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Volume 1 of 2. | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +a { + text-decoration: none; +} + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +h2.nobreak { + page-break-before: avoid; +} + +hr.chap { + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + clear: both; + width: 65%; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; +} + +div.chapter { + page-break-before: always; +} + +p { + margin-top: 0.5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: 0.5em; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +.blockquote { + margin: 1.5em 10%; +} + +.footnotes { + margin-top: 1em; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.footnote { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + +.footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right; +} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; +} + +.hanging { + padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; +} + +.larger { + font-size: 150%; +} + +.noindent { + text-indent: 0em; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + right: 4%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; +} + +.poetry-container { + text-align: center; +} + +.poetry { + display: inline-block; + text-align: left; +} + +.poetry .stanza { + margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; +} + +.poetry .verse { + padding-left: 3em; +} + +.poetry .indent0 { + text-indent: -3em; +} + +div.right { + text-align: right; +} + +p.right { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 1em; +} + +.smaller { + font-size: 80%; +} + +.smcap { + font-variant: small-caps; + font-style: normal; +} + +.allsmcap { + font-variant: small-caps; + font-style: normal; + text-transform: lowercase; +} + +.tb { + margin-top: 2em; +} + +.titlepage { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 3em; + text-indent: 0em; +} + +.transnote { + background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + text-align: center; + font-size: smaller; + padding: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .poetry { + display: block; + margin-left: 1.5em; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .blockquote { + margin: 1.5em 5%; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75313 ***</div> + +<div class="transnote"> + +<p>Transcriber’s Note: Obvious printing errors have been corrected. Original +period spelling, though, has been maintained.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_i"></a>[i]</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage larger">EMMANUEL APPADOCCA;<br> +<span class="smaller"><span class="smaller">OR,</span><br> +BLIGHTED LIFE.</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage">A TALE OF THE BOUCANEERS.</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">BY</span><br> +MAXWELL PHILIP.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container titlepage"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Φεῦ. ὦ μῆτερ ἥτις ἐκ τυραννικῶν δόμων</div> + <div class="verse indent0">δούλειον ἦμαρ εἶδες, ὡς πράσσεις κακῶς,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">ὅσονπερ εὖ ποτ᾽· ἀντισηκώσας δέ σε</div> + <div class="verse indent0">φθείρει θεῶν τις τῆς πάροιθ᾽ εὐπραξίας.</div> + <div class="verse right allsmcap">EURIPIDES.</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">IN TWO VOLUMES.</span><br> +VOL. I.</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">LONDON:</span><br> +CHARLES J. SKEET, PUBLISHER,<br> +<span class="smaller">10, KING WILLIAM STREET, CHARING CROSS.</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage smaller">MDCCCLIV.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ii"></a>[ii]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iii"></a>[iii]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="To_HARRY_DANIELS_Esq"><span class="smcap">To HARRY DANIELS, Esq.</span>,</h2> + +<p class="smaller right"><span style="margin-right: 2.5em;">4, ESSEX COURT,</span><br>TEMPLE.</p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Dear Friend</span>,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">I dedicate to you the first-born +of my brains. Receive this trifling mark of +esteem in the spirit in which it is made, and +accept the willing homage that I render to—oh, +most rare possession!—a good and true +heart.</span></p> + +<p class="right">MAXWELL PHILIP.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iv"></a>[iv]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_v"></a>[v]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</h2> + +</div> + +<p>This work has been written at a moment +when the feelings of the Author are roused up +to a high pitch of indignant excitement, by a +statement of the cruel manner in which the +slave-holders of America deal with their slave-children. +Not being able to imagine that even +that dissolver of natural bonds—slavery—can +shade over the hideousness of begetting children +for the purpose of turning them out into the +fields to labour at the lash’s sting, he has ventured +to sketch out the line of conduct, which +a high-spirited and sensitive person would probably +follow, if he found himself picking cotton +under the spurring encouragement of “Jimboes” +or “Quimboes” on his own father’s plantation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vi"></a>[vi]</span></p> + +<p>The machinery, or ground-work of the story is +based on truth—the known history of the Boucaneers. +It is scarcely necessary to tell the +reader that the other parts are fiction.</p> + +<p>The scenes are laid principally in the Island +of Trinidad. This is done entirely from natural +predilection, for Trinidad is the Author’s native +isle, whose green woods, smiling sky, beautiful +flowers, and romantic gulf, together with a +thousand sweet and melting associations, eternally +play on his willing memory, and make him cherish +ever the fond hope, that when the spark of life +shall have been extinguished, his bones may be +deposited on the rising ground that looks over +the sea, and that already contains the being who, +in death, as well as she was in life, was the +object of his deep love and high veneration.</p> + +<p class="hanging"><span class="smcap">4, Elm Court,<br> +Temple.</span></p> + +<p><i>February, 1854.</i></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> + +<h1>EMMANUEL APPADOCCA;<br> +<span class="smaller"><span class="smaller">OR,</span><br> +BLIGHTED LIFE.</span></h1> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Plots have I laid; inductions dangerous,”—</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Richard III.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Between the north-west coast of Venezuela and the +island of Trinidad there lies an extensive expanse of +water, known as the Gulf of Paria:—a name which it +has derived from the neighbouring Spanish coast.</p> + +<p>At first sight this gulf presents to the eye the appearance +of a vast lake. On the north, east, and south, it +is bordered by the dark mountains of Trinidad: while, +on the opposite side the cloud-capt Andes, which terminate +in that direction, rear their towering heads, and +present a lofty western boundary.</p> + +<p>The gulf, thus narrowly surrounded on all sides, communicates +with the great Atlantic ocean only by two +narrow outlets, which are situated at its northern and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span> +southern extremities, and are respectively named “the +Dragon’s, and the Serpent’s Mouth.” It is by these +narrow straits, as the reader will have already gathered, +that Trinidad is separated from the mainland of South +America. Shielded as they are by these elevated boundaries, +the waters of the gulf are ever calm and placid. +The hurricanes which periodically ravage the adjacent +regions, never sweep their quiet surface: and ships from +the ports of the neighbouring colonies usually avail themselves +of the protection afforded by this sheltered haven, +and safely ride away the tempestuous months on its +smooth expanse.</p> + +<p>The scenery around this gulf is extremely picturesque +and beautiful. Small green islands are dispersed here +and there, and seem to float gaily on the bosom of the +slumbering waters; the forest-clothed mountains that +beetle from above, cast their lengthy shadows far and +wide, and the diving birds that continually ply the wing +over the reflecting surface, throw into the scene some of +the choicest features of romantic beauty.</p> + +<p>It was here, that, on a lovely morning in the month of +March, two skiffs might barely be seen floating quietly +far, far away at sea.</p> + +<p>It was as yet early: the gray mist of the tropical +morning was just melting away before the rays of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span> +rising sun, that was fast ascending from behind the +mountains in the east; a thin haze, nevertheless, was +still left surrounding every object. Scarcely a ripple as +yet marked the gulf, and in the quiet of the hour might +be heard the waking haloos of the mariners on board +their ships in the harbour of Port of Spain, as they summoned +each other to the labours of the day.</p> + +<p>The two skiffs were at a great distance from land. In +the haze it was difficult on a hasty glance to distinguish +them from the sea; but, on closer observation, they +might be discovered to be a small fishing-boat, such as +those which are generally seen on the gulf, and a curial, +or Indian canoe.</p> + +<p>There were three men in the fishing-boat: two who +were rowers, and one that was sitting at its stern, and +was apparently the master. He was of mixed blood: of +that degree known as that of mulatto, and seemingly of +Spanish extraction, but his two men were blacks. The +men were resting on their oars, the master was occupied +in deep sea-fishing, and the boat floated passively on the +water. In the Indian canoe there seemed also but three +men: one sat at the stern, the other two crouched in the +centre, their paddles were carelessly rested on the sides +of the light vessel, and the canoe, like the fishing-boat, +was permitted to float unsteered on the gulf.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span></p> + +<p>The two skiffs were not far from each other, and as +the haze cleared away, the master of the fishing-boat, in +the musing calm attendant on quiet fishing, observed to +his men, as he dreamingly looked on the canoe—</p> + +<p>“Those fellows are Guaragons; I dare say they +paddled from the canoe the whole of last night, and +they are now taking their breakfast to get up to town +before the breeze rises.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sa,” briskly rejoined one of the boatmen; “dey +wok all night, all nakid as dey be dey; dey no ’fraid +rain, dey no ’fraid sun, but wen dey begin dey wok—wok +so—night and day, you see paddle go phshah—phshah—phshah,” +here the speaker screwed up his little +features to the utmost, in order to express the energy +with which the Indians are supposed to paddle, while, +at the same time, he endeavoured to imitate the sound +of the paddle itself, as it dashes the water.</p> + +<p>“Awh!” he exclaimed, with emphasis, after this display, +“dey no get dis Jack Jimmy,” pointing to himself, +“foo do dat—no:—oohn—oohn,” and he shook his +head energetically.</p> + +<p>The master smiled both at the humour of his man, +and the horror which he appeared to entertain for the +work and exposure of the Indians.</p> + +<p>“And den wha dey eat,” he continued, “ripe plantin!<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span> +dey eat ripe plantin fo brofost, ripe plantin fo dinna—awh! +me no know how dey get fat, but dey always berry +fat.”</p> + +<p>The strange little man continued in this vein to make +his remarks about the Indians, and the master attended +to his line until the morning was considerably advanced, +and the sun had already risen to a great height.</p> + +<p>“Now, my boys,” said the last mentioned individual, +“I think it is time for us to go, we have not had much luck +to-day.” With this he began leisurely to draw in his +line, gazing listlessly on the Indian canoe, while he did +so,—“but these fellows are taking a long time to eat their +ripe plantains this morning, Jack Jimmy,” he observed.</p> + +<p>“Me tink so foo true, sa,” replied the individual +answering to that name.</p> + +<p>“An da big Injan in de tern a de canoe da look pan +awee berry hard—berry hard—he bin da look pan awee +all de manin so,” and then looking anxiously on the canoe, +he continued, “an me no da see parrat, me no da see +monkey, me no da see notting pan de side a de canoe, an +you neber see Injan ya widout parrat an monkey.”</p> + +<p>Having delivered himself of this sage opinion, he +looked at the canoe again, long and anxiously, shook his +head, and moved restlessly on his thwart.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter with you, Jack Jimmy,” inquired<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span> +the master, “you seem to be displeased with these +Indians?”</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy made no answer, but gave expression to +a sound like “hom!” Then began to look into the +bottom of the boat, while he beat time apparently to his +own ruminations with his chubby great toe.</p> + +<p>“But what is the matter with you, man?” again +inquired the master.</p> + +<p>“Massa—massa—me—me-me-me no like close, close +so to Injans pan big salt water, so, no.”</p> + +<p>The first part of the sentence Jack Jimmy pronounced +moodily, but he shot out the latter part with such +rapidity and earnestness, that the gravity of the master +could hold out no longer, and he laughed heartily at +his man.</p> + +<p>“Bah! you fool,” said he, when the fit was over: +“what do you expect these Indians will do to us?”</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy, much piqued at being laughed at, raised +his shoulders, and answered stoically—“Me no know; +but me tink we better go.”</p> + +<p>“Yes: we are not doing anything here, and there +does not seem much prospect of having better luck,” +said the master, “let us go.”</p> + +<p>He then took up his paddle from the bottom of the +boat, and put it over the stern to steer it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span></p> + +<p>The men began to row, and the little boat began to +move through the water.</p> + +<p>The Indian canoe, which had remained all the time as +passive on the water as the fishing-boat, was now also +put in motion, by two paddles, and seemed to be steered +in the same direction as the fishing-boat. Jack Jimmy +saw this, opened his eyes, and cried, in a voice that +began to tremble,—“Dey da come, too.” The master +looked round, and saw in truth that the canoe was following +in their wake.</p> + +<p>The three persons now became somewhat uneasy, and +anxious, about the intentions of their mysterious follower. +After a time, however, when they saw it was not gaining +ground upon them, nor seemed to be propelled with any +intention of coming up to them, these feelings were considerably +diminished, and they pulled calmly along, +while the canoe followed at the same distance from the +little boat.</p> + +<p>When the fishing-boat had reached to within a mile +of the ships which lay in the harbour of Port of Spain, +the master was challenged by a brisk “Haloo” from the +man at the stern of the canoe.</p> + +<p>“Haloo, there!” cried the man in a commanding +voice, “haloo, there—stop!”</p> + +<p>The master paid no attention to this order, but pretended<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span> +that he did not hear it, or did not consider it +addressed to him, and he remained silent; but Jack +Jimmy had not so much command over himself.</p> + +<p>“Wha,” cried he, “wha eber yierry Injan peak +plain—plain so? hen!” and he shook his head mysteriously. +“But wha,” following out his reflections, “dey +want we fo tap foo—tell dem we no da sell fish, ya; +let dem come sho.”</p> + +<p>“Will you stop, there—ho?” again cried the man +from the stern of the pursuing canoe.</p> + +<p>“We cannot stop,” replied the master, “if you wish +to buy fish, come ashore. Pull boys,” addressing himself +to his men; “those seem to be strange customers.” +Jack Jimmy and the other boatman bent on their oars.</p> + +<p>As soon as the little fishing-boat was put in a more +rapid movement, ten Indians simultaneously sprung as +if it were by magic from the bottom of the canoe, and +ranged themselves at its sides, paddle in hand.</p> + +<p>“Wha, look dey!” cried Jack Jimmy, pointing tremblingly +to the canoe, “pull,” addressing himself to his +companion, “pull, me tell you:” and he himself drew +his oar with all the energy and vigour which fear alone +can impart. “Pull, me tell you,” continued he, every +moment, to exhort his companion; “pull, me tell you.” +Under these efforts the little shell boat skipped like a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> +feather over the water: but it was no match for the +canoe, propelled as it was by the vigorous paddles of +twelve stout men.</p> + +<p>Like an arrow from an Indian bow, or like the noiseless +course of a serpent, through the lake it drew on the little +fishing boat. Jack Jimmy and his companion exerted +themselves to the utmost; the master too, plied his paddle +strongly and continuously, but nearer and nearer the canoe +approached. When at last it came opposite the pursued, +the man at the stern dexterously threw his paddle on +the other side, a rapid movement was made through the +water, and the head of the canoe was at once athwart +the little fishing boat.</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy could bear it no longer; as soon as the +boat was boarded, with a convulsive spring, he plunged +into the gulf; while the syllables of his interjected +“Garamighty” bubbled up after him as he disappeared. +But the first impulse of the master was to draw his knife +from the side of the boat, where it was stuck in a chink +of the boards, and with a deep-mouthed “carajo” was +going to plunge it into the nearest Indian, but his arm +was no sooner raised than it was paralized by a blow +dealt him with his paddle by a man at the stern, and +the knife fell from his grasp into the water.</p> + +<p>“Fool,” cried the man who had thus struck him,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span> +“what is the use of your resistance: do you not see we +number more than you? Get into this canoe immediately, +you and your man, and see if you can save that +strange creature that is capering on the water there;” +and he pointed to Jack Jimmy, who had now come +again to the surface, and in the extremity of his fear, +with his mouth wide open, and his white eye-balls +glaring, was swimming most furiously out to sea. The +sight was too ridiculous even for the occasion; the +whole of the Indians burst into a fit of laughter at poor +Jack Jimmy, who was fatiguing himself at such a rate +that his strength would probably not have lasted more +than two minutes.</p> + +<p>“Paddle to that poor fellow,” said the man at the +stern, and the order was obeyed. But Jack Jimmy +would not be taken; he dived several times to escape, +to the no small amusement of the Indians: his +strength however began to fail, and he was at last captured.</p> + +<p>They took him into the canoe, when he was almost +exhausted, and he was laid at the bottom of it, where he +kept his eyes closed and stretched himself stiffly out, to +pretend that he was dead. The Indians seemed highly +amused by him. At last, however, he ventured to open +his eyes, when, seeing some cutlasses and pikes that lay<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> +by his side at the bottom of the canoe, he closed them +abruptly again and cried, “Oh La-a-r-rd, me dead!”</p> + +<p>When Jack Jimmy had been saved from drowning, +the master and the other rower were transhipped into +the canoe. The master, shrewder than his men, thought +he observed, in addition to the circumstance of speaking +English, other marks in the Indians which resembled +disguise. They seemed more assured and less savage +than Indians generally are; besides, they had thick +beards and mustachios which the savages never wear; +and, above all, their arms, instead of being rude bows +and arrows, or at best rusty fowling pieces, were beautiful +rifles, cutlasses and pikes.</p> + +<p>“But who are you?” he inquired after he had detected +these appearances, and become justly alarmed by them. +“Who are you, and what do you intend to do with us?”</p> + +<p>“With regard to the first question,” answered the +man at the stern with stoical coolness, “That is not any +business of yours;—in answer to the second, be assured +that we mean you no harm. I hope you are satisfied. +Now, my order to you is, that you ask no further questions.”</p> + +<p>“But, sir,—” the master was about to inquire again.</p> + +<p>“Silence!” cried the man in a voice that carried +authority.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span></p> + +<p>He then took a small telescope that was concealed in +a locker formed in the thwart on which he sat, and +began to examine the ships and the harbour with seemingly +great care and minuteness.</p> + +<p>This examination continued for the best part of an +hour, after which the man at the stern handed the +telescope to the master fisherman and requested him to +look also at the ships: “for,” added he, “you will have to +answer questions about them.”</p> + +<p>“I know them already,” answered the master and +returned the telescope.</p> + +<p>The latter instrument was carefully replaced, and a +small marine compass was taken out of the same locker +and placed before the man at the stern.</p> + +<p>“To your paddles, it is now two o’clock and will be +late before we arrive.”</p> + +<p>The head of the canoe was immediately turned out to +sea. The men plied their paddles, and the wind, which +had just risen, wafted the light bark rapidly before it. +Its destination, however, was incomprehensible to the +fishermen, for they could not possibly conceive to what +place a canoe that was thus turned out to open sea +could be bound.</p> + +<p>But whatever alarm they felt, they were obliged to +conceal; for it would have been dangerous, they thought,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span> +to break the strict command of the man at the stern; +and whatever they could have said or done, would have +had no effect on men who seemed to be little accustomed +to be crossed, and who, undoubtedly, had the power of +enforcing their will.</p> + +<p>They resigned themselves, therefore, passively to +their fate: and did so with the greater readiness, as +they had not, as yet, experienced, from those among whom +they were so strangely thrown, any treatment which could +lead them to apprehend anything horrible or atrocious.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“—Observe degree, priority, and place,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Insisture, course, proportion, season, form,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Office, and custom in all line of order—”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Troilus and Cressida.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The canoe held a direct course out to sea the remaining +part of the day. This was drawing fast to a close, when +there might be perceived, straight over the bows of the +canoe, and far, far away, a small dark object that seemed +to rest lightly on the horizon, which was, at that moment, +illumined by the red rays of the large round sun that +was fast sinking behind it.</p> + +<p>The head of the canoe was kept direct upon that +speck, and the man at the stern seemed to make no +more use of his compass.</p> + +<p>Such was the rapidity with which the canoe went, +borne away, as it was, by the breeze, as well as propelled +by the paddles of twelve strong men, that within three +hours after sunset, they were close to that which, a short +time before, had appeared so small, so shadowy, and so +distant.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span></p> + +<p>The object proved to be a low, black, balahoo schooner, +whose model, as far as it could be observed by the starlight, +was most beautiful. She was built as sharply as +a sword, with her bows terminating in the shape of a +Gar’s lance, while her stern slanted off in the most +graceful proportions.</p> + +<p>But the most remarkable part in her build, was her +immense and almost disproportioned length, which, +combined with her perfectly straight lines, low hull, and +the slenderness of her make, gave her the appearance of +a large serpent.</p> + +<p>Her rigging was of the lightest fashion as two simple +shrouds, which supported each mast, and the bowsprit +and jibboom stays formed her principal cordage.</p> + +<p>There was not a yard, a gaff, or piece of canvass aloft, +so that the tall masts remained bare and graceful, shining +under their polish. On these accounts, they could not +be perceived at any distance, and a boat, discovering +the vessel for the first time, would be at a loss to make +out what floating object it was.</p> + +<p>Her position also, and the manner in which she +seemed moored—mastless, as it would appear—was +strange and peculiar. She was not swinging to the +wind or current, but she rode under a bow and stern +anchor, which kept her head directly towards the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span> +Dragon’s Mouth, while the rippling waves, that still +curled before the gentle night breeze, broke playfully on +her side.</p> + +<p>“What word?” sounded the hoarse and echoing voice +of some one on the deck, as the canoe approached the +schooner.</p> + +<p>“Scorpion,” the man replied in as sounding a voice, +and the canoe boarded the vessel.</p> + +<p>The ladders were thrown out over the sides, and the +man at the stern jumped nimbly on deck.</p> + +<p>A sentinel stationed at the gangway lowered his +weapon, and the man at the stern, for so we must still +call him, passed.</p> + +<p>The sentinel was a tall muscular man of a dark complexion; +his face was almost entirely covered with hair, +on his head he wore a red cap, he had on a red woollen +shirt, his trowsers were black, and were secured round +his waste by a thick red sash, in which were stuck a +brace of pistols and a long poniard.</p> + +<p>These and a cutlass, which he held in his hand, were +his only weapons.</p> + +<p>As soon as the man at the stern was on deck he was +accosted by a tall, thin person with flowing mustachios, +and with marks of distinction from the sentinel, both in +dress and in his appearance. He was richly and tastefully<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span> +accoutred. He wore a jet black frock coat, which +was richly but simply embroidered with gold; his +trowsers were of unspotted white, and displayed neat +and highly polished boots; round his waist he wore +a richly fringed crimson sash, in which pistols and a +poniard were also stuck; and a slender belt supported +a handsome sword by his side. His head was covered by +a red cap, and rich gold epaulets rested on his shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Lorenzo,” said this individual, addressing the new +comer in a low and pleasant tone, “I am happy to see +you back. Success, I hope.”</p> + +<p>“Success,” answered Lorenzo briefly but courteously, +“I have three strangers there in the boat, of whom, pray, +order your watch to take care; the captain, I suppose +is in his cabin, so I shall see him by the dawn of day. +Good night, Sebastian, good watch.”</p> + +<p>“Farewell,” answered the party addressed, and Lorenzo, +our former man at the stern, disappeared.</p> + +<p>This short dialogue carried on, as it was, in an under +tone, scarcely broke the extraordinary silence which +reigned on board the mysterious schooner.</p> + +<p>After Lorenzo had disappeared, Sebastian ordered his +men to take charge of the three prisoners in the canoe, +who were accordingly brought on deck. Jack Jimmy, +who after his fear had been lulled by the apparent<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> +harmless treatment of the Indians, had fallen fast asleep, +was the most struck when awakening, with the extraordinary +position in which he found himself suddenly placed. +When he got on deck, he stood as if his limbs would not +support him; he first looked aloft at the tapering masts of +the schooner, then on the deck, and when his eyes fell on +the men by whom he was surrounded, he opened his +mouth for an instant in mute amazement, and succeeded +at length to give expression to his terror in the words—“Garamighty! +way me be? Wha dish ya?”</p> + +<p>“Softly, my little man,” said the sentinel, in a voice that +contrasted strangely with the weak shriek of the terror-stricken +Jack Jimmy, “we don’t speak so loud here.”</p> + +<p>“Massa, me hush,” was the immediate answer of Jack +Jimmy, and he closed his lips as firmly as he could, as an +earnest of his determination to keep silence; but in the +dark the white of his eyes may have been seen revolving +from object to object with the rapidity of lightning.</p> + +<p>“Follow this way,” said a man, who had received instructions +from the officer, to the prisoners; and he led +them down a narrow stair-case to a small cabin in the +foremost part of the vessel. “This is where you are to +sleep to-night,” said he to them, after they had been +ushered in: “do you require anything?”</p> + +<p>The captives answered in the negative.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span></p> + +<p>“Well,” continued the man, “make yourselves comfortable +for the night, and be awake betimes to-morrow +to see our captain—he gets up early.”</p> + +<p>He then posted himself at the door of the cabin, with +his cutlass in his hand, like one who was to pass the +whole night there. Not a sound more was heard on +board the schooner that night.</p> + +<p>When morning had arrived, the prisoners were +brought on deck, and requested to be prepared to +appear before the captain immediately.</p> + +<p>The strange vessel on board of which they found +themselves, could be better examined by daylight than +by the dim star-gleam of the preceding night. The +long level deck was scoured as white as snow; not a +speck, not a nail-head, not the minutest particle of anything +could be discovered upon it. The very seams +were filled up in such a manner, that the material which +made them impervious to water, imparted an appearance +of general cleanliness. The halliards were all +beautifully adjusted at the foot of each mast, and +made up for the moment in the shape of mats, +or other fanciful forms. The belaying pins, that were +lined with brass, were beautifully polished, while the +tapering masts were as clean and as smooth as ivory. +The arrangement of the deck, also, was exceedingly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span> +neat: nothing but a few beautiful and simple machines +for hoisting were to be seen, and in properly-disposed +recesses in the bulwarks, glimpses might be caught of +the rude instruments of destruction—of pikes that +looked horrible even in their places of rest,—axes whose +shining edges made the blood run chill, and grappling-irons, +whose tortuous and crooked prongs made the +nerves recoil with the thoughts of agony which they +brought up. An awning, as white as the deck which it +sheltered, was spread from the stem to the stern of the +schooner.</p> + +<p>Men dressed and armed, as the sentinel of the preceding +evening, were leaning here and there, conversing +together in a low tone of voice.</p> + +<p>Of all these things, the one which particularly attracted +the attention of the strangers was the extraordinary +device that everything on board the schooner bore; +namely, a death’s head placed on the crossing of two +dead men’s bones. This was imprinted on the rigging +of the schooner, on its tackle, on the weapons which +were arranged in the bulwarks, and the men wore it in +front of their blood-red caps, and on their arms. This +strange circumstance had a powerful effect on the prisoners: +Jack Jimmy opened his mouth and eyes, and +seemed, on contemplating that sign, to devote himself to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> +death already; and the master fisherman became still +more anxious than he had been from the first. He recollected +that in the various stories with which he and his +fellows in the same pursuit had beguiled many a tedious +hour, pirates were represented as always displaying a +black flag, on which the same sad mementoes of mortality, +as those which he saw everywhere on board the +schooner, were imprinted.</p> + +<p>The thought immediately broke in upon him that he +might at that moment be among those lawless men, +about whose horrible cruelties he had heard so much, +and he shuddered at the reflection.</p> + +<p>It is true he had not, up to that moment, experienced +any personal outrage or even incivility; but might he +not be reserved for those shocking tortures to which he +had heard pirates were accustomed to resort, for the +purpose of forcing their victims to the confession of +what was alike improbable and impossible? His reflections +now became gloomy and distressing; and thoughts +that rush upon a man only at his last moments, or in +situations of imminent danger, began now to force themselves +upon him.</p> + +<p>This train of thoughts was broken by Lorenzo, who +suddenly emerged from the companion of the chief cabin +and approached him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span></p> + +<p>Lorenzo presented quite a different appearance from +what he did under his Indian disguise of the day +before.</p> + +<p>He was cleanly washed of the red ochre with which +he had painted his skin; it now appeared fresh and +clear, as it was by nature, although a little embronzed +by a tropical sun. His features, which could now be +properly read, expressed a character of manly firmness, +softened by much humanity and tenderness. He wore +the same dress as the officer whom he met on duty the +previous night, with the slight exception that his red +cap was more richly decorated. This seemed to +be a badge of distinction, and it could be at once +perceived from the manner in which he acted, that +Lorenzo was in high command on board the strange +schooner.</p> + +<p>“The prisoners will not be wanted for half an hour,” +he said to the man on duty; “you may retire with +them.”</p> + +<p>He then went back, and descended the stairs by +which he had ascended.</p> + +<p>These stairs led to a wide passage in the main-deck +of the vessel, which extended from the stem to the door +of the main cabin: he turned to the right, and proceeded +to the part where that cabin was situated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span></p> + +<p>He passed by a number of doors and passages, but +proceeded straight down the one in which he was, until +he arrived at a certain door that stood immediately opposite +to him. He then touched a large skull of bronze +that grinned hideously on it; it instantly flew open, and +he stood before a tall, and full armed sentinel, who, immovable +as a statue, looked him fiercely in the eyes.</p> + +<p>The officer, without uttering a word, presented the +index finger of his left hand, on which there was a large +ring, the sentinel quietly stepped aside, and he passed.</p> + +<p>He made a few steps, and from another niche in the +passage another sentinel presented himself, he showed the +ring again and passed; he went further forward, and +was again met by another sentinel, he performed the +same ceremony, and he was also permitted to pass. He +went on and met several others, on whom the ring +had the same effect; at last, he arrived at a sort of antichamber, +where two black boys, in gorgeous attire, were +waiting.</p> + +<p>They immediately bent their bodies to Lorenzo as he +advanced, and then stood ready to answer him any +question he should ask.</p> + +<p>“Is your master at leisure, Bembo?” asked Lorenzo.</p> + +<p>“He is, senor,” answered one of the boys.</p> + +<p>“Say I am here, and desire audience.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span></p> + +<p>The boy bent his body again and retired.</p> + +<p>He immediately returned, and informed the officer +that his master desired him to enter, and conducted him +to a door.</p> + +<p>The officer pressed a skull similar to that with which +the reader has already been made acquainted; the door +flew open, and he stood in a magnificent apartment, with +a young man before him.</p> + +<p>The apartment into which Lorenzo had entered, was +vast and magnificent in its proportions; it was formed +of the whole of the after part of the schooner, and of its +entire width. It was richly though peculiarly decorated: +the sides, unlike the plain wainscoating of ships +in general, were made of the richest and most exquisitely +polished mahogany, upon which were elaborately +carved landscapes, in which nature was represented +principally in her most terrible aspect,—with volcanoes +belching forth their liquid fires; cataracts eating away +in their angry mood the rugged granite, over whose +uneven brows they were foamingly precipitated; inhospitable +mountains frowning on the solitary waves below, +that unheedingly lashed their base; chasms that yawned +as terrific as the cataclasm that might be supposed to +have formed them, and other subjects which blended the +magnificent with the terribly sublime.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span></p> + +<p>The precious metals were freely used to mark the +shades and other points in these highly wrought carvings, +so that the fire which the volcanoes sent forth was +cleverly represented by gold, the water by silver, and +so forth.</p> + +<p>Large beads of gold surrounded each tableau, and +separated it from the next. On the skirting-boards at +the lower parts were carved palezotic creatures, that +held between their extended jaws large richly bound +volumes, which were secured by springs against the +rolling of the vessel.</p> + +<p>The ceiling was decorated in the same peculiar +manner: the two sides of the celestial sphere were distinctly +represented, with the signs of the zodiac and the +constellations finished in a perfect style, and scrupulously +placed at the correct distances from each other.</p> + +<p>The furniture was in exact keeping with this rich, +though strange style of decoration. Soft and velvetty +carpets covered the floor, or rather the deck; fanciful +ottomans, made in the shape of gigantic sea shells, +covered with crimson velvet, and decorated with pure +and solid gold, were placed here and there. Immense +globes of the earth and the heavens, mathematical +instruments of the largest size were carefully arranged, +and so effectually secured in their position, that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span> +they could not be affected by the tossing of the schooner. +But what was particularly calculated to attract attention +among these various things was a gigantic telescope, +whose principal parts stood on a magnificent frame. +More than ordinary care seemed to be devoted to this +instrument, both to its construction and to its preservation, +for everything about it was exquisitely made +and polished.</p> + +<p>The young man who stood before Lorenzo, may have +been about twenty-five years of age: he was tall and +slender, but infinitely well formed; his limbs were beautifully +proportioned and straight, and his hands were +almost femininely delicate, notwithstanding the close +construction of the bones, and the hard, wiry sinews, +which could be barely seen, now and then slightly swelling +the skin.</p> + +<p>His complexion was of a very light olive, it showed a +mixture of blood, and proclaimed that the man was connected +with some dark race, and in the infinity of grades +in the population of Spanish America, he may have been +said to be of that which is commonly designated +Quadroon.</p> + +<p>But the features of this femininely formed man were +in deep contrast with his make; they were handsome +to the extreme; but there was something in his large<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span> +tropical eyes that seemed to possess the power of the +basilisk, and made it difficult to be supposed that any +man could meet their glance without feeling it.</p> + +<p>This expression was increased by his lowering brows +that overshadowed his eyes, and indicated, at once, an +individual of much resolution; while his high aquiline +nose, compressed lips, and set jaws, pointed clearly to a +disposition that would undertake the most arduous and +hazardous things, and execute them with firmness in +spite of perils.</p> + +<p>In brief, the most superficial observer might have read, +in the face of that young man, the existence of something +within, which was endowed with the power of controlling +the most headstrong and refractory,—of quelling +the most rebellious spirits.</p> + +<p>It required not the discoveries of science to convince +men, at a glance of his features, that there was a power +in that mind which was reflected on his face, that wherever +he was he would be by the necessity of his own +mind—pre-eminent and uppermost; that men must, +unknowingly to themselves, obey him, and act as he +acted.</p> + +<p>In addition to those animal attributes, the shape of his +head was what the most fastidious could but admire; +his forehead rose in the fullness of beautiful proportions,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> +while, at the same time, those skilled in reading others’ +sculls would have declared that, with his high intellectual +development, he did not lack those necessary moral +accompaniments which the Creator, in his wisdom, has +providently bestowed for the proper use and regulation +of the former.</p> + +<p>Withal, however, there might be discerned in the +lofty bearing and haughty mein of the young man a +stern and invincible pride.</p> + +<p>The dress of our young hero was simple; he wore +trowsers of the finest and whitest materials, and a Moorish +jacket of crimson silk, with large and ample sleeves; +round his waist was folded a red silk sash, in which a +gilded poniard and pistols mounted with gold, were +stuck; his head was uncovered, and his black raven +locks flowed over his shoulders in wild and unrestrained +profusion.</p> + +<p>When Lorenzo entered the cabin the young man +was standing by a table, on which lay open a richly +ornamented volume of “Bacon’s Novum Organum,” +with the books of “Aristotle’s Philosophy” by its side.</p> + +<p>It was evident that he was making his morning meditation +on those learned tomes.</p> + +<p>When Lorenzo entered the cabin he bowed profoundly.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, Lorenzo,” said the young man, still<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span> +maintaining his high posture, and pointed an ottoman +to the visitor.</p> + +<p>“Well, how have you fared?” he inquired.</p> + +<p>“Well, your excellency,” answered the officer, “I +have captured a fisherman with his two men, whom +I have brought on board for your especial examination. +I made my observations during the time that my men +were resting, and have to report, that there are several +deeply laden ships in the harbour, which, from all +appearances, are ready for sea, and will sail within a few +days. There seem to be prospects of a rich booty, with +very little work for our men. There are no ships of war +in the harbour. I have taken the marks and sizes of +the vessels, which you will find on this paper, so that +the fisherman may be accurately questioned. The +ship, about which your excellency especially instructed +me, is also in the harbour.” Then, with a low bow, +Lorenzo handed a paper to the young man.</p> + +<p>“You have done well, Lorenzo,” the latter said, and +glanced over the paper for a short time, and, apparently, +possessing himself of the information it contained, laid +it by.</p> + +<p>“Let your fisherman be brought, Lorenzo.”</p> + +<p>The officer left the apartment for a time and returned, +shortly afterwards, with the fisherman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span></p> + +<p>The fisherman appeared bewildered by the grandeur +of the place, and could scarcely restrain his eyes from +wandering distractedly about.</p> + +<p>The captain, after affording him some time to regain +himself, requested him to dismiss his fears, and assured +him that no harm should be done him if he spoke the +truth, and began to interrogate him.</p> + +<p>“You know the Harbour of Port of Spain, do you not?”</p> + +<p>“I do, senor,” replied the fisherman, “I fish in it +every day.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the ships that are there now?”</p> + +<p>“Senor, I do not know their names, but I know they +are nearly all English.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the large ship that is anchored opposite +the banks of the Caroni?”</p> + +<p>“Senor, as I have said before, not its name; but I +know that it belongs to a rich English merchant, and is +laden with sugar for Bristol.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know when she is to sail?”</p> + +<p>“Senor,” answered the fisherman, “not positively, but, +from her appearance, I should say she will sail in a day +or two.”</p> + +<p>The young man proceeded in this manner and +examined the fisherman about all the vessels which +were reported in Lorenzo’s paper to be in the harbour,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> +but without, at the same time, receiving any more +definite information.</p> + +<p>After the questioning was ended, he requested the +fisherman to be re-assured, and to fear nothing; he then +pressed a spring at his feet, and one of the black boys +appeared.</p> + +<p>“Show this man on deck,” said the captain. The +fishermen was shown on deck, where the sentinel duly +received him.</p> + +<p>“Lorenzo,” said the young man, “by the chart of +this island, and, from my own experience, I know that +there are only two outlets from this gulf—the Serpent’s +and the Dragon’s Mouth. Ships but seldom go through +the Serpent’s Mouth, both, on account of its narrowness, +and its distance out of the course of those that may +be bound for England. It is, therefore, my opinion +that the ships, which are now about to sail, will pass +by the Dragon’s Mouth; that passage is fifty miles to +the north of this. It is my will that five men be sent +with this fisherman of yours, to watch the sailing of the +ships: go you, therefore, bear the token, and request +the officer of the watch to attend to this order. When +this is done, come you hither and let me know. It is +my will to let the men have pleasure to-day as they may +have work shortly.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span></p> + +<p>Lorenzo bowed and retired: he shortly returned and +informed the captain—as the reader must have already +discovered him to be—that his order was executed. The +captain asked no further questions, but, perhaps from the +habit of being always strictly and implicitly obeyed, he never +doubted but that things were done as he wished. Such, +too, was the discipline that seemed to reign on board of +the schooner, that scarcely five minutes elapsed before +preparations were made, and a boat, with the fisherman, +among others, was duly dispatched to do as the captain +commanded.</p> + +<p>When the captain was informed that his orders were +executed, he pressed again the spring and the boy +appeared.</p> + +<p>“Sound the gong,” he said: the boy bowed and +retired.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“See it be done, and feast our army, we have store to do it—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And they have earned the waste.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Anthony and Cleopatra.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>No sooner had the captain given the order, than +the whole schooner echoed with the deafening sounds +of a huge gong, whose noise was sufficient to rouse +the soundest sleeper in the lowest recesses of the +schooner.</p> + +<p>The sounds seemed to possess the power of transforming +the vessel, where such quiet and silence a little +before had reigned, to a scene of unbounded revelry. +No sooner had they fallen on the ears of the grim and +bearded sailors, than shouts of joy and mirth burst forth +from the same men, who, but a short time before seemed +pressed by a paralizing power into discipline, order, and +the silence of death.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span></p> + +<p>The deck then suddenly became a scene of the liveliest +animation; small groups of men settled themselves +here and there, some to sing, others to dance, and others +again preferring less boisterous amusement, to listen to +the long stories of some weather-beaten son of Neptune.</p> + +<p>The jolly songs of all nations, as sung by the different +denizens that formed the motley crew of the schooner, +rose upon the bosom of the silent gulf. The Spaniard +sang his animated oroco songs; the Llanero, who had +been seduced away from his native plains to seek as +arduous an existence on the boisterous element, chanted +the pastoral ditties with which he was accustomed to +break the monotony of many a live-long night on the +lonely Savanahs of South America; the Frenchman +rattled over his lively airs, and the jolly choruses of +merry England, too, were not unheard on board of the +Black Schooner.</p> + +<p>The guitar here and there stimulated the Terpsichorean +powers of some heavy sailor, and the schooner rang +with the merry laugh of those who listened to the jokes +of some funny old tar. Nor were the joys of drinking +unfelt. Every sailor had his drinking can by his side, +and contentment might have been read on the rigid +features of every one as he quaffed the stimulating +liquor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span></p> + +<p>One of the chief subjects of attraction seemed to be +an old sailor, whose features proclaimed him a son of +distant England, while a deep scar on his forehead, and +the brown-baked hue of his face, pointed him out as one +who had seen service. He was entertaining those +around him with some of his adventures, and was, at the +same time, speaking in his native language, which was +understood by his hearers. Few, indeed, were the +tongues that those men did not know; the wheel of +fortune had turned them round and round in their day, +and had cast them into many a different place, and +there was scarcely a country in the world to which their +pursuits had not taken them.</p> + +<p>“Yes, by G—d,” the old sailor was saying, “that ere +Llononois was the very devil. I remember when he +took Maracaybo,—a devil of a fight that was, and no +mistake,—three nights in the swamps without bread or +grog; I remember when we took that place, there was +a poor sinner that we suspected had some dibs. The +commodore seized him—devil of a man he was—‘Where +have you buried your money?’ Says he—says he—the +sinner, I mean, ‘I have no money,’ says he. Says the +commodore, says he, ‘you lie, you rascal, and I will +make you show me the coffers!’ He took the lubber—by +G—d I’ll never forget that day—not I: he took the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span> +lubber and tied a line round his head, just as if he would +season his head—as I would the main-shrouds—he tied +the line round his head, and took a hitch in it with a +marlin-spike, and twisted the line until you would ha’ +swore it would cut the lubber’s head in two. The sinner +sang out murder, but the commodore twisted the more, +and asked him for the dibs. He said he had’nt any. +‘Have’nt any, you rascal?’ cried the commodore, in a +fury, and twisted the line tighter and tighter, until the +eyeballs of the lubber swelled like a rat in a barrel of +pork. Lord! I never seed the like—and Jim Splice has +seen many things, too, I can tell you—but he still said +he had no money. At last the commodore got angry—a +terrible man he was when he was not, leave alone when +he was—‘Where is your money?’ he cried, more like a +devil than a man. ‘I hav’nt any,’ the poor man cried, but +that would’nt do: the commodore took his sword, +opened the poor fellow’s breast, tore out his heart, and +bit it, telling the other Spaniards he would serve them +just in the same way if they did not give him all the +money they had. By G—d, I’ll never forget that, anyhow! +I never seed human flesh eaten afore that—Jim +Splice never did—it was too much for me, hearch!” and +the old sailor made a hideous grimace. “Yes: I was’nt +much longer with that ere Llononois after that, I know.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span> +He was a brave man, though, after all, but nothing like +our captain. There was a black day for him, however, +ay, ay: that ere gentleman aloft keeps a good watch, I +know, and he kept a sharp look out on that ere Llononois +especially, and had the windward of him in no time. +The unfortunate man was cast away afterwards among +the same Spaniards, whose hearts he said he would eat, +and had to skulk in the woods where he shortly afterwards +died of starvation: by G—d, yes, of starvation.”</p> + +<p>“And serve him right, too,” the sailors unanimously +cried, “what was the use of killing a poor brute when +he could get nothing out of him?”</p> + +<p>With such anecdotes as this Jim Splice diverted his +companions. But there was on board of the schooner +that day another subject, which contributed largely to +the merriment of the sailors. This was no less a +personage than Jack Jimmy. After the examination of +the master fisherman, he, together with his companions, +had been released from the custody under which they +had at first been placed on their arrival on board of the +schooner, and after having been admonished that if he +threw himself overboard again, as he had once done from the +fishing-boat, he would be quietly permitted to be drowned, +he was left at full liberty to range the deck at large.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span> +When, however, the revelry began, still feeling strange, +and fearing lest he should be in the way of the men, he +had carefully rolled himself up at the foot of the mainmast, +with his head supported by both his hands; and +his eyes, the white parts of which could be seen at an +extraordinary distance, eagerly fixed on the movements +of the sailors. He had sat for a considerable time quiet +and unobserved, merely giving vent now and then to +his wonder, when that was heightened by any astonishing +event in the day’s amusement, by a laconic—“Awh! +wha dish ya Baccra debble foo true—Garamighty! look +pan dem!”</p> + +<p>When, however, the other things which had afforded +amusement to the sailors, began to pall; when the dancing +had become fatiguing, the songs had been exhausted, +and Jim Splice’s stories had lost part of their attraction, +the sailors began to look about for other excitement. It +was at this moment, an unhappy one for him, that their +eyes fell on the unfortunate Jack Jimmy: he was +observed in his crouching position, where it was difficult +to distinguish him from the ideal of a rolled up ouran-outan.</p> + +<p>Struck with the peculiar comicality of the exhibition, +the first sailor that remarked him burst out into an +immoderate fit of laughter, and then touched his neighbour<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> +and pointed him out; the next did the same to his +companion, until all eyes were fixed on Jack Jimmy.</p> + +<p>“What have we here?” cried a maudlin young sailor, +as he stood up and ran towards the object of attraction +the others immediately followed.</p> + +<p>“Let us see what is in that fellow, mates.”</p> + +<p>“Ho, the little prisoner!” rang among the merry +men.</p> + +<p>Three or four of them immediately tapped him on the +head jocosely, and asked him to sing: Jack Jimmy +trembling with fear, opened his eyes and mouth at once, +“Massa, me no sabee sing,” he replied.</p> + +<p>“Come, old boy! stand up—you must sing,” said one +of them, and they pulled up poor Jack Jimmy from his +recumbent position.</p> + +<p>If the appearance of the little man was calculated to +raise laughter when he was crouching, it was much more +so when he was standing up; and really there was something +in him peculiarly comical. He was a little man of +about four feet and a half, thickly set, and strong; his +face was rounded at the mouth, and his long bony jaws projected +to an extraordinary length in front. He seemed +to have no brow, there was no distinction between his +face and forehead; his huge large eyes looked like balls +inserted into two large holes, bored on an even surface,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> +while what was intended for a nose, was miserably +abbreviated and flat, added the culminating point to an +ugliness which was almost unique. To crown this +extraordinary combination, a short crop of scattered hair +grew on the top of his head, while the other parts were +bare and shining, and now stained a dirty white with +water.</p> + +<p>Nature did not seem to have been generous enough to +accord to him one single redeeming point; his head was +joined by a short neck to square heavy shoulders, that +rose about the ears of the little man; his legs were of +the same shapeless proportions, and terminated at the +base in large lumps of flesh, which seen unconnectedly +with their appurtenant limbs, would scarcely have been +taken for feet, if the short, chubby, and creasing toes, +that were fixed to them, had not indicated their nature. +To add more to this already ridiculous figure, the circumstance +of dress was called in requisition. Jack +Jimmy was clad in a dirty, ragged, checked shirt; with +lower coverings that were once brown, but which were +now of an obscure tawny color, acquired from the many +incrustations of dirt that had been permitted to be +formed upon them. The sleeves of the shirt were +tucked up in a roll which seemed to have become perpetual +from the smooth waxing which friction had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span> +imparted to it. The tawny trousers were done up in +like manner; and on the lower exposed parts of the limbs, +might be traced on the black skin, the embedded salt +which had settled there while the water trickled down +after the plunge of the preceding day.</p> + +<p>All these peculiarities, set forth in active prominence +by the fear and excitement of the present moment, were +quite sufficient to overcome the gravity of more serious +men than those who happened, at that time, to be at +the height of their merriment.</p> + +<p>“Garamighty, massa! me tell you me no sabee sing.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you can dance, then;” and one of the sailors +took a sword, and made so dexterously at the short legs +of the little man, that, to protect those members, he +began to jump about like a dancing puppet—to the +infinite gratification of the sailors, who roared with +laughter. This sport, however, soon ended.</p> + +<p>“Hark ye!” said a sailor: “Sambo, if you can’t +sing, you must submit to a penalty—bring up the old jib, +Domingo,” he added to one of his mates, “or a blanket.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, blanket him, ha! ha! ha!” cried all the men, +“blanket him, ha! ha! ha!”</p> + +<p>With the alacrity that sport alone can give, the +sailors immediately brought a sail, into which they +lifted the unfortunate Jack Jimmy, who, stupid with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span> +fear, all the while was crying—“Tap, massa—Garamighty!—you +go kill me,—oh, Lard!—my mamee, oh!”</p> + +<p>They raised him on the sail, and began to balance +him about, but Jack Jimmy, in the extremity of his +fear, apprehending that they were going to do something +dreadful to him, took a leap to get out of the sail, and +in doing so, was pitched flat on the deck.</p> + +<p>He stretched himself out two or three times, feigning +the last convulsions of death, and lay at his length with +his eyes tightly closed. The sailors laughed; and, seeing +clearly, from the heavings of his chest, that he was +not so dead as he pretended to be, began to roll him +violently about, as they said, in keeping with his own +feint, to bring back life. But Jack Jimmy played his +part well, and would neither open his eyes, nor show +any other sign of existence.</p> + +<p>At last, one of the sailors said, aloud—“I know what +will bring back the poor fellow: yes, it would be a pity +to let him die so; Jack, lend me your cigar.” Jack +lent his cigar, and the sailor applied the lighted part to +the thick great toe of the would-be defunct. He, however, +would not move, but the sailor was persevering; +Jack Jimmy remained quiet until the fire had fairly +burnt through the thick skin, and had touched the more +tender parts; when he felt it he was no longer dead;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> +he sprang up briskly, on his resting part, and, catching +hold of the toe, rubbed it with all his might, while he cried +out—“Gad, Lard! me dead foo true;—wy—ee bun +me foo true—Garamighty!”</p> + +<p>The merriment of the sailors was extreme; the +schooner rang with their protracted peals of laughter. +But while they were thus at the height of their pleasure, +the shrill sounds of a fife pierced the vessel; and as if +it were the death time of mirth and joviality; it was +succeeded by a silence, which can be imagined only, +where pestilence has ravaged a population, and has left +its gloom, even on the sickly trees and rocks that lay in +its devastating traces. It settled itself like a fear-inspiring +genius where, but a moment before, was naught +but boisterous mirth; the hour of pleasure was passed, +that of discipline and order had returned. One by one +the sailors retired to their quarters, lifting bodily, along +with them, such of their companions as had indulged too +extravagantly in the delights of drinking.</p> + +<p>To a stranger, the change was extraordinary. It +would have been hard to believe, unless one had been +convinced by the testimony of his own eyes, that there +was a power so infinitely strong, as to control those, +apparently lawless men, in the height of their self-willed +pleasure; especially, when their spirits were heated with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span> +strong drinks, and the fierce propensities of their +nature, were roused to a point when it was difficult to +restrain them; but such there appeared to be. What +was the spring, what the source, what the origin of that +extraordinary power? What had the man done, young, +as he seemed to be; and solitary, as he appeared, among +so many stronger men, to enable him thus powerfully to +impose the bonds of discipline, to recall and to sway a +number of such men in the midst of their boisterous +enjoyment? Was it the recollection of some dreadful +deed of firmness, still fresh in the minds and hearts of +those stern weather-beaten sailors, that sustained this +fear of their youthful captain, or was it the mysterious +influence of a curbing and omnipotent mind that chained +them to its volition, it is not our part to inquire; suffice +it to say, whatever the power, or however acquired, it +existed, and that it was strong enough to drive back +the sailors of the black schooner to the habitual discipline +and order that reigned on its board.</p> + +<p>The night was far advanced when the boat, which had +been sent on the watching trip, returned.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo was immediately informed that a large ship, +deeply laden, had passed the “Boca del Drago.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the officer, to the man who reported +these tidings, “you have done your duty faithfully, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span> +you have lost this day’s pleasure; mark it down and the +captain will not forget it. Get you to your quarters, +and to-morrow be early in my cabin—you may have to +appear before his excellency.”</p> + +<p>The man made a bow and retired.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“——Like lions wanting food,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Henry VI.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Morning, beautiful and clear, such as it is only in the +transparent regions of the tropics, had just come, when, +in obedience to the order of the preceding night, the +sailor returned to the cabin of Lorenzo. There he was +subjected to a more particular examination than the +leisure of the foregone night permitted, and he detailed, +with accuracy, the various little incidents which had +befallen him since he started from the schooner on his +commission.</p> + +<p>“The ship,” he said, “is very large, and seems to be +well manned. There were several persons on board, +who appeared to be passengers. We pretended to be +fishing, and we pulled backwards and forwards under +her stern as she was sailing slowly before the light wind, +so that we had an opportunity of observing her closely,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span> +and of seeing that on her stern was marked the ‘Letitia’ +of Bristol.”</p> + +<p>“The ‘Letitia,’” repeated Lorenzo, and a gloom +passed over his countenance, as he remained for a minute +or two absorbed by some devouring thought.</p> + +<p>“Did she seem to sail well?” at length, he asked.</p> + +<p>“Senor, the wind was light, and we could not judge +of that; but, from her build, I think she would be a +clipper,” answered the man.</p> + +<p>After Lorenzo had put some other questions to the +sailor he dismissed him, and requested that the master-fisherman +should be immediately brought. The latter +was, in a short time, conducted to the officer’s cabin, +where he was interrogated in the same manner. The +fisherman said it was the large ship which appertained +to the rich English merchant, and of which he had +already given information to the captain. The officer +dismissed him also, and sought, at once, the captain’s +cabin. He communicated the report of the party, and +in answer was ordered to go on deck, immediately, and +get ready to set sail. When Lorenzo was detailing to +his chief the report of the reconnoitring party, the +deepest physiognomist would not have been able to +discover a wrinkle or a mark in the face of the young +man, or to perceive the slightest change in his dark eyes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> +that could indicate the existence of any particular feeling +within. He sat like a statue, as silent and as still, with +his piercing eyes fixed on the pupils of the narrator’s, +who, from time to time, was obliged to look down in +order to relieve himself of the torture in which he was +kept by the eagle glance of his chief. But when +Lorenzo arrived at the part of the report in which the +description of the vessel was made, and the name +“Letitia” was mentioned, there might be traced around +his lips the rudiments of a sardonic smile of triumph—something +like the flash of a ponderous cannon when a +match is applied in the darkness of night, that dazzles +for a moment, and then suddenly dies away in the thick +enshrouding smoke that darkly typifies the terrible +gloom of the destruction which springs from its midst.</p> + +<p>Having heard the report of his officer, the captain +ordered him to proceed, at once, on deck, and get ready +to set sail. The officer bowed and retired.</p> + +<p>When Lorenzo had quitted the cabin, the captain +remained sitting in the same position in which he had +received the report, and appeared occupied by some +preying thought.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he muttered, “‘Letitia,’ that is the name: he +goes in it. Speed well my purpose!”</p> + +<p>The preparations on board the schooner did not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span> +require much time to be completed, and, in a few +moments, the captain himself made his appearance on +deck. It would appear, that except when the schooner +was under weigh, he never showed himself to his crew. +Like the priests of yore, who swayed mankind, he was +no doubt apprehensive, that if he exhibited himself too +frequently to vulgar view, the sailors, in getting familiar +with his person, should lose much of the veneration and +awe which they unquestionably entertained for him, and +which seemed to crush their wills to an implicit and +blind obedience to his.</p> + +<p>When he appeared on deck, he was attired in quite +a different fashion to the one in which he was seen in +his cabin. He wore black trowsers, with broad stripes +of gold on the sides, and a black frock coat, simply but +richly ornamented with embroidery of the same precious +metal. The red sash, as usual, was folded round his +waist, and supported the pistols and poniard; his head +was crowned with a flaming cap, in the front of which +was wrought the death’s head and dead men’s bones; +while, in addition to these things, a beautiful sword, with +gold mountings, hung by his side.</p> + +<p>“Weigh,” he said, to the officer on duty, as his foot +touched the deck; the vessel was immediately put under +sail. The light breeze of the morning filled her well-trimmed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> +canvass, and like a creature of life and grace +the Black Schooner began to cut through the water. +Scarcely a ripple marked where her sharp keel passed, +as she moved gracefully over the quiet waters of the gulf.</p> + +<p>The hills of the Bocas gradually arose more and more +distinctly before her, as she quickly approached them. +No scene perhaps in nature is more beautiful than the one +which presents itself to the mariner as he sails through +the narrow strait that affords a northern passage from +the Gulf of Paria.</p> + +<p>Standing in the midst of the clearest waters that +bathe in graceful ripplings their luxuriant base, are +clusters of small islands that are carpeted to the very +beach with fresh and never fading verdure. Like a scene +in a panorama, or like the trembling shadows which a +tropical moon casts over the silent lake or placid stream, +those islands seem balancing over a crystal surface, +that shines and sends forth a thousand undulating +reflections under the pure and clear rays of an undarkened +tropical sun: or, as they recede to the eye, +in proportion to the progress of the vessel, imagination +might convert them into the terrestrial realities of those +variegated spots which the musing poet is fond to contemplate, +to follow in their course, to speculate and +dream upon, in the transparent and lulling pureness of a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span> +summer sky. Above these are seen the blossoming coral-trees +with their scarlet flowers, that chequer the +densely wooded hills, and stand amidst the dense foliage +that surrounds them, marked and conspicuous like +thousands of growing wreaths, that administering +nymphs eternally offer to tropical nature in gratitude for +her marvellous and beautiful works.</p> + +<p>Over the shining waters themselves that lave these +hills and fairy isles, are seen the long-necked pelican, in +its shadowy flight, or its fierce headlong plunge after its +watery prey; the spiry smoke, as it ascends from some +reed-constructed cottage on the shore; the feathery +canoe of some solitary fisherman, playing, like a child of +the element, on the beautiful sea; the crooked creeks +and receding bays that conjure up thoughts of lurking +pirates; the sullen growling of the ocean, in long, high, +and heaving swells, as it rolls on the ocean-side: all these +mark the entrance of the Boca with the boldest and most +beautiful features of natural beauty that fancy, in her +wildest reveries, can draw and paint; while the gloomily +ascending mountains of Paria, on the left side, with their +precipitous falls, to be seen far, far away;—mountains, +that stand dark and dismal like sulky lions on the crouch, +and seem ready to fall—to fill up the narrow straits +below, and to bury, far beneath their weight, the frail<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> +structure of fragile wood that intrudes with its rash and +venturesome burdens into the very shadow of their black +brow, tend to add to the scene a solemn and terrifying +effect.</p> + +<p>The black schooner glided through the narrow outlet, +and rose outside on the boisterous billows of the +Atlantic.</p> + +<p>The captain paced the deck in deep reflection. His +dark eyebrows completely hid his eyes, which remained +fixed on the deck. Their long and silken lashes swept +the handsome young man’s cheeks, his lips were compressed, +and his black mustachios imparted a still +sterner, and more terrible appearance to his face. He +wore the aspect of one whose resolution was taken to do +a desperate deed, and whose nature still refused consent +and revolted at the thought, like him who sacrifices to +principle, and is doomed to drain a cup that makes +humanity shudder.</p> + +<p>He had directed the schooner to be steered in the +course which the ships bound for England generally take, +and men were stationed on her tall and raking masts to +keep watch. The day passed: night came; still the +schooner held her course, and silence reigned on board. +Not a sound was heard, save when the shrill pipe called +to duty, or told the hour. The next day came, and with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span> +it the order to prepare for fight, still there was no vessel +in sight. But the captain was not one to give orders in +vain. He knew his vessel, he knew the currents, and +could tell the precise hour when he would overtake a +vessel of whose departure he was apprized.</p> + +<p class="tb">The sun was just sinking in the horizon, when the +man aloft cried out—</p> + +<p>“Sail, ho!—to leeward.”</p> + +<p>The captain stopped, and ordered his telescope; with +that he discerned a speck in the distance, but far +away.</p> + +<p>“Keep her away,” he cried, to the man who was +steering:—“ease your jib, foresail, and mainsail sheets, +Gregoire;”—to the officer on duty; and the schooner +edged off.</p> + +<p>She sailed so fast that by midnight she was near the +object that had appeared in the horizon, and which was +now found to be a large ship gallantly careering over +the ocean. Her white canvass shone in the moonlight, +and the foam that gathered at her bows was brilliant +with the phosphorescence of the Caribean Sea.</p> + +<p>“Take in the fore-sail,” the captain cried; and that +sail was immediately lowered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span></p> + +<p>The sailors were now all armed with pistols, poniards, +and boarding pikes. As they stood grimly gazing on +the ship before them, their black beards, red caps, and +weapons, looked terribly dreadful, and the idea of some +bloody deed could not but be suggested by their +appearance.</p> + +<p>The fife sounded a peculiar note, and all the sailors +gathered at the foot of the schooner’s mainmast. Here +may have been heard the low whisperings of comrade to +comrade: there may have been seen the fierce eyes of +some, flashing, as it were, in anticipation of something +congenial. Some may have been observed to stroke +their raven beards as if out of patience; others, leaned +carelessly on their pikes. When they had properly +formed, the captain stopped in his nervous walk, and, +drawing himself up to the full height of his lofty and +commanding person, said:—</p> + +<p>“Associates, you have now another opportunity to +revenge yourselves on the world. There,” and he +pointed to the ship, “there you have the wealth of some +trader, that has neither capacity to enjoy it, nor heart +to use it. Remember how frequently you have wanted +the morsel which he could so easily have spared, but +which you never found. Remember your wrongs and +now redress them; take what the world would not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> +afford you. By the dawn of day we shall attack that +ship. I expect nothing less than that which I have +always found in you, give but your valour, and you +shall have the booty—the reward of bravery. Go, rest +yourselves until the morning.”</p> + +<p>This short speech, he spoke in a clear, deep, and +sonorous voice; while the features of the speaker seemed +more eloquent than his tongue. The bitterest hatred +curled his lip, when he delivered the first part, and animation +glowed on his countenance, when he spoke of the +bravery of his men.</p> + +<p>“Bravo! bravo!” broke out in loud and deep echoes +from the assembled crew. The sailors, one by one, +returned to the foremost part of the vessel, not without +having first cast an inquiring glance at the ship before +them. Some betook themselves to their hammocks, and +others sat together smoking their cigars and conversing, +in a low tone, on the probable events of the approaching +morning.</p> + +<p>The night waned: and, at last, morning came.</p> + +<p>The captain, who, after he had addressed his men, +had given orders to the officer of the watch to keep +the ship always in sight, but by no means to approach +her more closely, had descended into his cabin, now +re-appeared on deck. He walked up to the helm, looked<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span> +first at the compass, and then at the ship that was still +a-head of the schooner. The ship appeared now in all +her greatness. She was a large merchant-man, apparently, +deeply laden, but by no means an indifferent +sailer.</p> + +<p>“Hoist the foresail,” the captain said, and the sail +was again put on the vessel, that seemed to feel it, for +she now leapt over the waves like a snake on whose +tail some passer-by had accidentally trodden.</p> + +<p>“To your posts, my men,” the captain again said, and +the shrill fife re-echoed his command.</p> + +<p>With the silence of death every man took his station, +every gun was manned, every halliard was attended to, +while the sides of the deck were immediately lined with +men, who were armed with pikes and axes in addition +to their pistols and poniards.</p> + +<p>It is difficult to imagine the rapidity and calmness +with which these preparations were made. We must +call to the assistance of our memory the movements of +beautifully adjusted machines as they perform their parts, +to form an adequate idea of the promptness and ease with +which the hundreds of men on board the Black Schooner, +executed their captain’s order.</p> + +<p>The schooner now drew rapidly on the ship: she was +light, and was a fast sailer, and fully felt the light breeze<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span> +which was blowing at that early part of the morning. +Not so with the ship pursued: deeply laden, and comparatively +heavy, the light air had scarcely any effect +upon her, and she was moving along but tardily. When +the schooner had arrived within gun-shot from the ship, +at the captain’s order, a gun was fired, and the broad +black ensign, with the frightful device of death, ran along +the signal-line.</p> + +<p>The shot boomed athwart the ship’s bows, but she +paid no attention to the signal; on the contrary, additional +sails were immediately hoisted, and the vessel +was kept freer from the wind. But the schooner still +gained upon her.</p> + +<p>The report of another cannon, from her side, echoed +over the waters: still the ship kept her course. The +captain spoke not a word, but looked with haughty +calmness on the large vessel, as he stood lofty and erect +on the deck, with his arms crossed over his breast. +“Launch and man the boats,” he said, after a long +space of time had been permitted to escape; a loud +cheer, which they could no longer suppress, burst forth +from the men. More quickly than we can describe, the +hatches were raised, and two boats were immediately +hoisted out into the water; twenty men cheerfully jumped +into each, and stood ready for the order to shove off.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span></p> + +<p>The boats were towed at the sides until the captain’s +voice was heard—“Shove off and board,” he cried, in +the same composed and stern manner. A loud cheer +from the sailors in the boats, and their comrades on deck, +echoed the order. The boats leapt over the long waves +under the vigorous efforts of the men. They approached +the ship. They stood up, pike in hand, ready to climb +its sides.</p> + +<p>“Pull, my men,” cried the officer in command, “we +take her at once:” a flash was seen on the ship’s deck, +a loud report was heard, and, as the smoke ascended, +the shattered remnant of the first boat were seen floating +here and there, and those who had been in it, and, +a moment before, had longed so eagerly for battle, +were scattered about on the water dead and horribly +mutilated.</p> + +<p>The discharge from the ship told with a fatal exactness: +the gun, it would appear, had been loaded with +pieces of old iron, nails, and everything destructive that +could be found; and the charge swept away men and +boat with a dreadful crash.</p> + +<p>“Lay on your oars, my mates,” cried the officer of +the second boat, fierce with anger at the destruction of +his comrades: and in a few seconds she was alongside +the ship.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span></p> + +<p>“Board, board,”—quicker than thought the assailants +climbed the sides of the merchantman, but not to land on +deck: a dreadful conflict ensued. The men of the ship +resisted valiantly, like those who knew they were fighting +for their lives: the foremost assailants were dashed +into the deep. They slashed at each other—attacking +and attacked. The assailants handled their pikes with +fierce and unbreathing vigour, but they seemed to make +but little head against the men of the ship. Here and +there a boarder was to be seen, to hang to the ship for +a moment in his death-grasp, while blood and brain +gushed from his cloven head to balance a moment in +mid-air, and then fall heavily into the sea.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! hurrah!”—the cries of victory rose on +board the British vessel, as assailant after assailant was +precipitated into the deep, or sunk under the blows of +the men on deck. Now the survivors rushed, for security, +into the shrouds; now they clung to the ropes with teeth +and feet, while, with their pikes, they kept at bay the +opponents on deck. Like famished tigers, that would +have their morsel or die, they fought, falling, dying, and +almost dead: no shout, no word escaped them, but they +did their work in terrible silence. On, on, the English +sailors pressed. The shout of victory again rose; but +three of the assistants remained—they were partly sheltered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> +in the chains, and fierce as leopards at bay, they +felled all that dared approach them; their companions +were all cut down or driven over board; perspiration +ran down their brawny breasts; blood and foam +bubbled from their mouths; and, with eyes as dry and +lurid as the famished Panther, they slashed at their +hard pressing opponents. Suddenly a loud cheer was +heard; it rang over the ocean like the roar of a distant +cataract; the still resisting three heard it: a hoarse +cry came from their parched and husky throats.</p> + +<p>“The ‘Periagua,’”<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> one of them cried, and a long +canoe-like boat was seen rapidly approaching from the +schooner.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> <i>See</i> Appendix A.</p> +<p>[Transcriber’s Note: There isn’t an +Appendix A, either in this volume or in Volume 2. The term +‘periagua’ was originally used to describe the long, narrow +dugout canoes used in the Caribbean and in Central and South +America. By the date of this book, it was also applied to +small, flat-bottomed sailing vessels.]</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The captain of the schooner himself stood in the stern, +cool and collected, with determination marked on every +feature. The boat approached nearer and nearer—two +strokes more, and she was alongside.</p> + +<p>“Now save yourselves or perish:” so saying, the +captain drew a plug from the bottom—the water gushed +in—the boat began to sink; with the courage of desperation, +the pirates sprang on to the sides of the vessel. +Their swords glittered in the air, their pikes were +worked with the rapidity of lightning, the shouts of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span> +the attacked, the yells of the pirates, the splash of the +killed, as they fell headlong into the deep, rose wild and +appalling on the ear.</p> + +<p>The men of the ship received this new attack with +firmness: but they had already fought long; they began +to yield; their blows fell less rapidly.</p> + +<p>“On—on!” cried the captain, and in a moment he +himself was on the deck. With a wild yell the pirates +followed. The men of the ship now cried for mercy: +but the slaughter went on. Revenge directed every +blow—every stroke carried death. The voice of the +chief was at last heard above the confusion and death-cries.</p> + +<p>“Enough: spare and secure your prisoners.”</p> + +<p>The word arrested the sword that was raised to deal +the last fatal blow, and stayed the pike that had destruction +on its point. Every pirate gnashed his teeth +because his vengeance was stopped—but who dared +disobey?</p> + +<p>“Cut the halliards:” ’twas done; and the masts of +the ship in a moment stood bare, and she lay floating +like a log on the waves.</p> + +<p>The deck was crimson and slippery with blood; the +sailors of the ship, that had defended her so bravely, lay +in heaps, dead and dying.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span></p> + +<p>The commander of the merchantman himself was +stretched lifeless on the deck. He had rushed on the +captain of the pirates as soon as the latter had gained +the deck, and wielding with both hands a ponderous +sword, made such a blow at him as would have cut him +through; but by a slight movement the intended victim +escaped the stroke, and before the commander could +recover from the impetus of his own blow, the captain +pierced him to the heart with his poniard. Without a +groan he fell dead.</p> + +<p>As soon as the ship was captured, the captain issued +his orders to his men, that their wounded companions +should be properly attended to; and the boat which, +although it had been swamped, on account of its lightness, +had not sunk, should be secured.</p> + +<p>These commands were immediately attended to. The +pirates forthwith picked up their disabled companions, +that still clung to the wrecks of the first boat: or those +who, as yet, grasped, in a desperate effort for life, the +lower riggings of the ship of which they had laid hold in +their fall from the bulwarks or the deck.</p> + +<p>The hatches were raised, and they began to examine +the cargo. The captain himself, with two sturdy +sailors after him, descended the steps that led to the +cabin.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span></p> + +<p>Here were three persons apparently overcome with +terror. A man of about middle age leant on the +panelling of the cabin, with a long musket, surmounted +with a rusty bayonet, in his hands, which trembled so +much from extreme fear that they were utterly unable +to raise the weapon which they sustained. On the +floor lay a young lady in a swoon, while over her bent an +aged priest, anxiously awaiting the appearance of returning +animation.</p> + +<p>“Mercy, mercy on us!” cried the first individual, as +the captain entered the cabin; “take our money; I +have gold there; yes, there is gold in my cabin: but, +for God’s sake, spare our lives: for the sake of my +children and my family, spare an aged man, whose blood +can avail you nothing,” and the suppliant fell on his +knees, still grasping the unavailing musket.</p> + +<p>“Get up, man: kneel not to me,” said the captain, +indifferently. The voice struck the prostrate man like +an electric shock; with a sudden start he raised his +head, and gazed at the man before him.</p> + +<p>“What voice was that?” he cried, and passed his +trembling hands over his brow; and like him who +labours, by one violent and forcible effort of the mind, to +recall a thousand widely distant events; or like him on +whom dawns the recollection of some long-passed, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span> +horrible deed, he remained fixed to the spot, with staring +eyes and fallen jaws. Again and again, he passed his +hands over his brow,—“it was her voice!—what do I +hear?—what do I see?—No, it cannot be—yet so like +her:—no—yes—yes;—it is—my son.” He started, like +one in frenzy, from the cabin floor, and rushed on the +pirate chief. The latter drew back.</p> + +<p>“Keep away,” he said: “I am, indeed, your son!—secure +that man,” turning to his men; and, while giving +them this order, passed to the upper part of the cabin, +at the same time casting a look of the bitterest scorn +on him who had recognised him as his son.</p> + +<p>So intent was the aged priest on watching the recovery +of the young lady under his care, that he did not even +raise his eyes from her face during the above unexpected +recognition of father and son. But when the captain +approached the object of his solicitude, he suddenly rose, +and, throwing himself at his feet, implored him, in the +most moving accents, to spare the innocence and honor +of the young and helpless lady.</p> + +<p>The captain, with what could be construed into a +smile, bade him be re-assured.</p> + +<p>“Fear not, old man,” he said, “for the innocence and +honor of any one on my account; I value my time +much, and cannot spare a moment of it, either to blight<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span> +the innocence or rob the honor of damsels;—continue +your attention to the young lady.” He then walked up +to the seat at the top of the cabin table, and deliberately +and coolly sitting down, ordered his men to search for +the ship’s papers and bring them to him.</p> + +<p>There was not much difficulty in discovering these, +for the steward, who had carefully concealed himself in +his pantry during the attack, seeing that there was no +longer any bloodshed, now crept out of his hiding-place, +and offered his services to the searching pirates, on condition +that his life should be spared. By means of his +assistance, the papers of the captured vessel were +immediately rummaged out, and handed to the pirate +captain.</p> + +<p>He glanced over them for a time, and at length +musingly said, as if speaking to himself,—“The owners +are rich, and they can afford to yield up this cargo to +better men than themselves.” He then delivered the +papers to one of his men, and ordered the passengers’ +luggage to be searched. In the trunks of these were +found large sums in doubloons and other gold coins,—money +that had, no doubt, been destined to the buying +of many a European luxury.</p> + +<p>The search went on; and when the cabin had been +completely rifled of every thing that was valuable, the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> +captain proceeded on deck, and was followed by his men, +and the passengers, who were now prisoners.</p> + +<p>The pirates had, by this time, thoroughly examined +the cargo of the vessel, and had found it to consist principally +of the staple productions of the West Indies—sugar +and rum—together with a small quantity of other +minor commodities, such as tobacco and indigo. A +great portion of these light things was already collected +on the deck, where the pirates were assembled, waiting +for their chief.</p> + +<p>“What has she?” inquired this personage, when he +gained the deck.</p> + +<p>“Sugar and rum, your excellency,” one of the officers +answered, and remained in silence before his superior, +awaiting his orders.</p> + +<p>The captain seemed to consider awhile, and then +replied: “Stay here, and retain a man with you.”</p> + +<p>The men were immediately ordered to get the boats +ready to shove off to the schooner. Whatever light +things the pirates could stow away were put into them. +The wounded of their party were carefully lowered, from +the decks of the captured ship, into the boats. The +sailors of the ship, that had survived the action, were +placed in the bows of the Periagua; and the prisoners, +who, with the exception of the individual who had recognized<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span> +the captain as his son, were without restraint, +permitted to sit in the stern-sheets with the captain; +and the young lady, who had now recovered from her +fainting sickness, received all the attentions which the +most perfect civility could offer, and which were evidently +shown with the purpose of smoothing down the strange +position in which she found herself. The boats were +pushed off from the ship, that was left, sluggishly +rolling on the waves, under the charge of the two +men.</p> + +<p>The pirates shortly gained the schooner, which, +during and after the action, continued to lie to the +wind, at a short distance from the prize.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo, in whose command she was left, when the +captain headed the party of the Periagua, stood ready +at the gangway to receive his superior. No noise was +heard on board of the captured ship or the schooner +since the fight: the bonds of the same marvellous +discipline seemed, unknowingly to themselves, to control +the pirates, even at the moment of victory and +exultation; but when the boats came alongside the +schooner, human nature, it would appear, refused to +contain itself any longer: and those fierce men, who had +abandoned the entire world for the narrow space of their +small vessel, and the inhabitants of the vast universe for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span> +the few kindred spirits who were their associates—that +had separated themselves, by their deeds, from the +world, the world’s sympathy, and the world’s good and +bad, that had actually turned their hand against all +men, and had expected, as they had probably frequently +experienced, that the hand of all men should be turned +against them, could not restrain their feelings of welcome, +and three loud and prolonged cheers resounded, +far and wide over the silent ocean, as they were wafted, +in undying echoes, over the crests of the heavy and +heaving billows. As comrade rejoined comrade, their +grim and bearded faces appeared to relax from their +wonted habit of ferocity, under the influence of a +prevailing sense of joy: such a joy, those, alone, can +experience who have seen every natural tie break +asunder around them—who have felt the heavy hand of +a crushing destiny, or have been hunted and driven, by +the injustice and persecution of friend or relative, to +seek shelter in that desperate solitude, which is relieved, +but, by the presence, and cheered, but, by the sympathy +of the few, who, like themselves, have been picked +out by fate, to suffer, to be miserable, and to be finally, +cast forth from the society of mankind.</p> + +<p>The captain endeavoured not to restrain the joy of +his men; but he sat stern, collected, and unaffected as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span> +ever, in the stern-sheets of the boat. No sign of pleasure +or displeasure was written on his features: but if any +change could be read, it was the passing shadow of a +deep melancholy that rested, for a moment, on his +resolute brow. Perhaps the reminiscences of some bygone +period were playing on his memory; perhaps the +recollection of other days led him, in imagination, to +some cherished spot, where he was wont to hear the +joyful greetings of parent, friend, or lover. Perhaps the +remembrance of that one moment, when, even the most +unhappy, and the most perverse of men, feel for once, +the soothing influence of those mysterious feelings of our +nature, that melt, that soften, that gladden, and remain +for ever in our recollection, the lonely stars of comfort +in the heavy darkness of misfortunes. Perhaps the +remembrance of such a moment, now flitted across the +memory of the pirate captain.</p> + +<p>Whatever was the feeling that cast its hue over his +brow, like the passing shadow of a fleeting cloud, it +came—in the twinkling of an eye, it passed away; and +he remained, again, the inscrutable individual, that he +ever was.</p> + +<p>The captain, on gaining the deck of the schooner, +ordered that the prisoners should be properly treated: +“Let, however, that man,” pointing to the person who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> +had recognized him as his son, “be kept in close +custody.”</p> + +<p>Having said this, he looked around him on the +schooner, where the same order reigned as before the +attack, and went down into his cabin.</p> + +<p>The day was now nearly spent, the sun was setting +red, round, and fiery, as it sets only in the tropics.</p> + +<p>The light goods, which the pirates had brought with +them from the captured ship, and the prisoners, were +transhipped into the schooner. The boats were hoisted +into their places. The schooner herself lay in the +same position—motionless, under its counteracting +sails.</p> + +<p>Some time had already elapsed since the captain went +below, and no orders had, as yet, been given for the +night. The officer, whose watch it was, walked the +deck in anxious expectation of commands.</p> + +<p>The captured ship rolled at some distance from the +schooner, and it was apparent that it was necessary to +provide for her safety during the night that was now +setting in.</p> + +<p>The short tropical twilight had nearly passed away, +and darkness was gathering on the expanse of the waters, +when one of the negro boys, whom the reader may +recollect, sought the cabin of the chief officer, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span> +delivered to him the same ring by which, it may be +remembered, he, once before, gained admittance into the +captain’s cabin. As soon as Lorenzo received the ring, +he proceeded to the after part of the vessel and gained +admittance to his chief.</p> + +<p>The latter was still in his dark uniform and was sitting +by the large table that occupied the centre of the +apartment. A chart was before him; by its side +were, also, the papers which had been brought from +the ship.</p> + +<p>“Lorenzo,” said the chief to the officer, after pointing +to one of the ottomans, “it is my will that our prize be +manned, and sailed to St. Thomas, where we shall sell +the cargo. To-morrow, we shall deal with our prisoners, +and divide the spoils already gathered. Let a sufficient +number of men be sent on board the ship to-night, so +that she may be properly manned, in case of any +change of the weather. Let the schooner, in the mean +time, be kept lying to, under her jib; and let the prize +remain in the same position—a quarter of a mile from +us. At dawn of day, let all the men assemble on the +main deck, and wait for me.”</p> + +<p>The officer rose and bowed, to depart.</p> + +<p>“Stop, Lorenzo,” resumed the chief, “drink some +wine:” a spring was pressed, and immediately one of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span> +the boys in attendance brought in a richly cut decanter +and the necessary accompaniments. Lorenzo and the +captain, respectively, filled themselves a goblet and +quaffed it off in silence; after which the officer left the +cabin.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Come, my masters, let us share,—”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Henry IV.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Obedient to the commands of his chief, Lorenzo +drafted a number of men from the crew, and sent them +on board the prize ship. The Black Schooner was kept +in the position ordered by the captain; the proper +watches for the night were set, and those on board the +vessel retired to rest.</p> + +<p>At the dawn of the next day, a peculiar sound of the +fife summoned forth the whole crew of the schooner. +In the space of a few moments, above three hundred +men lined the long deck.</p> + +<p>With the habit of continual discipline, they fell into +order so quietly, that the space afforded by the deck of +that comparatively small vessel, did not for a moment +seem filled by the multitude which gathered on it. The +pirates stood accoutred in, what might be called, their<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span> +holiday dress. Their red woollen shirts and caps were +worn with some care; their sashes seemed more +symmetrically folded round their waists, and the weapons +which were stuck in them, seemed adjusted with more +than ordinary attention; while their black beards, faces, +and hands, presented that clean, sun-burnt, half-sea, +half-land appearance, which we easily discover in the +aspect of a sailor while on shore.</p> + +<p>The appearance of the crew, as it gathered that +morning, contrasted in a striking manner with that +which it wore before the attack.</p> + +<p>Before the action, the pirates stood like men who +were too much engrossed with one idea—one passion—to +be capable of any thought which was unconnected with +that. Their red caps were drawn carelessly over their +heads; their dress was that of men who could not afford +a moment’s time to its adjustment, while the wildest +ferocity sat on every line of their countenances. On +that morning the absorption of mind had ceased; they +seemed returned from the engrossing contemplation of +the sanguinary and the terrible, to the softer feelings +that lend to life those charms, which, empty though +they be, still are sufficient to enliven its monotony, and +sometimes even to smooth down its asperities. Their +habitual fierceness, too, had yielded to the contentment<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> +by which they seemed animated, and their features +were less rigid, and less ferocious.</p> + +<p>The men had been assembled some time before the +captain made his appearance: the change which was +observed in their aspect, could not be read in his. He +appeared the same, sternly collected, individual that he +always was.</p> + +<p>As soon as he appeared on deck, the officers respectfully +bowed. The captain then seated himself on a +deck-stool, which had been placed behind a small table +for him. The boys, who always attended him, then +deposited on the table several bags of money, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>“My men,” he said, when he had been seated, “our +booty in gold has been small, but we shall, no doubt, +find a sufficient recompense for our toil in the purchase-money +of the ship’s cargo, which it is my will to take to +St. Thomas’ to sell. Six thousand and five hundred +dollars is the amount of what we have got. This I shall +divide among you, and forego my own share until a day +of better fortune. Let the wounded approach.”</p> + +<p>Those who had been but slightly wounded in the last +engagement, and could bear the fatigue of walking, +stepped forward. They received shares larger than +those of their comrades in proportion to the injuries<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span> +which they had sustained. Those who had lost a hand, +an arm, a leg, or a foot, received four times the amount +of booty; those who had lost an eye, a finger, or a toe, +received twice the amount. When the wounded had +duly been recompensed, the captain then addressed +his men.</p> + +<p>“Comrades,” he said, “it was our misfortune to lose +some of our brave associates in the fight, let those who +were the friends of the dead come forward, as I call +over their names, and receive their share:—Diego—who +is Diego’s friend?” One of the pirates stepped +forward, and, raising his right hand, declared that he +was Diego’s friend. The share which should have been +that of the dead, was then delivered to his friend.</p> + +<p>“Martin,” continued the chief, “who was Martin’s +friend?” Another pirate stepped forward, and, raising +his right hand, in the same manner, declared that he +was Martin’s friend.</p> + +<p>The captain went on in this manner, calling over the +names of the lost comrades, and requiring to know their +friends, until he came to the last of the men.</p> + +<p>“Francis,” he cried, “Francis’s friend.” Two men +simultaneously stepped forward, and, raising their hands, +each declared that he was Francis’s friend. “How is +this?” the captain asked, “it is not impossible to have<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span> +more than one friend, but you know, my men, that it is +the custom, on board this schooner, to have but one man +to whom his friend may bequeath his share?”</p> + +<p>The men then looked at each other: and each looked +round at his comrades, as if appealing to them in testimony +of his right to be considered the friend of the +dead Francis.</p> + +<p>“He was my friend,” each said, and looked again at +their comrades, in corroboration of his claim; but the +pirates uttered not a word in answer to this silent +appeal.</p> + +<p>“My men,” said the captain, “this has never happened +here before: either Francis forgot his honor, +when he charged both of you to be his friends, when +dead, or one of you forgets his, when he asserts that he +is Francis’s friend. Now, Francis is no more, and cannot +answer for this; the responsibility of this breach of +honor, my men, rests, therefore, upon you: one of you +must lie.” The two men looked fierce when the chief +coolly pronounced this word. “You know the law—choose +your weapons—at six o’clock this evening you must +fight: the survivor shall receive the share of Francis.”</p> + +<p>A low murmur of approbation rang along the line of +the assembled sailors, and the two pretenders to the +favour of the departed pirate stepped aside.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span></p> + +<p>After the shares of the wounded had been duly +allotted, and those of the dead scrupulously delivered +into the hands of their friends; or, if there were no +friends of the deceased, carefully set apart for the purpose +of having masses said for them, the lots of the other +pirates were shared out to them.</p> + +<p>The officers of the schooner received theirs first, and +those who might be called the common seamen, theirs +afterwards. When the distribution was completed, the +prisoners and strangers on board were ordered to appear. +First came the surviving sailors of the prize ship. Out +of the complement of thirty-five men, who had formed +the crew of that vessel, five only had escaped death in +the engagement. These came forth, pale and haggard, +expecting, apparently, to hear every moment the dreadful +command which, in some horrible way, should put an +end to their existence. The five English sailors, with +the exception of one, whose years might be more mature, +were in the prime of life, and wore that hue of health +which their calling imparts: howbeit the anxiety of +the position in which they were placed had had its +temporary effect on them.</p> + +<p>They approached the captain with an air of uneasiness, +turning their hats about in their brawny hands, while +divers bumps might have been observed to rise now and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span> +then, and disappear immediately on their weather +beaten cheeks: probably they were the various protrusions +created by the quid, while it went through the +many revolutions in which it was then twisted.</p> + +<p>“What were your wages, by the month, men?” +inquired the captain, when the English sailors stood +before him, bending on them, at the same time, one of +his searching and stern looks.</p> + +<p>The sailors looked at each other, then at the captain, +and then at each other again, and could not, apparently, +be bold enough to reply, lest the question might, eventually, +prove to be some trap by which it was intended +to ensnare them into some confession or other that would +tend to aggravate their sufferings. The captain neither +showed signs of impatience nor renewed his question, +but remained still, looking stedfastly on the sailors, +with the cool composure of one who does not wonder +that others should feel embarrassed in his presence; +but, on the contrary, expects a degree of confusion +on the part of those who are addressed by him. The +oldest man of the five, however, at last spoke and +answered:</p> + +<p>“Three pounds a month, your honor,” raising his +hand, at the same time, to the part of his head where +the brim of his hat should have been, if that necessary<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span> +cerebral protection had happened to be in its proper +place at the time, and not in his hands.</p> + +<p>“Have any of you received any advances on your +wages?” again inquired the captain.</p> + +<p>“Half of a months’ wages have been paid at home, +your honor,” answered the old tar, of which answer, +when he had duly delivered himself, he looked anxiously +round at his four companions respectively, and seemed +to inquire, “what will this lead to?”</p> + +<p>The captain drew from a purse several pieces of gold, +which, when he had divided into several small sums, he +gave to the sailors.</p> + +<p>“There are your wages,” he said, as he tendered the +money to them, “for the five months that you have been +on the voyage, we give, and do not take from such as +you.”</p> + +<p>The sailors looked bewildered. They could scarcely +believe their ears, and they cast glances of amazement +at each other. Even the appearance of money, it would +appear, could not re-assure them; they put out their +hands to receive the tendered wages like men who were +afraid to receive something that was given lest danger +should be attached to it.</p> + +<p>“We shall land you on the nearest head-land,” continued +the captain, “in the mean time, you may enjoy<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> +your liberty. If any of you wish to join my men, you +can do so. The rules of the ship are few: I require but +one thing—obedience. Death is the penalty of the +least breach of discipline.”</p> + +<p>Having said this, the captain waved his hand, and the +English sailors fell back behind the assembled crew.</p> + +<p>The master fisherman and his men were next brought +forward. They had by this time become perfectly at +home in the schooner. The master fisherman found +that the life, which he would be likely to lead on board +would suit his Spanish blood, and Spanish character, +well. Down to that time, also, he had been well treated.</p> + +<p>It is true, the discipline of the schooner had appeared +to him, accustomed as he was to the free and independent +life of one of his calling, rather hard and unbearable; +but the good companionship, and the profits of a pirate’s +life were sufficient, in his estimation, to outweigh that +inconvenience. As for Jack Jimmy, and his other man, +they, too, had familiarized themselves with their position: +the latter seemed to care but for little, in this +world, beside the luxury of eating, drinking, and sleeping. +He found the schooner capable of furnishing him +with those three things, and was not, therefore inclined, +like the generality of mortals, to grumble about more, when +he already enjoyed the three elements of his happiness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span></p> + +<p>The former, Jack Jimmy, it is true, was of a less +contented, and more restless disposition; and the order +and monotony of the schooner, to say nothing of the +continual fear in which he had at first been kept, by the +mystery of his novel position, tended to make him long +for his own cabin; or, at best, for any other situation +but the one in which he was then placed. He became, +however, by degrees more satisfied, the longer he +remained in the schooner; for, he was not ill-treated in +the first place, and the tricks which the men played +upon him, the voyage, and the other things—except, +perhaps, the fight—which had happened since his arrival +on board, contributed, in the second place, to afford that +excitement which, it would seem, his nature craved.</p> + +<p>As the master fisherman appeared, the captain +delivered to him a purse, and said:</p> + +<p>“That will compensate you for the time you have +lost: you will be landed soon, you, and your men.”</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy had followed his master, or rather had been +thrust forward with him, in a state of nervous trepidation. +The movements of the little negro were as brisk +and as rapid as those of a monkey. His head turned on +his shoulders like a weather gauge in a storm, while his +large white eyes were stretched open to their utmost +width. His head seemed to be turned forwards, sideways,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span> +and backwards at the same time. One would +have said that while he looked before him, he was afraid +he should be struck backwards, or sideways; while he +looked sideways, that he should be struck either from +before or behind; and while he looked backwards, he +was afraid that he should be struck from before or from +the side.</p> + +<p>He was going on thus, like an automaton in violent +action, when the sound of the captain’s voice fell upon +his ear. He seemed, at that moment, struck motionless. +He fixed his eyes on him, lowered what supplied +the place of eyebrows, opened his mouth, threw his +head and neck as far forwards as he could, and remained +rooted to the spot in deep examination of the young man +before him.</p> + +<p>This did not last long; for, with his, usually rapid +movements, he threw himself at the foot of the captain, +before he had quite finished the few words which he had +addressed to the master fisherman, clasped his knees +franticly in his arms, and yelled out,—“Garamighty! +da ee—da ee—da me young massa.”</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy sobbed aloud, as he the more tightly +clasped the knees of the captain. The latter looked down +calmly and coolly on the little man, seemed to recognize +him, but said not a word to him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span></p> + +<p>Pained by the apparent forgetfulness of his young +master, he raised his head, and, looking imploringly up +to the captain Jack Jimmy cried out, piteously:</p> + +<p>“You no know me—you no know me, massa—you +no know Jack Jimmy—you no ’member Jack Jimmy +in de mule-pen—you—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do recollect you, Jack Jimmy,” interrupted +the captain, “but you must neither make such a noise +here, nor continue where you are.” He made a sign +with his hand, and two men stepped forward and led +away the affectionate Jack Jimmy.</p> + +<p>“Ah! my young massa,” continued the affectionate +negro as he was taken away, “ee bin da gie me cake—he +bin da gie me grog—an when dey bin want foo beat +me ee bin da beg foo me.”</p> + +<p>When Jack Jimmy had been led away behind the +assembled crew, and had been prevailed upon to become +silent, which change did not take place in him until he +had been threatened to be again rocked in the sail, +the priest and the young lady were, in their turn, led +forth. The former, although it was perceptible that he +anticipated the gloomiest results, still had a resigned and +serene air. He looked calmly on all that had taken +place that day, and, perhaps, there might be read in his +eyes a certain expression of surprise, that the pirates<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> +did not at once act with that blood-thirsty ruffianism +which he had been accustomed, from his earliest schoolboy +readings, to attach to men of that abandoned +life.</p> + +<p>The young lady was, naturally, much more affected +by the circumstances of her situation; kindness, however, +had not been spared to reconcile her to it as much +as possible.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo had been strictly enjoined to show all marks +of attention to her; and he seemed not to have required +the positive command of his chief to do so: for she had +at her command the chivalrous devotedness, which great +beauty always draws from even the most stoical of men. +She was exceedingly beautiful; such a species of beauty +that we meet only in the tropics,—a beauty which we +can compare to no known standard: something that +belongs entirely to the warm clime by which it is produced; +something that is more of the fanciful than of +the real. She was of a middle age, slender, and of a +perfect figure; her features were delicately and nicely +chiselled; her complexion was of the clearest white, +tinged with the slightest olive; her dark brown hair +hung over a high and nicely moulded forehead, while +her dark gazelle-like eyes imparted to her face a character +of tenderness and softness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span></p> + +<p>The officer had exhibited the greatest solicitude on +behalf of the fair captive from the moment she came on +board the schooner; and now, when she stood on deck, +weak and nervous, he might have been observed, from +time to time, stealthily to give her as much assistance +as the rules of the vessel permitted, and to pay her, +perhaps, more attention than even the commands +of his chief could have been intended to require +of him.</p> + +<p>When the priest and young lady stood before the +captain, he spoke but very few words to them.</p> + +<p>“You will be landed,” he said, as he looked at the +two persons, “with the others, on the nearest cape.”</p> + +<p>He waved his hand, and the captives were led away.</p> + +<p>Lastly, the man who was found in the cabin of the +captured ship, armed with a musket, and who had +called the captain his son, was then led forward. +Unlike the other prisoners, he was strictly guarded, and +seemed to be treated with a severity that was the very +opposite of that moderation which had been so generally +and unexpectedly shown to the other prisoners that +were in the same situation with himself.</p> + +<p>The captain cast a stern and penetrating look on him, +as he was brought before him, and said, in his stern +indifferent manner:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span></p> + +<p>“Prepare, to-morrow, for your trial; you know your +crime.” As he said this, he waved his hand.</p> + +<p>The prisoner seemed tongue-tied for awhile, his countenance +betrayed the most despondent fear; he seemed +to become conscious, at once, of some great offence, +under whose weighty recollection his whole faculties +appeared overwhelmed.</p> + +<p>He stood before him whom he called his son, and +seemed to entertain for him more fear than any of the +stranger prisoners who could claim no relationship or +parentage to move his pity or secure his forbearance. +He could not utter a word for the short moment that +he stood before the captain, but when the pirates, who +guarded him, laid their hands roughly upon him, to pull +him away, the fear, the surprise, the consciousness +which, till then, had deprived him of speech, lost their +power under the influence of the terror that now +seized him.</p> + +<p>“But—what—what is my offence? how dare you? +My own son, to—” here one of the sailors, who guarded +him, threw his sash over his head, and bound it so +tightly behind, that not even a murmur of the unfortunate +prisoner could be heard, as he was led away to +the foremost part of the vessel.</p> + +<p>The chief now rose and retired. The crew silently<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span> +returned to their own quarters, and the Black Schooner +which, a moment ago, was full of animation, was now +left again quiet and apparently solitary, gracefully +riding over the sparkling waves under her jib and half-mainsail.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Why, I will fight with him upon this theme,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Until my eye-lids no longer wag.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Hamlet.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The captain had retired from the deck of the schooner +but a short time, when the sounds of the gong, which +was the usual instrument for announcing a day of +pleasure to the sailors, echoed over the vessel. The +sounds were received with joy, and, in a short time, the +deck of the schooner again presented the scene of life, +which it had done but a few moments ago, but which +had been momentarily succeeded by the contrasting +stillness of death.</p> + +<p>On this occasion, however, the sailors were not standing +in the stiff restraint of discipline and duty, as then, +but they delivered themselves up to enjoyment with all +that impetuosity of pleasure, which strict constraint +and proper separation of relaxation from labour necessarily +produce. No boisterous mirth, nevertheless,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span> +obtained among them now, as on the other day. They +were occupied in either speaking about the prize-ship, +and the prospect of their booty, or in speculating upon +the enjoyment which their share of the mornings’ division +would procure them, when they should be allowed +a day’s sport in some friendly harbour. The liquors, +which they had taken on board of the ship, circulated +freely around, and the choice tobacco which had also +fallen into their hands, contributed largely to their +gratification.</p> + +<p>The English sailors, who had been induced to make +themselves easy by the forbearance with which they +were treated, and had been invited by the pirates to +mix in the merriment, joined freely in the carousals of +the day. By that mysterious sympathy which instinctively +exists between people of the same country, and +children of the same soil, they had been drawn together +around Jim Splice, and were now expressing their +surprise at what they had seen, and experienced on +board the Black Schooner.</p> + +<p>“Ay, ay, shipmates,” said Jim Splice, in answer to +them, “you have come from a far country, hav’nt you? +ha, ha! you thought you were done for, eh? when you +saw our pikes, and our skull and bones; ha, ha! my +hearties, you did’nt know us: and, when you came on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span> +board, you expected to be made to walk the plank, eh? +We don’t look for men’s lives—what booty does that +give? we look for something better; and if you, or that +stupid skipper of yours was’nt foolish enough to fire +upon us, why, we would have taken your money and +your ship, to be sure, but those comrades of yours, that +have now gone to their reckoning, would be here now, +to take a glass of grog with old Jim Splice. But, by +G—d, that was a reg’lar rattler that you gave the first +boat—I never seed the like. It was foolish, though; +what could your skipper gain by that?”</p> + +<p>“Why,” replied one of the sailors, “you see we had +but one gun to fire salutes with, and our skipper had it +loaded with all kind of material, and pointed it himself. +He thought, you see, you would have cut away after +the first discharge, you see.”</p> + +<p>“Then, by G—d,” replied Jim Splice, “he counted +without his host, my hearty; no one has ever seen the +stern of this here Black Schooner,” striking the deck on +which he sat, with his hand, “as is commanded by that +ere captain you spoke to this morning; and you may +take my word for that, I know. That man that you +saw this morning, I tell you, is the very devil, when +his blood is up; he fights like a tiger—a reg’lar +tiger.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span></p> + +<p>“But, who is that old lubber that looked so miserable +this morning—him who was guarded?”</p> + +<p>“We don’t know much of him,” answered one of the +sailors, “but I have heard our captain say that he was +a rich old codger. I know he sent on board as many +hens and sheep as would keep us on fresh provisions all +the voyage if it had’nt so happened as we were taken. +But why was he guarded that way?”</p> + +<p>“Hum—no one knows,” replied Splice, “I guess +there is some misunderstanding between him and our +captain; if so, God help him! for those who have misunderstandings +with our fire-eater never get on well, I +know; old Jim Splice would’nt be in that lubber’s +ducks for the richest West Indiaman that ever carried +sugar, I know.”</p> + +<p>Here Jim Splice remained silent for a few moments, +during which time he seemed to be wrapt in serious +reflection.</p> + +<p>“By G—d,” he continued, “I was saying, yes—yes—I +saw him once—ay, our captain, punish a shipmate +that had’nt obeyed orders, and I sha’nt forget that, I +know. Those that sail well with our captain are treated +like his children, but God help those who cross him in +his tack, all young and quiet as you see him!”</p> + +<p>Splice became again silent, and looked absorbed, as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> +if his memory was returning to some bygone scene in +his chequered life.</p> + +<p>“But, my hearties,” he said, when he had been silent +for a considerable time, “will you go ashore, or remain +with us? This is the schooner for any man of spirit; +by G—d! I should’nt leave this ere craft if they would +give me the finest palace to-morrow. Here we lead the +lives of men—ay, tough brave men—ay, no lubberly +coxcomb to make us jump about, or talk to us in oaths, +by G—d, no. Every man here is a man; he has only +to observe discipline, that’s all, no mistake there, my +boys; overboard with any one who does’nt keep the +rules—ay, this is the craft, my hearties. But what is +the matter there?” as he said this, he pointed towards +the bows of the vessel, where three men were standing, +and seemed to be objects of attraction to all the other +pirates, for the eyes of the whole crew were turned +towards them. “Ah! I see,” observed Jim Splice, +“it is my two shipmates of this morning, that are going +to fight it out. That’s a bad business: we never see +things of this sort on board this here craft; two men +never claim the share of a dead comrade.”</p> + +<p>It was, as Splice had justly remarked, the two men, +who had claimed the portion of the departed Francis, +under the pretence of being his friends. The other<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span> +person, who was standing by them, was the officer of +the watch, whose duty it was to see the order, which +the captain had given in the morning, carried into +effect. As soon as it was six o’clock, he had proceeded +forwards, and reminded the parties that the time for +the duel had arrived. He found the two men, who +were about to join in deadly fight, drinking with their +comrades, apparently thoughtless of the bloody deed +which they were now bound, by the order of the captain, +to execute. One of them, however, did not seem +as gay as usual, although he made strong efforts to conceal +the thoughtfulness which now and then shewed +itself in his dull and uneasy manner. It might be +imagined that some serious thoughts of parent or child +were forcing themselves on his unwilling memory; or, +perhaps, remorse for some deed that was horrible +even to his piratical conscience was at that moment +haunting him.</p> + +<p>When the officer had reminded the two men that the +hour was come, they proceeded with him to the bows of +the schooner.</p> + +<p>The officer placed himself by the combatants with the +evident purpose of being a witness, or, rather, the witness, +to the deed.</p> + +<p>The two men, who were to fight, proceeded in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span> +mean time to prepare for the combat. They undid +each his sash, and folded it carefully round his left arm, +examined the edges of their poniards, and placed themselves +in attitude, with the left arm raised, as if supporting +a shield. This was done with the most astonishing +coolness, not a word was spoken between the +antagonists, not a malignant or malicious glance escaped +from either the one or the other, but the features of the +two men that faced each other were locked in that grave +fierceness which is too deep to be expressed by changes +of the countenance.</p> + +<p>Having completed their preparations, the intended +combatants stood for a time inactive, each apparently +expecting the assault of the other, and displaying in +their manly attitude the muscular fulness, bold glance, +and resolute eye, which we admire in the statues of the +ancient gladiators that art has bequeathed to our contemplation. +They seemed by no means eager to assail +each other; they evinced not the impetuosity of men +who rush on each other in the out-burst of their rage: +they seemed to be about to do something which they +were, indeed, obliged to perform, but from which their +natures revolted; their blood was too cold for the deed; +the small portion of a dead comrade was too little to +fire their spirits and spur them headlong on each other.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> +Still they were obliged to fight. When both had stood, +however, in this manner for a long time, the one who +in the morning had first claimed to be Francis’s friend, +suddenly rushed on his antagonist, and raising his +poniard on high made at his opponent.</p> + +<p>By a sudden movement of the body the latter avoided +the blow; as quick as thought the other drew himself up +in his former position, and before his antagonist could +regain the equilibrium which he had partly lost by bending +his body to avoid the blow, he aimed a deadly stab, +and the glistening poniard descended in sure destruction +on the left breast of the stooping antagonist; but a +dexterous parry with the muffled arm averted the blow, +and the poniard passed harmlessly through the scarf. +The apathy or indifference which existed at the beginning +had now passed away, and the fight began to warm. +The two fighters plunged with desperation at each +other, but both seemed equally expert in the use of their +weapons. With the agility and the pliability of serpents +they avoided each other’s blows by the rapid movements +of their bodies, while their feet scarcely moved from the +place in which they were at first planted. On—on they +rushed at each other, but in vain: they were well +matched. The fight now became still more animated; +anger, rage, disappointment, could now be read in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span> +grim faces of the combatants; their nostrils distended +wide with fatigue, the perspiration poured down their +dark faces, and their lips, curling high with rage +and scorn, exhibited their clenched teeth, white +and glistening beneath the shadow of their black +mustachios.</p> + +<p>With a dreadful thrust, one at last buried his poniard +deep into the neck of the other.</p> + +<p>Exasperated by the cut, the wounded man made a +desperate rush on his antagonist, who bent his body a +little to the side and gave way to the assailant. Borne +away by his own impetus, and already weakened by the +wound, he staggered forwards a little, and fell flat on his +face. The victor waited for a moment for his antagonist +to rise, but the unhappy man had received his death-blow, +and remained prostrate on the deck. The other, +after this, did not seem to take the slightest notice of his +opponent’s fall, but proceeded with coolness to unfold +his sash from around his arm and to wipe his bloody +poniard. The officer on duty immediately went to the +assistance of the fallen man, and summoning two of the +men of his watch, ordered him to be removed from the +deck. The two sailors bent over the wounded man to +lift him, but they were sullenly repelled. He was the +pirate that had claimed the share last.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span></p> + +<p>“Leave me,” he sullenly cried, “leave me, I say; +let me die here.” The sailors drew back.</p> + +<p>“Come, comrade,” said the officer, “you cannot +expect us to let you remain here—remove him, my +men.”</p> + +<p>The sailors endeavoured again to lay hold of the man, +but, with the impulsive strength of death, he brandished +his poniard about him and kept them away.</p> + +<p>“Let me die here, and be damned to me!” he exclaimed, +“I was not Francis’s friend, and I have deserved +to be killed this way,” and he churlishly dropped his +head on the deck.</p> + +<p>The sailors, who stood around the dying man, were +surprised and shocked by his confession, for no instance +of such base falsehood had ever been known before on +board the Black Schooner. A strict sense of honor was +maintained among the pirates. This was not only +enforced by the stringent laws which existed, but was +cheerfully cultivated by the men themselves, from +motives not only of obedience, but self-preservation, +for they were fully persuaded that the least breach of +honesty among themselves, would be the end of their +individual security, and the dissolution of their society.</p> + +<p>Besides, to men of such dispositions, accustomed as +they were to act openly and to hazard their lives boldly,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span> +such acts of calculating meanness were naturally disgusting.</p> + +<p>It may be said that the very illegitimate pursuit in +which they were engaged was itself dishonesty, but it +is to be recollected that they considered piracy not +in the shocking light in which better and more delicate +minds justly view it; but they looked upon it more +like adventures, in which men of spirit could engage +with as much honor, as in fighting under the banners of +stranger kings, for the purpose of conquering distant +and unoffending peoples. They viewed, therefore, this +act of meanness, on the part of the fallen man, with +disgust, and the commiseration which was at first so +spontaneously shown as to an unfortunate party in a +duel, was immediately withdrawn when the dying man +disclosed his crime.</p> + +<p>The officer who witnessed the combat, upon hearing +the confession, proceeded immediately to Lorenzo and +reported the circumstance. That officer heard him +with much concern: he knew the extreme penalty that +was attached to such an offence, and his heart was +sickened at the thought of an execution. He listened +to the report of the officer until he had finished, and +remained silent for a time, apparently meditating either +intercession or some other means of avoiding the fatal<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> +punishment which he well knew the crime of the man +would entail. Every hope, however, seemed to give +way in succession, for, after he had remained silent for +some time, he said, shaking his head:</p> + +<p>“I wish to Heaven that man had never come on +board the schooner, or that he should have died, at +least, with his own secret. I shall communicate these +things to the captain: but I pity the poor fellow.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly he left his cabin, and got access to that +of the captain, when he repeated the report of the +officer on duty. The captain heard him with the same +grave and apparently apathetic coolness which characterised +him, and then repeated, in his deep sonorous +voice, the fatal sentence—“Let the punishment be +executed upon him.”</p> + +<p>While Lorenzo was communicating the latter part of +the intelligence, there might have been discovered a +slight falter in his voice, and some embarrassment in +his manner. He seemed to tremble at the consequence +which such a short sentence would produce, while he +himself was under the sad obligation of pronouncing the +words which would bring about the fatal results that he +seemed to dread so much. He, however, had managed +to inform the captain of the poor man’s crime, and he +still hoped that the circumstance of his being already at<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span> +the point of death, from the wound which he had received, +would suspend the punishment which he but too +well knew would follow that which, in the Black +Schooner, was accounted the highest guilt.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo, therefore, anxiously watched the countenance +of his cold and stern commander, in the hopes of +being able to read in the expression which his report +would produce, something that would lead him to +believe that the unhappy culprit should be spared the +horrors of an execution, when the hand of death seemed +to be already laid so heavily upon him. But the features +of the captain changed not: it is true, the minutest +scrutiny may have detected a transitory alteration in +the eyes, but that was more terrible than assuring. It +lasted but for a moment, the face wore its own cold +severity when the fatal “let the punishment be executed +upon him” was pronounced.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo silently rose, bowed, and retired. No man +ever pretended to advise the chief; he seemed one who +held counsel but with himself, he carried his discipline +and his doctrine of expediency so far, that he never permitted +either the suggestions of his officers, nor heard +the prayers of mercy when once his commands were +issued. Lorenzo knew that: more tender than his pursuit +should have made him, he felt deeply for the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span> +wretched man who was doomed, that hour, to die for the +satisfaction of the rigid laws of the schooner.</p> + +<p>When Lorenzo left the cabin of the captain, he went +on deck, where he gathered the men about him. These +had continued in their places during the duel and the +scene which ensued, apparently unaffected and unmoved +by what was passing before them. During the most +animated part of the combat, they had become as silent +as if they were dumb, while their eyes were rivetted on +the two who were fighting. But as soon as the duel +was over, they fell again into the strain of mirth and +revelry, which had been for a short time suspended, and +the stabs and passes of the late combatants became the +subjects of an animated conversation and of criticism.</p> + +<p>But as soon as the wounded man had made known his +crime, a general indignation seemed to seize the pirates.</p> + +<p>They talked low and sullenly, and appeared to expect +every moment something whose anticipation already had +the effect of damping their hilarity.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo repeated to them, for the sake of form, that +which they already knew, and then repeated the +sentence of the captain. The pirates spoke not a word, +but a deep silence reigned among them. The officer of +the watch was then requested to cast lots among his +men for two who should execute the sentence. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> +two on whom the lot fell, preceded by the officer, shortly +came up to the wounded man. They seemed very +much dissatisfied with the duty that had devolved upon +them.</p> + +<p>The officer bent over the wounded man and reminded +him that he had violated the most binding of their laws, +and, at the same time, had exposed the life of a comrade +to his own poniard, when he knew all the while +that he had no right to contend for the portion which +had been bequeathed by one dead comrade to another. +He repeated the usual sentence passed in that case, and +stated that the captain had also ordered its execution, +and told him that within a few moments he should no +longer live.</p> + +<p>“Have you,” he asked, in conclusion, “any request to +make?”</p> + +<p>“No,” answered the wounded man, with the same +sullenness as before.</p> + +<p>The two men now raised the culprit on the bulwarks +of the schooner. One of them supported him there, +while the other proceeded to attach to his legs two +cannon-balls, which were strongly tied up in pieces of +old canvass. The culprit watched these preparations +with the most unmoved indifference and most sullen +cynicism. By this time he had lost a great quantity of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span> +blood, and his face was horribly pale and haggard, and +wore under the shade of his malignant eyes an expression +of deep malice, accompanied with a spiteful feeling +against all men on account of the disappointment he had +met, and the discomfiture which he had experienced in +the fight. He spoke not a word; not a tender feeling +seemed to warm his heart at that moment. The +many years which he had, no doubt, passed among those +from whom he was on the point of being cast away for +ever, seemed not to recall to his gloomy recollection one +single happy, or convivial moment which he might +fondly contemplate; nor did the remembrance of some +distant friend, of mother, or sister, or of wife, appear to +force itself upon the man, whose moments were now +numbered; but stolid, cold, and sullen, he lay on the +bulwarks—on the brink of his existence.</p> + +<p>The chest and other effects belonging to him were +now brought and placed also on the rails. To them +were also attached cannon-balls, and they were supported +in that position by one of the men who seemed to await +the orders of the officer.</p> + +<p>They had not to wait long: the officer made a sign, +and the wretched man, with his effects, was precipitated +into the deep. A few bubbles arose to the surface, and +the ocean rolled on over the executed pirate. Not an<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> +eye followed the splash, not a pirate looked where the +waters had settled for ever over their victim, but the +crew seemed to erase, at once, from their recollection +the existence of their late dishonest comrade. They +still sat at their cans, but the elasticity of the +revelry was broken, to those grim men themselves such +a death was solemn: the recent execution damped +their spirits, and their pleasure was no longer like +pleasure. The men and the officer returned to the +duties of their watch. The sun sank in the horizon, +night came, silence resumed its wonted reign, and the +Black Schooner rode in the stillness of the deep over +the long lazy billows of the Caribean Sea.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Merchant of Venice.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>As soon as the sun had risen the next morning, the +crew was again summoned to the main deck. They +appeared, as on the day before, in their best costume, +and fell into the same order.</p> + +<p>The seamen, who belonged to the prize-ship, together +with the master fisherman and his men, were placed by +themselves, while the priest and the young lady were, +as a mark of distinction, accommodated with deck-stools +apart.</p> + +<p>As soon as the men had assembled, the captain made +his appearance on deck. He was appareled in the +uniform, which it would appear he always wore when he +was out of his cabin: the deep red cap, with the skull +and cross bones, also covered his head. The expression +of his features, if possible, was that of even more gravity<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span> +than usual, and the melancholy cast which stamped that +gravity was, perhaps, somewhat more deepened. He +seated himself immediately on a chair, which was ready +there for him, and ordered the prisoner who, the day +before, had been dragged away to close confinement, to +be brought forward.</p> + +<p>This individual was immediately escorted from the +forward part of the vessel, and placed in the space +reserved within the two lines of pirates, and face to face +with the captain.</p> + +<p>The prisoner was a man somewhat above the ordinary +height, of a demeanour which might have once been, to +a great extent, commanding, but which seemed to have +parted with whatever of native dignity it possessed, in +proportion, as the spirit of excellence and elegance, +which usually imparts character to the exterior, gave +place to thoughts either of sordid pursuits, or to mean +and selfish cares. He was now slightly bent, more, +perhaps, from carelessness to his gait than with age: +for his years could not have been very many. His +hair, that still grew thick and bushy, was only just +beginning to show a silvery tinge. His features were +marked and manly, and must have been, at one time, +very handsome, though now they were stamped with a +disagreeable appearance of coldness and selfishness,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span> +which was calculated to arouse, at once, in a stranger’s +mind, a strong prejudice against the individual; while +his sharp, twinkling, cozening eyes, in particular, that +shone from under a veil of shaggy eyebrows, that flew +from object to object, that rested on no man for a +moment, nor dared meet the glances that they encountered, +conveyed immediately an idea of the lack of that +firm, unequivocating honor which is essentially necessary +in the constitution of a proper character.</p> + +<p>When the prisoner was placed before him, the captain +fixed upon him a deep, penetrating, and earnest look, +that made him cower, and then slowly and solemnly +pronounced these words:—</p> + +<p>“James Willmington, before God, and in the presence +of these men, and in the name of Nature, I accuse +you of having violated one of the most sacred and most +binding of her laws; of having abandoned your offspring; +of having neglected the being whose existence +sprang from yours, and for whom you were bound by a +holy obligation to care and provide.”</p> + +<p>The captain paused for a moment, and still kept his +penetrating and unaltering eye fixed on the prisoner. +The latter, on hearing this charge, raised his eyes in +affrighted surprise, but quickly looked down as he met +those of the pirate captain, while his color came and went.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span></p> + +<p>“You shall be witness against yourself: because, +although I lately took proper measures to make myself +certain, that you were the individual who was indicated +as the person that was my father; still, not having ever +known you, and not possessing any tender instincts to +guide me with regard to you, I should have always felt +some slight doubt about your identity, if your fear, and +miscalculating cunning had not, the day before yesterday, +unwarily betrayed you into an avowal which, I must +admit, I was not ready to hear from your lips. These +men shall be your judges. You will be permitted full +liberty to express yourself, at the proper time, as freely +as you may think proper, omitting nothing that you +may believe to be conducive to your safety. I shall +reserve to myself the part of passing sentence upon you +and of directing its execution; and I promise you, that +whatever defence you may be able to make shall weigh +as heavily as lead in your favour: for I should be loath +to punish you if even you can contrive to justify yourself.”</p> + +<p>“But what is the meaning—?” the prisoner began to +inquire.</p> + +<p>The captain pressed his finger firmly on his lips, and +Willmington was daunted into silence. The pirate +captain then went on:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span></p> + +<p>“I need not now call it to your recollection,” he said, +“that I am your son. Your memory, which all along +was so unfaithful on that point, seems to have suddenly +improved, when you saw me in the cabin of the ship +which I had taken, and then you remembered well that +I was your son. By your own confession, therefore, I +am saved the trouble of proving for my satisfaction +the natural connexion which exists between us. It is, +therefore, undoubted and settled, that I stand towards +you in the relation of son to father, or, in other words, +speaking more scientifically, I am your immediate progeny. +This is clear. Now, by certain feelings which +are implanted in us, and which are considered the +laws of the Creator, written on the heart of man at his +creation, we are admonished that the care of those +who spring immediately from us, is one of our principle +duties. But, as we are so apt to mistake habits for +innate feelings, perhaps it will be better and safer, not +to proceed on this one, however strong or indisputable +it may appear. Let feeling, therefore, or instinct, +be entirely eliminated, and let us appeal to Nature +herself in her manifestations—to Nature that never +errs. You admit that I am your son—your offspring; +you owed me as such offspring, at least, protection +until I was strong enough to provide for myself and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span> +to avoid injuries. Contrast now your conduct with +your duty. You are aware, that from the hour of +the birth of this, your son, up to this, you have never +taken the trouble even to inquire what had become of +the being of whose existence you were the secondary +cause; whether the mother, of whom he was born, had +survived to nurture him; whether he was exposed, in +the helplessness of infancy, to the privations which overwhelm +even maturer age; or, worse still than all, whether +he had fallen into stranger’s hands, to be the humble +object of capricious charity. You did not trouble yourself +to learn whether the cold winds froze him in the +very beginning of life; whether he was a prey to the +beasts of the woods, or whether the vultures of the air +had pecked or torn him, or had fed upon him; he was +forsaken, and left unprotected by the person who had +given him life—life, which with kindness is made +happiness itself, but which by unkindness is rendered +worse than the bitterest misery. The tiger will tear +to pieces the bold intruder that menaces, nay, that approaches +its cubs, and, fiercely fighting, will die for the +protection of its young. The solitary bird of the desert +will open its vein, and make its parched young ones +drink of its life blood, then die; the venomous serpent +will writhe and twist under the fiercest foe for its hatchling;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span> +but you, unlike the tiger, the bird, or the serpent, +not resembling even the most ferocious brute, or the +lowest reptile that crawls upon this earth, you cast +away from you, and shut out from your mind and heart, +until a cowardly consideration for your own safety made +remember it, the blood of your blood, and the flesh of +your flesh, which even the common affection that you +have for yourself—your very essential selfishness itself—should +have made you love and cherish; or, at least, +feed and water. I am your son; I charge you with +having abandoned me from childhood; what defence +can you make? I give you ten minutes to reflect and +to answer.”</p> + +<p>The pirate captain then ceased: his eyes were fixed +on the deck, his arms were crossed over his breast, and +his features were locked in cold but firmest determination, +and he had the air of one, who was resolved to go +through a prescribed form with patience and precision. +The men embraced the opportunity afforded by this +pause to interchange looks one with the other. Their +usual ferocious character of mein was heightened for +the history which their chief had just partly related, no +doubt recalled to the greater part of those men who +stood that morning on the deck of the Black Schooner, +the injustice, whether real or merely supposed, with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span> +which they had been treated by others. Victims to +wrongs and injuries which others had heaped upon +them, they had permitted their feelings to become cankered. +Accustomed for the most part to the circumstances +of an easy, and as far as some of them were +concerned, an estated position, they could not in the +hour of adversity, bend to the petty pursuits of life, +while their pride, at the same time, would not let them +lead a different sort of existence among those who were +either their companions or their inferiors in their better +days.</p> + +<p>Turning their backs on pretended friends and unkind +kindred, they had fled to the protection of the sea, +where they could enjoy the doubtful comfort of their +misanthropy to the full, and feed at pleasure on their +own griefs; while their sword was ready to be used as +well for pleasure as for booty, against the whole world +to which they at the same time boldly and fearlessly +gave defiance. The recollection of other days, however, +fell upon their spirits, and how scared soever their sensibilities +might be by a thousand scenes of blood, how +hardened soever by long familiarity with misery, still +those impressions to which in the day-dreams of their +youth they had fondly bound their happiness, could not +but be awakened by the tale that seemed to hold up to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114"></a>[114]</span> +each of themselves the fleeting reflection of their own +hopeful, but long since spoilt and blighted existence.</p> + +<p>It was resentment, so strong as to have primarily germinated +disgust in their hearts, and next a distaste for +the society of their species, that had made them separate +themselves from mankind and wander misanthropically +about, until they eventually found themselves combined +with others as unfortunate, as unenduring, and as proud +as themselves; it was resentment of injustices of a +similar nature to the instance to which their chief was a +victim, that had changed their lot, and hating still the +causes of their unhappiness, they were eager to wreak +vengeance upon any individual to whom they could +bring home any such offence. They interchanged +fierce looks with each other, cast now and then dark +and boding glances on the prisoner, and portentously +stroked their dark and flowing beards. As for the +prisoner himself, he appeared confounded; still there +was not that vacant appearance of embarrassed simplicity +about him which we generally observe in those +that are innocent when unhappy circumstances put them +at a loss. His was a distressing confusion—the confusion +that conscious guilt, too clear to admit of even the +shifts of equivocation and falsity had produced—a confusion +that was doubled by the mortifying, degrading,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span> +and overwhelming fact, that his accuser, the witness, and +the sufferer from his offence was his own son. The guilty +father therefore stood dumb before the son—the judge.</p> + +<p>The ten minutes had now elapsed, the captain raised +his head, and said,</p> + +<p>“Do you then say nothing in your defence?”</p> + +<p>“I—I—I do not understand what all this means,” at +last Willmington falteringly said.</p> + +<p>“So much the worse” dryly observed the captain.</p> + +<p>“You charge me with an offence,” continued Willmington, +“which you make worse than it is; you must +remember men are not punished in society for such +offences, and I do not see why I should be ill-treated on +its account, when others are not.”</p> + +<p>An indistinct smile played about the lips of the captain, +as he answered,</p> + +<p>“That is no defence.”</p> + +<p>“Beside,” Willmington went on to say, “what right +have you to constitute yourself my judge?”</p> + +<p>“The right,” answered the captain, “of an injured +man, who avenges the wrong done to himself, and also +to one who was his nearest and dearest blood, and +whose memory demands justice.”</p> + +<p>“But, by the laws, a man cannot redress his own +wrongs,” said Willmington.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span></p> + +<p>“By what laws?” inquired the captain.</p> + +<p>“By the laws of the land,” answered Willmington.</p> + +<p>A sneer was to be traced on the rude lineaments of +every pirate’s face, when this answer was given.</p> + +<p>“Look up there, man,” said the captain, as he pointed +to the black flag that was floating gracefully from the +half lowered gaff, “while that flies there, there is no law +on board this schooner save mine and great Nature’s. +Look around you, on the right and on the left, you see +those who know no other laws but these two, and who +are ready to enforce them. Look still farther around, +you see but a waste of water, with no tribunals at hand, +in which complaints may be heard, or by which grievances +may be redressed. Place no hope, therefore, on +‘the laws of the land.’ Have you any thing more pertinent +to urge?”</p> + +<p>“I have to request,” replied Willmington, still more +embarrassed, “to be landed with your other captives, +that is all.”</p> + +<p>“Is that all?” coolly observed the captain; then +turning to his men, he said, “my men, you have heard +my accusation against this man. He seems unable to +defend and justify himself. It is my intention to punish +him by making him suffer that which I have had myself<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span> +to undergo. Be you witnesses that I have given him a +fair and open trial.”</p> + +<p>“Bravo, bravo!” ran in deep, but subdued tones +along the ranks of the pirates.</p> + +<p>“Listen to your sentence, James Willmington,” continued +the captain, “you are guilty, in my opinion, of +the greatest crime which an individual, as a man and a +father, can commit. You have prostituted the law of +nature to your own selfish gratification, perjured yourself, +and given that life for which you neglected to provide +and care. I have afforded you an opportunity of +showing yourself innocent—if you could—of this grave +charge. You have not been able to do so. The +punishment I design you is this: you will be cast adrift +on the ocean; you will have an empty cask to rest +upon; you refused me bread—I refuse you shelter on +board of my schooner; you are guilty of what we all on +board this vessel abhor; you are, therefore, no proper +companion for us, and you must be thrust forth from +among us. I shall, however, take care that you should +survive as long as possible, that you may be the more +able to realize the pangs of that famine which I endured +by your heartlessness. In two hour’s time the sentence +shall be executed. Prepare to meet your Creator. +Lead him hence.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span></p> + +<p>“Good God,” now cried the prisoner, his eyes seeming +to be about to fall from their sockets with fear, as +the full extent and reality of his danger, now clearly +struck him, “good God, surely you do not mean to +murder me: have mercy on me, I beseech you.”</p> + +<p>The captain did not raise his eyes from a paper which +he had taken from the breast of his uniform, and which +he was then reading. “But,” continued the prisoner, +as the pirates prepared to drag him away, “remember, +I am your father, you owe me honour and respect—how +dare you, raise your hand against your parent?”</p> + +<p>The captain at these words suddenly raised his head, +and cast an angry and steadfast look on the prisoner, +and after the lapse of a few seconds, during which he +kept his eyes still rivetted on him, he said, with biting +scorn—</p> + +<p>“Remember that you are my father! you ought to +ask me to forget it. It is because I remember you are +my father that I shall now prepare for you your just +measure of suffering. It is very probable you never +expected to be called one day to account by the son who +was the fruit of a delightful indulgence, but which was +to be considered no longer than during the short space +which it afforded you pleasure. Very little do you, and +such as you think, when in the turpitude of your perjured<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span> +souls, you delude the confiding and helpless things who +sin from too great a confidence in your protestations of +honor, or rather, are too innocent to detect your falsehoods, +that the beings to whom you may give life are +things who like yourselves may possess feelings, and +who may one day seek to avenge the treachery practised +on their mothers. Selfish man! your selfishness pursues +you at the very moment when your existence is in all +probability about to end. You crouched to me, and +sought to propitiate me by a show of paternal sensibility, +when you saw me enter with my friends the cabin +where you stood writhing in your terror, and to-day you +again remind me that I am your son. Now your paternal +feelings are very strong, and your memory remarkably +faithful when you expect to save your life by remembering +me. But you, of course, recollected nothing +of me, nor were you so feelingly sentimental when I +once wrote to you for the mite, which you would never +have missed from your treasures. Your selfish artifice +shall avail you nothing here. In two hours, as I have +said, you will be cast adrift on the ocean. Men, lead +him away.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“O Lord—me thought what pain it was to drown!”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Richard III.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Willmington was taken away and confined to the +part of the schooner in which he had been kept since his +arrival on board. The crew remained in profound +silence, in the same order, and the captain was silently +studying the paper which he had in his hand, and from +the perusal of which he had a little before raised his +head to address the prisoner.</p> + +<p>After the lapse of a few moments, he handed it to +Lorenzo, and requested him to have a machine made +according to the plan set forth in it.</p> + +<p>The chief officer bowed, and took it to the officer of +the watch. The captain then slowly rose, cast a look +around him on the ocean and at the prize-ship, then +descended the cabin steps.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span></p> + +<p>The men dispersed, and, in a short time, the deck +remained in the occupation of those only whose duty it +was to keep watch at that time.</p> + +<p>At the bows of the schooner a carpenter was now to +be seen busy at work. He was labouring in the greatest +haste. Before him was a plan, and a young officer, the +one in command, might be observed now and then to +leave the sacred boards of the after-deck, and walk +forward to inspect the thing that the man was constructing.</p> + +<p>Two hours had now elapsed since the captain had +passed sentence on the prisoner, and the time had now +arrived to execute it.</p> + +<p>The moments that completed the two hours had +scarcely fled, before Lorenzo came on deck. He proceeded +immediately to inspect the machine which he had +ordered to be made, in obedience to the commands he +had received.</p> + +<p>The captain himself, a short time afterwards, made +his appearance. The machine was ordered to be brought +to the gangway, where he carefully examined it. It +was made of an empty cask, to which something like +the keel of a ship was attached. This appendage was +covered with heavy sheets of lead, for the apparent +purpose of being made to keep downwards, and so to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span> +prevent the machine from rolling over. The upper +part was provided with a wooden seat, made in the +shape of a Spanish saddle, the bows of which rose +very high, and were crowned with a piece of flat board, +which seemed intended to answer the purpose of a +shelf.</p> + +<p>When the captain had examined this machine, he +ordered that a few biscuits should be secured on the +shelf above mentioned, and, at the same time, commanded +the prisoner to be led forth.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, the deck had become again +crowded, for every one knew what would take place at +the end of the two hours, which had just expired. But +the pirates were not now drawn up in the same order as +before. They crowded in the foremost part of the +vessel, some lounged on the bulwarks, others bent over +the riggings, watching, in moody calmness, what was +going on. No one dared assist in the preparations +except those who formed the watch of the hour. The +captive priest, also, with his beautiful ward, stood leaning +on the taffrail of the schooner, isolated, as it were, +amidst the many that were on board the vessel.</p> + +<p>The prisoner was brought forward to the gangway. +He was haggard and worn: the feelings of the two hours +which intervened between him and that doom, which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> +was worse than death, concentrated as they were into +the intensest agony, preyed like gnawing worms upon +his body.</p> + +<p>“Hear my last prayer, for mercy’s sake!” he cried, +with passion, to the captain, as he threw himself at his +feet, “oh! spare me this dreadful death; give me but +life, and I shall give you all I have.—Can you treat +your father in this manner? Oh, my son—my good +son—my beloved son! I shall give you all my property—if—”</p> + +<p>“Bind his arms,” said the captain.</p> + +<p>The arms of the prisoner were immediately seized; +he resisted madly and violently, and, in the strength of +desperation, he shook off the first pirate that attempted +to lay hands on him. But he was quickly mastered, and +his arms were tightly tied with small cord behind his +back. The machine was now supported perpendicularly, +and it resembled, as it stood in that position, a horse +ready saddled.</p> + +<p>The prisoner became still more agitated and terror-stricken +when his arms were bound, and his cries were +more piteous and heart-rending.</p> + +<p>“Oh! ask mercy for me, my men,” he cried, imploringly, +to the pirates around him, whose coolness seemed +to mock his wretchedness, “I shall make you all rich;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span> +do not—do not throw me into the sea. Holy father, +holy father,” looking towards the priest, “you may +succeed, you may move him, you may curse him; ask +mercy for me—do not let me be drowned.”</p> + +<p>“Put him on,” the captain said.</p> + +<p>The wretched man was lifted bodily, and laid astride +upon the cask.</p> + +<p>“Curses on you! do not—do not, for your soul’s sake, +murder me,” he cried, and struggled like those who +alone can struggle who see death before them.</p> + +<p>But it was of no avail. The pirates seized his legs, +and tied them tightly underneath the cask, so that the +miserable prisoner had not the power of making any +other movements except that of inclining his body a +little backwards and forwards.</p> + +<p>“Fix the tackles.” The tackles were adjusted.</p> + +<p>“Fiends! hell hounds,” he yelled out, as the first +strain of the ropes was felt on the cask, and laid hold of +the pirate that was next to him with his teeth—another +strain, and he held between his teeth a shred of the +man’s woollen shirt.</p> + +<p>The cask was hoisted up, to be let down overboard. +The cries of the fated Willmington increased still more—he +roared franticly. The cask with the prisoner balanced +between the masts of the schooner for a moment, in cruel<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span> +suspense, while not a sound was to be heard, except his +hoarse, pitiful, and moving cries.</p> + +<p>The pirates looked on with sullen calmness; the captain +was the same imperturbable man. But the priest +could not withstand this moving scene; he threw himself +at the captain’s feet, and earnestly begged him to show +mercy:—“mercy,” he added, “that was the most +acceptable offering to heaven.”</p> + +<p>“Good priest,” answered the captain, “if you can +soothe the end of that wretched being, do so. But +pray not to me, I never change.”</p> + +<p>Slowly—slowly—slowly—the cask, with its living +rider, who was shrieking like the damned, was lowered: +it reached the water: the tackles were unfastened, and +away, away, it slowly floated on the long high waves +that bore it rapidly from the schooner.</p> + +<p>The roars and cries of the prisoner rang over the +silent sea. Every eye was rivetted in awful intentness +on the cask and its burthen. The captain alone was +turned away from the direction where his father lay +pinioned on a cask at the mercy of the winds and waves. +He cast but one glance on the cask as it was lowered +into the sea, and never looked at it again.</p> + +<p>Indifference—indifference, as cold and as icy as death, +indifference, such as nature can admit but only when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span> +every fibre of feeling is burnt into hard callousness by +the searing iron of some deep unpardonable offence, +had wrapped its clammy folds around his heart.</p> + +<p>Reader, have you ever felt the absorbing love that +sank and merged your existence into that of a cherished +object, and have you ever felt the gall of sneering ridicule +from her? If you have, then you know the feeling +that possessed the pirate captain. Have you ever demanded +bread from a parent whom you may have loved +to excess and received a stone, or have you ever asked +water from the author of your existence and received +poison? Then you can fancy the captain’s sentiments, +or have you ever, while straining your industry and +energy to the utmost, been ground down to misery and +despair by him from whom nature taught you to expect +love and protection, while he himself was rioting in profuse +abundance? if you have, and we trust heaven has +always preserved you from such a bitter experience, +you can then realize the feeling which existed in the +bosom of the pirate captain.</p> + +<p>“Make sail,” the captain said to the officer of the +watch, after he had cast a glance on the horizon.</p> + +<p>The schooner which, during all this time, was lying +to the wind under only a half of her mainsail and jib, +was immediately put under the press of all her sails.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> +She had shot a-head for some yards, when the captain +gave orders to change the course.</p> + +<p>“Ready about.”</p> + +<p>“Ready about,” was echoed forwards in the firm +disciplined tones of the sailors.</p> + +<p>“Hard a-lee.”</p> + +<p>“Hard a-lee,” the man at the helm answered.</p> + +<p>The helm was put down, and the long snake-like +schooner bore up gracefully to the wind, the sails +fluttered for a moment, and she leaned smoothly on the +other tack.</p> + +<p>Like a dolphin she cut through the water; the spray +played about her bows, and the waves barely touched +her sides as she glided through them.</p> + +<p>A signal had been made to the prize-ship, and she, +too, was put under full sail.</p> + +<p>Away—away—the schooner went, and left far, far +behind, the wretched being who had been thrown overboard. +He could scarcely now be seen, it was but when +the cask rose and fell on the crest of the heaving +billows that a glimpse could be had of him. But his +cries still reached the flying schooner. They gradually +grew fainter and fainter; then they came like the +intermittent moans of agony, low, and few, and far +between, and then they were heard no more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span></p> + +<p>The captain gave his orders to the officer on duty +to steer a certain course and then left the deck.</p> + +<p>The day had by this time passed, and the fleeting +twilight of the tropics was yielding to the darkness of +night. The crew of the schooner betook themselves to +their respective quarters. But the priest and his ward +still lingered on the deck. Their strained eyes were +fixed in the direction where the cask and its load had +disappeared, and fancied they saw, every moment, the +unfortunate Willmington rise, now and then, in the dim +crepuscule. But they watched in vain, and saw not +what they imagined they did. Far, far out of sight was +the cask already borne, and Heaven only knew whether +the living being, that rode upon it, still drew the breath +of life.</p> + +<p>Saddened by the event of the day, they at length, in +melancholy silence, left the deck, when the darkness had +increased and had deprived them of the power of +continuing their useless watch. Night, then, closed over +the Black Schooner; and the faint ripplings of the +water as she glided through, were the only sounds that +might fall on the listening ear.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Say that upon the altar of her beauty</div> + <div class="verse indent0">You sacrifice your tears, your sighs, your heart.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Two Gentlemen of Verona.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Silence reigned over the schooner. The pirates had +retired to their hammocks, and all, except the men of +the watch, were wrapped in sleep.</p> + +<p>In his cabin, in the centre of the vessel, Lorenzo sat +alone and pensive. The hour when he ought to have +betaken himself to his berth had already long passed, +but he still sat in his chair at the head of the table that +stood in the middle of his cabin. He was still dressed +in his uniform, nor were his arms even removed from +the sash that bore them.</p> + +<p>He sat gazing silently on the lamp which burnt suspended +from the deck. One would have imagined he +was in deep contemplation of that vessel, if the vagueness +observable in the fixed gaze of his eye, did not too<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span> +plainly tell that the subject of his thoughts, the object +of his contemplation was not the thing which was at +that moment before him, but some other which was in +his mind.</p> + +<p>The flying hours passed: Lorenzo was still sitting in +his chair in the same absorbed contemplation. Now a +placid smile would play over his features, now they +would be locked in the fiercest sternness. There seemed +to be in him at that moment a conflict of emotions deep +and violent.</p> + +<p>At last, as if he had taken a final resolution, “I shall +do it!” he exclaimed. He then drew from a desk +materials for writing and penned a letter.</p> + +<p>When this was done, he took off his boots, put on his +slippers, and enveloped himself in his thick boat cloak.</p> + +<p>He then cautiously opened the door of his cabin, in +which the light was carefully extinguished, and went +out.</p> + +<p>He proceeded down the long passage which led to the +captain’s quarters, and in which opened a door that led +to the cabins occupied by the priest and his beautiful +ward.</p> + +<p>Stealthily and quietly Lorenzo moved down the passage; +a lamp faintly burnt at some distance from the +entrance to the captain’s cabin, and by its dim light<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span> +might be seen the dark outlines of the men who, at +intermediate distances, guarded the corridor.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo could not but feel some alarm when his eyes +fell upon those tall forms, for he was conscious that he +was treading on forbidden ground, where, to be found +without the ring—the usual passport—was instant +death. Such was the rigour of the discipline in which +alone suspicion could hope to find security.</p> + +<p>It is true he was not within the circle of the captain’s +quarters, but, nevertheless, his being discovered in the +passage at that time of night, and in such guise, +would lead to consequences equally as fatal, as if he had +trespassed on interdicted ground.</p> + +<p>His careful concealment of his person, and the change +of his boots, would have worn such an aspect of conspiracy +in the eyes of his superior, that nothing could have +been strong enough to blot out the distrust which the +latter would ever afterwards entertain of him, if even +the consideration of his services and old friendship should +have proved strong enough to induce the captain to +spare his life.</p> + +<p>The thoughts rushed in an instant on the officer as he +stood for a moment looking at the erect and steady sentinel +at the end of the passage before him.</p> + +<p>They fell on him with all the weight and dreadful<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span> +truthfulness which they possessed. He remained for +a moment irresolute, but at length the daring spirit +which his mode of life had fostered, and that indescribable +feeling people call love, but which is as incomprehensible +as it is omnipotent in its influence, nerved him +against the danger which he apprehended, and he took +two or three steps forwards with the same caution with +which he had come into the passage. But he had gone +only a few steps when he saw that the attention of the +sentinel was drawn in his direction. The latter had +changed his straightforward look and was seemingly +endeavouring to discover some object which had +attracted his notice up the passage.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo stood—his worst fears he thought were about +to be realized. He saw at once the certainty of his +being detected, and the consequences of that pressed on +his mind.</p> + +<p>The thought, too, which always afflicts ingenuous +minds, when they are conscious that they are not culpable +of an offence from which they instinctively recoil +with horror, but with which circumstances conspire to +charge them, fell heavily and miserably upon him.</p> + +<p>The most desperately situated always hope—there is +a hope almost in despondency itself; Lorenzo still hoped, +in spite of the peril before him, that he would escape<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span> +discovery. He knew that he could not be seen by the +sentinel in the darkness of the passage, and expected +that the latter would turn away, when he found that +nothing was to be seen. Lorenzo, therefore, remained +quietly where he was. The sentinel continued to gaze +earnestly up the passage, and at last came out of his +niche, and began to walk straightway towards Lorenzo.</p> + +<p>“I am lost,” the officer said to himself, and at once +made up his mind to stay where he was and surrender +to the sentinel. The man came towards him, but there +was such indecision in his walk, that the officer could +not fail to perceive, at once, that the man on duty was +only taking a walk to see if there really was any one in +the passage, without being actually certain of his +presence.</p> + +<p>“There may be a chance of escape, yet,” he said to +himself, and drew himself closely up against the side of +the passage.</p> + +<p>As the sentinel approached, his anxiety increased. +The sentinel drew nearer and nearer: the officer drew +himself up closely—and more closely; the sentinel was +now but a few steps from him, he pressed still more +closely on the side. Gently it yielded, and Lorenzo +caught himself as he was just falling in the inside of a +cabin.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span></p> + +<p>With wonderful presence of mind, he closed the little +door that had admitted him, and heard the heavy footsteps +of the sentinel as he passed it on the outside.</p> + +<p>With breathless anxiety he listened to the steps; he +heard them diminish until the sentinel had arrived at the +extreme end of the passage, and heard them grow more +and more distinct as he returned at the same leisurely +pace.</p> + +<p>Again and again the man on duty passed his door; it +was, therefore, clear that he had not been discovered; +but, as his anxiety about the man outside diminished, +new fears arose with regard to the place in which he +found himself. How was it that the door of that +cabin had been left open, when such regularity usually +existed on board the schooner? Was there any one at +the time in the cabin? if so, the same danger that +threatened him outside would meet him within: for +self-preservation had taught every officer, and every +sailor of the Black Schooner, that their safety could consist +only in the strict observance of its laws in their own +persons, and the rigorous enforcement of them in others. +Every one seemed to know, instinctively, that the chain +which was so variously formed, could be preserved only +by a careful protection of each particular link. +Lorenzo knew if any one was in the cabin, and if he were<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span> +there seen under such circumstances, the person would +make it a point of duty to report it to the chief. His +alarm, therefore, which had partly subsided, grew again +upon him. He remained in the deepest silence and +attention, listening to the steps of the sentinel outside, +who was still patroling the passage from his niche to its +extreme end.</p> + +<p>He endeavoured, also, to listen for the breathing of +any one that might be in the cabin, for he wisely concluded, +that if any person was there, he must assuredly +be asleep, or else he should have heard him when he +accidentally tumbled in. But he heard nothing.</p> + +<p>His anxiety, however, was not satisfied. He crept +softly by the bed, and listened again, but still he could +hear nothing; he passed his hand over the narrow berth, +but there was no one there.</p> + +<p>“Ah! I see,” the officer said to himself, “it is the +cabin of José.”</p> + +<p>It was the cabin of the officer who was then on duty, +and Lorenzo breathed more freely; but his anxiety was +soothed down for a moment only, for he immediately +recollected that the night was already much spent, and +that the watch on deck would shortly be relieved; his +difficulty was thus in no manner removed. He reflected +for some time, and concluded, in a sort of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span> +despair, that fate was determined to ruin him, and he +calmly yielded himself up to the unfortunate destiny +which seemed to pursue him that luckless night.</p> + +<p>He calculated that within half an hour’s time the +watch of José would have expired, and that he should +surely be discovered when that officer came down +to his cabin. There might be a chance—though a +desperate one—of escaping the certain detection of +the sentinel outside, although suspicion would inevitably +be raised: but that was the less of the two evils that +beset him. He resolved, accordingly, to wait until the +watch on deck should be near expiration, and then to +make a desperate effort to escape from his dangerous +position.</p> + +<p>He remained, then, standing by the door, on the outside +of which the measured footsteps of the guard were +still heard. The time passed away, and the sentinel still +walked the passage. The watch was nearly expired +and he was there still.</p> + +<p>“All is lost,” Lorenzo said to himself, and then he +drew up his cloak around him in that resolute manner +that indicates the determination which, from its extremeness, +becomes the kindred of despair; as he drew his +cloak around him, something fell from it: it was the +letter which he had written. He felt about for it in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span> +dark until it was found. It seemed to revive the feelings +which had begun to slumber under the absorbing solicitude +for his own safety.</p> + +<p>“Shall I have put myself in danger and still not +succeed in sending this?” thought he, “what advantage +do we derive from all our acquirements, our high +and glorious reputations, our friendships, our exposures, +and our perils?”—he hastily reasoned—“if we are +driven by the necessity of preserving these to sacrifice +the happiness which we fondly hope to realize from +them? away vain and timid thoughts—I will hazard +everything; but, happen what may, I shall send this.”</p> + +<p>Having come to this resolution, Lorenzo waited until +the sentinel had arrived at the head of the passage, and +had, on his return to his niche, passed the door of the +cabin in which he was concealed: he then opened it +softly, and stepped into the passage: and, gathering +himself up closely under its side, began to retire +with as much caution as he had come in. He kept +his eyes all the while fixed on the sentinel or his +shadow, so that he might easily anticipate his movements, +in case he was discovered.</p> + +<p>He had reached the top of the large passage, and was +about to take the one which led to his own apartments, +when the footsteps ceased, and the man drew himself up<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span> +as before in his niche. It was evident that whatever +suspicions he may have entertained at first had now +entirely vanished, and that the greater part of the continued +walk which he took, was intended more for his +own recreation than for the interception of any one who +he might have suspected was trespassing on the circle +of his guard, for he seemed to be entirely given up to +his own reflections. Lorenzo stopped when he saw +this; he mused for a moment, but his resolution was +not long in being taken. He bent himself on his knees +and hands, and crept down the passage again; he +stopped several times to study the movements of the +sentinel, all which times he seemed to be the more +assured of his safety; he crept in this manner until he +reached a certain door, and was now but a few yards +from the man on duty. The latter seemed still absorbed +in his own thoughts; Lorenzo drew the letter from his +breast, and pushed it under the door. As he supported +himself on one hand, in doing so, the vessel lurched, and +the hand holding the letter struck against the door. +The sentinel raised his head for a moment, but, concluding +that it was the inmate of the cabin who had +struck by accident against the partition, he relapsed into +his meditative state.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo drew himself carefully back in the same<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span> +manner as he had gone forwards. When he got to the +head of the passage, he jumped on his feet and hastened +to his own cabin.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely shut the door, when he heard the +heavy footsteps of the officer, who had now been relieved, +on the companion stairs as he descended to his cabin.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“One half of me is yours, the other half yours—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Mine own I would say, but if mine then yours</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And so all yours.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Merchant of Venice.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the next morning when Agnes—by that name +the priest called her—the fair captive, was going +towards the door of the cabin which was given up to +her use, she beheld a sealed letter at her feet. After +her first surprise had somewhat lessened, she remained +standing for a time in deep reflection over it, endeavouring +to conjecture whose it might be, to whom +addressed, and what could be its purport. At last, +being unable to restrain her impulse of curiosity, she +took it up and saw that it was for her. But the superscription +was in the handwriting of a man—and not +that of her guardian.</p> + +<p>What mystery could that indicate? What could it +portend?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span></p> + +<p>Before opening the letter, the beautiful young lady +remained for a long time gazing on it, while at the same +time she was led away into a train of strange and complicated +thoughts. Could that letter be, she inquired +of herself, the forerunner of some attempt that the +pirate captain contemplated against her safety and +honor? She trembled at the thought: she recollected +that among the outrages and ravaging descents of the +Boucaneers, their cold-blooded cruelties upon the sex +were not the least of their horrible deeds; and should +this captain now design to add her to the multitude of +those of her condition, who had been sacrificed to the +profligacy of similarly lawless men?... It is true, up to +that time, she had been treated with an amount of respect +and kindness that could not be exceeded even by the +fastidious solicitude of the most polite, or by the benevolence +of the most virtuous; and this captain seemed to +be somewhat different from the heartless freebooters of +whom she had heard: but might he not carry under +that stern, and apparently callous exterior, designs which +would be the more to be feared as they should be the +more premeditated. If so, what chance had she of +resisting him? Words would not prevail with him; +entreaties could have no effect on him; for she had seen +him send his own father adrift on a cask on the wide<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> +ocean, and every thing, and every one on board of that +schooner seemed to give way to him and sink under his +will: what could move him,—what protect her?</p> + +<p>A blush suffused her beautiful face. She was inclined +to fancy that there might be one on board who would +protect her. But yet they were both pirates, and why +should she expect that they should incur one another’s +displeasure and enmity for her sake—an unfortunate +captive. But although Agnes feared, still there was +hope in her. Something told her, perhaps her own +heart, that mysterious and unerring index of the truth, +that he who had been so attentive to her from the +moment when she set foot on board the schooner—that +Lorenzo would defend her.</p> + +<p>There is a mystery of mind, a language of thought, +and a sympathy of soul, for which the greatest philosophers +are still unable to account. There is that which +conveys from the loving to the loved a mute and silent +intelligence: there is that in us which converses without +being heard, which communicates without being seen, +and even while the tongue is tied and the eye is closed, +tells to those we love of the sentiment that we foster and +cherish in our breast. The mind of the young lady +told her that Lorenzo would protect her innocence and +honor, and she was somewhat calmed by this assurance,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span> +however slight and ungrounded, a more sceptical +thinker would no doubt have considered it. Escaping +in this manner from these unpleasant and dark thoughts +that alarmed her, she was immediately recalled to herself, +and proceeded to open the letter. She hastily and +eagerly glanced over it, raised her head for a time, and +then read, and read, and read again.</p> + +<p>The letter was this:—</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p>“Lady, though I am a pirate, recoil not from me. I +am sensible to the feelings of honor, and need not be +feared by any lady; in the uprightness of my soul I have +dared to love you; deign to cast but one look on me, and +let me believe I may hope.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Lorenzo.</span>”</p> + +</div> + +<p>Agnes read this over and over again in nervous trepidation, +then folded it, and put it by.</p> + +<p>She was a victim to strong contending emotions. +She felt she knew not what for Lorenzo, but he was a +pirate. She could not imagine that she loved: no, she +did not; but she was grateful to the man as she had +always seen him, gentle and kind, and apparently +unstained by any crime: but she recoiled from the <i>pirate</i>. +It would appear that even her gratitude could not succeed +in mantling the hideousness of that name. Yet he +was always so respectful to her! Could a pirate at +heart be so? And if he were a pirate, such as she had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span> +heard those men were, could he write to her in that +manner? No, it could not be. And joy glistened in +her face as she seemed to congratulate herself on having +come to a conclusion that was so favourable to Lorenzo.</p> + +<p>Upon this she seemed to fall into an agreeable reverie: +pleasure seemed to play on her face, as she thought she +had successfully washed away the stain from the man on +which her sentiments had already been anchored. Distressing +thoughts, however, will force themselves on +the happiest moments of our existence. At the height +of her self-gratulation, the idea of the pirate again +occurred.</p> + +<p>“But who is he?” she inquiringly muttered, “what +is he—a—? Oh! no, I cannot, I will not, I must not +think of him,” and she burst into a flood of tears. She +wept and wept: now roused herself to extraordinary +firmness, and resolutely dried her tears, but it was to +let them flow in larger and fuller currents a moment +after.</p> + +<p>She was weeping over the ruined hopes of her own +feelings:—of her first love.</p> + +<p>Agnes had been born and brought up in the seclusion +which necessarily surrounds a residence in the West +Indies. She had seen but few persons besides the +neighbours that had their plantations in the vicinity of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> +her father’s estate. She had never met any one on +whom she could pour out the love that a tropical nature +had lavished upon her. Her feelings at the moment +when she got into the position which led to her meeting +with Lorenzo were strong and fresh, and were in that +state in which the mysterious law of human sociality +required, that they should find an object on which they +could alight and rest. They had alighted on Lorenzo—not +by reasoning—not by calculation. They had alighted +on Lorenzo, because they had alighted on him. Her +feelings had flown and rested upon him, either independently +of her volition, or so closely united with it, that +it was not possible to say whether she loved, because +she chose to love, or whether she loved because she +found herself loving.</p> + +<p>Such was the nature of her love: but if nature had +implanted in her, feelings that were so strong, pure, and +good, education had taught her that to control them was +also necessary. She reflected that, above all instances, +that was the one in which she required all the power +that she might possess to restrain herself; for common +prudence itself, unassisted by the imparted precepts of +propriety, was sufficient to make her careful how she +fostered the feelings, which had already risen in her +breast.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span></p> + +<p>Lorenzo was a stranger to her and hers, and the little +that was known of him was disadvantageous to him, for +it consisted of the certainty that he was a pirate—an +outcast of human society. That was a sufficient consideration, +and when the full force of it fell on the mind of +the beautiful girl, she wept. She wept the tears that are +the bitterest—the tears that flow when we are called +away, by the dictatorial voice of principle and duty, +from the pursuit of some fond object on which all the +feelings of our nature are concentrated, and which we +had complacently looked upon as the magnet of our happiness. +On the one side she had her will and her affections; +on the other she had the danger of an ignorance which +was broken only by that which made it still more horrible.</p> + +<p>Like one, therefore, who is resigned to death, from +the sheer insipidity of disappointed life, Agnes sat weeping +in her cabin.</p> + +<p>The tears fell not with the vigour of energetic sorrow, +such as when the soul concentrates her strength to mourn +away with one effort some heavy grief, but they dropped +with the languor of oversettling despondency, such +as when even the full tide of anguish cannot wash away +the rooted sorrow.</p> + +<p>She was in this condition, when the priest knocked at +her door and entered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span></p> + +<p>“Was she ill?” the good father inquired, “she had +remained so long in her cabin that morning?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! but you are weeping: cheer up, child; come, +come, dry those tears: you are, I see, thinking of +home. Yes: there is a great difference between your +good father’s house and this vessel; but do not give +way to sorrow, my child, we must be thankful to Providence +for having delivered us from the death and dishonour +which, it is likely, would have overtaken us if we +had fallen into other hands, and we must not repine at +its dispensations in any instance: cheer up. Besides, +I have just been told to get ready to go ashore; they +will put us on land soon, I suppose, although I cannot +see it as yet myself.”</p> + +<p>Agnes saw very clearly that the good father had mistaken +the cause of her grief, and was not a little glad to +observe that he had so readily attributed it to the +reminiscences of home. She remained silent. But the +priest had only increased her embarrassment of mind, by +the news which he brought, and which, he considered, +as indeed he himself had felt them to be, the most +joyful; for she learnt by his report that she was to leave +the schooner: she was glad, and, at the same time, she +was sorry.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span></p> + +<p>She was naturally glad to be again restored to safety, +and to revisit that home with its dear ones from which +she was so nearly torn away for ever: and she was sorry +to leave the schooner, because her heart had already +begun to hover about it.</p> + +<p>Which of the two feelings was the greater; judge for +yourself reader.</p> + +<p>Duty, however, and even safety called her away, and +she must obey.</p> + +<p>“When shall we go from this—when shall we be +landed, I mean?” she inquired of the priest.</p> + +<p>“I do not know exactly, child, but they told me to be +prepared. But you have not, as yet, tasted food to-day; +they have brought our morning meal: I have waited for +you long,—come in and take some nourishment.”</p> + +<p>Agnes briefly excused herself from accepting the kind +invitation of the priest.</p> + +<p>“She was not absolutely ill,” she said, “but certain +thoughts had put her in a melancholy mood, and she +felt no desire for food.”</p> + +<p>She insisted, at the same time, on his going to take +his morning repast.</p> + +<p>He hesitated for some time to leave her, but was, at +length, prevailed upon to go, by her persisting assurances +that she was not ill.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span></p> + +<p>Left to herself, the innocent girl gave vent again to +her tears; but she had not now any opportunity to +indulge her feelings, for she was soon aroused from her +sorrow by the re-appearance of the priest who invited +her to go on deck.</p> + +<p>They went up together.</p> + +<p>The long schooner was now lying on the waves like +some fish, that had concentrated its strength for a dart, +waiting for its prey. She rose and sank with the waves, +as she lay to the wind, like something that a more +powerful hand than that of man had made to inhabit the +element on which she so familiarly floated.</p> + +<p>The usual silence reigned; every man of the watch +stood mute and motionless at his station; the captain +himself stood by the steersman with his arms folded +across his breast.</p> + +<p>The schooner had been thrown in the wind, to wait +for the prize ship which was still at a considerable +distance, but which was approaching fast under the +press of her extensive sails.</p> + +<p>She was, as we have said before, a fast sailer, but few +vessels could keep up with the Black Schooner.</p> + +<p>When the two vessels had set sail together from that +part where they had remained since the fight and the +capture, it was found necessary to reduce from time to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span> +time the sails of the schooner that the ship might be +always kept within sight. Notwithstanding this, however, +the former had imperceptibly outreached and distanced +the latter, and it was now found necessary to put +her in the wind, in order to allow time for the ship to +come up.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the information that they would be +landed that day, the priest and Agnes could not see any +preparations which might indicate such a thing. Far, +however, to the east, land might be seen, high and blue, +and like a passing cloud in the fleecy atmosphere of the +tropics; still no boats were as yet got ready, and not an +order was given. In course of time the ship drew +nearer and nearer, until she had arrived within but a +few yards of the schooner, when she was brought up +heavily to the wind; her heavy canvass flapped, the +waves broke on her huge bows, and she lay like a +sluggish whale.</p> + +<p>A boat was launched from the schooner and was despatched +with a number of men on board the ship. After +the lapse of a few moments, the cutter of the ship was +launched, and was forthwith rigged out, and the sails +were quickly bent. When this was done she was sailed +up to the schooner, where provision to last for three +days was put into her, and she stood ready for sea.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span></p> + +<p>Orders were now given for the strangers to come forward +and embark.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo, who had been in his cabin the whole of the +morning, now came on deck. His appearance was not +the same as it was wont to be. On his manly brow sat +gloomy care and anxiety, and there was even something +fierce in the expression of his lips. There was anxiety, +deep anxiety, furrowed in his looks, but there were also +marks of a deeper and sterner feeling.</p> + +<p>When he came on deck, Agnes and her guardian were +standing almost opposite the captain, on the starboard +side of the vessel.</p> + +<p>He saw them, but his eyes could not rest on them. +Was he bashful?—was he afraid to meet the looks of a +frail old man, and the timid glances of a helpless maiden?—he +who had encountered enemies that every human passion +had excited and embittered against him?—he whose +daily life was a continuous challenge to man, to the +powers that ruled the earth, and to the controlless element +itself which he had made his home? No, he was +afraid of himself: he was afraid of his pride. He +had never placed himself before in a position to +meet either slight or insult. He expected nothing +from humanity, and he never placed himself in a +way to be the object of its kindness or beneficence.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span> +But love—love—the leveller—had now overcome him: +he had declared his feeling to a girl, he had, as he +fancied, humbled himself, by putting himself in her power, +and his pride was completely at her mercy. He therefore +feared to look at her, lest in her looks he might +read that which was—oh! more horrible than anything +else to his nature—slight, indifference, or contempt. +He had had a fierce struggle with himself at first to +write the letter which he had put into the cabin of +Agnes.</p> + +<p>But he had no sooner done so than he repented of +his act. The mastery that love had gained over pride +was but temporary, it soon ceased, and he was left +to be crushed under the tyranny of that unrelenting +feeling. How many conflicts such as Lorenzo experienced, +are there not? How many hearts that nature +formed but to be united and to swell and beat but in +the community of each other, have shrunk, withered, and +dried away in cold and comfortless solitude, because the +love of another could not over-ride the fear of a risk, or an +exposure of the love of one’s self! How many a one has +traversed this beautiful world, and moved on it as on +the barren bareness of a desert land, with no congenial +soul to enhance the pleasures of existence by its +participation, or to diminish its miseries by its sympathy,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span> +because pride forbad him to disclose to some loving +heart how much happiness it was in its power to administer.</p> + +<p>These feelings, on the part of Lorenzo, did not arise +from any low conceit that he entertained for himself: +nor were they the emanation of that vulgar selfishness +that concentrates existence, the capacity of possessing +feelings, the desire of happiness, in one’s single self, and +there traces out their bournes and limits; nor did they +spring from the senseless and stupid vanity that bolsters +itself up in all the “pomp and circumstance” of its full-fed +ignorance. No: in the sturdy and the bold, such +feelings do not, cannot exist. It was something better—nobler; +something that could exist and thrive only in +the community of exalted thoughts, and delicate sensibilities. +It was a sensitive self-respect.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo approached the pirate captain, and saluted +him. The latter returned the salute, and, at the same +time, fixed his keen eyes on his officer.</p> + +<p>We have already said there was something peculiar in +the eyes of the pirate captain: there was something +that seemed to penetrate the inmost soul, and read the +mind, and see what was passing there. This power he +used on this occasion. The deep, earnest, steady look +which he fixed on Lorenzo seemed to overcome the latter<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span> +and his eyes bent before it. When the captain had +looked long and stedfastly at his officer, he turned suddenly +on one side, and seemed to contemplate in the +same manner, the fair Agnes, that stood still leaning on +the taffrail of the schooner, with her eyes fixed on the deck.</p> + +<p>The captain had at once read in the manner of +Lorenzo, that he was in love with the beautiful captive. +His studious mind had long been exercised in connecting +deductions and his deep knowledge of human actions +and their springs, enabled him to trace, in one moment, +the change which was perceptible in the appearance of +his chief officer to its proper cause. He was at once +convinced that Lorenzo loved Agnes, and he now looked +on her with some interest. One would have said he +was examining her in order to discover whether she was +worthy of the affection of one whom he prized so +highly.</p> + +<p>The examination lasted long, and Agnes was justly +alarmed concerning the meaning of this scrutiny on the +part of the captain.</p> + +<p>The persons to be landed were now assembled on the +deck of the schooner.</p> + +<p>The captain made a sign to the master fisherman to +follow him, and he descended the cabin steps. When +he had arrived into his apartment, he drew from a case<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> +a pair of pistols, and, at the same time, took from his +desk a purse of money.</p> + +<p>“Listen to me,” he said, to the master fisherman, +“you have hitherto acquitted yourself well of that in +which I have employed you, and I have rewarded you: +now I require your further services.——I shall put you +and the captives in a boat in a few moments. There is +a young lady among them, together with an old priest: +you must take care of her, and protect her. There are +arms,” pointing to the pistols, “for you, the others are +unarmed. You, with these and the assistance of your +men, can defend her against the sailors in the boat, in +case any attempt be made by them to use the advantage +of number which they possess. There is your reward,” +pointing to the purse.—“But, first swear by God and the +Holy Virgin, that you will protect her at all risks.”</p> + +<p>“Senor, I swear.”</p> + +<p>“You shall be the master of the boat, and it shall be +yours after you are all landed. Beat up to the land +which you see before you from the deck. That is +Granada. In three day’s time you will be there. +Remember your oath. I never forget to punish.”</p> + +<p>“Senor, I shall,” answered the master fisherman, who +had all the gravity of the people to which he belonged, +half by race and wholly by feelings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span></p> + +<p>The captain pointed towards the door, and the master +fisherman was led away by one of the black boys who +was in constant attendance there.</p> + +<p>When the captain had disappeared from the deck +with the master fisherman, Lorenzo was in a manner +recalled to himself. He looked about him, his eyes met +those of Agnes. His heart leapt. That look of kindness +penetrated his soul; the gloomy conjurings of his +pride vanished before it, and he seemed to be in the +enjoyment of something to which, up to that moment, +he had been quite a stranger. But, may he not have +mistaken that expression of the eyes.</p> + +<p>He looked again and again—their eyes met. Oh, no, +he was not mistaken. He drew towards the young lady.</p> + +<p>“Madam,” he began....</p> + +<p>“Lorenzo,” sounded the deep voice of the captain, +who had by this time come on deck again. He turned +round and encountered the reproachful looks of his +chief.</p> + +<p>He went away from the side of Agnes, seemingly +ashamed of having given so much license to his feelings, +as to have neglected discipline for their sake.</p> + +<p>The captives, the master fisherman, and his men were +ordered into the cutter, and the captain himself assisted +Agnes and the elderly priest into the boat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span></p> + +<p>The boat was ready to be cast off from the schooner, +when the master fisherman remarked that one of his +men was not in it. Jack Jimmy was missing.</p> + +<p>“Ho! Jack Jimmy,” went round the cry.</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy “heard it, but heeded it not.” He was +standing with his arms crossed over his chest.</p> + +<p>“Jack Jimmy.”</p> + +<p>But he took not the slightest notice of the call. At +last one of the sailors perceived him, and looking towards +him, said,</p> + +<p>“Jack Jimmy, will you come along?”</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy still remained silent where he stood.</p> + +<p>“Will you come along?” and laying hold of him by +the arm he attempted to drag him along.</p> + +<p>“Massa, me no go—me no leave dis ya ’chooner as long +as massa in ea,” the little man said, with much determination.</p> + +<p>“Will you come along sir?” and the sailor gave his +ear a twitch—Jack Jimmy passively let himself fall on +the deck, repeating—</p> + +<p>“Me no go massa.”</p> + +<p>But another sailor came up at this moment, and the two +of them dragged him along the deck to the gang-way.</p> + +<p>“Oh! my young massa,” he cried, as he approached +the captain, “let me tap wid you, me no want foo go,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span> +me neber leafe dis ’chooner lang you ga—oh let me +tap wid you,” and he clasped the knees of the captain.</p> + +<p>“Let him remain,” said the latter to the men, who +were approaching to drag him away again.</p> + +<p>“Garamighty bless you, my young massa—me neber +leabe you,” and the tears trickled down the cheeks of +the faithful little man.</p> + +<p>The cutter was cast off from the schooner, her sails +were set and she began to move through the water on +her voyage towards land.</p> + +<p>In the stern sheets sat Agnes, by the side of her guardian: +her handkerchief was in her hands, and her head +was bent over the side of the little vessel, and now and +then she might be seen to apply the handkerchief to +her face as if to brush away the spray of the sea.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“I gained my freedom, and immediately</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Ran hither to your grace whom I beseech</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To give me ample satisfaction</div> + <div class="verse indent0">For these deep shames and great indignities.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Comedy of Errors.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>When the cutter was cast off, the sails of the schooner +were filled, and she was again put on her course. Joy +now seemed to beam on the fierce faces of the sailors, +and if they had not been restrained by the discipline of +the schooner, it was easy to perceive they would have +vociferated their satisfaction in long and loud cheers; +but, bound by the iron strength of her laws, they +could only manifest the feelings which then animated +them by a greater alacrity—if possible—in going +through their duties.</p> + +<p>The captain had retired, and the command was left in +the hands of Lorenzo. That officer stood by himself at +the taffrail of the schooner, engrossed by his thoughts,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span> +and anxiously watching the little cutter, that was now +labouring over the heavy seas, as she sailed gradually +away from the schooner, and was bearing from him, +perhaps, for ever, that being who first called forth in +him the power of that tyrannical sentiment to which +Lorenzo, like other men of a less bold and hardy spirit, +was subjected.</p> + +<p>“She is gone from me for ever,” thought the officer, +“and has left me scarcely a hope. Perhaps, yes—no, +she will try to forget the pirate.”</p> + +<p>Lorenzo strode gloomily away from the taffrail a +victim to a multitude of different sentiments, among +which the feelings of love, and those of pride in particular, +fiercely contended for the ascendant. He could +not contemplate a slight. To himself he was ever honorable, +beyond the stigma which the world would cast upon +him on account of his present condition, and even his +love could scarcely move him to forgive one that he +might imagine deemed him debased by the position +which he occupied; he turned away, therefore, from +the direction in which the cutter lay, and endeavoured +to call forth different thoughts by the study of a chart +which was lying on the binnacle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span></p> + +<p>The Black Schooner was kept in the same course for +two days.</p> + +<p>On the third morning, the island of St. Thomas’ appeared. +It lay far to leeward, and stretched under the thin +clouds, like the blue outline of some great slate mountain. +The schooner was again thrown in the wind. +The captain, who had exchanged his uniform for a suit of +plain clothes, now went on board the prize ship, and was +attended by Jack Jimmy, who had been permitted to +take his place with the two boys who usually waited on +him. The greater part of the schooner’s sails were +taken in, and arrangements were made for keeping her +to the wind, until the return of the captain. The ship +was now steered for St. Thomas’, and her large sails filled +with the morning breeze. She rapidly approached the +little island, which the policy and wisdom of the Danish +government have made the Tyre of the West Indies. +The English ensign was hoisted, and the ship entered +the little narrow harbour which affords a scanty shelter +to the numerous vessels that traffic draws to the place. +At that moment it was crowded with hundreds of vessels, +as different in their appearance as the various parts +the world from which they came. There might be seen +the heavy Dutch galiotte, with its crescent form and +huge clumsy proportions; the sprightly Frenchman,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span> +with its light fantastic spars and long low hull; the +Yankee clipper, with its tapering masts and snow-white +sails; the Mediterranean faluchas, the sharp schooners +from Curaço, and the neighbouring Spanish coasts; all +these seemed drawn together for the purpose of commerce, +and numerous sailors were to be seen on board +their respective ships, busily occupied in taking in or +discharging the widely varying cargoes. A few other +suspicious low-hulled crafts, were also to be seen in the +offing, riding uneasy on short cables, and apparently +ready for sea at a moment’s requirement. The appearance +of those vessels at once disclosed the business in +which they were occupied. They were slavers, or +otherwise engaged in some nefarious traffic, in which +extraordinarily great fleetness alone could secure them +profit, or protect them from certain destruction. At +some distance from the town a majestic British ship of +war was also riding at anchor.</p> + +<p>The prize ship was boldly steered into the anchorage, +and was shortly boarded by the officers of customs, who +demanded, in the usual manner, to see the ship’s papers. +The officers were easily satisfied, for the easy and +encouraging policy, which the Danes have been wise +enough to adopt, for the purpose of drawing trade to +their little island, did not require many forms in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span> +clearance of the ships which might enter its port. To +the apparent irregularities in the credentials it was +easily answered, that the captain was the owner of +the ship and cargo, that he had originally intended +to take the latter to an English market, but he had +changed his mind, and was desirous of selling it in order +to undertake a voyage to some other part of the world.</p> + +<p>The captain, after this formality had been completed, +went ashore.</p> + +<p>On landing, he was immediately accosted by the numerous +merchants and others who may be always seen loitering, +partly for pleasure and partly for business, in small +coteries, about the principal landing places of the West +India islands. The quality of his goods, as well as their +prices were eagerly inquired into, but no one seemed +inclined to purchase. He wandered carelessly about the +beach with the wide panama hat, with which he had +disguised himself, drawn far over his head, expecting +every moment an offer for his cargo; for it is in this +manner, and in such places, that the cargoes of ships are +frequently sold in the tropics. But no one made an +offer; and, tired of sauntering about uselessly, he +entered a neighbouring coffee house, and seated himself +at the table of the principal room.</p> + +<p>It was not long before he was followed in by a young<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span> +merchant who had detached himself from one of the +little groups above mentioned and had dogged him for +a long time.</p> + +<p>“I shall give you fifty dollars a hogshead for your +sugar, and take all,” he said, as he accosted and bowed +to the captain, at the same time presenting his cigar case.</p> + +<p>“No,” the captain briefly replied, returning the +salute, while, at the same time, he accepted the usual +West Indian courtesy, and took a cigar from the +proffered case.</p> + +<p>The merchant sat down at the table too, and requested +the waiter, who brought the disguised captain a glass of +sangaree, to serve him with the same. He then took +out a cigar and began to smoke negligently, as if his +mind was as little occupied by thoughts of business as +that of a child.</p> + +<p>They sat together for a considerable time without +exchanging a word—a circumstance of rare occurrence +in the talkative tropics, where men endeavour to find in +conversation the relaxation which the places of amusement +of other countries afford. But the disguised captain +was one whose looks did not encourage access, nor +was he one whom we would address by mere casualty or +for the sake of a moment’s pastime. Without being +repulsive in appearance he was from a general manner<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span> +that could not be easily understood, but which was at +once felt, sufficiently uninviting as not to encourage any +one to address him unless he himself was the first to +speak. The merchant therefore did not feel quite assured +and was by no means tempted to open a conversation +with him. The disguised captain on his part was from +natural disposition and taste, not inclined to exchange +more words with the merchant or any other person in +the island, than were absolutely necessary to the accomplishment +of the object which brought him to St. +Thomas—namely, the sale of the ship’s cargo.</p> + +<p>But, if looks are in a generality of instances justly +accounted deceptive, they can always be considered so +with perhaps much more truth in the merchant, whose +business it is to assume the air of cold indifference, and +to pretend to care but very little about the transaction +in question, while perhaps his palm already itches over +the bargain which he keenly meditates, and while he is +perhaps already feasting in imagination on the princely +returns which he anticipates from it.</p> + +<p>“Come, I shall give you fifty-five,” the merchant said, +after a number of whiffs.</p> + +<p>“No,” the captain replied, in the same dry tone as +before, looking straight before him, indifferently smoking +his cigar.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span></p> + +<p>The pursuits of his life time were so different from +those of the generality of men, that besides the stern +cynicism in which he had tutored himself, and the habit +of contemplation that he had cultivated, he would not +have been able to take interest in any intercourse with +them. Perhaps, also there was not a little of pride +intermixed with his silence. Accustomed to measure +the stars, and to associate his thoughts with the sublimity +of the heavenly regions, and raised to a proper estimation +of himself by the given opinion of the many universities +in which he had studied, and which had +declared him a man of extraordinary talent, he almost +scorned the intercourse of one who could speak to +him only about the state of the market, the amount of +money that certain individuals happened to possess, +and the other things connected with the occupation +of buying and selling.</p> + +<p>Besides, he had long ceased to hold intercourse with +living men—except, indeed, when it was necessary +either to command them, to feed them, or to give them +drink. He had found that too much evil was mixed up +with the little good that he could derive from their +society, and not considering that the mere endurance of +the former was an object that was so worthy in itself as +to command the exercise of his fortitude, he thought it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167"></a>[167]</span> +prudent to refrain both from listening to the expressed +thoughts of others and intruding his upon them. Books +therefore, he made his companions—books, that could +not deceive, could not betray, could not be mean, could +not be penurious, could not make to suffer, could not +disgust; but which contained the best of dead men’s +thoughts without much of their vileness.</p> + +<p>It was not strange therefore that the two parties sat +together silent.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding, however, the existence of this feeling +on the part of the captain, his prudence suggested +the necessity of saying something in order to enact with +exactness the character of merchant-captain which he +had for the time assumed.</p> + +<p>“You seem to have much traffic in this island,” he +said to the young merchant, in compliance with this +suggestion of his reason.</p> + +<p>“A great deal,” replied the young merchant, “we do +business with all parts of the world. Never been here +before? Not traded in these seas much I suppose? +You do not seem to have been much exposed to the sun.”</p> + +<p>The captain made no answer to the last observation.</p> + +<p>“We have lately suffered much,” continued the merchant +after a pause, “in our trade here from a rascally +pirate that scours these seas. One vessel out of three<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168"></a>[168]</span> +is sure to fall into his hands. By the bye, you who +are a stranger in this part of the world, have great +reason to thank your stars that you have escaped him.”</p> + +<p>“No doubt,” the captain coolly observed and drew a +whiff of his cigar.</p> + +<p>The merchant, also, drew two or three whiffs, and +continued—</p> + +<p>“It appears the captain of these pirates is a very +remarkable fellow; he seems to care but little about the +lives of those who fall into his hands, but contents himself +with robbing them in a very gentlemanly and polite +manner. Those that pass through his clutches, and put +in here, tell such tales of him, that one would almost +fancy they had been spell-bound during the time they +were his captives.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!” interjected the captain.</p> + +<p>“Yes: and the fellow is so remarkably skillful that he +baffles all attempts to capture him, and always contrives +to escape. They say he deals with the devil; that he +knows his vessel, and his vessel knows him, for she does +whatever he chooses. Sometimes she is seen in the rig +of a schooner, at others in that of a brigantine, or brig, +or barque, or—God knows what else.”</p> + +<p>“How remarkable!” observed the captain.</p> + +<p>“By Jove! that is not all,” still continued the merchant,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169"></a>[169]</span> +“he is bold enough to take his prizes into any +harbour that may happen to be the nearest at the time—whatever +it be.”</p> + +<p>“And has he never been discovered?” inquired the +captain, as coolly as before.</p> + +<p>“Bless me, no! If he does not actually deal with +the devil, by Jove! the old boy always seems to help +him, for he always manages to sell his booty, and get +away before it is known that he had been there.”</p> + +<p>“A dangerous man, surely,” again remarked the +captain, “I must account myself fortunate, I perceive, +that I have managed to bring my sugar safely into +port.”</p> + +<p>“By jingo! yes——But, a-propos, those sugars, I +shall give you sixty dollars,” the merchant said.</p> + +<p>The captain seemed to muse awhile and said—</p> + +<p>“I shall take sixty, on condition that the money be +paid this very moment, and also in gold.”</p> + +<p>“Agreed,” cried the merchant, quickly: “wait here +for me a short time; I shall bring you the money,” +and he went out of the room, with the air of one who +was congratulating himself on having achieved an +extraordinary feat.</p> + +<p>In the course of half an hour the merchant returned, +and was followed by a servant, who seemed to be bending<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170"></a>[170]</span> +and groaning under a heavy bag of money which he +was carrying.</p> + +<p>“There,” said the merchant, taking the bag from the +servant, and laying it down on the table, “there are +three thousands six hundred dollars in dubloons, verify +them.”</p> + +<p>The captain spread the coins on the table, and began +to count them.</p> + +<p>“It is quite correct—the sugar is yours,” he said, +when he had done so, and began to replace the dubloons.... +The heavy footsteps of men were now +heard on the stairs. They grew more and more distinct, +and now they resounded within the extensive +room.</p> + +<p>“There is your man,” exclaimed an individual, and the +captain, on looking round, beheld his father, who was +standing in front of a file of marines, under the command +of a British officer, who was accompanied by an +officer in the Danish civil uniform, that probably represented +the local government in sanctioning the forcible +capture of a British subject, by British authorities, on +Danish ground.</p> + +<p>The face of the young captain evinced neither astonishment, +nor anger, nor scorn, as he stood looking with +indifferent calmness on the warlike intruders.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171"></a>[171]</span></p> + +<p>“That is he—the pirate: seize him! seize him!” +cried Willmington, almost mad with excitement.</p> + +<p>The officer remained undecided, and gave no orders. +He seemed surprised, and inquired, after the lapse of a +few moments—</p> + +<p>“Is this the pirate?” and pointed towards the +captain. “I fancy you are in some error: this gentleman +does not appear to have ever left the land; besides, he +seems too young to be what you say he is: you surely +must have made a mistake.”</p> + +<p>Nor was it strange that the officer should thus have +felt surprised at the appearance of the captain; for he +had expected to find some villainous, yellow-blooded +sinister-looking cut-throat, deformed, hacked with +wounds, and disfigured with gibbet marks. With this +picture of a pirate still on his mind, he had pointed out +to him a young man who seemed more calculated to pass +his life in quiet contemplation and easy enjoyment, than +to take part in the arduous and wearing pursuits of the +world, much less to hold the position of a robber on the +high seas. Besides, notwithstanding the hardy life +which he was obliged to lead, the young man still so +sedulously cultivated the refined habits in which he had +been bred, and had so carefully kept himself below deck, +that he neither presented the rough cast of men of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172"></a>[172]</span> +rough usage, nor lost, under a tropical sun, the natural +paleness of his complexion.</p> + +<p>“It is no mistake at all,” exclaimed Willmington, “I +know him well; I cannot be deceived. It is he who +had me thrown overboard. Yes, he had me thrown +overboard in the sea—to be drowned—to be drowned; +but providence has now interfered to punish the perpetrator +of the outrage committed upon me. And, and,” +he added, “you will now suffer for it,” addressing the +captain, while he took the precaution of clinging as +closely as possible to the officer. For it would appear +that even in the presence of the file of marines the recollection +of the empty cask made him nervous.</p> + +<p>“Nay, nay, good father,” the captain said, with cauterising +sarcasm, “the crime of throwing his kind and +loving father overboard, would better suit the jargon +that fills the mouths of such virtuous gentlemen as +you.” ... A pause ensued.</p> + +<p>“His father,”—“Are you then this old gentleman’s +son?” inquired the officer.</p> + +<p>“He can tell you,” answered the captain. “But I +await your orders sir; lead me wherever it may be your +instructions to do so.”</p> + +<p>The officer seemed more undecided than ever. He +looked for an instant at James Willmington, who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173"></a>[173]</span> +remained silent, and bent his eyes to the ground as they +met those of the ingenious gallant young soldier.</p> + +<p>“This is a strange and extraordinary business,” he +observed, “I am not aware that my commission obliges +me to meddle with such apparently disagreeable affairs. +However, young gentleman, for such you seem, and I +can scarcely believe that you are what this old gentleman +represents you to be, I have orders from my commanding +officer, and sanction from the local authorities, +to arrest you, provided you are the pirate who scours +these seas?”</p> + +<p>“It is he—it is he;—I am certain of it: he took our +ship; he had me thrown overboard,” vociferated James +Willmington, scarcely affording the young officer time +to complete his sentence, “I tell you, seize him, seize +him!”</p> + +<p>Disgusted with this uproarious outbreak, and somewhat +stung by Willmington’s imperative manner, the +officer turned round to him and said, cuttingly—</p> + +<p>“Perhaps, sir, you would have me take a rope and +hang him at once: you must recollect, sir that I am not +bound to regulate my conduct by any peculiar activity +which may characterise your feeling against this +person.”</p> + +<p>This language came the more readily from the young<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174"></a>[174]</span> +officer, inasmuch as he felt a prejudice in favor of the +captain.</p> + +<p>Free, frank, generous, and noble, as those of the +order to which he belonged generally are, he could not +but feel a certain interest in his prisoner, and he began +to speculate on the extraordinary circumstance that a +man, such as he seemed to be, should have found himself +in a position of so equivocal a nature, as the one in +which he was then placed. It appeared strange to him +that one who seemed well educated, and who at the same +time possessed such gracefulness of demeanour, and +elegance of expression, could have freely chosen to herd +with the wretched outcasts that usually crown their +other numerous crimes with the horrible outrages of +piracy: and should thus expose himself, not only to the +danger of the horrid death with which such a crime was +punished, but to run the risk of entailing upon himself +the ignominy which the world, with one accord, unanimously +casts upon the pirate. He justly imagined, that +to drive an individual, such as he seemed to be, to such +a life, there required very great causes, or, at any rate, +unusual ones, which may have acted in a more than +ordinary manner on a naturally too sensitive mind; +and as great afflictions always call forth sympathy +from the generous, the imagined misfortunes of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175"></a>[175]</span> +prisoner turned, in an instant, the heart of the officer in +his favor. This was the impulsive judgment of the +young man.</p> + +<p>The noble and fresh-hearted, young officer, that feared +not the prejudiced frown of any man, could afford, independently, +to take the man as he found him.</p> + +<p>“You will go with me,” said he to the captain, “I +trust you will see the absolute uselessness of any attempt +to escape,” and he significantly pointed to his men. “I +shall not put you under restraint if you promise to +walk with us.”</p> + +<p>“If you will take the word of a pirate,” said the captain, +bowing, “I promise to accompany you. If otherwise, +I am willing to allow myself to be put under any +constraint that you may think proper. I trust, however, +that I am incapable of showing myself insensible to the +indulgence of any gentleman, and least of all, to a British +officer.”</p> + +<p>“That is sufficient,” quickly replied the officer.</p> + +<p>The party now left the room, and soon reached the +boat that was waiting at the beach. They embarked: +and, in a short time, arrived alongside the huge man +of war, whose sides looked gloomy with the frowning +guns as they peeped through the port-holes. As +soon as the party gained the deck, the captain was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176"></a>[176]</span> +immediately conducted before the commander of the +vessel.</p> + +<p>He was one of those venerable looking old gentlemen, +who are now and then to be casually seen in the walks—of +the world, and who when once seen, forcibly draw +from us respect and honor,—with locks whose colour had +long been worn away by the wind and washed away +by the brine, and with one of those faces which tell by +their rosey hue and frank openness, in the evening of +existence, of a life so spent in duty and honour that not +one single repentant wrinkle dared ruffle the brow where +loyalty and truth had always sat. He was sitting in an +elegant state cabin when the officer brought the prisoner +before him. He raised his eyes from off the book which +he was then reading, and began to examine him. He +said nothing, but could not conceal the surprise which +he seemed to feel at the appearance of the individual +whom he was examining.</p> + +<p>“You seem young to be engaged in such a lawless +pursuit, prisoner,” he said after a minute or two.</p> + +<p>The captain bowed haughtily.</p> + +<p>“You are aware,” continued the commander, “that +you are accused of a very heinous crime—that of piracy.”</p> + +<p>The captain bowed again in the same manner.</p> + +<p>“You know that is an offence which is universally<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177"></a>[177]</span> +reprobated by all nations, and it is one which in its +moral character is the blackest of crimes. It is my duty, +therefore, to keep you on board this ship until I can +put you in the hands of the authorities, whose business +it is to deal with these matters. I shall sail for Trinidad +in a few days, and you will remain in custody until +my arrival in that island, where you will be delivered up +to the civil tribunals.”</p> + +<p>The captain calmly bowed again.</p> + +<p>“In the meantime,” continued the commander, addressing +the father and accuser, “you will be good enough +to repeat, in the presence of the prisoner, the accusation +which you made in his absence.”</p> + +<p>James Willmington, after a pause, then began, his +voice trembling with excitement, and ill-concealed +hatred.</p> + +<p>“As I said before my lord, I, and two other persons, +were passengers on board the ship ‘Letitia,’ which was +bound for Bristol. We were two days’ sail from Trinidad, +when we were boarded by pirates, of whom this +man, as we afterwards found, was the chief. After a +brave resistance made by our crew, the ship was captured, +and I and the others were taken on board the vessel of +the pirates. The other captives were treated with +much lenity, but I was kept in close confinement, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178"></a>[178]</span> +eventually, by the orders of this man, was even tied to an +empty cask, and set adrift on the ocean, to meet there a +lingering death, far more horrible than any sudden violence +could have inflicted. To prolong my miseries, a +few dried biscuits were tied to my cask. A whole day +and night I was in this condition floating on the wild +waves, and was worn out, and well nigh exhausted with +suffering, when Providence came to my rescue. A sloop +came sailing by, and with difficulty I made my cries to +be heard. I was taken on board, and life, which was +fast departing, was brought back by the kindness of the +master and crew.</p> + +<p>“I had overheard the pirates speak about St. Thomas’ +as the place whither they intended to sail for the disposal +of the ship’s cargo. I at once resolved to anticipate +them if possible, to have the author of my cruel +sufferings arrested, and to bring him to condign punishment. +For this purpose I prevailed upon the master of +the sloop, by offering him a large sum of money, to put +in here, where fortunately we arrived before the pirates, +and I had, by this happy accident, the opportunity of +watching their arrival. This is the man who is the +chief of the pirates, and who ordered me to be thrown +overboard under circumstances of such refined +cruelty.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179"></a>[179]</span></p> + +<p>After Willmington had spoken, the commander asked +the prisoner if the accusation was true.</p> + +<p>“True in all things,” said the latter, “in all things, +so far as they have been revealed. I admit everything +that has been said, but my accuser,” and here he fixed his +piercing eyes on his father, “but my accuser has +informed you only of the punishment; he has not told you +why, when I treated my other captives with such lenity, I +practised what he calls cruelties on himself. Perhaps, +my lord,” while his lip could be seen to curl with scorn, +“perhaps he will tell you that I was only the executioner +who inflicted the punishment which one of the +most heinous crimes deserved.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” inquired the commander.</p> + +<p>“Simply,” replied the captain, “that this man is my +father. He abandoned me at an age when I was too +young to offend, and afterwards refused me bread when +I was being famished. In vindication of the violated +laws of nature, I, in my turn, abandoned him when he +required my aid, and I cast him away from my vessel, +when he required its use.”</p> + +<p>“Then you are this gentleman’s son? and there +are, therefore, family affairs connected with this business?” +inquired the commander, with evident surprise, +marked on his open and noble face; and, turning to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180"></a>[180]</span> +Willmington, he inquired, also, whether he was really +his father.</p> + +<p>There was no answer.</p> + +<p>“Young man,” said the commander, “it was wrong, +on your part, to treat your parent in this manner. If +what you say is correct, he has treated you unnaturally, +but there is One above us to punish such sins, and it is +not yours to arrogate the right of taking vengeance, +even when you consider yourself injured—recollect,” he +said solemnly, “recollect—‘Vengeance is mine, saith +the Lord.’”</p> + +<p>“You speak, my lord,” replied the captain, “as I should +expect you to do; but you are scarcely a judge in this +matter: you have not had to endure what I had. I +can read in you, my lord,—pardon the personality—something +which tells me that, if you had found yourself +in my place, you would have acted in the same +manner.”</p> + +<p>In the meantime, a young officer had silently descended +the companion-steps, and, hearing the voice of the last +speaker, he came quickly forward and gazed in his face, +seeming to recognize him.</p> + +<p>“Appadocca,” he exclaimed, and eagerly grasped the +hand of the captain, “what brings you here? Why +you are not the pirate, surely?—it cannot be!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181"></a>[181]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, I am the pirate,” the captain calmly replied, +while he pressed the hand that had grasped his.</p> + +<p>“Good heavens! you deceive me—you—you—”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Charles,” sounded the voice of the commander, +“recollect, sir, you are in the presence of your commanding +officer, and that you are speaking to a person who +is under arrest.”</p> + +<p>The young officer retired a few steps, conscious that, +although he was the commander’s son, he was still subject +to the rules of discipline.</p> + +<p>Deep anxiety for the prisoner, however, was marked +on his features, as his eyes wandered impatiently from +the captain, whom we shall now call by his proper +name, Appadocca—to his father, and from his father to +Appadocca again.</p> + +<p>The prisoner was now ordered away, and instructions +were given to keep him in close custody. The officer +in command, the sentinels, and the prisoner proceeded +on deck. The young officer was about to follow, when +he was requested by his father to stay.</p> + +<p>“Do you know this man, Charles?” inquired the +commander, when they were alone.</p> + +<p>“If I know him, sir? every man who has studied in +any university these seven years back, knows Emmanuel +Appadocca. I studied mathematics with him in Paris,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182"></a>[182]</span> +sir; and, if you remember, you will find I frequently +spoke to you about him.”</p> + +<p>“Yes: I think, now, I recollect something of the +name. But this seems a strange end for such a man as +you always represented him to be.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; this does seem a very strange end,” replied +the young officer, “and I cannot but imagine that there +is some error in all this.”</p> + +<p>“That old planter,” observed the commander, “seems, +however, to be very positive in his statements; and, in +addition to this, appears determined to prosecute him to +the utmost.”</p> + +<p>“It is to be hoped, sir,” replied Mr. Charles, “that +Appadocca will be able to establish his innocence.”</p> + +<p>“It is to be hoped, Charles—it is to be hoped,” said +the commander, and he took up his book.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183"></a>[183]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To what I shall unfold.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Hamlet.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Appadocca was led to a narrow compartment in the +gun-deck where he was locked up, and a sentinel was +placed at the door.</p> + +<p>The unexpected turn that his affairs had taken, seemed +to have but little effect on his mind. The sad prospect +of being tried like the meanest criminal, and condemned, +perhaps, to an ignominious death appeared not to startle +his settled cynicism.</p> + +<p>When the door of the cabin was closed upon him, +after having sat for a time in a deep meditation, he +knocked from within and asked the man who kept +guard without, for a piece of chalk, which, after some +delay, was given to him. With it he began to draw +algebraical figures on the boards that partitioned his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184"></a>[184]</span> +cabin prison, and seemed engrossed in some deep calculation. +In this manner the afternoon passed. When +the short tropical twilight came and went, and he was +no longer capable of seeing his figures, he seated himself +down again and remained so until late in the night, +when he stretched himself on the deck for the purpose +of going to sleep.</p> + +<p>He had not lain down long before the door of the +cabin was silently opened, and an individual closely +wrapped in a boat-cloak entered. The cloak was +immediately thrown off, and, by the light of a small +lantern which the stranger carried, Appadocca saw +before him Charles Hamilton, his friend.</p> + +<p>“Welcome, Charles!” said Appadocca, affecting more +than usual lightsomeness, “welcome to my narrow +quarters,” at the same time, casting his eyes around +the close cabin, which, for the time being, constituted +his prison.</p> + +<p>“Hush! Emmanuel,” said the commander’s son, “and, +for G—d’s sake, do not speak in such a trivial manner, +when you are in such a dangerous position. Tell me,” +he continued, while the most impatient anxiety could +be detected in his tone, “tell me how you could have +brought yourself to this melancholy pass.”</p> + +<p>“’Twere long to tell, and sad to trace,” replied Appadocca,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185"></a>[185]</span> +“as your own most noble and illustrious countryman +has it.... But you seem to be entirely cast down +with anxiety—bah! banish that, and if you can accommodate +yourself on this hard deck, sit down and we shall +have a little conversation on ‘the happy days gone by.’”</p> + +<p>“Happy, indeed, they were, Emmanuel, and little did I +dream when we pursued our studies together, and when +I, together with the others, almost worshipped the intellect +with which heaven has blessed you, that I should +ever have met you as a prisoner on board my father’s +ship, accused, too, of such a grave offence as piracy.” +This was spoken with such deep feeling, that Appadocca +could scarcely continue his tone of assumed +gaiety.</p> + +<p>“But what is this Emmanuel?” asked Charles, as his +eyes met the figures which Appadocca had traced. +“Calculations? must I believe that your cynicism can +have made you think so lightly of the sad doom which +hangs over you as to permit you to work equations and +solve problems at this moment?”</p> + +<p>“Now, since you are bent upon being very serious,” +answered Appadocca, “pray accommodate yourself and +I shall speak to you, and as to those calculations, they +concern you more than you imagine. Let your ship be +in a safe harbour within these two weeks to come: a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186"></a>[186]</span> +comet will be visible in seven days’ time, near the constellation +of the Southern Cross; the hurricane that will +follow at its tail, will be more than many ships will be +able to bear. Now sit down.”</p> + +<p>The young officer sat down.</p> + +<p>“You ask me,” began Appadocca, with his characteristic +gravity, which had now returned, “first, how it has happened +that I originally found myself a pirate, cruising in +the Caribean sea; and, secondly, a prisoner on board +your father’s ship. I regret much that even friendship +should have interposed to elicit from me a narrative, +which I have always desired to carry with me to the—scaffold +now, I suppose. Nevertheless, now that I am +on the brink of destruction, it may be well to let the +world know the cause of my conduct towards the individual +whom an unhappy accident made my father;—which +conduct, I admit, may now look strange and +criminal.</p> + +<p>“You remember, when you left the university of +Paris, that I was then preparing to compete in the +<i>concours</i> for the professorship of astronomy.”</p> + +<p>“Which I always believed you would have, +undoubtedly won,” interrupted the officer.</p> + +<p>“Do not interrupt me. Within a short time after +your departure, I received a letter from the faithful<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_187"></a>[187]</span> +servant, who always attended her, acquainting me with my +mother’s death. You, who have known the more than ordinary +fondness that my mother and I so strongly entertained +for each other, can easily understand the overwhelming +effect which such an announcement had upon me.”</p> + +<p>“I know, Emmanuel—pass over that quickly,” said +the young officer.</p> + +<p>“Even my philosophy was not strong enough to bear +up against it, and I fell into a fever, from the effects of +which I did not rally for a considerable period.</p> + +<p>“Well, with my mother’s death, my means of support +ceased; for she seems to have carefully concealed the +fact from me, that all her little fortune had been devoted +to my education, and had been expended for the purpose +of keeping me, as much as possible, on a level with the +station which her ancestors had occupied. I was, consequently +rendered incapable of continuing my preparations +for the <i>concours</i>, and it became absolutely +necessary for me to endeavour to gain my livelihood +by my own exertions.</p> + +<p>“When the whole of my lifetime, up to that period, +had been passed in schools and colleges, you may easily +imagine that I was not much adapted to friction against +the world, and to fight in the scrambling battle, for bread.</p> + +<p>“The only means I possessed was my pen,—precarious<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_188"></a>[188]</span> +means! The only method of procuring food was by +writing on those subjects, with which I had, more or +less, filled my mind. Paris was over-crowded with +individuals placed in a similar position to mine, who, +however, possessed the superior advantage of being +better able to thrust themselves forward; a thing which +I sympathized too little with the world to be able to do. +Besides, it was very problematical, whether success in +Paris would bring me remuneration that would be +sufficient to maintain me in the manner in which I had +been brought up;—for you must know that literary men +are badly paid in France. I felt, also, a certain disgust +in remaining among those by whom I was known, when +I fell into a condition which, at best, would be but +precarious. For these reasons, I resolved to visit the +British capital, where remuneration was reputed to be +greater and more secure.</p> + +<p>“I left Paris, after taking leave of but few of my +friends, and went to London. When I arrived there, I +found there were many subjects on which but little had +been written; for the genius of the English people calls +them a different way from the unprofitable consideration +of abstruse subjects. I wrote about these things. I +took my papers to the publications of the day. They +did not refuse them:—‘They would publish them,’<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189"></a>[189]</span> +they said, ‘when there was room.’ That, I found out by +experience, was but an excuse. They were not inclined +absolutely to refuse the articles, so they had recourse to +that shuffling subterfuge, for they had their own friends +to serve. I waited long—there still was no room; sometimes, +at great intervals, a paper was published, but so +sadly mutilated that it became almost absurd.</p> + +<p>“In the mean time, the small amount of money which +I possessed became more and more diminished; still I +hoped. Yes: I had that delusive, cheating, empty +solace of the afflicted—hope. Hope, which mankind +has complaisantly numbered among its cardinal virtues, +because it holds out to each the lighted wisp that leads +and leads him on until he finally stumbles into the grave +that closes up his existence. All my valuables were +disposed of, one after another, and I was at last left +without a brass penny—without property, save my +telescope. With that I would not—I could not part. I +should have more easily yielded up my heart than dispossess +myself of my old and only companion.</p> + +<p>“Together with the letter which announced my +mother’s death, I received a casket which she requested, +at her last moments, should be delivered into my hands. +I had always been led to believe, that my father had +died when I was a child; but in the casket I found a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190"></a>[190]</span> +letter, informing me, that he was not dead, and enjoining +that I should ever to study to cherish and respect him +who was pointed out to me as my sire. My feelings told +me at once, that my good mother had been treated +with injustice, and vengeance was my first impulse.</p> + +<p>“I had always entertained peculiar opinions about +women: I had been accustomed to consider her the superior +of the two beings; nay, I had gone further: I had +considered her one of those benignant spirits which the +disciples of the theological system introduce in their +allegories,—the ultimate link between this condition +and a higher and more refined humanity. I had +looked upon her as the embodiment of goodness, that +sweetened existence with its smiles, and made sorrow +shrink into insignificance by its sympathy; as a being in +whom intellect and propensities were happily not made to +preponderate over the loftiest attributes of human nature—the +sentiments. Holding this belief, I had worshipped +her in whatever condition I found her;—in gorgeous +magnificence, or in sordid rags, as pure and spotless as +the lily, or polluted or stained with foulest crimes. To +me she ever was woman, and that was sufficient. On +account of this peculiarity, I always looked with horror +upon any man that could be base enough to take any +advantage of her, or give her pain. Such an individual<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191"></a>[191]</span> +I considered unmanned and dishonored, and would shrink +from him with disgust. Judge, then, of my state of +mind, when I discovered that the crime which I abhorred +so much was brought so personally under my reprobation.</p> + +<p>“In a calmer mood, however, I thought that sorrow +and restitution ought to suffice to obliterate crime; +that, at least, I should give the offending party an +opportunity of remedying the wrong he had done. +Perhaps repentance might creep into his soul. I wrote, +then, to the person who had been indicated as my father. +He was a wealthy planter in Trinidad. I made it +known to him that I was acquainted with the secret of +my parentage. I described to him the utter distress in +which I, his son, was then placed, and besought him to +send me a pittance to sustain that life of which he was +the cause.</p> + +<p>“Months passed, and I received no answer. Certain +feelings began to rankle in my bosom; I, however, +took care not to be precipitate. Still hope sustained +me. I was obliged to pass days together without food. +On such occasion, I would stand by some thoroughfare +and watch the over-fed passers, and meditate on that +strange destiny which gave to some too much, and to +others too little.</p> + +<p>“One beautiful night, the stars were clearly visible,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192"></a>[192]</span> +and I loitered towards one of the bridges that span the +Thames, to enjoy the happiness of watching them. +There, seating myself down on one of the stone benches, +I forgot for a moment my distress, and felt as I was +wont to feel in happier days. The night waned:—attracted +by the lurid glimmer of Antares, I fell into a +reverie on the theory of the starry scintillation. It may +have been one o’clock in the morning,—like the labourer +whose thews and sinews were relaxed with the day’s +unremitting toil; the great metropolis was buried in that +comparative repose which it enjoys only at that early +hour of the morning. The rattling of numberless vehicles, +the shuffling of thousands of bustling wayfarers had +now ceased. Nothing was to be heard but the soon-ceasing +rattle of some hurrying conveyance, the measured +steps of the police officers, or, perhaps, the ringing +laugh of some nightly merry-maker. My eyes were +fixed on the stars, and I was dreaming on the orbs of +space, when suddenly the low restrained sobs of intense +agony fell on my ear. I suddenly turned my head, when +I beheld a woman standing on the wall, apparently ready +to throw herself headlong into the river. She had a +child in her arms, and she pressed it to her bosom, +while she loaded it with caresses, and bathed it with +tears. Her sobs were those of despair. In an instant<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193"></a>[193]</span> +I comprehended her intention, and creeping silently +along the parapet, I suddenly stood up and seized her in +my arms. She gave one convulsive shriek and swooned +away.</p> + +<p>“I had taught myself to look on misery as the actings +of certain general laws: I had accustomed myself to +look upon the most appalling phenomena of organic and +inorganic life simply as the consummation to which they +must necessarily come. I had studied to bring down to +nothing the revolting aspect of misery, the bloody +scenes of warriors weltering in their blood, or the +ghastly hue of emaciating disease; but never before that +night had there been presented to my eyes such a combination +of utter misery, of gentleness, of innocence, of +suffering, of goodness, and of despair, as I beheld +blended in the woman whom I had thus rescued from +perdition.</p> + +<p>“She was young, as yet scarcely of the age capable +to bear even the ordinary troubles of the world. Her +auburn hair floated loose over her shoulders and her +pale emaciated face, while the whiteness of her forehead +was here and there to be seen between her +dishevelled tresses. Her lacklustre eyes were as sunken +as if animation had already ceased; a tattered dress +hung about her skeleton frame, and her fingers<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194"></a>[194]</span> +were more like those of a dead than of a living creature. +The babe was as pale as the moon that shone upon it. +Its sweet little features were locked in a calm lethargic +sleep: its spirit seemed to sympathise with that of its +mother; whilst neither her alarm and swoon, nor the +bleakness of the night, could rouse it from its happy +slumber, or draw a murmuring cry from its lips.</p> + +<p>“I stood for a long time, supporting the unhappy girl +in my arms, anxiously watching the return of animation. +Her circulation was slow, for want had fed upon her +strength.</p> + +<p>“‘Oh, oh!—where, where—am I?—no—no—I +am not there’—she wanderingly muttered, as she +gradually recovered.</p> + +<p>“Her head drooped in silence, as she became conscious +of her position and exposure. I questioned her +delicately on the circumstances that led to her taking +so fatal a resolution as the one which I had, but accidentally, +prevented her from carrying into effect. After +much hesitation, she told me the story of her misfortune.</p> + +<p>“She had been left fatherless and motherless. She +had devoted herself to the man whom she had been +taught, by his ardent professions, to look upon as her +only stay, and whom she still loved; he had perjured +himself, and abandoned her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195"></a>[195]</span></p> + +<p>“She had hid her head in shame and misery from her +friends, and by incessant toil had sometimes procured +herself food: but she became a mother, and could no +longer work. She had pined away with her babe in a +hovel: at last to see her child daily droop under her +eyes, maddened her; she could bear it no longer. +There might be a happier lot, she thought, in another +world, where at least there were no deceivers, and so +resolved to flee from this.</p> + +<p>“‘And is the father of your child rich, and able to +provide food for it?’ I inquired.</p> + +<p>“‘He is,’ she replied.</p> + +<p>“‘Recollect,’ I said, ‘that however desperate your +condition may be, still you have no right to take away the +life of your child. The little innocent has been brought +into the world by you, it is, therefore, your duty to +devote your life to its care and preservation.’</p> + +<p>“She wept.</p> + +<p>“I had no money—my coat was scarcely good enough +to protect me from the cold—I still had two buckles on +my shoes, with which I had not parted because I knew +their value would scarcely procure me a meal. I took +them off and laid them on the babe. ‘Those may serve +to get your child some milk,’ I said. She refused them. +I pressed her to accept them for the child, and after<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196"></a>[196]</span> +having obtained a promise that she would never again +attempt to destroy herself I conducted her off the bridge.</p> + +<p>“The history of the poor girl had made a deep impression +on me; I was agitated, so I retraced my steps, and +seated myself down again; but I could no longer study +the stars: the mother and child were ever present to +my mind. That girl was once happy, I thought. She +may have shone in virtue and accomplishments. Now +she is loaded with misery. And what has changed her +condition thus? was it the visitation of Providence? +was it sudden illness? was it her own crime? She had +fallen a victim to her own virtues, her own confidence, +her own fondness, her own gentleness. The angelic +nature of her sex, was worked upon for her destruction, +and after having been deceived, she was discarded,—she! +nay,—not she alone—but the innocent child—too +young to offend, too helpless to be criminal—was also +thrown on the wide, unfeeling world. Has one human +creature any right thus to load another with misery, to +drive another to desperation, to convert the life of +another—aye, and by a most villainous method—into a +period of enduring suffering and anguish? The man, +too, who hast blasted her happiness, is rich, and perhaps, +at this moment, when his victim and child are perishing +of starvation, is surrounded by his merry minions and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197"></a>[197]</span> +lemans, and is squandering away that wealth, of which +the thousandth part would save his child from famine. +I could no longer restrain myself. ‘Great Ruler of the +Universe,’ I exclaimed, ‘canst Thou permit these things? +How is it, that thou, who hast filled the space, that +confounds human understanding, with such worlds of +beautiful worlds; that hast so wisely adjusted their +incomprehensible systems, that all revolve and move in +perfect harmony, and submit implicitly to the great laws +that Thou hast imposed upon them:—how is it that +Thou hast given such license to one of thy humble +creatures, that he, apparently uncontrolled, can stride in +wickedness over this fair world, and blast the life and +happiness which Thou, also bestowed?—This, at least, +is not wisdom!...’</p> + +<p>“Hush! blasphemer, hush,” a spirit seemed to whisper +to me.</p> + +<p>“Chide not Heaven foolishly! Thou sayest that +He has ordained laws to which worlds that thou +but faintly seest above, are subject:—that’s true: +carry thy reflections still farther. Thou beholdest above +thee, with the naked eye, orbs, in regard to which thy +powers of calculation are scarcely comprehensive enough +to keep pace with thy vision. To thy sight, when +assisted, these already uncountable worlds multiply<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198"></a>[198]</span> +themselves to numbers which thou canst attempt to +speak of only in ratios; and, probably, when thy ingenuity +shall have contrived to invent some instrument +that will assist thy vision still more, thou shalt behold, +open before thee, an immensity of orb-filled space, at the +sight of which despair will well-nigh seize thee. Consider +all these,—even the few that thou seest without +unusual exertion,—they all exist, move, and revolve by +the force of laws which are impressed upon them. +Contemplate their mechanism and order. Take this +one—it is the centre of a system, and stands the +governor, amidst millions of other orbs that are subject +and obedient to its guidance. It moves, and they move, +too, with and around it; and it is itself subject to some +other, from which it receives its motion and its law. +Those others, too, that so humbly seem to follow it, +are, each of them in its place, the rulers of others again, +that are less powerful than themselves, and give their +law to them. Each of these, apparently, disjointed parts, +and these numerous groups of world-contained worlds, +are united and cemented, under the all-powerful force of +law, and form a whole that is more incomprehensible at +the ratio of the unit of each, than its component +parts. Still, notwithstanding this unrealizable immensity, +behold the harmony and regularity with which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_199"></a>[199]</span> +they perform their revolutions. In these gyrations, that +are as innumerable as themselves, not one clashes against +the other; and when they diverge the distance of even +a cubic inch, such divergence is ever exacted by the +necessity of the self-same law, which so marvellously +controls them. In the movements of these vast bodies +time can be calculated to the utmost second; and in +their inclination to a given point, towards which they +have been verging for millions of your computed years, +not a difference, except that which the known law +seemed to require, can be traced, either in ratio, or in, +what appears to your short-lived eyes, their remarkable +slowness. Here mark law, and obedience to that law.</p> + +<p>“From the sublime regions come now to earth. Thou +mayest behold design and intelligence in the very +inorganic matter that composes it, from the consolidated +and hardened granite that resists and beats back the +rushing ocean, to the minute particle that blinds thee +by the roadside. Law is stamped upon them, and +adherence to that law, composes their very existence. +Again, the trees which shelter this beautiful globe tell, +in their germination, their bloom, their blossom, and +decay, of law and obedience.</p> + +<p>“Proceed to organized things;—contemplate all +living creatures, from the low and torpid lizard that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_200"></a>[200]</span> +creeps upon the tombstone, and turns its cold and +clammy sides to the sunbeams, to the gigantic elephant—thou +wilt find that every animal carries in itself a law +and undergoes the pains of retribution whenever it +violates that law. Thus the browsing sheep that +forgets its instinct, and feeds on poisonous herbs, dies. +The scorpion, that turns his sting upon itself, also dies. +The antelope, if it throws itself down a rock must necessarily +be dashed to pieces. In all these things you +see law, and its safeguard—retribution. Man, as well +as all other beings, is subject to it, and the penalty +which its violation entails. If you establish false +systems among yourselves, and consent to postpone +to an imaginary period, this penalty, which ought +to be made to follow closely upon every violation of +the law, surely Heaven is not to be blamed. Duty is +poised between the reward of virtue and retribution:—man +has the license to choose, between either meriting +the former, or bringing down the latter, upon himself. +The great error of your social physics is, that you +remit this penalty to a period of time, which if it were +even unimagined, would fail to afford the principal and +best effect of retribution,—the deterring from crimes.</p> + +<p>“Like those who dwelt on the banks of the Nile of old, +who built cities for dead men, and gave them kings,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201"></a>[201]</span> +and made laws for them, and established vast prisons +and instituted judges, and sketched out places which +the most fevered imagination cannot realize, and surrounded +them with pleasures, or filled them with horrors, +either as happy regions where virtues were to be +rewarded, or frightful holes in which crimes were to +be punished, you permit the evil-doer to live his wicked +years, and sink amidst the weeping sorrow of friends +or bribed strangers into the quiet grave, then read the +lesson to mystified listeners—that evil deeds are punished. +If the wretch, who poisoned the life of that miserable creature +whom thou but now didst rescue, were made to suffer +the one-hundredth part of that misery which he has caused; +his mates in vile wickedness, appalled by the example, +would shrink in trembling fear from the perpetration of +like crimes. You forget, in your social system, the +wisdom of the race which you affect to despise, while +you cherish the theological philosophy which you were +eager to borrow from them, and tie the hand of the avenger, +and blunt the double-edged sword of retribution. +You punish the man who takes away the life of another; +who consigns another to the oblivion on which neither +misery nor pleasure intrudes, and him who makes the +life of the living worse than death, you permit to roam, +in his foulness, this beautiful earth, and only hope that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202"></a>[202]</span> +the retribution which you yourselves ought to bring +about, will be wrought by the very hand of the Being +who operates here but by his created agents. And then, +thou short-sighted, impulse-ridden, and reason-limited +mortal, complainest in loud and senseless terms against +Heaven, while at thy own door lies the wrong. Know +that man himself, by law, is the avenger, the retributionist +on himself or others.</p> + +<p>“‘Ah! is it so?’ I said. I reflected, and found that +it must be so.—The scales fell from my eyes.—‘True, +true,’ I cried.—Heaven forgive the impulse of a short-sighted +mortal.</p> + +<p>“Then this man, who may now be rolling in profusion +while his child is dying of hunger, ought to be made to +bear the stings of famine, too, and suffer the same misery +which he has inflicted on others.—And—oh! a fearful +light broke in upon me—and the man from whose hands +I demanded not existence, but who has given me life, +and abandoned me in my misery, ought likewise to feel +some part of the sufferings which I undergo. Yes: the +only prevention of crime is to make its punishment +follow immediately in its course.</p> + +<p>“‘Then, hear ye powers above,’ I exclaimed, ‘this +miserable life I devote to vindicate the law of nature +which has been violated in me, and in your child; and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203"></a>[203]</span> +I swear, by the Great Being who gave me reason, that +I shall not rest until I have taught my father, that the +creature to whom he has given life possesses feelings and +sensibility, and is capable of taking vengeance.’</p> + +<p>“I resolved, at once, to start for the West Indies, +and to go to the docks, as soon as it was light, to procure +a ship. So, on the impulse of the thought, I +proceeded to the place where I had my lowly lodging to +fetch my telescope. But, although I knocked loud +enough to awake the soundest sleepers, the door was not +opened; I, therefore, sat on the steps until daylight +came. When morning had dawned I again knocked, but +was refused admittance. ‘Then give me my telescope,’ +I prayed. The telescope had been sold the night before +for my rent, I was told. I was overwhelmed. It was +natural enough the master of the house should require +his money, but I never could have contemplated that +my telescope would have been taken from me. Rallying +from the shock that I had received, I begged to see +the master. After some time he came to the door. He +was a fat heavy little man, whose voice came whizzingly +from his encumbered chest. I implored him to restore +me my telescope, telling him that it was my only companion +and solace in life, and I offered to work for him +in whatever capacity, how mean soever it might be, for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204"></a>[204]</span> +the few shillings that were due to him, provided he +would give me back my telescope. ‘Go along with +you,’ he answered, ‘do you take me for a fool?’ and +shut the door violently in my face. I turned away, and +was so dejected in mind and wasted in body, that I +could not walk. The morning advanced, and the street +began to present the busy scene by which it was every +day animated. My musings imperceptibly turned on +the motly crowd before me. I contemplated the scene +in which there might be observed the shrewd cabman +driving to death his jaded horse, the affluent man of +business, hurrying with inclining head to the pursuit +of greater wealth, the afflicted widow, moving along +in modest grief; the age-stricken and poor cripple +crawling in his sordid rags, and the man of fortune +with his air of self-satisfaction, his dangling jewels +and his gaudy equipage. I remarked that these different +persons passed each other as if no kindly word or +salutation had ever rested on their heavy tongues—like +gruff animals that hurry in silence to their separate +lairs. Each seemed intent on his own pursuit. The +driver did not withdraw his attention from his horse’s +head, nor did the lordling stop to succour the decaying +wretch; the man of business did not raise his eyes from +the ground, on which he seemed to count his gains, to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205"></a>[205]</span> +notice the sorrowful widow: yet these men possess wealth +enough to render thousands happy without injuring +themselves.</p> + +<p>“They have wealth enough to have my telescope restored +to me, and cause my happiness; still, yon +wretched being may—nay, will probably sink into his +grave for the want of a brass penny from any of these, +and I—I should probably be handed over to the police +officer, were I to make one more effort for my telescope. +‘Mankind, farewell!’ I exclaimed, from the +force of my disgust, ‘I may pity you, but never can love +you.’</p> + +<p>“I then walked down to the London Docks where, +after some inquiry, I found a ship prepared for a voyage +to Jamaica. I offered myself to the commander as a seaman. +He began to depreciate my capabilities, and said +that I should, probably, encumber others rather than +be of any service.</p> + +<p>“I told him that I could steer a ship, and take +observations; I did not mention my competency to do +the other parts of navigation, for I was afraid to prejudice +him against me; for individuals of that class +pride themselves on the idea that the great secret of +managing a ship, is in their hands alone, and that other +men are, or ought to be—entirely ignorant of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206"></a>[206]</span></p> + +<p>“Finally, I asked him to examine me, on the mariner’s +compass, and on navigation.</p> + +<p>“He readily did so, and the ignorant creature put me +some miserable questions, about the sun’s altitude at +noon, and some such matter which he had been mechanically +taught. I answered them, and encouraged all the +while the important and patronizing air which he had +assumed. When we have no money, and desire the +accomplishment of any purpose, we must learn to use +towards men, a passport that is equivalent—a sympathy +with their vanity. The result was, that I was +immediately granted a passage to Jamaica, on condition +that I should work it.</p> + +<p>“As I sailed down the Thames and gazed on the banks +of the river, I became a prey to the saddest reflections. +Fancy had often whispered to me thoughts of a brilliant +and happy career. The lightness of heart with which I +began and prosecuted my studies; the happiness which +I derived from them, and my total unacquaintance with +the world, had never permitted me to speculate a moment +on the possibility of misfortune or of distress. +I had fondly cherished the hope, that in Europe, the +centre of the highest human civilization, I should have +been able one day to bring down some truth from +the stars to mankind, and should have crowned the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207"></a>[207]</span> +labours of a lifetime, with banishing away some of the +ignorance in which the human species was enveloped. +But when I experienced the prostration of want—the +prostration that arises not from an enfeebling of +the body, or from a decay of mind, but simply from +not possessing the conventional medium of exchange; +when I saw that our most glorious enterprises are +subject, on account of a necessary evil of civilisation, +and the iniquitous habits of mankind, to be blasted; +I became persuaded that, without money, no man can +hope to propagate truth; and the difficulty of carrying +my projects into execution was forced upon me. +This, however, could partly be overcome. But as I left +Europe, I felt that all hopes of realizing my designs +were gone.</p> + +<p>“The ardour which had, however, inflamed me in +one pursuit, fired me also in another, and to it was +added the force of unswerving necessity;—that of visiting +on the individual who was the primary source of my +sufferings, the same amount of them as I was enduring.</p> + +<p>“But I find I am becoming prolix. It is now late—you +and I require rest; come again to-morrow night +and I shall let you hear the other part of the adventures, +which have ended in leaving me a prisoner on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208"></a>[208]</span> +board your father’s ship, and a narrator to you of my +history.”</p> + +<p>The young officer rose up, and, shaking hands with +Appadocca, bade him good night with that melancholy +sympathy which only true and disinterested friendship +can inspire.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_209"></a>[209]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“No, no: ’tis all men’s office to speak patience</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To those that wring under the load of sorrow</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But no man’s virtue nor sufficiency</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To be so moral when he shall indure</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The like himself. Therefore give me no counsel</div> + <div class="verse indent0">My griefs cry louder than advertisement.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Much Ado About Nothing.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The next night, about the same hour, Charles +Hamilton again betook himself to the cabin-prison of +Appadocca, who resumed his narrative as he had promised.</p> + +<p>“When I arrived at Jamaica, I proceeded at once,” +he continued, “to San Domingo, where I knew there +were many at that time to whom the world was as disgusting +as it was to myself, and who, I judged, would be +the proper instruments to aid me in my schemes. The +French revolution had torn up whole families together, +from the soil on which they had been rooted for generations, +and had driven them to distant countries for protection<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_210"></a>[210]</span> +and subsistence. They had carried with them, to their +new homes, a strong hatred for their then democratic +country, in particular, and for the whole world in general. +For suffering tends not to soften the feelings or expand +the heart. Pain, either mental or bodily, sours the +sweetest nature, and it requires the strongest fortitude +to endure it without anger.—Even Zeno strangled himself +when he had known pain.</p> + +<p>“Among such men only who hated the world from +having, like myself, experienced injustice, I thought I +could live. When I arrived at San Domingo, I found +that even my anticipations were exceeded. I found the +exiles existing in a state of cynical philosophy, in the +midst of the virgin forests that covered the island. +They lived in rude huts, erected apart from each other, +which they called boucans. There they passed their +lives in the society only of their dogs, and of their +apprentices or servants, that jointly aided them in the +chase by which they subsisted.</p> + +<p>“The instinct of active pleasure seemed entirely +eradicated from their hearts; for after the day’s work +was done, and they had killed the animal which promised +them food for a few days, they usually stretched +themselves on their bed of reeds, and sullenly smoked +away their waking hours.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211"></a>[211]</span></p> + +<p>“This life was so congenial to one who had suffered +much, that I should have settled myself with the others, +amidst the solitude of the wilderness, and would have +there prosecuted the studies with which my existence +was so strongly wrapped, if I had not a vow to +fulfil.</p> + +<p>“How seductive soever I thought those boucans to +be, I was obliged to abandon the idea of enjoying the +calm quiet, which they promised, and to form a scheme +to carry into effect the resolution which I had taken.</p> + +<p>“I was not long in San Domingo, before I met some +of my fellow students of the French University, who, as +belonging to the old aristocracy, were banished from +France. I found them disgusted with the arduous life +which they were obliged to lead, and fretting over the +destiny which had, with so little justice, deprived them +of so much at home, to allow them so little in their new +country. I availed myself of their impatience, and proposed +to them a life which was by far less monotonous +than that which they then followed, and which, beside, +was attended with greater gain—to say nothing of the +opportunity which it would afford of avenging themselves +on men, and not on harmless brutes. They +received my proposal with acclamation.</p> + +<p>“On the spur of the moment we procured a vessel. I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212"></a>[212]</span> +was elected captain, and we went in search of adventures +on the high seas. I led my followers on wrecklessly +in action, and at other times, I kept them under +an iron discipline. The success of my enterprizes gave +greater weight to my position, to which I had been +elevated, only from a great respect with which it seemed +they regarded my character. I was consequently +enabled to develope my original plan more and more. +The time at last arrived—I sailed to Trinidad.</p> + +<p>“By going ashore in disguise, and by a variety of +other means, I learnt that my father was about to take +passage in a ship for England. I watched the sailing +of the vessel, and captured her some days after her +departure. Then I effected that which I had designed, +and attempted to make him undergo the same miseries, +to which he had subjected me. Chance, however, seems +to have rescued him; and, as you see, through his +instrumentality I am now a prisoner.”</p> + +<p>“And I hope, Emmanuel,” said the young officer, +“you will now consider your vow as performed, and +will cease to follow up this course of unnatural enmity to +him who gave you life.”</p> + +<p>“Cease!” exclaimed Appadocca, “cease! men of my +cast never ‘cease!’ What I do, I do from reason: and +as long as I am under the domination of that power, you<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213"></a>[213]</span> +need not fear that I shall ever ‘cease.’ I have long +buried impulse, and I endeavour to act up to the dictates +of the mind. Do not imagine that I could have sacrificed +my life—by the ordinary standard of existence but only +half spent—and devoted it to the attainment of an end, +and then stop, and fold my arms because a slight +accident has happened to cross me in my schemes. +No—no. Be it again recorded that I now renew the +vow which I made twelvemonths ago. I again devote +my life to the vindication of that natural law which +has been violated in....”</p> + +<p>“Stop! Emmanuel,” cried the young officer, with +warmth, as he stood quickly up, and grasped the +uplifted arm of Appadocca, “do not—for G—d’s sake—for +my sake—for your own sake, make another diabolical +vow. Emmanuel, you must know you cannot but afflict +your friends by choosing to remain in this unfortunate +mesh in which you have entangled the intellect and the +heart that God has granted to you. I curse the day +that the name of this father of yours was ever made +known to you; it has led you to the perversion of your +natural faculties, to the branding of yourself with the +stigma of parricide—against which all nature revolts—and +to your flying in the very face of Heaven.”</p> + +<p>And the officer seemed deeply afflicted.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214"></a>[214]</span></p> + +<p>The captain still maintained his calm indifference, and, +after the lapse of a few seconds, said—</p> + +<p>“Parricide—hum! and what would you have called, +perchance, the act of the father if the child had actually +died of starvation? what if life had ebbed from sheer inanition? +You look only on the right of the parent and not +on that of the child, who, be it said, has a double claim—a +claim that nature gives him, and one which he inherits +from the measure of kindness and protection that +his grandfather manifested to his immediate progenitor +when he himself was the child. You say, too, that all +nature revolts against the parricide—as you call it: +error,—nature revolts only against injustice. All things +are entitled to a certain measure of justice; and the +natural contract between parent and child is based on +the condition that, as the former has loved the latter, and +protected its infancy, the latter, will yield obedience, +honor, and respect, and gratitude to him. Where the +condition be not fulfilled, the contract, by necessity, +ceases, the child becomes absolved from his obligation; +and if he resents more than ordinary wrongs that may +have been done to him, he can assume, with all approbation +of moral philosophy—nay, nature calls upon him +to undertake the office of avenger, and to vindicate her +law. I am no parricide!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_215"></a>[215]</span></p> + +<p>“You need not fear that I shall prostitute the faculties +with which you are pleased to say God has gifted +me; and, as for my flying in the face of Heaven, in that +respect you deceive yourself.</p> + +<p>“I war not against God. On the contrary: recognise +in me but the mere tool of His justice. To believe +that the Almighty could thus look on, on crimes, and tie +the hand of the avenger, is to suppose no just God. +No—no, the only difference between your sentiments +and mine are, that you imagine He reserves his rewards +and punishments to be meted out in Heavens and in +hells—and I, on my part, can demonstrate, and consequently +must, and do believe that he uses a less cumbrous +machinery, and makes law—law which he instituted +and impressed on things,—the regulator of his +creation, and the vindicator of itself. No: as long as I live, +I shall make it the end of my existence to prosecute the +unworthy author of my days, until the world shall learn +by a dire deed that it is contrary to justice to give life +to a sentient being, then abandon it; and that all +organised creatures are endowed with sensibility to make +them feel, and spirit to make them resent injuries.”</p> + +<p>“You have sunk yourself,” replied the officer, who +seemed more inclined to follow out his own opinions, +than to give ear to the arguments of Appadocca, “sufficiently<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_216"></a>[216]</span> +deep in crimes, Emmanuel, without taking any +additional vows to load yourself more heavily with +them. You may have suffered grievous injuries, I do not +gainsay, but why should privations have led you to the +vile course of robbing and thieving?”</p> + +<p>“Robbery and thieving?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, robbery and thieving: for how otherwise can +I designate piracy?”</p> + +<p>“Ha! I see,” replied Appadocca, controlling himself, +“I see you have either not gone far enough into philosophy, +or that you blind yourself to its lights. If I am +guilty of piracy, you, too—the whole of mankind is +guilty of the very same sort of crime.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by this?” asked Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Simply, that which my words convey,” replied +Appadocca.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you will explain yourself more amply?” +suggested Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Well,” rejoined Appadocca, “what I mean is plain +enough, and it is this, that the whole of the civilized +world turns, exists, and grows enormous on the licensed +system of robbing and thieving, which you seem to +criminate so much. The barbarous hordes, whose +fathers, either choice or some unlucky accident, +originally drove to some cold, frozen, cheerless, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_217"></a>[217]</span> +fruitless waste, increasing in numbers, wincing under +the inclemency of their clime and the poverty of their +land, and longing after the richer, and more fertile, +and teeming soil of some other country, desert their +wretched regions, and with all the machinery of war, +melt down on the unprovoking nations, whose only +crime is their being more fortunate and blest, and +wrench from their enervated sway the prosperous fields +that first provoked their famished cupidity. The people +which a convenient position, either on a neck of land, or +the elbow of some large river, first consolidated, +developed, and enriched, after having appropriated, +through the medium of commerce, the wealth of its +immediate neighbours, sends forth its numerous and +powerful ships to scour the seas, to penetrate into +hitherto unknown regions, where discovering new and +rich countries, they, in the name of civilization, first +open an intercourse with the peaceful and contented +inhabitants, next contrive to provoke a quarrel, which +always terminates in a war that leaves them the conquerors +and possessors of the land. As for the original +inhabitants themselves, they are driven after the destruction +of their cities, to roam the woods, and to +perish and disappear on the advance of their greedy +supplanters. Nations that are different only in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_218"></a>[218]</span> +language with which they vent their thoughts, inhabiting +the same portions of the globe, and separated but +by a narrow stream, eagerly watch the slightest inclination +of accident in their respective favours, and on the +plea, either of religion—that fertile theme, and ready +instigator—or on the still more extensive and uncertain +ground of politics, use the chance that circumstances +throw into their hands, make incursions and fight battles, +whose fruits are only misery and wretchedness. A +fashion springs up at a certain time to have others to +labour for our benefit, and to bear ‘the heat and burthen +of the day’ in our stead: straightway, the map of the +world is opened, and the straggling and weakest portions +of a certain race, whose power of bodily and mental +endurance, renders them the likely objects to answer +this end, are chosen. The coasts of the country on +which nature has placed them, are immediately lined +with ships of acquisitive voyagers, who kidnap and +tear them away from the scenes that teem with the +associations of their own and their fathers’ happiness, +load them with irons, throw them into the cruel ordeal of +the ‘middle passage,’ to test whether they are sufficiently +iron-constituted as to survive the starvation, stench, and +pestilential contagion which decide the extent of the +African’s endurance, and fix his value. This, my dear<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_219"></a>[219]</span> +friend is an abstracted idea of the manner in which +the world turns. But, as we used to say when we were +younger, and happier, ‘in generalibus latet fraus,’ +allow me to descend to particulars, and to bring my +observations more closely home to society as now constituted. +In all the various parts which form its whole, +you will be able to trace the same spirit to which I impliedly +referred in viewing the conduct of congregated +individuals,—nations. You find those whom fortune +has called to the first place in the state, instead of +exerting their intellect to the utmost stretch, and expanding +their heart to its greatest width, for the wise +and virtuous government, and for the development of +the happiness of those who are subjected to their rule, +wasting their time in the pursuit of the most shadowy +gewgaws, squandering, in empty vanities, the tax-extorted +treasures of their subjects—treasures that could have +preserved the flame of many a light of humanity, whose +doom it has been to flicker for a moment in a garret, +and be for ever extinguished; or pampering their already +over-fed bodies to the point that sensitive reason refuses +to longer hold together with such masses of matter. +Those again in secondary spheres, use the authority with +which they are invested, not with the keen discernment +of delicate justice, but on the spur and press of passion.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_220"></a>[220]</span> +Is there some conquered people to be governed?—they +send their weak-minded, afflicted, and helpless friends +or relatives to govern those whose ancestors gave philosophy, +religion, and government to the world, but +who must now themselves stoop, to cut wood, and to +carry water, when, by the common rules of justice, +they should be permitted to enjoy the land from which +they have sprung, and to participate in its dignities.</p> + +<p>“What villainous case is there, that with the ready fee, +does not find the well-turned and silvery measures of the +orator to palm it forth. The widow’s mite, or the +prince’s prerogative, may depend upon the issue,—’tis +all the same. Poverty and utter want may follow the +words of the cunning speaker, and rascality and villainy +may rise triumphant,—what matters it?</p> + +<p>“At the side of suffering humanity stands the willing +doctor, and plies, and plies the rich patient with make-show +drugs.</p> + +<p>“From the pulpit invectives flow, for the voice of +religion; charity yields to controversy; the denunciation +of other’s condemned and re-condemned errors supply the +place of the practice of benevolence; and in the name of +that Christ, who came with ‘peace and goodwill to man’, +evil passions are roused, daggers whetted, and massacres +sanctified; while he, who, with spectacles on nose,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_221"></a>[221]</span> +and twang in voice, moves the ready machine, grins +in his closet over the glittering gold that his lectures, +invectives, panegyrics, and homilies, bring in.</p> + +<p>“This is not all. Are you hungry? the baker sends +you bread compounded with pestilential stuffs, grows +rich, visits the church, sympathises with heathen savages, +and sends delegates to call them within the bosom of +his sweet civilization. Are you thirsty? the herb that +nature furnishes you for your refreshment is taken and +turned, and painted, and fried till it becomes poison, +and then given you with balmy smiles.</p> + +<p>“The world can be compared to a vast marsh, abounding +with monster alligators that devour the smaller +creatures, and then each other.”</p> + +<p>“Apply your argument, Appadocca,” said Hamilton, +“for I do not properly feel its force.”</p> + +<p>“The application follows, naturally, my dear Charles,” +replied Appadocca. “It is this: If I take away from +the merchant whose property very likely consists of the +accumulation of exorbitant and excessive profits, the +sugar which by the vice of mortgages he wrings at a +nominal price from the debt-ridden planter, who, in his +turn, robs the unfortunate slave of his labour, I take +what is ethically not his property, therefore, I commit +no robbery. For, it is clear, he who wrenches away<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_222"></a>[222]</span> +from the hands of another, that which the holder is not +entitled to, does no wrong.”</p> + +<p>“Hum,” groaned Hamilton, “nice distinction.”</p> + +<p>“To myself I am unstained,” continued Appadocca, +“notwithstanding the necessity that made me require +the aid of expediency. No man can say that Emmanuel +Appadocca ever fed his pirates with the lawful property +of any one.”</p> + +<p>A considerable pause ensued.</p> + +<p>“But it strikes me, Emmanuel,” said Hamilton, resuming +the conversation, “you forget, in your observations, +that commerce, and the voyages which you +seem to censure so much by implication, are the proper +stimulants to civilization and human cultivation.”</p> + +<p>“A very vulgar error, my dear Charles, and quite +unworthy of your father’s son,” replied Appadocca. +“The human mind does not require to be pioneered by +Gog and Magog in order to improve. It is not in the +busy mart, not at the tinkling of gold, that it grows and +becomes strong; nor is it on the shaft of the steam-engine +which propels your huge fabrics to rich though +savage shores that it increases. No: there it degenerates +and falls into the mere thing whose beginning +is knack, whose end is knack. The mind can thrive +only in the silence that courts contemplation. It was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_223"></a>[223]</span> +in such silence that among a race, which is now despised +and oppressed, speculation took wing, and the mind burst +forth, and, scorning things of earth, scaled the heavens, +read the stars, and elaborated systems of philosophy, +religion, and government: while the other parts of the +world were either enveloped in darkness, or following in +eager and uncontemplative haste the luring genii of +riches. Commerce makes steam engines and money—it +assists not the philosophical progress of the mind.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot admire this strange and extraordinary +theory, Emmanuel,” answered the young officer, evidently +disposed to terminate this startling conversation.</p> + +<p>“You may call it strange and extraordinary, if you +please,” answered Appadocca; “but it is not the less +true on account of its novelty: it is scarcely to be expected +to commend itself to the world I know, because, +forsooth, it is new and strange: although the systems +and notions which are now as familiar as household +terms, were, once upon a time, quite as new, strange, and +extraordinary. Mankind is doomed to draw its venerative +and uninquiring self along. Science cannot +accelerate its unwilling movements. For my part, I +shall cling to my own doctrine, and shall give an account +of my actions to a Supreme Being, when the time arrives +to do so.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_224"></a>[224]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, well, I shall not discuss such points with you,” +replied the officer, “I cannot congratulate myself on +possessing wits sharp enough to cut through your strings +of subtilities, I give up, therefore, these unprofitable +points: my instincts, I must declare, are against piracy.”</p> + +<p>“Instincts, indeed!” partly interjected Appadocca, +“another stumbling block, and obstacle to science. +There are no such things as instincts in man: he alone is +distinguished from the rest of organic beings by the +indefiniteness of his mind and sensibilities. The habits in +which men are brought up, the notions of ignorance +which they have compounded and adopted they call +instincts, and thus saddle wise and good nature with an +amount of absurdities that would make her blush, if she +were conscious of the faults which she is made to bear +on the ground of having implanted, in the human breast, +feelings which are as ridiculous as they are false. As for +you, Charles, I am somewhat surprised at you. It is +clear you have not improved since you left the university. +The time that you had for contemplation during +your student’s life, ought to have produced better fruits +than an unconditional adoption of the vague notions of +the unreflecting, as soon as you found yourself among +them.</p> + +<p>“Pardon the freedom with which I speak—our friendship<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225"></a>[225]</span> +alone has made me depart from the usual silence +which I invariably maintain.”</p> + +<p>“No—no apology is necessary, my dear Emmanuel—I +know you—I know you! Besides, we have always +observed, that those who are endowed with a certain +amount of intellect, like the pendulum of a clock, are +liable to go as far from a given centre, in one direction +as in the other. But let us drop this topic, and +think of your safety. I have heard your story, and +really I am not surprised that such a sensitive individual +as you should have been driven by so much injustice +to a course which, with all my sympathy towards +you, I cannot but denounce. Appadocca, we have seen +happy and innocent days together, before either injury +had driven you into—into—crime, or the business of the +world had thrown part of its cares upon me: I could not +stand with my arms folded and see you tried like a +malefactor, and, perhaps, end your life under the hands +of a vile hangman: I have formed a plan to facilitate +your escape.”</p> + +<p>“A plan to facilitate my escape?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am in high command on board this ship, and +I have men who are devoted to me. This very night +you will be put on shore.”</p> + +<p>A pause ensued,—in which Appadocca seemed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226"></a>[226]</span> +buried in deep reflection; while Charles Hamilton, quite +surprised by the coldness manifested on the announcement +of what he considered the happiest news to a +prisoner,—the prospects of escape—grew gradually pale, +and paler as the truth began to break upon him that his +friend, from some strange doctrine of his own, might +obstinately refuse to consult his safety, and to avail himself +of the means of escape, which Hamilton could lay +in his power.</p> + +<p>After the lapse of a few minutes, Appadocca grasped +the hand of the young officer.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” he said, “Charles, I esteem you too +much, and venerate the law of nature too much, to avail +myself of this kindness. Recollect that confidence is +placed in you; you are bound to use it scrupulously, else +retribution will surely follow any breach of it. I thank +you from the bottom of my heart for your good intention, +but I cannot,—I will not accept your offer. If I +escape, I shall do so without compromising any person, +least of all, one of my oldest, and most esteemed friends.”</p> + +<p>“I was not aware,” replied the young officer, somewhat +piqued, “that I required to be reminded of the +confidence which is here placed in me: be not, however, +so foolish as to refuse my offer, let me entreat you.”</p> + +<p>“Do not press me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_227"></a>[227]</span></p> + +<p>“I stake my friendship on your acceptance,” said the +officer with some determination. “He who refuses the +good offices of a friend when he requires them, especially +in a case of life and death, can have no proper feeling +for him who proffers them, and he is, to boot—a fool. +Good night, Emmanuel,” continued the officer, getting +up, somewhat angry, “I give you until to-morrow to +think of what I have offered.—Good night.”</p> + +<p>The officer went out of the cabin, and Appadocca was +left by himself.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_228"></a>[228]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">—“I’ll serve his mind with my best will.”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Timon of Athens.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>A short time after the capture of Emmanuel Appadocca, +there might be observed a narrow canoe, with a +single individual in it, far out at sea, apparently going +still farther out,—for it was lustily paddled against the +long sweeping waves that seemed at every moment to +be about to bury the frail bark under their heavy +volumes.</p> + +<p>The trade wind, which still blew, seemed to impede +the progress of the canoe, and it was evident that the +solitary person, who sat in its stern, found it necessary +to exert all his strength in order to make any headway.</p> + +<p>But whither away such a frail vessel in the immensity +of the ocean, and still going farther out to sea? and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_229"></a>[229]</span> +what could be the design of the individual who seemed +to brave so recklessly the fury of the waves?</p> + +<p>Upon closer observation it might have been +perceived, that the person who sat alone at the stern of +the canoe was our old acquaintance, Jack Jimmy.</p> + +<p>As soon as his master was captured, he had taken to +flight, but not with the design of abandoning the interest +of his young master, as he still called Appadocca. He +had managed to insinuate himself among the coteries of +boatmen and porters that skulked about the beach, and +unobserved among them, he had been able to watch +what befell his master. Effectually he saw Appadocca, +when he was marched down a prisoner to the boat, and +witnessed his embarkation. He discovered by his +inquiries, that the boat belonged to the British man-of-war, +that was then lying off the harbour, and heard the +tale which had by that time become a nine day’s wonder +of the place, “of a man who was taken by a pirate, +thrown overboard, picked up by a vessel, and had +come to St. Thomas’ after the pirate, and had had him +taken.”</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy had now gained sufficient intelligence; +his own sagacity developed to him the whole extent of +his master’s position.</p> + +<p>“Good bye, buddee,” he cried, as soon as he had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_230"></a>[230]</span> +heard the last word of the story, and set off, at the +height of the speed at which his short legs would carry +him, and left his wondering story-tellers in convulsive +laughter at his apparent eccentricity.</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy kept running in this manner for nearly +two hours, without any abatement of the speed with +which he had started. Perspiration flowed in torrents +over his cheeks, and those who met him, stopped to +stare at the individual who was so eccentrically giving +himself such violent exercise while exposed to the +scorching rays of a vertical sun.</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy did not stop until he reached a secluded +spot by the sea-shore, where, at the foot of two opposing +hills, the sea had eaten away a deep recess, and had +left as in exchange for the land which it had robbed, +numbers of strange and beautiful shells, that paved the +place. Within this natural shelter, some fishermen’s +canoes were drawn up. Jack Jimmy looked around him +carefully, and seeing no one at hand, he walked up to +one of the canoes, and with two stones managed to +grind asunder the small rope with which it was fastened +to a stake, and then concentrating his powers, endeavoured +to launch it. But his strength was not equal +to the task: vainly he repeated his efforts—still no +success—he gave up the task, for the moment, in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_231"></a>[231]</span> +despair, and sat on the ground and wept from vexation.</p> + +<p>His despair soon gave way to a fiercer feeling.</p> + +<p>“You must go in de water,” he cried, addressing the +canoe, and rising in desperation, he applied his strength +to it again;—it began to move a little, “Tenk Gad,” +Jack Jimmy cried. Again another strain:—it moved +again, and by little and little, Jack Jimmy got it nearer +and nearer to the water’s edge: by one long and straining +effort he finally succeeded in launching it.</p> + +<p>He sprang into it as soon as it was afloat, tore up one +of the thwarts, and paddled with it vigorously out to +sea.</p> + +<p>When he had got at a considerable distance from +land he stopped.</p> + +<p>The sun was then sinking, shedding soft and sweet +brilliancy over the evening hour. “Yes, me ’member,” +said Jack Jimmy, “wen we lef de ’chooner, you bin +behind a wee”; and after having thus spoken to that +luminary, and probably made his calculations, in his own +original way, he steered the canoe towards the east, +and continued the powerful use of his paddle until he +arrived at the spot where the reader has discovered him.</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy held his lonely course on the great ocean +until next morning; when he discovered the pirate vessel<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_232"></a>[232]</span> +at a distance. He redoubled his strokes, and made for +her. In a short time he had gained her sides.</p> + +<p>Arriving alongside, he nimbly jumped on board, and +threw himself flat on the deck, with his face downwards, +and at the foot of Lorenzo, who was standing with a +spy-glass in his hand at the gangway.</p> + +<p>The officer had perceived the small canoe, and on +using his glass, he had discovered that the lonely individual +in it was Jack Jimmy. His mind at once misgave +him. The captain is taken was his first thought.</p> + +<p>It was with impatient anxiety, therefore, that he +inquired of Jack Jimmy, when he got on deck, what had +become of his master.</p> + +<p>The little negro shook his head convulsively at the +question, and interjected, “Massa!” but seemed incapable +of saying anything else. Lorenzo waited a few +moments, but Jack Jimmy could say nothing more.</p> + +<p>“Speak, fellow,” cried he with vehemence, “where is +the captain? Is—is—is he taken?”</p> + +<p>“Ah! Garamighty,” answered Jack Jimmy.</p> + +<p>“Will you speak, sir,” cried Lorenzo with fury. “Is +your master taken?”</p> + +<p>Jack Jimmy shook his head violently again, and +cried, “Yes, yes, Garamighty, massa, massa!” he +continued, “big, big English ship, take massa.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_233"></a>[233]</span></p> + +<p>“And where is the ship?”</p> + +<p>“In St. Thomas’, massa,” answered Jack Jimmy.</p> + +<p>“Make sail,” was Lorenzo’s immediate command; +“keep her way.”</p> + +<p>The schooner immediately sheered off to the wind, +and in an instant was bounding over the waves for St. +Thomas’.</p> + +<p>When she neared the island, Lorenzo prudently cast +her in the wind, and remained lying too until it was +dark, at which time he drew nearer the harbour, and +making use of a boat, recognoitred the “big English +ship,” as Jack Jimmy had described it.</p> + +<p>After the officer had properly examined the large ship-of-war +which held his chief captive, and had managed +to elicit further and more explicit information from Jack +Jimmy, whose excitement of nerves had now a little +subsided, he began to think of the measures which he +ought to take to effect the liberation of his friend and +superior. His first impulse was to fife to arms, to +attack the huge fabric, whose very sides seemed to frown +destruction on the light schooner. Prudence, on reflection, +however, forbad such a step. There was too great +disproportion between the large ship and the small craft +of the pirates, and between the armament and complement +of the one and of the other; and even if, by a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_234"></a>[234]</span> +fierce and sudden assault, the pirates should carry the +man-of-war, what chance was there of rescuing the +chief? Probably he was secured in some deep recess +below decks, whither, perhaps, even the roar of the +ship’s guns could scarcely echo; and if even the comparatively +few men that composed the crew of the +schooner, could gain any advantage over the four-times +more numerous complement of the ship, it could only +amount to a mere temporary possession of the upper deck. +Besides, the whole harbour, on the event of a combat, +would be alarmed, and it was probable that the pirates, +even if victors, would be entirely unable to contend +against the multitudes which would be dispatched +against them from the shore. “No, I must try other +means,” thought the officer. After much deliberation, +he at last resolved on the plan of watching the ship-of-war, +and of discovering, by every possible means, in +what part of the vessel Appadocca was confined, so that +he might attempt a surreptitious entry on board, and +carry away the prisoner.</p> + +<p>For that purpose he sent three men ashore in disguise, +that they might procure as much information as possible. +These were not long at a loss in devising means for +doing so.</p> + +<p>The pirate schooner was manned by individuals who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_235"></a>[235]</span> +had been of a superior class in society, before they exiled +themselves from it. Chiefly men of education, they were +doubly dangerous in their illicit pursuits, inasmuch as +they could bring to bear upon their purposes, the +assistance of art, and the power of inventing.</p> + +<p>They easily disguised themselves when they were +a-shore, as vendors of fruit, and as the other small dealers +that may be seen of a-morning, in their little canoes +around the ships at anchor, in the ports of the tropics.</p> + +<p>In their assumed course of bartering, they managed +to elicit from the sailors of the man-of-war, intelligence +about Appadocca, and the part of the vessel in which he +was confined.</p> + +<p>As soon as they became possessed of as much information +as they possibly could procure, they returned +on board the schooner, and carefully narrated the sum +of their observation to Lorenzo.</p> + +<p>Return we now to Appadocca himself.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_236"></a>[236]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!”</div> + <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Romeo and Juliet.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The period accorded by the friendship of Charles +Hamilton to the prisoner, for the acceptance or rejection +of his offer to become the means of his escape, had now +expired, and the two young friends were sitting together +in the cabin-prison in which Appadocca was confined.</p> + +<p>“So you will not consent to put aside your insane +notions and escape, when I place it in your power to do +so?” said Charles Hamilton, dejectedly, and, at the +same time, somewhat scornfully, twisting his whiskers.</p> + +<p>“No!” replied Appadocca with much decision.</p> + +<p>“Then,” replied the officer, “I shall have nothing +farther to do with you; they may hang you, quarter +you, and do, G—d knows what else to you.”</p> + +<p>“As for that matter,” answered Appadocca, affecting<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_237"></a>[237]</span> +something like the same satire as his friend had used, +“you may exercise your own discretion; but is it not a +little absurd that, because I am not willing to sanction +the mis-use of the authority which you possess on board +your father’s ship, in your allowing me, who have been +brought here a prisoner, to escape, that I, on that +account, should lose your favor, and cease to be deemed +worthy of your notice, even if I should happen to be +hanged, quartered, and done G—d knows what else +to?” and Appadocca smiled good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>“This is the second time, Emmanuel, that you have +adverted to my authority on board this ship, and reflected +on my conduct in endeavouring to befriend you: I hope +it may be the last. You must recollect that I am an +Englishman, and an English officer, and I consider +that I possess as delicate a sense of honor and as great +a knowledge of duty as any gentleman whosoever.”</p> + +<p>“And I,” replied Appadocca, “I am an animal,—sub-kingdom, +vertebrata, genus homo, and species,—‘tropical +American;’ naturalists lay my habitat all over +the world, and declare me omnivorous. I do not pride +myself on possessing merely such an indefinite thing as +sense of honor, or great knowledge of duty; but observation +has made me acquainted with the universal laws +which nature has imposed upon us in order to secure to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_238"></a>[238]</span> +us contentment and happiness; and your wishing to +make your station on board this vessel subservient to +my escape is in opposition to one of those laws, the +certain precursor of your own unhappiness, I shall not +consent to it. Speak to me no more on this subject.”</p> + +<p>“If, Emmanuel, I had considered that my good faith +was concerned in making an offer of escape to you, you +may rely upon it. I should neither have attempted to +lower myself in my own estimation, nor should I have +subjected myself to the animadversion of your nice and +exquisite philosophy. I shall use the same liberty of +speech as you have done, and assume the right of telling +you, that His Majesty’s ship, which my father has the +honour to command, was built, fitted out, and sent to +sea, for the purpose of fighting the enemies of England, +and not for the purpose of scavenging for pirates and +freebooters: my commission was granted for the same +purpose. I consider, therefore, that this vessel ought +not to be made the lock-up of accused individuals; nor +ought my father be obliged to abet and to assist the +malice of hard-hearted planters, or interfere in the actions +of strangely arguing sons—I therefore consider myself +bound by no honour in this affair; and I am, consequently, +free to act as I please. I recognize in you +my ancient and respected friend, and I offer you my<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_239"></a>[239]</span> +assistance to escape. You may accept it or not—this +is Saxon.”</p> + +<p>Charles Hamilton spoke this with considerable +warmth and seriousness.</p> + +<p>“Bravely spoken, Charles,” said Appadocca, “and, +although part of your speech may have sounded harsh +to ears more unwilling than mine to hear the truth, still +I admire you for it. Why did you not speak out +in this manner before. You may depend upon it, man, +it is always better to express one-self boldly, throw aside +expediency, and bring out the truth, which, though +harsh and unpleasant, is, nevertheless, the truth, and +must be told. What is there to be feared? A proper +man has nothing worth keeping, which he should +apprehend to lose, save his honour and his spirit of +rectitude. What though interest-seekers quake in +their coats lest their smoothly-varnished opinions should +not draw the approbation of their fastidious patrons: a +man, worthy of the name, must follow out the spirit of +his manliness, and that is all. Take the furious bull—society, +by the horns, and though its lurid eyes shine +fire upon you, nay, though it gore you, shout out +your truths still higher than its bellowings; and when +its madness-fit is over, your truths shall live, nay, ride +it even as a broken-spirited ass.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_240"></a>[240]</span></p> + +<p>“Men of such boldness there have been, who, Lycurgus-like, +have exiled themselves from all to throw +their truths into the world. Society may have branded +them, starved them, cursed them, and driven them into +hovels, there to perish and to rot, but they have ever +re-risen in their thoughts, and now their names receive, +on the bended knee, the unbounded veneration of +mankind.</p> + +<p>“Still I will not accept your proposal.”</p> + +<p>“But for G—d’s sake, Emmanuel, speak seriously,” +said Hamilton, hastily, “you surely do not intend to let +this obstinacy of yours prevent your escape;” and the +young officer looked anxiously in Appadocca’s face.</p> + +<p>It would appear that, notwithstanding the previous +refusal of his friend, he never contemplated but that at +the last moment he would avail himself of his assistance +and escape.</p> + +<p>“Call me obstinate, as you may,” replied Appadocca, +“I shall not accept your offer.”</p> + +<p>“Then is it possible that you seriously refuse to save +your life?”</p> + +<p>“Not I, by Heaven,” replied Appadocca.</p> + +<p>“Then why not adopt my proposal at once?”</p> + +<p>“Because my doing so will not only involve a breach +of discipline, but will also compromise your honour,—two<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_241"></a>[241]</span> +sacrifices which we must pronounce disproportioned, +when we consider the very small necessity that demands +them.”</p> + +<p>“Do you recollect that death will be your sentence?” +eagerly demanded Charles.</p> + +<p>“I do recollect it,” answered Appadocca. “And +pray, what is death?”</p> + +<p>The latter part of the question was put with such +cynical coldness, that Charles Hamilton found himself +unwittingly silenced.</p> + +<p>He remained tongue-tied for a few moments, and with +the greatest embarrassment repeated the question of +Appadocca. “What is death, you ask?”</p> + +<p>“Ay, what is death, I ask? let your embarrassment +repeat the question,” remarked Appadocca.</p> + +<p>“Why, death,” replied the young officer, “death is—is—is +the—the highest of all—of all human punishments—and +sufferings.”</p> + +<p>“Remarkably fine,” replied Appadocca, with some +satire, “remarkably fine, I once entertained better hopes +of you, Charles Hamilton, when you were at College; +but now I find, that like all other persons, you have +thought, that it was necessary to cultivate the intellect, +only during the time when you were at college,—that +you were to live in mind, or rather, according to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_242"></a>[242]</span> +dictates of your reason, as long as you were there; but +that as soon as you became emancipated from your +scholastic thraldom, throwing aside convictions, you +were to live entirely in body, merely copying the bad +habits of most men, which they self-deludingly style +instincts. You speak and think absolutely like those +animals that are driven above decks there by your orders, +and who turn their tobacco in their cheeks, bellow forth +their strange and meaningless oaths, and pull the ropes, +by precisely the same moving power as one of your guns +sends forth its iron and brimstone charge, when fire is +applied to the touch-hole. That distinguishing essential +which we, with so much complaisance, place on ourselves, +to divide us from quadrupeds and our other fellow +habitants of this earth—reason, is as much consulted as +the stars. You observe the whole of organized life +clinging to the idea of preservation, that they may +continue for a brief period the state in which they +happen to find themselves, and permitting this idea, in +sympathy with the herd of men, to grow unreasoned +in you, you fancy that I, also, should start from death with +the same fear, and consent to depart from the course of +conduct which my intellect prescribes to me, for the mere +purpose of avoiding it. You do not consider what really +is life, and less, perhaps, what is death. If millions of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_243"></a>[243]</span> +men are content to cultivate a sluggish existence, and +shrink from ennobling enterprizes, in order that they +may avoid this bugbear with which they ignorantly +frighten themselves; nay, if they can be worked upon +by this terror to compromise the only imperishable part +of our nature—the idea of self-respect or honour—you +must not fancy that I, my dear Charles, am willing to +do so, too!”</p> + +<p>“If you are not, I can only say your instincts are +ajar,” observed the young officer, who felt himself again +unable to answer Appadocca.</p> + +<p>“There, you speak of instincts again: I have no +instincts. If you mean certain ideas which are the +necessary fruits of my organization, I shall observe, that +far from their being ajar, they, on the contrary, are the +only ones which are in harmony with whatever we know +of nature and of its author.”</p> + +<p>“Hold, Emmanuel, do not go any further, you will +be guilty of irreverence.”</p> + +<p>“Irreverence! it is not I who can be guilty of irreverence, +it is you, and the rest of the ignorant world, +that are ‘guilty of irreverence;’ for, by surrounding +death with the terror you do, and by considering it the +greatest of earth’s afflictions, you effectually depreciate +the goodness and consistency of the maker of all +things.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_244"></a>[244]</span></p> + +<p>“In what manner?” inquired the officer.</p> + +<p>“Listen to me, and you shall hear. The whole of +this globe, you are aware, is animated. Every object +here, from the fibrous and silken down that flies about, +carrying the seed of some gigantic tree, to the mountains +of consolidated rock, is the theatre of life; and that +theatre itself possesses a peculiar animation of its own, or +laws of self-development. The various forms and shapes +which people these things, vary in their periods of existence +from centuries to the incalculable and indivisible +points of time, which human ingenuity has hitherto +deemed it idle to note. You have the birds of the desert, +the huge animals whose years are to be counted but by +the hundred; you have again the infinitesimal insect, +which comes into existence this moment to depart the +next; so that in the shortest space of time that +man can calculate, nature ushers into life millions +of millions of sentient beings, to sweep them away again +with the same rapidity with which they are made. +This earth on which this process takes place has existed, +as far as we can discover with certainty, for several +thousands of years, so that millions of millions of beings +have continually perished during every short moment +into which the numberless days of those thousands of +years can possibly be divided. To consider that death<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_245"></a>[245]</span> +is so dreadful as it is supposed to be, when we find it on +such an amazingly extensive scale, and principally, +also, among creatures whose only apparent happiness is +the mere possession of life itself, is to call the Ordainer +of these things cruel—which is untrue, or, as we used +to say long ago, ‘reductio ad absurdum.’ What you +choose to convert into the horrible and dreadful, is only +the working of a wise and general law—that of transition: +we live here to-day in one shape, to live to-morrow +in a different one. Man has stupidly shut his eyes to +this fact as he has done to many other things, and pitifully +mourns over the action of a universal and useful +law.”</p> + +<p>“Emmanuel, I am a plain sailor, and do not pretend +to deal in niceties of logical distinction,” replied Charles, +“and although it is not my purpose to continue this +very peculiar conversation, still I must ask, if our death +is merely a transition from one state to another, how is +it, that when we have entered into our new condition, +we do not retain any consciousness of our previous +existence.”</p> + +<p>“The answer is plain enough,” answered Appadocca, +“when the harp is unstrung the sounds depart: when +we change from one condition to another, we necessarily +cease to be of the first, else there should be no change<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_246"></a>[246]</span> +at all: and as our consciousness of that condition was +merely a natural consequence or effect of it, it follows, +that when the cause ceases, the effect must necessarily +cease also.”</p> + +<p>Appadocca remained silent for a while.</p> + +<p>“And as for the ignominy,” he continued, “of a death +on the scaffold, for such a crime as the one which is +imputed to me, it is purely ridiculous. It is not because +mankind may be eager to alter, by their vote, the nature +of things, that these things become intrinsically +changed.”</p> + +<p>Appadocca stopped, apparently expecting Charles +Hamilton to speak; but he, however, was anxiously +gazing on the side of the ship, and was apparently +intent on listening to some sound that it seemed he +heard.</p> + +<p>“Did you hear that?” he at last asked, in a low +tone.</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“Hush!—do you not hear that sound?”</p> + +<p>“Hum! Perhaps—I think I do; I think—I—I—hum! +I—know it,” answered Appadocca, while his +face brightened up a little.</p> + +<p>The officer drew nearer to the side of the ship to +listen—Appadocca remained where he was.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_247"></a>[247]</span></p> + +<p>The dull sounds of muffled instruments could now be +distinctly heard. From its direction, it could be easily +discovered that these instruments were applied to the +dead light, which had been carefully battened in for +greater security against the prisoner’s escape. The +sounds continued, and the sharp point of a large chisel, +with which some individual from the outside was endeavouring +to wrench away part of the cover, was now seen +through the dead light of the ship.</p> + +<p>The young officer looked round inquiringly at Appadocca, +but met, in the gaze of that individual, only the +coldness that characterised him.</p> + +<p>“An attack, an attack!” he cried, and rushed out +of the cabin. His instincts, as he called them, at +once belying the ingenious arguments with which he +had lulled his spirit of honor, when his friendship for +Appadocca interposed.</p> + +<p>He arrived on deck in time to hear the sharp challenge +of the marine on duty.</p> + +<p>“Who is there?” no answer was made to the challenge.</p> + +<p>The guard was called out. The marine fired. In +return only a derisive shout arose from a boat that was +now moving away in the darkness. One, two, three +volleys were fired in succession, when the angry voice +of a man was heard from the boat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_248"></a>[248]</span></p> + +<p>“Cowards!” he cried, “come after us, and do not +expend your ammunition foolishly.”</p> + +<p>It was the voice of Lorenzo.</p> + +<p>On hearing the reports of the spies that he had sent +on shore, that faithful officer had formed the plan of +carrying Appadocca silently away from the cabin in +which he was confined. For that purpose, he had +waited until the night was far spent, and with a few +trusty men had cautiously approached the man-of-war.</p> + +<p>The pirate party came in a boat that was greased all +over on the outside, and which was propelled by +muffled oars.</p> + +<p>The men were all dressed in black, and wore for the +occasion, dark woollen caps, which were drawn over their +heads so as perfectly to conceal their faces. They had +boarded the ship for about half an hour, and two men +were working away vigorously; the blows of the covered +mallet drove their muffled chisels more and more +deeply into the chinks of the dead light.</p> + +<p>“Have you nearly got through, Gustave?” inquired +Lorenzo, the enterprising officer of Appadocca.</p> + +<p>“Nearly, senor,” answered the man.</p> + +<p>“Thanks to Providence,” muttered Lorenzo, “Appadocca +will be rescued.”</p> + +<p>O disappointment wherefore dost thou exist? The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_249"></a>[249]</span> +words had scarcely escaped Lorenzo when a splashing +noise was heard near the man-of-war.</p> + +<p>The sailors, as is customary with them, when their +ship is at anchor, in order to improve their opportunities, +had hung out a fishing line. As adverse fate would +have it, at the very moment when the party of Lorenzo +was about completing a breach in the cabin in which +their captain was confined, a large shark happened to +take the bait. Pricked by the hook, the fish began +to swim furiously around the ship, beating about with +its huge tail. The water immediately became covered +with foam, and the noise increased more and more.</p> + +<p>“Jump up, Domingo,” said Lorenzo, when he perceived +the imminent danger of discovery which they ran +from the noise that the creature was making in the +water, “jump up and cut away that cursed thing.”</p> + +<p>But it was too late: attracted by the splashes made +by the shark, the sentinel looked over the bulwarks, and +perceived the man that was just sliding himself down +the chains of the man-of-war, after having dexterously +cut away the line by which the fish was caught.</p> + +<p>The pirates had no alternative but flight, and they +were quickly making away when the young officer +got on deck.</p> + +<p>Part of the crew of the large vessel was called out,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_250"></a>[250]</span> +the boats were manned, and sent after the mysterious +visitors. But it was of no avail: those who had gone +in chase shortly afterwards returned, and reported that +they could discover nothing of the boat.</p> + +<p>The circumstance was duly reported to the commander. +After much consideration on such a mysterious +adventure, the latter wisely concluded that the party of +the pirate captain were in those waters, and that their +approach to the ship was for the purpose of attempting +his rescue.</p> + +<p>Further, on examination, marks of the tools were +made out on the deadlight of Appadocca’s cabin. He +himself was narrowly questioned, but he stated with +perfect truth, that he knew nothing of the matter.</p> + +<p>Orders were then given to weigh anchor at the dawn +of the next day.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">END OF VOL. I.</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75313 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |