that if it approached Tripoli, the -Americans held prisoners there might have been killed by Joseph Bashaw -when his city was attacked. He threatened that, in an extremity, he -would slay the prisoners. Several of the officers who were in captivity -held this fear. Yet Commodore Rodgers wrote afterwards to the Secretary -of the Navy: - -"I never thought myself that the lives of the American prisoners were -in any danger." Lieutenant Wormely, a midshipman held in captivity, -also testified before a Senate committee that: "I do not believe that -there was any danger to be apprehended for our lives." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WE CAPTURE THE DESERT CITY OF DERNE - - - "_An army, composed in part of Americans, but chiefly of the - descendants of the ancient Grecians, Egyptians and Arabians; in - other words, an army collected from the four quarters of the - globe, and led by an American commander to conquest and glory, - is a phenomenon in military history calculated to attract the - attention of the world, not only by its novelty, but by its real - influence and consequence. It ought to be considered, too, that - this army, notwithstanding the singularity of its organization and - character, and the smallness of its number and its means, acted in - a cause that might be thought to affect, at least in some remote - degree, the general interest of mankind. Since the destruction of - Cato, and his little senate at Utica, the banner of freedom had - never waved in that desert and barbarous quarter of the globe; and - he who carried it so nobly, in the language of the resolution, - through the desert of Libya, and placed it so triumphantly upon - the African shore of the Mediterranean deserves to be honorably - distinguished by that country and that government, to which the - enterprise has added lustre._" - - --Speech made by James Elliott, Representative from Vermont, - before the House of Representatives. - - -Every step we took, I could tell by the rector's map, which now I -daily consulted, was taking me to that section of the coast where the -treasure lay buried. We had hard fighting ahead of us, and all of my -energies were needed to help our cause, yet I was determined to find -enough time to make the search. The problem of finding a trustworthy -person who could read for me the Arabic inscription on the map had -been solved through my friendship with Mustapha, who had acquired a -fair education in Egypt. I planned to go to Tokra under his guidance. -My plans worked out well, but in a different way from that which I -proposed. - -The first duty ahead of our army--a task that must be done before any -treasure hunt could be thought of--was the capture of Derne. The city -of Tokra lay beyond Derne. Our army, if it went on to Tripoli, must -pass near it. The coast was clear--if Derne were captured by us. Little -did I think that the ill fortunes of our soldiers should send me forth -at last to fulfill my long-cherished aim. - -Two days after leaving Bomba, we camped on a height that overlooks -Derne, and reconnoitered. We had reached the climax of our march. We -learned that the governor of the place had decided to defend the city -against us. We learned also that the army Joseph Bashaw had sent from -Tripoli was making a forced march to Derne and might arrive before the -return of our vessels, which had been blown out to sea in a gale. This -information alarmed the Turks and Arabs. Hamet, we observed, again -seemed to be ready for flight. The Sheik il Taiib, who had promised to -prove himself a valiant man at Derne, quitted the camp. - -Several chiefs came out from Derne to assure Hamet of their faith. They -told us that the city was divided into three departments; that two -of these favored Hamet and one Joseph, but that the department that -favored Joseph was strongest and had control of the guns. - -General Eaton had sent a messenger to the governor under a flag of -truce with this message: - - - "I want no territory. With me is advancing the real sovereign - of your country--give us a passage through your city; and for - the supplies of which we shall have need, you shall receive fair - pay. Let no differences of religion induce us to shed the blood - of harmless men who think little and know nothing. If you are a - man of liberal mind you will not hesitate. Hamet Bashaw pledged - himself to me that you shall be established in your government. I - shall see you tomorrow in a way of your choice. - - "Eaton." - - -The flag of truce was sent back to the general by the governor with -this answer: - -"My head or yours!" - -"We shall see whose head it will be!" General Eaton declared. - -Having learned that the army from Tripoli was only a four hours' march -distant, the general determined to attack the city before it had time -to arrive. - -On the next morning the _Argus_, _Hornet_ and _Nautilus_ appeared off -the coast, and on a signal sailed in toward the city. The general at -once began the assault. The fleet sent a few guns ashore to assist -us in the land attack, and then the three vessels opened fire on the -city's batteries. - -The Governor of Derne had mounted a battery of eight nine-pounders -along the water-front; had thrown up breastworks along the unprotected -parts of the city; and had mounted cannon on the terrace of his palace -and on the roofs of certain buildings. We heard that he possessed an -army of eight hundred men, in addition to such citizens as would fight -with him. - -General Eaton, with a detachment actively commanded by Lieutenant -O'Bannon, consisting of the six American marines, twenty-four gunners, -twenty-six Greeks, and a few Arabs, attacked the temporary forts that -had been thrown up in the southeast section of the town. Hamet Bashaw -attacked and captured an old castle on the southwest, and drew up his -cavalry on this site. I fought beside the general, and a stiff business -it was. The enemy's musketry was so warm that our troops were thrown -into confusion. To counteract this, the general ordered a charge. The -enemy had flocked to the point where we advanced, so that we had to -fight as ten to one. The infidels waged a guerrilla warfare, dashing -out of their hiding-places and then, in retreat, firing from behind -every palm tree and wall along their way. - -The battery was at last silenced by the fire of our ships, and most of -the gunners retired to join the forces opposed to us. Yet on we went, -passing through a shower of bullets from the walls of houses. Soon we -reached the battery, and wrested it from its defenders. I had the honor -of planting, amidst cheers from my comrades, the American flag on the -wall--an honor indeed, since this was the first time the American flag -had been raised on a fort of the old world. Then we turned the guns on -the infidels and drove them back into the houses, where they could only -fire at us from behind walls. - -[Illustration: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AN AMERICAN FLAG HAD BEEN RAISED -ON A FORT OF THE OLD WORLD.] - -Our ships, which had suspended their fire during our charge, now -resumed bombarding the houses that sheltered the governor and his men. - -The deadly fire of the ships terrified the already faint-hearted forces -there, and they began to flee in disorder. Hamet's troops captured -the governor's castle, and his cavalry pursued the flying foe. By four -o'clock in the afternoon we were in full possession of the city, the -action having lasted about two hours and a half. Of the Christians -who fought there were fourteen killed and wounded. Three of these -were American marines; two dead and one wounded. The rest of the dead -were Greeks. Our Grecian allies showed great bravery and were worthy -descendants of the ancient heroes of their race. - - -THE GOVERNOR FLEES - -The governor fled first to a mosque; then to the abode of an old sheik. - -"I must lay hold of him!" General Eaton said. "He is the third man in -rank in the entire kingdom of Tripoli, and we can use him to exchange -for Captain Bainbridge!" - -The general, in great zeal to take the governor captive, now marched at -the head of fifty Christians with bayonets to that remote section in -which the fugitive had found refuge. The aged chief who sheltered him, -however, vowed that the laws of hospitality would be violated if he -permitted us to take the governor, and refused to yield him up to us. - -General Eaton explained that the Governor had rejected peace terms; had -challenged us and been beaten at his post; was still in a conquered -town, and was by all the laws of war a prisoner. The sheik remained -firm. - -The citizens of Derne began to look at us with hostile eyes. - -"The Christians no longer respect the customs of our fathers and our -laws of hospitality," they exclaimed. - -Hamet Bashaw, fearful that the people would be turned against him if -we seized the governor against the old sheik's wishes, persuaded the -general to postpone the attempt. - -We had been in possession of Derne about a week when the army sent from -Tripoli arrived and planted their camp on the ground we had occupied. -Meanwhile, General Eaton had fortified the city as strongly as possible. - -We found ourselves facing enemies within and foes without, because the -people of the town, true to their nature, were now debating which army -would be the most likely to win, so that they might be on the victor's -side. The late governor, we learned, was the leader in trying to -persuade the people of the city to revolt against us. - -On May 18th the troops from Tripoli advanced towards the city in order -of battle, but when General Eaton marshalled his forces to meet them -they halted, conferred, and then retired. We found out later that -the Beys in charge of the enemy's forces had tried day after day to -persuade the Arabs under them to attack. They had refused, stating that -Joseph Bashaw must send them aid before they would attempt to conquer -the city. - -"We have," they said, "not only our lives to preserve, but also the -lives of our families. Hamet has possession of the town; his Christian -allies possess the batteries; these, together with the great guns of -the American ships, would destroy us if we attacked!" - -The Beys then demanded of the Arabs that they permit their camels to be -used to protect the front and flanks of the assaulting forces, but this -too was refused. - -Word came to General Eaton that Hassien Bey, commander of the enemy's -forces, had offered six thousand dollars for his head, and double that -sum if he were brought as a prisoner. We heard also that thirty dollars -had been offered for the head of an ordinary Christian. - -Then there came to our camp a Bedouin holy man who had previously been -befriended by the general. He whispered that two women, one in our -camp and one in Derne, had been employed by Hassien Bey to poison our -commander. In payment for this service they had already been given -presents of diamond rings. The saint cautioned the General not to -accept any presents of pastry, preserves or fruit. - -A few days later, the forces of Hassien Bey gave battle. He was -assisted by Muhamed, Bey of Bengazi; Muhamed, Bey of Derne, and -Imhamed, Bey of Ogna. Under them were one thousand mounted Arabs and -two thousand Arabs on foot. On the night before, Muhamed, the former -governor of Derne, had escaped into Hassien Bey's camp, and had told -him that our numbers on shore were far less than the general had -supposed. Encouraged by this information Hassien Bey ordered the attack. - -About nine o'clock in the morning his troops appeared, under five -standards, and attacked about one hundred of Hamet's cavalry, who had -been stationed about a mile from town. The cavalry fought bravely but -were forced to retreat. The _Argus_ and _Nautilus_ trained their guns -on the enemy, and we in town bombarded them with our battery and field -pieces, but by taking advantage of walls they penetrated the town up -to the palace that sheltered Hamet. Here they were met by a hot rifle -fire from Hamet's supporters, but they held their ground stubbornly, -determined to capture Hamet. - -The general was wondering whether with the small force in charge of -the battery he dare risk a sortie to defend Hamet, when fortunately a -shot from one of our nine-pounders killed two mounted enemies near the -palace. - -Instantly they sounded a retreat and fled from all quarters. Hamet's -cavalry pursued them. In their flight they again came within range of -our ships' guns, and these poured into their ranks a galling fire. - -We were told later by an Italian slave who escaped from their camp -that they had lost twenty-eight men killed and that fifty-six of their -number had been wounded by our fire. - -This defeat took the heart out of the Arabs supporting the Beys. -Officers and soldiers began to desert to us from the enemy, and when -Hassien Bey began to prepare for another assault by collecting camels -that would be used as traveling breastworks, the Arabs recruited on the -march refused to take part. They protested that they would have been -willing to fight under ordinary circumstances, but that the Americans -were firing balls that would kill both a rider and his horse, and that -they would not expose themselves to such shots. They also complained -that we rushed at them with bayonets, and would not give them time to -reload their muskets! - -Hearing these reports our fearless general tried to persuade Hamet to -make a counter-attack, but without success. Skirmishes continued to -occur. A few days after the battle, a company of the enemy attacked -some Arab families who had camped in the rear of the town. Learning -of the attack, the general headed a party of thirty-five Greeks and -Americans, with a view to cutting off their retreat. We met them in a -mountain's ravine--the Greeks must have thought of the Spartans at -Thermopylae--and charged them with our bayonets. They broke and fled, -hotly pursued. We killed their captain and five men, and took two -prisoners. None of us were injured. - -This affair put Hassien Bey in a frenzy. The next morning he came -forward to revenge his cause, but again the Arabs mutinied and -retreated, leaving Hassien and his soldiers to follow in humiliation -back to their camp. - -Hamet Bashaw had his turn at open fighting a few days later, and -acquitted himself far better than we expected. The enemy appeared in -great numbers on the heights overlooking the town, seeking a way to -descend that would not expose them to the fire of our guns. They found -a pass and started to descend to the plain below, but here Hamet's -cavalry met them and, as reinforcements joined each side, the battle -increased in size until there were five thousand men engaged. The -fighting lasted four hours, during which Hamet held his ground like -a true general. It was a battle fought in the Barbary style, for the -field of conflict was beyond the range of our batteries, and we were -rejoiced to learn that the victory belonged to Hamet. The enemy lost -fifty men killed, and had over seventy wounded, while of the forces -of Hamet, the killed and wounded amounted together to about fifty. We -had lost respect for Hamet during our march across the desert, but his -gallantry in this engagement restored confidence. - -Lieutenant O'Bannon was eager to lead our Americans and Greeks out -to hold the pass by which the enemy must retreat with our bayonets, -but the general decided wisely that it would be unwise to leave the -batteries undefended, since Hamet Bashaw's forces might suffer a -reverse. - - -THE CAMPAIGN BLOCKED - -Our prolonged stay at Derne had begun to worry both the general and -Hamet. I saw them frequently conferring with great seriousness, and -heard General Eaton say that if the aid, money, and supplies had come -which he hoped would be awaiting him at Derne, he might now be at Cape -Mensurat, and in fifteen days after, at Tripoli. - -My wonder as to what there was being discussed by the general and Hamet -Bashaw was cleared away somewhat by the arrival of a spy from the -enemy's camp, who informed us that a courier had arrived, eleven days -from Tripoli, with dispatches from the reigning Bashaw stating that -he intended to make peace with the United States, _even if he had to -sell his wardrobe_ to do so. This was a great change of front; a change -caused, we all felt sure, by our conquest of Derne, and by our openly -avowed determination to capture Tripoli in the same manner. - -Then there came a letter from Commodore Barron which informed General -Eaton that the United States must withdraw her support from Hamet, -since Consul Lear was making a peace with Joseph. - -The general wrote hotly in reply: "I cannot be persuaded that the -abandoning of Hamet is in keeping with those principles of honor and -justice which I know actuate the national breast. But, if no further -aids come, and we are compelled to leave the place, humanity itself -must weep; the whole city of Derne, together with numerous families -of Arabs, who attached themselves to Hamet Bashaw, and who resisted -Joseph's troops in expectation of help from us, must be left to their -fate; havoc and slaughter must follow; not a soul of them can escape -the savage vengeance of the enemy; instead of lending aid to the -unfortunate people, we involve them in destruction." - -The general wrote also in protest to the Secretary of the Navy, stating -that when Commodore Barron agreed to cooperate with Hamet there was -no talk of the latter being used as a means of making peace with the -reigning Bashaw; that nothing was talked of but punishment. The example -of Commodore Preble, he stated, had fired the squadron which relieved -him with an ambition to punish Joseph, and it was in the same spirit -that he, General Eaton, was sent on his mission to bring Hamet to the -rear of the enemy. - -Shortly after these letters were dispatched, we had occasion to march -through Derne. - -"Long live the Americans! Long live our friends and protectors!" the -people shouted. - -The general bowed his head in shame. - -General Eaton, in the opinion of all of us who marched with him, and -of many with whom I afterwards talked, could well complain of the way -he was treated by the United States Government. He had won at Derne a -victory that many thought was superior to the naval victories won over -Tripoli, and by his campaign had opened the way for a peace that saved -the United States the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in -warships and tribute money. Yet he had been allowed to enter upon his -enterprise in such a manner that if successful the Administration would -receive full credit for sending him, while if he failed, he could be -blamed for acting without authority. - -At Tripoli, peace was being made after this manner: Colonel Lear, -then at Malta, received a letter from the Spanish consul at Tripoli -asking him to come to that place under a flag of truce, as the Bashaw -wanted to discuss peace. A few weeks later Captain Bainbridge wrote to -Commodore Barron that the Tripolitan minister of foreign affairs, Sidi -Mohammed Dghiers, who was opposed to the war, was about to leave the -city, and that it would be well to send an envoy to treat for peace -before the minister left. - -Colonel Lear sailed from Malta on the _Essex_, which joined the -blockading frigates _Constitution_ and _President_ of Tripoli. The -white flag hoisted by Lear was answered by the hoisting of a similar -flag on the Bashaw's castle. The terms agreed upon were that the United -States was to pay him $60,000 for the ransom of the American captives -remaining after an exchange of prisoners, man for man, had been made; -that the American forces should withdraw from Derne, persuading Hamet -to go with them; and that in the course of time Joseph was to restore -to Hamet his wife and children. - -The articles were signed on board the _Constitution_. A salute of -twenty-one guns was then fired by the Bashaw's battery and answered -by the _Constitution_. The people of the city crowded to the wharves -celebrating the making of peace. The released American officers and -sailors ran to the wharves to leap into the barges that were to take -them out of the hated town. - -Sage men have predicted that the historians of the future would say -that Colonel Lear acted unwisely in making the peace, and that if he -had delayed for a few weeks, until bomb vessels and gunboats on the -way from America had arrived, a squadron would have assembled before -Tripoli that would have frightened the Bashaw into agreement with any -terms the United States' fleet chose to lay down. That we should have -had to pay ransom for the American captives at Tripoli after we had -captured the powerful province of Derne, and with such a strong fleet -in the Mediterranean, was not in accord with American traditions. - -The act of Colonel Lear in making peace with the reigning Bashaw seems -to have been for the purpose of blocking Eaton's triumph. "Eaton," said -an officer holding a high place in the Mediterranean squadron, "was -running away with the honor of the Tripolitan war. Between an army and -navy jealousy is common. What had the navy done long before, after the -achievement of Preble? Hence the readiness to snatch the first chance -for peace." - -The politics of the matter gave me little concern. Here was General -Eaton needing money. With money he could hire Arab tribes, buy caravans -loaded with food, march on to Tripoli. Here was my opportunity, and my -duty. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE TREASURE TOMB - - -Through all my adventures in the desert campaign, from the time when -we first faced the hot, choking winds of the desert and covered our -eyes to keep from being blinded by the sand until the time when we -lifted the Stars and Stripes on the ramparts of Derne, the thought of -the treasure tomb had dwelt with me. According to the rector's map, -the buried chamber was within an hour's ride by camel of Tokra, a town -located between Derne and Tripoli, quite near to the former. - -The coast of northern Africa jutted out into the Mediterranean at this -point, and made it a favorable spot for settlement by Phoenicians and -earlier races who ruled this sea. - -When I perceived that Captain Eaton's campaign against Tripoli had -been blocked through lack of funds and that he himself had given up -hope of receiving from our naval officers the money and supplies -required to proceed against the stronghold of Joseph, I resolved to -begin my treasure search in earnest, hoping to turn the gems and gold -to the general's use. I resolved to take Mustapha along as my guide. -The attachment that had sprung up between us grew stronger as the -weeks passed. He was an Arab to the backbone. He could run all day -in the heat and fall asleep at night on bare stones. He was as quick -and noiseless in his movements as a wildcat, and his mood was a -queer mixture of gentleness and fierceness. Having adopted me, he was -fiercely jealous, and his brown face would become convulsed if strange -Arab boys from any of the camps we passed tried to follow me. - -One night, on swift camels which we borrowed from Mustapha's sheik, we -rode away from Derne. It was a foolhardy enterprise, because Joseph -Bashaw's army lay between us and Tokra, yet we managed to avoid their -outposts and when morning broke we were well beyond their lines. - -I had not taken the general into my confidence. He might have told me, -to keep me from going on what he would consider a wild goose chase, -that he would not avail himself of the gold, even if it were found. -I felt too, since the rector had tried so hard to keep the facts -concerning the treasure a secret, that I should not reveal it, even to -those I trusted most. - -We joined ourselves to a caravan as we approached Tokra. Mustapha had -acquaintances among the camel-drivers, and his explanations created for -us a kindly reception. Mingling thus with the Arabs, we rode into Tokra -without attracting the attention of the people. That this was fortunate -for me, I was soon to find out. A larger caravan had entered the town -a few hours before us. Its people had thronged the cafés. As I rode -through the narrow street, holding my hood well over my face to keep -from being recognized as a hated "Nazarene," I caught sight of a tall -well-dressed Moor watching a group of dancing girls. His brilliant robe -attracted my attention, then something familiar about his figure made -me observe him more closely. My gaze traveled up his burly form to his -bearded face. I could see it only in profile, but the sight was enough -to set me to trembling. I had recognized Murad. - -He did not see us. In the café before which he lounged were girls of -the Ouled-Nahil tribe, dancing. We could see over the heads of the men -these stately creatures gliding and twisting to the music of clarionets -and tam-tams. Their mountainous head-gear of plaited wool, bound by -brilliantly-colored silk kerchiefs shook with the movements of their -bodies. We could hear amidst the music the jingling of their bangles. I -saw also a boy bring a live coal in a pair of tongs to Murad, so that -the latter might light his long pipe. - -A score of questions flashed through my mind. Had the Egyptian found -the treasure, and was he now enjoying the wealth? Or had he been -detained as I was in reaching this spot, and could it be that he had -been a member of the newly arrived caravan? Did he mean to spend the -night amidst the luxury of the café or would he soon come forth to hunt -for the treasure tomb? - -I decided from his manner that he had newly arrived, and that, for a -few hours at least, he would smoke his pipe and drink his coffee and -watch the dance. During those few hours I resolved to push my search. - -When we found a spot in which I could examine the map without being -observed I was puzzled to find that the location of the treasure tomb -was set down as being not outside of the city, but in its very midst. -Through Mustapha, I made inquiry of an old Arab. Yes, he said, in reply -to my questions, there had been a temple there once. The reason the -ruins could not be seen now was that successive tribes of Arabs had -come and camped on the ruins until the soil and filth they had left -behind them had covered the floors. There had been walls, but they -were now used for sheep folds, goat-yards, poultry-yards, donkey-sheds. - -The rector's exploration had been made also at night. The upper tomb -he had found was known to everyone. It too had probably held riches, -but it had been plundered centuries since. None of the later tribes had -thought to look beneath it. The rector would not have had the curiosity -to explore if it had not been that in Greece a scientist had discovered -there double layers of tombs hewn out of the rocks. - -Mustapha then translated to me the words written in Arabic at the foot -of the diagram: - - - "Walk along the north wall of the town until there rises from - the mud-huts and cattle-sheds a stone pillar that lifts about - eight feet above the surrounding roofs. This pillar will mark the - location of a tomb that is still respected as a holy place by - the people of the town. Under the floor of this tomb, lies the - treasure chamber. Its entrance is through the outer wall, where I - dug out a stone. Pry along south wall below ground till triangular - slab is found." - - -Past clusters of mud-huts, dirt-heaps, piles of broken pottery, and -odorous cattle-sheds we groped. The dogs barked and ran snarling about -our feet, but Mustapha had magic words that soothed and hushed them. At -last, against the star-filled skies, we saw a rugged pillar lift up. -The huts and sheds stopped at this point, and for several rods there -were no buildings. The loneliness of the spot I took as a good omen. It -meant that I could dig with little fear of disturbance. - -From the town came sounds of singing and shouting. Drinking and dancing -and merry-making were engaging the people. With these unceasing noises -drowning the clink of our spades, we began to dig. - -The dirt and debris was loose, and our arms were winged by excitement -and fear. I had told Mustapha that I expected that he should earn -enough money on this trip to give him a university education at Fez, -enough to make him respected as a sheik. Under the enchanting prospect, -and for love of me, he toiled. - -After ten minutes of digging, I took my dirk and felt along the side -of the wall which we had uncovered. My dirk's point entered a crevice. -We dug again, frantically, and now I was able to trace all sides of -the loose block of stone that acted as a bar to the entrance. Mustapha -brought out his knife and aided me in the prying, and between us we -managed to move the stone outwards as if it worked on hinges. I thought -of the Arabian lad who entered the retreat of the Forty Thieves. I too -had found an "Open Sesame" to riches. Were my eyes also to be dazzled -by the sight of treasure? - -The finding of the entrance, though it made me solemn, also created -something of a sense of security, for now we could continue our search -underground without attracting attention. One fear, however, still -lingered, and moved me to frantic haste--Murad's coming! - -We lowered ourselves a depth of six feet into the rock room. The clammy -moisture chilled our faces; the foul smell choked us. Lifting our -torches, we peered into the darkness. - -When our eyes grew accustomed to the gloom we found ourselves standing -among several skeletons, which had the appearance of having been -hurriedly buried. This discovery almost led us to a panicky retreat, -but I had risked too much to be turned from my quest by skeletons, and -I stepped across the bones and thrust my torch into the center regions. -There, buried in oblong chambers rudely hewn out of the rock floor of -the cavern, I saw six bodies that had moldered to dust. Girding their -bones, however, was jewelry such as I had never, even in my wildest -dreams, imagined. - -Upon the time-blackened skulls were headbands of gold. Covering the -rib-bones were massive breast-plates of the same metal. As I held down -my flame the delicately-wrought patterns of rosettes and palmettos with -which these pieces were ornamented flashed out brilliantly. Upon the -wrist-bones hung loosely serpent-shaped gold bracelets. From this rich -metal dress jewels flamed out to match my beacon's fire. - -Around these rock tombs lay more treasures--inlaid daggers with images -of cats engraved on their gold handles and with lotus patterns traced -on their blades; alabaster cups, hollowed out and painted inside with a -brilliant red; stone images of elks with heads of silver; jugs and cups -of ivory, alabaster, amber, silver, gold, and porcelain. - -Scholars have since told me that the ancients considered that the -station of a person in the world of the dead depended upon the wealth -with which he was buried. The people who buried these corpses had -assuredly done their utmost to insure the eminence of their friends in -the dominions of death. I did not pause to wonder whether these were -the remains of Phoenicians, Egyptians or of a still earlier race that -had dominated the Mediterranean and exacted toll of treasure from the -surrounding barbaric tribes. Here the bodies lay. Above them, through -the centuries, strange peoples had settled and passed; caravans had -stopped and hurried on; dancing girls had whirled; dervishes had -practiced sorceries, yet none dreamed of this cool tomb with its -riches. The stuff was here for my taking. Murad was hard on my heels. -My lust for fortune overcame all thoughts of reverence for the dead. - -"Open the sacks, Mustapha," I said, "the smallest treasures are the -most valuable. We will take what we can carry and trust to fortune for -a chance to bring out the rest--or perhaps they will fall as crumbs to -Murad!" - -"Listen, master," Mustapha whispered. Men's voices came to us. I sprang -in terror towards the entrance with Mustapha at my heels. As I peered -out into the night my breath came again. The tinkle of camel bells came -to reassure me. A caravan was entering Tokra, with no suspicion that -they were passing within a stone's throw of such wealth. - -The capacious sacks loaded, I climbed out of the tomb by making a -stepping-stone of Mustapha's back. He hoisted up to me the three bags. -I then leaned down and pulled him out. It was about midnight. - -"Go to the stables," I said, giving him a coin, "and tell Achmet the -camel keeper that urgent business takes you back to Derne. Bring our -camels--Achmet knows that they belong to you. Put the gold into his -palm. Tell him that you are on business for Hamet Bashaw, who may -conquer Tokra next week!" - -"I know that he sympathizes with Hamet," Mustapha assured me. "He will -help us, and keep his tongue!" - -While Mustapha was gone, I replaced the stone door and shoveled back -the dirt. Mustapha returned with the camels. They knelt as we loaded -the sacks upon them. Around them we piled the bags of dates that had -already formed the camels' freight. We turned towards Derne and rode -like the wind. - -Many hours would pass, I reasoned, before Murad would begin his -search. If then he suspected that the tomb had been robbed and made -inquiries, many more hours must pass before he could start in pursuit. - -As things happened, however, it was not from behind us that danger -came. We came into the vicinity of Derne at nightfall, and drove our -jaded camels as fast as we could make them fly, fearing always an -encounter with the soldiers of Joseph Bashaw. We succeeded in gaining -the city's bounds with no adventure except passing through a volley -fired at random by guards whom we passed too swiftly to permit them to -arrest us, but as we rode through the town at gray dawn we observed no -signs of our troops. - -We learned from old Omar, an inn-keeper who came drowsily out to open -for us, that the ship _Constellation_ had arrived bearing orders to -General Eaton to quit Derne at once, since Consul-General Lear had -concluded a peace with Tripoli. He told us that General Eaton and all -of the Christians in the party, together with Hamet Bashaw and his -suite, had embarked on the _Constellation_ in a secret manner, for fear -that the people of Derne, and their allies, the Arab supporters of -Hamet, would attempt to massacre the party when they found that the war -had been abandoned and that they were left to the mercy of Joseph. - -Omar described how, when General Eaton had barely gotten clear of the -wharf, the soldiers and citizens of Derne had crowded down to the -shore shouting prayers to the general and Hamet not to leave them to -the mercy of Joseph's soldiers. Finding their pleas of no avail, the -soldiers had seized the horses the party had left behind, plundered the -tents of the departing officers, and fled towards Egypt. - -After this occurrence a Tripolitan officer, a messenger from Joseph -Bashaw, had landed from the _Constellation_ under a flag of truce, -bearing a message to the people of Derne that Joseph Bashaw would -pardon all who laid down their arms and renewed their allegiance to -him. Joseph's troops were to begin the occupancy of Derne that morning. - -Omar shook his head. - -"For myself, I fear nothing. Allah is good. Under his guidance I -remained loyal to Joseph. The returning Governor will know that Omar is -faithful. But as for my neighbors--let them not trust too much in the -Bashaw's promises. If I had fought on Hamet's side I should flee to the -mountains!" - -Mustapha and I exchanged worried glances. Here we were abandoned by our -friends and facing capture by Joseph's soldiers when they entered the -city. In that case, our gold and jewels would go to adorn the greedy -Joseph's throne. The main object of our treasure search, to provide the -general with funds to continue the expedition, could not be carried -out. There was nothing to do but flee--but where? From the camp of the -enemy came sounds of soldiers assembling. The triumphal entry would -soon begin. - -"Cavalry! Mount! Escape!" cried Mustapha. - -From a distance, swiftly coming nearer, we heard the sound of -hoof-beats. Around the corner of the inn came a blaze of color. -Galloping steeds were suddenly reined in. A Moorish officer, splendidly -uniformed, came towards me. Mustapha, who had stood several yards away, -began to lead his beast and mine down towards the river front. - -"Alhamdulilah! (Praise be to God)" he sang, "My lord the Bashaw -returns to his own! The cowardly usurper Hamet has fled before Joseph -Bashaw's brave warriors!" - -The troopers gave Mustapha but a fleeting glance. My head was uncovered -and they saw that I was an American. - -There was a whispered conference. American warships might be still in -the mists that hid sea and shore. I had hopes that they would pass me -by unmolested. Instead the officer turned to his men. - -"Bind the Nazarene! One at least of the Christian dogs shall pay the -penalty of starting rebellion against our worshipful ruler!" - -I was bound hand and foot, thrown across a camel's back, and led out of -the city, to the enemy's camp. - -In the possession of an Arab lad, who was now as a lamb among wolves, -were the gold and jewels I had risked so much to secure. One gem of -the collection would have purchased my ransom, but knowing that a hint -as to the contents of the sacks would lead to the loss of all of the -treasure, I resolved to suffer slavery before I spoke of them. I prayed -that Mustapha would keep the secret, yet how could I expect that fate -would not reveal the contents of the sacks to covetous eyes? - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -SOLD INTO SLAVERY - - -My captor, the Moorish officer, was a native of Ghadames, an interior -city of Tripoli--a caravan center located on a camel route to the -Soudan. I was regarded by him as the spoils of war, and his purpose was -clearly to sell me for a good price in an inland slave market where -there would be no American consul to make inquiries. As soon as Derne -was occupied, Joseph's army disbanded and the soldiers whose property -I was began to journey to their homes. Our caravan started too, and I -found myself riding upon the most uncomfortable camel in the outfit, -chained by one wrist to the trappings of the beast. - -I decided to lose no chance to escape. I knew that the farther inland -I went, the more difficult it would be for me to reach the coast. My -thoughts dwelt upon the treasure-bags I had last seen flopping through -the streets of Derne on Mustapha's camels. I swore that my Arab comrade -would see me again soon--and I devoutly hoped that his ingenuity would -enable him to hide the treasure. - -At last, when I was beginning to despair of falling in with a -coastbound caravan, we met a huge one bound from the Soudan to Tripoli. -In the excitement of meeting, and in the feasting and dancing that went -on between the two parties, my guard forgot me. I had been unshackled -while I ate, and the only sentinel over me was a young Arab who had -been stationed at the front entrance to my tent. I saw him looking -yearningly at the Arab girls who were dancing. I snored loudly and -regularly, watching his movements through the opening. Suddenly he -disappeared. A moment later I vanished too. I hoped to escape with the -Tripoli-bound caravan, and stole over to where its camel-drivers were -gathered. I had made my color as dark as possible, and wore my long -gown in true Arab fashion. I had learned, too, some common Arab words. - -In the center of the crowd I saw an African snake-charmer. The fakir's -round, fleshy face shone like polished ebony, and when he grinned, -which was often, I caught sight of two massive rows of gleaming ivory. -He wore nothing but a breech-cloth and sandals. His body was covered -with scars. These snake-charmers, I had heard, inflicted wounds upon -themselves, sometimes through religious frenzy, and sometimes because -it gave them prestige with their audiences. - -This fakir influenced the people much in the same way that a street -evangelist at home attracts listeners by music and loud words. In his -train were several men who played cymbals and bagpipes. As soon as they -began clanging and blowing upon these instruments, the crowd gathered. - -I drew back, for fear that the fakir's attentions to me would lead -to discovery, but his eyes had singled me out from the minute of my -approach, and he followed me, though not in a way to attract notice. - -Alarmed, I was about to make a wild dash into the desert when he caught -my arm. I drew back to strike. - -"The saint Mohammed," he said, catching my arm, "will harbor an -escaping Nazarene so long as the Nazarene is willing to clang the -cymbals loudly in the name of Mohammed, and is active in collecting -coins when the snakes have done squirming and the tales have been told. -Two of my attendants have deserted me. I offer you a trip to the coast -in my train." - -I nodded assent--any port in a storm! - -"Bring forth the cymbals! Mohammed is welcome to any music I can make -with them!" I said. - -"Pay close attention to my motions and when I signal you, collect what -coins you can. If any man question you, pretend to be dumb." - -He led me into his tent close by, procured for me a coarse robe that -was an effectual disguise and applied a pigment to my skin. When he was -through with me I looked like one of his own tribe. I went forth then -and mingled with the throng, listening while Mohammed told tales in -Arabic. - -Fascinating indeed were Mohammed's tricks. I watched in astonishment as -he shaped a bundle of hay into a mound and covered the pile with water. - -"By the grace of Mulai Ali, my patron saint," he said, "I give this hay -to the flames and command these serpents to respect the commands of the -Prophet's servant!" - -With these words, he emptied a bag of snakes on the ground. They looked -deadly as they wriggled about his feet and twined themselves around his -body. I was told that their poison had not been removed, yet he held -the head of the serpent that looked the most dangerous so close to him -that its fangs almost touched his lips. - -With feats of this nature, and with many tales, my new patron won his -audience, and collections were easy to make. What I gathered pleased -him and I had the feeling that I had for the time earned a right to his -protection. I was safely housed in his tent when men came to search -the oasis for me, but when they inquired of him he called down curses -on them for causing the thought of a Nazarene to cross the mind of a -child of the Prophet. - -We departed with the caravan bound for the coast. The Moorish officer's -soldiers inspected us closely, but Mohammed kept me closely engaged, -and arranged my hood so that I was dimly seen by the watchers. I -escaped even a challenge. We stopped at frequent oases, where Mohammed -entertained and I collected. - -But now, perhaps because the matter of my disguise handicapped him; -perhaps because he feared punishment for harboring an escaped slave; -perhaps from greed, Mohammed betrayed me. When we were a day's travel -from Tripoli, we fell in with a small coast-bound caravan that had lost -one of its camels and needed a beast of burden to take its place. I -became that animal! - -On hearing Achmet, the chief of the caravan, offer a large sum for -a beast of burden, Mohammed's eyes lighted on me. "There," he said, -"is a sound-bodied Nazarene slave that will do the work well. He has -served my purpose and since I have saved him from being sold as a slave -in the interior, he should not carp at my selling him to you. Take -the Christian dog, and may you lead him to become a true follower of -Mohammed!" - -I was thus hurled into the ranks of Achmet, whose blood-shot, piercing -eye and hawk nose gave him a cruel look in keeping with his character. - -"The Christian dog belongs to no country," Mohammed told the people -to whom I sought to appeal. "He is a cur who has been helping the -troublesome Hamet Bashaw to stir up a rebellion against our noble -ruler." - -These words enraged the crowd against me, and seeing how hopeless was -my state, I slunk away, kicked and slapped, to take up my burden. - -Fortunately, this caravan too was bound for Tripoli. I expected that -there I would have a chance to lay my case before the American consul, -and hoped to secure through him freedom and permission to sail back to -Derne in search of my treasure sacks. - -Loaded with as much of the camel's pack as I could stagger under, -I followed in the camel train. When camp was made, I was forced to -scramble among the dogs for my share of the scraps thrown to them by -the camel-drivers. - -When we reached Tripoli I was driven, closely guarded, to dark quarters -on the outskirts of the town, and threatened with death if I tried to -escape. I found out that the American consul was at Malta on business -that had arisen out of the making of peace with Joseph Bashaw. My case, -therefore, seemed almost as hopeless as when I was first captured. - -These cities of Barbary are strange affairs. The streets wind in and -out between white walls. You go under shadowy arches; you climb here a -dozen stairs and a little later go up an incline without stairs. The -streets are usually too narrow for camels or carts, so that porters -and donkeys do most of the hauling. A swarm of people pass continually -up and down these cramped ways. The Moslem women wear silken street -garments (haicks) that conceal the finery beneath. The faces of these -women are covered with a fine silk veil, and underneath their haicks -may be seen their bulging Turkish trousers. - -When I asked why the women wore veils, I was told that the custom had -come down from the time the Christian crusaders invaded the Moslem -countries; the attention they paid to the wives and daughters of the -Turks led to the followers of Mohammed prescribing the veil for their -women folk. - -Among the streams of people were Jews talking trade, consoling -themselves for the insults by the Mohammedans with the thought of the -profits they were making in their dealings with the Moslems; European -envoys; rich, lazy Moors; camel drivers; black slaves; soldiers in the -Bashaw's service, and sailors employed by the corsair captains. Lame, -halt and blind beggars sat by the roadside, beseeching gifts. - -"In the name of Allah, give us alms!" a beggar wailed from almost every -corner and doorway. The men they solicited were usually rich Moors who -wore turbans of fine cloth and richly embroidered vests. Yet often they -would select for their target a camel driver from the desert, clad in -his coarse gray baracan. - -Here stood a fountain surrounded by Arabs and negroes drawing water in -gourds and jugs; yonder a dozen women sat on the ground, selling bread. -Hooded Arab boys romped on the outskirts of the throng, or recited -verses from the Koran to a bearded teacher. Lean cats and dogs were -everywhere. All kinds of smells filled the air--garlic, burning aloe -wood, fish. - -I stood one day in an archway six feet wide that stood in the center of -four streets and watched the crowd go by. I saw fish-mongers carrying -great baskets of sardines, and strings of slimy catfish, against which -the crowd brushed, leaving the dirt and smell of the fish on their -garments. Girls with boards on their heads filled with dough ready for -baking darted in and out among the throng; donkeys, laden with garbage, -ambled alongside of donkeys carrying fresh roses. Jews, burdened -with muslin and calico, went from door to door, haggling with those -who examined their wares through partly-opened doors. Boys sauntered -along munching raw carrots and artichokes; girls of eight carried on -their backs babies wrapped in dirty rags. The little mothers and their -charges seemed never to have seen soap and water, but from hair to -anklets they were decked with faded flowers. - -Blind people--there were hundreds of them--walked along as boldly as -if they had eyesight, leaving it for those who could see to get out of -their way. - -"_Balek_ (out of the way)!" was the cry of everyone. "_Emshi Rooah, ya -kelb_ (clear out, begone, you dog)!" was a cry I had grown accustomed -to through hearing it hurled at me countless times, for was not I a -member of - - - "A sect they are taught to hate - And are delighted to decapitate." - - -The upper stories of the houses projected over the lower, and, because -of the narrow street, the houses that stood opposite each other almost -met, so that all one could see of the sky in many places was a bright -blue chink overhead. The walls were all whitewashed; here and there -a beautiful gateway appeared. One could not tell from the exterior -of the houses whether rich folk or poor folk dwelt inside the walls, -yet beyond many of these dark corridors leading through the walls -were beautiful garden courts, with silver fountains playing and an -abundance of flowers and trees, while underfoot were tiles of various -rich colors. - -Of the many mosques I passed I can tell nothing, as Christians are not -allowed to enter them. Neither were we allowed to dress in green or -white--for these are the colors of the prophet. - -My new master, still using me as a beast of burden, took me several -times to the house at which he lodged. I was thus able to get a glimpse -inside a Mohammedan home of the middle class. We went through a -whitewashed tunnel till we came to a gate from which hung a huge brass -knocker. - -My master did not use the knocker. He began to pound on the door in the -Arab fashion. A veiled woman peeped over the terrace wall and screamed -a question at him. His reply reassured her, and we were admitted to -a little square court that was neatly paved with red tiles, through -which ran a path of marble lined with oleanders and fig trees. Rooms, -white-washed and blue-washed, opened on this court. The owner of the -house, Fatima, was a widow, who lived with her old father, and earned -her living by embroidering and weaving. She wore the white silken veil -as we entered; but as she gossiped with my master she pulled it aside -and showed her brown, dumpling face. She wore an embroidered jacket and -silk pantaloons, along with gold trimmings and jewelry--an array that -seemed so strange to me that I kept my eyes fastened on the ceiling -while I was in her presence. She had rented one of her small rooms to -my master, whose parents she knew. Fatima spent much of her time on the -roof of her house, looking down on the street over the walls of her -terrace. The roofs or terraces were used by women alone and most of the -visiting between houses was done by climbing across the walls dividing -the houses. - -For privacy, Fatima dropped a flimsy curtain over the door of her -room, and this barrier was as strictly respected by her household as -if it were a strong door. Visitors were received in the parlor. Fatima -and her guests sat on a divan covered with cushions and drank coffee. -Handwoven carpets and draperies were everywhere. - -The beds of the household were mattresses spread on the floor. One -blanket often covers an entire family in the houses of the poor. Fatima -fell sick while we were under her roof, and sent a woman friend to a -holy man for a remedy. I discovered that the medicine was nothing more -than a slip of paper containing the words "He will heal the breasts of -the people who believe." - -Fatima was ordered to chew and swallow the paper. The widow still -complained of illness after swallowing this dose, and was ordered by -the marabout to write a verse from the Koran on the inside of a cup; -then to pour in water till the writing was washed away; then to drink -this water, which was supposed to have in it the virtue expressed in -the verse. I followed my master out of Fatima's house greatly amazed at -this kind of medical treatment, but I did not wonder at hearing that -she had complained that her aches were increasing. - - -THE SLAVE MARKET - -Achmet had now no further use for me and decided to sell me as a slave. -I was driven, chained, to the slave market. This auction place was in -a large square. All around it were little booths. These were crowded -with spectators. Through the center of the bazaar ran a walk. Most of -the slaves that had been brought to the market for sale were women and -girls. Among the Moors it was thought no evil to deal in human flesh. A -black woman with children was first sold. One could tell by the way she -clung to her brood that she feared she would be separated from them. We -saw her face light when one of the Moors who was squatting on the edge -of the walk bought the entire family. - -A boy came next. He was handled by prospective buyers as if he were a -horse. His eyes, mouth, teeth and nostrils were examined. The first -Moslem who inspected him must have seen some defect in the lad, for he -waved him away. The auctioneer then seized the boy and led him up and -down the walk before the Moors in the bazaars, shouting his good points. - -Most of the girls were blacks or mulattoes, brought from the interior -of Africa by Arabian traders. There were a few white girls among them. -Each girl or woman was handled in the same manner as the boys had been. -Some of the maidens boldly returned the stare of those who inspected -them. Others shrank from their inspection and, when possible, covered -their faces with the woolen haicks they wore. - -This slave market reflected only a small part of the slave life of the -city. I saw men and women of all classes huddled together in dark, -dirty prisons, praying their countrymen would send money to ransom them. - -Those whose relatives were not rich enough to buy their freedom were -sold to various buyers and set to work at all kinds of labor. The -owners often made use of their slaves to earn them money. The old -slaves were usually sent out to sell water. Many a drink have I bought -from these water-carriers, as, dragging their chains, they led their -donkeys through the streets and sold water from bags of skin that hung -across the backs of their beasts. Some of my other acquaintances among -the slaves acted as messengers or house-servants; others were employed -as herders, drivers or plowmen--I have even seen a Christian slave -yoked to a plow with an ox for a yoke-fellow. - -Once, while inland, I saw coming out of the Soudan a score of slaves -fastened together in a long wooden yoke that had many holes cut in it a -few feet apart to admit the heads of the slaves. If one of these slaves -fell sick or grew too weak to walk, he would hang from this yoke by -his neck, with his feet dragging. As much as he suffered himself, his -condition added to the sufferings of his yoke-fellows, for they had to -bear his weight. I heard that if he seemed likely to die before the -slave market was reached, his master would cut his head from his body -with one knife stroke--it saved halting the procession to remove the -sick man from the yoke. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE ESCAPE - - -Murad in Tripoli! There he stood, stroking his beard and gazing at me -with glittering eyes as I was hauled past him to the auction-block. - -A fierce Arabian trader, who was forming a caravan to go into the -Soudan, bid for me. Murad offered more. I was torn between my terror of -being sold "up-country" and of being bought by the Egyptian, who would -probably apply torture to wring from me the story of what had become of -the contents of the treasure tomb. The Arabian, scowling at Murad, made -a still higher bid, whereupon Murad increased his offer. The trader -gave me a few final digs and slaps, as if to see if I had the sinews -and endurance to warrant his paying a higher price; then he shook his -head, cursed me for a Christian dog, and passed to the next slave. -Murad came forward. I was pushed into his arms and then thrust by him -into the rough hands of his two Moorish attendants. - -The Egyptian told me curtly that he had purchased from the Algerines -a ship they had captured called the _Hawk_, which he meant to use as -a merchant vessel under the protection of the Bashaw, and that he had -bought me for service on board of her. - -"I am buying out of these slave markets a crew of European sailors," he -said curtly. "Remember that we are now master and slave. Where I once -befriended you, now I will compel you to wear chains and be subject -to the lash. The American consul to this port is now in Malta; we will -sail before he returns; place no hope in him. I want you to search your -memory and be prepared to tell me every move you made since I left you -aboard _The Rose of Egypt_. I shall soon question you upon certain -happenings in the desert about which you doubtless have knowledge!" - -My eyes fell before his piercing gaze. "I see I have struck home," he -said, "I can question you better aboard ship. Go! Report now to my -mate, MacWilliams." - -Under the charge of the two Moors, I was sent aboard the _Hawk_. She -was a staunch, graceful, roomy vessel, built on the Clyde out of the -best materials--a ship that reflected credit on the Scotchmen who made -her. I said to myself, as I viewed her admiringly, that she was far too -good a ship to be in such vile hands. For all of Murad's threats, my -spirits rose as I felt her deck under my feet. Here I was among white -men, and decent fellows they appeared to be. Here I had a dozen chances -to escape, while if the Arabian trader had gained possession of me, -only a miracle could have rescued me. As for Murad, if he tortured me, -I meant to leap overboard and attempt to swim to safety. - -The mate, William MacWilliams, was a big, raw-boned, lantern-jawed -man. He received me with kindness and pity. I heard that, under threat -of death, he had denied the religion of Christ and had embraced the -faith of Mohammed. Murad seemed to place great trust in him. The -Egyptian had become, it seemed, too important a man to be a mere ship -captain--perhaps his experience on _The Rose of Egypt_ had brought -about this state of mind--and he left all matters in charge of the -mate. He himself had much business to transact at court, and things -occurred to postpone his questioning of me until we were almost ready -to sail. - -Since my chains were the badge of my slavery, no watch was kept on me -as I went to and fro on errands for those who were outfitting the ship. - -William MacWilliams interested me greatly. I had heard that there were -many renegades of his type in Barbary. I have been informed that the -word renegade comes from the Latin word _nego_, which means "I deny." -Some of these men had become turncoats to save their skins; others had -become renegades because the Moslems, poor sailors themselves, were -glad to employ Christian sea captains, and gave them opportunities to -live luxuriously and become rich. - -MacWilliams wore a most melancholy expression. For all his supposed -devotion to the religion of Mohammed, I came upon him one day reading a -pocket Testament. - -"It is a book that has sublime characters in it, my lad," he said in -an embarrassed fashion. Then he turned and looked towards a mosque -on shore. "There is but one God, and Allah is his prophet!" he said -piously. I looked around, surprised at the change in his attitude. Then -I saw the reason. The commander of the Turkish soldiers quartered on -board the _Hawk_ had passed our way. - -I could not fathom MacWilliams. Yet, understanding something of the -temptations a Christian faced in Barbary, I tried to be charitable in -my judgment towards him. - -Meanwhile, I became a carrier of supplies, threading my way through the -motley throngs with my back bent beneath coils of rope, carpenters' -tools, and ship's stores. - -While on one of these errands I had a curious adventure. - -I tried to go through the streets without giving offence to any -Mussulman, as I feared a cuffing or even the bastinado. - -I soon learned that it was the so-called "saints" that were the most -dangerous to Christians. The Arabs, while they will themselves refrain -from showing the contempt they feel towards Christians, nevertheless -will reward and praise one of the holy men for abusing us. - -A tall scantily clad negro, of the type of Mohammed, was the most -fanatical and the most dangerous "saint" I met. He was begging alms at -the entrance to a courtyard when he saw me passing. He carried a staff -in his hand which he used principally to strike Jews and Christians. -It was not the stick that troubled me, but instead the habit he had -of spitting in the face of Christians. As he peered into my face, -detecting my Christian features despite my attempt to disguise them, -I saw his mouth moving as if he were preparing to attack me after his -vile custom. I hurried out of his range, and escaped the spittle. My -quickness enraged him, and he called after me in Arabian. I had heard -the words often enough to know that they meant: - -"Dog of a Christian, may your grandmother roast! Why shouldst thou -avoid the spittle of a saint? It would be the only thing blessed upon -thee, seeing that it came from the mouth of a saint!" - -I darted down a side street and into a doorway, hoping to rid myself -of the pest, but he followed quickly and caught sight of my place of -refuge. - -"Dog of a Christian," he cried again, poking me in the chest and ribs -with his staff, "why do you offend Mohammed by treading the same ground -as true believers?" - -My blood mounted as I smarted beneath his cudgel. I decided that I -would fare just as well by resisting as by submitting, so I ducked my -head and dived into the stomach of the fellow, upsetting him. This -turned out to be, in the eyes of the Moslems, a great sacrilege. It -appeared that while the alleged holy man had entire freedom to beat -me, I had committed a crime by doing violence to his body. He made a -tremendous uproar as he rose from the dust, and the noise drew a crowd -that began to pummel me. I plunged deeper into the doorway, and, having -seized the stick of the marabout, whirled it before me in a vigorous -fashion. A storm of stones and sticks beat upon me. - -While I was on my knees, expecting a rush that would trample me to -death, I suddenly heard a familiar voice above the shrieks of the mass. - -"Dogs of the desert, how dare you trouble the slave of a good -Mohammedan? This Nazarene is the slave of my master, friend of the -Bashaw! Is my lord a Jew or a Christian that you would destroy his -property before the eyes of a witness? The slave was assaulted first. I -swear by the Prophet that he is a gentle slave, and intended no injury -to the holy man. Off with you before I call the soldiers of the Bashaw!" - -The crowd dispersed. Grumbling, the marabout departed. - -I looked into the twinkling eyes of Mustapha. Snatching the marabout's -staff from my hand, he began to pelt me across the shoulders. "It is -necessary that I do this," he whispered, "the people are watching." - -I went through the crowd with Mustapha belaboring me and shouting: - -"Dog of a Nazarene, how dare you risk your body, for which my master -paid a great sum, in a fight with a holy man?" - -When we reached a place where our talk could not be overheard, I burst -out: "The treasure sacks, Mustapha? Do not tell me that the Moors have -them!" - -"The bags are safe, oh David," he assured me, "but fret not if you -are not able to open them till you return to America. After you were -captured, I hurried to the waterside. There I saw the cutter of _The -Morning Star_, a vessel of the American navy. I unstrapped the sacks -and put them in the boat, pointing out to the sailor in charge the tags -you had tied around their necks." - -This information dumbfounded me. The fact that I had been careful -enough to tie to the necks of the sacks tags from our own naval stores -seemed to promise now delivery of the sacks to a safe place--if they -were not ripped open and plundered meanwhile. This was not liable to -happen in view of the pains I had taken to ward off curiosity. Upon -each tag I had written plainly: - - - ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS - to be delivered to - Rev. Ezekiel Eccleston, D.D., - Rector of Marley Chapel, - Baltimore, Md. - - Sender: David Forsyth, - With American Military Expedition - in Libyan Desert. - - -"If the men who handle the bags respect either the navy or the -ministry," I said to Mustapha, "the treasure will be safe. But how can -I be sure that the sacks were received on board the ship?" - -"I saw the bags lifted over the side, oh, thou of little faith," -Mustapha reproved me, "and the boat did not return to the dock. A -few hours later _The Morning Star_ sailed for America. Allah favored -you--my tribe moved this way when Joseph Bashaw's soldiers took -possession of Derne, and thus I came to prevent your blood being -spilled in the streets of Tripoli!" - -"I want to reward you with the biggest gem in our collection," I said, -"but how can I do it when our fortune is at sea?" - -Then a thought came to me. "Mustapha," I said, "I mean to escape from -the _Hawk_ and board a ship bound for England or America. I have -learned from the mate that a servant boy is needed on the _Hawk_. If -you like, I'll recommend you for the place. You must pretend not to -know me. If the owner of the _Hawk_ discovers that you know about the -treasure, he'll probably cut your throat? Can you swim?" - -Mustapha nodded. "I'll dive overboard if he bothers me!" - -"Come then," I said, "we'll follow our riches to America, and you shall -return home a great sheik!" - -His tribesmen had returned to the desert, and he was free to act for -himself. Quite without fear, he followed me aboard. I spoke a good word -for him to MacWilliams, and before long he was peeling potatoes in the -galley. If I had thought that Murad would recognize him, I should have -given my right hand rather than have invited him to share my luck; I -did not know that my meeting with Mustapha had been observed by Murad, -and that I was leading the lad into danger. - -All too soon came the interview I feared with my owner. One day Murad -came aboard the _Hawk_, entered the cabin, and sent for me. The tiger -was about to show his claws. I was not greatly frightened, for I -reckoned that he would need me in his plans to gain possession of the -treasure. - -"Now, you scheming dog," he said, "let's not beat about the bush. Your -guardian told me once of a treasure tomb hidden in the desert. You know -the story. Perhaps you know, too, how I came into possession of the -rector's secret. When at last I was able to uncover the tomb, all of -the relics worth taking had vanished. Don't try to look innocent: you -were my cabin boy on board _The Rose of Egypt_. The reason you enlisted -with me so readily was that you wanted to find the chart and get a -chance at the treasure at Tokra. I found that someone had entered the -tomb a few hours before me. Two strange young Arabs had been seen near -the spot. I choked a stablekeeper until he described both rascals. One -of the two Arabs was you, eh? Tell me where the trinkets and jewels -are! If your tongue is stubborn, a red-hot iron may cause it to move. -What did you find? Tell me what you took away! Speak up--the way to -save yourself from the torture you well deserve is to put me on the -track of the treasure!" - -There was nothing to be gained by secrecy, and much to be suffered, so -I described the trinkets and gems in a way that made his eyes sparkle -and his fingers quiver. He snarled and showed his wolfish teeth when I -told him that the treasure sacks were on their way to America. - -All of a sudden I was knocked down by a blow from his fist. He stepped -across me and called to a sailor in Arabic. After the lapse of a -minute, the door of the cabin was thrown open, and Mustapha was thrust -in by a Moslem guard. He had been seized in the act of diving over the -side. - -"Is this the young devil that led you to Tokra?" Murad thundered at me. - -"Yes," I said, "but he went only as my guide and knew nothing of why I -went. He has done nothing to merit punishment." - -Under a volley of threats, Mustapha was commanded to tell all that he -knew of the treasure tomb. He looked at me with frightened eyes; yet -his lips remained sealed. - -"Tell all, Mustapha," I said, "it will free you, and it will be no more -than I have already told." - -His story, as he stammered it, agreed with mine in every particular. - -Murad strode up and down the cabin, swearing in Arabic and English. -Then he shot questions at both of us concerning _The Morning Star_. -When had she sailed from Derne? What was to be her next port? Was she -fast? How many men and guns did she carry? - -When Mustapha had answered as well as he could, Murad booted us out of -the cabin. "I'm not done with you, miserable curs," he cried. "I'll -need you when I board _The Morning Star_. Then for all the trouble -you've caused me, I'll sew you up in the bags and drop you overboard! -If you can think of a way of getting those bags you'll do well to send -for them as your ransom. If I don't get them, you----" He drew his -finger across his throat with a horrible gesture. - -He now sent for MacWilliams and gave him sharp orders. - -The next morning, after a day of hurried preparation, the _Hawk_ -sailed. - -The ship had an armament of ten cannon, and carried an abundant supply -of ammunition and provisions. A company of Moorish soldiers were on -board of her. What was the _Hawk's_ mission? Were we Christians to be -used in enslaving other Christians? Was the _Hawk_ a ship whose mission -fitted her name? Was she to be a pirate ship seeking Christian vessels -as prey, and would we be made to fight and to help enslave men of our -own religion and blood? Questions like these concerned the Christians -among the crew, and I for one prayed that I would have the courage to -jump overboard if there came a moment when I was driven to do such -deeds. - -On our first day out, I made bold to unburden myself to the mate. -MacWilliams eyed me gravely. "You are not to ask questions. You are -to do as you are told. What happens on board this ship shall be on my -conscience." - -He walked off, leaving me no more clear about the matter than I was -before. I saw the Danes and Italians talking earnestly in their -languages, and I knew that what was worrying me was also troubling them. - -MacWilliams was master of navigation, but had no authority over any -other activity aboard ship. There were about forty Moslems aboard who -took no part in sailing the vessel. In charge of them was Murad, who -had command over the entire ship and told MacWilliams the direction -in which he wanted the ship to sail. I learned that he had directed -MacWilliams to sail to certain ports outside of the Straits, where he -hoped to fall in with _The Morning Star_. - -The master gunner was an English renegade named Watson, who had charge -of the guns and ammunition. The commander seemed to think that European -gunners were better than Moors, because among the gunners under Watson -were several Christian renegades. I found myself wondering whether, if -all of the men aboard of Christian or former Christian faith were moved -by the same desire to escape, they could not overcome the Mohammedans -and capture the vessel. Yet, having observed that some Christians when -they adopted the Moslem religion grew as fanatical in their devotion as -did the most extreme worshippers, I decided that it would not be safe -to whisper such a suggestion to anyone. - -It gave us entertainment while we were performing our tasks to watch -the peculiar customs of the Moslems. Our greatest source of amusement -was a professional wizard the Moors had brought with them. He had a -book of magic, and when the commander was in doubt as to which course -to take, the dark-skinned humbug would open his book and advise him -according to the wisdom he drew from its pages. - -When the wizard's advice was passed on to MacWilliams, he said -nothing by way of dissent, but proceeded to steer and set sails as -his own judgment and experience dictated. The Moslems, who had no sea -knowledge, and were lost when they were out of sight of land, made -no effort to find out whether the mate was following the magician's -counsel. - -Our fears as to what sort of work we were about to enter upon soon -became certainties. On our second day out we caught sight of a large -schooner and gave chase. Her crew, rather than surrender, drove the -ship ashore and fled along the coast. The men Murad sent in boats to -plunder the vessel brought back several guns, some gold, and such -wearing apparel and furnishings as took their fancy. The sight of -the gold brought back to my mind my own lost treasure. Between the -prospect of attacking Christian vessels and the remembrance of what I -had already suffered, I spent my night watches in great distress of -mind, a state which was in no way soothed by the thought that around me -lay Christian slaves racked by the same thoughts. - -On the next day we sailed boldly through the Straits and out into the -Atlantic Ocean. As we were making the passage through the Straits, -we discovered a sail. I feared that it was _The Morning Star_. It -proved, however, to be an Algerine corsair. We spoke to each other and -separated. - -We headed north, past Cape St. Vincent. It puzzled me that Murad would -permit MacWilliams to take the ship so far from the Mediterranean. It -was a dangerous undertaking for the corsairs, but the _Hawk_ was an -unusually speedy ship, and I supposed that Murad was depending on her -swiftness to escape any hostile warships that he might meet. - -A great homesickness came upon us as we passed into the Atlantic. It -was intolerable to think of returning to the Mediterranean and the -dreadful shores of Barbary when the coasts of Europe were almost in -sight. I thought often of the girl who escaped from the desert and -sailed to America. - -Sometimes Murad's lieutenant grew angry with some of the Moors, who -were slow in carrying out his orders. To spite them, he showed favor to -such Christians as happened to be near. - -"Bon Christiano! Bon Christiano!" he called endearingly. The next hour, -however, the wind would change. He would stroll along the deck followed -by the very Moslems he had reviled, and if he found any of us at fault -about our work he would bid his Moors knock our heads together. He was -afraid to carry these tyrannies too far, for MacWilliams was prone to -look upon him with a look that warned him that the Christian sailors -were too valuable to Mohammedan safety to be abused too far. - -One night, while I was on watch, MacWilliams approached me. His hand -rested on my shoulder with a fatherly touch that moved me greatly. - -"The time has come when I need your help," he said. "I intend to take -this ship to England despite her crew of Mohammedans. If the plan goes -through, every Christian slave aboard the _Hawk_ shall step upon the -earth of Europe a free man. I've been watching you. I believe you agree -that it's better to risk death than to go on leading such a life. There -are other slaves who think the same way. What do you say, lad?" - -"Just you try me!" I said. "I owe the infidels a score that can hardly -be wiped out. Besides, hasn't the skipper threatened to sew me in a -sack and toss me overboard? Of course, you can trust me, and Mustapha, -too!" - -"Lad, lad," MacWilliams went on, "we English blame the Turks, yet we -have been reaping the fruits of what our own race has sowed. The story -has passed down to me, through generations of seafaring ancestors, of -how when good Queen Elizabeth passed and when the English and Spaniards -ceased for a time their warfare at sea, hundreds of sailors who had -fought in bloody battles under Drake were at a loss for employment and -found it in piracy. - -"Down to the Mediterranean they went and entered the service of these -evil Moors. It was our forebears who taught the Moslems how to become -good sea-fighters. It was men of our own race who first led the Barbary -corsairs forth on buccaneering expeditions. What our forefathers -started, some of us have carried on, but the time has come to end it -all!" - -Continuing, for we had an idle hour to pass, and the mate was desirous -of heartening me for our desperate undertaking, MacWilliams told me of -how in 1639 William Okeley, an English slave, had constructed in the -cellar of his master's shop a light canoe made of canvas, making oars -from the staves of empty wind pipes. This craft he and his companions -smuggled down to the beach, and five of them embarked in it and made -their way safely to Majorca. The hardest part of the enterprise was -their farewell to two other English slaves who were to have made the -voyage with them, but who were found to overweight the little boat. - -"With the help of Gunner Watson," MacWilliams explained as I drew him -out as to his plan, "we should be able to trap the Moslems between -the decks; get control of the cannon and powder, and sail the ship -into some European port. It'll be turning the tables in fine style--a -Christian crew bringing infidels as captives to an English harbor!" - -He proceeded to set forth his plan in detail. "By to-morrow," he -concluded, "I shall know every trustworthy man. I shall then give -each man a definite part. Such a way of escape has been in my mind -for years. A man with a Presbyterian conscience can never remain -a Mohammedan. If our plot succeeds I shall make a contribution to -the church of my fathers that I hope shall to some extent offset my -wickedness!" - -Mustapha carried food from the galley to Murad. MacWilliams told me -that it was essential to the success of the plot that Murad be made -too ill to note the direction of the ship. The mate was skilful in -Oriental medicines, and he produced a phial containing a liquid that, -while tasteless, yet had the power to nauseate and weaken a man. -While Mustapha obligingly turned his back, and while I kept guard, -MacWilliams poured the fluid into Murad's broth. The Egyptian was taken -with what seemed to be chronic sea-sickness and kept to his cabin. I do -not think he suspected that his food had been "doctored." He ordered -MacWilliams to sail close to certain ports and to pursue any vessel -that was not plainly a warship. - -I told the mate something of the treasure tale--enough for him to know -that Murad was in pursuit of _The Morning Star_--and at whatever port -it seemed safe for us to stop, MacWilliams brought aboard reports -that there was a richly laden vessel bound for America that might -be overhauled before we reached the next Atlantic harbor. Thus we -continued steadily away from the Straits. - -Once an encounter with a strange warship came near to upsetting -our plans for capturing the _Hawk_. MacWilliams and Watson, being -renegades, were afraid to meet the captain of any European warship, for -fear that they might be recognized and treated as buccaneers. Knowing -their minds, I watched the outcome of the chase with intense interest. - -I happened to be the lookout for that day, and had reported a strange -sail ahead. - -MacWilliams climbed the mast to a place beside me and adjusted his -telescope. Then he went down and approached Uruj, Murad's lieutenant. - -"She is well to windward----I doubt if we can pass her!" the mate -reported. - -"Why should we try to pass her?" Uruj said insolently. - -"'Twill go hard with us if we don't," said MacWilliams. "She is double -our size--with double our crew and guns. Our only chance is to keep our -course and try to weather the ship." - -Uruj looked to the wizard for advice. The magician, being a rank -coward, found by his book that MacWilliams told the truth. Uruj -therefore agreed to MacWilliams's plan. - -We could now see the ship over our lee bow, about three miles away. The -sea was heavy, but the _Hawk_ met the waves gallantly. We saw a thick -white puff of smoke from the forecastle of our pursuer. - -"The wind looks like it will die down," said MacWilliams, who had been -anxiously watching the sky. "If it does, we will outsail her. The next -few moments should tell what the outcome will be." - -It looked to us as if we must pass within pistol shot of the vessel, -and the thought of having to receive a broadside from her at such a -short distance was enough to make a braver lad than I shiver with -fright. Watson and his gunners stood at the cannon, waiting for Uruj's -command. - -Our pursuer was close to us now--in full sail. We could see groups of -men about the gun ports, from which cannon jutted. - -A voice hailed us. - -"Ho! The schooner, ahoy!" - -"Hello!" MacWilliams responded. - -"What vessel is that?" - -"The Tripolitan schooner _Hawk_, from Tripoli. What ship is yours?" - -We could not catch the first part of the reply, but we did hear the -last words: "Haul down your flag and heave to!" - -Uruj went down to tell Murad. We continued on our course. - -"Heave to or we'll sink you," cried the challenger. - -MacWilliams spoke to Uruj. "Do as you think best," said Uruj. "Fire the -bow guns," MacWilliams commanded Watson. - -Our grapeshot whistled through the rigging of the frigate. We saw her -foresail fall. - -Jets of flame issued from her ports and a broadside swept our decks. -Our sails were undamaged, but several shots tore through our hull, -injuring several of the sailors and soldiers with flying splinters, -though none was seriously hurt. - -Before the next cannonade came, we had widened the distance between the -_Hawk_ and her pursuer. The winds, as MacWilliams had predicted, had -grown lighter, and the _Hawk_, a splendid sailer in light winds, showed -her heels handily to the enemy. Their shots struck us with less force, -and soon we saw the shots from their long gun falling short of us. - -We had escaped from capture by a ship that evidently belonged to a -country that was hostile to the Tripolitans. If she had seized us the -renegades would have been treated in the same way that the Moslems -would be used, and therefore MacWilliams took this desperate chance. As -for me, I did not know whether to be glad or sorry, for if I had lived -through the battle, I could doubtless have proved that I had been held -in slavery. Yet the incident must have confirmed the Turks in their -opinion of MacWilliams' loyalty. - -On another day we sighted a vessel that appeared to be _The Morning -Star_, but when she was nearly under our guns, and when Mustapha and I -were about to surrender hope of saving our riches, a freak of wind bore -her away from us, and we never saw her again. - -Meanwhile, the scheme of rebellion and seizure was making steady -progress. The plan of mutiny as it had formed itself in MacWilliams's -mind was to provide ropes and irons near the hatchways, gratings and -cabins so that they could be closed from the outside at a moment's -notice. When this had been arranged, the next step was to dupe the -Moslems so that the most of them would be below deck when the signal -for attack was given. MacWilliams went about the work cautiously. To -have one traitor among us, he well knew, would cost every Christian his -life. Mustapha, being an Arab, hated the Moors, and entered the plot -eagerly. - -Each man who consented to engage in the plot swore a sacred oath of -fidelity. - -With those MacWilliams could not trust--renegades or slaves whose -character he could not read--his plan was, when the uprising came, to -put pistols to their breasts and threaten them with death if they did -not assist in the rebellion. - -After hours that seemed as long as months had passed, he passed me the -word one night that the signal would be given on the morrow, before -noon. The rough weather we were laboring through was an aid to our -scheme. - -The next morning MacWilliams made an inspection of the hold. Then he -came up to inform the Moslem lieutenant that there was much water in -the bilges, and that it would be necessary to trim the ship. Uruj, -suspecting nothing, consented. Our leader then asked that, for the same -purpose, the cannon that were forward should be moved aft. This being -done, he further requested that the Moslem soldiers be quartered aft so -as to bring the ship's bow out of the water. This was also agreed to. -Meanwhile, we had managed to store in a convenient place such weapons -as we would need. - -When all these things had been done, to avoid suspicion, we went -about our regular duties. Our confederates of the gunner's force went -below deck with the infidel soldiers so that it would not appear that -there was a crowding together of the slaves and renegades. The rest -of us were set to pumping water by MacWilliams. I could tell by the -arrangement of the men, and by the way they acted, which were sharers -in the secret. There were about a score of us, and we had to contend -with double our number. - -At noon, while most of the Turks that were on deck were aft, using -their weight to bring the stern into the water so that the water in the -vessel might flow towards the pumps, MacWilliams gave the signal to one -of the gunners to fire a cannon. An explosion followed--the signal for -us to proceed. With a ringing hurrah we sprang to the attack. - -Each man had been assigned a specific duty: first we battened down the -hatches down which most of the Moslems had gone, so that the greater -part of our enemies were now prisoners; then we turned to conquer the -Moslems on deck. - -There were twelve of them. They came at us with pistols, knives and -hatchets, calling us by their epithet, "Christian dogs!" But the dogs -had become bloodhounds now. Johansen, one of the Danes, swung one of -the cannon in their direction. They made a rush at him, but he fired -the gun directly at them, at which there was a terrific explosion--and -the decks became a welter of gore. The terrible death of these -Mohammedans caused the remaining Moslems to prostrate themselves before -us, their fury turned to abject fear. - -Meanwhile, the Moslems imprisoned between decks were trying desperately -to break through the hatches. Murad, weak from sickness, yet rose up -beside Uruj to thunder threats against us and to urge his men on. -However, our victory on deck left us free to attend to those below. -Two men were stationed over each passageway, with orders to shoot any -infidel who by the use of hatchet or knife was able to break through -the planking. - -MacWilliams stood over the hatchway below which Murad and Uruj raged. - -"If you value your lives," he called, "you will surrender! My men -have orders to shoot any man who dares to lift his head. If you come -too strongly for our numbers, we will blow you to bits with your own -cannon. We are only two days' sail from Plymouth. Your precious wizard -hadn't enough insight to see that we were taking you nearer the coast -of England every hour we sailed. We will take you there, alive or dead. -If you would enter England with breath in your lungs, surrender!" - -Uruj at once offered to surrender himself and his men as prisoners of -war. Murad cursed Uruj, but at last yielded. He reminded MacWilliams -that he had treated him with consideration. - -"That I acknowledge," MacWilliams replied, "and I will so treat you as -well so long as you make no attempt to thwart us!" - -The Mohammedans came out of the hatches one by one to be disarmed. -The chains they had in store for such Christians as they might take -captives were placed on their wrists and ankles. I was one of those who -were called upon to receive the arms. It was a task to make a youth -flinch to go from one scowling ruffian to another, collecting muskets, -pistols, dirks, and pikes, but I came through without much trouble, -having nothing harder thrown at me than curses. Murad flinched as I -came toward him with a dirk in my hand, but I only grinned at him. For -a keepsake, I took the cowering wizard's book of magic. - -When the last Moslem was put in irons, MacWilliams brought out openly -his Bible. - -"I call on all of you who are willing to be reconciled to their true -Savior," he said, "and who repent of being seduced by hopes of riches, -honor, preferment, and such devilish baits, to join me in praise and -prayer to the true God, whom we re-establish in our hearts and restore -in our worship." - -With that he read to us this passage from the Psalms: - - - "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great - waters; - - "These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. - - "For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up - the waves thereof. - - "They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; - their soul is melted because of trouble. - - "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at - their wit's end. - - "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth - them out of their distresses. - - "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. - - "Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them - unto their desired haven." - - -MacWilliams closed the Bible. "Now men," he said, "having given thanks -to the Almighty, let us wash the decks of infidel blood, so that our -ship will present a decent appearance when we enter the harbor of our -hopes." - -We thereupon set about washing and holystoning the decks, and repairing -the damage resulting from the battle. Two days later, we entered -Plymouth harbor, astounding the town as we, in strange garb ourselves, -marched our captives in their queer Mohammedan dress to the town jail, -where they were left to the disposition of the Government. We heard -later that they were used in exchange for citizens of friendly European -nations, held in captivity in Tripoli. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -HOME SURPRISES - - - "_Oh! dream of joy! Is this indeed_ - _The lighthouse top I see?_ - _Is this the hill? Is this the kirk?_ - _Is this mine own countree?_" - - -The owners of the _Hawk_ could not be found. The authorities decided -that we had the right to offer her for sale and to divide the money -among ourselves in proportions according to rank. Her value was placed -at eighteen thousand dollars--but MacWilliams, backed by a group of -merchants, purchased the ship for fifteen thousand dollars. He had not, -canny Scot, returned from Barbary with empty pockets. He bought the -_Hawk_ at auction, and was able to obtain it at a low price because -other merchants, when they saw his eagerness to obtain possession of -her, refrained from bidding. - -I was eager to take passage for America, and MacWilliams, to -accommodate me, hurried the sale along so that Mustapha and myself -could have our share. With three hundred dollars apiece in our -possession, we bade him an affectionate farewell. - -He changed the name of the _Hawk_ to the _Dove_, and vowed to me that -she should be used only on honorable missions. - -"Lad, lad," he said, as he gripped my hand, "it's glad I am to see you -returning to a God-fearing home. When you remember William MacWilliams, -blot out the remembrance of ill deeds connected with my name, and -think of me as a repentant man who yet intends to leave a good name -behind him!" - -We sailed for Baltimore in the brig _Lafayette_, Captain Lord. As we -entered the Patapsco River Mustapha pointed out a schooner lying off -Fell's Point. "Blessed be Allah--it's _The Morning Star_!" he cried. - -"Pray then that her crew are not going ashore to spend our fortune!" I -said. - -Our first thought was to go directly aboard the schooner, but we then -considered that we should have to furnish proof to her skipper that the -sacks belonged to us, and that in such dealings it would be better to -have the rector's support; therefore, we decided to seek him first. - -As we passed a shop near the docks, I observed this sign above its door: - - - ALEXANDER FORSYTH - - EXPORTER OF - Fish, Flour, Tobacco, Corn and Furs - - IMPORTER OF - Teas, Coffee and Spices - - -I entered and pounded on a desk. - -"I want to buy a shipload of cannon balls to fire at the Dey of -Algiers! I want to charter a frigate that will blow Joseph, Bashaw of -Tripoli, to perdition! Fish, flour, tobacco--who's dealing in such tame -stuff--it's blood and thunder I'm after purchasing; it's muskets and -cutlasses I want. Show me your stock, man!" - -A man with the build of a mastpole came out of the counting-room and -stared at me. I swaggered towards him, but, suddenly, overcome by -amusement at his puzzled look and joy at beholding him again, I sprang -forward and threw my arms about him. - -"David!" he cried. - -"Alexander," I answered. - -We stood hugging each other like two polar bears. - -In a few minutes of hurried chat, I found out that my brother, -recovering his health, had married Nell King, a Baltimore girl, and was -prospering as a merchant. Commodore Barney, who had backed Alexander in -business, was at sea. (How I fell in with him later and increased the -family fortunes by acting as chaplain on his privateer _Polly_ may not -be told now.) - -Customers came into the shop, and promising to call on Alexander and -Nell that night, I broke away and went on up to the house. Mustapha, -gaping at the strange western land I had brought him to, and as -bewildered as I had been when I wandered through his desert cities, -walked closely beside me, clutching my arm. I saw some of the bullies -who had mutinied on board _The Rose of Egypt_. I think they recognized -me, but Mustapha and I were a stalwart pair, and the looks cast our way -by the dock loafers were more of respect than of hostility. - -We approached the rector's house at dusk. A welcoming light shone -through the elms. I was swaggering along, thinking how much of a man I -would appear to the rector. The yellow glow from the window, however, -spread an influence that changed me into a soft-hearted boy. Here was -I, a sailor hardened through contact with all sorts of men, toughened -by wind, wave and warfare, yet brushing a tear from my cheek as I -saw the lamp in the parsonage shining out cheerier than the ray of a -lighthouse on a tempestuous night. - -The door was bolted--I knocked. A girl answered, her face in the -shadows. - -I was as much taken aback as if I had seen a ghost. I was not used to -seeing girls around the old home. Besides, Alexander had not warned me. - -"Is it someone to see father?" she asked timidly. - -"You are Nell, Alexander's wife?" I said boldly, "and a pretty choice -he made!" - -"No!" she said, and I stood there in worse confusion than ever. - -Yet there was something vaguely familiar in her tone. - -"I beg your pardon," I said, "I thought Dr. Eccleston still lived here." - -"He does!" she replied. "Please come in!" - -We stepped into the hallway. I looked around, taking in each familiar -object. - -"I am David Forsyth," I said, "perhaps you have heard the rector speak -of his boy who went to sea." - -"I recognized you at first, David," she said, her face still in the -shadows. "What a grand surprise for the rector!" - -I walked towards the library, but the rector had heard our voices. He -came out, spectacles in one hand, a book in the other. He stared at me -as if he could scarcely credit his own sight. - -I was in his arms the next moment. - -"David," he shouted. "I had almost given you up for lost! No letters! -And all the time I've been waiting to thank you for sending me my -precious jewel!" - -I looked at Mustapha in puzzlement. What did he mean by "jewel"? Had he -gotten the treasure? - -He turned to the mysterious girl, whose gold hair flashed in the -lamplight as if ten thousand diamonds were netted in it. I had seen a -girl's hair flashing in just such a way before! But where? - -He saw me twirling my hat and grasped the situation: - -"David," he explained, "this is my daughter! General Eaton told me that -it was you who first pointed her out to him in the Arab camp." - -Heigho! I had gone forth to seek adventures, and here at my home -door was a more marvelous thing than any I had come upon. The girl -that General Eaton had bought from the Bedouin hag was no other than -the daughter the rector had lost in the desert! She was taller and -lovelier, and the more I looked the more flustrated I became. I had -always been shy before girls, and now I stood like a gawk, blushing -under her gaze. I wanted the floor to open when she came forward and -held up her lips in a matter-of-fact way for my kiss. - -However, I did not dodge the invitation, for all my bashfulness. -Indeed, I might as well record here that that sisterly kiss became a -few months later the kiss of a sweetheart--but since I have no notion -of having this book end in a love story, we had better get back to our -course. - -Mustapha, who had kept himself well in the rear, was now discovered by -Anne, and what a jabbering in Arabic took place. Whenever after that -I started to tell Anne of my adventures I found that she had already -heard it from Mustapha. I can't say that I was displeased at this, -because the lad--not that I deserved it--held me in high esteem, and -painted me in every episode as a great hero. - -Over the supper table we learned how the rector and Anne had been -united. General Eaton had landed in Baltimore, and the rector, -beholding beside the General a girl who bore a striking resemblance to -his wife, stopped the officer in the street, questioned him, brought -him and his ward to the parsonage as his guests, and there, by matching -his story with that of Anne's, discovered that she was no other than -his own daughter. Her mother--Anne had only a slight remembrance of -her--must have died early in her captivity. - -The next morning Mustapha and myself induced the rector to take a -stroll with us. We reached the dock where _The Morning Star_ was moored -just as she was being unloaded. As we started to go aboard we bumped -into a string of stevedores. Our search ended there and then, for among -the baggage these men carried were our sacks. - -"Toss those confounded bags aside," cried the officer in charge of the -unloading. "I wonder if the cheeky rascal who sent them aboard thought -I was going to hunt over Baltimore for 'Rev. Ezekiel Eccleston of -Marley Chapel.'" - -I approached him in my most respectful manner. - -"Here, sir, is the Reverend Eccleston. He is the gentleman for whom the -sacks are intended, and I'm the 'cheeky rascal' who shipped them. Your -coxswain will recognize Mustapha here as the lad who stowed them in -your cutter. There wasn't much need of shipping the curios after all, -since my schooner arrived here almost as quickly as your ship." - -He looked at me as if he wanted to pour out a flood of oaths. Then his -gaze wandered over the rector's garb and he grew less surly. - -"It's lucky for you, sir," he said to my guardian, "that we didn't -pitch those sacks overboard! I like this cub's cheek--sending freight -aboard without even saying, 'By your leave!' If the bags hadn't been -addressed to a parson, overboard they'd have gone!" - -"Your forbearance is much appreciated," said the rector. "The boy, I -believe, was in a trying situation." - -I took out a roll of banknotes. - -"We'll pay you in full for all the bother you've been put to. You -really saved this stuff from falling into the hands of the Turk, Joseph -Bashaw. Yet there was another skipper who wanted in the worst way -to carry those bags! In fact, he inquired for _The Morning Star_ at -several South Atlantic ports. I think you came in sight of him. But -we're none the less grateful to you, sir!" - -He snatched from me a pound note. "Always glad to serve the Church," he -said civilly to the rector. "By the way, my men said there appeared to -be metal ornaments in the sacks--candlesticks for worship, I suppose?" - -The rector, at a loss for a reply, stared at the sacks. - -"Something of that sort! They will be very useful to the Church," I -answered, shouldering one. Mustapha followed suit with another, and the -rector, good man, dragged the third sack to a wagon I had hired. With -a load of worry removed from Mustapha and myself, we drove homeward. I -heard afterwards that _The Morning Star_, though then a freighter for -the Government, was a converted privateer and had even been suspected -of piracy while in Uncle Sam's employ. Her men had probably captured -and sunk many a ship without obtaining loot half as valuable as these, -our riches, which they so carelessly carried. - -On the way home the rector questioned me concerning the contents of the -sacks, but I evaded him. Now, as we stood in the hallway, with the -sacks at our feet, I myself popped a question. - -"Rector," I said, "if you were suddenly handed a good-sized fortune, -what would you do with it?" - -He smiled. - -"I suppose, David, that we all like to indulge in such day-dreams. -First, I should erect a larger church here--this business of hanging -our church-bell to a tree is getting sadly out of fashion. Then I -should build mission chapels in the border settlements. Then Alexander -should have capital with which to expand his trade with the West -Indies. Then I should send you to Yale College--it's really time now, -David, that you settled down to your studies. Then I should send -General Eaton some funds. Congress praised him, but has since neglected -him, and the poor fellow is low in spirits and failing in health. -Then----" - -"Rector," I said, "all those wishes and as many more are granted. I -found both Aladdin's lamp and Ali Baba's cave in the deserts of Africa. -Stand by and watch me bring all of your day-dreams true! Fall too, -Mustapha, servant of the geni!" - -With our jackknives we slashed open the sacks. The treasure hoard of -the ancients--the priceless jewelry and trinkets which the rector long -ago had discovered and then sealed up and abandoned--poured out in -gleaming confusion at his feet. - - - - -POSTSCRIPT - -THE END OF THE PIRATES - - -So far as my fortunes are concerned, I was rid forever of Barbary's -corsairs. But, to make my narrative complete, it may be well to state -that the end of their piracies was in sight, and that Stephen Decatur -was the man who struck the blow that marked the beginning of their end. - -The United States had borne these insults and oppressions meekly during -the time she was evolving into a nation, but at last, under Decatur, -her true spirit showed itself. The Dey of Algiers, the last to affront -us, was at length forced to take tribute in the way our naval officers -had long wished to deliver it--from the cannon's mouth. - -The War of 1812 tempered the spirit of our navy for this closing -campaign with the buccaneers of Barbary. The frigate _Constitution_ -thrilled the nation by her victory over the British warship -_Guerrière_, although the _Constitution's_ captain, Isaac Hull, had -to steal out to do battle without the knowledge of the timid Monroe -administration, which feared that our ships were no match for the -British frigates. Then the _United States_, commanded by Captain -Stephen Decatur, defeated and captured the _Macedonian_, one of the -swiftest and strongest and best-equipped ships in John Bull's navy, -and Lieutenant Archibald Hamilton marched into a ball given to naval -officers in Washington with the flag of the captured ship across his -shoulders. - -Then the _Constitution_ met the British frigate _Java_, and by splendid -gunnery reduced her to a burning hulk. Then the British had their -innings and Captain Broke, of the _Shannon_, defeated the chivalrous -but over-confident Captain Lawrence in the _Chesapeake_. - -Decatur, with his feathers drooping somewhat from the fact that he had -been forced to surrender the _President_ to two British frigates after -a hard fight, was sent, after the treaty of peace had been signed, to -deal again with the Barbary states, to which we still paid tribute. -These powers had grown insolent again when the United States became -engaged in war with England and had resumed their piracy. Decatur -sailed in the flagship _Guerrière_ and commanded a squadron of nine -vessels. - -Algiers, the chief offender this time, had organized a strong navy -under the command of Admiral "Rais Hammida," called "the terror of -the Mediterranean." Decatur's squadron sighted this Algerine admiral -in his forty-six-gun frigate _Mashouda_ off Cape Gatte, and pursued -and captured the Turkish ship. Her captain was killed in the first -encounter. - -Decatur now proceeded to Algiers to bring the Dey to terms. The captain -of the port came out insolently to meet him. "Where is your navy?" -demanded Decatur. - -"Safe in some neutral port!" retorted the Algerine officer. - -"Not the whole of it," Decatur said. "We have already captured the -frigate _Mashouda_ and the brig _Estido_, and Admiral Hammida is dead." - -The captive lieutenant of the _Mashouda_ was brought forth to confirm -these statements. The Dey's representative became humble and begged -that hostilities should cease until a treaty could be drawn up on shore. - -"Hostilities will go on until a treaty is made," Decatur replied, "and -a treaty will be made nowhere but on board the _Guerrière_!" - -The officer came out again the next day and began haggling over terms -in true Oriental fashion. Decatur stuck to his terms, which included -the release of all Americans held in slavery and the restoration of -their property. He demanded an immediate decision, threatening: - -"If your squadron appears before the treaty is signed by the Dey and if -American captives are on board, I shall capture it." - -The port officer left. An hour afterward an Algerine man-of-war -appeared. Decatur ordered his officers to prepare for battle. Manning -the forts and ships were forty thousand Turks. - -Before the squadron got under way, however, the Dey's envoy was seen -approaching, flying a white flag--the token of surrender. - -All of the terms had been agreed to. We were to pay no further tributes -to the pirate prince. Our ships were to be free from interference. Ten -Americans that had been held in captivity were delivered up. They knelt -at Decatur's feet to thank God for their release and rose up to embrace -their flag. - -From Algiers, Decatur sailed to Tunis and then to Tripoli, and actually -forced their rulers to pay indemnities for breaking, during the period -of our war with Britain, the treaties they had made with the United -States. - -Decatur thus put an end to the attacks of the Moors upon American -merchant ships. He had set an example that Britain was soon to follow. - - -BRITAIN FOLLOWS DECATUR'S LEAD - -British consuls and sea-faring men were still being insulted and -molested by Moslems. Public indignation in England rose to such a -height that the British government sent Sir Edward Pellew, upon whom -had been bestowed the title Lord Exmouth, to negotiate similar terms. -The fleet sailed first to Tunis and Tripoli and forced the two Beys to -promise to abolish Christian slavery. An element of humor came into the -situation at Tunis, for Caroline, Princess of Wales, was on a tour of -the country, and was not above accepting the hospitality of the Bey, -no matter what wrongs to her countrymen went on under the surface. Her -entertainment included picnics among the ruins of Carthage and the -orange groves of Tunis, to which she was driven in the Bey's coach and -six. She was indignant when word reached her that a bombardment from -her own fleet threatened to put an end to her pleasures. She sought to -interfere, but the Admiral was firm. The Princess took refuge on board -one of the English ships; the squadron prepared to attack; but the Bey -yielded. - -The squadron now proceeded to Algiers. Here the Dey protested so -vehemently that the Admiral agreed to the ruler's proposal to send -ambassadors to England to lay his case before the final authorities. No -sooner had the fleet returned to England than news came of a massacre -of Italians under British protection in Bona, by Algerines acting under -orders actually given by the Dey while Lord Exmouth was at Algiers. - -There was, in the port of Bona, a little to the east of Algiers, a -coral fishery carried on under the protection of Britain. Corsicans, -Neapolitan and other fishermen came here to gather coral. On the 23rd -of May, 1816, Ascension Day, as the fishermen were preparing to attend -Mass, a gun was fired from the castle and two thousand Moslem soldiers -opened fire on the helpless fishermen and massacred them. Then the -English flags were torn to pieces and the British Vice-Consul's house -wrecked and pillaged. - -Lord Exmouth's squadron, on its way to punish the corsairs for these -atrocities, fell in with five frigates and a corvette under the Dutch -Admiral, Van de Capellan. All civilized nations had been aroused by the -massacre of the Italian coral fishers, and the Dutch were eager to take -part in the expedition to punish the murderers. Lord Exmouth welcomed -them, and the combined fleets set sail for Algiers. - -Lord Exmouth sent a letter ashore to the Dey demanding that the -Algerians abolish making slaves of Christians; that they surrender -such Christian slaves as they now held; that they restore ransom money -exacted from Italian slaves, make peace with Holland, and free the -lately imprisoned British Consul, and other English captives. The Dey -was allowed three hours in which to reply. No answer came. Lord Exmouth -began the battle. - -His flagship, _Queen Charlotte_, led the fleet to the attack. Reaching -the left-hand end of the mole, she anchored, thus barring the mouth of -the harbor. In this position, her guns could sweep the whole length and -breadth of the mole. Up came the _Superb_, the _Minden_, the _Albion_, -and the _Impregnable_. Meanwhile, the foe had opened fire and the -_Queen Charlotte_ had replied with three broadsides that ruined the -mole's defences and killed five hundred men. - -The Dutch squadron and the British frigates came in under a heavy fire -and engaged the shore batteries. The Algerian gunboats, screened by -the smoke of the guns, came out to board the _Queen Charlotte_. The -_Leander_, lying beyond the smoke, saw them and sunk thirty-three out -of thirty-seven with her batteries. - -At last the enemy's guns were silenced. The British and Dutch fleets -withdrew into the middle of the bay. The defeated Dey accepted the -British terms. The English consul was released. Three thousand slaves -were set free; some of these had been in prison for thirty years. The -bombardment destroyed part of the house of the American consul Shaler, -who, the British afterwards testified, did all in his power to aid the -English. - -The British squadron gained its victory at the cost of one hundred and -twenty-eight men killed and six hundred and ninety men wounded. Lord -Exmouth led his men with Nelson-like gallantry. He was wounded in three -places, his telescope was knocked from his hand by a shot, and his -coat was cut to ribbons. Even this punishment did not entirely crush -the corsairs. It was reserved for the French to put an end to their -piracies. - -But that campaign did not begin until 1830--and my story can not run on -forever. - - - - -SOURCES OF INFORMATION DRAWN UPON BY THE AUTHOR - - -"The Narrative and Critical History of America," edited by Justin -Winsor. - -"American State Papers, Foreign Relations." - -"Debates of Congress," compiled by Thomas H. Benton. - -"Life of the Late General William Eaton," by Charles Prentiss, -published in 1813 in Brookfield, Mass. - -"Ocean Life in the Old Sailing Ship Days," by Captain John D. Whidden. - -"From the Forecastle to the Cabin," by Captain S. Samuels. - -"Round the Galley Fire," by W. Clark Russell. - -"The Story of Our Navy," by Edgar Stanton Maclay. - -"A History of the United States Navy," by John R. Spears. - -"Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs," by Gardner W. Allen. - -"The Barbary Corsairs," by Stanley Lane-Poole. - -"Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors," by James Barnes. - -"Maryland Chronicles," by Scharf. - -"Africa," by Frank G. Carpenter. - -"Rambles and Studies in Greece," by Mahaffy. - -"Winters in Algeria," by F. A. Bridgman. - -"The Romance of Piracy," by E. Keble Chatterton. (The episode of -David's escape in the ship _Hawk_ is founded on an actual adventure -that occurred in 1622, related in Mr. Chatterton's book. The story -of the mutiny aboard _The Rose of Egypt_ was suggested by an actual -episode--described in Captain Samuel's autobiography.) - -To Deane H. Uptegrove and George Mullien, the writer is indebted for -advice concerning the sea episodes that appear in this book. The -New York Public Library, The Newark Public Library, the East Orange -Public Library, and the private library of the _New York Evening Post_ -have been helpful in giving the author access to material not easily -obtainable. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS*** - - -******* This file should be named 63124-8.txt or 63124-8.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/3/1/2/63124 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: Pirate Princes and Yankee Jacks</p> -<p> Setting forth David Forsyth's Adventures in America's Battles on Sea and Desert with the Buccaneer Princes of Barbary, with an Account of a Search under the Sands of the Sahara Desert for the Treasure-filled Tomb of Ancient Kings</p> -<p>Author: Daniel Henderson</p> -<p>Release Date: September 5, 2020 [eBook #63124]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4 class="pgx" title="">E-text prepared by Tim Lindell, Martin Pettit,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - <a href="https://archive.org/details/pirateprincesyan00hend"> - https://archive.org/details/pirateprincesyan00hend</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/front.jpg" alt="front" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> - -<h1>PIRATE PRINCES <br />AND <br />YANKEE JACKS</h1> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> - -<div class="box"> -<h2><i>BY THE SAME AUTHOR</i></h2> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p>JUNGLE ROADS</p> - -<blockquote><p>And Other Trails of Roosevelt</p></blockquote> - -<p>BOONE OF THE WILDERNESS</p> - -<blockquote><p>A Tale of Pioneer Adventure and Achievement in the "Dark and -Bloody Ground"</p></blockquote> - -<p>LIFE'S MINSTREL</p> - -<blockquote><p>A Book of Verse</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="bold2">E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY</p></div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><a name="frontispiece.jpg" id="frontispiece.jpg"></a><img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" alt="STEPHEN DECATUR" /></div> - -<p class="bold">STEPHEN DECATUR.<br /><i>From a painting by Rembrandt Peale.</i> </p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/title.jpg" alt="title page" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">PIRATE PRINCES</p> - -<p class="bold">AND</p> - -<p class="bold2">YANKEE JACKS</p> - -<p class="bold"><i>Setting forth David Forsyth's Adventures in America's Battles<br /> -on Sea and Desert with the Buccaneer Princes of Barbary,<br /> -with an Account of a Search under the Sands<br /> -of the Sahara Desert for the Treasure-filled<br /> -Tomb of Ancient Kings</i></p> - -<p class="bold space-above">BY</p> - -<p class="bold2">DANIEL HENDERSON</p> - -<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">Author of "Boone of the Wilderness," "Jungle Roads<br /> -and Other Trails of Roosevelt"</span></p> - -<div class="center space-above"><img src="images/logo.jpg" alt="logo" /></div> - -<p class="bold space-above">NEW YORK<br />E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY<br /> -<span class="smcap">681 Fifth Avenue</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">Copyright, 1923, <br />By E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY<br />——<br /> -<i>All Rights Reserved</i></p> - -<p class="center space-above"><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center space-above">THIS BOOK IS A TRIBUTE<br />TO THE MEN AND BOYS<br />WHO CREATED AND SERVED IN<br /> -AMERICA'S FIRST NAVY</p> - -<div class="box space-above"><p>"<i>The ship of war, with its acres of canvas, white in the morning -sun, has sunk forever below the horizon.... No longer is the -hoarse voice of the captain heard shouting to the tops or to the -gun-deck in stentorian tones.... All have gone from the deck of -the galley, the frigate, the line-of-battle ship, from the decks -where, in the teeth of gales, they clawed off lee shores, when -the mouths of their guns drank in the seas, or fought the fogs or -Arctic cold; from the decks where they led the changing fortunes -of the fight in the din of desperate battle; where men take life -at the uttermost hazard and clasp hands with fate.</i>"</p> - -<p class="right">—<span class="smcap">Edward Kirk Rawson.</span></p></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> - -<h2>FOREWORD</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>The road cleft by early American ships into the Mediterranean Sea has -become a well-traveled one. On errands of commerce, punishment or -relief, our skippers have laid an ever-broadening way into the Orient.</p> - -<p>Yet who, in the bustle of the present, recalls the pioneer American -captains and sailors who once suffered slavery and torture to make -the Mediterranean a safe sea for Yankee vessels? Who remembers the -Americans who lay for nine years in Turkish prisons? Who recalls -General William Eaton, who led a little band of Americans and Greeks -on a desperate venture across the North African desert to release the -imprisoned crew of the <i>Philadelphia</i> from Turkish bondage, and who, -for the first time, raised the United States flag over a fort of the -old world?</p> - -<p>It is to make this period and its heroic characters live again in the -mind of America that this volume has been written. To link the several -campaigns against the Turks of Barbary, extending over a period of -fifteen years, the author has adopted the method he followed in his -book "Boone of the Wilderness," and introduced characters and episodes -of fiction. The material is largely derived from original sources.</p> - -<p>Permit us, then, without further ado, to present and commend to your -interest the young sailor David Forsyth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> who is at times the hero of -the yarn, but quite as often a spectator and historian of the deeds of -the brave men under whom he was privileged to serve. Do not hold his -youth against him. Nelson went to sea at twelve; Drake was scarcely -more than a boy when he fought on the Spanish Main; and Decatur and -many other gallant American officers under whom David served were mere -striplings. Youth was foremost on the sea in those days, and it is -hoped that its ardent spirit flames in this volume, though a century's -dust covers our heroes.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<table summary="CONTENTS"> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="left"><span class="smaller">CHAPTER</span></td> - <td><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>I. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Man from the East</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>II. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Captured by Corsairs</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>III. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Barbary and the Buccaneers</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>IV. </td> - <td class="left"><i>The Rose of Egypt</i> </td> - <td><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>V. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">My First Voyage</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>VI. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Mutiny</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>VII. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Betrayed</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>VIII. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">An American Frigate Becomes a Corsair's Cattleship</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>IX. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Life Aboard</span> <i>Old Ironsides</i></td> - <td><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>X. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">A Connecticut Yankee in the Court of Tunis</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XI. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Loss of</span> <i>The Philadelphia</i></td> - <td><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XII. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">We Blow Up</span> <i>The Philadelphia</i></td> - <td><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XIII. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The American Eagle Enters the African Desert</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XIV. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Desert Girl</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XV. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Reuben James Saves Decatur's Life</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XVI. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">We Capture the Desert City of Derne</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XVII. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Treasure Tomb</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XVIII. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Sold Into Slavery</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XIX. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Escape</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_198">198</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XX. </td> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Home Surprises</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="left"><span class="smcap">Postscript. The End of the Pirates</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="left"><span class="smcap">Bibliography</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_234">234</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p> - -<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - -<table summary="ILLUSTRATIONS"> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Stephen Decatur</span>, <i>from a painting by Rembrandt Peale</i></td> - <td><a href="#frontispiece.jpg"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">"I'd Blow Every One of Those Pirate Nests Out of<br /> -the Water Before I'd Pay One of Those Bloody<br /> -Bashaws a Sixpence!" Said the Commodore</span></td> - <td><a href="#i013.jpg">13</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Wrecking and Piracy Had Been Followed by the<br /> -Communities Bordering on the Mediterranean<br /> -Since the Earliest Days</span></td> - <td><a href="#i035.jpg">35</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">In Look and in Deed, William Eaton was a Fighter</span></td> - <td><a href="#i093.jpg">94</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">"How Dare You Lift Your Hand Against a Subject<br /> -of Mine," the Bey of Tunis Demanded of Eaton</span></td> - <td><a href="#i101.jpg">101</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">I Hoped that I Might Join a Caravan that Would<br /> -Pass by Tokra—the Treasure City of My Dreams</span></td> - <td><a href="#i105.jpg">105</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">"<span class="smcap">We Are Bound Across This Gloomy Desert to<br /> -Liberate Three Hundred Americans from the<br /> -Chains of Barbarism.</span>"—General Eaton</td> - <td><a href="#i135.jpg">135</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">This Was the First Time an American Flag Had<br /> -Been Raised on a Fort of the Old World</span></td> - <td><a href="#i165.jpg">165</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">PIRATE PRINCES</p> - -<p class="bold">AND</p> - -<p class="bold2">YANKEE JACKS</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHARACTERS OF THE STORY</h2> - -<div class="box"> -<p><span class="smcap">David Forsyth</span>, an orphan.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Alexander</span>, his brother.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Rev. Ezekiel Eccleston</span>, D.D., Rector of Marley Chapel, -Baltimore—David's guardian.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Commodore Joshua Barney</span>, of the United States Navy.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">General William Eaton</span>, in command of the American expedition -by land against Tripoli.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Murad</span>, an Egyptian.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Bludsoe</span>, mate of <i>The Rose of Egypt</i>.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Anne</span>, "The Desert Girl."</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Mustapha</span>, An Arab boy.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Stephen Decatur</span>, <span class="smcap">William Bainbridge</span>, <span class="smcap">Edward -Preble</span>, <span class="smcap">Richard Somers</span>, <span class="smcap">Reuben James</span>, <span class="smcap">Samuel -Childs</span>, and other officers and men of the United States Navy.</p></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE<br />JACKS</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER I</span> <span class="smaller">THE MAN FROM THE EAST</span></h2> - -<p>"But, my dear Doctor," said the swarthy Egyptian, bowing with upturned -palms, "you surely do not mean to keep the location of this treasure -tomb hidden forever from science. I know that a man of your nature -would not care for the money the jewels and trinkets would bring if -sold, but I can not see how you can refuse to let scholars view these -rare specimens of ancient art. Will you not——"</p> - -<p>"I beg you," said the rector in distressed tones, "to speak no more -about it. The subject awakens unpleasant memories. I have never before -mentioned having seen this treasure tomb. So far as I am concerned the -desert sands shall not be moved from over its door. Please, my good -friend, do not refer to it again!"</p> - -<p>"But," began the Egyptian.</p> - -<p>Commodore Barney jerked him to one side. "Look here, Mr. Murad," he -said in gruff tones, "Dr. Eccleston lost a wife and child in that -exploration. He came to this country to forget his loss. Keep off the -subject of those antiques—the chances are that they're not worth the -trouble it would take to dig them up!" </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> - -<p>"He has a secret that he owes to science," said the Oriental -stubbornly. He was a proud, determined man. The black moustache that -flowed across his tawny face and the black hair that showed in strings -beneath his fez gave an added fierceness to his look. His brilliantly -embroidered cloak made him still more commanding in appearance. -Commodore Barney, with his stout body and sea legs, cut a poor figure -beside him.</p> - -<p>"Harken, my friend," the commodore said sharply, "I mean what I say. -We're not going to have the rector bothered. We don't know your -business in America, and we're not inquiring into it. In return, we ask -you to let us mind our own affairs. If you know what's good for you, -you'll stop hounding the minister for his secret. Science be blowed! -Art be hanged!"</p> - -<p>Alexander and I, David Forsyth, listened with eyes popping. Orphans -we were, adopted by Dr. Eccleston, our mother's rector. My father—as -brave a sailor as ever drew breath, Commodore Barney often assured -us—had been killed on board the commodore's schooner <i>Hyder Ally</i>, -while protecting the shipping in the Delaware River from British -frigates during the Revolutionary War. My mother, while father was at -sea, had helped to nurse the sick people of Baltimore, and had herself -died of the pestilence. Dr. Eccleston, a widower, assumed the care of -Alexander and myself.</p> - -<p>Alexander, springing up like Jack's bean-vine, yet growing in brawn -and manliness as his height increased, was my elder by a number of -years. He was much taller than I, yet I was growing too and had hopes -of reaching, by the time I was sixteen, the chalk mark on our wall that -showed Alexander to be five feet, ten inches high.</p> - -<p>It was on a dock in Baltimore that this talk took place.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> The Egyptian -Murad had come to our city from Washington. What his business was -no one could tell. Some said that he was a Turkish diplomat. Others -said that he was a spy for the Barbary rulers. He attended services -at the rector's church, and had told someone that he was a native of -Alexandria, Egypt. He had embraced the Christian religion, he said, and -had been so persecuted by the indignant Moslems that he had left Egypt -for America. He appeared to have plenty of means, and, because there -was such an air of romance about him, the people of Baltimore accepted -him without much questioning, and were, indeed, rather proud that they -had a man of mystery among them.</p> - -<p>Our presence on the pier was due to the arrival of Alexander's ship, -<i>The Three Friends</i>, from England. Alexander, after begging Dr. -Eccleston in vain to permit him to make a sea voyage, had taken French -leave. When news reached our house that <i>The Three Friends</i> had come -into port, and that Alexander was one of the crew, we hurried down -to greet him. The rector was angry and affectionate. The commodore -was proud of the boy. As for me, I regarded Alexander as Ulysses was -doubtless regarded by the boys of his home town when he returned from -his wanderings.</p> - -<p>It was the cargo of <i>The Three Friends</i> that caused the discussion, -and that led the rector to open a closed chapter in his life. The ship -had brought flower-patterned silken gowns, crimson taffetas, pearl -necklaces, and other exquisite articles esteemed by women; and silk -stockings, brilliant scarfs, beaver hats and scarlet cloaks for the -men. The people welcomed these articles. The men had raised tobacco, -caught fish, and gathered furs that they might buy for their families -these rare luxuries from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> Europe. There were also, in the cargo, chairs -of Russian leather, damask napkins, superb clocks, silver candlesticks -and tankards, and a wealth of treasure of this nature.</p> - -<p>Alexander's special gift for the commodore was a pipe. To the rector he -gave a curious-shaped little bottle.</p> - -<p>"I found it in a curio shop in London," he said. "The proprietor told -me that it had been found in an Egyptian tomb."</p> - -<p>Dr. Eccleston turned pale. Then, recovering himself, he took -the present and held it towards us with what seemed to be real -appreciation. I learned later that his pallor was due to the memories -the queer little bottle awakened.</p> - -<p>"Bless me!" he said, "it's a lacrimatory—a tear-bottle! I found many -a one while I was excavating in Egypt. Some say that they are made to -hold the tears of mourners, but scholars will tell you that they are -after all but receptacles for perfume and ointments."</p> - -<p>Murad had approached. The sight of the curious bottle, which did not -seem to me to be worth a minute's talk, led him into a discussion of -antiquities he had found in Egypt. The rector's eyes kindled. Here -was a subject that had once been his chief interest. Suddenly he -launched forth into a description of a treasure tomb he had literally -stumbled upon in the desert—a tomb upon which a later tomb had been -built, so that, while the later tomb had been plundered by Arabs, the -earlier tomb had remained a secret until he pried up a stone in the -wall and discovered it. The rector who had attended Oxford, and had -gone forth from college to explore the ruins of countries along the -historic Mediterranean coasts, had made a rough map of the location of -this tomb. He now began to tell of the treasures he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> found in the -chamber: heavy gold masks, and breast-plates that, while barbarous in -appearance, yet showed beauty of craftsmanship; bulls' heads wrought in -silver with horns of gold; beautiful jugs and cups, wrought in ivory, -alabaster and amber; mummies whose brows and wrists were encircled with -gems—a hoard of riches priceless both to the scholar and the fortune -hunter.</p> - -<p>This description fired my imagination. It also stirred Murad. I saw his -eyes glow and his fingers tremble. I wondered if his vehement demand -that the rector should reveal the location of this cave was created by -his interest in science or by pure lust for riches? As for myself, I -confess that I thought only of the money into which these buried jewels -and trinkets could be turned.</p> - -<p>Later, the commodore told us why the rector had been so swift to end -his tale of the buried treasure. After he had discovered the tomb, -somewhere on the African shore of the Mediterranean, he had covered -it up and joined a caravan bound for Tripoli, meaning to organize a -special expedition for further searches. His caravan was attacked by a -tribe of bandits. A blow from a spear knocked him unconscious. When he -regained his senses, his wife and child were gone.</p> - -<p>"They were taken as loot," said the commodore. "Women and children are -nothing more than baggage to those Arabs!"</p> - -<p>The husband wandered for months through the desert searching for his -family. At last he was stricken with fever. Travelers found him and -placed him aboard a ship bound for England. There he had plunged into -religious work to keep from going mad. Blood-stained garments—proof -that his wife and daughter had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> slain—were sent him by an Arabian -sheik. Later he had come to America as a missionary.</p> - -<p>He was now rector of Marley Chapel. It is located about nine miles from -Baltimore, near the bridge at Marley Creek, which enters into Curtis -Creek, a tributary of the Patapsco River. This chapel had been built -long before the Revolution. The minister kept his residence within the -town limits of Baltimore because it extended his field of helpfulness. -The journey to the chapel was made on horseback, and whenever he went -to service Alexander and myself followed him on our ponies, through -sun, rain, sleet or snow.</p> - -<p>On fair-weather days, the church-yard resembled a race-course. The -ladies, in gay clothes, had come in carriages. The men, mounted on -fine horses and sumptuously arrayed, rode beside them. The carriage -wheels rattled. The negro drivers cracked their whips and shouted. The -gentlemen loudly admonished the slaves. Over such a tumult the church -bell, which was suspended from a tree, rang out to warn the people that -the service was about to begin; then a hush fell over the countryside, -broken only by the stamping and snorting of the mettlesome horses in -the shed, or by the chuckles of the negro boys who tended them.</p> - -<p class="space-above">To bring our story back to the present hour: Alexander had wandered -off from our group with some of his shipmates. Suddenly there was an -uproar. There were surly fellows in the crew and quarrelsome men in the -crowd. Already Alexander had pointed out to me Black Peter, Muldoon, -Swansen, and other sailors whom he avowed were the toughest men he had -ever met.</p> - -<p>These were now confronted by our town rowdies. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> had a few men among -our citizenship of whom we were heartily ashamed—men who knew how to -fight in ways that surpassed for brutality those methods of warfare -learned on shipboard. Eye-gouging, for instance; getting a man down; -twisting a forefinger in the side-locks of his hair; thrusting, by -means of this hold, a thumb into the victim's eye, thereby threatening -to force the eyeball from the socket if the sufferer did not cry -"King's cruse!" which, I suppose you know, meant "enough!"</p> - -<p>The seaman who had been challenged by Steve Dunn, the bully, was Ezra -Wilcox, Alexander's chum. He was a stranger in our town and Alexander -was eager that he should think favorably of the people of Baltimore, -who, everyone knows, are in the main, an open-hearted people. Angered -at having his desire thwarted by the rowdy, Alexander rushed between -Steve and Ezra, and himself took up Ezra's battle. He and the tough -locked arms in a punching and wrestling match, and were soon rolling -over each other on the wharf. Steve, finding that he was getting the -worst of the tussle, reached his hands towards Alexander's side-locks.</p> - -<p>"Look out, Alexander," I cried, dancing over the pair in a frenzy, -"he's trying to gouge you, man!"</p> - -<p>"Unfair! Unfair! No gouging!" the other sailors shouted, while the rest -of the onlookers stood by with their sense of justice absorbed by their -interest.</p> - -<p>Steve's finger was buried in Alexander's shock of hair, and his thumb -crept closer to my brother's eye. I was about to stoop in an attempt to -break the brutal grip when Alexander released his hair by a desperate -jerk that left a wisp between the ruffian's fingers, rolled Steve over, -held him face downward in a grip of iron, and rubbed his nose on the -planks of the dock until blood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> spurted from it. Then, lifting the -bully up at arm's length, Alexander cast him against the palings with a -force that stunned him. If someone had not grabbed Steve then, he would -have rolled over into the river and few would have mourned him if he -had sank and never bobbed up again.</p> - -<p>Steve's friends advanced, pretending great indignation at Alexander's -roughness, but paused as Ezra Wilcox, Black Peter, Muldoon, and Swansen -came forward itching to take up the battle.</p> - -<p>"Enough of this," cried the rector, roused from his brooding by the -tussle, "Steve's dug into my boy's eye and paid for it with his own -nose! We'll call the affair quits, and I'll ask you Baltimore folks to -show courtesy to the strangers within your gates."</p> - -<p>That afternoon we attended a fair on the chapel grounds. I was eager to -show Alexander that I too had strength and skill, and at the fair, in a -small way, my chance came.</p> - -<p>As we approached the grounds we saw that, among other sports, a -gilt-laced hat had been placed on a greased pole, to be won by the man -or boy who climbed the pole and slid down with the hat on his head. -Alexander challenged me to try.</p> - -<p>Others had tried and had slid back defeated amidst much laughter. I -gave a running leap, however, and clutched the pole a man's height from -the ground. My fingers and feet managed to find cracks and crevices. -My knees stuck. It may have been that the dirt and sand in which I -had taken the precaution to roll before making the attempt enabled my -arms and legs to overcome the grease, or perhaps it was because those -who had tried first had worn most of it away. From whatever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> reason, I -continued to climb, rubbing the outer part of my sleeve over the pole -as I advanced, so that more of the grease was removed from my path. -At last, amidst cheers, I reached the peak of the pole, seized the -gilt-laced hat, donned it—although it fell down over my ears—and slid -to the ground in triumph.</p> - -<h3>SEA LONGINGS</h3> - -<p>"If you can climb masts as well as you can climb poles," said -Alexander, "there's no doubt that you'll be a fine sailorman!"</p> - -<p>"He'll do no mast-climbing!" said Dr. Eccleston. "One sailor in the -family is enough. His climbing will be confined to the steps of a -pulpit. I am training him for the ministry!"</p> - -<p>Alexander looked at me quizzically. I winked at him. He and I had -agreed from childhood that ours should be a seafaring life. My brother -had boldly carried out his intention to follow father's example, but -I, seeing that the rector had set his heart upon my adopting a shore -career, had postponed making my declaration. I was immensely fond of -the rector; I did not care to be the means of bringing further sadness -to him, so I bided my time.</p> - -<p>Commodore Barney heard the rector rebuke Alexander and saw my wink. -Bless me, behind the minister's back, he winked too. He had told me -that, when the United States began to build her navy, he expected to -obtain a place for me on a frigate. "America's prosperity on the sea -is just beginning," he said. "Don't turn your back on your natural -calling. One voyage in a privateer in one of the wars that are on the -horizon will make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> your fortune. I'll take you to sea with me. Let the -dominie look elsewhere for his recruits!"</p> - -<p>The rector and the commodore were great comrades, but on the subject of -a career for me they never agreed.</p> - -<p>Commodore Barney had been a hero to Alexander and myself as far back -as we could remember. He was a part of our lives from the first—an -unofficial second guardian. I have heard him declare that he was on his -way to our house to adopt us when he met the rector coming out with -one of us clinging to each hand. Dr. Eccleston had told him then, the -commodore stated, that a seafaring man was no fit guardian for children.</p> - -<p>The commodore was a burly, pink-cheeked, big-hearted man. What a -dandy he was! When on shore he wore a cocked hat, a coat with large -lace cuffs, and a cape cut low to show his neck-stock of fine linen -cambric. His breeches were closely fitted with large buckles. He wore -silk stockings and large buckled shoes. No one who saw him sauntering -along Market Street would take him to be a sailor, although his tongue -betrayed his calling. Nautical terms, strange oaths, shipping topics -were forever on his lips. His clothes spoke of the ballroom, but his -language had the tang of the ship's deck and the salt wind.</p> - -<p>He was fond of the ladies. It often amused us to see him dancing -attendance on a maid who minced along in brocade or taffeta, with her -skirts ballooning from the hoops underneath, with bright-colored shoes -peeping out from beneath her skirts, and with an enormous plume in her -big bonnet that waved towards the commodore's cocked hat. The hooped -skirts seemed to be trying to keep her escort at a distance, while he -struggled manfully to pour his words into her ear. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> - -<p>Murad was still hovering around us. Evidently anxious to appease the -commodore, he had begun to talk to him on sea topics. The commodore, -in turn, started to draw out the Egyptian as to opportunities American -shippers might have to sell cargoes of American goods to Mediterranean -cities.</p> - -<p>"In Barbary, Egypt and beyond," said Murad, "will lie your country's -chief market. The ports of the Mediterranean are eager for your -goods. Lads like these——" he fixed glowing eyes on Alexander and -myself—"will live to make their fortunes in the Mediterranean."</p> - -<p>"I don't know but what you're right," said the commodore, "if someone -will kindly sweep those Barbary buccaneers out of the way. Looks as if -we'll have to build a squadron to do what the navies of Europe have -failed to do through all these centuries. Matters are coming to a head -between our country and the pirate nests of Barbary. I've heard reports -of American ships being captured by ships sent out by the ruler of -Algiers. It may take us a little time to wake up, but in the end we're -going to stop that!"</p> - -<p>"That," said Murad suavely, "is nothing new. If you lived in the -Orient, my dear commodore, you would think little of it. It's merely -the way the rulers of the Barbary countries have of notifying your new -country that it's America's duty to pay them toll—ships and jewels -and gold. All of the nations of Europe pay them for protection, and of -course, in justice to themselves and those who pay them tribute, they -cannot exempt America. If I were your President, I would send liberal -presents every year to the princes of Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> -Morocco. Then, sir, American ships and sailors would have nothing to -fear in the Mediterranean."</p> - -<p>"Just so!" said the commodore. He cast a long look at the Egyptian, -glanced around at us to see how we took this proposition, and chewed -his tobacco with fierce energy. Then he exploded:</p> - -<p>"I'd blow every one of those pirate nests out of the water before I'd -pay one of those bloody Bashaws a sixpence!"</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i013.jpg" id="i013.jpg"></a><img src="images/i013.jpg" alt="I'D BLOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE PIRATE NESTS OUT OF THE -WATER BEFORE I'D PAY ONE OF THOSE BLOODY BASHAWS A SIXPENCE!" /></div> - -<p class="bold">"I'D BLOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE PIRATE NESTS OUT OF<br />THE -WATER BEFORE I'D PAY ONE OF THOSE BLOODY<br />BASHAWS A SIXPENCE!" SAID THE COMMODORE.</p> - -<p>"Then!" said Murad, "I'm afraid American commerce will find itself -barred from the Mediterranean! I have no interest in the corsairs. I -was merely trying to point out a way by which your skippers could find -new markets over there without being attacked or imprisoned."</p> - -<p>"Well, just belay that advice when you're talking to a man who has -fought for, and still will fight for the honor of his country!" growled -the commodore.</p> - -<p>We followed the old sailor.</p> - -<p>"That fellow's in this land for no good!" the commodore said to the -rector. "The last time I attended a session of Congress, I saw him -listening to the debates. I reckon he's keeping the rulers of Barbary -informed of what's going on over here. Those fellows want to know how -rich our country is, so that they can tax us all that our finances can -stand. I wouldn't be surprised, either, if Murad's not sending advices -of our sailings, so that those pirates can be on the watch for our -ships!</p> - -<p>"Both England and France want to bar us from the trade of the Orient, -and their agents will convey to them there Bashaws any news this -sneaking Murad sends them. Christian convert—my aunt! Once a Moslem -always a Moslem! A trapper of Christians—that's what I think him!" </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> - -<p>Murad went on his way and we went ours. I was to have plenty of -occasion to reflect on the commodore's opinion of the Oriental.</p> - -<p>Alexander stayed with us for two months after his return from England. -Then he hurriedly shipped on a schooner bound for Boston. Its skipper, -when he returned to Baltimore, brought us a note from my brother. In it -he advised us that he had shipped on board the schooner <i>Marie</i> sailing -from Boston for Cadiz. This was in April, 1784. Over a year passed -without bringing tidings of my brother. I had begun to fear that his -ship had gone down, although the good rector, to comfort me, grumbled -that there was a special Providence that took care of fools.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER II</span> <span class="smaller">CAPTURED BY CORSAIRS</span></h2> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"<i>What does it mean to them that somewhere men are free?</i></div> -<div><i>Naked and scourged and starved, they groan in slavery!</i>"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>The rector had encouraged me to browse through his library. He said -that ministers should be well-read men. It was no hardship for me—I -was fond of books. One day, as I was reading "Hakluyt's Voyages," he -rushed into the room. His usually pale face was red and distorted from -excitement.</p> - -<p>"David, I've news of your brother!" he cried. "I told you that there -was a Providence that safeguarded scapegraces! He's in Algiers. He's -been captured by pirates! They're holding him in slavery for ransom!"</p> - -<p>"Humph," said the commodore, who had followed him into the room, "I -don't call that being guided by a special Providence!"</p> - -<p>"Well," the rector said, "they might have killed him, or he might have -died of a fever in that pestilential country. Yes, I think Providence -is watching over him!"</p> - -<p>The news had come in a bulky envelope that had been forwarded to Dr. -Eccleston by the State Department.</p> - -<p>"Read that," cried the rector, tossing the letter into my lap, "and see -what becomes of lads who leave comfortable homes to sail the ocean!"</p> - -<p>He lit his pipe and fell to brooding, while I gleaned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> from the roughly -scribbled epistle the story of Alexander's capture by Turkish corsairs.</p> - -<p>That the Mediterranean Sea was infested by pirates Captain Stephens, -with whom Alexander sailed, well knew. But Cadiz lay outside of the -usual zone of the buccaneers, and the idea of danger from corsairs -scarcely entered the thoughts of the skipper and his men. Yet, on July -25, 1785, while the <i>Marie</i> was passing Cape Saint Vincent, she was -pursued by a rakish lateen-sailed vessel. Despite desperate attempts -to outsail her pursuer, she was soon overtaken. Threatened by fourteen -ugly cannon, she awaited the approach of the stranger.</p> - -<p>The <i>Marie</i> was hailed in Spanish. Captain Stephens shouted in reply -the name and destination of his vessel. He had little doubt that he -would be allowed to proceed and was on the point of giving orders to -resume the voyage, when a crowd of seamen in Turkish dress appeared on -the deck of the vessel, which now was found to be an Algerine corsair.</p> - -<p>The dark, bearded faces of the Moslems were forbidding enough, but when -the Mussulmans drew near with savage gestures and a wild brandishing of -weapons, the <i>Marie's</i> men knew that either death or slavery awaited -them.</p> - -<p>A launch thronged with Moors and Arabs, armed with pistols, scimeters, -pikes and spears, put out from the side of the zebec. They fired -several volleys that came dangerously close to the heads of the -American sailors, and threatened to slaughter the crew if they resisted.</p> - -<p>Captain Stephens, when a pistol was held against his breast, -surrendered his ship. He and his crew were transferred to the -corsair, first having been stripped of all their clothes except their -undergarments. They were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> pricked and prodded until they reached the -forepart of the Algerine ship, where the commander, Rais Ibrahim, -a vicious-looking old Moor, who kept his hand on the pistol that -protruded from his sash as if his fingers itched to fire a bullet into -a Christian's body, repeated the threat of massacre if the captives -disobeyed his orders.</p> - -<p>Captain Stephens, who spoke Spanish, went as far as was safe in -protesting against the seizure.</p> - -<p>Rais Ibrahim, crying upon Allah to wipe out all Christians, replied -that the ships of Barbary were no longer limited by the Mediterranean -Sea. He declared that Algiers had made a peace with her ancient enemy -Spain and was free now to send her vessels through the Strait into the -Atlantic.</p> - -<p>"Have you papers," he sneered, "showing that your country is paying -tribute to the Dey of Algiers? If your government has not purchased -immunity from attack by our corsairs, do not protest to me against your -capture, but rather blame your rulers for neglecting to follow the wise -example of the nations of Europe, who pay my lord the gold that he -demands!"</p> - -<p>A Moslem crew was placed aboard the <i>Marie</i>, and she was sailed as a -prize into Algiers. There the prisoners found in captivity the crew of -the American ship <i>Dauphin</i>, under Captain Richard O'Brien, who, with -his mate, Andrew Montgomery, and five seamen, had been captured by an -Algerine corsair near Lisbon.</p> - -<p>To announce to the city that he was approaching with a prize the Moslem -captain fired gun after gun. The Port Admiral came out in a launch to -examine the prize and prisoners so that he might make a report to the -Dey; the people on shore gathered at the wharves to gloat over the new -wealth that had come to the city; the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>barrooms became crowded with -revelers; everyone except the slaves rejoiced.</p> - -<p>The captors were received by their relatives and friends on shore with -cheers and exultation. Estimates of the value of the prisoners and the -ship passed from one to another. The captives were given filthy rags -to cover their nakedness, and were marched through the streets between -rows of jeering infidels. Their destination was the palace of the Dey. -They were driven across the courtyard of the palace, where they entered -a hall. They then were pushed and prodded by their guards up five -flights of stairs, where they went through a narrow, dark entrance into -the Dey's audience room.</p> - -<p>He sat, a dark, fat, greasy creature, upon a low bench that was covered -with cushions of embroidered velvet.</p> - -<p>He viewed the Americans with great resentment.</p> - -<p>"I have sent several times to your nation," he said through his -interpreter, a renegade Englishman, "offering to make peace with -them if they would satisfy my requirements. They have never sent me -a definite reply. Since they have treated me so disdainfully, I will -never make peace with them! As for you, Christian dogs, you shall eat -stones!"</p> - -<p>The captives were driven from his presence and marched to the bagnio, -or prison, where they joined six hundred Christian slaves of various -nationalities—poor, broken-spirited fellows, weighed down with chains.</p> - -<p>Their names were entered in the prison book; each of them was given a -blanket, a scanty supply of coarse clothing, and a small loaf of black, -sour bread. They slept on the floor, with a thin blanket between them -and the cold stones.</p> - -<p>The next day each of them had a chain weighing about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> forty pounds -placed on him. One end was bound around the waist, and the other end -was fastened by a ring about the ankle. They were then assigned various -tasks for the government. The iron ring on their ankles, they learned, -was the badge of public service. Though it was a cruel weight, it -protected them from abuse by fanatical Moslems.</p> - -<p>Some of the captives were employed at rigging and fitting out cruisers, -and in transporting cargoes and other goods about the city. Because of -the narrow streets the articles they moved could be carried only by -means of poles on their shoulders. If they bumped into a citizen they -were loudly cursed and beaten. The Dey was building a new mosque, and -many of the Christians were employed in transporting blocks of stone -from the wharf to the building. Four men were employed to move one -stone, and only the strongest could bear up under such a load. Some of -the captives were sent into the mountains to blast rocks. Under the -direction of Moslem overseers, who cruelly beat them on the slightest -excuse, the prisoners rolled rocks weighing from twenty to forty tons -down the mountain, where they were then hoisted on carts, drawn by -teams of two hundred or more slaves to a wharf two miles distant, where -the stones were placed on scows and carried across the harbor to be -fitted into a breakwater.</p> - -<p>The prison, to which they returned after the labors of the day, was -an oblong, hollow square, three stories high. The ground floor was -composed of taverns that were kept by favored slaves who paid a goodly -sum for rent, as well as for the liquor they sold. In this way a few of -the slaves were able to earn enough money to purchase their freedom. -These taverns were so dark<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> that lamps had to be kept burning even by -day. They were filled with Turks, Moors, Arabs and Christians, who -often became drunk and sang and babbled in every language.</p> - -<p>The second and third floors were surrounded by galleries that led to -cell-like rooms in which the captives slept. These cells were four -deep to a floor, and hung one over the other like ships' berths. They -swarmed with vermin. The air was too foul to breathe. If any of the -captives rebelled—there was the bastinado! The culprit was thrown -down on his face; his head and hands were tied; an infidel sat on his -shoulders; his legs were held up to present the soles of his feet; and -two infidels delivered from one hundred to five hundred blows.</p> - -<p>If a slave committed a very serious offense, he might be beheaded, -impaled, or burnt alive. For murdering a Mohammedan one slave was cast -off the walls of the city upon iron hooks fastened into the wall, where -he lingered in agony for many hours before he perished.</p> - -<p>The worst danger the Christians faced was an insidious one—the plague. -In the hot, damp air of Africa a fever arises from decaying animal -substances, which is spread about by swarms of locusts. A person may -be attacked by only a slight fever, but he soon becomes delirious and -too weak to move. In five days his body begins to turn black and then -death comes. It is the black pestilence, and it attacks slaves and -rulers without choice. If it had not been for a hospital maintained by -Spanish priests, most of the captives would have died. As it was, many -Christians perished.</p> - -<p class="space-above">Murad came into our thoughts as we brooded over Alexander's plight. He -was still in Baltimore and still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> attended the chapel services. Did he -have influence enough, we asked, to obtain my brother's freedom?</p> - -<p>The commodore had sworn that the Egyptian went to church only for -the purpose of ingratiating himself with Americans upon whom he had -designs. The rector had retorted that he could not allow himself to -suspect one of his flock of any but pure motives when entering the -house of God. He himself, I felt, disliked the man from the East, but -he concealed it well. Therefore, when Murad came to our door, the -rector invited him into the library and told him briefly what had -happened.</p> - -<p>"I am heart-broken over it!" Murad exclaimed, gazing at me with his -great liquid eyes, "and I am helpless because I am no longer a follower -of Mohammed; yet your Government will surely be able to ransom your -brother and his comrades. I do not think their lives will be in danger -if your statesmen appropriate the money promptly. It's shocking, of -course, yet it's quite the usual thing to pay these ransoms. England, -Spain, France—all do it. You see, ever since the days when the Queen -of Sheba brought tribute to King Solomon, the Orientals have been -trained to look for gifts from foreigners who touch their shores."</p> - -<p>The rector looked dismayed at this attempt to justify kidnapping by -the Scriptures. "It's time," he said, "for this western world to teach -those ruffians that blackmail is blackmail and that murder is murder!"</p> - -<p>He fumbled with the envelope that had contained Alexander's letter. A -slip of paper slid out. He read to us this memorandum, written by my -brother:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center"><i>Amount of Ransom demanded by the Dey of Algiers for the Release<br />of -American captives</i></p> - -<table summary="Amount of Ransom demanded"> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="left">"Crew of ship <i>Dauphin</i>:</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td><span class="smaller">Algerine Sequins</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Richard O'Brien, captain, ransom demanded</td> - <td>2,000</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Andrew Montgomery, mate</td> - <td>1,500</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Jacob Tessanoir, French passenger</td> - <td>2,000</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Wm. Paterson, seaman</td> - <td>1,500</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Philip Sloan</td> - <td>725</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Peleg Lorin</td> - <td>725</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">John Robertson</td> - <td>725</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">James Hall</td> - <td>725</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="left">"Crew of ship <i>Marie</i>:</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td><span class="smaller">Algerine Sequins</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Isaac Stephen, captain, ransom demanded</td> - <td>2,000</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Alexander Forsyth, mate</td> - <td>1,500</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">George Smith, seaman</td> - <td>900</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">John Gregory</td> - <td>725</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">James Hermet</td> - <td>725</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p>"How much is 1,500 Algerine sequins?" I asked Murad.</p> - -<p>"A sequin," he explained, "amounts to eight shillings sterling, so that -12,000 shillings will be required for Alexander, and 126,000 shillings -for the entire lot. There must be added to this sum 10 or 20 per cent -of the total as bribes to the Dey's officers, and as commission to -brokers. There are Jewish merchants over there whose chief business it -is to procure the release of captives—for a consideration!</p> - -<p>"I know such a merchant in Algiers," Murad went on, "I shall write to -him to interest himself in the captives and to use his influence to see -that they are kindly treated. Perhaps he will be able to reduce the -amount of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> ransom. When the money is raised, I shall be at your -service for negotiations."</p> - -<p>He bowed himself out. The rector went to the window and stood staring -out after him. "It can't be," I heard him say, "and yet, if the -commodore heard what he said to me, he'd swear the fellow was an agent -for the corsairs!"</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER III</span> <span class="smaller">BARBARY AND THE BUCCANEERS</span></h2> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"<i>In lofty strains the bard shall tell</i></div> -<div><i>How Truxton fought, how Somers fell,</i></div> -<div><i>How gallant Preble's daring host</i></div> -<div><i>Triumphed along the Moorish coast,</i></div> -<div><i>Forced the proud infidel to treat,</i></div> -<div><i>And brought the Crescent to their feet!</i>"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>I was straining like a leashed hound to board a ship and fight for my -brother's freedom, but no way was open to secure the release of the -captives except by diplomacy. As a vent for my feelings in those first -weeks of hot rage, I plunged into a study of the history of the Barbary -pirates. Every outrage done by them was the occasion for an outburst of -vain anger on my part. But was it, after all, vain? Later I had my wish -and shared in a campaign to free three hundred American prisoners from -captivity in Tripoli.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, we lost no time in sending to Alexander as comforting an -answer as we could compose. He had asked that we send his mail to the -care of the English consul who, he wrote, had obtained the consent of -the Dey to send and receive letters for the American captives.</p> - -<p>Dr. Eccleston assured Alexander that Mr. Samuel Smith, Maryland's -representative in Congress, had taken an interest in the case and would -urge Congress to procure his speedy release. It was easy to predict a -swift release—but hard, we soon found, to obtain one. I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> heard -men joke about the law's delays, but the delays of diplomats are longer -yet. <i>Alexander's captivity was to endure for years!</i></p> - -<p>Fortunately for me in my pursuit of knowledge concerning these -buccaneers, I could talk to the rector who had years before traveled -through Mohammedan countries. He poured out to me freely his -recollections of the miserable nations that occupied the African coast -of the Mediterranean.</p> - -<p>In books concerning these pirates his library was not lacking. He was -a great bookworm—some of his people whispered that he would trade -the soul of one of his flock for a rare book. He made friends with -skippers, it was said, mainly to have them bring him the latest books -from abroad. By trading with sailors, schoolmasters and preachers, he -had acquired many volumes, among which were many books on travel and -exploration.</p> - -<p>Wrecking and piracy had been followed by the inhabitants of the -communities bordering on the Mediterranean since the time of Odysseus. -The rector read to me from Thucydides how Minos of Greece used his -fleet to "put down piracy as far as he was able, in order that his -revenues might come in." From Homer he read the passage, "Do you wander -for trade or at random like pirates over the sea?"</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i035.jpg" id="i035.jpg"></a><img src="images/i035.jpg" alt="WRECKING AND PIRACY" /></div> - -<p class="bold">WRECKING AND PIRACY HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE COMMUNITIES -<br />BORDERING ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS.</p> - -<p>In the first half of the last century before Christ, I learned, Cicilia -and Crete were the chief buccaneering nations on the Mediterranean. -Rome had ruined all of her rivals, and therefore made no effort to -guard the seas from corsairs. Refugees from all nations joined the -pirate fleets of Cicilia and Crete. The small communities surrounding -these pirate states were forced to become<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> allies of the pirate rulers. -In addition to seizing ships and goods, the buccaneers became slavers, -attacking small towns and carrying away men, women and girls. The -island of Delos became a clearing-house for this traffic, and in one -day ten thousand slaves were sold. It was said that while the harbor -of Delos was supposed to offer mariners protection from pirates, the -crew of a ship that anchored alongside a merchant vessel might be the -kind that made merry with the merchantman's crew on shore, and, after -learning of her cargo and destination, might follow her out of the -harbor to cut the throats of her crew on the high seas.</p> - -<p>Along the southern coast of the Mediterranean, in that part which is -now called Barbary or Northern Africa, where Morocco, Algeria, Tunis -and Tripoli lie, the galleys of Phoenician traders roved in these early -times, exploring the rivers.</p> - -<p>Following these traders came Carthaginian warriors who founded colonies -upon this coast. Among these communities was the famous city of -Carthage, that in time brought forth the mighty leader Hannibal.</p> - -<p>Then came the Romans, who conquered the Carthaginians and turned -their cities to ruins. Thus the entire territory became Roman African -colonies.</p> - -<p>Over six centuries after the birth of Christ, the Saracens began to -invade this region. Their wars continued until by the eighth century -all Roman authority was swept away, and Mohammedan rule was established -throughout the country.</p> - -<h3>"RED-BEARD"</h3> - -<p>Born of my reading and thinking about Mediterranean pirates, through -my dreams went a pageant of cruel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> corsairs and pitiable captives. -There was the corsair chief Uruj Barbarossa, who, hearing on his -native island of Lesbos of the rich galleons that passed through the -Mediterranean, entered the Sea in 1504 with a fleet of robber galleys -and made an alliance with the ruler of Tunis whereby that port became -the center for his thieving. This Barbarossa, or Red-Beard, was a -pirate of the heroic order. On one of his first voyages out of Tunis -he fell in with two galleys belonging to Pope Julius II, bearing rich -merchandise from Genoa. These galleys were far bigger than his two -galleots, yet Red-Beard attacked so fiercely that he overcame the -foremost galley. As the second galley came up without having seen the -outcome of the battle, he arrayed his sailors in the clothes of the -Christian captives and, taking the second galley by surprise, captured -her too. His victories made Europe tremble. Emperor Charles V of Spain -in 1516 sent ten thousand veterans to Barbary to end Red-Beard's -career. Barbarossa's army of fifteen hundred men was surprised by -the Spaniards in crossing a river. Having crossed, he turned back on -hearing the cries of his men and died fighting gallantly in their midst.</p> - -<p>Next through my fancy passed Kheyr-ed-din, Red-Beard's brother. Having -slain Red-Beard, the Spaniards could have driven the corsairs out of -Africa, but instead of waging further war, the army returned to Spain. -Kheyr-ed-din then assumed command of the sea rovers, and with a fleet -of one hundred and fifty galleys and brigantines engaged an Allied -Christian fleet of one hundred and forty-six galleons under Admiral -Andrea Doria. The battle amounted only to a skirmish, for Andrea -Doria, although his vessels were manned by sixty thousand men—forces -far greater than that of the infidels—retired <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>when the Moslems had -captured seven of his galleys.</p> - -<h3>GALLANT DON JOHN</h3> - -<p>Next in the pageant passed the great corsairs of the battle of Lepanto, -where the Turks, then at the height of their glory, suffered a crushing -defeat at the hands of the brilliant young emperor, Don John of Austria.</p> - -<p>The Moslems, before this historic date of October 7, 1571, were -threatening to overwhelm Europe. They desired to make the rich island -of Cyprus one of their stepping-stones to the mainland. Venice, who -owned the island, resisted the claims of the infidels. The Moslems -thereupon threatened to conquer Venice herself. That city's fleet was -too small to cope with the great navy of the Turks. Philip II of Spain, -appealed to by Pope Pius V, went to her aid. The Holy League to protect -Christendom against the infidels was formed.</p> - -<p>Don John of Austria, brother of Philip, was chosen to lead the -Christian fleet. He was tall and handsome, and, although only -twenty-four, had distinguished himself in wars against the Moors. He -went to join his navy in a dress of white velvet and cloth of gold. -A crimson scarf floated from his breast. Snow-white plumes adorned -his cap. He looked every inch a hero, and every inch a hero he proved -himself to be.</p> - -<p>He found himself at the head of the greatest Christian fleet that had -ever assembled to fight the corsairs. Three hundred vessels and eighty -thousand men sailed forth under his command. The men were incited to -battle by news of the almost unbelievable cruelties the Moslems had -inflicted upon the Venetian garrison of a city in Cyprus which they -had captured. The captain of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> Venetian troops, Bragadino, had had -his ears and nose cut off. He was next led around before the Turkish -batteries, crawling on hands and knees, laden with two baskets of -earth. Whenever he passed the quarters of the Turkish general, he was -forced to kiss the ground. Next, with Mustapha, the Moslem general, -looking on, he was flayed alive, and his skin, stuffed with straw, was -then paraded through the town.</p> - -<p>Resolved to end forever such atrocities, the Christian fleet sought -that of Ali Pasha, the Turkish admiral. Three hundred galleys, with -one hundred and twenty thousand men, composed the Moslem fleet. They -came on with their decks covered with flags and streamers, while, hid -by this glory of banners, the galley slaves, chained to the oars, -toiled beneath the lash. The two fleets met near the Gulf of Lepanto. -Don John's lookout, from his perch on the main-top, discovered a white -sail. Behind it came sail after sail, until the full strength of the -Turkish navy was in sight.</p> - -<p>Don John ran up his signal for battle—a white flag—and went in his -gig from galley to galley, encouraging his men.</p> - -<p>"Ready, Sir, and the sooner the better!" they replied to his question -as to their preparedness.</p> - -<p>As a last act before battle, Don John unfurled a standard containing -the figure of the Saviour, fell on his knees and prayed for God's -blessing on his cause, then formed his line of battle. The fire -from the huge floating castles that belonged to his fleet created a -panic among the Turks and broke their line. The ships of both sides -came together in a confused mass, so that their decks, almost joined -together, formed a huge platform upon which the Christians and Turks -battled. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> - -<p>Ali Pasha, the Moslem admiral, came alongside of Don John's ship and -was on the point of boarding it when the galley of the Spanish captain -Colonna rammed his vessel, while its crew poured a destroying fire -across the Turkish galley's deck. Ali Pasha was slain. The Ottoman -emblem fluttered down from the mast of the flagship, and the Christian -ensign rose in its place. Heartened by this victory, the other -Christian galleys triumphed over their foes. Such Turkish ships as were -able to escape fled, pursued by the Christians. The Moslems lost over -two hundred ships. Twenty thousand of their men perished. The Christian -fleet lost over seven thousand men. Twelve thousand Christian slaves -were set free from the Turkish galleys.</p> - -<p>The Pope who had urged that the Christian fleet be assembled cried in -thanksgiving: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John."</p> - -<h3>CERVANTES—WARRIOR AND AUTHOR</h3> - -<p>Following these great corsairs came cruel, mean-spirited buccaneers, -whom I was glad to dismiss and replace in my imaginings with that -noble captive of the Turkish pirates, Miguel Cervantes, who, after his -release was to write the immortal book, "Don Quixote."</p> - -<p>In 1575 Cervantes set sail from Naples for the coast of Spain in -the vessel <i>El Sol</i>. His brother, Rodrigo, went with him. They were -returning to Spain, their native land, after serving as soldiers of -fortune abroad. Cervantes was the son of an impoverished nobleman of -Castile. He had commanded a company of soldiers on board the <i>Marquesa</i> -at the Battle of Lepanto. In this battle he lost his left arm. He bore -with him a letter of testimonial from Don John, stating that he was as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> -valiant as he was unlucky, and recommending him to Philip II of Spain.</p> - -<p>His ship was almost in sight of the desired haven. The coast of Barbary -which lay on the shore of the Mediterranean opposite from Spain was -feared by the Spaniards because it was infested with pirates, but it -seemed that on this occasion they were to escape attack.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, however, three corsair galleys, commanded by Arnaut Memi, -pushed out from the Algerine shore. The <i>El Sol's</i> captain tried his -utmost to escape, but was overtaken. A desperate engagement followed, -in which Cervantes fought with valor, but the pirates were in -overwhelming numbers and the master of the <i>El Sol</i> was at last forced -to strike his colors.</p> - -<p>Deli Memi, a renegade Greek, took Cervantes as his captive. Finding -upon his person the letters of recommendation from Don John to the King -of Spain, the pirate thought that a rich and powerful person had become -his prisoner and so set a high ransom price upon him. To make Cervantes -the more anxious to be delivered from captivity, Deli Memi loaded him -with chains and treated him with continued cruelty.</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, Cervantes was poor both in money and the means of -borrowing it. His father, in the second year of his sons' captivity, -managed to raise enough funds to secure the release of one of them, but -Deli Memi, thinking Miguel of more importance than his brother, kept -the future author and set free Rodrigo. Upon this, Cervantes planned to -escape. In a cavern six miles from Algiers a number of fugitive slaves -were hiding. Rodrigo promised to send a Spanish ship to take away these -refugees. The captive Cervantes was to join them. The ship arrived but -some Algerine fisherman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> gave the alarm and the vessel was obliged to -put out to sea without the fugitives.</p> - -<p>The Dey of Algiers, learning of the hiding place from a treacherous -comrade of Cervantes, sent soldiers to seize the escaped slaves. He -was a murderous ruler. Cervantes later in "Don Quixote" gave the Dey -eternal infamy by thus painting one of the characters in his colors:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"Every day he hanged a slave; impaled one; cut off the ears of -another; and this upon so little animus, or so entirely without -cause, that the Turks would own he did it merely for the sake of -doing it and because it was his nature."</p></blockquote> - -<p>Cervantes took the blame for the entire project on himself. Threatened -with torture and death, he held to his story. The ruler, amazed at his -boldness, departed from his usual custom and purchased Cervantes from -Deli Memi for five hundred crowns.</p> - -<p>Again and again the Spaniard tried to escape, always at the risk -of being punished with death. At last, when his master was called -to Constantinople, and was taking Cervantes with him in chains, a -priest obtained his ransom for one hundred pounds, English money, and -Cervantes was free to go home and enter upon the literary career that -brought forth "Don Quixote."</p> - -<p>The nations of Europe by persistent effort could have wiped out -piracy along the entire Barbary coast, but instead they continued to -allow their shipping to be preyed upon, paid ransoms meekly, and sent -bribes in the form of presents to the greedy and insolent rulers. -France incited the pirates to prey upon the shipping of Spain; Great -Britain and Holland urged the corsairs to destroy the sea commerce of -France—each great power<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> sought the pirates as an aid to bar their -rivals from the trade of the Mediterranean.</p> - -<p>The consuls sent from Europe to these provinces were often seized as -hostages by the pashas, deys and beys to whom they toadied, and if the -fleets of their countries in a spasm of rage at some fresh indignity -attacked the Barbary ports, the consuls were tortured. For instance, -when the French shelled Algiers in 1683, the Vicar Apostolic Jean de -Vacher, acting as consul, was blown to pieces from a cannon's mouth.</p> - -<h3>DAUNTLESS MASTER NICHOLS</h3> - -<p>While we who were interested in the captives lamented that the nations -of the world, our country included, were so slow to wipe out these -pirates, my thoughts ran back to the story of an adventure that had -been passed on to me through some family chronicles, of one of our -ancestors who fought against this same race of corsairs. This Forsyth -was an English sailor. He shipped in the <i>Dolphin</i>, of London, along -with thirty-six men and two boys, under Master Nichols, a skilful and -experienced skipper.</p> - -<p>While in sight of the island of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea -they caught sight of a sail making towards them from the shore. Master -Nichols sent my forbear into the maintop, where he sighted five ships -following the one that had already been discovered. By their appearance -they were taken to be Turkish corsairs.</p> - -<p>The <i>Dolphin</i> was armed with nineteen guns and nine carronades, the -latter pieces being used to fire bullets for the purpose of sweeping -the decks when the ship was boarded by enemies. These guns were made -ready to resist an attack, the men were armed with muskets,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> pistols -and cutlasses, and the assault was awaited with courage. Master -Nichols, upon the poop, waved his sword as confidently as if the battle -was already won. His example did much to hearten the crew for the -ordeal confronting them.</p> - -<p>When the foremost ship came within range, Master Nichols ordered -his trumpeter to sound and his gunner to aim and fire. The leading -ship, which had gotten the wind of the <i>Dolphin</i>, returned the fire -as fiercely. This ship, which was under the command of a renegade -Englishman named Walshingham who acted as admiral of the Moslem fleet, -came alongside of the <i>Dolphin</i>. She had twice as many pieces of -ordnance as the <i>Dolphin</i>, and had two hundred and fifty men to match -against the forty men on the English ship's decks. These boarded the -<i>Dolphin</i> on the larboard quarter, and came towards the poop with pikes -and hatchets upraised to slaughter.</p> - -<p>However, the <i>Dolphin's</i> crew had a carronade in the captain's cabin, -or round house, and with bullets from this they drove the infidels -back, while their own gunners continued to pour shot into the corsair. -At last the Turkish ship was shot through and through and was in danger -of sinking. Walshingham therefore withdrew his men from the <i>Dolphin's</i> -deck and sailed his ship ahead of the English vessel, receiving a final -broadside as he passed.</p> - -<p>Following Walshingham's ship, two other large Turkish vessels came to -attack, one on the starboard quarter, and the other on the port. Each -of them had twenty-five cannon and about two hundred and fifty men. -With scimiters, hatchets, pikes and other weapons, they poured on to -the <i>Dolphin's</i> deck where the others had left off. One of the most -daring of the Turks climbed into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> maintop of the <i>Dolphin</i> to haul -down the flag, but the steward of the ship, espying him, took aim with -his musket. The Turk dropped dead into the sea, and the flag still -floated.</p> - -<p>These boarders were repelled in the same fashion. The <i>Dolphin's</i> crew -fired their small battery with great effect into both ships. They too, -torn and battered, passed on at last to mend their leaks.</p> - -<p>After them came two more ships as well-armed and as well-manned as -those that had passed out of the fight. The gunners of the <i>Dolphin</i> -disposed of one of these quickly, and she hurried to get out of range. -The crew of the other one, however, approaching on the starboard side, -boarded the <i>Dolphin</i> where the earlier assailants had entered, and -swarmed up the deck crying in the Turkish tongue: "Yield yourselves! -Yield yourselves!" Their leaders also promised that the lives of the -Englishmen would be spared, and their ship and goods delivered back to -them.</p> - -<p>"Give no ear to them! Die rather than yield!" cried Captain Nichols. -His men fought on doggedly, plying their ordnance against the ship; -playing upon the boarders with small shot; meeting them in hand-to-hand -encounters.</p> - -<p>Suddenly smoke poured out from the hatches of the <i>Dolphin</i>. The -infidels, fearing that their own ship would catch fire from the burning -vessel, retreated from the <i>Dolphin</i>, and permitted their ship to fall -far astern of her.</p> - -<p>The <i>Dolphin's</i> intrepid crew now set to work to quench the flames -and succeeded. A haven was near, into which they put, the enemy ships -having gone ashore in other places to save themselves from wreck. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> - -<p>In these three battles, the <i>Dolphin</i> lost only six men and one boy, -with eight men and one boy hurt. The Moslems lost scores of men. Master -Nichols was wounded twice. The ship arrived safely in the Thames, near -London—a plain merchant ship, manned by ordinary sailors, but as -meritorious of honor as any ship that fought under Nelson or Drake.</p> - -<p>I was glad that the story had been passed down to me. I thought of the -two boys in the crew—one killed, the other wounded. I resolved that -when my chance came to help rid the seas of these buccaneers I would -try to fight as nobly.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER IV</span> <span class="smaller"><i>THE ROSE OF EGYPT</i></span></h2> - -<p>The Egyptian Murad had surprised the sailors of Baltimore by purchasing -a schooner that had seen service as a privateer. He had changed its -name from <i>Sally</i> to <i>The Rose of Egypt</i>. He announced that he intended -to open trade with Mediterranean cities, and that he would make our -town his headquarters. Enlisting a crew from idle men along the -wharves, he began to load the vessel with goods for which there was a -market in the Orient.</p> - -<p>This scheme vastly puzzled the commodore. "I'd like to get to -the bottom of it. It's my private opinion that he deserves a -tar-and-feather party, but I haven't anything to proceed on but strong -suspicions. Every time I go to look in on Congress, blast me, if I -don't run afoul of Murad. He told me, the last time, that a naval -committee desired to question him on trade conditions in the East. Time -must hang heavy on the hands of our representatives—hobnobbing with -such a fellow! They better spend their hours in finding a way to set -our American lads free from Turkish chains. Can't they see what Murad's -up to? I can give a guess that'll turn out to be pretty near the truth. -He's spying on Congress for the rulers of Barbary! If I can only get -proof of it, we'll hang the Egyptian to the <i>Sally's</i> yardarm!"</p> - -<p>There came a turn of events that prevented the commodore from making -further inquiry into Murad's affairs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>—though it did not hinder him -from spreading his opinions. The Administration chose the old sea-dog -as a confidential messenger to bear certain important dispatches to -Commissioner Benjamin Franklin, in Paris. Off he went, promising to -return within six months, and pledging me that when he came back he -would have a serious interview with the rector that would result in my -getting permission to go to sea.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the rector had gone to Virginia to attend a conference of -ministers. He came back aflame with a new purpose, and with lips set in -a thin line that spoke determination.</p> - -<p>"These stout-hearted settlers who are flocking out to settle in -Kentucky," he said, "are sheep without shepherds! I have learned that -there is a woeful lack of ministers in the new settlements. I have -determined to spend a year there. My friend, Joshua Littleton, will -occupy my place here until I return. He is a scholarly man. Your -studies will not suffer under him."</p> - -<p>I did not like Mr. Littleton. He was a little dried-up man, too much -occupied with studies to pay attention to the welfare of his pupils. -I had a feeling that he regarded me merely as a mechanical thing that -must be made to utter words and rules. You may note Mr. Littleton's -industry by this advertisement that appeared frequently in a local -journal:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"There is a School in Baltimore, in Market Street, where Mr. -Joshua Littleton, late of Yale Colledge, teaches Reading, Writing, -Arithmatick, whole numbers and Fractions, Vulgar and Decimal, The -Mariner's Art, Plain and Mercator's Way, also Geometry, Surveying, -the Latin tongue, the Greek and Hebrew Grammars, Ethicks, -Rhetorick, Logick, Natural Philosophy, and Metaphysicks, all or -any of them at a reasonable price."</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> - -<p>After I had gleaned from him all he knew of the "Mariner's Art" I was -eager to escape.</p> - -<p>When the rector rode away on horseback to follow Daniel Boone's trail, -I began to spend along the wharves all the time I could find. Murad -invited me to inspect <i>The Rose of Egypt</i>, and soon I was as much at -home on board of her as were the sailors the Egyptian had shipped.</p> - -<p>Murad, in his endeavors to make me feel at ease, spun yarns about his -career that were as fascinating as any tale Scheherazade told. One -vividly described how he, having been driven from Alexandria through -persecution, decided to earn his salt by assuming the character of a -dervish—a rôle in which he had to pretend to be both a priest and -a conjurer. He professed to be a devout Mohammedan, and practiced -this holy profession of dervish by giving advice to the sick, and by -selling, for considerable sums of money, small pieces of paper on which -were written sentences in Turkish from the Koran, which he sanctified -by applying them to his shaven and naked crown.</p> - -<p>At a place called Trebizond he was informed by the people that their -ruler was dangerously sick and threatened with blindness. He was -ordered by the ministers of the Bashaw to prescribe for him. Through -files of armed soldiers he was conducted into the presence of the sick -monarch. Calling upon the officers to kneel, he displayed all the pomp -and haughtiness that is expected of a dervish. After invoking the -aid of Allah and Mohammed, he inquired under what disease the Bashaw -labored. Finding that he was afflicted with a fever, accompanied by -a violent inflammation of the eyes, Murad made bold to predict that -he would recover both health and sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> by the time of the next new -moon. Searching in the pouch containing his medicines, he produced a -white powder which he ordered to be blown into the ruler's eyes, and -directed that a wash of milk and water should then be used. He likewise -recommended that the patient be sweated by the use of warm drinks and -blankets.</p> - -<p>He was well rewarded with money and presents.</p> - -<p>The next day the caravan he was traveling with departed for Persia, and -Murad, hoping to be nine or ten days' journey from Trebizond by the -time of the next new moon, so that he might be quite out of reach in -case his remedy should harm instead of help the Bashaw, departed with it.</p> - -<p>The caravan was a large one and heavily loaded. A few days later it was -overtaken by a lighter caravan, also from Trebizond. Murad, trembling -in his shoes, heard two men of the newly arrived caravan talking to -each other concerning the marvellous cure of the Bashaw. He learned -that the court and citizens of Trebizond were singing his praises, and -searching for him to heap rewards upon him.</p> - -<p>"I was tempted to return," Murad concluded his yarn, "but I began to -wonder what the restored Bashaw would say if some jealous physician -should investigate my remedy and find that <i>I had blown lime in the -Bashaw's eyes to eat the films of disease away</i>!"</p> - -<p class="space-above">Before the rector went away, Murad had been a weekly visitor to our -home. He was a well-educated man, and Dr. Eccleston was glad to chat -with one who could discuss the affairs of the universe and delve back -into classical times. The Egyptian had restless eyes. They roved over -every book in the library. Several times it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> seemed to me that he was -trying to lead the conversation back to the theme of the treasure tomb. -He would ask the rector if he had heard that a certain statue had been -unearthed in Greece, or if he knew that an expedition was on its way -from London to Egypt to delve for traces of a race that flourished -before the Egyptians. The rector's eyes would light up, and he seemed -to be on the point of answering, but always he checked himself and -turned the topic. On one of these occasions his glance darted towards a -locked bookcase that stood in the corner of the library. Murad's glance -followed his.</p> - -<p>When the rector went west Murad began to call on Mr. Littleton, who -also received him in the library. His visits stopped suddenly. Then he -announced his date of sailing. I kept putting two and two together, and -one night, as I lay awake thinking about all these strange things, it -suddenly flashed on me that the Egyptian had discovered the location -of the rector's diagram of the treasure chamber, and that one of the -reasons for his sailing was to search for the treasure. I searched in -the corner of the library towards which the rector had glanced while -talking to Murad, and found that the lock to one of the bookcases had -been forced. A leather-bound tome, "Travels in the Holy Land," was missing.</p> - -<p>In an instant I decided to accept Murad's often-urged invitation to -sail with him.</p> - -<p>Murad now told me that, as a matter of form, I should have to apply to -his mate, Mr. Bludsoe. He led me down the deck and whispered to the -mate, who eyed me sharply. Then the mate spoke:</p> - -<p>"Can you steer?"</p> - -<p>"Ay sir," I answered glibly, "I can reef and steer. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> can make a -man-rope knot, crown a lanyard, tie a reef-knot, or toss a royal bunt!"</p> - -<p>"I fear," he said dryly, "that you are too expert for our forecastle. -The men will be jealous of you. How are you as a cook?"</p> - -<p>"I can make coffee and peel potatoes," I said more humbly, "and I know -how to fry potatoes, and bacon, roast beefsteak, and cook oatmeal."</p> - -<p>"Get your things and come aboard," he said, "such an all-around fellow -is spoiling on shore."</p> - -<p>I was by no means a greenhorn aboard a schooner. No boy could grow up -in a seaport town without becoming familiar with ships, and be sure -that I was no exception. The wharf and river had been my play region -since earliest childhood. There were a number of yawls and cutters -which the boys of the town were allowed to use when their owners did -not require them, and in these we held mimic warfare, playing at -buccaneers, or pretending that we were Yankee sailors fighting off -English press-gangs. Sometimes a kindly skipper would allow us to -explore his vessel, and there was always an old sailor of deck or dock -willing to show a lad how to tie a rope or haul in a sail. Thus I -became familiar with sailing ships from stem to stern and from the main -royal truck to the keel.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER V</span> <span class="smaller">MY FIRST VOYAGE</span></h2> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"<i>Now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun.</i></div> -<div><i>All hands to make sail, going large is the song.</i></div> -<div><i>From under two reefs in our topsails we lie,</i></div> -<div><i>Like a cloud in the air, in an instant must fly.</i></div> -<div><i>There's topsails, topgallant sails, and staysails too.</i></div> -<div><i>There is stu'nsails and skysails, star gazers so high,</i></div> -<div><i>By the sound of one pipe everything it must fly.</i></div> -<div><i>Now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun,</i></div> -<div><i>About ship and reef topsails in one!</i></div> -<div><i>All hands up aloft when the helm goes down,</i></div> -<div><i>Lower way topsails when the manyards goes round.</i></div> -<div><i>Chase up and lie out and take two reefs in one.</i></div> -<div><i>In a moment of time all this work must be done.</i></div> -<div><i>Man your headbraces, your halyards and all,</i></div> -<div><i>And hoist away topsails when it's 'let go and haul!</i>'"</div> -<div class="right">(Ditty sung in early days aboard Salem ships.)</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>One night in May, Murad sent word to me that we were to sail at four -o'clock the next morning. I went to bed as usual, but before the hall -clock struck three I was out of my window with my luggage and on my way -to the ship. When I went aboard I found that all of the confusion of -spare rigging, rope, sails, hawsers, oakum and merchandise that I had -noted on the deck the day before, had been cleared away.</p> - -<p>All of the crew were Baltimore men. Some of them were honest, -goodhearted fellows. Others were ruffians. I recognized Steve Dunn and -some of his gang among<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> the crew. Baltimore had evidently become too -hot to hold such rascals.</p> - -<p>Samuel Childs, who had sailed under Commodore Barney, took me under his -wing, although he swore that I should have been keelhauled for going to -sea without asking the advice of the rector or the commodore.</p> - -<p>"But," I protested, "they are both out of the city, and if they knew -the reason I had for going, they would approve."</p> - -<p>"I don't like to see the skipper taking such an interest in you," -Samuel said with a shake of his head. "Mr. Bludsoe, the mate, is a fine -man. You can trust him as you would a father. But these Orientals—I -question their motives. True, Murad was a skipper in the Sultan's navy, -but he's hiding something. He's more than a mere captain. We older men -can take care of ourselves, but you've had no experience with men. -You'd better stick close to me aboard ship, and closer still when we -land!"</p> - -<p>Samuel was our chantie man, and good service he did in stimulating -us to work the windlass in hauling up the anchors—sometimes buried -so deep in the mud at the sea's bottom that it needed the liveliest -sort of chantie to inspire our hearts and strengthen our sinews. The -secret of the swift way in which we heaved up the anchor, cleared away -lashings, pumped the ship, unreeved the running gear, and mastheaded -the topsails lay in the fact that the chantie caused us to work in -unison. No matter how tired we were, our spirits rose and the blood -coursed as we worked to the chantie Samuel roared forth: </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"Way, haul away;</div> -<div class="i1">Oh, haul away, my Rosey.</div> -<div>Way, haul away;</div> -<div class="i1">O, haul away, Joe!"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>There being a fine breeze from the shore, we made sail at the wharf and -headed out to sea. As the wind increased, all sail was made, topmast -stun'sail booms were run out, stun'sails spread, anchors secured, and -all movable things on deck were made fast. When we hove the log it was -seen that we were doing better than ten knot, a rate of speed that made -Murad well satisfied with his ship.</p> - -<p>We were mustered aft—watches were to be chosen. There were ten able -seamen, three ordinary seamen, and one boy—myself. The men were -divided between the port and starboard watches. Mr. Bludsoe, the -chief officer, was in command of the port watch. Mr. French, the -second officer, was in charge of the starboard watch. When we were not -attending to the sails, we were kept busy scraping, painting, tarring -and holy-stoning.</p> - -<p>At four bells—six o'clock—the port watch came on deck to relieve the -starboard. The starboard watch then went below for supper, and were -allowed to remain off duty until eight o'clock—eight bells. The port -watch was then relieved by them, and its members were allowed till -midnight for resting. Short "dog" watches were provided for so that the -port and starboard watch had eight hours off instead of four hours' -duty every other night.</p> - -<p>When the watch was changed, the man at the wheel was relieved, the -lookout man climbed to the topgallant forecastle to relieve the weary -lookout who in loneliness had faced exposure to the weather for four -hours, while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> the rest of the men smoked their pipes in as comfortable -places as they could find, and swapped yarns.</p> - -<p>The cry that caused the most excitement aboard ship was "All hands -shorten sail." This meant "going aloft." The order had no terrors for -me, thanks to my early experiences on schooners in the Chesapeake Bay.</p> - -<p>It is not much of a job to go up the masts in calm weather. Indeed, -on a calm moonlight night, a place on the crosstrees was my favorite -spot. One seems to be then on the top of a mountain looking out on -an enchanted land. But when the seas are heavy it is a different -matter. The force of the gale that leads the mate to bawl his command -to shorten sail pins you against the mast. The rain lashes you, and -sometimes there is sleet to prick you like swords' points. The man -above you may kick you with his heel as he comes to grips with his -task. The officers on deck and the boatswain on the yardarm have -their eyes fixed on you and the rest of the watch. The canvas must be -mastered and every man must do his part. Overhead the spars and yards -pitch and reel. The yard you stand on seems almost as unstable as the -waves that leap up to engulf you.</p> - -<p>On the first day out, two of our men had a fist-fight due to trouble -that arose between them while they were aloft. Wesley Burroughs had -stopped in the shrouds as if he meant to go no farther. Giles Lake, who -was behind him, thought to find favor with Bludsoe, the boatswain, and -began to prick Wesley's legs with his knife.</p> - -<p>The result, however, was not what he expected. Wesley continued his -ascent, but when the task was done and the two had reached the deck, he -went at Giles,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> who was much larger, like a thunderbolt. Under the eyes -of the boatswain, who seemed to think Lake deserved the punishment, he -knocked his tormentor down, seized his own sheath knife, and returned -prick for prick.</p> - -<p>An ordeal I feared was that of initiation by King Neptune. I was -relieved when Samuel told me that Neptune's visit came only when a -ship crossed the equator, and that <i>The Rose of Egypt</i> would not cross -that imaginary line. He satisfied my curiosity by describing his own -experience.</p> - -<p>After breakfast on the morning the ship crossed the equator, he was -ordered to prepare for shaving. The crew blindfolded him, led him on -deck, and bound him in a chair.</p> - -<p>A voice said:</p> - -<p>"Neptune has just come over the bow to inquire if anyone here dares to -cross his dominions without being properly initiated. Samuel Childs, -prepare to be shaved by the King of the Seas, a ceremony that will make -you a true child of the ocean!"</p> - -<p>His shirt had been stripped off his back. A speaking-trumpet was held -to his ear, through which a voice thundered:</p> - -<p>"Are you, O landsman, prepared to become a true salt?"</p> - -<p>"I am!" Samuel said boldly.</p> - -<p>"Apply the brush!"</p> - -<p>When the bandage was removed from the victim's eyes, someone stood -before him dressed like Neptune, with gray hair and beard and long -white robes. In his right hand he held a trident; in his left hand the -speaking-trumpet. In a sailor's hand was a paint brush that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> had been -dipped in tar. With this thin tar Samuel was lathered, the tar being -later removed with fat and oakum.</p> - -<p>Neptune then said: "You may now become an able seaman. You may rise to -boatswain and to captain. If you are killed or drowned, you will be -turned into a sea-horse, and will be my subject. You may now eat salt -pork, mush, and weevilly bread. Do it without grumbling. I now depart!"</p> - -<p>Samuel was again blindfolded. When the bandage was removed, Neptune had -disappeared. It was told Samuel that he had dashed over the bow into -his sea-chariot.</p> - -<p>"I know better now," Samuel explained to me. "Neptune was impersonated -by Jim Thorn, our oldest sailor. His long beard was made of unraveled -rope and yarn. He perched under the bow and climbed aboard by the -chains."</p> - -<p>My first turn at the wheel, with Samuel standing by, was a curious -experience. Told to steer southwest, I found that I swung the wheel -too far, and that the direction was south southwest. When I tried to -swing back to southwest I went too far in the other direction, and was -steering southwest by west. In a few hours, however, I had mastered -the trick. I loved to steer. It enabled me to escape the dirty work -of tarring, painting and cleaning. Yet I never took the helm without -thinking of how my father had been killed at the wheel of the <i>Hyder -Ally</i>.</p> - -<p>Whistling aboard ship was a custom disliked by the old sailors. They -entertained a superstition that he who whistled was "whistling for the -wind." On one of my first nights at sea, feeling lonesome, I puckered -my lips<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> and began to blow a tune. Along came Samuel. He paused beside -my berth.</p> - -<p>"My boy," said he, "there are only two kinds of people who whistle. One -is a boatswain. The other is a fool. You are not a boatswain."</p> - -<p>He passed on. I never whistled again aboard ship.</p> - -<p>When we were within the vicinity of the capes, there came a calm spell -in which our schooner barely moved. While we were fretting at this -snail's pace, a frigate, enjoying a wind that had not come our way, -overhauled us and hove to across our bows, displaying the British flag.</p> - -<p>"Have your protections ready, lads," the mate said, squinting across -the water, "that ship is looking for men to impress!"</p> - -<p>A boat put out from the frigate's side and came towards us.</p> - -<p>"On board the cutter, there," called our mate, "what do you want with -us?"</p> - -<p>"On board the schooner," came the reply, "we're looking for deserters -from the British navy. Let drop your ladder!"</p> - -<p>We obeyed. A spruce, slender, important, yet surprisingly youthful -lieutenant came over the side.</p> - -<p>"Compliments of Captain Van Dyke, of His Majesty's ship <i>Elizabeth</i>," -he said to the skipper and the mate, "we desire to inspect your crew."</p> - -<p>"It's a high-handed proceeding," said Murad, his black eyes snapping, -"but since we are only slightly armed, I suppose we must submit. My -men are all American citizens. Each has proof of it." He turned to the -mate, "Mr. Bludsoe, have the men lined up."</p> - -<p>The lieutenant passed down the line, scrutinizing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> protection -papers and asking searching questions. I was the last one, and as -my turn came, I began to turn cold with dread, for, fearing that I -would be kept from shipping, I had neglected to get a protection -paper. Putting on as bold a front as I could muster, I looked up at -the lieutenant. He had friendly blue eyes—he was not at all like the -dreadful impressment officer of my imagination.</p> - -<p>"Please sir," I said, "I shipped without taking the trouble to get a -protection. I'm an American to the backbone, though. I was born in -Baltimore and my father was killed fighting the British during the -war of Independence. He was on the <i>Hyder Ally</i> when she captured the -English ship, the <i>General Monk</i>. I don't want you to take me because I -have a brother who is a prisoner in Algiers, and I expect to join the -new American navy and go to fight for his release!"</p> - -<p>He laughed. "If we robbed you of a father, I think it's due you to be -allowed to go your own way. I should say that your brother requires -your aid more than we do, so I'll take your word for it that you're a -Yankee. Better not go to sea again without a protection paper. I happen -to be a particularly tender-hearted officer."</p> - -<p>He went down the side.</p> - -<p>Samuel Childs gave me a slap on the back that took my breath away.</p> - -<p>"Youngster," he said, "that's the first time I've seen a British -officer pass by an American without papers. Blast them, if they would -give their men better pay and stop flogging them through the fleet for -offences hardly worth one lash, they wouldn't have to be taking us to -fill the places of their deserters!"</p> - -<p>It was a grand though often terrifying sight to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> the ship in a -storm flying beneath leaden clouds. With the main topsail and fore -topmast staysail close reefed; with the masts tipping over as if they -were going to plunge their tops into the sea; with spray showering upon -us; with mountainous waves following us as if they would topple their -full weight over our stern; it was a sight to make one both marvel and -tremble.</p> - -<p>In such a storm we lost James Murray, an ordinary seamen, well-liked by -all.</p> - -<p>We were in a heavy sea. The clouds were so low that they enveloped our -mastheads. Tremendous waves beat against our bow, so that our plunging -stem was like a knife cutting a way through them. All hands were called -to shorten sail as the wind increased into a gale. The men who were -light of weight went out along the yardarms, while the heavier men -remained closer to the mast. The upper mizzen topsail was being furled -when a sudden gust of wind blew the sail out of their grasp.</p> - -<p>Murray, who was one of the outermost men, was thrown off the yard into -the sea. As the great waves tossed him up, we saw him struggling to -swim, handicapped as he was by his heavy oil-skins. A boat was cleared -away and volunteers were called for to endeavor to rescue Murray. I -stood forth with the rest of the crew—I saw no one hold back—but a -crew of our strongest men was chosen, and all we could do was to stand -on a yard and watch the progress of the little boat. The seas poured -into her. We could see two of her men baling desperately. At last we -lost sight of her in the mists. An hour later, when we were worrying -greatly over the fate not only of Murray, but also of the boat's crew, -the mist cleared and showed our location to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> men struggling out -there in the furious ocean. They gradually made their way towards us -and were pulled on deck exhausted. They said that they had caught one -glimpse of Murray, but as they pulled desperately to reach him the mist -had drifted between him and them—a mist that was to him as a shroud.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VI</span> <span class="smaller">MUTINY</span></h2> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"<i>'Twas on a Black Baller I first served my time</i>,</div> -<div class="i1">Yo ho, blow the man down!</div> -<div><i>And on that Black Baller I wasted my prime</i>,</div> -<div class="i1">Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>Murad had been forced to ship some of the toughest rascals in Baltimore -in order to complete his crew. They were men who had gotten into -trouble through acts of violence ashore, and were forced to take to -sea. They, too, had heard rumors that Murad was a spy in the employ of -the Barbary powers, but it did not seem to bother them. I am of the -opinion that they meant to seize the vessel before it had sailed out of -sight of the Atlantic coast.</p> - -<p>If such was their plan, Mr. Bludsoe, the mate, was their chief -obstacle. He was a fearless, muscular man, and a belaying-pin in his -hand was a deadly weapon. Even in a plain fist fight he was equal to -two of them. He was not overfond of the Egyptian, yet he was the sort -of person who stuck to a task once he had entered on it.</p> - -<p>He suspected Steve Dunn and his crowd of an intention to murder the -officers and seize the ship, and told the skipper of his suspicions. -Murad gave orders that we should be mustered before him. We were under -the guns of an American frigate when the orders were issued, and the -crew obeyed promptly. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You men have far more weapons on your persons than is necessary," -the Egyptian said smoothly. "In the interest of good fellowship, and -to keep you from slashing and shooting at each other, I desire you to -leave your knives and pistols in my care. Mr. Bludsoe, you will search -the men's berths and bags and bring to me for safe-keeping any weapons -you find!"</p> - -<p>I saw sullen glances exchanged by Steve Dunn, Mulligan and other -members of the crew.</p> - -<p>"We ain't none of us planning any trouble among ourselves!" said Steve. -"We don't know when this here vessel is going to be boarded by pirates -and we want our weapons handy!"</p> - -<p>"Handy they shall be!" said Murad, still smiling. "It would be too bad -to start ill-feeling between you and me by your disobeying this, my -first request. It would bode ill for our voyage. I was once an admiral -in the Sultan's navy. I know how to make men obey orders. I should hate -to have to ask the captain of yonder frigate to send a crew aboard -to help me make my crew obey. Throw down your knives. You have them -sharpened to a point that makes an honest man shiver. My good fellows, -show me what a good crew I have by obeying me—at once!"</p> - -<p>His voice rang on the last two words. The men dropped their dirks on -the deck. There was a motion of Steve's hand towards the inside of his -shirt as the skipper stooped to pick up one of the knives, but Murad -seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.</p> - -<p>"Look, Mr. Bludsoe," he said, straightening himself swiftly, "Steve -Dunn has a second knife that he wants to give up!"</p> - -<p>He pulled a pistol from his pocket. "Give us the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>hidden knives too, -men! This pistol might go off if I am kept waiting too long!"</p> - -<p>Mr. Bludsoe had returned with an armful of weapons. He deposited them -at the skipper's back and went down the line, feeling for dirks. He -found two. Ending his search, he ordered the men to go forward.</p> - -<p>In spite of these precautions, the men continued to grow rebellious. -The man who relieved Samuel Childs at the wheel disobeyed orders. When -Mr. Bludsoe scolded him he gave impudence.</p> - -<p>After a scuffle, in which several of the loyal members of the crew, -including Samuel Childs and myself, went to Mr. Bludsoe's assistance, -this man, Bryan by name, was put in irons.</p> - -<p>"Holystone the decks!" the next order given after this episode, brought -no response from seven members of the crew. They outnumbered the -officers and the loyal sailors. If we had not taken possession of their -arms, we should have been in a bad way. The men came forward towards -the Egyptian.</p> - -<p>"Release Bryan if you want us to work!" Steve called.</p> - -<p>"I am the master of this ship!" said Murad calmly, "Bryan is in irons -for disobedience. Others of the crew who refuse to obey orders will be -treated as mutineers. You know the punishment for that! Holystone the -decks!"</p> - -<p>They folded their arms and stood glowering at the skipper.</p> - -<p>"I shall starve them into submission!" Murad said to the mate.</p> - -<p>Two days passed. The men stayed forward. The officers made no attempt -to give them orders. Fortunately, the weather remained calm, and the -few of us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> who were loyal were sufficient to handle the sails. If a -tempest came, we would be in a serious situation.</p> - -<p>"They will attack like starved wolves tonight!" said Mr. Bludsoe to -Burke, Ross and myself, "I shall give each of you a pistol. Your own -lives are at stake. Shoot any man of them who comes aft."</p> - -<p>The first man who came aft, however, we did not shoot.</p> - -<p>I was the first to catch sight of his figure stealing away from the -forecastle. I fear that my voice trembled when I cried:</p> - -<p>"Halt! Throw up your hands!"</p> - -<p>"It's Reynolds," he said, "Take me to the skipper. I want to throw -myself on his mercy. Intercede for me, lad. I've had my fill of that -gang yonder!"</p> - -<p>The captain and mate had joined me. "It's the first break in their -ranks," he said, "and I'll take advantage of the chance to show them -that they can still surrender without being strung up."</p> - -<p>He turned to me.</p> - -<p>"Give Reynolds biscuits and coffee! He will take the wheel after that, -and if he fails us there we'll——"</p> - -<p>He whirled his hand around his neck and then pointed to a yardarm in a -way that emphasized his meaning far more than words could have done.</p> - -<p>The surrender of Reynolds led us to hope that others were on the verge -of yielding. We questioned Reynolds as he ate ravenously the food we -brought him. He was whole-heartedly aiding us now, because he knew that -if the mutineers triumphed it would go hard with him.</p> - -<p>He said that if we could show the men that we were powerful enough to -conquer Steve Dunn and Mulligan,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> the ringleaders, the others would be -glad to go back to work.</p> - -<p>"It's those two who're to blame for us not yielding sooner," he -explained. "We had planned twelve hours ago to come out and throw -ourselves on the skipper's mercy, but Mulligan knocked me down when -I suggested it. He thought that he had me cowed, and that I would be -afraid to make any further attempt. He stationed me as a guard at the -forecastle scuttle tonight, while he planned with the others just how -they would attack you. If they could get rid of the skipper and the -mate, they thought it would be easy to bring the others over to their -side. I expect they'll be crawling out very soon to make the attempt."</p> - -<p>"Captain," said Mr. Bludsoe, "I think I can end this. There are lads in -that forecastle whom I don't want to see hung for mutiny. They resent -our trying to starve them into submission, and I'm afraid the longer -they go without food, the more desperate they'll become. May I promise -them that if they come forth peacefully and go to work you will take no -steps to enforce the laws against them?"</p> - -<p>Murad had been plainly worried by the rebellion. We were out of the -track of American frigates, and we still had a long voyage before us. -If a storm came, the few loyal men would find themselves overtaxed in -managing the vessel, and while they were endeavoring to save the ship, -the mutineers would have an opportunity to do murder.</p> - -<p>I could not help wondering, too, whether the Egyptian was not fearful -as to the effect the mutiny would have on his treasure hunt, for the -more I studied him, the deeper became my conviction that he had secured -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>possession of the rector's secret, and, under the pretext of going -on a trading voyage, was off on a solitary treasure quest. One of my -duties was to keep the cabin clean and tidy, and when opportunity -offered I had poked in chests and cubby-holes to see if I could find -the rector's map of the treasure country. My hurried searches had -failed thus far.</p> - -<p>Thoughts kindred to mine must have been running through Murad's mind, -for he consented to Mr. Bludsoe's proposal.</p> - -<p>"But I warn you against entering the forecastle!" he said, "Better -talk to them at a distance. Keep them well covered with your pistols. -They've found weapons!"</p> - -<p>The mate went forward. I had conceived a strong admiration for him, -and, on an impulse I followed his shadowy figure as it crept along the -starboard side, past the galley, towards the forecastle hatchway. Ross -and Burke, not to be outdone, strung along behind us.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bludsoe had reached the forecastle hatch without meeting a person. -I expected to hear him yell his message down the hatchway, which was -open, but instead I saw his black figure leap into the yellow glare -that came up from the forecastle lantern. He had leaped down into the -room.</p> - -<p>I crept up to the scuttle, and leaned down the hatchway, cutlass in -hand. I was determined to fight in the mate's defence if necessary, -though I knew that my cutlass, with only a youth's arm behind it, was -a poor weapon against desperate men, even if they were only armed with -dirks.</p> - -<p>The men had been standing in the center of the forecastle, and seemed -to have been on the verge of rushing forth to attack us. Reynold's -desertion had not been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> noted by them, and they had evidently thought -that the person leaping into the room was their sentinel. The mate's -spring, therefore, took them by surprise. They glanced uncertainly up -the ladder, saw the flash of my cutlass, and thought that our entire -force was back of Mr. Bludsoe. It was a reasonable conclusion, for who -would have dreamed that the mate would have done so bold a thing.</p> - -<p>Knives flashed. "Here's one of them," Steve cried, "thought he'd -starved the strength out of us, I reckon. We'll show him!"</p> - -<p>Bludsoe put his back against the ladder and leveled his pistols at the -most menacing mutineers.</p> - -<p>"Men," he said, "I can kill four of you before you down me. There -are others waiting to take care of the rest. Listen—I haven't come -down here to shoot—I'm trying to end this row and save you from the -gallows. Some of you have never been in trouble before. Some of you are -married men. It's no use trying to budge the skipper. You won't get a -bite to eat until you start to work. If you hold out another twelve -hours the chances are some frigate will see our signals and take you to -where you'll get short shrift. Come now, throw down your knives and——"</p> - -<p>A heavy boot, viciously aimed, knocked me aside. Its owner jumped -across my body and leapt towards the scuttle.</p> - -<p>I saw the huge bulk of Mulligan pass me. He had been out to reconnoiter -and we had passed him in the darkness.</p> - -<p>"Look out! Mulligan's behind you!" I cried.</p> - -<p>A shot was fired.</p> - -<p>I crept in despair towards the hatchway. I was unable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> to interpret -from the sounds and curses that issued from the forecastle what had -happened, and feared that I should see Mr. Bludsoe trampled upon by -those he had tried to rescue from their own folly. Yet, as I raised my -head to peer down, I heard his voice ring out:</p> - -<p>"There's no need for anyone else to pay the price Mulligan has paid. -Down with your weapons!"</p> - -<p>Dirks and pistols clattered to the deck. Some of the points of the -knives stuck into the timber. I looked at these shivering blades and -thanked Providence that they had found lodging there instead of in the -mate's breast.</p> - -<p>Out they came, sullen but subdued. Mr. Bludsoe drove them aft with his -pistol points.</p> - -<p>"Thank you, lad," he said, as he passed me, "I owe my life to you!"</p> - -<p>I peered down into the forecastle. Under the smoky lamp lay Mulligan—a -huge, motionless mass. Blood flowed from his temple.</p> - -<p>The wind had died; the sun was hidden in haze; the sky darkened; the -barometer fell. "We'll be in the midst of a tempest soon," Samuel -Childs whispered to me, "if the rebels had held out they might have had -the ship at their mercy."</p> - -<p>"Call all hands to shorten sail," the skipper said calmly to Mr. -Bludsoe.</p> - -<p>The ship was made snug; the sails were furled; the spars, water casks, -and boats were lashed; the hatches were battened down.</p> - -<p>Seeing that the men were thoroughly cowed, the skipper passed the word -to the cook to serve them with breakfast. From the galley came the -sound of pots and pans. The peace meal was ready.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VII</span> <span class="smaller">BETRAYED</span></h2> - -<p>It grew warmer as we approached Gibraltar. Flying fish arose from the -water and shot over the surface like silver arrows. Porpoises frolicked -around us. Flocks of sea-gulls followed us as we passed the southern -coast of Europe. Through the Azores we sailed until we came in sight of -the red cliffs of St. Vincent, on the Portugal coast. Then we entered -the Straits of Gibraltar and caught our first sight of the mountainous -African coast.</p> - -<p>I had better note here that three continents form the shores of the -Mediterranean Sea—Europe, Asia and Africa. The entrance to this sea -from the Atlantic is guarded by the Pillars of Hercules, formed by -Gibraltar on the European shore and "the Mount of God" on the African -side. These pillars, it interested me to discover, were thought by the -ancients to have been left standing by Hercules as monuments to his -might when he tore asunder the continents. It will be remembered that -along the sea these monuments of nature guarded, civilization had been -cradled. Art, architecture, law, poetry, drama, and religion had come -into being on these coasts. The treasure tomb that now nightly filled -my dreams had doubtless been laid in these early days.</p> - -<p>And now, as the events of my story have so much to do with this North -African shore, let us have a clear understanding of its cities and -people. The coast is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> called Barbary, because the race that inhabits it -are named Berbers. They belong to the same stock as the Anglo-Saxons -and many of them have fair complexions, rosy cheeks and light hair. -They are fanatical Mohammedans, and despise us because we are -Christians. The Moors and Arabs, who are descended from the Mussulman -warriors who captured Africa centuries ago, abound here too, and are -the people with whom our quarrel lies.</p> - -<p>Barbary is sometimes called Little Africa. It extends from Egypt to -the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea back to the Sahara -desert. Just over the way from Gibraltar lies Morocco. It is a little -city with white walls surrounded by great hills. Most of the cities of -Barbary are similarly situated between mountains and water.</p> - -<p>Next to the province of Morocco, lies Algeria, and farther on is -Tripoli, the farthest boundary of which adjoins Egypt.</p> - -<p>Algeria, I learned, is five times as large as Pennsylvania. Algiers, -one of the largest cities on the coast, is its capital. Walls of -stone have been built across the harbor as fortifications. Algiers -resembles an amphitheatre. Its streets rise on terraces. The streets -are narrow; bazaars are everywhere. These are roofed over with matting -and lined with booths in which all sorts of goods are sold. The -booths are nothing more or less than holes in the walls in which the -dealer sits, while the customers stand out in the street and buy. One -bazaar is given over to the shoemakers; another bazaar is devoted to -jewelry; still another is set apart for the sale of perfumery. Tailors, -saddlers, rug sellers—each trade has a separate bazaar. Here are shops -selling carpets and rugs, and there is a café in which Turkish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> coffee, -as sweet as molasses, may be sipped. Yonder is the stand of an Arab -selling sweetmeats; beyond him a man in a long gown fries meat and -sells it hot from the fire.</p> - -<p>There are solid-looking public buildings, and a great mosque that -covers several acres. A turbaned priest from the minaret which rises -far above the roofs of the shops and homes calls out the hour of -prayer, and the Mohammedans kneel.</p> - -<p>A picturesque crowd pours through the dark, narrow streets. Arabs in -long gowns; brown Arabs from the desert; Berbers from their country -villages; Jewish girls in plain long robes of bright colors—pink, red, -green, and yellow; Moorish women in veils; Berber girls with their rosy -faces exposed; boys with shaved heads, wearing gowns and skull caps; -holy men and beggars innumerable. Some of these veiled Mohammedan wives -are only thirteen years old.</p> - -<p>We anchored off Sale, a harbor of Morocco. I heard our skipper tell -the mate that he proposed to go ashore and inquire into the chances of -disposing of part of our cargo to advantage.</p> - -<p>No sooner had he left the ship than I, whose task it was to keep -Murad's quarters tidy, began to make a thorough search of his -belongings. I was seeking that which only my suspicions told me -existed—the map showing the location of the treasure.</p> - -<p>There was a sea chest in the cabin which Murad kept locked. In another -room of the ship, however, I had found a similar chest. The key to this -one I had taken, hoping that it would open the Egyptian's strong-box. -In this experiment I was fortunate—the key turned in the lock as if it -were made to fit it, and the lid was loosened. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> - -<p>I found in the top of the chest the volume that had been stolen from -the rector's library. The trail was hot. There was, however, no map -between its pages. Deeper into the chest I plunged. At the bottom I -pried up a false bottom and found a paper. It seemed to be a copy -instead of an original. I concluded that if this was the diagram of the -treasure site, Murad had taken ashore the original, and had left this -one aboard in case he lost the first one.</p> - -<p>The map was simple enough. It showed a section of the southern coast of -the Mediterranean. The towns Tripoli and Derne were indicated. Between -them was a village lettered Tokra. In the neighborhood of this spot -were queer markings, which were explained by writing at the bottom of -the map. When I tried to decipher this I found that it was in Arabic. -The original was doubtless in English. Murad, in copying, had doubtless -changed the English to Arabic to keep the secret from prying eyes.</p> - -<p>Towards midnight—while I was on watch—I heard a noise on the water -from the direction of shore. It sounded like rowing, and yet it was -too indistinct a sound for me to make certain. I decided that Murad -had given up his idea of spending the night ashore and was returning. -However, I asked Mr. Bludsoe to listen.</p> - -<p>"Oars!" he said, his ear cocked over the landward side.</p> - -<p>He listened again. "There are three boats at least!" he whispered, "it -looks like an attack. Pass the word for all hands!"</p> - -<p>By this time both watches were on deck. Pistols and cutlasses were -passed out. We lined up along the bulwarks, peering out.</p> - -<p>The mate stood near me. I heard him thinking aloud.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> "So this is the -way our precious skipper protects us from corsairs?" he muttered, "He -goes ashore and an attack follows. Looks queer. Wonder what slaves are -worth in Morocco? Maybe he's planning to sell a double cargo—goods and -men!"</p> - -<p>We could hear the sounds plainly now. The splash of the oars struck -with a chill more than one of us, but we gripped our weapons and made -up our minds to sell our lives dearly.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bludsoe had been sweeping the sea with a night glass. "They are -near us, men—four boats, swarming with cutthroats!"</p> - -<p>He peered over the rail and shouted:</p> - -<p>"On board the boats! This is an American schooner with whom you have no -business. Come nearer at your peril!"</p> - -<p>Still the boats came on. The steady beat of the oars tightened our -nerves almost to the snapping point.</p> - -<p>The mate shouted a second warning. It was not heeded. "It's either -their lives or ours," he said to us, "Pick out your marks. Fire!"</p> - -<p>Our cannon belched forth flame. Shrieks and curses took the place of -the splash of oars. We saw two boatloads of men pouring into the water, -snatching at the remnants of their cutters. On board the remaining two -boats was havoc and confusion. We saw these boats at last turn stern -and make for the shore.</p> - -<p>One of the boats managed to escape our fire and came up against the -schooner on the farther side. This boat was not in the group we had -first sighted, and in the excitement of the battle, it stole up on us -without discovery. I chanced to turn in its direction just in time to -see a dark head appear above the bulwarks. I caught<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> up a cutlass and -ran with a cry to cleave the fellow's head. He ducked, and my blade cut -into the rail. The mate, with more presence of mind, had caught up a -heavy shot from beside the Long Tom and called upon others to follow -his example. Down into the boat they dropped the balls, smashing heads -and smashing boat. Before her crew could get a foothold on our chains, -she filled with water and sank. In this fashion we met and overcame our -greatest danger.</p> - -<p>"Lower away a boat!" said Mr. Bludsoe, "we can't let those wretches out -there drown without making some attempt at rescue!"</p> - -<p>We rowed out and brought in three men and a lad.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bludsoe questioned them by the light of a lantern. We gathered -around in a circle. The boy could talk Spanish, which the mate also -could speak. They were dark, half-naked creatures, with something of -the appearance of sleek rats as the water dripped from their glossy, -matted hair.</p> - -<p>Two of the Moslems were sullen and made no responses to the mate's -query. One, however, was explosive. His rage was directed not against -us, but against some one of his own party.</p> - -<p>"Who is responsible for this attack? Answer truly, unless you want to -swung from yonder yardarm!" Mr. Bludsoe threatened.</p> - -<p>The fiery individual, with frantic gestures, poured a response intended -for our mate into the lad's ears.</p> - -<p>"The captain of your ship betrayed you," said the interpreter with -rolling eyes and flashing teeth. "He betrayed us too. He said that it -would be easy for us to capture you because he had assured you that you -were free from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> attack. He led us to believe that the guns had been -spiked and the weapons thrown overboard."</p> - -<p>Mr. Bludsoe turned to the crew. "Murad made such an attempt. I found -him fooling with the cannon and scared him off. I suspected him after -that, and gave him no chance. He's sold us in advance to the pirates of -Morocco. They'll be putting out in pursuit of us as soon as they learn -of the failure!"</p> - -<p>He had scarcely spoken when two lateen sails could be seen moving out -from shore. We were becalmed, and capture seemed certain.</p> - -<p>"We can't beat off their warships! Man the longboat!" Mr. Bludsoe -ordered, "We'll have to trust to yonder mist to hide us. We ought to be -able to reach the Spanish coast if it holds!"</p> - -<p>The moon had been clouded by a fog. We could feel the haze settling -upon us. The change seemed to precede a storm.</p> - -<p>With the war-ships nearly upon us, we rowed off into the haze, taking -the prisoners with us.</p> - -<p>When we were a league from the shore, we heard a gun fired. I thought -that the corsairs, who by this time had doubtless found that we had -deserted the ship, were cruising in search of us and had fired the gun -in our direction. No balls struck the water near us, however, and we -rowed on desperately.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bludsoe questioned Mustapha. "It is the hurricane signal on -shore," the youth explained. "It means that the barometer has fallen -tremendously, and that a storm's on the way. You need have no fear of -pursuit. The ships that came out to attack you will seek shelter now. -We shall all sink if you do not make for the beach!" </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> - -<p>Mr. Bludsoe ordered us to row towards the Moroccan shore, in a -direction that would take us clear of the harbor. Heavy gusts of wind -beat down upon us and floods of rain poured over our straining muscles. -The wind became a gale and threatened to come with greater intensity. -Furious waves leaped up on every side to swallow our boat. We gave up -hope of reaching the shore, and rowed on expecting every uncertain -stroke of our oars to be the last.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Mr. Bludsoe's voice rang out calm and strong through the -tempest. "There's a ship ahead. It must be one of those that came out -to attack us. Yet it's better to take our chances aboard her than to -stay in this sea. Pull towards her!"</p> - -<p>The ship loomed up larger than we had expected. Her sails were cut -differently from those of the corsairs. Against the gray of the storm -we caught sight of the American flag.</p> - -<p>"By all that's holy," the mate cried, "she's a Yankee frigate!"</p> - -<p>The frigate, whose commander was shifting her to the shelter of the -harbor, caught sight of us as we plunged towards her bow. Willing hands -dipped down to help us climb over her side.</p> - -<p>The frigate's name was <i>George Washington</i>. Her commander, Captain -William Bainbridge, was bearing to the Dey of Algiers certain presents. -With great joy I learned that peace had been made between Algiers and -the United States, and that Alexander and his comrades were on their -way home. Of these things I shall have more to tell later. We were not -yet out of danger. The hurricane now seemed to be concentrated over -us. The wind's force must have been over a hundred miles an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> hour. The -tremendous gusts struck the heavy vessel with the force of battering -rams and drove her forward as if she were a cockle-shell. We could see -the shore looming up.</p> - -<p>"Rocks!" someone shouted. We were within a hundred yards of them when a -miracle happened. The wind shifted its fury. It now blew in a twisting -fashion from the shore. Our ship turned with it. On another side of the -harbor there was a beach of yielding sand. Beating behind us with the -same terrific force, the hurricane sent the nose of the frigate into -the sand in a way that held her more firmly than a hundred anchors.</p> - -<p>Here we stayed without listing. The first part of the cyclone lasted -about two hours. There was a lull and we thought the storm was over. It -returned an hour later, however, in all of its fury, and we expected -every moment to be torn from our haven and hurled across the harbor to -destruction—a fate that we could now see had overtaken many vessels, -for the shore was lined with wrecks. Whistling, roaring, devastating, -it whirled over us, lashing the waves until they dashed with savage -force over our decks. Our only comfort was that the onslaughts -gradually decreased in strength, and we saw the barometer rise rapidly -from its lowest point.</p> - -<p>On shore, storehouses, castles, and residences were unroofed or -demolished entirely.</p> - -<p>Spars, masts, and parts of wharves floated on top of the waves. I -shuddered as my eyes rested on a dead body floating amidst a mass of -wreckage. It seemed providential that we were not floating corpses.</p> - -<p>A wreck lay near us. She had overturned and the water was washing -across her deck. She had a familiar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> look. Her stern was towards us. I -caught a glimpse of her name and read <i>The Rose of Egypt</i>.</p> - -<p>Murad had played upon a youth's imagination to lead him into a trap. -The rascal's gift at story-telling had been drawn upon to add me to -those he hoped to lead into captivity that he might obtain ransoms. He -also, no doubt, had it in his mind to revenge himself on the commodore -by persecuting one of whom the sailor was fond. As my knowledge of -Barbary grew, I saw that it was quite possible for Murad to act as a -spy for one or all of these Barbary rulers. America was a new country. -The corsair princes desired information as to how rich she was; what -they had to fear from her navy, etc. It came out later that secret -discussions in Congress upon the subject of the Barbary powers were -promptly reported to the Dey of Algiers, so that when our envoys came -to negotiate with him he threw their secrets into their faces. But, be -that as it may, adventures were crowding upon me so swiftly that I felt -disposed to forgive Murad for the sake of the thrills he had sent my way.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VIII</span> <span class="smaller">AN AMERICAN FRIGATE BECOMES A CORSAIR'S CATTLESHIP</span></h2> - -<p>When I felt the deck of the <i>George Washington</i> beneath my feet, I felt -a different thrill than that which had run through me when I stepped -aboard <i>The Rose of Egypt</i>. I was a navy lad now, and my own quest for -treasure, that had absorbed all of my attentions, dwindled before the -fact that it was now my duty to consider the interests of my country -more than my own selfish aims.</p> - -<p>Moreover I was to meet men, and find adventures, that made my treasure -hunt for the time being a secondary interest. I intended before I -quitted the Barbary coast to make the search; meanwhile I was content -to take what experiences navy life brought me, awaiting my opportunity -to enter the desert in search of the riches. The Egyptian, I had -reason to believe, had been killed in the hurricane. The secret of the -treasure was safe with me. Time would unfold my opportunity.</p> - -<p>As for those who are following this chronicle, let us hope that the -thrilling naval activities these pages will now mirror will be more -absorbing even than the personal experiences I have told about; yet if -any wonder as to the result of my quest for treasure, let me encourage -them by saying that it was the historic events I am now about to relate -that placed me at last in a position to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> reach the spot where the -jewels and trinkets described by the rector were buried.</p> - -<p>My good friend Samuel Childs found an old comrade on board the <i>George -Washington</i>—one Reuben James. The two had been shipmates in the -merchant service. Reuben, though now scarcely more than a boy, was a -veteran sailor. He had gone to sea at the age of thirteen, had sailed -around the world, and had every sort of experience that comes to a -seaman. All of us became members of the frigate's crew, and Samuel and -I were chosen for Reuben's watch, so that the three of us had many a -chance to talk things over.</p> - -<p>From Reuben I drew forth an account of the release of Alexander and the -other American captives. It was not until Samuel told him that I was a -brother to one of the captives that he displayed interest in me; after -he had discovered this fact, however, he went out of his way to be kind -to me.</p> - -<h3>ALEXANDER FREE</h3> - -<p>"Well do I remember Alexander Forsyth," Reuben said, "and I'll swear -that when I met him at Marseilles, where he was awaiting a passage home -after his release from bloody Algiers, he was the nearest thing to a -dead man that I have ever seen alive! He looked like a skeleton with a -beating heart! Mark my word, he'll never go to sea again! What can you -expect—after years of cruelty, starvation, sickness, chain-dragging!"</p> - -<p>"You see," Reuben said in excuse for our statesmen, "our Congressmen -had other important things to worry about: Indian uprisings, trouble -at sea with England and France; a union to form between the bickering -commonwealths, finances to raise for running the government,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> and what -not? A few sailors imprisoned in an out-of-the-way part of the world -were apt to be forgotten!"</p> - -<p>The fresh captures by the pirates that brought about the settlement -had, I was informed, happened in this manner:</p> - -<p>When the Portuguese warships withdrew from guarding the Straits of -Gibraltar, the Algerine cruisers entered the Atlantic in four ships and -swooped down on unsuspecting American vessels. Eleven of our ships were -captured by corsairs. Their crews were taken as slaves to Algiers, and, -added to those already held in captivity, increased the number to one -hundred and fifteen.</p> - -<p>The Swedish consul warned Colonel Humphreys, our minister to Portugal, -that Bassara, a Jew slave-broker at Algiers, through whom the United -States was trying to procure the release of the captives, was out -of favor with the Dey, and that to succeed the business should be -transferred to the Jew Bacri. This was done, and an agreement soon -followed.</p> - -<p>Captain O'Brien was sent to Lisbon to get from Colonel Humphreys the -money the United States promised to pay. Humphreys was forced to send -O'Brien to London to borrow the funds, but, on account of the unsettled -condition of European politics, O'Brien failed in his mission. The -Dey, vexed at the delay, threatened to abandon the treaty. Upon this -a frigate was offered by the American envoys as an inducement to hold -to the treaty, while Bacri himself advanced the necessary gold. The -prisoners were then released and sent in Bacri's ship <i>Fortune</i> to -Marseilles, where the American consul, Stephen Cathalan, Jr., secured a -passage home for them in the Swedish ship <i>Jupiter</i>.</p> - -<p>What I had learned of the insolence of the Barbary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> rulers had come to -me thus far only by hearsay. I was now to see an example of it with my -own eyes.</p> - -<p>While I was thus gathering the details of Alexander's tardy release, -the <i>George Washington</i> was proceeding from Morocco to Algiers, Captain -Bainbridge having been ordered by our government to deliver presents to -the Algerine prince. Before leaving Morocco, Captain Bainbridge, who -had heard the story of the assault upon us with amazement and anger, -demanded of the Dey of Morocco that he surrender to him the Egyptian, -Murad, for the action of our government.</p> - -<p>Word came back that a search had been made for Murad but that no person -such as we described could be found in the city. Punishment for those -who had attacked us was also requested, but the oily monarch protested -that his officers could find no citizens who had attempted such a raid. -Baffled, we went on our way.</p> - -<p>I looked over the rail towards the frowning castles of Algiers in huge -disgust. Yet I was curious to see the town in which Alexander had been -enslaved, and Captain Bainbridge, knowing of my relationship to one of -the released Americans, provided a way that I might enter the palace -as one of his attendants when he went with Consul O'Brien to pay his -supposed respects to the Dey.</p> - -<p>By listening to the English renegade who acted as interpreter between -our officers and the ruler, I gathered that the Dey was in trouble with -his overlord, the Sultan of Turkey, because he had made peace with -France while Turkey, then allied with England, was making war on the -French forces in Egypt.</p> - -<p>To appease the wrath of the Sultan, the Dey had decided to send to that -monarch at Constantinople an ambassador bearing valuable gifts. With -amazing cheek,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> he now asked Consul O'Brien to lend him the frigate -<i>George Washington</i> for the purpose of bearing the envoy and his train. -Captain Bainbridge blushed. "It is impossible for an American naval -officer to carry out such a mission," I heard him cry.</p> - -<p>"Your ship is anchored under my batteries. My gunner will sink her if -you refuse!" the Dey said with a scowl.</p> - -<p>"That is no work for an American ship," Captain Bainbridge said.</p> - -<p>"Aren't Americans my slaves? Don't they pay tribute to me?" the Dey -demanded. "I now command you to carry my embassy!"</p> - -<p>I felt like rushing forward and choking the creature, and I saw from -Captain Bainbridge's look that it was all that he could do to restrain -himself from drawing his sword and plunging it into the fat stomach of -the beast.</p> - -<p>Consul O'Brien came forth with soothing words. He advised Bainbridge to -obey the ruler, and Bainbridge, because of the superior authority of -the consul, was forced to consent.</p> - -<p>"Shade of Washington!" he exclaimed, when he returned aboard ship, -"behold thy sword hung on a slave to serve a pirate! I never thought to -find a corner of this world where an American would stoop to baseness. -History shall tell how the United States first volunteered a <i>ship of -war</i>, equipped, as a <i>carrier</i> for a pirate. It is written. Nothing but -blood can blot the impression out."</p> - -<p>We heard that he wrote thus to the Navy Department:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"I hope I may never again be sent to Algiers with tribute, unless -I be authorized to deliver it from the mouth of the cannon."</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> - -<h3>THE VOYAGE TO CONSTANTINOPLE</h3> - -<p>When the ambassador to Constantinople came on board, his suite and -following were enough to make angels laugh. There were one hundred -Moslems attending him. Many of the officers brought their wives and -children. In addition there were four horses, twenty-five horned -cattle, four lions, four tigers, four antelopes, and twelve parrots. -The money and regalia loaded as presents for the Sultan were valued at -a million dollars.</p> - -<p>When our frigate reached the two forts that commanded the entrance to -Constantinople, Captain Bainbridge decided that he would save the time -that would be spent in entering the port in the usual formal way. We -approached the anchorage as if we meant to come to a stop. We clewed up -our courses, let go the topsails, and seemed to be complying with the -rules of the port. Then our commander ordered that a salute be fired, -but, when the guns of the fort replied, he ordered sail to be made -under cover of the smoke. By this trick, we passed by the guns under -the smoke screen, and were inside the harbor and beyond range before -the Turks realized it.</p> - -<p>An officer rowed out to ask to what country our ship belonged.</p> - -<p>"The United States," answered our commander.</p> - -<p>The officer returned to shore. A half-hour later he again rowed out to -inform Captain Bainbridge that the Sultan had never heard of the United -States, and desired to know more about it. Our captain replied that he -came from the new world discovered by Columbus. Again the officer went -ashore and returned, bringing this time a lamb and a bunch of flowers, -as tokens of peace and welcome. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> - -<p>The admiral of the Turkish fleet, Capudan Pasha, took the <i>George -Washington</i> under his protection. The Sultan gave Captain Bainbridge a -certificate which entitled him to special protection in any part of the -Turkish empire.</p> - -<p>With the ambassadors from the Dey of Algiers matters went very -differently. When the messenger was received on board Capudan Pasha's -ship, the admiral snatched from the envoy's hand the Dey's letter, and -then, in a great rage, spat and stamped upon it. He was then told to -inform his master that the admiral meant to spit and trample upon him -when the two met. The Sultan was equally harsh. He told the ambassador -that he would force the Dey to declare war against France within sixty -days, and threatened to punish the ruler if he did not send to him an -immense sum of money. The presents of tigers and other animals were -viewed by him with supreme contempt.</p> - -<p>The sight of the American flag, flown for the first time in this -section of the world, created a sensation.</p> - -<p>It was said that, seeing the stars in the American flag, the Sultan -decided that since there was represented on his flag one of the -heavenly bodies, his country and ours must have the same religion. The -foreign consuls at Constantinople welcomed Captain Bainbridge and he in -turn entertained them. At one dinner he had on the table food and drink -from all quarters of the globe, representing places at which he had -stopped—Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and men from each of these -countries sat at his table.</p> - -<p>We returned to Algiers with a disgruntled ambassador. The Sultan, while -he treated our commander with great courtesy, found fault with the Dey -of Algiers' gifts and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> threatened to punish both him and his envoy if -more valuable presents were not forthcoming. All of which delighted us -hugely.</p> - -<p>When we drew near to Algiers on our return passage, we wondered what -further indignities would be offered. Captain Bainbridge, having -learned of the Sultan's message to the Dey, knew that a ship would be -required to take a second Algerine mission to Constantinople. Fearing -that the Dey might try to use the <i>George Washington</i> again for this -purpose, and suspecting too that to obtain the money the Sultan -demanded the Algerine prince might attempt to enslave the crew of -the <i>George Washington</i> and hold them for ransom, Captain Bainbridge -decided that he would anchor his ship out of range of the Dey's guns. -Threats and persuasion were used by the Orientals to induce us to come -into the harbor, but Captain Bainbridge squared his jaw and kept the -ship where we had first anchored.</p> - -<p>Consul O'Brien now rowed out and told our commander that the Dey wanted -to have a talk with him. The captain, armed with his certificate of -protection from the Sultan, went ashore. The Dey, maddened over the -result of his intercourse with the Sultan, and further enraged at -Captain Bainbridge's cleverness in avoiding his snares, threatened -him with torture and slavery, and seemed about to call upon his armed -janizaries to seize the officer. At this moment Captain Bainbridge -produced the certificate. The tyrant, seeing his master's signature -upon a document that expressed good will to the American, fawned and -apologized.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER IX</span> <span class="smaller">LIFE ABOARD <i>OLD IRONSIDES</i></span></h2> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"<i>And now to thee, O Captain,</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>Most earnestly I pray,</i></div> -<div><i>That they may never bury me</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>In church or cloister gray;</i></div> -<div><i>But on the windy sea-beach,</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>At the ending of the land,</i></div> -<div><i>All on the surfy sea-beach,</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>Deep down into the sand.</i></div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div><i>For there will come the sailors,</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>Their voices I shall hear,</i></div> -<div><i>And at casting of the anchor</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>The yo-ho loud and clear;</i></div> -<div><i>And at hauling of the anchor</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>The yo-ho and the cheer,—</i></div> -<div><i>Farewell, my love, for to the bay</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>I never more may steer.</i>"</div> -<div class="right">—<span class="smcap">W. Allingham.</span></div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>"I hear it reported," Samuel Childs remarked one night on watch, "that -Captain Edward Preble is coming out in command of the <i>Constitution</i>. -Looks like he'll have charge of the Mediterranean fleet. A hard man. A -hot temper. He's as rough as the New Hampshire rocks where he was born. -I doubt whether I'd want to serve under him!"</p> - -<p>"The harder they come, the better I like them," said Reuben James. "A -hard man means a hard fighter. I understand Stephen Decatur's coming -out too. There's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> an officer for you! Hope I have a chance to serve -under both!"</p> - -<p>Samuel Child's idea of Captain Preble's disposition was held aboard all -of our ships. Yet Preble changed this adverse comment to enthusiastic -admiration. It happened in this way:</p> - -<p>As his frigate was passing at night through the Straits of Gibraltar -he met a strange ship and hailed her. The vessel made no reply, but -manoeuvred to get into an advantageous position for firing.</p> - -<p>"I hail you for the last time!" Preble shouted. "If you don't answer, -I'll fire a shot into you."</p> - -<p>"If you do, I'll return a broadside!" came from the strange ship.</p> - -<p>"I should like to catch you at that! I now hail for an answer. What -ship is that?" Captain Preble cried.</p> - -<p>"His Britannic Majesty's eighty-four gun ship-of-the-line <i>Donegal</i>! -Sir Richard Strachan. Send a boat on board!"</p> - -<p>Preble shouted back:</p> - -<p>"This is the United States' forty-four gun ship <i>Constitution</i>, Captain -Edward Preble, and I'll be d—d if I send a boat on board any ship! -Blow your matches, boys!"</p> - -<p>No broadside was fired. Captain Preble now shouted to the officer -that he doubted the truth of his statement and would stay alongside -until the morning revealed the identity of the stranger. A boat now -approached, bearing a message from the strange ship's commander. He -explained that she was the thirty-two gun British frigate <i>Maidstone</i>, -and that, taken by surprise, he had resorted to strategy in order to -get his men to their stations before the <i>Constitution</i> fired. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> - -<p>Samuel Childs had his chance to serve under this terrible Captain -Preble, and so, for that matter, had all of us. My first meeting with -the captain was far from being one that promised comfort. To explain -why, I had better note here that the clothing supplies of the <i>George -Washington</i> had been depleted, consequently there were several pieces -of my dress that were not in accord with the regulation uniform. -Captain Preble's gaze chanced to rest on me. Then, with an outburst -that nearly frightened me out of my wits, he asked me how I dare -present myself before him in such attire.</p> - -<p>"If I catch you out of uniform again," he said, "out of the service -you'll go!"</p> - -<p>I darted out of his sight, resolving to alter my dress at once, -but a lieutenant hailed me and gave me a message to deliver to the -<i>Constellation</i>. He then ordered the coxswain to man the running boat. -Off we rowed. The <i>Constellation</i> lay with her bow towards us. Instead -of waiting for the Jacob's ladder to be thrown to me, I stood in the -bow of the running boat waiting for it to be lifted to the crest -of a sea. The next roller lifted our cockle shell high in the air, -approaching the level of the ship's deck. I took advantage of this -rise and vaulted from our boat. We were in a rough sea, and, instead -of landing on the bulwark, as I had aimed to do, I was hurled by the -next roller head-first across the vessel's side. With the velocity of a -butting goat, my head rammed a group of three officers who had chosen -that particular spot for a chat. Two of them were tossed left and -right; the third one was floored. I arose with abject apologies. Who -should I see squirming and cursing before me but Captain Preble? I felt -my blood turn to ice. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> - -<p>To my terrified imagination a flogging seemed to be the least -punishment I could expect. Not only had I knocked him down, but here -was I appearing before him in the clothes he had ordered changed. The -other officers, crimson and purple with wrath, helped the Captain to -his feet. It appeared that while I had been waiting for the letter, he -had gone forth in his gig to inspect the very ship I was bound for.</p> - -<p>"Ha!" he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath, "the same lad! The -same uniform!"</p> - -<p>Then suddenly he looked at his frowning companions and burst into -laughter. "Why," he exclaimed, "just when we were talking about our -enemy's guns, he came over the side like a cannon ball! I thought the -gunners of Tripoli were bombarding us!"</p> - -<p>When the laughter ended I had a chance to deliver the letter and to -explain that the lieutenant had pressed me into service before I had an -opportunity to change my garb.</p> - -<p>He nodded. "The irregularity of your clothes we will overlook just -now," he said, "but your irregular way of coming aboard, and the -headlong way in which you approach your superiors, and intrude upon -their conferences, is a matter that warrants your being turned over -to the master-at-arms. However, you scamp, we'll forgive all of your -offences for the laugh you have given us! I hope if I ever call on you -to board an enemy's ship you'll go over her side with the same speed!"</p> - -<p>The crew was divided into three sets. The men in the first set were -called topmen; their duty was to climb the masts and to take in -or furl, reef or let out the sails. This group of topmen were in -turn subdivided, according<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> to the masts of the ship. Thus we had -fore-topmen, main-topmen and mizzen-topmen.</p> - -<p>The second set of men attended to the sails from the deck. It was their -task to handle the lowest sails, and to set and take in the jibs, lower -studding sails and spanker; they also coiled the ropes of the running -gear. These men too were grouped according to masts.</p> - -<p>The third set of men were called scavengers. These did the dirty work -of the ship, gathering the refuse from all quarters of the vessel and -casting it overboard.</p> - -<p>I, on account of my youth, was assigned to none of these sets, but to -the boys' division. There were a dozen of us lads on board, and a merry -set of scamps we were. We were assigned to serve the officers, and -because of this we managed to overhear and pass to each other a good -deal of information concerning the operations of the ship that was not -intended for us to know. Some of us became favorites with the officers -we served, and when we got into mischief and were threatened with -punishment, our officers often shielded us.</p> - -<p>In addition to the sailors and boys, the ship had over a score of -marines on her muster roll. They were the policemen of the ship. In -battle their place was in the rigging, where they picked off the enemy -crew with their muskets. The marines filled a peculiar position, in -that they were called upon to uphold the authority of the officers, and -therefore could not be on intimate terms with the sailors—in fact, the -officers discouraged familiarity between the soldiers and sailors.</p> - -<p>As for food, we were the envy of our British cousins. Our menu was: -Sunday, a pound and a half of beef and half a pint of rice; Monday, a -pound of pork, half a pint of peas and four ounces of cheese; Tuesday, -a pound<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> and a half of beef, and a pound of potatoes; Wednesday, half -a pint of rice, two ounces of butter, and six ounces of molasses; -Thursday, a pound of pork and half a pint of peas; Friday, a pound of -potatoes, a pound of salt fish, and two ounces of butter or one gill of -oil; Saturday, a pound of pork, half a pint of peas, and four ounces of -cheese. In addition, one pound of bread and half a pint of spirits, or -one quart of beer, were served every day.</p> - -<p>Sundays were usually holidays. After muster on the spar deck, we would -have church service, and then the rest of the day was ours to spend as -we pleased. We wore our best uniforms, but we could never tell from one -Sunday to another just what kind of dress we were to appear in. The -captain had a way of ordering us to wear one day blue jackets and white -trousers, and on the next Sunday to change to blue jackets and blue -trousers. When he wanted us to look particularly smart he would command -that we wear in addition our scarlet vests. When, on top of all this, -we donned our shiny black hats, we felt fine indeed.</p> - -<p>In fair weather we slept in hammocks, swung on the berth deck. We were -trained to roll up and stow our hammocks swiftly, so that when a call -to action sounded, our beds disappeared from sight in the bulwark -nettings as if by magic. These hammocks, in battle, were placed against -the bulwarks as shields to prevent splinters from hitting us when the -vessel was hit.</p> - -<p>Our ship kept a merit roll, upon which were entered the names of every -member of the crew. If a man did his work well, he was given a good -standing on this roll; the sheet, on the other hand, also showed who -were the lazy and inefficient members of the crew. The system<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> of -handling men was modeled after that of the older navies, where each man -of the ship's company was assigned a certain duty.</p> - -<p>When a sailor died, we sewed up our mate's body in his hammock and -placed it on a grating in a bow port. Then an officer read the burial -service. At the words, "We commit the body of our brother to the deep," -we raised the grating and allowed the body to drop into the sea. There -would be a heavy splash—then a deep silence rested on both the water -and the ship for several minutes.</p> - -<p>Our greatest enjoyment came from our band, which we had formed out of -members of the crew who had more or less talent for music. I wondered -afterwards how our efforts would have sounded in competition with a -professional band of musicians that in later years played aboard one of -our sister ships. These musicians had found their way into the American -navy in a strange manner. They had enlisted on board a French warship -under the condition that they would not be called on to fight, but -were to be stowed away in the cable tier until "the clouds blew over." -It was also stipulated that they were not to be flogged—a custom of -which many captains were far too fond. The French ship upon which they -played was captured by a Portuguese cruiser. They were permitted by -the Portuguese to enlist in a British vessel, and when the latter was -captured by an American frigate, the band was enrolled in our navy.</p> - -<h3>EVERY-DAY HAZARDS</h3> - -<p>In sailing from a cold to a warm climate, we were unknowingly weakening -our rigging, which had been fitted in cold weather. The masts were -subject to expansion and contraction by heat and cold, and so was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> -our cordage. When we entered the Mediterranean our shrouds and stays -slackened under the hot sun. The ship was in this condition when we -were caught in a heavy gale. The ocean had grown rough. We were at -dinner when a tremendous wave broke over our bow. It poured down the -open hatchway, swept from the galley all the food that was on the -table, washed our table clean of eatables, and poured through all of -the apartments on the berth deck in a terrifying flood. The huge waves -beating upon our ship from the outside, the tossing of the vessel, and -the sloshing water we had shipped racked the vessel so that it seemed -that it must founder. We were a white-faced group, for Davy Jones' -locker seemed to be yawning for us below, but we kept our upper lips -stiff and sprang nimbly to obey orders. The officers commanded the -crew to man the chain pumps and cut holes in the berth deck to permit -the water to pour into the hold, and in this way we emerged from our -dangerous situation.</p> - -<p>Another peril, however, beset us on deck. One of our lieutenants, -watching the rigging, discovered that it had become so slack that the -masts and bowsprit were in danger of being carried away. He summoned -all available hands to help tighten the ropes. We managed at last to -secure purchases on every other shroud, and to sway them all together, -which restored the firmness.</p> - -<p>One night we had shown to us what a terrifying experience it is to have -a fire break out aboard ship. As we were climbing into our hammocks a -shower of sparks flew up from a corner of the cockpit.</p> - -<p>The captain ordered the drum to beat to quarters, and soon the crew -was assembled under good control. Fire buckets filled with water were -standing on the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>quarterdeck. We ran for them and poured them over the -flames. All hands emptied buckets on the flames until the fire had been -quenched.</p> - -<p>If the fire had occurred a few hours later, when we were asleep, it -might have gathered enough headway to sweep the ship. We learned later -that a lighted candle had fallen from a beam on the deck below and had -set fire to some cloths. The steward had tried to smother the fire -with sheets, but all the cloths had then caught fire. We did not fully -realize our danger until it was pointed out to us that the room in -which the fire had started was next to the powder magazine, and that -the bulkhead between the two compartments had been scorched.</p> - -<p>When decks were cleared for action, you may well believe that my heart -was in my mouth. The ship's company was running here and there as -busy as ants—and apparently as confused. The boatswain and his mates -saw to the rigging and sails. The carpenter and his crew prepared -shot-plugs and mauls and strove to protect the pumps against injury; -the lieutenants went from deck to deck, supervising the work. The -boys who were the powder monkeys rushed up and down at their tasks of -providing the first rounds for the guns; pistols and cutlasses were -distributed. Rammers, sponges, powderhorns, matches and train tackles -were placed beside every cannon. The hatches were closed, so that no -man might desert his post and hide below. The gun lashings were cast -adrift. The marines were drawn up in rank and file. These occupations, -fortunately, left us little time to think of home and loved ones, and -by the time the decks were cleared, why, the cannon were thundering and -the missiles were striking about us. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> - -<p>Bathing and boat racing were popular sports with us; yet, in the case -of the first pastime, we had to be very careful on account of blue -sharks.</p> - -<p>It was a matter for wonderment with us that, while the blue shark has -been known time and again to attack white men, he seldom bothered -a colored person. We had sailors aboard who had sailed in Oriental -waters, where there are thousands of sharks. These men agreed in their -story that the natives could swim and dive without fear of them, but -if a white man ventured to bathe in the same place the sharks would be -after him in a short time. We learned from these yarn-spinners that the -pearl-divers of Ceylon stay down under water for several minutes at a -time while they gather into bags the shells that contain pearls, and -yet are seldom attacked by sharks. This may have been, though, because -while they were under water their comrades above shouted and sang to -scare the sharks away. Sometimes natives whose skins were of a light -color would dye their bodies black, while other divers would carry in -their girdles spikes made of ironwood, which they used to poke out the -eyes of sharks that came near.</p> - -<p>These stories about sharks were enough to make us enter the water -warily, and to borrow the custom of the pearl divers in making a loud -noise when we bathed. An experience was awaiting us, however, that -brought our danger home to us more than all the warnings that could be -uttered.</p> - -<p>Jim Hodges, perhaps the most expert swimmer among us, was fond of -boasting that he could outswim a shark. One day, when there was a -calm sea, he started to swim from the side of our vessel to another -frigate that was anchored close by. We who were on duty watched, over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> -the ship's side, his progress. Suddenly a gray fin showed above the -turquoise water, about one hundred yards from him, but moving rapidly -in his direction. We shouted and pointed in the direction of his -danger. He heard us, realized his peril, and turned instantly towards -our ship. The shark at once changed its direction so that the swimmer -and the fish seemed to be following two sides of a triangle that would -meet at the apex—this point being the bow of our vessel. We watched -in breathless suspense while Hodges moved towards us, swimming with -amazing coolness and nerve. The shark gained steadily. We had lowered -a rope at the point nearest to the swimmer, and we could see him -measuring the distance with an anxious look. Those of us who managed to -obtain firearms began to shoot at the shark, but at last it had drawn -so near to the swimmer that there was danger of hitting him with our -bullets. We ceased firing and waited. At last Hodges, with a desperate -spurt, reached the rope. As soon as we felt his tug at it we began -hauling him in. If he had seized the rope a second later, it would have -been too late. The teeth of the shark flashed in the swirl at the end -of the rope. If Hodges had not lifted his feet into the air, one of -them would have been snapped off.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER X</span> <span class="smaller">A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN THE COURT OF TUNIS</span></h2> - -<p>At Malta, whom should I bump into but commodore Barney! His business in -France having been completed, he had taken the notion to see southern -Europe before returning to the United States.</p> - -<p>He was amazed to see me in the uniform of the United States, yet -proud, too, that I had taken matters into my own hands and gone to -sea willy-nilly. He told me that the rector had been sent back to his -Baltimore charge by his bishop, and that Alexander had begun business -in Baltimore as a ship chandler. My story of Murad's treachery brought -forth a series of explosions, which, however, were cut short by the -arrival of the commodore's friend Captain William Eaton, a military -officer from the United States, who had stopped in Malta on his way to -take the office of American envoy at the court of Tunis.</p> - -<p>The conversation turned towards Captain Eaton's mission to Tunis. "I -understand that I have an abominable ruler to deal with," he said, "I -shall be doing well if I do nothing more than keep Yankee ships and -sailors out of his hands!"</p> - -<p>"I wish I were going with you, sir," I said impulsively.</p> - -<p>"Can you write? Are you handy at clerical work?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Is he?" burst out the commodore, "why, the boy was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> brought up to be a -minister. When I knew him a quill or a book was never out of his hands!"</p> - -<p>"I have authority from Washington to employ a secretary," said the -captain. "The lad can accompany me in that office."</p> - -<p>Delighted, I turned away to make the necessary arrangements. "If you -haven't the knack of fighting as well as of writing, I advise you to -decline the position," Captain Eaton called after me, "for I expect to -battle with the Bey of Tunis from the hour I arrive!"</p> - -<p>"That," I returned, "is the reason I said I'd like to go along! You -look like a fighter, sir!"</p> - -<p>Captain Eaton was pleased instead of offended at my boldness. The story -of his career, as I heard it later from the commodore, proved that the -captain was a fighter in deeds as well as in looks. He had a broad -forehead, with deep-set eyes and heavy eyebrows. His nose was that of a -fighter, and if ever a chin expressed determination, his did.</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i093.jpg" id="i093.jpg"></a><img src="images/i093.jpg" alt="WILLIAM EATON WAS A FIGHTER" /></div> - -<p class="bold">IN LOOK AND IN DEED, WILLIAM EATON WAS A FIGHTER.</p> - -<p>His career, as I heard it later from the lips of the commodore, was -fascinating. His father had been a farmer-teacher who raised crops -in the summer and taught school in the winter. William, who was born -in Woodstock, Connecticut, developed into a lad with a studious yet -adventurous spirit. When sixteen he ran away from home and enlisted -in the army where he was employed as a waiter by Major Dennie, of the -Connecticut troops.</p> - -<h3>A DARTMOUTH LAD</h3> - -<p>After he had risen to the rank of sergeant, he decided that he -would like to go to college, and secured an honorable discharge. He -was admitted as a freshman to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>Dartmouth College, at Hanover, New -Hampshire, but was given permission to be absent during the coming -winter, in order that he might by teaching school obtain enough money -to pursue his studies. Due, however, to difficulties at home, he was -forced to prolong his school teaching, and it was not until two years -later that he was able to return to Dartmouth. With his pack suspended -from a staff thrown over his shoulder, he started on foot for Hanover.</p> - -<p>In his pack was a change of linen and a few articles which he expected -to sell on his journey. When he reached Northfield, his money gave out, -and he was in despair. He began, however, to offer his pins, needles -and other notions for sale, and with the proceeds he was able to go -on to college. Here he was received with great kindness by President -Wheelock, and here he pursued his studies, handicapped by sickness and -by the necessity of teaching school in town. At last, in August, 1790, -he received his degree. In March, 1792, he was appointed a captain in -the army of the United States, and was assigned to duty at Pittsburgh -and later at Cincinnati.</p> - -<p>His prediction as to a troubled career in Tunis came true.</p> - -<p>With an embrace and a God-speed from Commodore Barney, I sailed with -Captain Eaton for Tunis. Arriving there, Mr. Cathcart led the captain -to the Bey's palace. I was allowed to follow. We were ushered into the -Bey's Hall of State, and there the captain must approach and bow to a -fat-faced individual who frowned on him as if he were a stray cur that -had wandered in among his satins and velvets. This fellow, from his -safe place among his over-dressed officers, poured out abuse. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> - -<p>"It is now more than a year since your country promised me gifts of -arms and ships! Why have they not been sent to me?"</p> - -<p>Captain Eaton replied with dignity: "The treaty was received by our -government about eight months ago; a malady then raged in our capital, -which forced not only the citizens, but all the departments of the -government, to fly into the interior villages of the country. About -the time the plague ceased to rage, and permitted the return of the -government, the winter shut up our harbors with ice. We are also -engaged in a war with France; and all our means were used to defend -ourselves against that country." He then went on to explain that he was -empowered to offer a cash sum instead of the naval stores promised.</p> - -<p>"I am not a beggar," said the Bey, "I have cash to spare. The stores -are more than ever needed because of my war with France. You have found -no trouble in fulfilling your promises to Algiers and Tripoli; and to -Algiers have made presents of frigates and other armed vessels."</p> - -<p>The captain explained that the Dey of Algiers had agreed to pay for -certain armed vessels built for him by the United States, and that, -moreover, several years' time had been allowed for their delivery.</p> - -<p>"You may inform me," said the Bey, "that the Dey of Algiers paid you -cash for your vessels. I do not believe it."</p> - -<p>Arguments such as this one went on forever.</p> - -<p>Our first pilgrimage, after becoming settled in Tunis, was to visit the -hill which was once the site of Carthage. We passed through fertile -pastures where donkeys, sheep, cattle, and camels were feeding, and -among fields of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> wheat, barley, and oats where awkward camels were used -for plowing. Captain Eaton's military soul became aroused as we stood -at the place where the great Hannibal was born.</p> - -<p>My chief was well acquainted with Carthaginian history and thrilled -me with his description of how Hannibal, commanding an army of paid -mercenaries—Africans, Spaniards, Gauls, and Italians—managed them for -thirteen years through wars and hardships in a foreign country without -experiencing a single mutiny. Captain Eaton little dreamed that, on a -small scale to be sure, fate had designed him to play the part of a -Hannibal for his own country—but this will be told in due time.</p> - -<p>When I was not on duty I spent my time taking donkey tours of the -city, with an Arab boy running behind me to make my stubborn steed go. -In this fashion I visited the Maltese, Jewish and Arab quarters, and -explored the bazaars. When I grew hungry, why, here was the stand of an -Arab who sold sweetmeats, and there was the booth of a man who fried -meat and sold it hot from the fire, while always in the streets were -fruit merchants selling fresh dates, oranges, and figs. When I stopped -to buy curios, the swarthy, turbaned dealers usually invited me into -their little shops to sit cross-legged on the floor and sip strong -black coffee while we haggled over prices.</p> - -<h3>THE HORSE-WHIPPING</h3> - -<p>Before we arrived in Tunis, the agent there for the United States -was a French merchant, named Joseph Etienne Famin. Upon our arrival -the English consul at Tunis, Major Magre, warned Captain Eaton not -to place confidence in Famin, stating that he was a dangerous man -who would set snares for his successor. Captain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> Eaton soon learned -that the Frenchman had protested to the Bey against the United States -establishing a consul there "to keep the bread out of his mouth."</p> - -<p>The captain, lonely among enemies, rewarded my faithfulness by taking -me into his confidence. He told me that he had found that Famin had -yielded to every outrageous demand made by the Bey against the United -States, which Famin represented. Captain Eaton also told me that he -suspected the Frenchman of reaping a profit from the presents sent by -the United States to the ruler. Famin, we learned, had declared to the -Bey that Eaton was nothing but a vice-consul, subject to Consul-General -O'Brien at Algiers, and only placed at Tunis to spy upon the court.</p> - -<p>At last, when the Frenchman told the court that "the Americans were a -feeble sect of Christians" and that their independence from England -"was the gift of France," Captain Eaton, giving him his jacket to hold, -horse-whipped Famin at the marine gate of Tunis, before a crowd of -amazed Moslems.</p> - -<p>Famin went whining to the Bey and demanded that Eaton be punished.</p> - -<p>"How dare you lift your hand against a subject of mine in my kingdom?" -the Bey demanded of Captain Eaton, who took me with him to the palace.</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i101.jpg" id="i101.jpg"></a><img src="images/i101.jpg" alt="HOW DARE YOU LIFT YOUR HAND" /></div> - -<p class="bold">"HOW DARE YOU LIFT YOUR HAND AGAINST A SUBJECT OF MINE?"<br /> -THE BEY OF TUNIS DEMANDED OF EATON.</p> - -<p>The captain replied that Famin had tried to betray him, and had tried -also to betray the Bey. He brought forth a paper, and prepared to read -its contents.</p> - -<p>"Hear him call your prime minister and your agents a set of thieves and -robbers!" exclaimed Captain Eaton.</p> - -<p>"Mercy! Forbearance!" cried Famin.</p> - -<p>"Yes, <i>thieves</i> and <i>robbers</i>! This is the man of your confidence!" the -consul went on. Then I heard him tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> the Bey that Famin had blabbed -all his secrets to a woman, who had repeated them to others, so that -all the town knew that he was playing a double game with the Americans, -and increasing the misunderstandings that had arisen between the -American envoy and the court.</p> - -<p>Famin trembled as if in a fit, and began an address in Arabic.</p> - -<p>"Speak French!" said the Bey, frowning.</p> - -<p>The ruler was at last convinced of the Frenchman's guilt. As we quitted -the place we heard the Bey say to his court:</p> - -<p>"The American consul has been heated, but truly he has had reason. -I have found him a very plain, candid man; and his concern for his -fellow-citizens is not a crime."</p> - -<p>On one occasion, while Captain Eaton was in the palace, I paid a visit -to the executioner, who occupied a lodge at the entrance to the palace. -I went with an interpreter, a friend of the executioner, but even under -the circumstances I felt timid when the official took down from its -place on the wall a long curved scimitar and began to feel its edge as -a reaper feels the blade of his scythe.</p> - -<p>"It is a good blade—it has never failed me," he said, "even though I -have had to slice off as many as twenty heads in a day."</p> - -<p>If one is disposed to think that the ancient cruelty of these Turkish -rulers has been decreased, let him think of these cruelties which we -saw enacted in spite of our attempts to stop them.</p> - -<p>Five corsairs from Tunis, manned by nine hundred and ninety men, sailed -forth and landed upon the island of St. Peters, belonging to Sardinia. -They captured and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> brought back with them as prisoners to Tunis two -hundred and twenty men and seven hundred women and children. In the -raid upon the island, old men and women, and mothers with infants were -pulled from their beds, driven down stairs or hurled from windows, -driven almost naked through the streets, crowded into the filthy holds -of the cruisers, and then, when landed at Tunis, bound with thongs and -driven through the streets to the auction square, where they were sold -into slavery. The old, the infirm and the infants, being unfit to work, -were left to shift for themselves. If it had not been for contributions -made by Captain Eaton and European ambassadors, they would have died of -starvation.</p> - -<p>The sum of $640,000 was demanded by the Bey for the ransom of the -slaves, but at last he agreed to accept $270,000 from the king of -Sardinia for their redemption.</p> - -<h3>WAR BREAKS OUT WITH TRIPOLI</h3> - -<p>A fire broke out in the palace and destroyed fifty thousand stands of -arms. The Bey called upon Captain Eaton to request the United States to -forward him ten thousand stands of arms. "I have divided my loss," he -said, "among my friends; this quota falls to you to furnish; tell your -government to send them without delay."</p> - -<p>Captain Eaton refused to forward the demand. "You will never receive a -single musket from the United States!" he declared.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, Captain Eaton's neighbor consul, Mr. Cathcart, was -having similar troubles at the court of Tripoli. We learned from -correspondence that in April, 1800, Tripoli's greedy Bashaw had bidden -Cathcart, the American consul, to tell the President of the United<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> -States that while "he was pleased with his proffers of friendship, had -they been accompanied by a present of a frigate or brig-of-war, he -would be still more inclined to believe them genuine."</p> - -<p>In May the Bashaw asked: "Why do not the United States send me a -present? I am an independent prince as well as the Bey of Tunis, and I -can hurt the commerce of any nation as much as the ruler of Tunis."</p> - -<p>The President paid no heed to these threats. Thereupon, on May 18, -1801, the Bashaw cut down the flagstaff of the American consulate at -Tripoli. Consul Cathcart quitted the city, and a state of war was -declared.</p> - -<p>Matters came to a head with us in Tunis in March, 1803. Commodore -Morris had been detained in port by the Bey because the American -squadron had seized a Tunisian vessel bound for Tripoli, with which -country the United States was at war. Consul Eaton had protested with -more than usual vigor against this outrage. The Bey ordered him to quit -the court at once.</p> - -<p>"It is well," replied Captain Eaton, "I am glad to quit a court where I -have known such violence and indignity!"</p> - -<p>On the 10th of March, we left Tunis on board of one of the ships of the -American squadron. Doctor George Davis, of New York, was left in charge -of American affairs. On the 30th of the same month, Captain Eaton -sailed from Gibraltar in the merchant ship <i>Perseverance</i>, bound for -Boston, at which port he arrived May 5th. He then went to Washington -to urge that a land campaign be waged against the ruling Bashaw of -Tripoli, of which project more will appear in this story. He was -appointed navy agent for the United States and instructed to aid in the -campaign of our squadron against the Bashaw of Tripoli. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> - -<p>I hoped while in Tunis to obtain a leave of absence that I might join a -caravan that would pass by Tokra, the treasure city of my dreams. But -no opportunity came. I remained with the fleet while Captain Eaton was -at home and rejoined him when he returned. He brought with him a plan -of campaign that, in operation, was to bring me well within reach of -the treasure spot.</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i105.jpg" id="i105.jpg"></a><img src="images/i105.jpg" alt="I HOPED THAT I MIGHT JOIN A CARAVAN" /></div> - -<p class="bold">I HOPED THAT I MIGHT JOIN A CARAVAN THAT WOULD<br />PASS BY -TOKRA—THE TREASURE CITY OF MY DREAMS.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XI</span> <span class="smaller">THE LOSS OF THE <i>PHILADELPHIA</i></span></h2> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"<i>But sailors were born for all weathers,</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>Great guns let it blow, high or low,</i></div> -<div><i>Our duty keeps us to our tethers,</i></div> -<div class="i1"><i>And where the gales drive we must go.</i>"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>Hard luck, indeed! The frigate <i>Philadelphia</i> stranded on a reef in -the harbor of Tripoli, and Captain Bainbridge and his men were left -captives in the hands of the Bashaw. Yet the ill wind for them was a -kind wind for me, since it brought me a chance to serve under Stephen -Decatur in what men say is one of the most brilliant exploits in our -navy's annals.</p> - -<p>Fortunately, before this disaster befell, Captain Bainbridge had been -given an opportunity to show the Mediterranean squadron his mettle, for -Commodore Preble had assigned the <i>Philadelphia</i>, under Bainbridge, to -blockade duty on the Barbary Coast.</p> - -<p>When I fell in again with Samuel Childs and Reuben James after my -sojourn in Tunis, the first yarn spun to me in the night watch was that -of how the <i>Philadelphia</i> had been captured. Reuben James was boatswain -aboard of her when she was seized. He dived overboard and swam to -safety when he saw that the jig was up, and rejoined the fleet to tell -again and again the story of Bainbridge's gallantry in the face of -misfortune.</p> - -<p>Reuben's story ran like this: The <i>Philadelphia</i>, while cruising in the -vicinity of Cape Gata, had come upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> and hailed a cruiser and a brig. -When the commander of the cruiser, at Captain Bainbridge's repeated -demands, sent a boat aboard with his ship's papers, the captain learned -that the cruiser belonged to the Emperor of Morocco; that her name -was the <i>Meshboha</i>; that her commander was Ibrahim Lubarez; that she -carried twenty-two guns and one hundred men.</p> - -<p>The captain then sent an armed party to search the brig. He found -imprisoned in her hold Captain Richard Bowen, and seven men. The brig -was the <i>Celia</i> of Boston. Captain Bainbridge released her crew, and -imprisoned the officers and men of the <i>Meshboha</i> aboard his frigate.</p> - -<p>Asked by what authority he had captured an American vessel, Ibrahim -Lubarez replied that he understood that Morocco intended to declare -war on the United States and that when he seized the vessel he thought -that a state of war existed. The captain suspected that the Emperor -of Morocco had given orders that American ships be seized. "You have -committed an act of piracy," he told the Moor, "and for it you will -swing at our yardarm!"</p> - -<p>"Mercy! Mercy!" wailed Ibrahim. Unbuttoning five waistcoats, he brought -forth from a pocket of the fifth a secret document signed by the -Governor of Tangiers.</p> - -<p>Captain Bainbridge reported the matter to Captain Preble, and the -latter at once proceeded to Tangiers with four frigates. There the -Emperor abjectly disclaimed all knowledge of the affair, renewed his -treaty, deprived the Governor of Tangiers of his office, and punished -the commander of the <i>Meshboha</i>.</p> - -<p>The American squadron was given a salute of twenty-one guns; a present -of ten bullocks with sheep and fowl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> was made to Captain Preble, and -the Emperor's court reviewed the American ships and engaged with them -in an exchange of salutes.</p> - -<p>But, Reuben testified, when the American officers discussed the -Emperor's declaration of innocence, they spoke of it as if it were a -huge joke.</p> - -<p>On the morning of October 31st, 1803, Reuben, who was the lookout on -the <i>Philadelphia</i>, espied a corsair sneaking out of a port. Captain -Bainbridge at once swung his vessel round in pursuit. The wind was -strong, enabling the frigate to gain on the pirate craft.</p> - -<p>The ship was one of a corsair fleet under command of the Bashaw's -captains, Zurrig, Dghees, Trez, Romani, and El Mograbi. Zurrig had -sailed away from the other vessels on purpose to decoy the American -ship on to a line of partly-submerged rocks that lay in the waters -of the bay, parallel to the shore. The captain of the corsair knew -every yard of the coast, and by hugging the shore, he soon drew the -pursuing frigate into shallow water. The <i>Philadelphia</i> had drawn close -enough to the fleeing vessel to attack with the bow guns, and in the -excitement of seeing if the shots struck home, the officers and crew -forgot that their vessel was in danger of running upon a reef the -corsair knew well how to avoid.</p> - -<h3>A BRAVE OFFICER'S BAD LUCK</h3> - -<p>Eight fathoms of water had been reported. Then the men who threw the -lead reported seven fathoms. The cry of six and a half fathoms soon -followed. Captain Bainbridge at once gave the order to head seaward. -The helm was thrown hard over; the sails flapped as the vessel came -up to the wind. It seemed that she would reach deep water safely, but -suddenly the vessel struck<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> a rock and rose with her bow six feet -out of water. From beneath the walls of the city, scarcely three -miles away, the Bashaw's gunboats put out and opened fire on the -<i>Philadelphia</i>. Captain Bainbridge made every possible attempt to free -his vessel. The guns forward and other parts of her equipment were -thrown overboard, but the reef held her in an unyielding grip. Her crew -returned the fire of the corsairs as best they could, but as the tide -went out, the ship keeled over and the guns could no longer be fired. -Captain Bainbridge ordered that the magazine be flooded; that the pumps -be wrecked; and that holes be bored in the ship's bottom.</p> - -<p>Warships—feluccas and other small boats crowded with Arabs—now -attacked the <i>Philadelphia</i>. Led by their captains, they swarmed over -her sides. The Americans fought with small arms, wounding six of their -assailants, but Bainbridge saw that his men would be massacred if the -fight were prolonged, and hauled down the flag. Bainbridge and his crew -of three hundred and fifteen men then surrendered. A few of the best -swimmers took to the water, Reuben among them, but all were captured -except him.</p> - -<p>The captives, by means I will later describe, managed to write -frequently to their friends aboard vessels of the fleet. Reuben -corresponded with Tom Bowles, and thus knew as much about the -experiences of the prisoners as if he were among them.</p> - -<p>A few days later, he found out, the pirates managed to haul the vessel -off the reef at flood-tide. They recovered the guns that had been -thrown overboard, and boasted that their navy now owned a splendid -American warship that had come into their possession without spending -a sequin, or a drop of blood. The red flag <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>bearing the crescent of -the Moslems was lifted where the Stars and Stripes had flown. To purge -the vessel of Christian contamination, and to consecrate her to the -Prophet, the green flag of Mohammed was unfurled at certain periods.</p> - -<p>As soon as the Americans gave up their arms, the infidels began to -plunder them of all of their valuables. Swords, epaulets, trinkets, -money, and clothing were taken. Captain Bainbridge wore a locket -around his neck that contained a miniature picture of his wife. One of -the looters snatched at it, but Captain Bainbridge made a determined -resistance and was at last allowed to keep the trinket.</p> - -<p>The boats containing the prisoners reached the docks of Tripoli at -ten o'clock that night. The Bashaw was eager to inspect his captives, -and received them in his audience hall, where he and his staff sat -gloating. After much questioning, he sent them to supper, placing them -under the care of Sidi Mohammed D'Ghiers, his prime minister. Mr. -Nissen, the Danish consul, came promptly to comfort the prisoners, and -to offer them such assistance as was in his power to render.</p> - -<p>The Bashaw, who knew that some of the twenty-two officers he had bagged -were members of prominent American families who could afford to pay big -ransoms, was so delighted with the capture that he did not at first -treat the captives severely. They were allowed to wander among groves -of olive, fig, and lemon trees, and, on feast days, were sprinkled with -attar of roses and fumigated with frankincense, while slaves served -them coffee and sherbet.</p> - -<p>The under-officers and sailors were at first treated with some -consideration. The carpenters, riggers, and sailmakers were employed -in making repairs on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> Bashaw's gun-boats. The seamen worked on -fortifications. These men, by working overtime, earned a little money, -which they usually spent for drink. The Mussulmans hated drunkenness. -When they saw a drunken American, they spat in his face. Jack, in turn, -thrashed the offender. Arrest and punishment followed, but the Moslems -who guarded the slaves were subject to bribery and lightened their -blows.</p> - -<p>When the sailor was sentenced to receive blows on his bare feet, the -guard would cover the soles with straw pads, telling the culprit -to yell as if he were being hurt, as the chief of the guards was -standing outside to tell by the cries whether the punishment was being -administered.</p> - -<p>The comfort of the officers was soon to end. Reuben showed me letters -received from Tom Bowles written at this period that were full of -bitter complaints. It appeared that the Bashaw summoned Captain -Bainbridge to his presence and told him that one of his ships had been -captured by the American war vessel <i>John Adams</i>, and that if their -prisoners were not released the officers and men of the <i>Philadelphia</i> -would be severely treated. Captain Bainbridge was not able to give a -reply that satisfied the ruler. The Bashaw then ordered that he and -his men be removed to a foul dungeon. There, in a room once used for -smoking hides, they were obliged to remain without food except a little -black bread and water.</p> - -<p>A renegade Scotchman named Lisle, in the employ of the Bashaw, visited -Captain Bainbridge here and urged him to send a message to the <i>John -Adams</i> to release the prisoners.</p> - -<p>Captain Bainbridge answered: "Your ruler can subject me to torture -and can lop off my head, but he can not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> force me to commit an act -incompatible with the character of an American officer."</p> - -<p>When Captain Bainbridge learned that the Bashaw of Tripoli designed -to use the <i>Philadelphia</i> as the chief ship of his own navy, he was -greatly distressed.</p> - -<p>With the aid of the Danish consul Nissen, he managed to write a letter -to Commodore Preble, who was on his way to blockade Tripoli. This -letter he wrote in lemon juice, which, when the paper is held to the -fire, becomes readable. This letter Commodore Preble showed to the -officers and enlisted men of the squadron, and even gave us permission -to copy it for keepsakes in honor of Captain Bainbridge's pluck and -resourcefulness. In the letter the latter advanced this plan for -destroying his frigate:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"Charter a small merchant schooner, fill her with men and have -her commanded by fearless and determined officers. Let the vessel -enter the harbor at night, with her men secreted below deck; -steer her directly on board the frigate and then let the officers -and men board, sword in hand, and there is no doubt of their -success. It will be necessary to take several good rowboats in -order to facilitate the retreat after the enterprise has been -accomplished. The frigate in her present condition is a powerful -auxiliary battery for the defense of the harbor. Though it will -be impossible to remove her from anchorage and thus restore this -beautiful vessel to our navy, yet, as she may and no doubt will be -repaired, an important end will be gained by her destruction."</p></blockquote> - -<p>How faithfully this plan was carried out by Commodore Preble and his -men, I shall soon show.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XII</span> <span class="smaller">WE BLOW UP THE <i>PHILADELPHIA</i></span></h2> - -<h3>A DUEL</h3> - -<p>Reuben, Samuel and other members of our crew attended a theatrical -performance in Malta during a period in which our ship was detained in -that harbor by a gale.</p> - -<p>There were British ships in port and the contacts of their crews with -men from our ships was seldom friendly. The little affair of the -Revolution had not yet been forgotten, and, besides, the British habit -of impressing us did not contribute towards a harmonious spirit. This -island was one of England's fortresses in those waters and, of course, -Englishmen abounded.</p> - -<p>We saw in the theatre several of our midshipmen, looking very spruce -in their dress uniforms, with brass buttons shining and with flashing -dirks hanging by light chains from their hips. Among them was Joseph -Bainbridge, the younger brother of Captain William Bainbridge. He was -a slender, bright-eyed, manly young fellow, the most popular middie -aboard the <i>Constitution</i>.</p> - -<p>The group were standing in the lobby as we entered. We saw a crowd of -young British officers looking them over with an air that came near to -being insulting. Our middies were returning their gaze boldly and with -even more insolence. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> - -<p>One of the British officers, a tall, handsome fellow looking very fine -in his scarlet coat with silk braid, collided with Bainbridge in the -lobby.</p> - -<p>"I beg your pardon," we heard young Bainbridge say. The lads had been -warned by the captain to avoid quarrels and Bainbridge, we could see, -was trying to obey the command.</p> - -<p>"That fellow pushed Joe on purpose," said Reuben, clenching his huge -fist. "I've heard of that pusher—he's Captain Tyler, the Governor's -secretary, a bad man in a duel. He has a dozen deaths to his credit, -and is itching to add an American life to his score!"</p> - -<p>When the performance was over—the singer Carlotta had entertained -us well—we went out behind the middies, as a sort of rear-guard. We -weren't looking for trouble, but if those lads got into a tussle, we -felt that they might need aid from some plain sailors.</p> - -<p>Captain Tyrone Tyler was standing where Bainbridge and his comrades had -to pass. He gave young Bainbridge a dig with his elbow, whereupon our -middy turned and spoke to him sharply. Tyler then jammed his elbow into -the middy's face, and with his other hand tried to seize our lad by the -collar.</p> - -<p>"Rough work—stand by!" said Reuben to us. We pushed forward.</p> - -<p>Bainbridge, however, had eluded Tyler's grasp.</p> - -<p>His hand went out towards his tormentor, but it had a card in it.</p> - -<p>"You are a bully and a coward," he said as cool as ice, "and I welcome -the duty of putting a stop to your insults to American officers."</p> - -<p>Tyler took the card from him. The comrades of both men closed in. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> - -<p>"It'll be a duel," said Reuben, in great disgust, "and our lad will go -up against that killer! Why didn't he decide to let us settle it with -our fists?"</p> - -<p>As the two parties separated, Reuben glanced towards another part of -the lobby. "What ho," he exclaimed, "there's Lieutenant Decatur looking -on! He'd have taken part in the affair, you can bet your boots!"</p> - -<p>Stephen Decatur, first lieutenant of the <i>Constitution</i>, followed the -midshipman out of the theatre. We saw him approach Bainbridge and draw -him away from the other middies, who were as flustered as hens.</p> - -<p>We learned later that the meeting was to be on the beach the next day -at nine o'clock. You may be sure that every man Jack of us was on the -lookout to see if Lieutenant Decatur intended to permit Bainbridge to -go ashore. When we saw them go off together in the cutter there was -little work done among the crew. It looked to us as if the midshipman -was on his way to sure death, and we decided that Decatur was going to -seek a way out of the quarrel for the lad.</p> - -<p>Reuben shook his head. "That would be against the honor of the United -States' navy. Decatur may give him a lesson or two in duelling, but -he'll see the thing through. They're leaving the ship a full hour and -a half before the time set—I'll wager there'll be pistol practice -somewhere."</p> - -<p>About half-past nine a boat put out from the shore. There were two -officers in it and both sat upright and chatted to each other. Could it -be that——?</p> - -<p>An hour later, young Bainbridge told us what had happened. Decatur, as -the second of Bainbridge, had chosen pistols at four paces. Tyler's -second objected. "This looks like murder, sir!" he said to Decatur. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> - -<p>The lieutenant replied: "No sir, this looks like death; your friend is -a professed duellist; mine is inexperienced."</p> - -<p>Decatur gave the warning: "Take aim!" and then "Fire!" Both, through -agitation, missed. Again they faced each other. The pistols were -discharged simultaneously. Tyler fell. A surgeon hurried towards him, -while Bainbridge turned to Decatur. "I don't think his bullet touched -me!" he said.</p> - -<p>"I thank God for that!" said the lieutenant. "I fear it is not so well -with your adversary, but he invited it. Let's be off!" They passed poor -Tyler, lying mortally wounded, and lifted their hats as they went.</p> - -<p>Reuben James, ever since I met him, had talked Decatur, Decatur, -Decatur. He idolized him. During our country's affair with France he -had served on a frigate on which Decatur was a midshipman, and the -exploits of the young officer had so appealed to Reuben that he would -have followed the youth into the mouth of death.</p> - -<p>And indeed, what Reuben told me about Decatur made me also a fervent -worshipper.</p> - -<p>My own state was proud to claim Decatur as a son, for he was born in -Sinnepuxent, Maryland. He was of the blood of Lafayette. His father -and grandfather had been naval officers before him; and the former had -served with honor on our side in the war of the Revolution.</p> - -<p>This, however, was not his first experience in these waters. He had -been an officer in Captain Dale's squadron, serving on the <i>Essex</i> -under Captain Bainbridge. Bainbridge and he had been linked in an -affair that made him eager now to help his imprisoned friend. The -commander of a Spanish gunboat insulted Captain Bainbridge at long -distance while the <i>Essex</i> lay in the harbor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> of Barcelona. Later -Decatur was also insulted. Decatur visited the gunboat.</p> - -<p>"Where is your captain?" he demanded of the officer on duty.</p> - -<p>"He has gone ashore," was the reply.</p> - -<p>"Tell him that Lieutenant Decatur, of the frigate <i>Essex</i>, pronounces -him a cowardly scoundrel, and that when they meet on shore he will cut -his ears off!"</p> - -<p>The matter came to the attention of the commandant of the port, who -requested Captain Bainbridge to curb his fiery officer. The captain -replied that if the gunboat commander did not know how to be courteous -to American officers he must take the consequences. The commandant -thereupon ordered the gunboat captain to apologize to Decatur. The -matter reached the ears of the King of Spain.</p> - -<p>"Treat all officers of the United States with courtesy," he ordered, -"and especially those attached to the United States frigate <i>Essex</i>."</p> - -<h3>DECATUR'S BRILLIANT EXPLOIT</h3> - -<p>Seventy volunteers were required to help Lieutenant Decatur blow up -the <i>Philadelphia</i>. Seventy volunteers—that meant that I had a chance -to go. Fortunately, I was one of the first to hear the orders read, -and thus had an opportunity to apply before others. Captain Eaton was -on board the <i>Siren</i>, returning from sitting at the court of inquiry, -when Lieutenant Stewart, commander of the <i>Siren</i>, read to him orders -he had just received from Commodore Preble. I, as orderly to Captain -Eaton, was present at the reading. Plain and direct was the message, -but thrilling enough without flourishes.</p> - -<p>I stepped forward. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Pardon me, Sir," I said, "but I want to be one of the seventy -volunteers. I speak also for Reuben James. Reuben has served under -Lieutenant Decatur at other times, and he'd be heartbroken to be left -behind."</p> - -<p>I realized as I waited for a reply that I had done a bold thing. I was -not supposed to be hearing the letter read, much less acting upon it. -However, Lieutenant Stewart was not strict about discipline and he took -no offence at my act.</p> - -<p>"Your name goes down!" he said, "also Reuben James, though he'll be -given a chance to speak for himself. You show the right spirit, young -man, but don't feel lofty about it, for I expect any other man of our -navy would have said the same thing if he were standing in your place."</p> - -<p>Properly humbled, I went off to tell Reuben James that he had me to -thank for gaining him an adventure.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Stewart's prediction came true. The crews of the squadron -actually fought with each other for a chance to go. Decatur's name to -them spelt romance. His exploits had been on every man's lips.</p> - -<p>The crew of the ketch <i>Intrepid</i> having been chosen, off we started. It -was sundown when we drifted into the harbor of Tripoli. We approached -the city knowing that a sudden fear of attack had swept over Tripoli; -that the forts were manned; the guns loaded, and a sharp watch kept.</p> - -<p>We learned later that the Moslem guards congratulated themselves when -they saw the ketch entering the harbor, thinking that it was manned by -good Mohammedans who had had the shrewdness to escape blockading ships.</p> - -<p>The gates of the city were shut. The Captain of the Port would not -inspect the ship until morning. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> call of the muezzin sounded over -the still waters of the bay. Night fell on the city.</p> - -<p>On board the <i>Intrepid</i> all of the crew, except six men disguised -as Moors, were concealed below deck or behind bulwarks. Our ketch -drifted towards the <i>Philadelphia</i>. A sentinel on the frigate hailed -us, but the answer came back from our Maltese pilot in the sentry's -own language to the effect that the ketch had lost her anchors -during a recent gale and wished to make fast to the anchors of the -<i>Philadelphia</i> until new ones could be purchased the next morning. As -if taking permission for granted, Lieutenant Decatur directed Blake, -a sailor who spoke Maltese, and Reuben and myself to set out from -the ketch in a small boat for the purpose of fastening a line to a -ring-bolt on the frigate's bow. When this was done, the sailors on -the ketch were to haul on the line, to bring our boat nearer to the -frigate. The men hidden behind the bulwarks caught the rope as it -came through the hands of their disguised comrades, and helped in the -hauling.</p> - -<p>Suspecting nothing, the Moslems on the <i>Philadelphia</i> sent in turn a -small boat with a line to aid in mooring the <i>Intrepid</i>, but Blake met -them and took the line from their hands, saying, in broken Maltese:</p> - -<p>"We will save the gentlemen the trouble."</p> - -<p>So far so good. But now, as the ketch was being hauled in by the bow -line, the pull of the stern line swung her broadside towards the -Tripolitans, and the guards on the <i>Philadelphia</i> saw the men who, -under the screen of the bulwarks, were hauling in the line.</p> - -<p>"Americanos! Americanos!" we heard them shriek.</p> - -<p>Swift action followed on the part of Decatur. The hidden sailors sprang -into the open and gave the line a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> pull that sent the ketch close to -the <i>Philadelphia</i>. An Arab cut the rope, but the Americans were now -near enough to throw grapnels.</p> - -<p>"Boarders away!" Decatur shouted. We in the boat clambered up the sides -of the <i>Philadelphia</i>. The rest of the seventy climbed like cats over -the vessel's rail with Midshipman Morris in the lead and Decatur at -his heels. The <i>Philadelphia's</i> deck was home ground to many of us, -and in a moment we had cleared the quarterdecks of the enemy. Then, in -a cutlass charge, we drove the panic-stricken crew before us. Some of -the infidels leaped overboard. Others sought refuge below, but died at -the hands of sailors who had climbed through the ports. In ten minutes' -time a rocket went up from the Americans to signal to the <i>Siren</i> that -the <i>Philadelphia</i> had been taken.</p> - -<p>Combustibles had been rushed on board. Firing gangs were distributed -through the ship. So swift was the work and so fierce was the blaze -that Midshipman Morris and his gang, who were setting fire to the -cockpit, were almost cut off by flames started elsewhere. From the -portholes on both sides the flames leaped out, enveloping the upper -deck. I saw that Decatur was the last to leave the ship.</p> - -<p>The ketch, when all of the boarding party had returned to it in safety, -had its period of danger too, for while it was still fastened at the -frigate's stern, flames poured from the cabin of the <i>Philadelphia</i> -into the cabin of the ketch where the ammunition was stored. The line -was instantly severed. The crew laboring desperately with the big -sweeps, eight to a side, pushed the <i>Intrepid</i> clear of the burning -vessel and headed for the sea.</p> - -<p>At last the flames reached the magazine of the vessel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> which burst -with a tremendous roar. Great sheets of flames arose and sparks flew -like a storm of stars over the waters of the harbor. This was the end -of the good ship <i>Philadelphia</i>.</p> - -<p class="space-above">Every man on the <i>Intrepid</i> returned without injury. Lord Nelson later -declared this exploit to be "the most bold and daring act of the age." -Decatur was made a captain. He received a letter from the Secretary of -the Navy, and noted with joy that it was addressed to "Stephen Decatur, -Esq., Captain in the Navy of the United States." His pride increased -when he read:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"The achievement of this brilliant enterprise reflects the highest -honor on all the officers and men concerned. You have acquitted -yourself in a manner which justifies the high confidence we have -reposed in your valor and your skill. The President has desired -me to convey to you his thanks for your gallant conduct on this -occasion, and he likewise requests that you will in his name thank -each individual of your gallant band for their honorable and -valorous support, rendered the more honorable from its having been -volunteered. As a testimonial of the President's high opinion of -your gallant conduct in this instance, he sends you the enclosed -commission."</p></blockquote> - -<p>Some people asked if the <i>Philadelphia</i> could not have been saved, -though Commodore Preble's orders were to destroy her. We heard one of -the captive officers of the frigate say later:</p> - -<p>"I know of nothing which could have rendered it impracticable to the -captors to have taken the <i>Philadelphia</i> out of the harbor of Tripoli." -The pilot on board the ketch, <i>Catalona</i>, was of the same opinion. -Decatur <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>himself told his wife that he believed that he could have -towed the ship out, even if he could not have sailed her.</p> - -<p>But Commodore Preble, in setting down explicit orders to destroy her, -had written: "I was well informed that her situation was such as to -render it impossible to bring her out."</p> - -<p>He wrote thus because Captain Bainbridge himself had written:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"By chartering a merchant vessel and sending her into the harbor -with men secreted, and steering directly on board the frigate, it -might be effected without any or a trifling loss. It would not be -possible to carry the frigate out, owing to the difficulty of the -channel."</p></blockquote> - -<p>The main object was to get the <i>Philadelphia</i> out of the possession of -Tripoli. This Decatur did without risking the success of his enterprise.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIII</span> <span class="smaller">THE AMERICAN EAGLE ENTERS THE AFRICAN DESERT</span></h2> - -<p>Hotter and hotter grew our campaign. Thicker and faster adventures -came. I could not be in the center of all of them, but I had reason to -be glad that I had been with Captain Eaton in Tunis, because now he -was returning to the seat of war to launch an attack, and I, because -of his friendship for me, was granted the chance to go along. This new -enterprise came about in this way.</p> - -<p>Captain Bainbridge, I was told by Captain Eaton, while a prisoner in -Tripoli, observed in the Bashaw's court three forlorn children. He -inquired who they were.</p> - -<p>"They are the children of Hamet Bashaw," a guard informed him. "Hamet -Bashaw is the elder brother of our ruler, Joseph Bashaw. Hamet occupied -this throne, until Joseph set on foot a rebellion and drove him out. -Hamet fled to Egypt, and his children were captured by our monarch's -troops. They are now held here as hostages, to insure that Hamet will -make no attempts to regain the kingdom."</p> - -<p>"That gives me an idea," Captain Bainbridge remarked to his officers, -and he set to work to plan to unite against Joseph the forces of Hamet -and the United States. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> - -<p>The lemon juice was again used as ink. In his letter to one of the -consuls, the captain suggested that the United States should send a -party out to find Hamet and persuade him to lead a movement to regain -his throne, using in the campaign marines and sailors of the American -navy.</p> - -<p>It was this scheme, proposed to him while he was in Tunis, that Captain -Eaton advanced when he visited the Navy Department. He returned to the -fleet with permission to join forces with Hamet.</p> - -<p>My employer's enterprise seemed at first thought to be doomed to -failure. Most naval men disapproved and Captain Murray, then in command -of the Gibraltar squadron, opposed it strenuously. Captain Eaton's -title of "Naval Agent" was also resented by Murray and other officers. -The captain met their attacks with his usual vigor.</p> - -<p>"The government," he burst out, "may as well send out <i>Quaker -meeting-houses</i> to float about this sea as frigates with Murrays in -command. The friendly salutes he may receive and return at Gibraltar -produce nothing at Tripoli. Have we but one Truxton and one Sterret in -the United States?" Later, he included Preble and Decatur in his list -of worthy officers.</p> - -<p>Our first task, then, was to find Hamet, whom Joseph had displaced as -ruler of Tripoli.</p> - -<p>In the finding of Hamet we were greatly assisted by a German engineer -named Leitensdorfer, who had been a colonel in a Tyrol battalion. At -this period he was at Cairo, employed as a military engineer by the -Turks. News came to him that Captain Eaton desired a secret agent to -deliver a message to Hamet. He deserted the Turks and sought Captain -Eaton, who employed him. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> - -<p>With one attendant and two dromedaries, he entered the desert in search -of the Arab tribe that had given shelter to Hamet. The only sleep he -secured was what he could snatch on the back of his beast; he fed his -animals small balls composed of meal and eggs. Reaching the camp in -safety, he was cordially received, and refreshed with coffee. Hamet -agreed to the American proposals, and one night with one hundred and -fifty followers, he rode away from the Mameluke camp as if on an -ordinary ride, but instead he rode to our camp with Leitensdorfer.</p> - -<p>It had been decided that our route of march should be over the Libyan -desert, along the sea-coast, to the town of Derne. The Viceroy at -Alexandria, bribed by the French consul, forbade us to enter the city -or to embark from the harbor. We were not troubled by this order, -however, because Hamet said that if he went by ship along the coast -while the Arabs were left to cross the desert, they would soon lose -heart and turn back.</p> - -<p>Our object in attacking the Tripolitan cities of Derne and Bengazi was -to cut off the enemy's food supplies; to open a channel for intercourse -with the inland tribes; and to use these cities as recruiting places -for our attack on Tripoli.</p> - -<p>The desert lay ahead of us—the place of which an ancient traveler once -said: "How can one live where not a drop of rain falls; where not a -single dish is to be had; where butter can no more be procured than the -philosopher's stone; where wheat is the diet of kings alone; where the -common man lives on dates, and fever has its headquarters?"</p> - -<p>Except for oases here and there, the Libyan desert is so barren that -there is no animal life. At the oases,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> towns have been in existence -since the days of the Romans. In one of these, Ghadames, the streets -are covered from the sun, and give the traveler the impression that he -is entering a mine. Caravan roads run from oasis to oasis. Donkeys, -horses and cattle are used as beasts of burden, but the camel is the -chief of desert animals.</p> - -<p>Tripoli extends for many hundreds of miles along the coast from Tunis -to Egypt. Its cities and oases contain about a million people. Along -its caravan routes traders bring ostrich feathers, elephant tusks, and -other products from Central Africa to be shipped to Europe.</p> - -<p>Into this desert we push, a motley army. Arab adventurers have gathered -around Hamet, sheiks and tribesmen who are moved only by a hope of -plunder and reward. Our own American forces can be depended on, but -how few they are. The six marines are a good-natured, independent set, -sufficient unto themselves. They look at the Greek soldiers whom the -Greek captain has enlisted with great amusement, for the Greeks wear -kilts. However, they too are good-humored, and the Americans and Greeks -may be counted on to stick together, being Christians, against the -semi-hostile infidels.</p> - -<p>Our food consists of dates, figs, apricots, camel's meat, and camel's -milk. After a while even these will grow scarce and famine will -confront us as it confronted Jacob and his sons in this same country, -but for the present let us not look forward to hunger.</p> - -<p>At the front of our caravan, on swift camels bred for racing, ride -the sheiks. Trained to be on the watch for robber bands, they survey -the horizon keenly, although our expedition is so large that there is -little need<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> to fear attack. Thieves will steal up to plunder at night, -but they dare not attempt robbery in force.</p> - -<p>Behind these picturesque chiefs, come the freight camels, loaded with -all kinds of equipment and supplies. They are drab and sullen as the -desert itself. On these beasts ride their owners, Bedouins in long, -white or brown gowns, wrapped so that only their faces may be seen.</p> - -<p>Our water we carry in pigskins, loaded on certain camels. There are -also jugs of oil. The water tastes like the pigskin, and it almost -sickens one to drink it.</p> - -<p>We follow no path or road; there is none; yet our guides know the way -by rocks and hills or other marks. At night the stars are our only -guides, but the march has been arranged so that we camp near a well or -spring every night.</p> - -<p>When we stop to rest, the camels kneel down to be relieved of their -burdens. Their feet are examined to see if they have been bruised, -and such wounds are treated and bound up, after which the camels are -hobbled to keep them from running away.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, our tents are being pitched. We smooth out the soft sand to -make a comfortable bed. We have brought fuel with us, and with this a -fire is made. Guards are stationed, and we sleep with our guns near our -hands. The Mohammedans in our party, after first rubbing their faces -and hands with sand because water is not to be had, kneel in prayer.</p> - -<p>During the day the sun beats upon us with almost unbearable heat, and -as there are no clouds in the sky, the sun's rays, striking against the -white sand, almost blind us, while to make things more uncomfortable, -the camels raise a thick dust. We understand now why the Arabs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> wear -cloths about their heads. We follow their example, and cut slits in -the cloths for eyes and nose. After the sun goes down it is better for -traveling.</p> - -<p>It is lucky for us that we are sailors and used to a rolling motion, -for the motion of the camel is like that of a ship.</p> - -<p>A sand storm comes. A small black cloud arises and grows till in a -short time it has half covered the sky. The sand begins to blow, and -beats into our faces like hail. We stop the caravan; the camels kneel; -and fighting off terror, we lie down with our faces in the ground -beside the beasts. The blowing sand is so thick that it hides the sun.</p> - -<p>The storm passes quickly. There has been, for all the blackness of the -clouds, no drop of rain.</p> - -<p>After the sun goes down, the air becomes cool and blankets are needed. -The sky is full of low-hanging stars and the moon is big and mellow.</p> - -<p>Once in a while we meet a wandering tribe that moves from green place -to green place with their animals, living in tents of camels'-hair -cloth. "<i>Aleikoom salaam!</i>" (Peace be with you!) they call to us, -bobbing up and down on their camels. "<i>Salaam aleikoom!</i>" (With you -be peace!) we answer. Bands of robbers appear in the distance. At the -oases we meet farmers who are not given to roving. They have priests -and sheiks, and worship in mosques, and raise grain and vegetables. -Once in a while a hospitable sheik roasts a kid on a stick and invites -us to dine. Fingers are forks here. We find it so highly seasoned with -red pepper that our mouths burn and our eyes water.</p> - -<p>The approach of a caravan is picturesque and exciting. First you hear -a moaning sound like the wailing of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> strong wind through a clump of -trees. Then a cloud appears on the horizon. In a few moments you see -that this cloud is of dust, and that in its midst are scores of camels. -The rumbling noise you heard is found to be merely the gurgling sound -that camels make.</p> - -<p>It was also interesting to observe a caravan go into camp. The foreleg -of each camel was folded and tied to keep the beast from wandering; -baby camels, their white coats contrasting strongly with the dark brown -color of their parents' coats, knelt by their hobbled mothers.</p> - -<p>The owners of the camels busied themselves in driving stakes for their -tents, while the women occupied themselves by arranging the palanquins -in which they and their little ones traveled on the backs of the -camels. These palanquins are no more or less than woolen tents made -of red blankets supported on the camels' backs by a framework of tree -branches. The camel's hump is wrapped around by woolen stuffs and on -each side of the hump a woman sits, surrounded by babies and bundles, -but protected by the canopy from the sun.</p> - -<p>At some of the oases we passed we saw bronzed, graceful women and girls -weaving carpets and ornamenting veils and blankets. Two women worked at -an upright loom. One of these spinners unwound the skeins of wool while -the other wove, using her fingers as a shuttle. Peeping into one of -their tents I saw the entire family sitting around a wooden dish, into -which all dipped, while kids and dogs tried to poke their heads between -the children, eager to have a share in the repast.</p> - -<p>The date palms were the principal trees at these oases. Nature, when -this land became a desert, yet provided the date palm to sustain the -life of the desert people. Each<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> tree yields a hundred pounds or more -of dates yearly for a century. The green dates taste like unripe -persimmons but the ripe dates are sugary and delicious. The Arabs call -the date the bread of the desert and besides using it as a main food, -feed it also to their camels and dogs.</p> - -<p>It was on March 6th, 1805, that we broke camp and began our fifty days' -march across the desert—a journey that required all of the American -grit we could muster to carry on. Hunger and rebellion and the wavering -of Hamet himself had to be endured, and Arab chiefs had continually to -be coaxed and bribed.</p> - -<p>There were ten Americans in the party: General Eaton, Lieutenant -O'Bannon; Mr. Peck, a non-commissioned officer, six marines, and -myself. The rest of the force was composed of a party of twenty-five -cannoniers and their three officers; thirty-eight Greek soldiers and -their two officers; Hamet Bashaw's company of ninety men; and a party -of Arab cavalry under the command of the Sheiks il Taiib and Mahamet, -including footmen and camel drivers. Our entire force numbered about -four hundred and our caravan consisted of one hundred and seven camels -and a few asses.</p> - -<h3>THE SHEIKS REBEL</h3> - -<p>After a day's march the first trouble occurred. The owners of the -camels and horses we had hired demanded pay in advance, but General -Eaton foresaw that if the money were advanced they would be in a -position to desert if they became dissatisfied, and he refused to -comply with their demands. They then became mutinous. To make matters -worse the Sheik il Taiib insinuated to them that if they performed -their services without <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>getting paid, we would be apt to cheat them out -of their wages.</p> - -<p>General Eaton appealed to Hamet but found him undecided and despondent, -and at last he made a bold move by ordering the Christians to take up -their arms and to march back to Alexandria, threatening to abandon both -the expedition and Hamet unless the march proceeded forward at once. -The expedition was resumed.</p> - -<p>After we had marched about seventy-five miles through low sand valleys -and rocky, desert plains, a courier met us, sent to us by some of -Hamet's friends at Derne. He informed us that the province was arming -to assist our cause.</p> - -<p>We chanced to be near the ruins of a castle of Greek design. Because -of the good news the Arabs entertained us with feats of horsemanship, -firing their rifles as they rode. This sport, however, came close to -bringing on a serious disaster. Our Arabs, who were on foot and who -were yet at a distance, bringing up the baggage, heard the firing -and thought that we had been attacked by wild Arabs of the desert. -Thereupon they attempted to disarm and put to death the Christians who -were in their party. One old Arab, however, advised them to postpone -the slaughter until they learned the cause of the firing. This counsel -they heeded, and the lives of the Christians were saved.</p> - -<p>One night, not long after, a musket, a bayonet, cartridges, and all of -our stores of cheese were stolen from one of our tents by the Arabs.</p> - -<p>When we had reached an ancient castle in the desert called by the -Arabs, Masroscan, another rebellion occurred. Here we found vestiges -of old walls, gardens, and mansions that showed that people of refined -tastes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> had lived there in the dim past. Now a few Arab families lived -in tents among the ruins. Here and there were patches of wheat and -barley, and miserable cattle, sheep, goats, and fowl searched the -ground for sustenance.</p> - -<p>We learned that the Bashaw had directed the caravan to proceed only to -as far as this place, and that its owners had received no part of their -promised pay. General Eaton's cash was low, but he managed to borrow -one hundred and forty dollars among the Christian officers and men, -and turned over to Hamet Bashaw six hundred and seventy-three dollars, -with which he settled the claims of the chiefs of the caravan. Upon -this they agreed to march two days more, but in the night all these -camel-drivers withdrew and turned their camels towards Egypt.</p> - -<p>Hamet Bashaw favored leaving the baggage at the castle and marching -on in the hope of hiring other camels, but, since we were now without -cash, General Eaton rejected this advice, as it would mean proceeding -without provisions and with no money to obtain fresh supplies.</p> - -<p>Then the mischief-maker, Sheik il Taiib, reinforced by other sheiks, -declared that they would proceed no farther until we had sent forward a -messenger to learn if our American warships were awaiting our arrival -at Bomba, a sea-coast town on the route to Derne. These chiefs had -heard that an army of cavalry and foot soldiers had been sent from -Tripoli to the defence of Derne, and they wanted assurances that our -navy was at hand to help us against them.</p> - -<p>"We will delay for no messenger!" General Eaton declared, "as long as -you halt here I will stop your rations."</p> - -<p>To his companions he said: "If they persist in their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> course, we will -seize the castle, fortify ourselves, and send word to our fleet to send -a naval expedition to our relief!"</p> - -<p>Then he added: "We have marched a distance of two hundred miles through -an inhospitable waste of world, but we are bound across this gloomy -desert on pursuits vastly different from those which lead fanatics to -Mecca; we go to liberate three hundred Americans from the chains of -barbarism!"</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i135.jpg" id="i135.jpg"></a><img src="images/i135.jpg" alt="WE ARE BOUND ACROSS THIS GLOOMY DESERT" /></div> - -<p class="bold">"WE ARE BOUND ACROSS THIS GLOOMY DESERT TO LIBERATE<br /> -THREE HUNDRED AMERICANS FROM THE CHAINS OF<br />BARBARISM."—<span class="smcap">General -Eaton.</span></p> - -<p>On the next morning we found that General Eaton's firm stand had had -its effect, for fifty camels were reassembled by the sheiks and the -march was resumed. After traveling twenty-five miles we came to a high, -green place by the sea where three tribes of Arabs, numbering four -thousand, lived. Around them were vast herds of camels, horses, cattle, -and countless flocks of sheep and goats.</p> - -<p>We were the first Christians these wild people had ever seen. They -laughed at our dress, but showed great respect towards our officers. -Our polished arms filled them with amazement, and the gold lace on -the General's hat, and his epaulettes, buttons and spurs awed them. -They thought that the ornaments were gold and silver, and expressed -astonishment that God should permit people, who followed what they -called the religion of the devil, to possess such riches. They offered -us for sale whatever food or articles they possessed, including such -rarities as young gazelles and ostriches. They offered us also dates -that had been brought in a five days' journey from the interior of -Africa. We desired to buy all that was offered, but, we had only -our rice to trade for their products, which greatly restricted our -purchasing power.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> Here we found water in plenty, the rain having been -caught and preserved in natural caverns of rock.</p> - -<p>These Arab tribes had never seen bread. When we offered them hard -biscuit, they broke it with their shepherds' clubs or their hatchets -and tasted it gingerly, but then, liking the taste, they begged us for more.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIV</span> <span class="smaller">THE DESERT GIRL</span></h2> - -<p>Attracted by the sound of a drum, beating rhythmically and unceasingly, -we strolled after sunset to the entrance of an Arab tent. Old women, -with straggling hair and wizened faces, and with eyes ablaze with -excitement, were pounding the drum. The tent was thronged with young -men and women, who watched tensely and eagerly the dancers in their -center. Only young women were dancing. The dance was in honor of a holy -man, and was called the <i>djdib</i>.</p> - -<p>Women, urged on by the drum and by the cries of the spectators, whirled -and swayed. Their heads rocked from side to side like tree-tops in a -tempest. The spirit of the dance had taken possession of them and urged -them on until there was no more strength left in their lithe bodies.</p> - -<p>They danced until they became exhausted, then others threw aside their -scarves and renewed the dance.</p> - -<p>I saw a golden-haired girl of about fifteen standing among the tawny -Arab girls. The contrast between her quiet beauty and the bold charms -of her companions drew the attention of all of the members of our -party. I pointed her out to General Eaton. He began to wonder aloud -as to whether she was one of the Circassian race, brought down from -the mountains by Arabian bandits in some raid, or whether she was of -Anglo-Saxon stock.</p> - -<p>"She <i>must</i> be a Circassian," he concluded, "it is <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>unbelievable that -an English or American girl should be owned by this desert tribe!"</p> - -<p>An old woman poked her hatchet-shaped face into that of the young girl.</p> - -<p>"Go and dance! All these years you have been under the protection of -Allah. Who is this Nazarene—that you place him above Mohammed and his -saints? Go and dance. Give your spirit to the djinn! May Allah wither -your budding beauty if you refuse to worship his saint in the dance!"</p> - -<p>She seized the young girl by her thick sash and pulled her into the -center. The band of ribbon that had bound her golden hair became loose; -her hair poured like a flood of gold over her shoulders. She stood -trembling amidst the wild dancers, some of whom, in their frenzy, were -digging her with their sharp elbows.</p> - -<p>The drum beat insistently, but the girl did not obey its urge to dance. -She stood trembling, and now she raised her eyes towards us with a -pleading that roused us to interfere.</p> - -<p>General Eaton motioned to a sheik.</p> - -<p>"We would not interrupt the dance, or offend the hospitality of this -tent in any way. But that girl seems to be of our blood, and the dance -is strange to her. Would it not offend the marabout in whose honor you -dance to have a Nazarene take part? What is worship of the hands and -feet if the heart is not submissive too? I pray you, permit the girl to -withdraw."</p> - -<p>The young Arabs cast hostile glances at us, but the sheik was -good-natured and was expecting rich gifts from the general. He called -the girl to him. She came quickly. He spoke to her in Arabic, and she -withdrew to an alcove. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> - -<p>"She is an adopted daughter of our tribe," he explained.</p> - -<p>The famine lay heavily upon this people. Perhaps it was due to the -biscuits we offered this tribe that our interference with their -ceremony was not hotly resented. Perhaps, indeed, the famine was -responsible for their next move.</p> - -<p>An old woman came out of the alcove that had hidden the girl and came -directly to General Eaton. "The fair-haired one is a trouble to me," -she said. "We have given her food and shelter for many years, yet when -we speak to her of marriage, she weeps. When we tell her that we will -sell her to become a dancing-girl in the bazaars and cafes if she will -not wed one of our young men, she threatens to kill herself! Lovelier -damsels than she have gone into the harem, happy to have a lord who -will keep them from want. And there are worse lives than to dance at -the <i>fantasias</i> of rich men, and to win the approval of the cafes. The -girl is ungrateful and a burden to us. Our own children are starving. -Give us money to buy food and take the unthankful girl!"</p> - -<p>"Let the girl be summoned," said the general. She came forth, glancing -from the Sheik Abdullah to General Eaton with fear in her eyes.</p> - -<p>"My girl," said the general through an interpreter, "these people have -offered you for sale. My purpose in buying you would be to find you a -good home, where you will be brought up in the way of people of your -color and race. Do you consent?" She looked at him as if she could not -believe her ears, then sobbed, then nodded earnestly.</p> - -<p>"Done!" thundered the general, "I call on Sheik Abdullah to witness -that the offer has been made and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>accepted. I shall be liberal, too! -Tell me what price such girls bring at the slave-market in Murzuk and -it shall be paid."</p> - -<p>The money was poured into the old hag's outstretched palms. The members -of her family gathered round to gloat over it. The young Arabs laughed -at the prospect of food. The departure of the girl in our company did -not cause them the slightest concern. Maidens are held cheaply in the -Sahara. A swift camel is worth more than a girl. What value has a -Nazarene maiden compared with food for one's own famished children?</p> - -<p>The general, to shield the girl as much as possible from the curious -soldiers, gave her a tent where she dwelt alone, watched over by an old -Nubian woman who had become attached to our party in Egypt and had been -taken along for her value as a cook.</p> - -<p>The general told a group of us briefly that the girl remembered little -of her early life. There was a vague remembrance of a mother who had -lived among these dark people. There came a day when she went out of -her life and a scolding Arab woman took her place.</p> - -<p>The girl and her black servant traveled on donkeys. A young sheik, a -friend of the sheik, who had sold the girl to our party, joined Hamet's -forces at this village. I wondered if he had planned to add the maiden -to his circle of wives.</p> - -<h3>HAMET BASHAW LOSES HIS TEMPER</h3> - -<p>A courier from Derne met us here with news that Joseph's army was -approaching Derne. This caused a panic among our Arabs, and even Hamet -seemed to be in doubt as to whether it were wise to proceed. I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> -forming a rather low opinion of his bravery, but tried to lose such -thoughts by thinking that if he were a hundred times less a man he -would be better than his brother. Some of the camel drivers fled. We -heard, too, that many of Hamet's followers were planning to turn back. -General Eaton again stopped their rations and ordered that no food be -served them until they marched forward. The general had a lion's heart -and was a born leader. Obstacles like these only served to bring out -his firm qualities.</p> - -<p>The Sheik il Taiib was again the center of the revolt, since he had -resolved to go no farther until news arrived that our vessels were -awaiting us at Bomba. When General Eaton reproached him for his want -of courage and fidelity, he flew into a rage and put himself at the -head of such Arabs as would follow him, which was about half of our -force, and started back to Egypt. Hamet begged General Eaton to send -an officer to pacify him and persuade him to return, but the General -refused.</p> - -<p>"We have paid him for his services," he declared, "and we have a right -to expect that he be faithful to his pledge; I will not permit him to -dictate measures to us!"</p> - -<p>"But he may take part against us," pleaded frightened Hamet.</p> - -<p>"Let him do it," the general answered, "I like an open enemy better -than a treacherous friend!"</p> - -<p>We continued our march. Messengers then arrived from the rebellious -sheik, assuring us that he was really on his way back to Egypt.</p> - -<p>The general sent word back to him: "I will take vigorous steps for the -recovery of the cash and property you have drawn from me by fraud!"</p> - -<p>In a few hours a new messenger arrived with the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>information that the -Sheik il Taiib would join us if we halted to await his coming.</p> - -<p>At last his caravan hove in sight.</p> - -<p>"You see," he said to the general, to mask his defeat, "what influence -I have among these people!"</p> - -<p>"Yes," returned the general, "and I see also the disgraceful use you -make of it!"</p> - -<p>On the next day, the sheik having been quieted for a time, Hamet -himself again showed signs of turning back. Separating his Moslem party -from us, he took from our officers the horses he had loaned us for the -passage through the desert. When General Eaton reproached him for his -indecision and lack of perseverance, high words followed. We marched -on; Hamet turned back, but after two hours had passed he rejoined us, -complimented the general on his firmness, and said that he had been -forced to pretend that he was falling in with the wishes of his people, -so that he might in the end manage them.</p> - -<p>The next day brought the same daily measure of trouble. Several sheiks -quarreled with Sheik il Taiib over the distribution of the money that -Hamet had paid them, and had quitted camp. We could not proceed without -them because they exercised a powerful influence over the Arab tribes -near Derne, whose support we were counting on. Hamet rode after them to -persuade them to be loyal to us, and in his absence Sheik il Taiib took -the stage again, demanding that the general issue more rations.</p> - -<p>"Remember," he said threateningly, "You are in a desert, and a country -not your own! I am a greater man here than you or the Bashaw!"</p> - -<p>The general retorted: "I have found you at the head<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> of every commotion -which has happened since we left Alexandria. You are the cause of the -present trouble among the chiefs. Leave my tent! But mark: if I find a -mutiny in the camp I will put you to death as the man who produced it."</p> - -<p>The sheik left the tent and rode away with other chiefs. A few hours -later, however, he returned and swore that he was devoted to the -general; that some secret enemy had told lies about him; that he would -even abandon the Bashaw to follow us; and hoped that at Derne he would -have the opportunity to show that he was a <i>man</i>.</p> - -<p>Our next halt came when some of the Arab chiefs insisted on riding off -to an oasis called Seewauk for a supply of dates. They promised to -rejoin our party at Bomba. We halted to discuss the matter.</p> - -<p>While this matter was being debated we visited an Arab camp nearby. -We found that the young men and women, although copper-colored, were -handsome and well-formed. The women did not veil, and were modest and -bashful in their deportment. The general complimented the wife of the -chief on her beauty. She smiled and said there were more beautiful -women in camp than herself and brought in a group of girls to prove it. -But the general gallantly held to his first opinion.</p> - -<p>Our soldiers were fond of dates, and to secure them from the girls they -gave as payment the buttons on their uniforms, which the women strung -as ornaments about their necks.</p> - -<p>We were fortunate enough to see a marriage in the Arab camp. Two camels -bearing canopies resembling wagon tops covered with Smyrna carpeting, -passed along, to the noise of volleys of muskets. The bride and groom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> -rode separately in these canopies, attended by elderly women, adult -unmarried girls, and by mounted Arabs.</p> - -<p>The women chanted a savage kind of song; the men performed daring feats -of horsemanship, and young men and girls danced between the camels. In -this manner they circled their tents and our encampment. Then the camel -carrying the bride was driven seven times around a tent that had been -assigned to her. The animal was then made to kneel, the door of the -canopy was opened, and the bride was pitched headfirst into the tent, -where her women companions were reciting a benediction.</p> - -<p>We were told that presents were expected. We gave a little money to -an old Arab woman who had taken the leading part in the celebration, -supposing her to be the mother of the bride. The general also invited -an Arab of about fifty-five years to his tent to receive an extra -present of provisions. Upon questioning the Arab as to the ages of the -bride and groom, we learned that he himself was the groom; that the -bride was a girl of thirteen years; and that the woman we had supposed -to be her mother was another wife of the groom.</p> - -<h3>THE ALLIES QUARREL</h3> - -<p>Now arose a crisis that threatened more than any of the previous ones -the success of our movement. Indeed, even the lives of all of the -Christian members of the expedition were at stake. When we had reached -a spot about ninety miles from Bomba, we found ourselves facing a -famine. We had only six days' rations of rice, no bread nor meat, nor -other ration. General Eaton was therefore anxious that we move forward -to Bomba as swiftly as possible, but Hamet, while the general was out -of camp, ordered the expedition to halt and announced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> that the troops -needed a day's rest. The reason for his act, we learned, was that he -might send a courier to see if our ships were indeed awaiting us at -Bomba.</p> - -<p>The general stopped the rations when he found that his army had halted, -and Hamet, influenced by his Arab hosts, prepared again to march in a -direction away from Derne. The Arabs tried to seize the weapons of the -Christians, and General Eaton promptly called us to arms. We stood in -a row before the magazine tent, guarding our guns from those who would -use them to slaughter us. When the crowd had fallen back, the general -ordered us to proceed with our daily drill. Seeing this, an Arab chief -shouted:</p> - -<p>"The Christians are preparing to fire on us!"</p> - -<p>Hamet put himself at their head, with drawn sword, as if he feared that -such was our intention.</p> - -<p>General Eaton stood firmly facing the threatening host of Turks and -Arabs. Around him clustered a little group: O'Bannon, Peck, Farquhar, -Leitensdorfer, Selem Aga, the Greek officers, and myself. I tried my -best to keep the gun in my hand from shivering, but the more I tried -the more my hand trembled. Two hundred mounted Turks and Arabs advanced -in full charge against us. The end was in sight. We leveled our -muskets. I thought of Alexander and the Rector and said a prayer.</p> - -<p>"Do not shoot until all hope of peace is gone—then sell your lives -dearly!" General Eaton said.</p> - -<p>The charging Arabs swerved and withdrew, but when we began to -breathe more freely, they came closer, and this time we could see -them selecting us as their targets. It did not seem that any of us -Christians could survive five minutes longer. An Arab youth snapped a -pistol at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> my breast. Providentially it missed fire. If one bullet had -been fired, war to the death between the two sides would have resulted. -A moment later we heard the command of "fire!" ring out from among the -Arabs.</p> - -<p>"At the first shot, give them a volley!" General Eaton ordered.</p> - -<p>At this critical instant, one of Hamet's officers ran out towards the -mutineers and cried: "For God's sake, do not fire! The Christians are -our friends!"</p> - -<p>Then the general, although a column of muskets was aimed at his -breast, approached Hamet and demanded of him how he could support such -desperate acts. The Bashaw wavered. A chorus of furious whoops from the -Arabs drowned the general's voice. He waved his hand as a signal for -attention. In response, some of the more kindly disposed chiefs rode -before the Arabs with drawn sabres and ordered the infuriated tribesmen -to fall back.</p> - -<p>The general again reproached Hamet for his weakness, and even Hamet's -chief officer asked the Bashaw if he had lost his senses. The latter, -in a fury, struck his officer with his drawn sabre. The fracas began -again and had nearly reached its former heat when General Eaton seized -Hamet by the arm and drew him away from his people.</p> - -<p>"Can it be," the general exclaimed, "that you have forgotten who your -true friends are, and where your interests lie?"</p> - -<p>Hamet melted. He called the general his protector and friend; lamented -that he lost his temper so easily, and ordered the Arabs to disperse.</p> - -<p>General Eaton agreed to issue a ration of rice if the Bashaw promised -march would be resumed early the next morning. This pledge was made and -peace <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>returned. Then we saw a sorry sight. At least two of the white -men had acted like cowards and had hidden themselves among the tents. -They now came slinking forth to stammer excuses that, you may be sure, -were received stonily by us. We again went forward, but after we had -marched twenty-five miles our rice became exhausted, and we were now -without rations.</p> - -<p>With starvation threatening us, Hamet killed a camel, and also gave -one in exchange for sheep, that were also slaughtered. The meat, -however, had to be eaten without bread or salt. As we went on the -hunger increased, and we saw the Arabs searching the plain for roots -and vegetable substances on which they might subsist. A water famine -was almost always with us. At one time we were obliged to drink from a -cistern in which we had found the bodies of two murdered Arabs.</p> - -<p>For the first time in my life I realized the meaning of such passages -of Scripture as:</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.</div> -<div>He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;</div> -<div>He leadeth me beside the still waters."</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>While facing yet another insurrection, this time of the gunners, a -courier arrived from Bomba with the news that our ships were off both -that place and Derne. This gave us new strength and courage and ended -the mutiny, and so at last we came to Bomba.</p> - -<p>There, however, we found that the vessel that had been seen had -departed. The fat was in the fire again, with the Arabs abusing us as -impostors and infidels and threatening to leave us, if they did nothing -worse.</p> - -<p>But oh, the resourcefulness of our general! Withdrawing with the -Christians to a high hill nearby, he ordered that a huge fire be -kept burning on its crest all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> night; the next morning as the Turks -and Arabs were scattering, to go to their homes, when the end of the -expedition seemed indeed to be in sight, we saw from the top of the -hill a sail. The United States' ship <i>Argus</i>, with Captain Hull in -command was approaching. The next day the sloop <i>Hornet</i> arrived, laden -with provisions. We then refreshed ourselves and our famished army, and -unloaded from the <i>Hornet</i> the provisions necessary to feed us on the -march to Derne.</p> - -<p>The worst of the journey was over. We were approaching cultivated land. -To keep the inhabitants from becoming hostile to us the Bashaw sent a -herald through the camp to cry:</p> - -<p>"He who fears God and feels attachment to Hamet Bashaw will be careful -to destroy nothing. Let no one touch the growing harvest. He who -transgresses shall lose his right hand!"</p> - -<p>I now heard shrieks from the tent that sheltered the girl we had -rescued by purchase from the Arabs. I saw two camels standing beside -the tent, held by a young Arab who looked towards us furtively. It -flashed across my mind that the young sheik whom I had suspected of an -intention to add the girl to his household had seized upon the moment -when we were engaged in putting down a rebellion to kidnap the girl. -I rushed to the tent, followed by an Arab lad Mustapha, who also came -from the girl's village, and who had shown an humble devotion to her -by daily giving to the negress for the maiden a share of his ration of -dates.</p> - -<p>As we reached the door of the tent the sheik emerged with the girl in -his arms. I jabbed the point of my pistol into his face while Mustapha -plunged earthward in an effort to stay his strides toward the camels. -The lad's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> attack was so vigorous that the sheik sprawled face downward -into the sand, while the girl, released by his stumble, fell into my -arms for support.</p> - -<p>She was pale with terror and leaned against me like a broken lily. -General Eaton, having pacified Hamet and his supporters, came dashing -between me and the kidnapper, who had seized his knife and risen to his -feet. I still menaced him with my pistol, but the general forbade me to -fire.</p> - -<p>"He richly deserves death," he whispered, taking in at a glance the -situation, "but to fire a shot would cause a general battle and the -defeat of our plans." He then turned to the scowling chief.</p> - -<p>"Mount your camel and go," he said. "Hamet Bashaw wants no one in his -ranks who, under pretense of loyalty to a cause, comes to steal a girl -who despises him."</p> - -<p>The Arab, without replying, mounted his camel and rode away with his -attendant. We saw a small group detach themselves from the main body -and follow him.</p> - -<p>"A good riddance!" the general muttered. Then, seeing Mustapha, he -delighted the youth by saying, "You, my boy, are worth a hundred such -fellows!"</p> - -<p>The Nubian woman, who had been choked into insensibility, now staggered -out of the tent and relieved me of my burden—one that I was none too -glad to surrender.</p> - -<p>The girl murmured something to me in Arabic as she re-entered the tent, -including Mustapha in her glance. I looked at him questioningly.</p> - -<p>"She said," the lad explained, "that her heart is overflowing with -gratitude to you and myself for rescuing her."</p> - -<p>General Eaton ordered that the maiden's tent be continually guarded -after that. I managed to be selected for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> sentinel duty more often than -anyone else. Mustapha also stood guard with me. The girl sat in the -door of her tent looking up to the stars. With Mustapha interpreting, -we chatted. I told her about America and Baltimore and assured her that -once she was out of the desert, a happy life would open for her. She -asked shy questions about the girls of the United States—what they -wore; how they occupied themselves. I heard her and the Nubian woman -laughing when I said, rather abruptly, that I had not paid attention -to the looks and habits of girls at home. I taught her a few words of -English—"America," "ship," "friend," "good morning," and "good night."</p> - -<p>When we reached Derne, a few days after the encounter I have described -took place, the girl went aboard one of the American warships. The last -I saw of her was when she stepped timidly into a cutter, assisted by -General Eaton. I stood on the shore watching. I saw her glancing back -at the shore and I am sure I saw a motion of her hand in response to my -furious waving. From that hour I began thinking of home more than I had -ever thought of it before. And Mustapha and I, when we walked back to -our tents, never spoke a word to each other the whole way.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XV</span> <span class="smaller">REUBEN JAMES SAVES DECATUR'S LIFE</span></h2> - -<p>The fleet had not been idle while we fought our way across the desert. -Letters awaited us at Bomba, brought us by one of the naval vessels. -A long epistle, with a thrill in every paragraph, was the combined -work of Samuel Childs and Reuben James. It gave an account of the -gallant way in which Reuben saved his idol Stephen Decatur's life in a -hand-to-hand conflict between the crews of our gunboats and those of -the corsairs. The part describing Reuben's part was written by Samuel, -and bore in the margin a sentence of protest scrawled by the modest -Reuben. Here is the story as I gleaned it:</p> - -<p>The gunboats were sent in to attack the enemy's fleet in two divisions, -one led by Stephen Decatur and the other by Richard Somers. The Moslems -were past masters of this art of boarding. Decatur and Somers were -therefore leading their men to do battle with these ferocious fighters -under severe handicaps.</p> - -<p>Our habit of boarding dismayed Joseph. He had thought that his men were -invincible in a fight on a ship's deck.</p> - -<p>The mode of attack used by the corsairs was always by boarding. Their -vessels were so made that it was easy for them to go on board an enemy. -Their lateen yards were so long that they projected over the deck of -the vessel approached. The infidels used these as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> passageway from -their vessel to the prize. Then, from all points of their riggings and -from all quarters of their decks, the pirates would leap on board the -attacked ship. That they might have free use of their hands in climbing -the gunwales of the vessel, they carried their sabres grasped between -their teeth, and had loaded pistols in their belts. As they swarmed -aboard, thus armed, they were a terrifying sight. They were taught -by their religion that if they died in battle with Christians their -salvation was assured, so they fought desperately. But Joseph, scornful -of America, without knowing what fighters her sons were, now found his -fiercest warriors slain by men who could board ship and give battle on -deck with even more strength and bravery than his own captains.</p> - -<p>Decatur, who had charge of the foremost three boats, had to bear the -brunt of the fighting. Opposed to his three boats were nine Tripolitan -boats, well armed and crowded with men.</p> - -<p>Reuben James was in Decatur's boat. The first gun Decatur fired was -loaded with a thousand musket balls in a bag. The shot wrought terrific -damage on board the vessel selected for the attack. The captain fell -dead with fourteen of the musket balls lodged in his body. Thus far -Captain Decatur had had easy work.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant James Decatur, Stephen's brother, had commanded the second -boat. He had been treacherously slain. The Moor in charge of the boat -he attacked hauled down its flag at the first fire. James Decatur then -directed his men to board, but as his boat approached the Tripolitan -craft, the cunning captain shot Decatur dead, and while the dismayed -Americans gathered around their leader, the Moor hauled off his boat. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> - -<p>News soon reached Stephen of the loss of his brother and away he went -in vengeful pursuit of the slayer of James. He overhauled the boat and -led his men aboard in a fierce charge. Reuben was at his heels. The -Moorish captain was a powerful brute; he had all the weapons a man -could carry, and he was as desperate as a treed wildcat.</p> - -<p>Stephen Decatur, however, went at his huge foe in a way that meant -death either to the Moor or himself. The infidel met Decatur's rush -with his pike, while Decatur depended on his sword. Reuben James was -busy disposing of an infidel. Before he tackled another, he looked to -see what headway the captain was making. Imagine how taken aback he -was to see Decatur staggering back from a pike stab in the breast. He -slashed his way towards his leader, but, as luck would have it, a shot -lodged in his right hand and a moment later a jab from a spear disabled -his left arm.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Decatur, nothing daunted by his wound, had brought his sword -into play. The blade, meeting a savage blow from the pike, broke off -at the hilt. Reuben saw Decatur dart in past the Moor's weapon, and -grapple with him. An Arab sneaked up in the captain's rear and aimed -a blow at his head. Reuben then threw his own disabled body between -Decatur and his second foe. The blow landed on his head, and he sank -to the deck crippled and half senseless. He could see Decatur and the -Moorish captain fall to the deck, with the infidel on top. The Moor had -one arm free and with it he drew a knife. Reuben closed his eyes. Then -he heard a shot and opened them again. In Decatur's hand was a smoking -pistol, and the slayer of his brother lay dead at the captain's feet. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> - -<p>From the rest of the letter I gathered facts that gave me a fair idea -of the progress of the campaign.</p> - -<p>The third boat in Decatur's division was commanded by John Trippe, -sailing master. Trippe killed a Moorish captain in much the same manner -as Decatur slew his adversary. As he led his men across the side of a -Tripolitan vessel, his own boat was swept away from the side before all -of his party could board. Thus Trippe, with another officer and nine -men, was left to face thirty-six infidels. Trippe determined, as his -one hope of victory, to kill the captain, a man of great height and -strength. He came as near to death as did Decatur, receiving eleven -wounds. At last, when the Moor had forced him down so that he was -fighting with one knee on deck, he caught his foe off guard and stabbed -him to death with a pike. Fourteen of the infidels had been slain by -the Americans and the remaining twenty-two now surrendered. None of the -Americans were killed. Richard Somers, who commanded the other three -boats, was prevented from following Decatur along the inside route he -took, yet he found means to capture three Moorish gunboats and to sink -three others.</p> - -<p>Reuben James passes out of my story here, but it is due him that I skip -several years and tell how when doctors were about to amputate, because -an old wound had diseased a bone in his leg, he exclaimed: "Doctor, you -are the captain, Sir. Fire away; but I don't think it is shipshape to -put me under jury masts when I have just come into harbor."</p> - -<p>From other correspondence we learned how Commodore Preble, while -his gunboats were thus engaged, sailed into the harbor on board the -<i>Constitution</i>, with Captain Chauncey in command, and bombarded the -forts. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> ship was excellently handled. Her crew tacked and made sail -under the guns of the enemy with as much coolness and skill as if there -were no guns trained on them. Several times the <i>Constitution</i> passed -within three cables' length of the batteries on shore, and silenced -them. But the moment the frigate passed on, the silenced batteries were -manned again. The monarch had thousands of soldiers at his command and -continued to drive fresh gunners to the batteries.</p> - -<p>On another day a Tripolitan fleet of five gunboats and two galleys came -out to attempt to capture or destroy certain gunboats of the American -fleet lying near the harbor. Commodore Preble signaled to the brigs and -schooners under his command to meet the raiders, and these ships poured -such a hot fire upon the Moslem flotilla that they were forced to turn -back.</p> - -<p>The grape-shot fired by the Americans during these engagements swept -the enemy's decks of men, and worried the gunmen on shore so badly -that it spoiled their aim, so that the <i>Constitution</i> was but slightly -damaged, and had none killed and only one man wounded.</p> - -<h3>THE DEATH OF SOMERS</h3> - -<p>Now, came news of the tragedy of the campaign. It was decided to use -the ketch <i>Intrepid</i> as a fireship to destroy the enemy's shipping. -Captain Somers volunteered to take command of her, and Lieutenant -Wadsworth volunteered to go with him. Ten men went with them—six -volunteers from the <i>Constitution</i> and four volunteers from the -<i>Nautilus</i>. Two small boats were taken, so that the party could escape -from the floating mine after they had lighted the fuses. The <i>Intrepid</i> -started upon her perilous duty on September 4th. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>Lieutenant Joseph -Israel of the <i>Constitution</i> arrived at the moment of getting under way -and asked permission to go along. Somers consented.</p> - -<p>The night was dark, and the other American ships soon lost sight of -the ketch. She was discovered, however, by the Tripolitans as she was -entering the harbor, and their batteries opened fire.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, the night was lit by terrifying flashes. A series of -explosions shook land and water. A shower of sparks arose. The powder -on board the <i>Intrepid</i> had prematurely exploded, and left nothing on -the face of the harbor but scorched fragments. All of her officers and -men were killed. Their mangled bodies floated ashore and were found by -the people of Tripoli.</p> - -<p>What caused the explosion remains a mystery. Commodore Preble thought -that the <i>Intrepid</i> had been attacked and boarded by a Tripolitan -gun-boat, and that Captain Somers, rather than be taken captive, -himself exploded the powder; or else that the fire from the batteries -caused so much damage that Somers saw that escape was impossible and -chose death to surrender. This reasoning was partly based on the fact -that Somers and his men had boasted that they would die rather than be -captured. The squadron was greatly affected by this tragedy. Decatur -had special reason to grieve, because Somers had been his schoolmate, -and had given Decatur, before sailing, tokens to remember him by if he -did not return.</p> - -<p>I learned with amazement that Commodore Preble had been recalled. -Although he had conducted a fight that had won for the American navy -lasting glory, the navy department had thought it best to call him home -and to put Commodore Samuel Barron, who was his senior, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> his place. -Commodore Preble was notified of this with much praise and apology. No -wonder was it that his going was lamented. His fifty-three officers -joined in a letter of regret. English officers praised his work. The -Pope said that "the American commander, with a small force and in a -short space of time, had done more for the cause of Christianity than -the most powerful nations of Christendom had done for ages."</p> - -<p>The Commodore had labored under great handicaps. Congress had not -supported his requests for ships and supplies, and those that came -were long delayed. The food sent him was poor. He was forced to depend -largely on foreign seamen.</p> - -<p>Commodore Preble was deeply regretful at not being able to carry the -campaign against Tripoli through to final victory, and also mortified -that, with success in sight, he should be recalled. He went home an -almost heartbroken man, although his record must stand out as one of -the most brilliant in our naval history.</p> - -<p>If the bold Preble had continued in command of the squadron, there is -little doubt that when he saw what Eaton was doing at Derne he would -have begun an attack on Tripoli that would have brought Joseph Bashaw -to his knees.</p> - -<p>The one good reason advanced as to why General Eaton's expedition -should have ended at Derne was that if it approached Tripoli, the -Americans held prisoners there might have been killed by Joseph Bashaw -when his city was attacked. He threatened that, in an extremity, he -would slay the prisoners. Several of the officers who were in captivity -held this fear. Yet Commodore Rodgers wrote afterwards to the Secretary -of the Navy: </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I never thought myself that the lives of the American prisoners were -in any danger." Lieutenant Wormely, a midshipman held in captivity, -also testified before a Senate committee that: "I do not believe that -there was any danger to be apprehended for our lives."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVI</span> <span class="smaller">WE CAPTURE THE DESERT CITY OF DERNE</span></h2> - -<blockquote><p>"<i>An army, composed in part of Americans, but chiefly of the -descendants of the ancient Grecians, Egyptians and Arabians; in -other words, an army collected from the four quarters of the -globe, and led by an American commander to conquest and glory, -is a phenomenon in military history calculated to attract the -attention of the world, not only by its novelty, but by its real -influence and consequence. It ought to be considered, too, that -this army, notwithstanding the singularity of its organization and -character, and the smallness of its number and its means, acted in -a cause that might be thought to affect, at least in some remote -degree, the general interest of mankind. Since the destruction of -Cato, and his little senate at Utica, the banner of freedom had -never waved in that desert and barbarous quarter of the globe; and -he who carried it so nobly, in the language of the resolution, -through the desert of Libya, and placed it so triumphantly upon -the African shore of the Mediterranean deserves to be honorably -distinguished by that country and that government, to which the -enterprise has added lustre.</i>"<br /> -—Speech made by James Elliott, Representative from Vermont, -before the House of Representatives.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Every step we took, I could tell by the rector's map, which now I -daily consulted, was taking me to that section of the coast where the -treasure lay buried. We had hard fighting ahead of us, and all of my -energies were needed to help our cause, yet I was determined to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> find -enough time to make the search. The problem of finding a trustworthy -person who could read for me the Arabic inscription on the map had -been solved through my friendship with Mustapha, who had acquired a -fair education in Egypt. I planned to go to Tokra under his guidance. -My plans worked out well, but in a different way from that which I -proposed.</p> - -<p>The first duty ahead of our army—a task that must be done before any -treasure hunt could be thought of—was the capture of Derne. The city -of Tokra lay beyond Derne. Our army, if it went on to Tripoli, must -pass near it. The coast was clear—if Derne were captured by us. Little -did I think that the ill fortunes of our soldiers should send me forth -at last to fulfill my long-cherished aim.</p> - -<p>Two days after leaving Bomba, we camped on a height that overlooks -Derne, and reconnoitered. We had reached the climax of our march. We -learned that the governor of the place had decided to defend the city -against us. We learned also that the army Joseph Bashaw had sent from -Tripoli was making a forced march to Derne and might arrive before the -return of our vessels, which had been blown out to sea in a gale. This -information alarmed the Turks and Arabs. Hamet, we observed, again -seemed to be ready for flight. The Sheik il Taiib, who had promised to -prove himself a valiant man at Derne, quitted the camp.</p> - -<p>Several chiefs came out from Derne to assure Hamet of their faith. They -told us that the city was divided into three departments; that two -of these favored Hamet and one Joseph, but that the department that -favored Joseph was strongest and had control of the guns. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> - -<p>General Eaton had sent a messenger to the governor under a flag of -truce with this message:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"I want no territory. With me is advancing the real sovereign -of your country—give us a passage through your city; and for -the supplies of which we shall have need, you shall receive fair -pay. Let no differences of religion induce us to shed the blood -of harmless men who think little and know nothing. If you are a -man of liberal mind you will not hesitate. Hamet Bashaw pledged -himself to me that you shall be established in your government. I -shall see you tomorrow in a way of your choice.</p> - -<p class="right">"Eaton."</p></blockquote> - -<p>The flag of truce was sent back to the general by the governor with -this answer:</p> - -<p>"My head or yours!"</p> - -<p>"We shall see whose head it will be!" General Eaton declared.</p> - -<p>Having learned that the army from Tripoli was only a four hours' march -distant, the general determined to attack the city before it had time -to arrive.</p> - -<p>On the next morning the <i>Argus</i>, <i>Hornet</i> and <i>Nautilus</i> appeared off -the coast, and on a signal sailed in toward the city. The general at -once began the assault. The fleet sent a few guns ashore to assist -us in the land attack, and then the three vessels opened fire on the -city's batteries.</p> - -<p>The Governor of Derne had mounted a battery of eight nine-pounders -along the water-front; had thrown up breastworks along the unprotected -parts of the city; and had mounted cannon on the terrace of his palace -and on the roofs of certain buildings. We heard that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> he possessed an -army of eight hundred men, in addition to such citizens as would fight -with him.</p> - -<p>General Eaton, with a detachment actively commanded by Lieutenant -O'Bannon, consisting of the six American marines, twenty-four gunners, -twenty-six Greeks, and a few Arabs, attacked the temporary forts that -had been thrown up in the southeast section of the town. Hamet Bashaw -attacked and captured an old castle on the southwest, and drew up his -cavalry on this site. I fought beside the general, and a stiff business -it was. The enemy's musketry was so warm that our troops were thrown -into confusion. To counteract this, the general ordered a charge. The -enemy had flocked to the point where we advanced, so that we had to -fight as ten to one. The infidels waged a guerrilla warfare, dashing -out of their hiding-places and then, in retreat, firing from behind -every palm tree and wall along their way.</p> - -<p>The battery was at last silenced by the fire of our ships, and most of -the gunners retired to join the forces opposed to us. Yet on we went, -passing through a shower of bullets from the walls of houses. Soon we -reached the battery, and wrested it from its defenders. I had the honor -of planting, amidst cheers from my comrades, the American flag on the -wall—an honor indeed, since this was the first time the American flag -had been raised on a fort of the old world. Then we turned the guns on -the infidels and drove them back into the houses, where they could only -fire at us from behind walls.</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i165.jpg" id="i165.jpg"></a><img src="images/i165.jpg" alt="AMERICAN FLAG HAD BEEN RAISED" /></div> - -<p class="bold">THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AN AMERICAN FLAG HAD BEEN<br />RAISED -ON A FORT OF THE OLD WORLD.</p> - -<p>Our ships, which had suspended their fire during our charge, now -resumed bombarding the houses that sheltered the governor and his men.</p> - -<p>The deadly fire of the ships terrified the already faint-hearted forces -there, and they began to flee in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>disorder. Hamet's troops captured -the governor's castle, and his cavalry pursued the flying foe. By four -o'clock in the afternoon we were in full possession of the city, the -action having lasted about two hours and a half. Of the Christians -who fought there were fourteen killed and wounded. Three of these -were American marines; two dead and one wounded. The rest of the dead -were Greeks. Our Grecian allies showed great bravery and were worthy -descendants of the ancient heroes of their race.</p> - -<h3>THE GOVERNOR FLEES</h3> - -<p>The governor fled first to a mosque; then to the abode of an old sheik.</p> - -<p>"I must lay hold of him!" General Eaton said. "He is the third man in -rank in the entire kingdom of Tripoli, and we can use him to exchange -for Captain Bainbridge!"</p> - -<p>The general, in great zeal to take the governor captive, now marched at -the head of fifty Christians with bayonets to that remote section in -which the fugitive had found refuge. The aged chief who sheltered him, -however, vowed that the laws of hospitality would be violated if he -permitted us to take the governor, and refused to yield him up to us.</p> - -<p>General Eaton explained that the Governor had rejected peace terms; had -challenged us and been beaten at his post; was still in a conquered -town, and was by all the laws of war a prisoner. The sheik remained -firm.</p> - -<p>The citizens of Derne began to look at us with hostile eyes.</p> - -<p>"The Christians no longer respect the customs of our fathers and our -laws of hospitality," they exclaimed.</p> - -<p>Hamet Bashaw, fearful that the people would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> turned against him if -we seized the governor against the old sheik's wishes, persuaded the -general to postpone the attempt.</p> - -<p>We had been in possession of Derne about a week when the army sent from -Tripoli arrived and planted their camp on the ground we had occupied. -Meanwhile, General Eaton had fortified the city as strongly as possible.</p> - -<p>We found ourselves facing enemies within and foes without, because the -people of the town, true to their nature, were now debating which army -would be the most likely to win, so that they might be on the victor's -side. The late governor, we learned, was the leader in trying to -persuade the people of the city to revolt against us.</p> - -<p>On May 18th the troops from Tripoli advanced towards the city in order -of battle, but when General Eaton marshalled his forces to meet them -they halted, conferred, and then retired. We found out later that -the Beys in charge of the enemy's forces had tried day after day to -persuade the Arabs under them to attack. They had refused, stating that -Joseph Bashaw must send them aid before they would attempt to conquer -the city.</p> - -<p>"We have," they said, "not only our lives to preserve, but also the -lives of our families. Hamet has possession of the town; his Christian -allies possess the batteries; these, together with the great guns of -the American ships, would destroy us if we attacked!"</p> - -<p>The Beys then demanded of the Arabs that they permit their camels to be -used to protect the front and flanks of the assaulting forces, but this -too was refused.</p> - -<p>Word came to General Eaton that Hassien Bey, commander of the enemy's -forces, had offered six thousand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> dollars for his head, and double that -sum if he were brought as a prisoner. We heard also that thirty dollars -had been offered for the head of an ordinary Christian.</p> - -<p>Then there came to our camp a Bedouin holy man who had previously been -befriended by the general. He whispered that two women, one in our -camp and one in Derne, had been employed by Hassien Bey to poison our -commander. In payment for this service they had already been given -presents of diamond rings. The saint cautioned the General not to -accept any presents of pastry, preserves or fruit.</p> - -<p>A few days later, the forces of Hassien Bey gave battle. He was -assisted by Muhamed, Bey of Bengazi; Muhamed, Bey of Derne, and -Imhamed, Bey of Ogna. Under them were one thousand mounted Arabs and -two thousand Arabs on foot. On the night before, Muhamed, the former -governor of Derne, had escaped into Hassien Bey's camp, and had told -him that our numbers on shore were far less than the general had -supposed. Encouraged by this information Hassien Bey ordered the attack.</p> - -<p>About nine o'clock in the morning his troops appeared, under five -standards, and attacked about one hundred of Hamet's cavalry, who had -been stationed about a mile from town. The cavalry fought bravely but -were forced to retreat. The <i>Argus</i> and <i>Nautilus</i> trained their guns -on the enemy, and we in town bombarded them with our battery and field -pieces, but by taking advantage of walls they penetrated the town up -to the palace that sheltered Hamet. Here they were met by a hot rifle -fire from Hamet's supporters, but they held their ground stubbornly, -determined to capture Hamet.</p> - -<p>The general was wondering whether with the small<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> force in charge of -the battery he dare risk a sortie to defend Hamet, when fortunately a -shot from one of our nine-pounders killed two mounted enemies near the -palace.</p> - -<p>Instantly they sounded a retreat and fled from all quarters. Hamet's -cavalry pursued them. In their flight they again came within range of -our ships' guns, and these poured into their ranks a galling fire.</p> - -<p>We were told later by an Italian slave who escaped from their camp -that they had lost twenty-eight men killed and that fifty-six of their -number had been wounded by our fire.</p> - -<p>This defeat took the heart out of the Arabs supporting the Beys. -Officers and soldiers began to desert to us from the enemy, and when -Hassien Bey began to prepare for another assault by collecting camels -that would be used as traveling breastworks, the Arabs recruited on the -march refused to take part. They protested that they would have been -willing to fight under ordinary circumstances, but that the Americans -were firing balls that would kill both a rider and his horse, and that -they would not expose themselves to such shots. They also complained -that we rushed at them with bayonets, and would not give them time to -reload their muskets!</p> - -<p>Hearing these reports our fearless general tried to persuade Hamet to -make a counter-attack, but without success. Skirmishes continued to -occur. A few days after the battle, a company of the enemy attacked -some Arab families who had camped in the rear of the town. Learning -of the attack, the general headed a party of thirty-five Greeks and -Americans, with a view to cutting off their retreat. We met them in a -mountain's ravine—the Greeks must have thought of the Spartans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> at -Thermopylae—and charged them with our bayonets. They broke and fled, -hotly pursued. We killed their captain and five men, and took two -prisoners. None of us were injured.</p> - -<p>This affair put Hassien Bey in a frenzy. The next morning he came -forward to revenge his cause, but again the Arabs mutinied and -retreated, leaving Hassien and his soldiers to follow in humiliation -back to their camp.</p> - -<p>Hamet Bashaw had his turn at open fighting a few days later, and -acquitted himself far better than we expected. The enemy appeared in -great numbers on the heights overlooking the town, seeking a way to -descend that would not expose them to the fire of our guns. They found -a pass and started to descend to the plain below, but here Hamet's -cavalry met them and, as reinforcements joined each side, the battle -increased in size until there were five thousand men engaged. The -fighting lasted four hours, during which Hamet held his ground like -a true general. It was a battle fought in the Barbary style, for the -field of conflict was beyond the range of our batteries, and we were -rejoiced to learn that the victory belonged to Hamet. The enemy lost -fifty men killed, and had over seventy wounded, while of the forces -of Hamet, the killed and wounded amounted together to about fifty. We -had lost respect for Hamet during our march across the desert, but his -gallantry in this engagement restored confidence.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant O'Bannon was eager to lead our Americans and Greeks out -to hold the pass by which the enemy must retreat with our bayonets, -but the general decided wisely that it would be unwise to leave the -batteries undefended, since Hamet Bashaw's forces might suffer a -reverse. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> - -<h3>THE CAMPAIGN BLOCKED</h3> - -<p>Our prolonged stay at Derne had begun to worry both the general and -Hamet. I saw them frequently conferring with great seriousness, and -heard General Eaton say that if the aid, money, and supplies had come -which he hoped would be awaiting him at Derne, he might now be at Cape -Mensurat, and in fifteen days after, at Tripoli.</p> - -<p>My wonder as to what there was being discussed by the general and Hamet -Bashaw was cleared away somewhat by the arrival of a spy from the -enemy's camp, who informed us that a courier had arrived, eleven days -from Tripoli, with dispatches from the reigning Bashaw stating that -he intended to make peace with the United States, <i>even if he had to -sell his wardrobe</i> to do so. This was a great change of front; a change -caused, we all felt sure, by our conquest of Derne, and by our openly -avowed determination to capture Tripoli in the same manner.</p> - -<p>Then there came a letter from Commodore Barron which informed General -Eaton that the United States must withdraw her support from Hamet, -since Consul Lear was making a peace with Joseph.</p> - -<p>The general wrote hotly in reply: "I cannot be persuaded that the -abandoning of Hamet is in keeping with those principles of honor and -justice which I know actuate the national breast. But, if no further -aids come, and we are compelled to leave the place, humanity itself -must weep; the whole city of Derne, together with numerous families -of Arabs, who attached themselves to Hamet Bashaw, and who resisted -Joseph's troops in expectation of help from us, must be left to their -fate;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> havoc and slaughter must follow; not a soul of them can escape -the savage vengeance of the enemy; instead of lending aid to the -unfortunate people, we involve them in destruction."</p> - -<p>The general wrote also in protest to the Secretary of the Navy, stating -that when Commodore Barron agreed to cooperate with Hamet there was -no talk of the latter being used as a means of making peace with the -reigning Bashaw; that nothing was talked of but punishment. The example -of Commodore Preble, he stated, had fired the squadron which relieved -him with an ambition to punish Joseph, and it was in the same spirit -that he, General Eaton, was sent on his mission to bring Hamet to the -rear of the enemy.</p> - -<p>Shortly after these letters were dispatched, we had occasion to march -through Derne.</p> - -<p>"Long live the Americans! Long live our friends and protectors!" the -people shouted.</p> - -<p>The general bowed his head in shame.</p> - -<p>General Eaton, in the opinion of all of us who marched with him, and -of many with whom I afterwards talked, could well complain of the way -he was treated by the United States Government. He had won at Derne a -victory that many thought was superior to the naval victories won over -Tripoli, and by his campaign had opened the way for a peace that saved -the United States the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in -warships and tribute money. Yet he had been allowed to enter upon his -enterprise in such a manner that if successful the Administration would -receive full credit for sending him, while if he failed, he could be -blamed for acting without authority.</p> - -<p>At Tripoli, peace was being made after this manner:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> Colonel Lear, -then at Malta, received a letter from the Spanish consul at Tripoli -asking him to come to that place under a flag of truce, as the Bashaw -wanted to discuss peace. A few weeks later Captain Bainbridge wrote to -Commodore Barron that the Tripolitan minister of foreign affairs, Sidi -Mohammed Dghiers, who was opposed to the war, was about to leave the -city, and that it would be well to send an envoy to treat for peace -before the minister left.</p> - -<p>Colonel Lear sailed from Malta on the <i>Essex</i>, which joined the -blockading frigates <i>Constitution</i> and <i>President</i> of Tripoli. The -white flag hoisted by Lear was answered by the hoisting of a similar -flag on the Bashaw's castle. The terms agreed upon were that the United -States was to pay him $60,000 for the ransom of the American captives -remaining after an exchange of prisoners, man for man, had been made; -that the American forces should withdraw from Derne, persuading Hamet -to go with them; and that in the course of time Joseph was to restore -to Hamet his wife and children.</p> - -<p>The articles were signed on board the <i>Constitution</i>. A salute of -twenty-one guns was then fired by the Bashaw's battery and answered -by the <i>Constitution</i>. The people of the city crowded to the wharves -celebrating the making of peace. The released American officers and -sailors ran to the wharves to leap into the barges that were to take -them out of the hated town.</p> - -<p>Sage men have predicted that the historians of the future would say -that Colonel Lear acted unwisely in making the peace, and that if he -had delayed for a few weeks, until bomb vessels and gunboats on the -way from America had arrived, a squadron would have assembled before -Tripoli that would have frightened the Bashaw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> into agreement with any -terms the United States' fleet chose to lay down. That we should have -had to pay ransom for the American captives at Tripoli after we had -captured the powerful province of Derne, and with such a strong fleet -in the Mediterranean, was not in accord with American traditions.</p> - -<p>The act of Colonel Lear in making peace with the reigning Bashaw seems -to have been for the purpose of blocking Eaton's triumph. "Eaton," said -an officer holding a high place in the Mediterranean squadron, "was -running away with the honor of the Tripolitan war. Between an army and -navy jealousy is common. What had the navy done long before, after the -achievement of Preble? Hence the readiness to snatch the first chance -for peace."</p> - -<p>The politics of the matter gave me little concern. Here was General -Eaton needing money. With money he could hire Arab tribes, buy caravans -loaded with food, march on to Tripoli. Here was my opportunity, and my duty.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVII</span> <span class="smaller">THE TREASURE TOMB</span></h2> - -<p>Through all my adventures in the desert campaign, from the time when -we first faced the hot, choking winds of the desert and covered our -eyes to keep from being blinded by the sand until the time when we -lifted the Stars and Stripes on the ramparts of Derne, the thought of -the treasure tomb had dwelt with me. According to the rector's map, -the buried chamber was within an hour's ride by camel of Tokra, a town -located between Derne and Tripoli, quite near to the former.</p> - -<p>The coast of northern Africa jutted out into the Mediterranean at this -point, and made it a favorable spot for settlement by Phoenicians and -earlier races who ruled this sea.</p> - -<p>When I perceived that Captain Eaton's campaign against Tripoli had -been blocked through lack of funds and that he himself had given up -hope of receiving from our naval officers the money and supplies -required to proceed against the stronghold of Joseph, I resolved to -begin my treasure search in earnest, hoping to turn the gems and gold -to the general's use. I resolved to take Mustapha along as my guide. -The attachment that had sprung up between us grew stronger as the -weeks passed. He was an Arab to the backbone. He could run all day -in the heat and fall asleep at night on bare stones. He was as quick -and noiseless in his movements as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> wildcat, and his mood was a -queer mixture of gentleness and fierceness. Having adopted me, he was -fiercely jealous, and his brown face would become convulsed if strange -Arab boys from any of the camps we passed tried to follow me.</p> - -<p>One night, on swift camels which we borrowed from Mustapha's sheik, we -rode away from Derne. It was a foolhardy enterprise, because Joseph -Bashaw's army lay between us and Tokra, yet we managed to avoid their -outposts and when morning broke we were well beyond their lines.</p> - -<p>I had not taken the general into my confidence. He might have told me, -to keep me from going on what he would consider a wild goose chase, -that he would not avail himself of the gold, even if it were found. -I felt too, since the rector had tried so hard to keep the facts -concerning the treasure a secret, that I should not reveal it, even to -those I trusted most.</p> - -<p>We joined ourselves to a caravan as we approached Tokra. Mustapha had -acquaintances among the camel-drivers, and his explanations created for -us a kindly reception. Mingling thus with the Arabs, we rode into Tokra -without attracting the attention of the people. That this was fortunate -for me, I was soon to find out. A larger caravan had entered the town -a few hours before us. Its people had thronged the cafés. As I rode -through the narrow street, holding my hood well over my face to keep -from being recognized as a hated "Nazarene," I caught sight of a tall -well-dressed Moor watching a group of dancing girls. His brilliant robe -attracted my attention, then something familiar about his figure made -me observe him more closely. My gaze traveled up his burly form to his -bearded face. I could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> see it only in profile, but the sight was enough -to set me to trembling. I had recognized Murad.</p> - -<p>He did not see us. In the café before which he lounged were girls of -the Ouled-Nahil tribe, dancing. We could see over the heads of the men -these stately creatures gliding and twisting to the music of clarionets -and tam-tams. Their mountainous head-gear of plaited wool, bound by -brilliantly-colored silk kerchiefs shook with the movements of their -bodies. We could hear amidst the music the jingling of their bangles. I -saw also a boy bring a live coal in a pair of tongs to Murad, so that -the latter might light his long pipe.</p> - -<p>A score of questions flashed through my mind. Had the Egyptian found -the treasure, and was he now enjoying the wealth? Or had he been -detained as I was in reaching this spot, and could it be that he had -been a member of the newly arrived caravan? Did he mean to spend the -night amidst the luxury of the café or would he soon come forth to hunt -for the treasure tomb?</p> - -<p>I decided from his manner that he had newly arrived, and that, for a -few hours at least, he would smoke his pipe and drink his coffee and -watch the dance. During those few hours I resolved to push my search.</p> - -<p>When we found a spot in which I could examine the map without being -observed I was puzzled to find that the location of the treasure tomb -was set down as being not outside of the city, but in its very midst. -Through Mustapha, I made inquiry of an old Arab. Yes, he said, in reply -to my questions, there had been a temple there once. The reason the -ruins could not be seen now was that successive tribes of Arabs had -come and camped on the ruins until the soil and filth they had left -behind them had covered the floors. There had been walls, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> they -were now used for sheep folds, goat-yards, poultry-yards, donkey-sheds.</p> - -<p>The rector's exploration had been made also at night. The upper tomb -he had found was known to everyone. It too had probably held riches, -but it had been plundered centuries since. None of the later tribes had -thought to look beneath it. The rector would not have had the curiosity -to explore if it had not been that in Greece a scientist had discovered -there double layers of tombs hewn out of the rocks.</p> - -<p>Mustapha then translated to me the words written in Arabic at the foot -of the diagram:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"Walk along the north wall of the town until there rises from -the mud-huts and cattle-sheds a stone pillar that lifts about -eight feet above the surrounding roofs. This pillar will mark the -location of a tomb that is still respected as a holy place by -the people of the town. Under the floor of this tomb, lies the -treasure chamber. Its entrance is through the outer wall, where I -dug out a stone. Pry along south wall below ground till triangular -slab is found."</p></blockquote> - -<p>Past clusters of mud-huts, dirt-heaps, piles of broken pottery, and -odorous cattle-sheds we groped. The dogs barked and ran snarling about -our feet, but Mustapha had magic words that soothed and hushed them. At -last, against the star-filled skies, we saw a rugged pillar lift up. -The huts and sheds stopped at this point, and for several rods there -were no buildings. The loneliness of the spot I took as a good omen. It -meant that I could dig with little fear of disturbance.</p> - -<p>From the town came sounds of singing and shouting. Drinking and dancing -and merry-making were engaging the people. With these unceasing noises -drowning the clink of our spades, we began to dig. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> - -<p>The dirt and debris was loose, and our arms were winged by excitement -and fear. I had told Mustapha that I expected that he should earn -enough money on this trip to give him a university education at Fez, -enough to make him respected as a sheik. Under the enchanting prospect, -and for love of me, he toiled.</p> - -<p>After ten minutes of digging, I took my dirk and felt along the side -of the wall which we had uncovered. My dirk's point entered a crevice. -We dug again, frantically, and now I was able to trace all sides of -the loose block of stone that acted as a bar to the entrance. Mustapha -brought out his knife and aided me in the prying, and between us we -managed to move the stone outwards as if it worked on hinges. I thought -of the Arabian lad who entered the retreat of the Forty Thieves. I too -had found an "Open Sesame" to riches. Were my eyes also to be dazzled -by the sight of treasure?</p> - -<p>The finding of the entrance, though it made me solemn, also created -something of a sense of security, for now we could continue our search -underground without attracting attention. One fear, however, still -lingered, and moved me to frantic haste—Murad's coming!</p> - -<p>We lowered ourselves a depth of six feet into the rock room. The clammy -moisture chilled our faces; the foul smell choked us. Lifting our -torches, we peered into the darkness.</p> - -<p>When our eyes grew accustomed to the gloom we found ourselves standing -among several skeletons, which had the appearance of having been -hurriedly buried. This discovery almost led us to a panicky retreat, -but I had risked too much to be turned from my quest by skeletons, and -I stepped across the bones and thrust my torch into the center regions. -There, buried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> in oblong chambers rudely hewn out of the rock floor of -the cavern, I saw six bodies that had moldered to dust. Girding their -bones, however, was jewelry such as I had never, even in my wildest -dreams, imagined.</p> - -<p>Upon the time-blackened skulls were headbands of gold. Covering the -rib-bones were massive breast-plates of the same metal. As I held down -my flame the delicately-wrought patterns of rosettes and palmettos with -which these pieces were ornamented flashed out brilliantly. Upon the -wrist-bones hung loosely serpent-shaped gold bracelets. From this rich -metal dress jewels flamed out to match my beacon's fire.</p> - -<p>Around these rock tombs lay more treasures—inlaid daggers with images -of cats engraved on their gold handles and with lotus patterns traced -on their blades; alabaster cups, hollowed out and painted inside with a -brilliant red; stone images of elks with heads of silver; jugs and cups -of ivory, alabaster, amber, silver, gold, and porcelain.</p> - -<p>Scholars have since told me that the ancients considered that the -station of a person in the world of the dead depended upon the wealth -with which he was buried. The people who buried these corpses had -assuredly done their utmost to insure the eminence of their friends in -the dominions of death. I did not pause to wonder whether these were -the remains of Phoenicians, Egyptians or of a still earlier race that -had dominated the Mediterranean and exacted toll of treasure from the -surrounding barbaric tribes. Here the bodies lay. Above them, through -the centuries, strange peoples had settled and passed; caravans had -stopped and hurried on; dancing girls had whirled; dervishes had -practiced sorceries, yet none dreamed of this cool tomb with its -riches. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> stuff was here for my taking. Murad was hard on my heels. -My lust for fortune overcame all thoughts of reverence for the dead.</p> - -<p>"Open the sacks, Mustapha," I said, "the smallest treasures are the -most valuable. We will take what we can carry and trust to fortune for -a chance to bring out the rest—or perhaps they will fall as crumbs to -Murad!"</p> - -<p>"Listen, master," Mustapha whispered. Men's voices came to us. I sprang -in terror towards the entrance with Mustapha at my heels. As I peered -out into the night my breath came again. The tinkle of camel bells came -to reassure me. A caravan was entering Tokra, with no suspicion that -they were passing within a stone's throw of such wealth.</p> - -<p>The capacious sacks loaded, I climbed out of the tomb by making a -stepping-stone of Mustapha's back. He hoisted up to me the three bags. -I then leaned down and pulled him out. It was about midnight.</p> - -<p>"Go to the stables," I said, giving him a coin, "and tell Achmet the -camel keeper that urgent business takes you back to Derne. Bring our -camels—Achmet knows that they belong to you. Put the gold into his -palm. Tell him that you are on business for Hamet Bashaw, who may -conquer Tokra next week!"</p> - -<p>"I know that he sympathizes with Hamet," Mustapha assured me. "He will -help us, and keep his tongue!"</p> - -<p>While Mustapha was gone, I replaced the stone door and shoveled back -the dirt. Mustapha returned with the camels. They knelt as we loaded -the sacks upon them. Around them we piled the bags of dates that had -already formed the camels' freight. We turned towards Derne and rode -like the wind.</p> - -<p>Many hours would pass, I reasoned, before Murad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> would begin his -search. If then he suspected that the tomb had been robbed and made -inquiries, many more hours must pass before he could start in pursuit.</p> - -<p>As things happened, however, it was not from behind us that danger -came. We came into the vicinity of Derne at nightfall, and drove our -jaded camels as fast as we could make them fly, fearing always an -encounter with the soldiers of Joseph Bashaw. We succeeded in gaining -the city's bounds with no adventure except passing through a volley -fired at random by guards whom we passed too swiftly to permit them to -arrest us, but as we rode through the town at gray dawn we observed no -signs of our troops.</p> - -<p>We learned from old Omar, an inn-keeper who came drowsily out to open -for us, that the ship <i>Constellation</i> had arrived bearing orders to -General Eaton to quit Derne at once, since Consul-General Lear had -concluded a peace with Tripoli. He told us that General Eaton and all -of the Christians in the party, together with Hamet Bashaw and his -suite, had embarked on the <i>Constellation</i> in a secret manner, for fear -that the people of Derne, and their allies, the Arab supporters of -Hamet, would attempt to massacre the party when they found that the war -had been abandoned and that they were left to the mercy of Joseph.</p> - -<p>Omar described how, when General Eaton had barely gotten clear of the -wharf, the soldiers and citizens of Derne had crowded down to the -shore shouting prayers to the general and Hamet not to leave them to -the mercy of Joseph's soldiers. Finding their pleas of no avail, the -soldiers had seized the horses the party had left behind, plundered the -tents of the departing officers, and fled towards Egypt. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> - -<p>After this occurrence a Tripolitan officer, a messenger from Joseph -Bashaw, had landed from the <i>Constellation</i> under a flag of truce, -bearing a message to the people of Derne that Joseph Bashaw would -pardon all who laid down their arms and renewed their allegiance to -him. Joseph's troops were to begin the occupancy of Derne that morning.</p> - -<p>Omar shook his head.</p> - -<p>"For myself, I fear nothing. Allah is good. Under his guidance I -remained loyal to Joseph. The returning Governor will know that Omar is -faithful. But as for my neighbors—let them not trust too much in the -Bashaw's promises. If I had fought on Hamet's side I should flee to the -mountains!"</p> - -<p>Mustapha and I exchanged worried glances. Here we were abandoned by our -friends and facing capture by Joseph's soldiers when they entered the -city. In that case, our gold and jewels would go to adorn the greedy -Joseph's throne. The main object of our treasure search, to provide the -general with funds to continue the expedition, could not be carried -out. There was nothing to do but flee—but where? From the camp of the -enemy came sounds of soldiers assembling. The triumphal entry would -soon begin.</p> - -<p>"Cavalry! Mount! Escape!" cried Mustapha.</p> - -<p>From a distance, swiftly coming nearer, we heard the sound of -hoof-beats. Around the corner of the inn came a blaze of color. -Galloping steeds were suddenly reined in. A Moorish officer, splendidly -uniformed, came towards me. Mustapha, who had stood several yards away, -began to lead his beast and mine down towards the river front.</p> - -<p>"Alhamdulilah! (Praise be to God)" he sang, "My<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> lord the Bashaw -returns to his own! The cowardly usurper Hamet has fled before Joseph -Bashaw's brave warriors!"</p> - -<p>The troopers gave Mustapha but a fleeting glance. My head was uncovered -and they saw that I was an American.</p> - -<p>There was a whispered conference. American warships might be still in -the mists that hid sea and shore. I had hopes that they would pass me -by unmolested. Instead the officer turned to his men.</p> - -<p>"Bind the Nazarene! One at least of the Christian dogs shall pay the -penalty of starting rebellion against our worshipful ruler!"</p> - -<p>I was bound hand and foot, thrown across a camel's back, and led out of -the city, to the enemy's camp.</p> - -<p>In the possession of an Arab lad, who was now as a lamb among wolves, -were the gold and jewels I had risked so much to secure. One gem of -the collection would have purchased my ransom, but knowing that a hint -as to the contents of the sacks would lead to the loss of all of the -treasure, I resolved to suffer slavery before I spoke of them. I prayed -that Mustapha would keep the secret, yet how could I expect that fate -would not reveal the contents of the sacks to covetous eyes?</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVIII</span> <span class="smaller">SOLD INTO SLAVERY</span></h2> - -<p>My captor, the Moorish officer, was a native of Ghadames, an interior -city of Tripoli—a caravan center located on a camel route to the -Soudan. I was regarded by him as the spoils of war, and his purpose was -clearly to sell me for a good price in an inland slave market where -there would be no American consul to make inquiries. As soon as Derne -was occupied, Joseph's army disbanded and the soldiers whose property -I was began to journey to their homes. Our caravan started too, and I -found myself riding upon the most uncomfortable camel in the outfit, -chained by one wrist to the trappings of the beast.</p> - -<p>I decided to lose no chance to escape. I knew that the farther inland -I went, the more difficult it would be for me to reach the coast. My -thoughts dwelt upon the treasure-bags I had last seen flopping through -the streets of Derne on Mustapha's camels. I swore that my Arab comrade -would see me again soon—and I devoutly hoped that his ingenuity would -enable him to hide the treasure.</p> - -<p>At last, when I was beginning to despair of falling in with a -coastbound caravan, we met a huge one bound from the Soudan to Tripoli. -In the excitement of meeting, and in the feasting and dancing that went -on between the two parties, my guard forgot me. I had been unshackled -while I ate, and the only sentinel over me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> was a young Arab who had -been stationed at the front entrance to my tent. I saw him looking -yearningly at the Arab girls who were dancing. I snored loudly and -regularly, watching his movements through the opening. Suddenly he -disappeared. A moment later I vanished too. I hoped to escape with the -Tripoli-bound caravan, and stole over to where its camel-drivers were -gathered. I had made my color as dark as possible, and wore my long -gown in true Arab fashion. I had learned, too, some common Arab words.</p> - -<p>In the center of the crowd I saw an African snake-charmer. The fakir's -round, fleshy face shone like polished ebony, and when he grinned, -which was often, I caught sight of two massive rows of gleaming ivory. -He wore nothing but a breech-cloth and sandals. His body was covered -with scars. These snake-charmers, I had heard, inflicted wounds upon -themselves, sometimes through religious frenzy, and sometimes because -it gave them prestige with their audiences.</p> - -<p>This fakir influenced the people much in the same way that a street -evangelist at home attracts listeners by music and loud words. In his -train were several men who played cymbals and bagpipes. As soon as they -began clanging and blowing upon these instruments, the crowd gathered.</p> - -<p>I drew back, for fear that the fakir's attentions to me would lead -to discovery, but his eyes had singled me out from the minute of my -approach, and he followed me, though not in a way to attract notice.</p> - -<p>Alarmed, I was about to make a wild dash into the desert when he caught -my arm. I drew back to strike.</p> - -<p>"The saint Mohammed," he said, catching my arm, "will harbor an -escaping Nazarene so long as the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>Nazarene is willing to clang the -cymbals loudly in the name of Mohammed, and is active in collecting -coins when the snakes have done squirming and the tales have been told. -Two of my attendants have deserted me. I offer you a trip to the coast -in my train."</p> - -<p>I nodded assent—any port in a storm!</p> - -<p>"Bring forth the cymbals! Mohammed is welcome to any music I can make -with them!" I said.</p> - -<p>"Pay close attention to my motions and when I signal you, collect what -coins you can. If any man question you, pretend to be dumb."</p> - -<p>He led me into his tent close by, procured for me a coarse robe that -was an effectual disguise and applied a pigment to my skin. When he was -through with me I looked like one of his own tribe. I went forth then -and mingled with the throng, listening while Mohammed told tales in -Arabic.</p> - -<p>Fascinating indeed were Mohammed's tricks. I watched in astonishment as -he shaped a bundle of hay into a mound and covered the pile with water.</p> - -<p>"By the grace of Mulai Ali, my patron saint," he said, "I give this hay -to the flames and command these serpents to respect the commands of the -Prophet's servant!"</p> - -<p>With these words, he emptied a bag of snakes on the ground. They looked -deadly as they wriggled about his feet and twined themselves around his -body. I was told that their poison had not been removed, yet he held -the head of the serpent that looked the most dangerous so close to him -that its fangs almost touched his lips.</p> - -<p>With feats of this nature, and with many tales, my new patron won his -audience, and collections were easy to make. What I gathered pleased -him and I had the feeling that I had for the time earned a right to his -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>protection. I was safely housed in his tent when men came to search -the oasis for me, but when they inquired of him he called down curses -on them for causing the thought of a Nazarene to cross the mind of a -child of the Prophet.</p> - -<p>We departed with the caravan bound for the coast. The Moorish officer's -soldiers inspected us closely, but Mohammed kept me closely engaged, -and arranged my hood so that I was dimly seen by the watchers. I -escaped even a challenge. We stopped at frequent oases, where Mohammed -entertained and I collected.</p> - -<p>But now, perhaps because the matter of my disguise handicapped him; -perhaps because he feared punishment for harboring an escaped slave; -perhaps from greed, Mohammed betrayed me. When we were a day's travel -from Tripoli, we fell in with a small coast-bound caravan that had lost -one of its camels and needed a beast of burden to take its place. I -became that animal!</p> - -<p>On hearing Achmet, the chief of the caravan, offer a large sum for -a beast of burden, Mohammed's eyes lighted on me. "There," he said, -"is a sound-bodied Nazarene slave that will do the work well. He has -served my purpose and since I have saved him from being sold as a slave -in the interior, he should not carp at my selling him to you. Take -the Christian dog, and may you lead him to become a true follower of -Mohammed!"</p> - -<p>I was thus hurled into the ranks of Achmet, whose blood-shot, piercing -eye and hawk nose gave him a cruel look in keeping with his character.</p> - -<p>"The Christian dog belongs to no country," Mohammed told the people -to whom I sought to appeal. "He is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> a cur who has been helping the -troublesome Hamet Bashaw to stir up a rebellion against our noble -ruler."</p> - -<p>These words enraged the crowd against me, and seeing how hopeless was -my state, I slunk away, kicked and slapped, to take up my burden.</p> - -<p>Fortunately, this caravan too was bound for Tripoli. I expected that -there I would have a chance to lay my case before the American consul, -and hoped to secure through him freedom and permission to sail back to -Derne in search of my treasure sacks.</p> - -<p>Loaded with as much of the camel's pack as I could stagger under, -I followed in the camel train. When camp was made, I was forced to -scramble among the dogs for my share of the scraps thrown to them by -the camel-drivers.</p> - -<p>When we reached Tripoli I was driven, closely guarded, to dark quarters -on the outskirts of the town, and threatened with death if I tried to -escape. I found out that the American consul was at Malta on business -that had arisen out of the making of peace with Joseph Bashaw. My case, -therefore, seemed almost as hopeless as when I was first captured.</p> - -<p>These cities of Barbary are strange affairs. The streets wind in and -out between white walls. You go under shadowy arches; you climb here a -dozen stairs and a little later go up an incline without stairs. The -streets are usually too narrow for camels or carts, so that porters -and donkeys do most of the hauling. A swarm of people pass continually -up and down these cramped ways. The Moslem women wear silken street -garments (haicks) that conceal the finery beneath. The faces of these -women are covered with a fine silk veil,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> and underneath their haicks -may be seen their bulging Turkish trousers.</p> - -<p>When I asked why the women wore veils, I was told that the custom had -come down from the time the Christian crusaders invaded the Moslem -countries; the attention they paid to the wives and daughters of the -Turks led to the followers of Mohammed prescribing the veil for their -women folk.</p> - -<p>Among the streams of people were Jews talking trade, consoling -themselves for the insults by the Mohammedans with the thought of the -profits they were making in their dealings with the Moslems; European -envoys; rich, lazy Moors; camel drivers; black slaves; soldiers in the -Bashaw's service, and sailors employed by the corsair captains. Lame, -halt and blind beggars sat by the roadside, beseeching gifts.</p> - -<p>"In the name of Allah, give us alms!" a beggar wailed from almost every -corner and doorway. The men they solicited were usually rich Moors who -wore turbans of fine cloth and richly embroidered vests. Yet often they -would select for their target a camel driver from the desert, clad in -his coarse gray baracan.</p> - -<p>Here stood a fountain surrounded by Arabs and negroes drawing water in -gourds and jugs; yonder a dozen women sat on the ground, selling bread. -Hooded Arab boys romped on the outskirts of the throng, or recited -verses from the Koran to a bearded teacher. Lean cats and dogs were -everywhere. All kinds of smells filled the air—garlic, burning aloe -wood, fish.</p> - -<p>I stood one day in an archway six feet wide that stood in the center of -four streets and watched the crowd go by. I saw fish-mongers carrying -great baskets of sardines, and strings of slimy catfish, against which -the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> crowd brushed, leaving the dirt and smell of the fish on their -garments. Girls with boards on their heads filled with dough ready for -baking darted in and out among the throng; donkeys, laden with garbage, -ambled alongside of donkeys carrying fresh roses. Jews, burdened -with muslin and calico, went from door to door, haggling with those -who examined their wares through partly-opened doors. Boys sauntered -along munching raw carrots and artichokes; girls of eight carried on -their backs babies wrapped in dirty rags. The little mothers and their -charges seemed never to have seen soap and water, but from hair to -anklets they were decked with faded flowers.</p> - -<p>Blind people—there were hundreds of them—walked along as boldly as -if they had eyesight, leaving it for those who could see to get out of -their way.</p> - -<p>"<i>Balek</i> (out of the way)!" was the cry of everyone. "<i>Emshi Rooah, ya -kelb</i> (clear out, begone, you dog)!" was a cry I had grown accustomed -to through hearing it hurled at me countless times, for was not I a -member of</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"A sect they are taught to hate</div> -<div>And are delighted to decapitate."</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>The upper stories of the houses projected over the lower, and, because -of the narrow street, the houses that stood opposite each other almost -met, so that all one could see of the sky in many places was a bright -blue chink overhead. The walls were all whitewashed; here and there -a beautiful gateway appeared. One could not tell from the exterior -of the houses whether rich folk or poor folk dwelt inside the walls, -yet beyond many of these dark corridors leading through the walls -were beautiful garden courts, with silver fountains playing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> and an -abundance of flowers and trees, while underfoot were tiles of various -rich colors.</p> - -<p>Of the many mosques I passed I can tell nothing, as Christians are not -allowed to enter them. Neither were we allowed to dress in green or -white—for these are the colors of the prophet.</p> - -<p>My new master, still using me as a beast of burden, took me several -times to the house at which he lodged. I was thus able to get a glimpse -inside a Mohammedan home of the middle class. We went through a -whitewashed tunnel till we came to a gate from which hung a huge brass -knocker.</p> - -<p>My master did not use the knocker. He began to pound on the door in the -Arab fashion. A veiled woman peeped over the terrace wall and screamed -a question at him. His reply reassured her, and we were admitted to -a little square court that was neatly paved with red tiles, through -which ran a path of marble lined with oleanders and fig trees. Rooms, -white-washed and blue-washed, opened on this court. The owner of the -house, Fatima, was a widow, who lived with her old father, and earned -her living by embroidering and weaving. She wore the white silken veil -as we entered; but as she gossiped with my master she pulled it aside -and showed her brown, dumpling face. She wore an embroidered jacket and -silk pantaloons, along with gold trimmings and jewelry—an array that -seemed so strange to me that I kept my eyes fastened on the ceiling -while I was in her presence. She had rented one of her small rooms to -my master, whose parents she knew. Fatima spent much of her time on the -roof of her house, looking down on the street over the walls of her -terrace. The roofs or terraces were used by women alone and most of the -visiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> between houses was done by climbing across the walls dividing -the houses.</p> - -<p>For privacy, Fatima dropped a flimsy curtain over the door of her -room, and this barrier was as strictly respected by her household as -if it were a strong door. Visitors were received in the parlor. Fatima -and her guests sat on a divan covered with cushions and drank coffee. -Handwoven carpets and draperies were everywhere.</p> - -<p>The beds of the household were mattresses spread on the floor. One -blanket often covers an entire family in the houses of the poor. Fatima -fell sick while we were under her roof, and sent a woman friend to a -holy man for a remedy. I discovered that the medicine was nothing more -than a slip of paper containing the words "He will heal the breasts of -the people who believe."</p> - -<p>Fatima was ordered to chew and swallow the paper. The widow still -complained of illness after swallowing this dose, and was ordered by -the marabout to write a verse from the Koran on the inside of a cup; -then to pour in water till the writing was washed away; then to drink -this water, which was supposed to have in it the virtue expressed in -the verse. I followed my master out of Fatima's house greatly amazed at -this kind of medical treatment, but I did not wonder at hearing that -she had complained that her aches were increasing.</p> - -<h3>THE SLAVE MARKET</h3> - -<p>Achmet had now no further use for me and decided to sell me as a slave. -I was driven, chained, to the slave market. This auction place was in -a large square. All around it were little booths. These were crowded -with spectators. Through the center of the bazaar ran a walk.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> Most of -the slaves that had been brought to the market for sale were women and -girls. Among the Moors it was thought no evil to deal in human flesh. A -black woman with children was first sold. One could tell by the way she -clung to her brood that she feared she would be separated from them. We -saw her face light when one of the Moors who was squatting on the edge -of the walk bought the entire family.</p> - -<p>A boy came next. He was handled by prospective buyers as if he were a -horse. His eyes, mouth, teeth and nostrils were examined. The first -Moslem who inspected him must have seen some defect in the lad, for he -waved him away. The auctioneer then seized the boy and led him up and -down the walk before the Moors in the bazaars, shouting his good points.</p> - -<p>Most of the girls were blacks or mulattoes, brought from the interior -of Africa by Arabian traders. There were a few white girls among them. -Each girl or woman was handled in the same manner as the boys had been. -Some of the maidens boldly returned the stare of those who inspected -them. Others shrank from their inspection and, when possible, covered -their faces with the woolen haicks they wore.</p> - -<p>This slave market reflected only a small part of the slave life of the -city. I saw men and women of all classes huddled together in dark, -dirty prisons, praying their countrymen would send money to ransom them.</p> - -<p>Those whose relatives were not rich enough to buy their freedom were -sold to various buyers and set to work at all kinds of labor. The -owners often made use of their slaves to earn them money. The old -slaves were usually sent out to sell water. Many a drink have I bought -from these water-carriers, as, dragging their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> chains, they led their -donkeys through the streets and sold water from bags of skin that hung -across the backs of their beasts. Some of my other acquaintances among -the slaves acted as messengers or house-servants; others were employed -as herders, drivers or plowmen—I have even seen a Christian slave -yoked to a plow with an ox for a yoke-fellow.</p> - -<p>Once, while inland, I saw coming out of the Soudan a score of slaves -fastened together in a long wooden yoke that had many holes cut in it a -few feet apart to admit the heads of the slaves. If one of these slaves -fell sick or grew too weak to walk, he would hang from this yoke by -his neck, with his feet dragging. As much as he suffered himself, his -condition added to the sufferings of his yoke-fellows, for they had to -bear his weight. I heard that if he seemed likely to die before the -slave market was reached, his master would cut his head from his body -with one knife stroke—it saved halting the procession to remove the -sick man from the yoke.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIX</span> <span class="smaller">THE ESCAPE</span></h2> - -<p>Murad in Tripoli! There he stood, stroking his beard and gazing at me -with glittering eyes as I was hauled past him to the auction-block.</p> - -<p>A fierce Arabian trader, who was forming a caravan to go into the -Soudan, bid for me. Murad offered more. I was torn between my terror of -being sold "up-country" and of being bought by the Egyptian, who would -probably apply torture to wring from me the story of what had become of -the contents of the treasure tomb. The Arabian, scowling at Murad, made -a still higher bid, whereupon Murad increased his offer. The trader -gave me a few final digs and slaps, as if to see if I had the sinews -and endurance to warrant his paying a higher price; then he shook his -head, cursed me for a Christian dog, and passed to the next slave. -Murad came forward. I was pushed into his arms and then thrust by him -into the rough hands of his two Moorish attendants.</p> - -<p>The Egyptian told me curtly that he had purchased from the Algerines -a ship they had captured called the <i>Hawk</i>, which he meant to use as -a merchant vessel under the protection of the Bashaw, and that he had -bought me for service on board of her.</p> - -<p>"I am buying out of these slave markets a crew of European sailors," he -said curtly. "Remember that we are now master and slave. Where I once -befriended you, now I will compel you to wear chains and be subject<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> -to the lash. The American consul to this port is now in Malta; we will -sail before he returns; place no hope in him. I want you to search your -memory and be prepared to tell me every move you made since I left you -aboard <i>The Rose of Egypt</i>. I shall soon question you upon certain -happenings in the desert about which you doubtless have knowledge!"</p> - -<p>My eyes fell before his piercing gaze. "I see I have struck home," he -said, "I can question you better aboard ship. Go! Report now to my -mate, MacWilliams."</p> - -<p>Under the charge of the two Moors, I was sent aboard the <i>Hawk</i>. She -was a staunch, graceful, roomy vessel, built on the Clyde out of the -best materials—a ship that reflected credit on the Scotchmen who made -her. I said to myself, as I viewed her admiringly, that she was far too -good a ship to be in such vile hands. For all of Murad's threats, my -spirits rose as I felt her deck under my feet. Here I was among white -men, and decent fellows they appeared to be. Here I had a dozen chances -to escape, while if the Arabian trader had gained possession of me, -only a miracle could have rescued me. As for Murad, if he tortured me, -I meant to leap overboard and attempt to swim to safety.</p> - -<p>The mate, William MacWilliams, was a big, raw-boned, lantern-jawed -man. He received me with kindness and pity. I heard that, under threat -of death, he had denied the religion of Christ and had embraced the -faith of Mohammed. Murad seemed to place great trust in him. The -Egyptian had become, it seemed, too important a man to be a mere ship -captain—perhaps his experience on <i>The Rose of Egypt</i> had brought -about this state of mind—and he left all matters in charge of the -mate. He himself had much business to transact at court, and things<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> -occurred to postpone his questioning of me until we were almost ready -to sail.</p> - -<p>Since my chains were the badge of my slavery, no watch was kept on me -as I went to and fro on errands for those who were outfitting the ship.</p> - -<p>William MacWilliams interested me greatly. I had heard that there were -many renegades of his type in Barbary. I have been informed that the -word renegade comes from the Latin word <i>nego</i>, which means "I deny." -Some of these men had become turncoats to save their skins; others had -become renegades because the Moslems, poor sailors themselves, were -glad to employ Christian sea captains, and gave them opportunities to -live luxuriously and become rich.</p> - -<p>MacWilliams wore a most melancholy expression. For all his supposed -devotion to the religion of Mohammed, I came upon him one day reading a -pocket Testament.</p> - -<p>"It is a book that has sublime characters in it, my lad," he said in -an embarrassed fashion. Then he turned and looked towards a mosque -on shore. "There is but one God, and Allah is his prophet!" he said -piously. I looked around, surprised at the change in his attitude. Then -I saw the reason. The commander of the Turkish soldiers quartered on -board the <i>Hawk</i> had passed our way.</p> - -<p>I could not fathom MacWilliams. Yet, understanding something of the -temptations a Christian faced in Barbary, I tried to be charitable in -my judgment towards him.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, I became a carrier of supplies, threading my way through the -motley throngs with my back bent beneath coils of rope, carpenters' -tools, and ship's stores.</p> - -<p>While on one of these errands I had a curious adventure. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> - -<p>I tried to go through the streets without giving offence to any -Mussulman, as I feared a cuffing or even the bastinado.</p> - -<p>I soon learned that it was the so-called "saints" that were the most -dangerous to Christians. The Arabs, while they will themselves refrain -from showing the contempt they feel towards Christians, nevertheless -will reward and praise one of the holy men for abusing us.</p> - -<p>A tall scantily clad negro, of the type of Mohammed, was the most -fanatical and the most dangerous "saint" I met. He was begging alms at -the entrance to a courtyard when he saw me passing. He carried a staff -in his hand which he used principally to strike Jews and Christians. -It was not the stick that troubled me, but instead the habit he had -of spitting in the face of Christians. As he peered into my face, -detecting my Christian features despite my attempt to disguise them, -I saw his mouth moving as if he were preparing to attack me after his -vile custom. I hurried out of his range, and escaped the spittle. My -quickness enraged him, and he called after me in Arabian. I had heard -the words often enough to know that they meant:</p> - -<p>"Dog of a Christian, may your grandmother roast! Why shouldst thou -avoid the spittle of a saint? It would be the only thing blessed upon -thee, seeing that it came from the mouth of a saint!"</p> - -<p>I darted down a side street and into a doorway, hoping to rid myself -of the pest, but he followed quickly and caught sight of my place of -refuge.</p> - -<p>"Dog of a Christian," he cried again, poking me in the chest and ribs -with his staff, "why do you offend Mohammed by treading the same ground -as true believers?" </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> - -<p>My blood mounted as I smarted beneath his cudgel. I decided that I -would fare just as well by resisting as by submitting, so I ducked my -head and dived into the stomach of the fellow, upsetting him. This -turned out to be, in the eyes of the Moslems, a great sacrilege. It -appeared that while the alleged holy man had entire freedom to beat -me, I had committed a crime by doing violence to his body. He made a -tremendous uproar as he rose from the dust, and the noise drew a crowd -that began to pummel me. I plunged deeper into the doorway, and, having -seized the stick of the marabout, whirled it before me in a vigorous -fashion. A storm of stones and sticks beat upon me.</p> - -<p>While I was on my knees, expecting a rush that would trample me to -death, I suddenly heard a familiar voice above the shrieks of the mass.</p> - -<p>"Dogs of the desert, how dare you trouble the slave of a good -Mohammedan? This Nazarene is the slave of my master, friend of the -Bashaw! Is my lord a Jew or a Christian that you would destroy his -property before the eyes of a witness? The slave was assaulted first. I -swear by the Prophet that he is a gentle slave, and intended no injury -to the holy man. Off with you before I call the soldiers of the Bashaw!"</p> - -<p>The crowd dispersed. Grumbling, the marabout departed.</p> - -<p>I looked into the twinkling eyes of Mustapha. Snatching the marabout's -staff from my hand, he began to pelt me across the shoulders. "It is -necessary that I do this," he whispered, "the people are watching."</p> - -<p>I went through the crowd with Mustapha belaboring me and shouting:</p> - -<p>"Dog of a Nazarene, how dare you risk your body,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> for which my master -paid a great sum, in a fight with a holy man?"</p> - -<p>When we reached a place where our talk could not be overheard, I burst -out: "The treasure sacks, Mustapha? Do not tell me that the Moors have -them!"</p> - -<p>"The bags are safe, oh David," he assured me, "but fret not if you -are not able to open them till you return to America. After you were -captured, I hurried to the waterside. There I saw the cutter of <i>The -Morning Star</i>, a vessel of the American navy. I unstrapped the sacks -and put them in the boat, pointing out to the sailor in charge the tags -you had tied around their necks."</p> - -<p>This information dumbfounded me. The fact that I had been careful -enough to tie to the necks of the sacks tags from our own naval stores -seemed to promise now delivery of the sacks to a safe place—if they -were not ripped open and plundered meanwhile. This was not liable to -happen in view of the pains I had taken to ward off curiosity. Upon -each tag I had written plainly:</p> - -<p class="center">ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS<br />to be delivered to<br /> -Rev. Ezekiel Eccleston, D.D.,<br />Rector of Marley Chapel,<br />Baltimore, Md.<br /><br /> -Sender: David Forsyth,<br />With American Military Expedition<br />in Libyan Desert.</p> - -<p>"If the men who handle the bags respect either the navy or the -ministry," I said to Mustapha, "the treasure will be safe. But how can -I be sure that the sacks were received on board the ship?" </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I saw the bags lifted over the side, oh, thou of little faith," -Mustapha reproved me, "and the boat did not return to the dock. A -few hours later <i>The Morning Star</i> sailed for America. Allah favored -you—my tribe moved this way when Joseph Bashaw's soldiers took -possession of Derne, and thus I came to prevent your blood being -spilled in the streets of Tripoli!"</p> - -<p>"I want to reward you with the biggest gem in our collection," I said, -"but how can I do it when our fortune is at sea?"</p> - -<p>Then a thought came to me. "Mustapha," I said, "I mean to escape from -the <i>Hawk</i> and board a ship bound for England or America. I have -learned from the mate that a servant boy is needed on the <i>Hawk</i>. If -you like, I'll recommend you for the place. You must pretend not to -know me. If the owner of the <i>Hawk</i> discovers that you know about the -treasure, he'll probably cut your throat? Can you swim?"</p> - -<p>Mustapha nodded. "I'll dive overboard if he bothers me!"</p> - -<p>"Come then," I said, "we'll follow our riches to America, and you shall -return home a great sheik!"</p> - -<p>His tribesmen had returned to the desert, and he was free to act for -himself. Quite without fear, he followed me aboard. I spoke a good word -for him to MacWilliams, and before long he was peeling potatoes in the -galley. If I had thought that Murad would recognize him, I should have -given my right hand rather than have invited him to share my luck; I -did not know that my meeting with Mustapha had been observed by Murad, -and that I was leading the lad into danger.</p> - -<p>All too soon came the interview I feared with my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> owner. One day Murad -came aboard the <i>Hawk</i>, entered the cabin, and sent for me. The tiger -was about to show his claws. I was not greatly frightened, for I -reckoned that he would need me in his plans to gain possession of the -treasure.</p> - -<p>"Now, you scheming dog," he said, "let's not beat about the bush. Your -guardian told me once of a treasure tomb hidden in the desert. You know -the story. Perhaps you know, too, how I came into possession of the -rector's secret. When at last I was able to uncover the tomb, all of -the relics worth taking had vanished. Don't try to look innocent: you -were my cabin boy on board <i>The Rose of Egypt</i>. The reason you enlisted -with me so readily was that you wanted to find the chart and get a -chance at the treasure at Tokra. I found that someone had entered the -tomb a few hours before me. Two strange young Arabs had been seen near -the spot. I choked a stablekeeper until he described both rascals. One -of the two Arabs was you, eh? Tell me where the trinkets and jewels -are! If your tongue is stubborn, a red-hot iron may cause it to move. -What did you find? Tell me what you took away! Speak up—the way to -save yourself from the torture you well deserve is to put me on the -track of the treasure!"</p> - -<p>There was nothing to be gained by secrecy, and much to be suffered, so -I described the trinkets and gems in a way that made his eyes sparkle -and his fingers quiver. He snarled and showed his wolfish teeth when I -told him that the treasure sacks were on their way to America.</p> - -<p>All of a sudden I was knocked down by a blow from his fist. He stepped -across me and called to a sailor in Arabic. After the lapse of a -minute, the door of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> cabin was thrown open, and Mustapha was thrust -in by a Moslem guard. He had been seized in the act of diving over the -side.</p> - -<p>"Is this the young devil that led you to Tokra?" Murad thundered at me.</p> - -<p>"Yes," I said, "but he went only as my guide and knew nothing of why I -went. He has done nothing to merit punishment."</p> - -<p>Under a volley of threats, Mustapha was commanded to tell all that he -knew of the treasure tomb. He looked at me with frightened eyes; yet -his lips remained sealed.</p> - -<p>"Tell all, Mustapha," I said, "it will free you, and it will be no more -than I have already told."</p> - -<p>His story, as he stammered it, agreed with mine in every particular.</p> - -<p>Murad strode up and down the cabin, swearing in Arabic and English. -Then he shot questions at both of us concerning <i>The Morning Star</i>. -When had she sailed from Derne? What was to be her next port? Was she -fast? How many men and guns did she carry?</p> - -<p>When Mustapha had answered as well as he could, Murad booted us out of -the cabin. "I'm not done with you, miserable curs," he cried. "I'll -need you when I board <i>The Morning Star</i>. Then for all the trouble -you've caused me, I'll sew you up in the bags and drop you overboard! -If you can think of a way of getting those bags you'll do well to send -for them as your ransom. If I don't get them, you——" He drew his -finger across his throat with a horrible gesture.</p> - -<p>He now sent for MacWilliams and gave him sharp orders.</p> - -<p>The next morning, after a day of hurried preparation, the <i>Hawk</i> -sailed. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> - -<p>The ship had an armament of ten cannon, and carried an abundant supply -of ammunition and provisions. A company of Moorish soldiers were on -board of her. What was the <i>Hawk's</i> mission? Were we Christians to be -used in enslaving other Christians? Was the <i>Hawk</i> a ship whose mission -fitted her name? Was she to be a pirate ship seeking Christian vessels -as prey, and would we be made to fight and to help enslave men of our -own religion and blood? Questions like these concerned the Christians -among the crew, and I for one prayed that I would have the courage to -jump overboard if there came a moment when I was driven to do such -deeds.</p> - -<p>On our first day out, I made bold to unburden myself to the mate. -MacWilliams eyed me gravely. "You are not to ask questions. You are -to do as you are told. What happens on board this ship shall be on my -conscience."</p> - -<p>He walked off, leaving me no more clear about the matter than I was -before. I saw the Danes and Italians talking earnestly in their -languages, and I knew that what was worrying me was also troubling them.</p> - -<p>MacWilliams was master of navigation, but had no authority over any -other activity aboard ship. There were about forty Moslems aboard who -took no part in sailing the vessel. In charge of them was Murad, who -had command over the entire ship and told MacWilliams the direction -in which he wanted the ship to sail. I learned that he had directed -MacWilliams to sail to certain ports outside of the Straits, where he -hoped to fall in with <i>The Morning Star</i>.</p> - -<p>The master gunner was an English renegade named Watson, who had charge -of the guns and ammunition. The commander seemed to think that European -gunners<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> were better than Moors, because among the gunners under Watson -were several Christian renegades. I found myself wondering whether, if -all of the men aboard of Christian or former Christian faith were moved -by the same desire to escape, they could not overcome the Mohammedans -and capture the vessel. Yet, having observed that some Christians when -they adopted the Moslem religion grew as fanatical in their devotion as -did the most extreme worshippers, I decided that it would not be safe -to whisper such a suggestion to anyone.</p> - -<p>It gave us entertainment while we were performing our tasks to watch -the peculiar customs of the Moslems. Our greatest source of amusement -was a professional wizard the Moors had brought with them. He had a -book of magic, and when the commander was in doubt as to which course -to take, the dark-skinned humbug would open his book and advise him -according to the wisdom he drew from its pages.</p> - -<p>When the wizard's advice was passed on to MacWilliams, he said -nothing by way of dissent, but proceeded to steer and set sails as -his own judgment and experience dictated. The Moslems, who had no sea -knowledge, and were lost when they were out of sight of land, made -no effort to find out whether the mate was following the magician's -counsel.</p> - -<p>Our fears as to what sort of work we were about to enter upon soon -became certainties. On our second day out we caught sight of a large -schooner and gave chase. Her crew, rather than surrender, drove the -ship ashore and fled along the coast. The men Murad sent in boats to -plunder the vessel brought back several guns, some gold, and such -wearing apparel and furnishings as took their fancy. The sight of -the gold brought back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> to my mind my own lost treasure. Between the -prospect of attacking Christian vessels and the remembrance of what I -had already suffered, I spent my night watches in great distress of -mind, a state which was in no way soothed by the thought that around me -lay Christian slaves racked by the same thoughts.</p> - -<p>On the next day we sailed boldly through the Straits and out into the -Atlantic Ocean. As we were making the passage through the Straits, -we discovered a sail. I feared that it was <i>The Morning Star</i>. It -proved, however, to be an Algerine corsair. We spoke to each other and -separated.</p> - -<p>We headed north, past Cape St. Vincent. It puzzled me that Murad would -permit MacWilliams to take the ship so far from the Mediterranean. It -was a dangerous undertaking for the corsairs, but the <i>Hawk</i> was an -unusually speedy ship, and I supposed that Murad was depending on her -swiftness to escape any hostile warships that he might meet.</p> - -<p>A great homesickness came upon us as we passed into the Atlantic. It -was intolerable to think of returning to the Mediterranean and the -dreadful shores of Barbary when the coasts of Europe were almost in -sight. I thought often of the girl who escaped from the desert and -sailed to America.</p> - -<p>Sometimes Murad's lieutenant grew angry with some of the Moors, who -were slow in carrying out his orders. To spite them, he showed favor to -such Christians as happened to be near.</p> - -<p>"Bon Christiano! Bon Christiano!" he called endearingly. The next hour, -however, the wind would change. He would stroll along the deck followed -by the very Moslems he had reviled, and if he found any of us at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> fault -about our work he would bid his Moors knock our heads together. He was -afraid to carry these tyrannies too far, for MacWilliams was prone to -look upon him with a look that warned him that the Christian sailors -were too valuable to Mohammedan safety to be abused too far.</p> - -<p>One night, while I was on watch, MacWilliams approached me. His hand -rested on my shoulder with a fatherly touch that moved me greatly.</p> - -<p>"The time has come when I need your help," he said. "I intend to take -this ship to England despite her crew of Mohammedans. If the plan goes -through, every Christian slave aboard the <i>Hawk</i> shall step upon the -earth of Europe a free man. I've been watching you. I believe you agree -that it's better to risk death than to go on leading such a life. There -are other slaves who think the same way. What do you say, lad?"</p> - -<p>"Just you try me!" I said. "I owe the infidels a score that can hardly -be wiped out. Besides, hasn't the skipper threatened to sew me in a -sack and toss me overboard? Of course, you can trust me, and Mustapha, -too!"</p> - -<p>"Lad, lad," MacWilliams went on, "we English blame the Turks, yet we -have been reaping the fruits of what our own race has sowed. The story -has passed down to me, through generations of seafaring ancestors, of -how when good Queen Elizabeth passed and when the English and Spaniards -ceased for a time their warfare at sea, hundreds of sailors who had -fought in bloody battles under Drake were at a loss for employment and -found it in piracy.</p> - -<p>"Down to the Mediterranean they went and entered the service of these -evil Moors. It was our forebears<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> who taught the Moslems how to become -good sea-fighters. It was men of our own race who first led the Barbary -corsairs forth on buccaneering expeditions. What our forefathers -started, some of us have carried on, but the time has come to end it -all!"</p> - -<p>Continuing, for we had an idle hour to pass, and the mate was desirous -of heartening me for our desperate undertaking, MacWilliams told me of -how in 1639 William Okeley, an English slave, had constructed in the -cellar of his master's shop a light canoe made of canvas, making oars -from the staves of empty wind pipes. This craft he and his companions -smuggled down to the beach, and five of them embarked in it and made -their way safely to Majorca. The hardest part of the enterprise was -their farewell to two other English slaves who were to have made the -voyage with them, but who were found to overweight the little boat.</p> - -<p>"With the help of Gunner Watson," MacWilliams explained as I drew him -out as to his plan, "we should be able to trap the Moslems between -the decks; get control of the cannon and powder, and sail the ship -into some European port. It'll be turning the tables in fine style—a -Christian crew bringing infidels as captives to an English harbor!"</p> - -<p>He proceeded to set forth his plan in detail. "By to-morrow," he -concluded, "I shall know every trustworthy man. I shall then give -each man a definite part. Such a way of escape has been in my mind -for years. A man with a Presbyterian conscience can never remain -a Mohammedan. If our plot succeeds I shall make a contribution to -the church of my fathers that I hope shall to some extent offset my -wickedness!"</p> - -<p>Mustapha carried food from the galley to Murad.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> MacWilliams told me -that it was essential to the success of the plot that Murad be made -too ill to note the direction of the ship. The mate was skilful in -Oriental medicines, and he produced a phial containing a liquid that, -while tasteless, yet had the power to nauseate and weaken a man. -While Mustapha obligingly turned his back, and while I kept guard, -MacWilliams poured the fluid into Murad's broth. The Egyptian was taken -with what seemed to be chronic sea-sickness and kept to his cabin. I do -not think he suspected that his food had been "doctored." He ordered -MacWilliams to sail close to certain ports and to pursue any vessel -that was not plainly a warship.</p> - -<p>I told the mate something of the treasure tale—enough for him to know -that Murad was in pursuit of <i>The Morning Star</i>—and at whatever port -it seemed safe for us to stop, MacWilliams brought aboard reports -that there was a richly laden vessel bound for America that might -be overhauled before we reached the next Atlantic harbor. Thus we -continued steadily away from the Straits.</p> - -<p>Once an encounter with a strange warship came near to upsetting -our plans for capturing the <i>Hawk</i>. MacWilliams and Watson, being -renegades, were afraid to meet the captain of any European warship, for -fear that they might be recognized and treated as buccaneers. Knowing -their minds, I watched the outcome of the chase with intense interest.</p> - -<p>I happened to be the lookout for that day, and had reported a strange -sail ahead.</p> - -<p>MacWilliams climbed the mast to a place beside me and adjusted his -telescope. Then he went down and approached Uruj, Murad's lieutenant. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> - -<p>"She is well to windward——I doubt if we can pass her!" the mate -reported.</p> - -<p>"Why should we try to pass her?" Uruj said insolently.</p> - -<p>"'Twill go hard with us if we don't," said MacWilliams. "She is double -our size—with double our crew and guns. Our only chance is to keep our -course and try to weather the ship."</p> - -<p>Uruj looked to the wizard for advice. The magician, being a rank -coward, found by his book that MacWilliams told the truth. Uruj -therefore agreed to MacWilliams's plan.</p> - -<p>We could now see the ship over our lee bow, about three miles away. The -sea was heavy, but the <i>Hawk</i> met the waves gallantly. We saw a thick -white puff of smoke from the forecastle of our pursuer.</p> - -<p>"The wind looks like it will die down," said MacWilliams, who had been -anxiously watching the sky. "If it does, we will outsail her. The next -few moments should tell what the outcome will be."</p> - -<p>It looked to us as if we must pass within pistol shot of the vessel, -and the thought of having to receive a broadside from her at such a -short distance was enough to make a braver lad than I shiver with -fright. Watson and his gunners stood at the cannon, waiting for Uruj's -command.</p> - -<p>Our pursuer was close to us now—in full sail. We could see groups of -men about the gun ports, from which cannon jutted.</p> - -<p>A voice hailed us.</p> - -<p>"Ho! The schooner, ahoy!"</p> - -<p>"Hello!" MacWilliams responded.</p> - -<p>"What vessel is that?" </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> - -<p>"The Tripolitan schooner <i>Hawk</i>, from Tripoli. What ship is yours?"</p> - -<p>We could not catch the first part of the reply, but we did hear the -last words: "Haul down your flag and heave to!"</p> - -<p>Uruj went down to tell Murad. We continued on our course.</p> - -<p>"Heave to or we'll sink you," cried the challenger.</p> - -<p>MacWilliams spoke to Uruj. "Do as you think best," said Uruj. "Fire the -bow guns," MacWilliams commanded Watson.</p> - -<p>Our grapeshot whistled through the rigging of the frigate. We saw her -foresail fall.</p> - -<p>Jets of flame issued from her ports and a broadside swept our decks. -Our sails were undamaged, but several shots tore through our hull, -injuring several of the sailors and soldiers with flying splinters, -though none was seriously hurt.</p> - -<p>Before the next cannonade came, we had widened the distance between the -<i>Hawk</i> and her pursuer. The winds, as MacWilliams had predicted, had -grown lighter, and the <i>Hawk</i>, a splendid sailer in light winds, showed -her heels handily to the enemy. Their shots struck us with less force, -and soon we saw the shots from their long gun falling short of us.</p> - -<p>We had escaped from capture by a ship that evidently belonged to a -country that was hostile to the Tripolitans. If she had seized us the -renegades would have been treated in the same way that the Moslems -would be used, and therefore MacWilliams took this desperate chance. As -for me, I did not know whether to be glad or sorry, for if I had lived -through the battle, I could doubtless have proved that I had been held -in slavery. Yet the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> incident must have confirmed the Turks in their -opinion of MacWilliams' loyalty.</p> - -<p>On another day we sighted a vessel that appeared to be <i>The Morning -Star</i>, but when she was nearly under our guns, and when Mustapha and I -were about to surrender hope of saving our riches, a freak of wind bore -her away from us, and we never saw her again.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the scheme of rebellion and seizure was making steady -progress. The plan of mutiny as it had formed itself in MacWilliams's -mind was to provide ropes and irons near the hatchways, gratings and -cabins so that they could be closed from the outside at a moment's -notice. When this had been arranged, the next step was to dupe the -Moslems so that the most of them would be below deck when the signal -for attack was given. MacWilliams went about the work cautiously. To -have one traitor among us, he well knew, would cost every Christian his -life. Mustapha, being an Arab, hated the Moors, and entered the plot -eagerly.</p> - -<p>Each man who consented to engage in the plot swore a sacred oath of -fidelity.</p> - -<p>With those MacWilliams could not trust—renegades or slaves whose -character he could not read—his plan was, when the uprising came, to -put pistols to their breasts and threaten them with death if they did -not assist in the rebellion.</p> - -<p>After hours that seemed as long as months had passed, he passed me the -word one night that the signal would be given on the morrow, before -noon. The rough weather we were laboring through was an aid to our -scheme.</p> - -<p>The next morning MacWilliams made an inspection of the hold. Then he -came up to inform the Moslem lieutenant that there was much water in -the bilges, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> that it would be necessary to trim the ship. Uruj, -suspecting nothing, consented. Our leader then asked that, for the same -purpose, the cannon that were forward should be moved aft. This being -done, he further requested that the Moslem soldiers be quartered aft so -as to bring the ship's bow out of the water. This was also agreed to. -Meanwhile, we had managed to store in a convenient place such weapons -as we would need.</p> - -<p>When all these things had been done, to avoid suspicion, we went -about our regular duties. Our confederates of the gunner's force went -below deck with the infidel soldiers so that it would not appear that -there was a crowding together of the slaves and renegades. The rest -of us were set to pumping water by MacWilliams. I could tell by the -arrangement of the men, and by the way they acted, which were sharers -in the secret. There were about a score of us, and we had to contend -with double our number.</p> - -<p>At noon, while most of the Turks that were on deck were aft, using -their weight to bring the stern into the water so that the water in the -vessel might flow towards the pumps, MacWilliams gave the signal to one -of the gunners to fire a cannon. An explosion followed—the signal for -us to proceed. With a ringing hurrah we sprang to the attack.</p> - -<p>Each man had been assigned a specific duty: first we battened down the -hatches down which most of the Moslems had gone, so that the greater -part of our enemies were now prisoners; then we turned to conquer the -Moslems on deck.</p> - -<p>There were twelve of them. They came at us with pistols, knives and -hatchets, calling us by their epithet,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> "Christian dogs!" But the dogs -had become bloodhounds now. Johansen, one of the Danes, swung one of -the cannon in their direction. They made a rush at him, but he fired -the gun directly at them, at which there was a terrific explosion—and -the decks became a welter of gore. The terrible death of these -Mohammedans caused the remaining Moslems to prostrate themselves before -us, their fury turned to abject fear.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the Moslems imprisoned between decks were trying desperately -to break through the hatches. Murad, weak from sickness, yet rose up -beside Uruj to thunder threats against us and to urge his men on. -However, our victory on deck left us free to attend to those below. -Two men were stationed over each passageway, with orders to shoot any -infidel who by the use of hatchet or knife was able to break through -the planking.</p> - -<p>MacWilliams stood over the hatchway below which Murad and Uruj raged.</p> - -<p>"If you value your lives," he called, "you will surrender! My men -have orders to shoot any man who dares to lift his head. If you come -too strongly for our numbers, we will blow you to bits with your own -cannon. We are only two days' sail from Plymouth. Your precious wizard -hadn't enough insight to see that we were taking you nearer the coast -of England every hour we sailed. We will take you there, alive or dead. -If you would enter England with breath in your lungs, surrender!"</p> - -<p>Uruj at once offered to surrender himself and his men as prisoners of -war. Murad cursed Uruj, but at last yielded. He reminded MacWilliams -that he had treated him with consideration. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> - -<p>"That I acknowledge," MacWilliams replied, "and I will so treat you as -well so long as you make no attempt to thwart us!"</p> - -<p>The Mohammedans came out of the hatches one by one to be disarmed. -The chains they had in store for such Christians as they might take -captives were placed on their wrists and ankles. I was one of those who -were called upon to receive the arms. It was a task to make a youth -flinch to go from one scowling ruffian to another, collecting muskets, -pistols, dirks, and pikes, but I came through without much trouble, -having nothing harder thrown at me than curses. Murad flinched as I -came toward him with a dirk in my hand, but I only grinned at him. For -a keepsake, I took the cowering wizard's book of magic.</p> - -<p>When the last Moslem was put in irons, MacWilliams brought out openly -his Bible.</p> - -<p>"I call on all of you who are willing to be reconciled to their true -Savior," he said, "and who repent of being seduced by hopes of riches, -honor, preferment, and such devilish baits, to join me in praise and -prayer to the true God, whom we re-establish in our hearts and restore -in our worship."</p> - -<p>With that he read to us this passage from the Psalms:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great -waters;</p> - -<p>"These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.</p> - -<p>"For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up -the waves thereof.</p> - -<p>"They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; -their soul is melted because of trouble. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> - -<p>"They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at -their wit's end.</p> - -<p>"Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth -them out of their distresses.</p> - -<p>"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.</p> - -<p>"Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them -unto their desired haven."</p></blockquote> - -<p>MacWilliams closed the Bible. "Now men," he said, "having given thanks -to the Almighty, let us wash the decks of infidel blood, so that our -ship will present a decent appearance when we enter the harbor of our -hopes."</p> - -<p>We thereupon set about washing and holystoning the decks, and repairing -the damage resulting from the battle. Two days later, we entered -Plymouth harbor, astounding the town as we, in strange garb ourselves, -marched our captives in their queer Mohammedan dress to the town jail, -where they were left to the disposition of the Government. We heard -later that they were used in exchange for citizens of friendly European -nations, held in captivity in Tripoli.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XX</span> <span class="smaller">HOME SURPRISES</span></h2> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"<i>Oh! dream of joy! Is this indeed</i></div> -<div><i>The lighthouse top I see?</i></div> -<div><i>Is this the hill? Is this the kirk?</i></div> -<div><i>Is this mine own countree?</i>"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>The owners of the <i>Hawk</i> could not be found. The authorities decided -that we had the right to offer her for sale and to divide the money -among ourselves in proportions according to rank. Her value was placed -at eighteen thousand dollars—but MacWilliams, backed by a group of -merchants, purchased the ship for fifteen thousand dollars. He had not, -canny Scot, returned from Barbary with empty pockets. He bought the -<i>Hawk</i> at auction, and was able to obtain it at a low price because -other merchants, when they saw his eagerness to obtain possession of -her, refrained from bidding.</p> - -<p>I was eager to take passage for America, and MacWilliams, to -accommodate me, hurried the sale along so that Mustapha and myself -could have our share. With three hundred dollars apiece in our -possession, we bade him an affectionate farewell.</p> - -<p>He changed the name of the <i>Hawk</i> to the <i>Dove</i>, and vowed to me that -she should be used only on honorable missions.</p> - -<p>"Lad, lad," he said, as he gripped my hand, "it's glad I am to see you -returning to a God-fearing home. When you remember William MacWilliams, -blot out the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>remembrance of ill deeds connected with my name, and -think of me as a repentant man who yet intends to leave a good name -behind him!"</p> - -<p>We sailed for Baltimore in the brig <i>Lafayette</i>, Captain Lord. As we -entered the Patapsco River Mustapha pointed out a schooner lying off -Fell's Point. "Blessed be Allah—it's <i>The Morning Star</i>!" he cried.</p> - -<p>"Pray then that her crew are not going ashore to spend our fortune!" I -said.</p> - -<p>Our first thought was to go directly aboard the schooner, but we then -considered that we should have to furnish proof to her skipper that the -sacks belonged to us, and that in such dealings it would be better to -have the rector's support; therefore, we decided to seek him first.</p> - -<p>As we passed a shop near the docks, I observed this sign above its door:</p> - -<p class="center">ALEXANDER FORSYTH<br /><br /><span class="smcap">Exporter of</span><br /> -Fish, Flour, Tobacco, Corn and Furs<br /><br /><span class="smcap">Importer of</span><br /> -Teas, Coffee and Spices</p> - -<p>I entered and pounded on a desk.</p> - -<p>"I want to buy a shipload of cannon balls to fire at the Dey of -Algiers! I want to charter a frigate that will blow Joseph, Bashaw of -Tripoli, to perdition! Fish, flour, tobacco—who's dealing in such tame -stuff—it's blood and thunder I'm after purchasing; it's muskets and -cutlasses I want. Show me your stock, man!"</p> - -<p>A man with the build of a mastpole came out of the counting-room and -stared at me. I swaggered towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> him, but, suddenly, overcome by -amusement at his puzzled look and joy at beholding him again, I sprang -forward and threw my arms about him.</p> - -<p>"David!" he cried.</p> - -<p>"Alexander," I answered.</p> - -<p>We stood hugging each other like two polar bears.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes of hurried chat, I found out that my brother, -recovering his health, had married Nell King, a Baltimore girl, and was -prospering as a merchant. Commodore Barney, who had backed Alexander in -business, was at sea. (How I fell in with him later and increased the -family fortunes by acting as chaplain on his privateer <i>Polly</i> may not -be told now.)</p> - -<p>Customers came into the shop, and promising to call on Alexander and -Nell that night, I broke away and went on up to the house. Mustapha, -gaping at the strange western land I had brought him to, and as -bewildered as I had been when I wandered through his desert cities, -walked closely beside me, clutching my arm. I saw some of the bullies -who had mutinied on board <i>The Rose of Egypt</i>. I think they recognized -me, but Mustapha and I were a stalwart pair, and the looks cast our way -by the dock loafers were more of respect than of hostility.</p> - -<p>We approached the rector's house at dusk. A welcoming light shone -through the elms. I was swaggering along, thinking how much of a man I -would appear to the rector. The yellow glow from the window, however, -spread an influence that changed me into a soft-hearted boy. Here was -I, a sailor hardened through contact with all sorts of men, toughened -by wind, wave and warfare, yet brushing a tear from my cheek as I -saw the lamp in the parsonage shining out cheerier than the ray of a -lighthouse on a tempestuous night. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> - -<p>The door was bolted—I knocked. A girl answered, her face in the -shadows.</p> - -<p>I was as much taken aback as if I had seen a ghost. I was not used to -seeing girls around the old home. Besides, Alexander had not warned me.</p> - -<p>"Is it someone to see father?" she asked timidly.</p> - -<p>"You are Nell, Alexander's wife?" I said boldly, "and a pretty choice -he made!"</p> - -<p>"No!" she said, and I stood there in worse confusion than ever.</p> - -<p>Yet there was something vaguely familiar in her tone.</p> - -<p>"I beg your pardon," I said, "I thought Dr. Eccleston still lived here."</p> - -<p>"He does!" she replied. "Please come in!"</p> - -<p>We stepped into the hallway. I looked around, taking in each familiar -object.</p> - -<p>"I am David Forsyth," I said, "perhaps you have heard the rector speak -of his boy who went to sea."</p> - -<p>"I recognized you at first, David," she said, her face still in the -shadows. "What a grand surprise for the rector!"</p> - -<p>I walked towards the library, but the rector had heard our voices. He -came out, spectacles in one hand, a book in the other. He stared at me -as if he could scarcely credit his own sight.</p> - -<p>I was in his arms the next moment.</p> - -<p>"David," he shouted. "I had almost given you up for lost! No letters! -And all the time I've been waiting to thank you for sending me my -precious jewel!"</p> - -<p>I looked at Mustapha in puzzlement. What did he mean by "jewel"? Had he -gotten the treasure?</p> - -<p>He turned to the mysterious girl, whose gold hair flashed in the -lamplight as if ten thousand diamonds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> were netted in it. I had seen a -girl's hair flashing in just such a way before! But where?</p> - -<p>He saw me twirling my hat and grasped the situation:</p> - -<p>"David," he explained, "this is my daughter! General Eaton told me that -it was you who first pointed her out to him in the Arab camp."</p> - -<p>Heigho! I had gone forth to seek adventures, and here at my home -door was a more marvelous thing than any I had come upon. The girl -that General Eaton had bought from the Bedouin hag was no other than -the daughter the rector had lost in the desert! She was taller and -lovelier, and the more I looked the more flustrated I became. I had -always been shy before girls, and now I stood like a gawk, blushing -under her gaze. I wanted the floor to open when she came forward and -held up her lips in a matter-of-fact way for my kiss.</p> - -<p>However, I did not dodge the invitation, for all my bashfulness. -Indeed, I might as well record here that that sisterly kiss became a -few months later the kiss of a sweetheart—but since I have no notion -of having this book end in a love story, we had better get back to our -course.</p> - -<p>Mustapha, who had kept himself well in the rear, was now discovered by -Anne, and what a jabbering in Arabic took place. Whenever after that -I started to tell Anne of my adventures I found that she had already -heard it from Mustapha. I can't say that I was displeased at this, -because the lad—not that I deserved it—held me in high esteem, and -painted me in every episode as a great hero.</p> - -<p>Over the supper table we learned how the rector and Anne had been -united. General Eaton had landed in Baltimore, and the rector, -beholding beside the General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> a girl who bore a striking resemblance to -his wife, stopped the officer in the street, questioned him, brought -him and his ward to the parsonage as his guests, and there, by matching -his story with that of Anne's, discovered that she was no other than -his own daughter. Her mother—Anne had only a slight remembrance of -her—must have died early in her captivity.</p> - -<p>The next morning Mustapha and myself induced the rector to take a -stroll with us. We reached the dock where <i>The Morning Star</i> was moored -just as she was being unloaded. As we started to go aboard we bumped -into a string of stevedores. Our search ended there and then, for among -the baggage these men carried were our sacks.</p> - -<p>"Toss those confounded bags aside," cried the officer in charge of the -unloading. "I wonder if the cheeky rascal who sent them aboard thought -I was going to hunt over Baltimore for 'Rev. Ezekiel Eccleston of -Marley Chapel.'"</p> - -<p>I approached him in my most respectful manner.</p> - -<p>"Here, sir, is the Reverend Eccleston. He is the gentleman for whom the -sacks are intended, and I'm the 'cheeky rascal' who shipped them. Your -coxswain will recognize Mustapha here as the lad who stowed them in -your cutter. There wasn't much need of shipping the curios after all, -since my schooner arrived here almost as quickly as your ship."</p> - -<p>He looked at me as if he wanted to pour out a flood of oaths. Then his -gaze wandered over the rector's garb and he grew less surly.</p> - -<p>"It's lucky for you, sir," he said to my guardian, "that we didn't -pitch those sacks overboard! I like this cub's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> cheek—sending freight -aboard without even saying, 'By your leave!' If the bags hadn't been -addressed to a parson, overboard they'd have gone!"</p> - -<p>"Your forbearance is much appreciated," said the rector. "The boy, I -believe, was in a trying situation."</p> - -<p>I took out a roll of banknotes.</p> - -<p>"We'll pay you in full for all the bother you've been put to. You -really saved this stuff from falling into the hands of the Turk, Joseph -Bashaw. Yet there was another skipper who wanted in the worst way -to carry those bags! In fact, he inquired for <i>The Morning Star</i> at -several South Atlantic ports. I think you came in sight of him. But -we're none the less grateful to you, sir!"</p> - -<p>He snatched from me a pound note. "Always glad to serve the Church," he -said civilly to the rector. "By the way, my men said there appeared to -be metal ornaments in the sacks—candlesticks for worship, I suppose?"</p> - -<p>The rector, at a loss for a reply, stared at the sacks.</p> - -<p>"Something of that sort! They will be very useful to the Church," I -answered, shouldering one. Mustapha followed suit with another, and the -rector, good man, dragged the third sack to a wagon I had hired. With -a load of worry removed from Mustapha and myself, we drove homeward. I -heard afterwards that <i>The Morning Star</i>, though then a freighter for -the Government, was a converted privateer and had even been suspected -of piracy while in Uncle Sam's employ. Her men had probably captured -and sunk many a ship without obtaining loot half as valuable as these, -our riches, which they so carelessly carried.</p> - -<p>On the way home the rector questioned me concerning the contents of the -sacks, but I evaded him. Now, as we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> stood in the hallway, with the -sacks at our feet, I myself popped a question.</p> - -<p>"Rector," I said, "if you were suddenly handed a good-sized fortune, -what would you do with it?"</p> - -<p>He smiled.</p> - -<p>"I suppose, David, that we all like to indulge in such day-dreams. -First, I should erect a larger church here—this business of hanging -our church-bell to a tree is getting sadly out of fashion. Then I -should build mission chapels in the border settlements. Then Alexander -should have capital with which to expand his trade with the West -Indies. Then I should send you to Yale College—it's really time now, -David, that you settled down to your studies. Then I should send -General Eaton some funds. Congress praised him, but has since neglected -him, and the poor fellow is low in spirits and failing in health. -Then——"</p> - -<p>"Rector," I said, "all those wishes and as many more are granted. I -found both Aladdin's lamp and Ali Baba's cave in the deserts of Africa. -Stand by and watch me bring all of your day-dreams true! Fall too, -Mustapha, servant of the geni!"</p> - -<p>With our jackknives we slashed open the sacks. The treasure hoard of -the ancients—the priceless jewelry and trinkets which the rector long -ago had discovered and then sealed up and abandoned—poured out in -gleaming confusion at his feet.</p> - - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> - -<h2>POSTSCRIPT</h2> - -<p class="bold">THE END OF THE PIRATES</p> - -<p>So far as my fortunes are concerned, I was rid forever of Barbary's -corsairs. But, to make my narrative complete, it may be well to state -that the end of their piracies was in sight, and that Stephen Decatur -was the man who struck the blow that marked the beginning of their end.</p> - -<p>The United States had borne these insults and oppressions meekly during -the time she was evolving into a nation, but at last, under Decatur, -her true spirit showed itself. The Dey of Algiers, the last to affront -us, was at length forced to take tribute in the way our naval officers -had long wished to deliver it—from the cannon's mouth.</p> - -<p>The War of 1812 tempered the spirit of our navy for this closing -campaign with the buccaneers of Barbary. The frigate <i>Constitution</i> -thrilled the nation by her victory over the British warship -<i>Guerrière</i>, although the <i>Constitution's</i> captain, Isaac Hull, had -to steal out to do battle without the knowledge of the timid Monroe -administration, which feared that our ships were no match for the -British frigates. Then the <i>United States</i>, commanded by Captain -Stephen Decatur, defeated and captured the <i>Macedonian</i>, one of the -swiftest and strongest and best-equipped ships in John Bull's navy, -and Lieutenant Archibald Hamilton marched into a ball given to naval -officers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> in Washington with the flag of the captured ship across his -shoulders.</p> - -<p>Then the <i>Constitution</i> met the British frigate <i>Java</i>, and by splendid -gunnery reduced her to a burning hulk. Then the British had their -innings and Captain Broke, of the <i>Shannon</i>, defeated the chivalrous -but over-confident Captain Lawrence in the <i>Chesapeake</i>.</p> - -<p>Decatur, with his feathers drooping somewhat from the fact that he had -been forced to surrender the <i>President</i> to two British frigates after -a hard fight, was sent, after the treaty of peace had been signed, to -deal again with the Barbary states, to which we still paid tribute. -These powers had grown insolent again when the United States became -engaged in war with England and had resumed their piracy. Decatur -sailed in the flagship <i>Guerrière</i> and commanded a squadron of nine -vessels.</p> - -<p>Algiers, the chief offender this time, had organized a strong navy -under the command of Admiral "Rais Hammida," called "the terror of -the Mediterranean." Decatur's squadron sighted this Algerine admiral -in his forty-six-gun frigate <i>Mashouda</i> off Cape Gatte, and pursued -and captured the Turkish ship. Her captain was killed in the first -encounter.</p> - -<p>Decatur now proceeded to Algiers to bring the Dey to terms. The captain -of the port came out insolently to meet him. "Where is your navy?" -demanded Decatur.</p> - -<p>"Safe in some neutral port!" retorted the Algerine officer.</p> - -<p>"Not the whole of it," Decatur said. "We have already captured the -frigate <i>Mashouda</i> and the brig <i>Estido</i>, and Admiral Hammida is dead."</p> - -<p>The captive lieutenant of the <i>Mashouda</i> was brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> forth to confirm -these statements. The Dey's representative became humble and begged -that hostilities should cease until a treaty could be drawn up on shore.</p> - -<p>"Hostilities will go on until a treaty is made," Decatur replied, "and -a treaty will be made nowhere but on board the <i>Guerrière</i>!"</p> - -<p>The officer came out again the next day and began haggling over terms -in true Oriental fashion. Decatur stuck to his terms, which included -the release of all Americans held in slavery and the restoration of -their property. He demanded an immediate decision, threatening:</p> - -<p>"If your squadron appears before the treaty is signed by the Dey and if -American captives are on board, I shall capture it."</p> - -<p>The port officer left. An hour afterward an Algerine man-of-war -appeared. Decatur ordered his officers to prepare for battle. Manning -the forts and ships were forty thousand Turks.</p> - -<p>Before the squadron got under way, however, the Dey's envoy was seen -approaching, flying a white flag—the token of surrender.</p> - -<p>All of the terms had been agreed to. We were to pay no further tributes -to the pirate prince. Our ships were to be free from interference. Ten -Americans that had been held in captivity were delivered up. They knelt -at Decatur's feet to thank God for their release and rose up to embrace -their flag.</p> - -<p>From Algiers, Decatur sailed to Tunis and then to Tripoli, and actually -forced their rulers to pay indemnities for breaking, during the period -of our war with Britain, the treaties they had made with the United -States. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> - -<p>Decatur thus put an end to the attacks of the Moors upon American -merchant ships. He had set an example that Britain was soon to follow.</p> - -<h3>BRITAIN FOLLOWS DECATUR'S LEAD</h3> - -<p>British consuls and sea-faring men were still being insulted and -molested by Moslems. Public indignation in England rose to such a -height that the British government sent Sir Edward Pellew, upon whom -had been bestowed the title Lord Exmouth, to negotiate similar terms. -The fleet sailed first to Tunis and Tripoli and forced the two Beys to -promise to abolish Christian slavery. An element of humor came into the -situation at Tunis, for Caroline, Princess of Wales, was on a tour of -the country, and was not above accepting the hospitality of the Bey, -no matter what wrongs to her countrymen went on under the surface. Her -entertainment included picnics among the ruins of Carthage and the -orange groves of Tunis, to which she was driven in the Bey's coach and -six. She was indignant when word reached her that a bombardment from -her own fleet threatened to put an end to her pleasures. She sought to -interfere, but the Admiral was firm. The Princess took refuge on board -one of the English ships; the squadron prepared to attack; but the Bey -yielded.</p> - -<p>The squadron now proceeded to Algiers. Here the Dey protested so -vehemently that the Admiral agreed to the ruler's proposal to send -ambassadors to England to lay his case before the final authorities. No -sooner had the fleet returned to England than news came of a massacre -of Italians under British protection in Bona, by Algerines acting under -orders actually given by the Dey while Lord Exmouth was at Algiers. </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> - -<p>There was, in the port of Bona, a little to the east of Algiers, a -coral fishery carried on under the protection of Britain. Corsicans, -Neapolitan and other fishermen came here to gather coral. On the 23rd -of May, 1816, Ascension Day, as the fishermen were preparing to attend -Mass, a gun was fired from the castle and two thousand Moslem soldiers -opened fire on the helpless fishermen and massacred them. Then the -English flags were torn to pieces and the British Vice-Consul's house -wrecked and pillaged.</p> - -<p>Lord Exmouth's squadron, on its way to punish the corsairs for these -atrocities, fell in with five frigates and a corvette under the Dutch -Admiral, Van de Capellan. All civilized nations had been aroused by the -massacre of the Italian coral fishers, and the Dutch were eager to take -part in the expedition to punish the murderers. Lord Exmouth welcomed -them, and the combined fleets set sail for Algiers.</p> - -<p>Lord Exmouth sent a letter ashore to the Dey demanding that the -Algerians abolish making slaves of Christians; that they surrender -such Christian slaves as they now held; that they restore ransom money -exacted from Italian slaves, make peace with Holland, and free the -lately imprisoned British Consul, and other English captives. The Dey -was allowed three hours in which to reply. No answer came. Lord Exmouth -began the battle.</p> - -<p>His flagship, <i>Queen Charlotte</i>, led the fleet to the attack. Reaching -the left-hand end of the mole, she anchored, thus barring the mouth of -the harbor. In this position, her guns could sweep the whole length and -breadth of the mole. Up came the <i>Superb</i>, the <i>Minden</i>, the <i>Albion</i>, -and the <i>Impregnable</i>. Meanwhile, the foe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> had opened fire and the -<i>Queen Charlotte</i> had replied with three broadsides that ruined the -mole's defences and killed five hundred men.</p> - -<p>The Dutch squadron and the British frigates came in under a heavy fire -and engaged the shore batteries. The Algerian gunboats, screened by -the smoke of the guns, came out to board the <i>Queen Charlotte</i>. The -<i>Leander</i>, lying beyond the smoke, saw them and sunk thirty-three out -of thirty-seven with her batteries.</p> - -<p>At last the enemy's guns were silenced. The British and Dutch fleets -withdrew into the middle of the bay. The defeated Dey accepted the -British terms. The English consul was released. Three thousand slaves -were set free; some of these had been in prison for thirty years. The -bombardment destroyed part of the house of the American consul Shaler, -who, the British afterwards testified, did all in his power to aid the -English.</p> - -<p>The British squadron gained its victory at the cost of one hundred and -twenty-eight men killed and six hundred and ninety men wounded. Lord -Exmouth led his men with Nelson-like gallantry. He was wounded in three -places, his telescope was knocked from his hand by a shot, and his -coat was cut to ribbons. Even this punishment did not entirely crush -the corsairs. It was reserved for the French to put an end to their -piracies.</p> - -<p>But that campaign did not begin until 1830—and my story can not run on forever.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> - -<h2>SOURCES OF INFORMATION DRAWN UPON BY THE AUTHOR</h2> - -<p>"The Narrative and Critical History of America," edited by Justin -Winsor.</p> - -<p>"American State Papers, Foreign Relations."</p> - -<p>"Debates of Congress," compiled by Thomas H. Benton.</p> - -<p>"Life of the Late General William Eaton," by Charles Prentiss, -published in 1813 in Brookfield, Mass.</p> - -<p>"Ocean Life in the Old Sailing Ship Days," by Captain John D. Whidden.</p> - -<p>"From the Forecastle to the Cabin," by Captain S. Samuels.</p> - -<p>"Round the Galley Fire," by W. Clark Russell.</p> - -<p>"The Story of Our Navy," by Edgar Stanton Maclay.</p> - -<p>"A History of the United States Navy," by John R. Spears.</p> - -<p>"Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs," by Gardner W. Allen.</p> - -<p>"The Barbary Corsairs," by Stanley Lane-Poole.</p> - -<p>"Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors," by James Barnes.</p> - -<p>"Maryland Chronicles," by Scharf.</p> - -<p>"Africa," by Frank G. Carpenter.</p> - -<p>"Rambles and Studies in Greece," by Mahaffy.</p> - -<p>"Winters in Algeria," by F. A. Bridgman.</p> - -<p>"The Romance of Piracy," by E. Keble Chatterton. (The episode of -David's escape in the ship <i>Hawk</i> is founded on an actual adventure -that occurred in 1622, related in Mr. Chatterton's book. The story -of the mutiny aboard <i>The Rose of Egypt</i> was suggested by an actual -episode—described in Captain Samuel's autobiography.)</p> - -<p>To Deane H. Uptegrove and George Mullien, the writer is indebted for -advice concerning the sea episodes that appear in this book. The -New York Public Library, The Newark Public Library, the East Orange -Public Library, and the private library of the <i>New York Evening Post</i> -have been helpful in giving the author access to material not easily -obtainable.</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 63124-h.htm or 63124-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/3/1/2/63124">http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/1/2/63124</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Pirate Princes and Yankee Jacks - Setting forth David Forsyth's Adventures in America's Battles on Sea and Desert with the Buccaneer Princes of Barbary, with an Account of a Search under the Sands of the Sahara Desert for the Treasure-filled Tomb of Ancient Kings - - -Author: Daniel Henderson - - - -Release Date: September 5, 2020 [eBook #63124] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS*** - - -E-text prepared by Tim Lindell, Martin Pettit, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 63124-h.htm or 63124-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/63124/63124-h/63124-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/63124/63124-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/pirateprincesyan00hend - - - - - -PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS - - - * * * * * * - -_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ - - -JUNGLE ROADS - - And Other Trails of Roosevelt - - -BOONE OF THE WILDERNESS - - A Tale of Pioneer Adventure and Achievement in the "Dark and - Bloody Ground" - - -LIFE'S MINSTREL - - A Book of Verse - - -E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY - - * * * * * * - - -[Illustration: STEPHEN DECATUR. - -_From a painting by Rembrandt Peale._] - - -PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS - -Setting forth David Forsyth's Adventures in America's Battles on Sea -and Desert with the Buccaneer Princes of Barbary, with an Account of -a Search under the Sands of the Sahara Desert for the Treasure-filled -Tomb of Ancient Kings - -by - -DANIEL HENDERSON - -Author of "Boone of the Wilderness," "Jungle Roads -and Other Trails of Roosevelt" - - -[Illustration: Logo] - - - - - - -New York -E. P. Dutton & Company -681 Fifth Avenue - -Copyright, 1923, By E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY - -All Rights Reserved - -Printed in the United States of America - - - - -THIS BOOK IS A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND BOYS WHO CREATED AND SERVED IN -AMERICA'S FIRST NAVY - - "_The ship of war, with its acres of canvas, white in the morning - sun, has sunk forever below the horizon.... No longer is the - hoarse voice of the captain heard shouting to the tops or to the - gun-deck in stentorian tones.... All have gone from the deck of - the galley, the frigate, the line-of-battle ship, from the decks - where, in the teeth of gales, they clawed off lee shores, when - the mouths of their guns drank in the seas, or fought the fogs or - Arctic cold; from the decks where they led the changing fortunes - of the fight in the din of desperate battle; where men take life - at the uttermost hazard and clasp hands with fate._" - --EDWARD KIRK RAWSON. - - - - -FOREWORD - -The road cleft by early American ships into the Mediterranean Sea has -become a well-traveled one. On errands of commerce, punishment or -relief, our skippers have laid an ever-broadening way into the Orient. - -Yet who, in the bustle of the present, recalls the pioneer American -captains and sailors who once suffered slavery and torture to make -the Mediterranean a safe sea for Yankee vessels? Who remembers the -Americans who lay for nine years in Turkish prisons? Who recalls -General William Eaton, who led a little band of Americans and Greeks -on a desperate venture across the North African desert to release the -imprisoned crew of the _Philadelphia_ from Turkish bondage, and who, -for the first time, raised the United States flag over a fort of the -old world? - -It is to make this period and its heroic characters live again in the -mind of America that this volume has been written. To link the several -campaigns against the Turks of Barbary, extending over a period of -fifteen years, the author has adopted the method he followed in his -book "Boone of the Wilderness," and introduced characters and episodes -of fiction. The material is largely derived from original sources. - -Permit us, then, without further ado, to present and commend to your -interest the young sailor David Forsyth, who is at times the hero of -the yarn, but quite as often a spectator and historian of the deeds of -the brave men under whom he was privileged to serve. Do not hold his -youth against him. Nelson went to sea at twelve; Drake was scarcely -more than a boy when he fought on the Spanish Main; and Decatur and -many other gallant American officers under whom David served were mere -striplings. Youth was foremost on the sea in those days, and it is -hoped that its ardent spirit flames in this volume, though a century's -dust covers our heroes. - - - - -CONTENTS - -CHAPTER PAGE - I. THE MAN FROM THE EAST 1 - - II. CAPTURED BY CORSAIRS 16 - - III. BARBARY AND THE BUCCANEERS 25 - - IV. _The Rose of Egypt_ 40 - - V. MY FIRST VOYAGE 46 - - VI. MUTINY 56 - - VII. BETRAYED 64 - - VIII. AN AMERICAN FRIGATE BECOMES A CORSAIR'S CATTLESHIP 74 - - IX. LIFE ABOARD _Old Ironsides_ 82 - - X. A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN THE COURT OF TUNIS 95 - - XI. THE LOSS OF _The Philadelphia_ 109 - - XII. WE BLOW UP _The Philadelphia_ 116 - - XIII. THE AMERICAN EAGLE ENTERS THE AFRICAN DESERT 126 - - XIV. THE DESERT GIRL 140 - - XV. REUBEN JAMES SAVES DECATUR'S LIFE 154 - - XVI. WE CAPTURE THE DESERT CITY OF DERNE 162 - - XVII. THE TREASURE TOMB 177 - -XVIII. SOLD INTO SLAVERY 187 - - XIX. THE ESCAPE 198 - - XX. HOME SURPRISES 220 - -POSTSCRIPT. THE END OF THE PIRATES 228 - -BIBLIOGRAPHY 234 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -STEPHEN DECATUR, _from a painting by Rembrandt -Peale_ _Frontispiece_ - - PAGE -"I'D BLOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE PIRATE NESTS OUT OF -THE WATER BEFORE I'D PAY ONE OF THOSE BLOODY -BASHAWS A SIXPENCE!" SAID THE COMMODORE 13 - -WRECKING AND PIRACY HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE -COMMUNITIES BORDERING ON THE MEDITERRANEAN -SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS 35 - -IN LOOK AND IN DEED, WILLIAM EATON WAS A FIGHTER 94 - -"HOW DARE YOU LIFT YOUR HAND AGAINST A SUBJECT -OF MINE," THE BEY OF TUNIS DEMANDED OF EATON 101 - -I HOPED THAT I MIGHT JOIN A CARAVAN THAT WOULD -PASS BY TOKRA--THE TREASURE CITY OF MY DREAMS 105 - -"WE ARE BOUND ACROSS THIS GLOOMY DESERT TO -LIBERATE THREE HUNDRED AMERICANS FROM THE -CHAINS OF BARBARISM."--General Eaton 135 - -THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AN AMERICAN FLAG HAD -BEEN RAISED ON A FORT OF THE OLD WORLD 165 - - - - -PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS - - - - -CHARACTERS OF THE STORY - - -DAVID FORSYTH, an orphan. - -ALEXANDER, his brother. - -REV. EZEKIEL ECCLESTON, D.D., Rector of Marley Chapel, -Baltimore--David's guardian. - -COMMODORE JOSHUA BARNEY, of the United States Navy. - -GENERAL WILLIAM EATON, in command of the American expedition by land -against Tripoli. - -MURAD, an Egyptian. - -BLUDSOE, mate of _The Rose of Egypt_. - -ANNE, "The Desert Girl." - -MUSTAPHA, An Arab boy. - -STEPHEN DECATUR, WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE, EDWARD PREBLE, RICHARD SOMERS, -REUBEN JAMES, SAMUEL CHILDS, and other officers and men of the United -States Navy. - - - - -PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS - - -CHAPTER I - -THE MAN FROM THE EAST - - -"But, my dear Doctor," said the swarthy Egyptian, bowing with upturned -palms, "you surely do not mean to keep the location of this treasure -tomb hidden forever from science. I know that a man of your nature -would not care for the money the jewels and trinkets would bring if -sold, but I can not see how you can refuse to let scholars view these -rare specimens of ancient art. Will you not----" - -"I beg you," said the rector in distressed tones, "to speak no more -about it. The subject awakens unpleasant memories. I have never before -mentioned having seen this treasure tomb. So far as I am concerned the -desert sands shall not be moved from over its door. Please, my good -friend, do not refer to it again!" - -"But," began the Egyptian. - -Commodore Barney jerked him to one side. "Look here, Mr. Murad," he -said in gruff tones, "Dr. Eccleston lost a wife and child in that -exploration. He came to this country to forget his loss. Keep off the -subject of those antiques--the chances are that they're not worth the -trouble it would take to dig them up!" - -"He has a secret that he owes to science," said the Oriental -stubbornly. He was a proud, determined man. The black moustache that -flowed across his tawny face and the black hair that showed in strings -beneath his fez gave an added fierceness to his look. His brilliantly -embroidered cloak made him still more commanding in appearance. -Commodore Barney, with his stout body and sea legs, cut a poor figure -beside him. - -"Harken, my friend," the commodore said sharply, "I mean what I say. -We're not going to have the rector bothered. We don't know your -business in America, and we're not inquiring into it. In return, we ask -you to let us mind our own affairs. If you know what's good for you, -you'll stop hounding the minister for his secret. Science be blowed! -Art be hanged!" - -Alexander and I, David Forsyth, listened with eyes popping. Orphans -we were, adopted by Dr. Eccleston, our mother's rector. My father--as -brave a sailor as ever drew breath, Commodore Barney often assured -us--had been killed on board the commodore's schooner _Hyder Ally_, -while protecting the shipping in the Delaware River from British -frigates during the Revolutionary War. My mother, while father was at -sea, had helped to nurse the sick people of Baltimore, and had herself -died of the pestilence. Dr. Eccleston, a widower, assumed the care of -Alexander and myself. - -Alexander, springing up like Jack's bean-vine, yet growing in brawn -and manliness as his height increased, was my elder by a number of -years. He was much taller than I, yet I was growing too and had hopes -of reaching, by the time I was sixteen, the chalk mark on our wall that -showed Alexander to be five feet, ten inches high. - -It was on a dock in Baltimore that this talk took place. The Egyptian -Murad had come to our city from Washington. What his business was -no one could tell. Some said that he was a Turkish diplomat. Others -said that he was a spy for the Barbary rulers. He attended services -at the rector's church, and had told someone that he was a native of -Alexandria, Egypt. He had embraced the Christian religion, he said, and -had been so persecuted by the indignant Moslems that he had left Egypt -for America. He appeared to have plenty of means, and, because there -was such an air of romance about him, the people of Baltimore accepted -him without much questioning, and were, indeed, rather proud that they -had a man of mystery among them. - -Our presence on the pier was due to the arrival of Alexander's ship, -_The Three Friends_, from England. Alexander, after begging Dr. -Eccleston in vain to permit him to make a sea voyage, had taken French -leave. When news reached our house that _The Three Friends_ had come -into port, and that Alexander was one of the crew, we hurried down -to greet him. The rector was angry and affectionate. The commodore -was proud of the boy. As for me, I regarded Alexander as Ulysses was -doubtless regarded by the boys of his home town when he returned from -his wanderings. - -It was the cargo of _The Three Friends_ that caused the discussion, -and that led the rector to open a closed chapter in his life. The ship -had brought flower-patterned silken gowns, crimson taffetas, pearl -necklaces, and other exquisite articles esteemed by women; and silk -stockings, brilliant scarfs, beaver hats and scarlet cloaks for the -men. The people welcomed these articles. The men had raised tobacco, -caught fish, and gathered furs that they might buy for their families -these rare luxuries from Europe. There were also, in the cargo, chairs -of Russian leather, damask napkins, superb clocks, silver candlesticks -and tankards, and a wealth of treasure of this nature. - -Alexander's special gift for the commodore was a pipe. To the rector he -gave a curious-shaped little bottle. - -"I found it in a curio shop in London," he said. "The proprietor told -me that it had been found in an Egyptian tomb." - -Dr. Eccleston turned pale. Then, recovering himself, he took -the present and held it towards us with what seemed to be real -appreciation. I learned later that his pallor was due to the memories -the queer little bottle awakened. - -"Bless me!" he said, "it's a lacrimatory--a tear-bottle! I found many -a one while I was excavating in Egypt. Some say that they are made to -hold the tears of mourners, but scholars will tell you that they are -after all but receptacles for perfume and ointments." - -Murad had approached. The sight of the curious bottle, which did not -seem to me to be worth a minute's talk, led him into a discussion of -antiquities he had found in Egypt. The rector's eyes kindled. Here -was a subject that had once been his chief interest. Suddenly he -launched forth into a description of a treasure tomb he had literally -stumbled upon in the desert--a tomb upon which a later tomb had been -built, so that, while the later tomb had been plundered by Arabs, the -earlier tomb had remained a secret until he pried up a stone in the -wall and discovered it. The rector who had attended Oxford, and had -gone forth from college to explore the ruins of countries along the -historic Mediterranean coasts, had made a rough map of the location of -this tomb. He now began to tell of the treasures he had found in the -chamber: heavy gold masks, and breast-plates that, while barbarous in -appearance, yet showed beauty of craftsmanship; bulls' heads wrought in -silver with horns of gold; beautiful jugs and cups, wrought in ivory, -alabaster and amber; mummies whose brows and wrists were encircled with -gems--a hoard of riches priceless both to the scholar and the fortune -hunter. - -This description fired my imagination. It also stirred Murad. I saw his -eyes glow and his fingers tremble. I wondered if his vehement demand -that the rector should reveal the location of this cave was created by -his interest in science or by pure lust for riches? As for myself, I -confess that I thought only of the money into which these buried jewels -and trinkets could be turned. - -Later, the commodore told us why the rector had been so swift to end -his tale of the buried treasure. After he had discovered the tomb, -somewhere on the African shore of the Mediterranean, he had covered -it up and joined a caravan bound for Tripoli, meaning to organize a -special expedition for further searches. His caravan was attacked by a -tribe of bandits. A blow from a spear knocked him unconscious. When he -regained his senses, his wife and child were gone. - -"They were taken as loot," said the commodore. "Women and children are -nothing more than baggage to those Arabs!" - -The husband wandered for months through the desert searching for his -family. At last he was stricken with fever. Travelers found him and -placed him aboard a ship bound for England. There he had plunged into -religious work to keep from going mad. Blood-stained garments--proof -that his wife and daughter had been slain--were sent him by an Arabian -sheik. Later he had come to America as a missionary. - -He was now rector of Marley Chapel. It is located about nine miles from -Baltimore, near the bridge at Marley Creek, which enters into Curtis -Creek, a tributary of the Patapsco River. This chapel had been built -long before the Revolution. The minister kept his residence within the -town limits of Baltimore because it extended his field of helpfulness. -The journey to the chapel was made on horseback, and whenever he went -to service Alexander and myself followed him on our ponies, through -sun, rain, sleet or snow. - -On fair-weather days, the church-yard resembled a race-course. The -ladies, in gay clothes, had come in carriages. The men, mounted on -fine horses and sumptuously arrayed, rode beside them. The carriage -wheels rattled. The negro drivers cracked their whips and shouted. The -gentlemen loudly admonished the slaves. Over such a tumult the church -bell, which was suspended from a tree, rang out to warn the people that -the service was about to begin; then a hush fell over the countryside, -broken only by the stamping and snorting of the mettlesome horses in -the shed, or by the chuckles of the negro boys who tended them. - - -To bring our story back to the present hour: Alexander had wandered -off from our group with some of his shipmates. Suddenly there was an -uproar. There were surly fellows in the crew and quarrelsome men in the -crowd. Already Alexander had pointed out to me Black Peter, Muldoon, -Swansen, and other sailors whom he avowed were the toughest men he had -ever met. - -These were now confronted by our town rowdies. We had a few men among -our citizenship of whom we were heartily ashamed--men who knew how to -fight in ways that surpassed for brutality those methods of warfare -learned on shipboard. Eye-gouging, for instance; getting a man down; -twisting a forefinger in the side-locks of his hair; thrusting, by -means of this hold, a thumb into the victim's eye, thereby threatening -to force the eyeball from the socket if the sufferer did not cry -"King's cruse!" which, I suppose you know, meant "enough!" - -The seaman who had been challenged by Steve Dunn, the bully, was Ezra -Wilcox, Alexander's chum. He was a stranger in our town and Alexander -was eager that he should think favorably of the people of Baltimore, -who, everyone knows, are in the main, an open-hearted people. Angered -at having his desire thwarted by the rowdy, Alexander rushed between -Steve and Ezra, and himself took up Ezra's battle. He and the tough -locked arms in a punching and wrestling match, and were soon rolling -over each other on the wharf. Steve, finding that he was getting the -worst of the tussle, reached his hands towards Alexander's side-locks. - -"Look out, Alexander," I cried, dancing over the pair in a frenzy, -"he's trying to gouge you, man!" - -"Unfair! Unfair! No gouging!" the other sailors shouted, while the rest -of the onlookers stood by with their sense of justice absorbed by their -interest. - -Steve's finger was buried in Alexander's shock of hair, and his thumb -crept closer to my brother's eye. I was about to stoop in an attempt to -break the brutal grip when Alexander released his hair by a desperate -jerk that left a wisp between the ruffian's fingers, rolled Steve over, -held him face downward in a grip of iron, and rubbed his nose on the -planks of the dock until blood spurted from it. Then, lifting the -bully up at arm's length, Alexander cast him against the palings with a -force that stunned him. If someone had not grabbed Steve then, he would -have rolled over into the river and few would have mourned him if he -had sank and never bobbed up again. - -Steve's friends advanced, pretending great indignation at Alexander's -roughness, but paused as Ezra Wilcox, Black Peter, Muldoon, and Swansen -came forward itching to take up the battle. - -"Enough of this," cried the rector, roused from his brooding by the -tussle, "Steve's dug into my boy's eye and paid for it with his own -nose! We'll call the affair quits, and I'll ask you Baltimore folks to -show courtesy to the strangers within your gates." - -That afternoon we attended a fair on the chapel grounds. I was eager to -show Alexander that I too had strength and skill, and at the fair, in a -small way, my chance came. - -As we approached the grounds we saw that, among other sports, a -gilt-laced hat had been placed on a greased pole, to be won by the man -or boy who climbed the pole and slid down with the hat on his head. -Alexander challenged me to try. - -Others had tried and had slid back defeated amidst much laughter. I -gave a running leap, however, and clutched the pole a man's height from -the ground. My fingers and feet managed to find cracks and crevices. -My knees stuck. It may have been that the dirt and sand in which I -had taken the precaution to roll before making the attempt enabled my -arms and legs to overcome the grease, or perhaps it was because those -who had tried first had worn most of it away. From whatever reason, I -continued to climb, rubbing the outer part of my sleeve over the pole -as I advanced, so that more of the grease was removed from my path. -At last, amidst cheers, I reached the peak of the pole, seized the -gilt-laced hat, donned it--although it fell down over my ears--and slid -to the ground in triumph. - - -SEA LONGINGS - -"If you can climb masts as well as you can climb poles," said -Alexander, "there's no doubt that you'll be a fine sailorman!" - -"He'll do no mast-climbing!" said Dr. Eccleston. "One sailor in the -family is enough. His climbing will be confined to the steps of a -pulpit. I am training him for the ministry!" - -Alexander looked at me quizzically. I winked at him. He and I had -agreed from childhood that ours should be a seafaring life. My brother -had boldly carried out his intention to follow father's example, but -I, seeing that the rector had set his heart upon my adopting a shore -career, had postponed making my declaration. I was immensely fond of -the rector; I did not care to be the means of bringing further sadness -to him, so I bided my time. - -Commodore Barney heard the rector rebuke Alexander and saw my wink. -Bless me, behind the minister's back, he winked too. He had told me -that, when the United States began to build her navy, he expected to -obtain a place for me on a frigate. "America's prosperity on the sea -is just beginning," he said. "Don't turn your back on your natural -calling. One voyage in a privateer in one of the wars that are on the -horizon will make your fortune. I'll take you to sea with me. Let the -dominie look elsewhere for his recruits!" - -The rector and the commodore were great comrades, but on the subject of -a career for me they never agreed. - -Commodore Barney had been a hero to Alexander and myself as far back -as we could remember. He was a part of our lives from the first--an -unofficial second guardian. I have heard him declare that he was on his -way to our house to adopt us when he met the rector coming out with -one of us clinging to each hand. Dr. Eccleston had told him then, the -commodore stated, that a seafaring man was no fit guardian for children. - -The commodore was a burly, pink-cheeked, big-hearted man. What a -dandy he was! When on shore he wore a cocked hat, a coat with large -lace cuffs, and a cape cut low to show his neck-stock of fine linen -cambric. His breeches were closely fitted with large buckles. He wore -silk stockings and large buckled shoes. No one who saw him sauntering -along Market Street would take him to be a sailor, although his tongue -betrayed his calling. Nautical terms, strange oaths, shipping topics -were forever on his lips. His clothes spoke of the ballroom, but his -language had the tang of the ship's deck and the salt wind. - -He was fond of the ladies. It often amused us to see him dancing -attendance on a maid who minced along in brocade or taffeta, with her -skirts ballooning from the hoops underneath, with bright-colored shoes -peeping out from beneath her skirts, and with an enormous plume in her -big bonnet that waved towards the commodore's cocked hat. The hooped -skirts seemed to be trying to keep her escort at a distance, while he -struggled manfully to pour his words into her ear. - -Murad was still hovering around us. Evidently anxious to appease the -commodore, he had begun to talk to him on sea topics. The commodore, -in turn, started to draw out the Egyptian as to opportunities American -shippers might have to sell cargoes of American goods to Mediterranean -cities. - -"In Barbary, Egypt and beyond," said Murad, "will lie your country's -chief market. The ports of the Mediterranean are eager for your -goods. Lads like these----" he fixed glowing eyes on Alexander and -myself--"will live to make their fortunes in the Mediterranean." - -"I don't know but what you're right," said the commodore, "if someone -will kindly sweep those Barbary buccaneers out of the way. Looks as if -we'll have to build a squadron to do what the navies of Europe have -failed to do through all these centuries. Matters are coming to a head -between our country and the pirate nests of Barbary. I've heard reports -of American ships being captured by ships sent out by the ruler of -Algiers. It may take us a little time to wake up, but in the end we're -going to stop that!" - -"That," said Murad suavely, "is nothing new. If you lived in the -Orient, my dear commodore, you would think little of it. It's merely -the way the rulers of the Barbary countries have of notifying your new -country that it's America's duty to pay them toll--ships and jewels -and gold. All of the nations of Europe pay them for protection, and of -course, in justice to themselves and those who pay them tribute, they -cannot exempt America. If I were your President, I would send liberal -presents every year to the princes of Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli and -Morocco. Then, sir, American ships and sailors would have nothing to -fear in the Mediterranean." - -"Just so!" said the commodore. He cast a long look at the Egyptian, -glanced around at us to see how we took this proposition, and chewed -his tobacco with fierce energy. Then he exploded: - -"I'd blow every one of those pirate nests out of the water before I'd -pay one of those bloody Bashaws a sixpence!" - -[Illustration: "I'D BLOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE PIRATE NESTS OUT OF THE -WATER BEFORE I'D PAY ONE OF THOSE BLOODY BASHAWS A SIXPENCE!" SAID THE -COMMODORE.] - -"Then!" said Murad, "I'm afraid American commerce will find itself -barred from the Mediterranean! I have no interest in the corsairs. I -was merely trying to point out a way by which your skippers could find -new markets over there without being attacked or imprisoned." - -"Well, just belay that advice when you're talking to a man who has -fought for, and still will fight for the honor of his country!" growled -the commodore. - -We followed the old sailor. - -"That fellow's in this land for no good!" the commodore said to the -rector. "The last time I attended a session of Congress, I saw him -listening to the debates. I reckon he's keeping the rulers of Barbary -informed of what's going on over here. Those fellows want to know how -rich our country is, so that they can tax us all that our finances can -stand. I wouldn't be surprised, either, if Murad's not sending advices -of our sailings, so that those pirates can be on the watch for our -ships! - -"Both England and France want to bar us from the trade of the Orient, -and their agents will convey to them there Bashaws any news this -sneaking Murad sends them. Christian convert--my aunt! Once a Moslem -always a Moslem! A trapper of Christians--that's what I think him!" - -Murad went on his way and we went ours. I was to have plenty of -occasion to reflect on the commodore's opinion of the Oriental. - -Alexander stayed with us for two months after his return from England. -Then he hurriedly shipped on a schooner bound for Boston. Its skipper, -when he returned to Baltimore, brought us a note from my brother. In it -he advised us that he had shipped on board the schooner _Marie_ sailing -from Boston for Cadiz. This was in April, 1784. Over a year passed -without bringing tidings of my brother. I had begun to fear that his -ship had gone down, although the good rector, to comfort me, grumbled -that there was a special Providence that took care of fools. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -CAPTURED BY CORSAIRS - - - "_What does it mean to them that somewhere men are free?_ - _Naked and scourged and starved, they groan in slavery!_" - - -The rector had encouraged me to browse through his library. He said -that ministers should be well-read men. It was no hardship for me--I -was fond of books. One day, as I was reading "Hakluyt's Voyages," he -rushed into the room. His usually pale face was red and distorted from -excitement. - -"David, I've news of your brother!" he cried. "I told you that there -was a Providence that safeguarded scapegraces! He's in Algiers. He's -been captured by pirates! They're holding him in slavery for ransom!" - -"Humph," said the commodore, who had followed him into the room, "I -don't call that being guided by a special Providence!" - -"Well," the rector said, "they might have killed him, or he might have -died of a fever in that pestilential country. Yes, I think Providence -is watching over him!" - -The news had come in a bulky envelope that had been forwarded to Dr. -Eccleston by the State Department. - -"Read that," cried the rector, tossing the letter into my lap, "and see -what becomes of lads who leave comfortable homes to sail the ocean!" - -He lit his pipe and fell to brooding, while I gleaned from the roughly -scribbled epistle the story of Alexander's capture by Turkish corsairs. - -That the Mediterranean Sea was infested by pirates Captain Stephens, -with whom Alexander sailed, well knew. But Cadiz lay outside of the -usual zone of the buccaneers, and the idea of danger from corsairs -scarcely entered the thoughts of the skipper and his men. Yet, on July -25, 1785, while the _Marie_ was passing Cape Saint Vincent, she was -pursued by a rakish lateen-sailed vessel. Despite desperate attempts -to outsail her pursuer, she was soon overtaken. Threatened by fourteen -ugly cannon, she awaited the approach of the stranger. - -The _Marie_ was hailed in Spanish. Captain Stephens shouted in reply -the name and destination of his vessel. He had little doubt that he -would be allowed to proceed and was on the point of giving orders to -resume the voyage, when a crowd of seamen in Turkish dress appeared on -the deck of the vessel, which now was found to be an Algerine corsair. - -The dark, bearded faces of the Moslems were forbidding enough, but when -the Mussulmans drew near with savage gestures and a wild brandishing of -weapons, the _Marie's_ men knew that either death or slavery awaited -them. - -A launch thronged with Moors and Arabs, armed with pistols, scimeters, -pikes and spears, put out from the side of the zebec. They fired -several volleys that came dangerously close to the heads of the -American sailors, and threatened to slaughter the crew if they resisted. - -Captain Stephens, when a pistol was held against his breast, -surrendered his ship. He and his crew were transferred to the -corsair, first having been stripped of all their clothes except their -undergarments. They were pricked and prodded until they reached the -forepart of the Algerine ship, where the commander, Rais Ibrahim, -a vicious-looking old Moor, who kept his hand on the pistol that -protruded from his sash as if his fingers itched to fire a bullet into -a Christian's body, repeated the threat of massacre if the captives -disobeyed his orders. - -Captain Stephens, who spoke Spanish, went as far as was safe in -protesting against the seizure. - -Rais Ibrahim, crying upon Allah to wipe out all Christians, replied -that the ships of Barbary were no longer limited by the Mediterranean -Sea. He declared that Algiers had made a peace with her ancient enemy -Spain and was free now to send her vessels through the Strait into the -Atlantic. - -"Have you papers," he sneered, "showing that your country is paying -tribute to the Dey of Algiers? If your government has not purchased -immunity from attack by our corsairs, do not protest to me against your -capture, but rather blame your rulers for neglecting to follow the wise -example of the nations of Europe, who pay my lord the gold that he -demands!" - -A Moslem crew was placed aboard the _Marie_, and she was sailed as a -prize into Algiers. There the prisoners found in captivity the crew of -the American ship _Dauphin_, under Captain Richard O'Brien, who, with -his mate, Andrew Montgomery, and five seamen, had been captured by an -Algerine corsair near Lisbon. - -To announce to the city that he was approaching with a prize the Moslem -captain fired gun after gun. The Port Admiral came out in a launch to -examine the prize and prisoners so that he might make a report to the -Dey; the people on shore gathered at the wharves to gloat over the new -wealth that had come to the city; the barrooms became crowded with -revelers; everyone except the slaves rejoiced. - -The captors were received by their relatives and friends on shore with -cheers and exultation. Estimates of the value of the prisoners and the -ship passed from one to another. The captives were given filthy rags -to cover their nakedness, and were marched through the streets between -rows of jeering infidels. Their destination was the palace of the Dey. -They were driven across the courtyard of the palace, where they entered -a hall. They then were pushed and prodded by their guards up five -flights of stairs, where they went through a narrow, dark entrance into -the Dey's audience room. - -He sat, a dark, fat, greasy creature, upon a low bench that was covered -with cushions of embroidered velvet. - -He viewed the Americans with great resentment. - -"I have sent several times to your nation," he said through his -interpreter, a renegade Englishman, "offering to make peace with -them if they would satisfy my requirements. They have never sent me -a definite reply. Since they have treated me so disdainfully, I will -never make peace with them! As for you, Christian dogs, you shall eat -stones!" - -The captives were driven from his presence and marched to the bagnio, -or prison, where they joined six hundred Christian slaves of various -nationalities--poor, broken-spirited fellows, weighed down with chains. - -Their names were entered in the prison book; each of them was given a -blanket, a scanty supply of coarse clothing, and a small loaf of black, -sour bread. They slept on the floor, with a thin blanket between them -and the cold stones. - -The next day each of them had a chain weighing about forty pounds -placed on him. One end was bound around the waist, and the other end -was fastened by a ring about the ankle. They were then assigned various -tasks for the government. The iron ring on their ankles, they learned, -was the badge of public service. Though it was a cruel weight, it -protected them from abuse by fanatical Moslems. - -Some of the captives were employed at rigging and fitting out cruisers, -and in transporting cargoes and other goods about the city. Because of -the narrow streets the articles they moved could be carried only by -means of poles on their shoulders. If they bumped into a citizen they -were loudly cursed and beaten. The Dey was building a new mosque, and -many of the Christians were employed in transporting blocks of stone -from the wharf to the building. Four men were employed to move one -stone, and only the strongest could bear up under such a load. Some of -the captives were sent into the mountains to blast rocks. Under the -direction of Moslem overseers, who cruelly beat them on the slightest -excuse, the prisoners rolled rocks weighing from twenty to forty tons -down the mountain, where they were then hoisted on carts, drawn by -teams of two hundred or more slaves to a wharf two miles distant, where -the stones were placed on scows and carried across the harbor to be -fitted into a breakwater. - -The prison, to which they returned after the labors of the day, was -an oblong, hollow square, three stories high. The ground floor was -composed of taverns that were kept by favored slaves who paid a goodly -sum for rent, as well as for the liquor they sold. In this way a few of -the slaves were able to earn enough money to purchase their freedom. -These taverns were so dark that lamps had to be kept burning even by -day. They were filled with Turks, Moors, Arabs and Christians, who -often became drunk and sang and babbled in every language. - -The second and third floors were surrounded by galleries that led to -cell-like rooms in which the captives slept. These cells were four -deep to a floor, and hung one over the other like ships' berths. They -swarmed with vermin. The air was too foul to breathe. If any of the -captives rebelled--there was the bastinado! The culprit was thrown -down on his face; his head and hands were tied; an infidel sat on his -shoulders; his legs were held up to present the soles of his feet; and -two infidels delivered from one hundred to five hundred blows. - -If a slave committed a very serious offense, he might be beheaded, -impaled, or burnt alive. For murdering a Mohammedan one slave was cast -off the walls of the city upon iron hooks fastened into the wall, where -he lingered in agony for many hours before he perished. - -The worst danger the Christians faced was an insidious one--the plague. -In the hot, damp air of Africa a fever arises from decaying animal -substances, which is spread about by swarms of locusts. A person may -be attacked by only a slight fever, but he soon becomes delirious and -too weak to move. In five days his body begins to turn black and then -death comes. It is the black pestilence, and it attacks slaves and -rulers without choice. If it had not been for a hospital maintained by -Spanish priests, most of the captives would have died. As it was, many -Christians perished. - - -Murad came into our thoughts as we brooded over Alexander's plight. He -was still in Baltimore and still attended the chapel services. Did he -have influence enough, we asked, to obtain my brother's freedom? - -The commodore had sworn that the Egyptian went to church only for -the purpose of ingratiating himself with Americans upon whom he had -designs. The rector had retorted that he could not allow himself to -suspect one of his flock of any but pure motives when entering the -house of God. He himself, I felt, disliked the man from the East, but -he concealed it well. Therefore, when Murad came to our door, the -rector invited him into the library and told him briefly what had -happened. - -"I am heart-broken over it!" Murad exclaimed, gazing at me with his -great liquid eyes, "and I am helpless because I am no longer a follower -of Mohammed; yet your Government will surely be able to ransom your -brother and his comrades. I do not think their lives will be in danger -if your statesmen appropriate the money promptly. It's shocking, of -course, yet it's quite the usual thing to pay these ransoms. England, -Spain, France--all do it. You see, ever since the days when the Queen -of Sheba brought tribute to King Solomon, the Orientals have been -trained to look for gifts from foreigners who touch their shores." - -The rector looked dismayed at this attempt to justify kidnapping by -the Scriptures. "It's time," he said, "for this western world to teach -those ruffians that blackmail is blackmail and that murder is murder!" - -He fumbled with the envelope that had contained Alexander's letter. A -slip of paper slid out. He read to us this memorandum, written by my -brother: - - -_Amount of Ransom demanded by the Dey of Algiers for the Release of -American captives_ - - "Crew of ship _Dauphin_: - - Algerine Sequins - - Richard O'Brien, captain, ransom demanded 2,000 - Andrew Montgomery, mate 1,500 - Jacob Tessanoir, French passenger 2,000 - Wm. Paterson, seaman 1,500 - Philip Sloan 725 - Peleg Lorin 725 - John Robertson 725 - James Hall 725" - - - "Crew of the Schooner _Marie_: - - Algerine Sequins - - Isaac Stephen, captain, ransom demanded 2,000 - Alexander Forsyth, mate 1,500 - George Smith, seaman 900 - John Gregory 725 - James Hermet 725" - - -"How much is 1,500 Algerine sequins?" I asked Murad. - -"A sequin," he explained, "amounts to eight shillings sterling, so that -12,000 shillings will be required for Alexander, and 126,000 shillings -for the entire lot. There must be added to this sum 10 or 20 per cent -of the total as bribes to the Dey's officers, and as commission to -brokers. There are Jewish merchants over there whose chief business it -is to procure the release of captives--for a consideration! - -"I know such a merchant in Algiers," Murad went on, "I shall write to -him to interest himself in the captives and to use his influence to see -that they are kindly treated. Perhaps he will be able to reduce the -amount of the ransom. When the money is raised, I shall be at your -service for negotiations." - -He bowed himself out. The rector went to the window and stood staring -out after him. "It can't be," I heard him say, "and yet, if the -commodore heard what he said to me, he'd swear the fellow was an agent -for the corsairs!" - - - - -CHAPTER III - -BARBARY AND THE BUCCANEERS - - - "_In lofty strains the bard shall tell_ - _How Truxton fought, how Somers fell,_ - _How gallant Preble's daring host_ - _Triumphed along the Moorish coast,_ - _Forced the proud infidel to treat,_ - _And brought the Crescent to their feet!_" - - -I was straining like a leashed hound to board a ship and fight for my -brother's freedom, but no way was open to secure the release of the -captives except by diplomacy. As a vent for my feelings in those first -weeks of hot rage, I plunged into a study of the history of the Barbary -pirates. Every outrage done by them was the occasion for an outburst of -vain anger on my part. But was it, after all, vain? Later I had my wish -and shared in a campaign to free three hundred American prisoners from -captivity in Tripoli. - -Meanwhile, we lost no time in sending to Alexander as comforting an -answer as we could compose. He had asked that we send his mail to the -care of the English consul who, he wrote, had obtained the consent of -the Dey to send and receive letters for the American captives. - -Dr. Eccleston assured Alexander that Mr. Samuel Smith, Maryland's -representative in Congress, had taken an interest in the case and would -urge Congress to procure his speedy release. It was easy to predict a -swift release--but hard, we soon found, to obtain one. I have heard -men joke about the law's delays, but the delays of diplomats are longer -yet. _Alexander's captivity was to endure for years!_ - -Fortunately for me in my pursuit of knowledge concerning these -buccaneers, I could talk to the rector who had years before traveled -through Mohammedan countries. He poured out to me freely his -recollections of the miserable nations that occupied the African coast -of the Mediterranean. - -In books concerning these pirates his library was not lacking. He was -a great bookworm--some of his people whispered that he would trade -the soul of one of his flock for a rare book. He made friends with -skippers, it was said, mainly to have them bring him the latest books -from abroad. By trading with sailors, schoolmasters and preachers, he -had acquired many volumes, among which were many books on travel and -exploration. - -Wrecking and piracy had been followed by the inhabitants of the -communities bordering on the Mediterranean since the time of Odysseus. -The rector read to me from Thucydides how Minos of Greece used his -fleet to "put down piracy as far as he was able, in order that his -revenues might come in." From Homer he read the passage, "Do you wander -for trade or at random like pirates over the sea?" - -[Illustration: WRECKING AND PIRACY HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE COMMUNITIES -BORDERING ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS.] - -In the first half of the last century before Christ, I learned, Cicilia -and Crete were the chief buccaneering nations on the Mediterranean. -Rome had ruined all of her rivals, and therefore made no effort to -guard the seas from corsairs. Refugees from all nations joined the -pirate fleets of Cicilia and Crete. The small communities surrounding -these pirate states were forced to become allies of the pirate rulers. -In addition to seizing ships and goods, the buccaneers became slavers, -attacking small towns and carrying away men, women and girls. The -island of Delos became a clearing-house for this traffic, and in one -day ten thousand slaves were sold. It was said that while the harbor -of Delos was supposed to offer mariners protection from pirates, the -crew of a ship that anchored alongside a merchant vessel might be the -kind that made merry with the merchantman's crew on shore, and, after -learning of her cargo and destination, might follow her out of the -harbor to cut the throats of her crew on the high seas. - -Along the southern coast of the Mediterranean, in that part which is -now called Barbary or Northern Africa, where Morocco, Algeria, Tunis -and Tripoli lie, the galleys of Phoenician traders roved in these early -times, exploring the rivers. - -Following these traders came Carthaginian warriors who founded colonies -upon this coast. Among these communities was the famous city of -Carthage, that in time brought forth the mighty leader Hannibal. - -Then came the Romans, who conquered the Carthaginians and turned -their cities to ruins. Thus the entire territory became Roman African -colonies. - -Over six centuries after the birth of Christ, the Saracens began to -invade this region. Their wars continued until by the eighth century -all Roman authority was swept away, and Mohammedan rule was established -throughout the country. - - -"RED-BEARD" - -Born of my reading and thinking about Mediterranean pirates, through -my dreams went a pageant of cruel corsairs and pitiable captives. -There was the corsair chief Uruj Barbarossa, who, hearing on his -native island of Lesbos of the rich galleons that passed through the -Mediterranean, entered the Sea in 1504 with a fleet of robber galleys -and made an alliance with the ruler of Tunis whereby that port became -the center for his thieving. This Barbarossa, or Red-Beard, was a -pirate of the heroic order. On one of his first voyages out of Tunis -he fell in with two galleys belonging to Pope Julius II, bearing rich -merchandise from Genoa. These galleys were far bigger than his two -galleots, yet Red-Beard attacked so fiercely that he overcame the -foremost galley. As the second galley came up without having seen the -outcome of the battle, he arrayed his sailors in the clothes of the -Christian captives and, taking the second galley by surprise, captured -her too. His victories made Europe tremble. Emperor Charles V of Spain -in 1516 sent ten thousand veterans to Barbary to end Red-Beard's -career. Barbarossa's army of fifteen hundred men was surprised by -the Spaniards in crossing a river. Having crossed, he turned back on -hearing the cries of his men and died fighting gallantly in their midst. - -Next through my fancy passed Kheyr-ed-din, Red-Beard's brother. Having -slain Red-Beard, the Spaniards could have driven the corsairs out of -Africa, but instead of waging further war, the army returned to Spain. -Kheyr-ed-din then assumed command of the sea rovers, and with a fleet -of one hundred and fifty galleys and brigantines engaged an Allied -Christian fleet of one hundred and forty-six galleons under Admiral -Andrea Doria. The battle amounted only to a skirmish, for Andrea -Doria, although his vessels were manned by sixty thousand men--forces -far greater than that of the infidels--retired when the Moslems had -captured seven of his galleys. - - -GALLANT DON JOHN - -Next in the pageant passed the great corsairs of the battle of Lepanto, -where the Turks, then at the height of their glory, suffered a crushing -defeat at the hands of the brilliant young emperor, Don John of Austria. - -The Moslems, before this historic date of October 7, 1571, were -threatening to overwhelm Europe. They desired to make the rich island -of Cyprus one of their stepping-stones to the mainland. Venice, who -owned the island, resisted the claims of the infidels. The Moslems -thereupon threatened to conquer Venice herself. That city's fleet was -too small to cope with the great navy of the Turks. Philip II of Spain, -appealed to by Pope Pius V, went to her aid. The Holy League to protect -Christendom against the infidels was formed. - -Don John of Austria, brother of Philip, was chosen to lead the -Christian fleet. He was tall and handsome, and, although only -twenty-four, had distinguished himself in wars against the Moors. He -went to join his navy in a dress of white velvet and cloth of gold. -A crimson scarf floated from his breast. Snow-white plumes adorned -his cap. He looked every inch a hero, and every inch a hero he proved -himself to be. - -He found himself at the head of the greatest Christian fleet that had -ever assembled to fight the corsairs. Three hundred vessels and eighty -thousand men sailed forth under his command. The men were incited to -battle by news of the almost unbelievable cruelties the Moslems had -inflicted upon the Venetian garrison of a city in Cyprus which they -had captured. The captain of the Venetian troops, Bragadino, had had -his ears and nose cut off. He was next led around before the Turkish -batteries, crawling on hands and knees, laden with two baskets of -earth. Whenever he passed the quarters of the Turkish general, he was -forced to kiss the ground. Next, with Mustapha, the Moslem general, -looking on, he was flayed alive, and his skin, stuffed with straw, was -then paraded through the town. - -Resolved to end forever such atrocities, the Christian fleet sought -that of Ali Pasha, the Turkish admiral. Three hundred galleys, with -one hundred and twenty thousand men, composed the Moslem fleet. They -came on with their decks covered with flags and streamers, while, hid -by this glory of banners, the galley slaves, chained to the oars, -toiled beneath the lash. The two fleets met near the Gulf of Lepanto. -Don John's lookout, from his perch on the main-top, discovered a white -sail. Behind it came sail after sail, until the full strength of the -Turkish navy was in sight. - -Don John ran up his signal for battle--a white flag--and went in his -gig from galley to galley, encouraging his men. - -"Ready, Sir, and the sooner the better!" they replied to his question -as to their preparedness. - -As a last act before battle, Don John unfurled a standard containing -the figure of the Saviour, fell on his knees and prayed for God's -blessing on his cause, then formed his line of battle. The fire -from the huge floating castles that belonged to his fleet created a -panic among the Turks and broke their line. The ships of both sides -came together in a confused mass, so that their decks, almost joined -together, formed a huge platform upon which the Christians and Turks -battled. - -Ali Pasha, the Moslem admiral, came alongside of Don John's ship and -was on the point of boarding it when the galley of the Spanish captain -Colonna rammed his vessel, while its crew poured a destroying fire -across the Turkish galley's deck. Ali Pasha was slain. The Ottoman -emblem fluttered down from the mast of the flagship, and the Christian -ensign rose in its place. Heartened by this victory, the other -Christian galleys triumphed over their foes. Such Turkish ships as were -able to escape fled, pursued by the Christians. The Moslems lost over -two hundred ships. Twenty thousand of their men perished. The Christian -fleet lost over seven thousand men. Twelve thousand Christian slaves -were set free from the Turkish galleys. - -The Pope who had urged that the Christian fleet be assembled cried in -thanksgiving: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." - - -CERVANTES--WARRIOR AND AUTHOR - -Following these great corsairs came cruel, mean-spirited buccaneers, -whom I was glad to dismiss and replace in my imaginings with that -noble captive of the Turkish pirates, Miguel Cervantes, who, after his -release was to write the immortal book, "Don Quixote." - -In 1575 Cervantes set sail from Naples for the coast of Spain in -the vessel _El Sol_. His brother, Rodrigo, went with him. They were -returning to Spain, their native land, after serving as soldiers of -fortune abroad. Cervantes was the son of an impoverished nobleman of -Castile. He had commanded a company of soldiers on board the _Marquesa_ -at the Battle of Lepanto. In this battle he lost his left arm. He bore -with him a letter of testimonial from Don John, stating that he was as -valiant as he was unlucky, and recommending him to Philip II of Spain. - -His ship was almost in sight of the desired haven. The coast of Barbary -which lay on the shore of the Mediterranean opposite from Spain was -feared by the Spaniards because it was infested with pirates, but it -seemed that on this occasion they were to escape attack. - -Suddenly, however, three corsair galleys, commanded by Arnaut Memi, -pushed out from the Algerine shore. The _El Sol's_ captain tried his -utmost to escape, but was overtaken. A desperate engagement followed, -in which Cervantes fought with valor, but the pirates were in -overwhelming numbers and the master of the _El Sol_ was at last forced -to strike his colors. - -Deli Memi, a renegade Greek, took Cervantes as his captive. Finding -upon his person the letters of recommendation from Don John to the King -of Spain, the pirate thought that a rich and powerful person had become -his prisoner and so set a high ransom price upon him. To make Cervantes -the more anxious to be delivered from captivity, Deli Memi loaded him -with chains and treated him with continued cruelty. - -As a matter of fact, Cervantes was poor both in money and the means of -borrowing it. His father, in the second year of his sons' captivity, -managed to raise enough funds to secure the release of one of them, but -Deli Memi, thinking Miguel of more importance than his brother, kept -the future author and set free Rodrigo. Upon this, Cervantes planned to -escape. In a cavern six miles from Algiers a number of fugitive slaves -were hiding. Rodrigo promised to send a Spanish ship to take away these -refugees. The captive Cervantes was to join them. The ship arrived but -some Algerine fisherman gave the alarm and the vessel was obliged to -put out to sea without the fugitives. - -The Dey of Algiers, learning of the hiding place from a treacherous -comrade of Cervantes, sent soldiers to seize the escaped slaves. He -was a murderous ruler. Cervantes later in "Don Quixote" gave the Dey -eternal infamy by thus painting one of the characters in his colors: - - - "Every day he hanged a slave; impaled one; cut off the ears of - another; and this upon so little animus, or so entirely without - cause, that the Turks would own he did it merely for the sake of - doing it and because it was his nature." - - -Cervantes took the blame for the entire project on himself. Threatened -with torture and death, he held to his story. The ruler, amazed at his -boldness, departed from his usual custom and purchased Cervantes from -Deli Memi for five hundred crowns. - -Again and again the Spaniard tried to escape, always at the risk -of being punished with death. At last, when his master was called -to Constantinople, and was taking Cervantes with him in chains, a -priest obtained his ransom for one hundred pounds, English money, and -Cervantes was free to go home and enter upon the literary career that -brought forth "Don Quixote." - -The nations of Europe by persistent effort could have wiped out -piracy along the entire Barbary coast, but instead they continued to -allow their shipping to be preyed upon, paid ransoms meekly, and sent -bribes in the form of presents to the greedy and insolent rulers. -France incited the pirates to prey upon the shipping of Spain; Great -Britain and Holland urged the corsairs to destroy the sea commerce of -France--each great power sought the pirates as an aid to bar their -rivals from the trade of the Mediterranean. - -The consuls sent from Europe to these provinces were often seized as -hostages by the pashas, deys and beys to whom they toadied, and if the -fleets of their countries in a spasm of rage at some fresh indignity -attacked the Barbary ports, the consuls were tortured. For instance, -when the French shelled Algiers in 1683, the Vicar Apostolic Jean de -Vacher, acting as consul, was blown to pieces from a cannon's mouth. - - -DAUNTLESS MASTER NICHOLS - -While we who were interested in the captives lamented that the nations -of the world, our country included, were so slow to wipe out these -pirates, my thoughts ran back to the story of an adventure that had -been passed on to me through some family chronicles, of one of our -ancestors who fought against this same race of corsairs. This Forsyth -was an English sailor. He shipped in the _Dolphin_, of London, along -with thirty-six men and two boys, under Master Nichols, a skilful and -experienced skipper. - -While in sight of the island of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea -they caught sight of a sail making towards them from the shore. Master -Nichols sent my forbear into the maintop, where he sighted five ships -following the one that had already been discovered. By their appearance -they were taken to be Turkish corsairs. - -The _Dolphin_ was armed with nineteen guns and nine carronades, the -latter pieces being used to fire bullets for the purpose of sweeping -the decks when the ship was boarded by enemies. These guns were made -ready to resist an attack, the men were armed with muskets, pistols -and cutlasses, and the assault was awaited with courage. Master -Nichols, upon the poop, waved his sword as confidently as if the battle -was already won. His example did much to hearten the crew for the -ordeal confronting them. - -When the foremost ship came within range, Master Nichols ordered -his trumpeter to sound and his gunner to aim and fire. The leading -ship, which had gotten the wind of the _Dolphin_, returned the fire -as fiercely. This ship, which was under the command of a renegade -Englishman named Walshingham who acted as admiral of the Moslem fleet, -came alongside of the _Dolphin_. She had twice as many pieces of -ordnance as the _Dolphin_, and had two hundred and fifty men to match -against the forty men on the English ship's decks. These boarded the -_Dolphin_ on the larboard quarter, and came towards the poop with pikes -and hatchets upraised to slaughter. - -However, the _Dolphin's_ crew had a carronade in the captain's cabin, -or round house, and with bullets from this they drove the infidels -back, while their own gunners continued to pour shot into the corsair. -At last the Turkish ship was shot through and through and was in danger -of sinking. Walshingham therefore withdrew his men from the _Dolphin's_ -deck and sailed his ship ahead of the English vessel, receiving a final -broadside as he passed. - -Following Walshingham's ship, two other large Turkish vessels came to -attack, one on the starboard quarter, and the other on the port. Each -of them had twenty-five cannon and about two hundred and fifty men. -With scimiters, hatchets, pikes and other weapons, they poured on to -the _Dolphin's_ deck where the others had left off. One of the most -daring of the Turks climbed into the maintop of the _Dolphin_ to haul -down the flag, but the steward of the ship, espying him, took aim with -his musket. The Turk dropped dead into the sea, and the flag still -floated. - -These boarders were repelled in the same fashion. The _Dolphin's_ crew -fired their small battery with great effect into both ships. They too, -torn and battered, passed on at last to mend their leaks. - -After them came two more ships as well-armed and as well-manned as -those that had passed out of the fight. The gunners of the _Dolphin_ -disposed of one of these quickly, and she hurried to get out of range. -The crew of the other one, however, approaching on the starboard side, -boarded the _Dolphin_ where the earlier assailants had entered, and -swarmed up the deck crying in the Turkish tongue: "Yield yourselves! -Yield yourselves!" Their leaders also promised that the lives of the -Englishmen would be spared, and their ship and goods delivered back to -them. - -"Give no ear to them! Die rather than yield!" cried Captain Nichols. -His men fought on doggedly, plying their ordnance against the ship; -playing upon the boarders with small shot; meeting them in hand-to-hand -encounters. - -Suddenly smoke poured out from the hatches of the _Dolphin_. The -infidels, fearing that their own ship would catch fire from the burning -vessel, retreated from the _Dolphin_, and permitted their ship to fall -far astern of her. - -The _Dolphin's_ intrepid crew now set to work to quench the flames -and succeeded. A haven was near, into which they put, the enemy ships -having gone ashore in other places to save themselves from wreck. - -In these three battles, the _Dolphin_ lost only six men and one boy, -with eight men and one boy hurt. The Moslems lost scores of men. Master -Nichols was wounded twice. The ship arrived safely in the Thames, near -London--a plain merchant ship, manned by ordinary sailors, but as -meritorious of honor as any ship that fought under Nelson or Drake. - -I was glad that the story had been passed down to me. I thought of the -two boys in the crew--one killed, the other wounded. I resolved that -when my chance came to help rid the seas of these buccaneers I would -try to fight as nobly. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -_THE ROSE OF EGYPT_ - - -The Egyptian Murad had surprised the sailors of Baltimore by purchasing -a schooner that had seen service as a privateer. He had changed its -name from _Sally_ to _The Rose of Egypt_. He announced that he intended -to open trade with Mediterranean cities, and that he would make our -town his headquarters. Enlisting a crew from idle men along the -wharves, he began to load the vessel with goods for which there was a -market in the Orient. - -This scheme vastly puzzled the commodore. "I'd like to get to -the bottom of it. It's my private opinion that he deserves a -tar-and-feather party, but I haven't anything to proceed on but strong -suspicions. Every time I go to look in on Congress, blast me, if I -don't run afoul of Murad. He told me, the last time, that a naval -committee desired to question him on trade conditions in the East. Time -must hang heavy on the hands of our representatives--hobnobbing with -such a fellow! They better spend their hours in finding a way to set -our American lads free from Turkish chains. Can't they see what Murad's -up to? I can give a guess that'll turn out to be pretty near the truth. -He's spying on Congress for the rulers of Barbary! If I can only get -proof of it, we'll hang the Egyptian to the _Sally's_ yardarm!" - -There came a turn of events that prevented the commodore from making -further inquiry into Murad's affairs--though it did not hinder him -from spreading his opinions. The Administration chose the old sea-dog -as a confidential messenger to bear certain important dispatches to -Commissioner Benjamin Franklin, in Paris. Off he went, promising to -return within six months, and pledging me that when he came back he -would have a serious interview with the rector that would result in my -getting permission to go to sea. - -Meanwhile the rector had gone to Virginia to attend a conference of -ministers. He came back aflame with a new purpose, and with lips set in -a thin line that spoke determination. - -"These stout-hearted settlers who are flocking out to settle in -Kentucky," he said, "are sheep without shepherds! I have learned that -there is a woeful lack of ministers in the new settlements. I have -determined to spend a year there. My friend, Joshua Littleton, will -occupy my place here until I return. He is a scholarly man. Your -studies will not suffer under him." - -I did not like Mr. Littleton. He was a little dried-up man, too much -occupied with studies to pay attention to the welfare of his pupils. -I had a feeling that he regarded me merely as a mechanical thing that -must be made to utter words and rules. You may note Mr. Littleton's -industry by this advertisement that appeared frequently in a local -journal: - - - "There is a School in Baltimore, in Market Street, where Mr. - Joshua Littleton, late of Yale Colledge, teaches Reading, Writing, - Arithmatick, whole numbers and Fractions, Vulgar and Decimal, The - Mariner's Art, Plain and Mercator's Way, also Geometry, Surveying, - the Latin tongue, the Greek and Hebrew Grammars, Ethicks, - Rhetorick, Logick, Natural Philosophy, and Metaphysicks, all or - any of them at a reasonable price." - - -After I had gleaned from him all he knew of the "Mariner's Art" I was -eager to escape. - -When the rector rode away on horseback to follow Daniel Boone's trail, -I began to spend along the wharves all the time I could find. Murad -invited me to inspect _The Rose of Egypt_, and soon I was as much at -home on board of her as were the sailors the Egyptian had shipped. - -Murad, in his endeavors to make me feel at ease, spun yarns about his -career that were as fascinating as any tale Scheherazade told. One -vividly described how he, having been driven from Alexandria through -persecution, decided to earn his salt by assuming the character of a -dervish--a role in which he had to pretend to be both a priest and -a conjurer. He professed to be a devout Mohammedan, and practiced -this holy profession of dervish by giving advice to the sick, and by -selling, for considerable sums of money, small pieces of paper on which -were written sentences in Turkish from the Koran, which he sanctified -by applying them to his shaven and naked crown. - -At a place called Trebizond he was informed by the people that their -ruler was dangerously sick and threatened with blindness. He was -ordered by the ministers of the Bashaw to prescribe for him. Through -files of armed soldiers he was conducted into the presence of the sick -monarch. Calling upon the officers to kneel, he displayed all the pomp -and haughtiness that is expected of a dervish. After invoking the -aid of Allah and Mohammed, he inquired under what disease the Bashaw -labored. Finding that he was afflicted with a fever, accompanied by -a violent inflammation of the eyes, Murad made bold to predict that -he would recover both health and sight by the time of the next new -moon. Searching in the pouch containing his medicines, he produced a -white powder which he ordered to be blown into the ruler's eyes, and -directed that a wash of milk and water should then be used. He likewise -recommended that the patient be sweated by the use of warm drinks and -blankets. - -He was well rewarded with money and presents. - -The next day the caravan he was traveling with departed for Persia, and -Murad, hoping to be nine or ten days' journey from Trebizond by the -time of the next new moon, so that he might be quite out of reach in -case his remedy should harm instead of help the Bashaw, departed with -it. - -The caravan was a large one and heavily loaded. A few days later it was -overtaken by a lighter caravan, also from Trebizond. Murad, trembling -in his shoes, heard two men of the newly arrived caravan talking to -each other concerning the marvellous cure of the Bashaw. He learned -that the court and citizens of Trebizond were singing his praises, and -searching for him to heap rewards upon him. - -"I was tempted to return," Murad concluded his yarn, "but I began to -wonder what the restored Bashaw would say if some jealous physician -should investigate my remedy and find that _I had blown lime in the -Bashaw's eyes to eat the films of disease away_!" - - -Before the rector went away, Murad had been a weekly visitor to our -home. He was a well-educated man, and Dr. Eccleston was glad to chat -with one who could discuss the affairs of the universe and delve back -into classical times. The Egyptian had restless eyes. They roved over -every book in the library. Several times it seemed to me that he was -trying to lead the conversation back to the theme of the treasure tomb. -He would ask the rector if he had heard that a certain statue had been -unearthed in Greece, or if he knew that an expedition was on its way -from London to Egypt to delve for traces of a race that flourished -before the Egyptians. The rector's eyes would light up, and he seemed -to be on the point of answering, but always he checked himself and -turned the topic. On one of these occasions his glance darted towards a -locked bookcase that stood in the corner of the library. Murad's glance -followed his. - -When the rector went west Murad began to call on Mr. Littleton, who -also received him in the library. His visits stopped suddenly. Then he -announced his date of sailing. I kept putting two and two together, and -one night, as I lay awake thinking about all these strange things, it -suddenly flashed on me that the Egyptian had discovered the location -of the rector's diagram of the treasure chamber, and that one of the -reasons for his sailing was to search for the treasure. I searched in -the corner of the library towards which the rector had glanced while -talking to Murad, and found that the lock to one of the bookcases had -been forced. A leather-bound tome, "Travels in the Holy Land," was -missing. - -In an instant I decided to accept Murad's often-urged invitation to -sail with him. - -Murad now told me that, as a matter of form, I should have to apply to -his mate, Mr. Bludsoe. He led me down the deck and whispered to the -mate, who eyed me sharply. Then the mate spoke: - -"Can you steer?" - -"Ay sir," I answered glibly, "I can reef and steer. I can make a -man-rope knot, crown a lanyard, tie a reef-knot, or toss a royal bunt!" - -"I fear," he said dryly, "that you are too expert for our forecastle. -The men will be jealous of you. How are you as a cook?" - -"I can make coffee and peel potatoes," I said more humbly, "and I know -how to fry potatoes, and bacon, roast beefsteak, and cook oatmeal." - -"Get your things and come aboard," he said, "such an all-around fellow -is spoiling on shore." - -I was by no means a greenhorn aboard a schooner. No boy could grow up -in a seaport town without becoming familiar with ships, and be sure -that I was no exception. The wharf and river had been my play region -since earliest childhood. There were a number of yawls and cutters -which the boys of the town were allowed to use when their owners did -not require them, and in these we held mimic warfare, playing at -buccaneers, or pretending that we were Yankee sailors fighting off -English press-gangs. Sometimes a kindly skipper would allow us to -explore his vessel, and there was always an old sailor of deck or dock -willing to show a lad how to tie a rope or haul in a sail. Thus I -became familiar with sailing ships from stem to stern and from the main -royal truck to the keel. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -MY FIRST VOYAGE - - - "_Now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun._ - _All hands to make sail, going large is the song._ - _From under two reefs in our topsails we lie,_ - _Like a cloud in the air, in an instant must fly._ - _There's topsails, topgallant sails, and staysails too._ - _There is stu'nsails and skysails, star gazers so high,_ - _By the sound of one pipe everything it must fly._ - _Now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun,_ - _About ship and reef topsails in one!_ - _All hands up aloft when the helm goes down,_ - _Lower way topsails when the manyards goes round._ - _Chase up and lie out and take two reefs in one._ - _In a moment of time all this work must be done._ - _Man your headbraces, your halyards and all,_ - _And hoist away topsails when it's 'let go and haul!_'" - - (Ditty sung in early days aboard Salem ships.) - - -One night in May, Murad sent word to me that we were to sail at four -o'clock the next morning. I went to bed as usual, but before the hall -clock struck three I was out of my window with my luggage and on my way -to the ship. When I went aboard I found that all of the confusion of -spare rigging, rope, sails, hawsers, oakum and merchandise that I had -noted on the deck the day before, had been cleared away. - -All of the crew were Baltimore men. Some of them were honest, -goodhearted fellows. Others were ruffians. I recognized Steve Dunn and -some of his gang among the crew. Baltimore had evidently become too -hot to hold such rascals. - -Samuel Childs, who had sailed under Commodore Barney, took me under his -wing, although he swore that I should have been keelhauled for going to -sea without asking the advice of the rector or the commodore. - -"But," I protested, "they are both out of the city, and if they knew -the reason I had for going, they would approve." - -"I don't like to see the skipper taking such an interest in you," -Samuel said with a shake of his head. "Mr. Bludsoe, the mate, is a fine -man. You can trust him as you would a father. But these Orientals--I -question their motives. True, Murad was a skipper in the Sultan's navy, -but he's hiding something. He's more than a mere captain. We older men -can take care of ourselves, but you've had no experience with men. -You'd better stick close to me aboard ship, and closer still when we -land!" - -Samuel was our chantie man, and good service he did in stimulating -us to work the windlass in hauling up the anchors--sometimes buried -so deep in the mud at the sea's bottom that it needed the liveliest -sort of chantie to inspire our hearts and strengthen our sinews. The -secret of the swift way in which we heaved up the anchor, cleared away -lashings, pumped the ship, unreeved the running gear, and mastheaded -the topsails lay in the fact that the chantie caused us to work in -unison. No matter how tired we were, our spirits rose and the blood -coursed as we worked to the chantie Samuel roared forth: - - - "Way, haul away; - Oh, haul away, my Rosey. - Way, haul away; - O, haul away, Joe!" - - -There being a fine breeze from the shore, we made sail at the wharf and -headed out to sea. As the wind increased, all sail was made, topmast -stun'sail booms were run out, stun'sails spread, anchors secured, and -all movable things on deck were made fast. When we hove the log it was -seen that we were doing better than ten knot, a rate of speed that made -Murad well satisfied with his ship. - -We were mustered aft--watches were to be chosen. There were ten able -seamen, three ordinary seamen, and one boy--myself. The men were -divided between the port and starboard watches. Mr. Bludsoe, the -chief officer, was in command of the port watch. Mr. French, the -second officer, was in charge of the starboard watch. When we were not -attending to the sails, we were kept busy scraping, painting, tarring -and holy-stoning. - -At four bells--six o'clock--the port watch came on deck to relieve the -starboard. The starboard watch then went below for supper, and were -allowed to remain off duty until eight o'clock--eight bells. The port -watch was then relieved by them, and its members were allowed till -midnight for resting. Short "dog" watches were provided for so that the -port and starboard watch had eight hours off instead of four hours' -duty every other night. - -When the watch was changed, the man at the wheel was relieved, the -lookout man climbed to the topgallant forecastle to relieve the weary -lookout who in loneliness had faced exposure to the weather for four -hours, while the rest of the men smoked their pipes in as comfortable -places as they could find, and swapped yarns. - -The cry that caused the most excitement aboard ship was "All hands -shorten sail." This meant "going aloft." The order had no terrors for -me, thanks to my early experiences on schooners in the Chesapeake Bay. - -It is not much of a job to go up the masts in calm weather. Indeed, -on a calm moonlight night, a place on the crosstrees was my favorite -spot. One seems to be then on the top of a mountain looking out on -an enchanted land. But when the seas are heavy it is a different -matter. The force of the gale that leads the mate to bawl his command -to shorten sail pins you against the mast. The rain lashes you, and -sometimes there is sleet to prick you like swords' points. The man -above you may kick you with his heel as he comes to grips with his -task. The officers on deck and the boatswain on the yardarm have -their eyes fixed on you and the rest of the watch. The canvas must be -mastered and every man must do his part. Overhead the spars and yards -pitch and reel. The yard you stand on seems almost as unstable as the -waves that leap up to engulf you. - -On the first day out, two of our men had a fist-fight due to trouble -that arose between them while they were aloft. Wesley Burroughs had -stopped in the shrouds as if he meant to go no farther. Giles Lake, who -was behind him, thought to find favor with Bludsoe, the boatswain, and -began to prick Wesley's legs with his knife. - -The result, however, was not what he expected. Wesley continued his -ascent, but when the task was done and the two had reached the deck, he -went at Giles, who was much larger, like a thunderbolt. Under the eyes -of the boatswain, who seemed to think Lake deserved the punishment, he -knocked his tormentor down, seized his own sheath knife, and returned -prick for prick. - -An ordeal I feared was that of initiation by King Neptune. I was -relieved when Samuel told me that Neptune's visit came only when a -ship crossed the equator, and that _The Rose of Egypt_ would not cross -that imaginary line. He satisfied my curiosity by describing his own -experience. - -After breakfast on the morning the ship crossed the equator, he was -ordered to prepare for shaving. The crew blindfolded him, led him on -deck, and bound him in a chair. - -A voice said: - -"Neptune has just come over the bow to inquire if anyone here dares to -cross his dominions without being properly initiated. Samuel Childs, -prepare to be shaved by the King of the Seas, a ceremony that will make -you a true child of the ocean!" - -His shirt had been stripped off his back. A speaking-trumpet was held -to his ear, through which a voice thundered: - -"Are you, O landsman, prepared to become a true salt?" - -"I am!" Samuel said boldly. - -"Apply the brush!" - -When the bandage was removed from the victim's eyes, someone stood -before him dressed like Neptune, with gray hair and beard and long -white robes. In his right hand he held a trident; in his left hand the -speaking-trumpet. In a sailor's hand was a paint brush that had been -dipped in tar. With this thin tar Samuel was lathered, the tar being -later removed with fat and oakum. - -Neptune then said: "You may now become an able seaman. You may rise to -boatswain and to captain. If you are killed or drowned, you will be -turned into a sea-horse, and will be my subject. You may now eat salt -pork, mush, and weevilly bread. Do it without grumbling. I now depart!" - -Samuel was again blindfolded. When the bandage was removed, Neptune had -disappeared. It was told Samuel that he had dashed over the bow into -his sea-chariot. - -"I know better now," Samuel explained to me. "Neptune was impersonated -by Jim Thorn, our oldest sailor. His long beard was made of unraveled -rope and yarn. He perched under the bow and climbed aboard by the -chains." - -My first turn at the wheel, with Samuel standing by, was a curious -experience. Told to steer southwest, I found that I swung the wheel -too far, and that the direction was south southwest. When I tried to -swing back to southwest I went too far in the other direction, and was -steering southwest by west. In a few hours, however, I had mastered -the trick. I loved to steer. It enabled me to escape the dirty work -of tarring, painting and cleaning. Yet I never took the helm without -thinking of how my father had been killed at the wheel of the _Hyder -Ally_. - -Whistling aboard ship was a custom disliked by the old sailors. They -entertained a superstition that he who whistled was "whistling for the -wind." On one of my first nights at sea, feeling lonesome, I puckered -my lips and began to blow a tune. Along came Samuel. He paused beside -my berth. - -"My boy," said he, "there are only two kinds of people who whistle. One -is a boatswain. The other is a fool. You are not a boatswain." - -He passed on. I never whistled again aboard ship. - -When we were within the vicinity of the capes, there came a calm spell -in which our schooner barely moved. While we were fretting at this -snail's pace, a frigate, enjoying a wind that had not come our way, -overhauled us and hove to across our bows, displaying the British flag. - -"Have your protections ready, lads," the mate said, squinting across -the water, "that ship is looking for men to impress!" - -A boat put out from the frigate's side and came towards us. - -"On board the cutter, there," called our mate, "what do you want with -us?" - -"On board the schooner," came the reply, "we're looking for deserters -from the British navy. Let drop your ladder!" - -We obeyed. A spruce, slender, important, yet surprisingly youthful -lieutenant came over the side. - -"Compliments of Captain Van Dyke, of His Majesty's ship _Elizabeth_," -he said to the skipper and the mate, "we desire to inspect your crew." - -"It's a high-handed proceeding," said Murad, his black eyes snapping, -"but since we are only slightly armed, I suppose we must submit. My -men are all American citizens. Each has proof of it." He turned to the -mate, "Mr. Bludsoe, have the men lined up." - -The lieutenant passed down the line, scrutinizing the protection -papers and asking searching questions. I was the last one, and as -my turn came, I began to turn cold with dread, for, fearing that I -would be kept from shipping, I had neglected to get a protection -paper. Putting on as bold a front as I could muster, I looked up at -the lieutenant. He had friendly blue eyes--he was not at all like the -dreadful impressment officer of my imagination. - -"Please sir," I said, "I shipped without taking the trouble to get a -protection. I'm an American to the backbone, though. I was born in -Baltimore and my father was killed fighting the British during the -war of Independence. He was on the _Hyder Ally_ when she captured the -English ship, the _General Monk_. I don't want you to take me because I -have a brother who is a prisoner in Algiers, and I expect to join the -new American navy and go to fight for his release!" - -He laughed. "If we robbed you of a father, I think it's due you to be -allowed to go your own way. I should say that your brother requires -your aid more than we do, so I'll take your word for it that you're a -Yankee. Better not go to sea again without a protection paper. I happen -to be a particularly tender-hearted officer." - -He went down the side. - -Samuel Childs gave me a slap on the back that took my breath away. - -"Youngster," he said, "that's the first time I've seen a British -officer pass by an American without papers. Blast them, if they would -give their men better pay and stop flogging them through the fleet for -offences hardly worth one lash, they wouldn't have to be taking us to -fill the places of their deserters!" - -It was a grand though often terrifying sight to see the ship in a -storm flying beneath leaden clouds. With the main topsail and fore -topmast staysail close reefed; with the masts tipping over as if they -were going to plunge their tops into the sea; with spray showering upon -us; with mountainous waves following us as if they would topple their -full weight over our stern; it was a sight to make one both marvel and -tremble. - -In such a storm we lost James Murray, an ordinary seamen, well-liked by -all. - -We were in a heavy sea. The clouds were so low that they enveloped our -mastheads. Tremendous waves beat against our bow, so that our plunging -stem was like a knife cutting a way through them. All hands were called -to shorten sail as the wind increased into a gale. The men who were -light of weight went out along the yardarms, while the heavier men -remained closer to the mast. The upper mizzen topsail was being furled -when a sudden gust of wind blew the sail out of their grasp. - -Murray, who was one of the outermost men, was thrown off the yard into -the sea. As the great waves tossed him up, we saw him struggling to -swim, handicapped as he was by his heavy oil-skins. A boat was cleared -away and volunteers were called for to endeavor to rescue Murray. I -stood forth with the rest of the crew--I saw no one hold back--but a -crew of our strongest men was chosen, and all we could do was to stand -on a yard and watch the progress of the little boat. The seas poured -into her. We could see two of her men baling desperately. At last we -lost sight of her in the mists. An hour later, when we were worrying -greatly over the fate not only of Murray, but also of the boat's crew, -the mist cleared and showed our location to the men struggling out -there in the furious ocean. They gradually made their way towards us -and were pulled on deck exhausted. They said that they had caught one -glimpse of Murray, but as they pulled desperately to reach him the mist -had drifted between him and them--a mist that was to him as a shroud. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -MUTINY - - - "_'Twas on a Black Baller I first served my time_, - Yo ho, blow the man down! - _And on that Black Baller I wasted my prime_, - Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!" - - -Murad had been forced to ship some of the toughest rascals in Baltimore -in order to complete his crew. They were men who had gotten into -trouble through acts of violence ashore, and were forced to take to -sea. They, too, had heard rumors that Murad was a spy in the employ of -the Barbary powers, but it did not seem to bother them. I am of the -opinion that they meant to seize the vessel before it had sailed out of -sight of the Atlantic coast. - -If such was their plan, Mr. Bludsoe, the mate, was their chief -obstacle. He was a fearless, muscular man, and a belaying-pin in his -hand was a deadly weapon. Even in a plain fist fight he was equal to -two of them. He was not overfond of the Egyptian, yet he was the sort -of person who stuck to a task once he had entered on it. - -He suspected Steve Dunn and his crowd of an intention to murder the -officers and seize the ship, and told the skipper of his suspicions. -Murad gave orders that we should be mustered before him. We were under -the guns of an American frigate when the orders were issued, and the -crew obeyed promptly. - -"You men have far more weapons on your persons than is necessary," -the Egyptian said smoothly. "In the interest of good fellowship, and -to keep you from slashing and shooting at each other, I desire you to -leave your knives and pistols in my care. Mr. Bludsoe, you will search -the men's berths and bags and bring to me for safe-keeping any weapons -you find!" - -I saw sullen glances exchanged by Steve Dunn, Mulligan and other -members of the crew. - -"We ain't none of us planning any trouble among ourselves!" said Steve. -"We don't know when this here vessel is going to be boarded by pirates -and we want our weapons handy!" - -"Handy they shall be!" said Murad, still smiling. "It would be too bad -to start ill-feeling between you and me by your disobeying this, my -first request. It would bode ill for our voyage. I was once an admiral -in the Sultan's navy. I know how to make men obey orders. I should hate -to have to ask the captain of yonder frigate to send a crew aboard -to help me make my crew obey. Throw down your knives. You have them -sharpened to a point that makes an honest man shiver. My good fellows, -show me what a good crew I have by obeying me--at once!" - -His voice rang on the last two words. The men dropped their dirks on -the deck. There was a motion of Steve's hand towards the inside of his -shirt as the skipper stooped to pick up one of the knives, but Murad -seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. - -"Look, Mr. Bludsoe," he said, straightening himself swiftly, "Steve -Dunn has a second knife that he wants to give up!" - -He pulled a pistol from his pocket. "Give us the hidden knives too, -men! This pistol might go off if I am kept waiting too long!" - -Mr. Bludsoe had returned with an armful of weapons. He deposited them -at the skipper's back and went down the line, feeling for dirks. He -found two. Ending his search, he ordered the men to go forward. - -In spite of these precautions, the men continued to grow rebellious. -The man who relieved Samuel Childs at the wheel disobeyed orders. When -Mr. Bludsoe scolded him he gave impudence. - -After a scuffle, in which several of the loyal members of the crew, -including Samuel Childs and myself, went to Mr. Bludsoe's assistance, -this man, Bryan by name, was put in irons. - -"Holystone the decks!" the next order given after this episode, brought -no response from seven members of the crew. They outnumbered the -officers and the loyal sailors. If we had not taken possession of their -arms, we should have been in a bad way. The men came forward towards -the Egyptian. - -"Release Bryan if you want us to work!" Steve called. - -"I am the master of this ship!" said Murad calmly, "Bryan is in irons -for disobedience. Others of the crew who refuse to obey orders will be -treated as mutineers. You know the punishment for that! Holystone the -decks!" - -They folded their arms and stood glowering at the skipper. - -"I shall starve them into submission!" Murad said to the mate. - -Two days passed. The men stayed forward. The officers made no attempt -to give them orders. Fortunately, the weather remained calm, and the -few of us who were loyal were sufficient to handle the sails. If a -tempest came, we would be in a serious situation. - -"They will attack like starved wolves tonight!" said Mr. Bludsoe to -Burke, Ross and myself, "I shall give each of you a pistol. Your own -lives are at stake. Shoot any man of them who comes aft." - -The first man who came aft, however, we did not shoot. - -I was the first to catch sight of his figure stealing away from the -forecastle. I fear that my voice trembled when I cried: - -"Halt! Throw up your hands!" - -"It's Reynolds," he said, "Take me to the skipper. I want to throw -myself on his mercy. Intercede for me, lad. I've had my fill of that -gang yonder!" - -The captain and mate had joined me. "It's the first break in their -ranks," he said, "and I'll take advantage of the chance to show them -that they can still surrender without being strung up." - -He turned to me. - -"Give Reynolds biscuits and coffee! He will take the wheel after that, -and if he fails us there we'll----" - -He whirled his hand around his neck and then pointed to a yardarm in a -way that emphasized his meaning far more than words could have done. - -The surrender of Reynolds led us to hope that others were on the verge -of yielding. We questioned Reynolds as he ate ravenously the food we -brought him. He was whole-heartedly aiding us now, because he knew that -if the mutineers triumphed it would go hard with him. - -He said that if we could show the men that we were powerful enough to -conquer Steve Dunn and Mulligan, the ringleaders, the others would be -glad to go back to work. - -"It's those two who're to blame for us not yielding sooner," he -explained. "We had planned twelve hours ago to come out and throw -ourselves on the skipper's mercy, but Mulligan knocked me down when -I suggested it. He thought that he had me cowed, and that I would be -afraid to make any further attempt. He stationed me as a guard at the -forecastle scuttle tonight, while he planned with the others just how -they would attack you. If they could get rid of the skipper and the -mate, they thought it would be easy to bring the others over to their -side. I expect they'll be crawling out very soon to make the attempt." - -"Captain," said Mr. Bludsoe, "I think I can end this. There are lads in -that forecastle whom I don't want to see hung for mutiny. They resent -our trying to starve them into submission, and I'm afraid the longer -they go without food, the more desperate they'll become. May I promise -them that if they come forth peacefully and go to work you will take no -steps to enforce the laws against them?" - -Murad had been plainly worried by the rebellion. We were out of the -track of American frigates, and we still had a long voyage before us. -If a storm came, the few loyal men would find themselves overtaxed in -managing the vessel, and while they were endeavoring to save the ship, -the mutineers would have an opportunity to do murder. - -I could not help wondering, too, whether the Egyptian was not fearful -as to the effect the mutiny would have on his treasure hunt, for the -more I studied him, the deeper became my conviction that he had secured -possession of the rector's secret, and, under the pretext of going -on a trading voyage, was off on a solitary treasure quest. One of my -duties was to keep the cabin clean and tidy, and when opportunity -offered I had poked in chests and cubby-holes to see if I could find -the rector's map of the treasure country. My hurried searches had -failed thus far. - -Thoughts kindred to mine must have been running through Murad's mind, -for he consented to Mr. Bludsoe's proposal. - -"But I warn you against entering the forecastle!" he said, "Better -talk to them at a distance. Keep them well covered with your pistols. -They've found weapons!" - -The mate went forward. I had conceived a strong admiration for him, -and, on an impulse I followed his shadowy figure as it crept along the -starboard side, past the galley, towards the forecastle hatchway. Ross -and Burke, not to be outdone, strung along behind us. - -Mr. Bludsoe had reached the forecastle hatch without meeting a person. -I expected to hear him yell his message down the hatchway, which was -open, but instead I saw his black figure leap into the yellow glare -that came up from the forecastle lantern. He had leaped down into the -room. - -I crept up to the scuttle, and leaned down the hatchway, cutlass in -hand. I was determined to fight in the mate's defence if necessary, -though I knew that my cutlass, with only a youth's arm behind it, was -a poor weapon against desperate men, even if they were only armed with -dirks. - -The men had been standing in the center of the forecastle, and seemed -to have been on the verge of rushing forth to attack us. Reynold's -desertion had not been noted by them, and they had evidently thought -that the person leaping into the room was their sentinel. The mate's -spring, therefore, took them by surprise. They glanced uncertainly up -the ladder, saw the flash of my cutlass, and thought that our entire -force was back of Mr. Bludsoe. It was a reasonable conclusion, for who -would have dreamed that the mate would have done so bold a thing. - -Knives flashed. "Here's one of them," Steve cried, "thought he'd -starved the strength out of us, I reckon. We'll show him!" - -Bludsoe put his back against the ladder and leveled his pistols at the -most menacing mutineers. - -"Men," he said, "I can kill four of you before you down me. There -are others waiting to take care of the rest. Listen--I haven't come -down here to shoot--I'm trying to end this row and save you from the -gallows. Some of you have never been in trouble before. Some of you are -married men. It's no use trying to budge the skipper. You won't get a -bite to eat until you start to work. If you hold out another twelve -hours the chances are some frigate will see our signals and take you to -where you'll get short shrift. Come now, throw down your knives and----" - -A heavy boot, viciously aimed, knocked me aside. Its owner jumped -across my body and leapt towards the scuttle. - -I saw the huge bulk of Mulligan pass me. He had been out to reconnoiter -and we had passed him in the darkness. - -"Look out! Mulligan's behind you!" I cried. - -A shot was fired. - -I crept in despair towards the hatchway. I was unable to interpret -from the sounds and curses that issued from the forecastle what had -happened, and feared that I should see Mr. Bludsoe trampled upon by -those he had tried to rescue from their own folly. Yet, as I raised my -head to peer down, I heard his voice ring out: - -"There's no need for anyone else to pay the price Mulligan has paid. -Down with your weapons!" - -Dirks and pistols clattered to the deck. Some of the points of the -knives stuck into the timber. I looked at these shivering blades and -thanked Providence that they had found lodging there instead of in the -mate's breast. - -Out they came, sullen but subdued. Mr. Bludsoe drove them aft with his -pistol points. - -"Thank you, lad," he said, as he passed me, "I owe my life to you!" - -I peered down into the forecastle. Under the smoky lamp lay Mulligan--a -huge, motionless mass. Blood flowed from his temple. - -The wind had died; the sun was hidden in haze; the sky darkened; the -barometer fell. "We'll be in the midst of a tempest soon," Samuel -Childs whispered to me, "if the rebels had held out they might have had -the ship at their mercy." - -"Call all hands to shorten sail," the skipper said calmly to Mr. -Bludsoe. - -The ship was made snug; the sails were furled; the spars, water casks, -and boats were lashed; the hatches were battened down. - -Seeing that the men were thoroughly cowed, the skipper passed the word -to the cook to serve them with breakfast. From the galley came the -sound of pots and pans. The peace meal was ready. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -BETRAYED - - -It grew warmer as we approached Gibraltar. Flying fish arose from the -water and shot over the surface like silver arrows. Porpoises frolicked -around us. Flocks of sea-gulls followed us as we passed the southern -coast of Europe. Through the Azores we sailed until we came in sight of -the red cliffs of St. Vincent, on the Portugal coast. Then we entered -the Straits of Gibraltar and caught our first sight of the mountainous -African coast. - -I had better note here that three continents form the shores of the -Mediterranean Sea--Europe, Asia and Africa. The entrance to this sea -from the Atlantic is guarded by the Pillars of Hercules, formed by -Gibraltar on the European shore and "the Mount of God" on the African -side. These pillars, it interested me to discover, were thought by the -ancients to have been left standing by Hercules as monuments to his -might when he tore asunder the continents. It will be remembered that -along the sea these monuments of nature guarded, civilization had been -cradled. Art, architecture, law, poetry, drama, and religion had come -into being on these coasts. The treasure tomb that now nightly filled -my dreams had doubtless been laid in these early days. - -And now, as the events of my story have so much to do with this North -African shore, let us have a clear understanding of its cities and -people. The coast is called Barbary, because the race that inhabits it -are named Berbers. They belong to the same stock as the Anglo-Saxons -and many of them have fair complexions, rosy cheeks and light hair. -They are fanatical Mohammedans, and despise us because we are -Christians. The Moors and Arabs, who are descended from the Mussulman -warriors who captured Africa centuries ago, abound here too, and are -the people with whom our quarrel lies. - -Barbary is sometimes called Little Africa. It extends from Egypt to -the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea back to the Sahara -desert. Just over the way from Gibraltar lies Morocco. It is a little -city with white walls surrounded by great hills. Most of the cities of -Barbary are similarly situated between mountains and water. - -Next to the province of Morocco, lies Algeria, and farther on is -Tripoli, the farthest boundary of which adjoins Egypt. - -Algeria, I learned, is five times as large as Pennsylvania. Algiers, -one of the largest cities on the coast, is its capital. Walls of -stone have been built across the harbor as fortifications. Algiers -resembles an amphitheatre. Its streets rise on terraces. The streets -are narrow; bazaars are everywhere. These are roofed over with matting -and lined with booths in which all sorts of goods are sold. The -booths are nothing more or less than holes in the walls in which the -dealer sits, while the customers stand out in the street and buy. One -bazaar is given over to the shoemakers; another bazaar is devoted to -jewelry; still another is set apart for the sale of perfumery. Tailors, -saddlers, rug sellers--each trade has a separate bazaar. Here are shops -selling carpets and rugs, and there is a cafe in which Turkish coffee, -as sweet as molasses, may be sipped. Yonder is the stand of an Arab -selling sweetmeats; beyond him a man in a long gown fries meat and -sells it hot from the fire. - -There are solid-looking public buildings, and a great mosque that -covers several acres. A turbaned priest from the minaret which rises -far above the roofs of the shops and homes calls out the hour of -prayer, and the Mohammedans kneel. - -A picturesque crowd pours through the dark, narrow streets. Arabs in -long gowns; brown Arabs from the desert; Berbers from their country -villages; Jewish girls in plain long robes of bright colors--pink, red, -green, and yellow; Moorish women in veils; Berber girls with their rosy -faces exposed; boys with shaved heads, wearing gowns and skull caps; -holy men and beggars innumerable. Some of these veiled Mohammedan wives -are only thirteen years old. - -We anchored off Sale, a harbor of Morocco. I heard our skipper tell -the mate that he proposed to go ashore and inquire into the chances of -disposing of part of our cargo to advantage. - -No sooner had he left the ship than I, whose task it was to keep -Murad's quarters tidy, began to make a thorough search of his -belongings. I was seeking that which only my suspicions told me -existed--the map showing the location of the treasure. - -There was a sea chest in the cabin which Murad kept locked. In another -room of the ship, however, I had found a similar chest. The key to this -one I had taken, hoping that it would open the Egyptian's strong-box. -In this experiment I was fortunate--the key turned in the lock as if it -were made to fit it, and the lid was loosened. - -I found in the top of the chest the volume that had been stolen from -the rector's library. The trail was hot. There was, however, no map -between its pages. Deeper into the chest I plunged. At the bottom I -pried up a false bottom and found a paper. It seemed to be a copy -instead of an original. I concluded that if this was the diagram of the -treasure site, Murad had taken ashore the original, and had left this -one aboard in case he lost the first one. - -The map was simple enough. It showed a section of the southern coast of -the Mediterranean. The towns Tripoli and Derne were indicated. Between -them was a village lettered Tokra. In the neighborhood of this spot -were queer markings, which were explained by writing at the bottom of -the map. When I tried to decipher this I found that it was in Arabic. -The original was doubtless in English. Murad, in copying, had doubtless -changed the English to Arabic to keep the secret from prying eyes. - -Towards midnight--while I was on watch--I heard a noise on the water -from the direction of shore. It sounded like rowing, and yet it was -too indistinct a sound for me to make certain. I decided that Murad -had given up his idea of spending the night ashore and was returning. -However, I asked Mr. Bludsoe to listen. - -"Oars!" he said, his ear cocked over the landward side. - -He listened again. "There are three boats at least!" he whispered, "it -looks like an attack. Pass the word for all hands!" - -By this time both watches were on deck. Pistols and cutlasses were -passed out. We lined up along the bulwarks, peering out. - -The mate stood near me. I heard him thinking aloud. "So this is the -way our precious skipper protects us from corsairs?" he muttered, "He -goes ashore and an attack follows. Looks queer. Wonder what slaves are -worth in Morocco? Maybe he's planning to sell a double cargo--goods and -men!" - -We could hear the sounds plainly now. The splash of the oars struck -with a chill more than one of us, but we gripped our weapons and made -up our minds to sell our lives dearly. - -Mr. Bludsoe had been sweeping the sea with a night glass. "They are -near us, men--four boats, swarming with cutthroats!" - -He peered over the rail and shouted: - -"On board the boats! This is an American schooner with whom you have no -business. Come nearer at your peril!" - -Still the boats came on. The steady beat of the oars tightened our -nerves almost to the snapping point. - -The mate shouted a second warning. It was not heeded. "It's either -their lives or ours," he said to us, "Pick out your marks. Fire!" - -Our cannon belched forth flame. Shrieks and curses took the place of -the splash of oars. We saw two boatloads of men pouring into the water, -snatching at the remnants of their cutters. On board the remaining two -boats was havoc and confusion. We saw these boats at last turn stern -and make for the shore. - -One of the boats managed to escape our fire and came up against the -schooner on the farther side. This boat was not in the group we had -first sighted, and in the excitement of the battle, it stole up on us -without discovery. I chanced to turn in its direction just in time to -see a dark head appear above the bulwarks. I caught up a cutlass and -ran with a cry to cleave the fellow's head. He ducked, and my blade cut -into the rail. The mate, with more presence of mind, had caught up a -heavy shot from beside the Long Tom and called upon others to follow -his example. Down into the boat they dropped the balls, smashing heads -and smashing boat. Before her crew could get a foothold on our chains, -she filled with water and sank. In this fashion we met and overcame our -greatest danger. - -"Lower away a boat!" said Mr. Bludsoe, "we can't let those wretches out -there drown without making some attempt at rescue!" - -We rowed out and brought in three men and a lad. - -Mr. Bludsoe questioned them by the light of a lantern. We gathered -around in a circle. The boy could talk Spanish, which the mate also -could speak. They were dark, half-naked creatures, with something of -the appearance of sleek rats as the water dripped from their glossy, -matted hair. - -Two of the Moslems were sullen and made no responses to the mate's -query. One, however, was explosive. His rage was directed not against -us, but against some one of his own party. - -"Who is responsible for this attack? Answer truly, unless you want to -swung from yonder yardarm!" Mr. Bludsoe threatened. - -The fiery individual, with frantic gestures, poured a response intended -for our mate into the lad's ears. - -"The captain of your ship betrayed you," said the interpreter with -rolling eyes and flashing teeth. "He betrayed us too. He said that it -would be easy for us to capture you because he had assured you that you -were free from attack. He led us to believe that the guns had been -spiked and the weapons thrown overboard." - -Mr. Bludsoe turned to the crew. "Murad made such an attempt. I found -him fooling with the cannon and scared him off. I suspected him after -that, and gave him no chance. He's sold us in advance to the pirates of -Morocco. They'll be putting out in pursuit of us as soon as they learn -of the failure!" - -He had scarcely spoken when two lateen sails could be seen moving out -from shore. We were becalmed, and capture seemed certain. - -"We can't beat off their warships! Man the longboat!" Mr. Bludsoe -ordered, "We'll have to trust to yonder mist to hide us. We ought to be -able to reach the Spanish coast if it holds!" - -The moon had been clouded by a fog. We could feel the haze settling -upon us. The change seemed to precede a storm. - -With the war-ships nearly upon us, we rowed off into the haze, taking -the prisoners with us. - -When we were a league from the shore, we heard a gun fired. I thought -that the corsairs, who by this time had doubtless found that we had -deserted the ship, were cruising in search of us and had fired the gun -in our direction. No balls struck the water near us, however, and we -rowed on desperately. - -Mr. Bludsoe questioned Mustapha. "It is the hurricane signal on -shore," the youth explained. "It means that the barometer has fallen -tremendously, and that a storm's on the way. You need have no fear of -pursuit. The ships that came out to attack you will seek shelter now. -We shall all sink if you do not make for the beach!" - -Mr. Bludsoe ordered us to row towards the Moroccan shore, in a -direction that would take us clear of the harbor. Heavy gusts of wind -beat down upon us and floods of rain poured over our straining muscles. -The wind became a gale and threatened to come with greater intensity. -Furious waves leaped up on every side to swallow our boat. We gave up -hope of reaching the shore, and rowed on expecting every uncertain -stroke of our oars to be the last. - -Suddenly Mr. Bludsoe's voice rang out calm and strong through the -tempest. "There's a ship ahead. It must be one of those that came out -to attack us. Yet it's better to take our chances aboard her than to -stay in this sea. Pull towards her!" - -The ship loomed up larger than we had expected. Her sails were cut -differently from those of the corsairs. Against the gray of the storm -we caught sight of the American flag. - -"By all that's holy," the mate cried, "she's a Yankee frigate!" - -The frigate, whose commander was shifting her to the shelter of the -harbor, caught sight of us as we plunged towards her bow. Willing hands -dipped down to help us climb over her side. - -The frigate's name was _George Washington_. Her commander, Captain -William Bainbridge, was bearing to the Dey of Algiers certain presents. -With great joy I learned that peace had been made between Algiers and -the United States, and that Alexander and his comrades were on their -way home. Of these things I shall have more to tell later. We were not -yet out of danger. The hurricane now seemed to be concentrated over -us. The wind's force must have been over a hundred miles an hour. The -tremendous gusts struck the heavy vessel with the force of battering -rams and drove her forward as if she were a cockle-shell. We could see -the shore looming up. - -"Rocks!" someone shouted. We were within a hundred yards of them when a -miracle happened. The wind shifted its fury. It now blew in a twisting -fashion from the shore. Our ship turned with it. On another side of the -harbor there was a beach of yielding sand. Beating behind us with the -same terrific force, the hurricane sent the nose of the frigate into -the sand in a way that held her more firmly than a hundred anchors. - -Here we stayed without listing. The first part of the cyclone lasted -about two hours. There was a lull and we thought the storm was over. It -returned an hour later, however, in all of its fury, and we expected -every moment to be torn from our haven and hurled across the harbor to -destruction--a fate that we could now see had overtaken many vessels, -for the shore was lined with wrecks. Whistling, roaring, devastating, -it whirled over us, lashing the waves until they dashed with savage -force over our decks. Our only comfort was that the onslaughts -gradually decreased in strength, and we saw the barometer rise rapidly -from its lowest point. - -On shore, storehouses, castles, and residences were unroofed or -demolished entirely. - -Spars, masts, and parts of wharves floated on top of the waves. I -shuddered as my eyes rested on a dead body floating amidst a mass of -wreckage. It seemed providential that we were not floating corpses. - -A wreck lay near us. She had overturned and the water was washing -across her deck. She had a familiar look. Her stern was towards us. I -caught a glimpse of her name and read _The Rose of Egypt_. - -Murad had played upon a youth's imagination to lead him into a trap. -The rascal's gift at story-telling had been drawn upon to add me to -those he hoped to lead into captivity that he might obtain ransoms. He -also, no doubt, had it in his mind to revenge himself on the commodore -by persecuting one of whom the sailor was fond. As my knowledge of -Barbary grew, I saw that it was quite possible for Murad to act as a -spy for one or all of these Barbary rulers. America was a new country. -The corsair princes desired information as to how rich she was; what -they had to fear from her navy, etc. It came out later that secret -discussions in Congress upon the subject of the Barbary powers were -promptly reported to the Dey of Algiers, so that when our envoys came -to negotiate with him he threw their secrets into their faces. But, be -that as it may, adventures were crowding upon me so swiftly that I felt -disposed to forgive Murad for the sake of the thrills he had sent my -way. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -AN AMERICAN FRIGATE BECOMES A CORSAIR'S CATTLESHIP - - -When I felt the deck of the _George Washington_ beneath my feet, I felt -a different thrill than that which had run through me when I stepped -aboard _The Rose of Egypt_. I was a navy lad now, and my own quest for -treasure, that had absorbed all of my attentions, dwindled before the -fact that it was now my duty to consider the interests of my country -more than my own selfish aims. - -Moreover I was to meet men, and find adventures, that made my treasure -hunt for the time being a secondary interest. I intended before I -quitted the Barbary coast to make the search; meanwhile I was content -to take what experiences navy life brought me, awaiting my opportunity -to enter the desert in search of the riches. The Egyptian, I had -reason to believe, had been killed in the hurricane. The secret of the -treasure was safe with me. Time would unfold my opportunity. - -As for those who are following this chronicle, let us hope that the -thrilling naval activities these pages will now mirror will be more -absorbing even than the personal experiences I have told about; yet if -any wonder as to the result of my quest for treasure, let me encourage -them by saying that it was the historic events I am now about to relate -that placed me at last in a position to reach the spot where the -jewels and trinkets described by the rector were buried. - -My good friend Samuel Childs found an old comrade on board the _George -Washington_--one Reuben James. The two had been shipmates in the -merchant service. Reuben, though now scarcely more than a boy, was a -veteran sailor. He had gone to sea at the age of thirteen, had sailed -around the world, and had every sort of experience that comes to a -seaman. All of us became members of the frigate's crew, and Samuel and -I were chosen for Reuben's watch, so that the three of us had many a -chance to talk things over. - -From Reuben I drew forth an account of the release of Alexander and the -other American captives. It was not until Samuel told him that I was a -brother to one of the captives that he displayed interest in me; after -he had discovered this fact, however, he went out of his way to be kind -to me. - - -ALEXANDER FREE - -"Well do I remember Alexander Forsyth," Reuben said, "and I'll swear -that when I met him at Marseilles, where he was awaiting a passage home -after his release from bloody Algiers, he was the nearest thing to a -dead man that I have ever seen alive! He looked like a skeleton with a -beating heart! Mark my word, he'll never go to sea again! What can you -expect--after years of cruelty, starvation, sickness, chain-dragging!" - -"You see," Reuben said in excuse for our statesmen, "our Congressmen -had other important things to worry about: Indian uprisings, trouble -at sea with England and France; a union to form between the bickering -commonwealths, finances to raise for running the government, and what -not? A few sailors imprisoned in an out-of-the-way part of the world -were apt to be forgotten!" - -The fresh captures by the pirates that brought about the settlement -had, I was informed, happened in this manner: - -When the Portuguese warships withdrew from guarding the Straits of -Gibraltar, the Algerine cruisers entered the Atlantic in four ships and -swooped down on unsuspecting American vessels. Eleven of our ships were -captured by corsairs. Their crews were taken as slaves to Algiers, and, -added to those already held in captivity, increased the number to one -hundred and fifteen. - -The Swedish consul warned Colonel Humphreys, our minister to Portugal, -that Bassara, a Jew slave-broker at Algiers, through whom the United -States was trying to procure the release of the captives, was out -of favor with the Dey, and that to succeed the business should be -transferred to the Jew Bacri. This was done, and an agreement soon -followed. - -Captain O'Brien was sent to Lisbon to get from Colonel Humphreys the -money the United States promised to pay. Humphreys was forced to send -O'Brien to London to borrow the funds, but, on account of the unsettled -condition of European politics, O'Brien failed in his mission. The -Dey, vexed at the delay, threatened to abandon the treaty. Upon this -a frigate was offered by the American envoys as an inducement to hold -to the treaty, while Bacri himself advanced the necessary gold. The -prisoners were then released and sent in Bacri's ship _Fortune_ to -Marseilles, where the American consul, Stephen Cathalan, Jr., secured a -passage home for them in the Swedish ship _Jupiter_. - -What I had learned of the insolence of the Barbary rulers had come to -me thus far only by hearsay. I was now to see an example of it with my -own eyes. - -While I was thus gathering the details of Alexander's tardy release, -the _George Washington_ was proceeding from Morocco to Algiers, Captain -Bainbridge having been ordered by our government to deliver presents to -the Algerine prince. Before leaving Morocco, Captain Bainbridge, who -had heard the story of the assault upon us with amazement and anger, -demanded of the Dey of Morocco that he surrender to him the Egyptian, -Murad, for the action of our government. - -Word came back that a search had been made for Murad but that no person -such as we described could be found in the city. Punishment for those -who had attacked us was also requested, but the oily monarch protested -that his officers could find no citizens who had attempted such a raid. -Baffled, we went on our way. - -I looked over the rail towards the frowning castles of Algiers in huge -disgust. Yet I was curious to see the town in which Alexander had been -enslaved, and Captain Bainbridge, knowing of my relationship to one of -the released Americans, provided a way that I might enter the palace -as one of his attendants when he went with Consul O'Brien to pay his -supposed respects to the Dey. - -By listening to the English renegade who acted as interpreter between -our officers and the ruler, I gathered that the Dey was in trouble with -his overlord, the Sultan of Turkey, because he had made peace with -France while Turkey, then allied with England, was making war on the -French forces in Egypt. - -To appease the wrath of the Sultan, the Dey had decided to send to that -monarch at Constantinople an ambassador bearing valuable gifts. With -amazing cheek, he now asked Consul O'Brien to lend him the frigate -_George Washington_ for the purpose of bearing the envoy and his train. -Captain Bainbridge blushed. "It is impossible for an American naval -officer to carry out such a mission," I heard him cry. - -"Your ship is anchored under my batteries. My gunner will sink her if -you refuse!" the Dey said with a scowl. - -"That is no work for an American ship," Captain Bainbridge said. - -"Aren't Americans my slaves? Don't they pay tribute to me?" the Dey -demanded. "I now command you to carry my embassy!" - -I felt like rushing forward and choking the creature, and I saw from -Captain Bainbridge's look that it was all that he could do to restrain -himself from drawing his sword and plunging it into the fat stomach of -the beast. - -Consul O'Brien came forth with soothing words. He advised Bainbridge to -obey the ruler, and Bainbridge, because of the superior authority of -the consul, was forced to consent. - -"Shade of Washington!" he exclaimed, when he returned aboard ship, -"behold thy sword hung on a slave to serve a pirate! I never thought to -find a corner of this world where an American would stoop to baseness. -History shall tell how the United States first volunteered a _ship of -war_, equipped, as a _carrier_ for a pirate. It is written. Nothing but -blood can blot the impression out." - -We heard that he wrote thus to the Navy Department: - - - "I hope I may never again be sent to Algiers with tribute, unless - I be authorized to deliver it from the mouth of the cannon." - - -THE VOYAGE TO CONSTANTINOPLE - -When the ambassador to Constantinople came on board, his suite and -following were enough to make angels laugh. There were one hundred -Moslems attending him. Many of the officers brought their wives and -children. In addition there were four horses, twenty-five horned -cattle, four lions, four tigers, four antelopes, and twelve parrots. -The money and regalia loaded as presents for the Sultan were valued at -a million dollars. - -When our frigate reached the two forts that commanded the entrance to -Constantinople, Captain Bainbridge decided that he would save the time -that would be spent in entering the port in the usual formal way. We -approached the anchorage as if we meant to come to a stop. We clewed up -our courses, let go the topsails, and seemed to be complying with the -rules of the port. Then our commander ordered that a salute be fired, -but, when the guns of the fort replied, he ordered sail to be made -under cover of the smoke. By this trick, we passed by the guns under -the smoke screen, and were inside the harbor and beyond range before -the Turks realized it. - -An officer rowed out to ask to what country our ship belonged. - -"The United States," answered our commander. - -The officer returned to shore. A half-hour later he again rowed out to -inform Captain Bainbridge that the Sultan had never heard of the United -States, and desired to know more about it. Our captain replied that he -came from the new world discovered by Columbus. Again the officer went -ashore and returned, bringing this time a lamb and a bunch of flowers, -as tokens of peace and welcome. - -The admiral of the Turkish fleet, Capudan Pasha, took the _George -Washington_ under his protection. The Sultan gave Captain Bainbridge a -certificate which entitled him to special protection in any part of the -Turkish empire. - -With the ambassadors from the Dey of Algiers matters went very -differently. When the messenger was received on board Capudan Pasha's -ship, the admiral snatched from the envoy's hand the Dey's letter, and -then, in a great rage, spat and stamped upon it. He was then told to -inform his master that the admiral meant to spit and trample upon him -when the two met. The Sultan was equally harsh. He told the ambassador -that he would force the Dey to declare war against France within sixty -days, and threatened to punish the ruler if he did not send to him an -immense sum of money. The presents of tigers and other animals were -viewed by him with supreme contempt. - -The sight of the American flag, flown for the first time in this -section of the world, created a sensation. - -It was said that, seeing the stars in the American flag, the Sultan -decided that since there was represented on his flag one of the -heavenly bodies, his country and ours must have the same religion. The -foreign consuls at Constantinople welcomed Captain Bainbridge and he in -turn entertained them. At one dinner he had on the table food and drink -from all quarters of the globe, representing places at which he had -stopped--Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and men from each of these -countries sat at his table. - -We returned to Algiers with a disgruntled ambassador. The Sultan, while -he treated our commander with great courtesy, found fault with the Dey -of Algiers' gifts and threatened to punish both him and his envoy if -more valuable presents were not forthcoming. All of which delighted us -hugely. - -When we drew near to Algiers on our return passage, we wondered what -further indignities would be offered. Captain Bainbridge, having -learned of the Sultan's message to the Dey, knew that a ship would be -required to take a second Algerine mission to Constantinople. Fearing -that the Dey might try to use the _George Washington_ again for this -purpose, and suspecting too that to obtain the money the Sultan -demanded the Algerine prince might attempt to enslave the crew of -the _George Washington_ and hold them for ransom, Captain Bainbridge -decided that he would anchor his ship out of range of the Dey's guns. -Threats and persuasion were used by the Orientals to induce us to come -into the harbor, but Captain Bainbridge squared his jaw and kept the -ship where we had first anchored. - -Consul O'Brien now rowed out and told our commander that the Dey wanted -to have a talk with him. The captain, armed with his certificate of -protection from the Sultan, went ashore. The Dey, maddened over the -result of his intercourse with the Sultan, and further enraged at -Captain Bainbridge's cleverness in avoiding his snares, threatened -him with torture and slavery, and seemed about to call upon his armed -janizaries to seize the officer. At this moment Captain Bainbridge -produced the certificate. The tyrant, seeing his master's signature -upon a document that expressed good will to the American, fawned and -apologized. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -LIFE ABOARD _OLD IRONSIDES_ - - - "_And now to thee, O Captain,_ - _Most earnestly I pray,_ - _That they may never bury me_ - _In church or cloister gray;_ - _But on the windy sea-beach,_ - _At the ending of the land,_ - _All on the surfy sea-beach,_ - _Deep down into the sand._ - - _For there will come the sailors,_ - _Their voices I shall hear,_ - _And at casting of the anchor_ - _The yo-ho loud and clear;_ - _And at hauling of the anchor_ - _The yo-ho and the cheer,--_ - _Farewell, my love, for to the bay_ - _I never more may steer._" - --W. ALLINGHAM. - - -"I hear it reported," Samuel Childs remarked one night on watch, "that -Captain Edward Preble is coming out in command of the _Constitution_. -Looks like he'll have charge of the Mediterranean fleet. A hard man. A -hot temper. He's as rough as the New Hampshire rocks where he was born. -I doubt whether I'd want to serve under him!" - -"The harder they come, the better I like them," said Reuben James. "A -hard man means a hard fighter. I understand Stephen Decatur's coming -out too. There's an officer for you! Hope I have a chance to serve -under both!" - -Samuel Child's idea of Captain Preble's disposition was held aboard all -of our ships. Yet Preble changed this adverse comment to enthusiastic -admiration. It happened in this way: - -As his frigate was passing at night through the Straits of Gibraltar -he met a strange ship and hailed her. The vessel made no reply, but -manoeuvred to get into an advantageous position for firing. - -"I hail you for the last time!" Preble shouted. "If you don't answer, -I'll fire a shot into you." - -"If you do, I'll return a broadside!" came from the strange ship. - -"I should like to catch you at that! I now hail for an answer. What -ship is that?" Captain Preble cried. - -"His Britannic Majesty's eighty-four gun ship-of-the-line _Donegal_! -Sir Richard Strachan. Send a boat on board!" - -Preble shouted back: - -"This is the United States' forty-four gun ship _Constitution_, Captain -Edward Preble, and I'll be d--d if I send a boat on board any ship! -Blow your matches, boys!" - -No broadside was fired. Captain Preble now shouted to the officer -that he doubted the truth of his statement and would stay alongside -until the morning revealed the identity of the stranger. A boat now -approached, bearing a message from the strange ship's commander. He -explained that she was the thirty-two gun British frigate _Maidstone_, -and that, taken by surprise, he had resorted to strategy in order to -get his men to their stations before the _Constitution_ fired. - -Samuel Childs had his chance to serve under this terrible Captain -Preble, and so, for that matter, had all of us. My first meeting with -the captain was far from being one that promised comfort. To explain -why, I had better note here that the clothing supplies of the _George -Washington_ had been depleted, consequently there were several pieces -of my dress that were not in accord with the regulation uniform. -Captain Preble's gaze chanced to rest on me. Then, with an outburst -that nearly frightened me out of my wits, he asked me how I dare -present myself before him in such attire. - -"If I catch you out of uniform again," he said, "out of the service -you'll go!" - -I darted out of his sight, resolving to alter my dress at once, -but a lieutenant hailed me and gave me a message to deliver to the -_Constellation_. He then ordered the coxswain to man the running boat. -Off we rowed. The _Constellation_ lay with her bow towards us. Instead -of waiting for the Jacob's ladder to be thrown to me, I stood in the -bow of the running boat waiting for it to be lifted to the crest -of a sea. The next roller lifted our cockle shell high in the air, -approaching the level of the ship's deck. I took advantage of this -rise and vaulted from our boat. We were in a rough sea, and, instead -of landing on the bulwark, as I had aimed to do, I was hurled by the -next roller head-first across the vessel's side. With the velocity of a -butting goat, my head rammed a group of three officers who had chosen -that particular spot for a chat. Two of them were tossed left and -right; the third one was floored. I arose with abject apologies. Who -should I see squirming and cursing before me but Captain Preble? I felt -my blood turn to ice. - -To my terrified imagination a flogging seemed to be the least -punishment I could expect. Not only had I knocked him down, but here -was I appearing before him in the clothes he had ordered changed. The -other officers, crimson and purple with wrath, helped the Captain to -his feet. It appeared that while I had been waiting for the letter, he -had gone forth in his gig to inspect the very ship I was bound for. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath, "the same lad! The -same uniform!" - -Then suddenly he looked at his frowning companions and burst into -laughter. "Why," he exclaimed, "just when we were talking about our -enemy's guns, he came over the side like a cannon ball! I thought the -gunners of Tripoli were bombarding us!" - -When the laughter ended I had a chance to deliver the letter and to -explain that the lieutenant had pressed me into service before I had an -opportunity to change my garb. - -He nodded. "The irregularity of your clothes we will overlook just -now," he said, "but your irregular way of coming aboard, and the -headlong way in which you approach your superiors, and intrude upon -their conferences, is a matter that warrants your being turned over -to the master-at-arms. However, you scamp, we'll forgive all of your -offences for the laugh you have given us! I hope if I ever call on you -to board an enemy's ship you'll go over her side with the same speed!" - -The crew was divided into three sets. The men in the first set were -called topmen; their duty was to climb the masts and to take in -or furl, reef or let out the sails. This group of topmen were in -turn subdivided, according to the masts of the ship. Thus we had -fore-topmen, main-topmen and mizzen-topmen. - -The second set of men attended to the sails from the deck. It was their -task to handle the lowest sails, and to set and take in the jibs, lower -studding sails and spanker; they also coiled the ropes of the running -gear. These men too were grouped according to masts. - -The third set of men were called scavengers. These did the dirty work -of the ship, gathering the refuse from all quarters of the vessel and -casting it overboard. - -I, on account of my youth, was assigned to none of these sets, but to -the boys' division. There were a dozen of us lads on board, and a merry -set of scamps we were. We were assigned to serve the officers, and -because of this we managed to overhear and pass to each other a good -deal of information concerning the operations of the ship that was not -intended for us to know. Some of us became favorites with the officers -we served, and when we got into mischief and were threatened with -punishment, our officers often shielded us. - -In addition to the sailors and boys, the ship had over a score of -marines on her muster roll. They were the policemen of the ship. In -battle their place was in the rigging, where they picked off the enemy -crew with their muskets. The marines filled a peculiar position, in -that they were called upon to uphold the authority of the officers, and -therefore could not be on intimate terms with the sailors--in fact, the -officers discouraged familiarity between the soldiers and sailors. - -As for food, we were the envy of our British cousins. Our menu was: -Sunday, a pound and a half of beef and half a pint of rice; Monday, a -pound of pork, half a pint of peas and four ounces of cheese; Tuesday, -a pound and a half of beef, and a pound of potatoes; Wednesday, half -a pint of rice, two ounces of butter, and six ounces of molasses; -Thursday, a pound of pork and half a pint of peas; Friday, a pound of -potatoes, a pound of salt fish, and two ounces of butter or one gill of -oil; Saturday, a pound of pork, half a pint of peas, and four ounces of -cheese. In addition, one pound of bread and half a pint of spirits, or -one quart of beer, were served every day. - -Sundays were usually holidays. After muster on the spar deck, we would -have church service, and then the rest of the day was ours to spend as -we pleased. We wore our best uniforms, but we could never tell from one -Sunday to another just what kind of dress we were to appear in. The -captain had a way of ordering us to wear one day blue jackets and white -trousers, and on the next Sunday to change to blue jackets and blue -trousers. When he wanted us to look particularly smart he would command -that we wear in addition our scarlet vests. When, on top of all this, -we donned our shiny black hats, we felt fine indeed. - -In fair weather we slept in hammocks, swung on the berth deck. We were -trained to roll up and stow our hammocks swiftly, so that when a call -to action sounded, our beds disappeared from sight in the bulwark -nettings as if by magic. These hammocks, in battle, were placed against -the bulwarks as shields to prevent splinters from hitting us when the -vessel was hit. - -Our ship kept a merit roll, upon which were entered the names of every -member of the crew. If a man did his work well, he was given a good -standing on this roll; the sheet, on the other hand, also showed who -were the lazy and inefficient members of the crew. The system of -handling men was modeled after that of the older navies, where each man -of the ship's company was assigned a certain duty. - -When a sailor died, we sewed up our mate's body in his hammock and -placed it on a grating in a bow port. Then an officer read the burial -service. At the words, "We commit the body of our brother to the deep," -we raised the grating and allowed the body to drop into the sea. There -would be a heavy splash--then a deep silence rested on both the water -and the ship for several minutes. - -Our greatest enjoyment came from our band, which we had formed out of -members of the crew who had more or less talent for music. I wondered -afterwards how our efforts would have sounded in competition with a -professional band of musicians that in later years played aboard one of -our sister ships. These musicians had found their way into the American -navy in a strange manner. They had enlisted on board a French warship -under the condition that they would not be called on to fight, but -were to be stowed away in the cable tier until "the clouds blew over." -It was also stipulated that they were not to be flogged--a custom of -which many captains were far too fond. The French ship upon which they -played was captured by a Portuguese cruiser. They were permitted by -the Portuguese to enlist in a British vessel, and when the latter was -captured by an American frigate, the band was enrolled in our navy. - - -EVERY-DAY HAZARDS - -In sailing from a cold to a warm climate, we were unknowingly weakening -our rigging, which had been fitted in cold weather. The masts were -subject to expansion and contraction by heat and cold, and so was -our cordage. When we entered the Mediterranean our shrouds and stays -slackened under the hot sun. The ship was in this condition when we -were caught in a heavy gale. The ocean had grown rough. We were at -dinner when a tremendous wave broke over our bow. It poured down the -open hatchway, swept from the galley all the food that was on the -table, washed our table clean of eatables, and poured through all of -the apartments on the berth deck in a terrifying flood. The huge waves -beating upon our ship from the outside, the tossing of the vessel, and -the sloshing water we had shipped racked the vessel so that it seemed -that it must founder. We were a white-faced group, for Davy Jones' -locker seemed to be yawning for us below, but we kept our upper lips -stiff and sprang nimbly to obey orders. The officers commanded the -crew to man the chain pumps and cut holes in the berth deck to permit -the water to pour into the hold, and in this way we emerged from our -dangerous situation. - -Another peril, however, beset us on deck. One of our lieutenants, -watching the rigging, discovered that it had become so slack that the -masts and bowsprit were in danger of being carried away. He summoned -all available hands to help tighten the ropes. We managed at last to -secure purchases on every other shroud, and to sway them all together, -which restored the firmness. - -One night we had shown to us what a terrifying experience it is to have -a fire break out aboard ship. As we were climbing into our hammocks a -shower of sparks flew up from a corner of the cockpit. - -The captain ordered the drum to beat to quarters, and soon the crew -was assembled under good control. Fire buckets filled with water were -standing on the quarterdeck. We ran for them and poured them over the -flames. All hands emptied buckets on the flames until the fire had been -quenched. - -If the fire had occurred a few hours later, when we were asleep, it -might have gathered enough headway to sweep the ship. We learned later -that a lighted candle had fallen from a beam on the deck below and had -set fire to some cloths. The steward had tried to smother the fire -with sheets, but all the cloths had then caught fire. We did not fully -realize our danger until it was pointed out to us that the room in -which the fire had started was next to the powder magazine, and that -the bulkhead between the two compartments had been scorched. - -When decks were cleared for action, you may well believe that my heart -was in my mouth. The ship's company was running here and there as -busy as ants--and apparently as confused. The boatswain and his mates -saw to the rigging and sails. The carpenter and his crew prepared -shot-plugs and mauls and strove to protect the pumps against injury; -the lieutenants went from deck to deck, supervising the work. The -boys who were the powder monkeys rushed up and down at their tasks of -providing the first rounds for the guns; pistols and cutlasses were -distributed. Rammers, sponges, powderhorns, matches and train tackles -were placed beside every cannon. The hatches were closed, so that no -man might desert his post and hide below. The gun lashings were cast -adrift. The marines were drawn up in rank and file. These occupations, -fortunately, left us little time to think of home and loved ones, and -by the time the decks were cleared, why, the cannon were thundering and -the missiles were striking about us. - -Bathing and boat racing were popular sports with us; yet, in the case -of the first pastime, we had to be very careful on account of blue -sharks. - -It was a matter for wonderment with us that, while the blue shark has -been known time and again to attack white men, he seldom bothered -a colored person. We had sailors aboard who had sailed in Oriental -waters, where there are thousands of sharks. These men agreed in their -story that the natives could swim and dive without fear of them, but -if a white man ventured to bathe in the same place the sharks would be -after him in a short time. We learned from these yarn-spinners that the -pearl-divers of Ceylon stay down under water for several minutes at a -time while they gather into bags the shells that contain pearls, and -yet are seldom attacked by sharks. This may have been, though, because -while they were under water their comrades above shouted and sang to -scare the sharks away. Sometimes natives whose skins were of a light -color would dye their bodies black, while other divers would carry in -their girdles spikes made of ironwood, which they used to poke out the -eyes of sharks that came near. - -These stories about sharks were enough to make us enter the water -warily, and to borrow the custom of the pearl divers in making a loud -noise when we bathed. An experience was awaiting us, however, that -brought our danger home to us more than all the warnings that could be -uttered. - -Jim Hodges, perhaps the most expert swimmer among us, was fond of -boasting that he could outswim a shark. One day, when there was a -calm sea, he started to swim from the side of our vessel to another -frigate that was anchored close by. We who were on duty watched, over -the ship's side, his progress. Suddenly a gray fin showed above the -turquoise water, about one hundred yards from him, but moving rapidly -in his direction. We shouted and pointed in the direction of his -danger. He heard us, realized his peril, and turned instantly towards -our ship. The shark at once changed its direction so that the swimmer -and the fish seemed to be following two sides of a triangle that would -meet at the apex--this point being the bow of our vessel. We watched -in breathless suspense while Hodges moved towards us, swimming with -amazing coolness and nerve. The shark gained steadily. We had lowered -a rope at the point nearest to the swimmer, and we could see him -measuring the distance with an anxious look. Those of us who managed to -obtain firearms began to shoot at the shark, but at last it had drawn -so near to the swimmer that there was danger of hitting him with our -bullets. We ceased firing and waited. At last Hodges, with a desperate -spurt, reached the rope. As soon as we felt his tug at it we began -hauling him in. If he had seized the rope a second later, it would have -been too late. The teeth of the shark flashed in the swirl at the end -of the rope. If Hodges had not lifted his feet into the air, one of -them would have been snapped off. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN THE COURT OF TUNIS - - -At Malta, whom should I bump into but commodore Barney! His business in -France having been completed, he had taken the notion to see southern -Europe before returning to the United States. - -He was amazed to see me in the uniform of the United States, yet -proud, too, that I had taken matters into my own hands and gone to -sea willy-nilly. He told me that the rector had been sent back to his -Baltimore charge by his bishop, and that Alexander had begun business -in Baltimore as a ship chandler. My story of Murad's treachery brought -forth a series of explosions, which, however, were cut short by the -arrival of the commodore's friend Captain William Eaton, a military -officer from the United States, who had stopped in Malta on his way to -take the office of American envoy at the court of Tunis. - -The conversation turned towards Captain Eaton's mission to Tunis. "I -understand that I have an abominable ruler to deal with," he said, "I -shall be doing well if I do nothing more than keep Yankee ships and -sailors out of his hands!" - -"I wish I were going with you, sir," I said impulsively. - -"Can you write? Are you handy at clerical work?" he asked. - -"Is he?" burst out the commodore, "why, the boy was brought up to be a -minister. When I knew him a quill or a book was never out of his hands!" - -"I have authority from Washington to employ a secretary," said the -captain. "The lad can accompany me in that office." - -Delighted, I turned away to make the necessary arrangements. "If you -haven't the knack of fighting as well as of writing, I advise you to -decline the position," Captain Eaton called after me, "for I expect to -battle with the Bey of Tunis from the hour I arrive!" - -"That," I returned, "is the reason I said I'd like to go along! You -look like a fighter, sir!" - -Captain Eaton was pleased instead of offended at my boldness. The story -of his career, as I heard it later from the commodore, proved that the -captain was a fighter in deeds as well as in looks. He had a broad -forehead, with deep-set eyes and heavy eyebrows. His nose was that of a -fighter, and if ever a chin expressed determination, his did. - -[Illustration: IN LOOK AND IN DEED, WILLIAM EATON WAS A FIGHTER.] - -His career, as I heard it later from the lips of the commodore, was -fascinating. His father had been a farmer-teacher who raised crops -in the summer and taught school in the winter. William, who was born -in Woodstock, Connecticut, developed into a lad with a studious yet -adventurous spirit. When sixteen he ran away from home and enlisted -in the army where he was employed as a waiter by Major Dennie, of the -Connecticut troops. - - -A DARTMOUTH LAD - -After he had risen to the rank of sergeant, he decided that he -would like to go to college, and secured an honorable discharge. He -was admitted as a freshman to Dartmouth College, at Hanover, New -Hampshire, but was given permission to be absent during the coming -winter, in order that he might by teaching school obtain enough money -to pursue his studies. Due, however, to difficulties at home, he was -forced to prolong his school teaching, and it was not until two years -later that he was able to return to Dartmouth. With his pack suspended -from a staff thrown over his shoulder, he started on foot for Hanover. - -In his pack was a change of linen and a few articles which he expected -to sell on his journey. When he reached Northfield, his money gave out, -and he was in despair. He began, however, to offer his pins, needles -and other notions for sale, and with the proceeds he was able to go -on to college. Here he was received with great kindness by President -Wheelock, and here he pursued his studies, handicapped by sickness and -by the necessity of teaching school in town. At last, in August, 1790, -he received his degree. In March, 1792, he was appointed a captain in -the army of the United States, and was assigned to duty at Pittsburgh -and later at Cincinnati. - -His prediction as to a troubled career in Tunis came true. - -With an embrace and a God-speed from Commodore Barney, I sailed with -Captain Eaton for Tunis. Arriving there, Mr. Cathcart led the captain -to the Bey's palace. I was allowed to follow. We were ushered into the -Bey's Hall of State, and there the captain must approach and bow to a -fat-faced individual who frowned on him as if he were a stray cur that -had wandered in among his satins and velvets. This fellow, from his -safe place among his over-dressed officers, poured out abuse. - -"It is now more than a year since your country promised me gifts of -arms and ships! Why have they not been sent to me?" - -Captain Eaton replied with dignity: "The treaty was received by our -government about eight months ago; a malady then raged in our capital, -which forced not only the citizens, but all the departments of the -government, to fly into the interior villages of the country. About -the time the plague ceased to rage, and permitted the return of the -government, the winter shut up our harbors with ice. We are also -engaged in a war with France; and all our means were used to defend -ourselves against that country." He then went on to explain that he was -empowered to offer a cash sum instead of the naval stores promised. - -"I am not a beggar," said the Bey, "I have cash to spare. The stores -are more than ever needed because of my war with France. You have found -no trouble in fulfilling your promises to Algiers and Tripoli; and to -Algiers have made presents of frigates and other armed vessels." - -The captain explained that the Dey of Algiers had agreed to pay for -certain armed vessels built for him by the United States, and that, -moreover, several years' time had been allowed for their delivery. - -"You may inform me," said the Bey, "that the Dey of Algiers paid you -cash for your vessels. I do not believe it." - -Arguments such as this one went on forever. - -Our first pilgrimage, after becoming settled in Tunis, was to visit the -hill which was once the site of Carthage. We passed through fertile -pastures where donkeys, sheep, cattle, and camels were feeding, and -among fields of wheat, barley, and oats where awkward camels were used -for plowing. Captain Eaton's military soul became aroused as we stood -at the place where the great Hannibal was born. - -My chief was well acquainted with Carthaginian history and thrilled -me with his description of how Hannibal, commanding an army of paid -mercenaries--Africans, Spaniards, Gauls, and Italians--managed them for -thirteen years through wars and hardships in a foreign country without -experiencing a single mutiny. Captain Eaton little dreamed that, on a -small scale to be sure, fate had designed him to play the part of a -Hannibal for his own country--but this will be told in due time. - -When I was not on duty I spent my time taking donkey tours of the -city, with an Arab boy running behind me to make my stubborn steed go. -In this fashion I visited the Maltese, Jewish and Arab quarters, and -explored the bazaars. When I grew hungry, why, here was the stand of an -Arab who sold sweetmeats, and there was the booth of a man who fried -meat and sold it hot from the fire, while always in the streets were -fruit merchants selling fresh dates, oranges, and figs. When I stopped -to buy curios, the swarthy, turbaned dealers usually invited me into -their little shops to sit cross-legged on the floor and sip strong -black coffee while we haggled over prices. - - -THE HORSE-WHIPPING - -Before we arrived in Tunis, the agent there for the United States -was a French merchant, named Joseph Etienne Famin. Upon our arrival -the English consul at Tunis, Major Magre, warned Captain Eaton not -to place confidence in Famin, stating that he was a dangerous man -who would set snares for his successor. Captain Eaton soon learned -that the Frenchman had protested to the Bey against the United States -establishing a consul there "to keep the bread out of his mouth." - -The captain, lonely among enemies, rewarded my faithfulness by taking -me into his confidence. He told me that he had found that Famin had -yielded to every outrageous demand made by the Bey against the United -States, which Famin represented. Captain Eaton also told me that he -suspected the Frenchman of reaping a profit from the presents sent by -the United States to the ruler. Famin, we learned, had declared to the -Bey that Eaton was nothing but a vice-consul, subject to Consul-General -O'Brien at Algiers, and only placed at Tunis to spy upon the court. - -At last, when the Frenchman told the court that "the Americans were a -feeble sect of Christians" and that their independence from England -"was the gift of France," Captain Eaton, giving him his jacket to hold, -horse-whipped Famin at the marine gate of Tunis, before a crowd of -amazed Moslems. - -Famin went whining to the Bey and demanded that Eaton be punished. - -"How dare you lift your hand against a subject of mine in my kingdom?" -the Bey demanded of Captain Eaton, who took me with him to the palace. - -[Illustration: "HOW DARE YOU LIFT YOUR HAND AGAINST A SUBJECT OF MINE?" -THE BEY OF TUNIS DEMANDED OF EATON.] - -The captain replied that Famin had tried to betray him, and had tried -also to betray the Bey. He brought forth a paper, and prepared to read -its contents. - -"Hear him call your prime minister and your agents a set of thieves and -robbers!" exclaimed Captain Eaton. - -"Mercy! Forbearance!" cried Famin. - -"Yes, _thieves_ and _robbers_! This is the man of your confidence!" the -consul went on. Then I heard him tell the Bey that Famin had blabbed -all his secrets to a woman, who had repeated them to others, so that -all the town knew that he was playing a double game with the Americans, -and increasing the misunderstandings that had arisen between the -American envoy and the court. - -Famin trembled as if in a fit, and began an address in Arabic. - -"Speak French!" said the Bey, frowning. - -The ruler was at last convinced of the Frenchman's guilt. As we quitted -the place we heard the Bey say to his court: - -"The American consul has been heated, but truly he has had reason. -I have found him a very plain, candid man; and his concern for his -fellow-citizens is not a crime." - -On one occasion, while Captain Eaton was in the palace, I paid a visit -to the executioner, who occupied a lodge at the entrance to the palace. -I went with an interpreter, a friend of the executioner, but even under -the circumstances I felt timid when the official took down from its -place on the wall a long curved scimitar and began to feel its edge as -a reaper feels the blade of his scythe. - -"It is a good blade--it has never failed me," he said, "even though I -have had to slice off as many as twenty heads in a day." - -If one is disposed to think that the ancient cruelty of these Turkish -rulers has been decreased, let him think of these cruelties which we -saw enacted in spite of our attempts to stop them. - -Five corsairs from Tunis, manned by nine hundred and ninety men, sailed -forth and landed upon the island of St. Peters, belonging to Sardinia. -They captured and brought back with them as prisoners to Tunis two -hundred and twenty men and seven hundred women and children. In the -raid upon the island, old men and women, and mothers with infants were -pulled from their beds, driven down stairs or hurled from windows, -driven almost naked through the streets, crowded into the filthy holds -of the cruisers, and then, when landed at Tunis, bound with thongs and -driven through the streets to the auction square, where they were sold -into slavery. The old, the infirm and the infants, being unfit to work, -were left to shift for themselves. If it had not been for contributions -made by Captain Eaton and European ambassadors, they would have died of -starvation. - -The sum of $640,000 was demanded by the Bey for the ransom of the -slaves, but at last he agreed to accept $270,000 from the king of -Sardinia for their redemption. - - -WAR BREAKS OUT WITH TRIPOLI - -A fire broke out in the palace and destroyed fifty thousand stands of -arms. The Bey called upon Captain Eaton to request the United States to -forward him ten thousand stands of arms. "I have divided my loss," he -said, "among my friends; this quota falls to you to furnish; tell your -government to send them without delay." - -Captain Eaton refused to forward the demand. "You will never receive a -single musket from the United States!" he declared. - -Meanwhile, Captain Eaton's neighbor consul, Mr. Cathcart, was -having similar troubles at the court of Tripoli. We learned from -correspondence that in April, 1800, Tripoli's greedy Bashaw had bidden -Cathcart, the American consul, to tell the President of the United -States that while "he was pleased with his proffers of friendship, had -they been accompanied by a present of a frigate or brig-of-war, he -would be still more inclined to believe them genuine." - -In May the Bashaw asked: "Why do not the United States send me a -present? I am an independent prince as well as the Bey of Tunis, and I -can hurt the commerce of any nation as much as the ruler of Tunis." - -The President paid no heed to these threats. Thereupon, on May 18, -1801, the Bashaw cut down the flagstaff of the American consulate at -Tripoli. Consul Cathcart quitted the city, and a state of war was -declared. - -Matters came to a head with us in Tunis in March, 1803. Commodore -Morris had been detained in port by the Bey because the American -squadron had seized a Tunisian vessel bound for Tripoli, with which -country the United States was at war. Consul Eaton had protested with -more than usual vigor against this outrage. The Bey ordered him to quit -the court at once. - -"It is well," replied Captain Eaton, "I am glad to quit a court where I -have known such violence and indignity!" - -On the 10th of March, we left Tunis on board of one of the ships of the -American squadron. Doctor George Davis, of New York, was left in charge -of American affairs. On the 30th of the same month, Captain Eaton -sailed from Gibraltar in the merchant ship _Perseverance_, bound for -Boston, at which port he arrived May 5th. He then went to Washington -to urge that a land campaign be waged against the ruling Bashaw of -Tripoli, of which project more will appear in this story. He was -appointed navy agent for the United States and instructed to aid in the -campaign of our squadron against the Bashaw of Tripoli. - -I hoped while in Tunis to obtain a leave of absence that I might join a -caravan that would pass by Tokra, the treasure city of my dreams. But -no opportunity came. I remained with the fleet while Captain Eaton was -at home and rejoined him when he returned. He brought with him a plan -of campaign that, in operation, was to bring me well within reach of -the treasure spot. - -[Illustration: I HOPED THAT I MIGHT JOIN A CARAVAN THAT WOULD PASS BY -TOKRA--THE TREASURE CITY OF MY DREAMS.] - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE LOSS OF THE _PHILADELPHIA_ - - - "_But sailors were born for all weathers,_ - _Great guns let it blow, high or low,_ - _Our duty keeps us to our tethers,_ - _And where the gales drive we must go._" - - -Hard luck, indeed! The frigate _Philadelphia_ stranded on a reef in -the harbor of Tripoli, and Captain Bainbridge and his men were left -captives in the hands of the Bashaw. Yet the ill wind for them was a -kind wind for me, since it brought me a chance to serve under Stephen -Decatur in what men say is one of the most brilliant exploits in our -navy's annals. - -Fortunately, before this disaster befell, Captain Bainbridge had been -given an opportunity to show the Mediterranean squadron his mettle, for -Commodore Preble had assigned the _Philadelphia_, under Bainbridge, to -blockade duty on the Barbary Coast. - -When I fell in again with Samuel Childs and Reuben James after my -sojourn in Tunis, the first yarn spun to me in the night watch was that -of how the _Philadelphia_ had been captured. Reuben James was boatswain -aboard of her when she was seized. He dived overboard and swam to -safety when he saw that the jig was up, and rejoined the fleet to tell -again and again the story of Bainbridge's gallantry in the face of -misfortune. - -Reuben's story ran like this: The _Philadelphia_, while cruising in the -vicinity of Cape Gata, had come upon and hailed a cruiser and a brig. -When the commander of the cruiser, at Captain Bainbridge's repeated -demands, sent a boat aboard with his ship's papers, the captain learned -that the cruiser belonged to the Emperor of Morocco; that her name -was the _Meshboha_; that her commander was Ibrahim Lubarez; that she -carried twenty-two guns and one hundred men. - -The captain then sent an armed party to search the brig. He found -imprisoned in her hold Captain Richard Bowen, and seven men. The brig -was the _Celia_ of Boston. Captain Bainbridge released her crew, and -imprisoned the officers and men of the _Meshboha_ aboard his frigate. - -Asked by what authority he had captured an American vessel, Ibrahim -Lubarez replied that he understood that Morocco intended to declare -war on the United States and that when he seized the vessel he thought -that a state of war existed. The captain suspected that the Emperor -of Morocco had given orders that American ships be seized. "You have -committed an act of piracy," he told the Moor, "and for it you will -swing at our yardarm!" - -"Mercy! Mercy!" wailed Ibrahim. Unbuttoning five waistcoats, he brought -forth from a pocket of the fifth a secret document signed by the -Governor of Tangiers. - -Captain Bainbridge reported the matter to Captain Preble, and the -latter at once proceeded to Tangiers with four frigates. There the -Emperor abjectly disclaimed all knowledge of the affair, renewed his -treaty, deprived the Governor of Tangiers of his office, and punished -the commander of the _Meshboha_. - -The American squadron was given a salute of twenty-one guns; a present -of ten bullocks with sheep and fowl was made to Captain Preble, and -the Emperor's court reviewed the American ships and engaged with them -in an exchange of salutes. - -But, Reuben testified, when the American officers discussed the -Emperor's declaration of innocence, they spoke of it as if it were a -huge joke. - -On the morning of October 31st, 1803, Reuben, who was the lookout on -the _Philadelphia_, espied a corsair sneaking out of a port. Captain -Bainbridge at once swung his vessel round in pursuit. The wind was -strong, enabling the frigate to gain on the pirate craft. - -The ship was one of a corsair fleet under command of the Bashaw's -captains, Zurrig, Dghees, Trez, Romani, and El Mograbi. Zurrig had -sailed away from the other vessels on purpose to decoy the American -ship on to a line of partly-submerged rocks that lay in the waters -of the bay, parallel to the shore. The captain of the corsair knew -every yard of the coast, and by hugging the shore, he soon drew the -pursuing frigate into shallow water. The _Philadelphia_ had drawn close -enough to the fleeing vessel to attack with the bow guns, and in the -excitement of seeing if the shots struck home, the officers and crew -forgot that their vessel was in danger of running upon a reef the -corsair knew well how to avoid. - - -A BRAVE OFFICER'S BAD LUCK - -Eight fathoms of water had been reported. Then the men who threw the -lead reported seven fathoms. The cry of six and a half fathoms soon -followed. Captain Bainbridge at once gave the order to head seaward. -The helm was thrown hard over; the sails flapped as the vessel came -up to the wind. It seemed that she would reach deep water safely, but -suddenly the vessel struck a rock and rose with her bow six feet -out of water. From beneath the walls of the city, scarcely three -miles away, the Bashaw's gunboats put out and opened fire on the -_Philadelphia_. Captain Bainbridge made every possible attempt to free -his vessel. The guns forward and other parts of her equipment were -thrown overboard, but the reef held her in an unyielding grip. Her crew -returned the fire of the corsairs as best they could, but as the tide -went out, the ship keeled over and the guns could no longer be fired. -Captain Bainbridge ordered that the magazine be flooded; that the pumps -be wrecked; and that holes be bored in the ship's bottom. - -Warships--feluccas and other small boats crowded with Arabs--now -attacked the _Philadelphia_. Led by their captains, they swarmed over -her sides. The Americans fought with small arms, wounding six of their -assailants, but Bainbridge saw that his men would be massacred if the -fight were prolonged, and hauled down the flag. Bainbridge and his crew -of three hundred and fifteen men then surrendered. A few of the best -swimmers took to the water, Reuben among them, but all were captured -except him. - -The captives, by means I will later describe, managed to write -frequently to their friends aboard vessels of the fleet. Reuben -corresponded with Tom Bowles, and thus knew as much about the -experiences of the prisoners as if he were among them. - -A few days later, he found out, the pirates managed to haul the vessel -off the reef at flood-tide. They recovered the guns that had been -thrown overboard, and boasted that their navy now owned a splendid -American warship that had come into their possession without spending -a sequin, or a drop of blood. The red flag bearing the crescent of -the Moslems was lifted where the Stars and Stripes had flown. To purge -the vessel of Christian contamination, and to consecrate her to the -Prophet, the green flag of Mohammed was unfurled at certain periods. - -As soon as the Americans gave up their arms, the infidels began to -plunder them of all of their valuables. Swords, epaulets, trinkets, -money, and clothing were taken. Captain Bainbridge wore a locket -around his neck that contained a miniature picture of his wife. One of -the looters snatched at it, but Captain Bainbridge made a determined -resistance and was at last allowed to keep the trinket. - -The boats containing the prisoners reached the docks of Tripoli at -ten o'clock that night. The Bashaw was eager to inspect his captives, -and received them in his audience hall, where he and his staff sat -gloating. After much questioning, he sent them to supper, placing them -under the care of Sidi Mohammed D'Ghiers, his prime minister. Mr. -Nissen, the Danish consul, came promptly to comfort the prisoners, and -to offer them such assistance as was in his power to render. - -The Bashaw, who knew that some of the twenty-two officers he had bagged -were members of prominent American families who could afford to pay big -ransoms, was so delighted with the capture that he did not at first -treat the captives severely. They were allowed to wander among groves -of olive, fig, and lemon trees, and, on feast days, were sprinkled with -attar of roses and fumigated with frankincense, while slaves served -them coffee and sherbet. - -The under-officers and sailors were at first treated with some -consideration. The carpenters, riggers, and sailmakers were employed -in making repairs on the Bashaw's gun-boats. The seamen worked on -fortifications. These men, by working overtime, earned a little money, -which they usually spent for drink. The Mussulmans hated drunkenness. -When they saw a drunken American, they spat in his face. Jack, in turn, -thrashed the offender. Arrest and punishment followed, but the Moslems -who guarded the slaves were subject to bribery and lightened their -blows. - -When the sailor was sentenced to receive blows on his bare feet, the -guard would cover the soles with straw pads, telling the culprit -to yell as if he were being hurt, as the chief of the guards was -standing outside to tell by the cries whether the punishment was being -administered. - -The comfort of the officers was soon to end. Reuben showed me letters -received from Tom Bowles written at this period that were full of -bitter complaints. It appeared that the Bashaw summoned Captain -Bainbridge to his presence and told him that one of his ships had been -captured by the American war vessel _John Adams_, and that if their -prisoners were not released the officers and men of the _Philadelphia_ -would be severely treated. Captain Bainbridge was not able to give a -reply that satisfied the ruler. The Bashaw then ordered that he and -his men be removed to a foul dungeon. There, in a room once used for -smoking hides, they were obliged to remain without food except a little -black bread and water. - -A renegade Scotchman named Lisle, in the employ of the Bashaw, visited -Captain Bainbridge here and urged him to send a message to the _John -Adams_ to release the prisoners. - -Captain Bainbridge answered: "Your ruler can subject me to torture -and can lop off my head, but he can not force me to commit an act -incompatible with the character of an American officer." - -When Captain Bainbridge learned that the Bashaw of Tripoli designed -to use the _Philadelphia_ as the chief ship of his own navy, he was -greatly distressed. - -With the aid of the Danish consul Nissen, he managed to write a letter -to Commodore Preble, who was on his way to blockade Tripoli. This -letter he wrote in lemon juice, which, when the paper is held to the -fire, becomes readable. This letter Commodore Preble showed to the -officers and enlisted men of the squadron, and even gave us permission -to copy it for keepsakes in honor of Captain Bainbridge's pluck and -resourcefulness. In the letter the latter advanced this plan for -destroying his frigate: - - - "Charter a small merchant schooner, fill her with men and have - her commanded by fearless and determined officers. Let the vessel - enter the harbor at night, with her men secreted below deck; - steer her directly on board the frigate and then let the officers - and men board, sword in hand, and there is no doubt of their - success. It will be necessary to take several good rowboats in - order to facilitate the retreat after the enterprise has been - accomplished. The frigate in her present condition is a powerful - auxiliary battery for the defense of the harbor. Though it will - be impossible to remove her from anchorage and thus restore this - beautiful vessel to our navy, yet, as she may and no doubt will be - repaired, an important end will be gained by her destruction." - - -How faithfully this plan was carried out by Commodore Preble and his -men, I shall soon show. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -WE BLOW UP THE _PHILADELPHIA_ - - -A DUEL - -Reuben, Samuel and other members of our crew attended a theatrical -performance in Malta during a period in which our ship was detained in -that harbor by a gale. - -There were British ships in port and the contacts of their crews with -men from our ships was seldom friendly. The little affair of the -Revolution had not yet been forgotten, and, besides, the British habit -of impressing us did not contribute towards a harmonious spirit. This -island was one of England's fortresses in those waters and, of course, -Englishmen abounded. - -We saw in the theatre several of our midshipmen, looking very spruce -in their dress uniforms, with brass buttons shining and with flashing -dirks hanging by light chains from their hips. Among them was Joseph -Bainbridge, the younger brother of Captain William Bainbridge. He was -a slender, bright-eyed, manly young fellow, the most popular middie -aboard the _Constitution_. - -The group were standing in the lobby as we entered. We saw a crowd of -young British officers looking them over with an air that came near to -being insulting. Our middies were returning their gaze boldly and with -even more insolence. - -One of the British officers, a tall, handsome fellow looking very fine -in his scarlet coat with silk braid, collided with Bainbridge in the -lobby. - -"I beg your pardon," we heard young Bainbridge say. The lads had been -warned by the captain to avoid quarrels and Bainbridge, we could see, -was trying to obey the command. - -"That fellow pushed Joe on purpose," said Reuben, clenching his huge -fist. "I've heard of that pusher--he's Captain Tyler, the Governor's -secretary, a bad man in a duel. He has a dozen deaths to his credit, -and is itching to add an American life to his score!" - -When the performance was over--the singer Carlotta had entertained -us well--we went out behind the middies, as a sort of rear-guard. We -weren't looking for trouble, but if those lads got into a tussle, we -felt that they might need aid from some plain sailors. - -Captain Tyrone Tyler was standing where Bainbridge and his comrades had -to pass. He gave young Bainbridge a dig with his elbow, whereupon our -middy turned and spoke to him sharply. Tyler then jammed his elbow into -the middy's face, and with his other hand tried to seize our lad by the -collar. - -"Rough work--stand by!" said Reuben to us. We pushed forward. - -Bainbridge, however, had eluded Tyler's grasp. - -His hand went out towards his tormentor, but it had a card in it. - -"You are a bully and a coward," he said as cool as ice, "and I welcome -the duty of putting a stop to your insults to American officers." - -Tyler took the card from him. The comrades of both men closed in. - -"It'll be a duel," said Reuben, in great disgust, "and our lad will go -up against that killer! Why didn't he decide to let us settle it with -our fists?" - -As the two parties separated, Reuben glanced towards another part of -the lobby. "What ho," he exclaimed, "there's Lieutenant Decatur looking -on! He'd have taken part in the affair, you can bet your boots!" - -Stephen Decatur, first lieutenant of the _Constitution_, followed the -midshipman out of the theatre. We saw him approach Bainbridge and draw -him away from the other middies, who were as flustered as hens. - -We learned later that the meeting was to be on the beach the next day -at nine o'clock. You may be sure that every man Jack of us was on the -lookout to see if Lieutenant Decatur intended to permit Bainbridge to -go ashore. When we saw them go off together in the cutter there was -little work done among the crew. It looked to us as if the midshipman -was on his way to sure death, and we decided that Decatur was going to -seek a way out of the quarrel for the lad. - -Reuben shook his head. "That would be against the honor of the United -States' navy. Decatur may give him a lesson or two in duelling, but -he'll see the thing through. They're leaving the ship a full hour and -a half before the time set--I'll wager there'll be pistol practice -somewhere." - -About half-past nine a boat put out from the shore. There were two -officers in it and both sat upright and chatted to each other. Could it -be that----? - -An hour later, young Bainbridge told us what had happened. Decatur, as -the second of Bainbridge, had chosen pistols at four paces. Tyler's -second objected. "This looks like murder, sir!" he said to Decatur. - -The lieutenant replied: "No sir, this looks like death; your friend is -a professed duellist; mine is inexperienced." - -Decatur gave the warning: "Take aim!" and then "Fire!" Both, through -agitation, missed. Again they faced each other. The pistols were -discharged simultaneously. Tyler fell. A surgeon hurried towards him, -while Bainbridge turned to Decatur. "I don't think his bullet touched -me!" he said. - -"I thank God for that!" said the lieutenant. "I fear it is not so well -with your adversary, but he invited it. Let's be off!" They passed poor -Tyler, lying mortally wounded, and lifted their hats as they went. - -Reuben James, ever since I met him, had talked Decatur, Decatur, -Decatur. He idolized him. During our country's affair with France he -had served on a frigate on which Decatur was a midshipman, and the -exploits of the young officer had so appealed to Reuben that he would -have followed the youth into the mouth of death. - -And indeed, what Reuben told me about Decatur made me also a fervent -worshipper. - -My own state was proud to claim Decatur as a son, for he was born in -Sinnepuxent, Maryland. He was of the blood of Lafayette. His father -and grandfather had been naval officers before him; and the former had -served with honor on our side in the war of the Revolution. - -This, however, was not his first experience in these waters. He had -been an officer in Captain Dale's squadron, serving on the _Essex_ -under Captain Bainbridge. Bainbridge and he had been linked in an -affair that made him eager now to help his imprisoned friend. The -commander of a Spanish gunboat insulted Captain Bainbridge at long -distance while the _Essex_ lay in the harbor of Barcelona. Later -Decatur was also insulted. Decatur visited the gunboat. - -"Where is your captain?" he demanded of the officer on duty. - -"He has gone ashore," was the reply. - -"Tell him that Lieutenant Decatur, of the frigate _Essex_, pronounces -him a cowardly scoundrel, and that when they meet on shore he will cut -his ears off!" - -The matter came to the attention of the commandant of the port, who -requested Captain Bainbridge to curb his fiery officer. The captain -replied that if the gunboat commander did not know how to be courteous -to American officers he must take the consequences. The commandant -thereupon ordered the gunboat captain to apologize to Decatur. The -matter reached the ears of the King of Spain. - -"Treat all officers of the United States with courtesy," he ordered, -"and especially those attached to the United States frigate _Essex_." - - -DECATUR'S BRILLIANT EXPLOIT - -Seventy volunteers were required to help Lieutenant Decatur blow up -the _Philadelphia_. Seventy volunteers--that meant that I had a chance -to go. Fortunately, I was one of the first to hear the orders read, -and thus had an opportunity to apply before others. Captain Eaton was -on board the _Siren_, returning from sitting at the court of inquiry, -when Lieutenant Stewart, commander of the _Siren_, read to him orders -he had just received from Commodore Preble. I, as orderly to Captain -Eaton, was present at the reading. Plain and direct was the message, -but thrilling enough without flourishes. - -I stepped forward. - -"Pardon me, Sir," I said, "but I want to be one of the seventy -volunteers. I speak also for Reuben James. Reuben has served under -Lieutenant Decatur at other times, and he'd be heartbroken to be left -behind." - -I realized as I waited for a reply that I had done a bold thing. I was -not supposed to be hearing the letter read, much less acting upon it. -However, Lieutenant Stewart was not strict about discipline and he took -no offence at my act. - -"Your name goes down!" he said, "also Reuben James, though he'll be -given a chance to speak for himself. You show the right spirit, young -man, but don't feel lofty about it, for I expect any other man of our -navy would have said the same thing if he were standing in your place." - -Properly humbled, I went off to tell Reuben James that he had me to -thank for gaining him an adventure. - -Lieutenant Stewart's prediction came true. The crews of the squadron -actually fought with each other for a chance to go. Decatur's name to -them spelt romance. His exploits had been on every man's lips. - -The crew of the ketch _Intrepid_ having been chosen, off we started. It -was sundown when we drifted into the harbor of Tripoli. We approached -the city knowing that a sudden fear of attack had swept over Tripoli; -that the forts were manned; the guns loaded, and a sharp watch kept. - -We learned later that the Moslem guards congratulated themselves when -they saw the ketch entering the harbor, thinking that it was manned by -good Mohammedans who had had the shrewdness to escape blockading ships. - -The gates of the city were shut. The Captain of the Port would not -inspect the ship until morning. The call of the muezzin sounded over -the still waters of the bay. Night fell on the city. - -On board the _Intrepid_ all of the crew, except six men disguised -as Moors, were concealed below deck or behind bulwarks. Our ketch -drifted towards the _Philadelphia_. A sentinel on the frigate hailed -us, but the answer came back from our Maltese pilot in the sentry's -own language to the effect that the ketch had lost her anchors -during a recent gale and wished to make fast to the anchors of the -_Philadelphia_ until new ones could be purchased the next morning. As -if taking permission for granted, Lieutenant Decatur directed Blake, -a sailor who spoke Maltese, and Reuben and myself to set out from -the ketch in a small boat for the purpose of fastening a line to a -ring-bolt on the frigate's bow. When this was done, the sailors on -the ketch were to haul on the line, to bring our boat nearer to the -frigate. The men hidden behind the bulwarks caught the rope as it -came through the hands of their disguised comrades, and helped in the -hauling. - -Suspecting nothing, the Moslems on the _Philadelphia_ sent in turn a -small boat with a line to aid in mooring the _Intrepid_, but Blake met -them and took the line from their hands, saying, in broken Maltese: - -"We will save the gentlemen the trouble." - -So far so good. But now, as the ketch was being hauled in by the bow -line, the pull of the stern line swung her broadside towards the -Tripolitans, and the guards on the _Philadelphia_ saw the men who, -under the screen of the bulwarks, were hauling in the line. - -"Americanos! Americanos!" we heard them shriek. - -Swift action followed on the part of Decatur. The hidden sailors sprang -into the open and gave the line a pull that sent the ketch close to -the _Philadelphia_. An Arab cut the rope, but the Americans were now -near enough to throw grapnels. - -"Boarders away!" Decatur shouted. We in the boat clambered up the sides -of the _Philadelphia_. The rest of the seventy climbed like cats over -the vessel's rail with Midshipman Morris in the lead and Decatur at -his heels. The _Philadelphia's_ deck was home ground to many of us, -and in a moment we had cleared the quarterdecks of the enemy. Then, in -a cutlass charge, we drove the panic-stricken crew before us. Some of -the infidels leaped overboard. Others sought refuge below, but died at -the hands of sailors who had climbed through the ports. In ten minutes' -time a rocket went up from the Americans to signal to the _Siren_ that -the _Philadelphia_ had been taken. - -Combustibles had been rushed on board. Firing gangs were distributed -through the ship. So swift was the work and so fierce was the blaze -that Midshipman Morris and his gang, who were setting fire to the -cockpit, were almost cut off by flames started elsewhere. From the -portholes on both sides the flames leaped out, enveloping the upper -deck. I saw that Decatur was the last to leave the ship. - -The ketch, when all of the boarding party had returned to it in safety, -had its period of danger too, for while it was still fastened at the -frigate's stern, flames poured from the cabin of the _Philadelphia_ -into the cabin of the ketch where the ammunition was stored. The line -was instantly severed. The crew laboring desperately with the big -sweeps, eight to a side, pushed the _Intrepid_ clear of the burning -vessel and headed for the sea. - -At last the flames reached the magazine of the vessel, which burst -with a tremendous roar. Great sheets of flames arose and sparks flew -like a storm of stars over the waters of the harbor. This was the end -of the good ship _Philadelphia_. - - -Every man on the _Intrepid_ returned without injury. Lord Nelson later -declared this exploit to be "the most bold and daring act of the age." -Decatur was made a captain. He received a letter from the Secretary of -the Navy, and noted with joy that it was addressed to "Stephen Decatur, -Esq., Captain in the Navy of the United States." His pride increased -when he read: - - - "The achievement of this brilliant enterprise reflects the highest - honor on all the officers and men concerned. You have acquitted - yourself in a manner which justifies the high confidence we have - reposed in your valor and your skill. The President has desired - me to convey to you his thanks for your gallant conduct on this - occasion, and he likewise requests that you will in his name thank - each individual of your gallant band for their honorable and - valorous support, rendered the more honorable from its having been - volunteered. As a testimonial of the President's high opinion of - your gallant conduct in this instance, he sends you the enclosed - commission." - - -Some people asked if the _Philadelphia_ could not have been saved, -though Commodore Preble's orders were to destroy her. We heard one of -the captive officers of the frigate say later: - -"I know of nothing which could have rendered it impracticable to the -captors to have taken the _Philadelphia_ out of the harbor of Tripoli." -The pilot on board the ketch, _Catalona_, was of the same opinion. -Decatur himself told his wife that he believed that he could have -towed the ship out, even if he could not have sailed her. - -But Commodore Preble, in setting down explicit orders to destroy her, -had written: "I was well informed that her situation was such as to -render it impossible to bring her out." - -He wrote thus because Captain Bainbridge himself had written: - - - "By chartering a merchant vessel and sending her into the harbor - with men secreted, and steering directly on board the frigate, it - might be effected without any or a trifling loss. It would not be - possible to carry the frigate out, owing to the difficulty of the - channel." - - -The main object was to get the _Philadelphia_ out of the possession of -Tripoli. This Decatur did without risking the success of his enterprise. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE AMERICAN EAGLE ENTERS THE AFRICAN DESERT - - -Hotter and hotter grew our campaign. Thicker and faster adventures -came. I could not be in the center of all of them, but I had reason to -be glad that I had been with Captain Eaton in Tunis, because now he -was returning to the seat of war to launch an attack, and I, because -of his friendship for me, was granted the chance to go along. This new -enterprise came about in this way. - -Captain Bainbridge, I was told by Captain Eaton, while a prisoner in -Tripoli, observed in the Bashaw's court three forlorn children. He -inquired who they were. - -"They are the children of Hamet Bashaw," a guard informed him. "Hamet -Bashaw is the elder brother of our ruler, Joseph Bashaw. Hamet occupied -this throne, until Joseph set on foot a rebellion and drove him out. -Hamet fled to Egypt, and his children were captured by our monarch's -troops. They are now held here as hostages, to insure that Hamet will -make no attempts to regain the kingdom." - -"That gives me an idea," Captain Bainbridge remarked to his officers, -and he set to work to plan to unite against Joseph the forces of Hamet -and the United States. - -The lemon juice was again used as ink. In his letter to one of the -consuls, the captain suggested that the United States should send a -party out to find Hamet and persuade him to lead a movement to regain -his throne, using in the campaign marines and sailors of the American -navy. - -It was this scheme, proposed to him while he was in Tunis, that Captain -Eaton advanced when he visited the Navy Department. He returned to the -fleet with permission to join forces with Hamet. - -My employer's enterprise seemed at first thought to be doomed to -failure. Most naval men disapproved and Captain Murray, then in command -of the Gibraltar squadron, opposed it strenuously. Captain Eaton's -title of "Naval Agent" was also resented by Murray and other officers. -The captain met their attacks with his usual vigor. - -"The government," he burst out, "may as well send out _Quaker -meeting-houses_ to float about this sea as frigates with Murrays in -command. The friendly salutes he may receive and return at Gibraltar -produce nothing at Tripoli. Have we but one Truxton and one Sterret in -the United States?" Later, he included Preble and Decatur in his list -of worthy officers. - -Our first task, then, was to find Hamet, whom Joseph had displaced as -ruler of Tripoli. - -In the finding of Hamet we were greatly assisted by a German engineer -named Leitensdorfer, who had been a colonel in a Tyrol battalion. At -this period he was at Cairo, employed as a military engineer by the -Turks. News came to him that Captain Eaton desired a secret agent to -deliver a message to Hamet. He deserted the Turks and sought Captain -Eaton, who employed him. - -With one attendant and two dromedaries, he entered the desert in search -of the Arab tribe that had given shelter to Hamet. The only sleep he -secured was what he could snatch on the back of his beast; he fed his -animals small balls composed of meal and eggs. Reaching the camp in -safety, he was cordially received, and refreshed with coffee. Hamet -agreed to the American proposals, and one night with one hundred and -fifty followers, he rode away from the Mameluke camp as if on an -ordinary ride, but instead he rode to our camp with Leitensdorfer. - -It had been decided that our route of march should be over the Libyan -desert, along the sea-coast, to the town of Derne. The Viceroy at -Alexandria, bribed by the French consul, forbade us to enter the city -or to embark from the harbor. We were not troubled by this order, -however, because Hamet said that if he went by ship along the coast -while the Arabs were left to cross the desert, they would soon lose -heart and turn back. - -Our object in attacking the Tripolitan cities of Derne and Bengazi was -to cut off the enemy's food supplies; to open a channel for intercourse -with the inland tribes; and to use these cities as recruiting places -for our attack on Tripoli. - -The desert lay ahead of us--the place of which an ancient traveler once -said: "How can one live where not a drop of rain falls; where not a -single dish is to be had; where butter can no more be procured than the -philosopher's stone; where wheat is the diet of kings alone; where the -common man lives on dates, and fever has its headquarters?" - -Except for oases here and there, the Libyan desert is so barren that -there is no animal life. At the oases, towns have been in existence -since the days of the Romans. In one of these, Ghadames, the streets -are covered from the sun, and give the traveler the impression that he -is entering a mine. Caravan roads run from oasis to oasis. Donkeys, -horses and cattle are used as beasts of burden, but the camel is the -chief of desert animals. - -Tripoli extends for many hundreds of miles along the coast from Tunis -to Egypt. Its cities and oases contain about a million people. Along -its caravan routes traders bring ostrich feathers, elephant tusks, and -other products from Central Africa to be shipped to Europe. - -Into this desert we push, a motley army. Arab adventurers have gathered -around Hamet, sheiks and tribesmen who are moved only by a hope of -plunder and reward. Our own American forces can be depended on, but -how few they are. The six marines are a good-natured, independent set, -sufficient unto themselves. They look at the Greek soldiers whom the -Greek captain has enlisted with great amusement, for the Greeks wear -kilts. However, they too are good-humored, and the Americans and Greeks -may be counted on to stick together, being Christians, against the -semi-hostile infidels. - -Our food consists of dates, figs, apricots, camel's meat, and camel's -milk. After a while even these will grow scarce and famine will -confront us as it confronted Jacob and his sons in this same country, -but for the present let us not look forward to hunger. - -At the front of our caravan, on swift camels bred for racing, ride -the sheiks. Trained to be on the watch for robber bands, they survey -the horizon keenly, although our expedition is so large that there is -little need to fear attack. Thieves will steal up to plunder at night, -but they dare not attempt robbery in force. - -Behind these picturesque chiefs, come the freight camels, loaded with -all kinds of equipment and supplies. They are drab and sullen as the -desert itself. On these beasts ride their owners, Bedouins in long, -white or brown gowns, wrapped so that only their faces may be seen. - -Our water we carry in pigskins, loaded on certain camels. There are -also jugs of oil. The water tastes like the pigskin, and it almost -sickens one to drink it. - -We follow no path or road; there is none; yet our guides know the way -by rocks and hills or other marks. At night the stars are our only -guides, but the march has been arranged so that we camp near a well or -spring every night. - -When we stop to rest, the camels kneel down to be relieved of their -burdens. Their feet are examined to see if they have been bruised, -and such wounds are treated and bound up, after which the camels are -hobbled to keep them from running away. - -Meanwhile, our tents are being pitched. We smooth out the soft sand to -make a comfortable bed. We have brought fuel with us, and with this a -fire is made. Guards are stationed, and we sleep with our guns near our -hands. The Mohammedans in our party, after first rubbing their faces -and hands with sand because water is not to be had, kneel in prayer. - -During the day the sun beats upon us with almost unbearable heat, and -as there are no clouds in the sky, the sun's rays, striking against the -white sand, almost blind us, while to make things more uncomfortable, -the camels raise a thick dust. We understand now why the Arabs wear -cloths about their heads. We follow their example, and cut slits in -the cloths for eyes and nose. After the sun goes down it is better for -traveling. - -It is lucky for us that we are sailors and used to a rolling motion, -for the motion of the camel is like that of a ship. - -A sand storm comes. A small black cloud arises and grows till in a -short time it has half covered the sky. The sand begins to blow, and -beats into our faces like hail. We stop the caravan; the camels kneel; -and fighting off terror, we lie down with our faces in the ground -beside the beasts. The blowing sand is so thick that it hides the sun. - -The storm passes quickly. There has been, for all the blackness of the -clouds, no drop of rain. - -After the sun goes down, the air becomes cool and blankets are needed. -The sky is full of low-hanging stars and the moon is big and mellow. - -Once in a while we meet a wandering tribe that moves from green place -to green place with their animals, living in tents of camels'-hair -cloth. "_Aleikoom salaam!_" (Peace be with you!) they call to us, -bobbing up and down on their camels. "_Salaam aleikoom!_" (With you -be peace!) we answer. Bands of robbers appear in the distance. At the -oases we meet farmers who are not given to roving. They have priests -and sheiks, and worship in mosques, and raise grain and vegetables. -Once in a while a hospitable sheik roasts a kid on a stick and invites -us to dine. Fingers are forks here. We find it so highly seasoned with -red pepper that our mouths burn and our eyes water. - -The approach of a caravan is picturesque and exciting. First you hear -a moaning sound like the wailing of a strong wind through a clump of -trees. Then a cloud appears on the horizon. In a few moments you see -that this cloud is of dust, and that in its midst are scores of camels. -The rumbling noise you heard is found to be merely the gurgling sound -that camels make. - -It was also interesting to observe a caravan go into camp. The foreleg -of each camel was folded and tied to keep the beast from wandering; -baby camels, their white coats contrasting strongly with the dark brown -color of their parents' coats, knelt by their hobbled mothers. - -The owners of the camels busied themselves in driving stakes for their -tents, while the women occupied themselves by arranging the palanquins -in which they and their little ones traveled on the backs of the -camels. These palanquins are no more or less than woolen tents made -of red blankets supported on the camels' backs by a framework of tree -branches. The camel's hump is wrapped around by woolen stuffs and on -each side of the hump a woman sits, surrounded by babies and bundles, -but protected by the canopy from the sun. - -At some of the oases we passed we saw bronzed, graceful women and girls -weaving carpets and ornamenting veils and blankets. Two women worked at -an upright loom. One of these spinners unwound the skeins of wool while -the other wove, using her fingers as a shuttle. Peeping into one of -their tents I saw the entire family sitting around a wooden dish, into -which all dipped, while kids and dogs tried to poke their heads between -the children, eager to have a share in the repast. - -The date palms were the principal trees at these oases. Nature, when -this land became a desert, yet provided the date palm to sustain the -life of the desert people. Each tree yields a hundred pounds or more -of dates yearly for a century. The green dates taste like unripe -persimmons but the ripe dates are sugary and delicious. The Arabs call -the date the bread of the desert and besides using it as a main food, -feed it also to their camels and dogs. - -It was on March 6th, 1805, that we broke camp and began our fifty days' -march across the desert--a journey that required all of the American -grit we could muster to carry on. Hunger and rebellion and the wavering -of Hamet himself had to be endured, and Arab chiefs had continually to -be coaxed and bribed. - -There were ten Americans in the party: General Eaton, Lieutenant -O'Bannon; Mr. Peck, a non-commissioned officer, six marines, and -myself. The rest of the force was composed of a party of twenty-five -cannoniers and their three officers; thirty-eight Greek soldiers and -their two officers; Hamet Bashaw's company of ninety men; and a party -of Arab cavalry under the command of the Sheiks il Taiib and Mahamet, -including footmen and camel drivers. Our entire force numbered about -four hundred and our caravan consisted of one hundred and seven camels -and a few asses. - - -THE SHEIKS REBEL - -After a day's march the first trouble occurred. The owners of the -camels and horses we had hired demanded pay in advance, but General -Eaton foresaw that if the money were advanced they would be in a -position to desert if they became dissatisfied, and he refused to -comply with their demands. They then became mutinous. To make matters -worse the Sheik il Taiib insinuated to them that if they performed -their services without getting paid, we would be apt to cheat them out -of their wages. - -General Eaton appealed to Hamet but found him undecided and despondent, -and at last he made a bold move by ordering the Christians to take up -their arms and to march back to Alexandria, threatening to abandon both -the expedition and Hamet unless the march proceeded forward at once. -The expedition was resumed. - -After we had marched about seventy-five miles through low sand valleys -and rocky, desert plains, a courier met us, sent to us by some of -Hamet's friends at Derne. He informed us that the province was arming -to assist our cause. - -We chanced to be near the ruins of a castle of Greek design. Because -of the good news the Arabs entertained us with feats of horsemanship, -firing their rifles as they rode. This sport, however, came close to -bringing on a serious disaster. Our Arabs, who were on foot and who -were yet at a distance, bringing up the baggage, heard the firing -and thought that we had been attacked by wild Arabs of the desert. -Thereupon they attempted to disarm and put to death the Christians who -were in their party. One old Arab, however, advised them to postpone -the slaughter until they learned the cause of the firing. This counsel -they heeded, and the lives of the Christians were saved. - -One night, not long after, a musket, a bayonet, cartridges, and all of -our stores of cheese were stolen from one of our tents by the Arabs. - -When we had reached an ancient castle in the desert called by the -Arabs, Masroscan, another rebellion occurred. Here we found vestiges -of old walls, gardens, and mansions that showed that people of refined -tastes had lived there in the dim past. Now a few Arab families lived -in tents among the ruins. Here and there were patches of wheat and -barley, and miserable cattle, sheep, goats, and fowl searched the -ground for sustenance. - -We learned that the Bashaw had directed the caravan to proceed only to -as far as this place, and that its owners had received no part of their -promised pay. General Eaton's cash was low, but he managed to borrow -one hundred and forty dollars among the Christian officers and men, -and turned over to Hamet Bashaw six hundred and seventy-three dollars, -with which he settled the claims of the chiefs of the caravan. Upon -this they agreed to march two days more, but in the night all these -camel-drivers withdrew and turned their camels towards Egypt. - -Hamet Bashaw favored leaving the baggage at the castle and marching -on in the hope of hiring other camels, but, since we were now without -cash, General Eaton rejected this advice, as it would mean proceeding -without provisions and with no money to obtain fresh supplies. - -Then the mischief-maker, Sheik il Taiib, reinforced by other sheiks, -declared that they would proceed no farther until we had sent forward a -messenger to learn if our American warships were awaiting our arrival -at Bomba, a sea-coast town on the route to Derne. These chiefs had -heard that an army of cavalry and foot soldiers had been sent from -Tripoli to the defence of Derne, and they wanted assurances that our -navy was at hand to help us against them. - -"We will delay for no messenger!" General Eaton declared, "as long as -you halt here I will stop your rations." - -To his companions he said: "If they persist in their course, we will -seize the castle, fortify ourselves, and send word to our fleet to send -a naval expedition to our relief!" - -Then he added: "We have marched a distance of two hundred miles through -an inhospitable waste of world, but we are bound across this gloomy -desert on pursuits vastly different from those which lead fanatics to -Mecca; we go to liberate three hundred Americans from the chains of -barbarism!" - -[Illustration: "WE ARE BOUND ACROSS THIS GLOOMY DESERT TO LIBERATE -THREE HUNDRED AMERICANS FROM THE CHAINS OF BARBARISM."--GENERAL EATON.] - -On the next morning we found that General Eaton's firm stand had had -its effect, for fifty camels were reassembled by the sheiks and the -march was resumed. After traveling twenty-five miles we came to a high, -green place by the sea where three tribes of Arabs, numbering four -thousand, lived. Around them were vast herds of camels, horses, cattle, -and countless flocks of sheep and goats. - -We were the first Christians these wild people had ever seen. They -laughed at our dress, but showed great respect towards our officers. -Our polished arms filled them with amazement, and the gold lace on -the General's hat, and his epaulettes, buttons and spurs awed them. -They thought that the ornaments were gold and silver, and expressed -astonishment that God should permit people, who followed what they -called the religion of the devil, to possess such riches. They offered -us for sale whatever food or articles they possessed, including such -rarities as young gazelles and ostriches. They offered us also dates -that had been brought in a five days' journey from the interior of -Africa. We desired to buy all that was offered, but, we had only -our rice to trade for their products, which greatly restricted our -purchasing power. Here we found water in plenty, the rain having been -caught and preserved in natural caverns of rock. - -These Arab tribes had never seen bread. When we offered them hard -biscuit, they broke it with their shepherds' clubs or their hatchets -and tasted it gingerly, but then, liking the taste, they begged us for -more. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE DESERT GIRL - - -Attracted by the sound of a drum, beating rhythmically and unceasingly, -we strolled after sunset to the entrance of an Arab tent. Old women, -with straggling hair and wizened faces, and with eyes ablaze with -excitement, were pounding the drum. The tent was thronged with young -men and women, who watched tensely and eagerly the dancers in their -center. Only young women were dancing. The dance was in honor of a holy -man, and was called the _djdib_. - -Women, urged on by the drum and by the cries of the spectators, whirled -and swayed. Their heads rocked from side to side like tree-tops in a -tempest. The spirit of the dance had taken possession of them and urged -them on until there was no more strength left in their lithe bodies. - -They danced until they became exhausted, then others threw aside their -scarves and renewed the dance. - -I saw a golden-haired girl of about fifteen standing among the tawny -Arab girls. The contrast between her quiet beauty and the bold charms -of her companions drew the attention of all of the members of our -party. I pointed her out to General Eaton. He began to wonder aloud -as to whether she was one of the Circassian race, brought down from -the mountains by Arabian bandits in some raid, or whether she was of -Anglo-Saxon stock. - -"She _must_ be a Circassian," he concluded, "it is unbelievable that -an English or American girl should be owned by this desert tribe!" - -An old woman poked her hatchet-shaped face into that of the young girl. - -"Go and dance! All these years you have been under the protection of -Allah. Who is this Nazarene--that you place him above Mohammed and his -saints? Go and dance. Give your spirit to the djinn! May Allah wither -your budding beauty if you refuse to worship his saint in the dance!" - -She seized the young girl by her thick sash and pulled her into the -center. The band of ribbon that had bound her golden hair became loose; -her hair poured like a flood of gold over her shoulders. She stood -trembling amidst the wild dancers, some of whom, in their frenzy, were -digging her with their sharp elbows. - -The drum beat insistently, but the girl did not obey its urge to dance. -She stood trembling, and now she raised her eyes towards us with a -pleading that roused us to interfere. - -General Eaton motioned to a sheik. - -"We would not interrupt the dance, or offend the hospitality of this -tent in any way. But that girl seems to be of our blood, and the dance -is strange to her. Would it not offend the marabout in whose honor you -dance to have a Nazarene take part? What is worship of the hands and -feet if the heart is not submissive too? I pray you, permit the girl to -withdraw." - -The young Arabs cast hostile glances at us, but the sheik was -good-natured and was expecting rich gifts from the general. He called -the girl to him. She came quickly. He spoke to her in Arabic, and she -withdrew to an alcove. - -"She is an adopted daughter of our tribe," he explained. - -The famine lay heavily upon this people. Perhaps it was due to the -biscuits we offered this tribe that our interference with their -ceremony was not hotly resented. Perhaps, indeed, the famine was -responsible for their next move. - -An old woman came out of the alcove that had hidden the girl and came -directly to General Eaton. "The fair-haired one is a trouble to me," -she said. "We have given her food and shelter for many years, yet when -we speak to her of marriage, she weeps. When we tell her that we will -sell her to become a dancing-girl in the bazaars and cafes if she will -not wed one of our young men, she threatens to kill herself! Lovelier -damsels than she have gone into the harem, happy to have a lord who -will keep them from want. And there are worse lives than to dance at -the _fantasias_ of rich men, and to win the approval of the cafes. The -girl is ungrateful and a burden to us. Our own children are starving. -Give us money to buy food and take the unthankful girl!" - -"Let the girl be summoned," said the general. She came forth, glancing -from the Sheik Abdullah to General Eaton with fear in her eyes. - -"My girl," said the general through an interpreter, "these people have -offered you for sale. My purpose in buying you would be to find you a -good home, where you will be brought up in the way of people of your -color and race. Do you consent?" She looked at him as if she could not -believe her ears, then sobbed, then nodded earnestly. - -"Done!" thundered the general, "I call on Sheik Abdullah to witness -that the offer has been made and accepted. I shall be liberal, too! -Tell me what price such girls bring at the slave-market in Murzuk and -it shall be paid." - -The money was poured into the old hag's outstretched palms. The members -of her family gathered round to gloat over it. The young Arabs laughed -at the prospect of food. The departure of the girl in our company did -not cause them the slightest concern. Maidens are held cheaply in the -Sahara. A swift camel is worth more than a girl. What value has a -Nazarene maiden compared with food for one's own famished children? - -The general, to shield the girl as much as possible from the curious -soldiers, gave her a tent where she dwelt alone, watched over by an old -Nubian woman who had become attached to our party in Egypt and had been -taken along for her value as a cook. - -The general told a group of us briefly that the girl remembered little -of her early life. There was a vague remembrance of a mother who had -lived among these dark people. There came a day when she went out of -her life and a scolding Arab woman took her place. - -The girl and her black servant traveled on donkeys. A young sheik, a -friend of the sheik, who had sold the girl to our party, joined Hamet's -forces at this village. I wondered if he had planned to add the maiden -to his circle of wives. - - -HAMET BASHAW LOSES HIS TEMPER - -A courier from Derne met us here with news that Joseph's army was -approaching Derne. This caused a panic among our Arabs, and even Hamet -seemed to be in doubt as to whether it were wise to proceed. I was -forming a rather low opinion of his bravery, but tried to lose such -thoughts by thinking that if he were a hundred times less a man he -would be better than his brother. Some of the camel drivers fled. We -heard, too, that many of Hamet's followers were planning to turn back. -General Eaton again stopped their rations and ordered that no food be -served them until they marched forward. The general had a lion's heart -and was a born leader. Obstacles like these only served to bring out -his firm qualities. - -The Sheik il Taiib was again the center of the revolt, since he had -resolved to go no farther until news arrived that our vessels were -awaiting us at Bomba. When General Eaton reproached him for his want -of courage and fidelity, he flew into a rage and put himself at the -head of such Arabs as would follow him, which was about half of our -force, and started back to Egypt. Hamet begged General Eaton to send -an officer to pacify him and persuade him to return, but the General -refused. - -"We have paid him for his services," he declared, "and we have a right -to expect that he be faithful to his pledge; I will not permit him to -dictate measures to us!" - -"But he may take part against us," pleaded frightened Hamet. - -"Let him do it," the general answered, "I like an open enemy better -than a treacherous friend!" - -We continued our march. Messengers then arrived from the rebellious -sheik, assuring us that he was really on his way back to Egypt. - -The general sent word back to him: "I will take vigorous steps for the -recovery of the cash and property you have drawn from me by fraud!" - -In a few hours a new messenger arrived with the information that the -Sheik il Taiib would join us if we halted to await his coming. - -At last his caravan hove in sight. - -"You see," he said to the general, to mask his defeat, "what influence -I have among these people!" - -"Yes," returned the general, "and I see also the disgraceful use you -make of it!" - -On the next day, the sheik having been quieted for a time, Hamet -himself again showed signs of turning back. Separating his Moslem party -from us, he took from our officers the horses he had loaned us for the -passage through the desert. When General Eaton reproached him for his -indecision and lack of perseverance, high words followed. We marched -on; Hamet turned back, but after two hours had passed he rejoined us, -complimented the general on his firmness, and said that he had been -forced to pretend that he was falling in with the wishes of his people, -so that he might in the end manage them. - -The next day brought the same daily measure of trouble. Several sheiks -quarreled with Sheik il Taiib over the distribution of the money that -Hamet had paid them, and had quitted camp. We could not proceed without -them because they exercised a powerful influence over the Arab tribes -near Derne, whose support we were counting on. Hamet rode after them to -persuade them to be loyal to us, and in his absence Sheik il Taiib took -the stage again, demanding that the general issue more rations. - -"Remember," he said threateningly, "You are in a desert, and a country -not your own! I am a greater man here than you or the Bashaw!" - -The general retorted: "I have found you at the head of every commotion -which has happened since we left Alexandria. You are the cause of the -present trouble among the chiefs. Leave my tent! But mark: if I find a -mutiny in the camp I will put you to death as the man who produced it." - -The sheik left the tent and rode away with other chiefs. A few hours -later, however, he returned and swore that he was devoted to the -general; that some secret enemy had told lies about him; that he would -even abandon the Bashaw to follow us; and hoped that at Derne he would -have the opportunity to show that he was a _man_. - -Our next halt came when some of the Arab chiefs insisted on riding off -to an oasis called Seewauk for a supply of dates. They promised to -rejoin our party at Bomba. We halted to discuss the matter. - -While this matter was being debated we visited an Arab camp nearby. -We found that the young men and women, although copper-colored, were -handsome and well-formed. The women did not veil, and were modest and -bashful in their deportment. The general complimented the wife of the -chief on her beauty. She smiled and said there were more beautiful -women in camp than herself and brought in a group of girls to prove it. -But the general gallantly held to his first opinion. - -Our soldiers were fond of dates, and to secure them from the girls they -gave as payment the buttons on their uniforms, which the women strung -as ornaments about their necks. - -We were fortunate enough to see a marriage in the Arab camp. Two camels -bearing canopies resembling wagon tops covered with Smyrna carpeting, -passed along, to the noise of volleys of muskets. The bride and groom -rode separately in these canopies, attended by elderly women, adult -unmarried girls, and by mounted Arabs. - -The women chanted a savage kind of song; the men performed daring feats -of horsemanship, and young men and girls danced between the camels. In -this manner they circled their tents and our encampment. Then the camel -carrying the bride was driven seven times around a tent that had been -assigned to her. The animal was then made to kneel, the door of the -canopy was opened, and the bride was pitched headfirst into the tent, -where her women companions were reciting a benediction. - -We were told that presents were expected. We gave a little money to -an old Arab woman who had taken the leading part in the celebration, -supposing her to be the mother of the bride. The general also invited -an Arab of about fifty-five years to his tent to receive an extra -present of provisions. Upon questioning the Arab as to the ages of the -bride and groom, we learned that he himself was the groom; that the -bride was a girl of thirteen years; and that the woman we had supposed -to be her mother was another wife of the groom. - - -THE ALLIES QUARREL - -Now arose a crisis that threatened more than any of the previous ones -the success of our movement. Indeed, even the lives of all of the -Christian members of the expedition were at stake. When we had reached -a spot about ninety miles from Bomba, we found ourselves facing a -famine. We had only six days' rations of rice, no bread nor meat, nor -other ration. General Eaton was therefore anxious that we move forward -to Bomba as swiftly as possible, but Hamet, while the general was out -of camp, ordered the expedition to halt and announced that the troops -needed a day's rest. The reason for his act, we learned, was that he -might send a courier to see if our ships were indeed awaiting us at -Bomba. - -The general stopped the rations when he found that his army had halted, -and Hamet, influenced by his Arab hosts, prepared again to march in a -direction away from Derne. The Arabs tried to seize the weapons of the -Christians, and General Eaton promptly called us to arms. We stood in -a row before the magazine tent, guarding our guns from those who would -use them to slaughter us. When the crowd had fallen back, the general -ordered us to proceed with our daily drill. Seeing this, an Arab chief -shouted: - -"The Christians are preparing to fire on us!" - -Hamet put himself at their head, with drawn sword, as if he feared that -such was our intention. - -General Eaton stood firmly facing the threatening host of Turks and -Arabs. Around him clustered a little group: O'Bannon, Peck, Farquhar, -Leitensdorfer, Selem Aga, the Greek officers, and myself. I tried my -best to keep the gun in my hand from shivering, but the more I tried -the more my hand trembled. Two hundred mounted Turks and Arabs advanced -in full charge against us. The end was in sight. We leveled our -muskets. I thought of Alexander and the Rector and said a prayer. - -"Do not shoot until all hope of peace is gone--then sell your lives -dearly!" General Eaton said. - -The charging Arabs swerved and withdrew, but when we began to -breathe more freely, they came closer, and this time we could see -them selecting us as their targets. It did not seem that any of us -Christians could survive five minutes longer. An Arab youth snapped a -pistol at my breast. Providentially it missed fire. If one bullet had -been fired, war to the death between the two sides would have resulted. -A moment later we heard the command of "fire!" ring out from among the -Arabs. - -"At the first shot, give them a volley!" General Eaton ordered. - -At this critical instant, one of Hamet's officers ran out towards the -mutineers and cried: "For God's sake, do not fire! The Christians are -our friends!" - -Then the general, although a column of muskets was aimed at his -breast, approached Hamet and demanded of him how he could support such -desperate acts. The Bashaw wavered. A chorus of furious whoops from the -Arabs drowned the general's voice. He waved his hand as a signal for -attention. In response, some of the more kindly disposed chiefs rode -before the Arabs with drawn sabres and ordered the infuriated tribesmen -to fall back. - -The general again reproached Hamet for his weakness, and even Hamet's -chief officer asked the Bashaw if he had lost his senses. The latter, -in a fury, struck his officer with his drawn sabre. The fracas began -again and had nearly reached its former heat when General Eaton seized -Hamet by the arm and drew him away from his people. - -"Can it be," the general exclaimed, "that you have forgotten who your -true friends are, and where your interests lie?" - -Hamet melted. He called the general his protector and friend; lamented -that he lost his temper so easily, and ordered the Arabs to disperse. - -General Eaton agreed to issue a ration of rice if the Bashaw promised -march would be resumed early the next morning. This pledge was made and -peace returned. Then we saw a sorry sight. At least two of the white -men had acted like cowards and had hidden themselves among the tents. -They now came slinking forth to stammer excuses that, you may be sure, -were received stonily by us. We again went forward, but after we had -marched twenty-five miles our rice became exhausted, and we were now -without rations. - -With starvation threatening us, Hamet killed a camel, and also gave -one in exchange for sheep, that were also slaughtered. The meat, -however, had to be eaten without bread or salt. As we went on the -hunger increased, and we saw the Arabs searching the plain for roots -and vegetable substances on which they might subsist. A water famine -was almost always with us. At one time we were obliged to drink from a -cistern in which we had found the bodies of two murdered Arabs. - -For the first time in my life I realized the meaning of such passages -of Scripture as: - - - "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; - He leadeth me beside the still waters." - - -While facing yet another insurrection, this time of the gunners, a -courier arrived from Bomba with the news that our ships were off both -that place and Derne. This gave us new strength and courage and ended -the mutiny, and so at last we came to Bomba. - -There, however, we found that the vessel that had been seen had -departed. The fat was in the fire again, with the Arabs abusing us as -impostors and infidels and threatening to leave us, if they did nothing -worse. - -But oh, the resourcefulness of our general! Withdrawing with the -Christians to a high hill nearby, he ordered that a huge fire be -kept burning on its crest all night; the next morning as the Turks -and Arabs were scattering, to go to their homes, when the end of the -expedition seemed indeed to be in sight, we saw from the top of the -hill a sail. The United States' ship _Argus_, with Captain Hull in -command was approaching. The next day the sloop _Hornet_ arrived, laden -with provisions. We then refreshed ourselves and our famished army, and -unloaded from the _Hornet_ the provisions necessary to feed us on the -march to Derne. - -The worst of the journey was over. We were approaching cultivated land. -To keep the inhabitants from becoming hostile to us the Bashaw sent a -herald through the camp to cry: - -"He who fears God and feels attachment to Hamet Bashaw will be careful -to destroy nothing. Let no one touch the growing harvest. He who -transgresses shall lose his right hand!" - -I now heard shrieks from the tent that sheltered the girl we had -rescued by purchase from the Arabs. I saw two camels standing beside -the tent, held by a young Arab who looked towards us furtively. It -flashed across my mind that the young sheik whom I had suspected of an -intention to add the girl to his household had seized upon the moment -when we were engaged in putting down a rebellion to kidnap the girl. -I rushed to the tent, followed by an Arab lad Mustapha, who also came -from the girl's village, and who had shown an humble devotion to her -by daily giving to the negress for the maiden a share of his ration of -dates. - -As we reached the door of the tent the sheik emerged with the girl in -his arms. I jabbed the point of my pistol into his face while Mustapha -plunged earthward in an effort to stay his strides toward the camels. -The lad's attack was so vigorous that the sheik sprawled face downward -into the sand, while the girl, released by his stumble, fell into my -arms for support. - -She was pale with terror and leaned against me like a broken lily. -General Eaton, having pacified Hamet and his supporters, came dashing -between me and the kidnapper, who had seized his knife and risen to his -feet. I still menaced him with my pistol, but the general forbade me to -fire. - -"He richly deserves death," he whispered, taking in at a glance the -situation, "but to fire a shot would cause a general battle and the -defeat of our plans." He then turned to the scowling chief. - -"Mount your camel and go," he said. "Hamet Bashaw wants no one in his -ranks who, under pretense of loyalty to a cause, comes to steal a girl -who despises him." - -The Arab, without replying, mounted his camel and rode away with his -attendant. We saw a small group detach themselves from the main body -and follow him. - -"A good riddance!" the general muttered. Then, seeing Mustapha, he -delighted the youth by saying, "You, my boy, are worth a hundred such -fellows!" - -The Nubian woman, who had been choked into insensibility, now staggered -out of the tent and relieved me of my burden--one that I was none too -glad to surrender. - -The girl murmured something to me in Arabic as she re-entered the tent, -including Mustapha in her glance. I looked at him questioningly. - -"She said," the lad explained, "that her heart is overflowing with -gratitude to you and myself for rescuing her." - -General Eaton ordered that the maiden's tent be continually guarded -after that. I managed to be selected for sentinel duty more often than -anyone else. Mustapha also stood guard with me. The girl sat in the -door of her tent looking up to the stars. With Mustapha interpreting, -we chatted. I told her about America and Baltimore and assured her that -once she was out of the desert, a happy life would open for her. She -asked shy questions about the girls of the United States--what they -wore; how they occupied themselves. I heard her and the Nubian woman -laughing when I said, rather abruptly, that I had not paid attention -to the looks and habits of girls at home. I taught her a few words of -English--"America," "ship," "friend," "good morning," and "good night." - -When we reached Derne, a few days after the encounter I have described -took place, the girl went aboard one of the American warships. The last -I saw of her was when she stepped timidly into a cutter, assisted by -General Eaton. I stood on the shore watching. I saw her glancing back -at the shore and I am sure I saw a motion of her hand in response to my -furious waving. From that hour I began thinking of home more than I had -ever thought of it before. And Mustapha and I, when we walked back to -our tents, never spoke a word to each other the whole way. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -REUBEN JAMES SAVES DECATUR'S LIFE - - -The fleet had not been idle while we fought our way across the desert. -Letters awaited us at Bomba, brought us by one of the naval vessels. -A long epistle, with a thrill in every paragraph, was the combined -work of Samuel Childs and Reuben James. It gave an account of the -gallant way in which Reuben saved his idol Stephen Decatur's life in a -hand-to-hand conflict between the crews of our gunboats and those of -the corsairs. The part describing Reuben's part was written by Samuel, -and bore in the margin a sentence of protest scrawled by the modest -Reuben. Here is the story as I gleaned it: - -The gunboats were sent in to attack the enemy's fleet in two divisions, -one led by Stephen Decatur and the other by Richard Somers. The Moslems -were past masters of this art of boarding. Decatur and Somers were -therefore leading their men to do battle with these ferocious fighters -under severe handicaps. - -Our habit of boarding dismayed Joseph. He had thought that his men were -invincible in a fight on a ship's deck. - -The mode of attack used by the corsairs was always by boarding. Their -vessels were so made that it was easy for them to go on board an enemy. -Their lateen yards were so long that they projected over the deck of -the vessel approached. The infidels used these as a passageway from -their vessel to the prize. Then, from all points of their riggings and -from all quarters of their decks, the pirates would leap on board the -attacked ship. That they might have free use of their hands in climbing -the gunwales of the vessel, they carried their sabres grasped between -their teeth, and had loaded pistols in their belts. As they swarmed -aboard, thus armed, they were a terrifying sight. They were taught -by their religion that if they died in battle with Christians their -salvation was assured, so they fought desperately. But Joseph, scornful -of America, without knowing what fighters her sons were, now found his -fiercest warriors slain by men who could board ship and give battle on -deck with even more strength and bravery than his own captains. - -Decatur, who had charge of the foremost three boats, had to bear the -brunt of the fighting. Opposed to his three boats were nine Tripolitan -boats, well armed and crowded with men. - -Reuben James was in Decatur's boat. The first gun Decatur fired was -loaded with a thousand musket balls in a bag. The shot wrought terrific -damage on board the vessel selected for the attack. The captain fell -dead with fourteen of the musket balls lodged in his body. Thus far -Captain Decatur had had easy work. - -Lieutenant James Decatur, Stephen's brother, had commanded the second -boat. He had been treacherously slain. The Moor in charge of the boat -he attacked hauled down its flag at the first fire. James Decatur then -directed his men to board, but as his boat approached the Tripolitan -craft, the cunning captain shot Decatur dead, and while the dismayed -Americans gathered around their leader, the Moor hauled off his boat. - -News soon reached Stephen of the loss of his brother and away he went -in vengeful pursuit of the slayer of James. He overhauled the boat and -led his men aboard in a fierce charge. Reuben was at his heels. The -Moorish captain was a powerful brute; he had all the weapons a man -could carry, and he was as desperate as a treed wildcat. - -Stephen Decatur, however, went at his huge foe in a way that meant -death either to the Moor or himself. The infidel met Decatur's rush -with his pike, while Decatur depended on his sword. Reuben James was -busy disposing of an infidel. Before he tackled another, he looked to -see what headway the captain was making. Imagine how taken aback he -was to see Decatur staggering back from a pike stab in the breast. He -slashed his way towards his leader, but, as luck would have it, a shot -lodged in his right hand and a moment later a jab from a spear disabled -his left arm. - -Meanwhile Decatur, nothing daunted by his wound, had brought his sword -into play. The blade, meeting a savage blow from the pike, broke off -at the hilt. Reuben saw Decatur dart in past the Moor's weapon, and -grapple with him. An Arab sneaked up in the captain's rear and aimed -a blow at his head. Reuben then threw his own disabled body between -Decatur and his second foe. The blow landed on his head, and he sank -to the deck crippled and half senseless. He could see Decatur and the -Moorish captain fall to the deck, with the infidel on top. The Moor had -one arm free and with it he drew a knife. Reuben closed his eyes. Then -he heard a shot and opened them again. In Decatur's hand was a smoking -pistol, and the slayer of his brother lay dead at the captain's feet. - -From the rest of the letter I gathered facts that gave me a fair idea -of the progress of the campaign. - -The third boat in Decatur's division was commanded by John Trippe, -sailing master. Trippe killed a Moorish captain in much the same manner -as Decatur slew his adversary. As he led his men across the side of a -Tripolitan vessel, his own boat was swept away from the side before all -of his party could board. Thus Trippe, with another officer and nine -men, was left to face thirty-six infidels. Trippe determined, as his -one hope of victory, to kill the captain, a man of great height and -strength. He came as near to death as did Decatur, receiving eleven -wounds. At last, when the Moor had forced him down so that he was -fighting with one knee on deck, he caught his foe off guard and stabbed -him to death with a pike. Fourteen of the infidels had been slain by -the Americans and the remaining twenty-two now surrendered. None of the -Americans were killed. Richard Somers, who commanded the other three -boats, was prevented from following Decatur along the inside route he -took, yet he found means to capture three Moorish gunboats and to sink -three others. - -Reuben James passes out of my story here, but it is due him that I skip -several years and tell how when doctors were about to amputate, because -an old wound had diseased a bone in his leg, he exclaimed: "Doctor, you -are the captain, Sir. Fire away; but I don't think it is shipshape to -put me under jury masts when I have just come into harbor." - -From other correspondence we learned how Commodore Preble, while -his gunboats were thus engaged, sailed into the harbor on board the -_Constitution_, with Captain Chauncey in command, and bombarded the -forts. The ship was excellently handled. Her crew tacked and made sail -under the guns of the enemy with as much coolness and skill as if there -were no guns trained on them. Several times the _Constitution_ passed -within three cables' length of the batteries on shore, and silenced -them. But the moment the frigate passed on, the silenced batteries were -manned again. The monarch had thousands of soldiers at his command and -continued to drive fresh gunners to the batteries. - -On another day a Tripolitan fleet of five gunboats and two galleys came -out to attempt to capture or destroy certain gunboats of the American -fleet lying near the harbor. Commodore Preble signaled to the brigs and -schooners under his command to meet the raiders, and these ships poured -such a hot fire upon the Moslem flotilla that they were forced to turn -back. - -The grape-shot fired by the Americans during these engagements swept -the enemy's decks of men, and worried the gunmen on shore so badly -that it spoiled their aim, so that the _Constitution_ was but slightly -damaged, and had none killed and only one man wounded. - - -THE DEATH OF SOMERS - -Now, came news of the tragedy of the campaign. It was decided to use -the ketch _Intrepid_ as a fireship to destroy the enemy's shipping. -Captain Somers volunteered to take command of her, and Lieutenant -Wadsworth volunteered to go with him. Ten men went with them--six -volunteers from the _Constitution_ and four volunteers from the -_Nautilus_. Two small boats were taken, so that the party could escape -from the floating mine after they had lighted the fuses. The _Intrepid_ -started upon her perilous duty on September 4th. Lieutenant Joseph -Israel of the _Constitution_ arrived at the moment of getting under way -and asked permission to go along. Somers consented. - -The night was dark, and the other American ships soon lost sight of -the ketch. She was discovered, however, by the Tripolitans as she was -entering the harbor, and their batteries opened fire. - -Suddenly, the night was lit by terrifying flashes. A series of -explosions shook land and water. A shower of sparks arose. The powder -on board the _Intrepid_ had prematurely exploded, and left nothing on -the face of the harbor but scorched fragments. All of her officers and -men were killed. Their mangled bodies floated ashore and were found by -the people of Tripoli. - -What caused the explosion remains a mystery. Commodore Preble thought -that the _Intrepid_ had been attacked and boarded by a Tripolitan -gun-boat, and that Captain Somers, rather than be taken captive, -himself exploded the powder; or else that the fire from the batteries -caused so much damage that Somers saw that escape was impossible and -chose death to surrender. This reasoning was partly based on the fact -that Somers and his men had boasted that they would die rather than be -captured. The squadron was greatly affected by this tragedy. Decatur -had special reason to grieve, because Somers had been his schoolmate, -and had given Decatur, before sailing, tokens to remember him by if he -did not return. - -I learned with amazement that Commodore Preble had been recalled. -Although he had conducted a fight that had won for the American navy -lasting glory, the navy department had thought it best to call him home -and to put Commodore Samuel Barron, who was his senior, in his place. -Commodore Preble was notified of this with much praise and apology. No -wonder was it that his going was lamented. His fifty-three officers -joined in a letter of regret. English officers praised his work. The -Pope said that "the American commander, with a small force and in a -short space of time, had done more for the cause of Christianity than -the most powerful nations of Christendom had done for ages." - -The Commodore had labored under great handicaps. Congress had not -supported his requests for ships and supplies, and those that came -were long delayed. The food sent him was poor. He was forced to depend -largely on foreign seamen. - -Commodore Preble was deeply regretful at not being able to carry the -campaign against Tripoli through to final victory, and also mortified -that, with success in sight, he should be recalled. He went home an -almost heartbroken man, although his record must stand out as one of -the most brilliant in our naval history. - -If the bold Preble had continued in command of the squadron, there is -little doubt that when he saw what Eaton was doing at Derne he would -have begun an attack on Tripoli that would have brought Joseph Bashaw -to his knees. - -The one good reason advanced as to why General Eaton's expedition -should have ended at Derne was that if it approached Tripoli, the -Americans held prisoners there might have been killed by Joseph Bashaw -when his city was attacked. He threatened that, in an extremity, he -would slay the prisoners. Several of the officers who were in captivity -held this fear. Yet Commodore Rodgers wrote afterwards to the Secretary -of the Navy: - -"I never thought myself that the lives of the American prisoners were -in any danger." Lieutenant Wormely, a midshipman held in captivity, -also testified before a Senate committee that: "I do not believe that -there was any danger to be apprehended for our lives." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WE CAPTURE THE DESERT CITY OF DERNE - - - "_An army, composed in part of Americans, but chiefly of the - descendants of the ancient Grecians, Egyptians and Arabians; in - other words, an army collected from the four quarters of the - globe, and led by an American commander to conquest and glory, - is a phenomenon in military history calculated to attract the - attention of the world, not only by its novelty, but by its real - influence and consequence. It ought to be considered, too, that - this army, notwithstanding the singularity of its organization and - character, and the smallness of its number and its means, acted in - a cause that might be thought to affect, at least in some remote - degree, the general interest of mankind. Since the destruction of - Cato, and his little senate at Utica, the banner of freedom had - never waved in that desert and barbarous quarter of the globe; and - he who carried it so nobly, in the language of the resolution, - through the desert of Libya, and placed it so triumphantly upon - the African shore of the Mediterranean deserves to be honorably - distinguished by that country and that government, to which the - enterprise has added lustre._" - - --Speech made by James Elliott, Representative from Vermont, - before the House of Representatives. - - -Every step we took, I could tell by the rector's map, which now I -daily consulted, was taking me to that section of the coast where the -treasure lay buried. We had hard fighting ahead of us, and all of my -energies were needed to help our cause, yet I was determined to find -enough time to make the search. The problem of finding a trustworthy -person who could read for me the Arabic inscription on the map had -been solved through my friendship with Mustapha, who had acquired a -fair education in Egypt. I planned to go to Tokra under his guidance. -My plans worked out well, but in a different way from that which I -proposed. - -The first duty ahead of our army--a task that must be done before any -treasure hunt could be thought of--was the capture of Derne. The city -of Tokra lay beyond Derne. Our army, if it went on to Tripoli, must -pass near it. The coast was clear--if Derne were captured by us. Little -did I think that the ill fortunes of our soldiers should send me forth -at last to fulfill my long-cherished aim. - -Two days after leaving Bomba, we camped on a height that overlooks -Derne, and reconnoitered. We had reached the climax of our march. We -learned that the governor of the place had decided to defend the city -against us. We learned also that the army Joseph Bashaw had sent from -Tripoli was making a forced march to Derne and might arrive before the -return of our vessels, which had been blown out to sea in a gale. This -information alarmed the Turks and Arabs. Hamet, we observed, again -seemed to be ready for flight. The Sheik il Taiib, who had promised to -prove himself a valiant man at Derne, quitted the camp. - -Several chiefs came out from Derne to assure Hamet of their faith. They -told us that the city was divided into three departments; that two -of these favored Hamet and one Joseph, but that the department that -favored Joseph was strongest and had control of the guns. - -General Eaton had sent a messenger to the governor under a flag of -truce with this message: - - - "I want no territory. With me is advancing the real sovereign - of your country--give us a passage through your city; and for - the supplies of which we shall have need, you shall receive fair - pay. Let no differences of religion induce us to shed the blood - of harmless men who think little and know nothing. If you are a - man of liberal mind you will not hesitate. Hamet Bashaw pledged - himself to me that you shall be established in your government. I - shall see you tomorrow in a way of your choice. - - "Eaton." - - -The flag of truce was sent back to the general by the governor with -this answer: - -"My head or yours!" - -"We shall see whose head it will be!" General Eaton declared. - -Having learned that the army from Tripoli was only a four hours' march -distant, the general determined to attack the city before it had time -to arrive. - -On the next morning the _Argus_, _Hornet_ and _Nautilus_ appeared off -the coast, and on a signal sailed in toward the city. The general at -once began the assault. The fleet sent a few guns ashore to assist -us in the land attack, and then the three vessels opened fire on the -city's batteries. - -The Governor of Derne had mounted a battery of eight nine-pounders -along the water-front; had thrown up breastworks along the unprotected -parts of the city; and had mounted cannon on the terrace of his palace -and on the roofs of certain buildings. We heard that he possessed an -army of eight hundred men, in addition to such citizens as would fight -with him. - -General Eaton, with a detachment actively commanded by Lieutenant -O'Bannon, consisting of the six American marines, twenty-four gunners, -twenty-six Greeks, and a few Arabs, attacked the temporary forts that -had been thrown up in the southeast section of the town. Hamet Bashaw -attacked and captured an old castle on the southwest, and drew up his -cavalry on this site. I fought beside the general, and a stiff business -it was. The enemy's musketry was so warm that our troops were thrown -into confusion. To counteract this, the general ordered a charge. The -enemy had flocked to the point where we advanced, so that we had to -fight as ten to one. The infidels waged a guerrilla warfare, dashing -out of their hiding-places and then, in retreat, firing from behind -every palm tree and wall along their way. - -The battery was at last silenced by the fire of our ships, and most of -the gunners retired to join the forces opposed to us. Yet on we went, -passing through a shower of bullets from the walls of houses. Soon we -reached the battery, and wrested it from its defenders. I had the honor -of planting, amidst cheers from my comrades, the American flag on the -wall--an honor indeed, since this was the first time the American flag -had been raised on a fort of the old world. Then we turned the guns on -the infidels and drove them back into the houses, where they could only -fire at us from behind walls. - -[Illustration: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AN AMERICAN FLAG HAD BEEN RAISED -ON A FORT OF THE OLD WORLD.] - -Our ships, which had suspended their fire during our charge, now -resumed bombarding the houses that sheltered the governor and his men. - -The deadly fire of the ships terrified the already faint-hearted forces -there, and they began to flee in disorder. Hamet's troops captured -the governor's castle, and his cavalry pursued the flying foe. By four -o'clock in the afternoon we were in full possession of the city, the -action having lasted about two hours and a half. Of the Christians -who fought there were fourteen killed and wounded. Three of these -were American marines; two dead and one wounded. The rest of the dead -were Greeks. Our Grecian allies showed great bravery and were worthy -descendants of the ancient heroes of their race. - - -THE GOVERNOR FLEES - -The governor fled first to a mosque; then to the abode of an old sheik. - -"I must lay hold of him!" General Eaton said. "He is the third man in -rank in the entire kingdom of Tripoli, and we can use him to exchange -for Captain Bainbridge!" - -The general, in great zeal to take the governor captive, now marched at -the head of fifty Christians with bayonets to that remote section in -which the fugitive had found refuge. The aged chief who sheltered him, -however, vowed that the laws of hospitality would be violated if he -permitted us to take the governor, and refused to yield him up to us. - -General Eaton explained that the Governor had rejected peace terms; had -challenged us and been beaten at his post; was still in a conquered -town, and was by all the laws of war a prisoner. The sheik remained -firm. - -The citizens of Derne began to look at us with hostile eyes. - -"The Christians no longer respect the customs of our fathers and our -laws of hospitality," they exclaimed. - -Hamet Bashaw, fearful that the people would be turned against him if -we seized the governor against the old sheik's wishes, persuaded the -general to postpone the attempt. - -We had been in possession of Derne about a week when the army sent from -Tripoli arrived and planted their camp on the ground we had occupied. -Meanwhile, General Eaton had fortified the city as strongly as possible. - -We found ourselves facing enemies within and foes without, because the -people of the town, true to their nature, were now debating which army -would be the most likely to win, so that they might be on the victor's -side. The late governor, we learned, was the leader in trying to -persuade the people of the city to revolt against us. - -On May 18th the troops from Tripoli advanced towards the city in order -of battle, but when General Eaton marshalled his forces to meet them -they halted, conferred, and then retired. We found out later that -the Beys in charge of the enemy's forces had tried day after day to -persuade the Arabs under them to attack. They had refused, stating that -Joseph Bashaw must send them aid before they would attempt to conquer -the city. - -"We have," they said, "not only our lives to preserve, but also the -lives of our families. Hamet has possession of the town; his Christian -allies possess the batteries; these, together with the great guns of -the American ships, would destroy us if we attacked!" - -The Beys then demanded of the Arabs that they permit their camels to be -used to protect the front and flanks of the assaulting forces, but this -too was refused. - -Word came to General Eaton that Hassien Bey, commander of the enemy's -forces, had offered six thousand dollars for his head, and double that -sum if he were brought as a prisoner. We heard also that thirty dollars -had been offered for the head of an ordinary Christian. - -Then there came to our camp a Bedouin holy man who had previously been -befriended by the general. He whispered that two women, one in our -camp and one in Derne, had been employed by Hassien Bey to poison our -commander. In payment for this service they had already been given -presents of diamond rings. The saint cautioned the General not to -accept any presents of pastry, preserves or fruit. - -A few days later, the forces of Hassien Bey gave battle. He was -assisted by Muhamed, Bey of Bengazi; Muhamed, Bey of Derne, and -Imhamed, Bey of Ogna. Under them were one thousand mounted Arabs and -two thousand Arabs on foot. On the night before, Muhamed, the former -governor of Derne, had escaped into Hassien Bey's camp, and had told -him that our numbers on shore were far less than the general had -supposed. Encouraged by this information Hassien Bey ordered the attack. - -About nine o'clock in the morning his troops appeared, under five -standards, and attacked about one hundred of Hamet's cavalry, who had -been stationed about a mile from town. The cavalry fought bravely but -were forced to retreat. The _Argus_ and _Nautilus_ trained their guns -on the enemy, and we in town bombarded them with our battery and field -pieces, but by taking advantage of walls they penetrated the town up -to the palace that sheltered Hamet. Here they were met by a hot rifle -fire from Hamet's supporters, but they held their ground stubbornly, -determined to capture Hamet. - -The general was wondering whether with the small force in charge of -the battery he dare risk a sortie to defend Hamet, when fortunately a -shot from one of our nine-pounders killed two mounted enemies near the -palace. - -Instantly they sounded a retreat and fled from all quarters. Hamet's -cavalry pursued them. In their flight they again came within range of -our ships' guns, and these poured into their ranks a galling fire. - -We were told later by an Italian slave who escaped from their camp -that they had lost twenty-eight men killed and that fifty-six of their -number had been wounded by our fire. - -This defeat took the heart out of the Arabs supporting the Beys. -Officers and soldiers began to desert to us from the enemy, and when -Hassien Bey began to prepare for another assault by collecting camels -that would be used as traveling breastworks, the Arabs recruited on the -march refused to take part. They protested that they would have been -willing to fight under ordinary circumstances, but that the Americans -were firing balls that would kill both a rider and his horse, and that -they would not expose themselves to such shots. They also complained -that we rushed at them with bayonets, and would not give them time to -reload their muskets! - -Hearing these reports our fearless general tried to persuade Hamet to -make a counter-attack, but without success. Skirmishes continued to -occur. A few days after the battle, a company of the enemy attacked -some Arab families who had camped in the rear of the town. Learning -of the attack, the general headed a party of thirty-five Greeks and -Americans, with a view to cutting off their retreat. We met them in a -mountain's ravine--the Greeks must have thought of the Spartans at -Thermopylae--and charged them with our bayonets. They broke and fled, -hotly pursued. We killed their captain and five men, and took two -prisoners. None of us were injured. - -This affair put Hassien Bey in a frenzy. The next morning he came -forward to revenge his cause, but again the Arabs mutinied and -retreated, leaving Hassien and his soldiers to follow in humiliation -back to their camp. - -Hamet Bashaw had his turn at open fighting a few days later, and -acquitted himself far better than we expected. The enemy appeared in -great numbers on the heights overlooking the town, seeking a way to -descend that would not expose them to the fire of our guns. They found -a pass and started to descend to the plain below, but here Hamet's -cavalry met them and, as reinforcements joined each side, the battle -increased in size until there were five thousand men engaged. The -fighting lasted four hours, during which Hamet held his ground like -a true general. It was a battle fought in the Barbary style, for the -field of conflict was beyond the range of our batteries, and we were -rejoiced to learn that the victory belonged to Hamet. The enemy lost -fifty men killed, and had over seventy wounded, while of the forces -of Hamet, the killed and wounded amounted together to about fifty. We -had lost respect for Hamet during our march across the desert, but his -gallantry in this engagement restored confidence. - -Lieutenant O'Bannon was eager to lead our Americans and Greeks out -to hold the pass by which the enemy must retreat with our bayonets, -but the general decided wisely that it would be unwise to leave the -batteries undefended, since Hamet Bashaw's forces might suffer a -reverse. - - -THE CAMPAIGN BLOCKED - -Our prolonged stay at Derne had begun to worry both the general and -Hamet. I saw them frequently conferring with great seriousness, and -heard General Eaton say that if the aid, money, and supplies had come -which he hoped would be awaiting him at Derne, he might now be at Cape -Mensurat, and in fifteen days after, at Tripoli. - -My wonder as to what there was being discussed by the general and Hamet -Bashaw was cleared away somewhat by the arrival of a spy from the -enemy's camp, who informed us that a courier had arrived, eleven days -from Tripoli, with dispatches from the reigning Bashaw stating that -he intended to make peace with the United States, _even if he had to -sell his wardrobe_ to do so. This was a great change of front; a change -caused, we all felt sure, by our conquest of Derne, and by our openly -avowed determination to capture Tripoli in the same manner. - -Then there came a letter from Commodore Barron which informed General -Eaton that the United States must withdraw her support from Hamet, -since Consul Lear was making a peace with Joseph. - -The general wrote hotly in reply: "I cannot be persuaded that the -abandoning of Hamet is in keeping with those principles of honor and -justice which I know actuate the national breast. But, if no further -aids come, and we are compelled to leave the place, humanity itself -must weep; the whole city of Derne, together with numerous families -of Arabs, who attached themselves to Hamet Bashaw, and who resisted -Joseph's troops in expectation of help from us, must be left to their -fate; havoc and slaughter must follow; not a soul of them can escape -the savage vengeance of the enemy; instead of lending aid to the -unfortunate people, we involve them in destruction." - -The general wrote also in protest to the Secretary of the Navy, stating -that when Commodore Barron agreed to cooperate with Hamet there was -no talk of the latter being used as a means of making peace with the -reigning Bashaw; that nothing was talked of but punishment. The example -of Commodore Preble, he stated, had fired the squadron which relieved -him with an ambition to punish Joseph, and it was in the same spirit -that he, General Eaton, was sent on his mission to bring Hamet to the -rear of the enemy. - -Shortly after these letters were dispatched, we had occasion to march -through Derne. - -"Long live the Americans! Long live our friends and protectors!" the -people shouted. - -The general bowed his head in shame. - -General Eaton, in the opinion of all of us who marched with him, and -of many with whom I afterwards talked, could well complain of the way -he was treated by the United States Government. He had won at Derne a -victory that many thought was superior to the naval victories won over -Tripoli, and by his campaign had opened the way for a peace that saved -the United States the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in -warships and tribute money. Yet he had been allowed to enter upon his -enterprise in such a manner that if successful the Administration would -receive full credit for sending him, while if he failed, he could be -blamed for acting without authority. - -At Tripoli, peace was being made after this manner: Colonel Lear, -then at Malta, received a letter from the Spanish consul at Tripoli -asking him to come to that place under a flag of truce, as the Bashaw -wanted to discuss peace. A few weeks later Captain Bainbridge wrote to -Commodore Barron that the Tripolitan minister of foreign affairs, Sidi -Mohammed Dghiers, who was opposed to the war, was about to leave the -city, and that it would be well to send an envoy to treat for peace -before the minister left. - -Colonel Lear sailed from Malta on the _Essex_, which joined the -blockading frigates _Constitution_ and _President_ of Tripoli. The -white flag hoisted by Lear was answered by the hoisting of a similar -flag on the Bashaw's castle. The terms agreed upon were that the United -States was to pay him $60,000 for the ransom of the American captives -remaining after an exchange of prisoners, man for man, had been made; -that the American forces should withdraw from Derne, persuading Hamet -to go with them; and that in the course of time Joseph was to restore -to Hamet his wife and children. - -The articles were signed on board the _Constitution_. A salute of -twenty-one guns was then fired by the Bashaw's battery and answered -by the _Constitution_. The people of the city crowded to the wharves -celebrating the making of peace. The released American officers and -sailors ran to the wharves to leap into the barges that were to take -them out of the hated town. - -Sage men have predicted that the historians of the future would say -that Colonel Lear acted unwisely in making the peace, and that if he -had delayed for a few weeks, until bomb vessels and gunboats on the -way from America had arrived, a squadron would have assembled before -Tripoli that would have frightened the Bashaw into agreement with any -terms the United States' fleet chose to lay down. That we should have -had to pay ransom for the American captives at Tripoli after we had -captured the powerful province of Derne, and with such a strong fleet -in the Mediterranean, was not in accord with American traditions. - -The act of Colonel Lear in making peace with the reigning Bashaw seems -to have been for the purpose of blocking Eaton's triumph. "Eaton," said -an officer holding a high place in the Mediterranean squadron, "was -running away with the honor of the Tripolitan war. Between an army and -navy jealousy is common. What had the navy done long before, after the -achievement of Preble? Hence the readiness to snatch the first chance -for peace." - -The politics of the matter gave me little concern. Here was General -Eaton needing money. With money he could hire Arab tribes, buy caravans -loaded with food, march on to Tripoli. Here was my opportunity, and my -duty. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE TREASURE TOMB - - -Through all my adventures in the desert campaign, from the time when -we first faced the hot, choking winds of the desert and covered our -eyes to keep from being blinded by the sand until the time when we -lifted the Stars and Stripes on the ramparts of Derne, the thought of -the treasure tomb had dwelt with me. According to the rector's map, -the buried chamber was within an hour's ride by camel of Tokra, a town -located between Derne and Tripoli, quite near to the former. - -The coast of northern Africa jutted out into the Mediterranean at this -point, and made it a favorable spot for settlement by Phoenicians and -earlier races who ruled this sea. - -When I perceived that Captain Eaton's campaign against Tripoli had -been blocked through lack of funds and that he himself had given up -hope of receiving from our naval officers the money and supplies -required to proceed against the stronghold of Joseph, I resolved to -begin my treasure search in earnest, hoping to turn the gems and gold -to the general's use. I resolved to take Mustapha along as my guide. -The attachment that had sprung up between us grew stronger as the -weeks passed. He was an Arab to the backbone. He could run all day -in the heat and fall asleep at night on bare stones. He was as quick -and noiseless in his movements as a wildcat, and his mood was a -queer mixture of gentleness and fierceness. Having adopted me, he was -fiercely jealous, and his brown face would become convulsed if strange -Arab boys from any of the camps we passed tried to follow me. - -One night, on swift camels which we borrowed from Mustapha's sheik, we -rode away from Derne. It was a foolhardy enterprise, because Joseph -Bashaw's army lay between us and Tokra, yet we managed to avoid their -outposts and when morning broke we were well beyond their lines. - -I had not taken the general into my confidence. He might have told me, -to keep me from going on what he would consider a wild goose chase, -that he would not avail himself of the gold, even if it were found. -I felt too, since the rector had tried so hard to keep the facts -concerning the treasure a secret, that I should not reveal it, even to -those I trusted most. - -We joined ourselves to a caravan as we approached Tokra. Mustapha had -acquaintances among the camel-drivers, and his explanations created for -us a kindly reception. Mingling thus with the Arabs, we rode into Tokra -without attracting the attention of the people. That this was fortunate -for me, I was soon to find out. A larger caravan had entered the town -a few hours before us. Its people had thronged the cafes. As I rode -through the narrow street, holding my hood well over my face to keep -from being recognized as a hated "Nazarene," I caught sight of a tall -well-dressed Moor watching a group of dancing girls. His brilliant robe -attracted my attention, then something familiar about his figure made -me observe him more closely. My gaze traveled up his burly form to his -bearded face. I could see it only in profile, but the sight was enough -to set me to trembling. I had recognized Murad. - -He did not see us. In the cafe before which he lounged were girls of -the Ouled-Nahil tribe, dancing. We could see over the heads of the men -these stately creatures gliding and twisting to the music of clarionets -and tam-tams. Their mountainous head-gear of plaited wool, bound by -brilliantly-colored silk kerchiefs shook with the movements of their -bodies. We could hear amidst the music the jingling of their bangles. I -saw also a boy bring a live coal in a pair of tongs to Murad, so that -the latter might light his long pipe. - -A score of questions flashed through my mind. Had the Egyptian found -the treasure, and was he now enjoying the wealth? Or had he been -detained as I was in reaching this spot, and could it be that he had -been a member of the newly arrived caravan? Did he mean to spend the -night amidst the luxury of the cafe or would he soon come forth to hunt -for the treasure tomb? - -I decided from his manner that he had newly arrived, and that, for a -few hours at least, he would smoke his pipe and drink his coffee and -watch the dance. During those few hours I resolved to push my search. - -When we found a spot in which I could examine the map without being -observed I was puzzled to find that the location of the treasure tomb -was set down as being not outside of the city, but in its very midst. -Through Mustapha, I made inquiry of an old Arab. Yes, he said, in reply -to my questions, there had been a temple there once. The reason the -ruins could not be seen now was that successive tribes of Arabs had -come and camped on the ruins until the soil and filth they had left -behind them had covered the floors. There had been walls, but they -were now used for sheep folds, goat-yards, poultry-yards, donkey-sheds. - -The rector's exploration had been made also at night. The upper tomb -he had found was known to everyone. It too had probably held riches, -but it had been plundered centuries since. None of the later tribes had -thought to look beneath it. The rector would not have had the curiosity -to explore if it had not been that in Greece a scientist had discovered -there double layers of tombs hewn out of the rocks. - -Mustapha then translated to me the words written in Arabic at the foot -of the diagram: - - - "Walk along the north wall of the town until there rises from - the mud-huts and cattle-sheds a stone pillar that lifts about - eight feet above the surrounding roofs. This pillar will mark the - location of a tomb that is still respected as a holy place by - the people of the town. Under the floor of this tomb, lies the - treasure chamber. Its entrance is through the outer wall, where I - dug out a stone. Pry along south wall below ground till triangular - slab is found." - - -Past clusters of mud-huts, dirt-heaps, piles of broken pottery, and -odorous cattle-sheds we groped. The dogs barked and ran snarling about -our feet, but Mustapha had magic words that soothed and hushed them. At -last, against the star-filled skies, we saw a rugged pillar lift up. -The huts and sheds stopped at this point, and for several rods there -were no buildings. The loneliness of the spot I took as a good omen. It -meant that I could dig with little fear of disturbance. - -From the town came sounds of singing and shouting. Drinking and dancing -and merry-making were engaging the people. With these unceasing noises -drowning the clink of our spades, we began to dig. - -The dirt and debris was loose, and our arms were winged by excitement -and fear. I had told Mustapha that I expected that he should earn -enough money on this trip to give him a university education at Fez, -enough to make him respected as a sheik. Under the enchanting prospect, -and for love of me, he toiled. - -After ten minutes of digging, I took my dirk and felt along the side -of the wall which we had uncovered. My dirk's point entered a crevice. -We dug again, frantically, and now I was able to trace all sides of -the loose block of stone that acted as a bar to the entrance. Mustapha -brought out his knife and aided me in the prying, and between us we -managed to move the stone outwards as if it worked on hinges. I thought -of the Arabian lad who entered the retreat of the Forty Thieves. I too -had found an "Open Sesame" to riches. Were my eyes also to be dazzled -by the sight of treasure? - -The finding of the entrance, though it made me solemn, also created -something of a sense of security, for now we could continue our search -underground without attracting attention. One fear, however, still -lingered, and moved me to frantic haste--Murad's coming! - -We lowered ourselves a depth of six feet into the rock room. The clammy -moisture chilled our faces; the foul smell choked us. Lifting our -torches, we peered into the darkness. - -When our eyes grew accustomed to the gloom we found ourselves standing -among several skeletons, which had the appearance of having been -hurriedly buried. This discovery almost led us to a panicky retreat, -but I had risked too much to be turned from my quest by skeletons, and -I stepped across the bones and thrust my torch into the center regions. -There, buried in oblong chambers rudely hewn out of the rock floor of -the cavern, I saw six bodies that had moldered to dust. Girding their -bones, however, was jewelry such as I had never, even in my wildest -dreams, imagined. - -Upon the time-blackened skulls were headbands of gold. Covering the -rib-bones were massive breast-plates of the same metal. As I held down -my flame the delicately-wrought patterns of rosettes and palmettos with -which these pieces were ornamented flashed out brilliantly. Upon the -wrist-bones hung loosely serpent-shaped gold bracelets. From this rich -metal dress jewels flamed out to match my beacon's fire. - -Around these rock tombs lay more treasures--inlaid daggers with images -of cats engraved on their gold handles and with lotus patterns traced -on their blades; alabaster cups, hollowed out and painted inside with a -brilliant red; stone images of elks with heads of silver; jugs and cups -of ivory, alabaster, amber, silver, gold, and porcelain. - -Scholars have since told me that the ancients considered that the -station of a person in the world of the dead depended upon the wealth -with which he was buried. The people who buried these corpses had -assuredly done their utmost to insure the eminence of their friends in -the dominions of death. I did not pause to wonder whether these were -the remains of Phoenicians, Egyptians or of a still earlier race that -had dominated the Mediterranean and exacted toll of treasure from the -surrounding barbaric tribes. Here the bodies lay. Above them, through -the centuries, strange peoples had settled and passed; caravans had -stopped and hurried on; dancing girls had whirled; dervishes had -practiced sorceries, yet none dreamed of this cool tomb with its -riches. The stuff was here for my taking. Murad was hard on my heels. -My lust for fortune overcame all thoughts of reverence for the dead. - -"Open the sacks, Mustapha," I said, "the smallest treasures are the -most valuable. We will take what we can carry and trust to fortune for -a chance to bring out the rest--or perhaps they will fall as crumbs to -Murad!" - -"Listen, master," Mustapha whispered. Men's voices came to us. I sprang -in terror towards the entrance with Mustapha at my heels. As I peered -out into the night my breath came again. The tinkle of camel bells came -to reassure me. A caravan was entering Tokra, with no suspicion that -they were passing within a stone's throw of such wealth. - -The capacious sacks loaded, I climbed out of the tomb by making a -stepping-stone of Mustapha's back. He hoisted up to me the three bags. -I then leaned down and pulled him out. It was about midnight. - -"Go to the stables," I said, giving him a coin, "and tell Achmet the -camel keeper that urgent business takes you back to Derne. Bring our -camels--Achmet knows that they belong to you. Put the gold into his -palm. Tell him that you are on business for Hamet Bashaw, who may -conquer Tokra next week!" - -"I know that he sympathizes with Hamet," Mustapha assured me. "He will -help us, and keep his tongue!" - -While Mustapha was gone, I replaced the stone door and shoveled back -the dirt. Mustapha returned with the camels. They knelt as we loaded -the sacks upon them. Around them we piled the bags of dates that had -already formed the camels' freight. We turned towards Derne and rode -like the wind. - -Many hours would pass, I reasoned, before Murad would begin his -search. If then he suspected that the tomb had been robbed and made -inquiries, many more hours must pass before he could start in pursuit. - -As things happened, however, it was not from behind us that danger -came. We came into the vicinity of Derne at nightfall, and drove our -jaded camels as fast as we could make them fly, fearing always an -encounter with the soldiers of Joseph Bashaw. We succeeded in gaining -the city's bounds with no adventure except passing through a volley -fired at random by guards whom we passed too swiftly to permit them to -arrest us, but as we rode through the town at gray dawn we observed no -signs of our troops. - -We learned from old Omar, an inn-keeper who came drowsily out to open -for us, that the ship _Constellation_ had arrived bearing orders to -General Eaton to quit Derne at once, since Consul-General Lear had -concluded a peace with Tripoli. He told us that General Eaton and all -of the Christians in the party, together with Hamet Bashaw and his -suite, had embarked on the _Constellation_ in a secret manner, for fear -that the people of Derne, and their allies, the Arab supporters of -Hamet, would attempt to massacre the party when they found that the war -had been abandoned and that they were left to the mercy of Joseph. - -Omar described how, when General Eaton had barely gotten clear of the -wharf, the soldiers and citizens of Derne had crowded down to the -shore shouting prayers to the general and Hamet not to leave them to -the mercy of Joseph's soldiers. Finding their pleas of no avail, the -soldiers had seized the horses the party had left behind, plundered the -tents of the departing officers, and fled towards Egypt. - -After this occurrence a Tripolitan officer, a messenger from Joseph -Bashaw, had landed from the _Constellation_ under a flag of truce, -bearing a message to the people of Derne that Joseph Bashaw would -pardon all who laid down their arms and renewed their allegiance to -him. Joseph's troops were to begin the occupancy of Derne that morning. - -Omar shook his head. - -"For myself, I fear nothing. Allah is good. Under his guidance I -remained loyal to Joseph. The returning Governor will know that Omar is -faithful. But as for my neighbors--let them not trust too much in the -Bashaw's promises. If I had fought on Hamet's side I should flee to the -mountains!" - -Mustapha and I exchanged worried glances. Here we were abandoned by our -friends and facing capture by Joseph's soldiers when they entered the -city. In that case, our gold and jewels would go to adorn the greedy -Joseph's throne. The main object of our treasure search, to provide the -general with funds to continue the expedition, could not be carried -out. There was nothing to do but flee--but where? From the camp of the -enemy came sounds of soldiers assembling. The triumphal entry would -soon begin. - -"Cavalry! Mount! Escape!" cried Mustapha. - -From a distance, swiftly coming nearer, we heard the sound of -hoof-beats. Around the corner of the inn came a blaze of color. -Galloping steeds were suddenly reined in. A Moorish officer, splendidly -uniformed, came towards me. Mustapha, who had stood several yards away, -began to lead his beast and mine down towards the river front. - -"Alhamdulilah! (Praise be to God)" he sang, "My lord the Bashaw -returns to his own! The cowardly usurper Hamet has fled before Joseph -Bashaw's brave warriors!" - -The troopers gave Mustapha but a fleeting glance. My head was uncovered -and they saw that I was an American. - -There was a whispered conference. American warships might be still in -the mists that hid sea and shore. I had hopes that they would pass me -by unmolested. Instead the officer turned to his men. - -"Bind the Nazarene! One at least of the Christian dogs shall pay the -penalty of starting rebellion against our worshipful ruler!" - -I was bound hand and foot, thrown across a camel's back, and led out of -the city, to the enemy's camp. - -In the possession of an Arab lad, who was now as a lamb among wolves, -were the gold and jewels I had risked so much to secure. One gem of -the collection would have purchased my ransom, but knowing that a hint -as to the contents of the sacks would lead to the loss of all of the -treasure, I resolved to suffer slavery before I spoke of them. I prayed -that Mustapha would keep the secret, yet how could I expect that fate -would not reveal the contents of the sacks to covetous eyes? - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -SOLD INTO SLAVERY - - -My captor, the Moorish officer, was a native of Ghadames, an interior -city of Tripoli--a caravan center located on a camel route to the -Soudan. I was regarded by him as the spoils of war, and his purpose was -clearly to sell me for a good price in an inland slave market where -there would be no American consul to make inquiries. As soon as Derne -was occupied, Joseph's army disbanded and the soldiers whose property -I was began to journey to their homes. Our caravan started too, and I -found myself riding upon the most uncomfortable camel in the outfit, -chained by one wrist to the trappings of the beast. - -I decided to lose no chance to escape. I knew that the farther inland -I went, the more difficult it would be for me to reach the coast. My -thoughts dwelt upon the treasure-bags I had last seen flopping through -the streets of Derne on Mustapha's camels. I swore that my Arab comrade -would see me again soon--and I devoutly hoped that his ingenuity would -enable him to hide the treasure. - -At last, when I was beginning to despair of falling in with a -coastbound caravan, we met a huge one bound from the Soudan to Tripoli. -In the excitement of meeting, and in the feasting and dancing that went -on between the two parties, my guard forgot me. I had been unshackled -while I ate, and the only sentinel over me was a young Arab who had -been stationed at the front entrance to my tent. I saw him looking -yearningly at the Arab girls who were dancing. I snored loudly and -regularly, watching his movements through the opening. Suddenly he -disappeared. A moment later I vanished too. I hoped to escape with the -Tripoli-bound caravan, and stole over to where its camel-drivers were -gathered. I had made my color as dark as possible, and wore my long -gown in true Arab fashion. I had learned, too, some common Arab words. - -In the center of the crowd I saw an African snake-charmer. The fakir's -round, fleshy face shone like polished ebony, and when he grinned, -which was often, I caught sight of two massive rows of gleaming ivory. -He wore nothing but a breech-cloth and sandals. His body was covered -with scars. These snake-charmers, I had heard, inflicted wounds upon -themselves, sometimes through religious frenzy, and sometimes because -it gave them prestige with their audiences. - -This fakir influenced the people much in the same way that a street -evangelist at home attracts listeners by music and loud words. In his -train were several men who played cymbals and bagpipes. As soon as they -began clanging and blowing upon these instruments, the crowd gathered. - -I drew back, for fear that the fakir's attentions to me would lead -to discovery, but his eyes had singled me out from the minute of my -approach, and he followed me, though not in a way to attract notice. - -Alarmed, I was about to make a wild dash into the desert when he caught -my arm. I drew back to strike. - -"The saint Mohammed," he said, catching my arm, "will harbor an -escaping Nazarene so long as the Nazarene is willing to clang the -cymbals loudly in the name of Mohammed, and is active in collecting -coins when the snakes have done squirming and the tales have been told. -Two of my attendants have deserted me. I offer you a trip to the coast -in my train." - -I nodded assent--any port in a storm! - -"Bring forth the cymbals! Mohammed is welcome to any music I can make -with them!" I said. - -"Pay close attention to my motions and when I signal you, collect what -coins you can. If any man question you, pretend to be dumb." - -He led me into his tent close by, procured for me a coarse robe that -was an effectual disguise and applied a pigment to my skin. When he was -through with me I looked like one of his own tribe. I went forth then -and mingled with the throng, listening while Mohammed told tales in -Arabic. - -Fascinating indeed were Mohammed's tricks. I watched in astonishment as -he shaped a bundle of hay into a mound and covered the pile with water. - -"By the grace of Mulai Ali, my patron saint," he said, "I give this hay -to the flames and command these serpents to respect the commands of the -Prophet's servant!" - -With these words, he emptied a bag of snakes on the ground. They looked -deadly as they wriggled about his feet and twined themselves around his -body. I was told that their poison had not been removed, yet he held -the head of the serpent that looked the most dangerous so close to him -that its fangs almost touched his lips. - -With feats of this nature, and with many tales, my new patron won his -audience, and collections were easy to make. What I gathered pleased -him and I had the feeling that I had for the time earned a right to his -protection. I was safely housed in his tent when men came to search -the oasis for me, but when they inquired of him he called down curses -on them for causing the thought of a Nazarene to cross the mind of a -child of the Prophet. - -We departed with the caravan bound for the coast. The Moorish officer's -soldiers inspected us closely, but Mohammed kept me closely engaged, -and arranged my hood so that I was dimly seen by the watchers. I -escaped even a challenge. We stopped at frequent oases, where Mohammed -entertained and I collected. - -But now, perhaps because the matter of my disguise handicapped him; -perhaps because he feared punishment for harboring an escaped slave; -perhaps from greed, Mohammed betrayed me. When we were a day's travel -from Tripoli, we fell in with a small coast-bound caravan that had lost -one of its camels and needed a beast of burden to take its place. I -became that animal! - -On hearing Achmet, the chief of the caravan, offer a large sum for -a beast of burden, Mohammed's eyes lighted on me. "There," he said, -"is a sound-bodied Nazarene slave that will do the work well. He has -served my purpose and since I have saved him from being sold as a slave -in the interior, he should not carp at my selling him to you. Take -the Christian dog, and may you lead him to become a true follower of -Mohammed!" - -I was thus hurled into the ranks of Achmet, whose blood-shot, piercing -eye and hawk nose gave him a cruel look in keeping with his character. - -"The Christian dog belongs to no country," Mohammed told the people -to whom I sought to appeal. "He is a cur who has been helping the -troublesome Hamet Bashaw to stir up a rebellion against our noble -ruler." - -These words enraged the crowd against me, and seeing how hopeless was -my state, I slunk away, kicked and slapped, to take up my burden. - -Fortunately, this caravan too was bound for Tripoli. I expected that -there I would have a chance to lay my case before the American consul, -and hoped to secure through him freedom and permission to sail back to -Derne in search of my treasure sacks. - -Loaded with as much of the camel's pack as I could stagger under, -I followed in the camel train. When camp was made, I was forced to -scramble among the dogs for my share of the scraps thrown to them by -the camel-drivers. - -When we reached Tripoli I was driven, closely guarded, to dark quarters -on the outskirts of the town, and threatened with death if I tried to -escape. I found out that the American consul was at Malta on business -that had arisen out of the making of peace with Joseph Bashaw. My case, -therefore, seemed almost as hopeless as when I was first captured. - -These cities of Barbary are strange affairs. The streets wind in and -out between white walls. You go under shadowy arches; you climb here a -dozen stairs and a little later go up an incline without stairs. The -streets are usually too narrow for camels or carts, so that porters -and donkeys do most of the hauling. A swarm of people pass continually -up and down these cramped ways. The Moslem women wear silken street -garments (haicks) that conceal the finery beneath. The faces of these -women are covered with a fine silk veil, and underneath their haicks -may be seen their bulging Turkish trousers. - -When I asked why the women wore veils, I was told that the custom had -come down from the time the Christian crusaders invaded the Moslem -countries; the attention they paid to the wives and daughters of the -Turks led to the followers of Mohammed prescribing the veil for their -women folk. - -Among the streams of people were Jews talking trade, consoling -themselves for the insults by the Mohammedans with the thought of the -profits they were making in their dealings with the Moslems; European -envoys; rich, lazy Moors; camel drivers; black slaves; soldiers in the -Bashaw's service, and sailors employed by the corsair captains. Lame, -halt and blind beggars sat by the roadside, beseeching gifts. - -"In the name of Allah, give us alms!" a beggar wailed from almost every -corner and doorway. The men they solicited were usually rich Moors who -wore turbans of fine cloth and richly embroidered vests. Yet often they -would select for their target a camel driver from the desert, clad in -his coarse gray baracan. - -Here stood a fountain surrounded by Arabs and negroes drawing water in -gourds and jugs; yonder a dozen women sat on the ground, selling bread. -Hooded Arab boys romped on the outskirts of the throng, or recited -verses from the Koran to a bearded teacher. Lean cats and dogs were -everywhere. All kinds of smells filled the air--garlic, burning aloe -wood, fish. - -I stood one day in an archway six feet wide that stood in the center of -four streets and watched the crowd go by. I saw fish-mongers carrying -great baskets of sardines, and strings of slimy catfish, against which -the crowd brushed, leaving the dirt and smell of the fish on their -garments. Girls with boards on their heads filled with dough ready for -baking darted in and out among the throng; donkeys, laden with garbage, -ambled alongside of donkeys carrying fresh roses. Jews, burdened -with muslin and calico, went from door to door, haggling with those -who examined their wares through partly-opened doors. Boys sauntered -along munching raw carrots and artichokes; girls of eight carried on -their backs babies wrapped in dirty rags. The little mothers and their -charges seemed never to have seen soap and water, but from hair to -anklets they were decked with faded flowers. - -Blind people--there were hundreds of them--walked along as boldly as -if they had eyesight, leaving it for those who could see to get out of -their way. - -"_Balek_ (out of the way)!" was the cry of everyone. "_Emshi Rooah, ya -kelb_ (clear out, begone, you dog)!" was a cry I had grown accustomed -to through hearing it hurled at me countless times, for was not I a -member of - - - "A sect they are taught to hate - And are delighted to decapitate." - - -The upper stories of the houses projected over the lower, and, because -of the narrow street, the houses that stood opposite each other almost -met, so that all one could see of the sky in many places was a bright -blue chink overhead. The walls were all whitewashed; here and there -a beautiful gateway appeared. One could not tell from the exterior -of the houses whether rich folk or poor folk dwelt inside the walls, -yet beyond many of these dark corridors leading through the walls -were beautiful garden courts, with silver fountains playing and an -abundance of flowers and trees, while underfoot were tiles of various -rich colors. - -Of the many mosques I passed I can tell nothing, as Christians are not -allowed to enter them. Neither were we allowed to dress in green or -white--for these are the colors of the prophet. - -My new master, still using me as a beast of burden, took me several -times to the house at which he lodged. I was thus able to get a glimpse -inside a Mohammedan home of the middle class. We went through a -whitewashed tunnel till we came to a gate from which hung a huge brass -knocker. - -My master did not use the knocker. He began to pound on the door in the -Arab fashion. A veiled woman peeped over the terrace wall and screamed -a question at him. His reply reassured her, and we were admitted to -a little square court that was neatly paved with red tiles, through -which ran a path of marble lined with oleanders and fig trees. Rooms, -white-washed and blue-washed, opened on this court. The owner of the -house, Fatima, was a widow, who lived with her old father, and earned -her living by embroidering and weaving. She wore the white silken veil -as we entered; but as she gossiped with my master she pulled it aside -and showed her brown, dumpling face. She wore an embroidered jacket and -silk pantaloons, along with gold trimmings and jewelry--an array that -seemed so strange to me that I kept my eyes fastened on the ceiling -while I was in her presence. She had rented one of her small rooms to -my master, whose parents she knew. Fatima spent much of her time on the -roof of her house, looking down on the street over the walls of her -terrace. The roofs or terraces were used by women alone and most of the -visiting between houses was done by climbing across the walls dividing -the houses. - -For privacy, Fatima dropped a flimsy curtain over the door of her -room, and this barrier was as strictly respected by her household as -if it were a strong door. Visitors were received in the parlor. Fatima -and her guests sat on a divan covered with cushions and drank coffee. -Handwoven carpets and draperies were everywhere. - -The beds of the household were mattresses spread on the floor. One -blanket often covers an entire family in the houses of the poor. Fatima -fell sick while we were under her roof, and sent a woman friend to a -holy man for a remedy. I discovered that the medicine was nothing more -than a slip of paper containing the words "He will heal the breasts of -the people who believe." - -Fatima was ordered to chew and swallow the paper. The widow still -complained of illness after swallowing this dose, and was ordered by -the marabout to write a verse from the Koran on the inside of a cup; -then to pour in water till the writing was washed away; then to drink -this water, which was supposed to have in it the virtue expressed in -the verse. I followed my master out of Fatima's house greatly amazed at -this kind of medical treatment, but I did not wonder at hearing that -she had complained that her aches were increasing. - - -THE SLAVE MARKET - -Achmet had now no further use for me and decided to sell me as a slave. -I was driven, chained, to the slave market. This auction place was in -a large square. All around it were little booths. These were crowded -with spectators. Through the center of the bazaar ran a walk. Most of -the slaves that had been brought to the market for sale were women and -girls. Among the Moors it was thought no evil to deal in human flesh. A -black woman with children was first sold. One could tell by the way she -clung to her brood that she feared she would be separated from them. We -saw her face light when one of the Moors who was squatting on the edge -of the walk bought the entire family. - -A boy came next. He was handled by prospective buyers as if he were a -horse. His eyes, mouth, teeth and nostrils were examined. The first -Moslem who inspected him must have seen some defect in the lad, for he -waved him away. The auctioneer then seized the boy and led him up and -down the walk before the Moors in the bazaars, shouting his good points. - -Most of the girls were blacks or mulattoes, brought from the interior -of Africa by Arabian traders. There were a few white girls among them. -Each girl or woman was handled in the same manner as the boys had been. -Some of the maidens boldly returned the stare of those who inspected -them. Others shrank from their inspection and, when possible, covered -their faces with the woolen haicks they wore. - -This slave market reflected only a small part of the slave life of the -city. I saw men and women of all classes huddled together in dark, -dirty prisons, praying their countrymen would send money to ransom them. - -Those whose relatives were not rich enough to buy their freedom were -sold to various buyers and set to work at all kinds of labor. The -owners often made use of their slaves to earn them money. The old -slaves were usually sent out to sell water. Many a drink have I bought -from these water-carriers, as, dragging their chains, they led their -donkeys through the streets and sold water from bags of skin that hung -across the backs of their beasts. Some of my other acquaintances among -the slaves acted as messengers or house-servants; others were employed -as herders, drivers or plowmen--I have even seen a Christian slave -yoked to a plow with an ox for a yoke-fellow. - -Once, while inland, I saw coming out of the Soudan a score of slaves -fastened together in a long wooden yoke that had many holes cut in it a -few feet apart to admit the heads of the slaves. If one of these slaves -fell sick or grew too weak to walk, he would hang from this yoke by -his neck, with his feet dragging. As much as he suffered himself, his -condition added to the sufferings of his yoke-fellows, for they had to -bear his weight. I heard that if he seemed likely to die before the -slave market was reached, his master would cut his head from his body -with one knife stroke--it saved halting the procession to remove the -sick man from the yoke. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE ESCAPE - - -Murad in Tripoli! There he stood, stroking his beard and gazing at me -with glittering eyes as I was hauled past him to the auction-block. - -A fierce Arabian trader, who was forming a caravan to go into the -Soudan, bid for me. Murad offered more. I was torn between my terror of -being sold "up-country" and of being bought by the Egyptian, who would -probably apply torture to wring from me the story of what had become of -the contents of the treasure tomb. The Arabian, scowling at Murad, made -a still higher bid, whereupon Murad increased his offer. The trader -gave me a few final digs and slaps, as if to see if I had the sinews -and endurance to warrant his paying a higher price; then he shook his -head, cursed me for a Christian dog, and passed to the next slave. -Murad came forward. I was pushed into his arms and then thrust by him -into the rough hands of his two Moorish attendants. - -The Egyptian told me curtly that he had purchased from the Algerines -a ship they had captured called the _Hawk_, which he meant to use as -a merchant vessel under the protection of the Bashaw, and that he had -bought me for service on board of her. - -"I am buying out of these slave markets a crew of European sailors," he -said curtly. "Remember that we are now master and slave. Where I once -befriended you, now I will compel you to wear chains and be subject -to the lash. The American consul to this port is now in Malta; we will -sail before he returns; place no hope in him. I want you to search your -memory and be prepared to tell me every move you made since I left you -aboard _The Rose of Egypt_. I shall soon question you upon certain -happenings in the desert about which you doubtless have knowledge!" - -My eyes fell before his piercing gaze. "I see I have struck home," he -said, "I can question you better aboard ship. Go! Report now to my -mate, MacWilliams." - -Under the charge of the two Moors, I was sent aboard the _Hawk_. She -was a staunch, graceful, roomy vessel, built on the Clyde out of the -best materials--a ship that reflected credit on the Scotchmen who made -her. I said to myself, as I viewed her admiringly, that she was far too -good a ship to be in such vile hands. For all of Murad's threats, my -spirits rose as I felt her deck under my feet. Here I was among white -men, and decent fellows they appeared to be. Here I had a dozen chances -to escape, while if the Arabian trader had gained possession of me, -only a miracle could have rescued me. As for Murad, if he tortured me, -I meant to leap overboard and attempt to swim to safety. - -The mate, William MacWilliams, was a big, raw-boned, lantern-jawed -man. He received me with kindness and pity. I heard that, under threat -of death, he had denied the religion of Christ and had embraced the -faith of Mohammed. Murad seemed to place great trust in him. The -Egyptian had become, it seemed, too important a man to be a mere ship -captain--perhaps his experience on _The Rose of Egypt_ had brought -about this state of mind--and he left all matters in charge of the -mate. He himself had much business to transact at court, and things -occurred to postpone his questioning of me until we were almost ready -to sail. - -Since my chains were the badge of my slavery, no watch was kept on me -as I went to and fro on errands for those who were outfitting the ship. - -William MacWilliams interested me greatly. I had heard that there were -many renegades of his type in Barbary. I have been informed that the -word renegade comes from the Latin word _nego_, which means "I deny." -Some of these men had become turncoats to save their skins; others had -become renegades because the Moslems, poor sailors themselves, were -glad to employ Christian sea captains, and gave them opportunities to -live luxuriously and become rich. - -MacWilliams wore a most melancholy expression. For all his supposed -devotion to the religion of Mohammed, I came upon him one day reading a -pocket Testament. - -"It is a book that has sublime characters in it, my lad," he said in -an embarrassed fashion. Then he turned and looked towards a mosque -on shore. "There is but one God, and Allah is his prophet!" he said -piously. I looked around, surprised at the change in his attitude. Then -I saw the reason. The commander of the Turkish soldiers quartered on -board the _Hawk_ had passed our way. - -I could not fathom MacWilliams. Yet, understanding something of the -temptations a Christian faced in Barbary, I tried to be charitable in -my judgment towards him. - -Meanwhile, I became a carrier of supplies, threading my way through the -motley throngs with my back bent beneath coils of rope, carpenters' -tools, and ship's stores. - -While on one of these errands I had a curious adventure. - -I tried to go through the streets without giving offence to any -Mussulman, as I feared a cuffing or even the bastinado. - -I soon learned that it was the so-called "saints" that were the most -dangerous to Christians. The Arabs, while they will themselves refrain -from showing the contempt they feel towards Christians, nevertheless -will reward and praise one of the holy men for abusing us. - -A tall scantily clad negro, of the type of Mohammed, was the most -fanatical and the most dangerous "saint" I met. He was begging alms at -the entrance to a courtyard when he saw me passing. He carried a staff -in his hand which he used principally to strike Jews and Christians. -It was not the stick that troubled me, but instead the habit he had -of spitting in the face of Christians. As he peered into my face, -detecting my Christian features despite my attempt to disguise them, -I saw his mouth moving as if he were preparing to attack me after his -vile custom. I hurried out of his range, and escaped the spittle. My -quickness enraged him, and he called after me in Arabian. I had heard -the words often enough to know that they meant: - -"Dog of a Christian, may your grandmother roast! Why shouldst thou -avoid the spittle of a saint? It would be the only thing blessed upon -thee, seeing that it came from the mouth of a saint!" - -I darted down a side street and into a doorway, hoping to rid myself -of the pest, but he followed quickly and caught sight of my place of -refuge. - -"Dog of a Christian," he cried again, poking me in the chest and ribs -with his staff, "why do you offend Mohammed by treading the same ground -as true believers?" - -My blood mounted as I smarted beneath his cudgel. I decided that I -would fare just as well by resisting as by submitting, so I ducked my -head and dived into the stomach of the fellow, upsetting him. This -turned out to be, in the eyes of the Moslems, a great sacrilege. It -appeared that while the alleged holy man had entire freedom to beat -me, I had committed a crime by doing violence to his body. He made a -tremendous uproar as he rose from the dust, and the noise drew a crowd -that began to pummel me. I plunged deeper into the doorway, and, having -seized the stick of the marabout, whirled it before me in a vigorous -fashion. A storm of stones and sticks beat upon me. - -While I was on my knees, expecting a rush that would trample me to -death, I suddenly heard a familiar voice above the shrieks of the mass. - -"Dogs of the desert, how dare you trouble the slave of a good -Mohammedan? This Nazarene is the slave of my master, friend of the -Bashaw! Is my lord a Jew or a Christian that you would destroy his -property before the eyes of a witness? The slave was assaulted first. I -swear by the Prophet that he is a gentle slave, and intended no injury -to the holy man. Off with you before I call the soldiers of the Bashaw!" - -The crowd dispersed. Grumbling, the marabout departed. - -I looked into the twinkling eyes of Mustapha. Snatching the marabout's -staff from my hand, he began to pelt me across the shoulders. "It is -necessary that I do this," he whispered, "the people are watching." - -I went through the crowd with Mustapha belaboring me and shouting: - -"Dog of a Nazarene, how dare you risk your body, for which my master -paid a great sum, in a fight with a holy man?" - -When we reached a place where our talk could not be overheard, I burst -out: "The treasure sacks, Mustapha? Do not tell me that the Moors have -them!" - -"The bags are safe, oh David," he assured me, "but fret not if you -are not able to open them till you return to America. After you were -captured, I hurried to the waterside. There I saw the cutter of _The -Morning Star_, a vessel of the American navy. I unstrapped the sacks -and put them in the boat, pointing out to the sailor in charge the tags -you had tied around their necks." - -This information dumbfounded me. The fact that I had been careful -enough to tie to the necks of the sacks tags from our own naval stores -seemed to promise now delivery of the sacks to a safe place--if they -were not ripped open and plundered meanwhile. This was not liable to -happen in view of the pains I had taken to ward off curiosity. Upon -each tag I had written plainly: - - - ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS - to be delivered to - Rev. Ezekiel Eccleston, D.D., - Rector of Marley Chapel, - Baltimore, Md. - - Sender: David Forsyth, - With American Military Expedition - in Libyan Desert. - - -"If the men who handle the bags respect either the navy or the -ministry," I said to Mustapha, "the treasure will be safe. But how can -I be sure that the sacks were received on board the ship?" - -"I saw the bags lifted over the side, oh, thou of little faith," -Mustapha reproved me, "and the boat did not return to the dock. A -few hours later _The Morning Star_ sailed for America. Allah favored -you--my tribe moved this way when Joseph Bashaw's soldiers took -possession of Derne, and thus I came to prevent your blood being -spilled in the streets of Tripoli!" - -"I want to reward you with the biggest gem in our collection," I said, -"but how can I do it when our fortune is at sea?" - -Then a thought came to me. "Mustapha," I said, "I mean to escape from -the _Hawk_ and board a ship bound for England or America. I have -learned from the mate that a servant boy is needed on the _Hawk_. If -you like, I'll recommend you for the place. You must pretend not to -know me. If the owner of the _Hawk_ discovers that you know about the -treasure, he'll probably cut your throat? Can you swim?" - -Mustapha nodded. "I'll dive overboard if he bothers me!" - -"Come then," I said, "we'll follow our riches to America, and you shall -return home a great sheik!" - -His tribesmen had returned to the desert, and he was free to act for -himself. Quite without fear, he followed me aboard. I spoke a good word -for him to MacWilliams, and before long he was peeling potatoes in the -galley. If I had thought that Murad would recognize him, I should have -given my right hand rather than have invited him to share my luck; I -did not know that my meeting with Mustapha had been observed by Murad, -and that I was leading the lad into danger. - -All too soon came the interview I feared with my owner. One day Murad -came aboard the _Hawk_, entered the cabin, and sent for me. The tiger -was about to show his claws. I was not greatly frightened, for I -reckoned that he would need me in his plans to gain possession of the -treasure. - -"Now, you scheming dog," he said, "let's not beat about the bush. Your -guardian told me once of a treasure tomb hidden in the desert. You know -the story. Perhaps you know, too, how I came into possession of the -rector's secret. When at last I was able to uncover the tomb, all of -the relics worth taking had vanished. Don't try to look innocent: you -were my cabin boy on board _The Rose of Egypt_. The reason you enlisted -with me so readily was that you wanted to find the chart and get a -chance at the treasure at Tokra. I found that someone had entered the -tomb a few hours before me. Two strange young Arabs had been seen near -the spot. I choked a stablekeeper until he described both rascals. One -of the two Arabs was you, eh? Tell me where the trinkets and jewels -are! If your tongue is stubborn, a red-hot iron may cause it to move. -What did you find? Tell me what you took away! Speak up--the way to -save yourself from the torture you well deserve is to put me on the -track of the treasure!" - -There was nothing to be gained by secrecy, and much to be suffered, so -I described the trinkets and gems in a way that made his eyes sparkle -and his fingers quiver. He snarled and showed his wolfish teeth when I -told him that the treasure sacks were on their way to America. - -All of a sudden I was knocked down by a blow from his fist. He stepped -across me and called to a sailor in Arabic. After the lapse of a -minute, the door of the cabin was thrown open, and Mustapha was thrust -in by a Moslem guard. He had been seized in the act of diving over the -side. - -"Is this the young devil that led you to Tokra?" Murad thundered at me. - -"Yes," I said, "but he went only as my guide and knew nothing of why I -went. He has done nothing to merit punishment." - -Under a volley of threats, Mustapha was commanded to tell all that he -knew of the treasure tomb. He looked at me with frightened eyes; yet -his lips remained sealed. - -"Tell all, Mustapha," I said, "it will free you, and it will be no more -than I have already told." - -His story, as he stammered it, agreed with mine in every particular. - -Murad strode up and down the cabin, swearing in Arabic and English. -Then he shot questions at both of us concerning _The Morning Star_. -When had she sailed from Derne? What was to be her next port? Was she -fast? How many men and guns did she carry? - -When Mustapha had answered as well as he could, Murad booted us out of -the cabin. "I'm not done with you, miserable curs," he cried. "I'll -need you when I board _The Morning Star_. Then for all the trouble -you've caused me, I'll sew you up in the bags and drop you overboard! -If you can think of a way of getting those bags you'll do well to send -for them as your ransom. If I don't get them, you----" He drew his -finger across his throat with a horrible gesture. - -He now sent for MacWilliams and gave him sharp orders. - -The next morning, after a day of hurried preparation, the _Hawk_ -sailed. - -The ship had an armament of ten cannon, and carried an abundant supply -of ammunition and provisions. A company of Moorish soldiers were on -board of her. What was the _Hawk's_ mission? Were we Christians to be -used in enslaving other Christians? Was the _Hawk_ a ship whose mission -fitted her name? Was she to be a pirate ship seeking Christian vessels -as prey, and would we be made to fight and to help enslave men of our -own religion and blood? Questions like these concerned the Christians -among the crew, and I for one prayed that I would have the courage to -jump overboard if there came a moment when I was driven to do such -deeds. - -On our first day out, I made bold to unburden myself to the mate. -MacWilliams eyed me gravely. "You are not to ask questions. You are -to do as you are told. What happens on board this ship shall be on my -conscience." - -He walked off, leaving me no more clear about the matter than I was -before. I saw the Danes and Italians talking earnestly in their -languages, and I knew that what was worrying me was also troubling them. - -MacWilliams was master of navigation, but had no authority over any -other activity aboard ship. There were about forty Moslems aboard who -took no part in sailing the vessel. In charge of them was Murad, who -had command over the entire ship and told MacWilliams the direction -in which he wanted the ship to sail. I learned that he had directed -MacWilliams to sail to certain ports outside of the Straits, where he -hoped to fall in with _The Morning Star_. - -The master gunner was an English renegade named Watson, who had charge -of the guns and ammunition. The commander seemed to think that European -gunners were better than Moors, because among the gunners under Watson -were several Christian renegades. I found myself wondering whether, if -all of the men aboard of Christian or former Christian faith were moved -by the same desire to escape, they could not overcome the Mohammedans -and capture the vessel. Yet, having observed that some Christians when -they adopted the Moslem religion grew as fanatical in their devotion as -did the most extreme worshippers, I decided that it would not be safe -to whisper such a suggestion to anyone. - -It gave us entertainment while we were performing our tasks to watch -the peculiar customs of the Moslems. Our greatest source of amusement -was a professional wizard the Moors had brought with them. He had a -book of magic, and when the commander was in doubt as to which course -to take, the dark-skinned humbug would open his book and advise him -according to the wisdom he drew from its pages. - -When the wizard's advice was passed on to MacWilliams, he said -nothing by way of dissent, but proceeded to steer and set sails as -his own judgment and experience dictated. The Moslems, who had no sea -knowledge, and were lost when they were out of sight of land, made -no effort to find out whether the mate was following the magician's -counsel. - -Our fears as to what sort of work we were about to enter upon soon -became certainties. On our second day out we caught sight of a large -schooner and gave chase. Her crew, rather than surrender, drove the -ship ashore and fled along the coast. The men Murad sent in boats to -plunder the vessel brought back several guns, some gold, and such -wearing apparel and furnishings as took their fancy. The sight of -the gold brought back to my mind my own lost treasure. Between the -prospect of attacking Christian vessels and the remembrance of what I -had already suffered, I spent my night watches in great distress of -mind, a state which was in no way soothed by the thought that around me -lay Christian slaves racked by the same thoughts. - -On the next day we sailed boldly through the Straits and out into the -Atlantic Ocean. As we were making the passage through the Straits, -we discovered a sail. I feared that it was _The Morning Star_. It -proved, however, to be an Algerine corsair. We spoke to each other and -separated. - -We headed north, past Cape St. Vincent. It puzzled me that Murad would -permit MacWilliams to take the ship so far from the Mediterranean. It -was a dangerous undertaking for the corsairs, but the _Hawk_ was an -unusually speedy ship, and I supposed that Murad was depending on her -swiftness to escape any hostile warships that he might meet. - -A great homesickness came upon us as we passed into the Atlantic. It -was intolerable to think of returning to the Mediterranean and the -dreadful shores of Barbary when the coasts of Europe were almost in -sight. I thought often of the girl who escaped from the desert and -sailed to America. - -Sometimes Murad's lieutenant grew angry with some of the Moors, who -were slow in carrying out his orders. To spite them, he showed favor to -such Christians as happened to be near. - -"Bon Christiano! Bon Christiano!" he called endearingly. The next hour, -however, the wind would change. He would stroll along the deck followed -by the very Moslems he had reviled, and if he found any of us at fault -about our work he would bid his Moors knock our heads together. He was -afraid to carry these tyrannies too far, for MacWilliams was prone to -look upon him with a look that warned him that the Christian sailors -were too valuable to Mohammedan safety to be abused too far. - -One night, while I was on watch, MacWilliams approached me. His hand -rested on my shoulder with a fatherly touch that moved me greatly. - -"The time has come when I need your help," he said. "I intend to take -this ship to England despite her crew of Mohammedans. If the plan goes -through, every Christian slave aboard the _Hawk_ shall step upon the -earth of Europe a free man. I've been watching you. I believe you agree -that it's better to risk death than to go on leading such a life. There -are other slaves who think the same way. What do you say, lad?" - -"Just you try me!" I said. "I owe the infidels a score that can hardly -be wiped out. Besides, hasn't the skipper threatened to sew me in a -sack and toss me overboard? Of course, you can trust me, and Mustapha, -too!" - -"Lad, lad," MacWilliams went on, "we English blame the Turks, yet we -have been reaping the fruits of what our own race has sowed. The story -has passed down to me, through generations of seafaring ancestors, of -how when good Queen Elizabeth passed and when the English and Spaniards -ceased for a time their warfare at sea, hundreds of sailors who had -fought in bloody battles under Drake were at a loss for employment and -found it in piracy. - -"Down to the Mediterranean they went and entered the service of these -evil Moors. It was our forebears who taught the Moslems how to become -good sea-fighters. It was men of our own race who first led the Barbary -corsairs forth on buccaneering expeditions. What our forefathers -started, some of us have carried on, but the time has come to end it -all!" - -Continuing, for we had an idle hour to pass, and the mate was desirous -of heartening me for our desperate undertaking, MacWilliams told me of -how in 1639 William Okeley, an English slave, had constructed in the -cellar of his master's shop a light canoe made of canvas, making oars -from the staves of empty wind pipes. This craft he and his companions -smuggled down to the beach, and five of them embarked in it and made -their way safely to Majorca. The hardest part of the enterprise was -their farewell to two other English slaves who were to have made the -voyage with them, but who were found to overweight the little boat. - -"With the help of Gunner Watson," MacWilliams explained as I drew him -out as to his plan, "we should be able to trap the Moslems between -the decks; get control of the cannon and powder, and sail the ship -into some European port. It'll be turning the tables in fine style--a -Christian crew bringing infidels as captives to an English harbor!" - -He proceeded to set forth his plan in detail. "By to-morrow," he -concluded, "I shall know every trustworthy man. I shall then give -each man a definite part. Such a way of escape has been in my mind -for years. A man with a Presbyterian conscience can never remain -a Mohammedan. If our plot succeeds I shall make a contribution to -the church of my fathers that I hope shall to some extent offset my -wickedness!" - -Mustapha carried food from the galley to Murad. MacWilliams told me -that it was essential to the success of the plot that Murad be made -too ill to note the direction of the ship. The mate was skilful in -Oriental medicines, and he produced a phial containing a liquid that, -while tasteless, yet had the power to nauseate and weaken a man. -While Mustapha obligingly turned his back, and while I kept guard, -MacWilliams poured the fluid into Murad's broth. The Egyptian was taken -with what seemed to be chronic sea-sickness and kept to his cabin. I do -not think he suspected that his food had been "doctored." He ordered -MacWilliams to sail close to certain ports and to pursue any vessel -that was not plainly a warship. - -I told the mate something of the treasure tale--enough for him to know -that Murad was in pursuit of _The Morning Star_--and at whatever port -it seemed safe for us to stop, MacWilliams brought aboard reports -that there was a richly laden vessel bound for America that might -be overhauled before we reached the next Atlantic harbor. Thus we -continued steadily away from the Straits. - -Once an encounter with a strange warship came near to upsetting -our plans for capturing the _Hawk_. MacWilliams and Watson, being -renegades, were afraid to meet the captain of any European warship, for -fear that they might be recognized and treated as buccaneers. Knowing -their minds, I watched the outcome of the chase with intense interest. - -I happened to be the lookout for that day, and had reported a strange -sail ahead. - -MacWilliams climbed the mast to a place beside me and adjusted his -telescope. Then he went down and approached Uruj, Murad's lieutenant. - -"She is well to windward----I doubt if we can pass her!" the mate -reported. - -"Why should we try to pass her?" Uruj said insolently. - -"'Twill go hard with us if we don't," said MacWilliams. "She is double -our size--with double our crew and guns. Our only chance is to keep our -course and try to weather the ship." - -Uruj looked to the wizard for advice. The magician, being a rank -coward, found by his book that MacWilliams told the truth. Uruj -therefore agreed to MacWilliams's plan. - -We could now see the ship over our lee bow, about three miles away. The -sea was heavy, but the _Hawk_ met the waves gallantly. We saw a thick -white puff of smoke from the forecastle of our pursuer. - -"The wind looks like it will die down," said MacWilliams, who had been -anxiously watching the sky. "If it does, we will outsail her. The next -few moments should tell what the outcome will be." - -It looked to us as if we must pass within pistol shot of the vessel, -and the thought of having to receive a broadside from her at such a -short distance was enough to make a braver lad than I shiver with -fright. Watson and his gunners stood at the cannon, waiting for Uruj's -command. - -Our pursuer was close to us now--in full sail. We could see groups of -men about the gun ports, from which cannon jutted. - -A voice hailed us. - -"Ho! The schooner, ahoy!" - -"Hello!" MacWilliams responded. - -"What vessel is that?" - -"The Tripolitan schooner _Hawk_, from Tripoli. What ship is yours?" - -We could not catch the first part of the reply, but we did hear the -last words: "Haul down your flag and heave to!" - -Uruj went down to tell Murad. We continued on our course. - -"Heave to or we'll sink you," cried the challenger. - -MacWilliams spoke to Uruj. "Do as you think best," said Uruj. "Fire the -bow guns," MacWilliams commanded Watson. - -Our grapeshot whistled through the rigging of the frigate. We saw her -foresail fall. - -Jets of flame issued from her ports and a broadside swept our decks. -Our sails were undamaged, but several shots tore through our hull, -injuring several of the sailors and soldiers with flying splinters, -though none was seriously hurt. - -Before the next cannonade came, we had widened the distance between the -_Hawk_ and her pursuer. The winds, as MacWilliams had predicted, had -grown lighter, and the _Hawk_, a splendid sailer in light winds, showed -her heels handily to the enemy. Their shots struck us with less force, -and soon we saw the shots from their long gun falling short of us. - -We had escaped from capture by a ship that evidently belonged to a -country that was hostile to the Tripolitans. If she had seized us the -renegades would have been treated in the same way that the Moslems -would be used, and therefore MacWilliams took this desperate chance. As -for me, I did not know whether to be glad or sorry, for if I had lived -through the battle, I could doubtless have proved that I had been held -in slavery. Yet the incident must have confirmed the Turks in their -opinion of MacWilliams' loyalty. - -On another day we sighted a vessel that appeared to be _The Morning -Star_, but when she was nearly under our guns, and when Mustapha and I -were about to surrender hope of saving our riches, a freak of wind bore -her away from us, and we never saw her again. - -Meanwhile, the scheme of rebellion and seizure was making steady -progress. The plan of mutiny as it had formed itself in MacWilliams's -mind was to provide ropes and irons near the hatchways, gratings and -cabins so that they could be closed from the outside at a moment's -notice. When this had been arranged, the next step was to dupe the -Moslems so that the most of them would be below deck when the signal -for attack was given. MacWilliams went about the work cautiously. To -have one traitor among us, he well knew, would cost every Christian his -life. Mustapha, being an Arab, hated the Moors, and entered the plot -eagerly. - -Each man who consented to engage in the plot swore a sacred oath of -fidelity. - -With those MacWilliams could not trust--renegades or slaves whose -character he could not read--his plan was, when the uprising came, to -put pistols to their breasts and threaten them with death if they did -not assist in the rebellion. - -After hours that seemed as long as months had passed, he passed me the -word one night that the signal would be given on the morrow, before -noon. The rough weather we were laboring through was an aid to our -scheme. - -The next morning MacWilliams made an inspection of the hold. Then he -came up to inform the Moslem lieutenant that there was much water in -the bilges, and that it would be necessary to trim the ship. Uruj, -suspecting nothing, consented. Our leader then asked that, for the same -purpose, the cannon that were forward should be moved aft. This being -done, he further requested that the Moslem soldiers be quartered aft so -as to bring the ship's bow out of the water. This was also agreed to. -Meanwhile, we had managed to store in a convenient place such weapons -as we would need. - -When all these things had been done, to avoid suspicion, we went -about our regular duties. Our confederates of the gunner's force went -below deck with the infidel soldiers so that it would not appear that -there was a crowding together of the slaves and renegades. The rest -of us were set to pumping water by MacWilliams. I could tell by the -arrangement of the men, and by the way they acted, which were sharers -in the secret. There were about a score of us, and we had to contend -with double our number. - -At noon, while most of the Turks that were on deck were aft, using -their weight to bring the stern into the water so that the water in the -vessel might flow towards the pumps, MacWilliams gave the signal to one -of the gunners to fire a cannon. An explosion followed--the signal for -us to proceed. With a ringing hurrah we sprang to the attack. - -Each man had been assigned a specific duty: first we battened down the -hatches down which most of the Moslems had gone, so that the greater -part of our enemies were now prisoners; then we turned to conquer the -Moslems on deck. - -There were twelve of them. They came at us with pistols, knives and -hatchets, calling us by their epithet, "Christian dogs!" But the dogs -had become bloodhounds now. Johansen, one of the Danes, swung one of -the cannon in their direction. They made a rush at him, but he fired -the gun directly at them, at which there was a terrific explosion--and -the decks became a welter of gore. The terrible death of these -Mohammedans caused the remaining Moslems to prostrate themselves before -us, their fury turned to abject fear. - -Meanwhile, the Moslems imprisoned between decks were trying desperately -to break through the hatches. Murad, weak from sickness, yet rose up -beside Uruj to thunder threats against us and to urge his men on. -However, our victory on deck left us free to attend to those below. -Two men were stationed over each passageway, with orders to shoot any -infidel who by the use of hatchet or knife was able to break through -the planking. - -MacWilliams stood over the hatchway below which Murad and Uruj raged. - -"If you value your lives," he called, "you will surrender! My men -have orders to shoot any man who dares to lift his head. If you come -too strongly for our numbers, we will blow you to bits with your own -cannon. We are only two days' sail from Plymouth. Your precious wizard -hadn't enough insight to see that we were taking you nearer the coast -of England every hour we sailed. We will take you there, alive or dead. -If you would enter England with breath in your lungs, surrender!" - -Uruj at once offered to surrender himself and his men as prisoners of -war. Murad cursed Uruj, but at last yielded. He reminded MacWilliams -that he had treated him with consideration. - -"That I acknowledge," MacWilliams replied, "and I will so treat you as -well so long as you make no attempt to thwart us!" - -The Mohammedans came out of the hatches one by one to be disarmed. -The chains they had in store for such Christians as they might take -captives were placed on their wrists and ankles. I was one of those who -were called upon to receive the arms. It was a task to make a youth -flinch to go from one scowling ruffian to another, collecting muskets, -pistols, dirks, and pikes, but I came through without much trouble, -having nothing harder thrown at me than curses. Murad flinched as I -came toward him with a dirk in my hand, but I only grinned at him. For -a keepsake, I took the cowering wizard's book of magic. - -When the last Moslem was put in irons, MacWilliams brought out openly -his Bible. - -"I call on all of you who are willing to be reconciled to their true -Savior," he said, "and who repent of being seduced by hopes of riches, -honor, preferment, and such devilish baits, to join me in praise and -prayer to the true God, whom we re-establish in our hearts and restore -in our worship." - -With that he read to us this passage from the Psalms: - - - "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great - waters; - - "These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. - - "For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up - the waves thereof. - - "They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; - their soul is melted because of trouble. - - "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at - their wit's end. - - "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth - them out of their distresses. - - "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. - - "Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them - unto their desired haven." - - -MacWilliams closed the Bible. "Now men," he said, "having given thanks -to the Almighty, let us wash the decks of infidel blood, so that our -ship will present a decent appearance when we enter the harbor of our -hopes." - -We thereupon set about washing and holystoning the decks, and repairing -the damage resulting from the battle. Two days later, we entered -Plymouth harbor, astounding the town as we, in strange garb ourselves, -marched our captives in their queer Mohammedan dress to the town jail, -where they were left to the disposition of the Government. We heard -later that they were used in exchange for citizens of friendly European -nations, held in captivity in Tripoli. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -HOME SURPRISES - - - "_Oh! dream of joy! Is this indeed_ - _The lighthouse top I see?_ - _Is this the hill? Is this the kirk?_ - _Is this mine own countree?_" - - -The owners of the _Hawk_ could not be found. The authorities decided -that we had the right to offer her for sale and to divide the money -among ourselves in proportions according to rank. Her value was placed -at eighteen thousand dollars--but MacWilliams, backed by a group of -merchants, purchased the ship for fifteen thousand dollars. He had not, -canny Scot, returned from Barbary with empty pockets. He bought the -_Hawk_ at auction, and was able to obtain it at a low price because -other merchants, when they saw his eagerness to obtain possession of -her, refrained from bidding. - -I was eager to take passage for America, and MacWilliams, to -accommodate me, hurried the sale along so that Mustapha and myself -could have our share. With three hundred dollars apiece in our -possession, we bade him an affectionate farewell. - -He changed the name of the _Hawk_ to the _Dove_, and vowed to me that -she should be used only on honorable missions. - -"Lad, lad," he said, as he gripped my hand, "it's glad I am to see you -returning to a God-fearing home. When you remember William MacWilliams, -blot out the remembrance of ill deeds connected with my name, and -think of me as a repentant man who yet intends to leave a good name -behind him!" - -We sailed for Baltimore in the brig _Lafayette_, Captain Lord. As we -entered the Patapsco River Mustapha pointed out a schooner lying off -Fell's Point. "Blessed be Allah--it's _The Morning Star_!" he cried. - -"Pray then that her crew are not going ashore to spend our fortune!" I -said. - -Our first thought was to go directly aboard the schooner, but we then -considered that we should have to furnish proof to her skipper that the -sacks belonged to us, and that in such dealings it would be better to -have the rector's support; therefore, we decided to seek him first. - -As we passed a shop near the docks, I observed this sign above its door: - - - ALEXANDER FORSYTH - - EXPORTER OF - Fish, Flour, Tobacco, Corn and Furs - - IMPORTER OF - Teas, Coffee and Spices - - -I entered and pounded on a desk. - -"I want to buy a shipload of cannon balls to fire at the Dey of -Algiers! I want to charter a frigate that will blow Joseph, Bashaw of -Tripoli, to perdition! Fish, flour, tobacco--who's dealing in such tame -stuff--it's blood and thunder I'm after purchasing; it's muskets and -cutlasses I want. Show me your stock, man!" - -A man with the build of a mastpole came out of the counting-room and -stared at me. I swaggered towards him, but, suddenly, overcome by -amusement at his puzzled look and joy at beholding him again, I sprang -forward and threw my arms about him. - -"David!" he cried. - -"Alexander," I answered. - -We stood hugging each other like two polar bears. - -In a few minutes of hurried chat, I found out that my brother, -recovering his health, had married Nell King, a Baltimore girl, and was -prospering as a merchant. Commodore Barney, who had backed Alexander in -business, was at sea. (How I fell in with him later and increased the -family fortunes by acting as chaplain on his privateer _Polly_ may not -be told now.) - -Customers came into the shop, and promising to call on Alexander and -Nell that night, I broke away and went on up to the house. Mustapha, -gaping at the strange western land I had brought him to, and as -bewildered as I had been when I wandered through his desert cities, -walked closely beside me, clutching my arm. I saw some of the bullies -who had mutinied on board _The Rose of Egypt_. I think they recognized -me, but Mustapha and I were a stalwart pair, and the looks cast our way -by the dock loafers were more of respect than of hostility. - -We approached the rector's house at dusk. A welcoming light shone -through the elms. I was swaggering along, thinking how much of a man I -would appear to the rector. The yellow glow from the window, however, -spread an influence that changed me into a soft-hearted boy. Here was -I, a sailor hardened through contact with all sorts of men, toughened -by wind, wave and warfare, yet brushing a tear from my cheek as I -saw the lamp in the parsonage shining out cheerier than the ray of a -lighthouse on a tempestuous night. - -The door was bolted--I knocked. A girl answered, her face in the -shadows. - -I was as much taken aback as if I had seen a ghost. I was not used to -seeing girls around the old home. Besides, Alexander had not warned me. - -"Is it someone to see father?" she asked timidly. - -"You are Nell, Alexander's wife?" I said boldly, "and a pretty choice -he made!" - -"No!" she said, and I stood there in worse confusion than ever. - -Yet there was something vaguely familiar in her tone. - -"I beg your pardon," I said, "I thought Dr. Eccleston still lived here." - -"He does!" she replied. "Please come in!" - -We stepped into the hallway. I looked around, taking in each familiar -object. - -"I am David Forsyth," I said, "perhaps you have heard the rector speak -of his boy who went to sea." - -"I recognized you at first, David," she said, her face still in the -shadows. "What a grand surprise for the rector!" - -I walked towards the library, but the rector had heard our voices. He -came out, spectacles in one hand, a book in the other. He stared at me -as if he could scarcely credit his own sight. - -I was in his arms the next moment. - -"David," he shouted. "I had almost given you up for lost! No letters! -And all the time I've been waiting to thank you for sending me my -precious jewel!" - -I looked at Mustapha in puzzlement. What did he mean by "jewel"? Had he -gotten the treasure? - -He turned to the mysterious girl, whose gold hair flashed in the -lamplight as if ten thousand diamonds were netted in it. I had seen a -girl's hair flashing in just such a way before! But where? - -He saw me twirling my hat and grasped the situation: - -"David," he explained, "this is my daughter! General Eaton told me that -it was you who first pointed her out to him in the Arab camp." - -Heigho! I had gone forth to seek adventures, and here at my home -door was a more marvelous thing than any I had come upon. The girl -that General Eaton had bought from the Bedouin hag was no other than -the daughter the rector had lost in the desert! She was taller and -lovelier, and the more I looked the more flustrated I became. I had -always been shy before girls, and now I stood like a gawk, blushing -under her gaze. I wanted the floor to open when she came forward and -held up her lips in a matter-of-fact way for my kiss. - -However, I did not dodge the invitation, for all my bashfulness. -Indeed, I might as well record here that that sisterly kiss became a -few months later the kiss of a sweetheart--but since I have no notion -of having this book end in a love story, we had better get back to our -course. - -Mustapha, who had kept himself well in the rear, was now discovered by -Anne, and what a jabbering in Arabic took place. Whenever after that -I started to tell Anne of my adventures I found that she had already -heard it from Mustapha. I can't say that I was displeased at this, -because the lad--not that I deserved it--held me in high esteem, and -painted me in every episode as a great hero. - -Over the supper table we learned how the rector and Anne had been -united. General Eaton had landed in Baltimore, and the rector, -beholding beside the General a girl who bore a striking resemblance to -his wife, stopped the officer in the street, questioned him, brought -him and his ward to the parsonage as his guests, and there, by matching -his story with that of Anne's, discovered that she was no other than -his own daughter. Her mother--Anne had only a slight remembrance of -her--must have died early in her captivity. - -The next morning Mustapha and myself induced the rector to take a -stroll with us. We reached the dock where _The Morning Star_ was moored -just as she was being unloaded. As we started to go aboard we bumped -into a string of stevedores. Our search ended there and then, for among -the baggage these men carried were our sacks. - -"Toss those confounded bags aside," cried the officer in charge of the -unloading. "I wonder if the cheeky rascal who sent them aboard thought -I was going to hunt over Baltimore for 'Rev. Ezekiel Eccleston of -Marley Chapel.'" - -I approached him in my most respectful manner. - -"Here, sir, is the Reverend Eccleston. He is the gentleman for whom the -sacks are intended, and I'm the 'cheeky rascal' who shipped them. Your -coxswain will recognize Mustapha here as the lad who stowed them in -your cutter. There wasn't much need of shipping the curios after all, -since my schooner arrived here almost as quickly as your ship." - -He looked at me as if he wanted to pour out a flood of oaths. Then his -gaze wandered over the rector's garb and he grew less surly. - -"It's lucky for you, sir," he said to my guardian, "that we didn't -pitch those sacks overboard! I like this cub's cheek--sending freight -aboard without even saying, 'By your leave!' If the bags hadn't been -addressed to a parson, overboard they'd have gone!" - -"Your forbearance is much appreciated," said the rector. "The boy, I -believe, was in a trying situation." - -I took out a roll of banknotes. - -"We'll pay you in full for all the bother you've been put to. You -really saved this stuff from falling into the hands of the Turk, Joseph -Bashaw. Yet there was another skipper who wanted in the worst way -to carry those bags! In fact, he inquired for _The Morning Star_ at -several South Atlantic ports. I think you came in sight of him. But -we're none the less grateful to you, sir!" - -He snatched from me a pound note. "Always glad to serve the Church," he -said civilly to the rector. "By the way, my men said there appeared to -be metal ornaments in the sacks--candlesticks for worship, I suppose?" - -The rector, at a loss for a reply, stared at the sacks. - -"Something of that sort! They will be very useful to the Church," I -answered, shouldering one. Mustapha followed suit with another, and the -rector, good man, dragged the third sack to a wagon I had hired. With -a load of worry removed from Mustapha and myself, we drove homeward. I -heard afterwards that _The Morning Star_, though then a freighter for -the Government, was a converted privateer and had even been suspected -of piracy while in Uncle Sam's employ. Her men had probably captured -and sunk many a ship without obtaining loot half as valuable as these, -our riches, which they so carelessly carried. - -On the way home the rector questioned me concerning the contents of the -sacks, but I evaded him. Now, as we stood in the hallway, with the -sacks at our feet, I myself popped a question. - -"Rector," I said, "if you were suddenly handed a good-sized fortune, -what would you do with it?" - -He smiled. - -"I suppose, David, that we all like to indulge in such day-dreams. -First, I should erect a larger church here--this business of hanging -our church-bell to a tree is getting sadly out of fashion. Then I -should build mission chapels in the border settlements. Then Alexander -should have capital with which to expand his trade with the West -Indies. Then I should send you to Yale College--it's really time now, -David, that you settled down to your studies. Then I should send -General Eaton some funds. Congress praised him, but has since neglected -him, and the poor fellow is low in spirits and failing in health. -Then----" - -"Rector," I said, "all those wishes and as many more are granted. I -found both Aladdin's lamp and Ali Baba's cave in the deserts of Africa. -Stand by and watch me bring all of your day-dreams true! Fall too, -Mustapha, servant of the geni!" - -With our jackknives we slashed open the sacks. The treasure hoard of -the ancients--the priceless jewelry and trinkets which the rector long -ago had discovered and then sealed up and abandoned--poured out in -gleaming confusion at his feet. - - - - -POSTSCRIPT - -THE END OF THE PIRATES - - -So far as my fortunes are concerned, I was rid forever of Barbary's -corsairs. But, to make my narrative complete, it may be well to state -that the end of their piracies was in sight, and that Stephen Decatur -was the man who struck the blow that marked the beginning of their end. - -The United States had borne these insults and oppressions meekly during -the time she was evolving into a nation, but at last, under Decatur, -her true spirit showed itself. The Dey of Algiers, the last to affront -us, was at length forced to take tribute in the way our naval officers -had long wished to deliver it--from the cannon's mouth. - -The War of 1812 tempered the spirit of our navy for this closing -campaign with the buccaneers of Barbary. The frigate _Constitution_ -thrilled the nation by her victory over the British warship -_Guerriere_, although the _Constitution's_ captain, Isaac Hull, had -to steal out to do battle without the knowledge of the timid Monroe -administration, which feared that our ships were no match for the -British frigates. Then the _United States_, commanded by Captain -Stephen Decatur, defeated and captured the _Macedonian_, one of the -swiftest and strongest and best-equipped ships in John Bull's navy, -and Lieutenant Archibald Hamilton marched into a ball given to naval -officers in Washington with the flag of the captured ship across his -shoulders. - -Then the _Constitution_ met the British frigate _Java_, and by splendid -gunnery reduced her to a burning hulk. Then the British had their -innings and Captain Broke, of the _Shannon_, defeated the chivalrous -but over-confident Captain Lawrence in the _Chesapeake_. - -Decatur, with his feathers drooping somewhat from the fact that he had -been forced to surrender the _President_ to two British frigates after -a hard fight, was sent, after the treaty of peace had been signed, to -deal again with the Barbary states, to which we still paid tribute. -These powers had grown insolent again when the United States became -engaged in war with England and had resumed their piracy. Decatur -sailed in the flagship _Guerriere_ and commanded a squadron of nine -vessels. - -Algiers, the chief offender this time, had organized a strong navy -under the command of Admiral "Rais Hammida," called "the terror of -the Mediterranean." Decatur's squadron sighted this Algerine admiral -in his forty-six-gun frigate _Mashouda_ off Cape Gatte, and pursued -and captured the Turkish ship. Her captain was killed in the first -encounter. - -Decatur now proceeded to Algiers to bring the Dey to terms. The captain -of the port came out insolently to meet him. "Where is your navy?" -demanded Decatur. - -"Safe in some neutral port!" retorted the Algerine officer. - -"Not the whole of it," Decatur said. "We have already captured the -frigate _Mashouda_ and the brig _Estido_, and Admiral Hammida is dead." - -The captive lieutenant of the _Mashouda_ was brought forth to confirm -these statements. The Dey's representative became humble and begged -that hostilities should cease until a treaty could be drawn up on shore. - -"Hostilities will go on until a treaty is made," Decatur replied, "and -a treaty will be made nowhere but on board the _Guerriere_!" - -The officer came out again the next day and began haggling over terms -in true Oriental fashion. Decatur stuck to his terms, which included -the release of all Americans held in slavery and the restoration of -their property. He demanded an immediate decision, threatening: - -"If your squadron appears before the treaty is signed by the Dey and if -American captives are on board, I shall capture it." - -The port officer left. An hour afterward an Algerine man-of-war -appeared. Decatur ordered his officers to prepare for battle. Manning -the forts and ships were forty thousand Turks. - -Before the squadron got under way, however, the Dey's envoy was seen -approaching, flying a white flag--the token of surrender. - -All of the terms had been agreed to. We were to pay no further tributes -to the pirate prince. Our ships were to be free from interference. Ten -Americans that had been held in captivity were delivered up. They knelt -at Decatur's feet to thank God for their release and rose up to embrace -their flag. - -From Algiers, Decatur sailed to Tunis and then to Tripoli, and actually -forced their rulers to pay indemnities for breaking, during the period -of our war with Britain, the treaties they had made with the United -States. - -Decatur thus put an end to the attacks of the Moors upon American -merchant ships. He had set an example that Britain was soon to follow. - - -BRITAIN FOLLOWS DECATUR'S LEAD - -British consuls and sea-faring men were still being insulted and -molested by Moslems. Public indignation in England rose to such a -height that the British government sent Sir Edward Pellew, upon whom -had been bestowed the title Lord Exmouth, to negotiate similar terms. -The fleet sailed first to Tunis and Tripoli and forced the two Beys to -promise to abolish Christian slavery. An element of humor came into the -situation at Tunis, for Caroline, Princess of Wales, was on a tour of -the country, and was not above accepting the hospitality of the Bey, -no matter what wrongs to her countrymen went on under the surface. Her -entertainment included picnics among the ruins of Carthage and the -orange groves of Tunis, to which she was driven in the Bey's coach and -six. She was indignant when word reached her that a bombardment from -her own fleet threatened to put an end to her pleasures. She sought to -interfere, but the Admiral was firm. The Princess took refuge on board -one of the English ships; the squadron prepared to attack; but the Bey -yielded. - -The squadron now proceeded to Algiers. Here the Dey protested so -vehemently that the Admiral agreed to the ruler's proposal to send -ambassadors to England to lay his case before the final authorities. No -sooner had the fleet returned to England than news came of a massacre -of Italians under British protection in Bona, by Algerines acting under -orders actually given by the Dey while Lord Exmouth was at Algiers. - -There was, in the port of Bona, a little to the east of Algiers, a -coral fishery carried on under the protection of Britain. Corsicans, -Neapolitan and other fishermen came here to gather coral. On the 23rd -of May, 1816, Ascension Day, as the fishermen were preparing to attend -Mass, a gun was fired from the castle and two thousand Moslem soldiers -opened fire on the helpless fishermen and massacred them. Then the -English flags were torn to pieces and the British Vice-Consul's house -wrecked and pillaged. - -Lord Exmouth's squadron, on its way to punish the corsairs for these -atrocities, fell in with five frigates and a corvette under the Dutch -Admiral, Van de Capellan. All civilized nations had been aroused by the -massacre of the Italian coral fishers, and the Dutch were eager to take -part in the expedition to punish the murderers. Lord Exmouth welcomed -them, and the combined fleets set sail for Algiers. - -Lord Exmouth sent a letter ashore to the Dey demanding that the -Algerians abolish making slaves of Christians; that they surrender -such Christian slaves as they now held; that they restore ransom money -exacted from Italian slaves, make peace with Holland, and free the -lately imprisoned British Consul, and other English captives. The Dey -was allowed three hours in which to reply. No answer came. Lord Exmouth -began the battle. - -His flagship, _Queen Charlotte_, led the fleet to the attack. Reaching -the left-hand end of the mole, she anchored, thus barring the mouth of -the harbor. In this position, her guns could sweep the whole length and -breadth of the mole. Up came the _Superb_, the _Minden_, the _Albion_, -and the _Impregnable_. Meanwhile, the foe had opened fire and the -_Queen Charlotte_ had replied with three broadsides that ruined the -mole's defences and killed five hundred men. - -The Dutch squadron and the British frigates came in under a heavy fire -and engaged the shore batteries. The Algerian gunboats, screened by -the smoke of the guns, came out to board the _Queen Charlotte_. The -_Leander_, lying beyond the smoke, saw them and sunk thirty-three out -of thirty-seven with her batteries. - -At last the enemy's guns were silenced. The British and Dutch fleets -withdrew into the middle of the bay. The defeated Dey accepted the -British terms. The English consul was released. Three thousand slaves -were set free; some of these had been in prison for thirty years. The -bombardment destroyed part of the house of the American consul Shaler, -who, the British afterwards testified, did all in his power to aid the -English. - -The British squadron gained its victory at the cost of one hundred and -twenty-eight men killed and six hundred and ninety men wounded. Lord -Exmouth led his men with Nelson-like gallantry. He was wounded in three -places, his telescope was knocked from his hand by a shot, and his -coat was cut to ribbons. Even this punishment did not entirely crush -the corsairs. It was reserved for the French to put an end to their -piracies. - -But that campaign did not begin until 1830--and my story can not run on -forever. - - - - -SOURCES OF INFORMATION DRAWN UPON BY THE AUTHOR - - -"The Narrative and Critical History of America," edited by Justin -Winsor. - -"American State Papers, Foreign Relations." - -"Debates of Congress," compiled by Thomas H. Benton. - -"Life of the Late General William Eaton," by Charles Prentiss, -published in 1813 in Brookfield, Mass. - -"Ocean Life in the Old Sailing Ship Days," by Captain John D. Whidden. - -"From the Forecastle to the Cabin," by Captain S. Samuels. - -"Round the Galley Fire," by W. Clark Russell. - -"The Story of Our Navy," by Edgar Stanton Maclay. - -"A History of the United States Navy," by John R. Spears. - -"Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs," by Gardner W. Allen. - -"The Barbary Corsairs," by Stanley Lane-Poole. - -"Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors," by James Barnes. - -"Maryland Chronicles," by Scharf. - -"Africa," by Frank G. Carpenter. - -"Rambles and Studies in Greece," by Mahaffy. - -"Winters in Algeria," by F. A. Bridgman. - -"The Romance of Piracy," by E. Keble Chatterton. (The episode of -David's escape in the ship _Hawk_ is founded on an actual adventure -that occurred in 1622, related in Mr. Chatterton's book. The story -of the mutiny aboard _The Rose of Egypt_ was suggested by an actual -episode--described in Captain Samuel's autobiography.) - -To Deane H. Uptegrove and George Mullien, the writer is indebted for -advice concerning the sea episodes that appear in this book. The -New York Public Library, The Newark Public Library, the East Orange -Public Library, and the private library of the _New York Evening Post_ -have been helpful in giving the author access to material not easily -obtainable. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIRATE PRINCES AND YANKEE JACKS*** - - -******* This file should be named 63124.txt or 63124.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/3/1/2/63124 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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